外源Spd对低温胁迫下甜瓜幼苗光合与抗氧化特性及其相关基因表达的影响

为探讨外源亚精胺(Spd)诱导甜瓜耐低温胁迫的生理与分子机制,该研究以甜瓜耐低温品种‘世纪蜜’和低温敏感品种‘GL-1’为试验材料,在人工气候箱内采用基质栽培法,对其叶面喷施外源Spd,对低温胁迫及恢复后甜瓜幼苗生长、光合作用、抗氧化酶活性等生理指标进行测定,并利用定量PCR技术分析4种抗氧化酶基因在低温胁迫条件下的表达特性,分析外源Spd缓解低温胁迫的效应。结果表明:(1)低温胁迫显著抑制甜瓜幼苗的生长及其光合作用,降低幼苗叶绿素含量,显著增强抗氧化酶活性及相关基因表达水平,且对品种‘GL-1’影响大于‘世纪蜜’。(2)外源Spd处理可以有效促进甜瓜幼苗的生长,提高叶片叶绿素含量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔限制值(Ls)、水分利用效率(WUE),以及最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光系统Ⅱ光能捕获效率(Fv′/Fm′)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR),降低胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和初始荧光(Fo)。(3)外源Spd可诱导低温胁迫下甜瓜抗氧化酶活性和基因表达量发生改变,并提高了低温胁迫下甜瓜幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化酶(APX)基因的表达,从而增强这些抗氧化酶活性,有效缓解低温胁迫造成的氧化胁迫伤害。(4)与对照相比,外源Spd对低温胁迫下品种‘GL-1’各指标降低或升高的幅度大于品种‘世纪蜜’。研究发现,Spd有利于甜瓜幼苗在低温胁迫下光合作用的维持,提高光合电子传递效率、光能的捕获与转换,并提高抗氧化酶活性和相关基因表达水平,促进甜瓜幼苗的生长,有效缓解低温胁迫对甜瓜幼苗生长的抑制作用,且Spd对低温敏感品种‘GL-1’缓解效果优于耐低温品种‘世纪蜜’。     

外源γ-氨基丁酸对低氧胁迫下甜瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

以甜瓜品种‘西域一号’幼苗为材料,采用营养液水培方法,设置正常通气(对照)、正常通气+GABA(5mmol.L-1)、低氧胁迫、低氧胁迫+GABA(5mmol.L-1)4个处理,研究了外源γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)对正常通气和低氧胁迫下甜瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明:与正常通气处理相比,低氧胁迫处理导致甜瓜幼苗体内O2.-产生速率和H2O2、MDA含量显著增加,同时SOD、POD、CAT、APX、GR等抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质AsA、GSH含量显著提高。低氧胁迫下外源GABA能显著提高甜瓜幼苗叶片SOD、CAT、APX、GR等酶活性和AsA、GSH含量,降低了植株体内O2.-产生速率和H2O2、MDA含量;而正常通气条件下添加外源GABA处理对甜瓜幼苗活性氧代谢的影响较小,仅CAT、GR活性和AsA、GSH含量显著提高,而H2O2、MDA含量显著降低。结果证明,添加外源GABA可以通过显著提高低氧胁迫下抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质含量来降低甜瓜幼苗活性氧积累,维持其细胞膜结构稳定性,从而有效减轻低氧胁迫对甜瓜幼苗的伤害。     

外源SNP对干旱胁迫下不同马铃薯品种叶片抗氧化酶活性的影响

以正常水分状态、轻度干旱胁迫、中度干旱胁迫和重度干旱胁迫下的马铃薯抗旱品种‘底西瑞’和干旱敏感品种‘大西洋’ 植株为材料,于现蕾期采用0（对照）和0.01 mmol·L^-1 SNP分别喷施各处理植株,对不同处理下2个品种的植株形态、叶片超氧阴离子和H₂O₂含量以及抗氧化酶活性进行比较分析,探讨外源SNP对干旱状态下马铃薯的生理应答机制,为马铃薯的抗旱栽培提供新的技术理论支持。结果显示：（1）SNP喷施对重度水分胁迫下马铃薯植株的正常生长具有一定的保护作用。（2）在干旱胁迫条件下,马铃薯叶片POD活性在品种‘底西瑞’中增加而在品种‘大西洋’中降低,超氧阴离子含量和H₂O₂含量以及CAT和APX活性在各品种中均增加,但超氧阴离子含量和H₂O₂含量增加程度与胁迫程度无关。（3）抗旱品种‘底西瑞’在干旱胁迫下的超氧阴离子含量低于干旱敏感品种‘大西洋’,而其POD、CAT和APX活性则高于‘大西洋’; 0.01 mmol·L^-1SNP处理未改变马铃薯叶片中超氧阴离子和H₂O₂含量随土壤水分的变化趋势,但改变了‘大西洋’叶片中SOD、POD、CAT活性以及‘底西瑞’叶片中APX活性的变化趋势。（4）外源喷施0.01 mmol·L^-1SNP降低了‘底西瑞’在中度和重度胁迫下以及‘大西洋’在轻度和中度胁迫下超氧阴离子含量,提高了干旱胁迫下‘底西瑞’和‘大西洋’的POD和APX活性。研究表明,POD、CAT和APX可作为马铃薯水分胁迫下的应答以及品种抗旱性的筛选指标,外源SNP可通过诱导增强干旱胁迫下马铃薯的抗氧化酶活性来提高其抗旱性。     

低温逆境对不同核桃品种抗氧化系统及超微结构的影响

为揭示核桃抗寒机理,确定核桃抗寒性鉴定适宜的生化指标,以展叶期抗寒性不同的哈特雷、晋龙1号和晋龙2号3个品种1年生枝条的叶片为材料,测定了1℃低温下抗氧化酶活性及超氧阴离子(O2(-))含量的变化,并采用透射电子显微镜观察低温逆境对抗寒性差异大的哈特雷和晋龙2号叶肉细胞超微结构的影响.结果表明:低温胁迫前后抗寒性强的哈特雷叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)的活性最高,超氧阴离子含量最低,叶肉细胞超微结构较稳定,叶片没有明显冷害症状.抗寒性差的晋龙2号随着低温胁迫时间的延长,3种抗氧化酶活性的下降幅度最大,O2(-)含量始终处于高水平;胁迫72 h时细胞叶绿体普遍膨胀,基粒片层变薄,数目减少,部分叶绿体被膜及质膜清晰度下降,部分顶端小叶叶缘呈水浸状,表现出冷害症状.可见,低温逆境下核桃叶肉细胞超微结构的稳定性与其品种的抗寒性密切相关.SOD、POD活性以及O2(-)含量可作为展叶期核桃抗寒性鉴定的生化指标;低温胁迫下核桃叶片细胞内膜系统的损伤与活性氧积累之间可能存在一定的相互关系.     

过量表达番茄类囊体膜抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因（StAPX）提高了烟草种苗的抗氧化能力

为了探讨叶绿体类囊体膜抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（tAPX）与其抗氧化性的关系,从番茄叶片中分离了叶绿体类囊体膜抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因（StA跚并转入到烟草中。以野生型（WT）、转正义StAPX烟草株系T3-3和T3-6为试材,测定了外源过氧化氢诱导的氧化胁迫条件下APX酶活性、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性、过氧化氢（H2O2）含量、叶绿素荧光参数及叶绿素含量等。Northern杂交显示StAPX因的表达受外源H2O2氧化胁迫的诱导。氧化胁迫下转基因烟草的APX酶活性和清除H2O2的能力都显著高于野生型,并且转基因烟草比野生型具有更高的PSII最大光化学效率及叶绿素含量。结果表明,．刚尸舶勺过量表达有助于提高外源H2O2诱导的转基因烟草的抗氧化能力。     

外源褪黑素对低温胁迫下茄子幼苗生长及其光合作用和抗氧化系统的影响

以‘沪茄08-1’茄子幼苗为试验材料,采用基质栽培方式,研究了叶面喷施50~200μmol·L-1外源褪黑素(melatonin,MT)对低温胁迫[(10±1)℃(昼)/(5±1)℃(夜)]下茄子幼苗生长、光合作用和抗氧化系统等生理指标的影响,以明确外源MT在茄子幼苗抵御低温逆境方面的生理机制。结果显示:(1)低温胁迫处理后,茄子幼苗株高、茎粗、地上部鲜重和根系鲜重、叶绿素含量、叶片净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)均显著降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧阴离子产生速率(O-·2)和过氧化氢(H2O2)含量均显著增加。(2)幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性及抗坏血酸(AsA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量均显著升高,而其脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性蛋白质含量均显著增加;外源MT处理可有效增强低温胁迫条件下茄子幼苗叶片中SOD、POD、CAT、APX、GR、DHAR活性,提高AsA和GSH含量,增加Pro和可溶性蛋白含量,显著抑制其叶片MDA、O-·2及H2O2的积累。研究表明,外源MT主要通过增强低温胁迫下茄子幼苗的光合作用以及清除活性氧的能力,减缓低温胁迫的危害,提高茄子幼苗对低温胁迫的耐性。     

气体甲醛胁迫对蚕豆保卫细胞中过氧化氢的积累和气孔导度及开度的影响

以蚕豆为材料,考察气体甲醛（HCHO）胁迫对保卫细胞H2O2积累和叶片气孔导度、开度的影响。结果表明:气体HCHO胁迫增加了叶片中H₂O₂的积累,荧光显微分析发现在较低浓度(0.2⁰.4μmol·L^-1)气体HCHO胁迫下,保卫细胞中增加的H₂O₂主要分布在细胞质中,高浓度(0.8¹.6μmol·L^-1)气体HCHO胁迫不仅增加保卫细胞质中H₂O₂的积累,而且显著增加叶绿体中H₂O₂的含量及积累H₂O₂的叶绿体数量,这说明在高浓度气体HCHO胁迫下蚕豆保卫细胞中增加的H₂O₂主要来源于叶绿体和细胞质。保卫细胞中H₂O₂积累的增加显著降低蚕豆的气孔导度和开度,从而导致蚕豆HCHO吸收效率下降。气体HCHO胁迫下叶片中抗氧化酶活性的变化可能是H₂O₂积累增加的主要原因,气体HCHO胁迫显著增强叶片中CAT和SOD的活性,但只有低浓度HCHO胁迫诱导叶片POD活性,叶片APX对HCHO胁迫很敏感,低浓度的气体HCHO对叶片APX活性都有显著的抑制作用。     

5-氨基乙酰丙酸对苹果叶片耐弱光能力的影响

为了探讨5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)对苹果耐弱光性的影响,以‘润太2号’和‘郑优3号’两个品种苹果为材料,设置露天对照(CK)、轻度遮荫(LS)和重度遮荫(SS)3种光照条件,通过根际浇灌法研究了10mg·L~(-1) ALA处理对弱光条件下苹果叶片活性氧代谢与叶绿素荧光特性的影响。结果显示:(1)与CK相比,弱光胁迫显著降低了两品种苹果叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化物酶(POD)的活性,增大了超氧阴离子(O_2~(-·))产生速率以及过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量,且‘郑优3号’的活性氧产生速率及MDA含量在弱光下的升高幅度更大;ALA处理显著提高了弱光胁迫下两品种的保护酶活性,降低了活性氧产生速率和MDA含量,并以耐弱光性较差的‘郑优3号’的变化更显著。(2)在弱光胁迫下,苹果叶片的叶绿素含量和叶绿素b/a升高,而ALA处理使二者进一步显著升高。(3)弱光胁迫下,苹果叶片的叶绿素荧光参数V_J、M_o、DI_o/RC显著升高,而ψ_o、ψE_o、ψR_o、PI_(ABS)、PI_(CS)和PI_(total)显著降低;ALA处理抑制了叶绿素荧光参数在弱光胁迫下的变化,甚至使其达到优于对照的水平。研究表明,弱光条件下苹果的抗氧化能力较差,受到明显的氧化伤害,且‘郑优3号’的耐弱光能力比‘润太2号’差;ALA处理提高了苹果在弱光下的抗氧化能力,降低了弱光对苹果叶片的氧化伤害,同时还提高了弱光条件下苹果叶片捕捉、传递和转化光能的效率,改善了光合电子传递情况,增大了苹果叶片在弱光胁迫下的光能利用效率,改善了光合性能;根灌ALA可以明显提高苹果的耐弱光性。     

棉花幼苗对不同程度低温逆境的生理响应

以‘新陆早33号'(冷敏感)和‘中棉所50号’(高耐寒)棉花品种为材料,采用人工模拟低温方法,研究不同温度和时间处理下棉花幼苗叶片抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量的响应特征,探讨不同温度胁迫下棉花的抗逆机制.结果显示:(1)随胁迫温度降低、胁迫时间延长,两参试棉花品种幼苗遭受低温伤害的程度逐渐加剧,尤以5℃和0℃处理表现最为明显.(2)经15℃及10℃处理后,植株叶片REC、POD活性、SP和Pro含量总体上随胁迫时间延长而提高,MDA含量、APX活性和SS含量则先升后降,并均于处理24 h时达峰值;而在5℃及0℃处理下,REC和SOD、POD活性以及MDA、SS、SP含量迅速上升,APX活性、Pro含量则呈先升后降的变化趋势.(3)与‘新陆早33号,相比,‘中棉所50号’在各处理水平下均可保持更大的抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量上升幅度.研究表明,在不同程度低温逆境中,棉花幼苗可通过调节抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量,启动相应抗逆调节方式来维持代谢平衡,增强抗逆性;高耐寒性品种在低温逆境中具有更灵敏、高效的活性氧清除能力和渗透调节响应机制,从而有效抵御低温逆境伤害.     

低温下钙对黄瓜幼苗抗氧化酶活性及POD同工酶谱的影响

以耐冷性存在明显差异的栽培黄瓜‘长春密刺’和‘北京截头’为材料,研究了冷胁迫下C a2 、钙离子螯合剂(EGTA)和钙调素拮抗剂(CPZ)对低温胁迫黄瓜幼苗叶片3种抗氧化酶活性及POD同工酶的影响.对保护酶活性的研究结果表明:C aC l2、EGTA和CPZ处理均能引起3种抗氧化酶活性变化,但变化幅度因材料而异.胁迫处理中C a2 能提高2种材料的叶片抗氧化酶活性,减少其在低温逆境中的下降幅度,而EGTA和CPZ处理降低了2种材料的抗氧化酶活性,加大了低温逆境中的下降幅度.POD同工酶研究发现,C aC l2延缓冷胁迫中同工酶条带的丢失,EGTA和CPZ处理则使同工酶条带丢失提前,但材料不同对酶条带丢失时间也有影响.     

Photoinhibition in Chilling Stressed Wheat and Maize

At chilling stress, the contents of photosynthetic pigments decreased significantly in maize, but in wheat the contents of chlorophyll (Chl) remained unchanged whereas the contents of total carotenoids (Car) increased. In both species the contents of + carotene and lutein + lutein-5,6-epoxide remained unaffected, but the de-epoxidation state involving the components of the xanthophyll cycle increased. Under chilling stress the photosynthetic electron transport also displayed a general failure in maize but in wheat only photosystem (PS) 2 coupled to the water oxidation complex was inhibited. Moreover, in stressed maize the quinone pool decreased, while the low and high potential forms of cytochrome b ₅₅₉ increased. In wheat only the contents of cytochrome b _559LP decreased. Peroxidation of acyl lipids in the chloroplast lamellae became more distinct in chilling stressed maize but could also be detected in wheat. Thus in chilling stressed maize prevails an impairment of the acceptor site of PS2 while in wheat photodamage is restricted to the electron donation pathway from water to P680 or to the oxygen evolving complex.     

μ- and μ4-η coordination of A2H2 (A = C, Si, Ge, Sn and Pb) ligands with transition metals

The heavier analogs of C₂H₂ have been studied at the B3LYP level for their μ and μ₄-η² coordination properties with the transition metals. Based on known alkyne compounds, transition metal fragments [W₂(μ-NH)(Cp)₂(Cl)₂] and [Fe₄(CO)₁₂] have been chosen. The SBKJC relativistic effective core potentials and their associated basis sets were used on W, Fe, Sn and Pb, and the 6-31G(d) basis set was used on all other elements. All the complexes of Si₂H₂, Ge₂H₂, Sn₂H₂ and Pb₂H₂ are found to be local minima. The trans-twist nature of the ligand A₂H₂ (A = Si-Pb) is large in μ-coordinated complexes of W, and it is very small in μ₄-η² coordinated complexes of Fe. The electronic structure of these complexes was investigated using fragment molecular orbital method (FMO).     

Antibacterial properties of recombinant human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2

Human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A₂ (hnpsPLA₂) is a group IIA phospholipase A₂ which plays an important role in the innate immune response. This enzyme was found to exhibit bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative ones. Though native hnpsPLA₂ is active over a broad pH range, it is only highly active at alkaline conditions with the optimum activity pH of about 8.5. In order to make it highly active at neutral pH, we have obtained two hnpsPLA₂ mutants, Glu89Lys and Arg100Glu that work better at neutral pH in a previous study. In the present study, we tested the bactericidal effects of the native hnpsPLA₂ and the two mutants. Both native hnpsPLA₂ and the two mutants exhibit bactericidal activity toward Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, they can also kill Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium. The two mutants showed better bactericidal activity for E. coli at neutral pH than the native enzyme, which is consistent with the enzyme activities. As hnpsPLA₂ is highly stable and biocompatible, it may provide a promising therapy for bacteria infection treatment or other bactericidal applications.     

Chilling and freezing stress in live oaks (Quercus section Virentes): intra- and inter-specific variation in PS II sensitivity corresponds to latitude of origin

Sensitivity to cold and freezing differs between populations within two species of live oaks (Quercus section Virentes Nixon) corresponding to the climates from which they originate. Two populations of Quercus virginiana (originating from North Carolina and north central Florida) and two populations of the sister species, Q. oleoides, (originating from Belize and Costa Rica) were grown under controlled climate regimes simulating tropical and temperate conditions. Three experiments were conducted in order to test for differentiation in cold and freezing tolerance between the two species and between the two populations within each species. In the first experiment, divergences in response to cold were tested for by examining photosystem II (PS II) photosynthetic yield (ΔF/F _m′) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of plants in both growing conditions after short-term exposure to three temperatures (6, 15 and 30°C) under moderate light (400 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Without cold acclimation (tropical treatment), the North Carolina population showed the highest photosynthetic yield in response to chilling temperatures (6°C). Both ecotypes of both species showed maximum ΔF/F _m′ and minimum NPQ at their daytime growth temperatures (30°C and 15°C for the tropical and temperate treatments, respectively). Under the temperate treatment where plants were allowed to acclimate to cold, the Q. virginiana populations showed greater NPQ under chilling temperatures than Q. oleoides populations, suggesting enhanced mechanisms of photoprotective energy dissipation in the more temperate species. In the second and third experiments, inter- and intra-specific differentiation in response to freezing was tested for by examining dark-adapted F _v/F _m before and after overnight freezing cycles. Without cold acclimation, the extent of post-freezing declines in F _v/F _m were dependent on the minimum freezing temperature (0, −2, −5 or −10°C) for both populations in both species. The most marked declines in F _v/F _m occurred after freezing at −10°C, measured 24 h after freezing. These declines were continuous and irreversible over the time period. The North Carolina population, however, which represents the northern range limit of Q. virginiana, showed significantly less decline in F _v/F _m than the north central Florida population, which in turn showed a lower decline in Fv/F _m than the two Q. oleoides populations from Belize and Costa Rica. In contrast, after exposure to three months of chilling temperatures (temperate treatment), the two Q. virginiana populations showed no decline in F _v/F _m after freezing at −10°C, while the two Q. oleoides populations showed declines in F _v/F _m reaching 0.2 and 0.1 for Costa Rica and Belize, respectively. Under warm growth conditions, the two species showed different F ₀ dynamics directly after freezing. The two Q. oleoides populations showed an initial rise in F ₀ 30 min after freezing, followed by a subsequent decrease, while the Q. virginiana populations showed a continuous decrease in F ₀ after freezing. The North Carolina population of Q. virginiana showed a tendency toward deciduousness in response to winter temperatures, dropping 58% of its leaves over the three month winter period compared to only 6% in the tropical treatment. In contrast, the Florida population dropped 38% of its leaves during winter. The two populations of the tropical Q. oleoides showed no change in leaf drop during the 3-months winter (10% and 12%) relative to their leaf drop over the same timecourse in the tropical treatment. These results indicate important ecotypic differences in sensitivity to freezing and cold stress between the two populations of Q. virginiana as well as between the two species, corresponding to their climates of origin.     

Competitive inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced aggregation of calf platelets by prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor ligands

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced aggregation of calf platelets and its modification by agents with specific properties were characterized employing a spectrophotometric assay. An Arrhenius activation energy of 20 ± 1 kcal/mol was found in the temperature range of 25‡-36‡C. Rate inhibition occurred on either side of this temperature range, and under anaerobic conditions. Exogenous Ca²⁺ ions were not required but Ca²⁺ ions, at 1 mM-concentration, optimally increased rates and extent of aggregation at suboptimal H₂O₂ concentrations but only extent of aggregation at optimal H₂O₂ concentrations. Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions (1 mM) and Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions (10 mM) were inhibitory. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10-30 mM) exerted only mild inhibition by a competitive mechanism. Another cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, aspirin, functioned to increase aggregation. Ligands acting directly at the prostaglandin H₂/thromboxane A, receptor (5Z. 9, 11, 13E, 15(S) 15-hydroxy 9(11) epoxy methano prosta 5, 13-dien-1-oic acid, pinane thromboxane A₂, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and N-ethylmaleimide) functioned as competitive inhibitors. Another platelet-activating sulphydryl reagent, thimerosal, also inhibited competitively while the protein kinase C inhibitor, sphingosine, and the protein kinase C modulator, Zn²⁺ ions, inhibited by different mechanisms. The results indicate direct action of H₂O₂ at the prostaglandin H₂/thromboxane A₂ receptor, possibly its sulphydryls, to activate the protein kinase C pathway, independently of cyclo-oxygenase products. The results underscored the power of the kinetic approach for investigating mechanisms of platelet activation.     

Microbial 2-Cys Peroxiredoxins: Insights into Their Complex Physiological Roles

The peroxiredoxins (Prxs) constitute a very large and highly conserved family of thiol-based peroxidases that has been discovered only very recently. We consider here these enzymes through the angle of their discovery, and of some features of their molecular and physiological functions, focusing on complex phenotypes of the gene mutations of the 2-Cys Prxs subtype in yeast. As scavengers of the low levels of H₂O₂ and as H₂O₂ receptors and transducers, 2-Cys Prxs have been highly instrumental to understand the biological impact of H₂O₂, and in particular its signaling function. 2-Cys Prxs can also become potent chaperone holdases, and unveiling the in vivo relevance of this function, which is still not established, should further increase our knowledge of the biological impact and toxicity of H₂O₂. The diverse molecular functions of 2-Cys Prx explain the often-hard task of relating them to peroxiredoxin genes phenotypes, which underscores the pleiotropic physiological role of these enzymes and complex biologic impact of H₂O₂.     

Transesterification of sunflower oil to biodiesel on ZrO2 supported La2O3 catalyst

ZrO₂ supported La₂O₃ catalyst prepared by impregnation method was examined in the transesterification reaction of sunflower oil with methanol to produce biodiesel. It was found that the catalyst with 21 wt% loaded La₂O₃ and calcined at 600 °C showed the optimum activity. The basic property of the catalyst was studied by CO₂-TPD, and the results showed that the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was related to their basicity. The catalyst was also characterized by TG–DTA, XRD, FTIR, SEM and TEM, and the mechanism for the formation of basic sites was discussed. It was also found that the crystallite size of support ZrO₂ decreased by loading of La₂O₃, and the model of the solid-state reaction on the surface of La₂O₃/ZrO₂ catalyst was proposed. Besides, the influence of various reaction variables on the conversion was investigated.     

A sensitive,simultaneous analysis of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase efficiencies: Graphical determination of the CO2/O2 specificity factor

A simple approach to determine CO₂/O₂ specificity factor () of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is described. The assay measures the amount of CO₂ fixation at varying [CO₂]/[O₂] ratios after complete consumption of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). Carbon dioxide fixation catalyzed by the carboxylase was monitored by directly measuring the moles of ¹⁴CO₂ incorporated into 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA). This measurement at different [CO₂]/[O₂] ratios is used to determine graphically by several different linear plots the total RuBP consumed by the two activities and the CO₂/O₂ specificity factor. The assay can be used to measure the amounts of products of the carboxylase and oxygenase reactions and to determine the concentration of the substrate RuBP converted to an endpoint amount of PGA and phosphoglycolate. The assay was found to be suitable for all [CO₂]/[O₂] ratios examined, ranging from 14 to 215 micromolar CO₂ (provided as 1–16 mM NaHCO₃) and 614 micromolar O₂ provided as 50% O₂. The procedure described is extremely rapid and sensitive. Specificity factors for enzymes of highly divergent values are in good agreement with previously published data.Abbreviations HEPPS N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N-(3-propanesulfonic acid) - L large subunit of rubisco - PGA 3-phosphoglyceric acid - rubisco ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - RuBP d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - S small subunit of rubisco - XuBP d-xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate     

Effect of Some Environmental Pollutants on the Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Lemna

Exposure of Lemma sp. to SO₂ resulted in an increased activity of superoxide dismutase. About 3 to 4 fold increase in the activity was observed within 30 minutes after the plants were fumigated with 10 ml/l of SO₂. Paraquat, a well known superoxide generator, doubled the enzyme activity after 1 hour of treatment with 0.1 mM paraquat. Superoxide dismutase activity was also enhanced by cadmium treatment but the response was not immediate. Optimum increase in the activity of enzyme was observed after 4 days of treatment with 40 mg/l of cadmium in the medium. Treatment with H₂O₂ very clearly inhibited the activity of superoxide dismutase in Lemna.