Soluble Guanylate Cyclase α1–Deficient Mice: A Novel Murine Model for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The molecular signaling involved in the pathogenesis of POAG remains unknown. Here, we report that mice lacking the α₁ subunit of the nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylate cyclase represent a novel and translatable animal model of POAG, characterized by thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer and loss of optic nerve axons in the context of an open iridocorneal angle. The optic neuropathy associated with soluble guanylate cyclase α₁–deficiency was accompanied by modestly increased intraocular pressure and retinal vascular dysfunction. Moreover, data from a candidate gene association study suggests that a variant in the locus containing the genes encoding for the α₁ and β₁ subunits of soluble guanylate cyclase is associated with POAG in patients presenting with initial paracentral vision loss, a disease subtype thought to be associated with vascular dysregulation. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis and genetics of POAG and suggest new therapeutic strategies for POAG.     

Secretory low molecular weight phospholipase A2 plays important roles in cell elongation and shoot gravitropism in Arabidopsis

To elucidate the cellular functions of phospholipase A(2) in plants, an Arabidopsis cDNA encoding a secretory low molecular weight phospholipase A(2) (AtsPLA(2)beta) was isolated. Phenotype analyses of transgenic plants showed that overexpression of AtsPLA(2)beta promotes cell elongation, resulting in prolonged leaf petioles and inflorescence stems, whereas RNA interference-mediated silencing of AtsPLA(2)beta expression retards cell elongation, resulting in shortened leaf petioles and stems. AtsPLA(2)beta is expressed in the cortical, vascular, and endodermal cells of the actively growing tissues of inflorescence stems and hypocotyls. AtsPLA(2)beta then is secreted into the extracellular spaces, where signaling for cell wall acidification is thought to occur. AtsPLA(2)beta-overexpressing or -silenced transgenic plants showed altered gravitropism in inflorescence stems and hypocotyls. AtsPLA(2)beta expression is induced rapidly by auxin treatment and in the curving regions of inflorescence stems undergoing the gravitropic response. These results suggest that AtsPLA(2)beta regulates the process of cell elongation and plays important roles in shoot gravitropism by mediating auxin-induced cell elongation.     

植物生长季退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2释放特征

对中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2释放的全天候连续观测结果表明,退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2的释放有明显的日变化和季节动态,日最大释放速率出现于12：00-14：00,最小释放速率出现于6：00-8：00;植物生长季的最大振幅为462.49mg·m^-2·h^-1（8月18日）,最小振幅为114.97mg·m^-2·h^-1（5月9日）,CO2释放速率白天大于夜晚。不同物候期CO2释放速率亦不同,草盛期>枯黄期>青期。最大日均值为480.76mg·m^-2·h^-1（8月18日）,最小日均值为140.77mg·m^-2·h^-1（5月9日）。释放速率与气温、地表温度及土壤5cm地温均呈显著或极显著相关关系,表明温度是决定CO2释放速率季节变化的首要因素。     

Self-binding antibodies (autobodies) form specific complexes in solution

In this report we have shown that members of the murine self-binding antibody family, S107, form soluble complexes and precipitate under conditions in which non-self-binding antibodies remain in solution. Two approaches were used to demonstrate the self-association of autobodies: size-exclusion column chromatography and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated precipitation assay. The anti-phosphorylcholine antibody T15 and two somatic variants, U4, which binds DNA, and U10, which has no identified specificity, produced larger precipitates in 10% PEG than other non-self-binding antibodies. The selectivity of PEG-mediated precipitation of self-binding antibodies is demonstrated by reduction of precipitation with specific haptens known to inhibit self-binding in solid-phase assays. Phosphorylcholine and nucleotides reduced precipitation of T15 and U4, respectively, but not U10. To rule out Fc-Fc mediated self-association in solution, we have also demonstrated self-complexing of F(ab')2 fragments of T15 using PEG. The self-binding locus was further dissected using peptides derived from V regions. A 24-residue peptide derived from the second hypervariable region of the VH of S107 specifically enhanced precipitation of T15, U4, and U10, but not other antibodies. These results provide evidence of a dormant potential of self-binding antibodies to precipitate under conditions that reduce the solubility of proteins. The implication of this potential is discussed with respect to pathological complex formation.     

分子标记技术及其在芸苔属植物研究中的应用

本文参考了国内外近年来最新研究进展,对分子标记概念和类型作了简要介绍;论述了分子标记技术在植物改良中的主要用途：遗传图谱的构建,基因定位,物种间基因组比较,分子标记辅助育种;较详细地介绍了芸苔属植物在分子标记方面的研究进展。     

Mutational analysis of BRAF and K-ras in gastric cancers: absence of BRAF mutations in gastric cancers

Recently, BRAF mutations were found in a variety of human cancers. Interestingly, the most common of BRAF mutation (V599E) has not been identified in tumors with K-ras mutations. Whereas the majority of human cancer types has been screened for BRAF mutations, no detailed studies on gastric cancers have been investigated. Thus, we decided to investigate the incidence of BRAF mutations in gastric cancers, and the relationship between BRAF and K-ras mutations in such cancers. Three non-pathogenic BRAF polymorphisms and seven K-ras missense mutations were found in 66 gastric cancers and 16 gastric cancer cell lines. Although only 9% of our gastric cancer panels had K-ras mutations, the incidence of BRAF mutations was not high. Thus, BRAF mutations, which are present in a variety of other human cancers, do not seem to be involved in gastric cancer development.     

保护性耕作对农田碳、氮效应的影响研究进展

作物产量的高低主要取决于土壤肥力,如何保持并提高土壤肥力是确保我国粮食安全和农业可持续发展的重要任务,也是众多学者关注的焦点。土壤有机碳和氮素是评价土壤质量的重要指标,其动态平衡直接影响土壤肥力和作物产量。随着全球气候变化及环境污染问题的愈加突出,农田土壤固碳及提高氮效率成为各界科学家研究的热点。目前,保护性耕作已成为发展可持续农业的重要技术之一,对土壤固碳及氮素的利用具有很大的影响。深入了解保护性耕作对土壤有机碳固持与氮素利用效率提高的影响机制,对于正确评价土壤肥力有着重要意义。但由于气候、土壤及种植制度等条件不一致,关于保护性耕作对农田碳、氮效应结论不一。阐述了国际上保护性耕作对农田系统土壤有机碳含量变化及其分解排放(如CO₂和CH₄)、氮素变化及其矿化损失(如NH₃挥发、N₂O排放与氮淋失)和碳氮素相互关系(如C/N层化率)影响的研究进展,并分析了其影响因素和相关机理。尽管国内保护性耕作的研究已进行30 多年,但在土壤有机碳与氮素方面与国外相比依然有较大的差距。保护性耕作对土壤固碳与氮素利用的影响机制,碳素和氮素在土壤-植株-大气系统中的转移变化,及结合农事管理等综合评价其生态效应的研究很少。在此基础上,提出未来我国保护性耕作在土壤有机碳固定和氮素利用方面的重点研究方向:(1)在定位试验基础上进一步探讨保护性耕作对土壤有机碳及氮素利用的影响机制;(2)深入研究土壤有机碳和氮素的相互关系及其对土壤肥力的影响;(3)结合环境保护与土壤可持续管理对保护性耕作农田土壤固碳及氮素高效利用的系统评价研究;(4)加强保护性耕作对农田碳、氮效应的宏观研究,合理评价保护性耕措施下对农田碳、氮综合效应。     

空气CO2增高条件下荔枝叶片光合作用和超氧自由基产率

研究结果表明,生长在77±5PaCO₂分压下30d的荔枝幼树,其光合速率较大气CO₂分压(39.3Pa)下的低23%,光下线粒体呼吸速率和不包含光下呼吸的CO₂补偿点亦略有降低.空气CO₂增高使叶片最大羧化速率(V_cmax)和最大电子传递速率(J_max)降低,表明大气增高CO₂分压下叶片的光系统I(PSI)能量水平较低,叶片超氧自由基产率亦降低39%,叶片感染荔枝霜疫霉病率则从生长在大气CO₂分压下的1.8%增至9.5%.可能较低光合和呼吸代谢诱致较低的超氧自由基产率,而使叶片易受病害侵染.叶片受病害侵染后表现为超氧自由基的激增.在全球大气CO₂分压增高趋势下须加强对荔枝霜疫霉病的控制.     

黑河中游湿地景观破碎化过程及其驱动力分析

在遥感和GIS技术支持下,基于1975-2010年长时间序列遥感影像,选取斑块密度指数(PD)、景观内部生境面积指数(IA)、斑块平均面积指数(MPS)、斑块形状破碎化指数(FS1、FS2)等具有典型生态意义的景观指数模型,系统分析了黑河中游湿地景观的破碎化过程,并结合灰色关联分析、主成分分析等方法,探讨了影响研究区湿地景观破碎化过程的各驱动因子.结果表明:近35年来,研究区湿地景观破碎化主要表现为斑块平均面积的萎缩,斑块密度的上升以及斑块形状破碎化指数的增大.整个研究时段内,研究区湿地斑块平均面积减少了48.95hm2,斑块密度的上升0.006个/hm2;导致黑河中游湿地景观破碎化发生和发展的驱动力包含自然和人文两个方面.自然因子对湿地景观破碎化进程的影响则主要体现在气温和降水上,而且气温对湿地景观破碎化进程的影响程度明显大于降水.但在1975-2010年间的这一较小时间尺度上,人类活动对湿地景观破碎化的贡献率明显高于自然因子,人类活动能力的增强以及影响范围的不断扩大是引发黑河中游湿地景观破碎化的主因.     

长期不同施氮水平对草原植物群落结构的影响

为探讨施氮对贝加尔针茅草原植物群落结构的影响,该研究于内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原设置不同施氮水平0(N0)、15(N15)、30(N30)、50(N50)、100(N100)、150(N150)、200(N200)和300(N300)kg·hm-2·a-1,研究连续施氮9年后贝加尔针茅草原群落物种组成、重要值、多样性及生物量等指标对不同施氮水平的响应。结果表明:(1)长期施氮导致植物群落物种组成发生了明显的变化,在高浓度氮素添加量下群落物种数最低,但可显著提高优势种在群落中的重要值(P<0.05)。(2)长期施氮使贝加尔针茅草原植物多样性指数不同程度地降低,使优势度指数增加,其中N300添加水平效果最为明显(P<0.05)。(3)长期施氮使草原植被生产力(地上、地下生物量)整体呈先上升后下降的趋势,地上生物量在N100水平时出现峰值,地下生物量在N50水平时出现最大值(P<0.05),且根系分布具有明显的表聚特征(0~10 cm)。(4)RDA分析表明,寸草苔和狭叶柴胡地上生物量与土壤pH呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05);展枝唐松草和二裂委陵菜地上生物量与土壤有机质含量呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。研究认为,长期不同施氮水平均可改变贝加尔针茅草原群落物种组成,降低物种多样性,对植物群落结构有着明显的影响。