Leaf Senescence and GABA Shunt

Leaf senescence is highly regulated and complex developmental process that involves degradation of macromolecules as well as its recycling. Senescence process involves loss of chlorophyll, degradation of proteins, nucleic acid, lipid and mobilization of nutrients through its transport to the growing parts, developing fruits and seeds. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient to be recycled in senescence process. GABA-transaminase (γ-aminobutyric acid) is found to play very important role in nitrogen recycling process through GABA-shunt. Therefore, it is of interest to review the significance of GABA shunt in leaf senescence.     

线粒体自噬

细胞自噬(autophagy)是细胞依赖溶酶体对蛋白和细胞器进行降解的一条重要途径.目前,将通过细胞自噬降解线粒体的途径称为线粒体自噬(mitophagy).最近几年的证据表明,线粒体自噬是一个特异性的选择过程,并受到各种因子的精密调节,是细胞清除体内损伤线粒体和维持自身稳态的一种重要调节机制.自噬相关分子,如“核心”Atg 复合物,酵母线粒体外膜分子Atg32、Atg33、Uth1和Aup1,哺乳细胞线粒体外膜蛋白PINK1、NIX和胞质的Parkin等,在线粒体自噬中起关键的作用. 线粒体自噬异常与神经退行性疾病如帕金森氏病（Parkinson’s disease,PD）的发生密切相关. 本文就线粒体自噬的研究进展做简要的介绍.     

微生物降解苯甲酸的研究进展

苯甲酸在工业中的广泛应用使其成为环境中的常见污染物,对微生物好氧降解苯甲酸的邻位途径、间位途径、龙胆酸途径和原儿茶酸途径及厌氧降解途径等进行总结,并对苯甲酸降解过程中发挥重要作用的苯甲酸双加氧酶的种类、不同组分及苯甲酸降解基因和调控基因的基因簇进行介绍,同时展望微生物降解污染物的发展方向。     

石油中长链烷烃微生物降解及分子机制研究进展

中长链烷烃是石油烃中的重要组成部分,由于其疏水性强、黏度大、化学活性低、难降解,是地下原油黏度大、石油采收率低、泄漏后长期污染生态环境的重要原因,因此成为提高石油采收率和石油污染环境治理中的重要降解目标。微生物降解中长链烷烃作为一种新型高效的绿色技术日益受到重视。本文总结了微生物降解中长链烷烃的间期适应与转运过程,与转运过程相关的膜蛋白,微生物好氧与厌氧降解的代谢途径,以及好氧降解过程中的基因调控机制,并对微生物降解中长链烷烃的研究方向提出了展望,以期为后续的相关研究工作提供参考。     

Mutants of the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14 decipher pathway diversity of ubiquitin-proteasome linked protein degradation

Selective proteolysis is an important regulatory mechanism in all cells. In eukaryotes, this process gains specificity by tagging proteins with the small protein ubiquitin. K48 linked polyubiquitin chains of four and more ubiquitin moieties target proteins for hydrolysis by the proteasome. Prior to degradation the polyubiquitin chain is removed from the protein, cleaved into single units, and recycled. The deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14 is an important catalyst of this process. Mutants of Ubp14 had been shown to accumulate non-cleaved oligo- and polyubiquitin chains, which resulted in inhibition of overall ubiquitin-proteasome linked proteolysis as well as in inhibition of degradation of some known substrates. Here we show that accumulation of ubiquitin chains due to defective Ubp14 does not uniformly lead to inhibition of ubiquitin-proteasome linked protein degradation. Instead, inhibition of degradation depends on the substrate tested. The results indicate the existence of different paths through which proteins enter the proteasome.     

Cumulative cellulolytic enzyme activities and initial litter quality in prediction of cellulose degradation in an alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau

植物凋落物分解是决定陆地生态系统碳和养分循环的关键生态系统过程。作为凋落物的主要组成部分,纤维素是与凋落物分解相关的微生物的重要能量来源。纤维素酶在凋落物纤维素降解过程中的重要作用已为人们所熟知,然而纤维素降解的季节模式、累积酶活性和凋落物质量是否能预测高寒草甸的纤维素降解仍是一个未解之谜,这限制了我们对草本植物凋落物纤维素降解的认识。 为了探究纤维素降解的季节性模式以及累积纤维素分解酶活性和凋落叶初始质量对纤维素降解的影响,我们在青藏高原东部的高山草甸选取了三种优势种[圆叶筋骨草(Ajuga ovalifolia)、藏羊茅(Festuca wallichanica)和草甸马先蒿(Pedicularis roylei)],进行了为期两年的凋落物网袋分解实验。 我们的研究发现,纤维素在第一年中迅速降解且降解率超过50%,而且主要发生在第一个生长季(31.9%–43.3%)在两年的分解过程中,纤维素降解由累积内切葡聚糖酶(R²= 0.70),累积纤维二糖水解酶(R²= 0.59)和累积1,4-β-葡糖苷酶(R²=       0.57)共同驱动。此外,在这两年的分解过程中,纤维素、可溶性有机碳、总酚、木质素的浓度和木质素/N可以解释纤 维素降解变异的52%–78%)。用初始纤维素浓度模型预测纤维素降解效果最佳(R² = 0.78)。在凋落物的分解过程中,酶效率和微生物对纤维素分解酶的分配因物种而异。藏羊茅凋落物中纤维素酶效率较高,但质量相对较低。与草甸马先蒿相比,完全降解圆叶筋骨草和藏羊茅的纤维素需要4倍和6.7倍的内切葡聚糖酶、3倍和4.5倍的纤维二糖水解酶、1.2倍和1.4倍的1,4-β-葡糖苷酶。我们的研究结果表明,虽然微生物酶活性和凋落物初始质量都对高山草甸纤维素降解有显著影响,但使用纤维素浓度来预测纤维素降解是简化凋落物分解过程中纤维素降解和C循环模型的好方法。     

Degradation of protein translation machinery by amino acid starvation-induced macroautophagy

Macroautophagy is regarded as a nonspecific bulk degradation process of cytoplasmic material within the lysosome. However, the process has mainly been studied by nonspecific bulk degradation assays using radiolabeling. In the present study we monitor protein turnover and degradation by global, unbiased approaches relying on quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Macroautophagy is induced by rapamycin treatment, and by amino acid and glucose starvation in differentially, metabolically labeled cells. Protein dynamics are linked to image-based models of autophagosome turnover. Depending on the inducing stimulus, protein as well as organelle turnover differ. Amino acid starvation-induced macroautophagy leads to selective degradation of proteins important for protein translation. Thus, protein dynamics reflect cellular conditions in the respective treatment indicating stimulus-specific pathways in stress-induced macroautophagy.     

New look at starch degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana L. chloroplasts

Transitory starch is accumulated during the day and is the main source of energy for the cell metabolism during the night. The observed periodical starch degradation has become a model often used by scientist in their experiments. Starch granule degradation could be divided into 2 periods: initiation of degradation and digestion of amylopectin and amylose into maltooligosaccharide and their derivative. Key meaning is attributed in this process to beta-amylaze, product of its activity beta-maltose is transported to the cytosole and there it subjects farthest conversions. It has been demonstrated that a number of enzymes take part in the starch degradation process. However, the way of regulating their activity is still not fully explained. There is most important elements effecting rate of starch decomposition: day cycle, starch phosphorylation and regulation of enzyme activity. It proceeds through redox potential, pH changes and phosphorylation of protein involved in starch degradation due specific phosphatases. The purpose of the current work is to systematize the knowledge of the Arabidopsis thaliana L. leaf starch degradation. The results of the recent research cast a new light on the starch degradation process as well as on its control.     

Degradation mechanism and control of silk fibroin

Controlling the degradation process of silk is an important and interesting subject in the field of biomaterials. In the present study, silk fibroin films with different secondary conformations and nanostructures were used to study degradation behavior in buffered protease XIV solution. Different from previous studies, silk fibroin films with highest β-sheet content achieved the highest degradation rate in our research. A new degradation mechanism revealed that degradation behavior of silk fibroin was related to not only crystal content but also hydrophilic interaction and then crystal-noncrystal alternate nanostructures. First, hydrophilic blocks of silk fibroin were degraded. Then, hydrophobic crystal blocks that were formerly surrounded and immobilized by hydrophilic blocks became free particles and moved into solution. Therefore, on the basis of the mechanism, which enables the process to be more controllable and flexible, controlling the degradation behavior of silk fibroin without affecting other performances such as its mechanical or hydrophilic properties becomes feasible, and this would greatly expand the applications of silk as a biomedical material.     

不同碳源条件下广叶绣球菌转录组分析

【背景】广叶绣球菌(Sparassis latifolia)是一种名贵的食用菌,其木质纤维素降解的分子机制尚不明确。【目的】了解广叶绣球菌在不同碳源条件下木质纤维素降解相关基因表达动态。【方法】通过转录组测序技术对分别以葡萄糖、纤维素+木质素、纤维素及松木屑为碳源的广叶绣球菌基因表达谱进行分析。以葡萄糖为碳源的样本为对照,分别对不同碳源下广叶绣球菌显著差异表达的基因进行功能分析。【结果】Geneontology(Go)富集分析表明,以葡萄糖为碳源的样本为对照,差异表达基因主要富集在碳水化合物利用的过程,如多糖催化过程、碳水化合物催化过程、碳水化合物代谢过程及多糖代谢过程等。碳水化合物活性酶(Carbohydrate-activeenzymes,CAZymes)功能注释表明,碳源种类主要影响了半纤维素和纤维素降解相关糖苷水解酶家族基因的表达,其中涉及半纤维素降解的相关酶基因上调幅度最大。同时,在纤维素+木质素、松木屑为碳源的处理组中一些转录因子基因上调表达显著。【结论】不同碳源显著影响了广叶绣球菌基因表达谱,这种对碳源的适应也可能反映了广叶绣球菌攻击植物细胞壁的机制,研究结果为深入了解广叶绣球菌木质纤维素降解的分子机理和相关功能基因提供了一些参考。     

微生物降解硝基芳烃及其卤代衍生物的研究进展

硝基芳烃化合物作为一种重要的化工原料,广泛应用于医药、染料、农药等化工产品的合成。在给人类社会带来空前的物质繁荣的同时,其造成的环境污染问题也成为人类社会面临的重要挑战之一。微生物在这些环境污染物的降解中起着重要的作用。近几十年,环境微生物工作者对微生物降解硝基芳香污染物的各个步骤,包括趋化感应、分解代谢及生物修复进行了大量的研究工作,获得了丰富的知识。本文综述了硝基芳烃及其卤代衍生物的微生物代谢途径、代谢机理、趋化及修复研究进展,并对本领域的研究进行了展望,有助于全面认知硝基芳烃污染物的微生物降解过程,为污染环境修复提供理论基础。     

Highlights from this issue

Cellular degradative processes including proteasomal and vacuolar / lysosomal (autophagic) degradation, as well as the activity of proteases (both cytosolic and mitochondrial), provide for a continuous turnover of damaged and obsolete macromolecules and organelles. Mitochondria are organelles essential for respiration and oxidative energy production in aerobic cells; they are also required for multiple biosynthetic pathways. As such, mitochondrial homeostasis is very important for cell survival. We review the evidence regarding the possible mechanisms for mitochondrial degradation. Increasingly, the evidence suggests autophagy plays a central role in the degradation of mitochondria. How mitochondria might be specifically selected for autophagy (mitophagy) remains an open question, although some evidence suggests that, under certain circumstances, in mammalian cells the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition (MPT) plays a role in initiation of the process. As more is learned about the functioning of autophagy as a degradation process, the greater the appreciation we are developing concerning its role in the control of mitochondrial degradation.     

丛枝菌根真菌对玉米秸秆降解的影响及其作用机制

为了比较菌根、菌丝、植物根系对玉米秸秆降解的影响,采用4室分根装置即土壤室(S)、根室(R)、菌根室(M)和菌丝室(H),分室间用400目尼龙网和有机板分隔,尼龙网袋包埋玉米秸秆于不同分室内,以玉米为宿主植物,接种丛枝菌根(AM)真菌Glomus mosseae。试验分别在移栽后第20、30、40、50、60天时取样,通过测定接种AM真菌后玉米秸秆的碳、氮释放,土壤中3种常见酶活性、微生物量碳和氮及土壤呼吸的动态变化,探讨AM真菌降解玉米秸秆可能的作用机制。研究结果表明:经60 d的培养后,与未接种S室相比,接种AM真菌的M室和H室玉米秸秆降解量提高了27.72%和8.07%;另外,M室玉米秸秆碳素释放显著增加,而氮素的释放减少,致使碳氮比显著低于其他3室,较初始值降幅达8.72%,有利于秸秆进一步降解。在试验条件下,M室中土壤酸性磷酸酶、蛋白酶、过氧化氢酶活性较其他3室都有显著提高,并增加了微生物量碳、氮和土壤呼吸作用,形成了明显有别于根际的微生物区系。这一系列影响都反映出AM直接或间接作用于玉米秸秆的降解过程,是导致玉米秸秆降解加快的重要原因。     

Different fates of mitochondria: alternative ways for degradation?

Cellular degradative processes including proteasomal and vacuolar/lysosomal (autophagic) degradation, as well as the activity of proteases (both cytosolic and mitochondrial), provide for a continuous turnover of damaged and obsolete macromolecules and organelles. Mitochondria are organelles essential for respiration and oxidative energy production in aerobic cells; they are also required for multiple biosynthetic pathways. As such, mitochondrial homeostasis is very important for cell survival. We review the evidence regarding the possible mechanisms for mitochondrial degradation. Increasingly, the evidence suggests autophagy plays a central role in the degradation of mitochondria. How mitochondria might be specifically selected for autophagy (mitophagy) remains an open question, although some evidence suggests that, under certain circumstances, in mammalian cells the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition (MPT) plays a role in initiation of the process. As more is learned about the functioning of autophagy as a degradation process, the greater the appreciation we are developing concerning its role in the control of mitochondrial degradation.     

Autophagy and plant innate immunity: Defense through degradation

Autophagy is a process of bulk degradation and nutrient sequestration that occurs in all eukaryotes. In plants, autophagy is activated during development, environmental stress, starvation, and senescence. Recent evidence suggests that autophagy is also necessary for the proper regulation of hypersensitive response programmed cell death (HR-PCD) during the plant innate immune response. We review autophagy in plants with emphasis on the role of autophagy during innate immunity. We hypothesize a role for autophagy in the degradation of pro-death signals during HR-PCD, with specific focus on reactive oxygen species and their sources. We propose that the plant chloroplasts are an important source of pro-death signals during HR-PCD, and that the chloroplast itself may be targeted for autophagosomal degradation by a process called chlorophagy.     

Acetylcholine receptor degradation in adult rat diaphragms in organ culture and the effect of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies.

Acetylcholine receptor located at the neuromuscular synapse of normal innervated adult muscle fibers is extremely stable metabolically. We have studied the kinetics of receptor degradation in both normal innervated and denervated rat diaphragms in organ culture. These studies show that degradation of receptor-bound 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin is a valid measure of junctional receptor degradation. Degradation of junctional receptor is similar or identical to degradation of extrajunctional receptor in many ways: 1) both require energy, 2) both are inhibited by specific lysosomal protease inhibitors, 3) both are inhibited by treatment with colchicine, and 4) both are stimulated by treatment with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. The one important distinction between degradation of junctional and extrajunctional receptor is a 10-fold difference in rate constant for the process.     

浙贝母鳞片衰退和物质撤退的超微结构观察

本文以浙贝母衰退鳞片为材料,观察了细胞内含物降解和运输的过程。细胞内含物降解时,内膜系统产生许多囊泡,这些囊泡有降解和运输两方面的作用。降解产物在细胞中表现为颗粒和丝状物形式,它们在细胞间转移通过共质体和质外体两条途径,转移方式多种多样．降解产物经过细胞间转移,最终汇集到维管束,再通过维管束运往新生器官。转移细胞在物质运往筛分子的过程中起着重要作用。韧皮部是降解产物运输的主要通道,导管的一部分可能也参与了这种运输．