• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2018

Ocean warming can have significant negative impacts on population genetic diversity, local endemism and geographical distribution of a wide range of marine organisms. Thus, the identification of conservation units with high risk of extinction becomes an imperative task to assess, monitor, and manage marine biodiversity for policy-makers. Here, we surveyed population structure and genetic variation of the red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla along the coast of China using genome-based amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) scanning. Regardless of analysis methods used, AFLP consistently revealed a south to north genetic isolation. Populations at the southern coast of China showed unique genetic variation and much greater allelic richness, heterozygosity, and average genetic diversity than the northern. In particular, we identified a geographical barrier that may hinder genetic exchange between the two lineages. Consequently, the characterized genetic lineage at the southern coast of China likely resulted from the interplay of post-glacial persistence of ancestral diversity, geographical isolation and local adaptation. In particular, the southern populations are indispensable components to explore evolutionary genetics and historical biogeography of G. vermiculophylla in the northwestern Pacific, and the unique diversity also has important conservation value in terms of projected climate warming.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2011

The hrp gene cluster in the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae is a key determinant of pathogenicity. Recent studies have demonstrated that specific host cell induction of the Ralstonia solanacearum hrp gene cluster is controlled by the PrhA (plant regulator of hrp) receptor. To characterize the role that P. syringae PrhA plays in the virulence of plant cells, a prhA homolog was isolated from P. syringae pv. tabaci and a $\Delta$prhA mutant was constructed by allelic exchange. The $\Delta$prhA mutant had reduced virulence in the host plant, and co-culture of P. syringae pv. tabaci and plant cell suspensions induced a much higher level of hrpA gene transcription than culture in hrp-inducing minimal medium. These results indicate that PrhA of P. syringae is a putative pathogen-plant cell contact sensor, therefore, we used a hrpA-gfp reporter fusion to monitor the in situ expression of PrhA. The results of this study demonstrated that PrhA induces hrp gene expression in P. syringae pv. tabaci in the presence of plant cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

Oligopeptide is known to be an essential nitrogen nutrient for bacterial growth. Oligopeptide can be transported into cytoplasm by a specific transport system, Opp system. Opp system is composed of five proteins, which are transcribed by an operon. These are responsible for oligopeptide binding protein (OppA), permease (OppB and OppC) and energy generation system (OppD and OppF), respectively. Previously, we isolated the opp operon from Vibrio fluvialis and constructed the oppA mutant by allelic exchange method. In this study, we investigated the growth pattern and biofilm production under the different growth condition. When the cells were cultivated using brain heart infusion(BHI) medium, the wild type was faster than the mutant in growth during the exponential phase. However, it showed that the growth pattern of two strains in M9 medium is very similar. The growth of wild type showed better than that of the mutant grown at pH 8. At pH 7, there was no an obvious difference in growth. After 5 mM $H_2O_2$ was treated to the cells $(OD_{600}=1.2)$, the cell survival was examined. The oppA mutation did not affect in survivability. In the presence of $10{\mu}g/ml$ polymyxin B, the biofilm production of the oppA mutant was higher than that of the wild type.