The expression,function and regulation of mitochondrial alternative oxidase under biotic stresses

To survive, plants possess elaborate defence mechanisms to protect themselves against virus or pathogen invasion. Recent studies have suggested that plant mitochondria may play an important role in host defence responses to biotic stresses. In contrast with animal mitochondria, plant mitochondria possess a unique respiratory pathway, the cyanide‐insensitive alternative pathway, which is catalysed by the alternative oxidase (AOX). Much work has revealed that the genes encoding AOX, AOX protein and the alternative respiratory pathway are frequently induced during plant–pathogen (or virus) interaction. This raises the possibility that AOX is involved in host defence responses to biotic stresses. Thus, a key to the understanding of the role of mitochondrial respiration under biotic stresses is to learn the function and regulation of AOX. In this article, we focus on the theoretical and experimental progress made in the current understanding of the function and regulation of AOX under biotic stresses. We also address some speculative aspects to aid further research in this area.     

Altered microbial community structure and organic matter composition under elevated CO2 and N fertilization in the duke forest

The dynamics and fate of terrestrial organic matter (OM) under elevated atmospheric CO₂ and nitrogen (N) fertilization are important aspects of long‐term carbon sequestration. Despite numerous studies, questions still remain as to whether the chemical composition of OM may alter with these environmental changes. In this study, we employed molecular‐level methods to investigate the composition and degradation of various OM components in the forest floor (O horizon) and mineral soil (0–15 cm) from the Duke forest free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment. We measured microbial responses to elevated CO₂ and N fertilization in the mineral soil using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles. Increased fresh carbon inputs into the forest floor under elevated CO₂ were observed at the molecular‐level by two degradation parameters of plant‐derived steroids and cutin‐derived compounds. The ratios of fungal to bacterial PLFAs and Gram‐negative to Gram‐positive bacterial PLFAs decreased in the mineral soil with N fertilization, indicating an altered soil microbial community composition. Moreover, the acid to aldehyde ratios of lignin‐derived phenols increased with N fertilization, suggesting enhanced lignin degradation in the mineral soil. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of soil humic substances revealed an enrichment of leaf‐derived alkyl structures with both elevated CO₂ and N fertilization. We suggest that microbial decomposition of SOM constituents such as lignin and hydrolysable lipids was promoted under both elevated CO₂ and N fertilization, which led to the enrichment of plant‐derived recalcitrant structures (such as alkyl carbon) in the soil.     

Phylogeny of Rhus gall aphids (Hemiptera : Pemphigidae) based on combined molecular analysis of nuclear EF1α and mitochondrial COII genes

Rhus gall aphids (Fordinae : Melaphidini) have a disjunct distribution in East Asia and North America and have specific host plant relationships. Some of them are of economic importance and all species form sealed galls which show great variation in shape, size, structure, and galling‐site. We present a phylogeny incorporating ten species and four subspecies of Rhus gall aphids based on 1694 base pairs of nuclear elongation factor‐1α (EF1α) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) DNA sequence data. The results suggest that Melaphidini is monophyletic and at the genus level, Schlechtendalia, Nurudea, and Floraphis were each monophyletic. Kaburagia and Meitanaphis were not monophyletic and therefore inconsistent with the current classification. The North American sumac gall aphid, Melaphis rhois, was most closely related to the East Asian Floraphis species, although this was poorly supported. The conservation of gall morphology with respect to aphid phylogeny rather than their host plants suggests that gall morphology is largely determined by the aphids. While there is no evidence of strict co‐speciation between the aphids and their primary host plants, switching between recently diverged host plants may be involved in the speciation process in Melaphidini.     

中国脊背管蓟马属一新种(缨翅目,管蓟马科)

脊背管蓟马属是具有长翅的蓟马,头长,头部额区脊状隆起,口针宽,通常极长并有一个或几个侧环.记述中国脊背管蓟马属1新种,即齿跗脊背管蓟马Oidanothrips notabilis sp.nov.并与台湾脊背管蓟马O.taiwanus进行了比较.模式标本保存于包头市园林科技研究所（BLRI）.此新种与O.taiwanus相似,其主要区别是新种1）翅基鬃内Ⅲ端部钝;2）复眼后鬃端部钝;3）口针伸达单眼后鬃;而后者,1）翅基鬃内Ⅲ端部尖;2）复眼后鬃端部尖;3）口针不伸达单眼后鬃.     

互作对水稻白叶枯病菌JXOⅢ和JXOⅤ超氧阴离子释放的调控

水稻白叶枯病菌能够引起水稻的白叶枯病等一系列水稻病害。水稻白叶枯病菌JXOⅢ和JXOⅤ细胞中超氧阴离子的释放水平存在显著的差异,并进一步显示在两者亚细胞组分的超氧阴离子释放水平上。这种差异暗示致病性不同的病原菌中,O2^-可能具有信号传导及毒性因子的不同作用。亲和性不同的植物一病原菌互作过程对病原菌JXOⅢ和JXOⅤ的超氧阴离子释放具有不同的调控作用。对自身O2^-水平很低的JXOⅢ来说,亲和互作和非亲和互作过程都可诱导JXOⅢ中O2^-的释放;然而在自身听水平较高的JXOⅤ中,则随亲和性不同而表现出诱导或抑制的不同调控作用。无论是在JXOⅢ还是在JXOⅤ中,互作后分离得到的病原菌仍然能够显示出互作对其O2^-释放的显著影响,这种调控作用很可能具有一定的遗传稳定性。虽然机制还不清楚,但是推测这种调控可能和互作的走向相关。     

人工群落中苗期紫茎泽兰的化感作用和对光环境的适应

在有、无活性炭的条件下分别构建紫茎泽兰（Ageratinaa denophora）与4种受体植物——飞机草（Chromolaena odorata）、鬼针草（Bidenspilosa）、胜红蓟（Ageratum conyzoides）和兰花菊三七（Gynura sp.）混种的人工群落,研究了群落中紫茎泽兰的化感作用和对群落光环境的适应,探讨了化感作用和光适应特性与其入侵性的关系。结果表明,活性炭处理对4种受体植物的生长、生理特性影响不显著,说明苗期紫茎泽兰化感作用不明显,推测入侵初期化感作用不是紫茎泽兰排挤本地种的主要原因。4种受体植物可以通过化感作用对紫茎泽兰产生某些影响,但群落的光环境对其影响更大。紫茎泽兰能很好地适应群落中不同的光环境。苗期紫茎泽兰处于群落下层,叶片受光指数低,此时它能长期忍耐并缓慢生长;随着叶片受光指数的升高,其最大净光合速率、超氧化物歧化酶活性、叶绿素a／b比、总生物量、总叶面积、地茎、叶片数和分支数升高,比叶面积和比茎长降低,这有利于它维持叶片能量平衡并导致对邻近植物的严重遮荫。紫茎泽兰强的光适应能力、强光下对其它物种的遮荫效应与其入侵性密切相关。     

干旱与条锈病复合胁迫对小麦的生理影响

以抗旱性和抗病性不同的小麦为材料,以正常生长为对照,观察了病原菌和水分复合胁迫对小麦叶片相对含水量、活性氧代谢以及对抗氰呼吸的发生、运行的影响。讨论了在干旱与病原菌侵染复合胁迫下,抗氰呼吸在植物抗逆机制中所扮演的角色。复合胁迫下,抗病小麦显然具备更强的水分调控能力,而感病品种不能有效控制病叶水分散失。水分胁迫能引起抗氰呼吸的下降,但不能抵消因病原菌侵染引起的抗氰呼吸的增强,条锈菌侵染对小麦抗氰呼吸的影响远远大于水分胁迫。病原菌侵染和水分复合胁迫下,活性氧产生的速率表现出累加效应,而抗氰呼吸表现出和基质抗氧化酶的活性互补。植物交替氧化酶在干旱与病原菌侵染复合胁迫中具有重要的抗氧化功能,并可能调节着逆境下物质与能量需求间的矛盾。     

模拟微重力条件下WB-F344细胞的三维培养

与传统的单层平面培养相比,细胞三维培养可更好地模拟生物体内细胞的生长状态和微环境。以Cytodex-3微载体为支持物,利用旋转式细胞培养系统(RCCS)模拟微重力条件,悬浮培养法构建大鼠WB-F344细胞微重力三维培养模型。并通过细胞计数、光学显微镜、透射电镜、逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和流式细胞术等方法分析了细胞增殖、显微结构、粘附分子及钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)表达情况。结果表明,模拟微重力三维培养条件下WB-F344细胞增殖块,呈紧密多层排列、可见丰富的微绒毛和线粒体、胞间有桥粒和紧密连接形成,细胞粘着力加强、表现出良好的三维生长特征;与静置三维培养相比,纤粘连蛋白(Fn)mRNA表达呈上调趋势,细胞内E-cadherin表达量增加,这可能是微重力效应下细胞粘附力增强的部分机制。该培养体系可能有利于细胞之间,细胞与胞外基质之间相互作用及其作用机制的研究。     

农杆菌介导抗储粮害虫转基因小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)的获得及分析

以本实验室选育的小麦优良品系的胚性愈伤组织为材料,采用农杆菌介导将抗虫基因豇豆胰蛋白酶抑制剂基因CpTI转入小麦培养细胞,经筛选获得抗卡那霉素的愈伤组织并再生植株。经PCR和实时PCR检测、PCR-Southern和Southernblot验证,确定了3株独立再生植株为含有CpTI的转基因植株。农杆菌菌浓度、侵染时间及转化处理方式对小麦转化率均有明显影响。3株转基因植株正常可育并结籽,形成转基因株系。外源基因在转基因植株T1代中的分离呈多样性,部分株系(转基因株系T-Ⅰ、T-Ⅲ)表现出孟德尔遗传规律。抗虫试验表明,3株转基因植株T2代籽粒对储粮害虫麦蛾具有一定的抗性,转基因株系T-Ⅰ、T-Ⅱ、T-Ⅲ及非转基因植株的T2代籽粒虫蛀率分别为19·8%、21·9%、32·9%和58·3%。转基因植株T1代群体农艺性状调查显示,3个株系具有良好的农艺性状,为小麦的遗传改良提供了新的种质抗虫材料。