蜜蜂褪黑素的测定方法

在脊椎动物中,褪黑素(5-甲氧基-N-乙酰色胺,MLT)是一种由松果体分泌的具有典型光周期信号作用的神经内分泌激素。近年在昆虫头部也发现了这种化学物质。该文简述了褪黑素常见测定方法,详细介绍了褪黑素的免疫测定方法RIA(radionimmunoassay),并使用该方法初步测定了中华蜜蜂ApisceranaFabricius工蜂头部褪黑素的含量,结果显示褪黑素含量与工蜂的社会分工相关。     

褪黑素参与植物抗逆功能研究进展

褪黑素(N-乙酰基-5-甲氧基色胺)是一种生命必需的小分子吲哚胺类物质, 广泛存在于动植物体内, 对动植物的生长发育起至关重要的作用。随着植物褪黑素研究的逐渐深入, 褪黑素在植物体内的合成途径及作用也更加明确。研究表明, 褪黑素在提高植物抵抗非生物和生物胁迫能力等方面具有调控作用。该文对近年来有关植物褪黑素参与非生物和生物胁迫的研究进展进行总结, 旨在为阐明褪黑素影响植物抵御逆境胁迫的调控机理提供参考。     

褪黑素代谢模式的研究进展

褪黑素(melatonin)是松果体中产生的一种吲哚胺类分子,具有调节睡眠、延缓衰老、调节免疫、抑制肿瘤等多项生理功能,被认为是一种具有广泛应用前景的生物激素。褪黑素已被美国食品药物管理局(Food and Drug Administration,FDA)批准,可作为膳食补充剂使用。我国卫生部也批准褪黑素可应用于保健品中,但是褪黑素半衰期较短、绝对生物利用度较低,所以阐明其代谢途径,在安全的基础上增加利用率尤为重要。现从褪黑素的体内体外两大代谢模式进行综述,以期为未来褪黑素基础研究及临床用药提供更多理论基础。     

生物钟作用机制及其对动物年节律产生的影响

生物钟几乎存在于所有生命体,是生物适应外界环境的每日周期性变化而产生的内部活动。生物钟在体内受转录-翻译-负反馈环路调控,能调节组织、器官的活动,其正常维持对生物的健康、生长、繁殖等具有重要意义。与之相对,由于环境的四季变化,生物也形成了体内的年周期生理变化,如季节性发情、昆虫滞育等。生物的年节律在外部主要受光周期为主的环境因素影响,在体内则与基因表达、激素含量和细胞组织形态的变化有关。褪黑素是识别外部光周期变化的重要信号,而生物钟在垂体解析褪黑素信号并调控下游信号变化中扮演着重要角色,对环境年度变化的识别和机体年节律的产生具有重要指导作用。本文通过介绍昆虫和哺乳动物的昼夜节律和年节律产生的机制,并结合鸟类的年节律,综述了生物钟对年节律产生影响的作用机制研究进展,以期为今后研究年节律的影响机制提供更广泛的思路。     

RNA干扰技术在昆虫滞育机制研究中的应用

滞育是昆虫对环境适应的一种重要的生理特性,研究其机理有助于对有益昆虫的开发利用和对害虫生态调控新途径的探索。RNA干扰是生物体内源基因发生转录后特异性降解的一种生理现象,作为一种强有力的分子生物学技术,已逐渐应用于昆虫功能基因研究以及害虫防治等领域。本文围绕RNAi的作用机理及其对昆虫滞育相关基因的沉默研究展开综述,旨在为进一步研究滞育分子机制提供新思路。     

中国半翅目昆虫多样性和地理分布数据集

全球生物多样性逐渐丧失已成为最严重的环境问题之一, 探究各地生物多样性资源及形成机制是生态学和生物地理学领域关注的重要科学问题。生物多样性数据的整合和共享可以为相关研究的开展提供科学依据。昆虫是地球上多样性最高的生物类群, 但是由于目前关于昆虫多样性数据的整理不足, 相关研究较为缺乏。为了促进昆虫类群的多样性数据整理和共享工作的发展, 本研究选取昆虫纲中重要且多样的半翅目作为对象, 通过广泛的数据检索和收集, 系统整理了截至2017年已发表的中国半翅目昆虫的多样性及地理分布信息。数据集中共收集了102科2,090属7,822种半翅目昆虫的分类信息及其39,298条地理分布记录。该数据集可以为今后开展生物多样性格局、生物区系演化和害虫防治等方面的研究工作提供帮助。     

盐胁迫盐芥和拟南芥褪黑素含量及合成相关基因表达模式分析

盐生植物盐芥（Eutrema salsugineum）耐盐适应性强且具备模式植物特征,是研究植物逆境适应机理的理想材料。作为一种多功能的激素信号分子,褪黑素在盐芥耐盐性中的作用仍不清楚。本研究以盐芥为主要材料,以拟南芥做对比,主要通过褪黑素酶联免疫以及实时荧光定量PCR分析,比较了二者在不同组织中褪黑素的积累和在响应盐胁迫过程中褪黑素合成、相关基因的表达模式以及外源褪黑素处理对其盐应答表型的影响。结果显示,两种植物的褪黑素合成均在幼叶中最高,盐芥本底褪黑素合成水平显著高于拟南芥,且盐胁迫诱导了两种植物中的褪黑素含量,但不同于盐芥,拟南芥在处理7 d后褪黑素合成明显下降。通过序列比对发现在不同植物中,盐芥和拟南芥褪黑素合成相关基因的亲缘关系较近。盐应答表达分析显示,盐芥SNAT1、ASMT和COMT在盐处理3 d表达上调,而拟南芥中的相关基因在处理1 d和3 d后受盐诱导,7 d后拟南芥中表达下降而盐芥中则无明显变化,表明两种植物相关基因响应盐信号的表达变化存在差异。此外,外源褪黑素处理明显缓解了两种植物在盐逆境下的胁迫表型。综上,褪黑素有效贡献于盐芥抗盐性,参与调节盐芥和拟南芥的耐盐适...     

褪黑素对玉米幼苗根系发育和抗旱性的影响

褪黑素是一种在生物体内广泛存在的吲哚胺类化合物,参与植物的多种生理和生化过程。近年来研究认为褪黑素可以不同程度地增强植物的抗逆性,但对其作用机理仍知之甚少。通过两种褪黑素的施用方法,详细研究了褪黑素对于玉米根系发育和抗旱性的影响。首先,采用水培根灌褪黑素的方法对玉米幼苗的根系和生长状况进行分析,结果表明施加褪黑素显著提高多种玉米幼苗根系参数,包括根长、根表面积、根体积和侧根数目等。其次,采用盆栽浸种褪黑素的方法,对叶片相对含水量、光合作用、抗氧化酶活性、地上部分生物量等进行测定,结果表明在干旱胁迫条件下,褪黑素浸泡种子的处理方式能够提高植株的光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率,增强抗氧化酶活性以及降低活性氧和丙二醛含量,证明褪黑素促进植物根系发育,减轻氧化损伤,缓解光合抑制,改善植物水分状况,从而提高植物抗旱性。     

植物褪黑素生物合成研究进展

褪黑素是生物进化过程中一种保守的小分子物质,在动物体内主要参与昼夜节律调节。国内外学者致力于植物褪黑素的合成途径、生理功能及作用机制研究,发现其参与了植物生长发育(根系发育、果实发育)及细胞氧化还原平衡的调节等。在植物褪黑素合成途径研究方面,已发现褪黑素存在于多种植物中并克隆出其合成相关基因。在不同植物中,褪黑素合成相关蛋白的亚细胞定位存在较大差异,合成部位也因植物种类不同存在差异。本文综述了植物褪黑素的合成途径、亚细胞定位合成调控的研究现状,重点论述了亚细胞定位、酶动力学对合成上游的调控,并对其研究前景进行了展望。     

鳞翅目昆虫的信息素研究新进展

在昆虫信息素研究领域当中,鳞翅目昆虫的性信息物质相关研究开展得的最早,也较为详尽。目前全世界已经鉴定出来有超过了1 572种蛾类的信息素组分,各个种间信息素的比例和组分都不尽相同,这正是生物多样性在化学信息联络方面的完美体现。人类对昆虫信息素的研究已经持续了半个多世纪,昆虫信息素的研究一直是化学生态学的一个重要课题,总结出的很多经典方法与结论,对于指导农业实际生产和相关产业生活都具有指导意义。本文综述了昆虫信息素的研究概况、研究方法以及应用现状,力求为进一步深入研究提供参考。     

The changing biological roles of melatonin during evolution: from an antioxidant to signals of darkness,sexual selection and fitness

Melatonin is a molecule present in a multitude of taxa and may be ubiquitous in organisms. It has been found in bacteria, unicellular eukaryotes, macroalgae, fungi, plants and animals. A primary biological function of melatonin in primitive unicellular organisms is in antioxidant defence to protect against toxic free radical damage. During evolution, melatonin has been adopted by multicellular organisms to perform many other biological functions. These functions likely include the chemical expression of darkness in vertebrates, environmental tolerance in fungi and plants, sexual signaling in birds and fish, seasonal reproductive regulation in photoperiodic mammals, and immunomodulation and anti‐inflammatory activity in all vertebrates tested. Moreover, its waning production during aging may indicate senescence in terms of a bio‐clock in many organisms. Conversely, high melatonin levels can serve as a signal of vitality and health. The multiple biological functions of melatonin can partially be attributed to its unconventional metabolism which is comprised of multi‐enzymatic, pseudo‐enzymatic and non‐enzymatic pathways. As a result, several bioactive metabolites of melatonin are formed during its metabolism and some of the presumed biological functions of melatonin reported to date may, in fact, be mediated by these metabolites. The changing biological roles of melatonin seem to have evolved from its primary function as an antioxidant.     

Melatonin: new applications in clinical and veterinary medicine, plant physiology and industry

Novel functions of melatonin continue to be uncovered. Those summarized in this report include actions at the level of the peripheral reproductive organs and include functions as an antioxidant to protect the maturing oocyte in the vesicular follicle and during ovulation, melatonin actions on the developing fetus particularly in relation to organizing the circadian system, its potential utility in combating the consequences of pre-eclampsia, reducing intrauterine growth restriction, suppressing endometriotic growths and improving the outcomes of in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer. The inhibitory effects of melatonin on many cancer types have been known for decades. Until recently, however, melatonin had not been tested as a protective agent against exocrine pancreatic tumors. This cancer type is highly aggressive and 5 year survival rate in individuals with pancreatic cancer is very low. Recent studies with melatonin indicate it may have utility in the treatment of these otherwise almost untreatable pancreatic cancers. The discovery of melatonin in plants has also opened a vast new field of research which is rapidly being exploited although the specific functions(s) of melatonin in plant organs remains enigmatic. Finally, the described application of melatonin's use as a chemical reductant in industry could well serve as a stimulus to further define the utility of this versatile molecule in new industrial applications.     

Melatonin: Nature's most versatile biological signal?

Melatonin is a ubiquitous molecule and widely distributed in nature, with functional activity occurring in unicellular organisms, plants, fungi and animals. In most vertebrates, including humans, melatonin is synthesized primarily in the pineal gland and is regulated by the environmental light/dark cycle via the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Pinealocytes function as 'neuroendocrine transducers' to secrete melatonin during the dark phase of the light/dark cycle and, consequently, melatonin is often called the 'hormone of darkness'. Melatonin is principally secreted at night and is centrally involved in sleep regulation, as well as in a number of other cyclical bodily activities. Melatonin is exclusively involved in signaling the 'time of day' and 'time of year' (hence considered to help both clock and calendar functions) to all tissues and is thus considered to be the body's chronological pacemaker or 'Zeitgeber'. Synthesis of melatonin also occurs in other areas of the body, including the retina, the gastrointestinal tract, skin, bone marrow and in lymphocytes, from which it may influence other physiological functions through paracrine signaling. Melatonin has also been extracted from the seeds and leaves of a number of plants and its concentration in some of this material is several orders of magnitude higher than its night-time plasma value in humans. Melatonin participates in diverse physiological functions. In addition to its timekeeping functions, melatonin is an effective antioxidant which scavenges free radicals and up-regulates several antioxidant enzymes. It also has a strong antiapoptotic signaling function, an effect which it exerts even during ischemia. Melatonin's cytoprotective properties have practical implications in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Melatonin also has immune-enhancing and oncostatic properties. Its 'chronobiotic' properties have been shown to have value in treating various circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as jet lag or shift-work sleep disorder. Melatonin acting as an 'internal sleep facilitator' promotes sleep, and melatonin's sleep-facilitating properties have been found to be useful for treating insomnia symptoms in elderly and depressive patients. A recently introduced melatonin analog, agomelatine, is also efficient for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder. Melatonin's role as a 'photoperiodic molecule' in seasonal reproduction has been established in photoperiodic species, although its regulatory influence in humans remains under investigation. Taken together, this evidence implicates melatonin in a broad range of effects with a significant regulatory influence over many of the body's physiological functions.     

Melatonin and melanocyte functions

The effect of melatonin on melanocyte functions was studied by incubating whole-skin organ cultures with melatonin, as well as by assessing melatonin positivity in melanocytes versus dendricity and pigmentation, when arrested in the G(2) phase. From this study, it was observed that melatonin positivity is inversely related to the length of UV exposure. Increasing melatonin levels are related to decreasing dendricity and pigment donation during photoresponse in the G(2) phase. Melanocyte melatonin positivity increases with dark incubation and is higher with a pulse of UV exposure after dark incubation with melatonin. This increase is associated with a doubling of melanocyte number after dark incubation and a further doubling upon exposure to a pulse of UV. The melanocytes directly take up melatonin, which results in a marked increase in their numbers. Thus, extreme caution should be exercised when using melatonin as an anticancer drug. This finding also simulates the melanocyte repopulation of the skin with repigmentation during summer in polar animals.     

Melatonin: A master regulator of plant development and stress responses

Melatonin is a pleiotropic molecule with multiple functions in plants. Since the discovery of melatonin in plants, numerous studies have provided insight into the biosynthesis, catabolism, and physiological and biochemical functions of this important molecule. Here, we describe the biosynthesis of melatonin from tryptophan, as well as its various degradation pathways in plants. The identification of a putative melatonin receptor in plants has led to the hypothesis that melatonin is a hormone involved in regulating plant growth,aerial organ development, root morphology, and the floral transition. The universal antioxidant activity of melatonin and its role in preserving chlorophyll might explain its anti-senescence capacity in aging leaves. An impressive amount of research has focused on the role of melatonin in modulating postharvest fruit ripening by regulating the expression of ethylene-related genes.Recent evidence also indicated that melatonin functions in the plant's response to biotic stress,cooperating with other phytohormones and wellknown molecules such as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. Finally, great progress has been made towards understanding how melatonin alleviates the effects of various abiotic stresses, including salt, drought, extreme temperature, and heavy metal stress. Given its diverse roles, we propose that melatonin is a master regulator in plants.     

Mechanism of melatonin action

Melatonin transduces the effect of photoperiod on the neuroendocrine system. Synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland is well described, but the location of its target(s) and the mechanism of its action are little known. In attempt to localize melatonin target(s), the presence of high affinity binding sites in rat brain was determined. Such sites were detected in discrete brain areas, including the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary. Subcellular analysis indicated these binding sites were on plasma membranes, which suggests that melatonin modulates cell functions through intracellular second messengers. The effects of melatonin on second messengers were studied using the neonatal anterior pituitary, in which melatonin is known to inhibit the LHRH-induced release of LH. Studies on the effects of melatonin on second messenger indicated [corrected] that melatonin inhibits accumulation of cAMP and cGMP as well as synthesis of diacylglycerol and release of arachidonic acid. Time-course analysis indicates that inhibition by melatonin of the LHRH-induced release of LH increases following long preincubation. Since the effect of melatonin on LHRH-induced release of LH is prevented by dibutyryl cAMP, we conclude that melatonin might act by inhibiting production of cAMP.     

Melatonin as an antioxidant: biochemical mechanisms and pathophysiological implications in humans

This brief resume enumerates the multiple actions of melatonin as an antioxidant. This indoleamine is produced in the vertebrate pineal gland, the retina and possibly some other organs. Additionally, however, it is found in invertebrates, bacteria, unicellular organisms as well as in plants, all of which do not have a pineal gland. Melatonin's functions as an antioxidant include: a), direct free radical scavenging, b), stimulation of antioxidative enzymes, c), increasing the efficiency of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and reducing electron leakage (thereby lowering free radical generation), and 3), augmenting the efficiency of other antioxidants. There may be other functions of melatonin, yet undiscovered, which enhance its ability to protect against molecular damage by oxygen and nitrogen-based toxic reactants. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have documented the ability of both physiological and pharmacological concentrations to melatonin to protect against free radical destruction. Furthermore, clinical tests utilizing melatonin have proven highly successful; because of the positive outcomes of these studies, melatonin's use in disease states and processes where free radical damage is involved should be increased.     

Melatoninergic receptor agonists and antagonists: therapeutic perspectives

The chronobiotic neurohormone melatonin, synthetized in the pineal gland during darkness periods governs the circadian and seasonal biological rhythms. Physiologically, melatonin regulates the sleep/activity alternance, together with the circadian cycle of body temperature and cortisol secretion, and influences various immune, endocrine and metabolic functions. Dysfunction of the endogenous melatonin secretion is associated with mood and behavioral disorders including body weight. Patients with severe depression exhibit desynchronized and reduced melatonin secretion, in parallel with marked sleep disturbances whereas exogenous melatonin administration and antidepressive drugs restore melatonin secretion. A dysregulated melatonin secretion is also observed in obese subjects. Implication of melatonin in these disorders stimulated the search for melatonin analogues with enhanced antidepressive and body weight control effects. The melatoninergic agonist S 20098, or agomelatin, disclosed a potent antidepressive and anxiolytic activity in preclinical studies, which was confirmed in clinical trials in patients with major depression. The antagonist S 20928 was shown to limit seasonal weight gain in an hibernating rodent model. Thus, development of melatoninergic agonists and antagonists appear as an innovative approach in the treatment of depression and obesity, two major public health problems.     

The neuroprotective and antiapoptotic effects of melatonin in cerebellar neurons involve glucocorticoid receptor and p130 signal pathways

Melatonin is an endocrine factor known to affect a number of physiological functions. The present studies have demonstrated an additional activity for pineal melatonin, specifically associated with the survival and differentiation of neuroblasts. Based on experimental data several conclusions might be drawn. First, melatonin negatively regulates the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in cerebellar granule neurons. Second, downregulation of GR is associated with a marked decrease in programmed cell death of the granule neurons. Third, melatonin upregulates the expression of p130, which is an essential factor for the initiation and maintenance of neuronal development and differentiation. Thus, melatonin function in postmitotic neurons involves several regulatory pathways with partially overlapping roles. The biological implications are discussed in light of these results.     

Growth activity,rooting capacity,and tropism: three auxinic precepts fulfilled by melatonin

Plant melatonin appears to be a multiregulatory molecule with multiple functions similar to those observed in animals. It induces growth in stems and stimulates root generation. It is also able to delay senescence by protecting photosynthetic systems and related processes. One of the most studied actions of melatonin is its effect on biotic and abiotic stresses in the plant, such as that produced by drought, extreme temperatures, chemical pollution, UV radiation, etc. Recent data have demonstrated its role as a modulator of gene expression in plants. In this review, we compare studies which show that melatonin behaves in a similar way to auxin, and present data that relate the physiological responses produced by melatonin with the action of auxin, such as promoting/inhibiting growth activity and rooting capacity. In addition, for the first time, the data presented demonstrate the possible involvement of melatonin in the tropic response of roots. The possible role of melatonin as a plant regulator and its relationship with auxin action and the signaling molecule nitric oxide is presented and discussed in a hypothetical model.