交替氧化酶在番茄种子萌发中的作用研究

交替氧化酶(AOX)是植物体线粒体抗氰呼吸途径的末端氧化酶。本研究表明,番茄种子吸水后,AOX及其介导的抗氰呼吸快速上升,并在第3天达到峰值。当用AOX抑制剂处理后,番茄种子萌发减慢,呼吸作用减弱,乙烯的释放量减少,活性氧(ROS)增多。此外,外施乙烯也能促进番茄种子的萌发,但不能促进AOX受抑制种子的萌发,表明乙烯对种子萌发的诱导作用依赖于AOX的表达。因此,本实验推测AOX在番茄种子萌发过程中起关键作用,并与调节ROS代谢及乙烯作用有关。     

脱落酸对水稻种子萌发及相关基因表达的影响

植物激素脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)调控着植物发育过程中的许多重要事件。实验以水稻(嘉育948)种子为材料,通过3种不同的外源ABA处理方法,观察萌发过程中根和芽的生长变化。结果表明,外源ABA对水稻种子的萌发率没有明显的影响,而对种子萌发过程中根和芽的生长速率具有显著的抑制作用(1A3A和1N3A);外源ABA对种子萌发过程中的抑制作用可部分逆转和恢复(1A3N);种子在低浓度的ABA中浸泡1d后再萌发,对根的生长有轻微的促进(1A3N)。通过RT-PCR和Northern杂交分析了水稻促有丝分裂原蛋白激酶5(OsMAPK5)、水稻酪蛋白激酶I1(OsCKI1)和β-葡糖苷酶2(BGLU2)3个基因在水稻种子萌发过程中(1A3A)转录水平上的表达差异,发现ABA抑制了这3个基因的表达,同时也影响了它们在根和芽中的表达模式。     

核糖核酸酶抑制因子对血管生成素功能的调控

血管生成素（angiogenin,ANG）能有效促进血管生成和肿瘤细胞增殖,在肿瘤发生发展中起重要作用.其主要分子机制是通过核转位和激活PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路,刺激rRNA转录和核糖体生成.ANG也被发现在肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）和帕金森病（PD）患者中存在基因编码区的功能突变,表明其在运动神经元生理方面发挥作用,其缺陷是神经退行性疾病的一个危险因素.核糖核酸酶抑制因子（ribonuclease inhibitor,RI）是胞内酸性蛋白质,由460个氨基酸残基组成,分子质量约为50 kD,当其与核糖核酸酶A（RNaseA）结合形成复合物后,可抑制RNaseA 的90％以上活性,从而有效调节细胞内RNA水平. ANG具有低核糖核酸酶活性, 是RNase超家族一员,与RNase A有着高度保守的同源顺序. 序列、结构和酶学等分析表明,RI也能够与ANG紧密结合,且得到体外实验的证明. 研究发现,RI具抑癌基因功能;RI与ANG在细胞内共定位;Co IP和GST pull down证实其相互作用,获取了RI与ANG在体内结合的直接证据;RI与AKT磷酸化表达负相关.在膀胱癌细胞及临床标本中证实了RI与 ANG和PI3K/AKT通路分子表达的相关性及与肿瘤细胞生长与转移的关系．在细胞和动物模型研究表明,RI调节ANG活性的功能及其分子机制,即RI通过结合ANG而封锁其核转位和调控PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路及其相关通路交互应答（cross talk）的能力,从而抑制肿瘤生长及转移. RI是一个有希望的抗肿瘤蛋白新药和血管生成抑制剂,可望成为基因治疗的靶基因.     

施用N、P、K肥后铜对小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长影响的研究

以不同质量浓度Cu处理下小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的状况为对照 ,研究增施N、P、K肥后 ,小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长所受到的影响。结果表明 :施加N、P、K肥有利于叶绿素的合成。在低质量浓度Cu( 2 0～80mg/L)条件下 ,施加N、P、K肥有利于增强小麦淀粉酶的活性 ,促进小麦种子的萌发 ,高质量浓度Cu( 1 5 0～3 0 0mg/L)条件下 ,施加N、P、K肥降低小麦淀粉酶活性 ,抑制小麦种子的萌发。施肥后 ,小麦脯氨酸含量较对照组均有所上升     

蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132的浓度对人白血病细胞K562凋亡的影响

探讨蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132 在诱导人白血病K562细胞凋亡过程中作用.分别以不同浓度的蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132 处理人白血病细胞K562,通过MTT法检测K562细胞活力,应用Annexin Ⅴ和PI 双染的细胞流式法检测K562细胞凋亡率和细胞内活性氧(ROS) 水平,应用酶标仪法检测K562细胞内Caspase- 3活性变化的情况.结果表明,随着MG132浓度的增加,各个指标与对照组比较差异均有显著性(P<0.05):K562细胞增殖明显受到抑制;细胞凋亡率明显增加,且当MG132浓度为900 nmol/L时,细胞凋亡率达36.5 %;同时,ROS 水平和caspase- 3活性明显升高.因次,蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132可显著抑制人白血病细胞K562增殖并促进其凋亡.     

小花草玉梅种子萌发过程中常见内源激素含量的变化及萌发机制

植物内源激素在调节种子休眠和萌发过程中具有极其重要的作用。本研究运用反式高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)与紫外检测器联用的方法对小花草玉梅干种子、吸胀种子和露白种子中的赤霉素GAs、脱落酸ABA、玉米素ZT和生长素IAA含量进行了检测,旨在研究植物内源激素水平在种子萌发过程中的变化是否直接关系着小花草玉梅种子在光照或黑暗条件下的萌发能力。结果显示,种子吸胀过程中,光照促进了ZT同时抑制了ABA的积累,并且ZT对ABA萌发抑制作用的解除也受光的促进,露白种子中的ABA/ZT,ABA/GAs和(ABA+IAA)/(GAs+ZT)水平在黑暗条件下高于光照条件,上述均是导致光照条件下种子萌发率较高的重要原因;相对于干种子,IAA含量在种子吸胀初期急速下降,(ABA+IAA)/(GAs+ZT)在种子萌发过程中有所降低,而ABA/GAs却表现出明显的上升趋势;各激素水平所受光照的影响均在种子开始露白时显著减弱,另外,吸胀第9天是小花草玉梅种子萌发过程中激素变化的一个关键的时间节点。总之,种子萌发并非直接关系着GA含量的升高和ABA含量的降低。因光照直接促进了小花草玉梅种子的萌发,本研究认为高寒草甸充足的光照和较强的太阳辐射通过调节种子内源激素水平在一定程度上对种子萌发过程中的休眠解除具有重要作用。     

蓝光对拟南芥种子萌发的影响

通过检测分析不同蓝光条件下,拟南芥野生型和蓝光受体突变体的种子萌发率发现,蓝光诱导拟南芥种子萌发,隐花素主要介导蓝光诱导拟南芥种子的早期（蓝光培养1—3d）萌发,并且与光照强度有关。施用GA生物合成抑制剂多效唑或嘧啶醇的研究结果表明,相同浓度的抑制剂对crylcry2突变体种子萌发的抑制作用比野生型强,并且解除抑制剂对crylcry2突变体种子萌发所需的外源有生物活性的GA,量也较野生型多。这些实验结果初步证实了隐花素介导蓝光诱导种子萌发,并且可能与蓝光下种子萌发过程中有生物活性的GA合成增加有关。     

三维土壤异质性对种子萌发影响的实验研究

三维土壤异质性对种子萌发影响的实验研究 种子萌发受其生长环境的影响，但土壤异质性对种子萌发的作用还不太清楚。本文通过控制实验研究了三维土壤异质性对草本植物种子萌发的影响，实验设置了两种水平的土壤异质性，即通过在花盆内的三维空间上相间填充营养丰富和贫瘠两种土壤来构建不同的土壤异质性水平。两种水平土壤异质性的斑块大小分别为7.5和15.0 cm。实验采用两种草本植物(黑麦草Lolium perenne和垂穗披碱草Elymus nutans)，每种植物选择大小一致的种子50粒，这些种子要么放在异质性土壤中萌发，要么放在培养皿中萌发。实验过程中，每天统计这些种子的萌发率。实验发现，斑块小的花盆内种子萌发率较低，这个结果与我们的预期相符，我们认为斑块小的花盆内，两种土壤斑块之间的间距较小，植物遭遇不同土壤斑块资源变动的几率较大，植物为了减小这种变动带来的不利影响，会倾向于降低萌发率和延迟萌发。我们的研究还发现，斑块小的花盆内种子萌发的变异性也较大，即与大斑块内的种子萌发率相比，小斑块内的种子萌发率在各重复间的差异性较大。与二维土壤异质性相比，三维土壤异质性更接近于真实情况，这样的土壤设置能够促进我们更好地理解土壤空间异质性对种子萌发等动态过程的影响.     

PI3K/AKT信号通路与心力衰竭

丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶(serine/threonine kinase,AKT)是真核细胞中参与细胞信号转导的关键分子。目前已经证实PI3K(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase,PI3K)/AKT信号通路在人类肿瘤、代谢紊乱、肾脏疾病以及精神障碍等疾病中发挥着重要的作用。近年来的研究还发现PI3K/AKT信号通路的激活会对心肌细胞的生长、代谢以及凋亡等活动产生影响,且该通路及其中的很多受体、激酶被证实与心力衰竭关系密切,这使该信号通路在心力衰竭的发病机制、诊断及治疗等方面的研究日益受到重视。总结PI3K/AKT的结构特点、相关信号转导机制及其与心力衰竭的关系将有利于更好地理解心力衰竭的发病机制。     

ROS与造血干细胞损伤研究进展

辐射可以通过引起造血干细胞（hematopoietic stem cell,HSC）内活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）系统水平升高导致HSC损伤。HSC损伤患者出现难治性血液系统疾病,严重影响患者生存质量,甚至威胁患者生命。ROS可以通过多种机制引起组织、器官和细胞损伤。ROS的来源包括：线粒体、NOX（NADPH oxidases）、细胞色素P450酶、黄嘌呤氧化酶、非偶联NO合酶。已证实HSC内ROS来源于NOX。ROS升高后影响HSC在成骨细胞微环境定位,导致HSC与微环境相互作用减弱,从而影响HSC功能。此外,ROS升高后通过激活P38MAPK-P16Ink4途径,损伤HSC自我更新能力,并且使HSC定向分化产生更多的髓系克隆而不是红细胞系克隆;P13K—Akt-mTOR途径可能也是ROS诱导HSC损伤途径。ROS对细胞周期影响为：促使HSC离开G0期进入细胞周期,导致干细胞池的耗尽。基于NOX在氧化还原信号传递过程中的重要作用,证实辐射通过NOX产生的ROS以及鉴定产生ROS的NOX亚型,这一工作会为临床靶向治疗辐射诱发的血液系统疾病提供重要的价值。     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase plays a vital role in regulation of rice seed vigor via altering NADPH oxidase activity

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) has been reported to be important in normal plant growth and stress responses. In this study, it was verified that PI3K played a vital role in rice seed germination through regulating NADPH oxidase activity. Suppression of PI3K activity by inhibitors wortmannin or LY294002 could abate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which resulted in disturbance to the seed germination. And then, the signal cascades that PI3K promoted the ROS liberation was also evaluated. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, suppressed most of ROS generation in rice seed germination, which suggested that NADPH oxidase was the main source of ROS in this process. Pharmacological experiment and RT-PCR demonstrated that PI3K promoted the expression of Os rboh9. Moreover, functional analysis by native PAGE and the measurement of the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazo-lium-5- carboxanilide (XTT) formazan concentration both showed that PI3K promoted the activity of NADPH oxidase. Furthermore, the western blot analysis of OsRac-1 demonstrated that the translocation of Rac-1 from cytoplasm to plasma membrane, which was known as a key factor in the assembly of NADPH oxidase, was suppressed by treatment with PI3K inhibitors, resulting in the decreased activity of NADPH oxidase. Taken together, these data favored the novel conclusion that PI3K regulated NADPH oxidase activity through modulating the recruitment of Rac-1 to plasma membrane and accelerated the process of rice seed germination.     

A role for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate in abscisic acid-induced reactive oxygen species generation in guard cells

Guard cells generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to abscisic acid (ABA), which leads to stomatal closing. The upstream steps of the ABA-induced ROS generation pathway remain largely unknown. In animal cells, ROS generation in neutrophils is activated by phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P). Stomatal guard cells contain PI3P and PI 3-kinase activity. In this study, we tested whether PI3P has a role in ROS generation in guard cells exposed to ABA. We found that PI 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin or LY294002 inhibited ABA-induced ROS generation and stomatal closing. Endosome-binding domain (of human EEA1), which specifically binds to PI3P, also inhibited ABA-induced ROS generation and stomatal closing when overexpressed in guard cells. Hydrogen peroxide partially reversed the effects of wortmannin or LY294002 on ABA-induced stomatal closing. These results support a role for PI3P in ABA-induced ROS generation and stomatal closing movement.     

Proanthocyanidins accelerate the germination of cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L.) seeds

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are the end products of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in many seeds, but their biological function is rarely unknown during seed germination. In the present study, we observed that PAs pretreatment accelerated cucumber seeds germination with maximum efficiency at 0.15% by measuring germination percentage and radical length. Using inhibitors of abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GA) and alternative oxidase (AOX) and H₂O₂ scavenger pretreatment and gene expression analysis, we found that the accelerated effect of 0.15% PAs on seed germination was due to the decreased ABA biogenesis and enhanced GA production. ROS are induced by PAs pretreatment. Then, the enhanced ROS contributed to GA and ethylene accumulation and ABA decrease in seeds. Moreover, the improvement of GA was involved in the further induction of antioxidant enzymes activities. Therefore, our findings uncover a novel role of PAs in seed germination and clarify the relationships between ROS, ABA, GA and ethylene during seed germination.     

Bile acid modulates transepithelial permeability via the generation of reactive oxygen species in the Caco-2 cell line

The barrier functions in epithelial and endothelial cells seem to be very important for maintaining normal biological homeostasis. However, it is unclear whether or how bile acids affect the epithelial barrier. We examined the bile acid-induced disruption of the epithelial barrier. We measured the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of Caco-2 cells as a marker of disruption of the epithelial barrier. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was also measured. Cholic acid (CA) decreased the TEER and increased intracellular ROS generation. PLA2 (phospholipase A2), COX (cyclooxygenase), PKC (protein kinase), ERK 1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), PI 3 K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase), p38 MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase), MLCK (myosin light-chain kinase), NADH dehydrogenase, and XO (xanthine oxidase) inhibitors or ROS scavengers prevented the CA-induced TEER decrease. PLA2, COX, PKC, NADH dehydrogenase, and XO inhibitors prevented the CA-induced ROS generation but not ERK 1/2, PI 3 K, p38 MAPK, and MLCK inhibitors. If the cells were treated with ROS generators such as superoxide dismutase, the TEER decreased. ERK 1/2, PI 3 K, p38 MAPK, and MLCK inhibitors prevent these ROS generators from inducing the TEER decrease. These results suggest that ROS play an important role. In addition, PLA2, COX, PKC, NADH dehydrogenase, and XO are located upstream of the ROS generation, but ERK 1/2, PI 3 K, p38 MAPK, and MLCK are downstream during the signaling of CA-induced TEER alterations.     

Roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in root hair growth

The root hair is a model system for understanding plant cell tip growth. As phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] has been shown in other plant cell types to regulate factors that affect root hair growth, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, cytoskeleton, and endosomal movement, we hypothesized that PtdIns(3)P is also important for root hair elongation. The enzyme that generates PtdIns(3)P, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), was expressed in root hair cells of transgenic plants containing the PI3K promoter:beta-glucuronidase reporter construct. To obtain genetic evidence for the role of PtdIns(3)P in root hair elongation, we attempted to isolate Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant plants that did not express the gene VPS34 encoding the PI3K enzyme. However, the homozygous mutant was lethal due to gametophytic defects, and heterozygous plants were not discernibly different from wild-type plants. Alternatively, we made transgenic plants expressing the PtdIns(3)P-binding FYVE domain in the root hair cell to block signal transduction downstream of PtdIns(3)P. These transgenic plants had shorter root hairs and a reduced hair growth rate compared with wild-type plants. In addition, LY294002, a PI3K-specific inhibitor, inhibited root hair elongation but not initiation. In LY294002-treated root hair cells, endocytosis at the stage of final fusion of the late endosomes to the tonoplast was inhibited and ROS level decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Surprisingly, the LY294002 effects on ROS and root hair elongation were similar in rhd2 mutant plants, suggesting that RHD2 was not the major ROS generator in the PtdIns(3)P-mediated root hair elongation process. Collectively, these results suggest that PtdIns(3)P is required for maintenance of the processes essential for root hair cell elongation.     

Oncogenic H-Ras enhances DNA repair through the Ras/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Rac1 pathway in NIH3T3 cells. Evidence for association with reactive oxygen species

This study investigated the role of oncogenic H-Ras in DNA repair capacity in NIH3T3 cells. Expression of dominant-positive H-Ras (V12-H-Ras) enhanced the host cell reactivation of luciferase activity from UV-irradiated and cisplatin-treated plasmids and also increased the unscheduled DNA synthesis following cisplatin or UV treatment of cells. This observed enhancement of DNA repair capacity was inhibited by transient transfection with dominant-negative H-Ras (N17-H-Ras) or Rac1 (N17-Rac1) plasmids. Moreover, stable transfection of dominant-positive Rac1 (V12-Rac1) further enhanced DNA repair capacity. Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be a downstream effector of oncogenic Ras, we examined the role of ROS in DNA repair capacity. We found that ROS production by V12-H-Ras expression was mediated by the Ras/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Rac1/NADPH oxidase-dependent pathway and that pretreatment of V12-H-Ras-transformed cells with an antioxidant (N-acetylcysteine) and an NADPH oxidase inhibitor (diphenyleneiodonium) decreased DNA repair capacity. Similarly, treatment with PI3K inhibitors (wortmannin and LY294002) inhibited the ability of oncogenic H-Ras to enhance DNA repair capacity. Furthermore, inhibition of the Ras/PI3K/Rac1/NADPH oxidase pathway resulted in increased sensitivity to cisplatin and UV in V12-H-Ras-expressing NIH3T3 cells. Taken together, these results provide evidence that oncogenic H-Ras activates DNA repair capacity through the Ras/PI3K/Rac1/NADPH oxidase-dependent pathway and that increased ROS production via this signaling pathway is required for enhancement of the DNA repair capacity induced by oncogenic H-Ras.     

Oxidative stress induced by P2X7 receptor stimulation in murine macrophages is mediated by c-Src/Pyk2 and ERK1/2

Background

Activation of ATP-gated P2X7 receptors (P2X7R) in macrophages leads to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by a mechanism that is partially characterized. Here we used J774 cells to identify the signaling cascade that couples ROS production to receptor stimulation.

Methods

J774 cells and mP2X7-transfected HEK293 cells were stimulated with Bz-ATP in the presence and absence of extracellular calcium. Protein inhibitors were used to evaluate the physiological role of various kinases in ROS production. In addition, phospho-antibodies against ERK1/2 and Pyk2 were used to determine activation of these two kinases.

Results

ROS generation in either J774 or HEK293 cells (expressing P2X7, NOX2, Rac1, p47phox and p67phox) was strictly dependent on calcium entry via P2X7R. Stimulation of P2X7R activated Pyk2 but not calmodulin. Inhibitors of MEK1/2 and c-Src abolished ERK1/2 activation and ROS production but inhibitors of PI3K and p38 MAPK had no effect on ROS generation. PKC inhibitors abolished ERK1/2 activation but barely reduced the amount of ROS produced by Bz-ATP. In agreement, the amount of ROS produced by PMA was about half of that produced by Bz-ATP.

Conclusions

Purinergic stimulation resulted in calcium entry via P2X7R and subsequent activation of the PKC/c-Src/Pyk2/ERK1/2 pathway to produce ROS. This signaling mechanism did not require PI3K, p38 MAPK or calmodulin.

General significance

ROS is generated in order to kill invading pathogens, thus elucidating the mechanism of ROS production in macrophages and other immune cells allow us to understand how our body copes with microbial infections.     

Pyrroloquinoline quinone rescues hippocampal neurons from glutamate-induced cell death through activation of Nrf2 and up-regulation of antioxidant genes

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) has been shown to protect primary cultured hippocampal neurons from glutamate-induced cell apoptosis by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling. We investigated the downstream pathways of PI3K/Akt involved in PQQ protection of glutamate-injured hippocampal neurons. Western blot analysis indicated that PQQ treatment following glutamate stimulation triggers phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, accompanied by maintenance of Akt activation. Immunostaining and quantitative RT-PCR revealed that PQQ treatment promotes nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and up-regulates mRNA expression of Nrf2 and the antioxidant enzyme genes, heme oxygenase-1 and glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic in glutamate-injured hippocampal neurons; this is a process dependent on the PI3K/Akt pathway, as evidenced by blocking experiments with PI3K inhibitors. In addition, increased ROS production and decreased glutathione levels in glutamate-injured hippocampal neurons were found to be reduced by PQQ treatment. Collectively, our findings suggest that PQQ exerts neuroprotective activity, possibly through PI3K/Akt-dependent activation of Nrf2 and up-regulation of antioxidant genes. However, the ability of PQQ to scavenge ROS was not totally regulated by PI3K/Akt signaling; possibly it is governed by other mechanisms.     

Induction of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated endocytosis by salt stress leads to intracellular production of reactive oxygen species and salt tolerance

Salt imposes immediate problems for plant cells, such as osmotic stress, impaired ion homeostasis and sodium toxicity, followed by a secondary oxidative stress caused by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we analyzed the production of ROS during salt stress. We show that salt stress triggered plasma membrane internalization, resulting in the production of ROS within endosomes. The intracellular ROS were produced by NADPH oxidase in response to the ionic but not the osmotic stress. Both endocytosis and ROS production were suppressed in phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase (PI3K) mutants, PI3K being a key regulator of vesicle trafficking in animals and plants, and by wortmannin, which is a specific inhibitor of PI3K and PI4K. Endocytosis and the production of ROS were rescued by supplementation of seedlings with exogenous PtdIns 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P), less with PtdIns4P, but not with PtdIns(4,5)P(2). Surprisingly, despite reduced oxidative stress, the mutants and the wortmannin-treated plants exhibited a phenotype overly sensitive to salt, as also resulted from treatment with diphenyleneiodonium, a suicide inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, suggesting a positive role for ROS in salt tolerance. In summary, our results show that salt stress responses, such as increased plasma membrane endocytosis and the intracellular production of ROS, are coordinated by phospholipid-regulated signaling pathways, and suggest that ROS act in the signal transduction of the salt tolerance response.