Exogenous Abscisic Acid Alleviates Cadmium Toxicity by Restricting Cd2+ Influx in Populus euphratica Cells

Abscisic acid (ABA), a widely known phytohormone involved in the plant response to abiotic stress, plays a vital role in mitigating Cd²⁺ toxicity in herbaceous species. However, the role of ABA in ameliorating Cd²⁺ toxicity in woody species is largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated ABA restriction on Cd²⁺ uptake and the relevance to Cd²⁺ stress alleviation in Cd²⁺-hypersensitive Populus euphratica. ABA (5 μM) markedly improved cell viability and growth but reduced membrane permeability in CdCl₂ (100 μM)-stressed P. euphratica cells. Moreover, ABA significantly increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), contributing to the scavenging of Cd²⁺-elicited H₂O₂ within P. euphratica cells during the period of CdCl₂ exposure (100 μM, 24–72 h). ABA alleviation of Cd²⁺ toxicity was mainly the result of ABA restriction of Cd²⁺ uptake under Cd²⁺ stress. Steady-state and transient flux recordings showed that ABA inhibited Cd²⁺ entry into Cd²⁺-shocked (100 μM, 30 min) and short-term-stressed P. euphratica cells (100 μM, 24–72 h). Non-invasive micro-test technique data showed that H₂O₂ (3 mM) stimulated the Cd²⁺-elicited Cd²⁺ influx but that the plasma membrane (PM) Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor LaCl₃ blocked it, suggesting that the Cd²⁺ influx was through PM Ca²⁺-permeable channels. These results suggested that ABA up-regulated antioxidant enzyme activity in Cd²⁺-stressed P. euphratica and that these enzymes scavenged the Cd²⁺-elicited H₂O₂ within cells. The entry of Cd²⁺ through the H₂O₂-mediated Ca²⁺-permeable channels was subsequently restricted; thus, Cd²⁺ buildup and toxicity were reduced in the Cd²⁺-hypersensitive species, P. euphratica.

     

c‐Myc‐mediated SNRPB upregulation functions as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulation of genes involved in alternative splicing contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis. SNRPB, a component of spliceosome, is implicated in human cancers, yet its clinical significance and biological function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Here, we show that SNRPB expression is increased in HCC tissues, compared with the nontumorous tissues, at both messenger RNA and protein levels in two independent cohorts. High expression of SNRPB is significantly associated with higher pathological grade, vascular invasion, serum alpha‐fetoprotein level, tumor metastasis, and poor disease‐free and overall survivals. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that SNRPB upregulation in HCC is mediated by c‐Myc. Positive correlation is found between SNRPB and c‐Myc expression in clinical samples. In vitro studies show that ectopic expression of SNRPB promotes HCC cell proliferation and migration, whereas knockdown of SNRPB results in the opposite phenotypes. Collectively, our data suggest SNRPB function as an oncogene and serve as a potential prognostic factor in HCC.     

干扰对高山林线再形成过程的影响

高山林线是一类典型的生态交错带,因其特殊的结构和功能以及对外界环境的高度敏感性而成为全球气候变化研究的热点之一.本文简要介绍了高山林线的相关概念及其界定,从高山林线海拔位置波动、植被格局变化、生态交错带物种组成变化及其生理生态特征变化等几个方面阐述了干扰对高山林线再形成过程的不同影响,总结了高山林线物种对干扰的两种基本响应方式,即退行和入侵.认为人为干扰在一定程度上弱化了当前气候变暖对高山林线波动的影响,因而在不同地区必须紧密结合当地可能的干扰来讨论高山林线的波动,否则结果有可能因误差较大而失去应有的价值.指出该研究在高海拔地区进行植被恢复的指导意义.     

Osmotic Stress and Ion-Specific Effects on Xylem Abscisic Acid and the Relevance to Salinity Tolerance in Poplar

We designed two experiments to investigate the osmotic stress and ion-specific effects on xylem abscisic acid (ABA) and the relevance to salinity tolerance in one-year-old seedlings of Populus euphratica Oliv. (a salt-resistant genotype) and one-year-old rooted cuttings of P. 'popularis 35-44' (P. popularis) (a salt-sensitive genotype). Net photosynthetic rates (Pn) and unit transpiration rates (TRN) of the two genotypes were significantly decreased upon osmotic shock caused by PEG 6000 (osmotic potential = -0.24 MPa) or iso-NaCl (50 mM). Shoot xylem ABA concentrations in both genotypes increased rapidly after the onset of PEG stress, resulting from a decreased water flow. NaCl-treated trees of P. euphratica maintained considerably greater concentrations of ABA than PEG-treated plants in a longer term, whereas salinized P. popularis exhibited a transient accumulation of ABA in the shoot. TRN was greatly enhanced in both genotypes when pressure (0.24 MPa) was applied to counteract the osmotic suction of 50 mM NaCl. Pressurizing of root systems diluted solutes in the root xylem, but the dilution effect was more pronounced in P. popularis. Root xylem ABA concentrations in P. euphratica steadily increased with salt stress although pressurization lowered its levels. In contrast, there were no observed changes in ABA response to salinity in pressured P. popularis. Therefore, we concluded that the salt-tolerant P. euphratica had a greater capacity to synthesize ABA under saline conditions, which may partially result from specific salt effects. In addition, P. euphratica exhibited a higher capacity for salt (Na+ and Cl-) transport control under salt stress, compared with P. popularis. The possible association between ABA and salt transport limitation, and the relevance to salinity tolerance were discussed.     

The requirement of the glutamic acid residue at the third position from the carboxyl termini of the laminin gamma chains in integrin binding by laminins

Laminins are the major cell-adhesive proteins in the basement membrane, consisting of three subunits termed alpha, beta, and gamma. The putative binding site for integrins has been mapped to the G domain of the alpha chain, although trimerization with beta and gamma chains is necessary for the G domain to exert its integrin binding activity. The mechanism underlying the requirement of beta and gamma chains in integrin binding by laminins remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the C-terminal region of the gamma chain is involved in modulation of the integrin binding activity of laminins. We found that deletion of the C-terminal three but not two amino acids within the gamma1 chain completely abrogated the integrin binding activity of laminin-511. Furthermore, substitution of Gln for Glu-1607, the amino acid residue at the third position from the C terminus of the gamma1 chain, also abolished the integrin binding activity, underscoring the role of Glu-1607 in integrin binding by the laminin. We also found that the conserved Glu residue of the gamma2 chain is necessary for integrin binding by laminin-332, suggesting that the same mechanism operates in the modulation of the integrin binding activity of laminins containing either gamma1 or gamma2 chains. However, the peptide segment modeled after the C-terminal region of gamma1 chain was incapable of either binding to integrin or inhibiting integrin binding by laminin-511, making it unlikely that the Glu residue is directly recognized by integrin. These results, together, indicate a novel mechanism operating in ligand recognition by laminin binding integrins.     

胡杨果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛羧酶基因PeALD的克隆及耐盐性分析

胡杨(Populus euphratica Oliv)是优良的抗逆树种,有很强的耐盐碱性.前期胡杨转录组研究结果显示盐胁迫可诱导果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛羧酶基因(PeALD)转录上调,提示该基因可能对胡杨耐盐性方面有某种贡献.为分析PeALD基因在胡杨耐盐性中的作用,本研究以胡杨为材料,利用RT-PCR方法克隆了胡杨果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛羧酶基因的全长cDNA,通过基因转化法尝试在烟草中过量表达该基因,并对转基因株系的耐盐性进行初步分析.研究结果显示,克隆的cDNA编码果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛羧酶,ORF为1 177 bp,是由247个氨基酸编码的疏水性蛋白,理论等电点为6.84,分子量为26.79 kD.PCR与RT-PCR检测结果表明,外源的PeALD基因通过转化已经整合到烟草的染色体中,并在4个株系中得到较强的表达.转化株系表型筛选实验表明,在200 mmol/L NaCl的MS培养基中培养15 d后,野生型烟草植株无明显高生长,叶片全部黄化并萎缩;而转基因烟草高生长基本没有受到抑制,植株生长良好.说明在烟草中过表达PeALD使转化植株的耐盐性显著提高.光合数据结果显示,ALD基因能够降低盐胁迫对烟草叶片净光合速率的影响,可能是PeALD过表达加速了卡尔文循环的运转,提高了CO2的固定速率,进而促进了光合活性,通过光合作用促进碳的积累,利于呼吸作用和氧化磷酸化产生ATP,为维持跨膜质子浓度梯度提供能量,从而有可能促进质膜上的Na+/H+逆向转运,利于细胞质膜保持拒盐性.这些结果初步验证了PeALD基因的耐盐性功能,为进一步深入研究该基因在耐盐机制中的作用奠定了良好基础.     

长爪砂土鼠体温调节发育的研究

恒温动物体温调节发育的研究,具有重要的理论和实践意义,近几十年来有较多进展。但是,国内在啮齿动物方面尚未有过研究报道。 长爪砂土鼠(Meriones unguioulatus)分布于我国北部及蒙古的荒漠草原和干草原地带,是一种主要的草原害鼠(夏武平等,1966)。近二十多年来又成为广泛应用的实验动物,在国内外都有饲养种群(田嶋嘉雄,1972;Mele,1972)。关于长爪砂土鼠体温调节的发育,迄