Extracellular calmodulin: A polypeptide signal in plants?

Traditionally, calmodulin (CaM) was thought to be a multi-functional receptor for intra-cellular Ca2+ signals. But in the last ten years, it was found that CaM also exists and acts extracel-lularly in animal and plant cells to regulate many important physiological functions. Laboratory studies by the authors showed that extracellular CaM in plant cells can stimulate the proliferation of suspension cultured cell and protoplast; regulate pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, and stimulate the light-independent gene expression of Rubisco small subunit (rbcS). Furthermore, we defined the trans-membrane and intracellular signal transduction pathways for extracellular CaM by using a pollen system. The components in this pathway include heterotrimeric G-protein, phospholipase C, IP3, calcium signal and protein phosphorylation etc. Based on our findings, we suggest that extracellular CaM is a polypeptide signal in plants. This idea strongly argues against the traditional concept that there is no interce     

基于中草药活性成分的GSK-3β抑制剂的分子模拟北大核心CSCD

使用分子对接和分子动力学方法,研究了一类中草药活性成分抑制糖原合成酶激酶-3β(GSK-3β)的机理。结果表明:筛选出的芦丁、杨酶酮、二氢丹参酮I和人参皂苷Rb1能够与GSK-3β良好地结合,其中芦丁、杨酶酮和二氢丹参酮I主要结合于GSK-3β的ATP结合口袋区域,人参皂苷Rb1主要结合于GSK-3β的T-loop区域,配体和蛋白之间形成的氢键的数目和存活率是影响结合能力的主要因素,氢键的形成主要取决于配体中的含氧和含氮基团。基于这些有效成分进行结构设计可能获得GSK-3β的高效抑制剂。     

Extracellular calmodulin: A polypeptide signal in plants?

Traditionally, calmodulin (CaM) was thought to be a multi-functional receptor for intracellular Ca²⁺ signals. But in the last ten years, it was found that CaM also exists and acts extracellularly in animal and plant cells to regulate many important physiological functions. Laboratory studies by the authors showed that extracellular CaM in plant cells can stimulate the proliferation of suspension cultured cell and protoplast; regulate pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, and stimulate the light-independent gene expression of Rubisco small subunit (rbcS). Furthermore, we defined the trans-membrane and intracellular signal transduction pathways for extracellular CaM by using a pollen system. The components in this pathway include heterotrimeric G-protein, phospholipase C, IP₃, calcium signal and protein phosphorylation etc. Based on our findings, we suggest that extracellular CaM is a polypeptide signal in plants. This idea strongly argues against the traditional concept that there is no intercellular polypeptide signal in plants.     

香港象白蚁类两新种

香港大埔 自然保护区等地的森林中生活着多种白蚁,现发现2象白蚁类新种,正逢周尧教授在西北农业大学执教五十周年和喜庆七十七华诞,谨以周尧教授的姓氏分别命名为周氏钝象白蚁Ahmaditermes choui和周氏象白蚁Nasutitermes choui,表达我们的敬意和祝愿。