Lipids of Hevea brasiliensis and Euphorbia coerulescens

The low MW lipids identified in the latices of Hevea brasiliensis and Euphorbia coerulescens were as follows: 2-methylcyclobutanone; 2-methyl-2-hydroxycyclobutanone; 2-methylcyclobutanol; euphol; euphorbol; and tirucallol.     

The Conducting Phloem in Relation with the Expropriation of Latex in Hevea brasiliensis

1. In the bark of tapped trees, the thickness of the conducting phloem is less than 1 mm. Hence the conducting sieve tubes do not necessarily be cut off at the usual cutting depth required. The suggestion of conserving the conducting phloem during tapping is desirable and practicable. 2. Although the sieve tubes are not cut off directly during tapping, the outer part of the sieve tube layer at/near the gapping cut will be collapsed as a result of the damaging effect from tapping. This has revealed the actual process of the destruction in the sieve tubes during tapping.     

Sucrose Synthetase in the Latex of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg

Sucrose synthetase (EC 2.4.1.13 [EC] ) was found in the latex of therubber tree but the activity of sucrose phosphate synthetase(EC 2.4.1.14 [EC] ) was not detected. The enzyme was purified andsome properties have been investigated. Examination of the kineticsof sucrose synthesis revealed K_m of 0.56 mM for uridine diphosphoglucoseand 3.85 mM for fructose. Mg²⁺ and cyanide activated sucrosesynthesis but reduced the cleavage reaction. Increased pH hadthe same effect, the synthetic activity being higher than theactivity of sucrose breakdown within the physiological levelsof latex pH. In the latex of regularly tapped trees, the total enzyme activityin the direction of synthesis was about 10% or less of the totalinvertase activity at pH 7.0. Because of the strong limitationof invertase under natural conditions, the proportion of actualsynthetase activity is, however, much higher and evidence ispresented that in the latex of regularly tapped trees this activitysignificantly reduces carbohydrate breakdown. Some indications have been obtained that this involvement ofsucrose synthetase is weakened by application of Ethrel to thebark. A reduction of its synthetic activity, accompanied byan acceleration of sucrose utilization in latex cytoplasm andby an increase of latex yield, could be observed before thetreatment-induced rise of pH enhancing inver.     

乙烯利诱导胶乳基因HbEtIe的克隆与表达分析

在成功构建巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)胶乳差异表达cDNA消减文库的基础上,利用RACE技术成功克隆了一个新的乙烯利诱导表达胶乳基因HbEtIe。分析表明,该基因含有1个158 bp的内含子和2个长度分别为92 bp和178 bp的外显子;cDNA全长551 bp,包含1个270 bp的完整阅读框,174 bp的3′-UTR和107 bp的5′-UTR,推导氨基酸序列中含有一个未知功能结构域DUF581。HbEtIe基因在乙烯利刺激条件下的胶乳中特异性表达并受到乙烯利的调控,其表达量随处理时间的延长而增强。HbEtIe基因与拟南芥衰老相关基因SAG102具有较高的同源性暗示,HbEtIe可能参与了乙烯利诱导巴西橡胶树乳管衰老的分子调控。     

The Latex of Hevea brasiliensis Contains High Levels of Both Chitinases and Chitinases/Lysozymes

The latex of the commercial rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, was fractionated by ultracentrifugation as described by G. F. J. Moir ([1959] Nature 184: 1626-1628) into a top layer of rubber particles, a cleared cytoplasm, and a pellet that contains primarily specialized vacuoles known as lutoids. The proteins in each fraction were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Both the pellet fraction and cleared cytoplasm contained large amounts of relatively few proteins, suggesting that laticifers serve a very specialized function in the plant. More than 75% of the total soluble protein in latex was found in the pellet fraction. Twenty-five percent of the protein in the pellet was identified as chitinases/lysozymes, which are capable of degrading the chitin component of fungal cell walls and the peptidoglycan component of bacterial cell walls. Both the chitinase and lysozyme activities were localized exclusively in the pellet or lutoid fraction. The chitinases/lysozymes were resolved into acidic and basic classes of proteins and further purified. An acidic protein (molecular mass 25.5 kD) represented 20% of the chitinase activity in latex; this protein lacked the low level of lysozyme activity that is associated with many plant chitinases. Six basic proteins, having both chitinase and lysozyme activities in various ratios and molecular mass of 27.5 or 26 kD, were resolved. Two of the basic proteins had very high lysozyme specific activities which were comparable to the specific activities reported for animal lysozymes. Like animal lysozymes, but unlike previously characterized plant chitinases/lysozymes, these basic chitinases/lysozymes were also capable of completely lysing or clearing suspensions of bacterial cell walls. These results suggest that laticifers may serve a defensive role in the plant.     

乙烯利刺激橡胶树增产及其分子生物学基础

本文介绍近年来乙烯利刺激橡胶树增产的分子生物学研究进展,讨论乙烯利刺激橡胶树胶乳增产的可能原因,并对这一领域今后研究的发展趋势进行了展望。     

Ethylene-Induced Increase in Glutamine Synthetase Activity and mRNA Levels in Hevea brasiliensis Latex Cells

Ethylene, used as a stimulant of latex production in Hevea brasiliensis, significantly activates the regenerating metabolism within the laticiferous cells. In this context, attention was focused on glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2), a key enzyme in nitrogen metabolism. A specific and significant activation of the cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GScyt) in the laticiferous cells after ethylene treatment parallels the increase of latex yield. A marked accumulation of the corresponding mRNA was found, but in contrast, a slight and variable increase of the polypeptide level is at the limit of detection by western blotting. The GS response to ethylene might be mediated by ammonia that increases in latex cytosol following ethylene treatment. The physiological significance for such a regulation by ethylene of the GScyt is discussed in terms of the nitrogen requirement for protein synthesis associated with latex regeneration.     

Early Activation by Ethylene of the Tonoplast H-Pumping ATPase in the Latex from Hevea brasiliensis

The treatment of Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree) bark by chloro-2-ethyl phosphonic acid (ethrel), an ethylene-producing compound, induces a significant increase in the tonoplast H⁺-translocating ATPase activity in the latex during the first 24 hours after the application of the stimulating agent. Moreover, the tonoplast-bound ATPase is highly activated when vacuoles (lutoids) are resuspended in ultrafiltrated cytosol. This effect is amplified during ethrel stimulation. Preliminary assays to characterize the endogenous effector(s) suggest that the activator(s) could be a heat-resistant compound with a low molecular weight, most likely an anion. The activation of the tonoplast-bound ATPase and the associated activation of the protons translocation across the lutoid membrane, could explain the cytosolic alkalinization observed in latex following the ethrel treatment of Hevea bark, which results in an enhanced rubber production.     

巴西橡胶树HbSIP2互作蛋白的筛选和鉴定

可溶性无机焦磷酸酶在天然橡胶生物合成中具有重要的调控作用,HbSIP2是胶乳中关键的可溶性无机焦磷酸酶基因。为了深入了解HbSIP2调控橡胶生物合成的机理,本研究对HbSIP2互作蛋白进行了筛选和鉴定。结果表明:诱饵载体p GBKT7-Hb SIP2无自激活活性,且对酵母无毒性作用,可以用于酵母文库筛选。将诱饵载体与橡胶树胶乳cDNA文库进行杂交,初步筛选获得20个与HbSIP2互作的蛋白。进一步通过双分子荧光互补实验证实,Hb SIP2能够与橡胶延伸因子发生蛋白互作。本研究结果为HbSIP2调控橡胶生物合成的机理研究提供了重要的理论依据。     

Localization and Behaviour of Actin Microfilaments in Laticiferous Cells of Hevea brasiliensis in Latex Exploitation

Actin microfilaments of laticiferous cells and bark wounds in Hevea brasiliensis were studied using TRITC-phalloidin fluorescent microscopy. Actin in latex from mature rubber trees was also investigated using SDS-PAGE and western-boltting. TRITC-fluorescent substance plugged the end of laticifers when latex flow stopped. Actin was detected only in C serum among the four latex fractions. Higher actin content was found in the latex collected at the beginning of tapping than in that collected just before latex flow stopped. Lower actin content was detected in the latex from rubber trees with more intensive exploitation. The present study indicated that actin microfilaments might play an important role in regulation of latex flow and plugging of the laticifers wounds.     

一种快速、高效的橡胶树胶乳总RNA提取方法

胶乳是橡胶树（Hevea brasiliensis）乳管中特殊的细胞质,主要由橡胶粒子、黄色体、F-W粒子和普通细胞质成分构成,其中橡胶粒子占20％-40％,蛋白含量高达1％-2％。由于高比例橡胶粒子和蛋白质的干扰,目前使用的胶乳RNA提取方法都具有步骤繁琐、胶乳需求量大、操作技巧性强不易掌握等缺点。为快速、高效地获取高质量的胶乳RNA,我们在现有方法的基础上摸索出一套步骤简单、容易操作、快速、高效提取橡胶树胶乳总RNA的简易方法,获得了较好的实验效果。紫外分光光度计、RT-PCR和RACE分析结果表明,使用该方法提取的胶乳RNA质量完全能够满足相应的分子操作,但所需时间仅为目前常用方法的50％,RNA获得率提高了2-3倍,操作难度大大降低。     

一种快速、高效的橡胶树胶乳总RNA 提取方法

胶乳是橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)乳管中特殊的细胞质, 主要由橡胶粒子、黄色体、F-W粒子和普通细胞质成分构成, 其中橡胶粒子占20%-40%, 蛋白含量高达1%-2%。由于高比例橡胶粒子和蛋白质的干扰, 目前使用的胶乳RNA提取方 法都具有步骤繁琐、胶乳需求量大、操作技巧性强不易掌握等缺点。为快速、高效地获取高质量的胶乳RNA, 我们在现有方法的基础上摸索出一套步骤简单、容易操作、快速、高效提取橡胶树胶乳总RNA的简易方法, 获得了较好的实验效果。紫外分光光度计、RT-PCR和RACE分析结果表明, 使用该方法提取的胶乳RNA质量完全能够满足相应的分子操作, 但所需时间仅为目前常用方法的50%, RNA获得率提高了2-3倍, 操作难度大大降低。     

巴西橡胶树胶乳中DUF1262结构域蛋白结构与基因表达分析

为了揭示天然橡胶生物合成酶互作蛋白结构及其在天然橡胶生物合成过程中的功能。本研究以橡胶树胶乳橡胶粒子总蛋白为研究对象,采用免疫共沉淀实验技术以天然橡胶合成关键酶顺式-异戊二烯基转移酶（CPT）抗体从胶乳中捕获了1个含DUF1262结构域的未知功能蛋白。生物信息学分析表明橡胶树基因组中包含50个编码含DUF1262结构域蛋白的基因序列;蛋白质相互作用网络分析表明DUF1262结构域蛋白可能参与调节信号转导或转录调控等过程;荧光定量PCR结果表明编码该蛋白基因的转录本在根、叶、花、枝和胶乳等组织中广泛分布,但在胶乳中表达较低,在树皮表达较高;水杨酸、脱落酸、过氧化氢及干旱处理可增强该基因在叶片中的转录水平。本研究证明DUF1262参与橡胶树逆境反应等生理过程,为揭示胶乳生物合成调控机制提供新线索。     

巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)微管相关蛋白全长cDNA克隆及表达分析

从巴西橡胶树Hevea brasiliensis差减cDNA文库中分离到微管相关蛋白（Microtubule-associated protein,MAPs）基因片段,根据该基因片段序列信息,设计特异引物,采用cDNA末端快速扩增技术RACE（Rapid Amplification ofcDNA Ends）进行差异片段的5＇和3＇端的扩增,获得了长度为788bp的全长cDNA,该基因在GenBank中的登录号为AY461412.序列分析表明该基因包含完整的开放阅读框,编码144个氨基酸,与微管相关蛋白基因家族具有很高的同源性,推测该基因是微管相关蛋白基因.半定量RT-PCR检测证实它在胶乳中的表达强于叶中,胁迫处理（伤害及乙烯处理）使其表达上调.     

Xylem conduction and cavitation in Hevea brasiliensis

Clones of Hevea were studied in an attempt to discover the reasonsfor differences in the hydraulic performance of xylem. Differencesbetween clones were determined, including hydraulic conductivityand conduit width and length distributions. However, it hasproved difficult to reconcile anatomical differences with physiologicalperformance for use in future plant breeding programmes. When leaf relative water content (RWC) had been reduced fromabout 95% to 85%, the hydraulic conductivity of petioles decreasedsharply to about 40% of the initial value. This value correspondedwith xylem sap tensions of 1.8–2.0 MPa. Acoustic detectionexperiments revealed that this reduction in hydraulic conductivitycoincided with the greatest occurrence of cavitation. It seemsinescapable that the reduction in hydraulic conductivity wascaused by embolization; thereafter gas bubbles blocked the flowof water inside many of the conduits. There was some indicationthat eventually such bubbles might be dissolved, because thehydraulic conductivity increased again if specimens were fullyrehydrated. Apparently, the incidence of cavitation coincides with the entryof gas bubbles via ultramicroscopic pores into the conduitsthrough the walls according to the air-seeding hypothesis. Whena petiolate leaf is tested in a pressure chamber it is impossibleto make satisfactory measurements of a balancing pressure beyondc. 1.8–2.0 MPa, because air bubbles, mixed with sap andescaping from the conduits, form a persistent froth. Xylem transportin Hevea seems to be disrupted relatively easily under waterstress which is a feature of other tropical species adaptedto rainforest–type environments Key words: Hevea, xylem, cavitation, conduit, hydraulic conductivity