A Ca2+-sensor switch for tolerance to elevated salt stress in Arabidopsis

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昆虫对环境低氧的适应:生理和分子机制研究进展

氧是机体进行新陈代谢和维持生存的必要因素。低氧环境在自然界普遍存在,也是许多重大疾病(如癌症)发生过程中基本的病理生理特征。生物包括昆虫在其生存和发育过程中经常面对低氧的挑战,它们发展出了各自的适应策略以求得生存和繁荣壮大。昆虫对于低氧环境适应包括在气管系统通气量、气体交换模式、体型大小和发育时间等生理机制上的改变。为揭示昆虫低氧适应机制,研究人员针对不同昆虫采用了来自人工选择或者自然选择的品系(种群),使用了基因芯片表达和转录组测序、基因组重测序技术和基因操作等技术。基于这些方法研究发现,在分子机制方面,昆虫可以通过抑制能量代谢、提高氧气利用率来适应低氧环境;还可以通过胰岛素通路、低氧诱导因子(HIF)信号通路等来调节自身代谢活动从而适应环境低氧;除此之外,昆虫的气管系统可以在基因调控下通过代偿性生理和形态变化来适应低氧环境。昆虫低氧适应机制的研究为探求昆虫数亿年进化过程中体形改变、物种形成、种群动态等提供提供新的视野,也增进对动物应对低氧或缺氧机理的深入理解,特别是为研究人类重大疾病的发生提供重要启示。     

Biochemical indicators of salt stress in Plantago maritima: Implications for environmental stress assessment

Our study is focused on native spontaneous species of saline ecosystems Plantago maritima. Plants were cultivated at several salt concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM NaCl) in a glass greenhouse under semi-controlled conditions. Growth parameters, water parameters and ionic status were determined and they were used as criteria to assess the response of P. maritima under a salinity gradient. Catalase, guaiacaol and ascobate peroxidase activities, total protein and proline were also determined. Our results show that P. maritima is a facultative halophyte capable of expressing its maximum growth potential at relatively low concentrations of salt (less than 3 g l⁻¹ NaCl). At high doses of salt (concentrations > 200 mM), the decrease in the growth of P. maritima is associated to a decrease in the uptake of K⁺. There is a disruption of the water intake of their organs and therefore results an invasion of the cytoplasm by Na⁺ toxic ion. However, stressed plants use K⁺ more sparingly. They invest especially in the production of biomass expressed by the dry weight of the shoots, and they use Na⁺ and proline for osmotic adjustment. The halophyte studied is able to accumulate high levels of proline in response to increasing salt concentration. The accumulation of the amino compound, mainly in roots, is interpreted as an indicator of salt tolerance. Additionally, a significant correlation between the tolerance of the plants to salinity and the activity of several antioxidant enzymes has been observed. Hence, we suggest the possibility of using these activities as a biochemical indicator for salt tolerance in P. maritima. Our study points out two types of biomarkers of salt exposure: enzymatic biomarkers in the leaves and proline content in the roots. Both did show very good correlation with salt exposure, and thus may be considered good biomarkers of exposure with a very good dose–response relationship.     

Antioxidant enzymes and physiological characteristics in two Jerusalem artichoke cultivars under salt stress

The effects of NaCl stress on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, cell membrane stability, net photosynthetic rate, gas-exchange, and chlorophyll content were investigated in two Jerusalem artichoke cultivars, Dafeng (salt-tolerant) and Wuxi (salt-sensitive), grown under control (nutrient solution) or salt stress (nutrient solution containing 75, 150, and 225 mM NaCl) conditions for 7 days. In leaves of salt-tolerant cv. Dafeng, superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), and catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activities significantly increased as compared to the controls, whereas no significant change was observed in cv. Wuxi. Lipid peroxidation and cell membrane injury were enhanced in both cultivars. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased in response to salt stress, but cv. Dafeng showed a smaller reduction in photosynthesis than cv. Wuxi. The results indicated that stomatal aperture limited leaf photosynthetic capacity in the NaCl-treated plants of both cultivars. However, significant reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content due to NaCl stress was observed only in cv. Wuxi. These results suggested that salt-tolerant Jerusalem artichoke varieties may have a better protection against reactive oxygen species, at least in part, by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes under salt stress.     

酿酒酵母乙醇耐性的分子机制及基因工程改造

提高工业微生物对毒性代谢产物及高温等环境胁迫因素的耐受性对工业生产具有重要的意义。发酵过程中产生的乙醇对酵母细胞的生长和代谢都具有较强的抑制作用,是酿酒酵母的重要环境胁迫因素之一。对酿酒酵母乙醇耐性的分子机制的研究可为选育具有较强乙醇耐受性的酵母菌种提供理论基础。近年来,通过细胞全局基因转录分析和基因功能分析,对酿酒酵母乙醇耐性的分子机制有了更多新的认识,揭示了很多新的与乙醇耐性相关的基因,并在此基础上,通过对相关基因进行过量表达或敲除,成功提高了酵母菌的乙醇耐性。以下综述了近年来酵母菌乙醇耐性的生物化学与分子生物学机制的研究进展,以及构建具有较高乙醇耐性的酵母菌的基因工程操作。这些研究不仅加深了对酿酒酵母乙醇耐性的机理认识,也可为高效进行生物转化生产生物质能源奠定理论基础。     

The antiepileptic potential of Vateria indica Linn in experimental animal models: Effect on brain GABA levels and molecular mechanisms

BackgroundEpilepsy is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by uncontrollable convulsions caused by a misalignment of the central nervous system's inhibitory and excitatory branches. Vateria indica is a medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antiulcer, antitumor, and anticancer properties.ObjectivesTo investigate the antiepileptic activity of Vateria indica using maximal electrical shock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), and isoniazid (INH) induced experimental animal models.MethodologyVateria indica bark was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethanol and quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed. The antiepileptic activity of Vateria indica bark extract (VIE) was investigated using different animal models in mice. GABA levels in the brain and antioxidant capacity in vitro were estimated.ResultsTreatment of mice with VIE significantly reversed the MES-induced convulsions, which was reflected by the decrease in the duration (sec) of all the phases of MES-induced convulsions, with an increment in the GABA levels. In the PTZ and INH models, pretreatment with VIE delayed the latency to clonic convulsions (p 0.001), reduced the intensity and duration of clonic convulsions, and reduced the mortality rate in the treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner. VIE intervention dose-dependently restored brain GABA levels. VIE also exhibited significant in-vitro antioxidant activity.ConclusionOverall, the findings imply that Vateria indica has substantial antiepileptic activities, mediated by positive GABAergic neurotransmission and antioxidant capabilities. To summarize, Vateria indica may provide adequate protection against epileptic seizures, suggesting that it could be used to treat petitmal and grandmal epilepsy. We plan to provide pure lead compounds derived from Vateria indica in the future in order to better understand the role it could play in the development of natural anticonvulsant drugs.     

Forestry's fertile crescent: the application of biotechnology to forest trees

Relative to crop plants, the domestication of forest trees is still in its infancy. For example, the domestication of many crop plants was initiated some 10,000 years ago in the so-called 'Fertile Crescent' of the Middle East. By contrast, the domestication of forest trees for the purposes of producing more fibre began in earnest in the last half century. The application of biotechnology to forest trees offers a great potential to hasten the pace of tree improvement for desirable end uses. This review outlines some of the progress that has been made in the application of biotechnology to forest trees, and considers the prospects for biotechnologically based tree improvement in the future.     

植物淹水胁迫的生理学机制研究进展

淹水胁迫引起弱光环境,使气体扩散受限,叶片细胞膜脂过氧化加剧,体内保护酶系统受损,叶绿素降解,丙二醛含量积累,光合速率下降。为了适应淹水环境,植物通过生理生化机制的调节来保证淹水条件下的生命活动。如细胞通过调节渗透物质的含量来保持渗透势的平衡;细胞内各种抗氧化酶活性增加,以清除自由基,避免或者减轻细胞受到伤害;改变代谢途径和激素调节以保持能量储备和低的代谢速率。本文综述了淹水胁迫对细胞膜系统及功能、植物光合作用、植物呼吸、激素、生理代谢、基因调控的影响和淹水结束后植物的生理生态学变化,介绍了植物适应淹水胁迫的机制,并指出植物耐淹响应的分子机理,环境因素对淹没植物的影响,森林淹水胁迫的定位观测是今后需要研究的方面。     

Approaches to improve stress tolerance using molecular genetics

Plant productivity is greatly affected by environmental stress factors. In this review, we give an overview of molecular approaches that have been taken to study stress tolerance; in particular, we consider drought, salt and cold stress. Strategies and perspectives in using molecular biology to improve stress tolerance are outlined describing specific examples. Osmotic stress is associated with the synthesis of novel polypeptides and/or osmolytes. The spectrum and action of these different metabolites are summarized. A number of stress-related genes have been characterized and several representatives are discussed. After transforming plants with these genes, the effect of the encoded proteins on altered stress behaviour is examined. If genes with enzymatic functions were chosen for these experiments, complete pathways may be altered and this can implement the production of novel metabolites conferring stress tolerance.     

6种防御酶调控植物体应答虫害胁迫机制的研究进展

植物防御体系应对虫害胁迫产生一系列防御性生理生化反应,其中防御酶活性呈现显著变化.本文综述了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、脂氧合酶(LOX)和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL) 6种常见防御酶应对虫害胁迫的机制,解析了6种防御酶的作用机理及其异同.梳理了6种防御酶应对虫害胁迫而相互协调的程序,总结了植物体遭虫害胁迫之后防御酶活性的变化及其与防御酶基因的关联,提出了植物体防御酶机制研究中的重要问题并展望前景.     

Alleviation of drought stress and the physiological mechanisms in Citrus cultivar (Huangguogan) treated with methyl jasmonate

ABSTRACT

The role of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in alleviating drought stress was investigated on Huangguogan. Except for intercellular CO₂ concentration, MeJA had little effect on net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate under drought stress. Compared with drought stress, MeJA significantly alleviated the decrease of chlorophyll content. However, chlorophyll a/b ratio was significantly increased. MeJA significantly increased proline and soluble sugar contents, significantly decreased the O₂ ^?· and H₂O₂ levels, and increased SOD and POD activities. In addition, the MDA content of drought stress was the highest of all treatments. MeJA significantly reduced MDA content in drought-stressed Huangguogan leaves. Although the Ascorbic acid (AsA) contents of 500 and 1000 mg L^?1 MeJA treatments were lower than that of 250 mg L^?1 MeJA, but all concentration of MeJA treatments delayed the decline of AsA content. Therefore, MeJA could induce drought stress tolerance by increasing the osmotic adjustment substances and antioxidant activities.     

The physiological and metabolic changes in sugar beet seedlings under different levels of salt stress

Journal of Plant Research - Salinity stress is a major limitation to global crop production. Sugar beet, one of the world’s leading sugar crops, has stronger salt tolerant characteristics...     

Oxidative stress and physiological,epigenetic and genetic variability in plant tissue culture: implications for micropropagators and genetic engineers

A number of well defined problems in physiological, epigenetic and genetic quality are associated with the culture of plant cell, tissue and organs in vitro, namely, absence or loss of organogenic potential (recalcitrance), hyperhydricity (`vitrification') and somaclonal variation. These broad terms are used to describe complex phenomena that are known to be genotype and environment dependent. These phenomena affect the practical application of plant tissue culture in plant propagation and in plant genetic manipulation. Here it is hypothesised much of the variability expressed in microplants may be the consequence of, or related to, oxidative stress damage caused to the plant tissues during explant preparation, and in culture, due to media and environmental factors. The characteristics of these phenomena are described and causes discussed in terms of the known effects of oxidative stress on eukaryote genomes. Parameters to characterise the phenomena are described and methods to remediate the causes proposed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High-CO2 tolerance in microalgae: possible mechanisms and implications for biotechnology and bioremediation

Recent developments in the field of microalgal biotechnology, including CO₂ biomitigation and the discovery of new species of microalgae that are tolerant to extremely high CO₂ levels (40–100 vol%), have renewed interest in the physiological effects and mechanisms of high-CO₂ tolerance in photoautotrophs. Photosynthetic apparatus state transitions that increase ATP generation, upregulation of H⁺-ATPases pumping protons out of the cell, rapid shutdown of CO₂-concentrating mechanisms, and adjustment of membranes’ fatty acid composition are currently believed to be the key mechanisms governing cellular pH homeostasis and hence microalgae’s tolerance to high CO₂ levels, which is especially characteristic of extremophile and symbiotic species. The mechanisms governing acclimation to high CO₂ comprise the subject of this review and are discussed in view of the use of CO₂ enrichment to increase the productivity of microalgal cultures, as well as the practice of carbon capture from flue gases.     

Testosterone administration to older men improves muscle function: molecular and physiological mechanisms

We investigated the effects of 6 mo of near-physiological testosterone administration to older men on skeletal muscle function and muscle protein metabolism. Twelve older men (> or =60 yr) with serum total testosterone concentrations <17 nmol/l (480 ng/dl) were randomly assigned in double-blind manner to receive either placebo (n = 5) or testosterone enanthate (TE; n = 7) injections. Weekly intramuscular injections were given for the 1st mo to establish increased blood testosterone concentrations at 1 mo and then changed to biweekly injections until the 6-mo time point. TE doses were adjusted to maintain nadir serum testosterone concentrations between 17 and 28 nmol/l. Lean body mass (LBM), muscle volume, prostate size, and urinary flow were measured at baseline and at 6 mo. Protein expression of androgen receptor (AR) and insulin-like growth factor I, along with muscle strength and muscle protein metabolism, were measured at baseline and at 1 and 6 mo of treatment. Hematological parameters were followed monthly throughout the study. Older men receiving testosterone increased total and leg LBM, muscle volume, and leg and arm muscle strength after 6 mo. LBM accretion resulted from an increase in muscle protein net balance, due to a decrease in muscle protein breakdown. TE treatment increased expression of AR protein at 1 mo, but expression returned to pre-TE treatment levels by 6 mo. IGF-I protein expression increased at 1 mo and remained increased throughout TE administration. We conclude that physiological and near-physiological increases of testosterone in older men will increase muscle protein anabolism and muscle strength.     

玉米副突变及其分子机制

副突变是一种表观遗传现象,通过同源基因间染色质状态信息的转移建立新的基因表达状态,这种表达状态能够通过减数分裂而传递到后代。玉米是研究副突变及其机制的模式植物,目前已经发现有5个基因位点能够发生副突变。对玉米b1副突变系统的广泛研究发现DNA重复序列、siRNA途径、DNA结合蛋白等在副突变状态的建立和维持过程中可能起着重要的作用。     

Accumulation of trehalose in response to desiccation and salt stress in the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc commune

Changes in photosynthetic activity and trehalose levels in field‐isolated, natural colonies of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc commune responding to desiccation and salt stress were investigated. As the water content decreased in N. commune colonies during desiccation, photosynthetic O₂‐evolving activity decreased and no activity was detected in desiccated colonies. A high level of O₂ evolution was restored in the colonies as they absorbed atmospheric moisture, indicating that only a small amount of water is required for reactivation of photosynthesis. No detectable trehalose was found in fully hydrated N. commune colonies; however, trehalose accumulation occurred in response to water loss during desiccation and high levels of trehalose were detected in the air‐dried colonies. Moreover, a 0.2 M NaCl treatment also induced trehalose accumulation to a level equivalent to that by desiccation. Photosynthetic O₂ evolution was inhibited by 0.2 M NaCl, indicating that N. commune can tolerate only low levels of salt. These results suggest that cessation of photosynthesis and trehalose accumulation occur in response to both matric water stress (desiccation) and osmotic water stress (high salt concentration), and that while trehalose may be a less effective osmoprotective compound than others, it is important for the extreme tolerance to desiccation observed in terrestrial cyanobacterium.     

Retracted: Advances in the physiological and pathological implications of cholesterol

Cholesterol has evolved to fulfill sophisticated biophysical, cell signalling, and endocrine functions in animal systems. At the cellular level, cholesterol is found in membranes where it increases both bilayer stiffness and impermeability to water and ions. Furthermore, cholesterol is integrated into specialized lipid‐protein membrane microdomains with critical topographical and signalling functions. At the organismal level, cholesterol is the precursor of all steroid hormones, including gluco‐ and mineralo‐corticoids, sex hormones, and vitamin D, which regulate carbohydrate, sodium, reproductive, and bone homeostasis, respectively. This sterol is also the immediate precursor of bile acids, which are important for intestinal absorption of dietary lipids as well as energy homeostasis and glucose regulation. Complex mechanisms maintain cholesterol within physiological ranges and the dysregulation of these mechanisms results in embryonic or adult diseases, caused by either excessive or reduced tissue cholesterol levels. The causative role of cholesterol in these conditions has been demonstrated by genetic and pharmacological manipulations in animal models of human disease that are discussed herein. Importantly, the understanding of basic aspects of cholesterol biology has led to the development of high‐impact pharmaceutical therapies during the past century. The continuing effort to offer successful treatments for prevalent cholesterol‐related diseases, such as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders, warrants further interdisciplinary research in the coming decades.