胡萝卜HRGP启动子调控GUS基因的某些特点

HRG(hydroxyproline rich glycoproteins)是高等植物细胞壁中一类富含羟脯氨酸的糖蛋白,是植物细胞壁中主要的结构蛋白。早期研究认为其在细胞壁的形成过程中起作用并称之为伸展蛋白(extensin)。在双子叶植物中,HRGP基因以多基因家族形式存在,具有特定的表达模式。许多条件及处理都能引起HRGP表达量的增加,如伤害、真菌感染、病毒感染、乙烯、细胞培养、红光等,同时也受到发育水平的调节。在单子叶植物中,玉米HRGP的表达是在发育水平上受伤害调节的。HRGP基因还具有组织专一性表达的特点。在大豆种子中,HRGP主要存在于种皮的外两层、表皮栅栏组织和滴漏细胞中,属于起支持作用的厚壁组织。在胡萝卜根韧皮部薄壁细胞中HRGP含量最丰富,而在健康的番茄根中     

Single‐Crystalline Ultrathin Co3O4 Nanosheets with Massive Vacancy Defects for Enhanced Electrocatalysis

The role of vacancy defects is demonstrated to be positive in various energy‐related processes. However, introducing vacancy defects into single‐crystalline nanostructures with given facets and studying their defect effect on electrocatalytic properties remains a great challenge. Here this study deliberately introduces oxygen defects into single‐crystalline ultrathin Co₃O₄ nanosheets with O‐terminated {111} facets by mild solvothermal reduction using ethylene glycol under alkaline condition. As‐prepared defect‐rich Co₃O₄ nanosheets show a low overpotential of 220 mV with a small Tafel slope of 49.1 mV dec^?1 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is among the best Co‐based OER catalysts to date and even more active than the state‐of‐the‐art IrO₂ catalyst. Such vacancy defects are formed by balancing with reducing environments under solvothermal conditions, but are surprisingly stable even after 1000 cycles of scanning under OER working conditions. Density functional theory plus U calculation attributes the enhanced performance to the oxygen vacancies and consequently exposed second‐layered Co metal sites, which leads to the lowered OER activation energy of 2.26 eV and improved electrical conductivity. This mild solvothermal reduction concept opens a new door for the understanding and future designing of advanced defect‐based electrocatalysts.     

Highly Conductive,Light Weight,Robust, Corrosion‐Resistant,Scalable, All‐Fiber Based Current Collectors for Aqueous Acidic Batteries

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are integral parts of modern technology, but can raise safety concerns because of their flammable organic electrolytes with low flash points. Aqueous electrolytes can be used in LIBs to overcome the safety issues that come with organic electrolytes while avoiding poor kinetics associated with solid state electrolytes. Despite advances in aqueous electrolytes, current collectors for aqueous battery systems have been neglected. Current collectors used in today's aqueous battery systems are usually metal‐based materials, which are heavy, expensive, bulky, and prone to corrosion after prolonged use. Here, a carbon nanotube (CNT)–cellulose nanofiber (CNF) all‐fiber composite is developed that takes advantage of the high conductivity of CNT while achieving high mechanical strength through the interaction between CNT and CNF. By optimizing the CNT/CNF weight ratio, this all‐fiber current collector can be made very thin while maintaining high conductivity (≈700 S cm^?1) and strength (>60 MPa), making it an ideal replacement for heavy metal current collectors in aqueous battery systems.     

Cell type-specific proteomics uncovers a RAF15-SnRK2.6/OST1 kinase cascade in guard cells

Multicellular organisms such as plants contain various cell types with specialized functions. Analyzing the characteristics of each cell type reveals specific cell functions and enhances our understanding of organization and function at the organismal level. Guard cells (GCs) are specialized epidermal cells that regulate the movement of the stomata and gaseous exchange, and provide a model genetic system for analyzing cell fate, signaling, and function. Several proteomics analyses of GC are available, but these are limited in depth. Here we used enzymatic isolation and flow cytometry to enrich GC and mesophyll cell protoplasts and perform in-depth proteomics in these two major cell types in Arabidopsis leaves. We identified approximately 3,000 proteins not previously found in the GC proteome and more than 600 proteins that may be specific to GC. The depth of our proteomics enabled us to uncover a guard cell-specific kinase cascade whereby Raf15 and Snf1-related kinase2.6 (SnRK2.6)/OST1(open stomata 1) mediate abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure. RAF15 directly phosphorylated SnRK2.6/OST1 at the conserved Ser175 residue in its activation loop and was sufficient to reactivate the inactive form of SnRK2.6/OST1. ABA-triggered SnRK2.6/OST1 activation and stomatal closure was impaired in raf15 mutants. We also showed enrichment of enzymes and flavone metabolism in GC, and consistent, dramatic accumulation of flavone metabolites. Our study answers the long-standing question of how ABA activates SnRK2.6/OST1 in GCs and represents a resource potentially providing further insights into the molecular basis of GC and mesophyll cell development, metabolism, structure, and function.     

联合GF-6和Sentinel-2红边波段的森林地上生物量反演

光谱反射率能反映地物差异,是森林地上生物量（Aboveground Biomass,AGB）遥感反演的理论基础。红边波段处于近红外与红光波段交界处快速变化的区域,能对植被冠层结构和叶绿素含量的微小变化做出快速反应,对植被生长状况较敏感。研究以GF-6和Sentinel-2多光谱影像作为数据源,结合野外调查AGB数据,构建落叶松和樟子松AGB线性和非线性估测模型,通过比较模型精度选择最优模型进行森林AGB反演和空间分布制图。结果表明：GF-6和Sentinel-2影像红边波段反射率与落叶松、樟子松AGB均呈显著相关（P<0.05）,红边波段对AGB估测较敏感。多变量估测模型整体估测效果优于单变量模型,所有模型中多元线性回归模型取得了最优的决定系数（落叶松R²=0.66,樟子松R²=0.65）和最低的均方根误差（落叶松RMSE=31.45 t/hm²,樟子松RMSE=54.77 t/hm²）。相比单个数据源,联合GF-6和Sentinel-2影像构建的多元线性回归模型估测效果得到了显著提升,模型RMSE对于落叶松和樟子松AGB估测分别最大降低了22.9%和11.2%。增加红边波段进行AGB估测能显著提高模型估测精度,三组数据源分别加入红边波段信息后进行建模,模型RMSE得到了显著降低。GF-6拥有800 km观测幅宽和高效的重访周期,可以快速地提供大尺度时间序列数据,在森林地上生物量反演和动态监测方面有着很大潜力。     

MDMX overexpression prevents p53 activation by the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin

The p53 tumor suppressor plays a key role in maintaining genomic stability and protection against malignant transformation. MDM2 and MDMX are both p53-binding proteins that regulate p53 stability and activity. Recent development of the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin 3 has greatly facilitated functional analysis of MDM2-p53 binding. We found that although MDMX is homologous to MDM2 and binds to the same region on p53 N terminus, Nutlin does not disrupt p53-MDMX interaction. The ability of Nutlin to activate p53 is compromised in tumor cells overexpressing MDMX. Combination of Nutlin with MDMX siRNA resulted in synergistic activation of p53 and growth arrest. These results suggest that MDMX is also a valid target for p53 activation in tumor cells. Development of novel compounds that are MDMX-specific or optimized for dual-inhibition of MDM2 and MDMX are necessary to achieve full activation of p53 in tumor cells.     

Composting of lead-contaminated solid waste with inocula of white-rot fungus

The treatment of the simulated lead-contaminated solid waste by composting with white-rot fungus was studied at laboratory scale. The composting system without the inocula of white-rot fungus was prepared as control, and the composting of the uncontaminated solid waste with the inocula of white-rot fungus was carried out as the other control. The results indicated that the solid waste inoculated with white-rot fungus could be successfully processed. The final compost was mature with 70.5% of lead (Pb) in residual fraction and none in exchangeable fraction. Germination index reached 120%. All the results indicated that the bioavailability of Pb in compost was reduced and the potential harm of Pb in compost was alleviated by composting with the inocula of white-rot fungus.     

Mitotic control of dTTP pool: a necessity or coincidence?

The fidelity of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells requires a balanced dNTP supply in the S phase. During the cell cycle progression, the production of dTTP is highly regulated to coordinate with DNA replication. Intracellular thymidine is salvaged to dTTP by cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) and thymidylate kinase (TMPK), both of which expression increase in the G1/S transition and diminish in the mitotic phase via proteolytic destruction. Anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-mediated ubiquitination targets TK1 and TMPK to undergo proteasomal degradation in mitosis, by which dTTP pool is minimized in the early G1 phase of the next cell cycle. In this review, we will focus on regulation of TK1 in the post-S phase and the importance of mitotic proteolysis in controlling dNTP balance, replication stress and genomic stability. Finally, we discuss how thymidine pool and oligomeric forms of TK1 can affect mitotic control of dTTP. This article is for the special issue of IMB 20^th anniversary.     

Cocaine withdrawal and neuro-adaptations in ion channel function

Chronic exposure to psychostimulants induces neuro-adaptations in ion channel function of dopamine (DA)-innervated cells localized within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Although neuroplasticity in ion channel function is initially found in drug-sensitized animals, it has recently been believed to underlie the withdrawal effects of cocaine, including craving that leads to relapse in human addicts. Recent studies have also revealed remarkable differences in altered ion channel activities between mPFC pyramidal neurons and medium spiny NAc neurons in cocaine-withdrawn animals. In response to psychostimulant or certain “excitatory” stimuli, increased intrinsic excitability is found in mPFC pyramidal neurons, whereas decreased excitability is observed in medium spiny NAc cells in drug-withdrawn animals compared to drug-free control animals. These changes in ion channel function are modulated by interrupted DA/Ca²⁺ signaling with decreased DA D2 receptor function but increased D1 receptor signaling. More importantly, they are correlated to behavioral changes in cocaine-withdrawn human addicts and sensitized animals. Based on growing evidence, researchers have proposed that cocaine-induced neuro-adaptations in ion channel activity and DA/Ca²⁺ signaling in mPFC pyramidal neurons and medium spiny NAc cells may be the fundamental cellular mechanism underlying the cocaine withdrawal effects observed in human addicts.