太湖流域农田稻季CH4通量特征及影响因子

开展太湖流域农田稻季CH₄排放研究,深入了解稻田CH₄排放规律,为稻田CH₄减排、制定合理稻田管理措施提供科学依据。以太湖流域稻麦轮作农田为研究区域,运用涡度相关法观测其稻季CH₄通量变化,分析其通量变化特征及影响因子。结果表明：太湖流域典型稻麦轮作区稻季为CH₄的源,CH₄排放总量为28.95 g/m²,稻季CH₄通量日变化表现为无规则型与单峰型两种模式;稻季CH₄排放整体集中在水稻生长前期（81.61%）及中期（16.16%）、后期排放相对较弱（2.23%）,返青期排放量较低（日均0.102 μmol m^-2 s^-1）,分蘖期较强（日均0.451 μmol m^-2 s^-1）,成熟期最低（日均0.006 μmol m^-2 s^-1）;模型所模拟的累计CH₄排放通量比累计测量CH₄通量低6.69%,较好地模拟了太湖流域稻田CH₄的排放,土壤温度、土壤水分、土壤电导率、摩擦风速可确认为太湖流域农田稻季CH₄排放的主要驱动因子。     

林下植被和凋落物对寒温带森林生长季土壤CH4通量的影响

为进一步探究林下植被和凋落物管理对我国寒温带森林生长季土壤CH₄通量的影响,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对大兴安岭北部4种林型（白桦林、山杨林、樟子松林和兴安落叶松林）4种处理（自然状态、去除凋落物、去除林下植被以及去除林下植被和凋落物）的土壤CH₄通量排放特征进行观测研究。结果表明：该地区森林生长季土壤均表现为CH₄的汇,4种林型不同处理后土壤CH₄通量表现为单峰变化趋势,吸收峰值出现在7月或8月。自然状态4种林型土壤CH₄平均吸收通量表现为白桦林（-79.23±14.92）μg m^-2 h^-1>山杨林（-64.27±9.60）μg m^-2 h^-1>樟子松林（-62.54±15.48）μg m^-2 h^-1>兴安落叶松林（-48.73±12.26）μg m^-2 h^-1,兴安落叶松土壤CH₄平均吸收通量显著小于其他三种林型（P<0.05）。相比于自然状态,4种林型在去除凋落物后土壤CH₄吸收通量提高了2.12%-12.15%,但变化幅度均没有达到显著水平（P>0.05）。去除林下植被后4种林型CH₄吸收通量提高了0.84%-20.55%,且只有山杨林吸收增加达到显著水平（P<0.05）。同时去除林下植被和凋落物后,对白桦林和樟子松土壤CH₄通量影响不显著（P>0.05）,但对山杨林和兴安落叶松林影响显著（P<0.05）。总之,去除凋落物或林下植被均会提高土壤对CH₄吸收,去除林下植被对土壤CH₄通量的影响要大于去除凋落物的影响,但不同林型不同处理之间还存在差异。     

城市小型景观水体CO2与CH4排放特征及影响因素

淡水生态系统被认为是大气温室气体排放的重要来源,尤其在人类活动影响下,其排放强度可能进一步增强。城市小型景观水体是城市生态系统的重要组成,具有面积小、数量大以及人类干扰强的特征,其温室气体排放特征及影响因素尚不清楚。选择重庆市大学城8个景观水体和周边2个自然水体为对象,于2019年1、4、7、10月,利用漂浮箱和顶空法分析了水体CO₂与CH₄的溶存浓度及排放通量,旨在揭示城市小型景观水体CO₂与CH₄排放强度、时空变异特征以及影响因素。结果表明,10个小型水体CO₂、CH₄的溶存浓度范围分别为10.75-116.25 μmol/L和0.09-3.61 μmol/L（均值分别为（47.6±29.3）μmol/L、（1.13±0.56）μmol/L）,均为过饱和状态;漂浮箱法实测的8个景观水体CO₂和CH₄排放通量均值分别为（72.7±65.9）mmol m^-2 d^-1和（2.31±3.48）mmol m^-2 d^-1（顶空法估算值为（69.7±82.0）mmol m^-2 d^-1和（3.69±2.92）mmol m^-2 d^-1）,是2个自然水体的3.5-6.1和2.0-4.5倍,呈较强的CO₂、CH₄排放源;居民区景观水体CO₂和CH₄排放略高于校园区,均显著高于对照的自然水体;CO₂排放夏季最高,秋季次之,冬、春季最低,CH₄呈夏季>秋季≈春季>冬季的季节模式,温度和水体初级生产共同影响CO₂和CH₄排放的季节模式;水生植物分布对景观水体CO₂、CH₄排放有显著影响,有植物分布的水域比无植物水域平均高1.97和2.94倍;漂浮箱法和顶空法测得气体通量线性关系较好,但顶空法测得CO₂通量在春季明显偏低,而CH₄则普遍偏高。相关分析表明,景观水体碳、氮浓度、pH值以及DO等对CO₂排放具有较好的指示性,CH₄排放通量主要与水体中碳、磷浓度有关。城市小型景观水体CO₂、CH₄排放通量远高于大部分已有自然水体的研究结果,呈一种较强的大气温室气体排放源,在区域淡水系统温室气体排放清单中具有重要贡献,未来研究中应给以更多关注。     

不同恢复方式下大兴安岭重度火烧迹地林地土壤温室气体通量

为研究大兴安岭重度火烧迹地在不同恢复方式下林地土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放特征及其影响因素,采用静态箱/气相色谱法,在2017年生长季（6月-9月）对3种恢复方式（人工更新、天然更新和人工促进天然更新）林地土壤温室气体CO₂、CH₄、N₂O通量进行了原位观测。研究结果表明：（1）3种恢复方式林地土壤在生长季均为大气CO₂、N₂O的源,CH₄的汇;生长季林地土壤CO₂排放通量大小关系为人工促进天然更新（（634.40±246.52）mg m^-2 h^-1） > 人工更新（（603.63±213.22）mg m^-2 h^-1） > 天然更新（（575.81±244.12）mg m^-2 h^-1）,3种恢复方式间无显著差异;人工更新林地土壤CH₄吸收通量显著高于人工促进天然更新;天然更新林地土壤N₂O排放通量显著高于其他两种恢复方式。（2）土壤温度是影响3种恢复方式林地土壤温室气体通量的关键因素;土壤水分仅对人工更新林地土壤N₂O通量有极显著影响（P < 0.01）;3种恢复方式林地土壤CO₂通量与大气湿度具有极显著的响应（P < 0.01）;土壤pH仅与天然更新林地土壤CO₂通量显著相关（P < 0.05）;土壤全氮含量仅与人工促进天然更新林地土壤CH₄通量显著相关（P < 0.05）。（3）基于100年尺度,由3种温室气体计算全球增温潜势得出,人工促进天然更新（1.83×10⁴ kg CO₂/hm²） > 人工更新（1.74×10⁴ kg CO₂/hm²） > 天然更新（1.67×10⁴ kg CO₂/hm²）。（4）阿木尔地区林地土壤年生长季CO₂和N₂O排放量为8.85×10⁶ t和1.88×10² t,CH₄吸收量为1.05×10³ t。     

不同水位管理对恢复泥炭地土壤CO2、CH4排放的影响

泥炭地水文条件影响泥炭地生物地球化学循环,控制和维持着泥炭地生态系统的结构和功能,是泥炭地生态恢复的重要前提。然而,目前关于恢复泥炭地土壤碳排放对不同水位的响应尚不明确。以长白山区天然（NP）、退耕（DP）及实施不同水文管理的恢复泥炭地（低水位（LR）、高水位（HR）与高低交替水位（H-LR））为研究对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对研究区泥炭地进行生长季（6-10月）土壤CO₂、CH₄排放监测。结果表明：温度和水位变化是研究区泥炭地土壤CO₂、CH₄排放季节变化的主控因子。H-LR受水位控制的影响,生长季土壤CO₂排放速率波动剧烈,其它水位管理恢复区土壤CO₂排放速率呈单峰型排放模式,且均与近地表温度呈指数相关（P<0.05）。除HR外,土壤CO₂排放速率与水位呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。生长季,研究区HR土壤CH₄排放速率呈双峰型,H-LR与NP的土壤CH₄排放呈单峰型,与近地表温度呈指数相关（P<0.05）,LR水位与CH₄排放速率显著正相关（P<0.05）。研究区不同水位管理恢复泥炭地土壤碳排放差异显著,虽然HR的土壤CO₂-C累积碳排放量显著低于其它水位恢复区,但其土壤CH₄-C累积碳排放量和综合增温潜势显著高于其它水位恢复区（P<0.05）。LR的累积碳排放量显著低于退化泥炭地,且其综合增温潜势最低。因此,建议在泥炭地恢复初期将低水位管理作为短期策略,以更好地恢复泥炭地碳汇功能,减弱其增温潜势。     

潮汐作用对黄河三角洲盐沼湿地甲烷排放的影响

盐沼湿地作为陆海交互作用的过渡带是CH₄重要的自然来源。潮汐活动通过影响CH₄的产生、氧化和传输驱动了湿地CH₄间歇性、周期性的排放。利用涡度相关和微气象监测技术,对黄河三角洲一个盐地碱蓬生态系统CH₄通量、环境因子和水文要素（潮汐）进行了长期连续监测分析了该生态系统生长季CH₄排放的季节动态及潮汐作用对CH₄排放的影响。结果表明：生长季该生态系统是CH₄的排放源,排放日均值为0.063 mg m^-2 h^-1,（范围为-0.36-0.57 mg m^-2 h^-1）。潮汐淹水阶段和落潮后湿润阶段表现为CH₄的显著源。此外我们发现,短期潮汐活动引起土壤干湿状况的变化促进了CH₄脉冲式的排放,因此未来气候变化下温度升高和降雨季节分配引起的土壤干湿变化将会对该区域CH₄排放甚至碳循环产生积极影响。     

温度和水分变化对冻土区泥炭地土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响

以大兴安岭多年冻土区泥炭地为研究对象,通过室内模拟增温实验,研究温度升高对不同深度（0-150 cm）土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响。同时针对0-20 cm和20-40 cm土壤设置两个水分处理,分别为土壤原始含水量和淹水状态,研究水分变化对表层土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响。结果表明温度升高显著提高了活动层（0-60 cm）、过渡层（60-80 cm）、永冻层（80-100 cm）中nifH、nirK基因丰度,温度升高显著提高了活动层（0-40 cm）和过渡层（60-80 cm）中nirS基因丰度。温度升高显著提高了过渡层（60-80 cm）NH₄⁺-N和较深永冻层（140-150 cm）NO₃^--N的含量,但降低了过渡层（60-80 cm）NO₃^--N和较深永冻层（120-150 cm）NH₄⁺-N的含量,相关性分析表明,NH₄⁺-N含量与nifH和nirS基因丰度呈显著正相关,NO₃^--N含量与nirK基因丰度呈显著正相关,说明温度升高能够通过改变微生物丰度促进过渡层固氮作用和反硝化作用。在增温条件下,淹水处理使表层土壤nirS和nirK基因丰度及NH₄⁺-N含量降低,但提高了NO₃^--N含量,说明淹水造成了过度还原的条件使反硝化底物浓度降低,降低反硝化微生物活性进而抑制了土壤反硝化作用。该结果对于明确未来气候变化影响下冻土区泥炭地土壤氮循环过程具有重要意义。     

蚂蚁筑巢对西双版纳热带森林土壤有机氮矿化的影响

蚂蚁作为生态系统工程师能够调节土壤微生物及理化环境,进而对热带森林土壤有机氮矿化速率及其时间动态产生显著影响。以西双版纳白背桐热带森林群落为研究对象,采用室内需氧培养法测定土壤有机氮矿化速率,比较蚁巢和非蚁巢土壤有机氮矿化速率的时间动态,揭示蚂蚁筑巢活动引起土壤无机氮库、微生物生物量碳及化学性质改变对有机氮矿化速率时间动态的影响。结果表明：（1）蚂蚁筑巢显著影响土壤有机氮矿化速率（P<0.01）,相较于非蚁巢,蚁巢土壤有机氮矿化速率提高了261%;（2）土壤有机氮矿化速率随月份推移呈明显的单峰型变化趋势,即6月最大（蚁巢1.22 mg kg^-1 d^-1、非蚁巢0.41 mg kg^-1 d^-1）,12月最小（蚁巢0.82 mg kg^-1 d^-1、非蚁巢0.18 mg kg^-1 d^-1）;（3）两因素方差分析表明,不同月份及不同处理对土壤有机氮矿化速率、NH₄-N及NO₃-N产生显著影响（P<0.05）,但对NO₃-N的交互作用不显著;（4）蚂蚁筑巢显著提高了无机氮库（NH₄-N与NO₃-N）、微生物生物量碳、有机质、水解氮、全氮及易氧化有机碳等土壤养分含量,而降低了土壤pH值;（5）回归分析表明,铵态氮和硝态氮对土壤有机氮矿化速率产生显著影响,分别解释87.89%、61.84%的有机氮矿化速率变化;（6）主成份分析表明NH₄-N、微生物生物量碳及有机质是影响有机氮矿化速率时间动态的主要因素,而全氮、NO₃-N、易氧化有机碳、水解氮及pH对土壤有机氮矿化速率的影响次之,且pH与土壤有机氮矿化速率呈显著负相关。总之,蚂蚁筑巢活动主要通过影响土壤NH₄-N、微生物生物量碳及有机质的状况,进而调控西双版纳热带森林土壤有机氮矿化速率的时间动态。研究结果将有助于进一步提高对土壤氮矿化生物调控机制的认识。     

内蒙古不同类型草地土壤氮矿化及其温度敏感性

土壤氮矿化(Nitrogen mineralization)是土壤氮循环的重要环节,对土壤氮素供应以及植物生产力的维持具有十分重要的意义。沿中国东北草地样带(Northeastern China Transect, NECT)分别在典型草地、过渡草地及荒漠草地设置了3个实验样地,利用不同温度(5、10、15、20 ℃和25 ℃)和不同水分(30%、60%和90%土壤饱和含水量,Saturated soil moisture, SSM)的室内培养途径,探讨了不同类型草地的土壤氮矿化速率、土壤氮矿化的温度敏感性(Q₁₀)及其主要影响因素。实验结果表明:从典型草地至荒漠草地,土壤全碳、全氮、全磷、微生物生物量碳氮含量均表现为逐渐下降的趋势;类似地,土壤净氮矿化速率、硝化速率也逐渐降低。在20 ℃和60% SSM时,土壤净氮矿化速率表现为典型草地 (0.715 mg N kg^-1 d^-1) > 过渡草地 (0.507 mg N kg^-1 d^-1) > 荒漠草地 (0.134 mg N kg^-1 d^-1);相反,温度敏感性却逐渐升高,温度敏感性与基质质量指数呈负相关。草地类型和水分对于土壤净氮矿化速率、硝化速率具有显著影响,且二者间具有显著的交互效应。包含温度和水分的双因素模型可很好地拟合土壤氮矿化速率的变化趋势(P < 0.0001),二者可共同解释土壤硝化速率92%-96%的变异。土壤氮矿化沿着草地演替呈现出很好的空间格局、并与温度和水分具有密切关系,为解释内蒙古草地空间分布格局提供了理论基础。     

典型温带雨养泥炭沼泽湿地地下部二氧化碳和甲烷浓度变化规律及其影响因素

为研究北方泥炭沼泽湿地二氧化碳（CO₂）和甲烷（CH₄）浓度随深度的变化规律及其影响因素,选取欧洲北部典型雨养泥炭地贝尔山湿地（BBM）和舒特兹山湿地（SBM）两个采样点,通过原位采集泥炭剖面温室气体、孔隙水以及土壤样品,结合傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）技术、碳氮同位素技术,探讨泥炭土壤的分解程度及温室气体浓度变化的关系。研究结果表明：（1）BBM采样点地下部的CO₂浓度变化规律总体呈现随深度波动减少趋势,值多在3000 μmol/L附近波动,最大值为4210.74 μmol/L（120 cm）,SBM采样点的CO₂浓度随深度先增后减,60 cm以上在1800 μmol/L附近波动,60 cm以下在3000 μmol/L附近波动,最大值为4191.94 μmol/L（90 cm）;BBM和SBM地下部CH₄浓度都随深度增大,并且在60cm以下浓度增加较快,BBM最大值为735.90 μmol/L（260 cm）,SBM最大值为543.51 μmol/L（170 cm）。（2）BBM和SBM的δ¹³C_CH4的值均较小,表明大部分的¹²CH₄仍被储存在泥炭土壤中,而两个采样点的δ¹³C_CO2和分馏系数α_c均随深度增加,表明泥炭土中产甲烷方式为浅层以乙酸产甲烷为主,深层以H₂还原CO₂为主。（3）C/N、碳氮同位素比值、FTIR均显示SBM和BBM的有机质分解程度较低,因为两个采样点的低可溶性有机碳浓度和低pH值不利于分解,表明该地储存着大量有机碳。通过探讨北温带典型泥炭地温室气体的浓度变化规律及其影响因素,结果可为全球泥炭湿地碳排放提供理论支撑。     

六种藓类植物茎的比较解剖学研究

通过对6种藓类植物,即褶叶青藓(Brachythecium salebrosum(Web.et Mohr.)B.S.G.)、湿地匐灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum(Lindb.)Kop.)、侧枝匐灯藓(Plagiomnium maximoviczii(Lindb.)Kop.)、大凤尾藓(Fissidensnobilis Griff.)、大羽藓(Thuidium cymbifolium(Doz.et Molk.)B.S.G.)和大灰藓(Hypnum plumaeforme Wils.)嫩茎和老茎的石蜡切片和显微观察发现,同一藓类植株的嫩茎和老茎,茎结构稳定,不同种藓类植物茎横切面具有不同特征.植物体茎横切面形状、表层细胞的层数、细胞大小和细胞壁厚薄、皮层细胞大小和形状、中轴的有无以及比例等特征可以作为藓类植物的分科分类依据之一.     

Photoregulation of seed germination of wild-type and of an aurea-mutant of tomato

Seed germination of an aurea mutant of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is promoted by continuous irradiation with red, far-red or long-wavelength far-red (758 nm) light as well as by cyclic irradiations (5 min red or 5 min far-red/25 min darkness). Far-red light applied immediately after each red does not change the germination behaviour. Seed germination of the isogenic wild-type, cv. UC-105, is promoted by continuous and cyclic red light while it is inhibited by continuous and cyclic far-red light and by continious 758 nm irradiation. Far-red irradiation reverses almost completely the promoting effect of red light. The promoting effect (in the aurea mutant) and the inhibitory effect (in the wild-type) of continuous far-red light do not show photon fluence rate dependency above 20 nmol m⁻² s⁻¹. It is concluded that phytochrome controls tomato seed germination throgh low energy responses in both the wild type and the au mutant. The promoting effect of continuous and cyclic far-red light in the au mutant can be attributed to a greater sensitivity to P_fr.     

Cause of Senescence of Nine Sorts of Flowers

The levels of endogenous phytohormones and respiratory rate in nine sorts of flowers such as Cymbidium faberi Rolfe, Nopalxochia ackermannii Kunth and others were investigated both at full bloom and senescence and meanwhile the effect of exogenous phytohormones on prolonging the blossoms and promoting ethylene production were tested. There is a high content of endogenous ethylene in all the long-lived flowere, about 3–16 folds higer than the short-lived ones. There is a high level of ABA at full blooming flowers of short-lived flowers, in which there is no or only some cytokinins in it, but the ratio of CTK (6BA+zeatin)/ABA is smaller(l.7). The endogenous ABA reached a much higher level at senescence in all nine sorts of flowers, so it is reasonable to consider that it is ABA which plays an important role of regulation in controlling flower's senescence. There is a much higher level of GA3 and zeatin in the long-lived flowers which is not demonstrated in the shortlived ones. The respiratory rate is one of the factors controtling the longevity of flowers, but it does not play a decided role. Application of 6BA and zeatin prolongs distinctly orchid’s longevity, however exogenous IAA through the promotive action on ethylene production, evidently extends the longevity of the flowers of the Nopalxochia ackermannii Kunth.     

龙胆科药用植物化学成分的研究现状

龙胆科植物在我国的分布范围很广,且多数为药用植物,其多数种属的药用植物,至今其化学成分尚未被系统研究。综述了目前龙胆科药用植物的化学成分的研究现状及一般提取方法,对近年来发现的环烯醚萜及裂环烯醚萜类化合物进行了总结,为本科药用植物的更深入研究提供了参考。     

Interconnection of parameters of regulation system of lipid peroxidation and of morphophysiological parameters of mouse liver

A complex analysis of seasonal fluctuations of the mean group parameters of the system of regulation of lipid peroxidation has been performed in liver of Balb/c mice. Association of lipid characteristics and morphophysiological parameters is studied in the Balb/c mouse liver. An inter-connection is revealed between the liver index and the amount of lysoforms of phospholipids, the scale and character of the interconnection differing essentially depending on proportion of phos-phatidylcholine in mouse liver phospholipids.     

The effects of glutamine of the maintenance of embryogenic cultures of Cryptomeria japonica

Summary Embryogenic tissues of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) were induced on a modified Campbell and Durzan (CD) medium containing 1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 600 mg l⁻¹ glutamine, and subcultured in the medium of the same composition for over 1 yr. This resulted in a mixed culture of embryogenic and non-embryogenic cells. When embryogenic cells were isolated and cultured independently, their capacity to form embryogenic aggregates was lost. Thus, the non-embryogenic cells present within a mixed culture system were essential to the formation of embryogenic aggregates. When embryogenic tissues were isolated and cultured independently on a high glutamine-containing (2400 mg l⁻¹) medium, dry weights and endogenous levels of glutamine increased, and the tissue could generate a large number of embryogenic aggregates. Amino acid analysis of embryogenic and non-embryogenic cells from the maintenance culture indicated a higher level of glutamine was present in the latter. The high endogenous level of glutamine in the non-embryogenic portion of mixed cell masses may be the supplier of glutamine for maintaining the embryogenic property of the tissues.     

Specificity of action of piperidylcholine derivatives as substrates of cholinesterases of various origin

The review deals with study of enzymologic properties of a novel highly specific acetylcholinesterase substrate, N-(β-acetoxyethyl) piperidinium iodomethylate (“piperidylcholine”), and its 30 derivatives that were tested as effectors of cholinesterases of mammals and various species of Pacific squids. It was proven for the first time that responsible for specificity of action was structure of cyclic ammonium grouping of the alcohol part of molecule of the ester substrate. Analysis of specificity is performed based on enzymatic hydrolysis parameters—activity of catalytic center of cholinesterases and bimolecular constant of the reaction rate that are determined at optimal and low substrate concentrations. Among the specially synthesized group of thioester compounds there is revealed one more highly specific acetylcholinesterase substrate—N-(β-acetoxyethyl) piperidinium.     

Physiological characteristics of various species of strains of carboxydobacteria

Seven strains of aerobic carbon monoxide-oxidizing bacteria (carboxydebacteria) when growing on CO as sole source of carbon and energy had doubling times which ranged from 12–42 h. The activity profiles obtained after discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation indicated that the CO-oxidizing enzymes are soluble and the hydrogenases are membrane-bound in all strains examined. The CO-oxidizing enzymes of Pseudomonas carboxydohydrogena, Pseudomonas carboxydoflava, Comamonas compransoris, and the so far unidentified strains OM2, OM3, and OM4 had a molecular weight of 230,000; that of Achromobacter carboxydus amounted to 170,000. The molecular weights of the CO-oxidizing and H₂-oxidizing enzymes turned out to be identical. The cell sonicates were shown to catalyze the oxidation of both CO and H₂ with methylene blue, thionine, phenazine methosulfate, toluylene blue, dichlorophenolindophenol, cytochrome c or ferricyanide as electron acceptors. Methyl viologen, benzyl viologen, FAD⁺, FMN⁺, and NAD(P)⁺ were not reduced. The spectrum of electron acceptors was identical for all strains tested. Neither free formate, hydrogen nor oxygen gas were involved in the CO-oxidation reaction. Methylene blue was reduced by CO at a 1:1 molar ratio. The results indicate that CO-oxidation by carboxydobacteria is catalyzed by identical or similar enzymes and that the reaction obeys the equation CO+H₂OCO₂+2H⁺+2e^- as previously shown for Pseudomonas carboxydovorans.Dedicated to Otto Kandler remembering almost three decades of enjoyable cooperation     

Modulation of allostery of pyruvate kinase by shifting of an ensemble of microstates

Since the introduction of the concepts of allostery about four decades ago, much advancement has been made in elucidating the structure-function correlation in allostery. However, there are still a number of issues that remain unresolved. In this review we used mammalian pyruvate kinase (PK) as a model system to understand the role of protein dynamics in modulating cooperativity. PK has a triosephosphate isomerase (TIM)(α/β)₈ barrel structural motif. PK is an ideal system to address basic questions regarding regulatory mechanisms about this common (α/β)₈ structural motif. The simplest model accounting for all of the solution thermodynamic and kinetic data on ligand-enzyme interactions involves two conformational states, inactive E^T and active E^R. These conformational states are represented by domain movements. Further studies provide the first evidence for a differential effect of ligand binding on the dynamics of the structural elements, not major secondary structural changes. These data are consistent with our model that allosteric regulation of PK is the consequence of perturbation of the distribution of an ensemble of states in which the inactive E^T and active E^R represent the two extreme end states. Sequence differences and ligands can modulate the distribution of states leading to alterations of functions. The future work includes: defining the network of functionally connected residues; elucidating the chemical principles governing the sequence differences which affect functions; and probing the nature of mutations on the stability of the secondary structural elements, which in turn modulate allostery.