白藜芦醇对AngⅡ诱导的血管平滑肌细胞CaN的影响

目的：观察白藜芦醇（Res）对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs）增殖及细胞中钙调蛋白（CaM）和钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）活性的影响,并探讨其机制。方法：体外培养兔主动脉VSMCs,用免疫细胞化学方法鉴定。建立AngⅡ诱导的VSMCs增殖模型。取生长良好的第4～8代VSMCs,随机分为对照组,AnsⅡ组（0．1μmol／L）,AngⅡ＋Res组（20,40,80,160）μmol／L。应用MTT法检测细胞增殖程度,考马斯亮兰法进行CaM定量,定磷法进行CaN活性测定。结果：成功培养兔VSMCs并传代,免疫细胞化学染色均呈阳性表达。AngⅡ组VSMCs的增殖程度、CaM和CaN活性较对照组增高（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。AngⅡ＋Res组各组VSMCs的CaM和CaN活性较AngⅡ组显著下降（P〈0．01）。结论：在一定范围内,Res可降低AngⅡ诱导的VSMCs增殖程度,其机制可能与干预CaN依赖的信号转导途径有关。     

川芎嗪抑制血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的平滑肌细胞NF-κB激活和骨形成蛋白-2表达降低

本文旨在观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（angiotensinⅡ,AngⅡ）对血管平滑肌细胞核转录因子-κB（nuclear factor-κB,NF-κB）的活性及骨形成蛋白-2（bone morphogenetic protein-2,BMP-2）表达的影响,以探讨AngⅡ参与动脉粥样硬化的机制,并探讨川芎嗪是否能抑制AngⅡ的促动脉粥样硬化作用。采用Western blot、免疫组化和原位杂交等方法分别检测AngⅡ刺激和川芎嗪干预后NF-κB活性、BMP-2蛋白和mRNA表达的变化。结果显示：（1）AngⅡ刺激激活NF-κB。AngⅡ刺激15min即有NF-κB p65核转移,30min达高峰（P〈0．01）,1h后减退。川芎嗪抑制AngⅡ诱导的NF-κB激活,与AngⅡ组比较,川芎嗪＋AngⅡ组NF-κB活性显著降低（P〈0．01）。（2）AngⅡ刺激6h时BMP-2表达增强（P〈0．05）,12h时减弱（P〈0．01）,24h时更弱（P〈0．01）。川芎嗪＋AngⅡ组中,川芎嗪干预6h时BMP-2表达亦增强,12与24h时保持正常水平。（3）川芎嗪对正常细胞的NF-κB活性和BMP-2表达无影响。以上结果表明,AngⅡ刺激后激活NF-κB并最终使生长抑制因子BMP-2表达下降,这可能是其参与动脉粥样硬化发生的机制之一。BMP-2一过性增高可能不依赖NF-κB通路的激活。川芎嗪可抑制AngⅡ诱导的NF-κB激活与BMP-2表达降低,提示它在抗动脉粥样硬化形成中起重要作用。     

顺铂致肾损伤时血管紧张素Ⅱ的变化

目的：探讨顺铂致大鼠肾损伤时血管紧张素Ⅱ含量的变化。方法：取24只大鼠随机分为2组（N=12）：正常组、模型组。采用顺铂尾静脉注射的方法复制顺铂肾损伤模型。6周后,放射免疫法检测肾脏AngⅡ水平,Nasson染色测定肾脏胶原含量,计算肾脏指数。结果：与正常组相比,模型组大鼠实验末体重明显下降、肾脏指数增高,肾脏胶原含量升高、肾组织AngⅡ含量增加（P〈0．01）。结论：AngⅡ可能在顺铂肾损伤的发生、发展中起一定作用。     

清醒高血压大鼠心率变异分析的动物模型建立

目的：研究两种不同血浆肾素水平高血压大鼠心率变异的变化,进而探讨肾素。血管紧张素系统（RAS）影响心率变异（HRV）的机制。方法：制备两种高血压大鼠模型,采集其连续心电图数据。分析HRV的变化。并测定血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）的浓度。结果：肾性高血压大鼠血浆AngⅡ明显升高（P〈0．01）,心率变异频域指标中TP（总功率谱）、VLF（极低频功率）、LF（低频功率）和HF（高频功率）明显降低,LF／HF（低高频比）升高;DOCA-盐型高血压大鼠血浆AngⅡ水平明显降低,TP、VLF、LF和HF也明显降低。LF／HF比值升高。结论：两种不同血浆肾素水平的高血压大鼠交感和迷走神经均受损,同时交感神经活性相对占优势;提示肾素血管紧张素系统是通过脑内RAS的激活而影响HRV,不是循环RAS的外周作用。     

核因子-κB在HUVEC细胞凋亡信号通路中的作用

目的：探讨核因子-κB（NF-κB）在人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡信号通路中的作用。方法：体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞系（HUVEC）,实验分为正常对照组、AngⅡ组和Gliotoxin干预组。应用改良MTF法,观察0．01μmol／L、0．1μmol／L、μmol／L和10μmol／L4种浓度的AngⅡ在不同时间对HUVEC细胞活性的影响。应用DNA凝胶电泳和流式细胞术检测AngⅡ作用于细胞后引起细胞凋亡的情况。应用免疫细胞化学技术检测NF-κB p65的核移位,评价NF-KB活化情况。结果：10μmol／L AngⅡ作用于细胞24h时,细胞活性下降,DNA凝胶电泳和流式细胞结果提示细胞发生凋亡,凋亡细胞率明显高于正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,0．1mg／L Gliotoxin可拮抗AngⅡ的细胞抑制活性作用;免疫细胞化学技术显示,HUVEC细胞经AugⅡ诱导后,NF-κB出现明显核移位现象,提示NF-κB发生活化;Gliotoxin明显抑制NF-κB活化,与AngⅡ组相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：①ArcⅡ可引起HU—VEC细胞发生凋亡;而NF-κB特异性抑制剂Ghotoxin能够拮抗AngⅡ对HUVEC细胞的作用;②NF-κB可能是AngⅡ调控HUVEC细胞生存／凋亡通路中的重要信号转导分子。     

高血压大鼠心脏和血管MAPK磷酸酶-1表达的改变及对平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的和方法：比较自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）和对照（WKY）大鼠心脏和主动脉丝裂素活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶－1（MKP－1）及细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK－1）的表达,并观察用磷酸钙共沉淀方法转染MKP－1基因对血管紧张素Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）刺激平滑肌细胞（VSMC）^3H－胸腺叫啶（^3H-TdR)掺入的影响,以探讨MKP－1在细胞增殖中的调节作用。结果：①与WKY大鼠相比,SHR心脏和主动脉MKP－1呈低表达,分别降低53％和45％（P均＜0．01）;而SHR心脏和主动脉ERK－1呈明显高表达（P均＜0．01）,SHR心脏和主动脉ERK－1与MKP－1蛋白比值明显高于WKY。②AngⅡ 10^-7mol/L刺激VSMC增殖较对照组增加257％（P＜0．01）,转染野生型MKP－1基因细胞可使AngⅡ刺激的^3H-TdR掺入较未转染的细胞降低63％（P＜0．05）,转染突变型MKP－1基因和转染空载体的VSMC对AngⅡ的刺激与单纯AngⅡ组相比无明显抑制作用（P＞0．05）。结论：SHR心血管组织中促增殖肥大的ERK－1表达较其失活的MKP－1占优势,并且MKP－1可显著抑制AngⅡ的VSMC增殖。     

蛋白激酶C在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的肾小球系膜细胞收缩中的作用

目的：研究蛋白激酶C（pkc）在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的肾小球系膜细胞（GMC）收缩中的作用。方法：人肾小球系膜细胞系用于全部实验。应用血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）刺激蛋白激酶C抑制剂白屈菜红碱（CHE）处理或来处理的系膜细胞。利用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜测细胞内钙离子浓度。结果：①膜细胞经AngⅡ诱导后,细胞出现明显的大幅度起始钙离子浓度升高（vs．control,p〈0．05,n=16）⑦膜细胞经CHE预处理后减少AngⅡ诱导的GMC钙离子浓度（vsAngⅡ,p〈O．05,n=16）。结论：①血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导系膜细胞收缩。②蛋白激酶C参与血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的肾小球系膜细胞的收缩过程。     

同型半胱氨酸对血管内皮功能的影响及通心络超微粉的干预作用

目的：观察同型半胱氨酸对血管内皮功能的影响,并探讨通心络超微粉的干预作用。方法：健康雄性Wis-tar大鼠,随机分为对照组、模型组、通心络组。离体主动脉环技术检测血管内皮依赖性舒缩功能,微循环仪观察肠系膜微循环变化,放免方法检测血浆内皮素（ET）、血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）、血栓素（TXA2）、前列环素（PGI2）的含量及血清超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）与谷胱苷肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的活性、一氧化氮（NO）及丙二醛（MDA）的含量。结果：与对照组比较,模型组血管内皮依赖性舒张反应明显减弱（p〈0.01）,肠系膜毛细血管对乙酰胆碱的扩张幅度与扩张率显著下降（P〈0.05）。与模型组比较,通心络组血管舒张反应明显改善（P〈0.01）,肠系膜毛细血管对乙酰胆碱反应性升高;与对照组比较,模型组AngⅡ、ET、TXA2含量明显升高（P〈0.05,p〈0.01）,而PGI2含量明显降低（P〈0.05）,同时血清中SOD与GSH-Px活力、NO含量明显降低（P〈0.001,P〈0.05）。与模型组比较,通心络组血浆AngⅡ、ET、TXA2的含量显著降低（P〈0.01）,而PGI2的含量明显升高（P〈0.01）,同时血清中SOD活力与NO含量显著升高（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）。结论：①高同型半胱氨酸血症可使内皮依赖性血管舒缩功能减退,其机制可能与高同型半胱氨酸血症引发血管舒缩因子平衡紊乱及大量自由基的产生有关。②通心络超微粉可使同型半胱氨酸所致血管内皮依赖性舒张功能的异常明显改善,可能与其抑制自由基的过量生成及调节内皮舒缩因子的平衡有关。     

血管紧张素—（1—7）对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞PKC和ERK1／2的抑制作用

采用Western blot,氘－胸腺嘧啶（3H－TdR)和氘－亮氨酸（3H－Leu)掺入等技术和方法,用血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ)和血管紧张素－（1－7）[Ang-(1-7)]刺激大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs),观察和分析Ang-(1-7)对VSMCs增殖及蛋白激酶C（PKC）和胞外调节蛋白激酶（ERK）表达的影响,Ang-(1-7)能明显抑制基础和AngⅡ刺激下的VSMCs PKC-Ⅱ和ERK1／2蛋白表达（P＜0．01或P＜0．05）,减少3H－TdR和3H－Leu掺入量（P＜0．01或P＜0．05）,结果提示,Ang-(1-7)对VSMCs增殖有抑制作用,这可能与影响PKC－ζ和ERK1／2蛋白表达有关。     

血管紧张素受体1在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导人星形胶质细胞老化中的作用

目的通过体外细胞实验研究,探讨血管紧张素受体1在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导人星形胶质细胞活性氧产生和细胞老化中的作用。方法人星形胶质细胞随机分为三组：血管紧张素Ⅱ＋Cand（坎地沙坦）组和血管紧张素Ⅱ＋tempol组。血管紧张素Ⅱ组是用100nM血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激人星形胶质细胞3天,血管紧张素Ⅱ＋Cand组和血管紧张素Ⅱ＋tempol组先用血管紧张素受体1阻滞剂坎地沙坦（100nM）和氧自由基清除剂tempol（3mM）预处理,再用100nM血管紧张素II刺激人星形胶质细胞3天,利用β半乳糖苷酶染色评估细胞老化。不同剂量（0、1nM、10nM、100nM、1000nM和1000nM＋坎地沙坦）的血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激人星形胶质细胞30min,DHE染色评估细胞内活性氧产生。结果血管紧张素Ⅱ引起人星形胶质细胞DHE染色表达增多和β半乳糖苷酶染色细胞增多。利用血管紧张素受体1阻滞剂坎地沙坦和氧自由基清除剂tempol预处理逆转了血管紧张素Ⅱ引起的星形胶质细胞老化。结论血紧张素Ⅱ是通过血管紧张素受体1和超氧阴离子产生引起星形胶质细胞的老化。     

~ffects of endothelial microvesicles induced by A23187 on H9c2 cardiomyocytes

Objective To investigate the effects of endothelial microvesicles （EMVs） induced by calcium ionophore A23187 on H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） were treated with 10 μmol/L A23187 for 30 min. EMVs from HUVECs were isolated by ultracentrifugation from the conditioned culture medium. EMVs were characterized using 1 and 2 Ilm latex beads and anti- PE-CD144 antibody by flow cytometry. For functional research, EMVs at different concentrations were co- cultured with H9c2 cardiomyocytes for 6 h. Cell viability of H9c2 cells and the activity of LDH leaked from H9c2 cells were tested by colorimetry. Moreover, apoptosis of H9c2 cells was observed through Hoechst 33258 staining and tested by FITC-Annexin V/Pl double staining. Results EMVs were induced by A23187 on HUVECs, and isolated by ultracentrifugation. We identified the membrane vesicles （〈 1 μm） induced by A23187 were CD144 positive. In addition, the EMVs could significantly reduce the viability of H9c2 cells, and increase LDH leakage from H9c2 cells in a dose dependent manner （P〈0.05）. Condensed nuclei could be observed with the increasing concentrations of EMVs through Hoechst 33258 staining. Furthermore, increased apoptosis rates of H9c2 cells could be assessed through FITC-Annexin V/PI double staining by flow cytometry. Conclusion Microvesicles could be released from HUVECs after induced by A23187 through calcium influx, and these EMVs exerted a pro-apoptotic effect on H9c2 cells by induction of apoptosis.     

The characteristics of vascular endothelial injuries induced by extreme environmental factors

Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating vascular homeostasis. Over the past years, it has become clear that endothelial dysfunction is a key event of pathophysiological changes in the initiation and progression of injuries induced by extreme environmental factors. The present review summarizes current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hypoxia, cold and heat, and provides the information for prevention and treatment of environmental exposure injuries.     

Non-neuronal muscarinic receptor activation prevents apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by homocysteine

Objective Endothelial apoptosis plays an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. It would be useful to clarify whether activation of non-neuronal muscarinic receptor （NNMR） could prevent endothelial apoptosis and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of NNMR activation on regulating rat aortic endothelial cells （RAECs） apoptosis induced by homocysteine, an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis, and further studied its molecular mechanism. Methods RAECs were incubated using homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L for 36 h. RAECs were also pre-treated with carbachol or arecoline to examine their effects. RT-PCR was used to assess changes in the gene expression related to cell apoptosis. Results Incubation of RAECs with homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L resulted in morphologic changes, such as cellular shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and margination. These could be attenuated by pretreatment with carbachol and arecoline at the concentration of 10 μmol/L for 12 h. Homocysteine induced apoptosis in RAECs and the molecular mechanisms were associated with the regulation of fas, fas-L and caspase-8 in the death receptor pathway, bcl-2, bcl-xL and bax in the mitochondrial pathway, caspase-22 in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway and caspase-3, caspase-6 and p53 as downstream effectors. Carbachol and arecoline attenuated the effects of homocysteine on genes in the death receptor pathway, in the mitochondrial pathway and in the downstream pathway. Atropine could reverse all of the effects of arecoline. Conclusion Activation of NNMR by carbacol and arecoline inhibits homocysteine-induced endothelial cell apoptosis mainly through regulation of death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway and downstream effectors.     

海带多糖对肾上腺素致内皮细胞超微结构损害的保护作用

目的:观察海带多糖(PL)对肾上腺素(Adr)致内皮细胞超微结构损害的保护作用。方法:体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)24h,实验组分为正常组、Adr组、PL组、低剂量PL(L-PL)+Adr组、高剂量PL(H-PL)+Adr组,采用透射电镜技术观察细胞的超微结构。结果:Adr组细胞核形状不规则,核仁固缩;线粒体肿胀,嵴消失、空泡化;L-PL+Adr组细胞核形态明显变形,线粒体嵴稀少、内有空泡;H-PL+Adr组和PL组细胞核及线粒体结构完好。结论:海带多糖能够保护Adr对内皮细胞的细胞核、线粒体超微结构的损害。     

Dissecting the Heat Stress Response in Chlamydomonas by Pharmaceutical and RNAi Approaches Reveals Conserved and Novel Aspects

To study how conserved fundamental concepts of the heat stress response （HSR） are in photosynthetic eukaryotes, we applied pharmaceutical and antisense/amiRNA approaches to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chlamydomonas HSR appears to be triggered by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as it was induced at ambient temperatures by feeding cells with the arginine analog canavanine. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine strongly retarded the HSR, demonstrating the importance of phosphorylation during activation of the HSR also in Chlamydomonas. While the removal of extracellular calcium by the application of EGTA and BAPTA inhibited the HSR in moss and higher plants, only the addition of BAPTA, but not of EGTA, retarded the HSR and impaired thermotoler- ance in Chlamydomonas. The addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytosolic protein synthesis, abolished the attenu- ation of the HSR, indicating that protein synthesis is necessary to restore proteostasis. HSP90 inhibitors induced a stress response when added at ambient conditions and retarded attenuation of the HSR at elevated temperatures. In addition, we detected a direct physical interaction between cytosolic HSP90A/HSP70A and heat shock factor 1, but surprisingly this interaction persisted after the onset of stress. Finally, the expression of antisense constructs targeting chloroplast HSP70B resulted in a delay of the cell＇s entire HSR, thus suggesting the existence of a retrograde stress signaling cascade that is desensitized in HSP7OB-antisense strains.     

Interspecies variation in DNA damage induced by pollution

The choice of a suitable species to translate pollution signals into a quantitative monitor is a fundamental step in biomonitoring plans. Here we present the results of three years of biomonitoring at a new coal power plant in central Italy using three different aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species in order to compare their reliability as sentinel organisms for genotoxicity. The comet assay was applied to the common land snail Helix spp., the lagoon fish Aphaniusfasciatus, and the green frog Rana esculenta sampled in the area potentially exposed to the impact of the power station. The tissue concentration of some expected pollutants （As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr） was analysed in parallel samples collected in the same sampling sites. The three species showed different values in the comet assay （Tail Intensity） and different accumulation profiles of heavy metals. Aphanius fasciatus showed an increasing genotoxic effect over time that paralleled the temporal increase of the heavy metals, especially arsenic, and the highest correlation between heavy metals and DNA damage. Helix spp. showed levels of damage inversely related to the distance from the source of pollution and in partial accordance with the total accumulation of trace elements. On the contrary, Rana esculenta showed a low capability to accumulate metals and had inconsistent results in the comet test. The fish appeared to be the most efficient and sensitive species in detecting chemical pollution. Overall, both the fish and the snail reflected a trend of increasing pollution in the area surrounding the power plant across time and space [Current Zoology 60 （2）： 308-321, 2014].     

Regulation of Cytokinesis by Exocyst Subunit SEC6 and KEULE in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proper vesicle tethering and membrane fusion at the cell plate are essential for cytokinesis. Both the vesicle tethering complex exocyst and membrane fusion regulator KEULE were shown to function in cell plate formation, but the exact mechanisms still remain to be explored. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid （Y-2-H） assay, we found that SEC6 interacted with KEULE, and that a small portion of C-terminal region of KEULE was required for the interaction. The direct SEC6-KEULE interaction was supported by further studies using in vitro pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo bimolecular florescence complementation （BIFC） microscopy, sec6 mutants were male gametophytic lethal as reported; however, pollen-rescued sec6 mutants （PRsec6） displayed cytokinesis defects in the embryonic cells and later in the leaf pavement cells and the guard cells. SEC6 and KEULE proteins were co-localized to the cell plate during cytokine- sis in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, only SEC6 but not other exocyst subunits located in the cell plate interacted with KEULE in vitro. These results demonstrated that, like KEULE, SEC6 plays a physiological role in cytokinesis, and the SEC6-KEULE interaction may serve as a novel molecular linkage between arriving vesicles and membrane fusion machin- ery or directly regulate membrane fusion during cell plate formation in plants.     

Perturbation of Auxin Homeostasis Caused by Mitochondrial FtSH4 Gene-Mediated Peroxidase Accumulation Regulates Arabiclopsis Architecture

Reactive oxygen species and auxin play important roles in the networks that regulate plant development and morphogenetic changes, However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between them are poorly understood. This study isolated a mas （More Axillary Shoots） mutant, which was identified as an allele of the mitochondrial AAA-protease AtFtSH4, and characterized the function of the FtSH4 gene in regulating plant development by medi- ating the peroxidase-dependent interplay between hydrogen peroxide （H2Oz） and auxin homeostasis. The phenotypes of dwarfism and increased axillary branches observed in the mas （renamed as ftsh4-4） mutant result from a decrease in the IAA concentration. The expression levels of several auxin signaling genes, including IAA1, IAA2, and IAA3, as well as several auxin binding and transport genes, decreased significantly in ftsh4-4 plants. However, the H202 and peroxidases levels, which also have IAA oxidase activity, were significantly elevated in ftsh4-4 plants. The ftsh4-4 phenotypes could be reversed by expressing the iaaM gene or by knocking down the peroxidase genes PRX34 and PRX33. Both approaches can increase auxin levels in the ftsh4-4 mutant. Taken together, these results provided direct molecular and genetic evidence for the interaction between mitochondrial ATP-dependent protease, H2O2, and auxin homeostasis to regulate plant growth and development.     

Redox Regulation of Arabidopsis Mitochondrial Citrate Synthase

Citrate synthase has a key role in the tricarboxylic （TCA） cycle of mitochondria of all organisms, as it cata- lyzes the first committed step which is the fusion of a carbon-carbon bond between oxaloacetate and acetyl CoA. The regulation of TCA cycle function is especially important in plants, since mitochondrial activities have to be coordinated with photosynthesis. The posttranslational regulation of TCA cycle activity in plants is thus far almost entirely unexplored. Although several TCA cycle enzymes have been identified as thioredoxin targets in vitro, the existence of any thioredoxin-dependent regulation as known for the Calvin cycle, yet remains to be demonstrated. Here we have investigated the redox regulation of the Arabidopsis citrate synthase enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis of its six cysteine residues. Our results indicate that oxidation inhibits the enzyme activity by the formation of mixed disulfides, as the partially oxidized citrate synthase enzyme forms large redox-dependent aggregates. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that thioredoxin can cleave diverse intraas well as intermolecular disulfide bridges, which strongly enhances the activity of the enzyme. Activity measurements with the cysteine variants of the enzyme revealed important cysteine residues affecting total enzyme activity as well as the redox sensitivity of the enzyme.     

Control of Rice Embryo Development,Shoot Apical Meristem Maintenance,and Grain Yield by a Novel Cytochrome P450

Angiosperm seeds usually consist of two major parts： the embryo and the endosperm. However, the molec- ular mechanism（s） underlying embryo and endosperm development remains largely unknown, particularly in rice, the model cereal. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of the rice GIANT EMBRYO （GE） gene. Mutation of GE resulted in a large embryo in the seed, which was caused by excessive expansion of scuteUum cells. Post-embryonic growth of ge seedling was severely inhibited due to defective shoot apical meristem （SAM） mainte- nance. Map-based cloning revealed that GE encodes a CYP78A subfamily P450 monooxygenase that is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. GE is expressed predominantly in the scutellar epithelium, the interface region between embryo and endosperm. Overexpression of GE promoted cell proliferation and enhanced rice plant growth and grain yield, but reduced embryo size, suggesting that GE is critical for coordinating rice embryo and endosperm development. Moreover, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AtCYP78AlO, a GE homolog, also produced bigger seeds, implying a con- served role for the CYP78A subfamily of P450s in regulating seed development. Taken together, our results indicate that GE plays critical roles in regulating embryo development and SAM maintenance.