臭氧胁迫对水稻生长以及C、N、S元素分配的影响

采用开顶式气室(Open-top Chamber, OTC),对水稻"3694繁"(Oryza sativa L., 3694 Fan)在浙江嘉兴进行田间原位臭氧(O₃)熏气实验,研究不同臭氧浓度熏气对水稻生长以及C、N,S元素分配的影响。实验设置分4个水平:过滤大气组(CF,10 nL/L)、自然大气组(NF,40 nL/L)和两个不同浓度的臭氧处理组(O₃-1:100 nL/L; O₃-2:150 nL/L)。主要结果表明:(1)开始臭氧熏气时,各个处理组单茎水稻各组分生物量没有差异. 在熏气后期(水稻成熟期),臭氧处理使单茎水稻根、茎和穗生物量显著下降,根冠比降低,株高显著降低,表明臭氧胁迫增加水稻地上部分的干物质分配,且对株高的影响可能大于对地上生物量的影响;(2)臭氧处理使水稻根和茎C元素含量下降,叶C元素含量上升,表明臭氧胁迫提高了叶片中碳分配,而降低了根和茎的碳分配;(3)各个组分N元素含量上升和碳氮比下降;(4)茎、叶和穗S元素含量上升,可能会增强水稻抗氧化系统的作用,从而抵抗臭氧胁迫。所有实验结果表明臭氧浓度升高会对水稻生长产生严重不利影响,从而导致水稻各个组分的C、N、S元素分配格局发生改变。     

外源CaCl2对NaCl胁迫下酸枣幼苗氮代谢的影响

为了研究CaCl₂对NaCl胁迫下酸枣幼苗根、茎、叶的氮代谢影响,探索钙缓解幼苗NaCl胁迫的作用途径。该研究以酸枣幼苗为试验材料,检测不同浓度CaCl₂(0、5、10、20 mmol/L)对NaCl(150 mmol/L)胁迫下幼苗叶片H₂O₂、O^-·₂含量,根、茎、叶中硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合酶(GOGAT)活性及游离氨基酸、可溶性蛋白、硝态氮含量的影响,并采用主成分分析法筛选出评价CaCl₂缓解NaCl胁迫效应的生理指标。结果表明：与NaCl胁迫相比,盐胁迫幼苗叶片的H2O₂、O^-·₂积累量在5、10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理下显著减少;GOGAT活性在5、10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理下的植株根和茎内以及各浓度 CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高, GS、NR活性在10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根内和10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的茎内以及5、10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高;可溶性蛋白含量在5、10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根、茎、叶内均显著升高,游离氨基酸含量在10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根和茎内以及10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高,硝态氮含量在10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根和茎内以及5、10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高。研究发现,150 mmol/L NaCl胁迫对酸枣幼苗造成明显过氧化伤害,抑制了体内氮代谢;外源CaCl₂可通过促进幼苗根和茎内GS/GOGAT循环对NH₄⁺的同化作用,提高叶片NR活性,加快硝态氮的转化速率,从而增强幼苗对NaCl胁迫的适应性,并以10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理缓解效果最佳;游离氨基酸、GOGAT、NR可以作为CaCl₂缓解幼苗NaCl胁迫伤害的评价指标。     

臭氧胁迫使两优培九倒伏风险增加——FACE研究

近地层臭氧(O₃)浓度升高使作物生长发育受到抑制进而使产量下降,但O₃胁迫条件下作物抗倒性状的变化及其可能原因均不清楚。FACE(Free Air gas Concentration Enrichment)试验在很少扰动的自然农田实施,其特有的空间优势为研究这一问题提供了最好的机会。依托全球唯一的稻田臭氧FACE技术平台,以杂交稻两优培九为供试材料,设置大气背景O₃浓度和高O₃浓度两个水平首次对这一问题进行了实验研究。结果表明:高O₃浓度使水稻抽穗期单茎(去除叶鞘)倒5、倒4和倒3节间的平均倒伏指数分别增加25%、16%和14%,使抽穗后35 d对应节间倒伏指数分别增加13%、12%和2%,除抽穗后35 d倒3节间外均达显著或极显著水平;高浓度O₃使水稻抽穗期和抽穗后35 d植株倒5、倒4和倒3节间的抗折力和弯曲力矩均下降,前者降幅明显大于后者;高O₃浓度对抽穗期和抽穗后35 d倒5、倒4、倒3和倒2和倒1节间的长度和粗度影响较小,但使各节间单位长度鲜重和干重一致下降,以单位长度干重降幅更大;高O₃浓度使结实期倒5、倒4、倒3、倒2和倒1节间可溶性糖和淀粉含有率均下降,抽穗后35 d降幅大于抽穗期。以上数据表明,未来高浓度臭氧环境条件下两优培九结实期的倒伏风险明显增加,这主要与基部节间抗折能力明显削弱有关,而后者可能又与节间充实程度下降有关。     

氮素形态对杉木幼苗侧根生长和叶片光合特性的影响

以3月龄的杉木实生苗为试验材料,分析了不同氮素形态——硝态氮(NO₃^- N)、铵态氮(NH4⁺ N)和硝酸铵(NH₄NO₃)(氮素浓度均为3 mmol·L^-1)对杉木幼苗侧根生长、叶片光合气体交换参数和叶绿素荧光参数的影响,以揭示杉木幼苗对不同形态氮的偏好性,以及不同形态氮肥下杉木幼苗侧根生长和光合生理的响应特征,为杉木苗期氮肥管理提供理论依据。结果显示：(1)不同氮素形态对杉木幼苗地上部和侧根生物量具有显著影响,其中NH₄⁺ N处理下幼苗地上部和侧根生物量最大,NO₃^- N处理次之,而NH₄NO₃处理最小。(2)NH₄⁺ N和NO₃^- N处理下杉木幼苗总根长、根系总表面积和根系总体积均显著高于NH₄NO₃处理(P＜0.05),且NH₄⁺ N处理又显著高于NO₃^- N处理,但不同氮形态处理间侧根数量差异不显著。(3)NH₄⁺ N处理下杉木幼苗叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率明显高于NO₃^- N和NH₄NO₃处理,但NO₃^- N和NH₄NO₃处理之间无明显差异。(4)NH₄⁺ N处理下杉木叶片初始荧光强度低于NO₃^- N处理,而最大荧光强度、可变荧光强度和PSⅡ潜在活性却高于全硝氮和硝铵氮处理。上述结果表明,NH₄⁺ N处理不仅有利于杉木幼苗侧根生长发育,且其叶片具有较强的光合能力,较高的PSⅡ中心稳定性、光化学活性以及电子传递效率,从而更有利于植株生长。因此,从根系生长和光合特性来看,杉木幼苗对铵态氮具有偏好性。     

镍离子对尖叶莴苣氮素吸收和生长生理的影响

以‘全年油麦菜’尖叶莴苣为试验材料,采用水培方式,研究3个浓度(0 mg·L^-1、0.1 mg·L^-1、1 mg·L^-1)Ni²⁺在22.4 mg·L^-1 N处理下对尖叶莴苣氮素吸收的生长及生理影响。结果显示：(1)尖叶莴苣根系和地上部生物量随处理时间的增加呈上升趋势。与对照T₁(0 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、112 mg·L^-1 N)相比,T₂处理(0 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、22.4 mg·L^-1 N)对尖叶莴苣根系及叶片生长具有一定抑制作用,植株鲜重、干重、根冠比、根系长度、平均直径、表面积、体积、根尖数、分根数、叶片表面积和体积在T3处理(0.1 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、22.4 mg·L^-1 N)下显著高于对照,T₄处理(1 mg·L^-1 Ni²⁺、22.4 mg·L^-1 N)对尖叶莴苣根系及其叶片生长具有一定促进作用,但对其根尖数和分根数表现出一定抑制性。(2)随着Ni²⁺浓度的增加,尖叶莴苣叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量呈先升后降的变化规律,且均在T₃处理下显著提高。(3)随着处理时间的增加,尖叶莴苣叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)逐渐上升,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)逐渐下降,且T₃处理叶片的G_s显著高于对照,其C_i最低,P_n最大。(4)施加Ni²⁺对尖叶莴苣有机酸、可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量以及SOD和POD活性有显著影响,在T₃处理下有机酸含量降低,可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量显著增加,SOD和POD活性显著提高。(5)T₃处理尖叶莴苣根系中N及叶片中B和Ca含量较高;根系中Ni含量高于叶片,T₃处理叶片中的Ni含量较低,Mg含量较高;植株体内Cu含量随Ni²⁺浓度增加而下降。研究表明,外源Ni²⁺处理能影响低氮条件下(22.4 mg·L^-1 N)尖叶莴苣幼苗生长及生理状况,适宜浓度(0.1 mg·L^-1)Ni²⁺可有效提高尖叶莴苣根系对氮素的吸收利用效率,减少氮素施用量,促进尖叶莴苣根系和地上部叶片生长,增加光合色素含量,并提高净光合速率,进而改善植株的产量和营养品质。     

外源H2O2对盐碱胁迫下苹果矮化砧木幼苗生理特性的影响

以2年生苹果矮化砧木M9 T337为试材,采用盆栽试验法,设置浇灌清水(CK)和盐碱胁迫(0.1 mol/L NaCl+NaHCO₃溶液)+ 喷施5种浓度的H₂O₂ ［0(T₁)、0.2 mmol/L(T₂)、0.4 mmol/L(T₃)、0.6 mmol/L(T₄)、0.8 mmol/L(T₅)］ 处理,测定各处理叶片叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数、渗透调节物质含量、抗氧化酶活性和细胞膜透性,并利用相关性与主成分分析进行综合评价,以探讨外源过氧化氢(H₂O₂)增强其盐碱耐性的生理机制。结果表明：(1)随着盐碱胁迫(T₁)的时间延长,M9 T337幼苗叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)含量、叶绿素b (Chl b)含量、叶绿素总量(Chl t)、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量均呈逐渐下降趋势;胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、可溶性总糖(TSS)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性、相对电导率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)含量均呈上升趋势;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈先升后降趋势。(2)与CK相比,盐碱胁迫+外源H₂O₂(T₂- T₅)处理后M9 T337幼苗叶片各指标均呈现不同幅度变化,且存在明显浓度效应,并以T₃(0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂)处理叶片的Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP和G_s降幅最小,C_i、REC、MDA升幅最小,TSS、Pro、APX升幅最大。(3)M9 T337幼苗叶片P_n与T_r、G_s、Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP、SOD、POD呈显著正相关,与C_i、MDA、CAT、APX、REC呈显著负相关。(4)综合评价表明,各处理对M9 T337幼苗叶片生理特性的效应依次为：CK>T₃>T₄>T₂>T₅>T₁。研究发现,叶面喷施适宜浓度H₂O₂可有效改善盐碱胁迫下M9 T337幼苗光合能力,显著提高抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质的含量,降低细胞膜透性,从而达到缓解盐碱胁迫的作用,并以0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂处理效果最佳。     

植物叶片中过氧化氢含量测定方法的改进

Ti（Ⅳ）-H₂O₂比色法因背景物质干扰而测得的植物叶片内H₂O₂含量偏高，5％三氯乙酸抽提，活性炭脱色，Ti（Ⅳ）-4-(2-吡啶偶氮)间苯二酚(PAR)比色法测得的H₂O₂含量偏低.萃取法有效地脱去丙酮提液中的色素，且H₂O₂的回收率在95％以上.用过氧化氢酶(CAT）处理作空白对照，利用H₂O₂与Ti（Ⅳ）-PAR的显色反应，建立了一种简便、快速、准确的植物叶片内的H₂O₂含量测定方法，H₂O₂的最低检测浓度为0.25 μmol·L^－1.用该方法测得多种植物叶片中H₂O₂的含量在0.1～0.8 μmol·g^－1.     

NO和H2O2诱导大豆根尖和边缘细胞耐铝反应的作用

 NO和H₂O₂是参与植物抗非生物胁迫反应的重要信号分子, 为了确定NO和H₂O₂在大豆(Glycine max)根尖和根边缘细胞(root border cells, RBCs)耐铝反应中的作用及其相互关系, 以‘浙春3号’大豆为材料, 研究了铝毒胁迫下大豆根尖内源NO和H₂O₂的变化, 以及外源NO和H₂O₂诱导大豆根尖和RBCs的耐铝反应。结果表明, 50 μmol·L^–1 Al处理48 h显著抑制大豆根的伸长, 提高Al在根尖的积累, 同时显著增加根尖内源NO和H₂O₂含量。施加0.25 mmol·L^–1外源NO供体亚硝基铁氰化钠(Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO]·2H₂O, sodium nitroprusside, SNP)和0.1 mmol·L^–1H₂O₂, 能有效地缓解Al对大豆根伸长的抑制、根尖Al积累和RBCs 的死亡, 该缓解作用可以被0.05 mmol·L^–1 NO清除剂2-(4- 羧基苯)-4,4,5,5- 四甲基咪唑-1- 氧-3- 氧化物, 钾盐(C₁₄H₁₆N₂O₄·K, carboxy-PTIO, cPTIO)和150 U·mL^–1 H₂O₂清除酶(catalase, CAT)逆转。并且外源NO能够显著促进根尖H₂O₂的积累, 而外源H₂O₂对根尖NO的含量无显著影响。这表明NO和H₂O₂是诱导大豆根尖及RBCs耐铝反应的两种信号分子, NO可能通过调控H₂O₂的形成, 进而诱导大豆根尖及RBCs的耐铝反应。     

白刺器官间非结构性碳水化合与C：N：P计量比的关联性

为了探明荒漠生态系统优势种白刺的生存和生长策略,以便更好地服务于退化生态系统恢复及荒漠化治理。根据空气相对湿度选取阿拉善地区3个典型白刺群落样点,研究白刺根、茎、叶中非结构性碳水化合物（NSCs）的积累及分配和碳：氮：磷（C：N：P）计量比特征的变化,并分析相应区域的土壤有机质、全N、全P含量。结果表明：（1）随干旱程度加剧,白刺根、茎、叶中NSCs绝对含量减小,可溶性糖先增加后降低,淀粉先降低后增加;白刺叶片中N、P含量先增加后降低,C：N和C：P先降低后增加,在最为干旱的Plot3样点叶片N：P>16。（2）在Plot1样点,器官间根系可溶性糖显著高于茎干和叶片,根系淀粉含量显著低于茎干和叶片,在Plot3样点叶片可溶性糖含量显著高于茎干和根系,根系中淀粉含量显著高于叶片和茎干;白刺根、茎全C含量显著高于叶片,叶片N含量显著 > 根系 > 茎干;在Plot1和PLot2样点叶片P含量显著大于根系和茎干,在Plot3样点根系 > 茎干 > 叶片。（3） NSCs及构成与C：N：P计量比间关系表明叶片N、P含量与茎、叶可溶性糖含量正相关和淀粉含量负相关,根中P含量与根中淀粉含量正相关和可溶性糖含量负相关。以上结果表明,随干旱加剧白刺的生长受到水分和P的双重限制,白刺通过调整器官间NSCs积累及分配和提高N、P利用效率的策略来适应干旱生境,P含量的变化影响器官间可溶性糖和淀粉的相互转化,对NSCs构成和含量的波动起着调节作用。     

腐植酸浸种对低温胁迫下玉米幼苗抗氧化系统的影响

低温冷害是导致黑龙江省玉米产量不稳、品质不高的重要农业气象灾害,而关于低温胁迫下玉米抗氧化应激能力和程度的研究较少。采用清水为对照（CK）,以腐植酸质量浓度为0.2%、0.4%、0.8%、1.2%、1.6%和2.0%浸种,研究了昼夜温度为15℃/8℃低温胁迫48 h下玉米幼苗的代表性抗氧化酶活性、抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽（AsA-GSH）循环、系统抗性及碳氮代谢的变化,以明确腐植酸对玉米的耐低温胁迫响应机制及适宜的浸种浓度。结果表明：低温胁迫条件下腐植酸浸种主要受过氧化氢（H₂O₂）积累诱导,随着浸种浓度的增加,大多数抗氧化酶和系统抗性酶活性、AsA-GSH循环、碳氮代谢主要物质含量、根系活力和鲜重均呈单峰曲线分布,其中0.8%-2.0%浓度处理的叶片和根系可溶性蛋白含量分别显著增加了23.3%-34.9%和31.9%-89.6%;1.6%浓度处理的叶片和根系苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性分别显著增加了16.8%和38.8%,多酚氧化酶活性分别增加了27.7%和13.4%,抗坏血酸含量分别显著增加了62.6%和55.3%,脱氢抗坏血酸含量分别显著增加了31.9%和66.4%;0.8%浓度处理的叶片和根系过氧化氢酶活性分别显著增加了66.4%和108.1%。因此,腐植酸浸种处理的叶片H₂O₂含量较对照显著降低了18.7%-37.6%,根系H₂O₂含量显著降低了27.5%-49.7%。0.4%和0.8%浓度处理的根系鲜重较对照分别显著增加了85.2%和105.3%,单株鲜重分别显著增加了31.9%和40.8%。腐植酸0.4%-0.8%处理增强了AsA为核心的AsA-GSH循环系统的运转活性和系统抗性,提高了玉米幼苗的抗氧化应激能力,获得最大的根系活力和植株鲜重,是水培条件下较为适宜的浸种浓度。     

The identification and metabolism of GA9 and its metabolites in seed coats and shoots of pea,line G2

[³H]gibberellin A₉ was applied to shoots or seed parts of G2 pea to produce radiolabeled metabolites. These were used as markers during purification for the recovery of endogenous GA₉ and its naturally occurring metabolites. GA₉ and its metabolites were purified by HPLC, derivatized and examined by GC-MS. Endogenous GA₉, GA₂₀, GA₂₉ and GA₅₁ were identified in pea shoots and seed coats. GA₅₁-catabolite and GA₂₉-catabolite were also detected in seed coats. GA₇₀ was detected in seed coats following the application of 1 g of GA₉. Applied [³H]GA₉ was metabolized through both the 13-hydroxylation and 2-hydroxylation pathways. Labeled metabolites were tentatively identified on the basis of co-chromatography on HPLC with endogenous compounds identified by GC-MS. In shoots [³H]GA₅₁ and [³H]GA₅₁-catabolite were the predominant metabolites after 6 hrs, but by 24 hrs there was little of these metabolites remaining, while [³H]GA₂₉-catabolite and an unidentified metabolite predominated. In seed coats [³H]GA₅₁ was the initial product, later followed by [³H]GA₅₁-catabolite and an unidentified metabolite (different from that in shoots), with lesser amounts of [³H]GA₂₀, [³H]GA₂₉ and [³H]GA₂₉-catabolite. [³H]GA₇₀ was a very minor product in both cases. [³H]GA₉ was not metabolized by pea cotyledons.Edited by T.J. Gianfagna.Author for correspondence     

Comparison of effects of salt and alkali stresses on the growth and photosynthesis of wheat

The seedlings of wheat were treated by salt-stress (SS, molar ratio of NaCl: Na₂SO₄ = 1: 1) and alkali-stress (AS, molar ratio of NaHCO₃: Na₂CO₃ = 1: 1). Relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area, and water content decreased with increasing salinity, and the extents of the reduction under AS were greater than those under SS. The contents of photosynthetic pigments did not decrease under SS, but increased at low salinity. On the contrary, the contents of photosynthetic pigments decreased sharply under AS with increasing salinity. Under SS, the changes of net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), and transpiration rate (E) were similar and all varied in a single-peak curve with increasing salinity, and they were lower than those of control only at salinity over 150 mM. Under AS, P _N, g _s, and E decreased sharply with rising salinity. The decrease of g _s might cause the obvious decreases of E and intercellular CO₂ concentration, and the increase of water use efficiency under both stresses. The Na⁺ content and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in shoot increased and the K⁺ content in shoot decreased under both stresses, and the changing extents under AS were greater than those under SS. Thus SS and AS are two distinctive stresses with different characters; the destructive effects of AS on the growth and photosynthesis of wheat are more severe than those under SS. High pH is the key feature of the AS that is different from SS. The buffer capacity is essentially the measure of high pH action on plant. The deposition of mineral elements and the intracellular unbalance of Na⁺ and K⁺ caused by the high pH at AS might be the reason of the decrease of P _N and g _s and of the destruction of photosynthetic pigments.     

Structural and functional analysis of the coupling subunit F in solution and topological arrangement of the stalk domains of the methanogenic A1AO ATP synthase

The first low-resolution shape of subunit F of the A₁A_O ATP synthase from the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 in solution was determined by small angle X-ray scattering. Independent to the concentration used, the protein is monomeric and has an elongated shape, divided in a main globular part with a length of about 4.5 nm, and a hook-like domain of about 3.0 nm in length. The subunit-subunit interaction of subunit F inside the A₁A_O ATP synthase in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide EDC was studied as a function of nucleotide binding, demonstrating movements of subunits F relative to the nucleotide-binding subunit B. Furthermore, in the intact A₁A_O complex, crosslinking of subunits D-E, A-H and A-B-D was obtained and the peptides, involved, were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Based on these data the surface of contact of B-F could be mapped in the high-resolution structure of subunit B of the A₁A_O ATP synthase.     

Overexpression, Purification, and Characterization of Human and Bovine Mitochondrial ATPase Inhibitors: Comparison of the Properties of Mammalian and Yeast ATPase Inhibitors

Mitochondrial ATP synthase (F₁F₀-ATPase) is regulated by an intrinsic ATPase inhibitor protein. In this study, we overexpressed and purified human and bovine ATPase inhibitors and their properties were compared with those of a yeast inhibitor. The human and bovine inhibitors inhibited bovine ATPase in a similar way. The yeast inhibitor also inhibited bovine F₁F₀-ATPase, although the activity was about three times lower than the mammalian inhibitors. All three inhibitors inhibited yeast F₁F₀-ATPase in a similar way. The activities of all inhibitors decreased at higher pH, but the magnitude of the decrease was different for each combination of inhibitor and ATPase. The results obtained in this study show that the inhibitory mechanism of the inhibitors was basically shared in yeast and mammals, but that mammalian inhibitors require unique residues, which are lacking in the yeast inhibitor, for their maximum inhibitory activity. Common inhibitory sites of mammalian and yeast inhibitors are suggested.     

Assessing the Impact of Advected African Dust on Air Quality and Health in the Eastern United States

Large quantities of African dust are carried into the southeastern United States each summer with concentrations typically in the range of 10 to 100?µg m^?3. Because approximately one-third to one-half of the dust mass is in the size range under 2.5?µm diameter, the advection of African dust has implications for the EPA's newly implemented standard for PM_2.5 particulate matter and for the assessment of human health effects. It will be difficult to assess the impact of African dust events on air quality because they occur during the summer (maximum in July) when photochemical pollution events are frequent and intense in the eastern United States. Indeed, the presence of dust could affect the evolution of photochemical dust events. In order to assess the role of African dust in air quality in the United States, it will be necessary to develop a set of diagnostic indicators; it appears that dust mineralogy and elemental composition might be useful for this purpose. Various satellite products can be used to characterize the spatial coverage of dust events and, when coupled with meteorological tools, to predict impact regions.     

Synthesis, biological activity and molecular modelling studies of tricyclic alkylimidazo-, pyrimido- and diazepinopurinediones

Syntheses and biological activities of imidazo-, pyrimido- and diazepino[2,1-f]purinediones containing N-alkyl substituents (with straight, branched or unsaturated chains) are described. Tricyclic derivatives were synthesized by the cyclization of 8-bromo-substituted 7-(2-bromoethyl)-, 7-(3-chloropropyl)- or 7-(4-bromobutyl)-theophylline with primary amines under various conditions. Compound 22 with an ethenyl substituent was synthesized by dehydrohalogenation of 9-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3-dimethyltetrahydropyrimido[2,1-f]purinedione. The obtained derivatives (5–35) were initially evaluated for their affinity at rat A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptors (AR), showing moderate affinity for both adenosine receptor subtypes. The best ligands were diazepinopurinedione 28 (K_i = 0.28 μM) with fivefold A_2A selectivity and the non-selective A₁/A_2A AR ligand pyrimidopurinedione 35 (K_i A₁ = 0.28 μM and K_i A_2A = 0.30 μM). The compounds were also evaluated for their affinity at human A₁, A_2A, A_2B and A₃ ARs. All of the obtained compounds were docked to the A_2A AR X-ray structure in complex with the xanthine-based, potent adenosine receptor antagonist—XAC. The likely interactions of imidazo-, pyrimido- and diazepino[2,1-f]purinediones with the residues forming the A_2A binding pocket were discussed. Furthermore, the new compounds were tested in vivo as anticonvulsants in maximal electroshock, subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (ScMet) and TOX tests in mice (i.p.). Pyrimidopurinediones showed anticonvulsant activity mainly in the ScMet test. The best derivative was compound 11, showing 100 % protection at a dose of 100 mg/kg without symptoms of neurotoxicity. Compounds 6, 7, 8 and 14 with short substituents showed neurotoxicity and caused death. In rat tests (p.o.), 9 was characterized by a high protection index (>13.3). AR affinity did not apparently correlate with the antiepileptic potency of the compounds.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11302-013-9358-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Oriented solids as a colloid suspension in nematic liquid crystal – New tool for IR-spectroscopic and structural elucidation of inorganic compounds and glasses

Possibilities of the linear-polarized infrared (IR-LD) spectroscopy of oriented colloid suspensions in nematic liquid crystals, for structural and local structural elucidation for first time are demonstrated of inorganic compounds and glasses. The advantages of the method for tellurite and borate glasses are shown. The IR-band assignment of the typical local structural units in the glasses are proposed by a comparison with the IR-characteristics of appropriate crystalline analogues as α-TeO₂, V₂O₅, MoO₃ · H₂O and its high temperature form. The IR-spectroscopic characteristics of BO₃, BO₄ and boroxol ring are elucidated, using crystalline β-BaB₂O₄, SrB₄O₇, H₃BO₃ and B₂O₃ as model systems, where the structural moieties have been refined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

The behavior of R-ovalbumin and its individual components A1, A2, and A3 in urea solution: kinetics and equilibria

Procedures are described for the isolation of the individual components A₁, A₂, and A₃ of native R-ovalbumin from freshly laid domestic hen eggs. Because heavy metal ion contaminants result in spurious irreproducible kinetics, particularly at high pH, considerable care is taken to avoid their presence. Kinetics studies are made of the behavior of whole R-ovalbumin and its individual components in urea solution over the pH range 3.7–9.6 following the reaction by determining absorbance differences at 233, 287, and 293 nm and ORD and CD changes at 350 and 221 nm, respectively. Reaction is rapid at low pH, slowing with increasing pH. Except under limited conditions, the reaction is not simple first order. Equations are presented for describing the reactions, and the nature of the reaction products is considered. Unfolding equilibrium profiles were also determined by ORD at several wavelengths and were not stigmoidal in shape and the normalized curves were not superimposed.Deceased December 8, 2001