Changes in sperm stores, ejaculate size, fertilization success, and sexual motivation over repeated matings in the common toad, Bufo bufo (Anura: Bufonidae)

Fertilization is of central importance in the determination of reproductive success for both males and females. In species where males have the chance to mate repeatedly within a short period of time, sperm stocks may become depleted and males may have to carefully economize on their sperm reserves. Also, intensive intrasexual competition for females and repeated matings may lead to exhaustion on the behavioural level. To determine whether the reproductive potential of males is limited and if such a limitation is due to behavioural exhaustion or sperm depletion, we experimentally investigated changes in sperm stores, sperm expenditure, fertilization success, and sexual motivation over three repeated matings in the common toad, Bufo bufo , where the breeding season is short and sequential polygyny occurs. At the end of the breeding season, the number of sperm stored in the testes of males mated repeatedly was close to 50% lower than in testes of unmated males. Ejaculate size, which was estimated by applying a novel method allowing direct quantification, decreased by 88% from first to third matings. We also observed a drop in fertilization success from the first two to third matings by 65%, which was largest in males that had started the reproductive season in bad body condition. Some of these males also showed a decreased interest in females in the third mating round. Our results suggest that sperm depletion and loss of sexual motivation may together set a limit to the reproductive potential of common toad males. The present study draws attention to a limitation in reproductive potential, which may occur more often than currently anticipated and has the potential to strongly influence several aspects of reproductive behaviour.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 361–371.     

Contrasting levels of genetic diversity between the historically rare orchid Cypripedium japonicum and the historically common orchid Cypripedium macranthos in South Korea

Many terrestrial orchids are historically rare and occur in small, spatially isolated populations. Theory predicts that such species will harbour low levels of genetic variation within populations and will exhibit a high degree of population genetic divergence, primarily as a result of genetic drift. If the origin of the present‐day populations is relatively recent from the same genetically depauperate source population, a complete lack of genetic differentiation between conspecific populations is expected. If a terrestrial orchid was historically common with moderate or high levels of genetic diversity, but has experienced more recent anthropogenic disturbance as a result of over‐collection, it would still exhibit initial levels of genetic variation within populations and a low degree of genetic divergence between populations. To test these predictions, we examined the genetic diversity in six populations (N = 131) of the historically and currently rare Cypripedium japonicum and in four populations (N = 94) of the historically common but now rare C. macranthos from South Korea. Fourteen putative allozyme loci resolved from eight enzyme systems revealed no variation either within or among populations of C. japonicum, which supports the first prediction. In contrast, populations of C. macranthos harboured high levels of genetic variation (mean percentage of polymorphic loci %P = 46.7; mean expected heterozygosity H_e = 0.185) and exhibited a low degree of population genetic divergence (G_ST = 0.059), supporting the second prediction. The lack of genetic variation both within and among conspecific populations of C. japonicum may suggest that populations originated from the same genetically depauperate ancestral population. The high levels of genetic diversity maintained in populations of C. macranthos suggest that the collection‐mediated decrease in the number of individuals is still too recent for long‐term effects on genetic variation. Based on current demographic and genetic data, in situ and ex situ conservation strategies should be provided to preserve genetic variation and to ensure the long‐term survival of the two species in the Korean Peninsula. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 119–129.     

Function of the {alpha} Subunit of Rice Heterotrimeric G Protein in Brassinosteroid Signaling

The subunit of plant heterotrimeric G proteins (G) plays pivotalroles in multiple aspects of development and responses to planthormones. Recently, several lines of evidence have shown thatG participates in brassinosteroid (BR) responses in Arabidopsisand rice plants. In this study, we conducted a comprehensiveanalysis of the roles of the rice G in the responses to BR usinga defective mutant of the G gene, T65d1. Decreased sensitivityto 24-epi-brassinolide (24-epiBL) in the T65d1 mutant was observedin many processes examined, e.g. in the inhibition of root growthand the promotion of coleoptile elongation. The T65d1 mutantalso showed similar phenotypes to those of BR-deficient mutants,such as the specifically shortened second internode and theconstitutive photomorphogenic growth phenotype under dark conditions.However, a negative feedback effect by 24-epiBL on the expressionof BR biosynthetic genes was observed in the T65d1 mutant, andthe levels of BR intermediates did not fluctuate in this mutant.To determine the epistatic relationship between the T65d1 mutantand d61-7, a weak allele of a rice BR receptor mutant, the twomutants were crossed. The T65d1/d61-7 double mutant showed noepistasis in the elongation inhibition of the internodes, theinternode elongation pattern, the leaf angle and the morphologicalabnormality of leaf, except for the vertical length of seedand the seed weight. Our results suggest that the rice G affectsthe BR signaling cascade but the G may not be a signaling moleculein BRI1-meditated perception/transduction.     

Cloning and functional identification of two members of the ZIP (Zrt, Irt-like protein) gene family in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Two ZIP (Zrt, Irt-like Protein) cDNAs were isolated from rice (Oryza sativa L.) by RT-PCR approach, and named as OsZIP7a and OsZIP8 respectively. The predicted proteins of OsZIP7a and OsZIP8 consist of 384 and 390 amino acid residues respectively, and display high similarity to other plant ZIP proteins. Each protein contains eight transmembrane (TM) domains and a highly conserved ZIP signature motif, with a histidine-rich region in the variable region between TM domains III and IV. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR approach, it was found that the expression of OsZIP7a was significantly induced in rice roots by iron-deficiency, while that of OsZIP8 induced in both rice roots and shoots by zinc-deficiency. When expressed in yeast cells, OsZIP7a and OsZIP8 could complement an iron-uptake-deficient yeast mutant and a zinc-uptake-deficient yeast mutant respectively. It suggested that the OsZIP7a and OsZIP8 might encode an iron and a zinc transporter protein in rice respectively. Xia Yang and Ji Huang are contributed equally to this work.     

Growth inhibition of unicellular and colonial Microcystis strains (Cyanophyceae) by compounds isolated from rice (Oryza sativa) hulls

The algicidal effects of crude and pure rice hull extracts on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated using cultured unicellular and colonial strains. Upon treatment with rice hull crude extract (RHE), growth inhibition of unicellular M. aeruginosa was much higher than that of colonial M. aeruginosa. However, purified compounds from the crude extract, β-sitosterol-β-d-glucoside and dicyclohexanyl orizane, powerfully inhibited the growth of colonial M. aeruginosa cells. At the same concentrations, the two compounds were almost equipotent (66% and 80% growth inhibition for colonial M. aeruginosa, respectively; P < 0.05). As rice hulls are readily obtainable, and as extracts show high algicidal activity (targeting colonial algae rather than unicellular organisms) at low concentrations, the results suggest that some pure compounds extracted from rice hulls, such as β-sitosterol-β-d-glucoside and dicyclohexanyl orizane, may serve as environmentally friendly agents for controlling the growth of toxic colonial M. aeruginosa in eutrophic waters.     

Site directed processing: Role of amino acid sequences and glycosylation of acceptor glycopeptides in the assembly of extended mucin type O-glycan core 2

Background

The assembly of Ser/Thr-linked O-glycans of mucins with core 2 structures is initiated by polypeptide GalNAc-transferase (ppGalNAc-T), followed by the action of core 1 β3-Gal-transferase (C1GalT) and core 2 β6-GlcNAc-transferase (C2GnT). β4-Gal-transferase (β4GalT) extends core 2 and forms the backbone structure for biologically important epitopes. O-glycan structures are often abnormal in chronic diseases. The goal of this work is to determine if the activity and specificity of these enzymes are directed by the sequences and glycosylation of substrates.

Methods

We studied the specificities of four enzymes that synthesize extended O-glycan core 2 using as acceptor substrates synthetic mucin derived peptides and glycopeptides, substituted with GalNAc or O-glycan core structures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.

Results

Specific Thr residues were found to be preferred sites for the addition of GalNAc, and Pro in the + 3 position was found to especially enhance primary glycosylation. An inverse relationship was found between the size of adjacent glycans and the rate of GalNAc addition. All four enzymes could distinguish between substrates having different amino acid sequences and O-glycosylated sites. A short glycopeptide Galβ1–3GalNAcα-TAGV was identified as an efficient C2GnT substrate.

Conclusions

The activities of four enzymes assembling the extended core 2 structure are affected by the amino acid sequence and presence of carbohydrates on nearby residues in acceptor glycopeptides. In particular, the sequences and O-glycosylation patterns direct the addition of the first and second sugar residues by ppGalNAc-T and C1GalT which act in a site directed fashion.

General significance

Knowledge of site directed processing enhances our understanding of the control of O-glycosylation in normal cells and in disease.     

Eco-service enhancement in peri-urban area of coal mining city of Huaibei in East China

After 50 years of coal mining, Huaibei Mine, located at 50 km southeast of Xuzhou City in East China, has grown to a middle-size city of 600,000 people from a small village of 2000 farmers. The Zhahe Valley, with 400 km² of a built-up area and more than 100 km² of subsided peri-urban wetland at the city center, is surrounded by eight exhausted old mines and communities. In cooperation with the local city government, an ecological landuse change assessment and eco-city planning project has been carried out with a focus on the assessment, restoration and enhancement of the wetland as an eco-service to the community. The assessment includes relationships to Green House Gas emissions and heat island effects, as well as measures for a livable, workable, affordable and sustainable human settlement development through industrial transition, landscape design and capacity building. This paper will briefly introduce the main ecological approaches and results of the assessment, including measures such as changing the car-dominated transportation network to a rail-dominated network, transforming the coal-oriented high-carbon industry to a service-oriented low-carbon industry, the C-shape urban form to an O-shape with a green–blue core at the center, and the fragmentized collapsed land to integrative eco-service land.     

水稻U-Box蛋白质在不同发育时期的表达分析

真核生物基因组中广泛存在U-Box基因,其编码蛋白大部分是泛素系统中决定底物特异性识别的E3蛋白,其构象与RING-finger极其相似．U-Box蛋白质能促进底物蛋白泛素化降解,对细胞内异常蛋白的降解及质量控制方面发挥着重要的作用．水稻基因组中有77个U-Box蛋白质,系统了解它们的表达可为功能研究提供数据．制备针对水稻U-Box蛋白质的抗体,了解水稻中U-Box蛋白质在不同发育时期的表达信息,为功能研究积累数据．选取了4个水稻U-Box蛋白质,其共同结构特点为U-Box结构在N端,C端有ARM结构．用计算机软件预测抗原决定簇,细菌体系体外表达、纯化U-Box蛋白质的片段,免疫动物制备多克隆抗体,用Western blotting检测U-Box蛋白质在水稻品种93-11苗期地上部和地下部、分蘖期根和茎、孕穗期剑叶和幼穗、开花期剑叶和穗子、成熟期剑叶和种子中的表达,并与EST数据库中公布的U-Box蛋白质EST数据进行了比较分析．体外克隆表达后,获得了纯化的蛋白质,制备的抗体特异性强,蛋白质印迹(Western blotting)检测可见一条明显的主带,其中Os06g01304和Os12g38210两个蛋白质的表观分子质量与预测分子质量相符,Os01g66130和Os08g01900两个蛋白质的表观分子质量低于预测分子质量．4个U-Box蛋白质在水稻生长发育的不同时期或部位基本上是组成型表达,且表达量接近．对NCBI上公布的来自274个文库100万条以上的EST进行分析,可以看出4个U-Box蛋白质EST的数量分布大致均匀,与Western blotting结果揭示的组成型表达平行,与ATPase、HSP81-3、EGF-1 alpha和RuBisCo等对照基因相比,U-Box基因的EST数目相对很少,说明它们属于低丰度转录的基因．选取了4个水稻U-Box蛋白质,通过抗原决定簇预测,表达片段蛋白,制备了特异性抗体,证明了这一技术路线的可行性．利用抗体对水稻不同发育时期材料进行蛋白质表达谱研究,发现这些U-Box蛋白质呈组成型表达,与EST数据揭示的结果具有平行性．所制备的抗体也为相关功能研究,如免疫共沉淀、ChIP-on-chip、Pull-down以及在抗病、抗逆反应中U-Box蛋白质的表达等,积累了 资源．     

三种豆科牧草种子在萌发阶段对盐渍环境的生理适应及主要离子调控

试验对3种豆科牧草紫花苜蓿、草木樨、沙打旺的种子,在萌发阶段对盐渍环境的适应性和离子调控机制进行了研究,测定了盐渍环境中种子的萌发率和恢复萌发率;同时,对400 mmol·L^-1NaCl处理后,种子恢复萌发、胚的主要离子含量变化、水分吸收等情况进行了测定。结果表明：50 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理中,紫花苜蓿种子的最终萌发率受到明显的抑制而降低;300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl溶液处理中,草木樨的最终萌发率明显高于紫花苜蓿和沙打旺;沙打旺种子的初始萌发过程被300 mmol·L^-1NaCl抑制而推迟,推迟的时间长于紫花苜蓿和草木樨达5 d。400 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理种子1、2 和4 d后,3种植物种子的吸水速率受到明显抑制;紫花苜蓿种子的恢复萌发率明显低于草木樨和沙打旺;紫花苜蓿种子胚积累的Na⁺明显高于草木樨和沙打旺,而且有较多的K⁺和Ca²⁺养分离子流失。盐渍环境下,3种牧草种子萌发受到的影响是由于渗透胁迫和离子毒害引起的,但3种植物种子的生理适应机制却存在明显的差异。