牛角花齿蓟马成虫触角感器的扫描电镜观察

本研究旨在明确我国北方苜蓿重要害虫——牛角花齿蓟马Odontothrips loti触角感器类型、形态特征及分布特点。利用扫描电镜观察牛角花齿蓟马雌、雄成虫触角的超微结构,比较雌、雄虫之间的差异。结果表明：牛角花齿蓟马雌虫触角长度（314.42±7.21 μm）明显较雄虫（260.58±5.69 μm）长,除柄节和第I鞭节外,其他各节雌虫均较雄虫粗大。牛角花齿蓟马成虫触角感器类型共有7种,即Bhm氏鬃毛（BB）、刺形感器（SChI, SChII）、锥形感器（SBI, SBII, SBIII）、钟形感器（SCa）、腔锥形感器（SCo）、腔形感器（SCav）和毛形感器（ST）,雌虫触角上述7种类型感器均有分布,而雄虫触角上未发现腔形感器。牛角花齿蓟马成虫触角感器在类型、形态特征及分布方面表现雌、雄个体差异。本研究为深入探究牛角花齿蓟马触角感器的嗅觉通讯机制提供形态学基础。     

Localization of Pcb antenna complexes in the photosynthetic prokaryote Prochlorothrix hollandica

The freshwater filamentous green oxyphotobacterium Prochlorothrix hollandica is an unusual oxygenic photoautotrophic cyanobacterium differing from most of the others by the presence of light-harvesting Pcb antenna binding both chlorophylls a and b and by the absence of phycobilins. The pigment-protein complexes of P. hollandica SAG 10.89 (CCAP 1490/1) were isolated from dodecylmaltoside solubilized thylakoid membranes on sucrose density gradient and characterized by biochemical, spectroscopic and immunoblotting methods. The Pcb antennae production is suppressed by high light conditions (> 200 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) in P. hollandica. PcbC protein was found either in higher oligomeric states or coupled to PS I (forming antenna rings around PS I). PcbA and PcbB are most probably only very loosely bound to photosystems; we assume that these pigment-protein complexes function as low light-induced mobile antennae. Further, we have detected α-carotene in substantial quantities in P. hollandica thylakoid membranes, indicating the presence of chloroplast-like carotenoid synthetic pathway which is not present in common cyanobacteria.     

The impact of cold on photosynthesis in genotypes of Coffea spp.--photosystem sensitivity, photoprotective mechanisms and gene expression

Environmental constraints disturb plant metabolism and are often associated with photosynthetic impairments and yield reductions. Among them, low positive temperatures are of up most importance in tropical plant species, namely in Coffea spp. in which some acclimation ability has been reported. To further explain cold tolerance, the impacts on photosynthetic functioning and the expression of photosynthetic-related genes were analyzed. The experiments were carried out along a period of slow cold imposition (to allow acclimation), after chilling (4 °C) exposure and in the following rewarming period, using 1.5-year-old coffee seedlings of 5 genotypes with different cold sensitivity: Coffea canephora cv. Apoatã, Coffea arabica cv. Catuaí, Coffea dewevrei and 2 hybrids, Icatu (C. arabica × C. canephora) and Piatã (C. dewevrei × C. arabica). All genotypes suffered a significant leaf area loss only after chilling exposure, with Icatu showing the lowest impact, a first indication of a higher cold tolerance, contrasting with Apoatã and C. dewevrei. During cold exposure, net photosynthesis and Chl a fluorescence parameters were strongly affected in all genotypes, but stomatal limitations were not detected. However, the extent of mesophyll limitation, reflecting regulatory mechanisms and/or damage, was genotype dependent. Overnight retention of zeaxanthin was common to Coffea genotypes, but the accumulation of photoprotective pigments was highest in Icatu. That down-regulated photochemical events but efficiently protected the photosynthetic structures, as shown, e.g., by the lowest impacts on A_max and PSI activity and the strongest reinforcement of PSII activity, the latter possibly reflecting the presence of a photoprotective cycle around PSII in Icatu (and Catuaí). Concomitant to these protection mechanisms, Icatu was the sole genotype to present simultaneous upregulation of caCP22, caPI and caCytf, related to, respectively, PSII, PSI and to the complex Cytb₆/f, which could promote better repair ability, contributing to the maintenance of efficient thylakoid functioning. We conclude that Icatu showed the best acclimation ability among the studied genotypes, mostly due to a better upregulation of photoprotection and repair mechanisms. We confirmed the presence of important variability in Coffea spp. that could be exploited in breeding programs, which should be assisted by useful markers of cold tolerance, namely the upregulation of antioxidative molecules, the expression of selected genes and PSI sensitivity.     

Cryptomonad biliproteins: Bilin types and locations

Two crytophycean phycocyanins (Cr-PCs), Hemiselmis strain HP9001 Cr-PC 612 and Falcomonas daucoides Cr-PC 69 were purified and characterized with respect to bilin numbers, types and locations. Each biliprotein carried one bilin on the subunit and three on the subunit. Cr-PC 612 carried phycocyanobilin at -Cys-18, -Cys-82, and -Cys-158, and a doubly-linked 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin at -DiCys-50,61. Cr-PC 569 carried phycocyanobilin at -Cys-18 and -Cys-82, a singly-linked Bilin 584 at -Cys-158, and a doubly-linked Bilin 584 at -DiCys-50,61. This work, in conjunction with earlier studies on Cr-PE 545, Cr-PE 555, Cr-PE 566, and Cr-PC 645, shows that there is no conserved location for the bilin with longest wavelength visible absorption band among these proteins, and, consequently, that there is no conserved energy transfer pathway common to all native cryptophycean biliproteins. Only phycocyanobilin or phycoerythrobilin is found at -Cys-82; there is greater bilin variability at the other three attachment sites.Abbreviations Cr-PC cryptophycean phycocyanin - Cr-PE cryptophycean phycoerythrin - DBV 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin - MBV mesobiliverdin - PCB phycocyanobilin - PEB phycoerythrobilin - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - TFA trifluoroacetic acid     

The fucoxanthin-chlorophyll proteins from a chromophyte alga are part of a large multigene family: structural and evolutionary relationships to other light harvesting antennae

 A fucoxanthin-chlorophyll protein (FCP) cDNA from the raphidophyte Heterosigma carterae encodes a 210-amino acid polypeptide that has similarity to other FCPs and to the chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (CABs) of terrestrial plants and green algae. The putative transit sequence has characteristics that resemble a signal sequence. The Heterosigma fcp genes are part of a large multigene family which includes members encoding at least two significantly different polypeptides (Fcp1, Fcp2). Comparison of the FCP sequences to the recently determined three-dimensional structure of the pea LHC II complex indicates that many of the key amino acids thought to participate in the binding of chlorophyll and the formation of complex-stabilizing ionic interactions are well conserved. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of light-harvesting proteins shows that the FCPs of several chromophyte phyla form a natural group separate from the intrinisic peridinin-chlorophyll proteins (iPCPs) of the dinoflagellates. Although the FCP and CAB genes shared a common ancestor, these lineages diverged from each other prior to the separation of the CAB LHC I and LHC II sequences in the green algae and terrestrial plants. Received: 8 July 1996 / Accepted: 21 August 1996     

Antennal sensilla of the ground beetle Bembidion lampros Hbst (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Antennal sensilla typology, number and distribution pattern were studied in the ground beetle Bembidion lampros Hbst (Coleoptera, Carabidae) using scanning electron microscopy. The 1.6–1.8 mm long filiform antennae of both sexes consist of the scape, pedicel and of the flagellum composed of nine flagellomeres. In both sexes, three types of sensilla chaetica, two types of sensilla trichodea, five types of sensilla basiconica, one type of sensilla coeloconica, one type of sensilla campaniformia and Böhm sensilla were distinguished. The possible function of the sensilla was discussed and three types of sensilla were considered as olfactory, sensilla trichodea type 2 and sensilla basiconica types 1 and 2. Olfactory sensilla occupy dorsal and/or ventral areas of the flagellomeres and occur sparsely (sensilla basiconica type 1) or not at all (sensilla basiconica type 2 and sensilla trichodea type 2) outside these areas. No remarkable sexual differences in the types, numbers and distribution of antennal sensilla were found.     

绿盲蝽八个普通气味受体基因的克隆及功能鉴定

【目的】本研究旨在克隆绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum的气味受体基因,明确这些气味受体基因在绿盲蝽成虫不同组织中的表达水平及对主要寄主植物挥发物的电生理反应,为揭示绿盲蝽对寄主植物的识别机制提供理论基础。【方法】在绿盲蝽成虫触角转录组测序与分析的基础上,通过PCR技术克隆得到8个具有完整ORF的气味受体基因序列。用qPCR研究这8个基因在雌雄成虫不同组织(触角、无触角的头、胸、腹、足和翅)中的表达水平。然后通过爪蟾卵母细胞体外表达结合双电极电压钳技术测试这些气味受体对56种气味化合物的电生理反应。【结果】克隆得到了绿盲蝽8个气味受体基因AlucOR9, AlucOR16,AlucOR38, AlucOR53, AlucOR55, AlucOR56, AlucOR57和AlucOR58的cDNA全长序列(GenBank登录号:MN905538-MN905545)。这些气味受体含有7个跨膜结构域,且N末端位于胞内,C末端位于胞外,符合昆虫气味受体的典型特征。qPCR结果表明,这8个气味受体基因均在绿盲蝽成虫触角中高表达,而在其他组织中低表达,其中除AlucOR38外的其他7个气味受体基因在雌雄成虫触角间存在显著的表达差异。双电极电压钳记录结果显示,AlucOR57对其中15种气味化合物(苯甲醛、氧化石竹烯、庚醛、反-2-己烯醛、乙酸苯甲酯、桃金娘烯醛、4-乙基苯甲醛、乙酸壬酯、四氢芳樟醇、十三烷、反-3-己烯醇、2-丙烯酸丁酯、丙酸丁酯、乙酸辛酯和乙酸戊酯)有反应,其余7个气味受体对测试的全部气味化合物均无反应。【结论】AlucOR57对测试的一些气味化合物有反应,推测其在绿盲蝽的寄主识别过程中发挥重要作用;其他7个气味受体对测试气味化合物均无反应,其功能有待进一步研究。     

Ultrastructure of the chemosensitive basiconic single-walled wall-pore sensilla on the antennae in adults and embryonic stages of Locusta migratoria L. (Insecta,Orthoptera)

Summary The structure and embryonic development of the two types (A, B) of basiconic sensilla on the antennae of Locusta migratoria were studied in material that had been cryofixed and freeze-substituted, or chemically fixed and dehydrated. Both types are single-walled wall-pore sensilla. Type-A sensilla comprise 20–30 sensory and 7 enveloping cells. One enveloping cell (thecogen cell secretes the dendrite sheath); four are trichogen cells, projections of which form the trichogen process during the 2nd embryonic molt. The trichogen cells form two concentric pairs proximally. Two tormogen cells secrete the cuticular socket of the sensillum. The dendritic outer segments of the sensory cells are branched. Bifurcate type-A sensilla have also been observed. Type-B sensilla comprise three sensory and four enveloping cells (one thecogen, two trichogen and one tormogen). The trichogen process is formed by the two trichogen cells, each of which gives rise to two projections. The trichogen cells are concentrically arranged. The dendritic outer segments of the sensory cells are unbranched. In the fully developed sensillum, all trichogen and tormogen cells border on the outer receptor lymph cavity. It is suggested that the multicellular organization of the type-A sensilla can be regarded as being advanced rather than primitive.Supported by the Dcutschc Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 4/G1)     

A Larval Sea Spider (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) from the Upper Cambrian 'orsten' of Sweden, and the Phylogenetic Position of Pycnogonids

Among a set of small, secondarily phosphatised larval arthropods from the Upper Cambrian 'Orsten' of Sweden, described by Müller and Walossek in 1986, one form bears a remarkable resemblance to the hatching protonymph larva of extant Pantopoda. This 'larva D' shares with protonymphs their gross body form, the anteroventral mouth on a slightly off-set forehead region, the cheliceral morphology, two homeomorphic pairs of post-cheliceral limbs, and further detailed similarities. It is described herein as Cambropycnogon klausmuelleri gen. et sp. nov. and is proposed as the oldest unequivocal record of both Pycnogonida and Chelicerata. Plesiomorphic features such as a pair of rudimentary pre-cheliceral limbs and the gnathobasic basipods of the two post-cheliceral limbs distinguish it from all known larvae of extant Pantopoda and lead us to propose a phylogeny of the Pycnogonida of the form ( Cambropycnogon klausmuelleri + ( Palaeoisopus + ( Palaeopantopus + Pantopoda))). The fossil may help to resolve the long debate about the relationships of Pycnogonida to other Arthropoda and supports a (Pycnogonida + Euchelicerata) relationship within the Chelicerata. The pre-cheliceral limbs in this fossil support traditional morphological studies in which the chelicera represent the second (a2) head appendage, corresponding to the crustacean 'second antennae', and contradict recent data based on homeobox genes implying that the chelicerae are the first (a1) head appendages homologous with crustacean first antennae.