Spatial patterns and interspecific associations among trees at different stand development stages in the natural secondary forests on the Loess Plateau,China

Quercus wutaishansea populations on the Loess Plateau are currently becoming more dominant in natural secondary forests, whereas Pinus tabulaeformis is declining. In the present paper, the diameter class (instead of age) was used to classify the different growth stages as juvenile, subadult, or adult, and the univariate function g(r) was used to analyze the dynamic changes in spatial patterns and interspecific associations in three 1‐ha tree permanent plots on the Loess Plateau, NW China. Our results suggested that the niche breadth changed with the development stage. The diameter distribution curve was consistent with the inverted “J” type, indicating that natural regeneration was common in all three plots. There was a close relationship between the spatial pattern and scale, which showed significant aggregation at small distances, and became more random as distance increased, but in the Pinus + Quercus mixed forests, the whole species were aggregated at distances up to 50 m. The degree of spatial clumping decreased from juvenile to subadult and from subadult to adult. The spatial pattern also differed at different growth stages, likely due to strong intraspecific competition. Associations among different growth stages were positively correlated at small scales. Our study is important to the understanding of the development of the Q. wutaishansea forests; thus, the spatial dynamic change features should be received greater attention when planning forest management and developing restoration strategies on the Loess Plateau.     

Conformation-specific binding of alpha-synuclein to novel protein partners detected by phage display and NMR spectroscopy

Alpha-synuclein (AS) is an intrinsically unstructured protein in aqueous solution but is capable of forming beta-sheet-rich fibrils that accumulate as intracytoplasmic inclusions in Parkinson disease and certain other neurological disorders. However, AS binding to phospholipid membranes leads to a distinct change in protein conformation, stabilizing an extended amphipathic alpha-helical domain reminiscent of the exchangeable apolipoproteins. To better understand the significance of this conformational change, we devised a novel bacteriophage display screen to identify protein binding partners of helical AS and have identified 20 proteins with roles in diverse cellular processes related to membrane trafficking, ion channel modulation, redox metabolism, and gene regulation. To verify that the screen identifies proteins with specificity for helical AS, we further characterized one of these candidates, endosulfine alpha (ENSA), a small cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein implicated in the regulation of insulin secretion but also expressed abundantly in the brain. We used solution NMR to probe the interaction between ENSA and AS on the surface of SDS micelles. Chemical shift perturbation mapping experiments indicate that ENSA interacts specifically with residues in the N-terminal helical domain of AS in the presence of SDS but not in aqueous buffer lacking SDS. The ENSA-related protein ARPP-19 (cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 19) also displays specific interactions with helical AS. These results confirm that the helical N terminus of AS can mediate specific interactions with other proteins and suggest that membrane binding may regulate the physiological activity of AS in vivo.     

根癌农杆菌介导的高效大豆遗传转化体系的建立

利用根癌农杆菌对来自大豆成熟种子的胚尖进行遗传转化,研究了影响农杆菌介导大豆转化的各种因素,建立了一套优化的大豆遗传转化体系。研究结果表明:菌株KYRT1比EHA105和LBA4404具有更强的侵染能力;较酸的共培养基(pH5.4)、较低的培养温度(22℃)均有利于提高转化效率;恢复培养和分步抗性筛选方式有利于提高抗性组织的存活率和分化率。同时应用这种优化的遗传转化体系,获得了7个大豆品系的转基因植株,转化频率为4.29%-18%。经过PCR和Southern分析证明外源的双价抗虫基因cryIA(c)和pta已经整合到大豆的基因组中。     

控制水稻叶片叶绿素含量及其离体叶片叶绿素降解速度相关的QTL定位(简报)

许多研究认为,在一定范围内,叶绿素含量与光合速率成正相关关系、叶绿素含量高的水稻叶片能延缓衰老。理论上推算,水稻叶片如果推迟1天衰老,可使水稻增产2％左右,而实际实验结果表明可增产1％左右。叶片早衰往往也是造成有些水稻品种结实率偏低、空秕率较高及产量降低的主要原因。叶片衰老是水稻发育过程中的生命现象,它是水稻在长期进化过程中形成的适应性。叶片衰老的显著特征之一是叶绿素含量下降,叶色褪绿变黄。[第一段]     

1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignment of the cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein endosulfine-alpha in free and micelle-bound states

¹³C, ¹⁵N, and ¹H chemical shift assignments are presented for the cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein endosulfine-alpha in its free and micelle-bound states. Secondary chemical shift analysis demonstrates formation of four helices in the micelle-bound state, which are not present in the absence of detergent.     

A fundamental regulatory role of formate on thuringiensin production by resting cell of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> YBT-032

In this work, a fundamental regulatory role of formate on thuringiensin production by resting cell of Bacillus thuringiensis YBT-032 was investigated. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) production and formate dehydrogenase activity increased with formate addition from 0.5 to 2.0 g/L, respectively. However, with the formate addition of 1.5 g/L, the activities of pyruvate kinase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase reached a peak and increased by 316 and 150% relative to those of the control, respectively. In addition, intracellular production of pyruvate, aspartate, citrate and adenine were significantly enhanced by 75, 66, 32 and 78% as well. An improvement (90%) of thuringiensin production was also successfully obtained. Interestingly to point out, thuringiensin yield was closely correlative with adenine production, and the linear relationship was also observed. The results suggest that appropriate formate addition did act as a modulator and facilitate carbon flux in glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway to synthesize adenine and thuringiensin via intracellular NADH availability.     

An integrated fluid–structure interaction and thrombosis model for type B aortic dissection

False lumen thrombosis (FLT) in type B aortic dissection has been associated with the progression of dissection and treatment outcome. Existing computational models mostly assume rigid wall behavior which ignores the effect of flap motion on flow and thrombus formation within the FL. In this study, we have combined a fully coupled fluid–structure interaction (FSI) approach with a shear-driven thrombosis model described by a series of convection–diffusion reaction equations. The integrated FSI-thrombosis model has been applied to an idealized dissection geometry to investigate the interaction between vessel wall motion and growing thrombus. Our simulation results show that wall compliance and flap motion can influence the progression of FLT. The main difference between the rigid and FSI models is the continuous development of vortices near the tears caused by drastic flap motion up to 4.45 mm. Flap-induced high shear stress and shear rates around tears help to transport activated platelets further to the neighboring region, thus speeding up thrombus formation during the accelerated phase in the FSI models. Reducing flap mobility by increasing the Young’s modulus of the flap slows down the thrombus growth. Compared to the rigid model, the predicted thrombus volume is 25% larger using the FSI-thrombosis model with a relatively mobile flap. Furthermore, our FSI-thrombosis model can capture the gradual effect of thrombus growth on the flow field, leading to flow obstruction in the FL, increased blood viscosity and reduced flap motion. This model is a step closer toward simulating realistic thrombus growth in aortic dissection, by taking into account the effect of intimal flap and vessel wall motion.

     

楸树CbuATX1，CbuATX1-like和CbuATX2基因克隆及生物信息学分析

开花是高等植物内部遗传因素和外界环境因素共同调节完成的复杂生命过程,是植物进入生殖生长从而具备遗传能力和繁殖能力的象征。使用PCR技术,以楸树（Catalpa bungei）混合芽cDNA为模板分别克隆CbuATX1,CbuATX1-like和CbuATX2 3个基因,并利用相关生物信息学软件对这3个基因编码的蛋白质结构进行预测,同时对基因的启动子序列进行顺式作用元件分析,通过qRT-PCR技术检测3个基因在楸树混合芽不同发育时期的表达量。结果表明：CbuATX1的CDS全长为726 bp,编码241个氨基酸,存在跨膜运输结构,属于HMA蛋白家族,与芝麻（Sesamum indicum）、甜菜（Beta vulgaris）亲缘关系较近。CbuATX1-like的CDS全长为801 bp,编码266个氨基酸,存在跨膜运输结构,属于HMA蛋白家族,与胡萝卜（Daucus carota）、欧洲橄榄（Olea europaea）亲缘关系较近。CbuATX2的CDS全长为1 554 bp,编码517个氨基酸,不存在跨膜运输结构,属于PWWP蛋白家族,与马尾草（Erythranthe guttatus）亲缘关系较近。这3个基因启动子均含有多个真核生物启动子的基本元件,如CAAT-box和TATA-box等,此外,还含有光响应、低温响应、生长素响应,以及与干旱诱导相关的MYB结合位点等3个基因与光响应密切相关,还可能参与外界环境胁迫响应等过程。qRT-PCR结果显示,上述3个基因在1年生普通楸树无性系9-1和突变株系-百日花楸树不同发育时期的表达量呈现显著差异。通过以上研究以期能够进一步阐述百日花楸树开花的性状,为楸树开花机制的研究和楸树的定向遗传改良提供理论支持。     

厚壳贻贝鸟氨酸-尿素循环中的关键代谢物及基因分析

鸟氨酸-尿素循环(OUC)是生物新陈代谢过程中的重要循环过程,但在贝类中尚缺乏相关研究。为此,以厚壳贻贝为研究对象,分别采用氨基酸分析仪和荧光定量PCR研究了其外套膜和后闭壳肌组织中的鸟氨酸-尿素循环途径的主要代谢物和关键基因的含量及其表达量;进一步测试了在精氨酸注射条件下,各主要代谢物和关键基因的含量及表达量变化,以及¹³C标记尿素注射贻贝后,其贝壳中δ¹³C比值(¹³C/¹²C)变化。结果表明,厚壳贻贝外套膜和后闭壳肌均含有较高浓度的尿素;精氨酸注射导致其两种组织中尿素浓度显著上升(P<0.01),以及瓜氨酸浓度显著下降(P<0.01),但鸟氨酸浓度维持相对稳定的水平。精氨酸注射显著上调了两种组织中的脲酶基因的表达量(P<0.01),但其他基因表达量的变化在两种组织中存在差异,显示出鸟氨酸-尿素循环途径在其两种组织中具有复杂而不同的调控过程。¹³C标记尿素注射贻贝显著上调了贝壳中δ¹³C的比值(P <0.01),表明尿素分子可能参与了贻贝贝壳的生物矿化过程。上述研究为深入了解贻贝鸟氨酸-尿素途径与生物矿化之间的关联,以及探讨贻贝对海水酸化耐受性的内在分子机制奠定了基础。