Ethanol-induced cytochrome P-450: Catalytic activity after partial purification

Cytochrome P-450 was partially purified from liver microsomes obtained from control, ethanol, phenobarbital, and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. Benzphetamine demethylation, benzpyrene hydroxylation and aniline hydroxylation activities were assayed in a reconstituted system using fixed amounts of reductase and lipids, and increasing amounts of cytochrome P-450 from each source. Cytochrome P-450 from ethanol-fed rats showed substrate specificity differing from cytochrome P-450 obtained from control, phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats.     

Kulikovskiyia gen. nov. (Bacillariophyceae) from the lateritic rock pools of the Western Ghats,India and from Hainan Province,China

A new triundulate naviculoid diatom genus is described from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India and Hainan Province, China. The new taxon, Kulikovskiyia gen. nov. has robust conical spines along its margin and at the apices and the external valve face has longitudinally‐oriented siliceous slat system extending the length of the valve. The external distal raphe ends bifurcate and terminates on the valve face. There appear to be superficial similarities between this Asian genus and species and Playaensis, a genus comprised of two species found only in the western USA. The systematic position of Kulikovskiyia is discussed, and other than noting its similarities to other biraphid naviculoid diatoms due to symmetry features and the position of the raphe, we are uncertain about its systematic placement at finer levels of classification.     

Balearic insular isolation and large continental spread framed the phylogeography of the western Mediterranean Cheirolophus intybaceus s.l. (Asteraceae)

Recent Quaternary geological and climate events have shaped the evolutionary histories of plant species in the Mediterranean basin, one of the most important hotspots of biodiversity. Genetic analyses of the western Mediterranean Cheirolophus intybaceus s.l. (Asteraceae) based on AFLP were conducted to establish the relationships between its close species and populations, to reconstruct the phylogeography of the group and to analyse potential unidirectional versus bidirectional dispersals between the Ibero‐Provençal belt and the Balearic Islands. AFLP data revealed two main genetic groups, one constituted by the Balearic populations and Garraf (NE Iberia) and the other formed by the remaining mainland populations that were further sub‐structured into two geographically separated subgroups (SE + E Iberia and NE Iberia + SW France). Genetic diversity and spatial structure analyses suggested a mid‐Pleistocene scenario for the origin of C. intybaceus in southern Iberia, followed by dispersal to the north and a single colonisation event of the Balearic archipelago from the near Dianic NE Iberian area. This hypothesis was supported by paleogeographic data, which showed the existence of terrestrial connections between the continent and the islands during the Middle–Late Pleistocene marine regressions, whereas the more recent single back‐colonisation of the mainland from Mallorca might be explained by several hypotheses, such as long‐distance dispersal mediated by migratory marine birds or sea currents.     

五月季竹开花及复壮过程中DNA甲基化的MSAP分析

以五月季竹为材料,采用MSAP技术对其开花及花后无性复壮过程中的DNA甲基化状况进行检测,分析其开花前后的甲基化动态,以揭示竹子开花及复壮过程中的表观遗传变化规律。结果显示:（1）五月季竹开花时其叶片甲基化水平降低,而在无性复壮产生不再开花新竹的过程中其叶片甲基化水平又逐渐回升;（2）与未开花竹株相比,五月季竹开花时有29.09%的甲基化位点发生了变异,其中有17.88%的位点在开花植株中发生了完全的去甲基化,远高于发生甲基化位点的比率;（3）复壮竹株与未开花竹株之间发生变异的位点数和所占比率,尤其是发生去甲基化的位点数和比率,低于开花竹株;（4）开花五月季竹花器官的甲基化水平低于叶片,同时有28.58%的位点发生了甲基化状态的改变,且同样以去甲基化为主。     

A new Early Cretaceous eutherian mammal from the Sasayama Group,Hyogo, Japan

We here describe a new Early Cretaceous (early Albian) eutherian mammal, Sasayamamylos kawaii gen. et sp. nov., from the ‘Lower Formation’ of the Sasayama Group, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Sasayamamylos kawaii is characterized by a robust dentary, a distinct angle on the ventral margin of the dentary at the posterior end of the mandibular symphysis, a lower dental formula of 3–4 : 1 : 4 : 3, a robust lower canine, a non-molariform lower ultimate premolar, and a secondarily reduced entoconid on the molars. To date, S. kawaii is the earliest known eutherian mammal possessing only four premolars, which demonstrates that the reduction in the premolar count in eutherians started in the late Early Cretaceous. The occurrence of S. kawaii implies that the relatively rapid diversification of eutherians in the mid-Cretaceous had already started by the early Albian.     

Studies of the Liagoraceae (rhodophyta) of Western Australia: Gloiotrichus fractalis gen. et sp. nov. and Ganonema helminthaxis sp. nov.

Two new taxa of Liagoraceae (Nemaliales) are described from Western Australia. Gloiotrichus fractalis gen. et sp. nov. has been collected from 3–20 m depths at the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Plants are calcified, extremely lubricous, and grow to 17 cm in length. Carpogonial branches are straight, 6 or 7 cells in length, arise from the basal or lower cells of cortical fascicles, and are occasionally compound. Branched sterile filaments of narrow elongate cells arise on the lower cells of the carpogonial branch prior to gonimoblast initiation, at first on the basal cells, then on progressively more distal cells. Following presumed fertilisation the carpogonium divides transversely, with both cells giving rise to gonimoblast filaments. The distal cells of the carpogonial branch then begin to fuse, with fusion progressing proximally until most of the cells of the carpogonial branch are included. As fusion extends, the filaments on the carpogonial branch are reduced to the basal 2 or 3 cells. The gonimoblast is compact and bears terminal carposporangia. Spermatangial clusters arise on subterminal cells of the cortex, eventually displacing the terminal cells. The sequence of pre- and post-fertilisation events occurring in the new genus separates it from all others included in the Liagoraceae, although it appears to have close affinities with the uncalcified genus Nemalion. Ganonema helminthaxis sp. nov. was collected from 12 m depths at Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Plants are uncalcified and mucilaginous, the axes consisting of a few (< 10) primary medullary filaments, each cell of which gives rise to a cortical fascicle at alternate forks of the pseudodichotomies borne on successive medullary cells. Subsidiary (adventitious) filaments and rhizoids comprise the bulk of the thallus. Carpogonial branches are straight, (3-)4(-6) cells in length, arise on the basal 1–4 cells of the cortical fascicles, and are frequently compound. Carposporophytes develop from the upper of two daughter cells formed by a transverse division of the fertilised carpogonium. Ascending and descending sterile filaments girdle the carpogonial branch cells and arise mostly on the supporting cell prior to fertilisation. Ganonema helminthaxis is the first completely non-calcified member of the genus, and its reproductive and vegetative morphology supports the recognition of Ganonema as a genus independent from Liagora. Liagora codii Womersley is a southern Australian species displaying features of Ganonema, to which it is transferred.     

Preliminary observations on differences of scale morphology at various stages in the life cycle of ‘Apistonema-Syracosphaera’ Sensu von Stosch

A preliminary study of the fine structure of various stages in the life cycle of von Stosch's solate of ‘Syracosphaera carterae’ has been made by means of sections and whole mounts. Protoplast structure appears to be similar throughout the cycle. However, the Apistonema thallus possesses a cell wall composed of numerous layers of closely adpressed rimless unmineralised scales. Two types of asexual swarmers are shown to be covered with one or two layers of somewhat similar scales. One type of swarmer possesses a short haptonema which is covered with small scales. In addition the coccolith-bearing stages are shown to be identical with Hymenomonas carterae sensu Manton and Peterfi (1969) and this isolate has therefore been transferred to H. carterae.     

天山雪莲LEA14基因克隆及功能分析

从天山雪莲叶片低温诱导的EST文库中获得了1个胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白基因(LEA)cDNA全长序列。序列分析表明,该基因含有1个468bp编码155个氨基酸的开放阅读框。NCBI保守域预测此蛋白属于LEA_2家族,命名为SiLEA14。系统进化分析表明,该蛋白与北柴胡的LEA-2蛋白亲缘关系最近。荧光定量PCR结果显示,SiLEA14表达量在低温、盐和干旱胁迫条件下迅速升高。亚细胞定位结果表明,SiLEA14蛋白定位于细胞核中。利用农杆菌介导法将该基因导入烟草,测定并分析转基因植株在冷冻和盐胁迫处理下的生理指标,结果表明,SiLEA14基因在烟草中的过量表达提高了烟草的抗冻和耐盐能力。     

红果黄檀一新异名

通过对红果黄檀(Dalbergia tsoi Merr. et Chun)和白沙黄檀(D. peishaensis Chun et T. Chen)的标本研究及野外观察,确认两者为同种植物,故将白沙黄檀处理为红果黄檀的异名。