Cell biology in China: Focusing on the lysosome

The view that lysosomes are merely the recycling bins of the cell has changed greatly during recent years. Lysosomes are now known to play a central role in signal transduction, cellular adaptation, plasma membrane repair, immune responses and many other fundamental cellular processes. In conjunction with the seminal discoveries made by international colleagues, many important questions regarding lysosomes are being addressed by Chinese scientists. In this review, we briefly summarize recent exciting findings in China on lysosomal signaling, biogenesis, integrity and physiological functions.     

A novel mechanism of FSH regulation of DNA synthesis in the granulosa cells of hamster preantral follicles: involvement of a protein kinase C-mediated MAP kinase 3/1 self-activation loop

The objective was to reveal whether a protein kinase C (PKC [all isozymes])-mediated self-sustaining MAPK3/1 (3/1 extracellular signal regulated kinase 2/1, also known as ERK2/1) activation loop was necessary for FSH- or epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis in the granulosa cells of intact preantral follicles. For this purpose, hamster preantral follicles were cultured with FSH or EGF in the presence of selective kinase inhibitors FSH or EGF phosphorylated RAF1, MAP2K1, and MAPK3/1. However, a relatively higher dose of EGF was necessary to sustain the MAPK3/1 activity, which was essential for cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) activation and DNA synthesis. In intact preantral follicles, FSH or EGF stimulated DNA synthesis only in the granulosa cells. Sustained activation of MAPK3/1 beyond 3 h was independent of EGFR kinase activity but dependent on PKC activity, which appeared to form a self-sustaining MAPK3/1 activation loop by activating RAF1, MAP2K1, and PLA2G4 (phospholipase A2 [all cytosolic isozymes]). Inhibition of PKC activity as late as 4 h after the administration of FSH or EGF arrested DNA synthesis, which corresponded with attenuated phosphorylation of RAF1 and MAPK3/1, thus suggesting an essential role of PKC in MAPK3/1 activation. Collectively, these data present a novel self-sustaining mechanism comprised of MAPK3/1, PLA2G4, PKC, and RAF1 for CDK4 activation leading to DNA synthesis in granulosa cells. Either FSH or EGF can activate the loop to activate CDK4 and initiate DNA synthesis; however, consistent with our previous findings, FSH effect seems to be mediated by EGF, which initiates the event by stimulating EGFR kinase.     

地理统计学表达的麦二叉蚜及蚜茧蜂空间格局特征

应用地理统计学的原理和方法研究了不同时期麦二叉蚜及蚜茧峰种群的空间结构的空间相关性。结果表明,不同时期麦二叉蚜种群的半变异函数曲线皆为球型,其空间格局为聚集型,变程在21-61cm之间;蚜茧蜂种群的拟合半变民间函数曲线也表现为球型,呈聚集空间格局,空间变程在36-55cm之间,并与麦二叉蚜种群在数量和空间上有较强的追随关系,说明蚜茧蜂种群是麦二叉蚜种群的优势种天敌。     

森林植被的自然火干扰

森林植被的自然火干扰邱扬（山西大学黄土高原研究所,太原０３０００６）ＮａｔｕｒａｌＦｉｒｅＤｉｓｔｕｒｂａｎｃｅｏｆＦｏｒｅｓｔＶｅｇｅｔａｔｉｏｎ．ＱｉｕＹａｎｇ（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＬｏｅｓＰｌａｔｅａｕ,ＳｈａｎｘｉＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ,...     

离心力对制备沉积物间隙水中化合物浓度的影响

研究了离心力对间隙水化合物浓度的影响.将腐殖质掺入东湖沉积物样品,按泥:水=1:4(体积)比室温下静置30d,随后掺入铜,泥:水=1:4(体积)比静置10d,得到总有机碳含量在1.47%-.72%、铜含量在120-2700mg/kg(干重)的试验沉积物样品,用离心法制备沉积物中的间隙水.离心参数为3000r/min、200r/min、9000r/min、1000r/min和12000r/min,4 ℃下离心20min.间隙水中化合物浓度分析表明,随离心力升高,间隙水中铜、铁、总有机碳(TOC)含量逐渐降低,钙的含量略有增加,而锰的含量不受离心力变化的影响.根据上述分析结果,确定在腐殖质对沉积物中铜的毒性影响研究中,制备沉积物间隙水的适宜离心条件为:12000r/min、4℃下离心20min.       

Ca2+参与茉莉酸诱导蚕豆气孔关闭的信号转导

以Fluo-3AM为Ca~(2 )荧光探针,结合激光共聚焦扫描显微技术,观察到在处理后数十秒内,气孔关闭之前,茉莉酸(JA)可引起[Ca~(2 )]cyt的迅速上升;叶照和JA的前体物亚麻酸(LA)几乎不能引起[Ca~(2 )]cyt的明显变化;钙的螯合剂EGTA预处理可完全阻断JA诱导气孔关闭的效应,并且JA不再引起保卫细胞[Ca~(2 )]cyt增加;质膜Ca~(2 )通道的抑制剂硝苯吡啶(nifedipine,NIF)可减弱JA诱导气孔关闭的效应,也使JA诱导保卫细胞[Ca~(2 )]cyt增加的幅度有所下降;胞内Ca~(2 )释放的抑制剂钌红不能明显改变JA诱导气孔关闭的趋势,但使JA引起的保卫细胞[Ca~(2 )]cyt增加有所降低。实验结果表明:Ca~(2 )参与JA诱导气孔关闭的信号转导;推测JA引起的[Ca~(2 )]cyt升高可能主要来源于胞外,但不能完全排除胞内Ca~(2 )的释放。     

A NEW EULOPHID PARASITIZING LITCHI GALL MIDGE FROM CHINA (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA)

Abstract  Mangocharis litchii sp. nov. is described from south China as a parasitoid of Mayetiola sp. on leaf of litchi tree. The gall midge is a serious pest of the fruit tree in south China. The biology of the new chalcidoid is also dealt with. The genus Mangocharis is new to China.     

Surfactant protein A (SP-A)-mediated clearance of Staphylococcus aureus involves binding of SP-A to the staphylococcal adhesin eap and the macrophage receptors SP-A receptor 210 and scavenger receptor class A

Staphylococcus aureus causes life-threatening pneumonia in hospitals and deadly superinfection during viral influenza. The current study investigated the role of surfactant protein A (SP-A) in opsonization and clearance of S. aureus. Previous studies showed that SP-A mediates phagocytosis via the SP-A receptor 210 (SP-R210). Here, we show that SP-R210 mediates binding and control of SP-A-opsonized S. aureus by macrophages. We determined that SP-A binds S. aureus through the extracellular adhesin Eap. Consequently, SP-A enhanced macrophage uptake of Eap-expressing (Eap(+)) but not Eap-deficient (Eap(-)) S. aureus. In a reciprocal fashion, SP-A failed to enhance uptake of Eap(+) S. aureus in peritoneal Raw264.7 macrophages with a dominant negative mutation (SP-R210(DN)) blocking surface expression of SP-R210. Accordingly, WT mice cleared infection with Eap(+) but succumbed to sublethal infection with Eap- S. aureus. However, SP-R210(DN) cells compensated by increasing non-opsonic phagocytosis of Eap(+) S. aureus via the scavenger receptor scavenger receptor class A (SR-A), while non-opsonic uptake of Eap(-) S. aureus was impaired. Macrophages express two isoforms: SP-R210(L) and SP-R210(S). The results show that WT alveolar macrophages are distinguished by expression of SP-R210(L), whereas SR-A(-/-) alveolar macrophages are deficient in SP-R210(L) expressing only SP-R210(S). Accordingly, SR-A(-/-) mice were highly susceptible to both Eap(+) and Eap(-) S. aureus. The lungs of susceptible mice generated abnormal inflammatory responses that were associated with impaired killing and persistence of S. aureus infection in the lung. In conclusion, alveolar macrophage SP-R210(L) mediates recognition and killing of SP-A-opsonized S. aureus in vivo, coordinating inflammatory responses and resolution of S. aureus pneumonia through interaction with SR-A.     

凋落物去除和添加处理对典型草原生态系统碳通量的影响

为揭示凋落物去除和添加处理对草原生态系统碳通量的影响, 2013和2014年连续两年在成熟群落围封样地进行凋落物去除实验、在退化群落放牧样地进行凋落物添加实验, 并运用静态箱法探讨碳通量变化规律并分析其主要影响因子。结果表明: 两种群落的净生态系统CO₂交换(NEE)有明显的季节性变化。对成熟群落而言, 去除50%凋落物显著增加了NEE, 去除100%凋落物显著降低了NEE, 而对生态系统总初级生产力(GEP)和生态系统呼吸(ER)均无显著影响; 对退化群落而言, 凋落物添加显著增加了GEP和NEE, 而对ER无显著影响。两种群落的GEP与10 cm土壤温度显著正相关, 但NEE和GEP的变化规律与土壤温度相反, 与10 cm土壤湿度相同。由此可见, 凋落物去除和添加处理对生态系统碳通量的影响主要是改变土壤湿度和地上生物量,而不是改变土壤温度。该研究为合理利用凋落物改善草地生态系统管理和促进草地恢复提供了理论依据。