A first-principles study of the different magnetoresistance mechanisms in CaCu3Mn4O12 and LaCu3Mn4O12

The electronic structure of CaCu3Mn4O12 and LaCu3Mn4O12 was investigated using a full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA). The ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic states in these two compounds were investigated and the calculated spin magnetic moments were found to be close to the available experimental values. Calculations of spin polarization for these two oxides show that the ferrimagnetic configurations are the energetically favored ground state, which is consistent with experimental observation. The calculations predict that CaCu3Mn4O12 is a semiconductor and that LaCu3Mn4O12 is a half-metallic material. Furthermore, the relevance of these different electronic structures to the magnetoresistance is discussed.

Probing lanthanide ions binding on tRNA(Phe) by H-1 NMR

The structure of phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA(Phe)) in solution was explored by H-1 NMR spectroscopy to evaluate the effect of lanthanide ion on the structural and conformational change. It was found that La3+ ions possess specific effects on the imino proton region of the H-1 NMR spectra for yeast tRNA(Phe). The dependence of the imino proton spectra of yeast tRNA(Phe) as a function of La3+ concentration was examined, and the results suggest that the tertiary base pair G(15). C-48, which is located in the terminal in the augmented dihydrouridine helix (D-helix), was markedly affected by La3+ (shifted to downfield by as much as 0.35). Base pair U-8. A(14) in yeast tRNA(Phe), which are stacked on G(15). C-48, was also affected by added La3+ when 1 similar to 2 Mg2+ were also present. Another imino proton that may be affected by La3+ in yeast tRNA(Phe) is that of the tertiary base pair G(19). C-56. The assignment of this resonance in yeast tRNA(Phe) is tentative since it is located in the region of highly overlapping resonances beween 12.6 and 12.2. This base pair helps to anchor the D-loop to the T Psi C loop. The binding of La3+ caused conformational change of tRNA, which is responsible for shifts to upfield or downfield in H-1 NMR spectra.

Effect of lanthanum ions on tRNA(Phe) structure: Imino proton NMR spectroscopy

The effect of lanthanum ions on the structural and conformational change of yeast tRNA(Phe) was studied by H-1 NMR. The results suggest that the tertiary base pair (G-15)(C-48), which was located in the terminal in the augmented dihydrouridine helix (D-helix), was markedly affected by adding La3+ and shifted 0.33 downfield. Based pair (U-8)(A-14), which is associated with a tertiary interaction, links the base of the acceptor stem to the D-stem and anchors the elbow of the L structure, shifted 0.20 upfield. Another imino proton that may be affected by La3+ in tRNA(Phe) is the tertiary base pair (G-19)(C-56). The assignment of this resonance is tentative since it is located in the region of highly overlapping resonances between 12.6 and 12.2. This base pair helps to anchor the D-loop to the T psi C loop.

Assessment of genetic diversities of selected Laminaria (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) gametophytes by inter-simple sequence repeat analysis

Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis was used to assess genetic diversity among 10 pairs of male and female Laminaria gametophytes. A total of 58 amplification loci was obtained from 10 selected ISSR primers, of which 34 revealed polymorphism among the gametophytes. Genetic distances were calculated with the Dice coefficient ranging from 0.006 to 0.223. A dendrogram based on the unweighted pair-group method arithmetic (UPGMA) average showed that most male and female gametophytes of the same species were clustered together and that 10 pairs of gametophytes were divided into four groups. This was generally consistent with the taxonomic categories. The main group consisted of six pairs of gametophytes, which were selected from Laminaria japonica Aresch. by intensive inbreeding through artificial hybridization. One specific marker was cloned, but was not converted successfully into a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of applying ISSR markers to evaluate Laminaria germplasm diversities.

Physiological and immune responses of zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri to the acute viral necrobiotic virus infection

The Zhikong Scallop, Chlamys farreri, is one of the most Important bivalve mollusks cultured in northern China However, mass mortality of the cultured C farreri has posed a serious threat to the maricultural Industry in recent years. Acute Viral Necrobiotic Virus (AVNV) is believed as an important etiological agent causing the scallop mass mortalities To understand the mechanism behind the AVNV associated scallop disease and mortality, we assessed the physiological and immune responses of C farreri to the virus infection using oxygen consumption rate, ammonium-nitrogen excretion rate, hemocyte copper, zinc superoxide dismutase gene expression, and plasma superoxide dismutase activity and alkaline phosphatase activity as indicators Scallops challenged by AVNV at 25 C developed typical disease signs 2 days after virus injection Before the disease manifested, scallop oxygen consumption and NH4+-N excretion rates rose and then fell back. Real-time PCR revealed that the hemocyte cytosol Cu, Zn SOD gene expression was upregulated followed by recovery The plasma SOD activity, however, augmented consistently following virus injection Moreover, plasma AKP activity first lowered and then elevated gradually to the highest level at 24 h post virus injection Scallops challenged by AVNV at 17 degrees C neither developed notable disease nor showed obvious responses that could be associated with the virus infection. While the results suggested a correlation between the elevated seawater temperature and the AVNV infection associated C farreri mortalities, they also indicated that the viral infection provoked multiple physiological and immune responses in the host scallops (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Genetic analysis of the gametophytes of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae) with ISSR method

Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis was used to assess eleven pairs of Undaria pinnatifida (Harv.) Suringar male and female gametophytes. After screening fifty primers, 18 ISSR primers were selected for final analysis. A total of 104 loci were obtained, of which 77 were polymorphic, among the gametophytes studied. Genetic relationships were analyzed with simple matching (S), Jaccard's (J) and Dice's (D) distance coefficients. Little genetic variations were found among the selected Undaria gametophytes, for instance, the genetic distances ranging from 0.010 to 0.125 with Dice coefficients. UPGMA dendrograms showed that 11 pairs of Undaria gametophytes were distributed into five groups. Most Undaria strains cultivated in China exhibited closely genetic relationships with the strains from Japan. However, gametophytes from Qingdao appeared as distinct clades from other Undaria strains with all three distance coefficients used. Mantel test showed that the three distance measurements generated congruent clustering patterns on the same data. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of applying ISSR markers for genetic analysis of Undaria gametophytes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

中华绒螯蟹（Eriocheir sinensis）cDNA文库的构建、EST分析及其酚氧化酶系统关键基因的研究

中华绒螯蟹（Eriocheir sinensis）是我国的特色物种，具有重要的经济和科研价值。酚氧化酶系统作为节肢动物特有的免疫机制，在中华绒螯蟹的免疫反应中发挥重要作用。本研究构建了一个中华绒螯蟹的cDNA文库，利用表达序列标签 (Expressed Sequence Tag，EST) 技术，对中华绒螯蟹表达序列进行了大规模测序分析，并利用cDNA末端快速扩增（rapid amplification of cDNA ends，RACE）、实时定量PCR、原核重组和RNAi等技术研究了其酚氧化酶免疫系统的分子基础及其相应功能。 用鳗弧菌和金黄色葡萄球菌同时感染中华绒螯蟹，提取血细胞的RNA构建了一个库容为3.3×106 克隆cDNA文库。随机测序后获得7535条高质量的EST序列，其中在GenBank数据库中未发现同源序列的为4593 条，而具有较高同源性2942条可以分为20个功能类别，参与了23个生物学反应。 进一步分析发现，969 条（32.9% ）EST与免疫相关，可拼接成221个免疫基因。这个比例高于其它任何一个已公布的甲壳动物cDNA文库。在免疫相关EST中，抗菌肽比例最高，约占总数的20.1%（195条EST）。免疫基因的高比例和抗菌肽的高表达，证明细菌刺激是提高cDNA 文库中免疫基因丰度的有效方法。 EST序列的获得和免疫基因的富集，丰富了中华绒螯蟹的基因组信息，初步了解了中华绒螯蟹固有免疫系统的概况, 为进一步克隆和研究中华绒螯蟹免疫防御功能基因提供了序列基础。 本研究在EST分析的基础上，克隆获得了中华绒螯蟹酚氧化酶系统10个基因的cDNA全长序列, 它们分别是前酚氧化酶（EsproPO），丝氨酸蛋白酶同源物（EsSPH), 丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂pacifastin, serpin, PAPII (EsPLC, Es serpin, EsPAPII), 模式识别丝氨酸蛋白酶（EsPRSP），peroxinectin (Esperoxinectin)和3个前酚氧化酶激活酶 (EsPAP1, 2, 3)。它们与相近物种的酚氧化酶系统相应基因均具有较高同源性，并含有胰酶催化结构域，CLIP结构域，PLD结构域，KAZAL结构域，Serpin结构域以及酚氧化酶结构域等酚氧化酶系统相应基因典型的特征结构域。分析发现，PAPs的CLIP结构域和PRSP，Pacifastin，Proxinectin，proPO基因是节肢动物特有的，是酚氧化酶系统作为节肢动物特有免疫机制的分子基础。本研究从多个基因的3′UTR区发现了调控元件，如15-LOX-DICE，K-box和 Brd-Box。在所推断的蛋白中，EsPAP3和EsPAPII的等电点呈碱性，Esperoxinetin的为中性，而EsPRSP，EsSPH，EsproPO, EsPAPII, Esserpin，EsPAP1的等电点在酸性区间。健康中华绒螯蟹 EsPAP1，EsPAP2，EsPAPII基因在肌肉中的表达量最高，而在血细胞中的表达量相对较低；EsPAP3，EsproPO，EsPLC基因在血细胞中表达量较高，在肌肉中的表达量最低。其中，EsPAP3在血细胞中的表达量是其在肌肉组织中表达量的526.35倍。调控元件和多种激活酶与抑制剂的存在、组织分布和等电点的差异，说明中华绒螯蟹酚氧化酶系统在转录、翻译、激活等多个层次上受到了调控。在中华绒螯蟹受到鳗弧菌刺激后，EsPAP1，EsPAP2，EsPAP3，EsPLC和EsPAPII基因的表达量呈上升或下降的趋势，但表达量的极限值均出现在2小时和12小时，这一规律与EsproPO应激后的mRNA表达和酶比活力的变化特点相吻合，说明中华绒螯蟹酚氧化酶系统各因子相互协调共同参与中华绒螯蟹对入侵细菌的防御反应。同时EsPAP2，EsPAP3，EsproPO，EsPAPII，EsPLC在中华绒螯蟹受到鳗弧菌刺激后的表达呈现反复多次上升，表明酚氧化酶系统可能参与了多种免疫反应。研究还发现EsPAP1参与中华绒螯蟹血液凝集过程，而EsPAP3是蟹血细胞中的有效的前酚氧化酶激活因子。研究结果初步揭示了中华绒螯蟹酚氧化酶系统的分子基础、对微生物的响应机制及其调控机制和演化趋势，为节肢动物固有免疫系统研究奠定了良好基础。

羊栖菜养殖品系DNA指纹分析及遗传变异的研究

羊栖菜是重要的大型经济海藻之一，在食品、医药、化工领域都有广泛应用。本研究对羊栖菜养殖生产中常见的品系“鹿丰1号”及另外2种品系进行了DNA指纹分析及遗传变异的研究，构建了遗传指纹图谱，分析了不同种群的遗传关系，为羊栖菜的种质鉴定及遗传选育提供了理论依据。 运用RAPD分子标记技术，对5个羊栖菜的种群中共125个个体进行了分析，从300个引物中筛选出12条随机扩增引物共扩增135个位点，多态位点比率为84.4%。从中选择了4个多态性位点，构建了5种羊栖菜DNA指纹图谱，并获得了“鹿丰1号”SCAR标记。另外，进行了5种羊栖菜种群的遗传背景的分析，结果表明“鹿丰1号”与品系2可以明显的与野生种群分开。根据Dice常数计算所得的5个种群的遗传距离在0.1116-0.2563之间。 运用ISSR分子标记技术，对5个种群的125个羊栖菜个体进行分析，通过90条引物的筛选，获得10条ISSR引物，扩增出92个位点，多态位点比率为67.4%。5个种群的遗传距离在0.0863-0.1454之间。 本研究以铜藻作为外群，通过2种遗传标记分析，证明铜藻与5种羊栖菜种群的遗传距离均远远大于其种群之间的遗传距离；另外，“鹿丰1号”不同年份的种群之间的遗传距离均为其中的最小值，相关结果对羊栖菜遗传选育和种质鉴定等有参考价值。

海带、裙带菜和羊栖菜的遗传分析

利用AFLP标记对海带在太平洋西北沿岸的6个主要栽培品系和6个野生地理隔离种群进行遗传多样性和亲缘关系分析。通过10对选择性引物总共检测到547个位点。在品系和种群水平，多态性位点比例（P），基因多样性（H）和香农指数（I）在大连野生种群中最高（P: 59.05%; H: 0.2057; I: 0.3062），而在连江栽培品系中最低（P: 9.87%; H: 0.0331; I: 0.0497）。在物种水平（即对所有品系和种群来说），P, H 和I 的值分别是85.01%，0.1948和0.3096。以个体间的相似系数（Dice）和种群间的遗传距离为基础，用非加权类平均法（UPGMA）分别构建个体和种群间的系统树图。AMOVA分析显示，大部分的遗传变异（60.21%）存在于品系和种群间，少部分（39.79%）存在于品系或种群内。遗传分化系数GST的值是0.6226，与FST的值（0.6021）非常接近，基因流（Nm）的值是0.1515，这三个值表明种群（品系）间存在高度的遗传分化。Mantel检验发现6个野生种群的遗传距离或遗传分化与地理距离呈正相关性（相关系数分别是r=0.8870, P=0.007 和 r=0.7962, P=0.011），符合“距离隔离（isolation by distance, IBD）”模型。总体来说，种群（品系）内的遗传多样性处于低到中等水平（大连种群除外），而它们之间的遗传分化程度非常高。 用AFLP和微卫星标记对裙带菜配子体克隆单一交配组合的孢子体后代的遗传一致性进行分析。在这项研究中，建立了2个配子体克隆单一交配系（M1和M2），2个自交系（S1和S2）并采集1个野生种群（W）。11组AFLP引物总共检测到318个位点。M1, M2, S1, S2 和W的多态性位点比例分别是4.7%，0.3%，17.9%，16.4%和36.5%。M1和M2个体间的遗传相似度（95.6-100%）要高于S1和S2（87.7-98.4%）以及W（81.5-92.1%）。在微卫星分析中，用了6个位点。M1在其中的5个位点基因型一致，而在Up-AC-2B2位点显示出不同的基因型。M2在所有6个微卫星位点的基因型都一致。而S1, S2和W都在2个以上的位点检测到不同的基因型。总之，AFLP与微卫星的分析结果一致，即配子体克隆单一交配组合的孢子体后代呈现高度遗传相似性，但也存在细微的差异。 对中国羊栖菜主产区浙江省洞头县的12个羊栖菜养殖品系的重要形态特征进行了比较研究，并利用AFLP技术对一个典型养殖种群的遗传多样性进行了分析。结果显示，这12个品系在全长、全湿质量、侧枝长、侧枝湿质量、侧枝密度等方面存在显著或极显著差异（P<0.05或P<0.01）。8组AFLP引物在这个典型养殖种群中扩增出198个片段，其中多态性片段为166个，多态性位点比例为83.8%。根据个体间的遗传距离，以UPGMA法构建了个体间的系统树图，27个羊栖菜个体聚为一枝，作为对照的铜藻为另一枝。本研究从形态和DNA分子水平说明了浙江洞头羊栖菜养殖种群具有高度遗传多样性。

Determination of free fatty acids in soil and bryophyte plants by precolumn derivatization via HPLC with fluorescence detection and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)

A sensitive method for the determination of 30 kinds of free fatty acids (FFAs, C-1-C-30) with 1-[2-(p-toluenesulfonate)-ethyl]-2-phenylimidazole-[4,5-f] 9,10-phenan- threne (TSPP) as labeling reagent and using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and identification by online postcolumn mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source in positive-ion mode (HPLC/MS/APCI) has been developed. TSPP could easily and quickly label FFAs in the presence of K2CO3 catalyst at 90 degrees C for 30 min in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent, and maximal labeling yields close to 100% were observed with a 5-fold excess of molar reagent. Derivatives were stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. TSPP was introduced into fatty acid molecules and effectively augmented MS ionization of fatty acid derivatives and led to regular MS and MS/MS information. The collision induced cleavage of protonated molecular ions formed specific fragment ions at m/z [MH](+)(molecular ion), m/z [M'+CH2CH2](+)(M' was molecular mass of the corresponding FFA) and m/z 295.0 (the, mass of protonated molecular core structure of TSPP). Fatty acid derivatives were separated on a reversed-phase Eclipse XDB-C-8 column (4.6 x 150 mm, 5 mu m, Agilent) with a good baseline resolution in combination with a gradient elution. Linear ranges of 30 FFAs are 2.441 x 10(-3) to 20 mu mol/L, detection limits are 3.24 similar to 36.97 fmol (injection volume 10 mu L, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, S/N 3:1). The mean interday precision ranged from 93.4 to 106.2% with the largest mean coefficients of variation (R.S.D.) < 7,5%. The mean intraday precision for all standards was < 6.4% of the expected concentration. Excellent linear responses were observed with correlation coefficients of > 0.9991. Good compositional data could be obtained from the analysis of extracted fatty acids from as little as 200 mg of bryophyte plant samples.Therefore, the facile TSPP derivatization coupled with HPLC/MS/APCI analysis allowed the development of a highly sensitive method for the quantitation of trace levels of short and long chain fatty acids from biological and natural environmental samples.