Evolutionary transition from C3 to C4 photosynthesis and the route to C4 rice

Compared with C₃ plants, C₄ plants possess a mechanism to concentrate CO₂ around the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in chloroplasts of bundle sheath cells so that the carboxylation reaction work at a much more efficient rate, thereby substantially eliminate the oxygenation reaction and the resulting photorespiration. It is observed that C₄ photosynthesis is more efficient than C₃ photosynthesis under conditions of low atmospheric CO₂, heat, drought and salinity, suggesting that these factors are the important drivers to promote C₄ evolution. Although C₄ evolution took over 66 times independently, it is hypothesized that it shared the following evolutionary trajectory: 1) gene duplication followed by neofunctionalization; 2) anatomical and ultrastructral changes of leaf architecture to improve the hydraulic systems; 3) establishment of two-celled photorespiratory pump; 4) addition of transport system; 5) co-option of the duplicated genes into C₄ pathway and adaptive changes of C₄ enzymes. Based on our current understanding on C₄ evolution, several strategies for engineering C₄ rice have been proposed to increase both photosynthetic efficiency and yield significantly in order to avoid international food crisis in the future, especially in the developing countries. Here we summarize the latest progresses on the studies of C₄ evolution and discuss the strategies to introduce two-celled C₄ pathway into rice.     

Genomic Resources for Gene Discovery,Functional Genome Annotation,and Evolutionary Studies of Maize and Its Close Relatives

Maize is one of the most important food crops and a key model for genetics and developmental biology. A genetically anchored and high-quality draft genome sequence of maize inbred B73 has been obtained to serve as a reference sequence. To facilitate evolutionary studies in maize and its close relatives, much like the Oryza Map Alignment Project (OMAP) (www.OMAP.org) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) resource did for the rice community, we constructed BAC libraries for maize inbred lines Zheng58, Chang7-2, and Mo17 and maize wild relatives Zea mays ssp. parviglumis and Tripsacum dactyloides. Furthermore, to extend functional genomic studies to maize and sorghum, we also constructed binary BAC (BIBAC) libraries for the maize inbred B73 and the sorghum landrace Nengsi-1. The BAC/BIBAC vectors facilitate transfer of large intact DNA inserts from BAC clones to the BIBAC vector and functional complementation of large DNA fragments. These seven Zea Map Alignment Project (ZMAP) BAC/BIBAC libraries have average insert sizes ranging from 92 to 148 kb, organellar DNA from 0.17 to 2.3%, empty vector rates between 0.35 and 5.56%, and genome equivalents of 4.7- to 8.4-fold. The usefulness of the Parviglumis and Tripsacum BAC libraries was demonstrated by mapping clones to the reference genome. Novel genes and alleles present in these ZMAP libraries can now be used for functional complementation studies and positional or homology-based cloning of genes for translational genomics.     

Structural Mechanism of CCM3 Heterodimerization with GCKIII Kinases

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Highlights? Crystal structure of CCM3-MST4 heterodimeric complex ? Structural mechanism driving CCM3-GCKIII heterodimerization ? Conformational changes required for CCM3-GCKIII heterodimerization ? Synergistic effects of CCM3-MST4 complex on cell proliferation and migration     

高等植物种子活力的生物学研究进展

种子活力是种子质量的重要指标和种用价值的重要组成部分。该文从种子活力概念的演变与延伸、种子活力的遗传分析、种子活力测定方法、与种子活力相关的miRNA和蛋白质组学以及引发提高种子活力的机理等方面对高等植物种子活力的最新研究进展进行了综述,并提出了种子活力未来的研究方向。     

低温胁迫对极度濒危植物中华水韭生理特性的影响

以人工繁殖的极度濒危级(CR)植物中华水韭(Isoetes sinensis Palmer)为试验材料,研究了0 ℃低温环境下胁迫0~20 d,沉水叶片中保护酶系统(POD、SOD、CAT)、渗透调节物质(可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白)、叶绿素以及丙二醛(MDA)和相对电导率的变化。结果显示:随着低温（0 ℃）胁迫时间的延长,中华水韭沉水叶片的相对电导率、可溶性糖含量、CAT活性先升高后下降,SOD活性呈逐渐上升的趋势,POD活性、可溶性蛋白含量、叶绿素含量下降,MDA含量一直低于CK,且在一定范围内波动。研究表明,中华水韭沉水叶片在0 ℃低温胁迫中受到一定程度的伤害,但能通过调节自身的膜透性、渗透调节物质含量和保护酶活性系统来减轻低温伤害,维持其正常生理代谢功能,从而表现出一定的抗寒潜力。     

秦岭南坡油松-锐齿槲栎混交林群落不同层次多样性特征及环境解释

在秦岭山脉南坡陕西省境内设置11个样地进行实地调查,从植物物种组成、多样性指数差异以及多样性指数沿环境梯度排序等方面对该区域油松-锐齿槲栎天然混交林的群落总体以及乔木层、灌木层、草本层的各自4个α多样性指数（Patrick丰富度指数、Simpson优势度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数）特征进行分析,以揭示该群落多样性特征及其与环境因素的关系。结果显示：（1）11个样地共记录维管束植物112种,隶属于45科77属,分布较广的物种有蔷薇科、菊科、百合科、松科、禾本科和忍冬科。（2）研究区群落中建群种锐齿槲栎和油松的优势地位突出,乔木层伴生种稀少,平均仅为4.8种,多样性水平较低;灌木层物种组成丰富,平均11.4种;草本层次之,平均9种。（3）单因素方差分析表明,该群落不同层次的多样性指数之间均存在极显著差异（P<0.01）;LSD多重比较及多样性指数变化趋势分析表明,群落多样性水平表现为总体>灌木层>草本层>乔木层。（4）CCA法将群落不同层次多样性指数沿地形因子和土壤养分等12项环境指标梯度的分布划分为界线明显的3个区域,即Ⅰ区（中等浓度土壤磷素和有机质制约区）、Ⅱ区（非环境因子制约区）和Ⅲ区（高浓度土壤磷素制约区）;群落总体多样性主要受灌木层影响,同时也受乔木层均匀度影响,但环境因子对乔木层多样性基本无限制性作用。（5）土壤速效磷、全磷和有机质是造成研究区群落不同层次多样性差异的主要因素,海拔、坡向等地形因子对群落多样性影响不大,可能是由于土壤养分的直接影响削弱了地形因子的间接性生态作用。研究表明：保持中等水平的土壤速效磷（3.775±1.529 mg·kg^-1）和有机质含量［（4.079±1.001）%］,并通过合理补植松栎幼树和伐除枯死木等抚育手段提高乔木层均匀度是维持秦岭南坡油松-锐齿槲栎混交林群落生物多样性的有效措施。     

历山自然保护区秃山白树天然种群生命表

秃山白树是中国特有单种属植物山白树的变种,为国家二级保护植物,仅分布于山西历山自然保护区.为更好地了解其种群数量动态,保护该种群持续稳定发展,在历山自然保护区,采用样地与样方调查相结合的方法,调查了秃山白树的种群结构,编制了秃山白树静态生命表,绘制了其年龄结构图、存活曲线、死亡曲线、消失率曲线、生存函数曲线、累积死亡率函数曲线、危险率函数曲线和死亡密度函数曲线.结果表明:秃山白树种群幼龄级个体数量较多,老龄个体数量较少,表明现阶段秃山白树整体为增长型种群;种群死亡率生长前期高于后期,在Ⅱ和Ⅳ龄级的年龄阶段出现死亡率高峰,种群存活曲线趋于Deevey-Ⅱ型;生存率曲线单调下降,累积死亡率曲线单调上升,其下降或增加的幅度是前期高于后期;种群死亡密度函数曲线较为平缓,在Ⅲ龄级死亡密度较大;危险率函数随着龄级的增加不断增大.     

甘蓝型油菜下胚轴和带柄子叶再生体系研究

以甘蓝型油菜野油19号的下胚轴和带柄子叶为外植体,研究其下胚轴和带柄子叶在不同浓度激素配比下的分化率及再生频率的变化。该品系的油菜下胚轴和带柄子叶在1.5 mg/L的2,4-D中预培养4 d后,转入分化培养基中,其愈伤组织形成早,发生快,再生频率和分化频率均较高。其中,下胚轴转入MS+3 mg/L 6-BA+0.1 mg/L NAA培养基中的分化率和再生频率最高,再生频率达到86.67%;带柄子叶外植体的再生频率要比下胚轴的再生频率低,在MS+4 mg/L 6-BA+0.3 mg/L NAA的分化培养基中芽的再生频率为46.67%。本研究初步建立了甘蓝型油菜野油19号的高频率再生体系。     

湖北省实验动物设施环境控制中存在的问题

目的分析总结湖北省2012年度实验动物许可单位年检中环境设施的检测结果,找出问题,提出促进湖北省实验动物环境设施可靠运行的建议。方法各实验动物环境设施采用30%区域抽检方式,依据GB14925-2010《实验动物环境及设施》,进行环境指标检测。结果除气流速度、沉降菌最大平均浓度外,其他技术指标均存在不符合国家标准的情况。结论应针对实验动物设施管理加强培训,提高实验动物设施管理人员的管理水平,从而保证实验动物设施的正常运行。