Structural basis for the red light induced repolarization of tip growth in caulonema cells ofCeratodon purpureus

Summary Two dynamic changes are associated with the phytochrome-regulated phototropic response in tip cells of the mossCeratodon purpureus: a tip-located gradient shift of chlortetracy-cline (CTC)-stained calcium and a structural reorganization of apical microfilaments (MFs). We examined the interdependence of these processes. Cells were treated with the antimicrotubule drug oryzalin, the antimicrofilament drug cytochalasin-D, and the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. respectively. The effects on phototropic growth, on the structural alignment of the cytoskeleton (microtubules, MTs; microfilaments) and on the distribution of CTC-stained calcium were studied under each of these conditions. In gravitropically growing tip cells the apical MFs form a cortical collar-like structure, consisting of actin bundles with a parallel axial alignment. These MFs point towards the presumptive growing point, a weakly stained region in the tip of the cell from which bundles are absent. MTs are present in the cortex and in the endoplasm of the tip, predominantly oriented longitudinally. The MTs converge within the central apex. The cells show a steep tip-to-base CTC-calcium gradient with its highest signal in the central apex. Destruction of MTs by 1 M oryzalin induces several translocational effects: (i) the growing zone and phototropic outgrowth shift from the apex to subapical parts of the cell; (ii) the structural integrity of the apical MFs and the tip-to-base alignment of the CTC-calcium gradient are disturbed; and (iii) the red light induced gradient shift and the reorientation of MFs proceed in an expanded area spanning from the tip to subapical parts of the cell. Cytochalasin-D (10 g/ml) destroys the MFs. Under these conditions tip growth stops and the phototropic outgrowth is suppressed. The apical MT-structure and the CTC-calcium gradient are not influenced by the agent. Unilateral red light still induces the light-directed translocation of the gradient. Tip cells memorize a unilateral irradiation applied during growth inhibition with cytochalasin-D. After recovery in darkness the cells start to grow in the former light direction. The restoration of the MFs precedes the outgrowth. The structural alignment of the rebuilt actin bundles indicates the future growth direction. The calcium channel blocker nifedipine (10 M) also inhibits tip growth and concurrently phototropic outgrowth. Nifedipine destroys the CTC-calcium gradient and apical MFs; MTs are not influenced by the channel blocker.Abbreviations CTC chlortetracycline - DIC differential interference contrast - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis-(-aminoethylether) N,N,N-N-tetraacetic acid - MBS 3-maleimidobenzoic acid N-hydroxysuccimide ester - MF microfilament - MT microtubule - MTSB microtubule stabilizing buffer - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis(2-ethane-sulfonic acid) - RP rhodamine labeled phalloidin     

A break in the nitrogen cycle in aridlands? Evidence from δp15N of soils

We examined the content and isotopic composition of nitrogen within soils of a juniper woodland and found that a cryptobiotic crust composed of cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses was the predominant source of nitrogen for this ecosystem. Disturbance of the crust has resulted in considerable spatial variability in soil nitrogen content and isotopic composition; intercanopy soils were significantly depleted in nitrogen and had greater abundance of ¹⁵N compared to intra-canopy soils. Variations in the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio for inter- and intra-canopy locations followed similar Rayleigh distillation curves, indicating that the greater ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios for inter-canopy soils were due to relatively greater net nitrogen loss. Coverage of cryptobiotic crusts has been reduced by anthropogenic activities during the past century, and our results suggest that destruction of the cryptobiotic crust may ultimately result in ecosystem degradation through elimination of the predominant source of nitrogen input.     

古尔班通古特沙漠藻类结皮中微生物群落空间分异特征

古尔班通古特沙漠短命和旱生植物在沙漠东西走向上形成明显的种群变化梯度,那么沙漠藻类结皮土壤中微生物是否也具有类似地空间分布特征?为研究该科学问题,采用高通量测序技术,探究沙漠东西走向上藻类结皮土壤中细菌和真菌群落结构分布规律。在古尔班通古特沙漠西部、中部和东部区域分别采集藻类结皮土样,进行土壤理化因子分析及细菌和真菌扩增子测序,对比不同区域土壤理化性质和微生物群落空间分异特征,分析微生物多样性与环境因子相关性,最后根据微生物物种种类对其功能进行预测分析。结果表明：藻类结皮土壤氮素、全磷、全钾、pH以及土壤化学计量比碳磷比(C∶P)和氮磷比(N∶P)在沙漠不同区域存在显著性差异,其余指标空间尺度上变化梯度较小。微生物α多样性结果显示3个区域藻类结皮土壤中细菌群落丰富度和多样性存在显著性差异,东部与西部区域产生明显分化;而真菌α多样性指数无显著性差异,群落结构较为均匀,未产生分化。β多样性结果显示细菌群落在西部与东部藻类结皮间存在显著性差异,沙漠中部为沙漠西部和东部的过渡带。门水平细菌优势菌群为蓝藻门、变形菌门和拟杆菌门;真菌为子囊菌门和担子菌门。属水平上,丰度前30个属在沙漠不同区域表现...     

荒漠藓类植物齿肋赤藓对4年积雪深度变化的生理生化响应

冬季降雪作为古尔班通古特沙漠最主要的降水形式,在荒漠生物土壤结皮的稳定和发育发挥重要作用。全球的持续变暖和极端气候事件的频繁发生导致荒漠冬季的积雪格局发生重大变化。荒漠藓类植物作为荒漠重要地被类型生物土壤结皮的重要组成成分,在生理生化层面将如何响应长期的积雪深度变化还不清楚。因此,通过野外设置去除积雪(-S)、自然积雪(S)、2倍积雪(2S)和3倍积雪(3S) 4个积雪梯度,探讨经历4年积雪深度变化下齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)的生理生化特征。结果表明,积雪深度变化显著影响了齿肋赤藓的植株含水量、最大光化学量子产量(F_v/F_m)、实际光化学效率(Y(II))、渗透调节物质含量和抗氧化酶活性。与去除积雪处理相比,随着积雪深度的增加,齿肋赤藓的植株含水量、F_v/F_m和Y(II)呈现增加趋势,而植株内的游离脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈现降低趋势。相关性分析显示,齿肋赤藓的F_...     

荒漠结皮层藓类植物死亡对表层土壤水分蒸发和入渗的影响

水分是荒漠植物生长最主要的限制因子,藓类结皮作为荒漠土壤表层重要覆被物,对土壤水分蒸发入渗具有重要影响。研究表明,在全球气候变化背景下,不确定的降水格局变化导致结皮层藓类植物出现集群死亡现象,但这一过程对荒漠地表土壤水分蒸发与入渗过程的影响及其机理尚不清楚。以古尔班通古特沙漠齿肋赤藓结皮为研究对象,利用便携式渗透计和蒸发仪,研究了结皮层藓类植物死亡对土壤水分蒸发与入渗的影响。结果表明,与裸沙相比,藓类结皮的存在显著抑制了水分入渗,而藓类植物死亡的结皮层抑制作用最大,其初渗速率、稳渗速率和累积入渗量分别是活藓类结皮的39.89%、85.91%及64.48%,仅为裸沙的5.96%、13.13%及20.42%。在水分蒸发初期,裸沙的水分蒸发速率明显高于活藓类结皮和藓类植物死亡的结皮层,但藓类植物死亡的结皮层维持相对稳定的蒸发速率的时间长于裸沙和活藓类结皮,这也导致最终累计蒸发量以藓类植物死亡的结皮层最高、裸沙最低。可见,荒漠生物土壤结皮中藓类植物死亡会明显减少土壤水分入渗、增大水分蒸发,进一步影响荒漠表层土壤水分格局,从而影响生物土壤结皮与维管植物的水分利用关系。     

The cephalic morphology of the Gondwanan key taxon Hackeriella (Coleorrhyncha,Hemiptera)

External and internal head structures of Coleorrhyncha, a key-taxon within the Hemiptera, are described in detail and documented using modern techniques. The main focus is on Hackeriella veitchi, but two additional representatives of the Gondwanan relict group were also examined, and also head structures of Enicocephalidae, a member of a potentially basal heteropteran lineage. Features were compared to those documented in literature for the Sternorrhyncha, Auchenorrhyncha, and Heteroptera. Coleorrhyncha are characterized by highly modified head structures and correspondingly an entire series of autapomorphies, such as for instance a strongly flattened head capsule with fenestrations. However, they also display features that are likely plesiomorphic compared to members of other hemipteran groups. These include the almost complete tentorium and the lack of the gula. The sistergroup relationship between Coleorrhyncha and Heteroptera is well supported by cephalic features. Potential synapomorphies are the presence of a distinct mandibular sulcus, the reduced number of antennomeres, the absence of clasping organs in the labial groove, coiled accessory salivary ducts, the presence of a small cervical muscle M1a (M. pronotopostoccipitalis medialis), the presence of a second mandibular promotor M14 (M. zygomaticus mandibulae), the presence of M28 (M. verticopharyngalis), and M30 (M. frontobuccalis posterior).     

不同生物土壤结皮微生物组跨膜转运蛋白基因多样性及差异

【背景】跨膜转运蛋白在微生物转运各种物质的过程中具有重要作用。【目的】通过比较原核微生物组磷酸转移酶(phosphotransferasesystem,PTS)系统和腺苷三磷酸结合盒(ATP-binding cassette,ABC)转运蛋白编码基因在两种不同生物土壤结皮中(藻结皮与藓结皮)的差异,以期揭示随着生物土壤结皮的发育演替,微生物组跨膜转运物质的生物学过程中的潜在变化趋势。【方法】对腾格里沙漠东南缘的藻结皮和藓结皮12个样品进行宏基因组测序,参照KEGG数据库PTS系统,与ABC转运蛋白代谢通路进行比较并筛选相关基因,分析其差异显著性。【结果】藻结皮和藓结皮PTS系统和ABC转运蛋白编码基因的多样性一致。在生物土壤结皮中共检测到16种PTS系统的转运蛋白的编码基因,具有显著性差异的有5种;检测到106种ABC转运蛋白的编码基因,具有显著性差异的有46种,并对这46种转运蛋白结合的底物以及变化趋势进行了详细的描述。【结论】生物土壤结皮发育演替过程中,微生物组从环境中摄取能够增加渗透势物质的潜力总体呈现降低趋势,转运氨基酸、细胞膜和细胞壁组分的潜力总体呈现增加趋势,对于矿物离子、辅助因子、糖类和碳酸氢盐等的转运潜力总体无明显变化。需要注意的是这些转运蛋白编码基因多样性及差异与生物土壤结皮的关系还有待实验证明与解释。     

Aerobryum brevicuspis S.He (Brachytheciaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam

A new species of Aerobryum Dozy & Molk. (Brachytheciaceae), A. brevicuspis S.He from Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam is described and illustrated. The new species resembles epiphytic A. speciosum Dozy & Molk. in the presence of pendent, sparsely branched stems, similar shape of leaves and areolation, but differs by its apiculate to cuspidate leaf apices, a single, faint or sometimes double costae in branch leaves, rather differentiated alar cells, the presence of a central strand in the stems, and numerous clustered axillary hairs that are often 5-8(-10) cells long.     

毛乌素沙地南缘沙丘生物结皮对凝结水形成和蒸发的影响

在水分极度匮乏的荒漠生态系统,凝结水是除降雨之外最重要的水分来源之一,它对荒漠生态系统结构、功能和过程的维持产生重要的影响。为探明半干旱沙区生物结皮表面的凝结水形成和蒸发特征,采用自制的微型蒸渗计(直径7 cm、高5 cm的PVC管)实验观测了不同类型地表(裸沙、浅灰色藻类结皮、黑褐色藻类结皮和苔藓结皮)对凝结水形成和蒸发的影响。结果表明:(1)观测期间共有20次凝结水形成记录,除降雨天气外,几乎每天都能观测到水分凝结现象;(2)不同类型地表凝结水总量依次为(1.998±0.075),(2.326±0.083),(2.790±0.058)和(3.416±0.068) mm,生物结皮表面的凝结水总量显著大于裸沙(P < 0.05);随生物结皮的发育,不同类型生物结皮表面的凝结水总量呈增加的趋势,凝结水总量之间差异显著(P < 0.05);观测期间不同类型地表日平均凝结水量依次为(0.100±0.003),(0.116±0.004),(0.140±0.002)和(0.171± 0.003) mm,不同类型地表日平均凝结水量之间差异极显著(P < 0.01);(3)凝结水形成过程的观测结果显示,凝结水19:00开始形成,23:00-凌晨1:00形成不明显,1:00-7:00继续形成,除浅灰色藻类结皮外,太阳升出后在黑褐色藻类结皮和苔藓结皮表面继续形成少量的凝结水;凝结水7:30开始蒸发,10:30到11:00之间结束蒸发,凝结水在裸沙和浅灰色藻类结皮中的保持时间显著大于黑褐色藻类结皮和苔藓结皮中的保持时间(P < 0.05);(4)凝结水的形成受大气温度、地表温度、空气相对湿度和大气地表温度差等气象因素的影响,但其形成过程不与某一个气象因素呈简单的线性关系。