Cryo-EM structure of the fatty acid reductase LuxC–LuxE complex provides insights into bacterial bioluminescence

The discovery of reduced flavin mononucleotide and fatty aldehydes as essential factors of light emission facilitated study of bacterial luminescence. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial luminescence have been studied for more than 60 years, the structure of the bacterial fatty acid reductase complex remains unclear. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of the Photobacterium phosphoreum fatty acid reductase complex LuxC–LuxE to a resolution of 2.79 Å. We show that the active site Lys238/Arg355 pair of LuxE is >30 Å from the active site Cys296 of LuxC, implying that catalysis relies on a large conformational change. Furthermore, mutagenesis and biochemical experiments support that the L-shaped cleft inside LuxC plays an important role in substrate binding and reaction. We obtained a series of mutants with significantly improved activity as measured by in vitro bioluminescence assays and demonstrated that the double mutant W111A/F483K displayed the highest activity (370% of the WT). Our results indicated that the activity of LuxC significantly affects the bacterial bioluminescence reaction. Finally, we expressed this mutated lux operon in Escherichia coli but observed that the in vivo concentrations of ATP and NADPH limited the enzyme activity; thus, we conclude that the luminous intensity mainly depends on the level of metabolic energy.     

有关彩色真菌培养基的应用

彩色真菌培养基具有选择性强、分辨率高、易生长、易观察的特点。在真菌培养方面优于其它培养基,其主要作用机理在于应用了化学生物效应促进真菌生长。     

基于景感生态学理念的乡村社会-生态系统供给服务研究

乡村社会-生态系统的稳定和可持续发展为农业农村现代化的实现奠定着基础,在稳定社会经济发展、提高城乡居民福祉方面发挥着重要作用。服务性公共设施作为乡村社会-生态系统供给服务的重要组成部分,代表了乡村的发展水平与该地区居民生活质量水平。研究公共服务设施的空间分布特征和综合评价其供给服务可改善乡村社会-生态系统结构,为城乡居民提供高质量的社会生态系统服务。以厦门市岛外城市化乡村为研究对象,通过厦门市岛外POI数据和乡村社会经济统计数据,以公共服务设施为景感载体,分析其空间分布和测度其供给服务水平,采用核密度分析方法与熵值分析法,分析厦门市乡村社会-生态系统供给服务空间分布特征,结合人口、经济、距岛内核心区距离等指标对各村庄社会-生态系统供给服务能力进行皮尔逊相关性分析。研究发现厦门乡村公共设施供给服务能力表现为集美区 > 海沧区 > 同安区 > 翔安区;各村庄公共设施供给服务能力水平影响因素是多元且具有多样性的;提出从城乡居民的认知心理与物质需求出发对公共设施进行景感生态营造以提高村庄社会-生态系统供给服务能力,更好满足人们的需求。本文对公共服务设施的空间优化提出对策建议,研究结果可为乡村社会-生态系统供给服务提升和乡村可持续发展提供理论研究依据。     

Staining of Some Specific Regions of Human Chromosomes,particularly the Secondary Constriction of No. 9

SEVERAL procedures have been described recently which produce specific patterns of differential staining in human chromosomes^1–9. Techniques which involve DNA denaturation and reannealing reveal deeply stained areas on centromere and secondary constriction regions which have been equated with constitutive heterochromatin⁹.     

Soil organic matter molecular composition and state of decomposition in three locations of the European Arctic

Increased mineralization of the organic matter (OM) stored in permafrost is expected to constitute the largest additional global warming potential from terrestrial ecosystems exposed to a warmer climate. Chemical composition of permafrost OM is thought to be a key factor controlling the sensitivity of decomposition to warming. Our objective was to characterise OM from permafrost soils of the European Arctic: two mineral soils—Adventdalen, Svalbard, Norway and Vorkuta, northwest Russia—and a “palsa” (ice-cored peat mound patterning in heterogeneous permafrost landscapes) soil in Neiden, northern Norway, in terms of molecular composition and state of decomposition. At all sites, the OM stored in the permafrost was at an advanced stage of decomposition, although somewhat less so in the palsa peat. By comparing permafrost and active layers, we found no consistent effect of depth or permafrost on soil organic matter (SOM) chemistry across sites. The permafrost-affected palsa peat displayed better preservation of plant material in the deeper layer, as indicated by increasing contribution of lignin carbon to total carbon with depth, associated to decreasing acid (Ac) to aldehyde (Al) ratio of the syringyl (S) and vanillyl (V) units, and increasing S/V and contribution of plant-derived sugars. By contrast, in Adventdalen, the Ac/Al ratio of lignin and the Alkyl C to O-alkyl C ratio in the NMR spectra increased with depth, which suggests less oxidized SOM in the active layer compared to the permafrost layer. In Vorkuta, SOM characteristics in the permafrost profile did not change substantially with depth, probably due to mixing of soil layers by cryoturbation. The composition and state of decomposition of SOM appeared to be site-specific, in particular bound to the prevailing organic or mineral nature of soil when attempting to predict the SOM proneness to degradation. The occurrence of processes such as palsa formation in organic soils and cryoturbation should be considered when up-scaling and predicting the responses of OM to climate change in arctic soils.     

Response of physiologic metabolism and cell structures in mango fruit to exogenous methyl salicylate under low-temperature stress

We explored the effects of exogenous methyl salicylate (MeSA) on the development of chilling injury symptom, and the structure and composition of the pericarp, in mango ( Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Red 6') fruit under low-temperature stress using histochemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy together with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The results indicated that chilling injury symptom was remarkably limited in the fruit treated with MeSA at 0.1 m M as compared to the 5°C control, demonstrating the positive effects of MeSA in reducing chilling injury of mango fruit in low-temperature storage. In MeSA-treated fruit, the pericarp wax surface showed many cracks, and exocarp cells exhibited normal separation. The cell wall of exocarp contained lower amounts of pectic substances, aliphatics and phenolics in MeSA-treated fruit. In addition, MeSA-treated fruit contained more esterified substances and less carboxylate and carboxyl substances. Our work revealed the importance of MeSA in enhancing fruit tolerance to low-temperature stress and suggested a contribution of cellular structure and composition to this effect, which has not been reported previously.     

流行性出血热地鼠肾细胞灭活疫苗人体试用细胞免疫反应观察

观察了20位志愿者在接种试验性流行性出血热(EHF)地鼠肾细胞(GHKC)双价灭活疫苗后的细胞免疫反应,并以其体液免疫反应作对照观察。用淋巴细胞转化试验测定细胞免疫水平。结果首针疫苗接种后42天和56天,特异性刺激指数(SSI)和非特异性刺激指数(NSI)均较免疫前显著增高(P_(SSI)<0.001;P_(NSI)<0.02),免疫后SSI累计阳转率为100％,NSI累计阳转率为60％,免疫后6个月二者均降低至正常水平。免疫后56天测定抗体,荧光抗体阳转率为100％;微量感染性中和试验表明,针对家鼠型病毒L99株中和抗体阳转率为95％,而针对野鼠型病毒JR株阳转率为65％。     

基于变权模型的舟山群岛生态安全预警

生态安全预警是生态安全研究的重要内容,对维护区域生态安全具有重要的指示意义.本文以浙江省舟山群岛为例,基于驱动力、压力、状态、影响、响应(DPSIR)框架模型构建了生态安全预警指标体系,使用变权模型对2000-2012年舟山市生态安全的预警等级进行测度,并使用马尔科夫预测方法对2013-2018年生态安全警情进行了预测.结果表明:变权模型能够有效地满足舟山群岛生态安全动态预警研究需要;2000-2012年,舟山群岛生态安全预警指数由0.286波动上升至0.484,警度等级从“重警”演变为“中警”,指示灯由“橙灯”演化为“黄灯”;2013-2018年,舟山群岛生态安全预警等级预测结果为“中警”,指示灯为“黄灯”.研究结果可为维护舟山群岛生态安全提供参考.     

The mode of action of thidiazuron: auxins,indoleamines, and ion channels in the regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinacea purpurea</Emphasis> L.

The biochemical mechanisms underlying thidiazuron (TDZ)-induced regeneration in plant cells have not been clearly elucidated. Exposure of leaf explants of Echinacea purpurea to a medium containing TDZ results in undifferentiated cell proliferation and differentiated growth as mixed shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. The current studies were undertaken to determine the potential roles of auxin, indoleamines, and ion signaling in the dedifferentiation and redifferentiation of plant cells. E. purpurea leaf explants were found to contain auxin and the related indoleamine neurotransmitters, melatonin, and serotonin. The levels of these endogenous indoleamines were increased by exposure to TDZ associated with the induction of regeneration. The auxin-transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid and auxin action inhibitor, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid decreased the TDZ-induced regeneration but increased concentrations of endogenous serotonin and melatonin. As well, inhibitors of calcium and sodium transport significantly reduced TDZ-induced morphogenesis while increasing endogenous indoleamine content. These data indicate that TDZ-induced regeneration is the manifestation of a metabolic cascade that includes an initial signaling event, accumulation, and transport of endogenous plant signals such as auxin and melatonin, a system of secondary messengers, and a concurrent stress response.