Multiple molecular dynamics simulations of human LOX‐1 and Trp150Ala mutant reveal the structural determinants causing the full deactivation of the receptor

Multiple classical molecular dynamics simulations have been applied to the human LOX‐1 receptor to clarify the role of the Trp150Ala mutation in the loss of binding activity. Results indicate that the substitution of this crucial residue, located at the dimer interface, markedly disrupts the wild‐type receptor dynamics. The mutation causes an irreversible rearrangement of the subunits interaction pattern that in the wild‐type protein allows the maintaining of a specific symmetrical motion of the monomers. The subunits dislocation determines a loss of linearity of the arginines residues composing the basic spine and a consequent alteration of the long‐range electrostatic attraction of the substrate. Moreover, the anomalous subunits arrangement observed in the mutated receptor also affects the integrity of the hydrophobic tunnel, actively involved in the short‐range hydrophobic recognition of the substrate. The combined effect of these structural rearrangements generates the impairing of the receptor function.     

Galanin Signaling in the Brain Regulates Color Pattern Formation in Zebrafish

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Optical Feedback Loop Involving Dinoflagellate Symbiont and Scleractinian Host Drives Colorful Coral Bleaching

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Space use and genetic structure do not maintain color polymorphism in a species with alternative behavioral strategies

Space use including territoriality and spatial arrangement within a population can reveal important information on the nature, dynamics, and evolutionary maintenance of alternative strategies in color polymorphic species. Despite the prevalence of color polymorphic species as model systems in evolutionary biology, the interaction between space use and genetic structuring of morphs within populations has rarely been examined. Here, we assess the spatial and genetic structure of male throat color morphs within a population of the tawny dragon lizard, Ctenophorus decresii. Male color morphs do not differ in morphology but differ in aggressive and antipredator behaviors as well as androgen levels. Despite these behavioral and endocrine differences, we find that color morphs do not differ in territory size, with their spatial arrangement being essentially random with respect to each other. There were no differences in genetic diversity or relatedness between morphs; however, there was significant, albeit weak, genetic differentiation between morphs, which was unrelated to geographic distance between individuals. Our results indicate potential weak barriers to gene flow between some morphs, potentially due to nonrandom pre‐ or postcopulatory mate choice or postzygotic genetic incompatibilities. However, space use, spatial structure, and nonrandom mating do not appear to be primary mechanisms maintaining color polymorphism in this system, highlighting the complexity and variation in alternative strategies associated with color polymorphism.     

云南菜食花植物资源与食花文化调查

为了摸清云南省菜食花植物资源种类、自然分布与食用地区、食用方法等土著知识,对云南省16个地州102个县(市)农贸市场、地方菜餐馆、民间食花者进行了访问调查,对菜食花植物进行了植物学实地鉴定。调查到云南省菜食花植物140种,隶属52科108属,其中木本植物82种,草本植物58种;人工栽培76种,人工驯化栽培14种,野生资源50种。首次报道苦绳(Dregea sinensis Hemsl.)、云南山楂(Crataegus scabrifolia(Franch.)Rehder)、滇海水仙花(Primula pseudodenticulata Pax)、长毛黄葵(Abelmoschus crinitus Wall.)、尖叶美容杜鹃(Rhododendron caloplytum var.openshawianum(Rehd.et Wils.)Chamb.)、大纽子花(Vallaris indecora(Baill.)Tsiang et P.T.Li)、大花虫豆(Cajanus grandiflorus(Benth.ex Baker)Maesen Vaniot der Maesen)、须弥葛(Pueraria wallichii DC.)、白花灯笼(Clerodendrum fortunatum L.)等9种植物的花可以做菜食用。菜食花植物自然分布区与食用地区并非完全重叠,食用地区一般分布有该植物,而分布有该植物的地区不一定食用;食用种类具有从南向北逐渐减少的特点,与食花植物丰富度和少数民族有一定的关系;食花习俗具有一定的民族性,主要体现食花的种类和烹饪口味上。不同菜食花食用的部位不同,烹饪方式也呈多样化。本文针对食用花传统文化的消失与野生菜食花资源的开发利用提出了相关建议。     

粳稻龙锦1号/香软米1578杂交组合F_5家系群糙米总花色苷含量变异及相关性分析

随着环境污染加剧和人们对自身健康关注度的提高,功能性食品在全球范围内蓬勃发展。彩色稻米作为稻米家族中的一员,由于富含微量元素、花色苷、生物碱等功能性成分,已成为当前功能性食品研究开发的热点之一。本研究利用粳稻品种龙锦1号/香软米1578杂交组合214个F_5家系,对水稻糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级和千粒重的变异及其相关性进行了分析。糙米粒色等级变异范围为1~9,平均值为4.98,变异系数为57.87%;糙米总花色苷含量变异范围为0~5459.34 mg/kg,平均值为834.47 mg/kg,变异系数为191.96%;糙米千粒重变异范围为11.96~26.24 g,平均值为17.75 g,变异系数为12.89%。糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级和千粒重在F5家系中不符合正态分布,表现为右偏态,其中糙米总花色苷含量的偏斜程度最大。糙米总花色苷含量和千粒重的峰度系数为正值,表明为尖顶峰;而糙米粒色等级的峰度系数为负值,表明为平顶峰。糙米总花色苷含量与粒色等级呈极显著正相关,相关系数为0.69;糙米总花色苷含量、粒色等级均与千粒重呈极显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.20和-0.34。与高亲龙锦1号相比,27个家系的糙米总花色苷含量极显著提高,占214个F_5家系的12.62%,为高花色苷水稻种质创新奠定了基础。     

Flavonoid compounds related to seed coat color of wheat

In red wheat, reddish-brown pigments accumulate in testa of mature seeds. Half-cut wheat seeds were immersed in p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) reagent that stains flavanol structures blue. Testa of 10–40 days after flowering (DAF) in red wheat (“Norin 61” and “Satonosora”) seeds were stained blue and the reagent color changed to blue with 10–25 DAF seeds. No blue staining was observed in white wheat (“Tamaizumi”) seeds during maturation. “Norin 61” seed coats at 10 DAF contained dihydroquercetin, dihydromyricetin, (+)-catechin, procyanidin B3, and prodelphinidin B3, which were identified by HPLC-diode array detector and LC-MS/MS analyses. These five components began accumulating 7 DAF, reached maxima at 10 or 15 DAF, and then decreased in red wheat seeds, but were not detected in white wheat seeds. These results suggest that flavanol and proanthocyanidins are possible precursors of the reddish-brown pigments of red wheat seeds, and are converted to insoluble compounds as the seeds mature.     

Diel fragrance pattern correlates with olfactory preferences of diurnal and nocturnal flower visitors in Salix caprea (Salicaceae)

Floral scent, often a complex mixture of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has generally been interpreted as an adaptation to attract pollinators. However, not many studies have analysed which VOCs are functionally relevant for the reproductive success of a plant. Here, we show that, in Salix caprea (Salicaceae), temporal changes in floral scent emission during the day and night attract two different types of flower visitor: bees during the day and moths during the evening and night. We analysed the contribution of the two flower visitor groups to the reproductive success of the plant. The differences in scent emitted during the peak activity times of flower visitors (day versus night) were quantified and the response of 13 diurnal/nocturnal pollinator taxa to the floral scents was tested using gas chromatographic and electroantennographic techniques. Many of the c. 40 identified scent compounds were physiologically active, and bees and moths responded to nearly identical sets of compounds, although the response strengths differed. In bioassays, bees preferred the most abundant 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene over lilac aldehyde, a compound with increased emission at night, whereas moths preferred lilac aldehyde over 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene. Pollination by wind plus nocturnal pollinators (mainly moths) or by wind alone contributed less to seed set than pollination by wind plus diurnal pollinators (mainly bees). This suggests that the emission of scent during the night and attracting moths have no significant effect on reproductive success. It is possible that the emission of lilac aldehydes and other compounds at night is s result of phylogenetic constraints. Future studies should investigate whether moths may produce a marginal fitness gain in some years and/or some populations. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175 , 624–640.     

日光温室冬季增施CO2对切花红掌光合作用及生长发育的影响

针对切花红掌日光温室冬季生产时CO₂亏缺严重的现象,以不增施CO₂为对照,研究了增施700、1000、1300 μmol·mol^-1浓度CO₂对切花红掌‘火焰’光合特性和生长发育的影响.结果表明: 增施60 d CO₂,红掌叶片的净光合速率、胞间CO₂浓度和水分利用效率均显著提高,且以1000 μmol·mol^-1处理的增幅最大;而气孔导度则较对照显著下降.增施CO₂后,红掌叶片的可溶性糖、淀粉和可溶性蛋白含量均较对照显著增加,佛焰苞大小、色泽、花茎长度等切花品质参数,以及叶片发育质量参数和花茎生长速率均有不同程度的提高,且均以1000 μmol·mol^-1浓度最佳.增施1000 μmol·mol^-1的CO₂可以有效促进日光温室切花红掌的冬季生产.