棉酚对Jurkat T细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

研究棉酚(gossypol)对Jurkat T细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及可能机制.将不同浓度的棉酚作用于Jurkat T细胞,用MTS比色法检测细胞存活率;以膜联蛋白V-PE染色分析细胞凋亡;用Hoechst33342染色观察核形态:用荧光染料Mitocapture结合流式细胞术和激光共焦显微镜检测线粒体跨膜电位变化.结果显示棉酚作用Jurkat T细胞24 h、48 h、72 h,其IC50值分别为77.2μmol/L、57.3 μmol/L、23.3 μmol/L,对细胞的抑制作用与药物存在时间-剂量依赖关系;终浓度为8、16、32 μmol/L的棉酚处理24 h后的细胞凋亡率分别为5.30%、15.20%、51.19%,对照组凋亡率为3.43%;高浓度棉酚作用后大量细胞核呈现染色质固缩、核碎裂和致密浓染等凋亡特征;随着浓度增加细胞线粒体跨膜电位明显降低.研究表明棉酚能有效抑制Jurkat T细胞增殖和诱导其发生凋亡,并呈现出时间-剂量依赖关系,其诱导凋亡的作用可能依赖于线粒体途径.     

喜树碱诱导的草地贪夜蛾Sf9细胞凋亡

传统植物源杀虫剂喜树碱具有优异的抑制昆虫生长发育活性, 其诱导昆虫细胞凋亡的作用方式和机制尚不明确, 极大地限制了喜树碱在植物保护领域的应用开发。本研究以1 μmol/L喜树碱诱导草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9细胞呈现细胞皱缩、微绒毛消失和染色质边集等典型细胞凋亡早期超微结构形态特征, 中期凋亡小体逐渐出现并急剧增多, DNA电泳分析可见清晰DNA片段化凋亡特征。流式细胞术分析表明1 μmol/L喜树碱诱导Sf9细胞12 h凋亡率达到最大值39.67%, 是对照的13.13倍, 随后减小。喜树碱诱导Sf9细胞凋亡在12 h和24 h 时Sf caspase-1分别出现两个活性高峰, 表明其作为效应因子在细胞凋亡级联反应过程中具有影响作用。喜树碱显著抑制Sf9细胞拓扑异构酶Ⅰ活性, 阻断解旋负超螺旋pBR322 DNA, 导致DNA损伤进而启动细胞凋亡级联反应使Sf caspase-1活性增加, 提示其信号转导过程是细胞凋亡诱导机制之一。本研究通过分析喜树碱的诱导昆虫Sf9细胞凋亡, 对揭示喜树碱诱导昆虫细胞凋亡的作用机制具有重要启示和帮助。     

过氧化氢预处理对抗氧化应激诱导的PC12细胞凋亡

氧化应激可明显地诱导细胞凋亡。本研究旨在探讨H2O2预处理能否对H2O2诱导的PC12细胞凋亡生产保护作用及ATP敏感性K^ （ATP-sensitive potassinm,KATP）通道在其中的作用。采用PI染色流式细胞仪（flow cytometry, FCM）检测PC12细胞凋亡。结果表明,经10μmol/L H2O2预处理90min的PC12细胞,分别在20、30、50和100μmol/L H2O2作用24h后,其细胞凋亡率明显下降,与未经H2O2的预处理的PC12细胞相比,差异极显著（P＜0.01）,表明H2O2预处理对H2O2诱导PC12细胞凋亡具有保护作用。用10μmol/L的KATP通道激动齐pinacidil(Pin)可显著减少30和50μmol/L H2O2诱导的PC12细胞凋亡,10μmol/L的KATP通道拮抗齐glybenclamide（Gly）则可显著地抑制甚至取消KATP通道激动剂Pin对H2O3诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用,但并不影响H2O2预处理对H2O2诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用;然而,当联合应用H2O2预处理与Pin时,对PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用显大于各自的细胞凋亡作用。提示KATP通道开放不仅对H2O2诱导PC12细胞凋亡具有保护作用,而且与H2O2预处理一起产生抗PC12细胞凋亡的协同作用。但KATP通道开放可能不参与H2O2预处理的适应性保护作用。     

维生素K2对肝癌HepG-2细胞增殖的抑制作用

近年研究发现维生素K2（VK2）对肝癌具有抑制作用,但目前VK2的抗肝癌的机理尚不明确。VK2对人肝癌细胞株HepG-2细胞增殖的抑制作用及其机制。具体做法如下：体外培养肝癌HepG-2细胞,分别用不同浓度的VK2（0、5、10、20和40μmol／L）处理培养1～3d,采用台盼蓝拒染法测定各时期的各组细胞的活力;收集20μmol／LVK,作用24h和48h后的HepG-2细胞和对照细胞,抽提DNA电泳检测;收集20μmol／LVK,作用48h后的HepG-2细胞和对照细胞,抽提总RNA,半定量RT—PCR检测抗凋亡基因survivin、bcl-2和促凋亡基因bax的mRNA表达水平。各VK2处理组的活细胞数明显低于对照组（P〈0．05）;经VK2处理的细胞其DNA电泳结果呈明显的梯状条带;与对照组相比,VK2处理组细胞的抗凋亡基因survivin和bcl-2的RT—PCR产物电泳的目的条带相对灰度值（目的基因灰度／GAPDH灰度）明显减少（P〈0．05）,而促凋亡基因bax则无明显变化（P〉0．05）。VK2通过下调抗凋亡基因survivin和bel－2／bax的桌浊水平诱导肝痛HenG-2细胞凋亡。     

紫草素促进caspase-9活化诱导大肠癌细胞凋亡的分子机制研究

目的探讨紫草素对大肠癌（CRC）细胞LoVo的抗肿瘤作用及其机制。 方法以不同紫草素浓度梯度（0、2、4、6 μmol/L）处理CRC细胞LoVo 24 h，以4 μmol/L紫草素处理不同时间梯度（0、12、24、48 h）的CRC细胞LoVo。流式细胞技术结合Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色测定细胞凋亡率，Western blot检测细胞中caspase-9蛋白的表达及切割情况。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析，组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果与0 μmol/L处理CRC细胞LoVo 24 h比较，2、4、6 μmol/L的细胞凋亡率[（6.94±1.02）﹪比（10.61±1.12）﹪、（15.55± 1.35）﹪、（36.51±1.46）﹪]均升高；与4 μmol/L紫草素处理0 h的CRC细胞LoVo比较，12、24、48 h的细胞凋亡率[（1.33±0.59）﹪比（19.23±1.24）﹪、（22.24±1.41）﹪、（28.41±1.52）﹪]均升高，差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.001）。当紫草素剂量≥2 μmol/L，处理时间≥12 h时，caspase-9蛋白表达上调并被诱导活化，而caspase-9抑制剂（Z-LEHD-FMK）预处理后，LoVo细胞凋亡率下降38.7﹪，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。 结论紫草素可以通过caspase-9蛋白的表达及其切割活性诱导CRC细胞凋亡。     

玫瑰花提取物对砷胁迫下酵母细胞凋亡抑制的研究

本试验以酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)为材料,研究玫瑰花提取物(RE)对砷胁迫下酵母细胞生长和凋亡的影响。试验以抗坏血酸(Vc)溶液为标准抗氧化对照物,1.0 mmol/L亚砷酸钠(As)为酵母胁迫浓度,分别设置了酵母对照组、酵母+RE(1.5 g/L)培养组、酵母+Vc(0.1 g/L)培养组、酵母+As(1.0 mmol/L)培养组、酵母+As+RE培养组和酵母+As+Vc培养组。酵母细胞培养24 h后,利用噻唑兰(MTT)细胞增殖法、平板点样法、荧光素二乙酸/碘化丙锭(FDA/PI)染色法、4', 6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)细胞核染色法和Annexin V-FITC/PI细胞凋亡流式检测法测定了酵母细胞的生长增殖与凋亡。试验结果显示,RE有效地缓解了砷对酵母细胞的损伤,极显著提高了砷胁迫下酵母细胞的生长率和存活率(P0.01),极显著抑制了砷胁迫下酵母细胞的凋亡(P0.01)。结果证实,RE对砷胁迫酵母细胞的凋亡有显著抑制作用,在50%的1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)清除率下,其对砷胁迫下酵母细胞的凋亡抑制率显著高于Vc(P0.05)。因此,RE作为天然植物提取物,因其绿色、无毒的作用机制,将在对抗重金属污染、提高机体抗氧化力、缓解氧化损伤等方面有着更广阔的应用前景。     

重组人凋亡素2 配体对放射线诱导肺腺癌A549 细胞凋亡作用的研究

目的:研究凋亡素2配体(Apo-2 ligand,Apo-2L),或称肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TNF-related apoptosis-inducing lig-and,TRAIL)在体外对人肺腺癌A549细胞系的放射增敏作用的研究。方法:MTT法检测Apo-2L单药或与放射线联合对腺癌A549细胞的抑制率,将细胞分为4组,对照组、Apo-2L组、Apo-2L+放射照射组、单纯照射组,200ng/ml、286 ng/ml的Apo-2L作用24小时后给予放射照射,照射剂量分别为:(1Gy、1.4 Gy、1.8Gy、2 Gy、3 Gy),然后进行流式细胞仪分析照射后24h各组细胞凋亡率变化。结果:MTT结果显示,腺癌A549细胞的抑制率与Apo-2L的浓度成正相关,凋亡素2配体作用24h后IC50为286ng/ml.流式细胞仪分析显示286ng/ml的Apo-2L处理24h后,细胞凋亡率从(6.68)%上升至(50)%,照射后24h Apo-2L+照射组凋亡率明显升高,为72.790%,对照组0.1185%,Apo-2L组50%,单纯照射组51.5067%。结论:Apo-2L在体外对腺癌A549细胞有抑制增殖和促进凋亡作用,并且Apo-2L联合放射线可以明显提高腺癌A549细胞的凋亡率。     

脱氢表雄酮经不依赖于雌、雄激素受体的MAPK信号途径抑制成骨细胞凋亡

脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)已成为防治绝经后骨质疏松症(PMO)的新策略,但其调控成骨细胞(OB)凋亡的具体分子机制和信号转导途径尚不清楚。我们通过颅骨酶解法原代培养OB,体外模拟雌激素撤退现象,10-7mol/LDHEA分别作用0h、24h、48h、72h后,RT-PCR分析OB中ERα、ERβ和ARmRNA表达;原代OB去血清进一步培养24h,细胞以雌激素受体(ER)拮抗剂ICI182,780(1μmol/L)、雄激素受体(AR)拮抗剂Flutamide(10μmol/L)或U0126(100μmol/L)预处理后给予系列浓度DHEA(10-10-10-5mol/L)孵育72h,AnnexinV-FITC/PI双标记流式细胞仪分析细胞早期凋亡;原代OB以1μmol/LICI182,780或10μmol/LFlutamide预处理25min后给予不同浓度DHEA孵育10min,Westernblotting分析ERK1/2的磷酸化状态。结果表明OBs经10-7mol/LDHEA体外处理24h、48h、72h后,ERβ和ARmRNA水平升高(分别为P<0.05和P<0.01);而ERαmRNA水平无明显变化。10-9-10-6mol/LDHEA可显著抑制血清饥饿诱导的OBs早期凋亡(分别为P<0.05及P<0.01),该抑制效应可被U0126阻滞,ICI182,780或Flutamide则不能阻滞DHEA对OB的抗凋亡效应;Westernblot也显示ICI182,780或Flutamide都不能有效地阻滞DHEA对OB中ERKs磷酸化的诱导作用。因此可认为DHEA经ER或AR非依赖途径抑制OB凋亡;丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号途径,磷酸化ERK1/2参与介导这一作用。     

厄贝沙坦对链脲佐菌素和过氧化氢诱导的β细胞氧化损伤保护作用

目的 探讨厄贝沙坦对链脲佐菌素(STZ)和过氧化氢(H₂O₂)诱导的β细胞损伤影响。方法 (1)将NIT-1细胞分为对照组及1、2、5 mmol/L STZ和300、500μmol/L H₂O₂组,处理30 min后,采用Hoechst 33342法检测各组细胞凋亡形态变化,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率,RT-qPCR检测Caspase3 mRNA水平。(2)将NIT-1细胞分为STZ及0.001、0.01、0.1 mmol/L厄贝沙坦组,作用24、48和72 h。(3)将NIT-1细胞分为H₂O₂及0.001、0.01、0.1 mmol/L厄贝沙坦组,作用24、48和72 h。采用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率和活性氧(ROS)含量,RT-qPCR检测血管紧张素II型1受体(AT1R)mRNA表达。结果 Hoechst 33342染色显示,5 mmol/L STZ组相较于1、2 mmol/L STZ组,500μmol/L H₂O_2<...     

植物源物质诱导的斜纹夜蛾细胞凋亡

为了研究植物源物质对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura离体培养细胞系SL-1的凋亡诱导作用,采用倒置相差显微镜观察了印楝素、喜树碱等9种物质各自对SL-1凋亡小体的浓度效应及时序性。结果表明：印楝素0.1～5.0 μg/mL和喜树碱0.5～20.0 μmol/L处理SL-1,24～48 h后均产生大量典型的凋亡小体;茶皂素、蓖麻碱、黄樟油、丹皮酚、烟碱、苦参碱和博落回碱0.1～20.0 μg/mL处理SL-1后,整个观察期72 h内均无明显凋亡小体出现,凋亡诱导作用不明显。印楝素0.75 μg/mL诱导SL-1 细胞凋亡,从凋亡小体判断,处理后0～36 h属细胞凋亡早期,36～60 h属细胞凋亡中期,60 h后为细胞凋亡晚期。喜树碱 5.0 μmol/L诱导SL-1细胞凋亡,处理后0～24 h属细胞凋亡前期,24～54 h属细胞凋亡中期,54 h后进入细胞凋亡晚期。初步认为印楝素和喜树碱对SL-1有凋亡诱导作用,并具有一定的浓度依赖性和时序性。     

UV-B response of green and etiolated barley seedlings

7-d-old etiolated and green barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfa) were irradiated with UV-B for 30 min and then kept for 24 h in light or darkness. Chlorophyll (Chl) synthesis was inhibited by about 30 % as a result of UV-B irradiation, but there were no significant changes in photochemical activity measured by variable to maximum fluorescence ratio (F_v/F_m), quantum yield (Φ_PS2) and oxygen evolution rate. Electron transport of etiolated seedlings was similar to that of green ones, nevertheless, the Chl content was more then 2-fold lower. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large and small subunits were diminished as a result of UV-B irradiation in etiolated and green plants, especially in those kept in the darkness. Catalase activity decreased and total superoxide dismutase activity increased in green and etiolated plants following UV-B treatment. When benzidine was used as a substrate, an isoform located between guaiacol peroxidases 2 and 3 (guaiacol peroxidase X) appeared, which was specific for UV-B treatment. As a result of irradiation, the contents of UV-B absorbing and UV-B induced compounds increased in green seedlings but not in etiolated seedlings.     

Enhanced catharanthine and vindoline production in suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus by ultraviolet-B light

Suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus were used to evaluate ultraviolet-B (UV-B) treatment as an abiotic elicitor of secondary metabolites. A dispersed cell suspension culture from C. roseus leaves in late exponential phase and stationary phase were irradiated with UV-B for 5 min. The stationary phase cultures were more responsive to UV-B irradiation than late exponential phase cultures. Catharanthine and vindoline increased 3-fold and 12-fold, respectively, on treatment with a 5-min UV-B irradiation.     

Cellular analysis of UV-B-induced barley root subapical swelling

UV-B irradiation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) roots (1 W/m², 15 min) or leaves (3 W/m², 3.3 h) and also one-day-long root incubation in the Knop solution supplemented with 1–4 μM ABA, 1 mM salicylic acid, 16 μM ionomycin, or 0.1 mM colchicine induced growth retardation and subapical root swelling. All factors, except for colchicine, initiated growth of root hairs on the surface of swellings and suppressed their initiation and growth in more basal root region. During the first hour after unilateral root UV-B irradiation, their growth sharply retarded and hydraulic conductivity of membranes in the rhizodermis of growth zone rose 1.5-fold. In 2.5 h, root tips bent toward the source of irradiation. In 4.5 h, the ratio of longitudinal to transverse root extensibility in the root growth zone reduced twofold. In 8 h, root diameter in the subapical zone increased and root hairs appeared in this zone and attained 300 μm in length. In a day after irradiation, on unirradiated root side, meristematic cells continued to divide and grow, although at a much lower rate. On the irradiated root side, the cells of the rhizodermis and outer cortex ceased to divide and produced vacuoles. Vacuolation did not occur in the cells of the quiescent center and a distal part of the meristem. The lower part of the elongation zone swelled due to cortical cell expansion (except for the endodermis) in both irradiated and unirradiated root sides. It is supposed that cortical microtubule randomization plays an important role in the changed anisotropy of cell wall extensibility and cytosolic calcium is involved in this process. The role of oxidative stress and hormonal shifts in the development of subapical root swelling and root hair formation caused by UV-B radiation is discussed.     

激光预处理可保护蚕豆细胞免受UV—B辐射的损伤

当蚕豆的胚被 He- Ne激光 (632 .8nm,1 .63J· mm- 2 )照射 5min或被 CO2 激光 (1 0 60nm,2 .53J· mm- 2 )照射 1 min后 ,将其置入 Knop营养液中进行恒温培养。当蚕豆的上胚轴长到大约 3cm时 ,在光背景 (PAR)为 70μmol· m- 2 · s- 1条件下 ,分别用 1 .0 2、3.0 3、4.52 k J· m- 2 的 UV- B辐射蚕豆的上胚轴 7h。根据蚕豆丙二醛 (MDA)、抗坏血酸 (As A)和 UV- B吸收物的含量变化 ,来测试激光对 UV- B照射蚕豆的上胚轴的保护作用。结果显示 :激光预处理可保护蚕豆上胚轴对 UV- B辐射的作用。与对照组 (没有用 UV- B或激光照射 )、UV- B单独照射组比较 ,在激光预处理的条件下 ,MDA的含量明显减少 ,As A和 UV- B吸收化合物的含量增加。如先用激光处理 ,然后再用 UV- B辐射 ,UV- B吸收物的含量将比单独用激光和 UV-B处理获得更好的改善。从而认为 ,激光预处理能增强植物对 UV- B的抵抗力。     

Oxidative damage to chloroplasts from Chlorella vulgaris exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation

Upon UV-B irradiation, Chlorella vulgaris cells and isolated chloroplasts increased in size and starch accumulation . Photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll content of chloroplasts isolated from irradiated algae decreased by 72 and 66%, as compared to chloroplasts isolated from control cells. Dihydrorhodamine 123 conversion to rhodamine 123 was used as a sensitive method for detection of peroxide (presumably hydrogen peroxide) formation in isolated chloroplasts. The accumulation of rhodamine 123 is higher in irradiated than in nonirradiated chloroplasts and the increased accumulation of rhodamine 123 depended on the UV-B dose. Quantitation of alkyl radical-EPR signals in chloroplasts indicated that UV-B exposure significantly increased radical content in the membranes. The content of an oxidized DNA base (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine) in chloroplasts was increased by 72 and 175% after irradiation of the algal culture with 17.3 and 42.6 kJ m⁻², respectively. The chloroplastic activity of superoxide dismutase decreased by 50% as compared with control values after irradiation with 42.6 kJ m⁻² and no changes in ascorbate peroxidase activity and ascorbic acid content were detected at the irradiation doses tested. The β-carotene content in chloroplasts was not affected by the irradiation, but the α-tocopherol content increased approximately 4-fold after UV-B irradiation. The results suggest that oxidative damage related to UV-B exposure is responsible for alterations in chloroplasts function and integrity, and that an antioxidant response is triggered in chloroplasts through an increase in α-tocopherol content.     

Manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2)-mediated delayed radioprotection induced by the free thiol form of amifostine and tumor necrosis factor alpha

RKO36 cells, a subclone of RKO colorectal carcinoma cells that have been stably transfected with the pCMV-EGFP2Xho vector, were grown to confluence and then exposed to either the radioprotector WR-1065, i.e. the active thiol form of amifostine, for 30 min at doses of 40 microM and 4 mM or the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha, TNFA) for 30 min at a concentration of 10 ng/ml and then washed. Total protein was isolated as a function of time up to 32 h after these treatments. Both doses of WR-1065 as well as the concentration of TNFalpha used were effective in elevating intracellular levels of the antioxidant protein SOD2 (also known as MnSOD) at least 15-fold over background levels as determined by Western blot analysis, while measured SOD2 activity was elevated between 5.5- and 6.9-fold. SOD2 reached a maximal level 24 h and 20 h after WR-1065 and TNFalpha treatments, respectively. The antioxidant proteins catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were also monitored over the 32-h period. In contrast to the robust changes observed in intracellular levels of SOD2 as a function of time after exposure of cells to WR-1065, catalase levels were elevated only 2.6-fold over background as determined by Western blot analysis, while GPX activity was unaffected by WR-1065 exposure. GPX protein levels were extremely low in cells, and analysis of GPX activity using a spectrophotometric method based on the consumption of reduced NADPH also revealed no measurable change as a function of WR-1065 or TNFalpha exposure. RKO36 cells either were irradiated with X rays in the presence of either 40 microM or 4 mM WR-1065 or 10 ng/ml TNFalpha or were irradiated 24 or 20 h later, respectively, when SOD2 protein levels were most elevated. The concentrations and exposure conditions used for WR-1065 and TNFalpha were not cytotoxic and had no effect on plating efficiencies or cell survival compared to untreated controls. No protection or sensitization was observed for cells irradiated in the presence of 40 microM WR-1065 or TNFalpha. Survival was elevated 1.90-fold for cells irradiated in the presence of 4 mM WR-1065. When RKO36 cells were irradiated with 2 Gy 24 h after 40 microM or 4 mM WR-1065 and 20 h after TNFalpha treatments when SOD2 levels were the most increased, survival was elevated 1.42-, 1.48- and 1.36-fold, respectively. This increased survival represents a SOD2-mediated delayed radioprotective effect. SOD2 appears to be an important antioxidant gene whose inducible expression is an important element in adaptive cellular responses in general, and the delayed radioprotective effect in particular. It can be induced by a range of agents including cytoprotective nonprotein thiols such as WR-1065 and pleiotropic cytokines such as TNFalpha.     

Proline controls the level of polyamines in common sage plants under normal conditions and at UV-B irradiation

Common sage (Salvia officinalis L.) plants grown in water culture to the stage of 4–5 true leaves were treated for 12, 24, 36, or 48 h with proline added to nutrient medium to a final concentration of 5 mM, or irradiated with UV-B light (12.3 kJ/m² for 10 min), or subjected to combined action of these factors. In these plants, activity of proline dehydrogenase (PDH), the content of proline, and the contents of free and conjugated polyamines were determined in the leaves and roots. It was shown that, in control plants, the content of endogenous proline was close to zero. In the presence of proline in medium, its total content in the roots was 9 μmol/g fr wt in 12 h of exposure, whereas in the leaves the content of proline increased only in 24 h and achieved only 1 μmol/g fr wt. The content of free putrescine increased in the leaves and especially in the roots after 10-min irradiation with UV-B light. The biosynthesis of putrescine was induced in the presence of proline in medium and was observed earlier than after UV-B irradiation. UV-B irradiation affected not only the synthesis of putrescine but also that of spermidine and spermine; it also induced accumulation of their soluble conjugates. Exogenous proline enhanced putrescine synthesis but inhibited the formation of polyamine soluble conjugates. At combined treatment of the two factors, the content of free putrescine in the leaves displayed a tendency to the rise and in the roots, to the decrease. At the same time, the content of polyamine free conjugates increased in both leaves and roots. All these facts could be considered as an indirect indication of relationship between proline and polyamine biosyntheses. We can also state that an artificially created high proline concentration in common sage tissues characterized of its low constitutive level resulted in disturbances in the homeostasis of low-molecular cell metabolites and induced a requirement in its restoration by diverse ways. This agrees with activation of PDH, a key enzyme of proline degradation. Induction of polyamine biosynthesis and changes in the content of their soluble conjugates might be one of the ways for such restoration. Under stress conditions, the high proline concentration is not toxic for plants because polyamines and proline are the components of the plant defense system, thus weakening damaging effects of abiotic stressors.     

Decay of γ-H2AX foci correlates with potentially lethal damage repair and P53 status in human colorectal carcinoma cells

The influence of p53 status on potentially lethal damage repair (PLDR) and DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair was studied in two isogenic human colorectal carcinoma cell lines: RKO (p53 wild-type) and RC10.1 (p53 null). They were treated with different doses of ionizing radiation, and survival and the induction of DNA-DSB were studied. PLDR was determined by using clonogenic assays and then comparing the survival of cells plated immediately with the survival of cells plated 24 h after irradiation. Doses varied from 0 to 8 Gy. Survival curves were analyzed using the linear-quadratic formula: S(D)/S(0) = exp-(αD+βD²). The γ-H2AX foci assay was used to study DNA DSB kinetics. Cells were irradiated with single doses of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 Gy. Foci levels were studied in non-irradiated control cells and 30 min and 24 h after irradiation. Irradiation was performed with gamma rays from a ¹³⁷Cs source, with a dose rate of 0.5 Gy/min. The RKO cells show higher survival rates after delayed plating than after immediate plating, while no such difference was found for the RC10.1 cells. Functional p53 seems to be a relevant characteristic regarding PLDR for cell survival. Decay of γ-H2AX foci after exposure to ionizing radiation is associated with DSB repair. More residual foci are observed in RC10.1 than in RKO, indicating that decay of γ-H2AX foci correlates with p53 functionality and PLDR in RKO cells.     

Photomorphogenic regulation of increases in UV-absorbing pigments in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings induced by different UV-B and UV-C wavebands

Brief (1–100 min) irradiations with three different ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and ultraviolet-C (UV-C) wave bands induced increases the UV-absorbing pigments extracted from cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) and Arabidopsis . Spectra of methanol/1% HCl extracts from cucumber hypocotyl segments spanning 250–400 nm showed a single defined peak at 317 nm. When seedlings were irradiated with 5 kJ m⁻² UV-B radiation containing proportionally greater short wavelength UV-B (37% of UV-B between 280 and 300 nm; full-spectrum UV-B, FS-UVB), tissue extracts taken 24 h after irradiation showed an overall increase in absorption (91% increase at 317 nm) with a second defined peak at 263 nm. Irradiation with 1.1 kJ m⁻² UV-C (254 nm) caused similar changes. In contrast, seedlings irradiated with 5 kJ m⁻² UV-B including only wavelengths longer than 290 nm (8% of UV-B between 290 and 300 nm; long-wavelength UV-B, LW-UVB) resulted only in a general increase in absorption (80% at 317 nm). The increases in absorption were detectable as early as 3 h after irradiation with FS-UVB and UV-C, while the response to LW-UVB was first detectable at 6 h after irradiation. In extracts from whole Arabidopsis seedlings, 5 kJ m⁻² LW-UVB caused only a 20% increase in total absorption. Irradiation with 5 kJ m⁻² FS-UVB caused the appearance of a new peak at 270 nm and a concomitant increase in absorption of 72%. The induction of this new peak was observed in seedlings carrying the fah 1 mutation which disrupts the pathway for sinapate synthesis. The results are in agreement with previously published data on stem elongation indicating the existence of two response pathways within the UV-B, one operating at longer wavelengths (>300 nm) and another specifically activated by short wavelength UV-B (<300 nm and also by UV-C).