The immune responses in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis challenged with double-stranded RNA

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a virus-associated molecular pattern which induces antiviral innate immune responses and RNA interference (RNAi) in mammals. In invertebrates, RNAi phenomenon has been widely studied, but dsRNA-induced innate immune response is seldom reported. In the present study, two different dsRNAs specific for green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the putative D1 protein of photosystem II (NoPSD) from Nannochloropsis oculata, were employed to challenge Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. The temporal changes of phenoloxidase (PO), acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as the mRNA expression of some immune-related genes were examined in order to estimate the effect of dsRNAs on the innate immunity of E. sinensis. The activities of PO, ACP and SOD significantly increased after dsRNA treatment, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content did not change significantly. Among the examined genes, only the mRNA expression of EsALF, an antibacterial peptide in E. sinensis, was significantly up-regulated (about 5 fold, P < 0.05) at 12 h after dsRNA treatment, while no significant expression changes were observed among the other immune genes. The increase of PO, ACP and SOD activities, and mRNA expression level of EsALF after dsRNA stimulation indicate that phenoloxidase, hydrolytic enzyme, antioxidation and EsALF were involved in dsRNA-induced innate immunity, suggesting that broad-spectrum immune responses could be induced by dsRNA in E. sinensis.     

Sulfated modification and cytotoxicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Portulaca oleracea</Emphasis> L. polysaccharides

A water-soluble polysaccharide (POP1) was isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. Four sulfated derivatives of POP1 (POP1-s1, POP1-s2, POP1-s3 and POP1-s4) were prepared by chlorosulfonic acid method with N,N-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a dehydration-condensation agent. FT-IR spectra and ¹³C NMR spectra indicated the sulfated groups had been introduced at the C-6 and C-2 positions of POP1. Sulfated derivatives had different degree of substitution (DS) ranging from 1.01 to 1.81, and different weight-average molecular mass (Mw) ranging from 41.4 to 48.5 KDa. Sulfated derivatives except POP1-s5 inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells and Hela cells in vitro significantly, which indicated that sulfated modification could enhance cytotoxicity of POP1 on tumor cells. Flow cytometric studies revealed that sulfated derivatives could mediate the cell-cycle arrest of Hela cells in the S phase.     

辽西半干旱区几种人工林生态系统涵养水源功能研究

从森林生态系统树冠截留降雨、枯落物持水及土壤蓄水3个层次对辽西半干旱区5种人工林生态系统的涵养水源功能进行了定量研究．结果表明,各人工林生态系统树冠对降雨的平均截留率为14．58％～37．19％,依次为沙棘林>油松沙棘混交林>杨树沙棘混交林>油松纯林>杨树纯林;枯落物层厚度为1．6～4．1cm,枯落物贮量为1890．4～6425．2kg·hm^-2,枯落物层厚度和贮量均为沙棘林>油松沙棘混交林>杨树沙棘混交林>油松纯林>杨树纯林,枯落物最大持水量取决于枯落物贮量及其最大持水率,枯落物最大持水量为5957．7～19332．9kg·hm^-2,依次为沙棘林>油松沙棘混交林>杨树沙棘混交林>油松纯林>杨树纯林;各人工林生态系统0～40cm土壤层非毛管蓄水量为23．70～37．85mm,依次为沙棘林>杨树沙棘混交林>油松沙棘混交林>杨树纯林>油松纯林．在5种人工林生态系统中,沙棘林的涵养水源功能最好,混交林较油松和杨树纯林有更好的涵养水源功能．     

生长激素释放肽的合成及促生长活性

用固相多肽合成法合成了生长激素释放肽(GHRP),这是一种含D-型氨基酸的外源性激素,具有促进脑下垂体分泌生长激素功能的人工合成六肽,其氨基酸序列为His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂.观察了使用不同剂量的GHRP对不同日龄小鼠的促生长效应,当使用最佳剂量(1000μg/kg)时,可使25日龄小鼠体重较对照组增加14.8%,同时发现鼠龄越小对GHRP越敏感,当使用剂量高达10mg/kg时仍然安全无毒.     

竹类植物对异质生境的适应——表型可塑性

竹类植物是一类以木本为主的克隆植物,凭借表型可塑性的优势,对异质生境具有很强适应能力。然而,目前对竹类植物表型可塑性的实现方式及其异质生境适应对策未见系统总结,从而在一定程度上限制了竹类生态学的发展。从形态可塑性、选择性放置、克隆整合和克隆分工等4个方面对竹类植物的表型可塑性研究进行分析和梳理,结果表明:竹类植物在异质生境中具有明显的表型可塑反应,主要采用形态可塑性、选择性放置和克隆整合来适应异质生境,而克隆分工的普遍性仍有待验证;目前侧重于研究构件形态和生物量分配格局,而很少深入探讨形态、生理和行为等可塑性机理。今后竹类植物表型可塑性研究重点在于:1)克隆整合的格局与机理;2)克隆整合对生态系统的影响;3)克隆分工的形成及其与环境关系;4)表型可塑性的等级性及环境影响;5)不同克隆构型的表型可塑性特征及其内在机制。     

Cardiac differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells

Due to the extremely limited proliferative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes, human embryonic (pluripotent) stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) are currently almost the only reliable source of human heart cells which are suited to large-scale production. These cells have the potential for wide-scale application in drug discovery, heart disease research and cell-based heart repair. Embryonic atrial-, ventricular- and nodal-like cardiomyocytes can be obtained from differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). In recent years, several highly efficient cardiac differentiation protocols have been developed. Significant progress has also been made on understanding cardiac subtype specification, which is the key to reducing the heterogeneity of hESC-CMs, a major obstacle to the utilization of these cells in medical research and future cell-based replacement therapies. Herein we review recent progress in cardiac differentiation of hESCs and cardiac subtype specification, and discuss potential applications in drug screening and cell-based heart regeneration.     

云南保山西庄山地流域土地利用方式与土壤肥力关系研究

以云南省保山地区西庄流域为例,研究了自然因素及人为活动对土壤性质的影响。该流域的土壤通常pH较低,缺乏有效磷和交换性阳离子。仅发育于石灰岩的土壤具适宜的pH和交换性阳离子量。海拔对土壤有机碳含量具显著影响。文中详细讨论了海拔、母质和土地利用方式等对土壤肥力及土壤侵蚀的影响。     

Disruption of gene SPL35, encoding a novel CUE domain‐containing protein,leads to cell death and enhanced disease response in rice

Lesion mimic mutants that exhibit spontaneous hypersensitive response (HR)‐like necrotic lesions are ideal experimental systems for elucidating molecular mechanisms involved in plant cell death and defence responses. Here we report identification of a rice lesion mimic mutant, spotted leaf 35 (spl35), and cloning of the causal gene by TAIL‐PCR strategy. spl35 exhibited decreased chlorophyll content, higher accumulation of H₂O₂, up‐regulated expression of defence‐related marker genes, and enhanced resistance to both fungal and bacterial pathogens of rice. The SPL35 gene encodes a novel CUE (coupling of ubiquitin conjugation to ER degradation) domain‐containing protein that is predominantly localized in cytosol, ER and unknown punctate compartment(s). SPL35 is constitutively expressed in all organs, and both overexpression and knockdown of SPL35 cause the lesion mimic phenotype. SPL35 directly interacts with the E2 protein OsUBC5a and the coatomer subunit delta proteins Delta‐COP1 and Delta‐COP2 through the CUE domain, and down‐regulation of these interacting proteins also cause development of HR‐like lesions resembling those in spl35 and activation of defence responses, indicating that SPL35 may be involved in the ubiquitination and vesicular trafficking pathways. Our findings provide insight into a role of SPL35 in regulating cell death and defence response in plants.