两种种植体系下地下水硝态氮含量变化

寿光作为全国闻名的保护地蔬菜产区,过量施肥的现象非常普遍。为了解集约化大棚蔬菜种植区地下水中硝酸盐的含量变化状况,于2003～2005年对寿光市大田（小麦-玉米）、大棚（一年两茬番茄）两种不同的种植体系下农田灌溉水和农村饮用水水井进行了定点跟踪监测。结果表明：大田区地下水中硝态氮的含量随着时间的变化波动很小,农村饮用水中硝态氮含量没有超标现象;随着时间推移,大棚区灌溉水井中硝态氮含量年内（从年初到年末）呈明显的上升趋势,年际间则存在有规律的波动并逐年升高;灌溉水中硝态氮平均含量普遍高于饮用水,浅层地下水明显高于深层地下水;无论大棚区还是大田区,井深不同对地下水的硝态氮含量影响差异很大,浅井中硝态氮的含量明显高于深井。大棚区农村饮用水硝态氮含量超标现象非常普遍,对国家饮用水标准（20mg·L^-1）超标率最高达37.50%,平均为14.06%;对WHO推荐饮用水上限（10mg·L^-1）超标率最高达56.25%,平均为42.19%,硝态氮最高含量45.60mg·L^-1。集约化大棚蔬菜栽培模式已经对农村地下水造成了很大的硝态氮污染,饮用水中较高的硝酸盐含量已经对当地居民的健康构成了潜在的威胁。     

Hemoglobinase activity of a cysteine protease from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornis

We report here the molecular characterization and possible function of a cysteine protease (termed HlCPL-A) identified in the midgut of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. HlCPL-A is a 333 amino acid protein belonging to the papain family of the cysteine protease. A construct encoding proHlCPL-A was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified as both procathepsin L and active processed cathepsin L forms. The HlCPL-A gene expression was up-regulated by blood-feeding process. HlCPL-A exhibited substrate specificity against synthetic peptidyl substrates (Z-Phe-Arg-MCA and Z-Arg-Arg-MCA; k_cat / K_m = 0.19 and 0.0023 M^− 1 S^− 1, respectively). The proteolytic activity of HlCPL-A was inhibited by leupeptin, antipain and E-64 but was unaffected by pepstatin. HlCPL-A was capable of degrading bovine hemoglobin at pH 3.2 to 5.6. These results suggest that HlCPL-A may play important roles in the digestion of host hemoglobin in ticks.     

Seasonality and density of emerging insects of a mixed lowland broadleaf-podocarp forest floor,Orongorongo Valley,New Zealand

Abstract

Emergence traps were used continuously for 2 years to determine the population density and seasonality of invertebrates in a mixed lowland broadleaf-podocarp forest near Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 53 920 individuals of 21 invertebrate orders was caught. Although more individuals were caught in the first year than in the second, this was not consistent amongst the different groups or species. Dipterans, staphylinid beetles, and solitary wasps were the most numerous insects caught. Diptera, Araneida, Opiliones, and Hymenoptera emerged from the forest floor in every month of the 2 year study. Many other invertebrate groups were active throughout the year but seasonal catches were significantly different with more recorded in summer than in other seasons. Numbers of several species were positively correlated with temperature. Likely effects of the extended invertebrate activity on the forest ecology are discussed.     

Structure,function and applications of carbonic anhydrase isozymes

The carbonic anhydrases enzymes (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are zinc containing metalloproteins, which efficiently catalyse the reversible conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and release proton. These enzymes are essentially important for biological system and play several important physiological and patho-physiological functions. There are 16 different alpha-carbonic anhydrase isoforms studied, differing widely in their cellular localization and biophysical properties. The catalytic domains of all CAs possess a conserved tertiary structure fold, with predominately β-strands. We performed an extensive analysis of all 16 mammalian CAs for its structure and function in order to establish a structure–function relationship. CAs have been a potential therapeutic target for many diseases. Sulfonamides are considered as a strong and specific inhibitor of CA, and are being used as diuretics, anti-glaucoma, anti-epileptic, anti-ulcer agents. Currently CA inhibitors are widely used as a drug for the treatment of neurological disorders, anti-glaucoma drugs, anti-cancer, or anti-obesity agents. Here we tried to emphasize how CAs can be used for drug discovery, design and screening. Furthermore, we discussed the role of CA in carbon capture, carbon sensor and metabolon. We hope this review provide many useful information on structure, function, mechanism, and applications of CAs in various discipline.     

Leptospermum flavescens Constituent-LF1 Causes Cell Death through the Induction of Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Lung Carcinoma Cells

Leptospermum flavescens Sm. (Myrtaceae), locally known as ‘Senna makki’ is a smallish tree that is widespread and recorded to naturally occur in the montane regions above 900 m a.s.l from Burma to Australia. Although the species is recorded to be used traditionally to treat various ailments, there is limited data on biological and chemical investigations of L. flavescens. The aim of the present study was to investigate and understand the ability of L. flavescens in inducing cell death in lung cancer cells. The cytotoxic potentials of the extraction yields (methanol, hexane, ethyl acetate and water extracts as wells as a semi pure fraction, LF1) were evaluated against two human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines (A549 and NCI-H1299) using the MTT assay. LF1 showed the greatest cytotoxic effect against both cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 7.12 ± 0.07 and 9.62 ± 0.50 μg/ml respectively. LF1 treated cells showed a sub-G₁ region in the cell cycle analysis and also caused the presence of apoptotic morphologies in cells stained with acridine orange and ethidium bromide. Treatment with LF1 manifested an apoptotic population in cells that were evaluated using the Annexin V/ propidium iodide assay. Increasing dosage of LF1 caused a rise in the presence of activated caspase-3 enzymes in treated cells. Blockage of cell cycle progression was also observed in LF1-treated cells. These findings suggest that LF1 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in treated lung cancer cells. Further studies are being conducted to isolate and identify the active compound as well to better understand the mechanism involved in inducing cell death.     

Impact of inflammatory cytokine and adipokine gene variations in the development of HIV-associated lipodystrophy

Cytokines affect lipid and glucose metabolism and also alter the body's habitus. They play a role in the development of lipodystrophy syndrome. Adipocytes secrete the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, TNF-α and IL-6. The plasma cytokine concentration is associated with the percentage and distribution of fat tissue in the body. The metabolic disturbances are strongly associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α). Plasma levels of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6 and leptin were found to be increased while plasma resistin levels were found to be variable in patients suffering from obesity and type II diabetes mellitus. Until now, limited information has been available on the polymorphism of cytokine and adipokine genes in patients of HIV-associated lipodystrophy (HIVLD), which can contribute to individual variations in susceptibility to metabolic diseases, especially to HIVLD. Hence, we studied the association of cytokine and adipokine gene polymorphisms in various diseases and their impact on HIVLD. We carry out an extensive search using several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar. The distribution of cytokine and adipokine gene polymorphisms and their expression levels varied among various populations. We examined the variants of cytokine and adipokine genes, which can contribute to individual variations in susceptibility to metabolic diseases, especially to HIVLD. In the current review, we present a brief account of the risk factors of HIVLD, the pathogenesis of HIVLD and the polymorphism of cytokine and adipokine genes in various diseases with special reference to their impact on HIVLD.