硅在植物中的生理功能

硅参与植物的许多生理活动和代谢作用,促进植物器官的形成、发育和健壮生长,改善叶的着生方式和冠层结构,缓解金属离子毒害和盐胁迫,增强植物的抗旱性、抗病性和抗虫性,提高经济产量和质量.该文就这些方面的研究进展作了介绍.     

硫化氢在植物中的生理功能及作用机制

硫化氢(H₂S)是继一氧化氮(NO)和一氧化碳(CO)之后第3个气体信号分子, 在植物体内参与许多重要的生理活动, 能够促进植物光合作用和有机物的积累, 缓解各种生物和非生物胁迫并促进植物生长发育。该文综述了植物体内H₂S的物理化学性质、产生机制、主要生理功能和作用机制以及与其它信号分子的互作关系, 并展望了H₂S信号分子的研究前景。     

植物精氨酸及其代谢产物的生理功能

L-精氨酸在植物中除作为一种重要的氮素贮藏营养物供再利用外,还是生成多胺（PA）和-氧化氮（NO）等的前体物质,而PA和NO都是植物中重要的信使分子,参与包括生长发育、抗逆性等在内的几乎所有的生理生化过程。精氨酸脱羧酶（ADC）、精氨酸酶和一氧化氮合酶（NOS）是L-精氨酸分解代谢的关键酶,精氨酸可经ADC或精氨酸酶-鸟氨酸脱羧酶（ODC）途径形成PA,也可经NOS途径形成NO,3个酶活性的相对强弱,决定了精氨酸的代谢方向。根系在越冬期间会积累丰富的精氨酸;精氨酸代谢对于植物感知和适应环境变化有重要意义。     

气体信号分子硫化氢在植物中的生理功能及作用机制

硫化氢（hydrogen sulfide,H2S）是继一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）和一氧化碳（carbon monoxide,CO）之后发现的第3种气体信号分子,它能参与生物体内的多种生理生化过程并发挥特定功能。在动物体内,H2S能够调节血管及神经系统功能。植物也能通过产生内源H2S来提高对环境的适应能力,缓解多种逆境胁迫造成的损伤和毒害,参与特定的生理代谢过程,诸如参与气孔运动和延缓衰老等。本文从H2S产生和代谢途径、已发现的生理功能和信号转导机制等方面综述H2S在植物中的最新研究进展,同时也探讨了H2S与其它信号分子的相互作用以及H2S对蛋白质的修饰机制。     

逆境胁迫下植物体内脱落酸的生理功能和作用机制

文章介绍逆境胁迫下植物体内ABA的生理功能和作用机制研究进展。     

植物褪黑素及其抗逆性研究

褪黑素(N-乙酰-5-甲氧基色胺)是脊椎动物的松果体产生的吲哚类激素,主要参与动物昼夜节律调节.现已证实褪黑素在高等植物中也普遍存在,但对其功能的研究还不甚深入.目前,植物中褪黑素的可能功能包括清除自由基、调节光周期、参与生长调节等.本文简述了植物中褪黑素的研究概况、含量及其合成途径,重点综述了其在提高植物抗逆性方面的功能,并对其研究前景进行展望.     

高等植物光敏色素的分子结构、生理功能和进化特征

光敏色素是植物感受外界环境变化的最重要光受体之一,对红光和远红外光非常敏感。本文综述了光敏色素的分子结构、它所包含的结构域和相应功能以及植物各主要类群中光敏色素基因家族的成员组成与进化关系;重点在分子水平上介绍了光敏色素的生理功能与作用机制。最后,基于最新的研究进展提出了将来的研究方向。     

高等植物光敏色素的分子结构、生理功能和进化特征

光敏色素是植物感受外界环境变化的最重要光受体之一, 对红光和远红外光非常敏感。本文综述了光敏色素的分子结构、它所包含的结构域和相应功能以及植物各主要类群中光敏色素基因家族的成员组成与进化关系; 重点在分子水平上介绍了光敏色素的生理功能与作用机制。最后, 基于最新的研究进展提出了将来的研究方向。     

高等植物中的谷氨酸脱氢酶及其生理作用

谷氨酸脱氢酶普遍存在于植物体内,它虽然不是植物吸收利用氮素的主要成员,但在植物氮代谢中起着重要作用。高等植物的谷氨酸脱氢酶主要存在于线粒体中,以烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸（NADH)为辅酶。该酶分子量为255-258kD,由六个亚基组成,亚基包括a和b两种类型,存在七种同工酶形式。又能氧化脱铵从而为三羧酸循环提供碳骨架。     

高等植物中的谷氨酸脱氢酶及其生理作用

谷氨酸脱氢酶普遍存在于植物体内,它虽然不是植物吸收利用氮的主要成员,但在植物氮代谢中起着重要作用,高等植物的谷氨酶主要存在于线粒体中,以烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸（NADH）为辅酶,该酶分子量为255－258kD,由六个亚基组成,亚基包括α和β两种类型,存在七种同工酶形式,它在植物的衰老过程及逆境如高温和水份胁迫等状况下行使其铵同化功能,但在黑暗或碳胁迫条件下又能氧化脱铵从而为三羧酸循环提供骨架。     

Phytoremediative Capacity of Plants Enriched with Melatonin

Melatonin is an environmentally friendly-molecule with broad spectrum antioxidant capacity. Melatonin is widely present in the plant kingdom. High levels of melatonin exist in an aquatic plant, the water hyacinth, which is highly tolerant of environmental pollutants. Elevated levels of melatonin probably help plants to protect against environmental stress caused by water and soil pollutants. To investigate the potential relationships between melatonin supplementation and environmental tolerance in plants, pea plants were treated with high levels of copper in the soil. The results show that copper contamination kills pea plants; however, melatonin added to the soil significantly enhanced their tolerance to the copper contamination and, therefore, increased their survival. Based on the theory and these preliminary data, we speculate that melatonin could be used to improve the phytoremediative efficiency of plants against different pollutants. Since melatonin is safe to animals and humans as well as being inexpensive, it may be a feasible and cost-effective approach to clean environmental contaminations.Key Words: phytoremediation, plants, melatonin, antioxidant     

Melatonin in Plants: More Studies are Necessary

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a biogenic indoleamine structurally related with other important substances such as tryptophan, serotonin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In mammals, birds, reptiles and fish melatonin is a biological modulator of several timing (circadian) processes such as mood, sleep, sexual behavior, immunological status, etc. Since its discovery in plants in 1995 several physiological roles, including a possible role in flowering, circadian rhythms and photoperiodicity and as growth-regulator have been postulated. Recently, a possible role in rhizogenesis in lupin has also been proposed. Here, these actions of melatonin in plant development are commented on and some other interesting recent data concerning melatonin in plants are also discussed. The need for more investigation into melatonin and plants is presented as an obvious conclusion.Key Words: antioxidant, auxin, ethylene, flowering, growth, IAA, melatonin, rhizogenesisMelatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is well known in human and animal physiology, but is an unknown player in the physiology of plants. Many studies have clearly demonstrated its presence in different parts of plants such as the root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed.^1–3 In addition to its phytochemical interest (natural melatonin is absorbed by the human digestive tract), this compound has aroused attention as a possible signal molecule in plant physiology.^4,5 From it discovery in plants in 1995, some authors have postulated many physiological roles for melatonin, although, in general, research into melatonin in plants is clearly insufficient. Only the possible role of melatonin in flowering and as growth promotor have been studied with some detail. As regards the former, the studies of Kolar''s group on the role of melatonin as plant rhythm regulator provided interesting data, pointing to melatonin''s action in the later stages of the flowering process.^6,7 Melatonin seems to have a more obvious effect in the growth process of some species, as has been demonstrated by our group. Our data showed that melatonin has a growth-promoting effect on aerial organs (epi- and hypocotyls, coleoptiles) and a growth-inhibitory effect on roots, in a similar way to auxins.^8,9 Other authors, too, have provided evidence on the possible growth-promoting activity of melatonin in Glycyrrhiza uralensis, which doubled its melatonin content in roots in the 3–6 month development period.¹⁰ A more recent paper, presented data concerning the effect that melatonin has on the rhizogenesis process. Melatonin produces and/or activates the generation of root primordia and their subsequent growth into lateral roots and adventitious roots in Lupinus albus.¹¹ Studies on melatonin in vegetative plant development pointed to a relationship between IAA and melatonin but more data are necessary to identify the particular interconnection. The most recent data in this respect, established the effect of melatonin on the enzymatic activity of ACC oxidase in hypocotyls and roots of Lupinus albus, pointing to the possible regulation of ethylene production in these vegetative organs.¹²One aspect that has slowed down research into melatonin in plants is the difficulty involves in its detection, identification and measurement of melatonin in plants. Because the high degree of interference caused by melatonin-immunodetection kits using plant samples, the habitual use of the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been crucial.¹³ The use of this sophisticated technique for melatonin identification combined with measuring levels by means of liquid chromatography with electrochemical or fluorescence detection seem to be an efficient methodological option. In this respect, studies such as that recently published by Cao et al. (2006),¹⁴ where a robust method for determining melatonin, serotonin and auxin in plant samples using LC-MS/MS was presented, clearly contribute to improving accurate research into melatonin in plants.Future studies on melatonin in plant physiology should take metabolic and molecular aspects into consideration. Thus, the participation of different enzymatic activities in melatonin biosynthesis and catabolism in plants appears to be an interesting challenge.⁵ Also, the presence of melatonin receptor(s) in plant samples would strongly suggest a role for melatonin. Other interesting aspects to be investigated are: the possible tissular transport of melatonin, its action as plant cell protector due to its excellent antioxidative properties, and its involvement in particular physiological processes such as germination, cell growth, senescence, flowering, etc. Lastly, we must not forget the involvement of melatonin in stress processes in animal cells, which may be mirrored to some extent in plant cells. As can be seen, much remains to be done.     

The Function of Tocopherols and Tocotrienols in Plants

Referee: Dr. Kozi Asada, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Fukuyama University, Gakuencho 1, Fukuyama 729-0292, Japan Tocopherols and tocotrienols, which differ only in the degree of saturation of their hydrophobic prenyl side chains, are lipid-soluble molecules that have a number of functions in plants. Synthesized from homogentisic acid and isopentenyl diphosphate in the plastid envelope, tocopherols and tocotrienols are essential to maintain membrane integrity. α-Tocopherol is the major form found in green parts of plants, while tocotrienols are mostly found in seeds. These compounds are antioxidants, thus they protect the plant from oxygen toxicity. Tocopherols and tocotrienols scavenge lipid peroxy radicals, thereby preventing the propagation of lipid peroxidation in membranes, and the ensuing products tocopheroxyl and tocotrienoxyl radicals, respectively, are recycled back to tocopherols and tocotrienols by the concerted action of other antioxidants. Furthermore, tocopherols and tocotrienols protect lipids and other membrane components by physically quenching and reacting chemically with singlet oxygen. The scavenging of singlet oxygen by α-tocopherol in chloroplasts results in the formation of, among other products, α -tocopherol quinone, a known contributor to cyclic electron transport in thylakoid membranes, therefore providing photoprotection for chloroplasts. Moreover, given that α-tocopherol increases membrane rigidity, its concentration, together with that of the other membrane components, might be regulated to afford adequate fluidity for membrane function. Furthermore, α-tocopherol may affect intracellular signaling in plant cells. The effects of this compound in intracellular signaling may be either direct, by interacting with key components of the signaling cascade, or indirect, through the prevention of lipid peroxidation or the scavenging of singlet oxygen. In the latter case, α-tocopherol may regulate the concentration of reactive oxygen species and plant hormones, such as jasmonic acid, within the cell, which control both the growth and development of plants, and also plant response to stress.     

The Physiological Function of Store-operated Calcium Entry

Store-operated Ca²⁺ entry is a process whereby the depletion of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores signals the opening of plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channels. It has long been thought that the main function of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry was the replenishment of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores following their discharge during intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling. Recent results, however, suggest that the primary function of these channels may be to provide direct Ca²⁺ signals to recipients localized to spatially restricted areas close to the sites of Ca²⁺ entry in order to initiate specific signaling pathways.     

母乳中瘦蛋白的生理功能

研究表明,母乳中存在着瘦蛋白。该文介绍母乳中瘦蛋白的含量、瘦蛋白的来源、瘦蛋白在乳中的存在方式及乳中瘦蛋白的生理效应。     

植物顺乌头酸酶及其生理功能

介绍了植物顺乌头酸酶酶学特性、分子生物学及其生理功能的研究进展,对其在一氧化氮(NO)介导的植物抗病信号转导和NO、SA以及H2O2对话中的可能作用也作了概述。     

褪黑素和褪黑素受体对下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴作用的研究进展

松果体于儿童中期可发育至最高峰,普遍在7岁之后开始呈逐渐萎缩,并在成年后逐渐有钙盐沉着。褪黑素主要是由松果体进行合成和分泌所形成,存在较好的昼夜节律性,且通常是通过下丘脑的视交叉上核进行控制,并与环境中的光-暗呈现的周期改变存在密切关联。此外,褪黑素具有极其广泛的生物学作用,且其发挥作用的首站便是与特异性褪黑素受体相关结合,随后经由信号转导系统发挥相应的生物效应。褪黑素受体属于G蛋白耦联受体超家族重要成员之一,其主要是通过百日咳毒素敏感G蛋白的一致性G蛋白通路,减少环腺苷酸的急剧或(和)抑制毛喉菇素刺激的环腺苷酸升高,从而间接影响黑色素活动。下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴(HPA轴)是机体在发生应激反应过程中具有一定影响的系统,其所分泌的激素也会表现出昼夜节律性的改变,且此种改变与褪黑素的有关变化呈现出明显的相反性。提示了两者可能存在一定的相关,在机体免疫功能的调控中扮演着不同的角色。本文通过阐述褪黑素和褪黑素受体对HPA轴作用的最新研究进展,旨在明确三者存在的错综复杂的相互作用关系,继而为机体免疫功能调控的一系列疾病研究提供参考依据。