Ecdysteroids： the overlooked sex steroids of insects？ Males： the black box

The paradigm, still around in textbooks, that ＇in insects sex is strictly genetic, thus that they do not have sex hormones＇, is mainly based on a wrong interpretation of the ＇gynandromorph argument＇. It is no longer tenable. Given the fact that vertebrates and invertebrates probably had a common, sexually reproducing ancestor, there is no reason to assume that only vertebrates need sex hormones. The major function of sex hormones is to inform the somatoplasm about developmental changes that take place in the gonads. In contrast to juvenile hormone and neuropeptides, ecdysteroids meet all criteria to act as sex hormones, which was probably their ancient role. Their much better documented role in moulting and metamorphosis was a secondary acquisition that enabled arthropods to cope with growth problems, imposed by a rigid cuticle. Female insects use 20-hydroxyecdysone （20E）, secreted by the follicle cells of the ovary, in a similar way as females of egg-laying vertebrates use estrogens. For a variety of reasons, the possibility that ecdysteroids, in particular ecdysone （E）, might also act as sex hormones in male insects, thus as the counterpart of testosterone of vertebrates, has been very much overlooked. Thanks to the recent discovery of the molecular basis of the haploid-diploid system of sex determination in the honeybee, the characterization of Halloween genes, proteomics, RNAi and so on, it now becomes possible to verify whether in insects, as with vertebrates, males are the endocrinologically default gender form.     

不同品种花生的抗旱能力及其与内源ABA的关系

本文探讨10个花生（Arachis hypogaea L．）品种的抗旱能力与其内源ABA的关系。采用的花生品种有：‘粤油9’、‘粤油13’、‘粤油14’、‘粤油20’、‘粤油40’、‘粤油114’、‘湛油52’、‘秋45’、‘秋49’、‘秋86’,由广东省农业科学院作物研究所提供。     

嫁接对薄皮甜瓜养分吸收、伤流液中激素含量和产量的影响

以薄皮甜瓜品种‘玉美人’作接穗,以白籽南瓜‘圣砧一号’为砧木进行嫁接,以自根苗为对照的结果表明,嫁接植株的南瓜根系主动吸收能力增强,其伤流量比自根植株的大,植株吸收氮钾的能力高于自根植株,而吸收磷的能力则有所降低。伤流液中玉米素（ZT）、赤霉素（GAs）和脱落酸（ABA）的浓度均低于自根植株,但ZT和GA的含量高于自根苗,而ABA的含量低于自根苗。嫁接植株的增产效果显著,其平均单瓜重和667m^2产量均高于自根植株。     

白桦雌花发育过程中内源激素动态变化

以酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）测定七年生白桦嫁接幼树雌花发育过程中脱落酸（ABA）、吲哚乙酸（IAA）、玉米核苷素（ZR）及赤霉素（GA）的含量结果表明：ABA的含量先升后降,高浓度2R分别与低浓度的IAA、GA协同作用可促进白桦雌花分化。     

燕子掌花芽分化至萌发期间内源激素含量的变化

本文检测了内源激素在燕子掌花芽分化至萌发期间的含量变化。试验在我院生命科学系植物园进行,试材为原产于非洲南部的燕子掌（Crassula argentea Thunb．）。     

史氏鲟两种促性腺激素β亚基cDNA克隆及序列进化分析

从史氏鲟(Acipenserschrenkii)脑垂体中提取总RNA,利用GeneRacerTM技术,分别克隆得到促性腺激素Ⅰ(GTHⅠ)和Ⅱ(GTHⅡ)的β亚基cDNA全长。史氏鲟GTHⅠ-β亚基cDNA全长为1088bp,开放阅读框为384bp,编码128个氨基酸(Genbank序列登录号为:AY575920);GTHⅡ-β亚基cDNA全长为616bp,开放阅读框为408bp,编码136个氨基酸(Genbank序列登录号为:AY575921)。与其他脊椎动物进行了两种基因的氨基酸序列同源性比较表明:史氏鲟GTHⅠ-β与西伯利亚鲟相似性最高,为99·1%;与硬骨鱼类中鲈形目相似性最低,为34·5%。GTHⅡ-β与西伯利亚鲟相似性为98·3%,与其他硬骨鱼类除鲈形目外都超过60%,与鸟类的相似性最低,为42·8%。两个基因成熟肽构建的MP树显示:GTHⅠ与FSH的β亚基和GTHⅡ与LH的β亚基构成两个明显的聚类。用Mega2软件计算了所比对物种间开放读码框的核苷酸遗传距离并构建了NJ树和MP树,两个基因β亚基的NJ系统树和MP系统树拓扑结构相似,鲟鱼与真骨鱼类分别聚类,共同形成硬骨鱼纲聚类,与传统分类学一致。成熟肽相似性、遗传距离和系统树分支长度显示GTHⅠ-β亚基在真骨鱼类进化速率显著快于其他脊椎动物,而LH-β亚基在羊膜动物中进化比其他脊椎动物快。暗示这两种糖蛋白基因的进化伴随物种进化而显示其功能[动物学报52(2):362-375,2006]。     

植物根系形态对低磷胁迫应答的研究进展

本文综述了近年来植物对磷营养高效吸收有关的根系形态方面的研究进展,总结了植物适应低磷胁迫的根系形态特征,以及植物适应低磷胁迫根系形态变化的激素调控的内在机制,着重阐述了植物适应低磷根系形态变化的分子生物学基础,并对开展此类工作的有效途径进行了探讨.     

湖泊底泥磷释放影响因素显著性试验分析

通过底泥正交模拟实验分析认为,温度、溶解氧、pH值和水动力均是影响双龙湖底泥磷释放的显著因素,各因素水平间有显著差异;影响因素显著性排序从大到小依次为溶解氧、温度、pH值、水动力;提高双龙湖水体的溶解氧水平是降低底泥磷释放的有效手段.     

Ligand Perception,Activation, and Early Signaling of Plant Steroid Receptor Brassinosteroid Insensitive

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases （LRR-RLKs） belong to a large group of cell surface proteins involved in many aspects of plant development and environmental responses in both monocots and dicots. Brassinosteroid insensitive 1 （BRI1）, a member of the LRR X subfamily, was first identified through several forward genetic screenings for mutants insensitive to brassinosteroids （BRs）, which are a class of plant-specific steroid hormones. Since its identification, BRI1 and its homologs had been proved as receptors perceiving BRs and initiating BR signaling. The co-receptor BRIl-associated kinase 1 and its homologs, and other BRI1 interacting proteins such as its inhibitor BRI1 kinase inhibitor I （BKI1） were identified by genetic andbiochemical approaches. The detailed mechanisms of BR perception by BRI1 and the activation of BRI1 receptor complex have also been elucidated. Moreover, several mechanisms for termination of the activated BRI1 signaling were also discovered. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances on the mechanism of BRI1 phosphorylation and activation, the regulation of its receptor complex, the structure basis of BRI1 ectodomain and BR recognition, its direct substrates, and the termination of the activated BRI1 receptor complex.     

激素联合丙种球蛋白治疗小儿重症肌无力的疗效及对患儿免疫球蛋白和补体的影响

目的：探讨激素联合丙种球蛋白治疗小儿重症肌无力的临床疗效及对患儿免疫球蛋白和补体的影响。方法：回顾性分析在我院治疗的70例重症肌无力患儿的临床资料,采用随机序号的方式将其分为观察组和对照组各35例,观察组给予甲泼尼龙联合丙种球蛋白,对照组仅给予甲泼尼龙,观察两组的临床疗效及免疫球蛋白和补体变化情况。结果：观察组总有效率为94．3％明显优于对照组74．3％,两组比较有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;观察组症状明显缓解时间（6．55±1．35）d以及总住院天数（17．15±3．65）d较对照组明显缩短,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：采用激素联合丙种球蛋白治疗小儿重症肌无力,可以明显改善患者肌无力症状,获得较为满意的临床疗效,值得进一步推广使用。