Ontogeny of intracellular isosmotic regulation in the european lobster Homarus gammarus (L.).

Intracellular free amino acids were measured in the abdominal muscle of the three larval instars, postlarvae, and juveniles of the lobster Homarus gammarus, acclimated to seawater (35 per thousand) and to a dilute medium (22 per thousand), to study intracellular isosmotic regulation throughout the development of this species. Transfer to low salinity was followed by a highly significant drop of free amino acids level in all developmental stages. The main regulated amino acids were glycine, proline, and alanine. The level of regulation of total free amino acids changed at metamorphosis: the decrease in total free amino acids at low salinity was 46% in the three larval instars, but it was only 29% in postlarvae and 20% in juveniles. These results suggest that free amino acids, mainly glycine, proline, and alanine, are involved in intracellular isosmotic regulation in the lobster, with different levels of involvement in pre- and postmetamorphic stages. The ontogenetic changes in intracellular isosmotic regulation are discussed in relation to the changes in extracellular regulation (osmoregulation) in the lobster.     

Metabolic implications of stress-induced proline accumulation in plants

In many plants, free proline accumulates in response to the imposition of a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. Controversy has surrounded the extent to which this shift in nitrogen metabolism benefits plants under adverse environmental conditions. Most attempts to account for the phenomenon have focused on the ability of proline to mediate osmotic adjustment, stabilise subcellular structures and scavenge free radicals. However, often the cytoplasmic pool of free proline even after the imposition of stress is insufficient size to account for pronounced biophysical effects.Alternatively, selective preservation of this stress-induced response may relate to endpoints other than simply augmenting the cellular pool of free proline. Proline accumulation may reduce stress-induced cellular acidification or prime oxidative respiration to provide energy needed for recovery. High levels of proline synthesis during stress may maintain NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H ratios at values compatible with metabolism under normal conditions. Consideration of the cofactor preference of plant 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase as well as the in vivo concentrations of the two pyridine nucleotide cofactors and their respective redox ratios suggests that even a small increase in proline biosynthesis might have a large impact on the level of reduction of the cellular NADP pool. The increased NADP+/NADPH ratio mediated by proline biosynthesis is likely to enhance activity of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. This would provide precursors to support the demand for increased secondary metabolite production during stress as well as nucleotide synthesis accompanying the accelerated rate of cell division upon relief from stress, when oxidation of proline is likely to provide an important energy source for ADP phosphorylation. Thus, the extreme sensitivity of the metabolic processes of proline synthesis and degradation themselves may be of benefit by regulating metabolic processes adversely affected by stress. This viewpoint is supported by consideration of other physiological phenomena not directly related to stress responses, but in which proline metabolism may also play a regulatory role.A mechanism is proposed whereby the interconversions of proline and P5C in different cell types and the associated transfer of redox potential between tissues may constitute a form of metabolic signalling within higher plants. Stress-related alterations in proline metabolism may impinge on systems of redox control of plant gene expression.     

暗褐网柄牛肝菌菌核形成相关基因分析

【背景】暗褐网柄牛肝菌(Phlebopus portentosus)是第一个能够人工栽培的食用牛肝菌,人工栽培过程中,不同菌株会形成数量不等的菌核。【目的】探明不同菌株产核差异机制。【方法】采集多菌核(JH1)、寡菌核(JH2)菌株的成熟菌核及无菌核(JH3)菌株培养相同时间的菌丝体进行转录组测序,分析差异表达基因对菌核形成的作用和功能。【结果】KEGG富集分析显示,JH2 vs. JH1互比,苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸和色氨酸的生物合成,精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢,半胱氨酸及蛋氨酸代谢显著富集;JH3 vs. JH1互比,乙醛酸和二羧酸代谢显著富集;JH3 vs. JH2互比,谷胱甘肽、乙醛酸和二羧酸代谢显著富集。菌核形成相关基因分析显示,从JH2 vs. JH1、JH3 vs. JH1和JH3 vs. JH2的差异表达基因中分别筛选到69、118和82条与信号转导、感知刺激、防御、碳水化合物活性酶等有关的基因,其中碳水化合物活性酶基因数量最多。三个比较组共有的碳水化合物活性酶基因在JH1中的表达量高于JH2、JH3,表明JH1更能充分利用底物营养以形成更多菌核。【结论】本研究从转录组水平初步分析了暗...     

Regeneration in alfalfa tissue culture: stimulation of somatic embryo production by amino acids and N-15 NMR determination of nitrogen utilization

The production of somatic embryos in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L., cv Regen S) is increased 5- to 10-fold by alanine and proline. However, utilization of nitrogen for synthesis of protein from alanine, proline, glutamate, and glycine is not qualitatively different, even though the latter two amino acids do not increase somatic embryo formation. These determinations were made by ¹⁵N labeling with detection by nuclear magnetic resonance. Overall metabolism of the nitrogen of proline, alanine, glutamate, and glycine is also similar in two regenerating and nonregenerating genotypes with similar germplasm, except that the levels of free amino acids are consistently higher in the nonregenerating line. In addition, when regeneration is suppressed in either of the two regenerating lines, the level of intracellular free amino acids increases. This increased level of metabolites is the only direct evidence provided by analysis of nitrogen metabolism of differences between the regenerating and nonregenerating states in alfalfa.     

乙型脑炎患者脑脊液和血浆氨基酸代谢的变化

本文采用气相色谱法对５７例乙型脑炎患者极期和２１例恢复期患者的脑脊液（ＣＳＦ）和血浆１４种游离氨基酸浓度进行分析。结果表明,乙脑极期ＣＳＦ游离氨基酸浓度除苏氨酸、丝氨酸值低于正常值外,其它氨基酸值均增高,其中谷氨酸、鸟氨酸、赖氨酸、缬氨酸、脯氨酸值上升明显（ａｌｌＰ＜０．０１）,至乙脑恢复期不同幅度下降。乙脑极期血浆游离脯氨酸、赖氨酸、苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸、鸟氨酸、谷氨酸浓度高于正常值,而其它８种氨基酸值均下降明显,至乙脑恢复期,多数氨基酸恢复至接近正常水平。实验提示,乙脑病毒能明显影响血浆和ＣＳＦ中氨基酸的含量,而二者具有代谢差异。     

Characteristics of intracellular metabolism of procollagen and other proteins in human embryo fibroblasts in trisomy for chromosome 7

A comparative study of the relative rates of intracellular total protein metabolism in diploid and aneuploid (with trisomy for chromosome 7) human embryo fibroblasts in the logarithmic and stationary growth phases was carried out. Using double labeling with [14C]proline (24 hrs) and [3H]proline (3 hrs), it was found that: the rates of intracellular protein metabolism during transition to the stationary phase of growth are increased in diploid cells and decreased in cells with trisomy for chromosome 7; the relative rate of protein metabolism in the logarithmic phase is higher in trisomic cells than in diploid ones. The intracellular degradation of procollagen in trisomic cells is increased approximately by 17% as compared to normal fibroblasts. Treatment of cell lysates with bacterial collagenase revealed the presence of procollagen incomplete degradation products in anomalous fibroblasts. The observed differences in the rates and mode of protein metabolism during transition of diploid and trisomic fibroblasts to the stationary phase of growth suggest that the odd autosome interferes with the normal coordinated activity of genes in chromosomes.     

茯苓碳氮磷化学计量学特征

为探明茯苓的碳、氮、磷生态化学计量学特征,采集了云南省11个州、市42个居群的茯苓样本,分析了其菌核与表皮中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)的化学计量特征.结果 表明:茯苓菌核中C、N、P的含量分别为40.24％-43.58％、0.176％-0.532％和0.020％-0.077％;C∶N、C∶P和N∶P的范围分别为93....     

The relationship of proline content and metabolism on the productivity of maize plants

The free proline content in maize ear-leaves, silk and pollen were analyzed in field grown plants which had matured to the pollination stage. Using maize hybrids PR34F02, PR35P12 and PR36B08 field trials were set up at two locations in eastern Croatia in two different years. Two enzymes of proline metabolism were analyzed in the same leaf samples and specific activities of synthetase (P5CS) and proline dehydrogenase (PDH). Plant productivity was evaluated at harvest by the estimation of total and fully developed grain number per ear and per plant, the mean single grain mass, and the mass of grain per plant. The year in which the plants were grown had a very significant effect on the free proline content in the leaf and pollen, as well as on the enzyme activities assayed. The differences between the plants from the two localities were very significant in all tested parameters of plant grain productivity. There was a significant genotype effect on proline content and P5CS total activity in leaf and on all the productivity parameters. Some of the correlations established suggest that the rate of proline synthesis and degradation in maize ear-leaf at pollination might contribute to the final grain production of the maize plant. Multiple regression analyses was used to further analyze the relationship between proline and grain productivity, but it is clear that future work should include other environmental conditions, plant species and organs such as roots.Key words: maize, maize silk, plant productivity, pollen, proline, proline dehydrogenase, Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase, Zea mays L.     

Ornithine-delta-aminotransferase and proline dehydrogenase genes play a role in non-host disease resistance by regulating pyrroline-5-carboxylate metabolism-induced hypersensitive response

Non-host disease resistance involves the production of hypersensitive response (HR), a programmed cell death (PCD) that occurs at the site of pathogen infection. Plant mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and red-ox changes play a major role in regulating such cell death. Proline catabolism reactions, especially pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) accumulation, are known to produce ROS and contribute to cell death. Here we studied important genes related to proline synthesis and catabolism in the defence against host and non-host strains of Pseudomonas syringae in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis. Our results show that ornithine delta-aminotransferase (δOAT) and proline dehydrogenases (ProDH1 and ProDH2) are involved in the defence against non-host pathogens. Silencing of these genes in N. benthamiana delayed occurrence of HR and favoured non-host pathogen growth. Arabidopsis mutants for these genes compromised non-host resistance and showed a decrease in non-host pathogen-induced ROS. Some of the genes involved in proline metabolism were also induced by a pathogen-carrying avirulence gene, indicating that proline metabolism is influenced during effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Our results demonstrate that δOAT and ProDH enzyme-mediated steps produce ROS in mitochondria and regulate non-host HR, thus contributing to non-host resistance in plants.     

Nitrogen availability impacts oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) plant water status and proline production efficiency under water-limited conditions

Large amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizers are used in the production of oilseed rape. However, as low-input methods of crop management are introduced crops will need to withstand temporary N deficiency. In temperate areas, oilseed rape will also be affected by frequent drought periods. Here we evaluated the physiological and metabolic impact of nitrate limitation on the oilseed rape response to water deprivation. Different amounts of N fertilizer were applied to plants at the vegetative stage, which were then deprived of water and rehydrated. Both water and N depletion accelerated leaf senescence and reduced leaf development. N-deprived plants exhibited less pronounced symptoms of wilting during drought, probably because leaves were smaller and stomata were partially closed. Efficiency of proline production, a major stress-induced diversion of nitrogen metabolism, was assessed at different positions along the whole plant axis and related to leaf developmental stage and water status indices. Proline accumulation, preferentially in younger leaves, accounted for 25-85% of the free amino acid pool. This was mainly due to a better capacity for proline synthesis in fully N-supplied plants whether they were subjected to drought or not, as deduced from the expression patterns of the proline metabolism BnP5CS and BnPDH genes. Although less proline accumulated in the oldest leaves, a significant amount was transported from senescing to emerging leaves. Moreover, during rehydration proline was readily recycled. Our results therefore suggest that proline plays a significant role in leaf N remobilization and in N use efficiency in oilseed rape.     

Changes in accumulation of seed nitrogen compounds in maize under conditions of sulphur deficiency

Maize ( Zea mays L., hybrid INRA 260) was grown in the greenhouse with mineral nutrition of different sulphate concentrations. Mature seeds from these plants were compared for their free amino acid and protein N forms. For the most S-deficient sample, the Asx (asparagine + aspartic acid) content increased by 30% as compared with control, while methionine and cysteine decreased (by 25 and 30%, respectively), as well as glycine, lysine, histidine, arginine and tryptophan. In seeds lowest in S the non-protein N to total N ratio was 77% higher than in the control. Free asparagine dominated in starved seeds (50 mol % of total free amino acids) and was ten-fold more concentrated than in the control, where proline was the predominant free amino acid. Thus the Asx of non-protein N reached 28% of the total mol Asx of the whole starved seed. Altered S nutrition had virtually no effect on the amino acid composition of the main protein fractions, but it significantly changed their ratios. Zeins, which are poor in S-containing amino acids, showed 25% higher level than in seeds supplied with normal S. As a counterbalance, two glutelin subfractions rich in S-containing amino acids, decreased by 36–71% under limiting S nutrition.
It is concluded that the plant reacts against S deficiency by modifying its N metabolism. Significant accumulation occurred of free asparagine, which is the main form of N transportation. The biosynthesis of seed storage protein occurred through the accumulation of the highest possible protein quantity allowed by the available S-containing amino acids, i.e. proteins low in S-containing amino acids were preferentially synthesized.     

高粱苗对干旱的反应和调节适应能力

本实验在人工气候室的人工光照室内进行。利用不同低渗透势的培养液模拟土壤干旱条件,观察较抗旱的高粱品种“晋杂5号”在此条件下的生长、生理和代谢的变化。实验表明植株水势、脯氨酸量,总游离氨态氮量在外界渗透势为–2.5巴时就会发生显著变化,鲜重和相对透性在–5.0巴时开始发生显著变化;而干重则在–10.0巴时才发生明显变化。对于干旱的变化敏感性顺序为水势、脯氨酸量,总游离氨态氮量>相对透性、鲜重>干重。表明干旱首先引起植物水分状况和某些代谢过程的变化,最后才是干物质的积累。“晋杂5号”幼苗在干旱条件下具有一定的调节适应能力,表现在渐进干旱处理时受到的抑制小于同样程度的突然干旱处理。另外,在一定的干旱范围内随时间延长,生长、生理代谢变化,有趋于缓和或恢复的趋势。本文分析并讨论了脯氨酸含量的对数(log PRO),相对透性的对数(log RP),鲜重和干重的日相对生长率(RGR)和植株水势(φ)之间的关系。     

Exogenous ornithine is an effective precursor and the δ-ornithine amino transferase pathway contributes to proline accumulation under high N recycling in salt-stressed cashew leaves

The role of the δ-ornithine amino transferase (OAT) pathway in proline synthesis is still controversial and was assessed in leaves of cashew plants subjected to salinity. The activities of enzymes and the concentrations of metabolites involved in proline synthesis were examined in parallel with the capacity of exogenous ornithine and glutamate to induce proline accumulation. Proline accumulation was best correlated with OAT activity, which increased 4-fold and was paralleled by NADH oxidation coupled to the activities of OAT and Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), demonstrating the potential of proline synthesis via OAT/P5C. Overall, the activities of GS, GOGAT and aminating GDH remained practically unchanged under salinity. The activity of P5CR did not respond to NaCl whereas Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase was sharply repressed by salinity. We suggest that if the export of P5C from the mitochondria to the cytosol is possible, its subsequent conversion to proline by P5CR may be important. In a time-course experiment, proline accumulation was associated with disturbances in amino acid metabolism as indicated by large increases in the concentrations of ammonia, free amino acids, glutamine, arginine and ornithine. Conversely, glutamate concentrations increased moderately and only within the first 24 h. Exogenous feeding of ornithine as a precursor was very effective in inducing proline accumulation in intact plants and leaf discs, in which proline concentrations were several times higher than glutamate-fed or salt-treated plants. Our data suggest that proline accumulation might be a consequence of salt-induced increase in N recycling, resulting in increased levels of ornithine and other metabolites involved with proline synthesis and OAT activity. Under these metabolic circumstances the OAT pathway might contribute significantly to proline accumulation in salt-stressed cashew leaves.     

Proline metabolism in response to nitrogen deficiency in French Bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Strike)

The objective of the present work was to determine the impact ofnitrogen deficiency on proline metabolism in French Bean plants(Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Strike). The nitrogen wasapplied to the nutrient solution in the form of NH₄NO₃ at1.45 mM (N1), 2.90mM (N2) and 5.80mM (N3, optimal level). Our results indicateNdeficiency is characterised by a decline in proline accumulation both in theroot and leaves, fundamentally because proline degradation is encouraged by thestimulation of the enzyme proline dehydrogenase. By contrast, under conditionsof adequate N (N3), proline levels rise due to the action of ornithine,suggesting predominance of the ornithine pathway over the glutamine pathway, inaddition to the inhibition of proline dehydrogenase activity.     

Proline Accumulation in Water-stressed Barley Leaves in Relation to Translocation and the Nitrogen Budget

Mobilization of N from leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) during water stress, and the role of proline as a mobilized species, were examined in plants at the three-leaf stage. The plants responded to water stress by withdrawing about 25% of the total reduced N from the leaf blades via phloem translocation. Most of this N loss was during the first 2 days while translocation of ¹⁴C-photosynthate out of the stressed blade still remained active. Free proline accumulation in the blade was initially slow, and became more rapid during the 2nd day of stress. Although a major free amino acid, proline accounted for only about 5% of the total N (soluble + insoluble) retained in severely stressed blades. When the translocation pathway in water-stressed leaves was interrupted just below the blade by a heat girdle, a cold jacket, or by blade excision, N loss from the blade was prevented and proline began to accumulate rapidly on 1st day of stress. Little free proline accumulated in the blades until after the ability to translocate was lost. Proline was, however, probably not a major species of N translocated during stress, because proline N accumulation in heat-girdled stressed leaves was five times slower than the rate of total N export from intact blades.     

Macrophage metabolism during phagocytosis and digestion of normal and IgG antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes.

The respiration rate, aerobic glycolysis and glycolytic enzyme activities of purified mouse peritoneal macrophages increase during phagocytosis of either free or antibody-coated SRBC. These changes, however, seem to be roughly parallel to the amount of phagocytized antigen. In the digestive phase, Ag-Ab complexes induce more marked changes in macrophage metabolism than a comparable amount of free antigen. Lactate production, activity of several glycolytic enzymes and alanine-aminotransferase as well as glycogen content are greatly affected. Since in cell transfer experiments macrophage-associated SRBC can prime normal recipients for antibody response, whereas cell-associated SRBC-antibody complexes cannot, it is concluded that the changed macrophage metabolism drives antibody-coated antigen into metabolic channels allowing its rapid and total degradation.     

不同抗旱品种高粱苗中脯氨酸累积的差异

高粱抗旱品种“3197 B”比不抗旱品种“三尺三”在同样渗透胁迫条件下,要累积更多的游离脯氨酸。未受渗透胁迫前,两品种地上部的总氨基氮和游离氨基氮水平相似。氨基酸组成也相同。六种主要氨基酸分别占总的量和游离氨基酸量的50％和65％左右。受渗透胁迫24h后,总氨基氮水平未变,游离氨基氮增加,两品种的变化相似。因而,品种间脯氨酸累积的差异,似乎不因蛋白质或游离氨基酸的氨基酸组分的不同和蛋白质水解或合成受促进或抑制程度的不同而异。受渗透胁迫后,3197B植株内不但脯氨酸绝对量,而且相对量都超过“三尺三”。脯氨酸合成的潜在能力在3197B和“三尺三”之间有差别。     

Free amino acids in rat blood serum during A-hypovitaminosis]

A pool of free aminoacids of the blood serum has been studied in growing rats with a decreased retinol content in the liver tissue (to 5 g/g). The study shows a reliable drop in the concentrations of all essential aminoacids, except for phenylalanine. It is determined that the total amount of essential aminoacids decreases by 31%. At the same time concentrations of replaceable aminoacids increase, namely: glutamic acid and arginine--by 15.7%, ornithine and histidine--by 24%-45%, though proline concentration decreases abruptly by 31%. A disturbance in ultrastructural organization of microvilli in the apical membrane cells absorptive epithelium of the small intestine has been found. The results of the study confirm changes in a free aminoacid pool of the blood serum in growing rats and these changes occur first of all due to the disturbance of the absorption processes in the small intestine.     

Influence of some exogenous amino acids on the production of maize embryogenic callus and on endogenous amino acid content

The effects of four exogenous amino acids (proline, glycine, asparagine and serine) on the production of maize embryogenic callus and on its endogenous amino acid content have been investigated. For this purpose, an established embryogenic line of Type 1 callus from the inbred W64Ao2 has been used. From the results it may be concluded that a concentration of proline exceeding 6 mM is negative for the production of embryogenic callus. When proline is eliminated from the medium, other amino acids tested in certain concentrations yield a percentage of embryogenic callus production that exceeds or equals that of proline. The endogenous free proline content in embryogenic callus is significantly higher than that in non-embryogenic callus regardless of proline presence in the medium. The only exception are the glycine-containing media, in which endogenous free alanine of embryogenic callus increases at the expense of endogenous free proline. This study suggest a positive role of endogenous free proline or alanine accumulation in the embryogenic callus production which might be related to an adaptation to the metabolic changes produced by in vitro culture and embryogenesis induction. Furthermore, these results indicate that treatments with amino acids that are different from proline can be used to improve the efficiency of embryogenic callus production from well established maize callus cultures.Abbreviations Ala alanine - Asn asparagine - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - EC embryogenic callus - nEC non-embryogenic callus - Gaba gamma-aminobutyric acid - Glu glutamic acid - Gly glycine - Pro proline - Ser serine     

Infection of maize leaves with Ustilago maydis prevents establishment of C4 photosynthesis

The Basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis is the common agent of corn smut and is capable of inducing gall growth on infected tissue of the C4 plant maize (Zea mays). While U. maydis is very well characterized on the genetic level, the physiological changes in the host plant in response to U. maydis infection have not been studied in detail, yet. Therefore, we examined the influence of U. maydis infection on photosynthetic performance and carbon metabolism in maize leaf galls. At all stages of development, U. maydis-induced leaf galls exhibited carbon dioxide response curves, CO2 compensation points and enzymatic activities that are characteristic of C3 photosynthesis, demonstrating that the establishment of C4 metabolism is prevented in infected tissue. Hexose contents and hexose/sucrose ratio of leaf galls remained high at 6 days post infection, while a shift in free sugar metabolism was observed in the uninfected controls at that time point. Concomitantly, transitory starch production and sucrose accumulation during the light period remained low in leaf galls. Given that U. maydis is infectious on young developing tissue, the observed changes in carbohydrate metabolism suggest that the pathogen manipulates the developing leaf tissue to arrest sink-to-source transition in favor of maintaining sink metabolism in the host cells. Furthermore, evidence is presented that carbohydrate supply during the biotrophic phase of the pathogen is assured by a fungal invertase.