Salts enhance both protein stability and amyloid formation of an immunoglobulin light chain

Amyloid fibrils are associated with sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix. The presence of sulfated glycosaminoglycans is known to promote amyloid formation in vitro and in vivo, with the sulfate groups playing a role in this process. In order to understand the role that sulfate plays in amyloid formation, we have studied the effect of salts from the Hofmeister series on the protein structure, stability and amyloid formation of an amyloidogenic light chain protein, AL-12. We have been able to show for the first time a direct correlation between protein stability and amyloid formation enhancement by salts from the Hofmeister series, where SO₄²⁻ conferred the most protein stability and enhancement of amyloid formation. Our study emphasizes the importance of the effect of ions in the protein bound water properties and downplays the role of specific interactions between the protein and ions.     

The bactericidal effect of ultraviolet and visible light on Escherichia coli

The bactericidal radiation dosages at specific wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrum are not well documented. Such information is important for the development of new monochromatic bactericidal devices to be operated at different wavelengths. In this study, radiation dosages required to cause mortality of an Escherichia coli strain, ATCC 25922, at various wavelengths between 250 and 532 nm in the UV and visible spectrum were determined. Radiation at 265 nm in the UV region was most efficient in killing the E. coli cells and 100% mortality was achieved at a dose of 1.17 log mJ/cm(2). In the visible spectrum, the radiation dosages required for a one-log reduction of the E. coli cell density at 458 and 488 nm were 5.5 and 6.9 log mJ/cm(2), respectively. However, at 515 and 532 nm, significant killing was not observed at radiation dosage up to 7 log mJ/cm(2). Based on the cell survival data at various radiation dosages between 250 and 488 nm, a predictive equation for the survival of E. coli cells is derived, namely log(S/S(0)) = -(1.089 x 10(7) e(-0.0633lambda))D. The symbols, S(0), S, lambda, and D, represent initial cell density, cell density after irradiation, wavelength of the radiation and radiation dosage, respectively. The proportion of the surviving E. coli cells decreases exponentially with the increase in radiation dosage at a given wavelength. In addition, the radiation dose required for killing a certain fraction of the E. coli cells increases exponentially as the wavelength of radiation increases.     

遮光处理对节瓜光合作用特性的影响

在塑料大棚内设置不同光照强度处理[自然光(对照)、遮光40%和遮光60%],研究遮光处理对节瓜(Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. chieh-qua How.)功能叶片光合特性的影响,结果表明节瓜叶片净光合速率(Pn)日变化呈单峰曲线,各处理在11:00达到峰值.节瓜Pn峰值随光照强度的减小而降低,叶片Pn达到峰值之前随遮光程度的增大而降低,而达到峰值之后,遮光40%处理的节瓜叶片Pn比对照高.叶片Pn的日变化幅度随遮光程度的增强而减小,叶片的光饱和点随光照强度的减小而明显降低.结果说明遮光处理通过影响环境因子和节瓜叶片生理特性等内在因素而影响其光合作用.塑料大棚内中午前后用遮光强度适宜的遮阳网覆盖,可提高节瓜功能叶片的光合能力,有利于提高产量.     

红光和远红光处理引起的杜氏盐藻跨类囊体膜质子动力势变化

照射远红光后杜氏盐藻毫秒延迟发光快相强度明显增加,而红光处理结果则相反.低温条件明显抑制远红光引起的毫秒延迟发光快相强度的上升,而红光则仍能够有效地引起毫秒延迟发光快相强度的降低.加入消除跨类囊体膜质子梯度的尼日利亚菌素后,远红光不能引起延迟荧光强度的上升.与以前在高等植物中得到的结果相比,在杜氏盐藻中远红光处理后毫秒延迟发光快相强度增加的幅度更大,红光处理后没有出现毫秒延迟发光快相强度先增加后降低的现象.     

水稻rbcS启动子控制的外源基因在转基因水稻中的特异性表达

为将不同启动子用于转基因水稻的研究,从武运粳8号水稻中克隆了Rubisco小亚基基因(rbcS)的5'上游调控区,构建了由rbcS启动子引导的GUS融合基因,并经农杆菌介导导入到水稻中.对转基因水稻植株中GUS活性的定性与定量测定结果表明,rbcS启动子可驱动GUS报告基因在转基因水稻植株叶片和叶鞘内的叶肉细胞中特异性高效表达,而在茎、根和种子等器官中不表达或表达活性极弱,表现出明显的组织与细胞特异性.结果还表明,光诱导处理可明显提高rbcS启动子启动的外源基因的表达量.     

遮荫处理下多脉青冈和金叶含笑的叶解剖结构变化研究

运用结构植物学方法,以多脉青冈（Cyclobalanopsis multinervis)和金叶含笑(Michelia foveolata)2年生苗为材料,进行全光照处理和遮荫处理下叶结构观察比较。结果显示,长期遮荫处理下,多脉青冈和金叶含笑新生叶的表皮细胞变薄,栅栏组织变得稀疏,层数有减少趋势,海绵组织更加疏松;多脉青冈的叶角质层退化。表明长期的弱光照下,2种树种的新生叶叶结构产生了适廊性的变化,其适应程度可以推测植物对光环境变化的适应能力强弱和进化潜力,研究结果对预测园林树种的光适应能力和结构进化有一定意义。     

土壤活性有机质及其与土壤质量的关系

活性有机质是土壤的重要组成部分 ,主要包括溶解性有机碳、微生物生物量、轻组有机质。它在土壤中具有重要作用 :(1)可以表征土壤物质循环特征、评价土壤质量 ,可以作为土壤潜在生产力以及由土壤管理措施引起土壤有机质变化的早期指标 ;(2 )在养分周转中起重要作用 ,是植物的养分库 ,可以提供植物所需要的养分如氮、磷、硫等 ;(3)能稳定土壤结构 ,对维持团粒结构稳定性有重要作用。从土壤养分、土壤物理、化学性质方面讨论了活性有机质与土壤质量的关系。土壤中的溶解性有机碳、微生物生物量碳氮含量与土壤有机碳、全氮和碱解氮等物质的含量呈正相关。活性有机质受土壤质地、含水量、温度等因素影响 ,与土壤酸碱度、阳离子交换量等也有关。土壤微生物生物量碳和微生物量 C/有机碳比与土壤粘粒、粉粒含量呈正相关、与砂粒含量呈负相关     

Effect of Light Quality on Nitrogen Metabolism of Radish Plants

The long-term action of blue or red light on nitrogen metabolism was studied in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plants. The potential activity of nitrate reductase (NR) in vivo and its maximum activity in vitro, the content of soluble protein and free amino acids were determined in the course of the growth of a third leaf of radish plants. The effect of light quality on NR activity was found to depend significantly on the stage of leaf development. Blue light (BL) stimulated NR activity in leaves, when their areas were about 11–13% of the fully developed leaves. The efficiency of red light (RL) was significantly lower, because the maximum NR activity was observed in the leaves developed to the stage, when their areas were 38–40% of the final one. The comparative analysis of the pool of free amino acids in expanding leaves of BL- or RL-grown plants revealed significant changes in the contents of individual amino acids. Despite a higher accumulation of two amino acids in the leaves of BL-grown plants, namely, Asp (27% as compared to 13–16% in the RL-grown leaves) and Gly (5% against 2.5% in RL-grown leaves), the BL-grown leaves also demonstrated a significant decrease in Ala (10% as compared to 23% in the RL-grown leaves) and some decrease in the amounts of Ser and Gly. The content of soluble protein in a juvenile BL-grown leaf was observed to decrease gradually during leaf development. However, the protein content in the BL-grown leaf was always higher than in the RL-grown leaf of the same age. We concluded that the photoregulatory action of BL on NR activity determined the different rates of nitrogen assimilation in BL- and RL-grown plants.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 3, 2005, pp. 349–356.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Maevskaya, Bukhov.