2,4-D-Induced Changes in the K+ Uptake of Wheat Roots at Different pH Values

The effects of an auxin herbicide, 2,4-D, at a concentration of 0.01 mM, on the K⁺ uptake and efflux of excised roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Rannaya) were investigated at different pH values. The K⁺ movement was monitored with a K⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) tracer. In parallel experiments the ATPase activities of microsomal fractions were determined by the inorganic phosphate liberation method. 2,4-D inhibited the K⁺ uptake especially at low pH, irrespective of whether Ca²⁺ was present or not. No marked changes were observed in the K⁺ efflux properties at pH values above 4. The inhibitory effect on K⁺ uptake exhibited a correlation with the hydrocarbon solubility of the herbicide, but not with the 2,4-D-induced decrease of the ATPase activity. It is suggested that 2,4-D exerts a non-specific effect on the lipid-protein interactions, giving rise to a generalized alteration of the transport barrier properties of the plasma membrane even at as low a concentration as 0.01 mM.     

Domain-specific and cell type-specific localization of two types of cell wall matrix polysaccharides in the clover root tip

Using immunocytochemical techniques and antibodies that specifically recognize xyloglucan (anti-XG), polygalacturonic acid/rhamnogalacturonan I (anti-PGA/RG-I), and methylesterified pectins (JIM 7), we have shown that these polysaccharides are differentially synthesized and localized during cell development and differentiation in the clover root tip. In cortical cells XG epitopes are present at a threefold greater density in the newly formed cross walls than in the older longitudinal walls, and PGA/RG-I epitopes are detected solely in the expanded middle lamella of cortical cell corners, even after pretreatment of sections with pectinmethylesterase to uncover masked epitopes. These results suggest that in cortical cells XG and PGA/RG-I are differentially localized not only to particular wall domains, but also to particular cell walls. In contrast to their nonoverlapping distribution in cortical cells, XG epitopes and PGA/RG-I epitopes largely colocalize in the epidermal cell walls. The results also demonstrate that the middle lamella of the longitudinal walls shared by epidermal cells and by epidermal and cortical cells constitutes a barrier to the diffusion of cell wall and mucilage molecules. Synthesis of XG and PGA/RG-I epitope-containing polysaccharides also varies during cellular differentiation in the root cap. The differentiation of gravitropic columella cells into mucilage-secreting peripheral cells is marked by a dramatic increase in the synthesis and secretion of molecules containing XG and PGA/RG-I epitopes. In contrast, JIM 7 epitopes are present at abundant levels in columella cell walls, but are not detectable in peripheral cell walls or in secreted mucilage. There were also changes in the cisternal labeling of the Golgi stacks during cellular differentiation in the root tip. Whereas PGA/RG-I epitopes are detected primarily in cis- and medial Golgi cisternae in cortical cells (Moore, P. J., K. M. M. Swords, M. A. Lynch, and L. A. Staehelin. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 112:589-602), they are localized predominantly in the trans-Golgi cisternae and the trans-Golgi network in epidermal and peripheral root cap cells. These observations suggest that during cellular differentiation the plant Golgi apparatus can be both structurally and functionally reorganized.     

Receptor distribution and the mechanism of enhanced erythrocyte agglutination by soybean agglutinin

We have examined the role of receptor clustering in intact erythrocyte membranes exhibiting enhanced lectin-mediated cell agglutination by analyzing freeze-fracture and freeze-etch images of human erythrocytes labeled with ferritin-conjugated soybean agglutinin. We find that trypsinization and fixation of intact erythrocytes, in either order, causes no alteration of the random distribution of ferritin-conjugated soybean agglutinin on the surfaces of these cells as compared to their distribution on the surfaces of fixed erythrocytes and untreated erythrocyte ghosts. Furthermore, clustering of the intramembranous particles in the membrane of intact erythrocytes was not found with any of the cells described above.We conclude that clustering of the soybean agglutinin receptors is not a major factor involved in the enhanced agglutination of intact trypsinized erythrocytes. Caution is necessary in transferring information obtained with erythrocyte ghosts, where clustering can be induced, to intact erythrocytes.     

小麦族植物的分类现状及主要存在的问题

小麦族(Triticeae)是禾本科、早熟禾亚科中一个有重要经济价值、以多年生植物占优势的族,族内绝大多数种类是重要的粮食作物和畜牧业上的优良牧草,饲用价值极高,有些种类具有耐寒、耐旱、耐碱等特性,是农牧业上良种繁育、牧草利用的重要基因资源。但该族同时又是分类学上的一个疑难族,各学者对族内系统分类意见不一、争议颇大,尤其在族的界限、族下类群划分以及类群演化关系上问题较多,至今尚未解决。查阅了国内外分类学文献,探讨其分类差异以及存在问题,为充分开发利用中国丰富的小麦族植物资源提供理论依据。     

Climate‐induced changes in the distribution of freshwater fish: observed and predicted trends

1. Climate change could be one of the main threats faced by aquatic ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity. Improved understanding, monitoring and forecasting of its effects are thus crucial for researchers, policy makers and biodiversity managers. 2. Here, we provide a review and some meta‐analyses of the literature reporting both observed and predicted climate‐induced effects on the distribution of freshwater fish. After reviewing three decades of research, we summarise how methods in assessing the effects of climate change have evolved, and whether current knowledge is geographically or taxonomically biased. We conducted multispecies qualitative and quantitative analyses to find out whether the observed responses of freshwater fish to recent changes in climate are consistent with those predicted under future climate scenarios. 3. We highlight the fact that, in recent years, freshwater fish distributions have already been affected by contemporary climate change in ways consistent with anticipated responses under future climate change scenarios: the range of most cold‐water species could be reduced or shift to higher altitude or latitude, whereas that of cool‐ and warm‐water species could expand or contract. 4. Most evidence about the effects of climate change is underpinned by the large number of studies devoted to cold‐water fish species (mainly salmonids). Our knowledge is still incomplete, however, particularly due to taxonomic and geographic biases. 5. Observed and expected responses are well correlated among families, suggesting that model predictions are supported by empirical evidence. The observed effects are of greater magnitude and show higher variability than the predicted effects, however, indicating that other drivers of changes may be interacting with climate and seriously affecting freshwater fish. 6. Finally, we suggest avenues of research required to address current gaps in what we know about the climate‐induced effects on freshwater fish distribution, including (i) the need for more long‐term data analyses, (ii) the assessment of climate‐induced effects at higher levels of organisation (e.g. assemblages), (iii) methodological improvements (e.g. accounting for uncertainty among projections and species’ dispersal abilities, combining both distributional and empirical approaches and including multiple non‐climatic stressors) and (iv) systematic confrontation of observed versus predicted effects across multi‐species assemblages and at several levels of biological organisation (i.e. populations and assemblages).     

基于网络药理学的谷糠结合态多酚抗乳腺癌机制研究

本研究旨在探讨谷糠结合态多酚(bound phenol of inner shell,BPIS)发挥抗乳腺癌细胞活性的作用机制。首先采用细胞计数法检测BPIS对乳腺癌细胞以及正常乳腺细胞活性的影响;然后综合运用SEA、SIB以及GeneCards等数据库获得BPIS和乳腺癌的相关靶点,并分析活性成分与作用靶点的互作网络以及通路。本研究筛选得到BPIS抗乳腺癌相关靶点39个,主要涉及糖脂代谢和细胞自噬等生物过程以及MAPK、PI3K/AKT、FoxO等多条信号通,表明BPIS抗乳腺癌是多成分、多靶点、多通路协同作用的过程,而与细胞死亡相关的细胞自噬很可能在BPIS抑制乳腺癌过程中发挥主要作用。