沼泽、盐化沙丘过渡带和沙丘生境下芦苇的光合及生理生化特性

对于田地区3种不同生境(沼泽、盐化沙丘过渡带和沙丘顶)芦苇的生长环境特征、光合特性、渗透调节及抗氧化系统的特征进行研究。结果表明:芦苇叶片的Pn日变化在沼泽生境呈单峰曲线,在盐化沙丘过渡带和沙丘顶部均为双峰曲线,光合"午休"现象明显,气孔导度降低是其主要原因。脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量随根区土壤水分减少和盐分加剧增加显著,其中可溶性糖含量变化剧烈,对抵御干旱和盐渍化危害的贡献较大。芦苇叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随干旱及盐分加剧增加显著,两者对水分亏缺的响应较盐分敏感,且可有效缓解沙丘生境由于缺水所造成的氧化损伤,使丙二醛(MDA)含量维持在相对较低水平。过氧化物酶(POD)活性在沙丘和盐渍化生境内都比较高,对抵抗盐渍化和干旱起着同样重要的作用。     

樟子松幼树株高及其逆境生理指标对沙埋的响应特征

以3龄樟子松幼树为材料,2013年在科尔沁沙地研究了不同沙埋深度下其株高、叶片膜透性、渗透调节物质含量及保护酶活性变化,以揭示沙埋条件下樟子松幼树生长及其对逆境的生理响应特征。结果显示:(1)在沙埋深度低于株高以上2cm时被埋樟子松幼树能够正常生长,其株高和芽长均明显高于非沙埋对照,并以沙埋深度为株高的50%时增长幅度最大;当沙埋深度超过株高2cm以上时,虽然植株高度和芽长也较埋前有一定增长,但均低于对照,且所有处理植株均未破土,后来全部死亡。(2)所有沙埋处理的叶片可溶性糖含量均显著低于对照,而POD活性显著高于对照,可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量也高于对照。(3)随沙埋深度增加,叶片相对含水量总体呈增加趋势,但大多数处理与对照差异不显著;丙二醛含量基本呈显著下降趋势,可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸含量先增加后下降,而大多数处理的膜透性与对照差异不显著;随着沙埋深度增加,叶片可溶性糖含量显著下降,SOD和POD活性均先增加后下降。(4)相关分析显示,樟子松幼树叶片膜透性变化与MDA含量变化相关性几乎为零,可溶性蛋白与脯氨酸含量呈显著正相关关系,可溶性糖含量与脯氨酸含量呈显著负相关关系。研究表明,沙埋深度低于樟子松株高以上2cm能够促进其幼树生长;沙埋并没有导致樟子松幼树体内的膜脂过氧化,也没有引起细胞膜的损伤,在受到沙埋胁迫时,樟子松幼树体内SOD、POD以及可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸分别在防止其膜脂过氧化和维持细胞膨压中起到重要作用,而可溶性糖含量在沙埋过程中没有起到渗透调节作用。     

外源NO缓解蝴蝶兰低温胁迫伤害的生理机制研究

以蝴蝶兰品种‘台湾黄金’幼苗(苗龄15个月)为试验材料,通过叶面喷施200μmol·L-1的NO供体硝普钠(SNP),低温胁迫(昼/夜:12℃/7℃)处理5d和10d,分别测定叶片电解质渗漏率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、pH、渗透调节物质含量及几种保护酶活性,探讨外源NO缓解蝴蝶兰低温胁迫伤害的生理机制。结果表明:低温胁迫条件下,预施SNP处理可以有效抑制蝴蝶兰叶片电解质渗漏率、MDA含量和pH的上升,显著提高叶片可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白及脯氨酸(Pro)含量,显著延缓超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)等抗氧化酶活性的下降,增强多酚氧化酶(PPO)和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)的活性。研究认为,外源NO供体SNP可以通过保护蝴蝶兰幼苗的细胞膜系统,增加渗透调节物质含量,提高保护酶活性来减轻低温胁迫对蝴蝶兰幼苗的伤害,提高其抗低温胁迫的能力。     

Impacts of freeze-thaw processes on antioxidant activities and osmolyte contents of Syntrichia caninervis under different desert microhabitats

 齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)作为典型的耐旱藓类, 广泛分布于世界干旱和半干旱荒漠地区, 是古尔班通古特沙漠生物土壤结皮中的优势藓类植物。该沙漠冬季具有稳定的降雪, 初春的积雪融化为植物的生长提供了良好的水热条件。荒漠藓类植物叶片仅具一层细胞, 对外界环境的变化十分敏感, 有关荒漠藓类植物在冬季和早春地表冻融交替过程中如何适应环境剧烈变化的研究鲜见报道。该研究探讨了生长于3种不同微生境(活灌丛、枯死灌丛和裸露地)下的齿肋赤藓, 经由冬季低温冻结到早春融雪复水再到春季中旬自然干燥过程中的生理生化变化特征。结果表明: 不同冻融期、微生境及二者的交互作用能够显著影响齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物质(游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性(过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性)。冬季低温冻结期的极端低温和春季中旬的干燥环境使得齿肋赤藓可溶性糖和MDA含量, 以及3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于早春融雪期, 可溶性蛋白含量显著低于融雪期。同时, 在融雪期灌丛遮阴所形成的“冷岛效应”使得生长于灌丛下的齿肋赤藓植株可溶性糖和MDA含量显著高于枯死灌丛和裸露地。但灌丛的存在也为春季中旬干旱无雨期齿肋赤藓提供了一个相对良好(含水量高)的生活环境, 其下齿肋赤藓的渗透调节物含量和抗氧化酶活性均显著低于其他两个生境。在整个冻融过程中裸露地齿肋赤藓的3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于灌丛下, 这可能是由于生活于裸露地的苔藓有更强的耐胁迫特性。     

Ameliorative effect of vanadyl(IV)–ascorbate complex on high-fat high-sucrose diet-induced hyperglycemia,insulin resistance,and oxidative stress in mice

There is mounting evidence demonstrating causative links between hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, the core pathophysiological features of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Using a combinational approach, we synthesized a vanadium–antioxidant (i.e., l-ascorbic acid) complex and examined its effect on insulin resistance and oxidative stress. This study was designed to examine whether vanadyl(IV)-ascorbate complex (VOAsc) would reduce oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFSD)-induced type 2 diabetes in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFSD for 12 weeks to induce insulin resistance, rendering them diabetic. Diabetic mice were treated with rosiglitazone, sodium l-ascorbate, or VOAsc. At the end of treatment, fasting blood glucose, fasting serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index, and serum adipocytokine levels were measured. Serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) parameters were also determined. The liver was isolated and used for determination of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, and catalase levels, and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. VOAsc groups exhibited significant reductions in serum adipocytokine and NO levels, and oxidative stress parameters compared to the corresponding values in the untreated diabetic mice. The results indicated that VOAsc is non-toxic. In conclusion, we identified VOAsc as a potentially effective adjunct therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes.     

石菖蒲醇提物对番茄幼苗防御酶影响

为了探讨石菖蒲醇提物作为一种中药杀菌剂对病菌寄主植物本身防御酶体系的影响,该研究以番茄欧粉贝幼苗和川产道地中药石菖蒲为材料,采用冷浸法制备石菖蒲醇提物,经不同浓度石菖蒲醇提物对番茄幼苗进行处理,用比色法测定多酚氧化酶(PPO)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)和过氧化物酶(POD)的活性,并利用GC-MS联用技术,对石菖蒲醇提物的主要化学成分进行定性分析。结果表明:第1天,醇提物浓度在0.04~0.08 g·mL~(-1)时,PAL活性显著高于对照;随后PAL活性随浓度升高降低;当浓度在0.04~0.16 g·mL~(-1)时,POD活性与对照无显著差异;浓度为0.32 g·mL~(-1)时,POD活性显著高于对照;浓度为0.64 g·mL~(-1)时,POD活性显著低于对照;当浓度在0.04~0.32 g·mL~(-1)时,PPO活性显著高于对照;浓度为0.64 g·mL~(-1)时,PPO活性与对照无显著差异;随着时间的延长,三种酶各处理组之间的差异逐步减少。第4天时,各处理组之间PAI,的活性无显著差异;当浓度为0.04 g·mL~(-1)和0.64 g·mL~(-1)时,PPO活性与对照无显著差异,其余范围均显著高于对照;当浓度在0.08~0.32 g·mL~(-1)时,POD活性数值上均高于对照。以上表明在一定浓度范围内醇提物可以增强防御酶活性,未破坏植物的防御酶体系。因此,该醇提物作为一种新型的中药杀菌剂有巨大的开发和利用潜力。利用GC-MS联用技术,可从醇提物中鉴定出30种化学成分,这些物质中多为苯丙素类物质,如β-细辛醚、α-(细辛醚和顺式甲基异丁香油酚等,其中含量最高的物质为β-细辛醚(42.48%)。这提示在后续的研究中,可针对β-细辛醚等醇提物的主要化学成分进行。     

酶催化糖基转移反应在改善罗汉果苦味皂苷口味中的应用

罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ是罗汉果嫩果的主要皂苷成分,味道极苦,在罗汉果生产季节的末期大量滞长果(苦果)因为天气原因而产生,这些滞长果因体内的苦味皂苷尚未转化为甜味皂苷而被丢弃;另外,在罗汉果甜苷提取行业中,脱苦工艺同样会产生大量的苦味罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ。但在化学结构上,罗汉果苦味皂苷与甜味皂苷拥有完全相同的苷元部分,仅存在葡萄糖残基数目和位置的差别。该研究通过酶催化糖基转移反应将新的葡萄糖基团引入苦味的罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ中,可以延长其糖链,从而达到改善其口味的目的。该研究从原料选择、糖源选择以及反应温度等多方面考察了反应条件,最终确定的反应最佳条件为纯度在50%以上的罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ、2倍于皂苷重量的淀粉、60 U·g-1罗汉果苦味皂苷的酶、60~65℃反应24 h。经实际罗汉果苦果样品验证了方法的可行性,所获得的产品可以完全消除苦味,并且带有淡淡的甜味,经HPLC-MS确定了所获得的微甜产物为3~6个糖的皂苷混合物。该方法对于目前罗汉果生产中大量出现并被遗弃的嫩果、苦果以及脱苦工艺中产生的罗汉果皂苷Ⅱ而言,是一种潜在的实现废物利用的方法。     

Design and synthesis of new substrates of HtrA2 protease

HtrA2 belongs to the HtrA (high temperature requirement A) family of ATP-independent serine proteases. The primary function of HtrA2 includes maintaining the mitochondria homeostasis, cell death (by apoptosis, necrosis, or anoikis), and contribution to the cell signaling. Several recent reports have shown involvement of HtrA2 in development of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we describe the profiling of HtrA2 protease substrate specificity via the combinatorial chemistry approach that led to the selection of novel intramolecularly quenched substrates. For all synthesized compounds, the highest HtrA2-mediated hydrolysis efficiency and selectivity among tested HtrA family members was observed for ABZ-Ile-Met-Thr-Abu-Tyr-Met-Phe-Tyr(3-NO₂)-NH₂, which displayed a specificity constant k_cat/K_M value of 14,535 M⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Identification of β integrin‐like‐ and fibronectin‐like proteins in the bivalve mollusk Mytilus trossulus

Integrins play a key role in the intermediation and coordination between cells and extracellular matrix components. In this study, we first determined the presence of the β integrin‐like protein and its presumptive ligand, fibronectin‐like protein, during development and in some adult tissues of the bivalve mollusc Mytilus trossulus. We found that β integrin‐like protein expression correlated with the development and differentiation of the digestive system in larvae. Besides the presence of β integrin‐like protein in the digestive epithelial larval cells, this protein was detected in the hemocytes and some adult tissues of M. trossulus. The fibronectin‐like protein was detected firstly at the blastula stage and later, the FN‐LP‐immunoreactive cells were scattered in the trochophore larvae. The fibronectin‐like protein was not expressed in the β integrin‐positive cells of either the veliger stage larvae or the adult mussel tissues and the primary hemocyte cell culture. Despite the β integrin‐ and fibronectin‐like proteins being expressed in different cell types of mussel larvae, we do not exclude the possibility of direct interaction between these two proteins during M. trossulus development or in adult tissues.