Activity of dehydroabietic acid derivatives against wood contaminant fungi

The antifungal activity of 10 dehydroabietic acid derivatives with different configuration in A and B rings (cis/trans A/B junction) and different substituents and/or functionalities was evaluated in bioassays in vitro and in situ (pine wood blocks).

The test compounds dissolved in acetone were assayed at several concentrations w/w (test compound/culture medium) against the fungi. The Relative Inhibition (RI) was determined by measuring the radial growth of colonies of the fungi treated with the test compounds by comparison with those of control cultures; the results are expressed as EC₅₀.

The results of bioassays in vitro have shown that hydroxyl and aldehyde functions are required for antifungal activity in this group of compounds and deisopropylation can increase the activity. Our assay of antifungal activity in situ (in pine wood blocks) provides a means to investigate the preservative activities of these antifungal compounds under actual conditions of use.

The dehydroabietic acid derivative cis-deisopropyldehydroabietanol (10) inhibited the growth of several of the fungi tested, in vitro and in situ.

The results obtained in situ with the test compound (10) at 6% and 8% were not significantly different from the reference products and a good level of protection of the wood against the organisms tested was achieved.

The results in wood bioassays present new possibilities in the search for natural new compounds in the wood protection, as an alternative to conventional fungicides.     

An Enzymic Method of Preparing Plant Chromosomes for In Situ Hybridization

A method of preparing chromosomes from plant root tips for in situ hybridization with tritiated DNA is described. The technique relies on the enzymic hydrolysis of plant cell walls with a pectinase-cellulase mixture. It is shown that, despite the enzymic mixture possessing nuclease activity, there is no detectable degradation of DNA within fixed root tips. To demonstrate the suitability of this method of preparing plant chromosomes for in situ hybridization, a cloned repetitive DNA sequence has been hybridized to Allium sativum chromosomes. Chromosomes prepared using this technique also can be readily G-banded.     

An ESR contrast agent is transported to rat liver through organic anion transporter

Carboxy PROXYL is a useful extracellular paramagnetic contrast reagent in electron spin resonance (ESR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Active transfer of the probe was investigated using an in situ liver model in rats. Carboxy PROXYL, a nitroxyl spin probe, was perfused into in situ liver perfusion system from Wistar rats. Concentration of nitroxyl form of the spin probe in effluent increased gradually after introducing perfusate with the spin probe and reached a plateau. The disappearance of Carboxy PROXYL from the perfusate was 40%, which could not be explained with its partition coefficient. Administration of non-selective inhibitors of organic anion transporters, p-aminohippuric acid and penicillin G, inhibited competitively and in a dose dependent manner the transfer of Carboxy PROXYL into rat liver in situ, resulting in increases of Carboxy PROXYL in the effluent. The results demonstrate that there is an active transfer system of an ESR contrast reagent into in situ rat liver through organic anion transporters.     

Nudasporestrobus ningxicus gen. et sp. nov., a novel sigillarian megasporangiate cone from the Bashkirian (Early Pennsylvanian) of Ningxia, northwestern China

A large monosporangiate fructification Nudasporestrobus ningxicus gen. et sp. nov. and its in situ megaspores are described from the lower Pennsylvanian of Xiaheyan, Ningxia, northwestern China. The cylindrical strobilus is at least 210 mm long, 15–25 mm wide, and possesses a 60–70 mm incomplete peduncle. There are 8–10 imbricate sporophylls arranged in ascending spirals. The sporophylls consist of two parts, a horizontal deltoid pedicel and an upwards-bent, concave lateral lamina; a heel is formed at the corner of sporophyll. Each sporophyll adaxially bears a single elliptical sporangium. The laevigate in situ megaspores in each sporangium with developed subgula formed on the proximal pole. The megaspores are of the Sublagenicula nuda-type and are here described for the first time in situ. The hypothetical parent plant is interpreted as Sigillaria sp., the only vegetative lycopsid remains in the taphonomic association.     

A 595 Nanometer Band-Pass Filter Enhances the Contrast of in Situ Hybridization Signals on Chromosome Observed After Biotin/Avidin-Alkaline Phosphatase Localization

In situ hybridization with DNA probes labeled with biotin and detected by the avidin-alkaline phosphatase/5-bromo-chloroh)doxyl phosphate-nitro blue tetrazolium system has been used to localize DNA sequences in chromosomes. To observe the hybridization signals, a phase contrast microscope has often been used because of the good visibility it provides. Use of a 595 nm band pass filter with the phase contrast microscope enhances signal contrast after in situ hybridization without reducing resolution.     

In Situ Hybridization of Biotinylated Dna Probes to Cotton Meiotic Chromosomes

A modified procedure for in situ hybridization of biotinylated probes to meiotic chromosomes of cotton has been developed with high retention of squashed cells on slides, preservation of acid-fixed chromosome morphology, exceptionally low levels of background precipitate at nonspecific hybridization sites and improved photomicrographic recording. Salient features of the techniques include pretreatment of slides before squashing, cold storage of squash preparations, and use of interference Biters for distinguishing precipitate from chromatin. A cloned 18S/28S ribosomal DNA fragment from soybean was biotinylated via nick-translation and hybridized to microsporocyte meiotic chromosomes 6f cotton (Gostypium hirsutum L. and G. hirsutum L. X G. barbadense L.). Enzymatically formed precipitate from streptavidin-bound peroxidase marked the in situ hybridization.

In situ hybridization of biotinylated probes to cotton meiotic chromosomes adds the specificity and resolution of in situ hybridization to the chromosomal and genomic perspectives provided by meiotic cytogenetic analyses. Molecular cytogenetic analyses of meiotic cells offer certain inherent analytical advantages over analyses of somatic cells, e.g., in terms of mapping, and for studying fundamental biological and genetic problems, particularly for organisms that are not amenable to somatic karyotypic analysis.     

中国野生植物保护管理的政策、法律制度分析和建议

中国是全球生物多样性最丰富的国家之一。最近40年, 中国的植物多样性保护取得了巨大成就, 实施了多项政策和法律, 尤其是《野生植物保护条例》和《国家重点保护野生植物名录》先后颁布, 奠定了中国植物保护的法律和政策框架, 就地保护和迁地保护网络基本形成。但与生态文明建设的要求相比, 野生植物保护依然存在许多不足。本文系统回顾了中国野生植物保护管理的政策和法律制度, 从就地保护、迁地保护、开发利用活动管理三方面分析了其优缺点并提出建议; 重点对修订《野生植物保护条例》进行讨论并提出建议, 包括修订野生植物和人工培植的定义、优化对开发利用活动的管理程序、加强国际法和国内法的衔接、细化优化罚则等。     

Phycomyces blakesleeanus car B mutants: Their use in assays of phytoene desaturase

Strains of car B (phytoene-accumulating) mutants of Phycomyces blakesleeanus have been characterized with respect to their carotene contents, in vitro formation of isoprenoids from [2-¹⁴C] mevalonic acid and their ability to produce [¹⁴C]phytoene in situ for use in coupled assays of phytoene desaturase activity. All strains produced predominantly (15-Z)-phytoene both in vivo and in vitro. Other isoprenoids were produced by cell extracts including squalene, sterols, prenyl diphosphates and prenyl alcohols. The addition of 1% Tween 60 to crude cell extracts of the mutants partially restored wild type carotenogenic activity and also altered the proportions of other isoprenoids formed. However, in a cytosolic fraction of the car B mutant, the addition of 1% Tween 60 did not result in the production of any carotenoid from phytoene. This fraction was the most effective source of [¹⁴C] phytoene for use in coupled assays of phytoene desaturase activity.     

A Simple Method for Preparing Thin (10 μm) Histological Sections of Undecalcified Plastic Embedded Bone with Implants

A simple method for preparing undecalcified thin sections of bone with implants has been developed. After exposing a surface of bone and implant in a plastic block by sawing thick sections, the surface is stained prior to making a thin section. A glass coverslip is affixed with a thin layer of cement to the stained surface to stabilize the tissue and implant during sectioning. A mixture of glycerine and water is used as a coolant and lubricant. The orientation in situ is preserved allowing demonstration of bone architecture and cells, and the tissue-implant interface.     

试论植物园功能变迁与中国国家植物园体系建设

植物资源是自然生态系统的基本组成部分, 是经济社会可持续发展的重要物质来源, 植物多样性是关系到国家生态安全和生物安全的战略资源。就地保护和迁地保护是植物多样性保护的两种主要方法, 构建以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系是就地保护的主要形式, 构建以国家植物园为引领的植物园体系是迁地保护的主要形式, 二者相辅相成, 共同形成我国较为完整的植物多样性保护体系。通过建设国家植物园体系对我国植物多样性进行迁地保护, 同时开展科学研究、园林展示、科普教育和资源开发利用, 对深入推进生态文明建设和高质量发展具有重要意义。本文回顾了植物园的功能变迁、全球和中国植物园分布与数量以及植物迁地保护现状,讨论了植物园与植物迁地保护的关系, 在此基础上, 提出了我国国家植物园的定义及设立标准, 进而讨论了建设国家植物园体系的意义、挑战、统筹迁地保护和就地保护等问题, 最后提出了我国国家植物园体系的建设目标、管理体制、空间布局和认证等方面的建议, 以期为我国的国家植物园体系建设提供参考。     

A death assemblage of priapulid worms from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale

A slab of Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian), displaying an incomplete exoskeleton of the large arthropod Sidneyia inexpectans and encompassed by nine specimens of the priapulid worm Ottoia prolifica, is interpreted as a death assemblage, with the worms once living off or feeding around a carcass or freshly moulted instar of Sidneyia. Death is thought to have been caused by an obrution event that preserved the organisms in situ.     

冷冻聚焦离子束-扫描电镜成像技术研究进展

冷冻聚焦离子束-扫描电镜成像(Cryo-FIB-SEM)是一种新兴的成像检测技术,在原位进行冷冻聚焦离子束切割和冷冻扫描电镜成像,为研究天然含水状态下生物样品内部未被破坏的原始结构打开了一扇窗口。近年来,该技术在生命科学领域的应用研究取得了一系列重要进展。该文对其在冷冻体积连续成像、冷冻光电关联成像、冷冻透射扫描成像、冷冻含水切片制备监控及冷冻扫描图像处理等方面的研究进展进行综述,并展望了该技术在大体积生物样品三维原位成像研究领域的前沿性发展趋势,以期推动Cryo-FIB-SEM技术在生物样品三维结构研究中的应用。     

The oxidation—reduction potential of membrane-bound chloroplast plastocyanin and cytochrome f

The in situ oxidation—reduction potentials of plastocyanin and cytochrome f have been measured in the same preparation of spinach chloroplasts using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and dual-wavelength absorbance spectroscopy, respectively. A midpoint potential of 340 mV (n = 1.0) at pH 7.8 was found for the bound plastocyanin and a value of 385 mV (n = 1.0) was found for the bound cytochrome f.     

A Conjugate of Cellulase with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate: A Specific Stain for Cellulose

A fluorescent technique has been developed for in situ staining of cellulose. The staining agent is a conjugate of cellulase and fluorescein isothiocyanatc (FITC). Application of this agent does not disturb intercellular or intracellular substances. The technique depends on the specific binding of the fluorescent labeled enzyme to its substrate. The stain has been tested on cell-free noncellulose polysaccharides similar to cellulose and does not stain them. The technique has been used to localize cellulose during the life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum with results that correspond to previous work using other methods.     

广东兰科植物多样性保育现状

为了使广东省的兰科植物及其遗传多样性得到有效的保育, 保存我国重要野生植物资源, 在2017-2019年间, 采用样线和样地相结合的调查手段、专家快速评估和野外调查相结合的评估技术以及Wilcoxon符号秩检验和Friedman检验的统计方法, 对广东省自然分布的兰科植物进行了全面的调查和濒危等级评估, 并对其在广东省自然保护区中的就地保育情况和全国植物园中的迁地保育情况进行了综合分析。结果表明, 广东省分布有兰科植物80属235种, 其中广东特有种20种; 广东兰科植物受威胁物种有186种, 其中极危11种、濒危114种、易危61种; 就地保育的兰科植物有111种, 迁地保育的兰科植物有156种, 就地和迁地共同保育的兰科植物有96种, 保育的有效程度较低; 另外, 就地、迁地、就地和迁地共同保育的兰科植物之间没有体现出明显的差异, 保育工作缺乏选择性和针对性。基于此, 我们建议广东兰科植物的保育工作应重视基础数据的收集和持续的野外监测、提高保育物种的数量、优化迁地保育物种的选择性和针对性、完善迁地保育和就地保育之间的协同性, 同时也应重视立法和公众教育, 并构建广东兰科植物保育的网络系统。     

Development of a genomic in situ hybridization method using Technovit 7100 sections of early wheat embryo

It is difficult to observe the behavior of chromosomes in early wheat embryos because they are wrapped in several cell layers of the ovary. Here we conducted genomic in situ hybridization on sections of ovary embedded in Technovit 7100, a resinous compound suitable for in situ hybridization of mRNA in sectioned tissues. With this resin it is possible to make thin sections with high resolution, no autofluorescence, and good water permeability. These features enable histochemical study using fluorescence microscopy. We established the most suitable conditions for the denaturation of target DNA embedded in Technovit resin, and performed GISH on them. Using this method, we identified Leymus mollis chromosomes in the young ovary of F₁ hybrids between wheat and L. mollis. Furthermore, we observed the behavior of maize chromosomes in early wheat × maize hybrid embryos.     

对国家植物园体系建设“统筹原则”的一些见解

我国建设国家植物园体系所提出的“统筹就地保护与迁地保护相结合的原则”是进一步推动《生物多样性公约》在我国实施的一个重要新举措。这需要国家植物园对其不同功能植物栽培保存种群大小的统筹协调,需要与我国其他植物园的濒危植物迁地保护统筹协调并注重统筹提升我国植物迁地保护的有效性等。此外,由于我国一些植物园与国际顶级植物园几乎都是同步开展受严重威胁的濒危植物迁地保护及其科学研究,所取得的成果各有千秋,而且在保护的有效性上都存在着或多或少的问题,所以“国家植物园将对标世界顶级植物园”的提法是值得商榷的,我们的做法应是“他山之石,可以攻玉”。     

Cellular processes in the amygdala: gates to emotional memory?

The amygdala is considered a core structure of the so-called limbic system and has been implicated in a variety of functions, including emotional interpretation of sensory information, emotional arousal, emotional memory, fear and anxiety, and related clinical disorders. Despite the clinical and functional importance of the amygdala, it is only recently that some general principles of intra-amygdaloid mechanisms of signal processing that are relevant for fear behavior and memory have emerged from behavioral, anatomical, electrophysiological, and neurochemical studies performed in the amygdala of various mammalian species in vivo, in situ and in vitro.     

南海北部表层硝酸盐浓度反演研究

研究首次利用南海北部船基观测数据资料建立硝酸盐和海表温度的关系, 然后通过MODIS-SST资料与现场海表温度比较后进行了订正。利用订正后的数据表明南海北部的表层硝酸盐和海表温度之间存在显著的负相关关系(R²=0.7126)。结合海表硝酸盐和海表温度的关系式, 利用遥感海表温度的8 d平均值和月平均值估测了南海北部的表层硝酸盐浓度, 8 d平均海表硝酸盐浓度值范围为0～3.3167 μM, 月平均值为0～2.0590 μM, 该值与现场监测数据及历史资料均一致。     

Intracrinology of estrogens and androgens in breast carcinoma

Intratumoral metabolism and synthesis of biologically active steroids such as estradiol and 5-dihydrotestosterone as a result of interactions of various enzymes are considered to play very important roles in the pathogenesis and development of hormone-dependent breast carcinoma. Among these enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism, intratumoral aromatase play an important role in converting androgens to estrogens in situ from serum and serving as the source of estrogens, especially in postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma. However, other enzymes such as 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) isozymes, estrogen sulfatase (STS), and estrogen sulfotransferase, which contribute to in situ availability of biologically active estrogens, also play pivotal roles in this intratumoral estrogen production above. Androgen action on human breast carcinoma has not been well-studied but are considered important not only in hormonal regulation but also other biological features of carcinoma cells. Intracrine mechanisms also play important roles in androgen actions on human breast carcinoma cells. Among the enzymes involved in biologically active androgen metabolism and/or synthesis, both 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17βHSD5; conversion from circulating androstenedione to testosterone) and 5-reductase (5Red; reduction of testosterone to DHT (5-dihydrotestosterone) were expressed in breast carcinoma tissues, and in situ production of DHT has been proposed in human breast cancer tissues. However, intracrine mechanisms of androgens as well as their biological or clinical significance in the patients with breast cancer have not been fully elucidated in contrast to those in estrogens.