微丝在卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用及调控

微丝作为细胞骨架的组成部分, 在卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用及调控近年来日益受到关注.微丝介导了卵母细胞中细胞器迁移、分散染色质收集、皮质重组、极性建立、第一极体排出等过程.现对微丝在卵母细胞的发育和成熟中作用机制的研究进展进行综述.     

Soil respiration in Tibetan alpine grasslands: belowground biomass and soil moisture, but not soil temperature, best explain the large-scale patterns

The Tibetan Plateau is an essential area to study the potential feedback effects of soils to climate change due to the rapid rise in its air temperature in the past several decades and the large amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, particularly in the permafrost. Yet it is one of the most under-investigated regions in soil respiration (Rs) studies. Here, Rs rates were measured at 42 sites in alpine grasslands (including alpine steppes and meadows) along a transect across the Tibetan Plateau during the peak growing season of 2006 and 2007 in order to test whether: (1) belowground biomass (BGB) is most closely related to spatial variation in Rs due to high root biomass density, and (2) soil temperature significantly influences spatial pattern of Rs owing to metabolic limitation from the low temperature in cold, high-altitude ecosystems. The average daily mean Rs of the alpine grasslands at peak growing season was 3.92 μmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1), ranging from 0.39 to 12.88 μmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1), with average daily mean Rs of 2.01 and 5.49 μmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1) for steppes and meadows, respectively. By regression tree analysis, BGB, aboveground biomass (AGB), SOC, soil moisture (SM), and vegetation type were selected out of 15 variables examined, as the factors influencing large-scale variation in Rs. With a structural equation modelling approach, we found only BGB and SM had direct effects on Rs, while other factors indirectly affecting Rs through BGB or SM. Most (80%) of the variation in Rs could be attributed to the difference in BGB among sites. BGB and SM together accounted for the majority (82%) of spatial patterns of Rs. Our results only support the first hypothesis, suggesting that models incorporating BGB and SM can improve Rs estimation at regional scale.     

氮肥调控剂对潮褐土中不同氮源氮素转化及油菜生长的影响

采用土壤培养和盆栽试验相结合的方法,研究了硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)与纳米碳配合施用对尿素和碳酸氢铵在华北平原典型土壤潮褐土中转化的调控效果及其对油菜生长的影响.结果表明： 尿素和碳酸氢铵在施入土壤后的2周内,土壤无机氮的供应强度差别较大,2周以后则基本相似.2种氮源对油菜生长及氮素利用的影响在生育前期(播种后34 d)差异显著,但最终达到商品生物量收获时,氮源之间差异不大.DCD对尿素和碳酸氢铵在潮褐土中的转化表现出显著的硝化抑制作用,其抑制强度和有效抑制时间随DCD用量的增加而增强,且以对碳酸氢铵施入土壤后的硝化抑制效果更好.在本研究条件下,DCD用量以占肥料纯氮量的1.0%～1.5%相对较佳,可显著提高油菜产量,改善叶色,降低植株硝酸盐含量,提高氮肥利用率.纳米碳与DCD配合施用对土壤铵氧化有明显的协同抑制效果,且可以显著刺激油菜前期的生长发育和氮素利用,降低油菜硝酸盐含量.     

Preferential attachment of membrane glycoproteins to the cytoskeleton at the leading edge of lamella

The active forward movement of cells is often associated with the rearward transport of particles over the surfaces of their lamellae. Unlike the rest of the lamella, we found that the leading edge (within 0.5 microns of the cell boundary) is specialized for rearward transport of membrane-bound particles, such as Con A-coated latex microspheres. Using a single-beam optical gradient trap (optical tweezers) to apply restraining forces to particles, we can capture, move and release particles at will. When first bound on the central lamellar surface, Con A-coated particles would diffuse randomly; when such bound particles were brought to the leading edge of the lamella with the optical tweezers, they were often transported rearward. As in our previous studies, particle transport occurred with a concurrent decrease in apparent diffusion coefficient, consistent with attachment to the cytoskeleton. For particles at the leading edge of the lamella, weak attachment to the cytoskeleton and transport occurred with a half-time of 3 s; equivalent particles elsewhere on the lamella showed no detectable attachment when monitored for several minutes. Particles held on the cell surface by the laser trap attached more strongly to the cytoskeleton with time. These particles could escape a trapping force of 0.7 X 10(-6) dyne after 18 +/- 14 (sd) s at the leading edge, and after 64 +/- 34 (SD) s elsewhere on the lamella. Fluorescent succinylated Con A staining showed no corresponding concentration of general glycoproteins at the leading edge, but cytochalasin D-resistant filamentous actin was found at the leading edge. Our results have implications for cell motility: if the forces used for rearward particle transport were applied to a rigid substratum, cells would move forward. Such a mechanism would be most efficient if the leading edge of the cell contained preferential sites for attachment and transport.     

Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinases on the Inhibition of Cells Invasion and Migration by Emodin in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthaquinone), an active component present in the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae) has anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, diuretic and vasorelaxant effects. However, its mechanism of action on the cell migration and invasion of human neuroblastoma cancer SH-SY5Y cells is not fully understood. In this study, firstly, the effects of emodin on the percentage of viable cells were examined by using MTT assay and it was found that emodin induced dose-and time-dependent inhibition in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Second, the effects of emodin on the migration and invasion of SH-SY5Y cells were examined by using wound assay and matrigel counting and the results showed that emodin suppressed the migration and invasion of SH-SY5Y cells. Third, we examined the effect of emodin on the levels of associated proteins by using Western blotting and the results indicated that emodin inhibited the levels of GRB2, RhoA, HIF-1α, VEGF, FAK, iNOS, COX2, p-p38, p-c-jun, MMP2, MMP9 and MMP7 but promoted the levels of PKC, PI3K, MEKK3 and NF-κB p65 that led to the inhibition of migration and invasion of SH-SY5Y cells in vitro.     

Ammonium accumulation is associated with senescence of rice leaves

The relationship between ammonium accumulation and senescence of detached rice leaves was investigated. Ammonium accumulation in detached rice leaves coincided closely with dark-induced senescence. Exogenous NH4Cl and methionine sulfoximine, which caused an accumulation of ammonium in detached rice leaves, promoted senescence. Treatments such as light and benzyladenine, which retarded senescence, decreased ammonium level in detached rice leaves. Abscisic acid, which promoted senescence, increased ammonium level in detached rice leaves. The current results suggest that ammonium accumulation may be involved in regulating senescence. Evidence was presented to show that ammonium accumulated in detached rice leaves increases tissue sensitivity to ethylene. The accumulation of ammonium in detached rice leaves during dark-induced senescence is attributed to a decrease in glutamine synthetase activity and an increase in reduction of nitrate.     

The use of intensity‐based Doppler variance method for single vessel response to functional neurovascular activation

This study presents 1 use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography technique to examine neurovascular coupling effect. Repeated B‐scans OCT recording is performed on the rat somatosensory cortex with cranial window preparation while its contralateral forepaw is electrically stimulated to activate the neurons in rest. We use an intensity‐based Doppler variance (IBDV) algorithm mapped cerebral blood vessels in the cortex, and the temporal alteration in blood perfusion during neurovascular activation is analyzed using the proposed IBDV quantitative parameters. By using principal component analysis‐based Fuzzy C Means clustering method, the stimulus‐evoked vasomotion patterns were classified into 3 categories. We found that the response time of small vessels (resting diameter 14.9 ±6.6 μm), middle vessels (resting diameter 21.1 ±7.9 μm) and large vessels (resting diameter 50.7 ±6.5 μm) to achieve 5% change of vascular dilation after stimulation was 1.5, 2 and 5.5 seconds, respectively. Approximately 5% peak change of relative blood flow (RBF) in both small and middle vessels was observed. The large vessels react slowly and their responses nearly 4 seconds delayed, but no significant change in RBF of the large vessels was seen.      

A cyp19a1b‐gfp (aromatase B) transgenic zebrafish line that expresses GFP in radial glial cells

Aromatase is an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of estrogen in gonads and brain. Teleost fish express aromatase (AroB) strongly in the brain facilitating its detailed examination. To understand the function of AroB in the brain, we generated transgenic zebrafish that expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by the brain aromatase cyp19a1b promoter. GFP was found in the radial glial cells of transgenic larvae and adult fish that overlap with AroB immunoreactivity in the correct temporal and spatial pattern. GFP was also coexpressed with radial cell marker BLBP, but was not in neurons. In addition, GFP expression in the radial glial cells was stimulated by estrogen, same as endogenous AroB expression. Thus, this transgenic line faithfully mimics the regulation of AroB expression in radial glial cells. It provides a powerful tool to further characterize progenitor radial cells in adult and developing fish and to evaluate estrogenic activities of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens. genesis 47:67–73, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Structural basis of a flavivirus recognized by its neutralizing antibody: solution structure of the domain III of the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein

The flavivirus envelope protein is the dominant antigen in eliciting neutralizing antibodies and plays an important role in inducing immunologic responses in the infected host. We have determined the solution structure of the major antigenic domain (domain III) of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope protein. The JEV domain III forms a beta-barrel type structure composed of six antiparallel beta-strands resembling the immunoglobulin constant domain. We have also identified epitopes of the JEV domain III to its neutralizing antibody by chemical shift perturbation measurements. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments are performed to confirm the NMR results. Our study provides a structural basis for understanding the mechanism of immunologic protection and for rational design of vaccines effective against flaviviruses.