拟南芥叶黄素缺失突变体叶绿素荧光猝灭的特性

研究了3个叶黄素组分缺失的拟南芥核基因突变体,npq₁（缺乏玉米黄质Z和单环氧玉米黄质A）、lut₂（缺乏lutein）和lut₂-npq₁（双突变体,同时缺Z和lutein）,及其对照野生型（WT）在强光诱导下叶绿素荧光猝灭的特性.与WT相比,3个突变体的叶绿素a/b没有明显的差异,F_v/F_m则有不同幅度的增加,缺乏lutein的突变体lut₂和lut₂-npq₁的叶黄素循环库（V+A+Z）显著增大.缺乏Z的突变体npq₁和lut₂-npq₁在强光下,荧光的非光化学猝灭（NPQ）的诱导受到明显抑制,lut₂的NPQ形成也受到部分抑制.强光处理9 min后,3个突变体和WT的NPQ大小顺序为WT＞lut₂＞npq₁＞npq₁-lut₂.强光诱导过程中突变体的光化学猝灭(qP)都小于WT.强光下突变体显示较弱的抗光抑制能力,其抗光抑制能力的强弱顺序为：WT＞lut₂＞npq₁＞lut₂-npq₁.结果表明叶黄素循环不但与NPQ的形成直接相关也与qP有关.     

Involvement of betacyanin in chilling-induced photoinhibition in leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suaeda salsa</Emphasis>

Seeds of Suaeda salsa were cultured in dark for 3 d and betacyanin accumulation in seedlings was promoted significantly. Then the seedlings with accumulated betacyanin (C+B) were transferred to 14/10 h light/dark and used for chilling treatment 15 d later. Photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemistry, D1 protein content, and xanthophyll cycle during the chilling-induced photoinhibition (exposed to 5 °C at a moderate photon flux density of 500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for 3 h) and the subsequent restoration were compared between the C+B seedlings and the control (C) ones. The maximal efficiency of PS2 photochemistry (F_v/F_m), the efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PS2 centres (F_v′/F_m′), and the yield of PS2 electron transport (Φ_PS2) of the C+B and C leaves both decreased during photoinhibition. However, smaller decreases in F_v/F_m, F_v′/F_m′, and Φ_PS2 were observed in the C+B leaves than in C ones. At the same time, the deepoxidation state of xanthophyll cycle, indicated by (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) ratio, increased rapidly but the D1 protein content decreased considerably during the photoinhibition. The increase in rate of (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) was higher but the D1 protein turnover was slower in C+B than C leaves. After photoinhibition treatment, the plants were transferred to a dim irradiation (10 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) at 25 °C for restoration. During restoration, the chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, D1 protein content, and xanthophyll cycle components relaxed gradually, but the rate and level of restoration in the C+B leaves was greater than those in the C leaves. The addition of betacyanins to the thylakoid solution in vitro resulted in similar changes of F_v/F_m, D1 protein content, and (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) ratio during the chilling process. Therefore, betacyanin accumulation in S. salsa seedlings may result in higher resistance to photoinhibition, larger slowing down of D1 protein turnover, and enhancement of non-radiative energy dissipation associated with xanthophyll cycle, as well as in greater restoration after photoinhibition than in the control when subjected to chilling at moderate irradiance.     

Ferredoxin-quinone reductase benefits cyclic electron flow around photosystem 1 in tobacco leaves upon exposure to chilling stress under low irradiance

The function of chloroplast ferredoxin quinone reductase (FQR)-dependent flow was examined by comparing a wild type tobacco and a tobacco transformant (ΔndhB) in which the ndhB gene had been disrupted with their antimycin A (AA)-fed leaves upon exposure to chilling temperature (4 °C) under low irradiance (100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photon flux density). During the chilling stress, the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) 2 (F_v/F_m) decreased markedly in both the controls and AA-fed leaves, and P700⁺ was also lower in AA-fed leaves than in the controls, implying that FQR-dependent cyclic electron flow around PS1 functioned to protect the photosynthetic apparatus from chilling stress under low irradiance. Under such stress, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), particularly the fast relaxing NPQ component (q_f) and the de-epoxidized ratio of the xanthophyll cycle pigments, (A+Z)/(V+A+Z), formed the difference between AA-fed leaves and controls. The lower NPQ in AA-fed leaves might be related to an inefficient proton gradient across thylakoid membranes (ΔpH) because of inhibiting an FQR-dependent cyclic electron flow around PS1 at chilling temperature under low irradiance.     

Photosystem 2 photochemistry and pigment composition of a yellow mutant of rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) under different irradiances

A yellow leaf colouration mutant (named ycm) generated from rice T-DNA insertion lines was identified with less grana lamellae and low thylakoid membrane protein contents. At weak irradiance [50 μmol(photon) m⁻² s⁻¹], chlorophyll (Chl) contents of ycm were ≈20 % of those of WT and Chl a/b ratios were 3-fold that of wild type (WT). The leaf of ycm showed lower values in the actual photosystem 2 (PS2) efficiency (Φ_PS2), photochemical quenching (q_P), and the efficiency of excitation capture by open PS2 centres 1 (F_v′/F_m′) than those of WT, except no difference in the maximal efficiency of PS2 photochemistry (F_v/F_m). With progress in irradiance [100 and 200 μmol(photon) m⁻² s⁻¹], there was a change in the photosynthetic pigment stoichiometry. In ycm, the increase of total Chl contents and the decrease in Chl a/b ratio were observed. Φ_PS2, q_P, and F_v′/F_m′ of ycm increased gradually along with the increase of irradiance but still much less than in WT. The increase of xanthophyll ratio [(Z+A)/(V+A+Z)] associated with non-photochemical quenching (q_N) was found in ycm which suggested that ycm dissipated excess energy through the turnover of xanthophylls. No significant differences in pigment composition were observed in WT under various irradiances, except Chl a/b ratio that gradually decreased. Hence the ycm mutant developed much more tardily than WT, which was caused by low photon energy utilization independent of irradiance.     

Photoinhibition and xanthophyll cycle activity in bayberry (Myrica rubra) leaves induced by high irradiance

The effect of high irradiance (HI, photosynthetically active photon flux density of 1 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) on net photosynthetic rate (P _N), chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and xanthophyll cycle components were studied in fruit tree bayberry leaves. HI induced the photoinhibition and inactivation of photosystem 2 (PS2) reaction centres (RCs), which was characterized by decreased P _N, maximum yield of fluorescence after dark adaptation (F_m), photochemical efficiency of PS2 (F_v/F_m) and quantum yield of PS2 (Φ_PS2), and increased reduction state of Q_A (1-q_P) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Initial fluorescence (F₀) showed a decrease after the first 2 h, and subsequently increased from the third hour exposure to HI. Furthermore, a greater increase in the ratio (F_i-F₀)/(F_p-F₀) which is an expression of the proportion of the Q_B non-reducing PS2 centres, whereas a remarked decrease in the slope of F_i to F_p which represents the rate of Q_A reduction was observed in leaves after HI exposure. Additionally, HI caused an increase in the pool size of the xanthophyll cycle pigments and sustained elevated contents of zeaxanthin (Z), antheraxanthin (A), and de-epoxidation state (DES) at the end of the irradiation period. During HI, decreased F_m, F_v/F_m, Φ_PS2, NPQ, slope of F_i to F_p, V+A+Z, and DES, and increased F₀, 1-q_P, ratio (F_i-F₀)/(F_p-F₀), and V were observed in dithiothreitol (DTT)-fed leaves compared to control ones under the same conditions. Hence photoinhibition caused by HI in bayberry was probably attributed to inactivation of PS2 RCs, and photoprotection from photodamage were mainly related to the xanthophyll cycle-dependent heat dissipation in excess photons.     

逆境胁迫对菜豆黄化苗转绿过程中交替呼吸途径与叶绿素荧光特征的影响

以菜豆黄化幼苗作为试验材料,探讨了铅(Pb)或PEG(聚乙二醇)胁迫下交替呼吸途径在植物转绿过程中对叶绿素含量以及叶绿素荧光特性的影响,以阐明逆境胁迫下植物交替呼吸途径的生理学作用。结果显示：(1)与菜豆黄化幼苗正常转绿过程(对照)相比,Pb或PEG胁迫导致菜豆黄化幼苗的叶绿素含量积累延迟,使叶片PSⅡ潜在最大光化学量子效率(F_v/F_m)、光适应下最大光化学效率(F_v′/F_m′)、PSⅡ光适应下实际光化学效率(Y(Ⅱ))和光化学荧光猝灭系数(qP)显著下降,而非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)则显著增加。(2)在菜豆黄化幼苗转绿过程中,Pb或PEG胁迫导致其交替呼吸途径容量较对照均显著上升。(3)Pb或PEG胁迫下,交替呼吸途径抑制剂［水杨基氧肟酸(SHAM,1 mmol/L)］使菜豆黄化幼苗转绿过程中叶绿素含量、F_v/F_m、F_v′/F_m′、Y(Ⅱ)和qP进一步下降, NPQ却进一步增加,说明抑制交替呼吸途径会加剧Pb或PEG胁迫对PSⅡ反应中心活性的进一步抑制,使还原力积累加剧,造成热耗散进一步增加。研究表明,Pb或PEG胁迫均显著降低了菜豆黄化幼苗PSⅡ对光能的利用率,进而阻碍了菜豆黄化幼苗转绿进程;交替呼吸途径有助于在胁迫条件下缓解PSⅡ的过度还原,可能在一定程度上缓解了Pb或PEG胁迫对其转绿进程的阻碍作用。     

Susceptibility of green leaves and green flower petals of CAM orchid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrobium</Emphasis> cv. Burana Jade to high irradiance under natural tropical conditions

Photosynthetic rates of green leaves (GL) and green flower petals (GFP) of the CAM plant Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade and their sensitivities to different growth irradiances were studied in shade-grown plants over a period of 4 weeks. Maximal photosynthetic O₂ evolution rates and CAM acidities [dawn/dusk fluctuations in titratable acidity] were higher in leaves exposed to intermediate sunlight [a maximal photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 500–600 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹] than in leaves grown under full sunlight (a maximal PPFD of 1 000–1 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and shade (a maximal PPFD of 200–250 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). However, these two parameters of GFP were highest in plants grown under the shade and lowest in full sun-grown plants. Both GL and GFP of plants exposed to full sunlight had lower predawn F_v/F_m [dark adapted ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence (the maximal photosystem 2 yield without actinic irradiation)] than those of shade-grown plants. When exposed to intermediate sunlight, however, there were no significant changes in predawn F_v/F_m in GL whereas a significant decrease in predawn F_v/F_m was found in GFP of the same plant. GFP exposed to full sunlight exhibited a greater decrease in predawn F_v/F_m compared to those exposed to intermediate sunlight. The patterns of changes in total chlorophyll (Chl) content of GL and GFP were similar to those of F_v/F_m. Although midday F_v/F_m fluctuated with prevailing irradiance, changes of midday F_v/F_m after exposure to different growth irradiances were similar to those of predawn F_v/F_m in both GL and GFP. The decreases in predawn and midday F_v/F_m were much more pronounced in GFP than in GL under full sunlight, indicating greater sensitivity in GFP to high irradiance (HI). In the laboratory, electron transport rate and photochemical and non-photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence were also determined under different irradiances. All results indicated that GFP are more susceptible to HI than GL. Although the GFP of Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade require a lower amount of radiant energy for photosynthesis and this plant is usually grown in the shade, is not necessarily a shade plant.     

盐度、温度和光照强度对针叶蕨藻的生长及光合活性的影响

为探究环境因子对针叶蕨藻（Caulerpa sertularioides）生长的影响,对不同盐度、温度和光照强度下针叶蕨藻的生长和叶绿素荧光参数进行了研究。结果表明：藻体日特定生长率（SGR）、最大光量子产量（F_v/F_m）、实际光合效率（Yield）、电子传递速率（ETR）和光化学淬灭（qP）随盐度升高呈先上升后下降的变化趋势,非光化学淬灭（qN）则呈相反的变化趋势,藻体光合活性和固碳效率在盐度27.5‰时达到最高,且与25‰和30‰盐度的差异显著（P<0.05,n=3）。藻体SGR、F_v/F_m、Yield、ETR和qP随温度升高而下降,qN则相反,藻体光合活性和固碳效率在26℃下达到最高,且与28℃和30℃的差异显著（P<0.05,n=3）。藻体的SGR、F_v/F_m、Yield、ETR和qP随光照强度升高呈先上升后下降的变化趋势,qN则相反,且在18.75 μmol/（m²·s）弱光照下出现轻微光抑制,藻体生长、光合活性及固碳效率在光照强度25.00 μmol/（m²·s）时达到最高,但与18.75和31.25 μmol/（m²·s）的差异不显著（P>0.05,n=3）。因此,针叶蕨藻在27.5‰盐度、26℃和25.00 μmol/（m²·s）光照强度下生长最快且光合作用能力最高。     

盐胁迫对朴树和速生白榆幼苗光合特性及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以1年生的朴树和速生白榆幼苗为试材,采用山东省林业科学研究院东营分院34.6‰的地下天然盐水配制所需盐水浓度,定期定量浇灌,使土壤分别达0（CK）、2‰、2.5‰、3.5‰和5‰的含盐量,各处理胁迫45 d后测定其生长量（地径、苗高）、叶绿素含量、光合参数以及叶绿素荧光特性的变化,研究不同盐胁迫处理对朴树和速生白榆生长及光合作用的影响,探究其耐盐能力。结果显示: （1）整个盐胁迫过程中速生白榆的生长量较朴树高,但随着盐胁迫强度的增加朴树幼苗叶绿素含量呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,速生白榆幼苗则低于CK呈下降趋势。（2）朴树和速生白榆初始荧光（F_o）、最大荧光（F_m）和PSⅡ最大光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)均表现出下降趋势,与朴树相比速生白榆的F_o、F_m和F_v/F_m下降不明显,但在＞2.5‰盐胁迫下速生白榆的非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）较朴树增加更明显。研究表明,朴树叶绿素含量在每个盐胁迫浓度下均显著高于速生白榆,但在大于2.5‰浓度胁迫下速生白榆的荧光参数变化较朴树占优势;在非环境胁迫及较低盐胁迫条件下（≤2.5‰）,朴树较速生白榆具有更好的光化学性能,但在较高盐胁迫条件下（＞2.5‰）,速生白榆光合参数及荧光参数较朴树变化稳定,能更好的适应盐胁迫环境。     

3种荒漠植物光合及叶绿素荧光对干旱胁迫的响应及抗旱性评价

利用盆栽试验结合人工浇水后自然耗水的方法测定干旱胁迫对梭梭、白刺、沙蒿3种荒漠植物叶片水分、光合及叶绿素荧光参数的影响,探讨各指标在干旱胁迫过程中的变化特征、响应机制及其与土壤水分的定量关系,并用隶属函数法对其进行抗旱性排序。结果表明：(1)3种植物叶片相对含水量(RWC)随干旱胁迫天数增加持续降低,最大水分亏缺(RWD)呈波动式上升趋势。(2)3种植物总叶绿素含量(Chl)和叶绿素a(Chla)、叶绿素b(Chlb)含量,以及梭梭、白刺类胡萝卜素含量均随胁迫天数增加而降低;沙蒿类胡萝卜素随土壤含水率降低逐渐升高。(3)梭梭、白刺、沙蒿叶片净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、水分利用效率(WUE)等主要光合气体交换参数对土壤水分表现出明显的阈值响应,适宜的土壤含水率分别为8.04%～19.33%、4.17%～19.10%、6.48%～17.51%。(4)3种植物 PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/F_m)、实际光化学效率(F_v′/F_m′)及光化学淬灭系数(qP)均随干旱胁迫天数增加和光照强度增大而降低,非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)则呈逐渐上升趋势;干旱胁迫中后期,梭梭、沙蒿的F_v/F_m及F_v′/F_m′均下降,光合机构光合活性遭到破坏,电子传递受阻,PSⅡ反应中心受损,表现出光抑制,而白刺调节自身PSⅡ反应中心免受伤害的能力较强。(5)隶属函数法综合分析表明,3种植物耐旱能力大小依次为白刺>梭梭>沙蒿。研究发现,3种荒漠植物均可通过调节 PSⅡ反应中心开放程度与活性,对干旱胁迫表现出较强的耐性,胁迫后期植物PSⅡ反应中心关闭或不可逆失活,表现出光抑制。     

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.