Mercury uptake and phytotoxicity in terrestrial plants grown naturally in the Gumuskoy (Kutahya) mining area,Turkey

This study investigated mercury (Hg) uptake and transport from the soil to different plant parts by documenting the distribution and accumulation of Hg in the roots and shoots of 12 terrestrial plant species, all of which grow naturally in surface soils of the Gumuskoy Pb-Ag mining area. Plant samples and their associated soils were collected and analyzed for Hg content by ICP-MS. Mean Hg values in the soils, roots, and shoots of all plants were 6.914, 460, and 206 µg kg^?1, respectively and lower than 1. The mean enrichment factors for the roots (ECR) and shoots (ECS) of these plants were 0.06 and 0.09, respectively and lower than 1. These results show that the roots of the studied plants prevented Hg from reaching the aerial parts of the plants. The mean translocation factor (TLF) was 1.29 and higher than 1. The mean TLF values indicated that all 12 plant species had the ability to transfer Hg from the roots to the shoots but that transfer was more efficient in plants with higher ECR and ECS. Therefore, these plants could be useful for the biomonitoring of environmental pollution and for rehabilitating areas contaminated by Hg.     

Competition and facilitation between Australian and Spanish legumes in seven Australian soils

This paper evaluates the relative performance and competitive ability of seven legumes from the Iberian Peninsula, Spain (one already invasive in Australia), grown singly or pairwise with seven legumes from south‐western Australia in their own soils. Indices of growth used were root, shoot and total mass and shoot dimensions. Water content, xylem water potential during drying and nodule production were also measured. The index of competition used was the intensity of competition coefficient (ICC), which is suitable for additive designs. The Australian species usually grew larger than the Spanish species, in their presence or absence, although the results were sensitive to the index of growth or resource capture used. The Australian legumes usually possessed greater total water content than the co‐occurring Spanish legumes. At least five Australian species were less reduced or not affected at all by inter‐regional competition compared with growth in isolation. Two Australian legumes performed relatively poorly in the presence of at least four Spanish legumes. The ICC identified many instances of growth promotion (facilitation) of the Australian species, which we attribute to extra nitrogen obtained through enhanced nodulation of both cohabiting species. Five of the seven Spanish species were outcompeted by the Australian species, whereas the growth of two was sometimes facilitated. Although the Spanish legumes had greater competitive ability in the more fertile Australian soils, they remained competitively inferior to the Australian legumes in their first season of growth and none is likely to displace the native legumes at this stage of growth. Longer‐term field studies are needed to fully evaluate the potential invasiveness of perennial legumes.     

皮肤组织模型中吸收和散射系数对单线态氧发光特性的影响

构建由脂肪乳剂和墨水组成的皮肤组织模型,定量研究皮肤组织模型的吸收系数μa和散射系数μs对光敏化单线态氧(singlet oxygen,~1O_2)发光特性的影响。利用~1O_2发光检测系统测量含光敏剂四硫磺基酞菁氯化铝的皮肤组织模型分别在中心波长为1 230,1 270和1 310 nm处的时间分辨发光光谱,对扣除背景信号后的时间分辨~1O_2发光光谱进行积分和拟合,获得~1O_2发光积分强度以及激发三重态寿命τ_T和~1O_2寿命τ_D。结果表明在皮肤组织模型中,~1O_2发光积分强度随着μ_a和μ_s的增大而减小,μ_a对τ_T和τ_D没有影响。τ_T随着μs的增加而增加,τ_D随μ_s的增加先骤降而后缓慢上升。当μ_a1.5 mm~(-1)和μ_s32 cm~(-1)时,~1O_2发光积分强度和τ_T、τ_D均趋于稳定,其中τ_T和τ_D分别为3.4±0.6μs和3.3±0.7μs。     

Design,synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of JDTic analogs to examine the significance of replacement of the 3-hydroxyphenyl group with pyridine or thiophene bioisosteres

The potent and selective KOR antagonist JDTic was derived from the N-substituted trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine class of pure opioid antagonists. In previous studies we reported that compounds that did not have a hydroxyl on the 3-hydroxyphenyl group and did not have methyl groups at the 3- and 4-position of the piperidine ring were still potent and selective KOR antagonists. In this study we report JDTic analogs 2, 3a–b, 4a–b, and 5, where the 3-hydroxyphenyl ring has been replaced by a 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl or 3-thienyl group and do not have the 3-methyl or 3,4-dimethyl groups, remain potent and selective KOR antagonists. Of these, (3R)-7-hydroxy-N-(1S)-2-methyl-[4-methyl-4-pyridine-3-yl-carboxamide (3b) had the best overall binding potency and selectivity in a [³⁵S]GTPγS functional assay, with a K_e = 0.18 nM at the KOR and 273- and 16,700-fold selectivity for the KOR relative to the MOR and DOR, respectively. Calculated physiochemical properties for 3b suggest that it will cross the blood–brain barrier.     

Role of Y-family translesion DNA polymerases in replication stress: Implications for new cancer therapeutic targets

DNA replication stress, defined as the slowing or stalling of replication forks, is considered an emerging hallmark of cancer and a major contributor to genomic instability associated with tumorigenesis (Macheret and Halazonetis, 2015). Recent advances have been made in attempting to target DNA repair factors involved in alleviating replication stress to potentiate genotoxic treatments. Various inhibitors of ATR and Chk1, the two major kinases involved in the intra-S-phase checkpoint, are currently in Phase I and II clinical trials [2]. In addition, currently approved inhibitors of Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) show synthetic lethality in cells that lack double-strand break repair such as in BRCA1/2 deficient tumors [3]. These drugs have also been shown to exacerbate replication stress by creating a DNA-protein crosslink, termed PARP ‘trapping’, and this is now thought to contribute to the therapeutic efficacy. Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a mechanism whereby special repair DNA polymerases accommodate and tolerate various DNA lesions to allow for damage bypass and continuation of DNA replication (Yang and Gao, 2018). This class of proteins is best characterized by the Y-family, encompassing DNA polymerases (Pols) Kappa, Eta, Iota, and Rev1. While best studied for their ability to bypass physical lesions on the DNA, there is accumulating evidence for these proteins in coping with various natural replication fork barriers and alleviating replication stress. In this mini-review, we will highlight some of these recent advances, and discuss why targeting the TLS pathway may be a mechanism of enhancing cancer-associated replication stress. Exacerbation of replication stress can lead to increased genome instability, which can be toxic to cancer cells and represent a therapeutic vulnerability.     

Bioaccumulation of mercury,arsenic, cadmium,and lead in plants grown on coal mine soil

Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) are the major toxic metals released by coal mining activities in the surrounding environment. These metals get accumulated in the soils. The plants grown on the contaminated soil uptake these toxic metals in their roots and aerial parts. This study monitored the bioaccumulation of Hg and other three toxic metals in coal mine soil. The pot study of Hg accumulation in Brassica juncea showed that the extent of Hg uptake by roots and shoots of the plants grown on was high in the mature plant and Hg content in root was higher than the shoot. In the soil of unreclaimed overburden (OB) dump, the toxic metal content was higher than that of reclaimed OB dump which posed high ecological risk in the soil of unreclaimed OB dump. Bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) value showed that Hg was not accumulated in the leaves of Dalbergia sissoo L., Gmelina arborea, Peltaphorum inerme L., Cassia seamea L, and Acacia mangium L grown on coal mine soil.     

中国植物受威胁等级评估系统概述

濒危物种保护是生物多样性保护工作的重要组成部分, 而物种受威胁等级评估则是濒危物种保护的方向指引。经过多年的发展, 物种受威胁等级的评估由定性评估逐渐向定量评估为主、定性评估为辅的方向发展。本文综述了国内植物受威胁等级定量评估系统的研究进展, 同时介绍了国外较为成熟的IUCN红色名录评估系统、CITES评估系统、美国自然保育协会评估系统, 提出未来制定受威胁物种定量评估标准时要兼顾以下方面: (1)等级设置定义要明确、统一且合理; (2)评估标准应该定量化、客观且不冗余; (3)评估系统应该适应不同地理范围, 最好能同时表达出各范围的受威胁等级; (4)评估指标要包含物种动态信息, 能定量分析物种在过去或者未来的变化。此外, 本文认为国内的物种受威胁等级定量评估系统应该形成规范化的大纲, 加大宣传力度, 尽量将理论研究与具体的保护行动结合起来; 同时, 我国还应该采用全球广泛应用的受威胁等级评估系统获取物种受威胁等级, 将国内生物多样性保护工作纳入到全球范围中去。     

祁连山高寒草原主要植物种群格局对冬季放牧的响应

以肃南裕固族自治县鹿场冬季牧场为研究对象,采用偏离系数及t检验方法结合Ripley''s K函数及蒙特卡罗随机模拟对紫花针茅种群与醉马草种群进行格局分析,进一步采用计盒维数与信息维数对紫花针茅种群与醉马草种群进行分形分析,揭示在放牧系统中优势植物的种群变化。格局分析结果表明：牧场植物的种群格局出现5种变化规律。紫花针茅种群的偏离系数在放牧率3.64 AUM/hm²时^#,出现最小值。醉马草种群的偏离系数在放牧率4.16AUM/hm²时,出现最大值。在0-1 m的研究尺度内,紫花针茅种群与醉马草种群的Ripley''s K函数结果均在蒙特卡洛随机模拟区间内,呈随机分布格局。分形分析结果表明：伴随放牧率增大,紫花针茅种群的计盒维数区间为[1.596,1.962],醉马草种群的计盒维数区间为[1.831,1.945];紫花针茅种群的信息维数区间为[1.590,1.899],醉马草种群的信息维数区间为[1.633,1.913]。在放牧率4.34 AUM/hm²时,紫花针茅种群与醉马草种群空间占据差值达到最大,信息维数相对较低,种群分布相对均匀,格局变化相对缓慢,经济效益与生态效益相平衡,最适合管理牧场。     

苦豆子表型性状多样性分析及综合评价

该研究以自然分布的内蒙、宁夏、甘肃、新疆、陕西等23个不同地理来源(种源)的野生苦豆子种子及其播种于内蒙古鄂托克前旗同质园内的当年生植株为材料,采用方差分析、主成分分析、聚类分析等方法对种子长、宽、千粒重以及植株的叶长、叶宽、叶面积、叶形指数、苗高、地径及生物量等10个表型性状的多样性进行了研究。结果表明:各个表型性状种源间均呈极显著差异,其中种子表型性状的变异系数为5.24%,植株表型性状的变异系数为18.34%,表明种子性状的稳定性高于植株性状。同时,10个性状的表型分化系数均高于70%,说明苦豆子表型多样性主要来源于种源间的表型变异;各种源苦豆子种子性状的表型分化系数均值高达97.55%,且种长、千粒重分别与采集地经度、纬度和海拔等环境因子呈极显著相关性,说明种子表型性状受环境因素的影响较大;相关性分析显示,苦豆子植株性状叶长(LL)、叶面积(LA)分别与种子性状千粒重(TW)、种长(SL)和种宽(SW)有显著相关性,暗示表型性状中的可遗传变异影响;利用主成分和聚类分析对23个种源苦豆子进行综合评价,筛选出生物量较大、苗高较高、千粒重较重、叶面积较大等综合表现较好的6个种源,共分为两类,分别是DK、JY、WY、WH、ETK和YN,这为苦豆子种质资源定向开发以及选育和栽培提供了一定的理论支撑和基础材料。