A carbapenem-based fluorescence assay for the screening of metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors

Reported herein is a fluorescence assay for the rapid screening of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) inhibitors. This assay employs a fluorogenic carbapenem CPC-1 as substrate and is compatible with all MBLs, including B1, B2 and B3 subclass MBLs. The efficiency of this assay was demonstrated by the rapid inhibition screening of a number of molecules against B2 MBL CphA and 2,3-dimercaprol was identified as a potent CphA inhibitor.     

Phytoplankton decline in the eastern North Pacific transition zone associated with atmospheric blocking

Global climate change can significantly influence oceanic phytoplankton dynamics, and thus biogeochemical cycles and marine food webs. However, associative explanations based on the correlation between chlorophyll‐a concentration (Chl‐a) and climatic indices is inadequate to describe the mechanism of the connection between climate change, large‐scale atmospheric dynamics, and phytoplankton variability. Here, by analyzing multiple satellite observations of Chl‐a and atmospheric conditions from National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis datasets, we show that high‐latitude atmospheric blocking events over Alaska are the primary drivers of the recent decline of Chl‐a in the eastern North Pacific transition zone. These blocking events were associated with the persistence of large‐scale atmosphere pressure fields that decreased westerly winds and southward Ekman transport over the subarctic ocean gyre. Reduced southward Ekman transport leads to reductions in nutrient availability to phytoplankton in the transition zone. The findings describe a previously unidentified climatic factor that contributed to the recent decline of phytoplankton in this region and propose a mechanism of the top‐down teleconnection between the high‐latitude atmospheric circulation anomalies and the subtropical oceanic primary productivity. The results also highlight the importance of understanding teleconnection among atmosphere–ocean interactions as a means to anticipate future climate change impacts on oceanic primary production.     

Chloroplast clustering around the nucleus is a general response to pathogen perception in Nicotiana benthamiana

It is increasingly clear that chloroplasts play a central role in plant stress responses. Upon activation of immune responses, chloroplasts are the source of multiple defensive signals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Intriguingly, it has been described that chloroplasts establish physical contact with the nucleus, through clustering around it and extending stromules, following activation of effector-triggered immunity (ETI). However, how prevalent this phenomenon is in plant–pathogen interactions, how its induction occurs, and what the underlying biological significance is are important questions that remain unanswered. Here, we describe that the chloroplast perinuclear clustering seems to be a general plant response upon perception of an invasion threat. Indeed, activation of pattern-triggered immunity, ETI, transient expression of the Rep protein from geminiviruses, or infection with viruses or bacteria all are capable of triggering this response in Nicotiana benthamiana. Interestingly, this response seems non-cell-autonomous, and exogenous treatment with H₂O₂ is sufficient to elicit this relocalization of chloroplasts, which appears to require accumulation of ROS. Taken together, our results indicate that chloroplasts cluster around the nucleus during plant–pathogen interactions, suggesting a fundamental role of this positioning in plant defence, and identify ROS as sufficient and possibly required for the onset of this response.     

长期模拟增雨对荒漠植物形态特征及空间分布格局的影响

研究降雨变化对荒漠优势植物形态特征、空间点格局及空间关联性的影响有助于预测荒漠生态系统对全球气候变化的响应.以乌兰布和沙漠典型荒漠植物唐古特白刺和油蒿为研究对象,进行了连续10年的模拟增雨试验,运用Programita软件,采用Ripley K函数和Monte Carlo随机模拟方法,对长期模拟增雨条件下两种植物形态特征、空间格局及空间关联性进行研究.结果表明: 不同增雨处理下唐古特白刺和油蒿植株的数量、高度、平均冠幅和基径均存在显著差异,增雨处理的唐古特白刺和油蒿植株数量、高度、平均冠幅和基径均显著大于对照,并随着增雨量的增大而增大.当增雨量小于72 mm时,白刺枝条具有明显的聚集分布趋势;当增雨量大于72 mm后,随着增雨量的增大,白刺枝条表现出聚集强度明显降低的趋势.油蒿植株随着增雨量的增加空间分布格局表现为随机分布-聚集分布-随机分布.就空间关联性而言,对照处理下唐古特白刺枝条与油蒿之间表现为负关联,随着增雨量的增加两者呈现无关联或正关联,当增雨量达到144 mm时,空间关联由负关联向正关联转变.未来降雨增加条件下,土壤水分明显改善,两种荒漠植物对水分的竞争减弱,更有利于白刺和油蒿的共存生长.