Estrous Cycle‐Dependent Expression of Estrogen Receptor α in Periodontal Tissue

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) may play important roles in many estrogen physiological effects, but little is known about the fluctuation of ERα during the estrous cycle. In this study, the dynamic expression of ERα mRNA and protein in periodontal tissue during the estrous cycle were examined. Forty 12‐week‐old female rats were divided into four groups, based on the estrous cycle stage, and sacrificed. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to detect dynamic changes in ERα protein and mRNA in periodontal tissue during the estrous cycle, and data were analyzed by one‐way ANOVA and cosinor analysis for temporal patterns. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the expression of ERα protein and mRNA among the four groups. The expression of ERα protein and mRNA exhibited an infradian rhythm with a period of about 120 h (five days). The phase and amplitude differences between ERα protein and mRNA were not significant (p>0.05). The results suggest the expression of ERα is dynamic during the estrous cycle and that in the future chronobiologic methods should be used to study the mechanism of estrogen effect on periodontal tissue.     

Minor contribution of leaf litter to N nutrition of beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings in a mountainous beech forest of Southern Germany

Aims

Our aims were to characterize the fate of leaf-litter-derived nitrogen in the plant-soil-microbe system of a temperate beech forest of Southern Germany and to identify its importance for N nutrition of beech seedlings.

Methods

¹⁵N-labelled leaf litter was traced in situ into abiotic and biotic N pools in mineral soil as well as into beech seedlings and mycorrhizal root tips over three growing seasons.

Results

There was a rapid transfer of ¹⁵N into the mineral soil already 21 days after tracer application with soil microbial biomass initially representing the dominant litter-N sink. However, ¹⁵N recovery in non-extractable soil N pools strongly increased over time and subsequently became the dominant ¹⁵N sink. Recovery in plant biomass accounted for only 0.025 % of ¹⁵N excess after 876 days. After three growing seasons, ¹⁵N excess recovery was characterized by the following sequence: non-extractable soil N?>>?extractable soil N including microbial biomass?>>?plant biomass?>?ectomycorrhizal root tips.

Conclusions

After quick vertical dislocation and cycling through microbial N pools, there was a rapid stabilization of leaf-litter-derived N in non-extractable N pools of the mineral soil. Very low ¹⁵N recovery in beech seedlings suggests a high importance of other N sources such as root litter for N nutrition of beech understorey.     

Competitive interaction between the exotic plant Rhus typhina L. and the native tree Quercus acutissima Carr. in Northern China under different soil N:P ratios

Background and aims

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) input has changed the relative importance of nutrient elements. This study aimed to examine the effects of different nutrient conditions on the interaction between exotic and native plants.

Methods

We conducted a greenhouse experiment with a native species Quercus acutissima Carr. and an exotic species Rhus typhina L. grown in monocultures or mixtures, under three N:P ratios (5, 15 and 45 corresponding to N-limited, basic N and P supply and P-limited conditions, respectively). After 12 weeks of treatment, traits related to biomass allocation, leaf physiology and nutrient absorption were determined.

Results

R. typhina was dominant under competition, with a high capacity for carbon assimilation and nutrient absorption, and the dominance was unaffected by increasing N:P ratios. R. typhina invested more photosynthate in leaves and more nutrients in the photosynthetic apparatus, enabling high biomass production. Q. acutissima invested more photosynthate in roots and more nutrients in leaf persistence at the expense of reduced carbon assimilation capacity.

Conclusions

Different trade-offs in biomass and nutrient allocation of the two species is an important reason for their distinct performances under competition and helps R. typhina to maintain dominance under different nutrient conditions.     

Preferential use of root litter compared to leaf litter by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms

Background and aims

Litter decomposition is regulated by e.g. substrate quality and environmental factors, particularly water availability. The partitioning of nutrients released from litter between vegetation and soil microorganisms may, therefore, be affected by changing climate. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of litter type and drought on the fate of litter-derived N in beech seedlings and soil microbes.

Methods

We quantified ¹⁵N recovery rates in plant and soil N pools by adding ¹⁵N-labelled leaf and/or root litter under controlled conditions.

Results

Root litter was favoured over leaf litter for N acquisition by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms. Drought reduced ¹⁵N recovery from litter in seedlings thereby affecting root N nutrition. ¹⁵N accumulated in seedlings in different sinks depending on litter type.

Conclusions

Root turnover appears to influence (a) N availability in the soil for plants and soil microbes and (b) N acquisition and retention despite a presumably extremely dynamic turnover of microbial biomass. Compared to soil microorganisms, beech seedlings represent a very minor short-term N sink, despite a potentially high N residence time. Furthermore, soil microbes constitute a significant N pool that can be released in the long term and, thus, may become available for N nutrition of plants.     

Function of wheat phosphate transporter gene TaPHT2;1 in Pi translocation and plant growth regulation under replete and limited Pi supply conditions

Several phosphate transporters (PTs) that belong to the Pht2 family have been released in bioinformatics databases, but only a few members of this family have been functionally characterized. In this study, we found that wheat TaPHT2;1 shared high identity with a subset of Pht2 in diverse plants. Expression analysis revealed that TaPHT2;1 was strongly expressed in the leaves, was up-regulated by low Pi stress, and exhibited a circadian rhythmic expression pattern. TaPHT2;1–green fluorescent protein fusions in the leaves of tobacco and wheat were specifically detected in the chloroplast envelop. TaPHT2;1 complemented the Pi transporter activities in a yeast mutant with a defect in Pi uptake. Knockdown expression of TaPHT2;1 significantly reduced Pi concentration in the chloroplast under sufficient (2 mM Pi) and deficient Pi (100 μM Pi) conditions, suggesting that TaPHT2;1 is crucial in the mediation of Pi translocation from the cytosol to the chloroplast. The down-regulated expression of TaPHT2;1 resulted in reduced photosynthetic capacities, total P contents, and accumulated P amounts in plants under sufficient and deficient Pi conditions, eventually leading to worse plant growth phenotypes. The TaPHT2;1 knockdown plants exhibited pronounced decrease in accumulated phosphorus in sufficient and deficient Pi conditions, suggesting that TaPHT2;1 is an important factor to associate with a distinct P signaling that up-regulates other PT members to control Pi acquisition and translocation within plants. Therefore, TaPHT2;1 is a key member of the Pht2 family involved in Pi translocation, and that it can function in the improvement of phosphorus usage efficiency in wheat.     

Sulfamoylbenzamide Derivatives Inhibit the Assembly of Hepatitis B Virus Nucleocapsids

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a serious public health problem leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, is currently treated with either pegylated alpha interferon (pegIFN-α) or one of the five nucleos(t)ide analogue viral DNA polymerase inhibitors. However, neither pegIFN-α nor nucleos(t)ide analogues are capable of reliably curing the viral infection. In order to develop novel antiviral drugs against HBV, we established a cell-based screening assay by using an immortalized mouse hepatocyte-derived stable cell line supporting a high level of HBV replication in a tetracycline-inducible manner. Screening of a library consisting of 26,900 small molecules led to the discovery of a series of sulfamoylbenzamide (SBA) derivatives that significantly reduced the amount of cytoplasmic HBV DNA. Structure-activity relationship studies have thus far identified a group of fluorine-substituted SBAs with submicromolar antiviral activity against HBV in human hepatoma cells. Mechanistic analyses reveal that the compounds dose dependently inhibit the formation of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA)-containing nucleocapsids of HBV but not other animal hepadnaviruses, such as woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV). Moreover, heterologous genetic complementation studies of capsid protein, DNA polymerase, and pgRNA between HBV and WHV suggest that HBV capsid protein confers sensitivity to the SBAs. In summary, SBAs represent a novel chemical entity with superior activity and a unique antiviral mechanism and are thus warranted for further development as novel antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.