蒙古冰草Lhcb1基因克隆及干旱胁迫下的表达分析

利用同源序列从蒙古冰草(Agropyron mongolicum Keng)克隆得到1个光合作用叶绿体结合a/b基因,命名为MwLhcb1。MwLhcb1基因cDNA全长1 138bp,包含801bp开放阅读框,编码267个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为28.21kD,等电点4.92。该蛋白二级结构中具有Lhcb基因家族的保守结构域。MwLhcb1蛋白氨基酸序列与其他物种同类蛋白相似性均在87%以上,其中与小麦同类蛋白相似性程度最高达99%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,MwLhcb1基因主要在茎叶中表达,在根中表达量极少,干旱胁迫影响MwLhcb1基因表达。该研究结果为进一步研究MwLHcb1在蒙古冰草光合作用与抗旱性中的功能奠定了基础,并从基因遗传进化角度证实了蒙古冰草是小麦野生近缘种的观点,从而提出蒙古冰草是小麦抗性改良的理想基因供体。     

卡拉麦里山有蹄类自然保护区水源地野放普氏野马的活动节律：基于红外相机监测数据

2014年4月至11月,在卡拉麦里山有蹄类自然保护区的22个水源地安放66台红外相机,其中在8个野放普式野马(Equus przewalskii)利用的水源地放置了16台红外相机,对野放普氏野马在水源地的活动节律和时间分配进行了研究。16台相机累计工作1 068 d,获得野放普氏野马有效照片2 051张。研究发现,野放普氏野马在水源地不同时段的有效照片数量符合正态分布,且季节间存在极显著差异。野放普氏野马在水源地不同时段的有效照片数量,春季远低于夏季和秋季(P0.05),而夏季与秋季差异不显著(P0.05)。野放普氏野马饮水频次春季极显著低于夏季和秋季(P0.01),夏季与秋季差异不显著(P0.05)。普氏野马在水源地具有稳定的日活动节律,时间分配上呈典型的钟形,13:00~17:00时达到高峰,20:00~次日5:00时快速下降,3:00~6:00时是一天中的低谷,在5:00~13:00时快速上升。不同月份野放普氏野马的日活动差异指数α(t=8.364,df=7,P0.01)和昼行性指数β(t=19.519,df=7,P0.01)均存在极显著差异,且β值为0.660.54,表明野放普氏野马活动以昼间为主。季节间活动差异指数存在极显著差异(单样本K-S检验,t=7.851,df=23,P0.01)。独立多样本Kruskal-Wallis检验季节性活动强度指数γ值差异不显著(χ~2=0.162,df=2,P0.05)。通过在卡山保护区固定水源地的实时监测,初步明晰了野放普氏野马在水源地附近的活动节律及其季节性水源地利用,从而为野放普氏野马的生态学研究及保护措施的制定提供科学依据。     

山西太岳山南部针阔混交林群落特征及空间分布格局

为探究针阔混交林群落的空间分布特性、种间关系及演替规律,该研究通过点格局分析方法中的Ripley’L函数对山西太岳山南部1 hm~2针阔混交林中主要乔木种群的空间分布格局及空间关联性进行了研究。结果表明:样地内共调查木本植物41科71属76种,以蔷薇科、毛茛科、唇形科、豆科、菊科、百合科为主,科的分布区类型主要以世界广布为主,属的分区类型以北温带为主;辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)、槲树(Quercus dentata)、油松(Pinus tabuliformis)和山杨(Populus davidiana)是该群落的主要树种,样地内的林木总径级结构与主要乔木种群的径级结构相似,呈近似正态分布。辽东栎和槲树的空间分布相似,随尺度增大种群的聚集性减弱并逐渐表现出随机分布的格局特征;油松和山杨在一定尺度范围内呈现聚集分布;主要树种均在一定尺度上表现为两两正相关,且槲树与油松、山杨在整个尺度内都表现为显著正相关。山西太岳山南部针阔混交林中各个乔木种群处于相对稳定的状态。     

Hck Promotes Neuronal Apoptosis Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The hematopoietic cell kinase (Hck) is a member of the Src family protein kinases which regulates many signal transduction pathways including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. However, the expression and function of Hck after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are unknown. Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence showed that Hck was obviously up-regulation in neurons adjacent to the hematoma after ICH. In addition, the temporary raise of Hck expression was paralleled with the expression of p53, Bax, and active caspase-3, suggesting that Hck was involved in neuronal apoptosis. Hck siRNA dramatically decrease hemin-induced expression of p53, Bax, and active caspase-3 as well as the amount of apoptotic SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Furthermore, Hck interacted with p53. Hence, Hck might promote neuronal apoptosis via p53 signaling pathway after ICH.     

Quantitative trait locus mapping under irrigated and drought treatments based on a novel genetic linkage map in mungbean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> L.)

Key message

A novel genetic linkage map was constructed using SSR markers and stable QTLs were identified for six drought tolerance related-traits using single-environment analysis under irrigation and drought treatments.

Abstract

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is one of the most important leguminous food crops. However, mungbean production is seriously constrained by drought. Isolation of drought-responsive genetic elements and marker-assisted selection breeding will benefit from the detection of quantitative trait locus (QTLs) for traits related to drought tolerance. In this study, we developed a full-coverage genetic linkage map based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from an intra-specific cross between two drought-resistant varieties. This novel map was anchored with 313 markers. The total map length was 1010.18 cM across 11 linkage groups, covering the entire genome of mungbean with a saturation of one marker every 3.23 cM. We subsequently detected 58 QTLs for plant height (PH), maximum leaf area (MLA), biomass (BM), relative water content, days to first flowering, and seed yield (Yield) and 5 for the drought tolerance index of 3 traits in irrigated and drought environments at 2 locations. Thirty-eight of these QTLs were consistently detected two or more times at similar linkage positions. Notably, qPH5A and qMLA2A were consistently identified in marker intervals from GMES5773 to MUS128 in LG05 and from Mchr11-34 to the HAAS_VR_1812 region in LG02 in four environments, contributing 6.40–20.06% and 6.97–7.94% of the observed phenotypic variation, respectively. None of these QTLs shared loci with previously identified drought-related loci from mungbean. The results of these analyses might facilitate the isolation of drought-related genes and help to clarify the mechanism of drought tolerance in mungbean.

     

P2X7 receptor inhibition attenuated sympathetic nerve sprouting after myocardial infarction via the NLRP3/IL‐1β pathway

Mounting evidence supports the hypothesis that inflammation modulates sympathetic sprouting after myocardial infarction (MI). The myeloid P2X₇ signal has been shown to activate the nucleotide‐binding and oligomerization domain‐like receptor family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a master regulator of inflammation. We investigated whether P2X₇ signal participated in the pathogenesis of sympathetic reinnervation after MI, and whether NLRP3/interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) axis is involved in the process. We explored the relationship between P2X₇ receptor (P2X₇R) and IL‐1β in the heart tissue of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐primed naive rats. 3′‐O‐(4‐benzoyl) benzoyl adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (BzATP), a P2X₇R agonist, induced caspase‐1 activation and mature IL‐1β release, which was further neutralized by a NLRP3 inhibitor (16673‐34‐0). MI was induced by coronary artery ligation. Following infarction, a marked increase in P2X₇R was localized within infiltrated macrophages and observed in parallel with an up‐regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome levels and the release of IL‐1β in the left ventricle. The administration of A‐740003 (a P2X₇R antagonist) significantly prevented the NLRP3/IL‐1β increase. A‐740003 and/or Anakinra (an IL‐1 receptor antagonist) significantly reduced macrophage infiltration as well as macrophage‐based IL‐1β and NGF (nerve growth factor) production and eventually blunted sympathetic hyperinnervation, as assessed by the immunofluorescence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth‐associated protein 43 (GAP 43). Moreover, the use of Anakinra partly attenuated sympathetic sprouting. This indicated that the effect of P2X₇ on neural remodelling was mediated at least partially by IL‐1β. The arrhythmia score of programmed electric stimulation was in accordance with the degree of sympathetic hyperinnervation. In vitro studies showed that BzATP up‐regulated secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF) in M1 macrophages via IL‐1β. Together, these data indicate that P2X₇R contributes to neural and cardiac remodelling, at least partly mediated by NLRP3/IL‐1β axis. Therapeutic interventions targeting P2X₇ signal may be a novel approach to ameliorate arrhythmia following MI.     

Comparison of thiazide‐like diuretics versus thiazide‐type diuretics: a meta‐analysis

Thiazide diuretics are widely used for the management of hypertension. In recent years, it has been actively debated that there is interchangeability of thiazide‐type diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and thiazide‐like diuretics including indapamide and chlorthalidone for the treatment of hypertension. With the purpose of seeking out the best thiazide diuretic for clinicians, we summarized the existing evidence on the two types of drugs and conducted a meta‐analysis on their efficacy in lowering blood pressure and effects on blood electrolyte, glucose and total cholesterol. Twelve trials were identified: five based on the comparison of indapamide versus hydrochlorothiazide and seven based on the chlorthalidone versus hydrochlorothiazide. In the meta‐analysis of blood pressure reduction, thiazide‐like diuretics seemed to further reduce systolic BP ([95% CI]; ?5.59 [?5.69, ?5.49]; P < 0.001) and diastolic BP ([95% CI]; ?1.98 [?3.29, ?0.66]; P = 0.003). Meanwhile, in the analysis of side effects, the incidence of hypokalemia ([95% CI]; 1.58 [0.80, 3.12]; P = 0.19), hyponatremia ([95% CI]; ?0.14 [?0.57, 0.30], P = 0.54), change of blood glucose ([95% CI];0.13 [?0.16, 0.41], P = 0.39) and total cholesterol ([95% CI]; 0.13 [?0.16, 0.41], P = 0.39) showed that there is no statistical significant differences between the two groups of drugs. In conclusion, using thiazide‐like diuretics is superior to thiazide‐type diuretics in reducing blood pressure without increasing the incidence of hypokalemia, hyponatraemia and any change of blood glucose and serum total cholesterol.     

Nutrient uptake relationship to root characteristics of rice

Data on root parameters and distribution are important for an improved understanding of the factors influencing nutrient uptake by a crop. Therefore, a study was conducted on a Crowley silt loam at the Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart, Arkansas to measure root growth and N, P and K uptake by three rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars at active tillering (36 days after emergence (DAE)), maximum tillering (41 DAE), 1.25 cm internode elongation (55 DAE), booting (77 DAE) and heading (88 DAE). Soil-root core samples were taken to a depth of 40 cm after plant samples were removed, sectioned into 5 cm intervals, roots were washed from soil and root lengths, dry weights and radii were measured. Root parameters were significantly affected by the soil depth × growth stage interaction. In addition, only root radius was affected by cultivar. At the 0- to 5-cm soil depth, root length density ranged from 38 to 93 cm cm^-3 throughout the growing season and decreased with depth to about 2 cm cm^-3 in the 35- to 40-cm depth increment. The increase in root length measured with each succeeding growth stage in each soil horizon also resulted in increased root surface area, hence providing more exposed area for nutrient uptake. About 90% of the total root length was found in the 0- to 20-cm soil depth throughout the season. Average root radius measured in the 0- to 5-cm and 35- to 40-cm depth increments ranged from 0.012 to 0.013 cm and 0.004 to 0.005 cm, respectively throughout the season. Total nutrient uptake by rice differed among cultivars only during vegetative growth. Differences in total nutrient uptake among the cultivars in the field appear to be related to absorption kinetics of the cultivars measured in a growth chamber study. Published with permission of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.