Camponotus ants mine sand for vertebrate urine to extract nitrogen

The ability of some ant species (including Camponotus spp.) to forage on vertebrate urine to extract urea may extend their niche in competitive and strongly nitrogen‐limited environments. We examined the preference of Camponotus terebrans, a sand‐dwelling ant widespread in southern Australia, for baits including urine, and the duration of their foraging on those baits. We baited ants with liquid stains of urine (human and kangaroo), urea in water (2.5%. 3.5%, 7.0%, 10.0%) and sucrose in water (20% and 40%) poured directly on the ground, as well as hard baits in plots drawn on sandy soil (Kangaroo Island, South Australia). We counted individuals of this mostly nocturnal species to determine their attraction to different baits for one month. We checked plant growth on the plots after nine and 13 months. Ants collected insects and meat; they foraged for at least 29 days on stains. Ants were most numerous on 10% urea, followed by 7% urea, 3.5% urea, urine (which contains ~2.5% urea) and 2.5% urea, 40% sucrose and 20% sucrose; sucrose was less attractive to them than equimolar urea bait. Ants were attracted to human, kangaroo, and unidentified urines, and they collected bird guano. Baits and ant foraging did not affect plant recruitment in plots. We observed incidentally Camponotus consobrinus foraging on urine, which may be a common resource for this genus at the site. The remarkable ability of C. terebrans to extract nitrogen from dry sand over weeks explains partly its success on sandy soils. Foraging on urine may be an important strategy to address nitrogen limitation on sandy soils and exploit commensally niches in which hosts are kangaroos, wallabies and other vertebrates. The understanding of plant–vertebrate interactions must factor in the role of ants as commensal organisms. Such ants could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from urine.     

Green synthesis and physiochemical characterization of nickel oxide nanoparticles: Interaction studies with Calf thymus DNA

One of the most promising applications of nanomaterials is that of nanobiosensors, using biomolecules such as nucleic acids as receptors. This study aimed to synthesize nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) by an environmentally friendly green synthesis, using the extract of the herb Coriandrum sativum (coriander). The synthesized NPs were characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photon spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and transmission electron microscopy. All results confirmed the synthesis of pure, spherical, positively charged NiO NPs of around 95 nm in diameter with prominent hydroxyl groups attached to the surface. Furthermore, interaction studies of synthesized NiO NPs with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) were performed using UV–Visible spectroscopy, UV–thermal melting, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. CT DNA served as a substitute for nucleic acid biosensors. All experimental studies indicated that the NiO NPs bound electrostatically with CT DNA. These studies may facilitate exploring the potential of NiO NP–nucleic acid conjugated materials to be used as nanobiosensors for various applications, especially in pharmacological, epidemiological, and environmental diagnostic applications, and in detection.     

Lakes as nitrous oxide sources in the boreal landscape

Estimates of regional and global freshwater N₂O emissions have remained inaccurate due to scarce data and complexity of the multiple processes driving N₂O fluxes the focus predominantly being on summer time measurements from emission hot spots, agricultural streams. Here, we present four‐season data of N₂O concentrations in the water columns of randomly selected boreal lakes covering a large variation in latitude, lake type, area, depth, water chemistry, and land use cover. Nitrate was the key driver for N₂O dynamics, explaining as much as 78% of the variation of the seasonal mean N₂O concentrations across all lakes. Nitrate concentrations varied among seasons being highest in winter and lowest in summer. Of the surface water samples, 71% were oversaturated with N₂O relative to the atmosphere. Largest oversaturation was measured in winter and lowest in summer stressing the importance to include full year N₂O measurements in annual emission estimates. Including winter data resulted in fourfold annual N₂O emission estimates compared to summer only measurements. Nutrient‐rich calcareous and large humic lakes had the highest annual N₂O emissions. Our emission estimates for Finnish and boreal lakes are 0.6 and 29 Gg N₂O‐N/year, respectively. The global warming potential of N₂O from lakes cannot be neglected in the boreal landscape, being 35% of that of diffusive CH₄ emission in Finnish lakes.     

Development of multi-component non-sex pheromone blends to monitor both sexes of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Nineteen host plant volatiles (HPVs) were screened for attractivity to adult codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) as a fourth component of core blends (3K) including (E,Z)-2,4-ethyl decadienoate, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene and acetic acid. Each new quaternary combination was compared with a previously reported attractive bisexual lure (4K), consisting of the 3K blend plus 6-ethenyl-2,2,6-trimethyloxan-3-ol (pyranoid linalool oxide, pyrLOX). All lure evaluations were conducted in apple, Malus domestica (Borkhausen). Several compounds were found to significantly lower total and/or female catches when added to the 3K blend, including (Z)-3-hexenol, (E)-2-hexanal and hexyl butanoate (female and total moths), and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and linalool (female moths). Other compounds when added to the 3K blend did not increase or decrease moth catches, including methyl salicylate, (E)-β-ocimene, limonene, β-caryophyllene, butyl hexanoate, farnesol, terpineol, terpinen-4-ol and α-pinene. A few added compounds significantly increased moth catches compared with the 3K blend, including β-pinene (male moths), (Z)-jasmone (male and total moths), (E)-β-farnesene and β-myrcene (female and total moths), and (E,E)-α-farnesene (male, female, and total moths). In addition, each of these five compounds when added to the 3K core blend performed similarly to the 4K lure (male, females, and total moths). Further studies should expand these results through tests of these and other new blends with a range of component ratios and total loading amounts. Field trials should also be replicated within all host crops of codling moth and across major geographical production regions.     

The role of alanine synthesis and nitrate-induced nitric oxide production during hypoxia stress in Cucurbita pepo nectaries

Floral nectar is a sugary solution produced by nectaries to attract and reward pollinators. Nectar metabolites, such as sugars, are synthesized within the nectary during secretion from both pre-stored and direct phloem-derived precursors. In addition to sugars, nectars contain nitrogenous compounds such as amino acids; however, little is known about the role(s) of nitrogen (N) compounds in nectary function. In this study, we investigated N metabolism in Cucurbita pepo (squash) floral nectaries in order to understand how various N-containing compounds are produced and determine the role of N metabolism in nectar secretion. The expression and activity of key enzymes involved in primary N assimilation, including nitrate reductase (NR) and alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), were induced during secretion in C. pepo nectaries. Alanine (Ala) accumulated to about 35% of total amino acids in nectaries and nectar during peak secretion; however, alteration of vascular nitrate supply had no impact on Ala accumulation during secretion, suggesting that nectar(y) amino acids are produced by precursors other than nitrate. In addition, nitric oxide (NO) is produced from nitrate and nitrite, at least partially by NR, in nectaries and nectar. Hypoxia-related processes are induced in nectaries during secretion, including lactic acid and ethanolic fermentation. Finally, treatments that alter nitrate supply affect levels of hypoxic metabolites, nectar volume and nectar sugar composition. The induction of N metabolism in C. pepo nectaries thus plays an important role in the synthesis and secretion of nectar sugar.     

精氨酸及其代谢产物对缺血性脑卒中的作用

摘要：缺血性脑卒中是成年人群致残、致死的重要原因之一,有效治疗手段和药物的匮乏是脑卒中致残的主要原因。精氨酸既是一种营养物质,又具有多种独特的生理与药理作用,在早产儿和严重应激状态下精氨酸在维持正氮平衡与正常生理功能方面发挥重要作用,常将精氨酸称为条件必需氨基酸。精氨酸是生物体合成多胺的前体物质,同时精氨酸代谢也产生高活性自由基一氧化氮。精氨酸代谢及其代谢产物的改变可对脑卒中产生多种影响,如线粒体功能破坏、钙离子通道紊乱、血脑屏障损伤等。本文综述了精氨酸及其代谢产物在缺血性脑卒中病理过程中的作用。深入的研究和探讨其损伤和保护的双重作用机制将为缺血性脑卒中的防御和治疗提供新的策略。     

一氧化氮参与盐胁迫下长春花酚类代谢的调控研究

为研究外源一氧化氮(NO)调控盐胁迫下长春花中酚类化合物的响应,采用液相色谱—质谱联用(LCMS)技术靶向分析梯度浓度硝普纳(SNP)处理对盐胁迫下长春花幼苗根、茎、花、叶4个部位中酚类化合物组分及含量水平的变化。结果共鉴定出L-苯丙氨酸和18种酚类物质,C6C1类5种、C6C3类5种、C6C3C6类8种,其中原儿茶酸、绿原酸、槲皮素在长春花根、茎、花、叶4个部位中均存在;不同浓度SNP处理后长春花不同部位酚类化合物响应积累明显不同,其中C6C1和C6C3小分子酚酸类化合物主要积累在根和茎中,C3C6C3类主要富集在花和叶中;L-苯丙氨酸在茎、叶中相对含量较高,盐胁迫下茎中含量显著升高,且随外源NO浓度增大呈下降趋势。外源NO影响盐胁迫下植物器官中酚类化合物的积累和变化,其中根和茎响应敏感,从种类和相对含量的角度,茎和叶更适合检测酚类化合物。