外源脯氨酸对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生长的影响

以高蛋白小麦品种“北农9549”为试材,研究喷施不同浓度脯氨酸(0、1.0、5.0和10.0 mmol·L-1)对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生长和重金属吸收的影响.结果表明:以不施镉为对照,1.0 mmol·L-1CdCl2胁迫下,小麦幼苗的根长、株高和干质量分别显著下降24.0％、15.0％和27.5％,叶绿素a、b和类胡萝卜素含量分别显著下降23.3％、6.7％和30.8％,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性降低了18.4％,内源脯氨酸、抗坏血酸和丙二醛(MDA)含量分别显著上升78.6％、31.5％和17.9％,细胞膜相对透性显著升高24.8％,过氧化物酶(POD)活性为对照的2.4倍,并且促进对铜的吸收,抑制锌的吸收.随外源脯氨酸浓度的增加,小麦幼苗的根长、株高、干质量、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量均逐渐恢复到对照水平,抗坏血酸、内源游离脯氨酸含量和SOD活性均上升,可溶性蛋白含量先上升后下降,POD活性、MDA含量和细胞膜相对透性下降,而锌积累量升高,镉、铜积累量下降.叶面喷施外源脯氨酸可缓解镉对小麦幼苗生长的胁迫,以喷施5.0～10.0 mmol·L-1外源脯氨酸效果最佳.     

外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环中抗氧化物质和抗氧化酶系的影响.结果表明:外施适量NO(硝普钠)可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA(氧化型抗坏血酸)、GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽),降低DHA和GSSG含量.添加100 μmol·L-1 BSO(谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂)处理下,外源NO可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA含量、AsA/DHA及抗坏血酸酶(AAO)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)比活性,降低DHA、GSH、GSSG含量及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)比活性;添加250 μmol·L-1 BSO处理下,外源NO提高了铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA、GSH、GSSG含量、AsA/DHA及APX和GR比活性,降低了DHA含量及AAO、DHAR和MDHAR比活性.说明外源NO影响了铜胁迫下番茄根系的AsA-GSH代谢循环,并通过调节AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG的变化来减轻氧化胁迫,从而缓解铜胁迫对番茄根系的伤害.     

外源脯氨酸对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生长的影响

以高蛋白小麦品种“北农9549”为试材,研究喷施不同浓度脯氨酸(0、1.0、5.0和10.0 mmol·L^-1)对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生长和重金属吸收的影响.结果表明： 以不施镉为对照,1.0 mmol·L^-1CdCl₂胁迫下,小麦幼苗的根长、株高和干质量分别显著下降24.0%、15.0%和27.5%,叶绿素a、b和类胡萝卜素含量分别显著下降23.3%、6.7%和30.8%,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性降低了18.4%,内源脯氨酸、抗坏血酸和丙二醛(MDA)含量分别显著上升78.6%、31.5%和17.9%,细胞膜相对透性显著升高24.8%,过氧化物酶(POD)活性为对照的2.4倍,并且促进对铜的吸收,抑制锌的吸收.随外源脯氨酸浓度的增加,小麦幼苗的根长、株高、干质量、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量均逐渐恢复到对照水平,抗坏血酸、内源游离脯氨酸含量和SOD活性均上升,可溶性蛋白含量先上升后下降,POD活性、MDA含量和细胞膜相对透性下降,而锌积累量升高,镉、铜积累量下降.叶面喷施外源脯氨酸可缓解镉对小麦幼苗生长的胁迫,以喷施5.0～10.0 mmol·L^-1外源脯氨酸效果最佳.     

外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系抗坏血酸谷胱甘肽循环的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环中抗氧化物质和抗氧化酶系的影响.结果表明：外施适量NO(硝普钠)可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA(氧化型抗坏血酸)、GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽),降低DHA和GSSG含量.添加100 μmol·L^-1 BSO(谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂)处理下,外源NO可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA含量、AsA/DHA及抗坏血酸酶(AAO)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)比活性,降低DHA、GSH、GSSG含量及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)比活性;添加250 μmol·L^-1 BSO处理下,外源NO提高了铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA、GSH、GSSG含量、AsA/DHA及APX和GR比活性,降低了DHA含量及AAO、DHAR和MDHAR比活性.说明外源NO影响了铜胁迫下番茄根系的AsA-GSH代谢循环,并通过调节AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG的变化来减轻氧化胁迫,从而缓解铜胁迫对番茄根系的伤害.     

外源H_2S对NO_3~-胁迫下番茄幼苗生理生化特性的影响

采用营养液水培方法,通过外源施加H2S供体NaHS(100μmol/L),研究了信号分子H2S对100mmol/L NO3-胁迫下番茄幼苗生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:(1)NO3-胁迫下,随着处理时间的延长,番茄幼苗的株高、根长、鲜重和干重显著降低,叶绿素(a、b)含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率均显著降低,而胞间CO2浓度以及丙二醛(MDA)、H2O2含量增加,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性显著降低,抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原性谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著降低。(2)与NO3-胁迫处理相比,外源NaHS处理1、3、5d后,番茄幼苗的株高、根长、鲜重和干重显著增加,叶绿素(a、b)含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率均显著升高,而胞间CO2浓度显著降低;MDA和H2O2含量降低,SOD、POD、CAT和APX活性显著增强,AsA和GSH含量显著增加,而且幼苗的硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶、谷氨酸合酶的活性显著增强;L-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶活性和内源H2S含量增加。研究认为,外源H2S可能通过提高抗氧化物酶的活性和增加抗氧化物质含量来缓解NO3-对番茄幼苗造成的伤害,从而增强其对NO3-胁迫耐性。     

外源H2O2对盐胁迫下小麦幼苗生理指标的影响

以‘郑麦-004’小麦幼苗为供试材料,采用Hoagland营养液培养方法,通过添加H2O2的清除剂过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸(ASA),研究0.05μmol/L外源H2O2处理对150mmol/L NaCl胁迫下小麦幼苗生长和抗氧化系统活性的影响,探讨低浓度外源H2O2对盐胁迫下小麦幼苗伤害的防护作用及其生理机制。结果显示:外源H2O2能缓解盐胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制效应,降低丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧自由基(O2.-)的产生速率,使小麦幼苗的株高、根长和干重均显著增加,并能提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、CAT、抗坏血酸氧化酶(APX)等保护酶活性和抗氧化物质谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量;而H2O2清除剂(CAT和AsA)能够逆转外源H2O2对盐胁迫下小麦幼苗生长的促进作用。研究表明,低浓度外源H2O2处理能促进小麦幼苗中的酶类和非酶类抗氧化剂的产生,减少脂质过氧化物的含量,提高小麦幼苗的耐盐性。     

Cd胁迫下SA和NO互作对小麦幼苗根生长和叶绿素含量的影响

以"陇春27"号水培小麦幼苗为研究材料，外源添加水杨酸（SA）、一氧化氮（NO）清除剂（carboxy-PTIO，c-PTIO）、NO供体硝普钠（SNP）、硝酸还原酶（NR）抑制剂钨酸盐（Tungstate）及NO合成酶（NOS）抑制剂（L-NAME）进行不同预处理，分析其在镉（Cd）胁迫下根的生长和叶片叶绿素含量的变化，探讨SA和NO互作对小麦幼苗Cd胁迫的缓解机制。结果表明：随着Cd处理时间的延长，小麦幼苗根中SA含量显著降低，NO含量则呈现先增加（6 h和12 h）后减少（24 h和48 h）的趋势；Cd胁迫抑制了小麦幼苗根的生长，减少了叶片叶绿素的含量，而一定浓度的SA或SNP预处理可以缓解Cd胁迫对小麦幼苗根长的抑制作用，增加叶绿素的含量。c-PTIO、L-NAME和Tungstate单独预处理显著抑制了小麦幼苗根的生长，减少了NO的含量，但不影响叶绿素含量。SA400+L-NAME预处理可以缓解Cd胁迫对小麦幼苗根长的抑制作用以及叶绿素和NO含量的减少作用；SA400+c-PTIO或SA400+Tungstate预处理可增加Cd胁迫下叶绿素的含量，但对根的伸长无影响。进一步研究发现，Cd胁迫抑制了NR的活性，而SA400预处理可以使Cd胁迫下NR的活性增强，不同处理对NOS的活性均无影响。综上所述，Cd胁迫导致小麦幼苗根内源SA含量降低和NO含量先升高再降低；外源添加SA或SNP预处理缓解了Cd胁迫对根生长的抑制和叶绿素含量降低的作用；外源SA通过影响NO的产生从而提高小麦幼苗对Cd胁迫的耐受性，最终缓解了Cd对小麦幼苗的毒害作用。     

格木幼苗对硝普钠-酸铝互作的生理响应

以格木（Erythrophleum fordii Oliv.）幼苗为材料,采用双因素完全随机设计实验方法,测定不同处理幼苗的光合色素和可溶性糖等生理指标,研究格木幼苗对硝普钠（SNP）-氯化铝（AlCl₃）互作的生理响应。结果显示,格木幼苗叶片中叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量均在处理4（0.2 mmol/L AlCl₃、0.1 mmol/L SNP）时最高,在处理9（0.8 mmol/L AlCl₃、0 mmol/L SNP）时含量最低,而叶片中丙二醛（MDA）、游离脯氨酸含量则相反;叶片可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白含量在处理4时最高,在处理9时最低;处理10（0.8 mmol/L AlCl₃、0.1 mmol/L SNP）的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性最高。施加SNP后,格木幼苗叶片中的叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白含量及SOD、POD、CAT活性均显著高于未施加SNP处理。相关性分析表明,叶绿素a、类胡萝卜素、总叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量等指标间均呈极显著正相关（P < 0.01）。本研究结果得出,低浓度AlCl₃（0.2 mmol/L）胁迫可促进格木幼苗的生长,添加外源SNP对高浓度AlCl₃（0.8 mmol/L）胁迫格木幼苗产生的毒害具有一定的缓解作用,可在格木幼苗的培育及抗性研究中推广应用。     

镉胁迫对鸡冠花种子萌发及幼苗生理生化特性的影响

采用水培法和盆栽法测定分析不同浓度Cd(0、50、100、150、200 mg/L)胁迫对鸡冠花种子萌发、幼苗生物量、叶片光合色素、渗透调节物质(可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、脯氨酸)、丙二醛(MDA)、低分子巯基化合物(GSH、GSSG、Cys、NPT)含量以及抗氧化酶 (SOD、POD、CAT、APX)活性的影响,探讨鸡冠花耐受Cd胁迫的能力及其生理机制,为植物解毒机制提供基础资料。结果显示：(1)鸡冠花种子的发芽势、发芽率和发芽指数在低浓度Cd处理下提高,而活力指数、根长及苗长在各浓度Cd胁迫下均不同程度降低,以上指标均在低浓度(50、100 mg/L)Cd胁迫下受到显著抑制,且根长受抑制程度显著高于苗长;幼苗生物量(整株鲜重、地上部分鲜重及地下部分鲜重)在200 mg/L Cd胁迫时受到显著抑制,较对照分别下降了61.9%、58.4%和72.7%;根冠比及主根长虽未受到显著影响,但总体呈现降低趋势。(2)鸡冠花幼苗叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量在100~200 mg/L Cd胁迫下均显著降低,叶片可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量在Cd胁迫下总体呈升高趋势,并分别在50、150、200 mg/L时显著升高。(3)鸡冠花幼苗叶片各抗氧化酶活性在Cd胁迫下呈不同变化趋势,POD和APX活性在各浓度Cd胁迫分别增加23.1%~304.2%和160.0%~280.0%;SOD活性在各浓度Cd胁迫均受到抑制,但仅在150 mg/L时显著降低43.2%;CAT活性在50~150 mg/L Cd胁迫下显著增强了46.6%~66.5%,但在200 mg/L Cd胁迫却显著降低59.5%。(4)高浓度(200 mg/L)Cd胁迫下鸡冠花幼苗叶片巯基化合物GSH、GSSG、Cys、NPT含量分别比对照上升了53.2%、164.2%、53.9%和0.79%,而GSH/GSSG比值显著降低。研究发现,鸡冠花种子萌发期和幼苗期对Cd胁迫均具有一定的耐受力,但高浓度Cd胁迫仍致使幼苗部分抗氧化酶活性降低,ROS过量积累,引起膜脂过氧化程度加深,其产物MDA含量逐渐升高;Cd胁迫促进低分子巯基化合物含量呈不同幅度的增加,但GSH/GSSG比值下降,细胞内氧化还原反应(Redox)受到抑制,导致幼苗正常生长代谢受阻,生物量持续降低。     

茉莉酸对小麦幼苗UV-B抗性的生理学效应研究

以小麦品种‘西农88’(Triticum aestivum L.,cv.Xinong 88)为材料,研究了外源施加不同浓度茉莉酸(1、2.5、5、10 mmol/L)对UV-B辐射(1.5 kJ·m-2·d-1)下小麦幼苗光合色素、抗氧化酶、丙二醛、游离脯氨酸、紫外吸收物、花青素、根系活力等生理指标以及对其生长的影响,探讨了茉莉酸在UV-B辐射胁迫中的可能作用及其作用机制.研究结果表明,外源茉莉酸对小麦幼苗生理指标产生显著影响,并且表现出浓度效应,其中较低浓度的茉莉酸(1 mmol/L和2.5 mmol/L)能明显提高小麦幼苗的UV-B抗性.表现为低浓度茉莉酸显著提高UV-B辐射下小麦幼苗叶片中的总叶绿素含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性.并且外源施加的茉莉酸还能够增加小麦幼苗的游离脯氨酸含量,降低脂质过氧化水平,提高花青素含量,增强根系活力.可见,茉莉酸通过提高小麦幼苗的抗氧化酶活性,增加渗透调节物含量以及保护性色素含量,从而缓解膜脂过氧化程度和提高防御物质含量,进而增强植物抵抗UV-B辐射胁迫的能力,保证小麦幼苗正常生长.     

Tuning of electronic properties of one-dimensional cyano-bridged Cu-Ni, Cu-Pd, and Cu-Pt bimetallic assemblies by stereochemistry of ligands

Preparations, XPS and electronic spectroscopy, and magnetism of seven new one-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymers, chiral [Cu(RR-chxn)₂][Pd(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (1), [Cu(trans-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (2, 4, and 6 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt), and [Cu(cis-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (3, 5, and 7 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt) (RR-chxn = cyclohexane-(1R,2R)-diamine, trans-chxn = racemic trans-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine, and cis-chxn = racemic cis-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine) have been reported in view of tuning of their electronic properties by stereochemistry of chxn ligands and metal-substitution. Comparison of Cu 2p_1/2 and 2p_3/2 peaks of XPS and broad d-d bands around 18 000 cm⁻¹ of electronic spectra are described systematically for 1-7. Variable-temperature magnetic measurement shows that complexes 1-7 indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions via cyano-bridges. Because of semi-coordination coupled with pseudo Jahn-Teller elongation and electrostatic interaction for 1, the axial Cu-N coordination bond distances of 2.330(7) and 3.092(8) Å are considerably longer than those of equatorial ones in the range from 2.016(6) to 2.030(6) Å. The former bond distances of 1 are intermediate values among the related Ni (2.324(6) and 3.120(8) Å) and Pt (2.34(1) and 3.09(1) Å) complexes.     

Land,livestock, and livelihoods: Changing dynamics of gender,caste, and ethnicity in a Nepalese Village

Over the past 10 years, Ghusel VDC, Lalitpur District has moved from primarily subsistence agriculture into the wider cash economy aided by the Small Farmers' Development Program (SFDP), which provides credit to farmers mainly for the purchase of buffalo for milk production, and by the National Dairy Corporation, which supports local dairy cooperatives. Analysis reveals that buffalo-keeping and milk sales are increasing the well-being of many households, while at the same time creating new inequalities in gender roles and responsibilities, greater inequities between Brahmin and Tamang residents in Ghusel, and placing pressures on the ecosystem for increased supplies of fodder and fuelwood. Evidence suggests that there is critical, need for attention to the social, and particularly gender-based, implications of maintaining livestock for milk sales and to the ecological underpinnings of this livelihood system.     

Structure and function of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase

In mammals, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcyase) is the only known enzyme to catalyze the breakdown of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) to homocysteine and adenosine. AdoHcy is the product of all adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent biological transmethylations. These reactions have a wide range of products, and are common in all facets of biometabolism. As a product inhibitor, elevated levels of AdoHcy suppress AdoMet-dependent transmethylations. Thus, AdoHcyase is a regulator of biological transmethylation in general. The three-dimensional structure of AdoHcyase complexed with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH) and the inhibitor (1′R, 2′S, 3′R)-9-(2′,3′-dihyroxycyclopenten-1-yl)adenine (DHCeA) was solved by a combination of the crystallographic direct methods program, SnB, to determine the selenium atom substructure and by treating the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction data as a special case of multiple isomorphous replacement. The enzyme architecture resembles that observed for NAD-dependent dehydrogenases, with the catalytic domain and the cofactor binding domain each containing a modified Rossmann fold. The two domains form a deep active site cleft containing the cofactor and bound inhibitor molecule. A comparison of the inhibitor complex of the human enzyme and the structure of the rat enzyme, solved without inhibitor, suggests that a 17° rigid body movement of the catalytic domain occurs upon inhibitor/substrate binding.     

Chiral Separation of G‐type Chemical Warfare Nerve Agents via Analytical Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

Chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs) are extremely toxic organophosphorus compounds that contain a chiral phosphorus center. Undirected synthesis of G‐type CWNAs produces stereoisomers of tabun, sarin, soman, and cyclosarin (GA, GB, GD, and GF, respectively). Analytical‐scale methods were developed using a supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system in tandem with a mass spectrometer for the separation, quantitation, and isolation of individual stereoisomers of GA, GB, GD, and GF. Screening various chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for the capacity to provide full baseline separation of the CWNAs revealed that a Regis WhelkO1 (SS) column was capable of separating the enantiomers of GA, GB, and GF, with elution of the P(+) enantiomer preceding elution of the corresponding P(–) enantiomer; two WhelkO1 (SS) columns had to be connected in series to achieve complete baseline resolution. The four diastereomers of GD were also resolved using two tandem WhelkO1 (SS) columns, with complete baseline separation of the two P(+) epimers. A single WhelkO1 (RR) column with inverse stereochemistry resulted in baseline separation of the GD P(–) epimers. The analytical methods described can be scaled to allow isolation of individual stereoisomers to assist in screening and development of countermeasures to organophosphorus nerve agents. Chirality 26:817–824, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Chirality published by John Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Influence of Fluoride on Rat Kidney Antioxidant System: Effects of Methionine and Vitamin E

The aim of the study has been to determine and compare the influence upon the kidney antioxidative system, exercised by administration of vitamin E, and vitamin E in combination with methionine, under conditions of oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride. The experiment was carried out on Wistar FL rats (adult males) that, for 35 days, were administered water, NaF, NaF with vitamin E, or vitamin E with methionine (doses: 10 mg NaF/kg of body mass/24 h, 3 mg vitamin E per 10 μl per rat for 24 h, 2 mg methionine per rat for 24 h). The influence of administered sodium fluoride and antioxidants upon the antioxidative system in kidney was examined by analyzing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of the most important antioxidative enzymes (SOD, total and both its isoenzymes, GPX, GST, GR, and CAT). The studies carried out confirmed the disadvantageous effect of the administered dose of NaF upon the antixodiative system in rats (increase in the concentration MDA, decrease activity of all antioxidative enzymes). The administration of vitamin E increased the activity of studied enzymes with the exception of glutathione reductase GR; it also reduced the procesess of lipid peroxidation. It has been found that combined doses of vitamin E and methionine were most effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation processes. The results confirmed the antioxidative properties of methionine.     

Reorientation of Microfibrils and Microtubules at the Outer Epidermal Wall of Maize Coleoptiles During Auxin-Mediated Growth

Auxin-mediated elongation growth of isolated subapical coleoptile segments of maize (Zea mays L.) is controlled by the extensibility of the outer cell wall of the outer epidermis (Kutschera et al., 1987). Here we investigate the hypothesis that auxin controls the extensibility of this wall by changing the orientation of newly deposited microfibrils through a corresponding change in the orientation of cortical microtubules. On the basis of electron micrographs it is shown that cessation of growth after removal of the endogenous source of auxin is correlated with a relative increase of longitudinally orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. Conversely, reinduction of growth by exogenous auxin is correlated with a relative increase of transversely orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. These changes can be detected 30–60 min after the removal and addition of auxin, respectively. The functional significance of directional changes of newly desposited wall microfibrils for the control of elongation growth is discussed.     

In vitro studies of the rabbit immune system. IV. Differential mitogen responses of isolated T and B cells.

The mitogenic responses of separated rabbit lymphocyte populations functionally analogous to mouse T and B cells have been tested in vitro. Purified T cells were prepared by passage over nylon wool (NW) and purified B cells prepared by treatment with antithymocyte serum and complement (ATS + C). ATS + C kills 70% of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL's) and 50% of the spleen cells while passage over NW yields 40% of the applied PBL's and 5–23% of the applied spleen cells. NW-purified T cells from the spleen or PBL's respond fully to concanavalin A (Con A) but have a reduced response to phytohemaglutinin (PHA) and little or no response to goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin (anti-Ig). PBL's that survive ATS + C (B cells) are stimulated by anti-Ig but not by Con A or PHA. B cells purified from spleen do not respond to Con A or PHA but will respond to anti-Ig under appropriate conditions. A full spleen B-cell response to anti-Ig required removal of Ig produced by the cultures that blocked anti-Ig stimulation. It is concluded that, for rabbit lymphocytes, Con A and PHA are primarily T-cell mitogens and that anti-Ig is primarily a B-cell mitogen. However, the mitogen response of unfractionated PBL or spleen cell populations indicates an overlap in reactivity. This could be due to cells sharing T and B properties, alteration of cell populations by the fractionation procedures used, or recruitment of one population in the presence of a mitogenic response of the other population.     

Gamma-glutamylcysteine protects ergothioneine-deficient Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants against oxidative and nitrosative stress

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), cannot synthesize GSH, but synthesizes two major low molecular weight thiols namely mycothiol (MSH) and ergothioneine (ERG). Gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC), an intermediate in GSH synthesis, has been implicated in the protection of lactic acid bacteria from oxidative stress in the absence of GSH. In mycobacteria, GGC is an intermediate in ERG biosynthesis, and its formation is catalysed by EgtA (GshA). GGC is subsequently used by EgtB in the formation of hercynine-sulphoxide-GGC. In this study, M.tb. mutants harbouring unmarked, in-frame deletions in each of the fives genes involved in ERG biosynthesis (egtA, egtB, egtC, egtD and egtE) or a marked deletion of the mshA gene (required for MSH biosynthesis) were generated. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses (LC-MS) revealed that the production of GGC was elevated in the MSH-deficient and the ERG-deficient mutants. The ERG-deficient ΔegtB mutant which accumulated GGC was more resistant to oxidative and nitrosative stress than the ERG-deficient, GGC-deficient ΔegtA mutant. This implicates GGC in the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in M.tb.     

八种脑-肠肽侧脑室内注射对大鼠基础胃酸分泌的影响

用乌拉坦麻醉大鼠作急性实验,采用连续灌流胃并收集流出液的方法,观察向侧脑室内注射微量脑-肠肽对大鼠基础胃酸分泌的影响。实验结果如下:(1)雨蛙肽、八肽胆囊收缩素、促甲状腺素释放激素及四肽胃泌素均使总酸排出量增加;(2)生长抑素、胰多肽、P 物质、胰高血糖素则使总酸排出量减少;(3)上述肽类用侧脑室注射的剂量作肌肉注射,除四肽胃泌素也产生明显的刺激胃酸分泌作用外,对胃酸分泌均无明显影响。以上结果提示,脑内的一些肽类可能以神经递质或调制物的方式,参与中枢对胃酸分泌的调节。     

A chromium-tolerant plant growing in Cr-contaminated land

In this paper, a kind of Typhaceae plant species, Typha angustifolia L, with a high tolerance to Cr is described. Experiments were carried out to examine its ability to tolerant Cr and its physiological response. The results showed that there was no difference in growth, plant height, and biomass response to external Cr (VI) between the plants exposed to 100 microM Cr (VI) and control (0 microM), while increasing Cr levels to 200-800 microM induced a significant decrease in plant height and biomass, but no significant injury was detected, even for the plants exposed to 800 microM Cr. Chromium induced significant increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Meanwhile, a significantly positive correlation was found between Cr and Mn or Cu in leaves and roots, respectively. The Cr tolerance of the plant appeared to be associated with the enhancement of SOD and POD activities and the improvement in uptake and translocation of the essential microelements.