干旱胁迫下镉处理对互叶醉鱼草幼苗生长、镉积累及光合生理的影响

为探究干旱条件下,互叶醉鱼草(Buddleja alternifolia Maxim.)幼苗对重金属镉胁迫的生长及光合生理响应机制,以两年生互叶醉鱼草幼苗为试验材料,设置对照与干旱两个水分处理组(土壤相对含水率分别为:65%—60%,35%—30%),每个水分处理条件下再分别设置3个镉处理浓度(0.28、(0.6+0.28)、(1.2+0.28)mg/kg),共6个处理。测定不同水分及镉处理对互叶醉鱼草生长、生物量、光合参数及体内重金属含量的影响。结果表明:干旱与镉复合胁迫下植物的存活率为100%。镉胁迫、干旱与镉复合胁迫均不同程度抑制了互叶醉鱼草幼苗生长、生物量积累、植株的光合作用及叶绿素含量,且其光合和叶绿素含量的降幅明显大于单一镉胁迫。镉胁迫下,互叶醉鱼草幼苗单株最高镉富集量为69.33 mg/kg,而复合胁迫下单株最高镉富集量为50.68 mg/kg。以上结果表明:干旱胁迫能够加重镉胁迫对植物的影响,使复合胁迫下互叶醉鱼草生长、光合生理及镉富集能力下降。但单一镉胁迫下,互叶醉鱼草对镉具有更强的耐受性,并有较高的生物富集能力,且干旱与Cd复合胁迫下互叶醉鱼草幼苗仍有一定的镉积累量。因此在干旱半干旱区园林绿化以及Cd污染地区的生态建设中,互叶醉鱼草是一种具有巨大应用潜力和前景的灌木树种。     

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When the liver is damaged, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can change into an activated, highly migratory state. The migration of HSCs may be affected by shear stress due not only to sinusoidal flow but also by the flow in the space of Disse because this space is filled with blood plasma. In this study, we evaluated the effects of shear stress on HSC migration in a scratch-wound assay with a parallel flow chamber. At regions upstream of the wound area, the migration was inhibited by 0.6 Pa and promoted by 2.0 Pa shear stress, compared to the static condition. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB receptor, PDGFR-β, was expressed in all conditions and the differences were not significant. PDGF increased HSC migration, except at 0.6 Pa shear stress, which was still inhibited. These results indicate that another molecular factor, such as PDGFR-α, may act to inhibit the migration under low shear stress. At regions downstream of the wound area, the migration was smaller under shear stress than under the static condition, although the expression of PDGFR-β was significantly higher. In particular, the migration direction was opposite to the wound area under high shear stress; therefore, migration might be influenced by the intercellular environment. Our results indicate that HSC migration was influenced by shear stress intensity and the intercellular environment.     

Endothelial cell morphometry of atherosclerotic lesions and flow profiles at aortic bifurcations in cholesterol fed rabbits.

Observations on shapes of endothelial cells both in sudanophilic and nonsudanophilic regions at bifurcations of the brachiocephalic (BC) and left subclavian (SA) arteries in hyperlipidemic rabbits were performed under a SEM. The stagnation point of flow and leading edges of flow dividers were nonsudanophilic and covered by round and long fusiform endothelial cells, respectively. The hips of flow dividers of both branchings, proven to be relatively low shear stress regions, by movement of microspheres in steady flow, were sudanophilic and covered by ellipsoidal cells. Similar studies were carried out in normolipidemic rabbits. It might be concluded that lipid deposition in hyperlipidemic rabbits occurs in relatively low shear stress regions, where endothelial cells are functionally activated, rather than in laminar high shear stress regions at the flow divider.     

Genetic analysis of drought tolerance in maize by molecular markers. II. Plant height and flowering

Drought is a serious agronomic problem, and one of the most important factors contributing to crop yield loss. In maize grown in temperate areas, drought stress occurs just before and during the flowering period; consequently, tolerance to water stress in this species is largely determined by events that occur at or shortly after flowering. The purposes of our investigation were: (1)?to identify the chromosomal regions where factors conferring drought tolerance for traits related to plant development and flowering are located and (2)?to compare these regions with those carrying QTLs controlling these traits, in order to get indirect information on the genetic and physiological basis of maize response to water stress. To this aim, we performed a linkage analysis between the expression of male and female flowering time, anthesis-silking interval (ASI), plant height and molecular markers. The experiment was carried out under two environmental conditions, well-watered and water-stressed, on a maize population of 142 recombinant inbred lines obtained by selfing the F₁ between lines B73 and H99 and genotyped by RFLP, microsatellites (SSR) and AFLP markers, for a total of 153 loci. Linkage analysis revealed that, for male flowering time and plant height, most of the QTLs detected were the same under control and stress conditions. In contrast, with respect to female flowering time and ASI diverse QTLs appeared to be expressed either under control conditions or under stress. All of the QTLs conferring tolerance to drought were located in a different chromosome position as compared to the map position of the factors controlling the trait per se. This suggests that plant tolerance, in its different components, is not attributable to the presence of favourable allelic combinations controlling the trait but is based on physiological characteristics not directly associated with the control of the character.     

Differential interactions of promoter elements in stress responses of the Arabidopsis Adh gene.

The Adh (alcohol dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.1.) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. can be induced by dehydration and cold, as well as by hypoxia. A 1-kb promoter fragment (CADH: -964 to +53) is sufficient to confer the stress induction and tissue-specific developmental expression characteristics of the Adh gene to a beta-glucuronidase reporter gene. Deletion mapping of the 5' end and site-specific mutagenesis identified four regions of the promoter essential for expression under the three stress conditions. Some sequence elements are important for response to all three stress treatments, whereas others are stress specific. The most critical region essential for expression of the Arabidopsis Adh promoter under all three environmental stresses (region IV: -172 to -141) contains sequences homologous to the GT motif (-160 to -152) and the GC motif (-147 to -144) of the maize Adh1 anaerobic responsive element. Region III (-235 to -172) contains two regions shown by R.J. Ferl and B.H. Laughner ([1989] Plant Mol Biol 12: 357-366) to bind regulatory proteins; mutation of the G-box-1 region (5'-CCACGTGG-3', -216 to -209) does not affect expression under uninduced or hypoxic conditions, but significantly reduces induction by cold stress and, to a lesser extent, by dehydration stress. Mutation of the other G-box-like sequence (G-box-2: 5'-CCAAGTGG-3', -193 to -182) does not change hypoxic response and affects cold and dehydration stress only slightly. G-box-2 mutations also promote high levels of expression under uninduced conditions. Deletion of region I (-964 to -510) results in increased expression under uninduced and all stress conditions, suggesting that this region contains a repressor binding site. Region II (-510 to -384) contains a positive regulatory element and is necessary for high expression levels under all treatments.     

N-terminal cleavage fragment of focal adhesion kinase is required to activate the survival signalling pathway in cultured myoblasts under oxidative stress

We have previously shown that the cultured L6 myoblasts are susceptible to menadione-induced oxidative stress. Damaged cells were detached from the culture dishes. In the present study, we focused on focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which plays pivotal roles in maintaining focal adhesion function and cell survival. FAK, normally localized at the focal adhesion regions of the myoblasts, was not observed at the regions under oxidative stress induced by menadione and H(2) O(2) . Two cleavage products, 80-kDa N-terminal FAK and 35-kDa C-terminal FAK fragments, as well as full-length FAK (125?kDa) were detected in myoblasts cultured under normal conditions by western blotting with anti-N-terminal FAK or anti-C-terminal FAK sera. Of interest was the finding that the cleavage products of FAK (but not full-length FAK) disappeared under oxidative stress. The cleavage of full-length FAK to N-terminal FAK and C-terminal FAK was inhibited by calpeptin, a specific calpain inhibitor. In addition, pre-incubation of cells with calpeptin resulted in a sharp decrease in survival signals, such as Akt phosphorylation and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, under stress conditions. By contrast, not only relative viability, but also Akt phosphorylation and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was significantly improved when cells were transfected with a DNA construct of N-terminal FAK-Myc. These results suggest that the N-terminal FAK positively regulates survival signalling in early phases of oxidative stress in the cultured myoblasts.     

The Comparative Drought Resistance of Landraces of Sorghum and Millet From Dry and Humid Regions

It may be that land-races of sorghum (Sorghum sp.) and millet[Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke] which evolved along geographicalgradients of rainfall in Africa and India, differ in their droughtresistance. Any physiological attributes found to be correlatedwith low rainfall might be important and effective characteristicsfor crop production in dry regions. Twenty land-races were chosen which evolved along geographicalgradients of rainfall, seven millets from India, six sorghumsfrom Mali, and seven sorghums from the Sudan. Races were evaluatedfor their growth potential and plant water relations under hydroponicsconditions in a growth chamber. A water stress treatment wasimposed by adding polyethylene glycol-8000 to the nutrient solution,giving a solute water potential of -0.5 MPa, compared with acontrol solution at 003 MPa. Drought resistance, in terms of relatively less growth inhibitionunder stress, was higher in races from dry regions than in racesfrom humid regions. Of all the physiological variables measured[carbon exchange rate, (CER), transpiration, transpiration ratio(CER/transpiration), leaf diffusive resistance, leaf water potentialand osmotic adjustment], only osmotic adjustment under stresswas generally correlated with average rainfall at each race'sorigin, indicating greater osmotic adjustment in land-racesfrom drier regions. Races with a greater capacity for osmoticadjustment were characterized by smaller plants with high ratesof transpiration and low rates of leaf senescence under stress. The carbon exchange rate per unit leaf area increased as liveleaf area decreased under stress due to leaf senescence. Thus,drought resistant races under stress tended to have lower CERper unit live leaf area (but not per plant) than susceptibleraces. Transpiration ratios under stress were lower in resistantthan in susceptible races, mainly because resistant races hadhigher transpiration. The results for the measured variables showed a general trendfor greater drought resistance in sorghum than in millet, indicatingthat the commonly observed adapation of the millets to dry environmentsmay be due to other factors, such as drought escape or heattolerance. Sorghum sp. Pennisetum americanum L. (Leeke), water stress, osmotic adjustment, photosynthesis, transpiration, evolution, drought resistance     

干旱胁迫对宁夏枸杞生长及果实糖分积累的影响

文章研究不同干旱胁迫下宁夏枸杞生长及果实糖分积累的变化规律,为宁夏枸杞在干旱地区高产栽培提供参考依据。采用盆栽控水试验,设置正常灌水、轻度干旱、中度干旱和重度干旱处理,研究了干旱胁迫对宁夏枸杞植株生长、生物量分配以及果实糖分积累的影响。结果表明：干旱抑制宁夏枸杞新稍、果实、株高和地径的生长：随着干旱程度加剧,根和茎中干物质分配率逐渐升高,而枝条、叶和果实中干物质分配率大幅降低;轻度干旱有利于果实发育过程中果糖的积累,中度和重度干旱胁迫则不利于成熟期果糖和蔗糖积累;干旱胁迫明显降低成熟期转化酶、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和蔗糖合成酶（SS）的活性;果实发育过程中果糖的含量与SPS和转化酶活性存在极显著相关。可见,在果实发育期,土壤含水量为田间持水量55％以上,能促进宁夏枸杞果实中糖分积累,有效提高果实品质。     

Local hemodynamics affect monocytic cell adhesion to a three-dimensional flow model coated with E-selectin.

Monocyte adhesion to the endothelium depends on concentrations of receptors/ligands, local concentrations of chemoattractants, monocyte transport to the endothelial surface and hemodynamic forces. Monocyte adhesion to the inert surface of a three-dimensional perfusion model was shown to correlate inversely with wall shear stress, but was also affected by flow patterns which influenced the near-wall cell availability. We hypothesized that (a) under the same flow conditions, insolubilized E-selectin on the model's surface may mediate adhesive interactions at higher wall shear stresses, compared to an uncoated model, and (b) pulsatile flow may modify the adhesion profile obtained under steady flow. An axisymmetric flow model with a stenosis and a sudden expansion produced a range of wall shear stresses and a separated flow with recirculation and reattachment. Pre-activated U937 cells were perfused through the model under either steady (Re = 100, 140) or pulsatile (Remean = 107) flow. The velocity field was characterized through computational fluid dynamics and validated by inert particle tracking. Surface E-selectin greatly increased cell adhesion in all regions at Re = 100 and 140, compared to an uncoated model under the same flow conditions. In regions where the cells near the wall were abundant (taper and stenosis), adhesion to E-selectin correlated with the reciprocal of local wall shear stress when flow was steady. Pulsatile flow distributed the adherent cells more evenly throughout the coated model. Hence, characterizing both the local hemodynamics and the biological activity on the vessel wall is important in leukocyte adhesion.     

Mechanical Properties of the Rhizome of Arundo donax L.

Abstract: The mechanical properties of rhizome segments of Arundo donax L. were studied in three dimensions: longitudinal (X), transverse-vertical (Y), transverse-horizontal (Z). Tensile, cyclic loading and torsional tests demonstrate that the distinct anisotropy found in the hollow stems is less pronounced in the rhizome. Morphological and anatomical examinations suggest that the mechanical anisotropy of the stem is caused by the arrangement parallel to the stem of the vascular bundles and sclerenchymatous fibres, embedded in lignified parenchyma. Anatomical inhomogeneity is less pronounced in the rhizome due to the short internode lengths, and predominance of nodal regions, where sclerenchymatous fibres form a complex three-dimensional arrangement embedded in unlignified starch-storing parenchyma. Cyclic loading experiments indicate viscoelastic behaviour of the rhizomatous tissues under tensile stress. Additionally, viscoelastic behaviour under torsional stress was studied. Mechanical behaviour of the rhizome under tension up to fracture is discussed with regard to the fracture surfaces, analysed by SEM.     

盐、碱胁迫下小冰麦体内的pH及离子平衡

通过混合两种中性盐（NaCl和Na₂SO₄）和两种碱性盐（NaHCO₃和Na₂CO₃）分别模拟出不同强度的盐、碱胁迫条件,对小冰麦苗进行12 d胁迫处理,测定茎叶组织液的pH值及Na⁺、K⁺、Ca²⁺、Cl^-、SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、H₂PO₄-和有机酸等溶质的浓度,以探讨盐、碱两种胁迫下小冰麦体内的pH及离子平衡特点.结果表明：盐、碱胁迫下小冰麦茎叶内的pH值均稳定不变;随胁迫强度的增加,盐胁迫下小冰麦茎叶内有机酸浓度没有明显变化,Cl^-浓度大幅度增加,而碱胁迫下有机酸浓度大幅度增加,Cl^-浓度没有明显变化.盐、碱胁迫下小冰麦茎叶中的阳离子均以Na⁺和K⁺为主,但阴离子的来源明显不同.盐胁迫下无机阴离子对负电荷的贡献起主导作用,其贡献率达61.3%～66.7%;而碱胁迫下,随胁迫强度的增大,有机酸对负离子的贡献率从38.35%上升到61.60%,逐渐成为主导成分.实验结果表明,有机酸积累是小冰麦在碱胁迫下保持体内离子平衡和pH稳定的关键生理响应.     

不同区域长柄扁桃抗旱性的研究

以采自河北、乌审旗、榆阳、神木、固阳5个地区的一年生长柄扁桃（Amygdalus pedunculata Pall.）实生苗为试材,研究其叶片在水分胁迫下的解剖结构与生理生化特性,来确定其抗旱性强弱。结果表明：（1）水分胁迫后各地区长柄扁桃的叶片解剖结构存在显著性差异,并由隶属函数法对解剖结构综合分析得出这5个地区长柄扁桃的抗旱性顺序为：榆阳〉神木〉固阳〉乌审旗〉河北。（2）随着干旱时间的延长,各地区长柄扁桃的叶片相对含水量、质膜透性、丙二醛含量均呈上升趋势,且抗旱性弱的值越大,变化幅度也较大;SOD和POD活性、游离脯氨酸和可溶性蛋白含量均随胁迫的加强呈先升高后降低或直接降低的趋势,且抗旱性越强活性值或含量越高。（3）在干旱胁迫下Chl a和Chl b都呈先升高后降低的趋势,但Chl b对水分胁迫的反应较Chl a敏感;Car则呈下降趋势,其中榆阳和神木地区的长柄扁桃在胁迫40 d后光合色素含量均为最高。研究发现：长柄扁桃通过调整自身的叶片结构和各项生理生化特性来减缓水分胁迫带来的伤害,并由各项指标综合分析得出5个地区长柄扁桃的抗旱性顺序为：榆阳〉神木〉固阳〉乌审旗〉河北,为进一步的品种选育奠定了基础,并为长柄扁桃的产业化开发提供了理论依据。     

Preferential binding of E.coli histone-like protein HU alpha to negatively supercoiled DNA.

Binding specificity of histone-like HU alpha protein to supercoiled DNA was examined by gel retardation assay and chemical probing with OsO4. The latter method was proved to be a unique means for detecting torsional tension restrained in supercoiled plasmid in the presence of HU alpha. It was shown that HU alpha protein has preferential affinity to negatively supercoiled DNA relative to relaxed, nicked and linearized DNAs. There were two modes for binding of HU alpha to the supercoiled DNA: one was the binding associated with topological changes in DNA and the other was relatively strong binding, probably specific to certain particular structures of DNA. It was suggested that HU in vivo interacts preferentially with the regions deformed under torsional stress or with the metabolically active regions along DNA.     

QTLs linked to leaf epicuticular wax,physio-morphological and plant production traits under drought stress in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Drought stress is the major constraint to rice (Oryza sativa L.) production and yield stability in rainfed ecosystems. Identifying genomic regions contributing to drought resistance will help to develop rice cultivars suitable for rainfed regions through marker-assisted breeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to leaf epicuticular wax, physio-morphological and plant production traits under water stress and irrigated conditions were mapped in a doubled haploid (DH) line population from the cross CT9993-5-10-1-M/IR62266-42-6-2. The DH lines were subjected to water stress during anthesis. The DH lines showed significant variation for epicuticular wax (EW), physio-morphological and plant production traits under stress and irrigated conditions. A total of 19 QTLs were identified for the various traits under drought stress and irrigated conditions in the field, which individually explained 9.6%–65.6% of the phenotypic variation. A region EM15_10-ME8_4-R1394A-G2132 on chromosome 8 was identified for leaf EW and rate of water loss i.e., time taken to reach 70% RWC from excised leaves in rice lines subjected to drought stress. A large effect QTL (65.6%) was detected on chromosome 2 for harvest index under stress. QTLs identified for EW, rate of water loss from excised leaves and harvest index under stress in this study co-located with QTLs linked to shoot and root-related drought resistance traits in these rice lines and might be useful for rainfed rice improvement.     

低速磷胁迫对云南地方稻种核心种质抽穗期的影响

以云南16个地州和5个稻作区为单位,在低速磷胁迫和适速磷两种条件下,对545份云南稻种核心种质的抽穗期研究结果表明:不同稻种抽穗期受低速磷胁迫的影响差异较大,大部分稻种在低速磷胁迫下其抽穗期比适速磷条件下的延迟,但延迟天数明显低于不同稻种基因型差异;不同稻作区、地州的稻种抽穗期差异较大,这主要是与其生长的生态环境长期适应的结果.除了滇西北高寒粳稻区外,其他四个稻作区的核心种质在两种条件下的抽穗期有极显著差异,而各地州的核心种质在低速磷胁迫下的抽穗期存在显著差异的只有5个地州,即昭通、思茅、临沧、保山和西双版纳,其余地州间的差异不明显.     

贵州喀斯特山区野生葡萄实生苗抗旱机理研究

以4份2生年喀斯特山区野生葡萄实生苗为试材,通过塑料大棚盆栽试验研究了自然干旱胁迫下野生葡萄幼苗的外观形态特性和生理指标变化规律,探讨其抗旱性及其抗旱机理.结果表明;(1)4份野生葡萄的抗旱性存在明显差异,以葛藟葡萄'小七孔-3'的抗旱性最强,毛葡萄'天河潭-2'的最差.(2)干旱胁迫期间,'小七孔-3'的1级旱害症状出现时间比'天河潭-2'晚12d,且旱害指数始终小于其他3份种质.(3)抗旱性强的野生葡萄叶片相对含水量、可溶性蛋白含量高于抗旱性差的株系,而其叶片水分饱和亏、细胞膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量变化则相反,且材料间差异随着干旱程度的增强而增加;(4)野生葡萄叶片相对含水量与其旱害指数间呈极显著负相关,而其水分饱和亏、相对电导率、丙二醛含量与旱害指数间呈极显著正相关;细胞膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛含量增加是导致葡萄旱害的首要因素.研究发现,在干旱胁迫下,抗旱性强的野生葡萄叶片膜系统稳定,水分散失较少,细胞电解质外渗较低,渗透调节物质可溶性蛋白含量增加,从而维持了正常的生理代谢活动.     

Nucleotide Variation in the NCED3 Region of Arabidopsis thaliana and its Association Study with Abscisic Acid Content under Drought Stress

Drought tolerance is a comprehensive quantitative trait that is being understood further at the molecular genetic level. Abscisic acid (ABA) is the main drought-induced hormone that regulates the expression of many genes related to drought responses. 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED3) is thought to be a key enzyme in ABA biosynthesis. In this paper, we measured the ABA content increase under drought stress, and sequenced and compared the sequence of AtNCED3 among 22 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. The results showed that the fold of ABA content increase under drought stress was highly variable among these accessions. High density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertion/deletion (indel) were found in the AtNCED3 region, on average one SNP per 87.4 bp and one indel per 502 bp. Nucleotide diversity was significantly lower in the coding region than that in non-coding regions. The results of an association study with ANOVA analysis suggested that the 274th site (P←→S) and the 327th site (P←→R) amino acid variations might be the cause of ABA content increase of 163av accession under drought stress.