Oxylipin Pathway in Rice and Arabidopsis

Plants have evolved complex signaling pathways to coordinate responses to developmental and environmental Information. The oxylipin pathway Is one pivotal lipid-based signaling network, composed of several competing branch pathways, that determines the plant＇s ability to adapt to various stimuli. Activation of the oxyllpln pathway Induces the de novo synthesis of biologically active metabolltes called ＂oxyllplns＂. The relative levels of these metabolltes are a distinct indicator of each plant species and determine the ability of plants to adapt to different stimuli. The two major branches of the oxyllpln pathway, allene oxide synthase （AOS） and hydroperoxlde lyase （HPL） are responsible for production of the signaling compounds, jasmonates and aldehydes respectively. Here, we compare and contrast the regulation of AOS and HPL branch pathways In rice and Arabidopsis as model monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous systems. These analyses provide new Insights Into the evolution of JAs and aldehydes signaling pathways, and the complex network of processes responsible for stress adaptations In monocots and dicots.     

Diversification of the RAB Guanosine Triphosphatase Family in Dicots and Monocots

RAB guanosine triphosphatases （GTPases） are key regulators of vesicle trafficking and are essential to the growth and development of all eukaryotic cells. During evolution, the RAB family has expanded in different patterns to facilitate distinct cellular, developmental and physiological adaptations. Yeast has only 11 family members, whereas mammalian RABs have expanded to 18 RAB subfamilies. Plant RABs have diversified primarily by duplicating members within a single subfamily. Plant RABs are divided into eight subfamilies, corresponding to mammalian RAB1, RAB2, RAB5, RAB6, RAB7, RAB8, RAB11 and RAB18. Functional diversification of these is exemplified by the RAB1 ls, orthologs of which are partitioned into unique cell compartments in plants where they function to transport vesicles during localized tip growth. Similarly, the RAB2 family in grasses is likely involved in vesicle secretion associated with wall expansion, as determined by analysis of over-expression mutants. We propose that dicots and monocots have also diverged in their RAB profiles to accommodate unique cellular functions between the two groups. Here we present a bioinformatics analysis comparing the RAB sub-families of rice, maize and Arabidopsis. These results will guide future functional studies to test for the role of diversification of subfamilies unique to monocots compared to dicots.     

Phototropins and Their LOV Domains：Versatile Plant Blue-Light Receptors

The phototropins phot1 and phot2 are plant blue-light receptors that mediate phototropism, chloroplast movements, stomatal opening, leaf expansion, the rapid Inhibition of hypocotyl growth in etiolated seedlings, and possibly solar tracking by leaves in those species in which It occurs. The phototroplns are plasma membrane-associated hydrophilic proteins with two chromophore domains （designated LOV1 and LOV2 for their resemblance to domains In other signaling proteins that detect light, oxygen, or voltage） in their Nterminal half and a classic serine/threonlne kinase domain in their C-terminal half. Both chromophore domains bind flavin mononucleotide （FMN） and both undergo light-activated formation of a covalent bond between a nearby cystelne and the C（4a） carbon of the FMN to form the signaling state. LOV2-cystelnyl adduct formation leads to the release downstream of a tightly bound amphlpathlc α-helix, a step required for activation of the klnase function. This cysteinyl adduct then slowly decays over a matter of seconds or minutes to return the photoreceptor chromophore modules to their ground state. Functional LOV2 is required for light-activated phosphorylation and for various blue-light responses mediated by the phototroplns. The function of LOV1 is still unknown, although It may serve to modulate the signal generated by LOV2. The LOV domain Is an ancient chromophore module found In a wide range of otherwise unrelated proteins In fungi and prokaryotes, the latter Including cyanobacterla, eubacterla, and archaea. Further general reviews on the phototropins are those by Celaya and Liscum （2005） and Christie and Briggs （2005）.     

Study of the Geometry and Folding Pattern of Leaves of Mimosa pudica

Many structural and functional properties possessed by plants have great potentials to stimulate new concepts and inno-vative ideas in the field of biomimetic engineering. The key inputs from biology can be used for creation of efficient and op-timized structures. The study of the geometry and folding pattern of leaves of Mimosa pudica,referred as Sensitive Plant,reveals some of the peculiar characteristics during folding and unfolding. When the leaf is touched,it quickly folds its leaflets and pinnae and droops downward at the petiole attachment. With the help of experiments on simulation model,the variations in angle of leaflets and degree of compaction after folding are investigated.     

The Sandfish＇s Skin： Morphology, Chemistry and Reconstruction

The sandfish is a lizard having the remarkable ability to move in desert sand in a swimming-like fashion. The most outstanding adaptations to this mode of life are the low friction behaviour and the extensive abrasion resistance of the sandfish skin against sand, outperforming even steel. We investigated the topography, the composition and the mechanical properties of sandfish scales. These consist of glycosylated keratins with high amount of sulphur but no hard inorganic material, such as silicates or lime. Remarkably, atomic force microscopy shows an almost complete absence of attractive forces between the scale surface and a silicon tip, suggesting that this is responsible for the unusual tribological properties. The unusual glycosylation of the keratins was found to be absolutely necessary for the described phenomenon. The scales were dissolved and reconstituted on a polymer surface resulting in properties similar to the original scale. Thus, we provide a pathway towards exploitation of the reconstituted scale material for future engineering applications.     

Survival of boll weevil （Coleoptera： Curculionidae） adults after feeding on pollens from various sources

The survival of overwintering boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis （Boheman）, adults on non-cotton hosts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley （LRGV） of Texas was examined from 2001 to 2006. The success of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, which was reintroduced into the LRGV in 2005, depends on controlling overwintering boll weevil populations. Laboratory studies were conducted using boll weevil adults that were captured in pheromone traps from September through March. The number of adults captured per trap declined significantly in the field from fall to the beginning of spring （3.5-7.0-fold）. The proportion of trapped males and females did not differ significantly. The mean weight of boll weevil adults captured in September was 13.3 mg, while those of captured adults from November to February were significantly lower and ranged from 6.7 to 7.8 mg. Our results show that boll weevil adults can feed on different plant pollens. The highest longevity occurred when adults were fed almond pollen or mixed pollens （72.6 days and 69.2 days, respectively） and the lowest when they fed on citrus pollen or a non-food source （9.7 days or 7.4 days, respectively）. The highest adult survival occurred on almond and mixed pollens [88.0%-97. 6% after 1st feeding period （10 days）, 78.0%-90.8% after 3rd feeding period （10 days）, 55. 0%-83.6% after 5th feeding period （10 days）, and 15.2%-32.4% after lOth feeding period （10 days）]. The lowest adult survival occurred on citrus pollen [52.0%-56.0% after 1st feeding period （10 days）, 13.3% after 3rd and 5th feeding periods （10 days）, and 0 after 6th feeding period （10 days）]. Pollen feeding is not a behavior restricted to adult boll weevils of a specific sex or physiological state. Understanding how boll weevil adults survive in the absence of cotton is important to ensure ultimate success of eradicating this pest in the subtropics.     

稀有植物香果树叶解剖结构的研究

通过石蜡切片法制片,光学显微镜观察,Motic显微摄像,研究了香果树（Emmenopterys henryi Oliv.）的叶形态解剖结构。结果表明,香果树叶为典型异面叶;表皮由一层紧密的形状不规则的表皮细胞组成,细胞外壁角质膜较薄;气孔类型为平列型,仅分布于下表皮;下表皮上零星分布着多细胞表皮毛;叶肉组织发达,栅栏组织由1~2层排列整齐的圆柱形细胞构成;海绵组织枝状分布,排列极为疏松,细胞间隙大;叶脉主脉发达;上述特征反映出植物结构与环境的统一性。     

中国神农架蜡梅属一新变种和新变型

描述了蜡梅（Chimonanthus praecox L.）一新变种即卷瓣蜡梅,该变种与原变种的主要区别是中花被片高度反卷,中被片颜色为白色或金黄色,主要分布于神农架林区。其中中被片颜色为白色的卷瓣蜡梅可以被看作一个新变型跳枝蜡梅。     

北京西部山区胡枝子种群研究: 个体和构件生物量

通过对北京西部山区胡枝子(Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.)种群个体和构件地上生物量进行系统研究。结果表明, 种群(总和)个体和各构件地上生物量积累与年龄的关系均可用方程式Y=axb表示。不同种群的植株个体和构件生物量有显著性不同(P<0.05), 在海拔910-1 100 m的山脊林缘的种群个体和构件地上生物量较其它种群大, 植株地上营养构件的生物量比率较小, 而繁殖构件生物量比率较大; 不适生境中的种群则反之。种群个体生长和各构件生物量动态与环境条件关系密切。构件生物量比率也随着年龄的增长而有所变化。叶生物量比率随年龄增加而减小; 枝构件生物量比率随年龄增加而增大; 繁殖构件的生物量比率随年龄增加先增后减。依据相关指数R2, 筛选各构件生物量估计的最优模型: 枝、枝叶生物量和地上生物量均为m(DW)= a(D2H1)b, 叶生物量和花果生物量均为m(DW)=a(D)b。     

C—erbB2与乳腺癌三苯氧胺耐药细胞生长关系的研究

目的：探讨获得性三苯氧胺（TAM）抵抗乳腺癌细胞的生长调节途径及三苯氧胺（TAM）获得性抵抗的发生机制。方法：TAM诱导野生型人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7/WT构建TAM抵抗的细胞系MCF-7／TAMR,RT—PCR、Westem blot及免疫细胞化学方法比较MCF-7／TAMR与MCF-7/WT细胞系中C—erbB2mRNA、蛋白表达及其活化状态的不同,用C—erbB2单克隆抗体herceptin对两种细胞系进行干预。观察细胞生长变化。结果：与MCF-7/WT细胞相比,MCF-7／TAMR细胞中cerbB-2的mRNA增加3倍（P〈0．05）,蛋白增加1．5倍（P〈0．05）。Herceptin处理MCF-7／TAMR细胞,明显抑制了细胞的生长。结论：表皮生长因子受体特异性配体的自分泌释放作用可能通过CerbB-2／MAPK途径引起MCF-7／TAMR细胞的生长。