Plant respiration: Controlled by photosynthesis or biomass?

Two simplifying hypotheses have been proposed for whole‐plant respiration. One links respiration to photosynthesis; the other to biomass. Using a first‐principles carbon balance model with a prescribed live woody biomass turnover, applied at a forest research site where multidecadal measurements are available for comparison, we show that if turnover is fast the accumulation of respiring biomass is low and respiration depends primarily on photosynthesis; while if turnover is slow the accumulation of respiring biomass is high and respiration depends primarily on biomass. But the first scenario is inconsistent with evidence for substantial carry‐over of fixed carbon between years, while the second implies far too great an increase in respiration during stand development—leading to depleted carbohydrate reserves and an unrealistically high mortality risk. These two mutually incompatible hypotheses are thus both incorrect. Respiration is not linearly related either to photosynthesis or to biomass, but it is more strongly controlled by recent photosynthates (and reserve availability) than by total biomass.     

Epidermal keratin 5 expression and distribution is under dermal influence

Human skin melanin pigmentation is regulated by systemic and local factors. According to the type of melanin produced by melanocytes, the transfer and degradation of melanosomes differ, thus accounting for most variations between ethnicities. We made the surprising observation that in a drastically changed environment, white and black phenotypes are reversible since Caucasian skin grafted onto nude mice can become black with all black phenotypic characteristics. Black xenografts differed essentially from other grafts by the levels of epidermal FGF‐2 and keratin 5. In vitro analysis confirmed that FGF‐2 directly regulates keratin 5. Interestingly, this phenomenon may be involved in human pathology. Keratin 5 mutations in Dowling–Degos Disease (DDD) have already been associated with the pheomelanosome–eumelanosome transition. In a DDD patient, keratin 5 was expressed in the basal and spinous layers, as observed in black xenografts. Furthermore, in a common age‐related hyperpigmentation disorder like senile lentigo (SL), keratin 5 distribution is also altered. In conclusion, modulation of keratin 5 expression and distribution either due to mutations or factors may account for the development of pigmentary disorders.     

A Roman well in Waldgirmes (Hesse,Germany): palynological analyses supported by plant macro-remains and micromorphological studies

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - Waldgirmes in Hesse (Germany) is one of the oldest Roman towns east of the Rhine River. It was founded in 3 bc and abandoned after ad 9, probably in ad 16,...     

Environmental costs of buildings: monetary valuation of ecological indicators for the building industry

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Building life cycle assessment (LCA) draws on a number of indicators, including primary energy (PE) demand and global warming potential (GWP). A...     

水分驱动下茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaris Thunb.)地上生物量模型与异速生长特征

构建生物量预估模型,探究生物量在各器官中的分配策略和异速生长关系及其对环境因子的响应,对理解植物群落结构、功能、碳储存和分配机制具有重要意义。本研究以内蒙古荒漠草原常见种茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaris Thunb.)为对象,在不同水分处理下,利用易测指标,如株高、基径、分枝数、冠幅和生物量等参数建立生物量模型,采用标准化主轴分析法分析其异速生长关系。结果表明:在不同水分处理下,茵陈蒿的最佳生物量预估模型的变量选择不同;不同水分处理下茵陈蒿各器官间、各器官与地上生物量间的异速生长关系不同,但相对于自然降水量,增水和减水50%下均为等速生长,这说明在不同水分条件下茵陈蒿对各器官间的资源配置存在权衡策略,符合最优分配假说;而在极端气候条件下,各器官对资源的竞争会变弱;在荒漠草原中,对草本植物进行生物量模拟,选择预测变量和方程模型时,应考虑生长季降水量。本研究可为荒漠草原草本植物生物量预估模型的建立和异速生长关系对环境因子适应的理解等提供方法支持及理论依据。     

Maximizing antibody production in a targeted integration host by optimization of subunit gene dosage and position

Historically, therapeutic protein production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been accomplished by random integration (RI) of expression plasmids into the host cell genome. More recently, the development of targeted integration (TI) host cells has allowed for recombination of plasmid DNA into a predetermined genomic locus, eliminating one contributor to clone-to-clone variability. In this study, a TI host capable of simultaneously integrating two plasmids at the same genomic site was used to assess the effect of antibody heavy chain and light chain gene dosage on antibody productivity. Our results showed that increasing antibody gene copy number can increase specific productivity, but with diminishing returns as more antibody genes are added to the same TI locus. Random integration of additional antibody DNA copies in to a targeted integration cell line showed a further increase in specific productivity, suggesting that targeting additional genomic sites for gene integration may be beneficial. Additionally, the position of antibody genes in the two plasmids was observed to have a strong effect on antibody expression level. These findings shed light on vector design to maximize production of conventional antibodies or tune expression for proper assembly of complex or bispecific antibodies in a TI system.     

Interplay between formation of photosynthetic complexes and expression of genes for iron–sulfur cluster assembly in Rhodobacter sphaeroides?

Photosynthesis Research - Formation of photosynthetic complexes leads to a higher demand for Fe–S clusters. We hypothesized that in the facultative phototrophic alpha-proteobacterium...     

Integrative hormone and transcriptome analysis underline the role of abscisic acid in seed shattering of weedy rice

Plant Growth Regulation - Weedy rice is one of the most severe weeds in paddy fields, characterized by its high degree of seed shattering. Abscisic acid (ABA) serves as an abscission-accelerating...