A Possible Role for Calcium in Oxidative Plant Stress

Disruption of calcium homoeostasis may be crucially important in damaging animal cells under oxidising conditions. In hepatocytes, oxidative stress causes an increase in cytosolic calcium, a process which is thought to be largely responsible for subsequent cell death. The oxidation of glutathione precedes a flux of calcium into the cytoplasm from internal and external sources. The possibility that similar events occur in plant cells has been tested using strips of epidermis taken from leaves of Commelina communis. The closure of stomata in response to many chemical or physical stimuli is thought to involve a transient rise in cytosolic calcium. Paraquat (10^-4 M) and hydrogen peroxide (10^-3 M) caused a marked reduction in stomatal aperture when included in the incubation medium of illuminated epidermal strips. The calcium channel blocker verapamil (10^-5 M) protected stomata from hydrogen peroxide-induced closure while the ion chelator EGTA (2 × 10^-3 M) protected stomata in both oxidising treatments. These results are discussed in so far as they support the hypothesis that a rise in cytosolic calcium may play a role in the pathology of oxidative stress in plant cells through a mechanism analogous to the liver cell system.     

植物耐干旱胁迫的生物学机理及其基因工程研究进展

本文介绍了干旱胁迫对植物的伤害,植物耐旱性的生物学机理以及通过基因工程改良作物耐旱性的研究进展     

Simulation of protein misfolding using a lattice model

The structure of the tightly bound complex of the globular myosin head with F-actin is the key to understanding important details of the mechanism of how the actin-myosin motor functions. The current notion on this complex is based on the docking of known atomic structures of constituent proteins into low-resolution electron-density maps. The atomic structure of the complex was refined by the molecular mechanics method, which consists in minimizing the energy of molecular interaction and which makes it possible to optimize not only the relative position of protein backbones as rigid bodies, but also the position of side chains on the protein interface. The structure calculated using ICM-Pro software, on the one hand, is close to the model obtained using electron microscopy; on the other hand, it ensures the best calculated interaction energy and accounts for the results of mutagenesis experiments. On the basis of the structure obtained, we can suggest the molecular mechanisms underlying the actin-activated release of ATP hydrolysis products from myosin and the decrease in the affinity of myosin for actin upon binding of nucleotides.     

植物逆境驯化作用的生理与分子机制研究进展

植物在生长发育过程中要面对各种生物和非生物胁迫,目前对于植物应对胁迫的研究较为充分。在自然界中,各种逆境胁迫因子对植物的影响更多的是渐变的,逐渐积累的,在此过程中植物会通过驯化的方式适应这种形式的胁迫。尽管有关驯化作用提高植物耐逆性的研究有些报道,但其生理与分子机制现在还不十分清楚。本文主要介绍了植物应对病虫,冷,热,高盐4种环境因子的驯化过程的研究进展,同时总结了驯化过程的生理与分子机制,包括非激活状态的信号分子的积累以及表观遗传学修饰等。     

miRNA在植物响应高温胁迫中的研究进展

microRNA(miRNA)是一类由20-24个核苷酸组成的小的非编码RNA,通常通过序列互补降解或抑制其靶标基因转录后的翻译过程,从而在转录后水平上调控基因的表达。miRNA在植物基因组中普遍存在,作为一类重要的调节因子参与到植物的生长发育与逆境响应中。目前,已有研究表明高温除了诱导植物编码基因表达发生改变之外,一些非编码RNA的表达也发生了显著改变,其中miRNA作为重要的非编码RNA,参与了植物的高温胁迫响应。对植物miRNA的合成途径,作用机制以及主要功能进行了扼要阐述,重点阐述了高温胁迫下植物miRNA的作用机制,旨在为mi RNA在植物抵抗高温胁迫中的研究与应用提供新的思路。     

可逆三分子反应模型的系统分析

讨论了生化反应中一个可逆三分子反应的数学模型ｘ＝Ａ－（Ｂ＋１）ｘ＋ｘ~２ｙ－ｘ~３;ｙ＝Ｂｘ－ｘ~２ｙ＋ｘ~３,应用常微分方程定性方法进行了分析。得到系统的一切正初值的正半轨线有界;当Ｂ＜２Ａ~２＋１时系统不存在极限环;当Ｂ＞２Ａ~２ ＋１时系统存在唯一稳定的极限环．     

生长素及其运输蛋白对植物铝胁迫的响应

铝对植物的毒害作用主要表现为抑制根尖生长,而根尖生长与生长素及其运输密切相关,铝可能影响了生长素及其代谢过程,但目前尚不清楚生长素及其运输蛋白如何参与植物应对铝胁迫响应。本文通过分析、总结前人研究,并结合自己的前期研究结果,初步阐述生长素或其运输蛋白对植物铝胁迫的响应,即铝影响生长素代谢的相关基因,干扰根尖生长素运输蛋白在细胞内分布及其囊泡运输,调控生长素的极性运榆,进而抑制根尖生长。另一方面,生长素或其运输蛋白又参与了植物应对铝胁迫过程,这主要体现在参与了植物铝毒信号传递、根系铝内置化过程和减缓铝诱导的氧化胁迫。最后,本文提出了生长素及其运输蛋白对植物铝胁迫响应的可能模型。     

The Principles of Data Formalization for Building Biological Model of Shoot Development in Flowering Plants

Shoot system of a plant can be divided into elementary molecules composed of phyllome, internode, and meristem of the lateral bud. The capacity of plants for open growth is manifested as multiple reproductions of the modules. These main principles of plant structural organization can be used to formalize and integrate the data from various disciplines studying shoot development—genetics of development, morphology, etc. At the example of a model species Arabidopsis thaliana we show that the data on genetic control of shoot development can be considered in terms of rearrangement of individual modules. Several variants of the module structural reorganization are allowed: reduction or transformation of phyllome, change in the internode length, and triggering active/inactive status of the lateral shoot meristem. Each variant of module structure corresponds to specific pattern of genes activity. Such integration of the data on genetic and structural aspects of morphogenesis can form a basis for mathematical modeling of plant development.     

葡萄糖氧化酶诱导肝细胞氧化应激模型的建立

目的：研究不同浓度葡萄糖氧化酶（GO）对人肝细胞L02氧化应激水平的影响,以确定建立肝细胞氧化应激模型的合适浓度。方法：用不同浓度GO干预L02肝细胞2h,MTT法检测细胞的存活率,流式细胞术检测细胞内活性氧簇（ROS）,荧光强度（FI）来表示ROS水平。分光光度法检测检测细胞MDA、GSH,速率法检测细胞培养液LDH、AST和ALT的水平。结果：①随GO浓度增加,肝细胞的存活率逐渐降低,其中75U/L、100U/L和125U/L组存活率显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）。②随GO浓度增加,MDA含量逐渐增高,其中50U/L、75U/L、100U/L、125U/L组MDA水平较对照组显著增高（P〈0.05）。GSH水平随GO浓度增高而逐渐减低,各干预组较对照组均显著降低（P〈0.05）。GO各干预组FI均较对照组显著降低（P〈0.05）。③各干预组LDH活性均显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）,50U/L、75U/L、100U/L、125U/L干预组AST与ALT水平均较对照组显著增高（P〈0.05）。结论：GO能引起的肝细胞氧化应激损伤有剂量依赖性,100U/L是建立肝细胞氧化应激的合适浓度。     

NaCl胁迫对转基因杨树外源基因表达的影响

以具高抗虫性的转抗虫基因‘741杨’及在此基础上转入了发根农杆菌Ri质粒T-DNA株系的组培苗为材料,研究了转基因株系BtCrylAc抗虫基因和发根基因的表达及其对NaCl胁迫的反应。结果表明,转入Ri质粒T- DNA上的rol基因后,导致苗木根系数目增加,根系长度减小,IAA和GA含量显著提高,抗虫BtCrylAc基因编码的毒蛋白的表达量降低;随着NaCl胁迫强度的增加,苗高、根系数量、叶绿素含量及IAA、GA含量逐步降低,而根系的长度加大,Bt毒蛋白含量显著提高,表明NaCl胁迫使转基因杨外源Bt毒蛋白基因的表达增强,而发根农杆菌Ri质粒T-DNA的表达下降。     

NaCI胁迫对转基因杨树外源基因表达的影响

以具高抗虫性的转抗虫基因‘74l杨’及在此基础上转入了发根农杆菌融质粒T-DNA株系的组培苗为材料,研究了转基因株系BtCrylAc抗虫基因和发根基因的表达及其对NaCI胁迫的反应。结果表明,转入Ri质粒T-DNA上的rol基因后,导致苗木根系数目增加,根系长度减小,IAA和GA含量显著提高,抗虫BtCrylAc基因编码的毒蛋白的表达量降低;随着NaCI胁迫强度的增加,苗高、根系数量、叶绿素含量及IAA、GA含量逐步降低,而根系的长度加大,Bt毒蛋白含量显著提高,表明NaCI胁迫使转基因杨外源Bt毒蛋白基因的表达增强,而发根农杆菌．Ri质粒T-DNA的表达下降。     

Induction Kinetics of a Conditional pH Stress Response System in Escherichia coli

The analysis of stress response systems in microorganisms can reveal molecular strategies for regulatory control and adaptation. In this study, we focused on the Cad module, a subsystem of Escherichia coli’s response to acidic stress that is conditionally activated at low pH only when lysine is available. When expressed, the Cad system counteracts the elevated H⁺ concentration by converting lysine to cadaverine under the consumption of H⁺ and exporting cadaverine in exchange for external lysine. Surprisingly, the cad operon displays a transient response, even when the conditions for its induction persist. To quantitatively characterize the regulation of the Cad module, we experimentally recorded and theoretically modeled the dynamics of important system variables. We established a quantitative model that adequately describes and predicts the transient expression behavior for various initial conditions. Our quantitative analysis of the Cad system supports negative feedback by external cadaverine as the origin of the transient response. Furthermore, the analysis puts causal constraints on the precise mechanism of signal transduction via the regulatory protein CadC.     

Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens Trigger the Formation of U Small Nuclear RNA Bodies (U Bodies) through Metabolic Stress Induction

Invasive bacterial pathogens induce an amino acid starvation (AAS) response in infected host cells that controls host defense in part by promoting autophagy. However, whether AAS has additional significant effects on the host response to intracellular bacteria remains poorly characterized. Here we showed that Shigella, Salmonella, and Listeria interfere with spliceosomal U snRNA maturation in the cytosol. Bacterial infection resulted in the rerouting of U snRNAs and their cytoplasmic escort, the survival motor neuron (SMN) complex, to processing bodies, thus forming U snRNA bodies (U bodies). This process likely contributes to the decline in the cytosolic levels of U snRNAs and of the SMN complex proteins SMN and DDX20 that we observed in infected cells. U body formation was triggered by membrane damage in infected cells and was associated with the induction of metabolic stresses, such as AAS or endoplasmic reticulum stress. Mechanistically, targeting of U snRNAs to U bodies was regulated by translation initiation inhibition and the ATF4/ATF3 pathway, and U bodies rapidly disappeared upon removal of the stress, suggesting that their accumulation represented an adaptive response to metabolic stress. Importantly, this process likely contributed to shape the host response to invasive bacteria because down-regulation of DDX20 expression using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) amplified ATF3- and NF-κB-dependent signaling. Together, these results identify a critical role for metabolic stress and invasive bacterial pathogens in U body formation and suggest that this process contributes to host defense.     

干旱胁迫对5种植物叶绿体和线粒体超微结构的影响

应用温室盆栽方法,研究了土壤干旱胁迫对麻栎（Quercus acutissima Carruth）、黄檀（Dalbergia hupeana Hance）、黄连木(Pistacia chinensis)、湿地松（Pinus elliottii）、朴树（Celtis sinesis Pers）5个树种叶肉细胞超微构的影响。结果表明：正常水分条件下,叶肉细胞中各细胞器结构完整。轻度干旱胁迫下,湿地松的叶片超微结构未受损伤。麻栎线粒体无明显变化,叶绿体有扩张现象。黄连木与黄檀线粒体外膜有降解现象,叶绿体膨胀。朴树线粒体与叶绿体受损明显。重度胁迫下,湿地松和麻栎的线粒体内部出现降解,叶绿体受损。黄连木与黄檀出现质壁分离,叶绿体与线粒体受到严重损伤。朴树细胞内部受损最严重。可将5个树种分为3种不同的抗旱等级：湿地松与麻栎抗旱性较强,黄连木与黄檀抗旱性中等,朴树抗旱性较弱。     

ERF转录因子在植物对生物和非生物胁迫反应中的作用

ERF（ethylene responsive factor）转录因子是植物AP2/ERF转录因子超家族的一个亚家族,其特征是蛋白序列中含有一个高度保守的58或59个氨基酸组成的ERF结构域,广泛参与植物生长发育及各种逆境胁迫反应的调控。文章简要介绍ERF转录因子在植物抗生物和非生物胁迫反应中的作用及其可能机制,并讨论了今后的研究重点。     

植物对非生物逆境响应的转录调控和代谢谱分析的研究进展

非生物逆境严重影响植物的生长发育,植物响应非生物逆境是通过复杂的转录调控网络和代谢网络实现的。植物转录组学和代谢组学的技术方法有助于研究植物对非生物逆境的应答机制。本文对植物非生物逆境响应中的转录调控和代谢谱分析的研究进展进行了综述。     

Ubiquitin-Mediated Stress Response in a Rat Model of Brain Transient Ischemia/Hypoxia

Ubiquitin (Ub) is a small 76-residue protein, involved in intracellular protein degradation through a specific ATP-dependent system, which uses Ub as a tag to label proteins committed to be hydrolyzed by a specific 26 S protease. PGP-9.5 is another important component of the Ub system, i.e. a neuron-specific carboxyl-terminal hydrolase, which recycles Ub from Ub-polypeptide complexes. We have investigated the expression of Ub and PGP-9.5 in rat hippocampal neurons in an early phase of reperfusion in a model of transient global brain ischemia/hypoxia (bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries for 10 min accompanied by mild hypoxia—15% O₂—for 20 min), by means of immunohistochemical methods using light and electron microscopy. The intensity of Ub and PGP-9.5 immunoreactivity was evaluated by image analysis. We have detected a marked increase of Ub immunoreactivity (UIR) in neurons of CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, and dentate gyrus subfields 1 hr after ischemia/hypoxia (but not after hypoxia only), statistically significant as confirmed by image analysis. Such increase in immunoreactivity in ischemic/hypoxic rats was localized essentially in the nuclei of hippocampal neurons. There were no changes in PGP-9.5 immunoreactivity. The data suggest that in the present model of rat brain ischemia/hypoxia Ub is involved in the neuronal stress response.