Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase activity in Neuro‐2a neuroblastoma cells: changes in expression associated with neuronal differentiation

Neuro‐2a (N2a) neuroblastoma cells display an ectoenzymatic hydrolytic activity capable of degrading diadenosine polyphosphates. The Ap_nA‐cleaving activity has been analysed with the use of the fluorogenic compound BODIPY^® FL guanosine 5′‐O‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) thioester. Hydrolysis of this dinucleotide analogue showed a hyperbolic kinetic with a K_m value of 4.9 ± 1.3 μM. Diadenosine pentaphosphate, diadenosine tetraphosphate, diadenosine triphosphate, and the nucleoside monophosphate AMP behaved as an inhibitor of BODIPY^® FL guanosine 5′‐O‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) thioester extracellular degradation. Ectoenzymatic activity shared the typical characteristics of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family, as hydrolysis reached maximal activity at alkaline pH and was dependent on the presence of divalent cations, being strongly inhibited by EDTA and activated by Zn²⁺ ions. Both NPP1 and NPP3 isozymes are expressed in N2a cells, their expression levels substantially changing when cells differentiate into a neuronal‐like phenotype. In this sense, it is relevant to point the expression pattern of the NPP3 protein, whose levels were drastically reduced in the differentiated cells, being almost completely absent after 24 h of differentiation. Enzymatic activity assays carried out with differentiated N2a cells showed that NPP1 is the main isozyme involved in the extracellular degradation of dinucleotides in these cells, this enzyme reducing its activity and changing its subcellular location following neuronal differentiation.

     

秦岭火地塘林区油松和华山松林乔木层净生产力与气候因子的关系

以秦岭火地塘林区油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)和华山松(Pinus armandi)林为研究对象,以其生物量及树高-胸径模型为基础,运用树木年轮宽度方法推算出1973年至2011年生物量和生产力年际动态,并通过相关分析和多元逐步回归分析探讨了油松和华山松林乔木层净生产力与温度、降水之间的关系。结果显示,该林区油松林和华山松林乔木层生物量39a间增长迅速,分别从1973年的15.32 t/hm2和7.53 t/hm2增长到2011年的175.97 t/hm2和130.98 t/hm2,平均年净生产力分别为4.18 t hm-2a-1和3.20 t hm-2a-1,油松林乔木层生物量和生产力均高于华山松林;气候分析表明年净生产力与降水关系不明显,与温度关系较为密切,随气温升高呈波动上升趋势:单月气候因子中上年7月温度、当年7月温度与油松林乔木层净生产力显著正相关,上年7月温度与华山松林乔木层净生产力显著正相关;油松林乔木层净生产力动态变化主要受1—7月平均温度影响,华山松林主要受5—7月平均温度影响;油松林生产力与温度因子的相关性高于华山松林。两种林型的生物量和生产力差异是由油松和华山松生物学特性所致。     

Estimating net primary production of boreal forests in Finland and Sweden from field data and remote sensing

We calculated annual mean stem volume increment (AMSVI) and total litter fall to produce forest net primary production (NPP) maps at 1‐km² and half‐degree resolutions in Finland and Sweden. We used a multi‐scale methodology to link field inventory data reported at plot and forestry district levels through a remotely sensed total plant biomass map derived from 1‐km² AVHRR image. Total litter fall was estimated as function of elevation and latitude. Leaf litter fall, a surrogate for fine root production, was estimated from total litter fall by forest type. The gridded NPP estimates agreed well with previously reported NPP values, based on point measurements. Regional NPP increases from northeast to southwest. It is positively related to annual mean temperature and annual mean total precipitation (strongly correlated with temperature) and is negatively related to elevation at broad scale. Total NPP (TNPP) values for representative cells selected based on three criteria were highly correlated with simulated values from a process‐based model (CEVSA) at 0.5°× 0.5° resolution. At 1‐km² resolution, mean above‐ground NPP in the region was 408 g/m²/yr ranging from 172 to 1091 (standard deviation (SD) = 134). Mean TNPP was 563 (252 to 1426, SD = 176). Ranges and SD were reduced while the mean values of the estimated NPP stayed almost constant as cell size increased from 1‐km² to 0.5°× 0.5°, as expected. Nordic boreal forests seem to have lower productivity among the world boreal forests.     

Patterns of floristic richness in vegetation communities of California: regional scale analysis with multi-temporal NDVI

Aim Applying water‐energy dynamics and heterogeneity theory to explain species richness via remote sensing could allow for the regional characterization and monitoring of vegetation community assemblages and their environment. We assess the relationship of multi‐temporal normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to plant species richness in vegetation communities. Location California, USA. Methods Sub‐regions containing species inventories for chaparral, coastal sage scrub, foothill woodland, and yellow pine forest communities were intersected with a vegetation community map and an AVHRR NDVI time series for 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1996. Principal components analysis reduced the AVHRR data to three variables representing the sum and temporal trajectories of NDVI within each community. A fourth variable representing heterogeneity was tested using the standard deviation of the first component. Quadratic forms of these variables were also tested. Species richness was analysed by stepwise regression. Results Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and yellow pine forest had the best relationships between species richness and NDVI. Richness of chaparral was related to NDVI heterogeneity and spring greenness (r² varied between 0.26 and 0.62 depending on year of NDVI data). Richness of coastal sage scrub was nonlinearly related to annual NDVI and heterogeneity (r² 0.63–0.81), with peak richness at intermediate values. Foothill woodland richness was related to heterogeneity in a monotonic curvilinear fashion (r² 0.28–0.35). Yellow pine forest richness was negatively related to spring greenness and positively related to heterogeneity (r² 0.40–0.46). Main Conclusions While NDVI's relationship to species richness varied, the selection of NDVI variables was generally consistent across years and indicated that spatial variability in NDVI may reflect important patterns in water‐energy use that affect plant species richness. The principal component axis that should correspond closely with annual mean NPP showed a less prominent role. We conclude that plant species richness for coarse vegetation associations can be characterized and monitored at a regional scale and over long periods of time using relatively coarse resolution NDVI data.     

利用遥感植被指数分析中国东部样带农业生态系统的生产力格局

在研究全球变化与陆地生态系统之间的关系方面 ,样带研究被认为是十分重要的手段之一。中国东部从南到北沿热量梯度出现的植被变化特点 ,形成世界上独特完整的以热量梯度驱动的植被连续带 ;加之中国地处世界上最大的“欧亚大陆”最东段 ,具有独特的大陆季风气候 ,样带内农业生态系统的各种变化具有区域代表性和典型性 ,使之成为全球变化研究中不可缺少的部分。目前 ,全球变化的研究范围和内容已经超越了传统生态系统研究所关注的斑块水平 ,要把斑块水平的生态系统研究成果拓展到区域乃至全球的空间尺度上 ,就需要在尺度转换上取得技术和方法…     

兴安落叶松林生产力模拟及其生态效益评估

以兴安落叶松林为研究对象,基于森林资源清查资料和气候资料,建立了反映森林生物学特性(蓄积量和年龄)和气候因素(年均温和年均降水)综合作用的兴安落叶松林现实生产力模型;同时,评估了兴安落叶松林的生态系统公益,指出我国兴安落叶松林的生态系统公益总价值约为4499.8×106美元@a-1,其中生态效益(包括气候控制、土壤形成、废物处理、生物控制)的价值达2816.1×106美元@a-1,约占生态系统公益总价值的62.6%,是兴安落叶松林所创造的直接经济价值的2.56倍.社会经济价值的5.0倍.这表明全球气候变化将对兴安落松林的影响巨大,迫切需要研究全球变化下的兴安落叶松林对策.     

锡林河流域一个原生草原群落的碳素平衡研究

野外调查与历史资料相结合 ,对内蒙古锡林河流域一个永久试验样地内的羊草 (Leymuschinensis (Trin .)Tzvel.)草原群落 (原生草原群落 )的碳素贮量、主要流量和周转速度等进行了估计。结果表明 :1 )该群落中地上部净初级生产的碳素固定量的多年平均值为 79.8gC·m-2 ·a-1 ,根系碳素输入量的多年平均值为 31 1 .9gC·m-2 ·a-1 ,碳素输入总量为 391 .7gC·m-2 ·a-1 ;2 )土壤净呼吸量为 34 6 .9gC·m-2 ·a-1 ,动物 (昆虫 )采食量 1 4 .7gC·m-2·a-1 ,地上立枯阶段的淋溶与光化学分解损失为 3 .2gC·m-2 ·a-1 ,碳素输出总量为 36 4 .8gC·m-2 ·a-1 ;3)该群落中碳素输入略大于输出 ,净积累速率为 2 6 .9gC·m-2 ·a-1 ,0 - 30cm土壤中的碳素周转速率为 6 .2 % ,周转时间为1 6年。     

基于MODIS序列的北京市土地利用变化对净初级生产力的影响

了解土地利用变化对区域净初级生产力(NPP)的影响,对于综合理解区域植被的固碳能力及其与土地利用变化的关系,以及维持区域生态安全均具有重要意义。以北京市为例,基于2000—2012年MODIS NPP遥感影像和土地利用类型数据,利用同期Landsat TM影像(分辨率30 m)对MODIS NPP数据进行降尺度计算的基础上,分析北京市区域NPP的时空分布特征,探讨土地利用变化对植被固碳能力的影响。结果表明:研究期内Landsat NDVI与NPP数据的线性关系显著(R~2为0.22—0.68,P0.01),基于该线性关系可实现对MODIS NPP的降尺度重计算。土地利用面积分配和景观格局的变化均显著影响NPP。13年间,北京市林地和草地面积增加而耕地面积迅速减少,NPP总量由123万t C增长至190万t C,其中66%的NPP由林地贡献,其次为耕地(26%),草地最低(8%)。2000—2006年,面积变化促进了NPP的增加,贡献率为34%;而2006—2012年,面积变化则抑制区域NPP的增加,贡献率降低至27%。同时,研究区域内斑块聚集度的降低,斑块密度及丰富度的增加均有利于其NPP的增加。提高研究区植被固碳能力,需要在维持区域当前植被数量和质量的基础上,增加区域景观的异质性和多样性。     

Arabidopsis SCP1-like small phosphatases differentially dephosphorylate RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain

RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain (pol II CTD) phosphatases that can dephosphorylate both Ser2-PO₄ and Ser5-PO₄ of CTD have been identified in animals and yeasts, however, only Ser5-PO₄-specific CTD phosphatases have been identified in plants. Among predicted Arabidopsis SCP1-like small phosphatases (SSP), SSP4, SSP4b, and SSP5 form a unique group with long N-terminal extensions. While SSPs’ expression showed similar tissue-specificities, SSP4 and SSP4b were localized exclusively in the nuclei, whereas SSP5 accumulated in both nuclei and cytoplasm. Detailed characterization of SSP activities using various peptides and full-length Arabidopsis pol II CTD substrates established that SSP4 and SSP4b could dephosphorylate both Ser2-PO₄ and Ser5-PO₄ of CTD, whereas SSP5 dephosphorylated only Ser5-PO₄. These results indicate that Arabidopsis SSP gene family encodes active CTD phosphatases like animal SCP1 family proteins, with distinct substrate specificities.     

Environmental factors covary with plant diversity–productivity relationships among Chinese grassland sites

Aim Our objective was to document the general relationship between plant species richness (SR) and above‐ground net primary productivity (ANPP) at different spatial scales and the environmental influence on this relationship. Location Temperate and alpine grasslands of China. Methods We investigated SR and ANPP at 321 field sites (1355 plots) across the widely distributed temperate and alpine grasslands of China. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions were used to test SR–ANPP relationships among site means. Plot‐level data of SR and ANPP were analysed with general linear models (GLMs) and the correlation between SR and ANPP was decomposed into covariance components to test the influence of climatic variables, region, vegetation type and remaining variation among sites on SR, ANPP and their relationship. Results We found positive linear relationships between SR and ANPP among sites in both the alpine and temperate grassland regions and in different grassland vegetation types of these biomes. Environmental gradients such as growing‐season precipitation affected both SR and ANPP in parallel. However, after removing the among‐site environmental variation, residual SR and ANPP were no longer correlated at the pooled within‐site level. Main conclusions The positive SR–ANPP relationship across large‐scale environmental gradients among sites was most likely the result of climatic variables influencing SR and ANPP in parallel. Our results suggest that in China's natural grasslands there is no direct relationship between SR and ANPP, presumably because the pool of available species for local community assembly is large, in contrast to experiments where species pools are artificially reduced.