Genetic dissection of retinoid esterification and accumulation in the liver and adipose tissue

Approximately 80–90% of all retinoids in the body are stored as retinyl esters (REs) in the liver. Adipose tissue also contributes significantly to RE storage. The present studies, employing genetic and nutritional interventions, explored factors that are responsible for regulating RE accumulation in the liver and adipose tissue and how these influence levels of retinoic acid (RA) and RA-responsive gene expression. Our data establish that acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) activity is not involved in RE synthesis in the liver, even when mice are nutritionally stressed by feeding a 25-fold excess retinol diet or upon ablation of cellular retinol-binding protein type I (CRBPI), which is proposed to limit retinol availability to ARATs. Unlike the liver, where lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) is responsible for all RE synthesis, this is not true for adipose tissue where Lrat-deficient mice display significantly elevated RE concentrations. However, when CrbpI is also absent, RE levels resemble wild-type levels, suggesting a role for CrbpI in RE accumulation in adipose tissue. Although expression of several RA-responsive genes is elevated in Lrat-deficient liver, employing a sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry protocol and contrary to what has been assumed for many years, we did not detect elevated concentrations of all-trans-RA. The elevated RA-responsive gene expression was associated with elevated hepatic triglyceride levels and decreased expression of Pparδ and its downstream Pdk4 target, suggesting a role for RA in these processes in vivo.     

不同配比施肥对马尾松幼苗生长特征的影响

为获得马尾松幼苗最佳施肥配方,该文以1年生马尾松幼苗为试验材料,采用L₁₆（4³）正交设计,并通过测定幼苗苗高、地径、生物量、叶绿素含量、叶片N、P、K含量,探讨不同N、P、K配比施肥对马尾松幼苗生长特征影响。结果表明：（1）不同配比施肥处理间马尾松幼苗苗高、地径、生物量、质量指数、叶绿素和养分含量存在显著差异,其中,处理12生物量、质量指数、叶绿素a和总叶绿素含量、隶属值最高。（2）施N对幼苗生长及生理指标均有极显著影响;施K对苗高、地径、地上生物量、总生物量有显著影响,对叶绿素和针叶养分有极显著影响;施P对叶绿素a、叶绿素b、针叶N和P含量有极显著影响,对苗高、地下生物量、总叶绿素含量有显著影响。（3）施N对苗高、地径、地上生物量、总生物量、质量指数、叶绿素a含量、总叶绿素含量和针叶N含量的影响最大,K次之,P最小。各因素对地下生物量和针叶P含量的影响均表现为N>P>K。（4）N3水平利于幼苗苗高地径的生长及生物量的积累,N4水平利于叶绿素a和总叶绿素含量及针叶N、P含量的积累,P4水平利于生物量、叶绿素含量和养分P含量的积累...     

土壤镉胁迫对田七体内镉分布及富集特性影响

田七(Panax notoginseng)是我国的一种传统珍贵的草本药用植物,其重金属污染问题已经引起广泛关注。为了分析田七不同部位对镉毒害的响应,明确不同浓度镉污染对田七体内镉分布的基本特征以及不同部位的富集特性,以揭示镉胁迫对田七不同部位的影响机制及富集转移特性。该研究在"田七之乡"广西靖西市田七园以3年生田七为材料,土培条件下以不施镉处理为空白对照,设置6个镉浓度(5、10、20、30、40、50 mg·kg~(-1))梯度,研究了在不同浓度镉胁迫下田七不同部位镉积累特征以及转移特性。结果表明:在不同器官(叶、茎、剪口、须根、主根)随着镉浓度的增加各器官镉的积累量均显著(P0.05)增加,呈现出正相关关系。田七不同部位镉含量的分布特征表现:空白对照下田七各器官镉累积分布表现为须根剪口主根茎叶;当镉浓度为5、10、20、30、40、50 mg·kg~(-1)时,田七镉分布表现为剪口主根须根茎叶;地下部的镉含量显著高于地上部的镉含量;随着镉浓度的增加,无论地下部生物富集系数还是地上部生物富集系数均表现为逐渐降低的趋势。     

粉葛主要营养物质、异黄酮成分的积累规律及其相关性分析

为确定粉葛的最佳采收时期及各部位的应用价值，探索粉葛主要营养物质与异黄酮成分的积累规律及相关关系，该研究以广西藤县粉葛为材料，采用测试盒法、酶重量法、索氏抽提法、高效液相色谱法等生理生化技术，测定了成熟期不同部位异黄酮成分的含量及不同生长时期粉葛块根主要营养物质、异黄酮成分的含量，并分析了各营养物质与异黄酮成分积累的相互关系。结果表明：(1)在成熟期，粉葛不同部位的染料木素含量差异均不显著，但叶片的大豆苷元含量显著小于中藤，根头和藤的总异黄酮、葛根素、大豆苷的含量显著大于叶片和块根，并且根头和藤的葛根素含量均超过1.00%。(2)不同生长时期，粉葛的淀粉、多糖、粗蛋白、可溶性蛋白的积累在11月和12月达到最大，不溶性膳食纤维的积累在12月最小，可溶性膳食纤维在8月和12月的积累量最大，总异黄酮和葛根素在8月和9月的积累量最大。(3)总异黄酮、葛根素的积累与淀粉、多糖的积累呈显著负相关，总异黄酮、葛根素的积累与不溶性膳食纤维的积累呈显著正相关。综上结果认为：粉葛的根头、藤蔓含有丰富的总异黄酮、葛根素、大豆苷，具有很好的药用开发价值；粉葛药用的最佳采收期为8月和9月，粉葛食用的最佳采收期为...     

碳氮源对花榈木胚性愈伤组织诱导、发育及有机物积累的影响

为探讨花榈木体胚发生过程中不同碳氮源处理对胚性愈伤组织诱导、发育和有机物积累的影响,并筛选出有利于花榈木体胚发生的碳氮源,优化体胚发生体系,该研究以成熟胚为外植体,通过单因素试验分析3种碳源、4种蔗糖浓度和6种氮源处理下胚性愈伤组织诱导、发育和有机物积累的差异。结果表明：(1)蔗糖中胚性愈伤组织诱导率显著高于葡萄糖和麦芽糖,但其体胚诱导率、体胚分化率、胚性愈伤组织可溶性糖、淀粉和可溶性蛋白含量差异不显著。(2)随着蔗糖浓度的升高,胚性愈伤组织、体细胞胚(体胚)诱导率、体胚分化率、胚性愈伤组织重量和可溶性蛋白含量呈先升高后降低的趋势,均以添加30 g·L^-1蔗糖最高,而胚性愈伤组织可溶性糖和淀粉含量呈增加的趋势。(3)在6种氮源处理中,胚性愈伤组织诱导率以添加500 mg·L^-1谷氨酰胺的处理最高,体胚诱导率则以添加谷氨酰胺和水解酪蛋白的处理较高,但不同氮源处理间体胚分化率无差异;添加有机氮源的处理其胚性愈伤组织可溶性蛋白含量显著高于无氮源处理。总之,不同的碳氮源通过影响花榈木胚性愈伤组织的诱导、发育和有机物的积累,从而影响其体胚诱导率,但对体...     

Removal of Prymnesium parvum (Haptophyceae) and its toxins using clay minerals

Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the ability of several clay minerals from Sweden to remove the fish-killing microalga, Prymnesium parvum Carter, from suspension. In their commercial form (i.e. after incineration at 400 °C), seawater slurries (salinity = 26) of the three minerals tested were generally ineffective at removing P. parvum from culture within a range of 0.01 to 0.50 g/L, and after 2.5 h of flocculation and settling. Dry bentonite (SWE1) displayed the highest removal efficiency (RE) at 17.5%, with 0.50 g/L. Illite (SWE3) averaged only 7.5% RE between 0.10 to 0.50 g/L, while kaolinite (SWE2) kept the cells suspended instead of removing them. Brief mixing of the clay-cell suspension after SWE1 addition improved RE by a factor of 2.5 (i.e. 49% at 0.50 g/L), relative to no mixing. The addition of polyaluminum chloride (PAC, at 5 ppm) to 0.50 g/L SWE1 also improved RE to 50% relative to SWE1 alone, but only minor improvements in RE were seen with SWE2 and SWE2 combined with PAC. In further experiments, P. parvum grown in NP-replete conditions were removed in greater numbers than cells in N- or P-limited cultures, at 0.10–0.25 g/L of SWE1 and 5 ppm PAC. With 0.50 g/L, RE converged at 40% for all three culture conditions. The toxin concentration of NP-replete cultures decreased from 24.2 to 9.2 μg/mL (60% toxin RE) with 0.10–0.50 g/L SWE1 treatment and 5 ppm PAC. A strong correlation was found between cell and toxin RE (r²=0.995). For N-limited cultures, toxin RE ranged between 21 and 87% with the same clay/PAC concentrations, although the correlation between cell and toxin removal was more moderate (r²=0.746) than for NP-replete conditions. Interestingly, the toxin concentration within the clay-cell pellet increased dramatically after treatment, suggesting that clay addition may stimulate toxin production in N-stressed cells. For P-limited cultures, toxin concentration also decreased following clay/PAC treatment (i.e. 36% toxin RE), but toxin removal was poorly correlated to cell removal (r²=0.462). To determine whether incineration affected SWE1’s removal ability, a sample of its wet, unprocessed form was tested. The RE of wet bentonite (SWE4) was slightly better than that of SWE1 (31% versus 17%, respectively, at 0.50 g/L), but when 5 ppm PAC was added, RE increased from 10 to 64% with 0.05 g/L of SWE4, and increased further to 77% with 0.50 g/L. There were no significant differences in RE among NP-replete, N-limited and P-limited cultures using PAC-treated SWE4. Finally, RE varied with P. parvum concentration, reaching a maximum level at the lowest cell concentration (1×10³ cells/mL): 100% RE with 0.10 and 0.50 g/L SWE4 + 5 ppm PAC. RE dropped as cell concentration increased to 1×10⁴ and 5×10⁴ cells/mL, but rose again when concentration increased to 1×10⁵ cells/mL, the concentration used routinely for the removal experiments above. Based on these results, SWE4 with PAC was the most effective mineral sample against P. parvum. Overall, these studies demonstrated that clay flocculation can be effective at removing P. parvum and its toxins only under certain treatment conditions with respect to cell concentration, clay type and concentration, and physiological status.     

Effect of feeding precursors on phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and coumarin accumulation in leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Matricaria chamomilla</Emphasis> L.

Four-week-old chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) plants were exposed for 72 h to 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM phenylalanine (Phe) or tyrosine (Tyr). Phe at all concentrations significantly increased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity (by 30, 76 and 90%, respectively) as well as accumulation of coumarin-related compounds (herniarin and its precursors (Z)- and (E)-2-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acids). Free Phe content increased significantly at the highest dose tested. Lower Tyr concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 mM) significantly increased PAL activity and increased free Tyr content, however free Phe content decreased. This indicated that Tyr-mediated stimulation of PAL is coupled to Phe consumption. Notwithstanding, Tyr had no effect on coumarin accumulation. Therefore we speculate that in chamomile a regulation/signalling mechanism could be operating in the pathway leading to coumarin synthesis. The malondialdehyde accumulation, an usual marker of stress in plants, was not significantly changed by amino acid supplements, suggesting that membrane damage is not the signal causing coumarin accumulation. In parallel experiment we observed that neither lower (0.25 × full strength), nor higher (3 × full strength) nitrogen concentration of nutrient solution compared to normal (1 × full strength, 205 mg N l^-1) solution used for Phe/Tyr supply affected herniarin and GMCAs accumulation. This indicates that Phe had stimulatory effect on PAL activity and coumarin metabolism.     

宁夏荒漠草原蒙古冰草功能性状和根际效应对土壤性状的响应

植物功能性状组合的权衡是植物适应土壤环境的重要机制,它也通过对根际效应的调控进而影响着根际过程和生态系统功能。以位于宁夏盐池县的典型荒漠草原为研究区域,通过对灰钙土、黑垆土和风沙土中蒙古冰草功能性状和根际效应的对比分析,探究不同土壤对蒙古冰草功能性状和根际效应的影响以及它们之间的关系。结果表明：(1)不同土壤中蒙古冰草根际和非根际土壤理化性质存在显著差异,根际土壤理化性质的变化与非根际土壤性质有关。(2)不同土壤中的根际效应大小存在差异,不同因子的根际效应大小因土壤而异,总体表现为风沙土最大,灰钙土最小;土壤理化性质是影响蒙古冰草根际效应的主要因素,可解释根际效应变异的69.5%。(3)土壤理化性质与蒙古冰草功能性状密切相关,其对根长和根冠比的影响最大;蒙古冰草功能性状与根际效应大小密切相关,根长和根冠比是影响根际效应的主要因子。研究表明蒙古冰草通过根际效应改善了土壤性质,进而提高土壤质量,这种作用受土壤理化性质和植物功能性状等因子的共同影响。     

多刺绿绒蒿WD40基因家族的鉴定及生物信息学分析

WD40转录因子家族广泛参与调节植物生长、发育、次生代谢物积累和环境适应等过程。为了探究WD40家族在多刺绿绒蒿生长、发育和次生代谢物积累以及抗逆方面的作用,该研究基于全长转录组测序数据,鉴定了多刺绿绒蒿WD40基因家族成员,并对这些基因及其编码的蛋白进行了生物信息学分析。结果表明:(1)共鉴定到19个WD40基因,编码的蛋白均具有WD40结构域,氨基酸数目为109～758 aa,分子量介于11 830～84 130 Da之间,预测大多数蛋白定位在细胞核中且都为亲水性蛋白;(2)系统进化树分析表明多刺绿绒蒿与罂粟、博落回亲缘关系较近;(3)WD40基因启动子区域均存在数量不等的激素或逆境响应元件,表明该家族基因可能参与植物生长、发育和次生代谢物积累等多种生物学进程的调节;(4)蛋白三级结构显示这些蛋白在进化过程中发生了不同程度的进化。这些结果可为深入研究多刺绿绒蒿WD40基因家族在其响应逆境胁迫和次生代谢物积累等方面的具体机制提供前期基础。     

海南岛木麻黄林林下植物天然更新影响因素的研究

木麻黄海防林是海南岛重要的海岸生态屏障,天然更新对其持续发挥防护功能具有重要意义。调查发现海南岛大多数木麻黄林林下天然更新困难,然而却存在局部更新良好的现象。为了探究天然更新存在巨大差异的原因,并为促进海南海防林由人工林向近自然林转化提供一定的理论基础,通过分析不同林地更新质量的差异,研究影响木麻黄海防林林下天然更新的主要影响因素。该研究在海南岛木麻黄海防林中共设置73块临时样地,采用方差分析和相关分析等统计方法,分别研究林地所属气候区、林分条件、土壤因子和凋落物累积量对天然更新质量和密度的影响。结果表明:(1)湿润气候区的木麻黄林下更新要显著优于半干旱区;(2)木麻黄林分密度与更新密度和草本盖度存在显著负相关,但林分条件其他因子对更新影响不大;(3)不同更新质量样地的土壤pH和养分均无显著性差异,但铵态氮对幼苗、有机质对幼树的更新存在一定的促进作用;(4)凋落物的累计整体不利于天然更新的进行。结果说明气候因子、木麻黄林分密度、木麻黄凋落物积累量是木麻黄海防林林下植物天然更新的主要影响因素。     

Ts65Dn Mouse,a Down Syndrome Model,Exhibits Elevated myo-Inositol in Selected Brain Regions and Peripheral Tissues

myo-Inositol is elevated in the Down syndrome (DS; trisomy 21) brain and may play a role in mental retardation. In the present study, we examined brain regions and peripheral tissues of Ts65Dn mouse, a recently characterized genetic model of DS, for abnormal myo-inositol accumulation. A GC/MS technique was used to quantitate myo-inositol and other polyol species (ribitol, arabitol, xylitol, and 1,5-anhydrosorbitol) in tissues from the Ts65Dn mice and control diploid mice. myo-Inositol was found to be elevated in frontal cortex, hippocampus, and brain stem but not in cerebellum of the Ts65Dn mouse. Among peripheral organs examined, liver and skeletal muscle were found to excessively accumulate myo-inositol. In all tissues, concentrations of polyol internal controls were normal. The Ts65Dn mouse is useful to study the possible effect of elevated myo-inositol on cellular processes.     

生物钟PRR蛋白促进拟南芥幼苗中花青素的合成

生物钟(circadian clock)是激发植物生理特征节律性表达，并使之维持稳定的保守内源调节机制。PRR(PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR)蛋白家族是生物钟中央振荡器的重要组成部分，调控植物的种子萌发、下胚轴伸长和开花等多种生命过程。花青素(anthocyanin)是植物次生代谢产物，对植物的繁衍、生长发育和抵抗逆境胁迫具有重要作用。该研究以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)为对象，探讨生物钟PRR蛋白对花青素生物合成的调控功能和分子机制。结果表明：(1)在PRR基因单突变体及多突变体幼苗中，花青素的积累明显降低，某些花青素合成相关基因的表达也显著降低。(2)相反，在PRR5过表达幼苗中，花青素的积累以及某些花青素合成相关基因的表达则显著升高。(3)蛋白相互作用结果显示，PRR5蛋白能与MYB75、TT8、MYB90及MYB113等花青素调控蛋白相互作用，并形成复合物。(4)遗传学分析结果显示，拟南芥PRR5诱导幼苗中花青素的合成依赖于MYB家族花青素调控蛋白。综上认为，生物钟PRR蛋白可能通过PRR5与MYB75、TT8等相互作用，促进拟南芥幼...     

铊和镉胁迫对芦竹生长及光合特征的影响

芦竹(Arundo donax)对多种重金属都有较好的耐受性,是植物修复技术较理想的选择,而关于芦竹对Cd和Tl胁迫生理反应的相关研究却较少,为了有效治理Cd和Tl的污染,本研究以芦竹为材料,通过添加不同浓度重金属Tl(4,10和20 mg·kg~(-1))、Cd(50,100和200 mg·kg~(-1))进行芦竹盆栽试验,测定芦竹的株高、分蘖数、叶绿素含量、光合生理指标以及Tl和Cd在芦竹中的累积量,探讨芦竹对Tl和Cd胁迫的响应机制。结果表明:Tl(4~20 mg·kg~(-1))和Cd(50~200 mg·kg~(-1))对芦竹株高、分蘖数以及叶绿素含量均无显著影响(P0.05);芦竹体内Tl和Cd含量随着Tl和Cd浓度的升高呈上升趋势,芦竹体内Tl含量的分布规律为根茎叶,Cd含量的分布规律:Cd浓度50 mg·kg~(-1)时为茎叶根,Cd浓度100和200 mg·kg~(-1)时为根茎叶,表明Tl和Cd主要分布在根部,芦竹对Tl、Cd有一定的富集能力。Cd和Tl处理均显著降低芦竹叶片的胞间CO2浓度,在Tl浓度为10 mg·kg~(-1)时,净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率得到显著提高,当Cd浓度为50 mg·kg~(-1)时,净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率得到显著提高。这表明芦竹对重金属Cd和Tl有较强的耐受性,可为Cd和Tl污染土壤的治理和修复提供参考。     

Altered hepatic retinyl ester concentration and acyl composition in response to alcohol consumption

Retinoids (vitamin A and its metabolites) are essential micronutrients that regulate many cellular processes. Greater than 70% of the body's retinoid reserves are stored in the liver as retinyl ester (RE). Chronic alcohol consumption induces depletion of hepatic retinoid stores, and the extent of this has been correlated with advancing stages of alcoholic liver disease. The goal of this study was to analyze the mechanisms responsible for depletion of hepatic RE stores by alcohol consumption. A change in the fatty-acyl composition of RE in alcohol-fed mice was observed within two weeks after the start of alcohol consumption. Specifically, alcohol-feeding was associated with a significant decline in hepatic retinyl palmitate levels; however, total RE levels were maintained by a compensatory increase in levels of usually minor RE species, particularly retinyl oleate. Our data suggests that alcohol feeding initially stimulates a futile cycle of RE hydrolysis and synthesis, and that the change in RE acyl composition is associated with a change in the acyl composition of hepatic phosphatidylcholine. The alcohol-induced change in RE acyl composition was specific to the liver, and was not seen in lung or white adipose tissue. This shift in hepatic RE fatty acyl composition is a sensitive indicator of alcohol consumption and may be an early biomarker for events associated with the development of alcoholic liver disease.     

Flocculation and removal of the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens (Chrysophyceae), using clays

Previous attempts to remove the brown tideorganism, Aureococcusanophagefferens, through flocculation withclays have been unsuccessful, in spite ofadopting concentrations and dispersalprotocols that yielded excellent cellremoval efficiency (RE >90%) with otherspecies, so a study was planned to improvecell removal. Four modifications in claypreparation and dispersal were explored: 1)varying the salinity of the claysuspension; 2) mixing of the clay-cellsuspension after clay addition; 3) varyingof concentration of the initial clay stock;4) pulsed loading of the clay slurry. Theeffect of salinity was dependent on theclay mineral type: phosphatic clay (IMC-P2)had a higher RE than kaolinite (H-DP) whenseawater was used to disperse the clay, butH-DP removed cells more efficiently whensuspended in distilled water prior toapplication. Mixing after dispersalapproximately doubled RE for both clayscompared to when the slurry was layeredover the culture surface. Lowering theconcentration of clay stock and pulsing theclay loading increased RE, regardless ofmineral type. However, this increase wasmore apparent for clays dispersed inseawater than in distilled water. Ingeneral, application procedures thatdecrease the rate of self-aggregation amongthe clay particles and increase thecollision frequency between clay particlesand A. anophagefferens achieve highercell removal efficiency. These empiricalstudies demonstrated that clays might be animportant control option for the brown tideorganism, given the proper attention topreparation, dispersal methods,environmental impacts, and the hydrodynamicproperties of the system being treated. Implications for the treatment of browntides in the field are discussed.     

Lysosomal acid lipase is the major acid retinyl ester hydrolase in cultured human hepatic stellate cells but not essential for retinyl ester degradation

Vitamin A is stored as retinyl esters (REs) in lipid droplets of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). To date, two different pathways are known to facilitate the breakdown of REs: (i) Hydrolysis of REs by neutral lipases, and (ii) whole lipid droplet degradation in autolysosomes by acid hydrolysis.In this study, we evaluated the contribution of neutral and acid RE hydrolases to the breakdown of REs in human HSCs. (R)-Bromoenol lactone (R-BEL), inhibitor of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3), the hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) inhibitor 76-0079, as well as the serine-hydrolase inhibitor Orlistat reduced neutral RE hydrolase activity of LX-2 cell-lysates between 20 and 50%. Interestingly, in pulse-chase experiments, R-BEL, 76-0079, as well as Orlistat exerted little to no effect on cellular RE breakdown of LX-2 cells as well as primary human HSCs. In contrast, Lalistat2, a specific lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) inhibitor, virtually blunted acid in vitro RE hydrolase activity of LX-2 cells. Accordingly, HSCs isolated from LAL-deficient mice showed RE accumulation and were virtually devoid of acidic RE hydrolase activity. In pulse-chase experiments however, LAL-deficient HSCs, similar to LX-2 cells and primary human HSCs, were not defective in degrading REs.In summary, results demonstrate that ATGL, PNPLA3, and HSL contribute to neutral RE hydrolysis of human HSCs. LAL is the major acid RE hydrolase in HSCs. Yet, LAL is not limiting for RE degradation under serum-starvation. Together, results suggest that RE breakdown of HSCs is facilitated by (a) so far unknown, non-Orlistat inhibitable RE-hydrolase(s).     

Effect of Increasing Concentrations of Lead and Cadmium on Cucumber Seedlings

The effect of lead and cadmium on biomass accumulation of cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.) as well as the contents of abscisic acid (ABA), free proline and soluble proteins in leaves were studied. Seedlings were subjected to lead nitrate or cadmium bromide in low concentrations (1 – 5 µM) for 1, 4 or 7 d, and then to the action of the same substances in high concentrations (500 – 1000 µM). The pretreatments of the seedlings with heavy metals in low concentrations enabled them to tolerate the subsequent high concentrations of cadmium and lead without injury. The plant responses to heavy metal treatment were accompanied by the accumulation of ABA, free proline and soluble proteins in leaf tissues.     

金铁锁毛状根构型对其生长的影响

毛状根的构型是影响其生长速度和生物量积累的重要因素,为了规模化培养金铁锁毛状根,进一步解决金铁锁资源短缺问题,该研究以金铁锁毛状根为材料,通过改变培养基类型、碳源及碳源浓度,观察和分析了毛状根的生长状态,找出影响毛状根构型的因素。结果表明:最适合金铁锁毛状根生长的培养基为B5+蔗糖30 g·L~(-1),金铁锁毛状根主根长而粗壮,一级、二级侧根生长量大,根系表面积较大,生长效果最佳。经液体悬浮培养验证,测定毛状根的生长量,与在固体培养基培养的毛状根生长状态基本一致。通过该项研究,优化了培养基中营养成分的配比,实现了金铁锁毛状根的快速生长和生物量的积累。     

NaCl与干旱双重胁迫下黑果枸杞幼苗对外源水杨酸的生理响应

干旱、盐分已成为限制植物生长发育的主要因子,在干旱与NaCl双重胁迫下植物的生长发育受到一定影响。为了探究黑果枸杞（Lycium ruthenicum）对盐旱逆境的适应性,该文采用盆栽试验,研究NaCl与干旱胁迫共同作用对其幼苗生长的影响,并观察盐旱逆境下黑果枸杞幼苗对外源水杨酸（SA）的生理响应,探究提高NaCl与干旱胁迫下黑果枸杞幼苗的存活率。结果表明：外源SA(0.1、0.5 mmol·L^-1)处理下,盐旱双重胁迫下黑果枸杞叶内可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸含量有所增加,而丙二醛（MDA）含量显著降低（P<0.05）,过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性上升,且0.5 mmol·L^-1 SA处理效果优于0.1 mmol·L^-1 处理。综上结果可知,黑果枸杞对于轻度盐旱胁迫具有一定的适应能力,适宜浓度SA可提高盐旱逆境中黑果枸杞叶内渗透调节物质含量及抗氧化酶活性,该研究为进一步了解盐旱双重胁迫下黑果枸杞幼苗的生长发育提供相关理论依据。     

Metabolite profiling of saponins in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Balanites</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aegyptiaca</Emphasis> plant tissues using LC (RI)-ESI/MS and MALDI-TOF/MS

Saponins are a major family of secondary metabolites which consist of a sugar moiety glycosidically linked to a hydrophobic aglycone (sapogenin). In recent years the interest in saponins has increased significantly because of their diverse properties as natural detergents and foaming agents, their cardiac, immunostimulating, and anti-cancer activity, as well as other health promoting functions. This study deals with metabolitic analysis of saponins from methanolic extracts of fruit mesocarp (ME), seed kernel (KE) and root (RE) of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. (desert date) plant grown in Israel using LC (RI)-ESI/MS and MALDI-TOF/MS. The structural assignment was carried out by fragmentation experiments of LC (RI)-ESI/MS and literature data. The study has revealed that, all together, twenty-four furostanol saponins were found in ME, KE and RE. Of these, four saponins are found only in ME, five only in KE and six only in RE. Diosgenin was found to be the sole aglycone in all the saponins. The smallest saponin (MW 740 Da) was found with two sugar units (glucose) and the largest saponin (MW 1678 Da) was found with eight sugar units (5 glucose, 2 rhamnose and 1 xylose) attached to diosgenin. The results suggest that MALDI-TOF/MS with positive ion mode is particularly effective for determining the metabolites of saponins in B. aegyptiaca plant tissues. MALDI-TOF/MS not only verified the results of the LC (RI)-ESI/MS, but also identified additional saponins that are now systematically organized in a database of B. aegyptiaca saponins. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.