Current Biotechnology

Review on Drought Response in Plants from Phenotype to Molecular
SHEN Shaoyan1, WU Yuxiang1, ZHENG Yushan1,2*
2017, 7(3): 169-176. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0104
Abstract ( ) PDF (1180KB)( )

Drought stress is one of the major limitations to plant growth and development. In order to adapt to drought stress, responsive mechanism wolud be activated upon characteristic. The paper reviewed the reaserch progress of a series of mechanisms at the morphological, physiological, biochemical, cellular, and molecular levels to overcome water deficit or drought stress conditions. The paper also put forward prospect for the reaserch on the relationship between genetic and molecular mechanisms and drought resistance, which was expected to provided suggestions for futher research on stress resistance and genetic breeding.

Advance on Polled Trait of Bovine
GU Mingjuan, GAO Li, WANG Lirong, LI Guangpeng*
2017, 7(3): 177-181. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0131
Abstract ( ) PDF (3439KB)( )

Horns are the distinctive feature of Bovidae family. However, these appendages have been undesirable in the modern cattle industry because they can lead to human injuries, but cattle dehorning can lead to economic losses and go against with the animal welfare. So more attention are focused on the polled trait. In this paper, we reviewed the morphological and occurrence regularity of horn, the natural hornless and scurs trait. We also summarized the gene mutations related to the hornless and scurs, and the progress of biotechnology cultivation of hornless cattle. At last, the research direction of the occurrence mechanism of horn traits was prospected.

Current Status of Vascular Stem/progenitor Cells
LU Tengfei, PEI Wenhua, WU Yangnan, MA Yuehui*, GUAN Weijun*
2017, 7(3): 182-186. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0115
Abstract ( ) PDF (1121KB)( )

There are four major populations of vascular-resident stem/progenitor cells, namely mesenchymal stem cells, smooth muscle progenitor cells, endothelial progenitor cells and pericytes, they have highly proliferative potential and differentiated clonogenic. Stem/progenitor cells can be fixed in a certain part of the vessels or enter in the peripheral circulation, and these cells in the vascular wall play an important role in post-injury angiogenesis and vascular regeneration after birth. This paper introduced the source, distribution and biological characteristics of these progenitor cells, and the impact on these progenitor cells in cardiovascular pathological conditions. And an overview about the complexity of the distribution and biological characteristics of these vascular stem/progenitor cells under pathological conditions was described. Finally, the role of vascular stem/progenitor cells was confirmed, and the prospect for future research was described.

Review on Influence Factors of Selenium Levels in Human Hair
ZHANG Minming1,2, YUAN Linxi1,2,3*, YIN Xuebin1,2,3*, QIN Liqiang2,4
2017, 7(3): 187-192. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0123
Abstract ( ) PDF (1248KB)( )

Hair is usually to be employed to assess the Se status in human since it is easy to be collected, noninvasive and safe. This review focused on the factors affecting human hair Se levels, including daily Se intake, body health status, gender, age, which was expected to provide scientific reference for human hair Se monitoring.

Progress on Effects of Weightlessness or Simulated Weightlessness on Brain Functions
LU Zixin, XIE Fei, LV Baobei, ZHAO Pengxiang, SHANG Lei, MA Xuemei*
2017, 7(3): 193-197. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0083
Abstract ( ) PDF (1095KB)( )

A series of physiological and mentality changes would take place in many organs and bodily systems of organism under the conditions of weightlessness or simulated weightlessness. Given the brain “central controller” role and its basic function of executive control was motion, sensation, cognition, emotion and memory. The damage of brain function could affect the accomplishment of space mission and the progress of space career. Thus, the influence of weightlessness or simulated weightlessness to brain plays an important role in the research of aerospace medicine. The research progress on the influence of weightlessness or simulated weightlessness to brain function was reviewed in this paper, and the mechanism was demonstrated through its effect on nervous system and vascular, which was expected to provide reference for related research on reduction influences of weightlessness or simulated weightlessness to brain.

Progress on Methane Production from Bio-syngas Catalytic Synthesis
DONG Ming, FENG Fei*, SHI Ling, TANG Jun, WEI Long
2017, 7(3): 198-202. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0082
Abstract ( ) PDF (1089KB)( )

The increasing supply and demand of natural gas prompts people to search new resources of natural gas. As a result, the technology of synthetic natural gas production from biomass thermo-chemical conversion has aroused great concerns, among which the methane production from bio-syngas catalytic synthesis is one of the key steps. The latest development and research on the technology of bio-syngas catalytic methanation was summarized on the perspective of methanation reactors and catalysts, the development status of methanation catalysts was also described. The challenges of the technology of bio-syngas catalytic methanation were analyzed and the suggestions for the development were pointed out in the end.

Research on Enhancing the Biomass of Transgenic Tobacco by Overexpression of Zmsh1 Gene from Maize
GU Hanxue1,2, LIU Yue1, CHEN Ziqi3, LIU Yanzhi2, LIU Xiangguo2, HAO Dongyun1,2*
2017, 7(3): 203-210. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2017.0008
Abstract ( ) PDF (3361KB)( )

Sucrose synthetase (SuSy) is a crucial enzyme family regulating sucrose metabolism in plants. SH1 is one of the subtypes of SuSy in maize, and its encoding gene (Zmsh1) plays a major role in the catalytic activity of SuSy. Thus, the evaluation of Zmsh1 in biotech breeding has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. In this study, we transformed Zmsh1 into tobacco by Agrobacterium-mediated method. The results showed that, enzyme activity of SH1 in the transgenic events exhibited an average of 35% higher than the wild type, and contents of the key metabolites such as sucrose and fructose increased about 23% and 28% respectively in the root and stem of the transgenic events. At the meantime, the transformation of Zmsh1 significantly enhanced the biomass of transgenic tobacco. This preliminary study provided important reference for proving concept of Zmsh1 in maize biotech breeding.

Study on Composition and Diversity of Rhizospheric Microbial Community from Panax notoginseng#br#
FU Lina1, WEI Lanfang1, WANG Zhenshuo2, LIU Feng2, LI Miao2, JI Guanghai1*
2017, 7(3): 211-216. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0124
Abstract ( ) PDF (1267KB)( )

Panax notoginseng is a famous rare medicinal herbs, which has a variety of medicinal functions. Because of continuous cropping, its yield and quality are greatly affected. This research studied the polymorphism of the microbial community about the Panax notoginseng rhizosphere soil (planted for two years, planted for three years, planted healthy plants and planted susceptible disease), aimed to reveal the relationship among them. Based on different carbon and nitrogen sources utilization in microbial communities, we used Biolog ecological culture plate to culture different microorganism in rhizosphere soil, cultured for 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, 120 h, 144 h and 168 h to assess the changes of metabolic level. In different planted years and healh status, we also made a comparative analysis of organic matter soil fertility properties. Research results showed that: Rhizosphere soil of healthy Panax notoginseng and susceptible disease were great different, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium content, physiological activity and soil microbial communities in rhizosphere soil of healthy Panax notoginseng were higher than the susceptible disease soil; organic matter soil fertility properties changed in Panax notoginseng soil, especially the soil microbial metabolism were reduced and microbial structure became single. Through the research, it can provide some edapholoy scientific information and theoretical basis on overcoming continuous cropping obstacles.

The Potential Initial Translation Mechanisms for Human Irisin Precursor FNDC5
XU Xiaolan, TAN Jun, SUN Xiao*
2017, 7(3): 217-224. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0121
Abstract ( ) PDF (5922KB)( )

Irisin, identified water soluble polypeptide fragments, also called muscle factor, has been shown to be secreted from fibronectin type III domain containing protein 5 (FNDC5) of skeletal muscle by an unknown protease, promotes the white adipose tissue convert to brown adipose tissue, closely associated with diabetes. In this paper we investigated the initiated translation mechanism of human Irisin precursor proteins FNDC5. In order to determine the initiated translation site of human Irisin precursor FNDC5, we investigated the Top 20 FNDC5 homologous sequences by evolutionary analysis and motif identification. Then, we analyzed the sequence and function of the non-ATG translation initiation in common by GO enrichment, hairpin structure and context analysis, which explained the features of ATA translation initiation. The results showed that: Compared with other species, the initiator codon of human Irisin precursor proteins FNDC5 is ATA. Human genome non-ATG-initiated translation has context preference that the purine -3 position (A/G) and guanidine +4 (C) position and special location of the hairpin structure. However, the context of the different initiation codon have different preferences. The function of human genome-wide non-ATG protein focus on metabolic process, biological regulation, nucleotide transcription factors, linking, etc, which are regulatory proteins. Results indicated that, human Irisin precursor proteins FNDC5 initiated translation have potential optimal ATA context, which might be a unique non-ATG initiated translation mechanism. Proteins, non-ATG initial translation in human, which may play an important role in the regulation of human metabolization.

Alteration of Myocardial Macrophage Polarization Marker Proteins After Rat Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock
LU Yan1, CHEN Ying2, LU Qingming1, ZHANG Ying1, LI Zhaohui1, XIE Xiaohua1*
2017, 7(3): 225-229. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0117
Abstract ( ) PDF (8293KB)( )

In order to study on the change rule of myocardial macrophage polarization biomarker based on the rat traumatic hemorrhagic shock model, adult Wistar male rats were chosen, and randomly divided into control, 1 hour trauma, 2 hours trauma, 4 hours trauma, 8 hours trauma,16 hours trauma, 24 hours trauma and 48 hours trauma groups (ten rats per group), and rat traumatic hemorrhagic shock model was established based on mechanical impact method followed with rats behavior recorded. After modeling, rats were killed, and myocardial tissue was collected to perform immunohistochemistry (IHC) on the M0, M1, M2-type macrophage biomarkers, including CD68, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase-1 (ARG-1), respectively. Results showed that, CD68 expression level was significantly increased with modeling time prolonging, and reached to the peak value at 24 hours after modeling, and gradually decreased at 24 hours to 48 hours after modeling. Meanwhile, iNOS expression level was detected at 16 hours after modeling, and gradually increased at 16 hours to 48 hours after modeling. Similarly, the expression level of ARG-1 was detected at 16 hours, and rapidly increased at 16 hours to 48 hours. The results suggested that the rat traumatic hemorrhagic shock model was correctly established using mechanical impact method, and the expression level of macrophage polarization biomarkers were significantly changed with modeling time prolonging, and provided a significant reference for the study of myocardium traumatic hemorrhagic shock, and exhibited a certain application value in clinic.

Establishment of Immune Aging Index of Caenorhabditis elegans
BAI Zhihui§, WANG Yan§, ZHANG Rili, XU Weiheng, ZHANG Junping*
2017, 7(3): 230-235. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0154
Abstract ( ) PDF (2332KB)( )

Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism to study aging. However, it lacks an index of immuno-aging. In this study, through establishing C. elegans-Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model, the relationship between anti-infective immune ability and aging of C. elegans was studied, and an index of C. elegans immuno-aging was established. Firstly, infection model was established using P. aeruginosa to infect C. elegans. C. elegans in different degrees of aging were used in the infection model to investigate the relationship between survival time and degree of aging. The survival time after infection was used as an anti-infective immuno-aging index. The data of immuno-aging index was compared with the data of antioxidant capacity and the lifespan. The results indicated that with the aging of C. elegans (7 d, 14 d and 21 d old), the survival time of infected C. elegans decreased sequentially, which was consistent with the decline of their antioxidant capacity. Compared with wildtype, daf-2 mutation C. elegans with long lifespan exhibited longer survival time after infection, while daf-16 mutation C. elegans with short lifespan exhibited shorter survival time with infection. The results of anti-infective immuno-aging index were in accordance with the data of lifespan index. Tyrosine, a compound with anti-aging activity, prolonged the survival time of C. elegans after infection. Collectively, C. elegans-P. aeruginosa infection model can be used to evaluate the immuno-aging of C. elegans. The survival time of C. elegans after infection can be used as an index to indicate immuno-aging of C. elegans.

Effect of Composite Microbial Agents on Transplant of Cinnamomum camphora Seedings and Nursery Soil
DING Liping1, SUN Weihong2, LI Pengfei2
2017, 7(3): 236-240. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0108
Abstract ( ) PDF (1188KB)( )

In order to study the effect of composite microbial agents on transplant and growth of Cinnamomum camphora seedings, we conducted a comparative test—with and without composite microbial agents in transplanting C. camphora. The results showed that the survival rate of plants in the test group was 30.0% higher than those in the control group. The height increment was 12.71% higher than those in the control group. The contents of N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg were 28.81%, 12.75%, 12.04%, 19.63%, 16.86%, 23.64% higher than those in the control group. Meanwhile the contents of soluble sugar, chlorophyll and proline were increased by 8.85%, 11.13% and 10.45%. Available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium of the soil with composite microbial agents were increased by 29.11%, 118.31% and 11.79%, DOC and MBC content significantly increased, the respiration enhanced. It was proved that composite microbial agents could improve the content of soil available N, P and K, and also be beneficial to the accumulation and absorption of nutrient elements, the main elements and compounds of C. camphora, and promote the development of the growth of C. camphora seedlings after transplanting.

Cadmium Adsorption Characterization of Cadmium-resistant Fungal Strain Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p
MA Lianying, LONG Meirong, FENG Guangda, ZHU Honghui*
2017, 7(3): 241-246. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0091
Abstract ( ) PDF (1284KB)( )

The paper studied the adsorption effect of cadmium and influence factors by a high cadmium-resistant fungal strain (Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p). The results showed that the optimal culture of Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p was obtained at 108 hours. The elimination rates of Cd²⁺ in the media showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increasing of pH, culture temperature and culture time. The optimal conditions to Cd²⁺+ adsorption by Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p were at pH 3.5 and 30℃ after 108 h. Growth of Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p was not significantly influenced by the Cd²⁺ concentration in the media. The elimination rates of Cd²⁺ decreased with the increasing of initial Cd²⁺ concentrations when Cd²⁺ concentrations>35.2 mg/L. Therefore, cadmium adsorption by Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p were significantly influenced by pH, culture temperature, culture time and initial Cd²⁺ concentration. All these factors should be considered in application of Paecilomyces lilacinus 6-20p.

Optimization of Extraction of Water-soluble Selenium-containing Protein from Se-enriched Maitake by Response Surface Methodology
DENG Chunmeng1, LI Qian2, WANG Wei2, ZHANG Weijie2, YU Ping3, MAO Guanghua1*, ZHAO Ting3, FENG Weiwei1, YANG Liuqing3, WU Xiangyang1*
2017, 7(3): 247-252. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2016.0157
Abstract ( ) PDF (2102KB)( )

The research aimed to optimize the extraction technology of water-soluble selenium-containing protein from selenium-enriched maitake. Based on the single factor experiments, extraction conditions including extraction temperature, extraction time and liquid-solid ratio were optimized using response surface methodology taking Se-containing protein extraction rate as responses value. The mathematical model was established. The extraction conditions were optimized. The optimal conditions were as follows: the extraction temperature was 42.3℃, extraction time was 7.8 h, and the ratio of material to water was 1∶23.9 (g/mL). In these conditions, the yield and content of se-containing protein were 4.36% and 44.01%, respectively. The experiment results of extraction ratio fit well with theoretical values. Furthermore, the established regression model can be used to predict extraction yield of selenium-containing protein in actual process.

Study on the Extraction and Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity of Urease from Soybean Dregs
ZHANG Tiejun1, SHI Yuanyuan1, KONG Lingyi2, CAO Lanxiao2, ZHOU Jiaqing3
2017, 7(3): 253-257. DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2017.0005
Abstract ( ) PDF (1235KB)( )

The research of extracting urease from soybean dregs was carried out in order to expand the way of urease localization. The research had established a full set of extracting urease from soybean dregs. By use of the method of salting out and organic solvent precipitation, the urease in the soybean dregs was extracted and refined through experiments of extraction and centrifuging, etc., and its yield rate was 0.1%. Meanwhile, the optimum condition of urease extracting was determined: the optimum extracting temperature was 50℃, the optimum acetone concentration was 50%, and the most suitable pH value was 7.0. By the principle of Nessler’s reagent colorimetric method, it was tested that the value of Michaelis constant (Km) was 4.11×10-2 mol/L and the value of enzyme activity in the urease solution of 1 mL was 18.63 U under the optimum conditions. Extracting urease from soybean dregs not only solves the problem of urease localization, but also improves the added value of soybean dregs. The result of the research brings good industrial values and economic benefits.

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