MRI of oriental hornet head

The head of the Oriental hornet in situ, detached from a live sample was imaged using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This non-invasive method enabled us to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the hornet's brain and intracerebral organs, as based on cubic voxels of 23 microm3. From these images, we could identify various cephalic structures in both supra-esophageal and sub-esophageal locations. In the former location, we identified and visualized the ocelli, ommatidia, mushroom body, lobula, medulla and the compound eyes in the protocerebrum, as well as the olfactory lobe and bases of the antenna in the deutocerebrum, while in the sub-esophageal region we visualized organs such as the mouthparts, the esophagus, the gnathal pouch and the salivary ducts that empty into the region. Additionally, we identified various muscles, the aorta, cuticular thickenings lending support to the interior of the head and also the cuticular skeleton providing support on the outside. All the mentioned structures and organs were visualized in their relative, normal proportions, without touching or dislocating them.     

What makes biochemical networks tick?

In view of the increasing number of reported concentration oscillations in living cells, methods are needed that can identify the causes of these oscillations. These causes always derive from the influences that concentrations have on reaction rates. The influences reach over many molecular reaction steps and are defined by the detailed molecular topology of the network. So-called 'autoinfluence paths', which quantify the influence of one molecular species upon itself through a particular path through the network, can have positive or negative values. The former bring a tendency towards instability. In this molecular context a new graphical approach is presented that enables the classification of network topologies into oscillophoretic and nonoscillophoretic, i.e. into ones that can and ones that cannot induce concentration oscillations. The network topologies are formulated in terms of a set of uni-molecular and bi-molecular reactions, organized into branched cycles of directed reactions, and presented as graphs. Subgraphs of the network topologies are then classified as negative ones (which can) and positive ones (which cannot) give rise to oscillations. A subgraph is oscillophoretic (negative) when it contains more positive than negative autoinfluence paths. Whether the former generates oscillations depends on the values of the other subgraphs, which again depend on the kinetic parameters. An example shows how this can be established. By following the rules of our new approach, various oscillatory kinetic models can be constructed and analyzed, starting from the classified simplest topologies and then working towards desirable complications. Realistic biochemical examples are analyzed with the new method, illustrating two new main classes of oscillophore topologies.     

Establishment of visceral left-right asymmetry in mammals: The role of ciliary action and leftward fluid flow in the region of Hensen’s node

During individual development of vertebrates, the anteroposterior, dorsoventral, and left-right axes of the body are established. Although the vertebrates are bilaterally symmetric outside, their internal structure is asymmetric. Of special interest is the insight into establishment of visceral left-right asymmetry in mammals, since it has not only basic but also an applied medical significance. As early as 1976, it was hypothesized that the ciliary action could be associated with the establishment of left-right asymmetry in mammals. Currently, the majority of researchers agree that the ciliary action in the region of Hensen’s node and the resulting leftward laminar fluid flow play a key role in the loss of bilateral symmetry and triggering of expression of the genes constituting the Nodal-Ptx2 signaling cascade, specific of the left side of the embryo. The particular mechanism underlying this phenomenon is still insufficiently clear. There are three competing standpoints on how leftward fluid flow induces expression of several genes in the left side of the embryo. The morphogen gradient hypothesis postulates that the leftward flow creates a high concentration of a signaling biomolecule in the left side of Hensen’s node, which, in turn, stimulates triggering of gene expression of the Nodal-Ptx2 cascade. The biomechanical hypothesis (or two-cilia model) states that the immotile cilia located in the periphery of Hensen’s node act as mechanosensors, activate mechanosensory ion channels, and trigger calcium signaling in the left side of the embryo. Finally, the “shuttle-bus model” holds that left-ward fluid flow carries the lipid vesicles, which are crashed when colliding immotile cilia in the periphery of Hensen’s node to release the contained signaling biomolecules. It is also noteworthy that the association between the ciliary action and establishment of asymmetry has been recently discovered in representatives of the lower invertebrates. In this paper, the author considers evolution of concepts on the mechanisms underlying establishment of visceral left-right asymmetry since 1976 until the present and critically reexamines the current concepts in this field of science. According to the author, serious arguments favoring the biomechanical hypothesis for determination of left-right asymmetry in mammals have been obtained.     

DNA-signaling pathway mediating development of a radiation-induced bystander effect in human cells

Low doses of ionizing radiation induce the adaptive effect (AE) development in human cells which is followed by a number of cell responses. These responses can be transmitted from irradiated cells to non-irradiated ones (bystander effect, BE). The major role in radiation-induced BE is played by an oxidative stress (OS) and a DNA-signaling pathway, in which extracellular DNA fragments (ecDNA) are the factors of stress-signalization. We propose the following sequence of events in this signaling system: irradiation-OS-DNA modification-apoptosis of irradiated cells-ecDNA-signal acceptance by non-irradiated cells-OS-DNA modification, etc. We observed a radiation-induced BE which is accompanied by DNA-signaling pathway in differentiated and undifferentiated human cells forming monolayer or suspension cultures. Here we discuss several aspects of the radiation-induced BE mechanism and its persistence possibilities.     

β-环糊精包合雨生红球藻皂化产物可行性研究

本文以雨生红球藻皂化产物中虾青素含量为评价指标,对β-环糊精包合雨生红球藻皂化产物可行性进行了实验研究。试验结果表明,当雨生红球藻粉在优选的实验条件下皂化产物经β-环糊精包合后,HPLC检测主要成分组成未见明显变化,包合率可达到90%。于温度40℃,湿度75%条件下进行稳定性加速实验,结果表明,经皂化后包合物中虾青素稳定性较好,达到了药物和保健食品原料的稳定性要求,说明该方法可行。     

Barrier function of the cell wall during uptake of nickel ions

Cell walls were isolated from roots of six plant species to study their ion-exchange capacity for nickel ions (S _Ni) at Ni²⁺ concentration of 10⁻³ M. The S _Ni values varied depending on the plant species from 50 to 150 μmol Ni²⁺ per gram dry wt; the sorption capacity increased in a row: Poaceae < Chenopodiaceae < Fabaceae. At pH 5 the sorption capacity of cell walls for nickel ions was determined by the presence of carboxyl groups of polygalacturonic acid in the polymeric cell-wall matrix. In all cases the ion-exchange capacity of cell walls was higher at pH 8 than at pH 5, indicating that Ni²⁺ binds also to a carboxyl group different from that of polygalacturonic acid. Irrespective of plant species, the presence of EDTA in the solution diminished drastically the absorption capacity of cell walls for Ni²⁺. It is concluded that the presence of 10⁻³ M EDTA weakens the defense properties of cell walls. The sequestration of Ni²⁺ in the cell wall can be considered as an effective means of plant cell defense against elevated concentrations of nickel ions in the external medium.     

低能离子束辐照下水稻中与ABA相关基因的差异表达

本文检测了用基因芯片筛选出水稻种子被低能N＋辐照后引起的差异表达的ABA代谢和信号途径相关基因。结果显示,与ABA合成相关的ZDS、Lyc-β、ZEP、NCED、SDR这五种酶的基因表达量均为上调;受ABA调控的的H＋-ATPase、NR、Rubisco的基因表达变化显著;ABA依赖的逆境应答蛋白DREB和ASR的表达量上调;受ABA信号转导调控的蛋白LEA的表达量下调,GAD和P5CS的表达量上调。这些结果表明,6×1017N＋·cm-2剂量的辐照可能促进了ABA的合成和幼苗气孔的开放,同时促进了ABA信号系统并激活或抑制了一些相关基因的表达。     

Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Hormaphidinae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) indicate Late Cretaceous tribal diversification

The aphid subfamily Hormaphidinae is a good candidate for the study of the evolution of insect – plant relationships. Most hormaphidine species depend on woody primary host plants and woody or herbaceous secondary host plants, and represent high host specificity, especially to their primary hosts. No detailed molecular phylogeny of Hormaphidinae has been reported, and the taxonomic positions of some taxa in this group remain unclear. To reconstruct major phylogenetic relationships and to understand the evolution of host association patterns for major lineages, we present the first detailed molecular phylogeny of Hormaphidinae, as inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences, using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. The monophyly of Hormaphidinae and its three traditional tribes was supported, and a sister relationship between Hormaphidini and Nipponaphidini was suggested. Most inner relationships within tribes were also supported, and some novel relationships were revealed. Two subtribes of Cerataphidini are proposed. Divergence times estimated using a Bayesian approach indicate that tribal diversifications occurred during the Late Cretaceous and were coincident with the appearance of their primary host plants. The current pattern of secondary host association for the three tribes may have evolved in different time ranges. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165 , 73–87.     

Sporopollenin accumulation in Nicotiana tabacum L. microspore wall during its development

Accumulation of sporopollenin components in microspore wall, its polymerization dynamics and possible participation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this process has been studied. For this purpose fluorescent and electron microscopy (TEM) was used. It has been determined that phenylpropanoid components of sporopollenin that form the exine accumulate in the microspore cell wall at the middle and late tetrad stages. At the late tetrad stage, they fully cover the microspore surface and accumulate abundantly in aperture areas. In accordance with this, numerous thick sporopollenin lamellae, electron-dense and acetolysis-resistant, emerge in aperture areas. Exine in the areas between apertures includes both acetolysis-resistant sporopollenin and washout components. These particular parts of the wall are intensively stained with fluorescent dye MitoSOX, which detects the presence of ROS. The staining disappeared after the treatment of microspore with superoxide dismutase, demonstrating the presence of superoxide in the exine. Superoxide easily converts to hydrogen peroxide, which can cause oxidative polymerization of sporopollenin components, leading to the formation of chemically stable biopolymer. The data obtained favor the hypothesis of ROS involvement in the formation of sporopollenin.