Effects of thermal stress on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities of the predatory mite,Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Changes in temperature are known to cause a variety of physiological stress responses in insects and mites. Thermal stress responses are usually associated with the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in oxidative damage. In this study, we examined the time-related effect (durations for 1, 2, 3, and 5 h) of thermal stress conditions—i.e., relatively low (0, 5, 10, and 15 °C) or high (35, 38, 41, and 44 °C) temperatures—on the activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris. Also the lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of the predatory mite were measured under thermal stress conditions. The results confirmed that thermal stress results in a condition of so-called oxidative stress and the four antioxidant enzymes play an important role in combating the accumulation of ROS in N. cucumeris. CAT and POX activity changed significantly when the mites were exposed to cold and heat shock, respectively. The elevated levels of SOD and GSTs activity, expressed in a time-dependent manner, may have an important role in the process of antioxidant response to thermal stress. However, the levels of LPO in N. cucumeris were high, serving as an important signal that these antioxidant enzyme-based defense mechanisms were not always adequate to counteract the surplus ROS. Thus, we hypothesize that thermal stress, especially extreme temperatures, may contribute much to the generation of ROS in N. cucumeris, and eventually to its death.     

Taurine prevents high glucose-induced angiopoietin-2/tie-2 system alterations and apoptosis in retinal microvascular pericytes

Adenosine receptor activation has been shown to be associated with diminution of cardiac hypertrophy and it has been suggested that endogenously produced adenosine may serve to blunt pro-hypertrophic processes. In the present study, we determined the effects of two pro-hypertrophic stimuli, angiotensin II (Ang II, 100 nM) and endothelin-1 (ET-1, 10 nM) on Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) activation in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and whether the latter serves as a target for the anti-hypertrophic effect of adenosine receptor activation. Both hypertrophic stimuli potently increased RhoA activity with peak activation occurring 15–30 min following agonist addition. These effects were associated with significantly increased phosphorylation (inactivation) of cofilin, a downstream mediator of RhoA, an increase in actin polymerization, and increased activation and nuclear import of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase. The ability of both Ang II and ET-1 to activate the RhoA pathway was completely prevented by the adenosine A₁ receptor agonist N ⁶-cyclopentyladenosine, the A_2a receptor agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)-phenethylamino-5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, the A₃ receptor agonist N ⁶-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5′-methyluronamide as well as the nonspecific adenosine analog 2-chloro adenosine. All effects of specific receptor agonists were prevented by their respective receptor antagonists. Moreover, all adenosine agonists prevented either Ang II- or ET-1-induced hypertrophy, a property shared by the RhoA inhibitor Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme, the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 or the actin depolymerizing agent latrunculin B. Our study therefore demonstrates that both Ang II and ET-1 can activate the RhoA pathway and that prevention of the hypertrophic response to both agonists by adenosine receptor activation is mediated by prevention of RhoA stimulation and actin polymerization.     

Characterization of a new cry2Ab gene of Bacillus thuringiensis with high insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella L.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain FJAT-12 was a novel Bt strain isolated by Agricultural Bio-Resources Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science. In this study, a new cry2Ab gene was cloned from Bt strain FJAT-12 and named as cry2Ab30 by Bt delta-endotoxin Nomenclature Committee. The sequencing results showed there were two mutations in conservative sites which led to two amino acids modification. Homology modeling indicated that the two changes were located in β-sheet of Domain II. A prokaryotic expression vector pET30a-cry2Ab30 was constructed and the expressed protein was analyzed by western blot using Cry2Ab antibody. The expression conditions including IPTG concentration, revolution and temperature were optimized to get the highest expression level by SDS-PAGE and BandScan. The bioassay results also showed that the Cry2Ab30 toxin had high insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella and the LC₅₀ value was 0.0103 μg.mL^?1. The two mutations in β-sheet of Domain II might contribute to insecticidal activity of Cry2Ab30 toxin against Plutella xylostella.     

Unraveling Charge Separation and Transport Mechanisms in Aqueous‐Processed Polymer/CdTe Nanocrystal Hybrid Solar Cells

Recently great progress has been achieved in highly effective hybrid solar cells fabricated using aqueous materials. The state‐of‐the‐art energy conversion efficiency has been close to 5% with high photocurrent. However, charge separation and transport mechanism in the aqueous‐processed hybrid solar cells are rarely reported and are usually assumed to be similar to oil‐phase processed systems; that is, self‐assembly polymers are mainly responsible for charge separation and carrier transport. To date, this assumption has prohibited further improvement of the conversion efficiency in aqueous‐processed hybrid systems by adopting any appropriate technique routes. Here, ultrafast carrier dynamics in these hybrid solar cells consisting of poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV)‐based aqueous polymers and water‐solution CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) are investigated in detail. Self‐charge separation in grown CdTe NC partly capped CdS shell layers after anneal treatment is unambiguously identified. Different from their oil‐soluble counterparts, these core/shell nanocrystals do not have the restrictions of quantum confinement and surface ligands, form effective charge transport networks, and play a dominant role in the charge separation and carrier transport processes. These findings provide a greater understanding on the fundamental photophysics in aqueous‐processed hybrid systems.     

Characterization of Bacteria in the Rhizosphere Soils of Polygonum Pubescens and Their Potential in Promoting Growth and Cd,Pb, Zn Uptake by Brassica napus

Microbe-enhanced phytoremediation has been considered as a promising measure for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. In this study, two bacterial strains JYX7 and JYX10 were isolated from rhizosphere soils of Polygonum pubescens grown in metal-polluted soil and identified as of Enterobacter sp. and Klebsiella sp. based on 16S rDNA sequences, respectively. JYX7 and JYX10 showed high Cd, Pb and Zn tolerance and increased water-soluble Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations in culture solution and metal-added soils. Two isolates produced plant growth-promoting substances such as indole acetic acid, siderophore, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic deaminase, and solubilized inorganic phosphate. Based upon their ability in metal tolerance and solubilization, two isolates were further studied for their effects on growth and accumulation of Cd, Pb, and Zn in Brassica napus (rape) by pot experiments. Rapes inoculated with JYX7 and JYX10 had significantly higher dry weights, concentrations and uptakes of Cd, Pb, Zn in both above-ground and root tissues than those without inoculation grown in soils amended with Cd (25 mg kg^?1), Pb (200 mg kg^?1) or Zn (200 mg kg^?1). The present results demonstrated that JYX7 and JYX10 are valuable microorganism, which can improve the efficiency of phytoremediation in soils polluted by Cd, Pb, and Zn.     

人Hepcidin融合表达载体的构建及在大肠杆菌中的表达

为了在大肠杆菌中表达生产hepcidin,根据大肠杆菌密码子偏好性,化学合成了人hepcidin的基因序列,并构建了hepcidin的融合表达载体pET -hpc。pET- hpc在大肠杆菌BL2 1 (DE3)中表达的hepcidin融合蛋白以包涵体形式存在,其N端带有 6个组氨酸。通过优化诱导表达条件,该融合蛋白表达水平显著提高,占总蛋白的 2 5 . 2 %。表达的包涵体经 1 %TritonX 1 0 0洗涤后溶于8mol L尿素,在变性条件下采用金属螯合层析进行纯化,所得融合蛋白纯度大于 95 %。     

云南省哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林萌生现象的初步研究

在森林树木受到人为或自然破坏以后,残留植物体的萌生是一个普遍存在的现象。据Kauffman〔1〕和Khan〔2〕等人在热带地区的研究,通过萌生形成的植株与通过种子萌发形成的植株相比,前者具有更快的生长速度,而且通过其原有的强大根系,能更有效地利用土壤中的养分资源,同时对环境也具有更强的适应能力。这些都构成了萌生植株在生长上的优势,使其在种群竞争中处于有利的地位。由此可见,萌生过程在植被恢复和自然更新中起到了重要的作用。近年来,关于植被萌生的研究在国外已得到越来越多的重视〔3～8〕,而在国内至今还未见到这方面的正式报道。…     

Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of Acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L -ND4 gene sequence analysis

Acipenseriformes is an endangered primitive fish group, which occupies a special place in the history of ideas concerning fish evolution, even in vertebrate evolution. However, the classification and evolution of the fishes have been debated. The mitochondrial DMA (mtDNA) ND4L and partial A7D4 genes were first sequenced in twelve species of the order Acipenseriformes, including endemic Chinese species. The following points were drawn from DNA sequences analysis: (i) the two species of Huso can be ascribed to Acipenser; (ii) A. dabryanus is the mostly closely related to A. sinensis, and most likely the landlocked form of A. sinensis; (iii) genus Acipenser in trans-Pacific region might have a common origin; (iv) mtDNA ND4L and ND4 genes are the ideal genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes.     

朱砂叶螨对三种杀螨剂的抗性选育与抗性风险评估

为评价朱砂叶螨Tetranychus cinnabarinus对3种杀螨剂的抗性风险,在实验室抗性品系选育基础上,应用数量遗传学中的域性状分析法,研究了朱砂叶螨北碚种群对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素和哒螨灵3种杀螨剂的抗性现实遗传力,并对3种药剂在不同杀死率下抗性发展的速率进行了预测。结果表明：分别单一连续汰选16代后,朱砂叶螨对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素的抗性倍数分别达26.54和4.51倍,对哒螨灵表现为敏感性降低（抗性倍数为1.16倍）;朱砂叶螨对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素和哒螨灵的抗性现实遗传力分别为0.2472,0.1519和0.0160。在室内选择条件下,杀死率为50%～90%时,要获得10倍抗性,甲氰菊酯仅需要13～6代,阿维菌素需要约21～10代;哒螨灵需要约197～89代;在田间选择,三种药剂都将需要更长的时间。抗性筛选16代结果表明,抗性风险较高的是菊酯类的甲氰菊酯,其次是生物源农药阿维菌素,杂环类的哒螨灵抗性风险较小。试验结果可为朱砂叶螨抗性治理提供参考。