青稞B组醇溶蛋白基因与上游调控区的克隆及基因表达

高等植物种子胚乳贮藏蛋白是种子发芽时的主要氮源，也是人类和动物食用植物蛋白的主要来源。大麦种子胚乳贮藏蛋白主要是醇溶蛋白（hordeins），占大麦胚乳总蛋白的50–60%。根据大麦醇溶蛋白的大小和组成特点，大麦醇溶蛋白被划分为三种类型：富硫蛋白亚类(B，γ-hordeins)、贫硫蛋白亚类（C-hordeins)以及高分子量蛋白亚类(D-hordeins)。B组和C组醇溶蛋白是大麦胚乳的两类主要贮藏蛋白，它们分别占大麦总醇溶蛋白成分的70–80%和10–12%。遗传分析表明，大麦B、C、D���γ-组醇溶蛋白分别是由位于大麦第五染色体1H（5）上的Hor2、Hor1、Hor3和Hor5位点编码。Hor2位点编码大量分子量相同但组成不同的B组醇溶蛋白（B-hordein）。B-hordein的种类、数量和分布是影响大麦酿造、食用及饲养品质的重要因素之一。为深入了解B-hordein基因家族的结构和染色体组织，探明Hor2位点基因表达的发育调控机制，最终达到改良禾谷类作物籽粒品质的目的，本研究以青藏高原青稞为材料，采用同源克隆法，分别克隆B-hordein基因和启动子，通过原核生物表达验证B-hordein基因功能，并利用实时定量PCR探索B-hordein基因表达时空关系，取得如下研究结果： 1. 以具有特殊B组醇溶蛋白亚基组成的9份青藏高原青稞为材料，根据GenBank中三个B-hordein基因序列（GenBank No. X03103, X53690和X53691）设计一对引物，通过PCR扩增，获得23个B-hordein基因克隆并对其进行了序列分析。核苷酸序列分析表明，所有克隆均包含完整的开放阅读框。有11个克隆都存在一个框内终止密码子，推测这11个克隆可能是假基因。推测的氨基酸序列分析表明，所有大麦B-hordein具有相似的蛋白质基本结构，均包括一个高度保守的信号肽、中间重复区以及C-端结构域。不同大麦种重复区内重复基元的数目有较大差异。青稞材料Z07–2和Z26的B-hordeins仅具有12个重复基元结构，更接近于野生大麦。这些重复基元数目的差异导致了重复区序列长度和结构的变异。这种现象极可能是由于醇溶谷蛋白基因在进化过程中染色体的不平衡交换或复制滑动所造成的。对所克隆基因和禾本科代表性醇溶谷蛋白基因进行聚类分析，结果表明所有来自栽培大麦的B-hordeins聚类成一个亚家族，来自野生大麦的B-hordeins以及普通小麦的LMW-GS聚类成另外一个亚家族，表明这两个亚家族的成员存在显著差异。此外，我们发现B-hordein基因推测的C-末端序列具有一些有规律的特征：即具有相同C-末端序列的B-hordein基因在系统发生树中聚类为同一个亚组（除BXQ053，BZ09-1，BZ26-5分别单独聚为一类外）。这个特征将有助于我们对所有B组醇溶蛋白基因家族成员进行分类，避免了在SDS-PAGE电泳图谱上仅依靠大小分类的局限性。 2. 根据上述克隆的青稞B-hordein基因的5’端序列设计三条基因特异的反向引物，以青稞Z09和Z26的基因组DNA为模板，采用SON-PCR和TAIL-PCR技术分离克隆出8个B-hordein基因的上游调控序列（命名为Z09P和Z26P）。序列分析表明，推测的TATA box位于–80 bp，CAAT–like box位于–140 bp处。此外，Z09P和Z26P中有六个序列在–300 bp处均存在一个由高度保守的EM基序和类GCN4基序构成的胚乳盒(Endosperm Box，EB)，在约–560 bp处存在一个胚乳盒类似结构。而Z09P-2和Z26P-3不存在保守的胚乳盒或其类似结构，预示着这两个启动子所调控的基因表达可能受不同类型反式作用因子的调节，推测该启动子对基因的表达调控具有多样性。 3. 将B-hordein基因的开放阅读框定向克隆到表达载体pET-30a中，将其导入大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21中进行外源基因的诱导表达以验证所克隆基因的功能。结果表明仅含重组子pET-BZ07-2和pET-BZ26-5的BL21细菌有目的表达蛋白产生。在诱导3 h时的蛋白表达量最高；3 mM IPTG诱导的蛋白表达量要高于1 mM IPTG诱导的表达量。这为分离纯化B-hordein蛋白以及进一步研究其对大麦籽粒品质的影响奠定基础。 4. 根据从青稞Z09和Z26中分离克隆的B-hordein基因序列设计一对基因特异的引物，同时，选择大麦α-微管蛋白基因（GenBank no. U40042）为看家基因并设计特异引物，利用实时荧光定量PCR检测了青稞籽粒4个胚乳发育时间段的B-hordein基因表达，荧光定量结果显示：两份材料中B-hordein基因的表达量均随发育过程的进行而逐渐升高。Z09中B-hordein基因在开花后7天开始转录，而Z26开花4天后就有低水平B-hordein的表达，这表明Z26中B-hordein基因可能比Z09表达的较早或者Z09中B-hordein基因表达水平较低以致于不能被检测到。此外，在4个不同的胚乳发育时期中，Z26中B-hordein基因的表达量均高于Z09材料。在开花12天到18天的过程中，Z09和Z26中B-hordein基因的表达水平有一个急剧性的升高。这说明在不同胚乳发育时期，Hor2位点的B-hordein等位基因变异体存在mRNA的差异表达。 Seed endosperm storage proteins in higher plants are the main resources of nitrogen for germinating and plant proteins for human and animals. Barley prolamins (also called hordeins) are the major storage proteins in the endosperm and account for 50–60% of total proteins. Hordeins are classically divided into three groups: sulphur-rich (B, γ-hordeins), sulphur-poor (C-hordeins) and high molecular weight (HMW, D-hordeins) hordeins based on the size and composition. B-hordeins and C-hordeins are two major groups and each respectively account for about 70-80% and 10-12% of the total hordein fraction in barley endosperm. Genetic analysis showed that B-, C-, C-, γ-hordeins are encoded by Hor2, Hor1, Hor3 and Hor5 locus on the chromosome 1H (5). Hor2 locus is rich in alleles that encode numerous heterogeneous B-hordein polypeptides. It is reported that B-hordein species, quantity and distribution are significant factors affecting malting, food and feed quality of barley. To understand comprehensively the structure and organization of B-hordein gene family in hull-less barley and explore the developmental control mechanisms of Hor2 locus gene expression and eventually to better exploitation in crop grain quality improvement, we isolated and cloned B-hordein genes and promotors of hull-less barley from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by PCR, and testified their expression founction in bacteria expression system and explore their spatial and temporal expression pattern by quantitative real time PCR. Our results are as followed, 1. Twenty-three copies of B-hordein gene were cloned from nine hull-less barley cultivars of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with special B-hordein subunits and molecularly characterized by PCR, based on three B-hordein genes published previously (GenBank No. X03103, X53690 and X53691). DNA sequences analyses confirmed that the six clones all contained a full-length coding region of the barley B-hordein genes. Eleven clones all contain an in-frame stop codon and they are probably pseudogenes. The analysis of deduced amino acid sequences of the genes shows that they have similar structures including signal peptide domain, central repetitive domain, and C-terminal domain. The number of the repeats was largerly variable and resulted in polypeptides in different sizes or structures among the genes. Twelve such repeated motifs were found in Z07–2 and Z26, and they are close to those of the wild barleys, and it is most probably caused by unequal crossing-over and/or slippage during replication as suggested for the evolution of other prolamins. The relatedness of prolamin genes of barley and wheat was assessed in the phylogenetic tree based on their polypeptides comparison. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested that the predicted B-hordeins of cultivated barley formed a subfamily, while the B-hordeins of wild barleys and the two most similar sequences of LMW-GS of T. aestivum formed another subfamily. This result indicated that the members of the two subfamilys have a distinctive difference. In addition, we found the B-hordeins with identical C-terminal end sequences were clustered into a same subgroup (except BXQ053，BZ09-1 and BZ26-5 as a sole group, respectively), so we believe that B-hordein gene subfamilies possibly can be classified on the basis of the conserved C-terminal end sequences of predicted polypeptide and without the limit of SDS-PAGE protein banding patterns. 2. The specific primers were designed according to the published sequences of barley B-hordein genes from Z09 and Z26. Using total DNA isolated from them as the templates, eight clones (designated Z09Pand Z26P) of upstream sequences of the known B-hordein genes was obtained by TAIL-PCR and SON-PCR. Sequences analysis shows that the putative TATA box was present at position –80 bp and CAAT-like box at position –140 bp. Besides, a putative Endosperm Box including an Endosperm Motif (EM) and a GCN4-Like Motif was found at position –300 bp in six clones, and another Endosperm-like box was found at positon –560 bp. While the Endosperm Box or Endosperm-like box was not found in Z09P-2 and Z26P-3. This may indicate that gene expression drived by the two promtors was probably controlled by different trans-acting factors and the genetic control mechanism of corresponding gene expression may be diverse. 3. The B-hordein genic region coding for the mature peptide was cloned into expression vector pET-30a and transformed into bacterial strain BL21 for identifying gene expression fountion. Protein SDS–PAGE analysis showed that only the transformed lysate with the pET-BZ07-2 and pET-BZ26-5 constructs produced proteins related to B-group hordeins of barley, and the mounts of proteins induced by 3 mM IPTG and 3 h were higher than other conditions. This established a base for isolating and putifying B-hordein and further exploring their effects on barley grain quality. 4. The gene-specific primers of B-hordein genes from Z09 and Z26 were used for the quantification of B-hordein gene expression. The α-tubulin gene from Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare (GenBank accession number U40042) was used as a control gene. The result shows the transcription of the B-hordein genes in Z09 was found 7 days after flowering, while the transcription of the B-hordein genes in Z26 was found 4 days after flowering, but at a very low level, and it suggested that the B-hordein genes in Z26 probably expressed earlier than those in Z09, or the B-hordein genes in Z09 expressed at so a lower level than Z26 that it can not detected. In addition, B-hordein genes in Z26 accession showed higher expression levels than those in Z09 in four developing stages. Furthermore, a progressive increase in the expression levels of the B-hordein genes between 12 and 18 days after anthesis was observed in both Z09 and Z26. It implies that the B-hordein allelic variants encoded by Hor2 locus exist the differential expression in mRNA levels of during barley endosperm development.

Study of n=2, Delta n=0 transition of Be-, B-, C-, N- and O-like sequence in the beam-foil spectrum of titanium

The foil-excited the spectrum of highly stripped titanium ions between 12-40 nm has been studied. Titanium ions of 80 and 120 MeV were provided by the HI-13 tandem accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy. GIM-957 XUV-VUV monochromator was refocused to get highly-resolved spectra. Our experimental results and the published spectral data of laser-produced plasma show agreement in nearly all cases within +/- 0.03 nm. The spectra contained some weak or strong lines previously unclassified. These spectral lines mainly belong to 2s2p(2) for TiXVIII, 2p(3) for TiXVIII, 2s2p(3) for TiXVII, 2p(6)4p for Ti XII and 2p(6)3d for Ti XII transitions.

THERMODYNAMICS OF AMINO-ACID DISSOCIATION IN MIXED-SOLVENTS .3. GLYCINE IN AQUEOUS GLUCOSE SOLUTIONS FROM 5-DEGREES-C TO 45-DEGREES-C

The first thermodynamic dissociation constants of glycine in 5, 15 mass % glucose + water mixed solvents at five temperatures from 5 to 45-degrees-C have been determined from precise emf measurements of a cell without liquid junction using hydrogen and Ag-AgCl electrodes and a new method of polynomial approximation proposed on the basis of Pitzer's electrolytic solution theory in our previous paper. The results obtained from both methods agree within experimental error. The standard free energy of transfer for HCl from water to aqueous mixed solvent have been calculated and the results are discussed.

稻属Oryza officinalis复合体基因组研究－兼论基因组原位杂交的原理和方法

稻属（Oryza L.）属于禾本科稻族（Oryzeae Dumortier）。本属包括AA，BB，BBCC，CC，CCDD，EE，FF，GG，HHJJ和HHKK十个基因组，二十余种。其中Oryza officinalis复合体包括BB，BBCC，CC，CCDD和EE五个基因组，九个种。众多的学者对该复合体进行了广泛深入的研究，为后续研究奠定了坚实的基础。然而，迄今为止，多倍体物种形成问题许多没有解决，基因组间的关系尚未完全阐明，甚至有些多倍体物种的基因组组成仍未确认。 本文评述了Oryza officinalis复合体中基因组研究的历史和现状，用基因组原位杂位（GISH）的方法，对该复合体四倍体物种的基因组组成作了验证;对B，C，D���E四个基因组间的关系进行了研究。同时对基因组原位杂交的方法，原位杂交鉴定多倍体基因组的组成以及研究基因组间关系的方法作了一些探讨。其主要研究结果如下： 一. 原杂交方法的研究：1）染色体制片：比较研究了不同的制片方法，发现压片法适用于大染色体的材料;将酶解/空气干燥法（Fukui et al., 1992）加以改进后，特别适宜于小染色体植物材料的制片。2）根尖储存时间和条件对原位杂交的影响：发现在-20 ℃的酒精（70%）中储存8个月以内的根尖材料，可用于原位杂交;而在-20 ℃的固定液中储藏18个月的根尖，DNA降解严重，不能用于GISH。3）探针标记：比较了随机引物法、缺口平移法和两步标记法（先用随机引物标记后，再用缺口平移法进行标记的方法）的优缺点。结果显示两步标记法是最佳标记方法。 二. GISH鉴定异源多倍体的方法：用两个异源四倍体Oryza minuta和Scilla sinensis (2n = 34)做染色体制片，进行原位杂交实验，结果表明：1）用二倍体亲本基因组之一做探针而不用封阻DNA， 可以鉴别Oryza minuta而不能鉴别Scilla sinensis中的基因组。2）用一个二倍体亲本做探针而用另一个做封阻，能够区分Scilla sinensis的两个基因组;但过量的封阻DNA将可以造成一些实验假象。3）同时用两个亲本的DNA做探针，不仅能够有效分辨不同的基因组，还能够根据交叉杂交程度推测基因组间的分化程度，是鉴别异源多倍体最有效的方法。 三. GISH鉴定稻属四倍体的基因组组成：1）Oryza minuta, O. punctata和O. malampuzhaensis的基因组的组成都为BBCC。2）Oryza minuta中B基因组和二倍体O. punctata中的B基因组之间存在着明显的基因组内分化。3）O. alta是一个异源多倍体，其基因组组成为CCDD。但C和D���间的分化不彻底，可以认为它不是一个严格意义上的异源多倍体。 四. GISH研究B，C，D���E基因组间的关系：1）B基因组和C基因组之间的关系最远;E和C之间的分化同E和B之间的分化程度接近，但E和C之间的分化比E和D���间的分化要小一些;C和D���间的分化不彻底，关系最近。

不同施氮水平和杂草清除时间对半湿润地区农田氮素利用及产量的影响

在半湿润地区中等肥力土垫旱耕人为土上进行田间试验,通过对冬小麦不同生育期杂草和作物样品的采集与分析,研究不同施肥及杂草处理对氮肥肥效的影响。结果表明:作物吸氮量随施氮量增加而增加,杂草吸氮量随吸氮量增加而降低;在不同杂草处理全生育期不清除杂草(A)、越冬前清除杂草(B)、返青期清除杂草(C)和拔节期清除杂草(D)的各个处理中,A、B、C和D���草吸氮量分别占农田植物(作物+杂草)地上部分总吸氮量的1.98%、1.39%、3.99%和3.82%。籽粒产量随施氮量增加而增加,施氮量为135 kg N.hm-2时产量最高,达5 645.1 kg.hm-2,施氮量高于135 kg N.hm-2时,产量趋于稳定。氮肥利用率、氮肥利用效率、氮肥农学效率和氮肥生理效率均随施氮量增加而降低;从不同杂草处理看,以全生育期不清除杂草处理氮肥利用率最高,达到43.8%,返青期清除杂草处理氮肥利用率最低,为26.3%,二者间差异达显著水平;氮肥利用效率以越冬期清除杂草处理最高,为42.8 kg.kg-1N,全生育期不清除杂草处理最低,为40.6kg.kg-1N;氮肥生理效率以返青期清除杂草处理最高,为57.5 kg.kg-1N,显著高...

一种新的拓扑指数用于手性化合物的构效关系研究

为了研究羟酸类和氨基酸类手性化合物的构效关系,本实验引进了手性乘积算法:P=(1-b/a)(1-c/b)(1-a/c)(1-a/d),其中a、b、c和d���别为与分子中手性中心碳原子4个不同连接片断手性eAm指数和分子连接性指数mx的计算值,并考察了所得参数与羟酸类和氨基酸类化合物手性薄层色谱保留指数的相关性。为了评定所得预测模型的稳定性,文中运用了交叉验证法。结果表明,由人工神经网络方法(BP法)所得数学模型比较稳定,且明显优于多元回归分析结果。

利用~1H-核磁共振谱计算环化丁苯橡胶的环化度和溶剂参与量

对环化丁苯橡胶的1 H 核磁共振谱进行了归属分析 ,并推导出计算环化度和溶剂参与量的公式。设环化丁苯橡胶的1 H 核磁共振谱图中化学位移为 7 0 ,5 4,4 9和 3 0～ 0处的峰强度分别为A ,B ,C和D ,则环化丁苯橡胶中丁二烯总物质的量 (X) =(B +C +D - 2A) /7 1 ,未环化的丁二烯物质的量 (Y) =B/2 +C/4,参与反应的二甲苯物质的量 (Z) =( 1 7 5A -B -C -D) /46 5,环化度 (P) =1 -Y/X ,溶剂参与量 (W ) =91 6Z/X。

Comparison between compsopogon coeruleus and porphyra yezoensis in their O-2 evolution rates and phycobilisome composition

In order to investigate the possible effects of the ecological environment on photosynthetic activity and the major light harvesting complex, the oxygen evolution rates and composition of phycobilisome from marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and freshwater red alga Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis) Montagne, which could grow and reproduce under salinity up to 35 ppt, were studied. The results showed that the oxygen evolution rate of P. yezoensis in seawater was significantly higher than that of C. coeruleus in freshwater, and P. yezoensis tolerated inorganic ions at a relatively higher concentration than C. coeruleus. Moreover, the phycoerythrin (PE) of P yezoensis was R-phycoerythrin containing alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised phycoerythrobilin and phycourobilin. In contrast, the PE from C. coeruleus consisted of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised only phycoerythrobilin but not phycourobilin, suggesting that the PE from C. coeruleus was of a new type.

MADS-box基因在单子叶植物花发育中的功能研究

第一部分 水稻E类MADS-box 基因在花发育中的功能分析 MADS-box 基因是一个大的转录因子家族，在花发育过程中起重要作用。根据对双子叶模式植物拟南芥、金鱼草和矮牵牛遗传突变体的研究，提出了花发育的ABCDE模型。该模型认为：A、B、C、D���E代表了5类功能不同的花器官特征基因，单独或联合控制花器官的发育。A类基因控制萼片的发育;A、B和E类基因控制花瓣的发育;B、C和E类基因控制雄蕊的发育;C和E类基因控制心皮的发育;D���基因控制胚珠的发育;A和C类基因相互抑制。在这5类基因中，E类基因的功能较为复杂，它不仅是花器官特征基因，而且具有花分生组织决定性（Floral meristem determinency）。在单子叶植物中，E类基因的功能发生了很大的分化。水稻是单子叶植物的模式植物，水稻中至少有5个E类基因，分别是OsMADS1、OsMADS5、OsMADS7、OsMADS8和OsMADS34，在这5个E类基因中，除了对OsMADS1基因有较深入的研究外，对其它几个E类基因的功能了解甚少。我们在现有的研究基础上，根据对双子叶植物中E类基因的研究结果，以OsMADS8基因为出发点，利用组织原位杂交，RNAi技术对水稻中的E类基因进行了深入的研究。结果表明：OsMADS8/7基因早在花序枝梗分生组织原基就有转录，随着小穗的生长发育，逐渐集中在小穗分生组织原基，小花分生组织原基，浆片、雄蕊和心皮中表达;在胚珠形成时，内外珠被有很强的杂交信号，而且在幼胚和胚乳中也有表达。OsMADS5在幼花时期，四轮花器官均有表达，在小穗发育后期及受精后的表达方式与OsMADS8/7基因相同。OsMADS8基因被抑制后，转基因植株没有任何表型变化，说明很可能有其它E类基因弥补了OsMADS8基因的功能缺失;当同时抑制其它E类基因的表达时，转基因植株抽穗期明显延长，四轮花器官的发育均受到影响：稃片类似叶片状;浆片转变为稃片类的结构;雄蕊没有花粉;心皮具有了稃片的特点;没有胚珠结构的形成，同时失去了花分生组织决定性，在心皮的部位产生了新的花器官或花分生组织逆转为花序分生组织。说明水稻四轮花器官及胚珠的正常发育需要E类基因的参与，但其功能与双子叶植物如拟南芥，西红柿、矮牵牛等直系同源基因相比已经发生变化;水稻中的E类基因在维持花分生组织特征性方面起重要作用;另外对抽穗期有影响。 第二部分 玉米MADS-box基因ZAG2转录调控区的研究 基因的时空表达受基因中的顺式作用元件及其反式作用因子调控。顺式作用元件由位于基因编码区上游的启动子区域和位置不确定的增强子区域组成。顺式作用元件对基因表达的开启至关重要。MADS-box 基因编码一类控制花器官发育的转录因子，在花的发育过程中顺序表达。MADS-box 基因突变，花器官发生同源异型转换。研究MADS-box 基因的调控序列可以进一步揭示影响基因时空表达的内外因素。ZAG2是玉米MADS-box 基因中的D���基因，控制胚珠的发育，在胚珠和心皮的内表面特异表达。ZAG2基因有7个外显子和6个内含子。我们从玉米基因组分离到了ZAG2基因翻译起始点上游3040bp的序列，并利用5’-RACE方法鉴定出了转录起始点的位置。序列比较发现，在 5’-UTR内有一个1299bp的内含子，这个内含子可能对基因的表达有调控作用，因此构建了两个与GUS基因融合的表达载体：一个是pZAG2-1::GUS，包括翻译起始点以上所有的调控序列;另一个是pZAG2-2::GUS，去掉了5’-UTR中的内含子序列，转化水稻。结果这两个构建都没有使GUS基因在正确的位置表达。pZAG2-1::GUS构建在心皮基部类似花托的部位及稃片顶端着色，pZAG2-2::GUS构建在内外稃片沿稃脉的部位有很强的着色，说明翻译起始点上游的调控序列不足以使基因正常表达。两个构建着色方式不同，可能pZAG2-1::GUS构建在5’-UTR部分含有抑制ZAG2基因在稃片表达的顺式元件，或者启用了在5’-UTR中的转录起始点，因为在5’-UTR的内含子中也有一个很典型的TATA-box。我们推测，在ZAG2基因编码区的第一内含子可能存在另外一些使基因正常表达的增强元件，需要进一步的序列缺失实验加以验证。

利用夏季自然发情的云南黄牛进行奶牛胚胎移植效果研究

利用夏季自然发情的云南黄牛为受体,开展了奶牛体内冷冻胚胎移植.留用的114头受体牛中,本地黄牛59头,年龄在3～10岁,均为经产牛,最终移植27头,西杂牛56头(其中2岁以下的青年牛26头),移植29头(青年牛11头),两个品种受体利用率分别为45.8%和51.8%;移植后妊娠率分别为59.3%和55.2%;解冻的63枚胚胎移植给了56头受体牛,A级胚胎单独移植和B、C级胚胎搭配移植最终妊娠结果分别是58.5%(24/41)和53.3%(8/15);发情后第6 d���第7 d���植妊娠率分别为56%和58.1%.结果表明,1～10岁的西杂牛和3～10岁体型较大的本地黄牛均可作为受体移植奶牛胚胎;利用自然发情的云南黄牛做受体移植效果较为理想,是一种经济、方便、适合云南广大农村推广的技术途径;A级胚胎单独移植和B、C级搭配移植可获得较为理想的妊娠结果;处于发情后第6 d���第7 d���云南黄牛都可以作为桑囊期奶牛胚胎的移植受体.

Growth and characterization of InGaAs/InAlAs quantum cascade lasers

The growth and characterization of quantum cascade (QC) lasers based on InGaAs/InAlAs material system are investigated. Pronounced intersubband absorption from stacked active region of QC structure is used to monitor the wavelength of QC laser and disclose the material quality. The precise control of the epilayer thickness and the good quality of interfaces are demonstrated by the abundant narrow satellite peaks of X-ray diffraction. Laser action in quasi-continuous wave operation is achieved at lambda approximate to 5.1-5.2 mum up to 300 K. For 10 x 800 mum(2) laser device, peak output power of similar to7.2 mW and threshold current density of 3 kA/cm(2) at room temperature are obtained. For some devices, if keep the peak output powers at the similar to2 mW level, quasi-continuous wave operation at room temperature persists more than 1 h are recorded. (Q) (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Room temperature (34 degrees C) operation of strain-compensated quantum cascade lasers

A short wavelength (lambda similar or equal to 3.5 mu m) strain-compensated InxGa(1-x)As/InyAl(1-y)As quantum cascade laser is reported. Quasi-continuous wave operation of this device at 34 degrees C with an output power of 11.4mW persisted for more than 30 minutes without obvious degradation. A very low threshold current density of 1.2KA/cm(2) at this temperature was observed.

Optical properties of self-assembled ternary In(GA/Al)As quantum dots on (100) and (N 1 1)B InP substrates

In this paper, we investigated the self-assembled quantum dots formed on (100) and (N11)B (N = 2, 3, 4, 5) InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Two kinds of ternary QDs (In0.9Ga0.1As and In0.9Al0.1As QDs) are grown on the above substrates; Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) results confirm QDs formation for all samples. The PL spectra reveal obvious differences in integral luminescence, peak position, full-width at half-maximum and peak shape between different oriented surfaces. Highest PL integral intensity is observed from QDs on (411)B surfaces, which shows a potential for improving the optical properties of QDs by using high-index surface. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.