种子物理休眠研究进展

种子物理休眠是由种皮不透水层引起的一种休眠类型,是植物在长期系统发育进程中获得的一种适应环境变化的特性。该文简述了种子物理休眠的定义与概念;从不透水层、种皮的特殊水孔器结构以及胚的形态特异性等方面,综述了物理休眠种子的形态特征、物理休眠与综合休眠的解除方法以及物理休眠的可能解除机制;利用Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Ⅲ(APG Ⅲ)系统分析了种子物理休眠的植物在系统发育中的位置;最后提出了今后种子物理休眠有待研究的主要问题。     

A strong root-specific expression system for stable transgene expression in bread wheat

Key message

A strong, stable and root-specific expression system was developed from a rice root-specific GLYCINE - RICH PROTEIN 7 promoter for use as an enabling technology for genetic manipulation of wheat root traits.

Abstract

Root systems play an important role in wheat productivity. Genetic manipulation of wheat root traits often requires a root-specific or root-predominant expression system as an essential enabling technology. In this study, we investigated promoters from rice root-specific or root-predominant expressed genes for development of a root expression system in bread wheat. Transient expression analysis using a GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN (GFP) reporter gene driven by rice promoters identified six promoters that were strongly expressed in wheat roots. Extensive organ specificity analysis of three rice promoters in transgenic wheat revealed that the promoter of rice GLYCINE-RICH PROTEIN 7 (OsGRP7) gene conferred a root-specific expression pattern in wheat. Strong GFP fluorescence in the seminal and branch roots of wheat expressing GFP reporter driven by the OsGRP7 promoter was detected in epidermal, cortical and endodermal cells in mature parts of the root. The GFP reporter driven by the promoter of rice METALLOTHIONEIN-LIKE PROTEIN 1 (OsMTL1) gene was mainly expressed in the roots with essentially no expression in the leaf, stem or seed. However, it was also expressed in floral organs including glume, lemma, palea and awn. In contrast, strong expression of rice RCg2 promoter-driven GFP was found in many tissues. The GFP expression driven by these three rice promoters was stable in transgenic wheat plants through three generations (T1–T3) examined. These data suggest that the OsGRP7 promoter can provide a strong, stable and root-specific expression system for use as an enabling technology for genetic manipulation of wheat root traits.

     

Multi-Pronged Interactions Underlie Inhibition of α-Synuclein Aggregation by β-Synuclein

The intrinsically disordered protein β-synuclein is known to inhibit the aggregation of its intrinsically disordered homolog, α-synuclein, which is implicated in Parkinson's disease. While β-synuclein itself does not form fibrils at the cytoplasmic pH?7.4, alteration of pH and other environmental perturbations are known to induce its fibrilization. However, the sequence and structural determinants of β-synuclein inhibition and self-aggregation are not well understood. We have utilized a series of domain-swapped chimeras of α-synuclein and β-synuclein to probe the relative contributions of the N-terminal, C-terminal, and the central non-amyloid-β component domains to the inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation. Changes in the rates of α-synuclein fibril formation in the presence of the chimeras indicate that the non-amyloid-β component domain is the primary determinant of self-association leading to fibril formation, while the N- and C-terminal domains play critical roles in the fibril inhibition process. Our data provide evidence that all three domains of β-synuclein together contribute to providing effective inhibition, and support a model of transient, multi-pronged interactions between IDP chains in both processes. Inclusion of such multi-site inhibitory interactions spread over the length of synuclein chains may be critical for the development of therapeutics that are designed to mimic the inhibitory effects of β-synuclein.     

Regio- and stereo-selective synthesis of vinyl glucose ester catalyzed by an alkaline protease of Bacillus subtilis

The transesterification of -d-glucose with divinylsuccinate, divinyladipate and divinylsebacate in pyridine at 55 °C for 3 days was catalyzed by an alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis to give corresponding 6-O-vinyl glucose esters at 30%, 53% and 35% yield, respectively. The stereo-selectivity of the alkaline protease toward the -anomer was affected by the acyl donor chain length. 6-O-Vinylsuccinyl-d-glucose was mixture of - and -anomers (/=44/56), the other two products were the pure -d-glucose derivatives.     

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene polymorphism and COPD risk in smokers: an updated analysis

We evaluated the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in smokers. A meta-analysis of the published case–control studies was performed. Published literature was retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), with last update in February, 2011. Data were extracted and a fixed- or random-effects model was used to calculate pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals depending on statistical heterogeneity. Fourteen eligible studies, comprising 1,665 COPD cases and 1,614 controls, were included in the meta-analysis. The combined analyses showed that there was a significant difference in GSTM1 genotype distribution between COPD cases and controls among Caucasians, but not among Asians. The combined GSTM1/GSTT1 null genotype conferred a 1.36-fold greater risk for COPD in Asian smokers. The GSTT1 null genotype alone was not associated with enhanced risk for COPD. The GSTM1 null genotype is significantly associated with an increasing susceptibility to COPD in Caucasian smokers, but not in Asian smokers. The GSTM1/GSTT1 null genotype is a significant risk factor for developing COPD in Asian smokers. The GSTT1 null genotype, however, was not associated with COPD.     

EFFECTS OF INCREASED TEMPERATURE AND CO2 ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS,GROWTH, AND ELEMENTAL RATIOS IN MARINE SYNECHOCOCCUS AND PROCHLOROCOCCUS (CYANOBACTERIA)1

Little is known about the combined impacts of future CO₂ and temperature increases on the growth and physiology of marine picocyanobacteria. We incubated Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus under present‐day (380 ppm) or predicted year‐2100 CO₂ levels (750 ppm), and under normal versus elevated temperatures (+4°C) in semicontinuous cultures. Increased temperature stimulated the cell division rates of Synechococcus but not Prochlorococcus. Doubled CO₂ combined with elevated temperature increased maximum chl a–normalized photosynthetic rates of Synechococcus four times relative to controls. Temperature also altered other photosynthetic parameters (α, Φ_max, E_k, and ) in Synechococcus, but these changes were not observed for Prochlorococcus. Both increased CO₂ and temperature raised the phycobilin and chl a content of Synechococcus, while only elevated temperature increased divinyl chl a in Prochlorococcus. Cellular carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) quotas, but not phosphorus (P) quotas, increased with elevated CO₂ in Synechococcus, leading to ～20% higher C:P and N:P ratios. In contrast, Prochlorococcus elemental composition remained unaffected by CO₂, but cell volume and elemental quotas doubled with increasing temperature while maintaining constant stoichiometry. Synechococcus showed a much greater response to CO₂ and temperature increases for most parameters measured, compared with Prochlorococcus. Our results suggest that global change could influence the dominance of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus ecotypes, with likely effects on oligotrophic food‐web structure. However, individual picocyanobacteria strains may respond quite differently to future CO₂ and temperature increases, and caution is needed when generalizing their responses to global change in the ocean.     

C3和C4植物寄主对华北地区棉铃虫越冬代和第一代的影响

确定华北越冬代棉铃虫虫源及其对第一代棉铃虫种群的影响是制定棉铃虫防治策略的基础。以越冬代棉铃虫蛾翅的稳定同位素δ¹³C为天然标记直接判定这些成虫的幼虫期寄主类型,并将雌虫接到春小麦植株上,调查其产卵、孵化、幼虫发育至化蛹、羽化等特征。结果表明,越冬代来自C₃植物(主要为棉花)的成虫个体数量占全部越冬羽化种群的53.1%,所产生的下一代老熟幼虫也较C₄来源的多(55.1%);雌蛾受精率都比较高;卵孵化率较高(52.9%>41.6%);幼虫发育在低龄阶段较比后者快,存活率低,但在高龄幼虫阶段相对后者慢,存活率高;与C₄植物(主要玉米)的来源个体后代的幼虫发育总历期接近,总存活率也相近。显示寄主植物小麦提供的营养条件在第一代棉铃虫的幼虫发育中具有决定性意义,即小麦只在特定阶段才适合幼虫的发育;而且不论是C₃还是C₄寄主来源的越冬代棉铃虫已经适应了这一限制。有效地评价了玉米和棉花等寄主植物对华北地区越冬代和次年第一代棉铃虫的影响,对于分析越冬代棉铃虫的虫源性质和第一代棉铃虫的防治及Bt抗性的治理有重要参考价值。     

氨肽酶N的表达及其与结石形成的关系(英文)

 为研究大鼠高胆固醇饮食时 ,肝脏氨肽酶N(APN)在实验结石形成中可能的结石发生作用 ,采用 1.2 %胆固醇饮食 4周 ,诱发新西兰兔胆囊结石形成 .根据兔APN基因cDNA序列设计引物 ,提取肝脏总RNA .利用RT PCR检测肝脏APNmRNA水平的变化 ,用组织化学方法观察肝脏毛细胆管膜上APN的表达 .观察新西兰兔胆囊结石形成过程中肝脏APN的mRNA水平的变化、APN表达及胆汁中APN活性、胆脂、总蛋白含量的变化 ,探讨APN在胆石形成中可能的作用 .经成石饲料饲养后 ,随着胆汁饱和度增加和APN活性加强 ,胆囊结石组肝脏APNmRNA水平较对照组明显增高 ,胆囊结石组胆汁中总胆固醇、CSI、总蛋白浓度及APN活性均明显高于对照组 ,且胆汁中APN活性与肝脏APN的表达及胆汁CSI增高呈正相关 .结果提示 ,当存在胆汁过饱和的情况下 ,APN很可能作为促成核因子在胆结石形成早期发挥重要作用