长白山阔叶红松林植物群落与昆虫群落的相互关系研究

通过季节性的观察,系统研究了长白山植物群落、昆虫群落多样性及它们之间关系。结果表明,植物群落物种丰富度指数与植食性昆虫丰富度指数呈负相关,而与捕食性天敌昆虫丰富度指数呈正相关,与寄生性天敌的丰富度指数呈负相关;昆虫群落的均匀度与植物群落的均匀度相关显著。植物群落的多样性指数与捕食性、寄生性天敌的多样性指数呈正相关。而与植食性昆虫的多样性指数呈负相关,这表明植物群落的多样性影响昆虫群落的多样性。     

Botanical micelle and its application for direct electrochemical biosensor

This paper is concerned about the entrapment of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) within botanical inositol hexakisphosphoric (IP(6)) micelles for the preparation of enzyme biosensor. The good affinity of IP(6) micelles with the enzyme provides naturally biocompatible microenvironment for the enzyme immobilization, achieving the direct electron transfer between HRP and electrode surface. The resulting biosensor to H(2)O(2) detection exhibits a low detection limit of 0.1 μmol L(-1) (S/N = 3), a quick response time (3s), and a long-term stability. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant is quite tiny about 0.0016 mmol L(-1).     

Structural elements of kallistatin required for inhibition of angiogenesis

Kallistatin is aserpin first identified as a specific inhibitor of tissue kallikrein.Our recent studies showed that kallikrein promoted angiogenesis,whereas kallistatin inhibited angiogenesis and tumor growth. This studyis aimed to identify the structural elements of kallistatin essentialfor its antiangiogenic function. Kallistatin mutants at the hingeregion (A377T) and a major heparin-binding domain (K312A/K313A) werecreated by site-directed mutagenesis. Recombinant kallistatin mutantA377T did not bind or inhibit tissue kallikrein activity. Wild-typekallistatin and kallistatin mutant A377T, but not kallistatin mutantK312A/K313A lacking heparin-binding activity, inhibited VEGF-inducedproliferation, growth, and migration of human microvascular endothelialcells. Similarly, wild-type kallistatin and kallistatin mutant A337T,but not kallistatin mutant K312A/K313A, significantly inhibitedVEGF-induced capillary tube formation of cultured endothelial cells inMatrigel and capillary formation in Matrigel implants in mice. Toelucidate the role of the heparin-binding domain in modulatingangiogenesis, we showed that wild-type kallistatin interrupted thebinding of ¹²⁵I-labeled VEGF to endothelial cells, whereaskallistatin mutant K312A/K313A did not interfere with VEGF binding.Consequently, wild-type kallistatin, but not kallistatin mutantK312A/K313A, suppressed VEGF-induced phosphorylation of Akt. Takentogether, these results indicate that the heparin-binding domain, butnot the reactive site loop of kallistatin, is essential for inhibiting VEGF-induced angiogenesis.

     

The role of rice HEI10 in the formation of meiotic crossovers

HEI10 was first described in human as a RING domain-containing protein that regulates cell cycle and cell invasion. Mice HEI10(mei4) mutant displays no obvious defect other than meiotic failure from an absence of chiasmata. In this study, we characterize rice HEI10 by map-based cloning and explore its function during meiotic recombination. In the rice hei10 mutant, chiasma frequency is markedly reduced, and those remaining chiasmata exhibit a random distribution among cells, suggesting possible involvement of HEI10 in the formation of interference-sensitive crossovers (COs). However, mutation of HEI10 does not affect early recombination events and synaptonemal complex (SC) formation. HEI10 protein displays a highly dynamic localization on the meiotic chromosomes. It initially appears as distinct foci and co-localizes with MER3. Thereafter, HEI10 signals elongate along the chromosomes and finally restrict to prominent foci that specially localize to chiasma sites. The linear HEI10 signals always localize on ZEP1 signals, indicating that HEI10 extends along the chromosome in the wake of synapsis. Together our results suggest that HEI10 is the homolog of budding yeast Zip3 and Caenorhabditis elegans ZHP-3, and may specifically promote class I CO formation through modification of various meiotic components.     

Localization of green fluorescent protein fusions with the seven Arabidopsis vacuolar sorting receptors to prevacuolar compartments in tobacco BY-2 cells

We have previously demonstrated that vacuolar sorting receptor (VSR) proteins are concentrated on prevacuolar compartments (PVCs) in plant cells. PVCs in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 cells are multivesicular bodies (MVBs) as defined by VSR proteins and the BP-80 reporter, where the transmembrane domain (TMD) and cytoplasmic tail (CT) sequences of BP-80 are sufficient and specific for correct targeting of the reporter to PVCs. The genome of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) contains seven VSR proteins, but little is known about their individual subcellular localization and function. Here, we study the subcellular localization of the seven Arabidopsis VSR proteins (AtVSR1-7) based on the previously proven hypothesis that the TMD and CT sequences correctly target individual VSR to its final destination in transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells. Toward this goal, we have generated seven chimeric constructs containing signal peptide (sp) linked to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and TMD/CT sequences (sp-GFP-TMD/CT) of the seven individual AtVSR. Transgenic tobacco BY-2 cell lines expressing these seven sp-GFP-TMD-CT fusions all exhibited typical punctate signals colocalizing with VSR proteins by confocal immunofluorescence. In addition, wortmannin caused the GFP-marked prevacuolar organelles to form small vacuoles, and VSR antibodies labeled these enlarged MVBs in transgenic BY-2 cells. Wortmannin also caused VSR-marked PVCs to vacuolate in other cell types, including Arabidopsis, rice (Oryza sativa), pea (Pisum sativum), and mung bean (Vigna radiata). Therefore, the seven AtVSRs are localized to MVBs in tobacco BY-2 cells, and wortmannin-induced vacuolation of PVCs is a general response in plants.     

Genotypic diversity of an invasive plant species promotes litter decomposition and associated processes

Following studies that showed negative effects of species loss on ecosystem functioning, newer studies have started to investigate if similar consequences could result from reductions of genetic diversity within species. We tested the influence of genotypic richness and dissimilarity (plots containing one, three, six or 12 genotypes) in stands of the invasive plant Solidago canadensis in China on the decomposition of its leaf litter and associated soil animals over five monthly time intervals. We found that the logarithm of genotypic richness was positively linearly related to mass loss of C, N and P from the litter and to richness and abundance of soil animals on the litter samples. The mixing proportion of litter from two sites, but not genotypic dissimilarity of mixtures, had additional effects on measured variables. The litter diversity effects on soil animals were particularly strong under the most stressful conditions of hot weather in July: at this time richness and abundance of soil animals were higher in 12-genotype litter mixtures than even in the highest corresponding one-genotype litter. The litter diversity effects on decomposition were in part mediated by soil animals: the abundance of Acarina, when used as covariate in the analysis, fully explained the litter diversity effects on mass loss of N and P. Overall, our study shows that high genotypic richness of S. canadensis leaf litter positively affects richness and abundance of soil animals, which in turn accelerate litter decomposition and P release from litter.     

一氧化氮对杨树耐旱性的影响

探讨了外源NO对水分胁迫下杨树叶片质膜相对透性、叶片光合作用和氧化伤害保护酶的影响.结果表明,NO供体硝普钠(sodiumnitroprusside,SNP)能提高杨树叶片的含水率,在水分胁迫(PEG6000渗透液处理)下,能缓解叶片的水分丢失.NO对杨树叶片光合作用具有双重性,低浓度SNP(200、500μmol·L^-1)能促进叶片的光合,高浓度SNP(1000、2000μmol·L^-1)则明显抑制叶片的光合.较短时间水分处理胁迫(1h))的杨树叶片SOD和POD活性显著高于较长时间(3h)水分胁迫下叶片的酶活性.经SNP处理后,各处理组POD、SOD活性明显上升.同时,随SNP浓度的增加,POD和SOD活性表现出先上升后下降的趋势.外源NO可通过诱导POD和SOD活性的上升,延缓活性氧的积累,从而减轻水分胁迫对杨树的伤害,增强树木的耐旱能力.     

Why Do Males of Parnassius imperator Fight for Bare Rocks but Not the Nectar Flower During Mate Selection?

Territoriality is an important male behavioral trait used in mate selection of butterflies, but the factors determining the outcome of territorial contests remain controversial. We studied the foraging and territorial behaviors of males in the Parnassius imperator butterfly. Adult males were selective about nectar sources, but they did not defend nectar flowers. By contrast, they fought over areas of bare rocks because bare rocks were used as lek locations to attract and court receptive females. The ownership of a lek, rather than sex pheromones or wing pigments, played the key role in attracting females. In an owner replacement experiment, the owner of a territory always defeated intruders, indicating that perching order, not relative body size, determined the outcome of territorial contests. Territories are small areas of bare rocks that lack food resources, so intruders do not challenge the ownership of a resident in a location where they can easily find vacant territories. Males that first perch in a territory have an advantage compared to intruders in that they can forage on flowers in the vicinity of the territory. This may help explain why satiated owners always defeated fatigued intruders. Our findings suggest that early perching on bare rock allows male butterflies of P. imperator to occupy a territory, attract receptive females and exclude later‐arriving competitors.