Effects of rapid changes in oxygen concentration on the respiration of carrot roots

Rates of CO₂ production and O₂ consumption from aged disks of carrot ( Daucus carota L.) root tissues were measured for 4 h after they were transferred from 21% to 0, 1, 2, 4 or 8% O₂ in gas mixtures. A transient peak in the rate of CO₂ production started 5 to 7 min after transfer to 2% or lower O₂ mixtures and peaked at 50 min. After the peaks in CO₂ production from the 0, 1 and 2% O₂ treatments and after the stable production from the 4 and 8% O₂ treatments, the rate of CO₂ production from all low O₂ treatments started to decline at 50 min, reaching stable rates by 160 to 240 min. Concentrations of lactate and ethanol that were significantly higher than the 21% O₂ controls had started to accumulate in disks between 10 and 50 min after exposure to atmospheres containing 2% or less O₂. Production of CO₂ started to increase 5 to 7 min after transfer to 0, 1 and 2% O₂, while the initial decline and then rise in pH and the accumulation of ethanol did not occur until 30 min after the change in atmosphere. Ethanol accumulation paralleled the increase in pH; first at 0.4 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ from 30 to 60 min as the pH shifted from 5.97 to 6.11, and then at 0.08 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ from 60 to 100 min as the pH stablized around 6.12. The peak at 50 min in CO₂ production roughly coincided with the shift from the rapid to the slow change in pH and ethanol accumulation.     

Characterization of a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus isolated from duck meat

Since the 1997 H5N1 influenza virus outbreak in humans and poultry in Hong Kong, the emergence of closely related viruses in poultry has raised concerns that additional zoonotic transmissions of influenza viruses from poultry to humans may occur. In May 2001, an avian H5N1 influenza A virus was isolated from duck meat that had been imported to South Korea from China. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of A/Duck/Anyang/AVL-1/01 showed that the virus clustered with the H5 Goose/Guandong/1/96 lineage and 1997 Hong Kong human isolates and possessed an HA cleavage site sequence identical to these isolates. Following intravenous or intranasal inoculation, this virus was highly pathogenic and replicated to high titers in chickens. The pathogenesis of DK/Anyang/AVL-1/01 virus in Pekin ducks was further characterized and compared with a recent H5N1 isolate, A/Chicken/Hong Kong/317.5/01, and an H5N1 1997 chicken isolate, A/Chicken/Hong Kong/220/97. Although no clinical signs of disease were observed in H5N1 virus-inoculated ducks, infectious virus could be detected in lung tissue, cloacal, and oropharyngeal swabs. The DK/Anyang/AVL-1/01 virus was unique among the H5N1 isolates in that infectious virus and viral antigen could also be detected in muscle and brain tissue of ducks. The pathogenesis of DK/Anyang/AVL-1/01 virus was characterized in BALB/c mice and compared with the other H5N1 isolates. All viruses replicated in mice, but in contrast to the highly lethal CK/HK/220/97 virus, DK/Anyang/AVL-1/01 and CK/HK/317.5/01 viruses remained localized to the respiratory tract. DK/Anyang/AVL-1/01 virus caused weight loss and resulted in 22 to 33% mortality, whereas CK/HK/317.5/01-infected mice exhibited no morbidity or mortality. The isolation of a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus from poultry indicates that such viruses are still circulating in China and may present a risk for transmission of the virus to humans.     

Changes in nitrogen source modify distribution of excitation energy in the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum

In an attempt to clarify the interactions between the available nitrogen source and the photosystems in cyanobacteria, O₂ exchange and fluorescence emission were monitored in spheroplasts and intact cells of the non N₂-fixing cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum (strain OH-1-p.Cl₁) growing on different nitrogen sources or in the absence of nitrogen. Short-term (time scale of seconds to minutes), NH⁺₄ addition to NO⁻₃-growing or N-starved cells and, to a minor extent, NO⁻₃addition to N-starved cells, induced state 2 transitions both in light and dark. Long term (time scale of days), the fluorescence yield of PSII relative to that of PSII at 77 K was higher in NO⁻₃- than in NH⁺₄ growing cells, and even higher in N-starved cells. In the dark, the plastoquinone pool was more reduced in NH⁺₄- than in NO⁻₃-growing cells. Both PSII and PSI activities and the degree of linking between both photosystems were affected in the long term, so that non-cyclic electron transport decreased in parallel to the ferredoxin requirement to assimilate each nitrogen source. Results indicate that nitrogen metabolism exerts short- and long-term control over the photosynthetic apparatus, which acclimates to the energy requirement of the available nitrogen source.     

Different structural stability and toxicity of PrP(ARR) and PrP(ARQ) sheep prion protein variants

The polymorphisms at amino acid residues 136, 154, and 171 in ovine prion protein (PrP) have been associated with different susceptibility to scrapie: animals expressing PrP^ARQ [PrP(Ala136/Arg154/Gln171)] show vulnerability, whereas those that express PrP^ARR [PrP(Ala136/Arg154/Arg171)] are resistant to scrapie. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro toxic effects of PrP^ARR and PrP^ARQ variants in relation with their structural characteristics. We show that both peptides cause cell death inducing apoptosis but, unexpectedly, the scrapie resistant PrP^ARR form was more toxic than the scrapie susceptible PrP^ARQ variant. Moreover, the α-helical conformation of PrP^ARR was less stable than that of PrP^ARQ and the structural determinants responsible of these different conformational stabilities were characterized by spectroscopic analysis. We observed that PrP toxicity was inversely related to protein structural stability, being the unfolded conformation more toxic than the native one. However, the PrP^ARQ variant displays a higher propensity to form large aggregates than PrP^ARR. Interestingly, in the presence of small amounts of PrP^ARR, PrP^ARQ aggregability was reduced to levels similar to that of PrP^ARR. Thus, in contrast to PrP^ARR toxicity, scrapie transmissibility seems to reside in the more stable conformation of PrP^ARQ that allows the formation of large amyloid fibrils.     

A reaction diffusion model of C-N-S-O species in some arctic sediments

Abstract A reaction diffusion model was used to simulate the mineralization processes in an Arctic sediment. The simulation and the actual sediment were compared in relation to profiles of O₂, NO₃ and NH₄⁺. The site of particulate organic matter (POM) degradation was the single most important factor in fitting the simulation profiles to those of the sediment. It was deduced that most POM degradation occurred close to the sediment surface. When a reasonably good simulation had been obtained, the sensitivity of the model to changes in other parameters was investigated. Increases in POM degradation in the upper sediment resulted in increases in concentration of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, but further increases in POM degradation created anoxic conditions below 3 mm, resulting in decreases in NO₃⁻ concentrations. The model was relatively intensive to changes in POM degradation in the lower sediment layers; increases led to more anoxic conditions and to less NO₃⁻. Increases in the C/N ratio of the POM in the lower sediment layers had little effect; increases in C/N in the upper layers led to a decrease in NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻. The model was sensitive to changes in the first order rate constant for nitrification, but not for denitrification. Decreases in the K _m for O₂ of the nitrifying bacteria had no effect on the profiles.     

Biosystematics and evolutionary relationships of perennial Triticeae species revealed by genomic analyses

Understanding the classification and biosystematics of species in Triticeae Dumort., an economically important tribe in the grass family (Poaceae), is not an easy task, particularly for some perennial species. Does genomic analysis facilitate the understanding of evolutionary relationships of these Triticeae species? We reviewed literature published after 1984 to address questions concerning: (1) genome relationships among the monogenomic diploid species; (2) progenitors of the unknown Y genome in Elymus polyploids, X genome in Thinopyrum intermedium, and Xm genome in Leymus; and (3) genome constitutions of some perennial Triticeae species that were unknown or misidentified. A majority of publications have substantiated the close affinity of the E^b and E^e genomes in Th. bessarabicumand Th. elongatum, supporting the use of a common basic genome symbol. The E genome is close to the St genome of Pseudoroegneria and ABD genomes ofTriticum/Aegilops complex, providing an explanation for transferring genes from the E to ABD genomes with relative ease. Although the solid proof is still lacking, theW, P, and especially Xp genomes are possible origins for the Y genome of polyploid Elymus. The absence of the E genome and the allopolyploidy nature of tetraploidLeymus species have been unequivocally confirmed by both cytogenetic and molecular studies. However, the donor of the Xm genomes of Leymus was only speculated to be related to the P genome of Agropyron and F genome of Eremopyrum. Intermediate wheatgrass (Th. intermedium) has been extensively studied. The presence of the St (as the previously designated X) genome in Th. intermedium is now unequivocal. Its two more closely related E₁ and E₂ genomes are shown to be older versions of the E genome rather than the current E^b and E^e genomes. Speciation of Th. intermedium was similar to that of Triticum aestivum, in which the J^s/E^s(like B) genomes had the greatest differentiation from the current J (E^b) genome owning to repetitive sequences of the V genome, whereas its St (like D) had the least differentiation from the current St genome. Species with unknown or misidentified genomes have been correctly designated, including those with the ESt, StP, StPY,StWY, EStP, HW, StYHW, and NsXm genomes. Some of those species have been transferred to and renamed in appropriate genera.     

Proteomic analysis in Giardia duodenalis yields insights into strain virulence and antigenic variation

Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan parasite of the small intestine in vertebrates, including humans. Assemblage A of G. duodenalis is one of the two discrete subtypes that infects humans, and is considered a zoonotic assemblage. Two G. duodenalis Assemblage A strains BRIS/95/HEPU/2041 and BRIS/83/HEPU/106, constituting virulent and control strains respectively, were analyzed in one of the first comparative shotgun proteomic studies performed in this parasite. Protein extracts were prepared using a multiplatform approach with both an in‐gel and in‐solution sample preparation to enable us to assess the complementarity for future Giardia proteomic studies. Protein analysis revealed that BRIS/95/HEPU/2041 possessed a wider and more varied repertoire of variant surface proteins (VSPs), which are hypothesized to be involved in host adaptation, immune evasion, and virulence. A total of 35 VSPs were identified, with three common to both strains, six unique to BRIS/82/HEPU/106, and twenty‐six unique to BRIS/95/HEPU/2041. Additionally, up to 25.6% of all differentially expressed proteins in BRIS/95/HEPU/2041 belonged to the VSP family, a trend not seen in the control BRIS/83/HEPU/106. Greater antigen variation in BRIS/95/HEPU/2041 may explain aspects of virulence phenotypes in G. duodenalis, with a highly diverse population capable of evading host immune responses.     

Mechanisms of chloride partitioning in the leaves of salt-stressed Sorghum bicolor L.

Chloride transport in sheath and blade tissue and the cellular distribution of Cl^- were investigated in an attempt to determine the physiological basis of the preferential accumulation of Cl^- in sheaths of salt-stressed sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.). Import and export of ³⁶Cl^- in leaf sheaths and blades of intact sorghum were followed over a 2 week period. X-ray microanalysis of frozen-hydrated bulk tissue samples was used to determine the accumulation of Cl^- and other elements in the vacuoles of sheath and blade cells.
Sheath tissue accumulated Cl^- despite a relatively high Cl^- turnover rate. Chloride was shown to accumulate in most cell types of the sheath, particularly in adaxial epidermal cells. After an initial increase in the concentration of Cl^-, blade tissue regulated Cl^- levels within certain limits. Chloride levels in blades were greater in the abaxial and adaxial epidermal cells than in other cell types. The epidermal cells of blades accumulated Cl^- to approximately the same concentration as sheath epidermal cells. The Cl^- concentration in the photosynthetically active mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, however, remained low.
Thus, the partitioning of Cl^- previously observed in the leaves of salinized sorghum apparently results from the ability of bundle sheath and mesophyll cells to maintain concentrations of Cl^- at lower levels than do epidermal cells. In addition, the relatively large sheath parenchyma cells tend to serve as reservoirs for the storage of Cl^-.     

NaCl处理下两种引进红树的光合及抗氧化防御能力

在长期盐胁迫(28天, NaCl浓度从100 mmol·L^-1升至400 mmol·L^-1)下, 比较研究了引进的无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)和拉关木(Laguncularia racemosa)幼苗叶片的气体交换、叶绿素含量、最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、O₂^-_· 产生速率以及抗氧化酶的活性, 探讨了两种红树幼苗光合、抗氧化防御能力的差异与耐盐性的关系。结果显示: NaCl处理没有明显地影响两种红树幼苗的生长, 表明盐生植物对盐环境的适应性, 但两种红树的生理反应对NaCl处理存在较大的差异。在实验的第28天(苗木的NaCl累计处理浓度递增到400 mmol·L^-1)时, 与对照相比, 无瓣海桑叶片的净光合速率、水分利用效率增加, 气孔导度、蒸腾速率和胞间CO₂浓度/大气CO₂浓度(C_i/C_a)相应降低; 然而, 拉关木叶的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均回落到对照的水平, 而气孔导度和C_i/C_a均增加, 表明同样的NaCl浓度处理对拉关木叶的净光合速率影响大于无瓣海桑。在NaCl处理期间, 无瓣海桑F_v/F_m一直保持在0.8以上, 而拉关木的F_v/F_m为0.75以下, 说明无瓣海桑具有高于拉关木的潜在最大光合能力。在实验的第7天(NaCl浓度为100 mmol·L^-1)和14天(苗木的NaCl累计处理浓度递增到200 mmol·L^-1)时, 两种红树O₂^-_· 产生速率迅速增加, 在实验的第28天(苗木的NaCl累计处理浓度递增到400 mmol·L^-1)时, 无瓣海桑O₂^-_· 产生速率是对照的5.3倍, 差异极显著, 此时, 拉关木叶中O₂^-_· 产生速率已降低到低于对照的水平。盐处理诱导了两种红树叶中抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、过氧化物酶(POD))活性增加, 但拉关木增加的幅度大于无瓣海桑, 表明拉关木能响应盐胁迫并上调抗氧化酶活性, 降低盐诱导的膜脂过氧化, 提高耐盐的能力, 无瓣海桑通过提高水分利用效率来保持体内的水分, 同时, 保持PSII的最大光化学量子产量, 使得无瓣海桑在高盐处理时仍能保持高于对照水平的光合速率。     

Haemopoietic stem cell proliferation in the bone marrow of Sl/Sld mice

Abstract. In marrow from Sl/Sl^d mice (but not +/+ mice) day 7 and day 8 CFU-S proliferate whilst day 10 and day 12 CFU-S exhibit negligible proliferation. Media conditioned by both +/+ and Sl/Sl^d marrow contains an inhibitor of CFU-S proliferation but day 8 CFU-S in +/+ and Sl/Sl^d marrow show marked dose-response differences to this factor. To inhibit the proliferation of Sl/Sl^d CFU-S required approximately ten times the concentration of inhibitor that inhibited the proliferation of +/+ CFU-S. Thus abnormally responsive day 8-CFU-S were shown to proliferate in an inhibitory environment.
Abnormalities in Sl/Sl^d CFU-S function were also demonstrated in heterotopic transplantation experiments using +/+ and Sl/Sl^d donors and hosts to obtain ectopic bone marrow with various stromal (donor) and haemopoietic (host) combinations. Day 8 Sl/Sl^d CFU-S were seen to proliferate, irrespective of whether the stromal environment was derived from Sl/Sl^d or +/+ marrow.
Sl/Sl^d mice are generally regarded as animals in which there is a genetically determined defect in haemopoiesis due to an abnormality in the haemopoietic environment. It is difficult, however, to attribute the abnormal CFU-S behaviour in these experiments to environmental factors and the results are consistent with mutation at the Sl locus affecting the responses of CFU-S to regulatory signals, i.e. the genetic defect is not confined to the stromal environment.     

Metabolism of Deoxyuridine in Rabbit Brain

Abstract: The metabolism of [³H]deoxyuridine by rabbit brain was investigated in vitro and in vivo . In vitro , brain slices from various regions of brain and from all age groups accumulated [³H]deoxyuridine from artificial CSF. Within the slices, a portion of the accumulated [³H]deoxyuridine was metabolized to [³H]deoxyuridine phosphate, with subsequent conversion to [³H]thymidine phosphate, and ultimately [³H]DNA. The percentage of the [³H]deoxyuridine phosphorylated and subsequently converted into [³H]DNA was highest at birth and declined to adult levels in 3-month-old rabbits. Thymidine, when added to the incubation medium with the [³H]deoxyuridine, was approximately 10 times as potent as unlabeled deoxyuridine in inhibiting the intracellular phosphorylation and conversion of [³H]deoxyuridine to [³H]thymidine phosphate in brain slices. In vivo , 2.5 h after intraventricular injection of [³H]deoxyuridine, over 90% of the [³H]deoxyuridine was cleared from the central nervous system at all ages. However, in both newborn and 3-month-old rabbits, approximately 40 and 12%, respectively, of the ³H remaining in brain was phosphorylated and converted to [³H]thymidine phosphates; and 11 and 4%, respectively, of the ³H remaining in brain was converted to [³H]DNA. These results show that both immature and mature rabbit brain is able to incorporate deoxyuridine into DNA. Thus, all the enzymes involved in this conversion, including thymidylate synthetase (EC 2.1.1.45), are present and active in brain throughout life.     

Root ammonium transport efficiency as a determinant in forest colonization patterns: an hypothesis

Ratios of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃^–) in soils are known to increase during forest succession. Using evidence from several previous studies, we hypothesize that a malfunction in NH₄⁺ transport at the membrane level might limit the persistence of early successional tree species in later seral stages. In those studies, ¹³N radiotracing was used to determine unidirectional fluxes and pool sizes of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– in seedlings of the late-successional species white spruce ( Picea glauca ) and in the early successional species Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca ) and trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides ). At high external NH₄⁺, the two early successional species accumulated excessive NH₄⁺ in the root cytosol, and exhibited high-velocity, low-efficiency (15% to 22%), membrane fluxes of NH₄⁺. In sharp contrast, white spruce had low cytosolic NH₄⁺ accumulation, and lower-velocity but much higher-efficiency (65%), NH₄⁺ fluxes. Because these divergent responses parallel known differences in tolerance and toxicity to NH₄⁺ amongst these species, we propose that they constitute a significant driving force in forest succession, complementing the discrimination against NO₃^– documented in white spruce (Kronzucker et al. 1997).     

Susceptibility of CAM Dendrobium leaves and flowers to high light and high temperature under natural tropical conditions

Responses of CAM Dendrobium Sonia leaves and flowers to high light and high temperature were studied in shade-grown plants after exposure to intermediate and full sunlight under natural conditions. Photosynthetic O₂ evolution decreased in leaves after exposure to full sunlight for 2 weeks while leaves exposed to intermediate sunlight showed an increase in photosynthesis as compared to those leaves maintained in the shade. On the first day of treatment, the changes of F_v/F_m in both leaves and petals grown in the shade were negligible during the day. However, there was a steep decrease in F_v/F_m in both leaves and petals with an increase in incident light during midday after exposure to full sunlight. When exposed to intermediate sunlight, there were no significant changes in F_v/F_m in leaves. The F_v/F_m values of petals, however, decreased during midday. Temperature of thin petals was higher than that of thick leaves during midday under full and intermediate sunlight while that of petals and leaves were similar when grown in the shade. Over the 2-week treatment period, lowered chlorophyll and sustained decreases in F_v/F_m were observed in both leaves and flowers (sepals and petals) when exposed to full sunlight, indicative of ‘chronic photoinhibition'. Photoinhibition was prevented in leaves but occurred in flowers when exposed to intermediate sunlight. It was assumed that photodamage to both leaves and flowers were partially due to the higher temperature. The higher susceptibility of flowers to high light as compared to that of leaves was due to its higher temperature during midday. This was further supported by the findings that more severe damage occurred in flowers at higher temperature of 38°C than 28°C under a higher PFD of 1500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹.     

Key Residues Defining the μ-Opioid Receptor Binding Pocket: A Site-Directed Mutagenesis Study

Abstract: Structural elements of the rat μ-opioid receptor important in ligand receptor binding and selectivity were examined using a site-directed mutagenesis approach. Five single amino acid mutations were made, three that altered conserved residues in the μ, δ, and κ receptors (Asn¹⁵⁰ to Ala, His²⁹⁷ to Ala, and Tyr³²⁶ to Phe) and two designed to test for μ/δ selectivity (Ile¹⁹⁸ to Val and Val²⁰² to Ile). Mutation of His²⁹⁷ in transmembrane domain 6 (TM6) resulted in no detectable binding with [³H]DAMGO (³H-labeled d -Ala², N -Me-Phe⁴,Gly-ol⁵-enkephalin), [³H]bremazocine, or [³H]ethylketocyclazocine. Mutation of Asn¹⁵⁰ in TM3 produces a three- to 20-fold increase in affinity for the opioid agonists morphine, DAMGO, fentanyl, β-endorphin_1–31, JOM-13, deltorphin II, dynorphin_1–13, and U50,488, with no change in the binding of antagonists such as naloxone, naltrexone, naltrindole, and nor-binaltorphamine. In contrast, the Tyr³²⁶ mutation in TM7 resulted in a decreased affinity for a wide spectrum of μ, δ, and κ agonists and antagonists. Altering Val²⁰² to Ile in TM4 produced no change on ligand affinity, but Ile¹⁹⁸ to Val resulted in a four- to fivefold decreased affinity for the μ agonists morphine and DAMGO, with no change in the binding affinities of κ and δ ligands.     

Seasonality and drivers of stem CO2 efflux for four temperate coniferous tree species

Aims Stem CO₂ efflux (E_s) is an important component of annual carbon budget in forest ecosystems, but how biotic and environmental factors regulate seasonal and inter-specific variations in E_s is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare seasonal dynamics in E_s for four temperate coniferous tree species in northeastern China, including Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis), Korean spruce (Picea koraiensis), Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica), and Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii); and (2) to explore factors driving the inter-specific variability in E_s during the growing and non-growing seasons.
Methods Ten to twelve trees for each tree species were sampled for E_s and stem temperature at 1 cm depth beneath the bark (T_s) measurements in situ with an infrared gas analyzer (LI-6400 IRGA) and a digital thermometer, respectively, from July to October 2013 and March to July 2014. The daily stem circumference increment (S_i), sapwood nitrogen concentration ([N]), and related environmental factors were monitored simultaneously.
Important findings The temporal variation in E_s for the four tree species overall followed the changes in T_s throughout the study period, with the maxima occurring in the summer months (late May to early July) characterized by higher temperature and more rapid stem growth and the minima in spring (late March to April) or autumn (October) having lower temperature. T_s accounted for 42%-91% and 56%-89% of variations in E_s during the growing (May to September) and non-growing (other months) seasons, respectively. Furthermore, apart from T_s, we also found significant regression relationships between E_s and S_i, relative air humidity and [N] during the growing season, but their forms and correlation coefficients were species-dependent. These results indicated that T_s was the dominant environmental factor affecting seasonal variations in E_s, but the magnitude of the effect varied with tree species and growth rhythm. Mean E_s for each of the four tree species was significantly higher in the growing season than in the non-growing season, whereas within the season there were also significant differences in mean E_s among the tree species (all p < 0.05). The temperature sensitivity of E_s (Q₁₀ value) did not differ significantly among the tree species during the growing season, ranging from 1.64 for Dahurian larch to 2.09 for Mongolian pine, but did differ during the non-growing season which varied from 1.80 for Korean pine to 3.14 for Dahurian larch. Moreover, Korean spruce, Mongolian pine and Dahurian larch had significantly greater Q₁₀ values in the non-growing season than in the growing season (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that the differences of the response of E_s to temperature change for different tree species were mainly from the non-growing season. Because the seasonality and inter-specific variability in E_s for these temperate coniferous tree species were primarily controlled by multiple factors such as temperature, we conclude that using a single annual temperature response curve to estimate the annual E_s may lead to more uncertainty.     

Diurnal changes in epidermal UV transmittance of plants in naturally high UV environments

Studies were conducted on three herbaceous plant species growing in naturally high solar UV environments in the subalpine of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA, to determine if diurnal changes in epidermal UV transmittance (T_UV) occur in these species, and to test whether manipulation of the solar radiation regime could alter these diurnal patterns. Additional field studies were conducted at Logan, Utah, USA, to determine if solar UV was causing diurnal T_UV changes and to evaluate the relationship between diurnal changes in T_UV and UV-absorbing pigments. Under clear skies, T_UV, as measured with a UV-A-pulse amplitude modulation fluorometer for leaves of Verbascum thapsus and Oenothera stricta growing in native soils and Vicia faba growing in pots, was highest at predawn and sunset and lowest at midday. These patterns in T_UV closely tracked diurnal changes in solar radiation and were the result of correlated changes in fluorescence induced by UV-A and blue radiation but not photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) or initial fluorescence yield (F_o). The magnitude of the midday reduction in T_UV was greater for young leaves than for older leaves of Verbascum . Imposition of artificial shade eliminated the diurnal changes in T_UV in Verbascum , but reduction in solar UV had no effect on diurnal T_UV changes in Vicia . In Vicia , the diurnal changes in T_UV occurred without detectable changes in the concentration of whole-leaf UV-absorbing compounds. Results suggest that plants actively control diurnal changes in UV shielding, and these changes occur in response to signals other than solar UV; however, the underlying mechanisms responsible for rapid changes in T_UV remain unclear.     

Soils,a sink for N2O? A review

Soils are the main sources of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O). The N₂O emission at the soil surface is the result of production and consumption processes. So far, research has concentrated on net N₂O production. However, in the literature, there are numerous reports of net negative fluxes of N₂O, (i.e. fluxes from the atmosphere to the soil). Such fluxes are frequent and substantial and cannot simply be dismissed as experimental noise.
Net N₂O consumption has been measured under various conditions from the tropics to temperate areas, in natural and agricultural systems. Low mineral N and large moisture contents have sometimes been found to favour N₂O consumption. This fits in with denitrification as the responsible process, reducing N₂O to N₂. However, it has also been reported that nitrifiers consume N₂O in nitrifier denitrification. A contribution of various processes could explain the wide range of conditions found to allow N₂O consumption, ranging from low to high temperatures, wet to dry soils, and fertilized to unfertilized plots. Generally, conditions interfering with N₂O diffusion in the soil seem to enhance N₂O consumption. However, the factors regulating N₂O consumption are not yet well understood and merit further study.
Frequent literature reports of net N₂O consumption suggest that a soil sink could help account for the current imbalance in estimated global budgets of N₂O. Therefore, a systematic investigation into N₂O consumption is necessary. This should concentrate on the organisms, reactions, and environmental factors involved.     

Glycosylation of Acetylcholinesterase Forms in Microsomal Membranes from Normal and Dystrophic Lama2dy Mouse Muscle

Abstract: The distribution and glycosylation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) forms in vesicles derived from sarcoplasmic reticulum of normal muscle (NMV) were investigated and compared with those from dystrophic muscle vesicles (DMV). AChE activity was similar in NMV and DMV. Most of the AChE in NMV and half in DMV were released with Triton X-100. Asymmetric (A₁₂) and globular hydrophilic and amphiphilic (G^H₄, G^A₄, G^A₂, and G^A₁) AChE species occurred in NMV and DMV, the lighter forms being predominant. The percentage of G^H₄ and G^A₄ decreased in DMV. A fraction of the AChE that could not be extracted with detergent was detached with collagenase. Most of the detergent-released A₁₂ AChE from NMV and nearly half in DMV failed to bind to Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-I). Conversely, the collagenase-detached isoforms bound to RCA, revealing that asymmetric AChE associated with internal membranes or basal lamina differed in glycosylation. Moreover, nearly half of G^A₄ AChE in DMV and a few in NMV bound to RCA. Most of the RCA-unreactive G^A₄ forms in NMV come from sarcolemma. The results indicate that dystrophy induces minor changes in the distribution and glycosylation of AChE forms in internal membranes of muscle.     

中国森林生态系统土壤呼吸温度敏感性空间变异特征及影响因素

土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q₁₀)是陆地碳循环与气候系统间相互作用的关键参数。尽管已有大量关于不同类型森林Q₁₀季节和年际变化规律的研究, 但是对Q₁₀在区域尺度的空间变异特征及其影响因素仍认识不足, 已有结果缺乏一致结论。该研究通过整合已发表论文, 构建了中国森林生态系统年尺度Q₁₀数据集, 共包含399条记录、5种森林类型(落叶阔叶林(DBF)、落叶针叶林(DNF)、常绿阔叶林(EBF)、常绿针叶林(ENF)、混交林(MF))。分析了不同森林类型Q₁₀的空间变异特征及其与地理、气候和土壤因素的关系。结果显示, 1) Q₁₀介于1.09到6.24之间, 平均值(±标准误差)为2.37 (± 0.04), 且在不同森林类型之间无显著差异; 2)当考虑所有森林类型时, Q₁₀随纬度、海拔、土壤有机碳含量(SOC)和土壤全氮含量(TN)的增加而增大, 随经度、年平均气温(MAT)、平均年降水量(MAP)的增加而减小。气候(MAT、MAP)和土壤(SOC、TN)因素间存在相互作用, 共同解释了33%的Q₁₀空间变异, 其中MAT和SOC是Q₁₀空间变异的主要驱动因素; 3)不同类型森林Q₁₀对气候和土壤因素的响应存在差异。在DNF中Q₁₀随MAP的增加而减小, 而其他类型森林中Q₁₀与MAP无显著相关性; 在EBF、DBF、ENF中Q₁₀随TN的增加而增大, 但Q₁₀对TN的敏感性在EBF中最高, 在ENF中最低。这些结果表明, 尽管Q₁₀有一定的集中分布趋势, 但仍有较大范围的空间变异, 在进行碳收支估算时应注意尺度问题。Q₁₀的主要驱动因素和Q₁₀对环境因素的响应随森林类型而变化, 在气候变化情景下, 不同森林类型间Q₁₀可能发生分异。因此, 未来的碳循环-气候模型还应考虑不同类型森林碳循环关键参数对气候变化的响应差异。     

巴郎山糙皮桦叶片光合氮利用效率的海拔响应

为深入认识植物对环境变化的响应和适应,以分布在川西巴郎山的糙皮桦为研究对象,选择海拔2200、2500、3100和3400 m 4个分布点,测定计算了各分布点叶片光合氮利用效率(PNUE)、CO₂扩散导度(叶肉细胞导度g_m与气孔导度g_s)和氮分配比例(Rubisco氮分配比例P_R、生物力能学组分氮分配比例P_B、捕光组分氮分配比例P_L与细胞壁氮分配比例P_CW)等参数,分析了其沿海拔的变化趋势以及叶片PNUE与其他参数的相关关系.结果表明: 糙皮桦叶片PNUE、P_R和P_B在海拔2500和3100 m相对较高;叶片g_s和g_m则随海拔升高而增加,P_L随海拔升高而降低.糙皮桦叶片P_R和P_B与PNUE呈显著正相关关系,说明P_R和P_B是PNUE随海拔变异的重要内部因素.糙皮桦叶片光合系统氮分配比例P_P在海拔2500和3100 m相对较高,叶片P_CW随海拔升高而降低,叶片其他组分氮分配比例P_other随海拔升高而增加,说明随海拔的升高,糙皮桦叶片趋向将更大比例的氮分配于除光合系统和细胞壁外的其他组分中.