The use of intensity‐based Doppler variance method for single vessel response to functional neurovascular activation

This study presents 1 use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography technique to examine neurovascular coupling effect. Repeated B‐scans OCT recording is performed on the rat somatosensory cortex with cranial window preparation while its contralateral forepaw is electrically stimulated to activate the neurons in rest. We use an intensity‐based Doppler variance (IBDV) algorithm mapped cerebral blood vessels in the cortex, and the temporal alteration in blood perfusion during neurovascular activation is analyzed using the proposed IBDV quantitative parameters. By using principal component analysis‐based Fuzzy C Means clustering method, the stimulus‐evoked vasomotion patterns were classified into 3 categories. We found that the response time of small vessels (resting diameter 14.9 ±6.6 μm), middle vessels (resting diameter 21.1 ±7.9 μm) and large vessels (resting diameter 50.7 ±6.5 μm) to achieve 5% change of vascular dilation after stimulation was 1.5, 2 and 5.5 seconds, respectively. Approximately 5% peak change of relative blood flow (RBF) in both small and middle vessels was observed. The large vessels react slowly and their responses nearly 4 seconds delayed, but no significant change in RBF of the large vessels was seen.      

巢湖叶绿素a浓度的时空分布及其与氮、磷浓度关系

基于巢湖水体2002~2007年水质监测资料,对叶绿素a浓度的分布、动态及与TN、TP的关系进行了统计分析。巢湖叶绿素a浓度与TN、TP的浓度分布存在明显的空间差异,西半湖叶绿素a浓度全年高于20μg/L,TN为1.94~3.84mg/L,TP为0.20~0.42mg/L;东半湖叶绿素a浓度全年小于5.5μg/L,TN为0.95~1.83mg/L,TP为0.08~0.14mg/L。在东半湖,叶绿素a含量与TN呈不明显的正线性关系,当TP浓度较低时,叶绿素a随TP的增加小幅上升,但是当TP>0.15mg/L时,叶绿素a随TP的增加而明显上升;在西半湖,当水体TN<5.8mg/L或者TP<2.0mg/L时,叶绿素a含量与TN、TP关系为正线性关系,当TN在5.8~9.4mg/L或者TP介于0.2~0.3mg/L间时,叶绿素a含量与TN、TP关系为不显著的负线性关系,当TP浓度>0.3mg/L时,叶绿素a含量与TP关系又为正线性关系。西半湖叶绿素a浓度的变化可能是藻类生物活动与沉积物及水体中营养盐的相互作用结果。在治理巢湖富营养化时,应优先控制西半湖的磷元素。     

NMR Characterization of C3H and HCT Down-Regulated Alfalfa Lignin

Independent down-regulation of genes encoding p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) and hydroxycinnamoyl CoA:shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) has been previously shown to reduce the recalcitrance of alfalfa and thereby improve the release of fermentable sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis. In this study, ball-milled lignins were isolated from wild-type control, C3H, and HCT gene down-regulated alfalfa plants. One- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques were utilized to determine structural changes in the ball-milled alfalfa lignins resulting from this genetic engineering. After C3H and HCT gene down-regulation, significant structural changes had occurred to the alfalfa ball-milled lignins compared to the wild-type control. A substantial increase in p-hydroxyphenyl units was observed in the transgenic alfalfa ball-milled lignins as well as a concomitant decrease in guaiacyl and syringyl units. Two-dimensional ¹³C–¹H heteronuclear single quantum coherence correlation NMR, one-dimensional distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer-135, and ¹³C NMR measurement showed a noteworthy decrease in methoxyl group and β-O-4 linkage contents in these transgenic alfalfa lignins. ¹³C NMR analysis estimated that C3H gene down-regulation reduced the methoxyl content by ~55–58% in the ball-milled lignin, while HCT down-regulation decreased methoxyl content by ~73%. The gene down-regulated C3H and HCT transgenic alfalfa lignin was largely a p-hydroxyphenyl (H) rich type lignin. Compared to the wild-type plant, the C3H and HCT transgenic lines had an increase in relative abundance of phenylcoumaran and resinol in the ball-milled lignins.     

Gene expression profiling of hybridoma cells after bursal-derived bioactive factor BP5 treatment

Bursa of Fabricius is the acknowledged vital humoral immune system for B cell differentiation and antibody production. To study the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of bursal-derived BP5, we used gene microarray to analyze the genomic expression profiling of BP5-treated hybridoma cells. BP5 exhibited an immunomodulatory effect on antibody production in hybridoma cells and induced alterations in the gene expression profiles related to the immune-related biological processes, such as T cell activation and proliferation, B cell activation, B cell-mediated immunity, and cytokines cytokine production involved in immune response. In addition, 26 biological pathways associated with immunomodulatory functions were regulated in BP5-treated hybridoma cells, in which p53 signal pathway played an important role in antitumor. Among these regulated genes, 12 differentially expressed genes were verified by qRT-PCR. The activation of p53 activity by BP5 was further confirmed by p53 luciferase reporter assay and p53 expression. Our data revealed that bursal-derived BP5 could regulate various immune-related cellular processes, including antitumor factor p53 signal pathway, perhaps partially accounting for the reported immunomodulatory roles and novel antiproliferation on tumor cells functions of bursal-derived bioactive factor BP5.     

The combined use of photoaffinity labeling and surface plasmon resonance‐based technology identifies multiple salicylic acid‐binding proteins

Salicylic acid (SA) is a small phenolic molecule that not only is the active ingredient in the multi‐functional drug aspirin, but also serves as a plant hormone that affects diverse processes during growth, development, responses to abiotic stresses and disease resistance. Although a number of SA‐binding proteins (SABPs) have been identified, the underlying mechanisms of action of SA remain largely unknown. Efforts to identify additional SA targets, and thereby elucidate the complex SA signaling network in plants, have been hindered by the lack of effective approaches. Here, we report two sensitive approaches that utilize SA analogs in conjunction with either a photoaffinity labeling technique or surface plasmon resonance‐based technology to identify and evaluate candidate SABPs from Arabidopsis. Using these approaches, multiple proteins, including the E2 subunit of α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the glutathione S‐transferases GSTF2, GSTF8, GSTF10 and GSTF11, were identified as SABPs. Their association with SA was further substantiated by the ability of SA to inhibit their enzymatic activity. The photoaffinity labeling and surface plasmon resonance‐based approaches appear to be more sensitive than the traditional approach for identifying plant SABPs using size‐exclusion chromatography with radiolabeled SA, as these proteins exhibited little to no SA‐binding activity in such an assay. The development of these approaches therefore complements conventional techniques and helps dissect the SA signaling network in plants, and may also help elucidate the mechanisms through which SA acts as a multi‐functional drug in mammalian systems.     

模糊聚类分析在中国伞形科当归亚族分类中的应用

针对伞形科前胡族当归亚族上属间界线划分的分歧,采用模糊聚类分析方法,在形态方面以属为分类单位,定量阐明了属间亲缘关系。化学方面,以裂解－气相色谱信息为分类依据肉获得的２７个种的数据揭示了当归亚族中属间的分类关系,结果表明,当归属和在中国分布的山芹属与广义当归属类群相近,并显示了东北长鞘当归和骨缘当归是一个较特殊的类群。     

哈巴德布鲁克生态系统（H. B. E.）及其五号流域（W-5）研究

一、前言哈巴德布鲁克实验林(Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest)位于美国东北部新罕布什尔州中部的白山国家森林中。该地区位于典型温带湿润气候区内,年平均降水量为129.5cm,全年月平均降水量变化不大,冬雪夏雨。蒸发蒸腾量以每年6—9月为最大(Likens等,1977;Bormann等,1979)。该实验林为北美温带落叶阔叶林,属红果云杉(Picea rubens)-阔叶林。Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study(HBES)是开始最     

与TaFRA蛋白相互作用候选蛋白的筛选

F-box蛋白是E3泛素连接酶SCF复合体的重要亚基, 通过底物蛋白的特异识别发挥功能。TaFRA是在盐胁迫差异表达片段基础上通过RACE方法获得的一个基因, 编码F-box蛋白。文章利用TaFRA基因构建诱饵表达载体, 直接用cDNA+pGAD+pBD共转化酵母双杂交的方法筛选相互作用的候选蛋白。通过对阳性克隆的鉴定和测序分析, 共获得44个与TaFRA相互作用的候选蛋白, 其中32个为已知蛋白, 包括硫氧还蛋白、金属硫蛋白、ATP合成酶及丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶等多种逆境胁迫反应蛋白及转录因子蛋白, 说明TaFRA与胁迫反应相关, 可能通过对上述蛋白编码基因的调控参与了植物的胁迫反应过程, 为进一步阐明TaFRA的功能及作用机制奠定了理论基础。     

酪氨酸酶的应用研究进展

酪氨酸酶具有重要的生理生化特性,在医药、环境、食品、精细化工等领域具有广泛的用 途。酪氨酸酶可以氧化L-酪氨酸合成L-多巴和黑色素,L-多巴用于帕金森症的治疗,黑色素能够 杀死HIV病毒。酪氨酸酶可用于环境工程领域处理含苯酚及胺类废水,用于精细化工领域催化 有机合成反应。综述了酪氨酸酶在各个领域的应用概况,阐明了其在工业生产领域的应用前景。     

Analysis of Headspace of Root of Levisticum officinale

The headspace of root of Levistlcum officinale was subjected to adsorb by means of XAD 4. The chemical components of the headspace obtained were analysed by GC/MS and GC/FTIR. 64 compounds have been seperated, of which 20 compounds were identified. The main compounds were monc, terpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, such as β-phellandrens (16.47%), citronellal (12.85%) and ligustilide (20.94%) etc.