Effect of fertilizers on Cd accumulation and subcellular distribution of two cosmos species (Cosmos sulphureus and Cosmos bipinnata)

Addition of fertilizer amendments is regarded as an ideal approach to enhancing phytoextraction. However, there is little information available on the influence of common fertilizers on Cd accumulation of two newly reported Cd accumulators, Cosmos sulphureus and Cosmos bipinnata (C. sulphureus and C. bipinnata). The effects of N (CO(NH₂)₂), NP (CO(NH₂)₂ + Ca(H₂PO₄)₂), and NPK (CO(NH₂)₂ + Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ + KCl) fertilizers on Cd accumulation and subcellular distribution of C. sulphureus and C. bipinnata were studied in a 70-d pot experiment. The results showed that Cd uptake of C. sulphureus and C. bipinnata with NPK fertilizer was significantly higher than control, N, and NP fertilizers, especially 3.8- and 4.7-fold higher than control (p < 0.05). Compared with C. bipinnata, C. sulphureus achieved higher biomass and Cd uptake in aboveground parts under fertilizer treatments, especially NPK fertilizer. The Cd subcellular distribution revealed that segregation of Cd to Cd-rich granules (MRG) might play an important role in Cd detoxification in both species. C. sulphureus is more likely than C. bipinnata to separate the Cd in MRG and reduce the partition in the heat-denatured protein fraction, especially with NPK fertilizer. Therefore, C. sulphureus combined with NPK fertilizers could be an effective method to remediate Cd-polluted farmland soils in China.     

中国铜脚异丽金龟组及其分类问题讨论(鞘翅目:丽金龟科)(英)

新设的铜脚异丽金龟组包括中国异丽金龟属已知的大型、绿色种类,绝大多数为常见种,彼此形态十分近似。它们是:铜脚异丽金龟(新纪录)Anomala cupripes Hope new record,红脚异丽金龟(新种)A. rubripes sp. nov., 绿脚异丽金龟(新亚种)A. rubripes virescens ssp. nov., 彤脚异丽金龟(新种)A. ignipes sp. nov., 川直异丽金龟A. truncata Bates,滇直异丽金龟(新等级)A. truncata chlorochelys Arrow, stat, nov., 宽角异丽金龟A. expansa Bates,大绿异丽金龟(新种)A. virens sp. nov., 砂尾异丽金龟(新种)A. granuliformis sp. nov. 和檐角异丽金龟(新种)A. planicorna sp. nov.。其中红脚异丽金龟和绿脚异丽金龟是我国南部和台湾的重要害虫,国内外文献中长期误作铜脚异丽金龟引用至今。     

不同育秧方式和插植密度下晚籼稻群体动态结构的研究

不同育秧方式和插植密度下晚籼稻群体动态结构存在差异。旱育秧群体分蘖速度快,分蘖能力强。稀植可促进个体分蘖多发、有效穗数增多,但旱育稀植并无分蘖早发的优势。旱育稀植使主茎基部叶片变短而上部叶片变长,生育后期叶面积消长平稳,地上部干物质积累较多。旱育秧、稀植都使主茎叶总数增多,全生育期延长。     

中国蝼蛄菌属的研究

本文报道寄生于我国非洲蝼蛄(Gryllotalpa africana Palisot de Beauvois)上的蝼蛄菌属(Tettigomyces)11个种,其中新种1个:线状蝼蛄菌(T.filiformis Ye);国内新记录种10个:渐尖蝼蛄菌(T.acuminatus Thaxt.),非洲蝼蛄菌(T.africanus Thaxt.),短蝼蛄菌(T.brevis Thaxt.),毛生蝼蛄菌(T.chaetophilus Thaxt.),混淆蝼蛄菌(T.co-nfusus Thaxt.),蝼蛄菌(T.gryllotalpae Thaxt.),印度蝼蛄菌(T.indicus Thaxt.),间型蝼蛄菌(T.intermedius Thaxt.),翅生蝼蛄菌(T.pterophilus Thaxt.),普通蝼蛄菌(T.vulgaris Thaxt.)。本文所研究的全部标本都保存于广东省微生物研究所。     

Looking for high energy density compounds among polynitraminepurines

A series of purine derivatives with nitramine groups are calculated by using density functional theory (DFT). The molecular theory density, heats of formation, bond dissociation energies and detonation performance are investigated at DFT-B3LYP/6-311G** level. The isodesmic reaction method is employed to calculate the HOFs of the energies obtained from electronic structure calculations. Results show that the position of nitramine groups can influence the values of HOFs. The bond dissociation energies and the impact sensitivity are analyzed to investigate the thermal stability of the purine derivatives. The calculated bond dissociation energies of ring-NHNO₂ and NH-NO₂ bond show that the NH-NO₂ bond should be the trigger bond in pyrolysis processes. The H₅₀ of most compounds are larger than that of CL-20 and RDX.     

H2S relaxes isolated human airway smooth muscle cells via the sarcolemmal KATP channel

Here we explored the impact of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on biophysical properties of the primary human airway smooth muscle (ASM)–the end effector of acute airway narrowing in asthma. Using magnetic twisting cytometry (MTC), we measured dynamic changes in the stiffness of isolated ASM, at the single-cell level, in response to varying doses of GYY4137 (1–10 mM). GYY4137 slowly released appreciable levels of H₂S in the range of 10–275 μM, and H₂S released was long lived. In isolated human ASM cells, GYY4137 acutely decreased stiffness (i.e. an indicator of the single-cell relaxation) in a dose-dependent fashion, and stiffness decreases were sustained in culture for 24 h. Human ASM cells showed protein expressions of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE; a H₂S synthesizing enzyme) and ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels. The K_ATP channel opener pinacidil effectively relaxed isolated ASM cells. In addition, pinacidil-induced ASM relaxation was completely inhibited by the treatment of cells with the K_ATP channel blocker glibenclamide. Glibenclamide also markedly attenuated GYY4137-mediated relaxation of isolated human ASM cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that H₂S causes the relaxation of human ASM and implicate as well the role for sarcolemmal K_ATP channels. Finally, given that ASM cells express intrinsic enzymatic machinery of generating H₂S, we suggest thereby this class of gasotransmitter can be further exploited for potential therapy against obstructive lung disease.     

A critical life-supporting role for cystathionine γ-lyase in the absence of dietary cysteine supply

This study examined the important relationship between cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) functionality and cysteine supply for normal growth and life span. Mice with a targeted deletion of the CSE gene (CSE-KO) were fed a cysteine-limited diet and their growth and survival patterns as well as levels of cysteine, homocysteine, glutathione, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were measured. CSE-KO mice fed a cysteine-limited diet exhibited growth retardation; decreased levels of cysteine, glutathione, and H2S; and increased plasma homocysteine level. However, histological examinations of liver did not reveal any abnormality and plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and albumin were normal in these animals. No CSE-KO mice survived after 12 weeks of feeding with the cysteine-limited diet. Supplementation of H2S to the CSE-KO mice failed to reverse the aforementioned abnormalities. On the other hand, supplementation of cysteine in the drinking water of the CSE-KO mice significantly increased plasma cysteine and glutathione levels. This eventually led to an increase in body weight and rescued the animals from death. In conclusion, CSE is critical for cysteine biosynthesis through the transsulfuration pathway and the combination of CSE deficiency and lack of dietary cysteine supply would threaten life sustainability.