Function of terahertz spectra in monitoring the decomposing process of biological macromolecules and in investigating the causes of photoinhibition

Chlorophyll α and β-carotene play an important role in harvesting light energy, which is used to drive photosynthesis in plants. In this study, terahertz(THz) and visible range spectra of chlorophyll α and β-carotene and their changes under light treatment were investigated. The results show that the all THz transmission and absorption spectra of chlorophyll α and β-carotene changed upon light treatment, with the maximum changes at 15 min of illumination indicating the greatest changes of the collective vibrational mode of chlorophyll α and β-carotene. The absorption spectra of chlorophyll α in the visible light region decreased upon light treatment, signifying the degradation of chlorophyll a molecules. It can be inferred from these results that the THz spectra are very sensitive in monitoring the changes of the collective vibrational mode, despite the absence of changes in molecular configuration. The THz spectra can therefore be used to monitor the decomposing process of biological macromolecules; however, visible absorption spectra can only be used to monitor the breakdown extent of biological macromolecules.     

Physiological characteristics of the primitive CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentrating mechanism in PEPC transgenic rice

The relationship between carbon assimilation and high-level expression of the maize PEPC in PEPC transgenic rice was studied by comparison to that in the untransformed rice, japonica kitaake. Stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates in PEPC transgenic rice were higher than those of untransformed rice, but the increase of stomatal conductance had no statistical correlation with that of photosynthetic rate. Under high levels of light intensity, the protein contents of PEPC and CA were increased significantly. Therefore the photosynthetic capacity was increased greatly (50%) with atmospheric CO2 supply. While CO2 release in leaf was reduced and the compensation point was lowered correspondingly under CO2 free conditions. Treatment of the rice with the PEPC-specific inhibitor DCDP showed that overexpression of PEPC and enhancement of carbon assimilation were related to the stability of Fv/Fm. Labeling with 14CO2 for 20 s showed more 14C was distributed to C4 primary photosynthate asperate in PEPC transgenic rice, suggesting that there exists a limiting C4 photosynthetic mechanism in leaves. These results suggest that the primitive CO2 concentrating mechanism found in rice could be reproduced through metabolic engineering, and shed light on the physiological basis for transgenic breeding with high photosynthetic efficiency.     

Comparative Analysis of the Endosperm Proteins Separated by 2-D Electrophoresis for Two Cultivars of Hybrid Rice （Oryza sativa L,）

Liangyoupeijiu is a two-parental-line, and Shanyou63 is a three-parental-line hybrid rice （Oryza sativa L.）. Although both belong to the indica subspecies, they have obvious differences with respect to morphology, physiology and grain quality. Variations in endosperm protein compositions were studied by comparing the 2-D electrophoresis （2-DE） maps for these two cultivars of hybrid rice. After matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF/MS） analysis, a 21-kDa precursor of 19- kDa globulin was identified as the major storage protein for both cultivars. Some isoforms of peroxiredoxin and seed maturation protein were found to only exist in Shanyou63, whereas aldose reductase and starch granule-bound starch synthase were only detected in Liangyoupeijiu. These data might provide a foundation for further comparative studies of these two cultivars of hybrid rice.     

Photoinhibition Characteristics of a Low Chlorophyll b Mutant of High Yield Rice

The low chlorophyll b mutant of high yield rice had a lower light-harvesting complex 2 content than the wild type. The stability of oxygen evolution side of photosystem 2 was only slightly lower. A lower photon absorption rate and a stronger xanthophyll cycle capacity of this mutant led to a higher endurance to strong irradiance and a lower photoinhibition as compared with the wild type rice.     

High efficient expression of Lhcb2 gene from pea in E. coli and reconstitution of its expressed product with pigment in vitro

Lhcb2 gene from pea (Pisum sativum L.) was subcloned into bacterial expression vector pET-3d, and its protein overexpressed was obtained from E. coli (BL21) containing PetpLhcb2 by site-directed mutagenesis method. Bacteria transformed with this construct yielded up to 40 percent of total protein of E. coli. Using the modified method with three subsequent cycles of freezing (1 min, -196℃) and thawing (15 min, 25℃), Lhcb2 protein purified was highly reconstituted with pigments to yield pigment-protein complexes. The reconstituted LHCB2 monomers were very similar to native LHCII monomers from spinach in partially denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy. These results showed that Lhcb2 proteins overexpressed were reconstituted successfully with pigments and had similar organization and structure to the native LHCII monomers.     

Theoretical investigation on peripheral ligands of oxygen-evolving center in photosystem II

The interaction between the Mn-cluster and its peripheral ligands in oxygen-evolving center is still unclear. Theoretical investigation on the coordination of histidine, H2O, and Cl to Mn2O2 units in OEC is conducted. The following conclusions are obtained: (i) both histidine and H2O molecule, bound to the two Mn ions, respectively, are vertical to the Mn2O2 plane, and maintain a large distance; (ii) the two H2O molecules cannot bind to the same Mn2O2 unit. Based on Mn-cluster structure in OEC, we theoretically predict that two H2O molecules bind to the two Mn ions at the "C"-shaped open end in S0 state, while two His residues at the closed end. Cl ion can only terminally ligate at the open end. Individual valence for the four Mn ions in S0 state is assigned.     

Relationship between leaf photosynthetic function at grain filling stage and yield in super high-yielding hybrid rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis>. L)

The characteristics of dry matter production before and after heading and the relationships between photosynthesis of flag leaves and dry matter accumulation in panicles were investigated on super high-yielding rice cv. Xieyou 9308 (the yield of up to 12 t/ha) with rice cv. Xieyou 63 as a control. The results showed that (i) the capacity of dry matter production before and after heading in Xieyou 9308, i.e. biomass and daily dry matter production, was remarkably higher than that in Xieyou 63, especially after heading; (ii) CO₂ assimilation capacity in flag leaves in Xieyou 9308, namely Leaf Source Capacity (LSC), was also significantly higher than that in Xieyou 63, and the supply of photosynthate in leaves and the demand of grain filling were completely synchronous in Xieyou 9308, but photosynthetic function in flag leaves in Xieyou 63 declined sharply 20 days after heading and it was not enough to meet the demand of grain filling. These results confirmed that high efficient photosynthetic function in leaves after heading and its complete synchronization with grain filling are the key approaches to super high yield of rice.     

满江红鱼腥藻(Anabaena azollae)和柱孢鱼腥藻(A.cylindrica)营养细胞和异形胞色素的种类

满江红鱼腥藻和柱孢鱼腥藻营养细胞和异形胞的液氮低温吸收光谱表明两种细胞含有叶绿素a、藻蓝素和β-胡萝卜素。液氮低温荧光发射光谱表明:柱孢鱼腥藻营养细胞存在藻蓝素、别藻蓝素和两个光系统的叶绿素a,柱孢鱼腥藻异形胞存在藻蓝素和系统Ⅰ叶绿素a。荧光发射光谱的685nm荧光发射仅为微弱突起。满江红鱼腥藻异形胞亦存在藻蓝素和系统Ⅰ叶绿素a,缺少系统Ⅱ叶绿素a。推断满江红鱼腥藻和桩孢鱼腥藻营养细胞分化为异形胞时,伴随光系统Ⅱ的改组。系统Ⅱ叶绿素a消退和藻胆色素含量显著减少。     

Theoretical investigation on peripheral ligands of oxygen-evolving center in photosystem II

The interaction between the Mn-cluster and its peripheral ligands in oxygen-evolving center is still unclear. Theoretical investigation on the coordination of histidine, H2O, and Cl to Mn2O2 units in OEC is conducted. The following conclusions are obtained: (i) both histidine and H2O molecule, bound to the two Mn ions, respectively, are vertical to the Mn2O2 plane, and maintain a large distance; (ii) the two H2O molecules cannot bind to the same Mn2O2 unit. Based on Mn-cluster structure in OEC, we theoretically predict that two H2O molecules bind to the two Mn ions at the "C"-shaped open end in S0 state, while two His residues at the closed end. Cl ion can only terminally ligate at the open end. Individual valence for the four Mn ions in S0 state is assigned.     

13C NMR在马利筋族植物C21甾类成分结构研究中的应用

本文介绍了＾１３ＣＮＭＲ在以列筋族植物Ｃ２１甾类成分甙元类型工基的确定、糖的种类、连接顺序的判断等方面的应用。