Chemical induction of adventitious root formation in Taxus baccata cuttings

The effect of some auxins (IBA and NAA), phenolic compounds (phloroglucinol, gentisic acid and coumarin), a combination of auxins and phenolics, and a systemic fungicide (Bavistin) have been examined for stimulatory effects on adventitious root formation in stem cuttings (current season's growth) of Taxus baccata L. In general lower concentration (0.25 mM) of both IBA and NAA was more effective in inducing rooting of cuttings taken from both male and female trees. The combined treatment of IBA+NAA (0.25 mM each) showed some success in cuttings from male trees only (55%, compared to 15% rooting in cuttings from female trees). Generally, the callus formation was quite high (70%) in all auxin treatments (alone or in combination). Among the phenolics, 40% rooting success was achieved with phloroglucinol only, while coumarin and gentisic acid were ineffective. The combined treatment of auxins and phenolics also failed to promote rooting. On the other hand, Bavistin was extremely effective for callusing (90%) as well as rooting (80%). The effectiveness of various compounds tested for rooting of young stem cuttings declined in the order: 0.25 mM IBA>0.05% Bavistin>0.25 mM NAA>1.25 mM IBA>15 mM phloroglucinol>IBA+NAA (0.25 mM each). In addition to the auxins, IBA and NAA that are widely used for commercial propagation, the auxin-like properties of the fungicide Bavistin could be exploited for adventitious rooting in T. baccata, and in other plant species.     

Halide permeation through three types of epithelial anion channels after reconstitution into giant liposomes

Anion-selective channels from apical membranes of cultured CFPAC-1 cells were isolated and incorporated into giant liposomes for patch clamp recording. Liposomes were formed from L--lecithin by a dehydration-hydration method. Ion channels were characterized using the excised inside-out patch clamp configuration. The most commonly observed anion channels were similar to those observed in native epithelial tissues. The linear 20 pS Cl channel had the halide permeability sequence Cl^– > I^– Br^– > F^–, and showed anomalous mole-fraction behavior in solutions containing different proportions of Cl^– and F^–, ions. The autwardly rectifying Cl^– channel had the halide permeability sequence I^– > Br^– > Cl^– > F^–, and also showed anomalous molefraction behavior, indicating that both these channels probably contain multi-ion pores. The third, voltage-dependent anion channel showed at least five different substrates, had a conductance of 390 pS in the main state, and showed two types of kinetics, fast (openings and closings < 1 ms), and slow (openings and closings > 1 s). The channel was seen more frequently after reconstitution into giant liposomes than in intact cells. It was not selective amongst the halides, and there was no deviation from a linear dependence of relative current on molar fractions, indicating relatively simple permeation through the pore. Differences in halide permeabilities suggest that different anion channels may be related to different membrane proteins. Comparison with the chloride channel proteins isolated biochemically from epithelial cell membranes is discussed. Correspondence to: M. Duszyk     

人巨细胞病毒的生物素DNA探针的制备和应用

本研究用克隆的HCMV AD169株DNA片段,制备了生物素标记的DNA探针,建立了检测临床脐带血、尿标本中HCMV DNA的核酸探针杂交方法。该探针可测出100pg同源DNA,不与人胚肺细胞、Hep-2细胞DNA以及其他疱疹病毒的DNA发生反应。用核酸杂交方法检测了30份脐带血标本,有11例阳性,阳性率为33％。10例孕妇尿标本中,3例阳性,阳性率为30％。检测结果表明：我们建立的生物素标记的HCMV DNA探针的点杂交法,具有高度的特异性、敏感性,比分离病毒法更迅速,可用于HCMV感染的临床标本的病毒核酸检测。     

黄土丘陵区代表性乔灌草植物凋落物关键代谢产物释放的室内模拟研究

凋落物源代谢产物在植物-土壤系统中发挥着重要生态作用,该研究以黄土丘陵区刺槐、油松、沙棘、狗尾草和达乌里胡枝子等5种代表性乔灌草植物的凋落物为研究对象,以土壤混水振荡沉淀后收集上清液的方式提取客土微生物,通过均匀喷施上清液对凋落物进行接种,并在室温(25℃)恒湿(凋落物持水率维持在约100%)条件下进行室内分解模拟,研究该过程中7种代谢产物的降解和释放特征,以期更深入地理解凋落物分解过程及其可能的后续生态学效应,为林草生态系统管理提供依据。结果显示：(1)150 d的分解过程中,5种凋落物的木质素均呈分解前期(0～60 d)少部分降解(<30%)、后期趋于停滞的趋势;水溶性酚、凝缩单宁和黄酮呈分解前期(0～30 d)快速释放大部分(>80%)、后期显著减缓的趋势;萜类呈持续释放、甚至在试验后期明显加速的趋势;可溶性糖和氨基酸的释放均呈现在短时间内快速释放、随后缓慢释放的趋势。总体而言,除木质素呈慢速降解状态外,其他代谢产物均呈超速释放状态。(2)7种代谢产物的年降解或释放速率总体均呈现沙棘和刺槐凋落物显著高于达乌里胡枝子、狗尾草和油松凋落物的规律(P<0.05)。(3...     

模拟四季温度层积对南方红豆杉种子生理性状的影响

为了解濒危物种南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensis var. mairei)种子内含物含量受温度和湿度层积的影响,设置4个季节、2种湿度(16%和24%)基质层积处理,对种子的可溶性糖、淀粉、可溶性蛋白和脂肪等内含物质的变化进行研究。结果表明,不同层积处理下种子贮藏物质的含量有显著变化,春季层积9个月后,可溶性蛋白含量达到最高值;可溶性糖含量呈现降低-升高-降低的变化趋势;淀粉和脂肪含量均随层积逐渐减少。秋季层积9个月后,淀粉含量降至最低。相比于24%湿度,16%湿度的春季、秋季、冬季层积9个月后,脂肪含量均减少较多,说明16%湿度下种子代谢活动更强。春季和秋季的暖温更能促进种子代谢,促进种子形态后熟。夏季温度过高,导致种子生活力下降,夏季层积处理3个月后,种子已经发霉和腐烂。层积过程中,种子内含物在相关酶的作用下,降解为可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖等,为种子萌发提供物质与能量。种子层积时间、温度和湿度及交互作用可作为种子内含物的调控因子。     

Critical roles of non-coding RNAs in lifecycle and biology of Marek’s disease herpesvirus

Science China Life Sciences - Over the past two decades, numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified in different biological systems including virology, especially in large DNA viruses...     

Effect of phenolic compounds on abscisic acid-induced stomatal movement: Structure – activity relationship

Application of abscisic acid (ABA) brings about stomatal closure within 30 min in epidermal peels of Vicia faba . A number of phenolic compounds antagonise the effect of ABA. Derivatives of benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, coumarin and flavonoids have been studied in order to establish structure – activity relationship. Derivatives of benzoic acid reverse the ABA effects. Coumarin, esculetin and three hydro derivatives of cinnamic acid fail to show the anti-ABA activity. Thus, the presence of parahydroxyl group and double bond in the side chain is necessary for anti-ABA activity.     

Structural study of circulating thymic factor: a peptide isolated from pig serum. I. Isolation and purification.

A circulating thymic factor (FTS) has been characterized by a bioassay based on its ability to render theta-negative rosette-forming cells theta-positive and azathioprine-sensitive. FTS was sequentially purified and finally isolated from 1000 liters of pig serum by ultrafiltration, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography. Its amino acid composition and apparent molecular weight estimated by Sephadex G-25 chromatography, indicate that FTS is a nonapeptide of composition lysine, aspartic acid (or asparagine), serine 2, glutamic acid (or glutamine) 2, glycine 2, and alanine.