Feedback regulation of xylem cytokinin content is conserved in pea and Arabidopsis

Increased-branching mutants of garden pea (Pisum sativum; ramosus [rms]) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; more axillary branches) were used to investigate control of cytokinin export from roots in relation to shoot branching. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that regulation of xylem sap cytokinin is dependent on a long-distance feedback signal moving from shoot to root. With the exception of rms2, branching mutants from both species had greatly reduced amounts of the major cytokinins zeatin riboside, zeatin, and isopentenyl adenosine in xylem sap compared with wild-type plants. Reciprocally grafted mutant and wild-type Arabidopsis plants gave similar results to those observed previously in pea, with xylem sap cytokinin down-regulated in all graft combinations possessing branched shoots, regardless of root genotype. This long-distance feedback mechanism thus appears to be conserved between pea and Arabidopsis. Experiments with grafted pea plants bearing two shoots of the same or different genotype revealed that regulation of root cytokinin export is probably mediated by an inhibitory signal. Moreover, the signaling mechanism appears independent of the number of growing axillary shoots because a suppressed axillary meristem mutation that prevents axillary meristem development at most nodes did not abolish long-distance regulation of root cytokinin export in rms4 plants. Based on double mutant and grafting experiments, we conclude that RMS2 is essential for long-distance feedback regulation of cytokinin export from roots. Finally, the startling disconnection between cytokinin content of xylem sap and shoot tissues of various rms mutants indicates that shoots possess powerful homeostatic mechanisms for regulation of cytokinin levels.     

Study of pulse transit time oscillations during obstructive sleep apnoea by using a distributed model

The study of arterial compliance is useful in understanding the geometrical and mechanical properties of a systemic arterial tree. Numerous mathematical models have shown their potential in relating the physical phenomena in the arterial tree to properties of the wall itself. However, limited model is available that describes the pulse transit time (PTT) oscillations of a sleeping child during tidal breathing and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Data from 20 children (17 male; aged 6.4 +/- 4.1 yr) whom were recruited for overnight polysomnography (PSG) were used. A modified windkessel model with related physiological parameters was utilised to describe PTT fluctuations due to the cardiovascular system during sleep. Verification with the recorded PSG data showed similar trends with the model for both types of respiratory events. For tidal breathing, undamped PTT oscillations of 3.89 s were predicted by the model while actual data yielded a mean value of 3.72 +/- 0.79 s. Conversely, under-damping PTT responses were expected based on the model for OSA. The model estimated a Q factor of 4.23 and actual mean data were 3.86 +/- 0.64. Hence, the findings herein suggest that the proposed model has the potential to illustrate tidal breathing and OSA events in sleeping children.     

气象因子对北疆地区蝗虫发生的影响

选取位于北疆东、西和西北部的3个典型蝗区,即哈密、伊犁和塔城为研究区域,采用合成分析和距平分析方法,研究温度和降水对3个不同地区蝗虫发生的影响。结果表明:(1)蝗灾发生严重年份与一般年份的月均温度和月降水有显著差异。(2)蝗虫严重发生的年份,产卵期间(上一年7～8月)的平均气温偏高。(3)塔城和哈密地区,冬季气温较高,孵化期(5～6月)气温偏高、降水偏少有利于蝗灾的发生,而伊犁地区蝗虫大发生年份与常年比较,冬季和孵化期(5月)的气温偏低。     

柴达木盆地北缘昆特依凹陷始新统下干柴沟组微体古生物研究

昆2井是柴达木盆地北部昆特依凹陷区潜伏Ⅰ号构造上的第一口勘探井,为了建立该地区地层层序,对该井的岩屑及岩芯样品进行了系统的微体古生物学研究,仅在下干柴沟组发现少量轮藻化石和零星的介形类化石。下干柴沟组下段出现的轮藻类Gyrogona qianjiangica和Lamprothamnium? brevis是我国中始新世最常见的化石。该层段的轮藻类可命名为Gyrogona qianjiangica-Lamprothamniumcurta-L. brevis组合,时代为中、晚始新世。本文以Gyrogona qianjiangica分布的顶、底界作为昆2井下干柴沟组下段的标志,划分结果与其它轮藻及介形类化石的对比结果基本一致。氯离子含量分布显示,轮藻类化石产出的下干柴沟组是整个地层剖面中含盐度最低的沉积阶段,表明下干柴沟组沉积时期,该地区处于水域比较广阔的淡水湖泊环境,但在个别层段出现咸化环境,产出以喜盐的Austrocypris为代表的介形类化石。     

低温菌启动子探针质粒的构建

为了在宿主菌Acinetobacter sp.DWC6中构建低温菌蛋白表达载体,以pBR322质粒为基础,去除质粒上β-内酰胺酶基因的启动子片段,取而代之为来源于质粒pJRD215的卡那霉素抗性基因片段,并在pBR322中插入Acinetobacter菌属特异性ori的DNA片段,构建了能在Acinetobacter sp.DWC6和E.coli中正常复制的启动子探针质粒pBAP1。通过在质粒pBAP1中的β-内酰胺酶基因上游随机导入Acinetobacter sp.DWC6基因组片段,通过检测宿主细胞的氨苄青霉素抗性和β-内酰胺酶活性,来筛选强启动子片段,并分析了启动子探针质粒载体的功能及启动子的强度。     

光对商陆发状根生长和PAP基因表达的影响

利用发根农杆菌菌株Ar1334与美洲商陆(Phytolacca americana)叶片外植体共培养转化体系,共获得58个发状根无性系(SL-1~58).以发根农杆菌Ri质粒TL-DNA上的rol C基因设计特异引物,对发状根进行PCR检测,得到了预期的560 bp目的片段,表明Ri质粒T-DNA整合到发状根基因组中.将筛选出的株系SL-7接种在MS培养基上分别置于光、暗条件下进行培养.结果发现:SL-7在暗培养条件下呈乳白色,具有多分枝、多根毛、无向地性等典型的发状根特性;在光培养条件下,发根呈粉红色,少分支且生长缓慢;以商陆抗病毒蛋白(pokeweed antiviral protein,PAP)cDNA片段为探针,分别对光、暗条件下的发状根进行Northern blot检测,发现光对PAP基因的转录具有一定抑制作用;将发状根粗蛋白提取液与TMV病毒液混合后,摩擦接种于心叶烟(Nicotiana glutinosa)离体叶片,发现暗培养的发状根粗蛋白提取液对TMV抗性明显提高.表明商陆发状根的生长及PAP基因的表达都受到光的负向调控.该结果为商陆发状根的规模化培养和PAP蛋白的离体合成优化体系的建立奠定了基础.     

黑龙江大兴安岭地区森林害虫发生面积与气象因子的关系

对黑龙江大兴安岭地区6个气象台站的气象资料进行整理和分析,从中筛选出影响虫害发生面积的7个气象因子,并分别对其做相关分析,研究了气象因子对种群数量的影响,模拟虫害发生面积预测方程.结果表明:与虫害发生面积密切相关的因子有年积温(≥10℃)、年降水量和干燥度;虫害发生面积同三者的Pearson相关系数分别为0.701、-0.814和0.937;通过分析极端气候现象对虫害面积的影响,发现春季阴雨和虫害面积存在显著的正相关关系,冬冻和春寒对虫害发生面积并没有直接的影响.     

桦木酸对H22荷瘤小鼠肿瘤细胞凋亡及细胞周期的影响

研究桦木酸对H22荷瘤小鼠生命延长率、肿瘤细胞凋亡及细胞周期的影响。结果表明桦木酸能够明显延长H22荷瘤小鼠生生存时间,其中低、中剂量效果显著（P〈0．05）;利用DNA结合性荧光探针直接对细胞DNA染色后FCM分析,桦木酸可能是通过影响H22肿瘤细胞S期而诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡。     

Genotyping of eight polymorphic genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters using a customized oligonucleotide array

Polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing genes may lead to the production of dysfunctional proteins and consequently affect therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of drugs. Different frequencies of polymorphic alleles among the races have been postulated to account for the observed ethnic variations in drug responses. In the current study, we aimed to estimate the frequencies of 14 polymorphisms in eight genes (TPMT, NQO1, MTHFR, GSTP1, CYP1A1, CYP2D6, ABCB1, and SLC19A1) in the Singapore multiracial populations by screening 371 cord blood samples from healthy newborns. To improve genotyping efficacy, we designed an oligonucleotide array based on the principle of allele-specific primer extension (AsPEX) that was capable of detecting the 14 polymorphisms simultaneously. Cross-validation using conventional polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays demonstrated 99% concordant results. Measurements on the fluorescent intensity displayed clear distinctions among different genotypes. Statistical analyses showed significantly different allele distributions in several genes among the three races, namely Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Comparing the allelic frequencies in Chinese with previous studies in Caucasian populations, NQO1 609C>T and SLC19A1 80G>A were distinctly different, whereas close similarity was observed for MTHFR 677C>T. We have demonstrated an array-based methodology for rapid multiplex detection of genetic polymorphisms. The allelic frequencies reported in this study may have important therapeutic and prognostic implications in the clinical use of relevant drugs.     

保幼激素生物合成研究进展

保幼激素（juvenile hormone,JH）是存在于昆虫、甲壳动物和部分植物体内的倍半萜类衍生物。在昆虫和甲壳动物体内,保幼激素主要调节变态和生殖活动。在植物体内,则可能作为异株克生物质发挥作用。保幼激素主要通过细胞质内的甲羟戊酸途径（MVA）合成,植物质体内存在萜类合成的1-去氧木糖-5-磷酸途径（DXP）。MVA和DXP途径通过单向质子协同运输系统进行协调,使DXP途径中形成的前体化合物参与MVA途径的倍半萜合成。JH生物合成的主要步骤己基本查明,但与合成相关的酶学研究还较薄弱。生物合成酶的分子生物学是近来研究的热点,相关酶的cDNA克隆已有报道。JH生物合成酶的进一步研究有助于查明JH生物合成调控机制,深化对节肢动物生殖的理解,还可为新型杀虫剂开发提供可能的靶标。