Induction of chromosome aberrations by Sr β-particles in cultured human lymphocytes

Human blood was irradiated with β-particles from an external source of ⁹⁰Sr. The source was a rolled piece of silver foil, active dimensions: 100 × 12.5 mm, incorporating 3.7 × 10⁸ Bq (10 mCi) of ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y. After culturing for 48 h, the dicentric yield in the lymphocytes at the first metaphase was measured as a function of the dose in the blood. The aberration yield fitted the linear-quadratic function well, which is consistent with the single-track and two-track model for aberration formation at low LET radiation. The curve for ⁹⁰Sr β-rays was compared with a curve for ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. The main difference between the coefficients was in the values. With respect to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays, the RBE calculated from the dose-effect relationships for dicentric production was 2.8 at the dose of 0.14 Gy; it decreased with increasing doses. The distribution of dicentrics was consistent with the Poisson distribution but showed a tendency to over-dispersion in the region of higher doses. A reason for these discrepancies is discussed.     

Relationship between cyprid energy reserves and metamorphosis in the barnacle Balanus amphitrite Darwin (Cirripedia; Thoracica)

Nauplii batch cultures of Balanus amphitrite were reared with four different diatoms (Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira pseudonana, Chaetoceros gracilis, silicate-limited C. gracilis) at three different cells concentrations: 1×10⁵, 5×10⁵, and 1×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹. The cyprid energy reserves were quantified as the ratio of triacylglycerols (TAG) to DNA. Energy reserves of larvae fed on different diatoms at a concentration of 1×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ were ranked in the order: silicate-limited C. gracilis>C. gracilis>T. pseudonana>S. costatum. There was a significant linear relationship between the TAG content of the diet and cyprid energy reserves. The effect of cyprid energy reserves on metamorphosis to polystyrene surface in the presence and the absence of conspecific settlement factor (SF) was studied after 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation. A strong positive correlation between energy reserves and percent metamorphosis was observed in the absence of SF (r_{12 h}=0.88, r_{24 h}=0.82, r_{48 h}=0.68, P<0.05). A weak positive correlation was observed in the presence of SF (r_{12 h}=0.43, r_{24 h}=0.48, r_{48 h}=0.50, P<0.05). In both treatments, more than 80% of the cyprids with high energy reserves metamorphosed within 24 h. In contrast, a high proportion of cyprids with low energy reserves metamorphosed in response to SF in 24 h. Our results indicate that discriminatory metamorphic behavior of cyprids is closely linked to their TAG/DNA ratio, a proxy for energy reserve.     

典型滨岸草地生态系统碳稳定同位素组成及分布特征

通过测定上海市青浦区东风港百慕大、白花三叶草、高羊茅和白茅等4种典型滨岸草本植物各组织以及不同垂直深度土壤有机质δ¹³C值,对滨岸草地生态系统的植物-土壤碳稳定同位素特征进行了分析.结果表明: 白花三叶草、高羊茅属于C3植物,百慕大、白茅属于C4植物,其茎叶、凋落物和根系各组织间δ¹³C值无显著差异.C3和C4植物样带表层土壤有机质δ¹³C值随着土壤深度递增而呈现截然不同的变化特征,这与样带本底δ¹³C值以及碳稳定同位素分馏效应有关,同时还受植物根系分布深度的影响.植物输入是土壤有机碳(SOC)的最主要来源,植物有机体δ¹³C组成对土壤有机质δ¹³C值有直接影响,植物各组分δ¹³C值与土壤有机质δ¹³C值均存在极显著相关.4种草本植物样带SOC含量与δ¹³C值均呈极显著相关,其中,C3植物样带SOC含量与δ¹³C值呈线性负相关,C4植物样带SOC含量与δ¹³C值呈线性正相关.     

Changes in osteoclasts after irradiation with carbon ion particles

We examined the effects of radiation on decreases in osteoclast numbers after regional irradiation of rats with carbon ions and gamma rays. Male Wistar rats were subjected to hind-leg irradiation with carbon ions (290 MeV/u) or gamma rays at doses of 15, 22.5, or 30 Gy. The effects of carbon ions and gamma rays on osteoclasts were studied using histologic and morphometric methods. At doses of 15 Gy and 22.5 Gy, osteoclast numbers increased transiently until day 5 after irradiation and then decreased rapidly in both the carbon ion and gamma ray irradiation groups. The carbon ion group showed reduced osteoclast size compared with the gamma ray group. Carbon ion irradiation had a more marked effect on osteoclast activity, and suppressed maturation to a greater extent than gamma irradiation. These observations suggest that carbon ion irradiation induces differential modulation of osteoclast growth factor expression.     

60Coγ射线与EMS复合处理对山黧豆抗氧化酶活力及ODAP含量的影响

Lathyrus sativus seeds were treated with ⁶⁰Coγ-ray and EMS(ethyl methane sulfonate), and their emergence rate and SOD,POD and CAT activities were determined. The result indicated that the treatment decreased the emergence rate. The activities of SOD and POD were changed in accordance with the increase of irradiation dose and EMS concentration, while that of CAT had no obvious change. After treatment, the ODAP content in Lathyrus sativus decreased. Amutant was developed, with toxin content of 0.1%, compared to 0.2% in control.     

Effects of heavy ions and energetic protons on normal human fibroblasts

At the low particle fluences of radiation to which astronauts are exposed in space, "non-targeted" effects such as the bystander response may have increased significance. The radiation-induced bystander effect is the occurrence of biological responses in unirradiated cells near to or sharing medium with cells traversed by radiation. The objectives of this study were to establish the responses of AG01522 diploid human fibroblasts after exposure to several heavy ions and energetic protons, as compared to X-rays, and to obtain initial information on the bystander effect in terms of cell clonogenic survival after Fe ion irradiation. Using a clonogenic survival assay, relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values at 10% survival were 2.5, 2.3, 1.0 and 1.2 for 1 GeV/amu Fe, 1 GeV/amu Ti, 290 MeV/amu C and 1 GeV/amu protons, respectively, compared to 250 kVp X-rays. For induction of micronuclei (MN), compared to the low LET protons, Fe and Ti are very effective inducers of damage, although C ions are similar to protons. Using a transwell insert system in which irradiated and unirradiated bystander cells share medium but are not touching each other, it was found that clonogenic survival in unirradiated bystander cells was decreased when irradiated cells were exposed to Fe ions or X-rays. The magnitude of the decrease in bystander survival was similar with both radiation types, reaching a plateau of about 80% survival at doses of about 0.5 Gy or larger.     

Role of radioadaptation on radiation-induced thymic lymphoma in mice

Thymic lymphoma (TL) was observed in different stages of development in 46% of male mice (23/50) following exposure to an acute challenge dose of 2 Gy ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. With an adapting dose of 1 cGy 24 h prior to the challenge dose of 2 Gy, similar growth of TL was seen in 42.5% of mice (17/40). TL was not found in unirradiated control mice (0/50) or in the group treated with 1 cGy (0/50). Multiple adapting doses for 5 or 10 consecutive days induced TL in 8/50 and 9/50 mice, respectively (17% in average). When multiple adapting doses were followed by the challenge dose, the yield of TL was much lower, 16% (8/50) and 30% (15/30), respectively. By 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after exposure with 3 Gy of ⁶⁰Co γ-rays, TL developed in 30, 70, 70, 80 and 85% of the female mice, respectively. When mice were conditioned with an adapting dose of 1 cGy 24 h prior to the challenge dose, TL was not found 15 days post-irradiation, while about a 25% reduction in the occurrence of TL was noticed at all other intervals. The results suggested that an adapting dose could play a role in bringing about a change in terms of delay and inhibition of the acute effects of radiation, i.e., the onset of TL in mice.     

Effects of low dose particle radiation to mouse neonatal neurons in culture.

To investigate effects of low dose heavy particle radiation to CNS system, we adopted mouse neonatal brain cells in culture being exposed to heavy ions generated by HIMAC at NIRS and BNL. The applied dose varied from 0.05 Gy up to 2.0 Gy. The subsequent biological effects were evaluated by an induction of apoptosis focusing on the dependencies of (1) the animal strains with different radiation sensitivities, and (2) LET with different nuclei. Of the three mouse strains, SCID, B6 and C3H, used for brain cell culture, SCID was the most sensitive and C3H the least sensitive to both X-ray and carbon ion ( 290 MeV/n) as evaluated by 10% apoptotic criterion. However, the sensitivity differences among the strains were much smaller in case of carbon ion comparing to that of X-ray. Regarding the LET dependency, the sensitivity was compared with using C3H and B6 cells between the carbon (13 keV/micrometers) and neon (70 keV/micrometers) ions. Carbon (290 MeV/n) did not give a detectable LET dependency from the criterion whereas the neon (400 MeV/n) showed 1.4 fold difference for both C3H and B6 cells. Although a LET dependency was examined by using the most sensitive SCID cells, no significant difference was detected.     

Effect of gamma radiation and alpha particles on gene recombination in Chlamydomonas reinhardi

Low doses of ⁶⁰Co γ radiation, which kill no more than about 5% of the zygospores, change gene recombination at only 2 short stages during the course of meiosis in Chlamydomonas reinhardi, but higher doses, which kill more than 10% of the spores, depress recombination at all stages up to pachytene. Irradiation with particles having a mean linear energy transfer (LET) of about 1300 and 1600 MeV g⁻¹ cm² changes recombination in a manner which appears to combine the effects characteristic of both low and high doses of γ-radiation simultaneously. The “γ high-dose” type of response has a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of between 20 and 35, and the “γ low-dose” RBE is greater than 1 although precise evaluation is impossible due to the complexity of the response. The RBE for survival was 16.5 at the low dose levels studied.     

The dimerization of protochlorophyll pigments in non-polar solvents

The infrared, visible and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of protochlorophyll a and vinylprotochlorophyll a in dry non-polar solvents (carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, cyclohexane) are presented and interpreted in terms of dimer interaction.

The infrared spectra in the 1600–1800 cm⁻¹ region clearly show the existence of a coordination interaction between the C-9 ketone oxygen function of one molecule and the central magnesium atom of another molecule. Infrared spectra in the OH stretching region (3200–3800 cm⁻¹) provide a valuable test of the water content in the samples.

The analysis of the absorption and circular dichroism spectra of protochlorophyll a and vinylprotochlorophyll a in carbon tetrachloride demonstrates the existence of a monomer-dimer equilibrium in the concentration range from 10⁻⁶ to 5 · 10⁻⁴ M. The dimerization constants are (6±2) · 10⁵ 1 · M⁻¹ for protochlorophyll a and (4.5±2) · 10⁵ 1 · M⁻¹ for vinylprotochlorophyll a at 20 °C. The deconvolution of visible spectra in the red region has been performed in order to obtain quantitative information on the dimer structure. Two models involving a parallel or a perpendicular arrangement of the associated molecules are considered.

From ¹H NMR spectra, it appears that the region of overlap occurs near ring V, in agreement with the interpretation of the infrared spectra.     

Effects of light quality on growth, biochemical composition and photo synthetic production in Cyclotella caspia Grunow and Tetraselmis gracilis (Kylin) Butcher

The effects of light quality on growth, biochemical composition and photosynthetic production in Cyclotella caspia Grunow and Tetraselmis gracilis (Kylin) Butcher were evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. Cyclotella caspia had the highest values for maximum growth rate in blue-green light, whereas T. gracilis grew faster in red light. The highest cellular contents of chlorophylls [a, (c₁ + c₂)] and carotenoids of C. caspia were found respectively in red and blue-green light, while protein content did not change in response to spectral quality. Tetraselmis gracilis cells were more stimulated to synthesize pigments and protein when incubated in white light. For both species, pigment ratios showed intermediate values in white regime. The maximum values for photosynthetic rates were obtained in blue-green and red regimes in C. caspia and in red light in T. gracilis. The chromatic adaptive mechanisms shown for both species are compared and discussed in light of recent works presented for different phytoplankters, with emphasis on ecophysiological responses obtained in distinct spectral regimes.     

Determination of free energies in reaction centers of Rb. sphaeroides

Magnetic field-dependent recombination measurements together with magnetic field-dependent triplet lifetimes (Chidsey, E.D., Takiff, L., Goldstein, R.A. and Boxer, S.G. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 82, 6850–6854) yield a free energy change ΔG(P⁺H⁻ − ³P*) = 0.165 eV ±0.008 at 290 K. This does not depend on whether nuclear spin relaxation in the state ³P* is assumed to be fast or slow compared to the lifetime of this state. This value, being (almost) temperature independent, indicates ΔG(P⁺H⁻ − ³P*) ΔH(P⁺H⁻ − ³P*) and is consistent with ΔG(¹P* − P⁺H⁻) and ΔH(¹P* − ³P*) from previous delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence data, implying ΔG ΔH for all combinations of these states.     

Plant regeneration from intergeneric somatic hybridization between Triticum aestivum L. and Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel

The suspension derived protoplasts of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Jinan 177 were used as a recipient to fuse with the protoplasts of the ⁶⁰Co gamma-ray irradiated calli of Legmus chinensis. The wheat suspension cells and their protoplasts were not capable of differentiating to whole plants. The irradiated calli of L. chinensis were also the same. The protoplasts originated from the treated or untreated calli were both unable to divide under the conditions of this experiment. However, the fusion products grew and developed to whole plants which were identified as hybrids according to the analysis of chromosome, isozyme and morphology. The above result revealed that the lost regeneration capacity of both parents could be complementarily restored through somatic hybridization. This phenomenon also occurred with our work on Triticum aestivum (+) Haynaldia villosa, T. aestivum (+) Agropyron elongatum and T. aestivum (+) Psathyrostachys juncea.     

HZE radiation effects for hereditary renal carcinomas.

Eker rat known as a model of hereditary renal carcinoma (RC) is an example of Mendelian dominantly inherited predisposition to a specific cancer in experimental animals. We investigate the effects of simulated space radiation on carcinogenesis using HIMAC. We estimated RBE from the Eker rats exposed to the heavy-ions, C (290 MeV/u) and Fe (500 MeV/u) ions, comparing to the effects of X-ray irradiation. Pregnant rats were exposed to C and Fe ions and X-rays with a single dose of 1 Gy, 2 Gy, 3 Gy on day 19 of gestation. The offspring were sacrificed at 8 weeks of age. We evaluated organ weights and tumor genesis. The weights of thymus, lung, liver, spleen were found to be no difference from the control at 1 Gy irradiation but 50% decrease at 3 Gy irradiation. We found in the irradiated animal that kidney, brain and testis were very sensitive organs of which the weight decreased to approximately 80% at 1 Gy and to 40% at 3 Gy irradiations. Based on the dose-response relationship of the radiation-induced carcinoma, averaged RBE ware calculated to be 1.1 for C-ion, 1.6 for Fe-ion.     

Electrospray mass spectrometry of trans-[Ru(NO)Cl(dpaH)2] (dpaH=2,2′-dipyridylamine) and ‘caged NO’, [RuCl3(NO)(H2O)2]: loss of HCl and NO from positive ions versus NO and Cl from negative ions

The positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) of trans-[Ru(NO)Cl)(dpaH)₂]Cl₂ (dpaH=2,2′-dipyridylamine), obtained from the carrier solvent of H₂O–CH₃OH (50:50), revealed 1+ ions of the formulas [Ru^II(NO⁺)Cl(dpaH)(dpa)]⁺ (m/z=508), [Ru^IIICl(dpaH)(dpa⁻)]⁺ (m/z=478), [Ru^II(NO⁺)(dpa)₂]⁺ (m/z=472), [Ru^III(dpa)₂]⁺ (m/z=442), originating from proton dissociation from the parent [Ru^II(NO⁺)Cl(dpaH)₂]²⁺ ion with subsequent loss of NO (17.4% of dissociative events) or loss of HCl (82.6% of dissociative events). Further loss of NO from the m/z=472 fragment yields the m/z=442 fragment. Thus, ionization of the NH moiety of dpaH is a significant factor in controlling the net ionic charge in the gas phase, and allowing preferential dissociation of HCl in the fragmentation processes. With NaCl added, an ion pair, {Na[Ru^II(NO)Cl(dpa)₂]}⁺ (m/z=530; 532), is detectable. All these positive mass peaks that contain Ru carry a signature ‘handprint’ of adjacent m/z peaks due to the isotopic distribution of ¹⁰⁴Ru, ¹⁰²Ru, ¹⁰¹Ru, ⁹⁹Ru, ⁹⁸Ru and ⁹⁶Ru mass centered around ¹⁰¹Ru for each fragment, and have been matched to the theoretical isotopic distribution for each set of peaks centered on the main isotope peak. When the starting complex is allowed to undergo aquation for two weeks in H₂O, loss of the axial Cl⁻ is shown by the approximately 77% attenuation of the [Ru^II(NO⁺)Cl(dpaH)(dpa)]⁺ ion, being replaced by the [Ru^II(NO⁺)(H₂O)(dpa)₂]⁺ (m/z=490) as the most abundant high-mass species. Loss of H₂O is observed to form [Ru^II(NO⁺)(dpa)₂]⁺ (m/z=472). No positive ion mass spectral peaks were observed for RuCl₃(NO)(H₂O)₂, ‘caged NO’. Negative ions were observed by proton dissociation forming [Ru^II(NO)Cl₃(H₂O)(OH)]⁻ in the ionization chamber, detecting the parent 1− ion at m/z=274, followed by the loss of NO as the main dissociative pathway that produces [Ru^IIICl₃(H₂O)(OH)]⁻ (m/z=244). This species undergoes reductive elimination of a chlorine atom, forming [Ru^IICl₂(H₂O)(OH)]⁻ (m/z=208). The ease of the NO dissociation is increased for the negative ions, which should be more able to stabilize a Ru^III product upon NO loss.     

Effects of season on the yield and quality of agar from Gracilaria species (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta)

The effect of season on yield and physical properties of agars extracted from Gracia gracilis and G. bursa-pastoris were determined. The agar yield from G. gracilis was maximum during spring (30%) and minimum during autumn (19%). In G. bursa-pastoris, the agar yield was greatest in summer (36%) and lowest in winter (23%). Agar yield from G. bursa-pastoris was positively correlated with temperature (r=0.94; P<0.01) and salinity (r=0.97; P<0.01) and negatively with nitrogen content (r=−0.93; P<0.01). Agar gel strengths fluctuated from 229 to 828 g cm⁻² and 23 to 168 g cm⁻² for G. gracilis and G. bursa-pastoris, respectively. The gelling temperature showed significant seasonal variation for both species. Chemical analysis of agar from the two seaweeds indicated variation in 3,6-anhydrogalactose and sulfate content (P<0.01). Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between the two chemical variables. In general, agar extracted from G. gracilis possessed better qualities than agar extracted from G. bursa-pastoris and can be considered a candidate for industrial use.     

鬼箭锦鸡儿叶片和土壤碳稳定同位素特征及其影响因素

为探究高海拔地区的植物碳(C)循环过程与其生境的关系,以生长在高山地区的豆科灌木鬼箭锦鸡儿为研究对象,沿着横跨我国东西部山区的样带采集35个样点的鬼箭锦鸡儿叶片和土壤样品,分析了鬼箭锦鸡儿叶片碳稳定同位素组成(δ¹³C)、土壤δ¹³C、叶片和土壤δ¹³C差值(Δδ¹³C)在不同采样点的特征及其与气候因子、叶片和土壤元素的关系。结果表明:鬼箭锦鸡儿叶片δ¹³C的变化范围为-30.9‰～-27.1‰,平均值为-28.4‰,土壤δ¹³C的变化范围为-26.2‰～-23.2‰,平均值为-25.3‰,Δδ¹³C的变化范围为2.0‰～7.7‰,平均值为3.1‰;叶片δ¹³C显著低于土壤δ¹³C,且随着叶片δ¹³C增加,土壤δ¹³C先降低后升高;叶片δ¹³C与生长季均温和叶片C含量呈显著负相关,土壤δ¹³C与相对湿度和最暖月均温呈显著负相关,与土壤碳∶氮(C∶N)呈显著正相关,随土壤C含量的增加土壤δ¹³C先降低后升高,Δδ¹³C与叶片C含量、土壤C含量和土壤C∶N呈显著正相关;气候因子对叶片δ¹³C和Δδ¹³C具有直接影响,同时也通过对叶片和土壤元素的影响,间接导致叶片δ¹³C、土壤δ¹³C和Δδ¹³C的改变。高海拔地区的气候因子、叶片和土壤元素共同影响鬼箭锦鸡儿的C循环过程。     

红假单胞菌去除养鱼废水三态氮及COD的研究

利用红假单胞菌(Rhodopseudomonas sp.)wps对鲫鱼养殖废水三态氮及COD进行处理.菌株wps对水体亚硝氮的去除率随菌浓的降低而降低,当添加菌液量降到0.4 mL(终浓度约为5×10⁴cell·mL^-1)时,其对亚硝氮的去除效果已不明显,但同时投加400μg碳源明显提高其亚硝氮去除率,高出对照20.06%;菌株wps对氨氮也有一定去除效果,但碳源的添加对氨氮的去除影响更大;同时施加0.4 mL wps菌液和40μg碳源对硝氮和COD的去除率分别比对照提高20.51%和22.03%.光照与否对其处理养鱼废水的效果影响不大.PCR-DGGE结果分析显示,菌株wps在与土著光合细菌的竞争中处于劣势.     

Identification of a cDNA encoding a novel C18-Δ polyunsaturated fatty acid-specific elongating activity from the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-producing microalga, Isochrysis galbana

Isochrysis galbana, a marine prymnesiophyte microalga, is rich in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, Δ^{4,7,10,13,16,19}). We used a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy to isolate a cDNA, designated IgASE1, encoding a polyunsaturated fatty acid-elongating activity from I. galbana. The coding region of 263 amino acids predicts a protein of 30 kDa that shares only limited homology to animal and fungal proteins with elongating activity. Functional analysis of IgASE1, by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was used to determine its activity and substrate specificity. Transformed yeast cells specifically elongated the C18-Δ⁹ polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, Δ^9,12) and -linolenic acid (C18:3n-3, Δ^9,12,15), to eicosadienoic acid (C20:2n-6, Δ^11,14) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-3, Δ^11,14,17), respectively. To our knowledge this is the first time such an elongating activity has been functionally characterised. The results also suggest that a major route for eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, Δ^5,8,11,14,17) and docosahexaenoic acid syntheses in I. galbana may involve a Δ⁸ desaturation pathway.     

A functional site of Ca in the oxygen-evolving photosystem II preparation from Synechococcus sp.

Treatment of the oxygen-evolving photosystem II preparation from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. with EDTA inhibited electron flow from Z to P680 and consequently induced a back electron flow from Q⁻_a to P680⁺. The inhibition was reversed fully by Ca²⁺and partially by Mn²⁺ and Mg²⁺ when EDTA-treated preparations had been incubated with respective divalent metal cations for several minutes, whereas diphenylcarbazide had no effect on the recombination between q⁻_a and P680⁺ in EDTA-treated preparations. It is concluded that Ca²⁺ is essential for electron transport from Z to P680.

Oxygen evolution Electron transport Photosystem II Ca²⁺ Thermophilic cyanobacterium