Aquaporins account for variations in hydraulic conductance for metabolically active root regions of Agave deserti in wet, dry, and rewetted soil

The importance of aquaporins for root hydraulic conductance (L_P) was investigated along roots of the desert succulent Agave deserti in wet, dry and rewetted soil. Water channel activity was inferred from HgCl₂‐induced reductions of L_P that were reversible by 2‐mercaptoethanol. Under wet conditions, HgCl₂ reduced L_P for the distal root region by 50% and for the root region near the shoot base by 36% but did not affect L_P for the mid‐root region. For all root regions, L_P decreased by 30–60% during 10 d in drying soil and was not further reduced by HgCl₂. After soil rewetting, L_P increased to pre‐drying values and was again reduced by HgCl₂ for the distal and the basal root regions but not the mid‐root region. For the distal region, water channels in the epidermis/exodermis made a disproportionately large contribution to radial hydraulic conductance of the intact segment; for the basal region, water channel activity was highest in the cortex and endodermis. The role of water channels was greatest in tissues in which cells were metabolically active both in the distal root region, where new apical growth occurs in wet soil, and in the basal region, which is the most likely root region to intercept light rainfall.     

Distribution and Toxic Effects of Cadmium and Lead on Maize Roots

Two-day-old seedlings of maize (Zea mays L.) were incubated on Cd and Pb nitrate solutions at the concentrations that inhibited root growth approximately by 50% after two-day-long incubation (LC₅₀; 10^–4 and 10^–3 M, respectively) or completely terminated growth of the primary root after one-day-long incubation (LC; 5 × 10^–4 and 10^–2 M, respectively). Cd and Pb contents were measured using an anodic inversion voltammetric technique in a flow injection system and a histochemical method. At LC₅₀, Cd and Pb were discerned, by histochemical techniques, in all root apical tissues, whereas in the root hair zone, the heavy metals were primarily accumulated in the apoplast of the rhizodermis and cortex and to a lesser extent, in the vascular tissues and parenchyma cells surrounding the metaxylem vessels. Insignificant accumulation of Cd and Pb in the pericycle probably explains why root branching was tolerant to these agents. At LC, Cd and Pb were found in the apoplast of all root tissues, in accordance with the practically complete inhibition of root growth and branching. Irrespectively of Cd and Pb concentrations in the external solution, the metal contents in the root apex exceeded those in the basal region. Procion dyes were used to assess cell death inflicted by Cd and Pb. At LC, the root cap and meristematic cells perished, together with the rhizodermal cells and the outer cortical cells of the root apex, whereas only the rhizodermal cells in the root apical region died at LC₅₀. The evidence that Cd and Pb cross the endodermal barrier at LC presumes that, at lower metal concentrations, the Casparian strip and plasmalemma of the endodermis regulate the transport of these metals into the central cylinder. The authors conclude that the identical barriers control Cd and Pb transport in root tissues.     

Binding and interactions of L-BABP to lipid membranes studied by molecular dynamic simulations

Chicken liver bile acid-binding protein (L-BABP) is a member of the fatty acid-binding proteins super family. The common fold is a β-barrel of ten strands capped with a short helix-loop-helix motif called portal region, which is involved in the uptake and release of non-polar ligands. Using multiple-run molecular dynamics simulations we studied the interactions of L-BABP with lipid membranes of anionic and zwitterionic phospholipids. The simulations were in agreement with our experimental observations regarding the electrostatic nature of the binding and the conformational changes of the protein in the membrane. We observed that L-BABP migrated from the initial position in the aqueous bulk phase to the interface of anionic lipid membranes and established contacts with the head groups of phospholipids through the side of the barrel that is opposite to the portal region. The conformational changes in the protein occurred simultaneously with the binding to the membrane. Remarkably, these conformational changes were observed in the portal region which is opposite to the zone where the protein binds directly to the lipids. The protein was oriented with its macrodipole aligned in the configuration of lowest energy within the electric field of the anionic membrane, which indicates the importance of the electrostatic interactions to determine the preferred orientation of the protein. We also identified this electric field as the driving force for the conformational change. For all the members of the fatty acid-binding protein family, the interactions with lipid membranes is a relevant process closely related to the uptake, release and transfer of the ligand. The observations presented here suggest that the ligand transfer might not necessarily occur through the domain that directly interacts with the lipid membrane. The interactions with the membrane electric field that determine orientation and conformational changes described here can also be relevant for other peripheral proteins.     

Seeds as Vehicles for Pathogen Importation

Since the 1900s, consumer demand for new plant products gave opportunity for many plant pathogens to disseminate to new areas on imported seeds. New markets for plant commodities encouraged plant breeders to begin collecting seed stocks from abroad. The birth of new seed companies extend their markets to new area. These events began the global dissemination of many seedborne pathogens. Many seedborne pathogens gained entry and escaped detection by specific traits that favored their dissemination. Three recent case scenarios are presented that illustrate how plant pathogens that passively employ the seed coats of their host achieved global dissemination and permanence in each patho-system. Evidence is presented to show that asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) seed produced in the US acted as a vehicle for disseminating one vegetatively compatible group (VCG) of a pathogenic fungus on asparagus called Fusarium proliferatum throughout new plantings in Australia. Similarly, public demand for Mediterranean cuisine in the US and abroad during the last 20 years led to an increase in the importation of basil (Ocimum basilicum) seed along with an inconspicuous fungus called Fusarium oxysporum. The fungus caused a destructive disease called Fusarium wilt of basil that appeared in over 25 separate locals spanning three continents. The third example demonstrated how new developments in lupine (Lupinus spp.) cultivars and increased public demand led to the global dispersal of a seedborne pathogen called Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Each case highlights how these pathogens use seeds, humans, and particular traits to disperse globally in short period of time.     

家兔脊神经节内肥大细胞与肽能神经关系的观察

探讨脊神经节内肥大细胞与肽能神经的关系,采用常规组织学染色和免疫组织化学方法对家兔脊神经节内肥大细胞和P物质免疫阳性反应进行观察。结果显示：在P物质免疫反应阳性的神经元和神经纤维周围散在着肥大细胞,表明,脊神经节内,肥大细胞与肽能神经存在着组织形态学上的构筑关系。     

Tropic1808基因的原核表达及其表达产物的生物活性

Tropic180 8基因是新近获得的一个鼠源性的cDNA .Tropic180 8基因开放阅读框架片段通过PCR方法从质粒中扩增后 ,重组入表达载体pET 2 1a中 ,转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3 ) .用IPTG诱导目的蛋白的表达 ,SDS PAGE并凝胶图象分析确定目的蛋白表达水平占细菌总蛋白的 14%以上 .表达蛋白在N端融合有 16个氨基酸 ,将表达蛋白电转移至PVDF膜 .氨基酸序列分析表明 ,其N端第 17～ 2 5位氨基酸序列与Tropic180 8基因编码序列一致 .利用融合部分含T7·Tag ,通过亲和层析纯化表达蛋白 ,经Westernblot检测为目的蛋白 ,加入到无血清培养的新生SD大鼠背根神经节 (DRG)中 ,观察到表达蛋白对DRG具有促进存活和促进突起生长的作用 .     

小麦幼苗根系形态与反复干旱存活率的关系

以35个不同栽培类型的小麦品种（系）作为试验材料,根据其6叶幼苗的根系形态性状进行聚类分析,供试材料的根系类型分为3种：大根系、小根系和中间型根系。具有中间型根系的材料反复干旱存活率最高,这些材料的根系特点是单株根数7－8．5条,最大根长20-22cm,根总干重44－48mg,其中10cm以下根干重占36％－45％,根冠比范围在0.22-0.24。一些水地栽培的育成品种苗期抗旱性较强,旱地栽培的育成品种苗期抗旱性差异较大,个别旱地栽培的地方品种在土壤水分胁迫条件下反而比在正常水分条件下的根系发育更好,可能是长期适用干旱条件的结果。     

豌豆根瘤脂质体的分布及形态特征

豌豆根瘤中有大量的脂质体,广泛分布于非侵染细胞和侵染细胞内,它既可以存在细胞质中,也可位于液泡里面。有时单个存在,有时又多个聚集在一起。非侵染细胞与侵染细胞相比,前者中的脂质体明显多于后者。这些脂质体近似圆形或椭圆形,表面无膜,电子密度较高,内部无固定的结构,常有一些细胞器位于它的附近。讨论了脂质体的细胞发育及细胞种类的关系。     

菲、芘、1,2,4-三氯苯对土壤高等植物根伸长抑制的生态毒性效应

测定了草甸棕壤条件下,菲、芘、１,２,４—三氮苯对高等植物（小麦、白菜、西红柿）根伸长抑制串以及复合污染毒性效应。结果表明,菲、芘、１,２,４—三氮苯浓度与植物根伸长抑制串呈显著线性或对数相关（ｐ＝０．０５）。３种化学品对植物根伸长抑制的强弱顺序为１,２,４—三氮苯＞菲＞芘。这与３种化学品的水中溶解度大小显著相关。小麦是３种供试植物中对有机污染物最敏感植物。菲、芘、１,２,４—三氮苯复合污染主表现为协同作用。     

根系分泌物生态学研究

在植物生长过程中 ,由根系的不同部位分泌或溢泌一些无机离子及有机化合物 ,这些物质统称为根系分泌物。植物在其生长过程中不断地分泌无机离子及有机化合物 ,这是植物长期适应外界环境而形成的一种适应机制。早在 2 0世纪 5 0年代就有人对植物根系分泌物进行了研究 ,Ｒｏｖｉｒａ等[4 3] 和Ｖａｎｃｕｒａ等[4 7] 对根土界面根系分泌物进行了系统的研究 ,切尔诺布里维卡[2 6 ] 研究了植物根系分泌物的生物学作用 ,揭示了其在间作中的作用 ,直到 70年代对根系分泌物的研究才出现了蓬勃发展的趋势。近年来的研究表明 ,根系分泌物是保持根际微…