Multi-scale data-driven modeling and observation of calcium puffs

The spatiotemporal dynamics of elementary Ca(2+) release events, such as "blips" and "puffs" shapes the hierarchal Ca(2+) signaling in many cell types. Despite being the building blocks of Ca(2+) patterning, the mechanism responsible for the observed properties of puffs, especially their termination is incompletely understood. In this paper, we employ a data-driven approach to gain insights into the complex dynamics of blips and puffs. We use a model of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptor (IP(3)R) derived directly from single channel patch clamp data taken at 10 μM concentration of IP(3) to simulate calcium puffs. We first reproduce recent observations regarding puffs and blips and then investigate the mechanism of puff termination. Our model suggests that during a puff, IP(3)R s proceed around a loop through kinetic states from "rest" to "open" to "inhibited" and back to "rest". A puff terminates because of self-inhibition. Based on our simulations, we rule out the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) depletion as a possible cause for puff termination. The data-driven approach also enables us to estimate the current through a single IP(3)R and the peak Ca(2+) concentration near the channel pore.     

A comparative study of bacterial diversity based on culturable and culture-independent techniques in the rhizosphere of maize (Zea mays L.)

ObjectiveMaize is an important crop for fodder, food and feed industry. The present study explores the plant-microbe interactions as alternative eco-friendly sustainable strategies to enhance the crop yield.MethodologyBacterial diversity was studied in the rhizosphere of maize by culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques by soil sampling, extraction of DNA, amplification of gene of interest, cloning of desired fragment and library construction.ResultsCulturable bacteria were identified as Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Bosea, Enterobacter, Microbacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Stenotrophomonas and Xanthomonas genera. For culture-independent approach, clone library of 16S ribosomal RNA gene was assembled and 100 randomly selected clones were sequenced. Majority of the sequences were related to Firmicutes (17%), Acidobacteria (16%), Actinobacteria (17%), Alpha-Proteobacteria (7%), Delta-proteobacteria (4.2%) and Gemmatimonadetes (4.2%) However, some of the sequences (30%) were novel that showed no homologies to phyla of cultured bacteria in the database. Diversity of diazotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere investigated by analysis of PCR-amplified nifH gene sequence that revealed abundance of sequences belonging to genera Azoarcus (25%), Aeromonas (10%), Pseudomonas (10%). The diazotrophic genera Azotobacter, Agrobacterium and Zoogloea related nifH sequences were also detected but no sequence related to Azospirillum was found showing biasness of the growth medium rather than relative abundance of diazotrophs in the rhizosphere.ConclusionThe study provides a foundation for future research on focussed isolation of the Azoarcus and other diazotrophs found in higher abundance in the rhizosphere.     

氮离子注入诱变选育恩拉霉素高产菌株

利用氮离子注入对链霉菌的诱变效应,筛选高产恩拉霉素的变异菌株。利用不同剂量的氮离子对杀真菌放线菌S.fungicidicus NL629-3菌株进行诱变处理,研究低能氮离子注入对其存活率及产恩拉霉素能力的影响。低能氮离子注入剂量在60×1013ions/cm2时对链霉菌的诱变效应显著,试验得到了5株恩拉霉素产量较高的突变菌株,其中N3-643菌株经连续传代4次,遗传稳定性较好,其摇瓶发酵水平较对照提高了41%,放大发酵生产后平均发酵水平提高25.8%。离子注入诱变是获得高产恩拉霉素突变菌株的有效方法。     

鲎试剂在抗淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白热原检测中的应用

报道了鲎试剂在抗淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白内毒素检查中的应用。在用鲎试剂检测细菌内毒素时 ,按中国药典的要求对鲎试剂灵敏度进行标定 ,并作干扰实验 (增强或抑制实验 ) ,然后用鲎试法与家兔法同时测定 15批抗淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白。结果发现三批鲎试剂的灵敏度标示值均正确 ,五批抗淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白半成品在最大有效稀释度 (MVD)时对试验无干扰 ,这两种方法测定结果的符合率达到 91.7%。从而表明鲎试法很有可能代替家兔法     

浙江省国家重点风景名胜区楠溪江两栖动物资源调查与区系分析

为了解浙江省永嘉县国家重点风景名胜区楠溪江野生动物资源现状,促进风景区的有效管理和建设,于2008年5月、8月、9月、10月和2009年5月对楠溪江流域的两栖动物进行野外调查.调查结果表明,楠溪江流域共计有两栖类24种,隶属于2目7科,中国特有种13种,其中福建大头蛙和天台粗皮蛙是温州地区的新纪录种.区系组成以东洋界华中华南区共有种为主,东洋界占明显优势,达22种,占物种总数的91.7%.     

Phytochemical and toxicological investigations of crude methanolic extracts,subsequent fractions and crude saponins of Isodon rugosus

Background

Isodon rugosus is used traditionally in the management of hypertension, rheumatism, tooth-ache and pyrexia. Present study was arranged to investigate I. rugosus for phytoconstituents, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities to explore its toxicological, pharmacological potentials and to rationalize its ethnomedicinal uses. Briefly, qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts were carried out for the existence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, oils, glycosides, anthraquinones, terpenoids, sterols and tannins. Plant crude methanolic extract (Ir.Cr), its subsequent fractions; n-hexane (Ir.Hex), chloroform (Ir.Chf), ethyl acetate (Ir.EtAc), aqueous (Ir.Aq) and saponins (Ir.Sp) in different concentrations were tested for phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities using radish seeds and brine shrimps (Artemia salina) respectively. The phytotoxic activity was determined by percent root length inhibition (RLI) and percent seeds germination inhibition (SGI) while the cytotoxicity was obtained with percent lethality of the brine shrimps.

Results

Ir.Cr was tested positive for the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, oils, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and anthraquinones. Among different fractions Ir.Sp, Ir.Chf, Ir.EtAc, and Ir.Cr were most effective causing 93.55, 89.32, 81.32 and 58.68% inhibition of seeds in phytotoxicity assay, with IC₅₀ values of 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 and 52 μg/ml respectively. Similarly, among all the tested samples, Ir.Sp exhibited the highest phytotoxic effect causing 91.33% root length inhibition with IC₅₀ of 0.1 μg/ml. Ir.Sp and Ir.Chf were most effective against brine shrimps showing 92.23 and 76.67% lethality with LC₅₀ values of 10 and 12 μg/ml respectively.

Conclusions

It may be inferred from the current investigations that I. rugosus contains different secondary metabolites and is a potential source for the isolation of natural anticancer and herbicidal drug molecules. Different fractions exhibited phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities, thus providing pharmacological basis for ethnomedicinal uses of this plant.     

低温弱光对黄瓜幼苗Rubisco与Rubisco活化酶的影响

以‘津优3号'黄瓜幼苗为试材,研究弱光(100 μmol·m-2·s-1)下适温(WL:25℃/18℃)、亚适温(ST+WL:18℃/12℃)和低温(LT+WL:10℃/5℃)对黄瓜幼苗光合速率(Pn)、核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化/加氧酶(Rubisco)、Rubisco活化酶(RCA)活性及其基因表达量的影响.结果表明:与对照(25℃/18℃,400 μmol·m-2·s-1)相比,WL、ST+WL和LT+WL处理的单株叶面积和干物质量均明显减小.处理初期,Pn、Rubisco活性及其大亚基基因(rbcL)、小亚基基因(rbcS)表达、RCA活性与基因(CsRCA)表达量大幅度降低,5～7 d后,WL处理趋于平稳,ST+WL处理缓慢回升,而LT+WL处理持续下降,表明黄瓜光合机构对适温弱光和亚适温弱光环境有逐步适应机制.Rubisco和RCA活性及其基因表达对低温弱光的响应与Pn基本一致,表明低温弱光下RCA和Rubisco活性及其基因表达量下降是黄瓜幼苗Pn降低的重要原因.     

鹿蹄草植物的研究与应用

对鹿蹄草植物的自然资源分布、化学成分、药理作用、及其应用的相关研究做了综述。该植物在世界各地广泛分布、含有鹿蹄草素等多种化学成分,药理研究证明其具有抗菌、抗病毒、消炎、镇痛作用、对心脑血管系统等作用,主要应用在医药工业、食品工业和园林绿化面。最后对该属植物的研究前景做了展望。