Effects of plant traits on ecosystem and regional processes: a conceptual framework for predicting the consequences of global change

Human activities are causing widespread changes in the species composition of natural and managed ecosystems, but the consequences of these changes are poorly understood. This paper presents a conceptual framework for predicting the ecosystem and regional consequences of changes in plant species composition. Changes in species composition have greatest ecological effects when they modify the ecological factors that directly control (and respond to) ecosystem processes. These interactive controls include: functional types of organisms present in the ecosystem; soil resources used by organisms to grow and reproduce; modulators such as microclimate that influence the activity of organisms; disturbance regime; and human activities. Plant traits related to size and growth rate are particularly important because they determine the productive capacity of vegetation and the rates of decomposition and nitrogen mineralization. Because the same plant traits affect most key processes in the cycling of carbon and nutrients, changes in plant traits tend to affect most biogeochemical cycling processes in parallel. Plant traits also have landscape and regional effects through their effects on water and energy exchange and disturbance regime.     

A light in multidrug resistance: Photodynamic treatment of multidrug-resistant tumors

The major drawback of cancer chemotherapy is the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumor cells, which are cross-resistant to a broad range of structurally and functionally unrelated agents, making it difficult to treat these tumors. In the last decade, a number of authors have studied the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT), a combination of visible light with photosensitizing agents, on MDR cells. The results, although still inconclusive, have raised the possibility of treating MDR tumors by PDT. This review examines the growing literature concerning the responses of MDR cells to PDT, while stressing the need for the development of new photosensitizers that possess the necessary characteristics for the photodynamic treatment of this class of tumor.     

Molecular network and functional implications of macromolecular tRNA synthetase complex

Understanding the complex network and multi-functionality of proteins is one of the main objectives of post-genome research. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are the family of enzymes that are essential for cellular protein synthesis and viability that catalyze the attachment of specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. However, a lot of evidence has shown that these enzymes are multi-functional proteins that are involved in diverse cellular processes, such as tRNA processing, RNA splicing and trafficking, rRNA synthesis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation. In addition, mammalian ARSs form a macromolecular complex with three auxiliary factors or with the elongation factor complex. Although the functional meaning and physiological significance of these complexes are poorly understood, recent data on the molecular interactions among the components for the multi-ARS complex are beginning to provide insights into the structural organization and cellular functions. In this review, the molecular mechanism for the assembly and functional implications of the multi-ARS complex will be discussed.     

Structure,function and floristic relationships of plant communities in stressful habitats marginal to the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

The Brazilian Atlantic rainforest consists of a typical tropical rainforest on mountain slopes, and stands out as a biodiversity hotspot for its high species richness and high level of species endemism. This forest is bordered by plant communities with lower species diversity, due mostly to more extreme environmental conditions than those found in the mesic rainforest. Between the mountain slopes and the sea, the coastal plains have swamp forests, dry semi-deciduous forests and open thicket vegetation on marine sand deposits. At the other extreme, on top of the mountains (>2000 m a.s.l.), the rainforest is substituted by high altitude fields and open thicket vegetation on rocky outcrops. Thus, the plant communities that are marginal to the rainforest are subjected either to flooding, drought, oceanicity or cold winter temperatures. It was found that positive interactions among plants play an important role in the structuring and functioning of a swamp forest, a coastal sandy vegetation and a cold, high altitude vegetation in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, only a few species seem to adopt this positive role and, therefore, the functioning of these entire systems may rely on them. Curiously, these nurse plants are often epiphytes in the rainforest, and at the study sites are typically terrestrial. Many exhibit crassulacean acid metabolism. Conservation initiatives must treat the Atlantic coastal vegetation as a complex rather than a rainforest alone.     

Bacterial glycoproteins: functions,biosynthesis and applications

Although widely distributed in eukaryotic cells glycoproteins appear to be rare in prokaryotic organisms. The prevalence of the misconception that bacteria do not glycosylate their proteins has been a subject matter of discussion for a long time. Glycoconjugates that are linked to proteins or peptides, generated by the ribosomal translational mechanism have been reported only in the last two to three decades in a few prokaryotic organisms. Most studied prokaryotic glycoproteins are the S-layer glycoproteins of Archeabacteria. Apart from these, membrane-associated, surface-associated, secreted glycoproteins and exoenzymes glycoproteins are also well documented in both, Archea and Eubacteria. From the recent literature, it is now clear that prokaryotes are capable of glycosylating proteins. In general, prokaryotes are deprived of the cellular organelles required for glycosylation. In prokaryotes many different glycoprotein structures have been observed that display much more variation than that observed in eukaryotes. Besides following similar mechanisms in the process of glycosylation, prokaryotes have also been shown to use mechanisms that are different from those found in eukaryotes. The knowledge pertaining to the functional aspects of prokaryotic glycoproteins is rather scarce. This review summarizes developments and understanding relating to characteristics, synthesis, and functions of prokaryotic glycoproteins. An extensive summary of glycosylation that has been reported to occur in bacteria has also been tabulated. Various possible applications of these diverse biomolecules in biotechnology, vaccine development, pharmaceutics and diagnostics are also touched upon.     

Protein-protein interactions as a target for drugs in proteomics

Protein-protein interactions play a central role in numerous processes in the cell and are one of the main fields of functional proteomics. This review highlights the methods of bioinformatics and functional proteomics of protein-protein interaction investigation. The structures and properties of contact surfaces, forces involved in protein-protein interactions, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of these reactions were considered. The properties of protein contact surfaces depend on their functions. The contact surfaces of permanent complexes resemble domain contacts or the protein core and it is reasonable to consider such complex formation as a continuation of protein folding. Characteristics of contact surfaces of temporary protein complexes share some similarities with active sites of enzymes. The contact surfaces of the temporary protein complexes have unique structure and properties and they are more conservative in comparison with active site of enzymes. So they represent prospective targets for a new generation of drugs. During the last decade, numerous investigations were undertaken to find or design small molecules that block protein dimerization or protein(peptide)-receptor interaction, or, on the contrary, to induce protein dimerization.     

LAMP-LFD技术及其在生物快检方面应用

LAMP-LFD技术是环介导横温扩增技术(Loop-mediated isothermal amplification)与横向流动试纸条(Lateral flow dipstick)相结合的一种新颖的检测技术,该技术将核酸横温扩增和可视化试纸条检测有机地结合。环介导等温扩增技术(LAMP),只需要在恒温(60℃~65℃)条件下保温几十分钟,即可将所需目的基因扩增到109水平。横向流动试纸条(LFD),融合了免疫层析技术和分子生物学手段,能在纸条上形成有颜色的检测线从而可以特异性地检测出该目标产物。环介导横温扩增技术(LAMP)与横向流动试纸条(LFD)相互结合的技术,使LAMP扩增产物现场检测可视化,检测结果明显直观,通过肉眼即可辨认,并具有高特异性、高灵敏度、简便、安全及成本低的特点,一度引起科研工作者的广泛关注。综述了环介导横温扩增方法与横向流动试纸条相结合(LAMP-LFD)技术的原理、优势、及其在生物快速检测方面的应用等,并指出了LAMP-LFD技术目前存在的不足以及展望。     

体内光量子点可视化图像在脑肿瘤中的应用

恶性胶质瘤年发病率约为5/100,000。美国每年有超过14,000例的新发恶性脑胶质瘤患者。治疗主要以手术治疗为主,手术肿瘤的切除程度影响患者的预后。外科手术治疗脑肿瘤需要精确定位脑肿瘤组织在正常脑组织中的位置以便能够获得精确的组织活检和肿瘤的完全切除。量子点是稳定存在的,产生荧光的可视化半导体纳米晶体。静脉注射量子点伴随着网状内皮系统和巨噬细胞的隔离。巨噬细胞可渗入到肿瘤组织并且能够吞噬通过静脉注射的光量子来产生可视化的肿瘤标记。通过巨噬细胞介导,将光量子运输至肿瘤组织展现了一种新兴技术来标记术前肿瘤组织。由于肿瘤组织中的光量子可以被光学成像和光谱学工具来探测,因此在脑肿瘤组织活检和切除中可以为外科医生提供可视化得实时反馈。