What is the usual internal carbon dioxide concentration in C<Subscript>4</Subscript> species under midday field conditions?

The carbon dioxide concentrating system in C₄ photosynthesis allows high net photosynthetic rates (P _N) at low internal carbon dioxide concentrations (C _i), permitting higher P _N relative to stomatal conductance (g _s) than in C₃ plants. This relation would be reflected in the ratio of C _i to external ambient (C _a) carbon dioxide concentration, which is often given as 0.3 or 0.4 for C₄ plants. For a C _a of 360 μmol mol⁻¹ that would mean a C _i about 110–140 μmol mol⁻¹. Our field observations made near midday on three weedy C₄ species, Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Setaria faberi, and the C₄ crop Sorghum bicolor indicated mean values of C _i of 183–212 μ mol mol⁻¹ at C _a = 360 μmol mol⁻¹. Measurements in two other C₄ crop species grown with three levels of N fertilizer indicated that while midday values of C _i at high photon flux were higher at limiting N, even at high nitrogen C _i averaged 212 and 196 μmol mol⁻¹ for Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Zea mays, respectively. In these two crops midday C _i decreased with increasing leaf to air water vapor pressure difference. Averaged over all measurement days, the mean C _i across all C₄ species was 198 μmol mol⁻¹, for a C _i/C _a ratio of 0.55. Prior measurements on four herbaceous C₃ species using the same instrument indicated an average C _i/C _a ratio of 0.69. Hence midday C _i values in C ₄ species under field conditions may often be considerably higher and more similar to those of C₃ species than expected from measurements made on plants in controlled environments. Reducing g _s in C₄ crops at low water vapor pressure differences could potentially improve their water use efficiency without decreasing P _N.     

Interactions of Elevated CO2 Concentration and Drought Stress on Photosynthesis in Eucalyptus Cladocalyx F. Muell

Response of net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (c _i), and photosynthetic efficiency (F_v/F_m) of photosystem 2 (PS2) was assessed in Eucalyptus cladocalyx grown for long duration at 800 (C₈₀₀) or 380 (C₃₈₀) μmol mol^-1 CO₂ concentration under sufficient water supply or under water stress. The well-watered plants at C₈₀₀ showed a 2.2 fold enhancement of P _N without any change in g _s. Under both C₈₀₀ and C₃₈₀, water stress decreased P _N and g _s significantly without any substantial reduction of c _i, suggesting that both stomatal and non-stomatal factors regulated P _N. However, the photosynthetic efficiency of PS2 was not altered. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Compensatory effects of elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration on the inhibitory effects of high temperature and irradiance on photosynthetic gas exchange in carrots

We determined the interactive effects of irradiance, elevated CO₂ concentration (EC), and temperature in carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus). Plants of the cv. Red Core Chantenay (RCC) were grown in a controlled environmental plant growth room and exposed to 3 levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (400, 800, 1 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), 3 leaf chamber temperatures (15, 20, 30 °C), and 2 external CO₂ concentrations (C _a), AC and EC (350 and 750 μmol mol⁻¹, respectively). Rates of net photosynthesis (P _N) and transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (g _s ) were measured, along with water use efficiency (WUE) and ratio of internal and external CO₂ concentrations (C _i/C _a). P _N revealed an interactive effect between PAR and C _a. As PAR increased so did P _N under both C _a regimes. The g _s showed no interactive effects between the three parameters but had singular effects of temperature and PAR. E was strongly influenced by the combination of PAR and temperature. WUE was interactively affected by all three parameters. Maximum WUE occurred at 15 °C and 1 200 μmol m⁻² s^{− 1} PAR under EC. The C _i /C _a was influenced independently by temperature and C _a. Hence photosynthetic responses are interactively affected by changes in irradiance, external CO₂ concentration, and temperature. EC significantly compensates the inhibitory effects of high temperature and irradiance on P _N and WUE.     

Photosynthetic response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> L. plants grown on compost and exposed to increasing photon flux densities and elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Quercus ilex plants grown on two different substrates, sand soil (C) and compost (CG), were exposed to photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) at 390 and 800 μmol(CO₂) mol⁻¹ (C₃₉₀ and C₈₀₀). At C₈₀₀ both C and CG plants showed a significant increase of net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and electron transport rate (ETR) in response to PPFD increase as compared to C₃₉₀. In addition, at C₈₀₀ lower non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) values were observed. The differences between C₃₉₀ and C₈₀₀ were related to PPFD. The higher P _N and ETR and the lower dissipative processes found in CG plants at both CO₂ concentrations as compared to C plants suggest that substrate influences significantly photosynthetic response of Q. ilex plants. Moreover, short-term exposures at elevated CO₂ decreased nitrate photo-assimilation in leaves independently from substrate of growth.     

PCR产物中无错误碱基拷贝最低比率的计算

分析了PCR过程中带有错误碱基拷贝的量变过程,得出不同循环(n)后不同类型拷贝数的计算通式并以逐次代入方式归纳出PCR产物中无错误碱基拷贝最低比率(R)和有效循环数(N),拷贝酶促合成链长(H)及错配率(f)的关系式R_n=(1-Hf/2)^N-1(1-Hf),对PCR技术制备表达用DNA片段有指导意义.     

不同CO2浓度升高和氮肥水平对水稻叶绿素荧光特性的影响

为研究不同CO₂浓度升高和氮肥水平对水稻叶绿素荧光特性的影响,利用由开顶式气室（OTC）组成的CO₂浓度自动调控平台开展田间试验。以粳稻9108为试验材料,CO₂浓度设置CK（对照,环境大气CO₂浓度）、C₁（CO₂浓度比CK增加160 μmol/mol）和C₂（CO₂浓度比CK增加200 μmol/mol）3个水平;氮肥设置低氮（N₁：10 g/m²）、中氮（N₂：20 g/m²）和高氮（N₃：30 g/m²）3个水平。结果表明,在低氮条件下,与CK相比,C₁处理使拔节期的F_o上升4.8%（P=0.031）;C₂处理使拔节期的F_o上升6.3%（P=0.015）,F_v/F_m下降4.8%（P=0.003）,使孕穗期的F_o上升12.7%（P=0.039）,F_v/F_o下降18.2%（P=0.039）。在高氮条件下,与CK相比,C₂处理使灌浆期的F_m、F_v和F_v/F_m分别下降3.6%（P=0.039）、4.9%（P=0.013）和1.3%（P=0.039）。在中氮条件下,与CK相比,C₁和C₂处理的影响不明显。在整个生育期内,CO₂浓度升高与施氮处理交互作用对水稻叶绿素荧光特性的影响未到达显著水平。研究表明,大气CO₂浓度升高使水稻叶片光系统Ⅱ受损,抑制其电子传递能力、电子受体Q_A氧化还原情况、最大光化学效率和潜在活性,通过适量施氮可以有效地缓解其负面效应。     

外源H2O2对盐碱胁迫下苹果矮化砧木幼苗生理特性的影响

以2年生苹果矮化砧木M9 T337为试材,采用盆栽试验法,设置浇灌清水(CK)和盐碱胁迫(0.1 mol/L NaCl+NaHCO₃溶液)+ 喷施5种浓度的H₂O₂ ［0(T₁)、0.2 mmol/L(T₂)、0.4 mmol/L(T₃)、0.6 mmol/L(T₄)、0.8 mmol/L(T₅)］ 处理,测定各处理叶片叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数、渗透调节物质含量、抗氧化酶活性和细胞膜透性,并利用相关性与主成分分析进行综合评价,以探讨外源过氧化氢(H₂O₂)增强其盐碱耐性的生理机制。结果表明：(1)随着盐碱胁迫(T₁)的时间延长,M9 T337幼苗叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)含量、叶绿素b (Chl b)含量、叶绿素总量(Chl t)、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量均呈逐渐下降趋势;胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、可溶性总糖(TSS)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性、相对电导率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)含量均呈上升趋势;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈先升后降趋势。(2)与CK相比,盐碱胁迫+外源H₂O₂(T₂- T₅)处理后M9 T337幼苗叶片各指标均呈现不同幅度变化,且存在明显浓度效应,并以T₃(0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂)处理叶片的Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP和G_s降幅最小,C_i、REC、MDA升幅最小,TSS、Pro、APX升幅最大。(3)M9 T337幼苗叶片P_n与T_r、G_s、Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP、SOD、POD呈显著正相关,与C_i、MDA、CAT、APX、REC呈显著负相关。(4)综合评价表明,各处理对M9 T337幼苗叶片生理特性的效应依次为：CK>T₃>T₄>T₂>T₅>T₁。研究发现,叶面喷施适宜浓度H₂O₂可有效改善盐碱胁迫下M9 T337幼苗光合能力,显著提高抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质的含量,降低细胞膜透性,从而达到缓解盐碱胁迫的作用,并以0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂处理效果最佳。     

吡啶酮类衍生物对5-脂氧合酶的抑制作用

合成了一系列3-羟基-4(1H)-吡啶酮类衍生物,并研究了它们对5-脂氧合酶的抑制作用. 发现6-取代-3-羟基-4(1H)-吡啶酮化合物(2a～2e)对5-脂氧合酶具有显著抑制作用, 特别是6-苯硫基-1-苯基-2-甲基-3-羟基-4(1H)-吡啶酮(2a)的抑制效果最好(IC₅₀=2.52 μmol/L). 6-位没有取代基的羟基吡啶酮类化合物对5-脂氧合酶却没有抑制作用. 讨论了6-取代-3-羟基-4(1H)-吡啶酮类化合物对5-脂氧合酶的抑制作用机制.     

Differential inhibition of photosynthesis under drought stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flaveria</Emphasis> species with different degrees of development of the C<Subscript>4</Subscript> syndrome

The effect of drought stress (DS) on photosynthesis and photosynthesis-related enzyme activities was investigated in F. pringlei (C₃), F. floridana (C₃–C₄), F. brownii (C₄-like), and F. trinervia (C₄) species. Stomatal closure was observed in all species, probably being the main cause for the decline in photosynthesis in the C₃ species under ambient conditions. In vitro ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and stromal fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (sFBP) activities were sufficient to interpret the net photosynthetic rates (P _N), but, from the decreases in P _N values under high CO₂ (C _a = 700 μmol mol^{− 1}) it is concluded that a decrease in the in vivo rate of the RuBPCO reaction may be an additional limiting factor under DS in the C₃ species. The observed decline in the photosynthesis capacity of the C₃–C₄ species is suggested to be associated both to in vivo decreases of RuBPCO activity and of the RuBP regeneration rate. The decline of the maximum P _N observed in the C₄-like species under DS was probably attributed to a decrease in maximum RuBPCO activity and/or to decrease of enzyme substrate (RuBP or PEP) regeneration rates. In the C₄ species, the decline of both in vivo photosynthesis and photosynthetic capacity could be due to in vivo inhibition of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) by a twofold increase of the malate concentration observed in mesophyll cell extracts from DS plants.     

蝎毒素BmkTXKβ对家兔心房肌细胞瞬间外向钾电流的抑制作用

为研究蝎毒素BmkTXKβ对家兔心房肌细胞瞬间外向钾电流(I_to)的影响,采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录应用BmkTXKβ前后的I_to电流. 结果显示BmkTXKβ（1 μmol/L）使心房肌细胞I_to（刺激电压为+50 mV）从（13.63±0.87）pA/pF减少到（7.98±0.78）pA/pF,抑制率为41.4% (n=16, P＜0.001).冲洗后, I_to部分恢复至(11.18±0.82)pA/pF (n=6, P＜0.01,与给药后比较).在0.01～100 μmol/L范围内BmkTXKβ呈浓度依赖性地抑制I_to,IC₅₀的均值为0.95 μmol/L (n=10, P＜0.01),但无频率依赖性(n=6,P＞0.05). 1 μmol/L的BmkTXKβ可使I_to通道的失活动力学曲线明显左移,V_1/2分别为（－23.6±2.7） mV和（－35.3±3.6） mV（n=8,P＜0.05）,曲线斜率基本不变.同时可使I_to通道的恢复过程明显减慢,恢复曲线右移,τ值从（51.2±8.5） ms延长至（93.5±13.4） ms（n=9,P＜0.01）,但不影响其激活过程.据此推断BmkTXKβ对家兔心房肌细胞I_to具有显著的抑制作用,主要作用于失活过程,延长该通道的恢复时间.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.