西北地区三维生态足迹生态安全评价及驱动力分析

西北地区生态脆弱,进行生态安全评估和驱动力分析具有重要意义。选取土地利用影像和植被净初级生产力产品叠加细化均衡因子和产量因子,利用三维生态足迹改进模型测算和空间刻画西北地区2009—2017年的足迹深度,足迹广度和区域三维生态足迹;然后基于上述结果计算生态压力指数、生态协调系数、生态足迹多样性指数、流量资本占用率和存量资本流量利用比描述生态安全变化;最后用STIRPAT扩展模型结合主成分回归模型分析三维生态足迹演变的主要驱动因素。结果表明：(1)2009—2017年研究区的区域足迹广度总体上呈现为先升后降的趋势,2009年最低为3.116 hm~2/人,2016年达到最高为3.796 hm~2/人;区域足迹深度研究期内一直上升,从2009年的11.550 hm~2/人上涨为19.031 hm~2/人;三维生态足迹研究期内也一直增加,由6.006 hm~2/人增加为9.760 hm~2/人。(2)研究区2009—2017年整体生态安全持续恶化,生态压力不断增大,其中宁夏生态安全形势严峻,新疆和陕西生态环境脆弱,甘肃生态安全程度相对较差,青海生态安全良好;不同地区地类的安全状况基本不同,但...     

Fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic studies on the role of disulfide bond in the calcium binding in the 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II

The 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II has one intrachain disulfide bond. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that the major groups in the protein that bind to Ca²⁺ should be the carboxylic side groups of glutamic acid and/or aspartic acid. Fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies indicate that the conformation of the 33 kDa protein is altered upon reduction, while the reduced protein still retains the secondary structure. FTIR spectroscopy also shows that the metal ions induce a relative decrease of unordered structure and -sheet, and a substantial increase of -helix in both the intact and the reduced 33 kDa protein. This indicates that the addition of cations results in a much more compact structure and that both the intact and the reduced 33 kDa proteins have the ability to bind calcium. The above results may suggest that the disulfide bridge is not essential for calcium binding.Abbreviations CD circular dichroism - FTIR Fourier transform infrared - La lanthanum - PS photosystem - Tb terbium     

A simple and sensitive ribonucleotide reductase assay

Ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is a key regulatory enzyme in the DNA synthesis pathway and is the target of the cancer chemotherapeutic agent hydroxyurea. The study of RR is significantly hindered by the tedious and labor-intensive nature of enzymatic assay. In this report, we present a novel RR assay in which detection of the deoxyribonucleotides produced by RR occurs via coupling to the DNA polymerase reaction, and is enhanced by using RNase to degrade endogenous RNA. Cell extracts from various cell lines were treated with RNase and then reacted with ATP and radioactive ribonucleotide diphosphate as the substrate. Incorporation of the radioactive substrate [¹⁴C]CDP into DNA was linear over 30 min and was linear with the amount of extract, which provided RR activity. The reaction was inhibited by hydroxyurea and required Mg²⁺ and ATP, suggesting that the assay is specific to RR activity. While RR activities determined by our method and by a conventional method were comparable, this novel method proved to be simpler, faster, more sensitive and less expensive. In addition, assay of the RR activity for multiple samples can easily be performed simultaneously. It is superior to other RR assays in all aspects.     

Mutation Inactivation of Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Gene (NBS1) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) with NBS1 germ-line mutation is a human autosomal recessive disease characterized by genomic instability and enhanced cancer predisposition. The NBS1 gene codes for a protein, Nbs1(p95/Nibrin), involved in the processing/repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and heterogeneous tumor with several genomic alterations. Recent studies have shown that heterozygous NBS1 mice exhibited a higher incidence of HCC than did wild-type mice. The objective of the present study is to assess whether NBS1 mutations play a role in the pathogenesis of human primary liver cancer, including HBV-associated HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Eight missense NBS1 mutations were identified in six of 64 (9.4%) HCCs and two of 18 (11.1%) ICCs, whereas only one synonymous mutation was found in 89 control cases of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B. Analysis of the functional consequences of the identified NBS1 mutations in Mre11-binding domain showed loss of nuclear localization of Nbs1 partner Mre11, one of the hallmarks for Nbs1 deficiency, in one HCC and two ICCs with NBS1 mutations. Moreover, seven of the eight tumors with NBS1 mutations had at least one genetic alteration in the TP53 pathway, including TP53 mutation, MDM2 amplification, p14ARF homozygous deletion and promoter methylation, implying a synergistic effect of Nbs1 disruption and p53 inactivation. Our findings provide novel insight on the molecular pathogenesis of primary liver cancer characterized by mutation inactivation of NBS1, a DNA repair associated gene.     

动物对孢子植物的传播模式及进化意义

孢子植物物种多样性丰富, 是自然生态系统的重要组成部分。孢子植物的传播通常被认为主要依靠风、水、弹力等非生物媒介, 而动物的作用往往被忽略。本文主要概述了: (1)孢子植物对动物传播的适应: 一方面孢子植物可为动物提供食物、庇护所、繁殖场所等, 另一方面孢子植物也可产生视觉、嗅觉等方面的线索来吸引动物, 从而促进动物传播其繁殖体。(2)动物对孢子植物的传播模式: 包括体内传播(消化道和组织寄生)和体外传播两种, 这些模式都能对孢子植物繁殖体进行有效传播。由于动物间形态或生活习性的不同, 以致传播距离存在差异, 最短距离为0.1 cm, 最长距离可从北半球至南半球。(3)动物对孢子植物传播的生态与进化意义; 由于某些孢子植物繁殖体的结构特点或萌发的需求, 以致其繁殖体只能通过动物的传播才能得以定殖, 因此动物与孢子植物之间存在密不可分的关系。目前, 动物对孢子植物的传播研究主要是描述性的内容以及研究单方面的传播途径, 建议在今后的研究中考虑动物对孢子植物传播的有效性以及多途径同时传播对孢子植物定殖的影响, 同时应更加关注孢子植物和动物互惠关系的形成、维持机制及将来的进化趋势。     

Erratum to: Markers of Neuroinflammation and Apoptosis in the Temporal Lobe of Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology -     

Gaining insights into relevance across cancers based on mutation features of TP53 gene

The tumor suppressor gene TP53, one of the most frequently mutated genes, is recognized as the guardian of genome and can provide a significant barrier to neoplastic transformation and tumor progression. Traditional theory believes that TP53 mutations are equal among cancer types. However, to date, no study has explored the TP53 mutation profile from a holistic and systematic standpoint to discovery its relevance and feature with cancers. Mutation signature, an unbiased approach to identify the mutational processes, can be a potent indicator for exploring mutation-driven tumor occurrence and progression. In this research, several features such as hotspots, mutability and mutation signature of somatic TP53 mutations derived from 18 types of cancer tissues from cBioPortal were analyzed and manifested the organizational preference among cancers. Mutation signatures found in almost all cancer types were Signature 6 related to mismatch repair deficiency, and Signature 1 that reflects the natural decomposition of 5-methylcytosine into thymine associated with aging. Meanwhile, several signatures of TP53 mutations displayed tissue-selective. Mutations enriched in bladder, skin, lung cancer were associated with signatures of APOBEC activity (Signature 2 and 13), alkylating agents (Signature 11), and tobacco smoke (Signature 4), respectively. Moreover, Signature 4 and 29 associated with tobacco smoking or chewing found in lung, sarcoma, esophageal, and head and neck cancer may be related to their smoking history. In addition, several digestive cancers, including colorectal, stomach, pancreatic and esophageal cancers, showed the high correlation in context and mutation signature profiles. Our study suggests that the tissue-selective activity of mutational processes would reflect the tissue-specific enrichment of TP53 mutations and provides a new perspective to understand the relevance of diverse diseases based on the spectrum of TP53 mutations.     

育秧箱全量施肥对水稻产量和氮素流失的影响

采用育秧箱全量施肥技术,通过2年田间小区试验,研究中量控释氮肥(80 kg N·hm-2)、高量控释氮肥(120kgN·hm-2)和常规施肥(300 kg N·hm-2)处理对水稻产量和氮素流失的影响.结果表明:与常规施肥相比,高量控释氮肥处理的水稻产量未显著降低.常规施肥处理2年平均氮素利用率为33.2％,中量和高量控释氮肥处理的平均氮素利用率分别比常规施肥处理提高26.2％和20.7％.常规施肥处理田面水的总氮含量在施肥后1～3d达最大值,中量和高量控释氮肥处理的高峰期为施肥后7～9d,全生育期内,中量和高量控释氮肥处理田面水的总氮含量均显著低于常规施肥处理.常规施肥处理的氮素渗漏流失主要在分蘖期,中量和高量控释氮肥处理的氮素渗漏流失后移至分蘖-开花期.各处理硝态氮流失量占总氮流失量的59.7％～64.2％,高量控释氮肥处理的总氮净流失量比常规施肥处理减少51.8％.