Photoinhibition of radish (Raphanus sativus L) seed germination: control of growth potential by cell-wall yielding in the embryo

The biophysical mechanism underlying photoinhibition of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seed germination was investigated using three cultivars differing in sensitivity to continuous irradiation with far-red light (high-irradiance reaction of phytochrome). Sensitivity of germination to the inhibitory action of light was assessed by probing germination under osmotic stress (incubation in media of low water potentials adjusted with polyethylene glycol 6000) and expressed in terms of ‘germination potential’ (positive value of the water potential at which germination is inhibited by 50%). Far-red light decreases the germination potential to various degrees in the different cultivars, reflecting the light-sensitivity of germination in water. Removal of the seed coat increases the germination potential by a constant amount in darkness and light. It is concluded that germination depends on the expansive force of the embryo which can be drastically diminished by far-red light. Seed-coat constraint and expansive force of the embryo interact additively on the level of the germination potential. Photoinhibition of germination was accompanied by an inhibition of water uptake into the seed. Analysis of seed water relations showed that osmotic pressure and turgor assumed higher levels in photoinhibited seeds, compared to seeds germinating in darkness, while the water potential was close to zero under both conditions. Far-red light produced a shift (to less negative values) in the curve relating water-uptake rate to external water potential, i.e. a reduction in the driving force for water uptake. It is concluded that photoinhibition of germination results from the maintenance of a high threshold of cell-wall extensibility in the embryo.     

Relative growth rate correlates negatively with pathogen resistance in radish: the role of plant chemistry

Plant growth rate has frequently been associated with herbivore defence: a large investment in quantitative defence compounds occurs at the expense of growth. We tested whether such a relationship also holds for growth rate and pathogen resistance. For 15 radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cultivars, we determined the potential growth rate and the resistance to fungal wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum. We subsequently aimed to explain a putative negative relationship between growth rate and resistance based on plant chemical composition. Both growth rate and resistance level varied greatly among cultivars. Moreover, there was a strong negative correlation between growth rate and resistance, i.e. there are costs associated with a high resistance level. Roots of slow-growing, resistant cultivars have a higher biomass density. Using pyrolysis mass spectrometry. we part1y explained variation in both growth rate and resistance in terms of the same change in chemical composition. Leaves of slow-growing, resistant cultivars contained more cell wall material. Surprisingly, roots of slow-growing, highly resistant cultivars contained significantly less cell wall material, and more cytoplasmic elements (proteins). We speculate that this higher protein concentration is related to high construction and turn-over costs and high metabolic activity. The latter in turn is thought to be responsible for a rapid and adequate resistance reaction, in which phenols may be involved.     

用免疫亲和层析法纯化萝卜 PHGPx 天然蛋白

萝卜磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (RsPHGPx) 是一个定位于线粒体的蛋白质 . 为了阐明该蛋白质线粒体定位信号的准确切割位点,采用了免疫亲和层析方法纯化天然的 RsPHGPx. 用重组 RsPHGPx 蛋白免疫兔子获得了抗 RsPHGPx 的多克隆抗血清,以重组 RsPHGPx 蛋白为配体,采用亲和层析技术对抗血清进行了纯化,得到了单特异性的抗 RsPHGPx 的抗体 . 将纯化好的抗体偶联到一个 N- 羟基琥珀酰亚胺 (NHS) 预先激活的琼脂糖柱子上,装配成一个以单特异性的抗 RsPHGPx 抗体为配体的免疫亲和层析柱 . 经过对纯化条件的摸索和优化,形成了一个简单、特异的一步法纯化方案 . 按照该方案,从萝卜幼苗线粒体总蛋白质提取物中纯化到一个分子质量与预期值相一致的特异蛋白质 . 免疫印迹分析表明,该蛋白质被抗 RsPHGPx 的抗血清特异识别 . 酶活性分析表明,该蛋白质具有显著的 PHGPx 活性 . 这些结果表明,纯化到的特异蛋白质是萝卜的 RsPHGPx 天然蛋白 . 这是首个关于定位于植物细胞器的 PHGPx 蛋白纯化的报道 . 这一结果为准确测定 RsPHGPx 信号肽的切割位点奠定了基础,并将有助于对植物 PHGPx 的亚细胞定位机制及其生理功能的深入研究 .     

NCS对离体萝卜子叶转绿期间叶绿素荧光参数及类囊体膜蛋白复合物的影响

用PAM 2000型便携式荧光测定系统测定了不同浓度N arc iclas ine(NCS)处理的离体萝卜子叶的荧光动力学参数:初始荧光(F0)、光化学淬灭(qP)、光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光合电子传递速率(ETR).结果表明,NCS对各种叶绿素荧光参数均显示出明显的抑制作用,而且NCS的抑制作用随其浓度的增加而逐渐增强;利用蓝绿温和胶电泳技术分析萝卜子叶类囊体膜蛋白复合物发现,转绿期间叶绿体中光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)和光系统捕光色素蛋白复合体的含量增加均被NCS抑制.表明从水仙鳞茎分泌物中分离提取的生物活性物质NCS能够明显抑制离体萝卜子叶的光下转绿,而且NCS对离体萝卜子叶光下转绿的抑制是多位点的.     

Disulfide reduction abolishes tissue factor cofactor function

Background

Tissue factor (TF), an in vivo initiator of blood coagulation, is a transmembrane protein and has two disulfides in the extracellular domain. The integrity of one cysteine pair, Cys186–Cys209, has been hypothesized to be essential for an allosteric “decryption” phenomenon, presumably regulating TF procoagulant function, which has been the subject of a lengthy debate. The conclusions of published studies on this subject are based on indirect evidences obtained by the use of reagents with potentially oxidizing/reducing properties.

Methods

The status of disulfides in recombinant TF_1–263 and natural placental TF in their non-reduced native and reduced forms was determined by mass-spectrometry. Functional assays were performed to assess TF cofactor function.

Results

In native proteins, all four cysteines of the extracellular domain of TF are oxidized. Reduced TF retains factor VIIa binding capacity but completely loses the cofactor function.

Conclusion

The reduction of TF disulfides (with or without alkylation) eliminates TF regulation of factor VIIa catalytic function in both membrane dependent FX activation and membrane independent synthetic substrate hydrolysis.

General significance

Results of this study advance our knowledge on TF structure/function relationships.     

Enzymatic fragmentation of carbohydrate moieties of radish arabinogalactan-protein and elucidation of the structures

We investigated the structures of L-arabino-galactooligosaccharides released from the sugar moieties of a radish arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) by the action of exo-β-(1→3)-galactanase. We detected a series of neutral β-(1→6)-linked galactooligosaccharides forming branches of one to up to at least 19 consecutive Gal groups, together with corresponding acidic derivatives terminating in 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid (4-Me-GlcA) at the non-reducing end. Some oligosaccharide chains of degree of polymerization (dp) higher than 3 for neutral, and 4 for acidic oligomers were modified with L-Araf residues. The acidic tetrasaccharide 4-Me-β-GlcA-(1→6)[α-L-Araf-(1→3)]-β-Gal-(1→6)-Gal was detected as an abundant L-Araf-containing oligosaccharide among these neutral and acidic oligomers. A pentasaccharide containing an additional L-Araf group attached to the L-Ara in the tetrasaccharide through an α-(1→5)-linkage was also found. We observed L-arabino-galactooligosaccharides substituted with single or disaccharide L-Araf units at different Gal residues along these neutral and acidic β-(1→6)-galactooligosaccharide chains, indicating that these side chains are highly variable in length and substituted variously with L-Araf residues.     

Generation of the antioxidant yellow pigment derived from 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate in salted radish roots (takuan-zuke)

2-[3-(2-Thioxopyrrolidin-3-ylidene)methyl]-tryptophan (TPMT) is a yellow pigment of salted radish roots (takuan-zuke) derived from 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate (MTBITC), the pungent component of radish roots. Here, we prepared salted radish and analyzed the behavior of the yellow pigment and related substances in the dehydration process and long-term salting process. All salted radish samples turned yellow, and their b^* values increased with time and temperature. The salted radish that was sun-dried and pickled at room temperature turned the brightest yellow, and the generation of TPMT was clearly confirmed. These results indicate that tissue shrinkage due to dehydration, salting temperature, and pH play important roles in the yellowing of takuan-zuke.     

邻苯二甲酸对萝卜种子萌发、幼苗叶片膜脂过氧化及渗透调节物质的影响

华北地区是我国玉米的主产区,玉米秸秆还田不仅可有效改善土壤理化性状、提高土壤生物有效性,还会在腐解过程中释放出目前公认的化感物质——酚酸类物质,邻苯二甲酸是玉米秸秆腐解液中的主要酚酸类物质。从玉米秸秆还田过程中主要腐解产物(邻苯二甲酸)对蔬菜作物的化感效应角度进行了研究,为量化秸秆还田量及构建粮-菜轮作制度探寻化感效应依据。试验以萝卜为蔬菜材料,通过配置4个浓度(0.05、0.5、1.0、2.0 mmol/L)的邻苯二甲酸溶液,模拟玉米秸秆还田条件,以清水为对照,研究主要腐解产物邻苯二甲酸对萝卜种子萌发、幼苗生长、膜脂过氧化作用及渗透调节物质的影响。结果表明:(1)萝卜不同生育期对邻苯二甲酸化感效应的响应程度不同。在0.05-1 mmol/L浓度范围内,邻苯二甲酸处理促进了萝卜种子萌发,但随着处理浓度的增大,促进作用减弱;浓度达到2 mmol/L时对萝卜种子萌发具有抑制效果。(2)邻苯二甲酸0.05mmol/L处理,促进了萝卜幼苗干鲜物质积累,幼苗根系生长,其中根系长度和根系表面积分别比对照提高42.03%、38.36%,显著高于清水对照;植株体内超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide dismutase, SOD)活性增大,过氧化物酶(Peroxidase, POD)、过氧化氢酶(Catalase, CAT)活性降低,膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(Malonaldehyde, MDA)含量与对照无显著差异。(3)当邻苯二甲酸浓度超过0.5 mmol/L时,萝卜幼苗脂质过氧化伤害加剧,体内MDA含量急剧增加,代谢与生理功能出现紊乱,正常生长及干鲜物质积累受到显著抑制。邻苯二甲酸浓度达到2 mmol/L时,叶片数较对照降低了36.51%;根系长度、根系表面积及根尖数降幅分别为64.46%、40.20%、41.28%。(4)对于渗透调节物质的影响,邻苯二甲酸处理促进了萝卜幼苗叶片可溶性糖含量的增加,但随着处理浓度的升高其促进作用逐渐减弱;可溶性蛋白含量随着邻苯二甲酸处理浓度的升高表现出逐渐减少的趋势,分别较对照降低了12.82%、14.88%、21.58%、24.73%。因此,华北地区实施玉米-萝卜轮作模式,从化感效应角度研究玉米秸秆量化还田,应将土壤中邻苯二甲酸浓度控制在0.5 mmol/L范围以内,以防止邻苯二甲酸浓度过高对萝卜幼苗生长的抑制作用。     

水杨酸酰化对胭脂萝卜天竺葵素稳定性和抗氧化活性的影响

为探究水杨酸作为酰化剂对胭脂萝卜天竺葵素的稳定性和抗氧化活性的影响,以保留率为指标,分析光、温度、金属离子、pH及氧化剂对酰化天竺葵素稳定性的影响,探究酰化天竺葵素对羟自由基、DPPH自由基和ABTS自由基的清除能力。结果表明:酰化天竺葵素对光、温度、Al3+、pH的稳定性显著提高,对Fe2+、Mg2+和Zn2+以及氧化剂H2O2的稳定性无显著差影响。酰化天竺葵素对羟自由基、DPPH自由基和ABTS自由基的清除能力与未酰化天竺葵素无显著差异。以上结果表明采用水杨酸酰化胭脂萝卜天竺葵素不影响其抗氧化活性,还能提高其对光照、温度、pH及铝离子的稳定性。