Toward the Molecular Deciphering of Pomacea canaliculata Immunity: First Proteomic Analysis of Circulating Hemocytes

Pomacea canaliculata is a freshwater snail with interesting biological features that include invasiveness, human parasite hosting, and adult regeneration. Its immune system may represent the target for strategies aimed at controlling the spread of the snail population and its hosting of the human parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Moreover, immune functions likely have a role in the snail's ability to wound heal and regenerate. Despite its importance in multiple processes, very little is known about the molecular basis of P. canaliculata immunity. Aiming to contribute to filling this gap, the ultrastructure of circulating hemocytes in healthy snails is studied and the first proteomic analysis of these cells is performed, evidencing 83 unique proteins, 96% of which have identifiable homologs in other species. Fifteen proteins are retrieved as potentially involved in immune‐related signaling pathways, such as hemocyanin, C1q‐like protein, and HSP90 together with cytoskeleton and cytoskeleton‐related proteins involved in cell motility and membrane dynamics. This first proteome study on non‐stimulated hemocytes provides a valid reference for future investigations on the molecular changes under stressful circumstances, like pathogen exposure, wounding, or environmental changes.     

Palatability of macrophytes to the invasive freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata: differential effects of multiple plant traits

1. By selective grazing, invasive grazers can alter macrophyte‐herbivore relationships in shallow freshwater bodies. Evaluating the palatability of macrophytes and understanding the determinants of plant palatability can help predict grazing impact. In no‐choice feeding assays, we tested the palatability of 21 species of freshwater macrophytes to the invasive freshwater apple snail Pomacea canaliculata. 2. Daily feeding rate varied greatly with plant species, ranging from 1.1 to 22% of snail body mass. We assessed six plant properties and examined their correlation with feeding rate. Total nitrogen content was positively related, and C:N ratio and dry matter content (DMC) negatively related, to snail feeding rate. There was no significant correlation between snail feeding rate and plant phenolic content, but the feeding rate on Myriophyllum aquaticum (the plant with the highest phenolic content) was very low. 3. We repeated the feeding assays for 15 species that were not palatable as fresh leaves with reconstituted plant tissues formed by mixing ground up dried leaves with agar. The feeding rate still differed greatly among macrophyte species. Phragmites australis and Vallisneria natans (two species with the highest DMC) were eaten much more as reconstituted plant than as fresh leaves, indicating that structure (i.e. DMC) may be important in their defence against snail herbivory. For two plants (M. aquaticum and Alternanthera philoxeroides) that had moderate amounts of nitrogen/phosphorus but were consumed very little as fresh and reconstituted tissues, we incorporated their extracts into a palatable agar‐based food. The extracts from both species greatly reduced snail feeding rate, indicating the presence of chemical defences in these two species. 4. These results indicated that feeding was affected by several plant traits. The snail favoured plants with a high nitrogen content and avoided plants with a high DMC. Only a few plants possessed chemical feeding deterrents that were effective against this snail. Given the invasive spread of P. canaliculata in Asia, ecologists and managers should consider plant palatability when selecting plants for use in wetland restoration and when predicting the impact of further invasion by this species.     

福寿螺3个地理群体遗传多样性的AFLP分析

应用AFLP分子标记技术对我国江苏苏州、福建漳州和广东珠海3个地理群体福寿螺进行了遗传多样性分析.8对选择性引物在3个群体的90个个体中,共扩增出382个位点,多态位点369个.江苏、福建和广东3个福寿螺群体的多态位点比率和Shannon's指数分别为84.82%、85.08%、79.06%,0.4259、0.4308、0.4079;表明3个群体遗传多样性在同一水平上.不同地理来源的福寿螺个体归群分析聚成3类,与地理分布一致,表明3个地理群体间已出现遗传分化,广东群体和福建群体首先聚在一起,再与江苏群体聚类.Shannon's指数和AMOVA分析估算均显示福寿螺的遗传变异主要来自于群体内个体间.综上所述,3个福寿螺群体具有丰富的遗传多样性而且已形成相对独立的遗传结构;并找到了3个群体间遗传特异性AFLP标记,可用于群体间分子鉴定和辅助分类.     

Expression of stress proteins of HSP70 family in response to cold in Myrmica ants from various geographic populations

Expression of HSP70 is induced by stress factors, including sublethal chilling. However, the role of HSP70 for overcoming the consequences of cold stress is not clear. If it is positive, the level of HSP70 expression might be higher in populations from cold climates. Using the immunoblotting technique we investigated dynamics of HSP70 expression in response to cold stress in two Myrmica species (M. rubra and M. ruginodis) from three localities of different latitudes (50, 60 and 67°N). The results showed that in the more thermophilic species Myrmica rubra, expression of HSP70 after cold stress was higher. Within both species, HSP70 expression did not show a direct relationship with latitude. The southernmost population of M. rubra and northernmost population of M. ruginodis displayed the fastest and the most intense response. However, two other populations of M. rubra were similar in timing and intensity of the response, while in M. ruginodis the intermediate population showed the slowest and weakest response. The data suggest that expression of HSP70 may play essential role for adaptation to cold only in the northernmost population of M. ruginodis     

Metabolic flux from the chloroplast provides signals controlling photosynthetic acclimation to cold in Arabidopsis thaliana

Photosynthesis is especially sensitive to environmental conditions, and the composition of the photosynthetic apparatus can be modulated in response to environmental change, a process termed photosynthetic acclimation. Previously, we identified a role for a cytosolic fumarase, FUM2 in acclimation to low temperature in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutant lines lacking FUM2 were unable to acclimate their photosynthetic apparatus to cold. Here, using gas exchange measurements and metabolite assays of acclimating and non‐acclimating plants, we show that acclimation to low temperature results in a change in the distribution of photosynthetically fixed carbon to different storage pools during the day. Proteomic analysis of wild‐type Col‐0 Arabidopsis and of a fum2 mutant, which was unable to acclimate to cold, indicates that extensive changes occurring in response to cold are affected in the mutant. Metabolic and proteomic data were used to parameterize metabolic models. Using an approach called flux sampling, we show how the relative export of triose phosphate and 3‐phosphoglycerate provides a signal of the chloroplast redox state that could underlie photosynthetic acclimation to cold.     

异色瓢虫成虫冷驯化反应及体内几种酶活力的相关变化

为明确冷驯化反应对异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) 实验种群成虫耐寒性及其生殖能力的影响, 本研究测定了成虫低温存活率、过冷却点(supercooling point, SCP)、体内含水量及雌虫繁殖能力等。结果表明: 冷驯化（在5℃下诱导3 d, 5 d）后, 成虫再在-5℃下暴露3 d的存活率由对照（预先未进行冷驯化）的46%分别提高至60%和67%, 而诱导10 d后的存活率(51%)反而下降。冷驯化效应在其成虫转移至饲养条件下7 d后就消失。随着低温诱导时间的延长过冷却点及体内含水量均呈现下降趋势, 短时间(5, 10 d)的诱导不能使成虫的SCP明显降低, 但可以使含水量极显著下降。冷驯化后异色瓢虫雌虫产卵前期延长; 虽然冷驯化对雌虫首次产卵量没有影响, 但是随着诱导时间的延长连续观察72 h内单头雌虫累计产卵量却降低。冷驯化过程中成虫体内几种酶活力的检测结果表明: 两种细胞保护酶超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性升高, 与新陈代谢有关的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)及Na⁺, K⁺-ATP酶活性却降低。结果显示, 低温胁迫前异色瓢虫成虫经过不同时间的诱导后有可能提高其低温抵抗能力, 而且冷驯化诱导成虫耐寒性增加是一种复杂的生理生化过程, 这一过程对其生存和繁殖具有重要的适应意义。     

Identification of a metabolic bottleneck for cold acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Central carbohydrate metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana is known to play a crucial role during cold acclimation and the acquisition of freezing tolerance. During cold exposure, many carbohydrates accumulate and a new metabolic homeostasis evolves. In the present study, we analyse the diurnal dynamics of carbohydrate homeostasis before and after cold exposure in three natural accessions showing distinct cold acclimation capacity. Diurnal dynamics of soluble carbohydrates were found to be significantly different in cold-sensitive and cold-tolerant accessions. Although experimentally determined maximum turnover rates for sucrose phosphate synthase in cold-acclimated leaves were higher for cold-tolerant accessions, model simulations of diurnal carbohydrate dynamics revealed similar fluxes. This implied a significantly higher capacity for sucrose synthesis in cold-tolerant than cold-sensitive accessions. Based on this implication resulting from mathematical model simulation, a critical temperature for sucrose synthesis was calculated using the Arrhenius equation and experimentally validated in the cold-sensitive accession C24. At the critical temperature suggested by model simulation, an imbalance in photosynthetic carbon fixation ultimately resulting in oxidative stress was observed. It is therefore concluded that metabolic capacities at least in part determine the ability of accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana to cope with changes in environmental conditions.     

日本桃叶珊瑚的冷驯化及抗寒机制研究

冷驯化能大大提高植物的抗寒性。研究测定了引进日本桃叶珊瑚(Auccuba japonica Thunb.cv.Variegata)苗木在不同越冬条件下的抗寒性指标及在低温锻炼前后的半致死温度,并通过双向电泳分离与抗寒性有关的特异蛋白。结果表明,日本桃叶珊瑚能安全地越冬(最低气温为-18℃),日本桃叶珊瑚叶片抗冻的细胞结构特征在于其叶肉细胞排列疏松,间隙大,有利于防止细胞内结冰;经过4℃冷驯化的植株低温半致死温度为-21℃,而未经冷驯化的植株低温半致死温度为-7．5℃;双向电泳分析发现至少有3个常温下存在而低温下消失的蛋白多肽,分子量分别为A15kD、B14kD、C56kD、D26kD。依据分子量和等电点初步分析,A与组蛋白H2A相似,B与组蛋白H2B相似;另B与Rubisco小亚基分子量相近,C与Rubisco大亚基分子量相近,前一种情况可能与有关抗寒基因的表达有关,后一种情况可能与低温下的光合作用减弱有关。     

Quantitative evaluation of gap junctions in rat brown adipose tissue after cold acclimation

Summary The decrease in the metabolic capacity of rat brown adipose tissue during the late postnatal period can be reversed by cold acclimation of the animals. In order to find out whether a parallel decrease in capability for intercellular communication observed during this period is also reversed by cold acclimation, gap junction size and number per unit area of cell surface have been quantified in freeze-fracture replicas; cell diameters have been measured in semi-thin sections. It was found that the specific number of gap junctions remains unchanged during cold acclimation. However, the mean gap junction size increases by 75% and the ratio of gap junctional area per cell volume, an index for intercellular exchange capacity, is doubled. This result illustrates further the parallelism between metabolic capacity and cell communication in brown fat.     

Improving tolerance of somatic emrbyos of Picea glauca to flash desiccation with a cold treatment (desiccation after cold acclimation)

Summary Controlled mild desiccation of mature white spruce somatic embryos prior to germination improves the quality of the germinated embryos. More severe desiccation results in increased injury and death but is desirable for long-term storage of embryos and production of desiccated artificial seed. A method was developed to improve desiccation tolerance in somatic embryos using a temperature treatment. Culture plates with embryos at four stages of development were subjected to temperatures of 1, 5, 10, or 20°C for periods of 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 wk duration. After the temperature treatment, the embryos were harvested and air-dried for 2h under a laminar flow hood. Dried embryos were placed directly on germination medium and the quality of the germinants was assessed after 4 wk. The initial maturation stage of the embryo and the temperature and duration of the treatment had a significant effect on the quality of the germinants. Most treatments caused marked differential survival of organs. The optimal response was obtained with embryos that had been grown for 51 d (cotyledonary stage) on maturation medium and that were subsequently exposed to a temperature of 5°C for 8 wk prior to air drying. This treatment produced 58% undamaged germinants with normal cotyledons, hypocotyls, and roots. Only 1% of the untreated air-dried embryos germinated normally.     

饥饿胁迫下福寿螺的存活和产卵情况及器官组织损伤观察

【背景】福寿螺是首批被列入我国外来入侵物种黑名单的生物。近年来,有关福寿螺的研究主要集中在生物学特性、农业危害及防控等方面。其中,关于饥饿胁迫对福寿螺的影响亦有报道,但饥饿胁迫造成其器官组织损伤后的表观结构变化尚未见报道。【方法】本文研究了饥饿胁迫下福寿螺的存活和产卵情况,并通过扫描电镜对福寿螺头部和肝脏表面结构进行观察。【结果】福寿螺在饥饿25 d后存活率达90%以上;饥饿组在25 d内平均每缸产卵量为4.00块,明显低于对照组的24.33块,且福寿螺在饥饿12 d后停止产卵。通过扫描电镜观察可见,头部皱缩并有侵蚀絮状物堆叠,肝脏螺旋结构松散,并伴有深浅不一的裂痕和侵蚀状损伤。【结论与意义】短期饥饿（25 d）对福寿螺存活影响不大,但其产卵量受到明显影响,且头部和肝脏存在明显的外表破损。该结果为研究福寿螺入侵机制及防控策略提供了一定的参考。     

植物冷驯化的分子机理研究进展

植物冷驯化是一个非常复杂的过程,包括植物将感受到的低温信号转变成生化信号,以激活冷诱导基因的启动子,刺激特定的mRNA的转录,并在特定的组织中合成冷驯化蛋白.冷驯化蛋白通过增强膜脂流动性和阻止胞间冰晶形成等方式,以保护细胞免受低温伤害.冷驯化基因的表达以转录后调控为主,也有转录调控.某些冷诱导基因也可受ABA或其他环境胁迫(如高温、干旱、高盐、脱水等)诱导表达.     

Growth and survival of juvenile Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) in plain streams associated to different land uses

Pomacea canaliculata is an apple snail that has become an invasive species in several countries. In this research, through two simultaneous experiments, we assessed the effects of different land uses (urban, agriculture, cattle grazing, farms and recreation) on the growth and survival of snails from native populations. The survival was not affected by the water quality of the three streams studied, whereas the growth of snails exposed to the water of the urban stream was impaired. Therefore, our results suggest that the growth rate of P. canaliculata could be useful for the assessment of a moderate urban impact.     

The role of ABA in freezing tolerance and cold acclimation in barley

The role of ABA in freezing resistance in nonacclimated and cold‐acclimated barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) was studied. Eleven nonacclimated cultivars differed in their LT₅₀, ranging from −10.8 to −4.8°C. Sugars, free proline, soluble proteins and ABA were analyzed in nonacclimated cultivars and during cold acclimation of one cultivar. There was an inverse correlation between LT₅₀ and both ABA and sucrose contents. Exogenous ABA caused a decrease in the freezing point of leaf tissue in the cultivar with the lowest level of endogenous ABA, but not in the cultivar with the highest level, suggesting that ABA in the latter may be near the optimum endogenous level to induce freezing tolerance. Plants of cv. Aramir treated with ABA or allowed to acclimate to cold temperature increased their soluble sugar content to a similar level. The LT₅₀ of leaves of cold‐acclimated cv. Aramir decreased from −5.8 to −11.4°C, with biphasic kinetics, accumulating proline and soluble sugars with similar kinetics. The biphasic profile observed during cold acclimation could be a direct consequence of cryoprotectant accumulation kinetics. ABA and soluble protein accumulation showed a single step profile, associated mainly with the second phase of the LT₅₀ decrease. Thus, a significant increase in endogenous ABA is part of the response of barley to low temperature and may be required as a signal for the second phase of cold acclimation. Endogenous ABA contents in the nonacclimated state may determine constitutive freezing tolerance.     

Absence of metabolic cold adaptation and compensatory acclimation in the Antarctic fly, Belgica antarctica

The respiratory metabolism in larvae of the Antarctic fly, Belgica antarctica Jacobs (Diptera: Chironomidae) was investigated at Palmer Station, Anvers Island (64°46′S, 64°03′W). Oxygen consumption was linearly related to temperature from 0 to 20°C, respectively, 49 and 338 nl/mg live wt/hr. Maintenance at 0 and 10°C for 8 days had no differential effect on the metabolic rate, suggesting that larvae lack the ability for compensatory acclimation. A comparison of standard metabolism for polar and temperate chironomids revealed no elevation of metabolic rate in polar forms. However, polar species exhibited lower activation energies than temperate forms indicating that the respiratory metabolism of polar chironomids is relatively temperature independent.