Effects of NaCl stress on germination, antioxidant responses, and proline content in two rice cultivars

We investigated the physiological and biochemical bases for salt tolerance in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars — relatively salt-tolerant ‘Dongjin’ and salt-sensitive ‘Kumnam’. Salinized hydroponic cultures were studied at the germination and seedling stages. NaCI inhibited germination more severely in ‘Kumnam’ than in ‘Dongjin’. Increasing the salt concentration also deterred growth to a larger extent in the former. Moreover, the leaves of ‘Kumnam’ exhibited greater increases in lipid peroxidation and Na⁺ accumulation than those of ‘Dongjin’ under stress. The activities of constitutive and salt-induced superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and ascorbate peroxidase (AP, EC 1.11.1.11) were also higher in ‘Kumnam’, while only catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) activity was slightly higher in stressed plants of ‘Dongjin’. The positive correlation between leaf proline levels and NaCI concentration was more evident in ‘Kumnam’. However, ‘Dongjin’ seeds, which had higher germinability in the presence of NaCI, also contained more proline. These results suggest that the higher salt tolerance in ‘Dongjin’ seedlings could be ascribed to their lower NaCI accumulations in the leaves. This presumably is due to reductions in the uptake or transport rates of saline ions to the shoots from the roots. Finally, we believe that the higher germination rate by ‘Dongjin’ is caused by its higher seed proline content.     

Phytochelatin is not a primary factor in determining copper tolerance

Phytochelatin (PC) is involved in the detoxification of harmful, non-essential heavy metals and the homeostasis of essential heavy metals in plants. Its synthesis can be induced by either cadmium (Cd) or copper (Cu), and can form stable complexes with either element. This might suggest that PC has an important role in determining plant tolerance to both. However, this is not clearly apparent, as evidenced by a PC-deficient and Cd-sensitiveArabidopsis mutant (cad1-3) that shows no significant increase in its sensitivity to copper. Therefore, we investigated whether the mechanism for Cu tolerance differed from that for Cd by analyzing copper sensitivity in Cd-tolerant transgenics and Cd-sensitive mutants ofArabidopsis. Cadmium-tolerant transgenic plants that over-expressedA. thaliana phytochelatin synthase 1 (AtPCS1) were not tolerant of copper stress, thereby supporting the hypothesis that PC is not primarily involved in this tolerance mechanism. We also investigated Cu tolerance incad2-1, a Cd-sensitive and glutathione (GSH)-deficientArabidopsis mutant. Paradoxically,cad2-1 was more resistant to copper stress than were wild-type plants. This was likely due to the high level of cysteine present in that mutant. However, when the growth medium was supplemented with cysteine, the wild types also exhibited copper tolerance. Moreover,Saccharomyces cerevisiae that expressedAtPCS1 showed tolerance to Cd but hypersensitivity to Cu. All these results indicate that PC is not a major factor in determining copper tolerance in plants.     

Separation of protein and fatty acids from tuna viscera using supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was investigated as a method for removing lipids and bad flavor from tuna viscera. To find the optimum conditions, different experimental variables, such as pressure, temperature, flow rate of solvent and sample size, were evaluated for the effective removal of lipids and the undesirable smell. Ethanol was used as the entrainer, with a 3% by vol CO₂ flow rate. By increasing the pressure at constant temperature, the efficiency of the lipid removal was improved and the protein was concentrated without denaturalization. The main fatty acids extracted from the tuna viscera were palmitic acid (16∶0), heptadecanoic acid (17∶1), oleic acid (18∶1) and docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6). The major amino acids in the tuna viscera treated by supercritical carbon dioxide were glutamic acid, leucine and lysine, and the free amino acids werel-proline, taurine andl-α-aminoadipic acid.     

利用反义RNA技术分析春化相关基因VER17在冬小麦花发育过程中的功能

为了研究小麦春化相关基因VER17的功能,应用反义RNA技术,将VER17基因的反义片段构建到载体pBI121上,通过花粉管通道法获取转基因小麦.对T0代转基因植株GUS染色以及PCR等分子鉴定,得到14株含反义VERJ7基因片段的阳性转基因植株.对T0代和T1代的表型观察结果显示,VER17反义转基因植株开花时间延迟,并且穗的顶部和基部小花出现明显的退化.表明春化相关基因VER17在小麦发育过程中可能起到促进植物开花以及穗顶端和基部花发育的作用,减少小花退化,同时对雄蕊的发育也有影响.     

人胚胎干细胞程序降温保存的实验研究

本文采用升降式程序降温仪对人胚胎于细胞进行了程序降温保存,并探讨和比较了降温速率、置核温度、保护剂和投入液氮前温度对冻存复苏后胚胎干细胞的存活率、活力及分化特性的影响。结果表明:采用Me_2SO 血清 DMEM(体积比为1∶3∶6)的保护剂,从0℃开始,以0.5℃/min的速率对细胞悬液降温;至-10℃时对其进行置核,并于-35℃时将其快速投入液氮中保存,复温后效果最佳。冻存复温后细胞存活率可达81.8%,复苏后的胚胎干细胞形态和集落生长方式都与冻前的生长形态相同,且胚胎干细胞标志之一碱性磷酸酶(AKP)反应阳性,同时染色体组型仍正常。     

cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of LIM protein gene homologue from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

LIM protein cDNA, from Bombyx mori that contains an open reading frame of 622 bp encoding 94 amino acids, was identified and characterized. The B. mori LIM protein homologue is classified into group 2 LIM proteins that contain glycine-rich LIM domain. B. mori LIM protein mRNA is up-regulated at late embryogenesis and detected in the mid-gut of 5th instar larvae.     

西安城市绿地生态功能研究

通过调查,将西安市片状绿地按种植结构分为乔灌草、乔草、灌草、乔木、灌木和草坪6种类型,并定点定时测定绿地中心和对照点的光强、湿度、温度、噪音、空气中细菌数.结果表明,在片状绿地中,除草坪外,其他绿地均具有一定的遮荫效应,不同结构绿地遮荫效应依次为灌木＞乔灌草＞乔草＞灌草＞乔木＞草坪;各绿地也有明显的降温效应,降温效应依次为乔灌草＞乔木＞灌木＞乔草＞灌草＞草坪;各绿地还有一定的增湿效应,增湿效应依次为乔草＞乔灌草＞乔木＞灌木＞灌草＞草坪;各绿地也具有降噪效应,降噪效应依次为乔灌草＞乔草＞乔木＞灌草＞灌木＞草坪;各绿地在灭菌方面也有明显的作用,灭菌效应依次为乔灌草＞乔草＞乔木＞灌草＞灌木＞草坪.相同种植结构的绿地中复层结构绿地的生态效益均大于单层结构的绿地.最后,根据以上结论提出了提高城市绿地生态功能的措施.     

均匀设计法优化黄芩愈伤组织培养基

目的:优化黄芩愈伤组织培养条件。方法:采用均匀设计法,以黄芩甙含量为主要考察指标,对黄芩愈伤组织生长的MS培养基成分进行多因素多水平考察。结果:最佳培养基为MS附加0.25mg/L NAA、0.5mg/L 6-BA、17g/L葡萄糖和35g/L蔗糖。最佳培养基黄芩甙含量为27.44mg/gDW。结论:用均匀设计法优化愈伤组织培养基省时、方便,且最佳培养基黄芩甙含量与预测值相近,且明显高于均匀设计实验方案中的黄芩甙含量。经SAS软件分析得出的优化方程拟合度很好。     

Enzymatic release of ferulic acid fromIpomoea batatas L. (sweet potato) stem

Ferulic acid is a phenolic compound that serves as a major biosynthetic precursor of vanillin in higher plants. We investigated the ability of the 3 commercial enzymes—Ultraflo L, Viscozyme L, and α-Amylase—to induce the release ferulic acid from theIpomoea batatas L. (sweet potato) stem. The rate of release for ferulic acid was optimal when Ultraflo L (1.0%) was used compared with the other enzymes, whereas Viscozyme L was most effective for the release of vanillic acid and vanillin. Thus, these enzymes may be useful for the large-scale production of ferulic acid and other phenolic compounds from sweet potato stem.