Phytohalomonas tamaricis gen. nov., sp. nov., an endophytic bacterium isolated from Tamarix ramosissima roots growing in Kumtag desert.

A gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium strain R4HLG17T was isolated from Tamarix ramosissima roots growing in Kumtag desert. The strain grew at salinities of 0-16% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 5-6%), pH 5-9 (optimum 7) and at 16-45 °C. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain R4HLG17T belonged to the family Halomonadaceae and was most closely related to Halomonas lutea DSM 23508T(95.1%), followed by Halotalea alkalilenta AW-7T(94.8%), Salinicola acroporae S4-41T(94.8%), Salinicola halophilus CG4.1T(94.6%), and Larsenimonas salina M1-18T(94.4%). Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on the partial sequences of 16S rRNA, atpA, gyrB, rpoD, and secA genes indicated that the strain R4HLG17T formed an independent and monophyletic branch related to other genera of Halomonadaceae, supporting its placement as a new genus in this family. The draft genome of strain R4HLG17T was 3.6 Mb with a total G + C content of 55.1%. The average nucleotide identity to Halomonas lutea DSM 23508T was 83.5%. Q-9 was detected as the major respiratory quinone and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c), and C16:0 as predominant cellular fatty acids. On the basis of chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic, and phenotypic evidence, strain R4HLG17T is concluded to represent a novel species of a new genus within Halomonadaceae, for which the name Phytohalomonas tamaricis gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is R4HLG17T (=ACCC 19929T=KCTC 52415T).

The protein elicitor Hrip1 enhances resistance to insects and early bolting and flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The elicitor Hrip1 isolated from necrotrophic fungus Alternaria tenuissima, could induce systemic acquired resistance in tobacco to enhance resistance to tobacco mosaic virus. In the present study, we found that the transgenic lines of Hrip1-overexpression in wild type (WT) Arabidopsis thaliana were more resistant to Spodoptera exigua and were early bolting and flowering than the WT. A profiling of transcription assay using digital gene expression profiling was used for transgenic and WT Arabidopsis thaliana. Differentially expressed genes including 40 upregulated and three downregulated genes were identified. In transgenic lines of Hrip1-overexpression, three genes related to jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis were significantly upregulated, and the JA level was found to be higher than WT. Two GDSL family members (GLIP1 and GLIP4) and pathogen-related gene, which participated in pathogen defense action, were upregulated in the transgenic line of Hrip1-overexpression. Thus, Hrip1 is involved in affecting the flower bolting time and regulating endogenous JA biosynthesis and regulatory network to enhance resistance to insect.

Application of lipidomics to reveal differences in facial skin surface lipids between males and females.

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare differences in facial skin surface lipids (SSL) between 18- to 25-year-old males and females. METHODS: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology was used to measure the facial SSL composition of 18- to 25-year-old males and females. Measurement results were combined with the orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model for analysis and comparisons, and differences in lipids with significance were selected. RESULTS: There were significant differences in facial SSL composition between 18- to 25-year-old males and females. Under selected conditions, 37 types of lipids with significant differences were obtained (P ≤ .05). All of them had higher content in females, and primarily included ceramides (Cers), glucosylceramide (GlcCer), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and others. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in facial SSL between 18- to 25-year-old males and females.

Advancements in the maintenance of skin barrier/skin lipid composition and the involvement of metabolic enzymes.

The human skin barrier has an important role in protection and defense, reflected not only in the ability to resist entry of harmful substances into the human body, but also in the ability to prevent loss of water and nutrients. Once the skin barrier is damaged, the skin may become dry, scaly, and wrinkled, and a series of skin problems may occur. In this article, we review the composition of lipids, such as ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids, in the skin and examine the expression of enzymes related to lipid metabolism, such as kallikreins, elongase of elongation of very long-chain fatty acids, hydrolases, and lipid synthases. Additionally, we discuss the involvement of these proteins in skin barrier function and structure. The information presented in this review is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the development of skin care products facilitating the maintenance and repair of skin barrier function.

[Preliminary Studies on the Relationship Between Meiosis of Pollen Mother Cells and Pollen Abortion of Aloe arboresense Mill.].

The main reason for pollen abortion in Aloe arboresens Mill. was studied through the observation of meiosis and the microspore development of its pollen mother cells(PMCs). There are 14 chromosomes in the PMC of Aloe arboresens Mill., containing four pairs of long chromosomes and three pairs of short ones, and this karyotype belongs to dichotocarpism. Abnormalities observed were fallen into four categories:(1) Univalents, they were caused by failure in pairing, asynapsis and precocious cancellation of terminal chiasma. Oriented univalent pair was distributed at two poles normally in anaphase, while non-oriented univalent pair only at one pole. Another factor leading to univalents was that chromosomes were paired but without substantial exchange. (2) Multivalents. They might be produced by translocation heterozygote.(3) Chromosome bridges. There were three kinds of bridges in anaphase I and anaphase II: single and double chromosome bridge as well as "diagonal bridge".(4) A few cells were found with lagged chromosomes, micronuclei and unbalanced segregation of the chromosomes. In the later stages of meiosis, well-spread chromosomal configurations were rare because of the extremely sticky nature of the chromosome. The number and ratio of abnormalities were analysed and the relationship between abnormalities and pollen sterility were discussed. It is concluded that the sticky nature of the chromosome is the main reason for abnormal meiosis of Aloe arboresens Mill.PMC and pollen sterility. More than 90% of matured pollen grains were sterile.

PCR-based screening BAC library and direct end sequencing of BAC clones.

A PCR based strategy was developed which required four steps to identify positive BAC clones from barley BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) library. In the protocol, two levels of BAC DNA pools (super-pool and pool) were prepared for analysis. One pool is made of one plate DNAs and one super-pool is made of mixing ten consecutive 1/100 diluted pool DNAs (1 approximately 10, 11 approximately 20 ect). First,super-pool DNAs were analysed and then 10 pool DNAs contained in every positive super-pool were analysed. Once positive BAC plates were identified,the bacterial cultures were dipped into PCR mixtures and reaction is made to identify positive BAC clones. The BAC clones identified by each marker were grouped into contigs. BAC-end sequence was obtained from BACs within each contig and primers were designed for the next step chromosome walking. In case of the BAC ends belong to repetitive sequence, the primers were designed based on the subcloned unique band in the contig (identified by Hind III digestion pattern). This method allows us to construct the BAC contig without the costly and time-consuming efforts, and no radioactivity harmful to the body.