黄芪复合体(豆科)核型资料的聚类分析

在平均欧氏距离系数基础上,运用UPGMA法,对黄芪复合体5个类群11个居群的核型资料进行了Q型聚类分析,结果表明,膜荚黄芪Astragalus membranaceus和A. penduliflorus的不同居群在核型上存在明显的差异,但二者之间以及它们与民和黄芪、淡紫花黄芪的居群之间具有一定的连续性。蒙古黄芪在核型上与其它类群均存在一定的差异,且存在明显的间断。因此,本文作者认为:A. penduliflorus应视为膜荚黄芪的异名,黄芪复合体应包括2种:膜荚黄芪(A. membranaceus(Fisch)Bunge)和蒙古黄芪(A. monghulicus Bunge)、2亚种:膜荚黄芪(A. membranaceus spp. membranaceus)、民和黄芪(A. membranaceus spp. minhensis)和1变种:淡紫花黄芪(A. membranaceus var. purpurinus Y.C.Ho)。黄芪复合体核型的进化趋势是从对称向不对称发展,与Stebbins的观点一致。     

黄芪皂苷、多糖及黄酮在抗细胞凋亡方面的研究进展

黄芪系豆科植物蒙古黄芪Astragalus menabranaceus (Fish.)Bge.var.meongholicus (Bge.)Hsiao或膜荚黄芪Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.的干燥根.其味甘,性微温,具有“补气升阳、益卫固表、利尿消肿、托毒生肌”之功效.黄芪含有皂苷、多糖、黄酮、氨基酸等多种活性成分,对免疫系统、内分泌系统和心血管系统等均有明显功效,其中很多药理功效作用与抗氧化损伤、调节钙稳态、抗线粒体损伤有关.氧自由基损伤、钙超载、线粒体损伤三者是启动细胞程序性凋亡的共同通路,现从这三方面综述黄芪活性成分在抗细胞凋亡机制的研究进展.     

蒙古黄芪潜在分布区预测的多模型比较

根据蒙古黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao) 123个样本点数据和19个环境数据,采用4种生态位模型对蒙古黄芪在中国的潜在适生区进行综合分析,并采用受试者工作特征曲线ROC和Kappa统计量,比较不同模型的预测效果。结果显示:4个模型预测精度良好,一致性显著。AUC值均达到0.8以上,Kappa值均达到0.6以上;其中DOMAIN模型的AUC值和Kappa值均最大,说明该模型的预测精度最佳,预测结果最稳定。潜在适生区的预测结果发现,GARP模型预测的最适宜区范围最广; MAXENT和BIOCLIM模型预测结果较为相似; DOMAIN模型预测结果比较分散。4个模型预测结果均表明西北一带可以作为蒙古黄芪栽培引种的主要产区。蒙古黄芪潜在适生区主要分布于中国北纬33°以北地区;最适宜区主要分布于甘肃、宁夏、陕西、山西、河北和内蒙古等地区。     

蒙古黄芪潜在分布区预测的多模型比较

根据蒙古黄芪（Astragalus membranaceus（Fisch.）Bge.var.mongholicus（Bge.）Hsiao）123个样本点数据和19个环境数据,采用4种生态位模型对蒙古黄芪在中国的潜在适生区进行综合分析,并采用受试者工作特征曲线ROC和Kappa统计量,比较不同模型的预测效果。结果显示：4个模型预测精度良好,一致性显著。AUC值均达到0.8以上,Kappa值均达到0.6以上;其中DOMAIN模型的AUC值和Kappa值均最大,说明该模型的预测精度最佳,预测结果最稳定。潜在适生区的预测结果发现,GARP模型预测的最适宜区范围最广;MAXENT和BIOCLIM模型预测结果较为相似;DOMAIN模型预测结果比较分散。4个模型预测结果均表明西北一带可以作为蒙古黄芪栽培引种的主要产区。蒙古黄芪潜在适生区主要分布于中国北纬33°以北地区;最适宜区主要分布于甘肃、宁夏、陕西、山西、河北和内蒙古等地区。     

黄芪皂苷、多糖及黄酮在抗细胞凋亡方面的研究进展

黄芪系豆科植物蒙古黄芪Astragalus menabranaceus(Fish.)Bge.var.meongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao或膜荚黄芪Astragalus mem-branaceus(Fisch.)Bge.的干燥根。其味甘,性微温,具有"补气升阳、益卫固表、利尿消肿、托毒生肌"之功效。黄芪含有皂苷、多糖、黄酮、氨基酸等多种活性成分,对免疫系统、内分泌系统和心血管系统等均有明显功效,其中很多药理功效作用与抗氧化损伤、调节钙稳态、抗线粒体损伤有关。氧自由基损伤、钙超载、线粒体损伤三者是启动细胞程序性凋亡的共同通路,现从这三方面综述黄芪活性成分在抗细胞凋亡机制的研究进展。     

中药黄芪植物分类及其区系地理分布研究

确认了中药黄芪的原植物有膜荚黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge)、蒙古黄芪(A. mongholicus Bunge)和北蒙古黄芪(A. borealimongolicus Y. Z. Zhao)3种,其中北蒙古黄芪为一新种;确定了这三种植物的区系地理成分：膜荚黄芪为东亚北部—西伯利亚南部森林带的分布种,蒙古黄芪为华北森林草原带的分布种,北蒙古黄芪为蒙古高原北部草原带的分布种,3种黄芪存在着明显的地理替代分布格局。     

福建5种维管植物新记录

报道福建5种新记录植物,即峨眉繁缕(Stellaria omeiensis C. Y. Wu & Y. W. Tsui ex P. Ke)、小叶干花豆(Fordia microphylla Dunn ex Z. Wei)、腺叶腺柳(Salix glandulosa Seemen var. glandulifolia C. Wang & C. Y. Yu)、疏裂凤尾蕨(Pteris finotii Christ)、刺齿贯众[Cyrtomium caryotideum (Wall. ex HK. et Grev.) Presl]。凭证标本存放于厦门大学植物标本室(AU)。     

膜荚黄芪中两个新的抗菌异黄烷化合物

膜荚黄芪（Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.)Bunge）为豆科植物,其根入药,有补气固表、利尿脱毒、敛疮疤生肌、益气补中之功效,主要用于气虚乏力、食少便溏、中气下陷、久泻脱肛、便血崩漏、表虚自汗、气虚     

温水浸种对蒙古黄芪种子萌发特性的影响

研究温水浸种破除蒙古黄芪（Astragalus membranaceus Bge.var.mongholicus（Bge.） Hsiao）种子休眠的适宜条件,采用恒温和变温2种浸种方式,测定蒙古黄芪种子在不同时间、不同温度梯度条件下的发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数。结果表明,温水浸种破除蒙古黄芪种子休眠的效果显著,变温浸种效果略优于恒温浸种。不同温度破除休眠效果排序依次为60℃> 70℃> 80℃,其中60℃变温浸种2 min和5 min的发芽率分别为对照的2.87倍和2.31倍。浸种时间、浸种温度均可显著影响蒙古黄芪种子萌发,与对照相比,随着浸种时间增加,发芽率总体呈现出先急速升高后逐渐降低的趋势;发芽指数与浸种温度极显著正相关;浸种温度与发芽势和发芽指数均显著正相关。本研究结果表明温水浸种可以提高种子发芽率,保持种子活力。     

香槐属分类学研究随记

基于对标本和文献的比较研究,确认豆科香槐属(Cladrastis Raf.)中小叶香槐(C.parvifolia C.Y.Ma)、藤香槐(C.scandens C.Y.Ma)、秦氏香槐(C.chingii DuleyVincent)与本属分布最广的翅荚香槐[C.platycarpa(Maxim.)Makino]为同种植物。其中,小叶香槐被处理为翅荚香槐的一变种,即C.platycarpa var.parvifolia(C.Y.Ma)Z.Q.Song,D.X.XuS.J.Li,藤香槐与秦氏香槐被处理为翅荚香槐原变种的两个新异名。同时讨论了翅荚香槐的分类地位及其散布。     

Technical note: interpreting stable carbon isotopes in human tooth enamel: an examination of tissue spacings from South Africa

Stable isotope analysis of skeletal tissues is widely used in archeology and paleoanthropology to reconstruct diet. In material that is poorly preserved or very old, the tissue of choice is frequently tooth enamel, since this is less susceptible to diagenesis. The relationships between carbon isotope ratios in tooth enamel (δ(13) C(enamel) ), bone collagen (δ(13) C(collagen) ), and bone apatite (δ(13) C(bone apatite) ) are, however, not well understood. To elucidate these, we have measured all three indicators in archeological humans from the western and southern Cape coastal regions of South Africa. The correlation between δ(13) C(enamel) and δ(13) C(collagen) is good (R(2) = 0.71 if two outliers are excluded, n = 79). The correlation between δ(13) C(enamel) and δ(13) C(bone apatite) is weaker (R(2) = 0.37, n = 33) possibly due to bone diagenesis. No systematic offset between δ(13) C(bone apatite) and δ(13) C(enamel) was observed in this sample of archeological humans. Intertooth comparisons of δ(13) C(enamel) in three individuals showed little variation, despite the different ages of crown formation. Carbon isotope ratios in both enamel and bone collagen are good proxies for δ(13) C(diet) .     

Is N2O3 the main nitrosating intermediate in aerated nitric oxide (NO) solutions in vivo? If so,where, when,and which one?

The widespread opinion that N(2)O(3) as a product of NO oxidation is the only nitros(yl)ating agent under aerobic conditions is based on experiments in homogeneous buffered water solutions. In vivo NO is oxidized in heterogeneous media and this opinion is not correct. The equilibrium in the system being dependent on temperature and DeltaG((sol)) for NO, NO(2), isomers of both N(2)O(3), and N(2)O(4). For polar solvents including water, DeltaG((sol)) for N(2)O(3) is high enough, and a stationary concentration of N(2)O(3) in the mixture with other oxides is sufficient to guarantee the hydrolysis of N(2)O(3) to nitrite. In heterogeneous media, the mixture contains solvates NO(2(sol)), N(2)O(3(sol)), and N(2)O(4(sol)) at stationary nonequilibrium concentrations. As far as DeltaG((sol)) is decreased in heterogeneous mixtures with low polar solvents and/or at increased temperatures, the equilibrium in such a system shifts to NO(2). Although NO(2) is a reactive free radical, it almost does not react with water. In contrast, the reaction with most functional protein groups efficiently proceeds by a radical type with the formation of nitrite and new radicals (X) further stabilized in various forms. Therefore, the ratio of the nitrosylated and nitrated products yields depends on actual concentrations of all NO(x).     

Cooperation of p40(phox) with p47(phox) for Nox2-based NADPH oxidase activation during Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-mediated phagocytosis: mechanism for acquisition of p40(phox) phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) binding

During activation of the phagocyte (Nox2-based) NADPH oxidase, the cytoplasmic Phox complex (p47(phox)-p67(phox)-p40(phox)) translocates and associates with the membrane-spanning flavocytochrome b(558). It is unclear where (in cytoplasm or on membranes), when (before or after assembly), and how p40(phox) acquires its PI(3)P-binding capabilities. We demonstrated that in addition to conformational changes induced by H(2)O(2) in the cytoplasm, p40(phox) acquires PI(3)P-binding through direct or indirect membrane targeting. We also found that p40(phox) is essential when p47(phox) is partially phosphorylated during FcγR-mediated oxidase activation; however, p40(phox) is less critical when p47(phox) is adequately phosphorylated, using phosphorylation-mimicking mutants in HEK293(Nox2/FcγRIIa) and RAW264.7(p40/p47KD) cells. Moreover, PI binding to p47(phox) is less important when the autoinhibitory PX-PB1 domain interaction in p40(phox) is disrupted or when p40(phox) is targeted to membranes. Furthermore, we suggest that high affinity PI(3)P binding of the p40(phox) PX domain is critical during its accumulation on phagosomes, even when masked by the PB1 domain in the resting state. Thus, in addition to mechanisms for directly acquiring PI(3)P binding in the cytoplasm by H(2)O(2), p40(phox) can acquire PI(3)P binding on targeted membranes in a p47(phox)-dependent manner and functions both as a "carrier" of the cytoplasmic Phox complex to phagosomes and an "adaptor" of oxidase assembly on phagosomes in cooperation with p47(phox), using positive feedback mechanisms.     

阿拉善黄鼠的生命表及繁殖

将采自野生种群的阿拉善黄鼠(Spermophilus dauricus alaschanicus Buechner)( 下称黄鼠)样本划分为8个年龄间隔,然后编制生命表。结果表明,黄鼠的平均死亡率(qx)为0.7512(♂)和0．6222(♀),平均寿命为1.3311年(♂)和1.1073年(♀)。0-l岁龄黄鼠的期望寿命(ex)为0.8311年(♂)和1.1073年(♀)。世代净增殖率(R_o)每代为l.7327。种群内禀增长率(瞬时)(r_m)为0.1433,世代平均时间(T)为3.8346年,周限增长率(r)为1.1541/年。     

Highly cytotoxic trithiophenolatodiruthenium complexes of the type [(η6-p-MeC6H4Pr i )2Ru2(SC6H4-p-X)3]+: synthesis, molecular structure, electrochemistry, cytotoxicity, and glutathione oxidation potential

A series of cationic dinuclear p-cymene ruthenium trithiophenolato complexes of the type [(η(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)Pr(i))(2)Ru(2)(SC(6)H(4)-p-X)(3)](+) (1 X is H, 2 X is Me, 3 X is Ph, 4 X is Br, 5 X is OH, 6 X is NO(2), 7 X is OMe, 8 X is CF(3), 9 X is F, 10 X is Pr(i), 11 X is Bu(t)) have been synthesized from the reaction of [(η(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)Pr(i))RuCl(2)](2) with the corresponding thiol, isolated as the chloride salts, and further studied for their electrochemical properties, cytotoxicity towards human ovarian cancer cells, and catalytic activity for glutathione (GSH) oxidation. Complex 1 was also compared with the benzene and hexamethylbenzene analogues [(η(6)-C(6)H(6))(2)Ru(2)(SC(6)H(5))(3)](+) (12) and [(η(6)-C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(SC(6)H(5))(3)](+) (13). The most active compound [11]Cl was structurally studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The concentrations corresponding to 50 % inhibition of cancer cell growth (IC(50) values) in the A2780 and A2780cisR cell lines of these complexes except for 6 were in the submicromolar range, complex 11 showing an IC(50) value of 0.03 μM in both cell lines. The high in vitro anticancer activity of these complexes may be at least partially due to their catalytic potential for the oxidation of GSH, although there is no clear correlation between the IC(50) values and the turnover frequencies at about 50 % conversion. However, the cytotoxicity is tentatively correlated to the physicochemical properties of the compounds determined by the electronic influence of the substituents X (Hammett constants σ(p)) and the lipophilicity of the thiols p-XC(6)H(4)SH (calculated log P parameters).     

Re-evaluation of the allometry of wet thermal conductance for birds

Wet thermal conductance is an important thermoregulatory parameter for birds and mammals. It is generally calculated as C(wet) (ml O2 g(-1) h(-1) degrees C(-1)) = VO2/(T(b)-T(a)), where VO2 is metabolic rate measured in ml O2 g(-1) h(-1), T(b) is body and T(a) is ambient temperature measured in degrees C. Minimum C(wet) is measured at T(a) at or below the lower critical temperature (T(lc)) of the thermoneutral zone, and is strongly influenced by time of day (rest or activity phase) and body mass [J. Aschoff, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 69A (1981) 611]. Allometric analyses indicate differences in C(wet) for passerine and non-passerine birds, in their rest and active phases (Aschoff, 1981). The allometric slope for non-passerine rest-phase (-0.583) is lower than that for non-passerine active-phase (-0.484), and passerine rest-phase (-0.461) and active-phase (-0.463), although none of these slopes are significantly different. This different-sloped relationship for non-passerine rest-phase C(wet) extrapolates to lower-than-expected values at high body mass, and so this allometric relationship may be inappropriate for predictive purposes. Consequently, we have reanalysed Aschoff's (1981) data, as well as more recent compilations, to determine a more useful allometric relationship for C(wet) of non-passerine rest-phase birds. Re-analyses of minimum thermal conductance data from Drent and Stonehouse [Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 40A (1971) 689], Aschoff (1981) and Gavrilov and Dolnik [Acta XVIII Congressus Internationalis Ornithologici Moscow (1982) 421] indicate that the most appropriate regressions for predicting C(wet) (ml O2 g(-1) h(-1) degrees C(-1)) of birds from body mass (M; g) are the pooled regressions for non-passerine and passerine birds, in the active (alpha) and resting (rho) phases, using data tabulated by Aschoff (1981): alpha, C(wet)=0.994M(-0.509); rho, C(wet)=0.702M(-0.519). C(wet) is approximately 40% higher in the active phase than the rest phase. Regressions of various data sets for C(wet) of birds and mammals indicate a similar slope of approximately -0.5 for the allometric relationship, but significantly higher elevations for mammals compared to birds. The approximately 50% higher C(wet) for mammals than birds indicates a better physical insulation for birds than mammals of the same body mass. The general scaling of C(wet) with M(-0.5) indicates that (T(b)-T(lc)) should scale with M(0.22), if mass-specific metabolic rate scales with M(-0.28) [Reynolds and Lee, Am. Nat. 147 (1996) 735]. The observed scaling for (T(b)-T(lc)) of M(0.183) (calculated from Gavrilov and Dolnik, 1985) is consistent with this expectation.     

Type 1 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is a late substrate of caspases during apoptosis

Apoptosis is characterized by the proteolytic cleavage of hundreds of proteins. One of them, the type 1 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3) R-1), a multimeric receptor located on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane that is critical to calcium homeostasis, was reported to be cleaved during staurosporine (STS) induced-apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Because the reported cleavage site separates the IP(3) binding site from the channel moiety, its cleavage would shut down a critical signaling pathway that is common to several cellular processes. Here we show that IP(3) R-1 is not cleaved in 293 cells treated with STS, TNFα, Trail, or ultra-violet (UV) irradiation. Further, it is not cleaved in Hela or Jurkat cells induced to undergo apoptosis with Trail, TNFα, or UV. In accordance with previous reports, we demonstrate that it is cleaved in a Jurkat cell line treated with STS. However its cleavage occurs only after poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which cleavage is a hallmark of apoptosis, and p23, a poor caspase-7 substrate, are completely cleaved, suggesting that IP(3) R-1 is a relatively late substrate of caspases. Nevertheless, the receptor is fully accessible to proteolysis in cellulo by ectopically overexpressed caspase-7 or by the tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease. Finally, using recombinant caspase-3 and microsomal fractions enriched in IP(3) R-1, we show that the receptor is a poor caspase-3 substrate. Consequently, we conclude that IP(3) R-1 is not a key death substrate.     

Role of hydrogen peroxide during the interaction between the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Septoria tritici and wheat

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is reported to inhibit biotrophic but benefit necrotrophic pathogens. Infection by necrotrophs can result in a massive accumulation of H(2)O(2) in hosts. Little is known of how pathogens with both growth types are affected (hemibiotrophs). The hemibiotroph, Septoria tritici, infecting wheat (Triticum aestivum) is inhibited by H(2)O(2) during the biotrophic phase, but a large H(2)O(2) accumulation occurs in the host during reproduction. Here, we infiltrated catalase, H(2)O(2) or water into wheat during the biotrophic or the necrotrophic phase of S. tritici and studied the effect of infection on host physiology to get an understanding of the survival strategy of the pathogen. H(2)O(2) removal by catalase at both early and late stages made plants more susceptible, whereas H(2)O(2) made them more resistant. H(2)O(2) is harmful to S. tritici throughout its life cycle, but it can be tolerated. The late accumulation of H(2)O(2) is unlikely to result from down-regulation of photosynthesis, but probably originates from damage to the peroxisomes during the general tissue collapse, which is accompanied by release of soluble sugars in a susceptible cultivar.     

Probability-based protein secondary structure identification using combined NMR chemical-shift data

For a long time, NMR chemical shifts have been used to identify protein secondary structures. Currently, this is accomplished through comparing the observed (1)H(alpha), (13)C(alpha), (13)C(beta), or (13)C' chemical shifts with the random coil values. Here, we present a new protocol, which is based on the joint probability of each of the three secondary structural types (beta-strand, alpha-helix, and random coil) derived from chemical-shift data, to identify the secondary structure. In combination with empirical smooth filters/functions, this protocol shows significant improvements in the accuracy and the confidence of identification. Updated chemical-shift statistics are reported, on the basis of which the reliability of using chemical shift to identify protein secondary structure is evaluated for each nucleus. The reliability varies greatly among the 20 amino acids, but, on average, is in the order of: (13)C(alpha)>(13)C'>(1)H(alpha)>(13)C(beta)>(15)N>(1)H(N) to distinguish an alpha-helix from a random coil; and (1)H(alpha)>(13)C(beta) >(1)H(N) approximately (13)C(alpha) approximately (13)C' approximately (15)N for a beta-strand from a random coil. Amide (15)N and (1)H(N) chemical shifts, which are generally excluded from the application, in fact, were found to be helpful in distinguishing a beta-strand from a random coil. In addition, the chemical-shift statistical data are compared with those reported previously, and the results are discussed. A JAVA User Interface program has been developed to make the entire procedure fully automated and is available via http://ccsr3150-p3.stanford.edu.     

The antioxidant functions of cytochrome c

Low (C(1/2) = 1.5 x 10(-7) M) concentrations of horse cytochrome c strongly inhibit H(2)O(2) production by rat heart mitochondria under conditions of reverse electron transfer from succinate to NAD(+). The effect is abolished by binding of cytochrome c with liposomes and is not prevented by SOD. Yeast cytochrome c is much less effective than the horse protein whereas acetylated horse cytochrome c is without effect. H(2)O(2) formation stimulated by antimycin A is resistant to added cytochrome c. In inside-out submitochondrial vesicles, H(2)O(2) production is suppressed by all three cytochrome c samples tested, but at higher concentrations (C(1/2) is about 5 x 10(-7) M). In vesicles, SOD abolishes the cytochrome c inhibition. We conclude that extramitochondrial cytochrome c is competent in down-regulation of the Complex I H(2)O(2) production linked to the reverse electron transfer. Such an effect is absent in the inside-out submitochondrial vesicles where another antioxidant cytochrome c function can be observed, i.e. the oxidation of O(2-*) to O(2). A possible role of cytochrome c in the antioxidant defence is discussed.