青蒿高效遗传转化体系的建立与青蒿素生物合成的分子调控

青蒿素是从中国传统药用植物青蒿（Artemisia annua L.）中提取的新型抗疟特效药。青蒿素在国际市场上供不应求，而青蒿植株中青蒿素的含量很低，因此如何提高青蒿素的产量成为近年来研究的热点。通过基因工程获得转基因青蒿高产株系是提高青蒿素产量的最有潜力的途径之一。 对不同基因型青蒿进行不同的激素浓度配比的比较研究，得到丛生芽诱导率较高、生根诱导率较高的激素配比，从而建立了青蒿高效再生体系。然后系统地分析了青蒿丛生芽诱导、丛生芽生长、丛生芽生根诱导对Kan的敏感性。对影响根癌农杆菌介导青蒿转化的转化效率的两个主要因素，即农杆菌类型和青蒿基因型，以及其它影响因素，即预培养时间、侵染液的组成、共培养的方式和时间进行比较研究，建立了根癌农杆菌介导的青蒿高效转化体系。本高效转化和再生体系的转基因植株的得率为4%至10%，而且转基因植株再生周期短，再生能力强。 通过基因工程，在青蒿高产株系中过量表达本实验室从青蒿中克隆的FPS基因，结果转基因青蒿中FPS的酶活性是非转基因青蒿的2-3倍;转基因青蒿的青蒿素含量最高可达0.9%（DW），是非转基因青蒿中青蒿素含量的1.34倍。这些结果进一步论证了FPS在青蒿素生物合成代谢中的调控作用。

Possible suppression of exogenous beta-1,3-glucanase gene gluc78 on rice transformation and growth

Three genes encoding for fungal cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE), ech42, nag7O and gluc78 from the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride were transformed into rice mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens singly and in all possible combinations. A total of more than 1800 independently regenerated plantlets in seven different populations (for each of the three genes and each of the four gene combinations) were obtained. Our data indicated that gluc78 gene had negative effects on transformation frequency and plant growth. Some regenerated plants with gluc78 gene were stunted; spontaneously produced brown specks; could not tassel. The combination with either one of the two other genes (ech42, nag70) present in the same T-DNA region reduced the negative effect of gluc78 on plant growth. These results indicated that expression of several genes in one T-DNA region interfered with each other and expression of exogenous gene in recipient plant was a complex behavior. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Hemizygosity for Atm and Brca1 influence the balance between cell transformation and apoptosis

Background: In recent years data from both mouse models and human tumors suggest that loss of one allele of genes involved in DNA repair pathways may play a central role in genomic instability and carcinogenesis. Additionally several examples in mouse models confirmed that loss of one allele of two functionally related genes may have an additive effect on tumor development. To understand some of the mechanisms involved, we examined the role of monoallelic loss or Atm and Brca1 on cell transformation and apoptosis induced by radiation. Methods: Cell transformation and apoptosis were measured in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) and thymocytes respectively. Combinations of wild type and hemizygous genotypes for ATM and BRCA1 were tested in various comparisons. Results: Haploinsufficiency of either ATM or BRCA1 resulted in an increase in the incidence of radiation-induced transformation of MEF and a corresponding decrease in the proportion of thymocytes dying an apoptotic death, compared with cells from wild-type animals. Combined haploinsufficiency for both genes resulted in an even larger effect on apoptosis. Conclusions: Under stress, the efficiency and capacity for DNA repair mediated by the ATM/BRCA1 cell signalling network depends on the expression levels of both proteins.

Deformation, Phase Transformation and Recrystallization in the Shear Bands Induced by High-Strain Rate Loading in Titanium and its Alloys

alpha-titanium and its alloys with a dual-phase structure (alpha+beta) were deformed dynamically under strain rate of about 10(4) s(-1). The formation and microstructural evolution of the localized shear bands were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that both the strain and strain rate should be considered simultaneously as the mechanical conditions for shear band formation, and twinning is an important mode of deformation. Both experimental and calculation show that the materials within the bands underwent a superhigh strain rate (9 x 10(5) s(-1)) deformation, which is two magnitudes of that of average strain rate required for shear band formation; the dislocations in the bands can be constricted and developed into cell structures; the phase transformation from alpha to alpha(2) within the bands was observed, and the transformation products (alpha(2)) had a certain crystallographic orientation relationship with their parent; the equiaxed grains with an average size of 10 mu m in diameter observed within the bands are proposed to be the results of recrystallization.

Partial-Dislocation-Mediated Processes in Nanocrystalline Ni with Nonequilibrium Grain Boundaries

The partial-dislocation-mediated processes have so far eluded high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies in nanocrystalline nc Ni with nonequilibrium grain boundaries. It is revealed that the nc Ni deformed largely by twinning instead of extended partials. The underlying mechanisms including dissociated dislocations, high residual stresses, and stress concentrations near stacking faults are demonstrated and discussed.

A Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Laser Transformation Hardening on Crack Driving Force in Steels

A mechanical model of a laser transformation hardening specimen with a crack in the middle of the hardened layer is developed to quantify the effects of the residual stress and hardness gradient on crack driving force in terms of J-integral. It is assumed

Predictions for Partial-Dislocation-Mediated Processes in Nanocrystalline Ni by Generalized Planar Fault Energy Curves: An Experimental Evaluation

Generalized planar fault energy (GPFE) curves have been used to predict partial-dislocation-mediated processes in nanocrystalline materials, but their validity has not been evaluated experimentally. We report experimental observations of a large quantity of both stacking faults and twins in nc Ni deformed at relatively low stresses in a tensile test. The experimental findings indicate that the GPFE curves can reasonably explain the formation of stacking faults, but they alone were not able to adequately predict the propensity of deformation twinning.