濒危植物永瓣藤叶片功能性状对环境因子的响应

植物叶片功能性状能够响应环境条件的变化，反应了植物对环境的适应策略。当前，针对藤本植物叶片功能性状地理格局及其环境驱动力的研究较少。以国家重点保护植物永瓣藤（Monimopetalum chinense）为研究对象，对其分布区内11个种群的15个叶片功能性状进行测量，并结合气候、土壤因子来解释叶性状变异。比较叶片性状在局域和区域尺度上的种内变异程度，利用多元逐步回归分析环境因子对叶性状的影响。结果表明，在局域尺度上，永瓣藤叶功能性状变异系数介于3.0%-22.5%，其中，叶面积变异程度最大，叶片碳含量变异最小。永瓣藤叶片形状随纬度上升而变得宽且圆。叶片磷含量相对较低，永瓣藤的生长可能受到了磷限制。土壤与气候因子是叶片性状的重要驱动因素，解释了25%-97%的叶片性状变异。在温度和水分充足的情况下，永瓣藤叶片趋向于的慢速生长的保守策略。总体来说，永瓣藤叶片功能性状通过一定的种内变异和性状组合，并与气候、土壤因子相互作用，适应当前的环境条件。     

Impacts of benzophenone-type UV filters on cladoceran Daphnia carinata

Limnology - The impacts of three commonly used benzophenone-type UV filters including benzophenone (BP), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (BP3), and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone-5-sulfonicacid...     

The Antitumor Activity of the Novel Compound Jesridonin on Human Esophageal Carcinoma Cells

Jesridonin, a small molecule obtained through the structural modification of Oridonin, has extensive antitumor activity. In this study, we evaluated both its in vitro activity in the cancer cell line EC109 and its in vivo effect on tumor xenografts in nude mice. Apoptosis induced by Jesridonin was determined using an MTT assay, Annexin-V FITC assay and Hoechest 33258 staining. Apoptosis via mitochondrial and death receptor pathways were confirmed by detecting the regulation of MDM2, p53, and Bcl-2 family members and by activation of caspase-3/-8/-9. In addition, vena caudalis injection of Jesridonin showed significant inhibition of tumor growth in the xenograft model, and Jesridonin-induced cell apoptosis in tumor tissues was determined using TUNEL. Biochemical serum analysis of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) indicated no obvious effects on liver function. Histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, lung, heart and spleen revealed no signs of JD-induced toxicity. Taken together, these results demonstrated that Jesridonin exhibits antitumor activity in human esophageal carcinomas EC109 cells both in vitro and in vivo and demonstrated no adverse effects on major organs in nude mice. These studies provide support for new drug development.     

The MDM2 RING Domain and Central Acidic Domain Play Distinct Roles in MDM2 Protein Homodimerization and MDM2-MDMX Protein Heterodimerization

The oncoprotein murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is an E3 ligase that plays a prominent role in p53 suppression by promoting its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In its active form, MDM2 forms homodimers as well as heterodimers with the homologous protein murine double minute 4 (MDMX), both of which are thought to occur through their respective C-terminal RING (really interesting new gene) domains. In this study, using multiple MDM2 mutants, we show evidence suggesting that MDM2 homo- and heterodimerization occur through distinct mechanisms because MDM2 RING domain mutations that inhibit MDM2 interaction with MDMX do not affect MDM2 interaction with WT MDM2. Intriguingly, deletion of a portion of the MDM2 central acidic domain selectively inhibits interaction with MDM2 while leaving intact the ability of MDM2 to interact with MDMX and to ubiquitinate p53. Further analysis of an MDM2 C-terminal deletion mutant reveals that the C-terminal residues of MDM2 are required for both MDM2 and MDMX interaction. Collectively, our results suggest a model in which MDM2-MDMX heterodimerization requires the extreme C terminus and proper RING domain structure of MDM2, whereas MDM2 homodimerization requires the extreme C terminus and the central acidic domain of MDM2, suggesting that MDM2 homo- and heterodimers utilize distinct MDM2 domains. Our study is the first to report mutations capable of separating MDM2 homo- and heterodimerization.     

20世纪90年代以来中国生态空间演化的时空格局和梯度效应

改革开放以来中国经济和城市化的快速发展促使生产和生活空间挤占大量生态空间，系统认识和评估我国生态空间演化的宏观格局和过程对于生态文明建设具有重要的理论和现实意义。为揭示全国生态空间变化的时空过程，在对生态空间内涵进行界定的基础上，结合全国尺度时序土地利用数据构建生态空间分类体系，并评估1990-2015年中国生态空间演化特征。结果表明：1990-2015年中国生态用地面积持续减少，主要向半生态用地转变，发生在重要的粮食生产区域及周边；半生态用地面积波动明显，前期主要表现为不断扩张，后期大量转换为弱生态用地，发生在主要城市群地区；弱生态用地持续扩张，与城镇化进程不断加速相关。中国生态空间演变过程表现出一定的区域差异和梯度效应，不同区域生态空间变化发生的拐点时间有所不同，呈现"自东向西、由南到北"的3级梯度特征，区域生态空间状况与经济发展战略及生态空间管控具有较强的相关性。本研究对于国家生态空间管控近远期战略方案制订具有一定启示，建议处于不同梯度的各地区应基于区域生态空间演化所处阶段和不同驱动机制，确定分区域生态空间安全红线目标和生态空间管控方案。