Greater than the sum of the parts: how the species composition in different forest strata influence ecosystem function

The mechanisms underpinning forest biodiversity‐ecosystem function relationships remain unresolved. Yet, in heterogeneous forests, ecosystem function of different strata could be associated with traits or evolutionary relationships differently. Here, we integrate phylogenies and traits to evaluate the effects of elevational diversity on above‐ground biomass across forest strata and spatial scales. Community‐weighted means of height and leaf phosphorous concentration and functional diversity in specific leaf area exhibited positive correlations with tree biomass, suggesting that both positive selection effects and complementarity occur. However, high shrub biomass is associated with greater dissimilarity in seed mass and multidimensional trait space, while species richness or phylogenetic diversity is the most important predictor for herbaceous biomass, indicating that species complementarity is especially important for understory function. The strength of diversity‐biomass relationships increases at larger spatial scales. We conclude that strata‐ and scale‐ dependent assessments of community structure and function are needed to fully understand how biodiversity influences ecosystem function.     

HMGB1 release from trophoblasts contributes to inflammation during Brucella melitensis infection

Brucella melitensis infection causes acute necrotizing inflammation in pregnant animals; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to placentitis are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acts as a mediator of placenta inflammation in B. melitensis‐infected pregnant mice model. HMGB1 levels were increased in trophoblasts or placental explant during B. melitensis infection. Inhibition of HMGB1 activity with neutralising antibody significantly reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in B. melitensis‐infected trophoblasts or placenta, whereas administration of recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1) increased the inflammatory response. Mechanistically, this decreased inflammatory response results from inhibition of HMGB1 activity, which cause the suppression of both mitogen‐activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) activation. Moreover, neutralising antibody to HMGB1 prevented B. melitensis infection‐induced activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in trophoblasts. In contrast, in vitro stimulation of trophoblasts with rHMGB1 caused activation of NADPH oxidase and increased the production of ROS, which contributes to high bacterial burden within trophoblasts or placenta. In vivo, treatment with anti‐HMGB1 antibody increases the number of Brucella survival within placenta in B. melitensis‐infected pregnant mice but successfully reduced the severity of placentitis and abortion.     

Widespread occurrence and unexpected diversity of red-shifted chlorophyll producing cyanobacteria in humid subtropical forest ecosystems

Discovery of red-shifted chlorophyll d and f in cyanobacteria has opened up new avenues to estimate global carbon fixation driven by far-red light. Shaded habitats in humid subtropical forest ecosystems contain an increased proportion of far-red light components relative to residual white light. After an extensive survey of shaded ecosystems within subtropical forests, wide occurrence of red-shifted chlorophyll-producing cyanobacteria was demonstrated by isolated Chl f-producing and Chl d-containing cyanobacteria. Chl f-producing cyanobacteria were classified into the genera of Aphanocapsa and Chroococcidiopsis and two undescribed genera within Leptolyngbyaceae. Newly isolated Chl d-containing Acaryochloris sp. CCNUM4 showed the closest phylogenetic relationship with Acaryochloris species isolated from marine environments. Acaryochloris sp. CCNUM4 produced Chl d as major photopigment, and Chl f-producing cyanobacteria use Chl a under white light conditions but Chl a + f under far-red light conditions. Their habitats are widely distributed in subtropical forest ecosystems and varied from mosses on limestone to macrophyte and freshwater in the streams and ponds. This study presents a significant advance in the knowledge of distribution and diversity of red-shifted chlorophyll-producing cyanobacteria in terrestrial ecosystems. The results suggest that Chl f-producing and Chl d-containing cyanobacteria might be important primary producers in far-red light dominant niches worldwide.     

表层和下层免耕黑土有机碳矿化速率及激发效应

激发效应是调控土壤有机质分解的重要机制之一,而土层与激发效应的关系还不清晰.本研究通过室内培养试验,采用¹³C葡萄糖标记和动态碱液吸收的方法,探究免耕农田黑土表层土壤(0～10 cm)和下层土壤(30～40 cm)有机碳矿化速率及其激发效应.结果表明: 表层与下层土壤以单位有机碳表示的矿化速率并未发现显著差异.添加葡萄糖使表层土壤原有机质分解加快36.7%(正激发),但使下层土壤原有机质分解减慢12.4%(负激发).在整个培养期间(30 d),表层和下层土壤的累积激发碳量分别为3.14和-1.24 mg C·g^-1 SOC,但由于新碳(葡萄糖)的补偿作用,即使在产生显著正激发的表层土壤中,仍表现为有机碳净积累.说明外源碳输入使不同土层土壤有机质分解的幅度甚至方向产生明显差别.这为今后免耕和秸秆还田等保护性耕作措施的实践提供了重要的理论基础.     

组织学与胚胎学虚拟仿真实验教学平台的构建

虚拟仿真实验课程建设,是推进现代信息技术与实验教学项目深度融合、拓展实验教学内容广度和深度、延伸实验教学时间和空间、提升实验教学质量和水平的重要举措。开展虚拟仿真实验教学能够强化学生实验基本技能、激发学生求知欲、培养学生创造性、提高学生专业技能,在组织学与胚胎学实验教学中具有重要意义。     

利用红外相机对深圳野生兽类鸟类多样性的调查

城市动物调查对监测生物多样性研究、城市生态建设具有十分重要的意义。深圳作为新兴崛起的大城市,动物多样性受城市化干扰的程度较传统大城市少,但近年来缺乏对该地区的生物资源进行全面调查。我们于2014年4月至2015年4月,在深圳市（陆域）郊区布设了57个红外相机监测点,对深圳市鸟类和兽类多样性进行了初步调查。在相机累积工作3780个捕获日中,获得动物有效照片607张,经鉴定,可辨识的兽类共3目6科8种;鸟类共计3目9科26种。其中褐翅鸦鹃被列为国家二级保护动物,列入《国家保护的有益的或者有重要经济、科学研究价值的陆生野生名录》的鸟兽共有24种。除鼠类外,相对丰富度较高的物种有灰背鸫、野猪、橙头地鸫、乌灰鸫等。经分析发现都市内野生动物的日活动节律与自然保护区的存在一定差异。本研究为在城市深入开展野生动物资源调查研究提供了一种新的思路和手段。     

毕赤酵母中tRNAPro CCG基因的表达及其作用效果

转运核糖核酸 (tRNA) 是蛋白质合成过程中重要参与成分之一,为了探索稀有密码子对应的tRNA (稀少tRNA) 丰度改变对外源基因表达量的影响,文中构建了毕赤酵母稀少tRNA基因与外源基因共表达体系。首先在GFP基因中添加由4个连续脯氨酸稀有密码子CCG组成的阻遏区,结果显示该GFP基因的表达量明显降低。然后将带有阻遏区的GFP基因和tRNAPro CCG基因顺次连接于pPIC9K载体上,在毕赤酵母GS115中共表达,结果使GFP表达量提高了4.9%;另将带有阻遏区的GFP基因和tRNAPro CCG基因分别连接于pPIC9K和pFLDα载体,在毕赤酵母GS115中共表达,GFP表达量最高提高了12.5%;应用同样方式将tRNAPro CCG基因与NFATc3T-GFP融合基因共表达,其表达量提高了21.3%。可见,tRNAPro CCG在毕赤酵母GS115中确为稀少tRNA,通过共表达tRNAPro CCG基因可显著提高带有连续该密码子的外源基因表达量,并且,文中构建的共表达体系将同样适用于其他稀少tRNA基因的筛选和验证。     

Structural and functional insights into the role of a cupin superfamily isomerase in the biosynthesis of Choi moiety of aeruginosin

The 2-carboxy-6-hydroxyoctahydroindole (Choi) moiety is a hallmark of aeruginosins, a class of cyanobacterial derived bioactive linear tetrapeptides that possess antithrombotic activity. The biosynthetic pathway of Choi has yet to be resolved. AerE is a cupin superfamily enzyme that was shown to be involved in the biosynthesis of Choi, but its exact role remains unclear. This study reports the functional characterization and structural analyses of AerE. Enzymatic observation reveals that AerE can dramatically accelerate 1,3-allylic isomerization of the non-aromatic decarboxylation product of prephenate, dihydro-4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (H₂HPP). This olefin isomerization reaction can occur non-enzymatically and is the second step of the biosynthetic pathway from prephenate to Choi. The results of comparative structural analysis and substrate analogue binding geometry analysis combined with the results of mutational studies suggest that AerE employs an induced fit strategy to bind and stabilize the substrate in a particular conformation that is possibly favorable for 1,3-allylic isomerization of H₂HPP through coordinate bonds, hydrogen bonds, π–π conjugation interaction and hydrophobic interactions. All of these interactions are critical for the catalytic efficiency.