长期施加N、P肥对高寒草甸小型土壤节肢动物群落的影响

为查明长期施肥对高寒草甸小型土壤节肢动物群落影响,2012年5月下旬在西南民族大学青藏高原畜牧业高科技研究基地内用随机区组方式设置施N、P和NP混施三种处理实验样地,每种施肥处理分别设置10 g/m²、20 g/m²和30 g/m²三个施肥梯度,以不施肥的高寒草甸为对照样地。2017年8月对各样地内的小型土壤节肢动物、植物群落和土壤理化性质进行调查。结果表明：（1）施肥可以明显改变高寒草甸小型土壤节肢动物的群落组成结构,其中NP混施比单施N、P肥更能有效增加螨类和昆虫的类群数;（2）N、P、NP三种施肥种类的小型土壤节肢动物群落个体密度、类群数和Shannon多样性指数均显著增加（P<0.05）,且当施肥量为20 g/m²时,小型土壤节肢动物群落的个体密度、类群数和Shannon多样性指数均达到最大;（3）小型土壤节肢动物群落的个体密度、类群数和Shannon多样性指数均与全磷含量呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。研究表明,在高寒草甸长期施加氮、磷肥,尤其是氮磷混施,不仅能够明显改变小型土壤节肢动物群落组成结构,还能显著提高群落密度和多样性,建议按照20 g/m²的总量对高寒草甸进行氮磷等量混施,以提高小型土壤节肢动物群落多样性及其生态功能。     

小型表栖节肢动物群落对高寒湿地退化的响应

为查明小型表栖节肢动物群落对高寒湿地退化的响应,2014年7月和9月利用吸虫器法对若尔盖高寒湿地的沼泽草甸、草原草甸、中度退化草甸3种生境的小型表栖节肢动物群落进行调查。结果为:共采集到小型表栖节肢动物18661只,隶属于3纲15目85类(科或属),优势类群为球圆跳属(Sphaeridia)、长跳属(Entomobrya)和莓螨科(Rhagidiidae),其中长跳属仅出现在草原草甸。小型表栖节肢动物群落结构在不同生境间差异明显,主成分分析(PCA)结果表明影响群落结构的主要类群是长跳属(Entomobrya)、球圆跳属(Sphaeridia)、齿步甲螨属(Odontocepheus)、瘤蚜科(Pemphigidae)和叶蝉科(Jassidae),但不同月份间存在差异。小型表栖节肢动物的群落密度及类群数均以草原草甸最高,中度退化草甸最低,3种生境间有显著差异(P0.01)。3种生境的小型表栖节肢动物群落密度均是7月显著低于9月(P0.01),Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson优势度指数则是7月显著高于9月(P0.01);类群数在沼泽草甸中7月显著低于9月(P0.05),在草原草甸和中度退化草甸则是7月显著高于9月(P0.05)。典范对应分析(CCA)及多元回归分析结果表明植物种类、生物量、土壤有机质含量是影响小型表栖节肢动物群落组成结构、密度及多样性的主要因子。研究结果表明高寒湿地退化能够显著影响小型表栖节肢动物群落的组成结构、密度和多样性及其季节动态。     

高原鼢鼠干扰下高寒草甸大型土壤动物多样性对环境因子的响应

为研究高寒草甸大型土壤动物群落组成和分布对环境因子的响应,选取祁连山东段的甘肃省天祝县高原鼢鼠典型分布区域,以鼠丘密度代表干扰强度设置4个干扰区。调查各干扰区植被群落特征、土壤理化性质、大型土壤动物类群组成及其数量,采用约束性排序方法分析环境因子对大型土壤动物类群组成和分布的影响。结果表明：高原鼢鼠干扰下高寒草甸大型土壤动物优势类群为瓦娄蜗牛科、象甲科和短角亚目幼虫;极重度干扰区大型土壤动物类群的丰度、丰富度、Shannon指数显著高于重度干扰区（P<0.05）;多元回归分析表明大型土壤动物类群丰度、丰富度和Shannon指数与土壤温度呈显著负相关（P<0.05）,丰富度与土壤含水量呈显著负相关（P<0.05）,丰度与土壤紧实度呈显著负相关（P<0.05）,丰富度和Shannon指数与植物Shannon指数呈显著负相关（P<0.05）;冗余分析和偏冗余分析表明,土壤温度、紧实度和含水量是影响高寒草甸大型土壤动物类群组成和分布的主要环境因子。     

不同基因型转Bt水稻种植对土壤螨类群落的影响

随着转基因技术的飞速发展,越来越多的转基因作物新品种被培育成功并得以推广应用,但转基因作物对非靶标生物的生态安全性问题日益引起人们的广泛关注。为加强转基因作物的生态风险评估,以Cry1Ab纯合基因型转Bt（Bacillus thuringiensis）水稻"克螟稻"和Cry1Ab/Ac融合基因型转Bt水稻"华恢1号"及其对照亲本水稻稻田土壤螨类为研究对象,系统调查研究了纯和基因型和融合基因型转Bt水稻种植下土壤螨类的群落组成、数量动态及其群落多样性的变化。研究结果显示,转Bt水稻对土壤螨类的群落组成无负面影响,仅一些稀有类群（<1%）和常见类群（介于1%和10%）消失或出现。且与对照亲本相比,纯和基因型转Bt水稻中仅上罗甲螨科（Epilohmanniidae）上罗甲螨属（Epilohmannia）的百分比含量显著增加了525%。此外,转Bt水稻与其对照亲本稻田土壤螨类的数量动态、群落多样性、群落均匀度和科属丰富度之间均差异不显著（P > 0.05）。而与纯合基因型转Bt水稻相比,融合基因型转Bt水稻可显著提高大田土壤螨类的数量和科属丰富度（P < 0.05）。可见,融合基因型转Bt水稻种植比纯合基因型转Bt水稻更有利于土壤螨类等非靶标生物的发生及其生物多样性保护。     

大兴安岭重度火烧迹地地表土壤节肢动物群落特征

火是生态系统的主要干扰因子之一,直接影响地表土壤动物群落多样性。为了解大兴安岭火烧迹地地表土壤动物群落恢复状况,于2016年6月和8月,选取松岭区南瓮河国家级自然保护区内2006年落叶松白桦混交林重度火烧迹地为实验样地、未受干扰的混交林为对照样地,采用陷阱法研究地表土壤节肢动物群落组成与多样性。本研究共捕获地表土壤节肢动物17 460只,隶属5纲14目57科85属。其中大型土壤节肢动物隶属4纲11目36科55属,优势类群为铺道蚁属（Tetramorium）;中小型土壤节肢动物隶属2纲3目18科30属,优势类群为球角跳属（Hypogastrura）。整体而言,重度火烧迹地地表土壤节肢动物总个体数多于对照样地,而总类群数低于对照样地,但仅大型地表土壤节肢动物个体数明显低于对照样地（P < 0.05）。研究时段,8月份中小型土壤节肢动物的个体数明显高于6月份（P < 0.05）。群落多样性分析表明,重度火烧迹地与对照样地的地表土壤节肢动物群落多样性指数差异性不显著（P > 0.05）,其中6月份中小型地表土壤节肢动物Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou均匀度指数与Margalef丰富度指数明显低于8月份（P < 0.01）,而6月份Simpson优势度指数高于8月份（P < 0.01）。火烧迹地与对照样地土壤节肢动物群落相似性系数为0.78,不同月份之间地表土壤节肢动物群落相似性均为0.43,表明地表土壤节肢动物群落总体变化较小,但地表土壤节肢动物群落随时间发生改变。地表土壤节肢动物对研究区域资源的利用存在明显的差异（P < 0.01）,重度火烧迹地可共同利用资源增多,对照样地可共同利用资源少而优势现象明显。重度火烧迹地地表主要土壤动物类群因可利用资源增加而导致生态位重叠指数增加。典型判别分析显示,地表土壤节肢动物群落受火烧干扰影响,且存在明显的季节变化。     

若尔盖高寒草甸退化对中小型土壤动物群落的影响

土壤动物是陆地生态系统物质循环和能量流动的中心环节,也是生态系统演化的重要驱动因子。为了查明青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸生态系统退化过程对中小型土壤动物群落的影响,2008年7、10两月分别对若尔盖高寒草甸沼泽草甸、草原草甸和沙化草甸三个不同退化阶段的中小型土壤动物群落进行了调查。共分离到中小型土壤动物9450个,隶属于4门5纲12目70科104类;优势类群为线虫（Nematode）,个体数占85.79%;蜱螨目（Arachnida）、弹尾目（Collembola）、寡毛纲（Oligochaeta）和昆虫纲（Insect）依次占8.73%、3.24%、1.32%和0.88%。群落密度、类群数、Margalef丰富度指数和密度-类群指数均在7、10两月份均随高寒草甸的退化而显著降低（p<0.01或p<0.05）,10月份的差异更明显。Shannon-wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀性指数和Simpson优势度指数无显著变化（p>0.05）。各主要类群个体数在群落中所占的比例呈波动性变化,但沙化可使蜱螨目的数量相对提高,而弹尾目相对下降。随退化程度的加重,三个退化阶段的Sorenson群落相似性逐渐降低,而Morisita-Horn相似性的变化则不同,说明高寒草甸的退化对中小型土壤动物群落物种组成的影响较大,对群落优势类群数量的影响较小。10月份的群落密度、多样性和群落相似性均高于7月份,表明群落结构组成受季节的影响;但是各退化阶段的Sorenson和Morisita-Horn季节相似性比较说明,季节变化对沙化草甸种类组成的影响大于草原草甸,对草原草甸群落优势类群数量的影响大于沙化草甸。个体密度和类群数的表聚性程度也随退化加重而降低。以上研究结果表明,高寒草甸的退化能够降低土壤动物群落的组成种类和结构复杂性,将会影响其生态服务功能。     

若尔盖高寒草甸退化对表栖节肢动物群落的影响

为了查明高寒草甸退化对表栖节肢动物的群落结构及多样性的影响,于2014年5月、7月和9月利用陷阱法对若尔盖县境内的沼泽草甸、草原草甸、中度退化草甸和重度退化草甸4种生境的表栖节肢动物群落进行了调查,共获得表栖节肢动物8364只,隶属于4纲17目123类(科或属)。优势类群为长跳属(Entomobrya)和球圆跳属(Sphaeridia),其中长跳属仅出现在草原草甸。重度退化草甸表栖节肢动物各多样性指数均显著低于其他生境,表明高寒草甸退化对表栖节肢动物群落组成有明显影响。此外,沼泽草甸表栖节肢动物9月的个体数量和丰富度指数高于5月和7月,其他生境均以7月较高,5月和9月较低;中度退化草甸和重度退化草甸的Shannon指数在不同月份间差异显著,Simpson指数仅在重度退化草甸有显著月份差异。不同生境间的月份差异表明,高寒草甸退化还可以影响表栖节肢动物的季节动态。回归分析表明,植物及土壤环境因子对表栖节肢动物群落的个体数量和多样性有显著影响。研究结果表明,高寒草甸退化可以通过改变植物群落及土壤环境等因子影响表栖节肢动物群落组成和多样性。     

青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸中小型土壤动物群落特征及季节变化

中小型土壤动物是生态系统的重要组成部分。为了查明高寒草甸生态系统的中小型土壤动物群落特征及其变化动态,2008至2009年间,利用定位观测方法对青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸的中小型土壤动物进行了5次调查。结果为:(1)捕获中小型土壤动物9318只,隶属于3门7纲88类;平均密度为39941.67 个/m²;大类群中,线虫纲(Nematoda)的个体数占总个体数的91.50%,蛛形纲(Arachnida)(主要为蜱螨目)、弹尾纲(Collembola)、寡毛纲(Oligochaeta)和昆虫纲(Insecta)分别占3.73%、2.55%、1.12%和1.07%;(2)土壤动物的群落密度、类群数、密度-类群指数、Shannon指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数均有显著的季节差异(P<0.01或P<0.05),表明高寒草甸生态系统的中小型土壤动物群落多样性对季节变化具有高度敏感性;(3)线虫纲、蛛形纲、弹尾纲、寡毛纲和昆虫纲的密度变化趋势基本一致,并均有显著的季节差异(P<0.05);(4)各季节间的Sorensen群落相似性系数低于Morisita-Horn相似性系数,表明季节变化对群落物种组成的影响相对较强,对优势类群个体密度的影响相对较弱;(5)中小型土壤动物群落的类群数和密度,以及弹尾纲、寡毛纲和昆虫纲的密度均与温度有显著的负相关(P<0.01或P<0.05),线虫和蛛形纲的密度与温度和降水均有不显著的负相关(P>0.05)。研究结果表明若尔盖高寒草甸的中小型土壤动物群落组成和多样性具有明显的季节特征,而温度是影响其季节变化的最主要气候因素;另外,从温度、降水及其年间变化对中小型土壤动物的影响可知全球气候变暖在短期内将会对高寒草甸土壤动物群落产生不利的影响。     

亚热带森林凋落叶分解过程土壤节肢动物群落的变化特征

土壤动物群落结构和多样性可能随凋落物分解进程和基质质量的变化不断改变。为了解亚热带森林凋落叶分解过程中土壤节肢动物群落变化特征,以四川盆地亚热带森林麻栎（Quercus acutissima）和柳杉（Cryptomeria fortunei）凋落叶为对象,于2011-2015年采用分解袋法研究了2种凋落叶分解过程中土壤节肢动物组成、结构和多样性动态变化。整个研究期间,柳杉和麻栎凋落叶分解袋中共捕获土壤节肢动物3855只,分属于16目51科,且均以等节跳科和棘跳科为优势类群;麻栎凋落叶中土壤节肢动物的个体密度随分解进程呈现增加趋势,在分解的1079天达最高值后降低,而柳杉凋落叶则在分解的156天急剧增加后快速降低,2种凋落叶中土壤节肢动物类群数量具有相似的动态变化过程;2种凋落叶中土壤节肢动物总体以菌食性数量比例最高,腐食性最低,且随凋落叶分解进程,植食性土壤节肢动物占比明显下降,菌食性则上升;非度量多维尺度（NMDS）分析显示,2种凋落叶中土壤节肢动物群落组成具有显著差异,聚类分析表明,2种凋落叶土壤节肢动物群落结构相似性随分解进程不断降低。亚热带森林凋落叶分解过程中土壤节肢动物群落组成、结构和多样性受凋落叶类型影响。     

高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制

植物对干旱胁迫的响应表现为各功能性状的差异化表达。全球气候变化下,青藏高原地区降水格局发生改变,高寒草甸群落功能性状及功能多样性在不同生长期干旱事件下的响应机制对加深高寒草甸适应气候变化认知具有重要意义。以藏北高寒草甸为研究对象,设置截雨棚模拟生长季前期（ED）、中期（MD）和非生长季时期（ND）干旱事件,通过观测群落物种功能性状,分析高寒草甸群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制。结果表明：（1）叶片功能性状对干旱存在差异响应,表现为叶片小而厚且寿命长,同化速率降低,并受氮元素限制加剧;（2）生长季前期干旱对高寒草甸群落功能性状的影响最强,生长季中期干旱次之,非生长季干旱的影响最弱;（3）生长季干旱处理显著改变了群落的功能多样性,ED处理下功能分散度指数（FDiv）和功能分异度指数（FDis）显著降低（P<0.05）,而Rao二次熵指数（RaoQ）显著升高（P<0.05）,MD处理下功能均匀度指数（FEve）显著降低（P<0.05）;（4）相关性分析得出,群落功能性状与功能多样性对干旱的响应之间存在着联系。本研究发现高寒草甸植物功能性状与群落功能多样性对生长季前期和中期干旱存在差异化响应,指示着高寒草甸植物群落在响应不同时期干旱时可能采取不同的生存策略,即对生长季前期干旱采用耐旱策略、对生长季中期干旱采用避旱策略。探讨了高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长时期干旱胁迫的响应机制,为预测未来季节性干旱事件对青藏高原高寒草甸植物功能性状、群落特征和功能多样性的影响提供科学依据。     

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.