Crop photosynthesis for the twenty-first century

Photosynthesis Research -     

Genetics and Resistance Mechanism of the Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Against Powdery Mildew

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Powdery mildew (PM) is one of the most severe foliar diseases in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.), but the inheritance of PM resistance remains unclear. The...     

炭疽水肿因子在大肠杆菌中高效表达及一步法纯化

【目的】本研究旨在建立一种简单快捷的炭疽水肿因子(EF)重组表达及纯化方法。【方法】构建GST-EF融合表达载体,基于EF基因的密码子使用偏好,选择菌株Escherichia coli BL21-Codon Plus(DE3)-RIL为表达宿主,对EF进行诱导表达;细胞透性技术分离粗蛋白,进而利用亲和层析一步法纯化EF;Native-PAGE、竞争性抑制实验及c AMP浓度分析用于鉴定EF的生物活性。【结果】实现了EF可溶性高效表达,透性化处理可有效抽提可溶性重组蛋白;利用亲和层析一步法纯化得到了纯度达96%的EF;EF可与保护性抗原(PA)结合形成水肿毒素,该毒素能够急剧提高CHO-K1细胞中c AMP的浓度。【结论】本研究建立了一种高效快速制备具有生物活性的炭疽水肿因子的方法,为炭疽相关研究工作提供了新的选择。     

Constructing High‐Performance All‐Small‐Molecule Ternary Solar Cells with the Same Third Component but Different Mechanisms for Fullerene and Non‐fullerene Systems

Two types of all‐small‐molecule ternary solar cells consisting of two small‐molecule donors and one acceptor (fullerene/non‐fullerene) are developed. Interestingly, both these devices have a common component: a carefully designed medium bandgap small molecule, which possesses appropriate energy levels and displays good compatibility with the host donor. In the fullerene system, the charge‐relaying role of the additive donor is confirmed by the improved charge transportation and suppressed charge recombination. While in the non‐fullerene system, the mixed face‐on and edge‐on orientation of the ternary film induced by the additive donor dominates the promotion of charge transportation. Accordingly, both ternary devices deliver higher short‐circuit current density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiencies of over 10% compared to binary ones. This work offers a promising guideline on the construction of high‐performance all‐small‐molecule ternary solar cells by incorporating a miscible small‐molecule donor.     

高寒草甸植物物候对温度变化的响应

植物物候是植物为适应其生长环境而呈现的规律性变化,是气候变化的指示器。为了解高寒植物物候对温度变化的响应,利用1997—2010年青海湖海北高寒草原生态监测站群落优势种矮嵩草物候观测资料和同时段的气象资料,应用偏最小二乘(PLS)回归定量分析了植物物候期变化特征、趋势及其与气温间的相互关系。结果表明:①1997—2010年青海湖地区年均温度总体上升,倾向率为0.5℃/10a,其中年均最高温度和最低温度呈现出非对称型变化,最低温度显著升高且高于年均温升幅,倾向率为0.7℃/10a(P0.05),而年均最高温度无明显变化。②1997—2010年间,矮嵩草平均返青期和枯黄期分别为4月18日和10月2日,矮嵩草返青期推迟,枯黄期提前,生长季长度缩短。③影响矮嵩草返青的关键时期为每年的1月和3—4月,1月温度升高影响植物休眠进程进而延迟返青,而3—4月温度升高有利于热量积累使返青提前;影响矮嵩草枯黄的关键时期为7月上中旬和8月,期间温度升高使枯黄期提前。④根据PLS分析和相关分析,最低温度在各关键时期内显著影响植物物候,而最高温度仅在8月对枯黄期影响通过显著性检验,因此最低温度是影响高寒草地矮嵩草物候期的关键因子。     

Sonic hedgehog is involved in formation of the ventral optic cup by limiting Bmp4 expression to the dorsal domain

Accumulating evidence suggests that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays a crucial role in eye vesicle patterning in vertebrates. Shh promotes expression of Pax2 in the optic stalk and represses expression of Pax6 in the optic cup. Shh signaling contributes to establishment of both proximal–distal and dorsal–ventral axes by activating Vax1, Vax2, and Pax2. In the dorsal part of the developing retina, Bmp4 is expressed and antagonizes the ventralizing effects of Shh signaling through the activation of Tbx5 expression in chick and Xenopus. To examine the roles of Shh signaling in optic cup formation and optic stalk development, we utilized the Smoothened (Smo) conditional knockout (CKO) mouse line. Smo is a membrane protein which mediates Shh signaling into inside of cells. Cre expression was driven by Fgf15 enhancer. The ventral evagination of the optic cup deteriorated from E10 in the Smo-CKO, whereas the dorsal optic cup and optic stalk develop normally until E11. We analyzed expression of various genes such as Pax family (Pax2/Pax6), Vax family (Vax1/Vax2) and Bmp4. Bmp4 expression was greatly upregulated in the optic vesicle by the 21-somite stage. Then Vax1/2 expression was decreased at the 20- to 24-somite stages. Pax2/6 expression was affected at the 27- to 32-somite stages. Our data suggest that the effects of the absence of Shh signaling on Vax1/Vax2 are mediated through increased Bmp4 expression throughout the optic cup. Also unchanged patterns of Raldh2 and Raldh3 suggest that retinoic acid is not the downstream to Shh signaling to control the ventral optic cup morphology.     

Combined drought and heat stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia oleifera</Emphasis> cultivars: leaf characteristics,soluble sugar and protein contents,and Rubisco gene expression

Key message

Leaf relative water content, leaf area, leaf fresh weight, and SPAD chlorophyll meter readings along with Co - rbcL and Co - rbcS expression can be used for evaluating Camellia oleifera responses to combined drought and heat stress and subsequent recovery after rainfall events.

Abstract

Leaf characteristics, soluble protein and total soluble sugar contents as well as Rubisco-related gene expression in three cultivars of C. oleifera were measured during a combined drought and heat stress period and after subsequent rainfall events. Leaf relative water content (RWC) was significantly correlated with leaf area (LA), leaf fresh weight (FW), SPAD chlorophyll meter readings, and the levels of Co-rbcL and Co-rbcS expression. Results suggest that leaf RWC, LA, leaf FW, SPAD readings together with Co-rbcL and Co-rbcS expression can be used for evaluating responses of C. oleifera cultivars to combined drought and heat stress and subsequent recovery after rainfall events. Rubisco activase might be used for evaluating plant recovery after rainfall. This study identified cultivars differing in tolerance to the combined stress and recovery. Information derived from this study should be valuable for improving survivability and productivity of C. oleifera cultivars.