A Permian nurse log and evidence for facilitation in high‐latitude Glossopteris forests

The biology of trees that grew in high‐latitude forests during warmer geological periods is of major interest in understanding past and future ecosystem dynamics. As we study the different plants that composed these forests, it becomes possible to make comparisons with ecosystem processes that occur today. Here we describe a silicified late Permian (Lopingian) glossopterid (seed fern) trunk from Skaar Ridge, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, with evidence of glossopterid rootlets growing into its wood. The specimen is interpreted as a nurse log similar to those seen in some extant forests. Together with evidence of glossopterid roots growing within the lacunae of older roots, this new specimen suggests the existence of facilitative interactions among the glossopterid trees that dominated the high‐latitude forests of Gondwana during the late Permian. More generally, the existence of self‐facilitation might have favoured the expansion of glossopterids within various environments, especially those at high palaeolatitudes, during the Permian icehouse to greenhouse transition.     

Intein-Mediated Protein trans-Splicing of the Recombinant Streptavidin on Magnetosomes

Molecular Biology - When expressing streptavidin recombinant polypeptide on magnetosomes (called bacterial magnetic nanoparticles, or BMPs), the presence of endogenous bacterial biotin might be...     

虾青素复合有氧运动对D-半乳糖诱导大鼠肾脏衰老的干预作用及其机制

目的: 研究虾青素复合有氧运动对D-半乳糖诱导大鼠肾脏衰老的干预作用及其机制。方法: 60只3月龄SPF级SD大鼠采用两因素两水平2×2析因设计随机分为空白对照组(C组)、急性衰老组(S组)、虾青素+急性衰老组(AS组)、有氧运动+急性衰老组(ES组)、虾青素+有氧运动+急性衰老组(AES组),每组12只。大鼠腹腔注射100 mg/(kg·d) D-半乳糖复制经典急性衰老模型,并分别以20 mg/(kg·d) 虾青素和/或强度为60%最大摄氧量的有氧运动进行干预,实验周期6周。末次训练12 h后取肾脏,光镜/电镜观察肾脏组织形态/超微结构,酶联免疫吸附法检测肾脏组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、γ-谷氨酸半胱氨酸合酶(γ-GCS)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量,荧光比色法检测肾脏组织脂褐质(LDF)含量,免疫组化法检测肾脏组织核因子E2相关因子2(Nrf2)通路蛋白质表达水平。结果: 与AS、ES组比较:AES组肾脏组织形态/超微结构改善更为显著;LDF含量均显著降低(P＜0.01);SOD活性均显著升高(P＜0.01);γ-GCS活性显著高于AS组,而与ES组无显著性差异(P＞0.05);MDA含量组间无显著性差异(P＞0.05);Nrf2、磷酸化核因子E2相关因子2(p-Nrf2)蛋白质表达均显著升高(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);抗氧化酶血红素氧合酶1(HO-1)蛋白质表达显著高于ES组(P＜0.05),而与AS组无显著性差异(P＜0.05)。结论: 虾青素复合有氧运动可以延缓肾脏衰老,其作用机制可能为调控Nrf2信号通路相关蛋白质表达及下游Ⅱ相解毒酶和抗氧化酶活性,改善D-半乳糖致衰大鼠肾脏氧化应激。     

大蒜气生鳞茎形态发生及其碳水化合物和内源激素含量以及相关基因表达的变化特征

以大蒜品种‘二水早’(早熟)、‘麻江红蒜’(中晚熟)和‘徐州白’(晚熟)为材料,采用石蜡切片技术结合显微观察探讨气生鳞茎形成过程中植株茎尖和花序轴形态变化,并测定了‘麻江红蒜’气生鳞茎形成过程中可溶性糖、蔗糖、淀粉和内源激素含量及相关基因表达变化,明确不同熟期各品种大蒜气生鳞茎形成进程和形态解剖学特征,以及碳水化合物和内源激素与大蒜气生鳞茎形成的关系,以探讨大蒜气生鳞茎分化的生理机制。结果表明:(1)依据茎尖生长点和花序轴的形态解剖特征,将气生鳞茎形成进程划分为启动期、气生鳞茎原基分化期(包括保护叶原基、贮藏叶原基分化)、气生鳞茎膨大期和气生鳞茎成熟期等4个时期;3个品种气生鳞茎在相同发育时期的形态解剖学特征相同,但分化时间不同,其分化顺序与大蒜品种成熟期表现一致;当总苞叶叶尖露出叶鞘,花器官原基分化时,花序轴周围分生组织区域产生小突起,标志着气生鳞茎原基分化的开始;外层保护叶由白色转为紫色时气生鳞茎进入成熟期。(2)气生鳞茎开始膨大后,其可溶性糖和蔗糖含量均显著降低,淀粉含量显著升高;ZR含量在启动期显著升高;IAA和MeJA含量在气生鳞茎原基分化期维持在较高水平,但IAA含量随着气生鳞茎膨大显著降低,并在成熟期降至最低。(3)果聚糖代谢相关基因1-SST、1-FEH分别在膨大初期、膨大中期表达量显著升高;细胞壁转移酶基因CWI相对表达量在气生鳞茎原基分化期显著升高;蔗糖信号转导基因T6P和生长素信号转导的关键转录因子ARF1相对表达量均在气生鳞茎分化期显著升高;茉莉酸信号调控途径中的负调控因子JAZ相对表达量在大蒜气生鳞茎原基分化期和膨大初期均维持一个较低水平。研究认为,大量可溶性糖及ZR在茎尖积累,可以启动气生鳞茎原基分化,促进气生鳞茎形态发生;高浓度IAA和MeJA可促进气生鳞茎原基分化;气生鳞茎膨大消耗可溶性糖,且低浓度IAA有利于气生鳞茎膨大;成熟的气生鳞茎积累大量淀粉。     

大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中内源激素含量及相关基因表达的变化特征

该研究以大蒜品种‘二水早’为材料,采用高效液相色谱串联质谱法(LC-MS/MS),检测了大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中花序轴(EX)、愈伤组织(CA)、早期胚性愈伤组织(PC)、后期胚性愈伤组织(LC)和球形胚(GE)阶段的5种生长素及其类似物、4种细胞分裂素(CTK)和脱落酸(ABA)含量,结合激素合成和信号转导相关基因表达量的动态变化,探讨3类激素在大蒜体细胞胚发生中的调控作用,为大蒜体细胞胚发生的激素调控提供理论依据,也为进一步研究植物体细胞胚发生的分子机理奠定基础。结果表明:(1)在大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中,生长素及其类似物含量均呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势,且在PC阶段最高而在GE阶段最低;异戊烯基腺嘌呤(IP)、反式玉米素(tZ)和ABA在EX阶段含量最高,其余4个阶段的含量均显著低于EX阶段,而顺式玉米素(cZ)在CA和PC阶段含量较高,在GE阶段含量最低。(2)在PC阶段,IAA合成基因AsYUCCA1和AsTA1以及生长素外运载体基因AsABCB1的表达量升高;在LC阶段,生长素内运载体基因AsAUX1表达量升高,生长素应答基因AsARF1和AsARF2表达量降低,cZ合成基因AsLOG1在CA阶段表达量最高,细胞分裂素运输相关基因AsENT2和信号转导相关基因AsORR-A1、AsORR-A2在PC阶段表达量最高。(3)ABA合成限速酶基因AsNCED1和AsNCED2的表达量在大蒜体细胞胚发生的后4个阶段显著低于EX阶段,ABA信号转导相关基因AsPP2C表达量在PC阶段升高,AsABI1表达量在LC阶段升高,AsPYL1表达量在GE阶段升高。研究认为,在大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中,吲哚-3-甲醛(ICAld)、吲哚-3-丁酸(IBA)和cZ的积累有助于促进大蒜愈伤组织的形成,高水平的生长素及其类似物和低水平的IP、tZ有利于大蒜早期胚性愈伤组织的形成,而低水平的生长素及其类似物、CTK和ABA更利于大蒜球形胚的形成,表明激素合成相关基因可调控内源激素含量的变化,激素信号转导相关基因参与了大蒜体细胞胚的发生。     

小麦倒春寒研究现状与进展

由于全球气候变暖,近年来小麦低温灾害事件频发,尤其是拔节-孕穗期的倒春寒灾害已成为制约小麦产量和品质的重要因素之一。本文综述了小麦倒春寒灾害的发生特点(鉴定与分级、时空特征),倒春寒对小麦生理特性(叶片、茎秆、穗部、根系)和产量、质量的影响,总结了抗倒春寒小麦育种、倒春寒危害的分子生物学机制及灾害的监测预警与风险评估等方面的研究进展,并从小麦抗倒春寒遗传基础、倒春寒危害小麦评价体系和防控技术体系等方面进行了展望,以期为抗倒春寒小麦品种的遗传改良和栽培调控新措施的建立提供理论依据。     

盐胁迫下解钾菌对枸杞幼苗的促生效应

以‘宁杞1号’枸杞为研究对象,采用单因素随机区组试验设计,研究不添加NaCl和菌剂(CK)、100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫(NaCl)、100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下添加解钾菌KSBGY01单菌液(NaCl-M1)、KSBGY02单菌液(NaCl-M2)及其混合菌液(NaCl-M3)对枸杞幼苗叶片叶绿素、多酚、超氧阴离子(O₂^-·)、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和可溶性糖含量、抗氧化物酶和蔗糖代谢酶活性的影响,以探索解钾菌对盐胁迫下枸杞生理生化特性的影响。结果表明: 盐胁迫下解钾菌能够提高枸杞叶片类黄酮(FLAV)、荧光激发比花青素相对指数(FERARI)、花青素(ANTH-RB)和氮素平衡指数(NBI-G),降低O₂^-·和H₂O₂含量,增加可溶性糖含量及过氧化氢酶(CAT)、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)和转化酶(INV)活性。不同处理间比较,NaCl-M2处理中枸杞叶片ANTH-RB值、NBI-G值、可溶性糖含量及CAT、SPS、SS和INV活性最高;NaCl-M3处理中枸杞叶片叶绿素含量、FLAV和FERARI值最高;NaCl-M1处理中枸杞叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性最高;不添加解钾菌的NaCl处理中枸杞叶片谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性最高;CK处理中枸杞叶片过氧化物酶(POD)活性最高。对枸杞幼苗14项生理生化指标进行灰色系统关联度分析表明,盐胁迫条件下添加解钾菌处理的枸杞生理生化指标加权关联度均高于CK和NaCl处理,其中NaCl-M2处理的加权关联度最高。因此,添加KSBGY02单菌液更有利于缓解盐胁迫对枸杞幼苗的影响。     

鸡腿蘑胞外多糖的形貌结构及分子量动态变化与抗氧化的相关性研究

对鸡腿蘑多糖的结构进行检测,并在此基础上探讨结构与活性的关系,对深度发掘鸡腿蘑多糖的功效具有重要意义。制备发酵时间为72 h、96 h和120 h的鸡腿蘑胞外粗多糖,采用PMP柱前衍生化-HPLC法分析其单糖组成,结果表明发酵72 h、96 h和120 h胞外多糖均由D-甘露糖、L-鼠李糖、D-葡萄糖、D-半乳糖、D-阿拉伯糖组成,但各单糖的相对摩尔比不同。采用扫描电子显微镜和原子力显微镜对不同发酵时间的多糖形貌结构进行分析,结果显示发酵120 h多糖的板状结构更加规则,多糖分子的聚集作用更强。采用高效凝胶过滤色谱法对不同发酵时间的鸡腿蘑胞外多糖的分子量分布情况进行分析,结果显示发酵120 h的多糖分子量更大,分布范围更广。体外抗氧化试验结果显示,在相同浓度下,发酵120 h多糖的抗氧化活性较发酵72 h和96 h的多糖强。研究结果表明鸡腿蘑胞外多糖的抗氧化活性可能与其形貌结构和分子量分布有关。     

SHED aggregate exosomes shuttled miR‐26a promote angiogenesis in pulp regeneration via TGF‐β/SMAD2/3 signalling

ObjectivesPulp regeneration brings big challenges for clinicians, and vascularization is considered as its determining factor. We previously accomplished pulp regeneration with autologous stem cells from deciduous teeth (SHED) aggregates implantation in teenager patients, however, the underlying mechanism needs to be clarified for regenerating pulp in adults. Serving as an important effector of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), exosomes have been reported to promote angiogenesis and tissue regeneration effectively. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of SHED aggregate‐derived exosomes (SA‐Exo) in the angiogenesis of pulp regeneration.Materials and MethodsWe extracted exosomes from SHED aggregates and utilized them in the pulp regeneration animal model. The pro‐angiogenetic effects of SA‐Exo on SHED and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated. The related mechanisms were further investigated.ResultsWe firstly found that SA‐Exo significantly improved pulp tissue regeneration and angiogenesis in vivo. Next, we found that SA‐Exo promoted SHED endothelial differentiation and enhanced the angiogenic ability of HUVECs, as indicated by the in vitro tube formation assay. Mechanistically, miR‐26a, which is enriched in SA‐Exo, improved angiogenesis both in SHED and HUVECs via regulating TGF‐β/SMAD2/3 signalling.ConclusionsIn summary, these data reveal that SA‐Exo shuttled miR‐26a promotes angiogenesis via TGF‐β/SMAD2/3 signalling contributing to SHED aggregate‐based pulp tissue regeneration. These novel insights into SA‐Exo may facilitate the development of new strategies for pulp regeneration.     

Sustainability of SARS-CoV-2 Induced Humoral Immune Responses in COVID-19 Patients from Hospitalization to Convalescence Over Six Months

Virologica Sinica - Understanding the persistence of antibody in convalescent COVID-19 patients may help to answer the current major concerns such as the risk of reinfection, the protection period...