Essential oil variations in different Perilla L. accessions: chemotaxonomic implications

Three processes play an important role in plant speciation: isolation, hybridization and polyploidization. Galapagos endemic Opuntia display putatively all of these processes. On this archipelago most islands are inhabited by a single Opuntia taxon. Santa Cruz, however, houses two morphologically distinct O. echios varieties (echios and gigantea). Morphological intermediates are found where these two geographically isolated varieties meet. Here we used ten microsatellite loci to reveal the population genetic structure of this system. In contrast to earlier studies, we found high genetic variability within localities. Genetic structuring was weak and no evidence for the existence of hybrids was found. The reasons for this weak genetic structure may include: the species’ hexaploid nature, high levels of gene flow, recent colonization, and the lack of geographic barriers. This first detailed genetic study on these threatened species will be important for further conservation planning.     

广西天然林中藤本植物区系组成及系统发育多样性

藤本植物是热带和亚热带森林的重要组分,在过去几十年中藤本植物多样性在热带森林增加,有可能导致森林的多样性减少,碳储量等生态系统服务功能降低,引起广泛关注。以《广西植被志要》中共355个样地数据(喀斯特森林、海拔1000 m以下的非喀斯特森林和海拔1000 m以上的非喀斯特森林)为基础,结合气候数据,分析天然林中藤本植物区系组成、不同生境藤本植物物种多样性与系统发育多样性关系、藤本植物物种多样性与年平均温度关系,以及系统发育结构特点。结果表明:(1)广西天然林藤本植物中,热带分布的含藤属占比最大(75.4%),温带分布含藤属占比较低(12.3%),世界广布含藤属和亚洲分布含藤属占比最小,海拔1000 m以下的喀斯特和非喀斯特森林都有一些专有的含藤科属;(2) 3个生境藤本的Gleason物种多样性和系统发育多样性与年均温都不相关,它们的物种多样性差异不显著,但是系统发育多样性有显著差异,海拔1000 m以下的非喀斯特森林中系统发育多样性最高,喀斯特森林系统发育多样性最低;(3)非喀斯特森林藤本植物系统发育结构趋向于离散,暗指竞争排斥作用是藤本植物组合在该生境群落主要构建机制,喀斯特森林藤本植物系统发育结构趋向于聚集,暗指藤本植物组合由生境过滤作用为主形成。这些研究发现对于热带亚热带森林藤本植物的多样性组成及其共存机制提供了新认识。     

鄱阳湖湿地不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物群落功能多样性

于2011年5月分别采集鄱阳湖围垦92、48a和38a的水稻田,退田还湖25a的退耕地以及自然湿地共5个样地的表层土壤,利用Biolog-ECO板技术对土壤微生物群落的单一碳源利用情况进行了测定,并结合群落指数和主成分分析(PCA)对培养72 h土壤微生物群落功能多样性变化进行了分析。结果表明:退耕地和自然湿地土壤微生物群落利用31种碳源的能力较强,来自不同围垦年限的土壤微生物群落利用碳源能力均较弱;且随围垦时间的增长,土壤微生物对碳源的利用能力呈降低的趋势。自然湿地、退耕地与围垦92、38a样地土壤之间存在显著的微生物功能多样性差异;围垦对土壤微生物代谢糖类、羧酸类、氨基酸类物质的影响最为明显。结果提示,围垦改变了湿地土壤微生物群落结构,退田还湖有助于湿地土壤微生物群落结构的恢复。     

细菌非编码小RNA研究进展

细菌非编码小RNA(small non-coding RNA, sRNA)是一类长度在50~500个核苷酸, 不编码蛋白质的RNA。迄今, 在各种细菌中共发现超过150多种sRNA。它们通过碱基配对识别靶标mRNA, 在转录后水平调节基因的表达, 是细菌代谢、毒力和适应环境压力的重要调节因子。细菌sRNA的研究技术主要有基于生物信息学的计算机预测法和基于实验室的检测分析方法。这些方法所得到的sRNA都需要进行实验室确认, 然后再进一步通过各种实验手段研究其功能。     

Tetramethylpyrazine scavenges superoxide anion and decreases nitric oxide production in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Tetramethylpyrazine is one of the active ingredients of the Chinese herb Ligusticum wallichii Franchat. By electron spin resonance spin trapping methods, effects of tetramethylpyrazine on superoxide anion and nitric oxide generated by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were studied. During the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, tetramethylpyrazine scavenges superoxide anion dose-dependently, and decreases the production of nitric oxide significantly, but shows no influence on oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the effective protection of tetramethylpyrazine against ischemic brain injury might be due to its scavenging of reactive oxygen species and regulation on nitric oxide production, and consequent prevention of peroxynitrite formation.     

The ALDH gene superfamily of Arabidopsis

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) represent a protein superfamily of NAD(P)(+)-dependent enzymes that oxidize a wide range of endogenous and exogenous aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. The Arabidopsis genome contains 14 unique ALDH sequences encoding members of nine ALDH families, including eight known families and one novel family (ALDH22) that is currently known only in plants. Here, we identify members of the ALDH gene superfamily in Arabidopsis; provide a revised, unified nomenclature for these ALDH genes; analyze the molecular relationship among Arabidopsis ALDH genes and compare them to ALDH genes from other species, including prokaryotes and mammals; and describe the role of ALDHs in cytoplasmic male sterility, plant defense and abiotic stress tolerance.     

Modifying ligand-induced and constitutive signaling of the human 5-HT4 receptor

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signal through a limited number of G-protein pathways and play crucial roles in many biological processes. Studies of their in vivo functions have been hampered by the molecular and functional diversity of GPCRs and the paucity of ligands with specific signaling effects. To better compare the effects of activating different G-protein signaling pathways through ligand-induced or constitutive signaling, we developed a new series of RASSLs (receptors activated solely by synthetic ligands) that activate different G-protein signaling pathways. These RASSLs are based on the human 5-HT(4b) receptor, a GPCR with high constitutive G(s) signaling and strong ligand-induced G-protein activation of the G(s) and G(s/q) pathways. The first receptor in this series, 5-HT(4)-D(100)A or Rs1 (RASSL serotonin 1), is not activated by its endogenous agonist, serotonin, but is selectively activated by the small synthetic molecules GR113808, GR125487, and RO110-0235. All agonists potently induced G(s) signaling, but only a few (e.g., zacopride) also induced signaling via the G(q) pathway. Zacopride-induced G(q) signaling was enhanced by replacing the C-terminus of Rs1 with the C-terminus of the human 5-HT(2C) receptor. Additional point mutations (D(66)A and D(66)N) blocked constitutive G(s) signaling and lowered ligand-induced G(q) signaling. Replacing the third intracellular loop of Rs1 with that of human 5-HT(1A) conferred ligand-mediated G(i) signaling. This G(i)-coupled RASSL, Rs1.3, exhibited no measurable signaling to the G(s) or G(q) pathway. These findings show that the signaling repertoire of Rs1 can be expanded and controlled by receptor engineering and drug selection.     

羊血铜锌超氧化物歧化酶(Cu-ZnSOD)的分离纯化

目的:对羊血进行提取SOD。方法:采用有机溶剂去除血红蛋白、热变性、丙酮沉淀、DEAE-32离子交换柱层析的方法,对羊红细胞Cu,Zn-SOD进行分离纯化。利用非变性凝胶电泳NBT活性染色鉴定SOD,SDS-PAGE测定分子量。结果:表明1 000ml羊血中得到SOD干粉1 257mg,总活力为79 453U,比活力为3 871.4U/mg。活性染色结果证明羊血SOD有2条带,表明已达到电泳纯。SDS-PAGE测得SOD亚基分子量分别为16.71kDa、15.97kDa。H2O2对羊血CuZn-SOD活性有抑制作用,通过紫外光谱扫描,羊血SOD在231nm处有最大吸收峰。     

中国壳斗科柯属一新记录及二新异名

通过对中国主要标本馆壳斗科柯属标本的整理,发现一中国分布新记录种防城柯。基于标本形态学特征将光果柯和川柯分别作为硬壳柯和圆锥柯的异名进行归并。     

Artemisinin Analogue SM934 Ameliorates Murine Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis through Enhancing the Expansion and Functions of Regulatory T Cell

Background

Artemisinin analogue SM934 was previously reported to possess immunosuppressive properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effects and the underlying mechanisms of SM934 in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice immunized with MOG_35–55 were treated with or without SM934, then the clinical scores and other relevant parameters were assessed. Th1, Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cell profiles were determined through ELISA, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and BrdU incorporation assay. The effects of SM934 on Th1, Th17 and Treg cells differentiation were explored through intracellular staining and flow cytometry examination.

Results

In vivo, administration of SM934 significantly inhibited the development of EAE and suppressed the elevation of serum IL-17. Ex vivo, upon antigen-recall stimulation, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-6 production were decreased, whereas IL-10 and TGF-β production were increased from the splenocytes isolated from SM934-treated mice. Consistently, both flow cytometry and qRT-PCR results showed that SM934 treatment significantly increased the Treg, while strongly suppressed the Th17 and Th1, responses in the peripheral. Furthermore, in the spinal lesion, SM934 treatment dramatically decreased the infiltration of CD4⁺ T cells, within which the Treg cells percentage was enlarged, whereas the Th17, but not Th1 percentage, was significantly decreased comparing with the vehicle-treated groups. Finally, both BrdU incorporation and in vitro Treg differentiation assays revealed that SM934 treatment could directly promote the expansion of Treg cells in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion

Taken together, this study demonstrated that SM934 treatment could ameliorate the murine EAE disease, which might be mediated by inducing Treg differentiation and expansion.