Chenorchis, a new orchid genus, and its eco-strategy of ant pollination

Chenorchis, a new orchid genus belonging to C. singchii with tropical orchid features, was found in subtropical regions of Gaoligong Mountain in Yunnan Province, China. This taxon undoubtedly belongs to Trib. Vandeae due to its comparatively advanced epiphytic and monopodial characteristics with very hard pollinia and long stipe. It is akin to Ascocentrum and Holcoglossum, from which it differs by its lip lacking appendage, side-lobes arising from both sides of the mid-lobe rather than the entrance to the spur; large stigmatic cave; very large rostellum, conspicuously broader than the column, spreading downward; pollinia each with a distinct caudicle attached to the incurved subterminal portion of a common stipe. Phylogenetic analysis shows that it may be of tropical region originally and evolve into a new genus due to changed environment, indicating that the main motivation of angiosperm differentiation is to bring forth more ecological opportunities. A further examination of reproductive ecology, especially pollination mechanism and breeding system, proved that this species has formed many mechanisms to promote selfing and inbreeding, such as symbiosis with ants (Temnothorax sp.), utilization of ants for short-distant pollination, opening of flowers simultaneously to increase the frequency of geitonogamy, efficient dispersal and growth of seeds, and crowded communities to improve the possibility of inbreeding. All the adaptive changes above turn into necessary conditions for their survival in subtropical regions. The reproductive strategy of this unique life history shows that this immigrant species autonomously passes the genes on to future generations to remain their adaptability, by quickly occupying the habitat. It is a successful strategy in habitat expansion that inflorescence produces a lot of flowers to facilitate geitonogamy, whose significance may extend to provide evidence that the occurrence of plants' sex results from the trade-offs of the fluctuation of habitat in evolution.     

Fast repair of purine deoxynucleotide radical cations by rutin and quercetin

Repair effects of rutin and quercetin on purine deoxynucleotide radical cations were studied using pulse radiolysis technique. On electron pulse irradiation of N2 saturated deoxynucleotide aqueous solution containing 20 mmol/L K2S2O8, 200 mmol/L f-BuOH and rutin or quercetin, the transient absorption spectra of the deoxynucleotide radical cations decayed quickly. At the same time, the spectra of flavonoid phenoxyl radicals formed within several dozen microseconds. The results indicated that deoxynucleotide radical cations can be repaired by flavonoids. The rate constants of the repair reactions were 3.8 × 108-4.4×108 mol-1 · L · s-1 and 1.3×108-1.8×108 mol-1 · L · s-1 for dAMP and dGMP radical cations, respectively.     

Lys 43 and Asp 46 in alpha-helix 3 of uteroglobin are essential for its phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity

Uteroglobin (UG) is an anti-inflammatory, secreted protein with soluble phospholipase A2 (sPLA2)-inhibitory activity. However, the mechanism by which UG inhibits sPLA2 activity is unknown. UG is a homodimer in which each of the 70-amino acid subunits forms four alpha-helices. We previously reported that sPLA2-inhibitory activity of UG may reside in a segment of alpha-helix 3 that is exposed to the solvent. In addition, it has been suggested that UG may inhibit sPLA2 activity by binding and sequestering Ca++, essential for sPLA2 activation. By site-specific mutation, we demonstrate here that Lys 43 Glu, Asp 46 Lys or a combination of the two mutations in the full-length, recombinant human UG (rhUG) abrogates its sPLA2-inhibitory activity. We demonstrate further that recombinant UG does not bind Ca++ although when it is expressed with histidine-tag (H-tag) it is capable of binding Ca++. Taken together our results show that: (i) Lys 43 and Asp 46 in rhUG are critical residues for the sPLA2-inhibitory activity of UG and (ii) Ca++-sequestration by rhUG is not likely to be one of the mechanisms responsible for its sPLA2-inhibitory activity.     

Activation of Erk1/2 and Akt in astrocytes under ischemia

Substantial evidence has shown that extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (Erk1/2) and serine/threonine kinase (Akt) play important roles in regulating cell survival. We examined the activities of these kinases in astrocytes under ischemia in an anaerobic chamber. The level of phosphorylated Erk1/2 in astrocytes began to increase after 1 h ischemia, reached a maximum after 4 h ischemia, before decreasing from 5 to 6 h. Akt was activated later than Erk1/2. It was significantly increased after 4 h ischemia before declining steadily afterwards. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and Hoechst nucleic staining indicated that U0126, which inhibits Erk1/2 phosphorylation, enhanced ischemia-induced cell death, whereas LY294002, which inhibits Akt phosphorylation, delayed cell death. These effects were dose-dependent. At 4 and 6 h ischemia, U0126-treated astrocytes expressed a lower level of Bcl-2 than controls. In contrast, LY294002-treated astrocytes expressed a higher level of Bcl-2 than controls as shown by Western blots. Bcl-x(L) expression level was not affected by either treatment. These data suggest that activation of the MAPK/Erk1/2 pathway might protect astrocytes from ischemic injury, but activation of the PI3-K/Akt pathway does not. The effect may involve Bcl-2 but not Bcl-x(L) expression.     

Alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor subtypes: non-identical triplets with different dancing partners?

Alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors are one of the three subfamilies of G protein coupled receptors activated by epinephrine and norepinephrine to control important functions in many target organs. Three human subtypes (alpha(1A), alpha(1B), alpha(1D)) are derived from separate genes and are highly homologous in their transmembrane domains but not in their amino or carboxyl termini. Recent advances in our understanding of these "non-identical triplets" include development of knockout mice lacking single or multiple subtypes, new insights into subcellular localization and trafficking, identification of allosteric modulators, and increasing evidence for an important role in brain function. Although all three subtypes activate the same G(q/11) signaling pathway, they also appear to interact with different protein binding partners. Recent evidence suggests they may also form dimers, and may initiate independent signals through pathways yet to be clearly elucidated. Thus, this subfamily represents a common phenomenon of a group of similar but non-identical receptor subtypes activated by the same neurotransmitter, whose individual functional roles remain to be clearly established.     

双分子荧光互补技术在动物病毒中的研究进展

病毒侵染宿主的过程存在着一系列相互作用,了解病毒与宿主之间的蛋白质相互作用对于深入研究病毒具有重要意义。在众多研究蛋白质相互作用的方法中,双分子荧光互补技术（bimolecular fluorescence complementation,BiFC）因其能在活细胞中可视化相互作用而被广泛应用。介绍了双分子荧光技术的原理、发展和优势,总结了双分子荧光技术在动物病毒以及抗病毒药物研究中的应用,并进一步阐述了新型双分子荧光系统的原理,以期为研究动物病毒致病机制和抗病毒药物研发提供新的思路。     

高温对小地老虎和东方粘虫精子发生和形成的影响

小地老虎和东方粘虫精子发生之后,开始分化出真核精子和无核精子。当温度超过32℃时,出现大量的畸形精细胞囊,精子形成受阻,核与鞭毛明显缩短,鞭毛中微管所受影响最大。但32℃温度以下不影响真核到无核精子的发生和二叉发生的转换。由此可见,小地老虎和粘虫夏季由南向北迁飞也是一种回避高温的适应性行为。     

差异显示技术及其进展

差异显示技术是在转录水平上研究基因表达差异的有效方法。它通过一系列的锚定引物与随机引物组合把不同种细胞的ｍＲＮＡ进行分组反转录及ＰＣＲ扩增,在相邻泳道上显示扩增结果,通过比较电泳图谱找出差异。差异显示技术建立至今仅五年时间便在分析基因表达差异、绘制遗传图谱、分离特异性表达基因、临床诊断遗传疾病等方面被广泛应用,并不断得到改进和完善。