Effects of light on cyanide‐resistant respiration and alternative oxidase function in Arabidopsis seedlings

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX), the unique respiratory terminal oxidase in plants, catalyzes the energy wasteful cyanide (CN)‐resistant respiration and plays a role in optimizing photosynthesis. Although it has been demonstrated that leaf AOX is upregulated after illumination, the in vivo mechanism of AOX upregulation by light and its physiological significance are still unknown. In this report, red light and blue light‐induced AOX (especially AOX1a) expressions were characterized. Phytochromes, phototropins and cryptochromes, all these photoreceptors mediate the light‐response of AOX1a gene. When aox1a mutant seedlings were grown under a high‐light (HL) condition, photobleaching was more evident in the mutant than the wild‐type plants. More reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and inefficient dissipation of chloroplast reducing‐equivalents in aox1a mutant may account for its worse adaptation to HL stress. When etiolated seedlings were exposed to illumination for 4 h, chlorophyll accumulation was largely delayed in aox1a plants. We first suggest that more reduction of the photosynthetic electron transport chain and more accumulation of reducing‐equivalents in the mutant during de‐etiolation might be the main reasons.     

三种苦瓜多糖的体外发酵特性比较研究

采用体外发酵技术评价分段醇沉提取的3种苦瓜多糖(MCP1、MCP2和MCP3,乙醇终浓度分别为45%、60%和75%)对三元猪盲肠食糜的发酵特性和发酵产物的影响。于不同发酵时间点记录产气量,48 h后检测发酵液pH值、NH3和短链脂肪酸(SCFA)含量。结果表明,MCP1和MCP2发酵动力学参数最优,显著优于葡萄糖和空白对照组(P0.05);MCP2和葡萄糖组pH值最低,MCP1和葡萄糖组的NH3含量最低;葡萄糖组的丙酸、异丁酸和SCFA总量显著高于其它各组(P0.05);MCP2的乙酸、异丁酸和SCFA总量显著高于其它多糖组(P0.05)。结果提示,MCP1和MCP2是2种理想的可被盲肠微生物利用的碳源,并可改变微生物发酵产生的SCFA含量与组成。     

中等强度跑台运动预防去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松

目的观察中等强度跑台运动对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松的预防作用。方法将30只3月龄未经产雌性SD大鼠随机分为假手术、去卵巢静止和去卵巢运动三个组。去卵巢运动组每周进行4次时间45min、速度18m/min、坡度5°的跑台训练。实验结束时,检测血清雌二醇（E2）、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRAP）和骨钙素（BGP）水平以及右侧游离股骨和胫骨的骨密度（BMD）和骨矿物含量（BMC）;同时观察左侧股骨远端和胫骨近端组织形态学变化。结果与假手术组比较,去卵巢静止组大鼠血清ALP活性和BGP含量显著升高,血清TRAP活性和E2含量显著下降,股骨近段和远端以及胫骨近端BMD和BMC显著下降,股骨远端和胫骨近端骨小梁断裂增加、数目减少;与去卵巢静止组比较,去卵巢运动组大鼠血清E2和BGP含量显著上升,股骨三个部位以及胫骨近端BMD和BMC显著增加,股骨远端和胫骨近端骨小梁断裂减少、数目增加。结论中等强度跑台运动能增加去卵巢大鼠血清E2和BGP含量,改善去卵巢大鼠骨组织学结构。     

不同生存条件下东方田鼠肝脏基因表达谱分析

目的比较实验室条件下饲养的东方田鼠和野外捕捉东方田鼠肝脏的基因表达差异,寻找可能参与肝脏病变的关键基因。方法以实验室条件饲养的东方田鼠和野外捕捉东方田鼠为研究对象,分别抽提RNA,逆转录成cDNA,体外转录为cRNA并进行片段化;利用表达谱芯片分别进行杂交,扫描后筛选差异基因,并应用real-time PCR方法对部分基因的表达水平进行进一步测定,验证芯片数据的结果。结果实验室饲养东方田鼠肝组织与野外捕捉东方田鼠相比,共有99个基因和41个EST差异表达。其中参与机体代谢的基因占主导,约占35.4%;其次为参与信号通路的基因,约占24.2%;参与细胞周期和免疫的基因分别占6.1%和3.0%。结论利用基因表达谱芯片初步筛选了可能参与东方田鼠脂肪肝形成过程的基因,发现机体代谢通路的基因占主导,肝脏中细胞色素家族基因表达差异明显。     

成体干细胞临床应用研究

干细胞是一类具有自我更新能力和多向分化潜能的细胞,其处于未定向分化状态并具有增殖能力.成体干细胞多向分化潜能,安全性好而在临床应用报道逐渐增多,本文总结了1998-2008年的成体干细胞临床应用的实例报道,以期为临床科研人员和患者提供信息支持.     

Physical and chemical cues affect oviposition by Neoleucinodes elegantalis

Recognition and acceptance of a suitable host plant by phytophagous insects requires the integration of visual, physical and chemical cues. The present study investigates the host cues that a specialist insect integrates to optimize oviposition decisions and whether these cues are weighted in a specific way. The study also determines whether the tomato fruit borer Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an important pest on Solanaceae in Brazil, shows a preference for oviposition sites that differ in physical and/or chemical cues. When styrofoam balls are provided as artificial fruits, N. elegantalis deposit significantly more eggs on rough artificial fruits than on smooth ones. Hexane fruit extracts applied to the artificial fruits stimulate female oviposition strongly. Physical and chemical cues also affect the oviposition of females when offered together. Furthermore, certain parts of the artificial fruits are prefered, irrespective of the presence of chemical cues. Both physical and chemical cues affect oviposition decisions; hence, the fruit borer relies on cues of different sensory modalities.     

Population structure of African buffalo inferred from mtDNA sequences and microsatellite loci: high variation but low differentiation

The African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) is widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa and is found in most major vegetation types, wherever permanent sources of water are available, making it physically able to disperse through a wide range of habitats. Despite this, the buffalo has been assumed to be strongly philopatric and to form large aggregations that remain within separate home ranges with little interchange between units, but the level of differentiation within the species is unknown. Genetic differences between populations were assessed using mitochondrial DNA (control region) sequence data and analysis of variation at six microsatellite loci among 11 localities in eastern and southern Africa. High levels of genetic variability were found, suggesting that reported severe population bottlenecks due to outbreak of rinderpest during the last century did not strongly reduce the genetic variability within the species. The high level of genetic variation within the species was found to be evenly distributed among populations and only at the continental level were we able to consistently detect significant differentiation, contrasting with the assumed philopatric behaviour of the buffalo. Results of mtDNA and microsatellite data were found to be congruent, disagreeing with the alleged male-biased dispersal. We propose that the observed pattern of the distribution of genetic variation between buffalo populations at the regional level can be caused by fragmentation of a previous panmictic population due to human activity, and at the continental level, reflects an effect of geographical distance between populations.     

土壤水分对富士苹果果实外观品质的影响

为探究不同果园土壤水分处理对富士苹果果实品质的影响,并重点探究外观品质的差异,筛选出最适宜生产中采用的控水方法,以‘烟富3号’富士苹果品种作为材料,按照土壤相对含水量设置两组水分处理,一组为LT1(55%~65%)、LT2(65%~75%)和LT3(75%~85%),另一组为LT4(前期55%~65%,后期45%~55%)、LT5(前期65%~75%,后期55%~65%)和LT6(前期75%~85%,后期65%~75%),以生理落果为节点,划分处理前期和后期,以普通果园水分管理作为对照处理(LCK),分别测定土壤含水量以及相应果实可溶性固形物含量,计算果实裂纹指数、着色指数和光洁指数,并用扫描电镜观测果皮超微结构。结果表明:(1)LT1、LT4、LT5处理的果实可溶性固形物含量比LCK分别显著提高13.4%、15.2%、13.1%。(2)与LCK相比,LT2、LT3、LT5、LT6处理果实的裂纹指数分别降低了49.8%、19.8%、49.8%、30.1%,LT1、LT2、LT5处理果实的着色指数分别提高了3.4%、14.0%、17.4%,LT1~LT6处理果实的光洁指数分别提高了50.4%、150.4%、125.6%、45.2%、175.9%、100.8%。(3)果皮显微结构观察表明,控制处理前、后期土壤水分不稳定会导致果皮角质层的严重开裂,LT5处理避免了这一情况的发生,而健康果实的果皮角质层厚度大于裂果的果皮。(4)健康果实的水势(-1.22 MPa)明显高于裂果的水势(-1.44 MPa),且果实水势与裂纹发生呈负相关关系。研究认为,适当的土壤水分胁迫(65%~75%)不影响果实食用品质,同时可显著降低果实表面裂纹的发生率,提高果面光洁度;在果实发育后期,适当的轻度控水处理会促进果实的糖积累并减少裂纹的产生;果实裂纹的发生与果皮角质层厚度和果实水势相关,厚度越大、水势越高,裂纹发生越少。土壤相对含水量LT2与LT5处理的苹果果实兼具良好的食用品质与外观品质。     

The occurrence and ecological importance of dissolved ATP in fresh water

SUMMARY. Dissolved ATP, defined as ATP which passes through 0.2 μm filters, was found in fresh water. During the spring diatom bloom in two eutrophic Danish lakes, concentrations of dissolved ATP varied between 0.1 and 3.8 μgl⁻¹, constituting 14–76% of the total ATP (particulate plus dissolved ATP). The kinetics of the light emission obtained from mixing firefly enzyme with dissolved ATP demonstrated that the major proportion of the dissolved ATP was in fact ATP. Despite some variations, the seasonal changes in dissolved ATP paralleled the changes in the increasing phytoplankton population during the rise of the diatom blooms. The dissolved ATP increased after the diatom peak, indicating that release of ATP from the phytoplankton due to mortality may be a major source of dissolved ATP.
Consumption of dissolved ATP was evaluated in uptake experiments using ³H-ATP. Rates of uptake of ³H-ATP by micro-organisms (diameter 0.2–0.6 μm) proved to be close to the rates for ³H-D-glucose uptake. The variations in ³H-ATP uptake during the diatom blooms showed non-systematic changes and ranged between 1.0 and 15.8% h⁻¹ (mean = 4.9% h⁻¹) of the quantity added. Turnover rates for dissolved ATP varied between 12 and 730 ng l⁻¹ h⁻¹ (mean = 175 ng l⁻¹). These rather high rates of turnover suggest that dissolved ATP is an important compound in the metabolism of freshwater bacteria.