Leafminers help us understand leaf hydraulic design

Leaf hydraulics of Aesculus hippocastanum L. were measured over the growing season and during extensive leaf mining by the larvae of an invasive moth (Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimic) that specifically destroy the palisade tissue. Leaves showed seasonal changes in hydraulic resistance (R_lamina) which were related to ontogeny. After leaf expansion was complete, the hydraulic resistance of leaves and the partitioning of resistances between vascular and extra‐vascular compartments remained unchanged despite extensive disruption of the palisade by leafminers (up to 50%). This finding suggests that water flow from the petiole to the evaporation sites might not directly involve the palisade cells. The analysis of the temperature dependence of R_lamina in terms of Q₁₀ revealed that at least one transmembrane step was involved in water transport outside the leaf vasculature. Anatomical analysis suggested that this symplastic step may be located at the bundle sheath where the apoplast is interrupted by hydrophobic thickening of cell walls. Our findings offer some support to the view of a compartmentalization of leaves into well‐organized water pools so that the transpiration stream would involve veins, bundle sheath and spongy parenchyma, while the palisade tissue would be largely by‐passed with the possible advantage of protecting cells from short‐term fluctuations in water status.     

白翅叶蝉Empoasca subrufa Melichar的研究

白翅叶蝉是福建省水稻的重要害虫,苗期受害严重者,整片稻苗苍白,甚至枯死;早稻孕穗、抽穗期常大量发生为害,影响谷粒饱满度,造成减产。福州和闽侯地区一年发生4代,部分5代。成虫越冬。冬季日平均温度达11℃以上时仍能取食为害。春季成虫侵入稻田,4月下旬前后大量产卵,5月中旬虫数激增,5月下旬或6月初达到高峰。早稻收割时由于农事活动引致若虫大量死亡。晚稻田于8、9月虫数较多,但危害不如早稻严重。10月中旬以后成虫逐渐离开稻田,迁往越冬场所。 寄主植物幼嫩茂密和较大湿度的小生境有利于白翅叶蝉的发育繁殖。大发生的气候因子主要是春季多雨。适宜的温湿度范围为温度20—25℃,相对湿度85—90%。 DDT单独使用或DDT与666混用防治白翅叶蝉都能收到满意的效果。早稻秧田宜在播种后两周施药防治;本田于5月中旬虫口密度开始增长之际施药,亦能抑制为害。冬季小麦出土以前清除田边杂草,也是一项有效的防治措施     

骨形成蛋白Ⅱ型突变受体基因转染对口腔鳞癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的探讨骨形成蛋白（BMPs）与口腔鳞癌的发生、发展的可能关系。方法将含有BMP-Ⅱ突变受体的真核表达载体转染入Tea8113舌癌细胞,筛选和鉴定后,构建稳定表达BMP-Ⅱ突变受体的细胞株tBRⅡ-Tea8113。对tBRⅡ—Tca8113细胞和Tca8113细胞分别进行MTT检测,流式细胞仪（FCM）分析、BrdU标记检测细胞的增殖活性及DNA合成;检测tBRⅡ-Tca8113细胞和Tea8113细胞的凋亡及细胞周期相关因子（CyclinD1,CDK-4,p27,p57）的表达。结果Tea8113细胞和tBRⅡ-Tea8113细胞的增殖指数MTT检测为0．47±0．01和0．35±0．008（t=22．953,P=0．000）,BrdU检测为12．0±3．4和23．0±1．9（f=6．918,P=0．000）,FCM检测为6.3和7．9;两组的凋亡指数为3．7±1．2和8．7±1．6（t=29．583,P=0．000）;细胞周期因子在Tca8113和tBRⅡ-ca8113细胞中的平均灰度测量值为CyclinD1（186．5±2．4和145．6±3．9,t=28．244,P=0．000）,CDK4（169．9±2．9和129．5±3．2,t=29．583,P=0．000）,p27（110．1±1．1和167．34-1．8,f=85．754,P=0．000）,p57（107．9±2．1和156．8±2．2,t=50．844,P=0．000）。结论BMPs及其受体可能在口腔上皮组织的恶变过程中有重要作用,研究结果为探讨BMPs信号在上皮性肿瘤中的作用提供了重要依据。tBRⅡ-Tea8113细胞的建立,进一步表明了BMPs及其受体在口腔上皮组织的恶变过程中有重要作用,并为进一步探讨BMP信号在上皮性肿瘤的恶变过程中的作用奠定了基础。     

Functional diversity decreases with temperature in high elevation ant fauna

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Competition between isoprene emission and pigment synthesis during leaf development in aspen

In growing leaves, lack of isoprene synthase (IspS) is considered responsible for delayed isoprene emission, but competition for dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP), the substrate for both isoprene synthesis and prenyltransferase reactions in photosynthetic pigment and phytohormone synthesis, can also play a role. We used a kinetic approach based on post‐illumination isoprene decay and modelling DMADP consumption to estimate in vivo kinetic characteristics of IspS and prenyltransferase reactions, and to determine the share of DMADP use by different processes through leaf development in Populus tremula. Pigment synthesis rate was also estimated from pigment accumulation data and distribution of DMADP use from isoprene emission changes due to alendronate, a selective inhibitor of prenyltransferases. Development of photosynthetic activity and pigment synthesis occurred with the greatest rate in 1‐ to 5‐day‐old leaves when isoprene emission was absent. Isoprene emission commenced on days 5 and 6 and increased simultaneously with slowing down of pigment synthesis. In vivo Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) values obtained were 265 nmol m^?2 (20 μm ) for DMADP‐consuming prenyltransferase reactions and 2560 nmol m^?2 (190 μm ) for IspS. Thus, despite decelerating pigment synthesis reactions in maturing leaves, isoprene emission in young leaves was limited by both IspS activity and competition for DMADP by prenyltransferase reactions.     

Hepatopancreas and ovary are sites of vitellogenin synthesis as determined from partial cDNA encoding of vitellogenin in the marine shrimp,Penaeus vannamei

Summary

The site of yolk protein synthesis in crustaceans has long been a subject of controversy. A portion of the vitellogenin gene structure was reported recently in a freshwater giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodori), in which the hepatopancreas was confirmed to be the extraovarian site of vitellogenin synthesis. The ovary is also frequently reported to be the site of yolk protein synthesis in penaeid shrimp. The same PCR product was obtained using cDNA from the hepatopancreas or the ovary as a template. The deduced amino acid sequence of Vg in P. vannamei showed high identities of 57% and 78% with those from M. rosenbergii and P. monodon, respectively. The same location of the intron in the sequenced region of genomic DNA was also found between these three species. We therefore concluded that the hepatopancreas and ovary are sites of vitellogenin synthesis in P. vannamei. The partial structure of the vitellogenin gene is further presented.     

The Bonobo–Dialium Positive Interactions: Seed Dispersal Mutualism

A positive interaction is any interaction between individuals of the same or different species (mutualism) that provides a benefit to both partners such as increased fitness. Here we focus on seed dispersal mutualism between an animal (bonobo, Pan paniscus) and a plant (velvet tamarind trees, Dialium spp.). In the LuiKotale rainforest southwest of Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, seven species of the genus Dialium account for 29.3% of all trees. Dialium is thus the dominant genus in this forest. Dialium fruits make up a large proportion of the diet of a habituated bonobo community in this forest. During the 6 months of the fruiting season, more than half of the bonobos’ feeding time is devoted to Dialium fruits. Furthermore, Dialium fruits contribute a considerable proportion of sugar and protein to bonobos’ dietary intake, being among the richest fruits for these nutrients. Bonobos in turn ingest fruits with seeds that are disseminated in their feces (endozoochory) at considerable distances (average: 1.25 km after 24 hr of average transit time). Endozoochory through the gut causes loss of the cuticle protection and tegumentary dormancy, as well as an increase in size by water uptake. Thus, after gut passage, seeds are better able to germinate. We consider other primate species as a potential seed disperser and conclude that Dialium germination is dependent on passage through bonobo guts. This plant–animal interaction highlights positive effects between two major organisms of the Congo basin rainforest, and establishes the role of the bonobo as an efficient disperser of Dialium seeds. Am. J. Primatol. 75:394‐403, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.