降水变化和叶龄对油蒿群落植物-土壤化学计量特征与生产力的调控

在掌握典型荒漠植物油蒿化学计量学特征沿随降水量变化的响应特征,并从叶片间的养分协调分配的角度阐明油蒿维持生产力的生物学机制,为气候变化背景下荒漠植被的演变预测提供依据。通过野外降水控制实验的方法,设置6个降水量梯度(减雨70%、减雨50%、减雨30%、自然降水、增雨30%和增雨50%),分别测定不同降水量下油蒿群落生产力及叶片、土壤的化学计量参数。结果表明:1)降水量增加的情况下,油蒿群落土壤TP含量由于淋溶作用而显著降低;降水量减少情况下,油蒿林地土壤SOC、TN、TP含量并未改变。油蒿叶片的SOC、TN含量在降水增加时无显著变化、降水减少时含量增加,降水过多或过少都会降低叶片TP含量。2)不同成熟度的叶片养分元素含量对降水变化具有差异响应。成熟叶片养分含量容易受到环境的影响,幼叶养分元素含量较为稳定,在降水减少的情况下,油蒿优先将C、P分配给了幼叶,选择牺牲成熟叶以维持幼叶的生长。3)油蒿的生产力随降水量的增加而升高,油蒿ANPP在增雨30%处理组达到最大值,但在增雨50%时ANPP降低,这与过量的降水引发土壤养分流失有关。ANPP与幼叶TP含量相关性极显著,与成熟叶各元素含量相关性均不显著,由此可以推测,在降水变化的情境下,油蒿存在养分内在生物学调节机制以实现植株最优生产效率。     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH with Meldola's blue functionalized carbon nanotubes electrodes

Meldola's blue (MB) functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanocomposite film (MB/CNT) electrode was prepared by non-covalent adsorbing MB on the surface of a carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (CNT/GCE). Electrochemical behaviors of the resulting electrode were investigated thoroughly with cyclic voltammetry in the potential range of -0.6 to 0.2V, and two well-defined redox couples were clearly visualized. We also studied the electron transfer kinetics of MB loaded on CNT (MB/CNT) in comparison with that of MB on conventional graphite powder (MB/GP). The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) of MB/CNT was calculated to be about three times larger than that of MB/GP. The accelerated electron transfer kinetics was attributed to the unique electrical and nanostructural properties of CNT supports as well as the interaction between MB and CNT. In connection with the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), excellent electrocatalytic activities were observed at MB/CNT/GCE compared with MB/GP modified glassy carbon electrode (MB/GP/GCE). Based on the results, a new NADH sensor was successfully established using the MB/CNT/GCE. Under a lower operation potential of -0.1V, NADH could be detected linearly up to a concentration of 500 microM with an extremely lower detection limit of 0.048+/-0.02 microM estimated at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and stability of the NADH sensor were also investigated and the main analytical data were also compared with those obtained with the MB/GP/GCE.     

Effects of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin AD on performance and intestinal health in weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli

This study was conducted to determine the effects of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin on performance and intestinal health in piglets. Newly weaned barrows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (n=8), including a corn-soybean basal diet or similar diets supplemented with antibiotics (100 mg/kg kitasamycin plus 800 mg/kg colistin sulfate) or 400 mg/kg cecropin AD. On day 13, all piglets were orally challenged with 10(9)CFU/mL of Escherichia coli K88. On day 19, all piglets were euthanized and sampled. Before challenge, piglets fed antibiotics had greater weight gain, feed efficiency, nitrogen and energy retention than the control (P<0.05). E. coli challenge decreased weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency for the control piglets (P<0.05) but not for the antibiotic or cecropin AD treated piglets. The incidence of diarrhea post-challenge in the antibiotic and cecropin AD treatments decreased compared with the control piglets. The total viable counts of cecal E. coli were lower while the Lactobacilli counts were higher in the antibiotic and cecropin AD treatments compared with the control (P<0.05). Cecropin AD treatment decreased total aerobes while increasing total anaerobes in the ileum (P<0.05). A higher villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and ileum as well as a deeper crypt depth in the jejunum and higher villus height in the ileum were observed in piglets fed antibiotics or cecropin AD compared with control piglets (P<0.05). Piglets fed the control diet had lower levels of secretory IgA in their jejunum and lower serum IgA, IgG, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 compared with the other treatments (P<0.05). Overall, these data suggest that cecropin AD enhances pig performance through increasing immune status and nitrogen and energy retention as well as reducing intestinal pathogens in weaned piglets.     

Effect of pH on Mn absorption by barley genotypes in a chelate-buffered nutrient solution

A new chelate-buffering technique was used to investigate the effect of pH (6.00, 6.85 and 7.70) on manganese (Mn) absorption from nutrient solution by three genotypes of barley plants differeing in Mn efficiency. The nutrient composition was adjusted such that the calculated activities of Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ were similar in each pH, thus eliminating any effect of the pH treatment on Mn²⁺ supply. Increasing pH from 6.00 to 7.70 increased the rate of Mn absorption and decreased the external Mn requirement for optimal growth rate. With increasing pH, Mn concentrations in roots rose markedly, and were higher than those in shoots at pH 7.70. Genotypic differences in Mn concentration of roots appeared only at higher pH. We suggest that higher Mn concentration in roots of inefficient plants may be related to Mn immobilisation in roots, and this may be a factor in the mechanism of Mn efficiency.     

一例β55Met·O血红蛋白的结构分析

将山东省招远市一慢电泳异常血红蛋白（ Ｈｂ）先证者血及正常人血分离纯化出珠蛋白,脲处理解链,再层析分离并纯化出正常及异常 β链．经胰蛋白酶水解,所得肽片段用 Ｈ Ｐ Ｌ Ｃ 分出酶解物中异常肽,此肽经氨基酸组成及顺序测定,表明它同于正常 β链的十九肽 β４１→５９;异常肽不被 Ｃ Ｎ Ｂｒ 作用,将它与正常十九肽通过质谱仪测定质荷比．结果说明异常肽的 β５５ Ｍ ｅｔ转变为亚砜型的 β５５ Ｍ ｅｔ· Ｏ,这转变是此异常 Ｈｂ 变异的一级结构基础．     

Phosphorylation of Adenosine with Trimetaphosphate Under Simulated Prebiotic Conditions

The phosphorylation of adenosine withtrimetaphosphate in solution, in solid phase and usingwet-dry cycles was carried out and it was found thatwet-dry cycles were the most efficient. The catalytic effectsof some metal ions on the phosphorylation were alsostudied and it was discovered that Ni(II) is the mosteffective. The combination of wet-dry cycles (4 cycles)and catalysis by Ni(II) led to an unprecedented highconversion of adenosine to phosphorylated products (30%)near neutral pH. The main phosphorylated products were2', 3'-cyclic AMP (10.4%) and 5'-ATP (13.0%).     

Status and Conservation of Trigonobalanus doichangensis (Fagaceae)#

Trigonobalanus doichangensis is a national rare and endangered plant of China. It is restricted to 4 sites in southwest Yunnan, China and 1 site in Chiang-Rai, northern Thailand. Investigations revealed that 4 community types are currently extant in Yunnan: isolated individuals, sprouting woods, mono-dominant forest and co-dominant forest. The habitats have been severely damaged and the populations there are facing a high risk of extinction. The adult phase of T. doichangensis is reached when a tree attains a height of about 4 m. The flowering and fruiting time varies slightly among populations and/or across the micro-habitats. In comparison with other fagaceous plants in the community, T. doichangensis has an inverse flowering and fruiting period from October through to May. Although microspore genesis and the development of male gametes are normal, the pollen does not germinate until at least 8 h culture. The highest germination rate was 37.8%. In addition, only 9.8% of the nuts contain well-developed seeds. Genetic variation analyzed with random amplified polymorphic DNA indicated that its total genetic diversity was 0.1600 and genetic diversity within populations was 0.0749, the coefficient of gene differentiation was 0.5320. Therefore, T. doichangensis has high genetic differentiation, a low level of genetic diversity and a poor gene flow compared to the other fagaceous species. It seems that habitat degradation, over exploitation and reproductive barriers, are most likely to be the factors threatening the species. However, it may be a combination of geographical catastrophic events, habitat deterioration, declining genetic diversity and physiological stress. Therefore, a practical conservation strategy for T. doichangensis is urgently needed. ^#Supported by the important directional item of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-SW-104)     

Association between SLCO1A2 genetic variation and methotrexate toxicity in human rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Methotrexate (MTX), one of the important disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs, is the first‐line drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. However, its adverse drug effects (ADEs) often lead to the abortion of MTX therapy. Human organic anion‐transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2, also referred as OATP‐A or OATP1) encoded by SLCO1A2 gene is an important isoform of the solute carrier transporter (SLC) family. It is known to participate in the cellular uptake of MTX. In our previous study, we identified four OATP1A2 natural variants (E184K, D185N, T259P, and D288N) with impaired MTX uptake activity. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the SLCO1A2 genetic variations encoding these OATP1A2 variants and MTX‐related toxicity in RA patients. A total of 60 RA patients were genotyped for these four polymorphisms (G550A, G553A, A775C, and G862A). The association between SLCO1A2 genetic variations and MTX toxicity was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analysis revealed that A775C and G862A SNPs were not detected in RA patients enrolled in this study, and the presence of 550AA genotype was associated with a high risk of MTX ADEs. Haplotype analysis revealed that H3 (H3 = AG) showed a high risk of MTX ADEs. Furthermore, there was a significant association of 550AA genotype and impaired MTX disposition, which might be the cause of the increased incidence of MTX ADEs in RA patients. Therefore, genetic variations in SLCO1A2 gene are risk factors for MTX toxicity and its information contributes to the prediction of MTX‐related toxicity in RA treatment.     

微生物胞外呼吸电子传递机制研究进展

胞外呼吸是近年来发现的新型微生物厌氧能量代谢方式,主要包括铁呼吸、腐殖质呼吸与产电呼吸3种形式。微生物胞外呼吸与传统的有氧呼吸、胞内厌氧呼吸存在显著差异。其电子受体多以固态形式存在于胞外;氧化产生的电子必须通过电子传递链从胞内转移到细胞周质和外膜,并通过外膜上的细胞色素c、纳米导线或自身产生的电子穿梭体等方式,最终将电子传递至胞外的末端受体。胞外呼吸的本质问题是微生物与胞外电子受体(铁/锰氧化物、固态电极或腐殖质等)的相互作用,即微生物如何将胞内电子传递至胞外受体。胞外呼吸的研究丰富了人们对微生物呼吸多样性的认识,同时在污染物原位修复及清洁生物能源提取方面具有重要应用前景,是当前研究的热点问题。总结了胞外呼吸类型和胞外呼吸菌的多样性,重点阐述了胞外呼吸的电子传递过程,并提出了其应用前景及今后的研究方向。     

Developing procedures for the large-scale purification of human serum butyrylcholinesterase

Human serum butyrylcholinesterase (Hu BChE) is the most viable candidate for the prophylactic treatment of organophosphate poisoning. A dose of 200 mg/70 kg is predicted to protect humans against 2× LD₅₀ of soman. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop procedures for the purification of gram quantities of this enzyme from outdated human plasma or Cohn Fraction IV-4. The purification of Hu BChE was accomplished by batch adsorption on procainamide-Sepharose-CL-4B affinity gel followed by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose column. For the purification of enzyme from Cohn Fraction IV-4, it was resuspended in 25 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0, and fat was removed by decantation, prior to batch adsorption on procainamide-Sepharose gel. In both cases, the procainamide gel was thoroughly washed with 25 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0, containing 0.05 M NaCl, and the enzyme was eluted with the same buffer containing 0.1 M procainamide. The enzyme was dialyzed and the pH was adjusted to 4.0 before loading on the DEAE column equilibrated in sodium acetate buffer, pH 4.0. The column was thoroughly washed with 25 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0 containing 0.05 M NaCl before elution with a gradient of 0.05–0.2 M NaCl in the same buffer. The purity of the enzyme following these steps ranged from 20% to 40%. The purity of the enzyme increased to >90% by chromatography on an analytical procainamide affinity column. Results show that Cohn Fraction IV-4 is a much better source than plasma for the large-scale isolation of purified Hu BChE.