An opioid peptide from synganglia of the tick, Amblyomma testindinarium

An opioid peptide, which shares similarity with mammalian hemorphins, has been identified from the synganglia (central nervous system) of the hard tick, Amblyomma testindiarium. Its primary sequence was established as LVVYPWTKM that contains a tetrapeptide sequence Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr of hemorphin-like opioid peptides. By hot-plate bioassay, the purified peptide and synthetic peptide displayed dose-related antinociceptive effect in mice, as observed for other hemorphin-like opioid peptides. This is the first opioid peptide identified from ticks. Ticks may utilize the opioid peptide in their strategy to escape host immuno-surveillance as well as in inhibiting responses directed against themselves. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A novel antimicrobial peptide from salivary glands of the hard tick, Ixodes sinensis

A novel antimicrobial peptide named as ixosin was isolated from the salivary glands of the hard tick, Ixodes sinensis, by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its amino acid sequen

Antihemostatic molecules from saliva of blood-feeding arthropods

The ability to feed on vertebrate blood has evolved many times in various arthropod clades. Consequently, saliva of blood-feeding arthropods has proven to be a rich source of antihemostatic molecules. A variety of platelet aggregation inhibitors antagonize platelet responses to wound-generated signals, including ADP, thrombin, and collagen. Anticoagulants disrupt elements of both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Vasodilators include nitrophorins (nitric oxide storage and transport heme proteins), a variety of peptides that mimic endogenous vasodilatory neuropeptides, and proteins that catabolize or sequester endogenous vasoconstrictors. Multiple salivary proteins may be directed against each component of hemostasis, resulting in both redundancy and in some cases cooperative interactions between antihemostatic proteins. The complexity and redundancy of saliva ensures an efficient blood meal for the arthropod, but it also provides a diverse array of novel antihemostatic molecules for the pharmacologist.

Two Immunoregulatory Peptides with Antioxidant Activity from Tick Salivary Glands

Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods that may secrete immunosuppressant molecules, which inhibit host inflammatory and immune responses and provide survival advantages to pathogens at tick bleeding sites in hosts. In the current work, two families of immunoregulatory peptides, hyalomin-A and -B, were first identified from salivary glands of hard tick Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum. Three copies of hyalomin-A are encoded by an identical gene and released from the same protein precursor. Both hyalomin-A and -B can exert significant anti-inflammatory functions, either by directly inhibiting host secretion of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemotectic protein-1, and interferon-gamma or by indirectly increasing the secretion of immunosuppressant cytokine of interleukin-10. Hyalomin-A and -B were both found to potently scavenge free radical in vitro in a rapid manner and inhibited adjuvant-induced inflammation in mouse models in vivo. The JNK/SAPK subgroup of the MAPK signaling pathway was involved in such immunoregulatory functions of hyalomin-A and -B. These results showed that immunoregulatory peptides of tick salivary glands suppress host inflammatory response by modulating cytokine secretion and detoxifying reactive oxygen species.

A horsefly saliva antigen 5-like protein containing RTS motif is an angiogenesis inhibitor

The Ag5 proteins are the most abundant and immunogenic proteins in the venom secretory ducts of stinging insects. An antigen 5-like protein (named tabRTS) composed of 221 amino acid residues was purified and characterized from the salivary glands of the horsefly, Tabanus yao (Diptera, Tabanidae). Its cDNA was cloned from the cDNA library of the horsefly's salivary gland. TabRTS containing the SCP domain (Sc7 family of extracellular protein domain) was found in insect antigen 5 proteins. More interestingly, there is an Arg-Thr-Ser (RTS) disintegrin motif at the C-terminus of tabRTS. The RTS motif is positioned in a loop bracketed by cysteine residues as those found in RTS-disintegrins of Crotalidae and Viperidae snake venoms, which act as angiogenesis inhibitors. Endothelial Cell Tube formation assay in vitro and chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis assay in vivo were performed as to investigate the effect of tabRTS on angiogenesis. It was found that tabRTS could significantly inhibit angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Anti-alpha(1)beta(1) monoclonal antibody could dose-dependently inhibit the anti-angiogenic activity of tabRTS. This result indicated that tabRTS possibly targets the alpha(1)beta(1) integrin to exert the anti-angiogenic activity as snake venom RTS-/KTS-disintegrins do. The current work revealed the first angiogenesis inhibitor protein containing RTS motif from invertebrates, a possible novel type of RTS-disintegrin. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Establishment of a micro-particle bombardment transformation system for Dunaliella saliva

In this study, we chronicle the establishment of a novel transformation system for the unicellular marine green alga, Dunaliella salina. We introduced the CaMV35S promoter-GUS construct into D. saliva with a PDS1000/He micro-particle bombardment system. Forty eight h after transformation, via histochemical staining, we observed the transient expression of GUS in D. salina cells which had been bombarded under rupture-disc pressures of 450 psi and 900 psi. We observed no GUS activity in either the negative or the blank controls. Our findings indicated that the micro-particle bombardment method constituted a feasible approach to the genetic transformation of D. salina. We also conducted tests of the cells' sensitivity to seven antibiotics and one herbicide, and our results suggested that 20 mu g/ ml of Basta could inhibit cell growth completely. The bar gene, which encodes for phosphinothricin acetyltransferase and confers herbicide tolerance, was introduced into the cells via the above established method. The results of PCR and PCR-Southern blot analyses indicated that the gene was successfully integrated into the genome of the transformants.

Responses of Artemisia frigida Willd. (Compositae) and Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. (Poaceae) to sheep saliva

Although studies show that grazing and browsing by herbivores have marked effects on host plants, the mechanisms remain unclear. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of sheep saliva on host plant growth. Sheep saliva was manually applied to clipped plants of two different life forms, a semi-shrub, Artemisia frigida Willd., and a herbaceous species, Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzevel. The results showed that sheep saliva significantly enhanced aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and the ratio of ANPP to belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) for both species. This indicated that sheep saliva promotes aboveground compensatory growth and allocation of photosynthate to aboveground for both plant species. Sheep saliva stimulated only tillering of L. chinensis. Regardless of saliva application, clipping significantly decreased BNPP and plant height, but significantly increased the number of branches or tillers for both plant species. The relative growth rates (RGRs) on both species were significantly greater after clipping with saliva compared with control and clipping without saliva treatments. In addition, RGR of the herbaceous species L. chinensis was faster than that of the semi-shrub A. frigida after application of saliva. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

通过体细胞杂交由大黍向水稻转移无融合生殖基因的研究

本论文以无融合生殖的大黍(Panicum maximum Jacp.)作为无融合生殖基因的供体，试图通过体细胞杂交方法向水稻(Oryza sativa L．)导入无融合生殖基因。结果如下：采用PEG融合法，诱导水稻原生质体与大黍原生质体融合，经过融合体筛选、培养，成功地获得了再生水稻植株。在融合前，水稻原生质体经过2.5 mM碘乙酰胺(IOA)在室温(22～25℃)条件下处理15分钟，大黍原生质体经过60Kr软x射线照射或不做任何处理。经双亲处理选择系统获得移栽成活的25株再生植株;经水稻单亲处理选择系统获得移栽成活再生植株3株。这两类融合再生植株（经双亲处理选择系统获得的25株和经单亲处理选择系统的3株）在花器官形态、结构及生殖特性上与对照亲本水稻植株有显著的差异，出现多花药（一朵颖花具7至11枚，甚至13枚花药）、多胚珠（一个子房内2～3个胚珠）及多胚囊（一个胚珠中2个以上胚囊）等现象;雌、雄性育性显著降低或完全消失，仅有5株能够少量结实，I-KI溶液着色的花粉从0至68%不等;胚胎学检查表明不能结实的植株雌性均不育，即不能分化出正常的胚囊结构。进一步的检查正在进行中。

水稻胚囊发育畸变的细胞学和遗传学研究

1．水稻多卵卵器的起源：被子植物的卵器中通常只有一个卵细胞。我们在水稻多胚品系胚囊中观察到二卵卵器和三卵卵器，本研究对其大孢子发生和胚囊发育进行了细胞胚胎学观察，揭示了水稻多卵卵器的起源．观察结果表明，该品系能进行正常的大孢子发生。大孢子母细胞进行正常的减数分裂形成四个大孢子靠近合点端的大孢子发育，其它三个退化。功能大孢子第一次有丝分裂后两个子核被一中央大液泡分隔在胚囊珠孔端和合点端，与此同时胚囊出现不均衡生长，珠孔端迅速膨大，合点端几乎不增大，致使二核末期的胚囊呈倒梨形．紧接着发生第二次有丝分裂，合点端核分裂时纺锤丝与胚囊纵轴平行，而珠孔端核分裂时纺锤丝与胚囊纵轴成4 5度夹角．由此产生的四核胚囊中，合点端一核向胚囊中部或中上部（胚囊珠孔端）迁移，四核胚囊再经一次有丝分裂形成两种类型的核分布偏离蓼型的八核胚囊。一种类型是珠孔端四个核，中部与合点各二个核，在胚囊细胞化过程中，珠孔端四核 分化成四细胞卵器，其中卵细胞和助细胞各二个，中部的二核分化成二极核中央细胞，合点 端的二核形成反足细胞。另一种类型是珠孔端六个核，合点端二个核，在胚囊细胞化过程中， 两端各一核向中部迁移分化成二极核中央细胞，珠孔端剩余的五核分化成五细胞卵器，其 中卵细胞三个，助细胞二个，合点端的一核迅速分裂形成反足细胞． 2．水稻同源三倍体TAR的生殖特性：TAR的单穗结实率平均可达10%，核型分析表明此三倍体产生的后代个体仍为具有36条染色体的三倍体．细胞胚胎学初步观察显示TAR为一具兼性无融合生殖特性的水稻新种质，其胚珠几乎都能进行胚囊的分化，但其中仅有33%的胚囊有较正常的结构，9%的胚囊在散粉前进行胚胎发生，58%的胚囊发育显著异常，表现为极性紊乱、多极核或缺失雌性生殖单位等。 3．水稻亚种间杂种败育的细胞学基础：对普通栽培稻不同品种类型间杂种颖花败育的细胞学基础及雌性败育的过程进行的细胞学研究表明：1）引起杂种颖花败育的原因有胚囊败育，花粉败育、开花时花药不开裂和雌雄异熟．其中胚囊败育而丧失受精能力是引起低结实率的最重要的因素，开花时花药不开裂和雌雄异熟在一定程度上形成了雌雄性细胞时间和空间的隔离屏障。2）杂种植株的所有大孢子母细胞都能进行正常的减数分裂形成四个大孢子，败育主要发生在靠近合点端的功能大孢子分化形成胚囊的早期，有的胚囊母细胞在进行第一次有丝分裂前便萎缩解体，多数能完成一次或二次有丝分裂形成二核或四核败育胚囊．败育的共同特征是无液泡的分化，细胞质少或退化，在败育胚囊残迹部位，解体的珠心细胞和萎缩的胚囊残溃混杂垛叠．已受精的杂种子房没有观察到胚及胚乳发育的异常．籼粳杂种胚囊败育频率较高． 4．籼粳杂种生殖障碍的基因定位：应用具有1 37个标记位点的籼粳杂交窄叶青8号/京系17)F1花药培养获得的127个双单倍体OH）群体构建的R FLP图谱，对控制籼粳杂种颖花败育的基因座位进行了定位研究。结果在第1、3、4、5、6、7、8、1 2染色体上检测到1 0个基因座位，其中第3、12染色体上的2个不育基因位点str3和str12与同一杂交组合F2分离群体中发现的异常分离热点处于相同的染色体区段．stj-6的基因加性效应为负值，有增加籼粳亲和性的作用;其余的不育基因座位皆有增加籼梗杂种不育性的作用． 5．籼粳杂种胚囊败育的遗传分析和基因定位：利用DH系构建的分子图谱及DH系衍生的2个回交群体定位了引起籼梗杂种胚囊败育的2个互补的主效基因esa-l（E1或e1位点）和esa-2（E2或e2位点），它们分别位于第6和第1 2染色体．在不育基因位点，籼稻基因型为EIEle2e2，粳稻基因型为elelE 2E 2，杂交后代中基因型为EIE2，Ele2、elE 2的雌配子体正常发育，携带ele2基因型的雌配子体表现败育．胚囊育性受配子体基因型控制，孢予体遗传背景影响胚囊败育基因的表达.

磷酸肌醇信号途径对青扦花粉萌发和花粉管发育的调控作用及芦苇叶细胞壁结构的生理生态学研究

植物在长期的进化过程中，已经对其生存环境具备了各种适应对策。放牧影响下草原植物的生态适应策略，决定了其是否能够忍耐或者适应放牧生境从而维持自身的生存和种群的延续。研究植食性动物对植物的影响有助于制定合理的放牧制度和草地利用方式，从而为防止草原退化和恢复退化草地提供重要的理论依据;同时研究植物对放牧的响应策略，对于草原生物多样性的保护和草原生物资源的合理利用具有重要的理论和实践意义。 本文以中科院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站放牧综合试验样地中的小叶锦鸡儿为主要研究对象。通过长期不同放牧强度的放牧试验和唾液涂抹等模拟试验，从形态学、有性生殖、种子萌发和遗传多样性等方面，探讨了小叶锦鸡儿对放牧家畜（绵羊）采食的生物学响应。本研究得到以下主要结论： 1. 通过小叶锦鸡儿形态和有性生殖的实验，可以看到放牧改变了该种植物的形态和生殖特性，不同放牧强度对其影响的程度是不相同的。在啃食压力下，小叶锦鸡儿的营养、生殖和防御之间存在消长关系。随着放牧强度的增加，小叶锦鸡儿对营养器官和有性生殖器官的投资均减少，而对防御器官的投资有增加的趋势，主要体现在：个体的小型化（植株高度、叶轴长度、小叶大小）和果荚数目及成熟种子数都随着放牧强度的增加而明显减少;物理性防御器官――刺，其密度和长度都明显的增加。同时，放牧也对植物花粉的品质产生了消极影响。 2. 放牧不仅影响了植物体本身的生物学特性，而且影响了子代的生物学特性。不同放牧强度下的植株产生的种子，其萌发速率明显不同。同时放牧强度和沙埋深度对小叶锦鸡儿的出苗率均具有显著影响，随着沙埋深度增加，出苗率明显降低，0～2cm是其适宜出苗的沙埋深度;浅层沙埋处理下，轻度放牧和重度放牧的出苗率差异显著。与轻度放牧相比，重牧条件下同一沙埋深度的种子出苗时间明显推迟;在相同放牧压力下，沙埋深度也影响了出苗时间。 3. 采食活动对植物本身的形态、生殖以及子代的萌发特性都产生了影响;通过AFLP实验证明了小叶锦鸡儿在长期的放牧历史活动中已经发生了遗传多样性的变化，重度放牧强度下的植株与轻度放牧条件下的植株具有相对较远的遗传距离，也就是说，小叶锦鸡儿种群的分化与放牧强度具有密切的关系。 4. 三种不同生活型植物（灌木-小叶锦鸡儿、半灌木-冷蒿和草本-羊草）对绵羊唾液涂抹的响应不同，刈割和涂抹绵羊唾液能够增加植物的净地上生物量，并促进植株增加地上部分的光合产物投资。同时表明，简单的机械剪除不能够真正反应放牧家畜采食所产生的生物学效应。

小叶锦鸡儿对不同放牧强度的生物学响应

植物在长期的进化过程中，已经对其生存环境具备了各种适应对策。放牧影响下草原植物的生态适应策略，决定了其是否能够忍耐或者适应放牧生境从而维持自身的生存和种群的延续。研究植食性动物对植物的影响有助于制定合理的放牧制度和草地利用方式，从而为防止草原退化和恢复退化草地提供重要的理论依据;同时研究植物对放牧的响应策略，对于草原生物多样性的保护和草原生物资源的合理利用具有重要的理论和实践意义。 　　本文以中科院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站放牧综合试验样地中的小叶锦鸡儿为主要研究对象。通过长期不同放牧强度的放牧试验和唾液涂抹等模拟试验，从形态学、有性生殖、种子萌发和遗传多样性等方面，探讨了小叶锦鸡儿对放牧家畜（绵羊）采食的生物学响应。本研究得到以下主要结论： 　　1. 通过小叶锦鸡儿形态和有性生殖的实验，可以看到放牧改变了该种植物的形态和生殖特性，不同放牧强度对其影响的程度是不相同的。在啃食压力下，小叶锦鸡儿的营养、生殖和防御之间存在消长关系。随着放牧强度的增加，小叶锦鸡儿对营养器官和有性生殖器官的投资均减少，而对防御器官的投资有增加的趋势，主要体现在：个体的小型化（植株高度、叶轴长度、小叶大小）和果荚数目及成熟种子数都随着放牧强度的增加而明显减少;物理性防御器官――刺，其密度和长度都明显的增加。同时，放牧也对植物花粉的品质产生了消极影响。 　　2. 放牧不仅影响了植物体本身的生物学特性，而且影响了子代的生物学特性。不同放牧强度下的植株产生的种子，其萌发速率明显不同。同时放牧强度和沙埋深度对小叶锦鸡儿的出苗率均具有显著影响，随着沙埋深度增加，出苗率明显降低，0～2cm是其适宜出苗的沙埋深度;浅层沙埋处理下，轻度放牧和重度放牧的出苗率差异显著。与轻度放牧相比，重牧条件下同一沙埋深度的种子出苗时间明显推迟;在相同放牧压力下，沙埋深度也影响了出苗时间。 　　3. 采食活动对植物本身的形态、生殖以及子代的萌发特性都产生了影响;通过AFLP实验证明了小叶锦鸡儿在长期的放牧历史活动中已经发生了遗传多样性的变化，重度放牧强度下的植株与轻度放牧条件下的植株具有相对较远的遗传距离，也就是说，小叶锦鸡儿种群的分化与放牧强度具有密切的关系。 　　4. 三种不同生活型植物（灌木-小叶锦鸡儿、半灌木-冷蒿和草本-羊草）对绵羊唾液涂抹的响应不同，刈割和涂抹绵羊唾液能够增加植物的净地上生物量，并促进植株增加地上部分的光合产物投资。同时表明，简单的机械剪除不能够真正反应放牧家畜采食所产生的生物学效应。 　

吸血节肢动物唾液腺来源的抗止血物质

下载PDF阅读器在采食脊椎动物血液能力的进化过程中,吸血节肢动物的唾液腺形成了丰富的抗止血因子,如血小板聚集抑制因子,他们通过不同机制抑制ADP、凝血酶和胶原等诱导的血小板聚集.抗凝因子能扰乱内源性和外源性止血通路.血管扩张因子包括储藏、运输一氧化氮的nitrophorins,模拟内源性血管扩张的多肽和催化或水解内源性血管收缩因子的酶.吸血节肢动物的唾液腺蛋白可以通过直接作用或协同作用起到抗止血的效果.复杂多样的唾液腺生物活性分子解释了吸血节肢动物成功获得血餐的分子机制,也提供了新的抗止血药物分子.

中华硬蜱凝血酶抑制剂的分离纯化与活性

通过凝胶过滤和反相高压液相层析, 从200 只半饱吸血的中华硬蜱( Ixodide sinesis ) 唾液腺中分离 纯化得到一凝血酶抑制剂。用飞行质谱测定其分子量为61356 kDa , 与其他蜱类来源的凝血酶抑制剂分子量不 同, 提示为一新蛋白分子。该抑制剂对凝血酶有强烈的抑制活性, 对激活的第X 因子和胰蛋白酶有微弱的抑制 活性。其发现将为发展疫苗、生物控制中华硬蜱提供资料和目标抗原。

An immunoregulatory peptide from salivary glands of the horsefly, Hybomitra atriperoides

Horseflies are economically important blood-feeding arthropods and also a nuisance for humans, and vectors for filariasis. They rely heavily on the pharmacological propriety of their saliva to get blood meat and suppress immune reactions of hosts. Little information is available on horsefly immune suppressants. By high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification coupling with pharmacological testing, an immunoregulatory peptide named immunoregulin HA has been identified and characterized from salivary glands of the horsefly of Hybomitra atriperoides (Diptera, Tabanidae). Immunoregulin HA could inhibit the secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) and increase the secretion of interteukin-10 (IL-10) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LIPS) in rat splenocytes. IL-10 is a suppressor cytokine of T-cell proliferative and cytokine responses. IL-10 can inhibit the elaboration of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Immunoregulin HA possibly unregulated the IL-10 production to inhibit IFN-gamma and MCP-1 secretion in the current experiments. This immunosuppression may facilitate the blood feeding of this horsefly. The current works will facilitate to understand the molecular mechanisms of the ectoparasite-host relationship. 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.