Reduction of forest floor respiration by fertilization on both carbon dioxide-enriched and reference 17-year-old loblolly pine stands

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂^e) increases soil respiration rates in forest, grassland, agricultural and wetland systems as a result of increased growth, root biomass and enhanced biological activity of soil microorganisms. Less is known about how forest floor fluxes respond to the combined effects of elevated CO₂ and nutrient amendments; until now no experiments have been in place with large forest trees to allow even preliminary investigations. We investigated changes in forest floor respiration (S_ff) in a Pinus taeda L. plantation fumigated with CO₂ by using free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) technology and given nutrient amendments. The prototype FACE apparatus (FACEp; 707 m²) was constructed in 1993, 10 years after planting, on a moderate fertility site in Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA, enriching the stand to 55 Pa (CO₂^e). A nearby ambient CO₂ (CO₂^a) plot (117 m²) was designated at the inception of the study as a reference (Ref). Both FACEp and Ref plot were divided in half and urea fertilizer was applied to one half at an annual rate of 11.2 g N m^?2 in the spring of 1998, 1999 and 2000. Forest floor respiration was monitored continuously for 220 days – March through November 2000 – by using two Automated Carbon Efflux Systems. Thirty locations (491 cm² each) were sampled in both FACEp and Ref, about half in each fertility treatment. Forest floor respiration was strongly correlated with soil temperature at 5 cm. Rates of S_ff were greater in CO₂^e relative to CO₂^a (an enhancement of ～178 g C m^?2) during the measurement period. Application of fertilizer resulted in a statistically significant depression of respiration rates in both the CO₂^a and CO₂^e plots (a reduction of ～186 g C m^?2). The results suggest that closed canopy forests on moderate fertility sites cycle back to the atmosphere more assimilated carbon (C) than similar forests on sites of high fertility. We recognize the limitations of this non‐replicated study, but its clear results offer strong testable hypotheses for future research in this important area.     

兼具凝集素活性的芥菜几丁质酶BjCHI1

利用毕赤酵母表达系统表达芥菜几丁质酶基因BjCHI1及其两个衍生基因BjCHI2和BjCHI3,获得相应的蛋白质。经FPLC纯化后,测定了3种蛋白质的几丁质酶活性,发现它们均能降解CM-chitin-RBV和胶状几丁质。以CM-chitin-RBV为底物时的Km值分别为0.799mg/mL、0.544mg/mL和0.793mg/mL,差别甚微。而以胶状几丁质为底物时的Km值分别为0.281mg/mL、0.388mg/mL和1.643mg/mL,表现一定的差别,说明几丁质结合域影响了酶对不溶性底物的亲和力。3种蛋白中,只有BjCHI1在33μg/mL以上浓度具有凝集素活性,而BjCHI2和BjCHI3的浓度即使高达800μg/mL也无凝集素活性,表明2个几丁质结合域是BjCHI1具有凝集素活性的必需条件,这是植物中发现的第一个兼有几丁质酶和凝集素活性的蛋白质。      

Autoantibodies specific for apoptotic U1-70K are superior serological markers for mixed connective tissue disease

Modifications occurring on autoantigens during cell death have been proposed to have a role in the initiation of autoimmune diseases. Patients suffering from mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) produce autoantibodies directed to U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP), and antibodies against a 70 kDa protein component, the U1-70K (70K) protein, are the most prominent. During apoptosis, 70K is cleaved by caspase-3 to a 40 kDa product, which remains associated with the complex. Autoantibodies preferentially recognizing the apoptotic form of 70K have been described previously, and an apoptosis-specific epitope on 70K has been identified. This study shows that 29 of 53 (54%) MCTD sera preferentially recognize the apoptotic form of 70K over intact 70K. Moreover, we show that antibodies directed to an apoptosis-specific epitope on 70K are more specifically associated with MCTD than other anti-70K antibodies, suggesting that apoptotic 70K is a better antigen for the detection of these antibodies in MCTD patients. Longitudinal analysis of 12 MCTD patients showed in several patients that early sera are relatively enriched with antibodies recognizing an apoptosis-specific epitope, and that the levels of these apoptosis-specific antibodies decrease in time. These findings indicate that the early detection of apoptotic 70K is of considerable interest for anti-U1 snRNP-positive patients.     

来源于中国南海的微生物新种乙醇速生杆菌(Celeribacter ethanolicus)多相分类研究

【目的】研究来源于南海海水的一株速生杆菌属菌株NH195^T 的多相分类。【方法】采用表型、基因型和化学分类方法,并综合系统发育关系结果,分析菌株NH195^T 的分类学地位。【结果】菌株NH195^T 是一株革兰氏阴性、好氧、杆状、无运动性细菌;能积累Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB);能在0.5%-10.0% (质量体积比) NaCl 浓度,pH 5.0-9.0 和20-40 ℃ 条件下生长,最适NaCl 生长浓度为1.0%-3.0%;氧化酶、触酶和脲酶反应结果阳性。菌株NH195^T 主要呼吸醌为Q-10,主要脂肪酸为C_18:1ω7c、C_18:1ω6c 和11 methyl C_18:1ω7c,主要极性脂为磷脂酰胆碱、磷脂酰甘油、双磷脂酰甘油、一个未知的氨基脂和两个未知脂。基因组G+C 含量为61.3 mol%。基于16S rRNA 基因的系统发育结果显示,菌株NH195^T 隶属于速生杆菌属;其与速生杆菌属标准菌株的16S rRNA 基因相似性范围为94.4%-97.7%。菌株NH195^T 与速生杆菌属标准菌株C. halophilus ZXM137^T 和C. indicus P73^T 的平均核苷酸一致性(ANI)分别为78.6%和78.0%;基于基因组数据计算所得的DNA 杂交同源率分别为26.1%和23.0%。【结论】基于表型和基因型结果,菌株NH195^T 代表了速生杆菌属一个新物种,命名为Celeribacter ethanolicus,标准菌株为NH195^T (CGMCC 1.15406^T=JCM 31095^T)。     

Pollen-pistil Interaction in a Non-pseudogamous Apomict,Commiphora wightii

Structural and cytochemical details of the pistil and the interactionof pollen and pistil were studied in a non-pseudogamous apomict,Commiphorawightii.The anthers in the male and bisexual flowers producefunctional pollen grains. The stigma is of the wet and papillatetype. The style is typically solid with two strands of transmittingtissue that traverse the entire length of the style. There isa marked reduction in the area occupied by the transmittingtissue from the stigma to the base of the style. The cells ofthe transmitting tissue are isodiametric in transverse as wellas longitudinal section and do not form longitudinal files ofelongated cells as reported for other taxa. Proteins could notbe localized in the intercellular matrix. Although pollen grainsgerminate on the stigma, pollen tubes do not grow beyond theproximal one third of the style. Changed orientation of thecells of the transmitting tissue and absence of proteins inthe intercellular matrix could account for the failure of thepistil to support pollen growth.Copyright 1998 Annals of BotanyCompany Guggul, pollen-pistil interaction, non-pseudogamous apomict,Commiphora wightii, transmitting tissue     

Geochemistry of Persististrombus latus Gmelin from the Pleistocene Iberian Mediterranean realm

De Torres, T., Ortiz, J.E., Arribas, I., Delgado, A., Julià, R. & Martín‐Rubí, J.A. 2009: Geochemistry of Persististrombus latus Gmelin from the Pleistocene Iberian Mediterranean realm. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 149–163. In this paper the organic and inorganic geochemistry of fossil and extant Persististrombus latus are compared, together with other strombid species (Lentigo lentiginosus, Lobatus gigas, Strombus alatus, Lobatus raninus, Laevistrombus canarium and Tricornis latissimus). Using a large sample of well‐preserved fossil P. latus shells from the Mediterranean realm, we examined the warming period of sea water in the Middle Pleistocene. A mineralogical study of the shells demonstrates the continuous presence of calcite and a complex organic matter distribution, which was well preserved in many cases, thereby making the U/Th dating of strombid shells unreliable. U/Th analysis of coral samples and amino acid racemization dating of pelecypod shells confirmed that P. latus entered the Mediterranean realm in MIS 7 and 5. The oscillations of the δ¹⁸O values reflect annual growth periods and provide a mixing of the first signal record (primary growth) and successive overgrowths. □Amino acid racemization, Mediterranean Sea, Persististrombus latus, shell mineralogy, U/Th, δ¹⁸O.