Nitric oxide promotes MPK6‐mediated caspase‐3‐like activation in cadmium‐induced Arabidopsis thaliana programmed cell death

Nitric oxide (NO), a vital cell‐signalling molecule, has been reported to regulate toxic metal responses in plants. This work investigated the effects of NO and the relationship between NO and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) programmed cell death (PCD) induced by cadmium (Cd²⁺) exposure. With fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis, caspase‐3‐like protease activation was detected after Cd²⁺ treatment. This was further confirmed with a caspase‐3 substrate assay. Cd²⁺‐induced caspase‐3‐like activity was inhibited in the presence of the NO‐specific scavenger 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide (cPTIO), suggesting that NO mediated caspase‐3‐like protease activation under Cd²⁺ stress conditions. Pretreatment with cPTIO effectively inhibited Cd²⁺‐induced MAPK activation, indicating that NO also affected the MAPK pathway. Interestingly, Cd²⁺‐induced caspase‐3‐like activity was significantly suppressed in the mpk6 mutant, suggesting that MPK6 was required for caspase‐3‐like protease activation. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that NO promotes Cd²⁺‐induced Arabidopsis PCD by promoting MPK6‐mediated caspase‐3‐like activation.     

The role of the blood meal in egg-laying periodicity and fecundity in Triatoma infestans

The number of eggs produced by Triatoma infestans is determined by the amount of blood ingested; the formation of one egg requires 16 mg blood. An exogenous supply of juvenile hormone, provided by the implantation of extra corpora aliata, increases egg production per unit of blood ingested. The corpus allatum is therefore implicated in the relationship between nutrition and fecundity. The rhythm of egg production is regulated by the nutritional state of the adult female: when the females are fed at frequent intervals, egg production becomes regular and continuous. This calls into question previous interpretations of egg-laying rhythms in the Triatominae as cyclic.     

Life history strategy of Leptinaria unilamellata (d'Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca,Pulmonata, Subulinidae)

Abstract

Life history theory predicts that the patterns of resource allocation in animals are associated with different strategies, selected in the course of evolution. In the present study, the life history of Leptinaria unilamellata was characterized under laboratory conditions. We determined the growth, reproduction, and longevity patterns of this species and elucidated the strategy related to the development of embryos, through direct observations and examination of the morphology of the gravid uterus. Furthermore, we attempted to analyze the glycogen and galactogen contents of the albumen gland, digestive gland and cephalopedal mass in order to understand energy allocation to life history traits, for three life stages. Leptinaria unilamellata's life history is characterized by great longevity, a short juvenile phase, early sexual maturity, and repeated reproductive events, with little reproductive effort at each event and some mortality shortly after the first reproduction. In the terraria, we found juveniles but no eggs. However, the results of the anatomical study showed no morphological connection between the embryos and the parental organism. Thus, this species should be described as ovoviviparous rather than viviparous. Egg retention in the parent organism is the primary cause of the release of juveniles, instead of eggs, enabling the offspring to withstand environmental stress. The higher quantity of galactogen found in the adults' albumen gland, as compared to juveniles and senescent individuals, as well as the ratio of glycogen to galactogen, reveal the allocation of energy to reproduction rather than to growth. The remaining energy is directed to the maintenance of omeostasis. Such pattern was confirmed by the low levels of glycogen and galactogen observed in the senescent stage, compared to the juvenile and adult stages. In the life strategy of L. unilamellata, the distribution of the reproductive effort among many events associated with ovoviviparity indicates a long-term investment in reproductive success.     

Long-term vitamin A deficiency induces alteration of adult mouse spermatogenesis and spermatogonial differentiation: direct effect on spermatogonial gene expression and indirect effects via somatic cells

The objective of this study was to further understand the genetic mechanisms of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) induced arrest of spermatogonial stem-cell differentiation.Vitamin A and its derivatives (the retinoids) participate in many physiological processes including vision, cellular differentiation and reproduction. VAD affects spermatogenesis, the subject of our present study. Spermatogenesis is a highly regulated process of differentiation and complex morphologic alterations that leads to the formation of sperm in the seminiferous epithelium. VAD causes early cessation of spermatogenesis, characterized by degeneration of meiotic germ cells, leading to seminiferous tubules containing mostly type A spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. These observations led us to the hypothesis that VAD affects not only germ cells but also somatic cells.To investigate the effects of VAD on spermatogenesis in mice we used adult Balb/C mice fed with Control or VAD diet for an extended period of time (6–28 weeks). We first observed the chronology, then the extent of the effects of VAD on the testes. Using microarray analysis of isolated pure populations of spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli cells from control and VAD 18- and 25-week mice, we examined the effects of VAD on gene expression and identified target genes involved in the arrest of spermatogonial differentiation and spermatogenesis.Our results provide a more precise definition of the chronology and magnitude of the consequences of VAD on mouse testes than the previously available literature and highlight direct and indirect (via somatic cells) effects of VAD on germ cell differentiation.     

胞外三磷酸腺苷对铅胁迫下植物细胞损伤和过氧化氢及其清除酶水平的调节

细胞外三磷酸腺苷（extracellular adenosine-5'-triphosphate）是植物细胞的重要信号分子。以烟草悬浮细胞BY-2（Nicotiana tabacum L.cv.Bright Yellow-2）为材料,探讨了胞外三磷酸腺苷对铅胁迫下细胞损伤、H₂O₂（过氧化氢）含量及H₂O₂清除酶活性的影响。结果显示,随着Pb（NO₃）₂浓度的不断提高（30~400 μmol·L^-1）,细胞外三磷酸腺苷含量呈现出逐渐下降的趋势,但胞内三磷酸腺苷含量及细胞的受损伤程度逐渐增大;同时,H₂O₂含量和过氧化氢酶的活性均有所上升,并在200 μmol·L^-1 Pb（NO₃）₂处理下达到最大值,而过氧化物酶的活性则不断降低。较之Pb（NO₃）₂胁迫下的细胞,对Pb（NO₃）₂胁迫的细胞加入外源三磷酸腺苷使得细胞受损伤程度显著降低,H₂O₂含量减少,过氧化氢酶活性减弱,而过氧化物酶活性增强。实验结果表明,Pb（NO₃）₂胁迫诱导的植物细胞损伤和H₂O₂及其清除酶水平的变化能受到细胞外三磷酸腺苷水平的调节。     

Genetic diversity patterns in Curcuma reflect differences in genome size

The relationships between genome size and the systematic and evolutionary patterns in vascular plants are equivocal, although a close relationship between genome size and evolutionary patterns has been previously reported. However, several studies have also revealed the dynamic nature of genome size evolution and its considerable ‘ups’ and ‘downs’. Thus, in this study, the phylogenetic relationships among three previously revealed genome size groups and among species of the highly polyploid genus Curcuma were evaluated using AFLP. Our results suggest two main lineages within Indian Curcuma reflecting evolution of genome size. The first one includes hexaploids and higher polyploids of the previously recognized genome size group I, and the second one includes mainly hexaploids of genome size groups II and III. Within genome size group I, relationships among species seem to be influenced by reticulate evolution and higher polyploids are likely to be of allopolyploid origin. Reproductive systems in Indian Curcuma vary considerably among ploidy levels and these differences considerably affect morphological and genetic variation. In general, clonally reproducing species are expected to exhibit low genotypic diversity, but, at the same time, species of allopolyploid origin are expected to maintain higher levels of heterozygosity compared with their progenitors. We investigated intra‐populational genetic variability in Curcuma spp. to evaluate whether mode of reproduction or ploidy represent the main factor influencing the degree of genetic diversity. We found that hexaploid species exhibited significantly higher genetic diversity than higher polyploids (9x, 15x). Our results suggest that this genetic diversity pattern is largely influenced by the mode of reproduction, as higher polyploids reproduce exclusively vegetatively, whereas hexaploids reproduce mainly sexually. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 165 , 388–401.     

A new,three‐dimensionally preserved enantiornithine bird (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from Gansu Province,north‐western China

In recent years, the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation has yielded approximately 100 avian partial skeletons, many with soft‐tissue traces, from sites in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, north‐western China. The most abundant taxon amongst these is the ornithuromorph Gansus yumenensis, but enantiornithines have also been identified in the sample. Here we describe two incomplete, semi‐articulated appendicular skeletons, the first consisting of a partial left pelvic girdle and complete pelvic limb, and the second comprised of a nearly complete right pelvic limb. Both specimens bear characteristics diagnostic of Enantiornithes, and are referred to a new taxon, Qiliania graffini gen. et sp. nov. The exceptional, three‐dimensional preservation of these specimens (compared to the crushed, nearly two‐dimensional condition of most other Early Cretaceous avian fossils) reveals new information regarding enantiornithine anatomy, evolution, and diversity. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 201–219.     

天童米槠-木荷群落主要树种的结构及空间格局

种群的结构和空间格局是植物群落的重要特征.以浙江天童米槠（Castanopsis carlesii）-木荷（Schima superba）群落为对象,应用永久样方法和每木调查法调查了群落种类组成和结构,并对10个主要常绿阔叶树种的种群结构和空间格局进行了分析,种群结构分析包括胸径级结构和垂直层次结构,空间格局分析包括各种不同垂直层次个体的空间分布格局和空间关联,并考虑了空间关联的尺度依赖.所选10个种总体RBA值达到81.9﹪,包含了群落的全部5个优势种,SDI指数除黑山山矾（Symplocos heishanensis）为正值外,其余9种皆为负值,各个种在垂直空间上占据了不同的位置.不同种之间以及同种不同层次之间表现出复杂多样的分布格局,体现出多级复合分布特征,但多数种整体上表现为集群分布或基本分布成分为个体群.空间关联在不同种之间、同种不同层次之间以及不同空间尺度上发生了分化,随尺度的增加,正关联增加而负关联减少.各个物种通过占据不同的水平和垂直空间,并采取不同的生活史对策,在群落中得以共存,从而导致了群落高的生物多样性的形成和维持.