科尔沁沙地东南缘大青沟自然保护区土壤水分的时空分布特征

用TDR分层对科尔沁沙地东南缘大青沟国家级自然保护区土壤水分进行定位观测,采用多重比较等方法,对土壤水分与环境因子关系的差异进行分析,通过Kriging插值法用Surfer软件绘制土壤水分等值线图,研究结果表明:土壤含水率在不同的生长季节上变化,表现为夏季>秋季>春季,各层间没有显著差异;月均(5、7、9月)土壤含水率的变异系数坡向>植被类型>坡位;层均(0~60cm)土壤含水率变异系数坡位>植被类型>坡向>样带。月均土壤含水率从高到低依次为:阔叶林>矮林>樟子松林>疏林草原>灌丛,不同植被类型各层月均土壤含水率总体上差异极显著,阔叶林远远高于其它植被类型;层均土壤含水率,各植被类型各月份间总体差异极显著,总体趋势从高到低为:阔叶林>矮林>樟子松林>灌丛>疏林草原,阔叶林明显高于其它类型。月均土壤含水率坡向间总体上差异显著,层间无显著差异;东、西坡与北坡有显著差异,东西坡高于南北坡;层均土壤含水率,同一月份各个坡向间差异不明显,7月明显高于其它月份;各月总体表现为:东>西>南>北坡。月均土壤含水率除31~45cm外,3个坡位间各层均有极显著差异,下坡位明显高于上坡位与中坡位;中坡位各层月均土壤含水率差异极显著;层均土壤含水率各月份各坡向间差异极显著,下坡位远大于上坡位与中坡位。该区从沟底到坡顶的植被变化逐渐由湿生-中生-旱生逐渐过度,垂直分布明显,这类天然残遗植被与土壤水分及其与环境因子的关系,对于促进周边沙地植被恢复具有重要的参照意义,据此建议了大青沟周边沙地植被恢复模式相应的最低土壤水分阈值,沙地0~30cm土层土壤含水率9.1%~11.5%、8.1%~9.0%、6.0%~8.0%;沙地31~60cm土层土壤含水率11.1%~13%、8.5%~11%、6.0%~8.4%,分别适合恢复为疏林、灌丛、半灌丛。     

The Kv2.1 channels mediate neuronal apoptosis induced by excitotoxicity

Chronic loss of intracellular K⁺ can induce neuronal apoptosis in pathological conditions. However, the mechanism by which the K⁺ channels are regulated in this process remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the increased membrane expression of Kv2.1 proteins in cortical neurons deprived of serum, a condition known to induce K⁺ loss, promotes neuronal apoptosis. The increase in I _K current density and apoptosis in the neurons deprived of serum were inhibited by a dominant negative form of Kv2.1 and MK801, an antagonist to NMDA receptors. The membrane level of Kv2.1 and its interaction with SNAP25 were increased, whereas the Kv2.1 phosphorylation was inhibited in the neurons deprived of serum. Botulinum neurotoxin, an agent known to prevent formation of soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex, suppressed the increase in I _K current density. Together, these results suggest that NMDA receptor-dependent Kv2.1 membrane translocation is regulated by a soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor-dependent vesicular trafficking mechanism and is responsible for neuronal cell death induced by chronic loss of K⁺.     

Screening for potential probiotic from spontaneously fermented non-dairy foods based on in vitro probiotic and safety properties

The aim of this study was to screen potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria from Chinese spontaneously fermented non-dairy foods by evaluating their probiotic and safety properties. All lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The in vitro probiotic tests included survival under low pH and bile salts, cell surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, antibacterial activity, and adherence ability to cells. The safety properties were evaluated based on hemolytic activity and antibiotic resistance profile. The salt tolerance, growth in litmus milk, and acidification ability were examined on selected potential probiotic LAB strains to investigate their potential use in food fermentation. A total of 122 strains were isolated and identified at the species level by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and included 62 Lactobacillus plantarum, 40 Weissella cibaria, 12 Lactobacillus brevis, 6 Weissella confusa, and 2 Lactobacillus sakei strains. One W. cibaria and nine L. plantarum isolates were selected based on their tolerance to low pH and bile salts. The hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, and antagonistic activities of these isolates varied greatly. All of the 10 selected strains showed multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes and no hemolytic activity. The highest adhesion capacity to SW480 cells was observed with L. plantarum SK1. The isolates L. plantarum SK1, CB9, and CB10 were the most similar strains to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and selected for their high salt tolerance and acidifying activity. The results revealed strain-specific probiotic properties were and potential probiotics that can be used in the food industry.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and electroluminescent properties of a Schiff base zinc complex

A new complex of zinc with a Schiff base, zinc(N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-3, 6-dioxa-1, 8-diaminooctane monohydrate) (ZnBSO · H₂O), was synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analyses, IR spectra and DTA-TG. Its structure was determined by X-ray single crystal analysis. It was demonstrated that the zinc atom is coordinated by the two oxygen atoms in phenolate and two nitrogen atoms in imine of the ligand in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry, while the two oxygen atoms from the oxa-alkyl chain are not coordinated to Zn(II) atom. The energy levels of the HOMO, LUMO and the electrochemical band gap were determined by cyclic voltammeter. The electroluminescent devices with the complex as the emitter showed bright blue emission with a peak at 450 nm, which is same as the fluorescence of the complex in both solution and solid states.     

Fusion Peptide from Influenza Hemagglutinin Increases Membrane Surface Order: An Electron-Spin Resonance Study

A spin-labeling study of interactions of a fusion peptide from the hemagglutinin of the influenza virus, wt20, and a fusion-inactive mutant ΔG1 with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatdylcholine bilayers was performed. We found that upon binding of wt20, the ordering of headgroups and the ordering of acyl chains near the headgroup increased significantly, in a manner consistent with a cooperative phenomenon. However, changes in the order at the end of the acyl chains were negligible. The ordering effect of wt20 on the headgroup was much stronger at pH 5 than at pH 7. No effect of ΔG1 binding on the order of bilayers was evident. We also found that 1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxyl phosphatidylcholine, a membrane-fusion inhibitor, decreased the ordering of DMPC headgroups, whereas arachidonic acid, a membrane-fusion promoter, increased the ordering of DMPC headgroups. These results suggest that increases in headgroup ordering may be important for membrane fusion. We propose that upon binding of wt20, which is known to affect only the outer leaflet of the bilayer, this outer leaflet becomes more ordered, and thus more solid-like. Then the coupling between the hardened outer leaflet and the softer inner leaflet generates bending stresses in the bilayer, which tend to increase the negative curvature of the bilayer. We suggest that the increased ordering in the headgroup region enhances dipolar interactions and lowers electrostatic energy, which may provide an energy source for membrane fusion. Possible roles of bending stresses in promoting membrane fusion are discussed.     

Osmoregulated periplasmic glucans synthesis gene family of Shigella flexneri

Osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs) of food- and water-borne enteropathogen Shigella flexneri were characterized. OPGs were composed of 100% glucose with 2-linked glucose as the most abundant residue with terminal glucose, 2-linked and 2,6-linked glucose also present in high quantities. Most dominant backbone polymer chain length was seven glucose residues. Individual genes from the opg gene family comprising of a bicistronic operon opgGH, opgB, opgC and opgD were mutagenized to study their effect on OPGs synthesis, growth in hypo-osmotic media and ability to invade HeLa cells. Mutation in opgG and opgH abolished OPGs biosynthesis, and mutants experienced longer lag time to initiate growth in hypo-osmotic media. Longer lag times to initiate growth in hypo-osmotic media were also observed for opgC and opgD mutants but not for opgB mutant. All opg mutants were able to infect HeLa cells, and abolition of OPGs synthesis did not affect actin polymerization or plaque formation. Ability to synthesize OPGs was beneficial to bacteria in order to initiate growth under low osmolarity conditions, in vitro mammalian cell invasion assays, however, could not discriminate whether OPGs were required for basic aspect of Shigella virulence.     

中国大鲵的食性研究

１９８５－１９８８年，在陕西秦岭，大巴山中，先后１０个月共采集中国大鲵标本７１尾，其中幼林４０尾，成体３１尾。经过剖胃，观察胃容物并称重，分析中国大鲵食物的种类和数量。解剖中空胃４０尾，实胃３１尾，中国大鲵是肉食性捕食动物，幼体以螃蟹，昆虫等小型水生动物为食；成体以螃蟹，鱼，青蛙和水麝鼯等水生动物为食。