毛竹APX家族基因鉴定和表达分析

为了解毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(ascorbate peroxidase, APX)基因家族成员在不同组织和非生物胁迫下的表达模式,利用生物信息学方法从毛竹基因组数据库中鉴定得到7条APX同工酶基因(PeAPXs),根据亚细胞定位预测结果可分为3个亚类。各个基因启动子序列中存在低温、干旱以及光响应元件。毛竹PeAPXs在7个组织中的表达丰度不同,具有组织特异性。qRT-PCR结果表明,在干旱、盐和低温胁迫下各基因的表达模式存在着较大差异,其中PeAPX2在3种胁迫下均维持着较高的表达水平;低温胁迫对PeAPXs有诱导作用,其表达量均呈上调趋势;干旱胁迫下,PeAPX1的表达量下调,未检测到PeAPX3、PeAPX6、PeAPX7表达;盐胁迫下,除PeAPX3和PeAPX6外,其余基因表达量上调。因此,毛竹APX基因可能参与到不同的非生物胁迫过程并在毛竹的生长发育阶段发挥着重要的作用。     

叶黄素循环和D1蛋白周转在毛竹叶片光保护中的作用

利用叶绿素荧光技术,对强光胁迫下以及叶黄素循环抑制剂-二硫苏糖醇(DTT)和D1蛋白合成抑制剂-硫酸链霉素(SM)处理后毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis (Carr.) Lehaie)的光抑制特征进行研究。结果显示:在夏季中午强光或人为强光胁迫下,毛竹叶片最大光化学效率Fv/Fm均显著降低;在下午光强减弱或黑暗、弱光条件下,Fv/Fm可有效恢复。DTT和SM均可抑制毛竹叶片非光化学淬灭(NPQ),且DTT效果明显优于SM。另外,在强光下,DTT和SM处理均能使毛竹叶片Fv/Fm、实际光化学效率Y(Ⅱ)和光化学淬灭qP等荧光参数下降幅度增大。研究结果表明毛竹叶片具有完善的光破坏防御机制,NPQ与叶黄素循环和D1蛋白周转紧密关联,在叶片光保护机制中具有重要作用。     

毛竹APX基因系统进化与表达分析

抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(aseorbate peroxidase, APX)是植物活性氧代谢中重要的抗氧化酶之一,尤其是叶绿体中清除H₂O₂的关键酶,也是维生素C代谢的主要酶类。该文基于生物信息学方法,利用毛竹的基因组及转录组数据鉴定毛竹中的APX基因家族成员,并对其编码的蛋白基本理化性质、基因结构、启动子元件、系统进化及共线性关系、重复串联基因、GO注释及表达模式进行综合分析,共鉴定出21种编码APX的基因。结果表明:(1)PeAPX基因家族成员多为不稳定疏水蛋白,基因结构、基序及结构域相对较为保守,大多数APX基因具有高度保守的内含子模式。(2)系统进化关系显示毛竹APX基因与水稻APX基因有着较高的同源性关系,PeAPX具有较高的进化保守性。(3)Ka/Ks分析表明PeAPX基因都经历了纯化选择压力,此外在每个APX基因的启动子序列中发现有许多与应激反应和植物激素相关的顺式作用元件,结合表达量分析,表明毛竹APX基因在毛竹生长发育中起着正向促进作用。该研究为进一步了解毛竹APX基因家族基本功能及其抗氧化机制提供了一定的参考,为毛竹APX基因功能的深层次鉴定提供了重要依据。     

The South Hesse Oak Project (SHOP): Species- and site-specific efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus of Mediterranean and Central European Oaks

In three experimental sites in Southern Hesse, differing in management procedures, one- to three-year-old saplings of Quercus robur, Q.pubescens, and Q.ilex were planted to study their performance under Central European climate conditions. Toward the end of the growth period (mid–late September 2011), during a very dry period, we measured JIP transients of photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves to evaluate the effects of abiotic site factors on the photosynthetic apparatus by comparing them to data from well-watered saplings measured before the onset of senescence processes. In all three sites, Q. robur saplings in September showed the strongest deviation from the measurements in August, followed by Q. pubescens. Q. ilex, in general, was nearly unaffected by September climate conditions or performed better than plants measured in August. Differences in the behavior between species and sites could be explained by the species’ different drought susceptibility and by differential induction of early leaf senescence (in Q. robur and Q. pubescens). We conclude that measurement of the JIP transient is a feasible method in forestry to compare adverse microclimatic site effects and genetically fixed reactions of the photosynthetic apparatus in the field.     

Driving factors of a vegetation shift from Scots pine to pubescent oak in dry Alpine forests

An increasing number of studies have reported on forest declines and vegetation shifts triggered by drought. In the Swiss Rhone valley (Valais), one of the driest inner‐Alpine regions, the species composition in low elevation forests is changing: The sub‐boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominating the dry forests is showing high mortality rates. Concurrently the sub‐Mediterranean pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) has locally increased in abundance. However, it remains unclear whether this local change in species composition is part of a larger‐scale vegetation shift. To study variability in mortality and regeneration in these dry forests we analysed data from the Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) on a regular grid between 1983 and 2003, and combined it with annual mortality data from a monitoring site. Pine mortality was found to be highest at low elevation (below 1000 m a.s.l.). Annual variation in pine mortality was correlated with a drought index computed for the summer months prior to observed tree death. A generalized linear mixed‐effects model indicated for the NFI data increased pine mortality on dryer sites with high stand competition, particularly for small‐diameter trees. Pine regeneration was low in comparison to its occurrence in the overstorey, whereas oak regeneration was comparably abundant. Although both species regenerated well at dry sites, pine regeneration was favoured at cooler sites at higher altitude and oak regeneration was more frequent at warmer sites, indicating a higher adaptation potential of oaks under future warming. Our results thus suggest that an extended shift in species composition is actually occurring in the pine forests in the Valais. The main driving factors are found to be climatic variability, particularly drought, and variability in stand structure and topography. Thus, pine forests at low elevations are developing into oak forests with unknown consequences for these ecosystems and their goods and services.     

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。     

Molecular docking simulation analysis of alcohol acyltransferases from two related fruit species explains their different substrate selectivities

Tropical papaya (Carica papaya) and mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens) fruits are characterised for their strong and particular aroma. The aroma of both fruits is different and dominated by esters, which are synthesised by alcohol acyltransferases (AATs). The ability to produce esters is contrasting, V. pubescens (VpAAT1) being a very active enzyme towards the production of benzyl acetate, whereas C. papaya (CpAAT1) is more active towards the production of ethyl butanoate and methyl butanoate, but not benzyl acetate. In order to understand the mechanism of action at the molecular level, the structural model of CpAAT1 protein was built by comparative modelling. Conformational interaction between the protein and several ligands was carried out by molecular docking. CpAAT1 structure showed two domains connected by a large crossover loop, with a solvent channel in the centre of the structure. CpAAT1 and VpAAT1 proteins showed similar 3D structures, including their catalytic sites, but their solvent channels showed differences in size and shape. CpAAT1 solvent channel is larger, in agreement with its higher selectivity for large acyl-CoA substrates. In addition, the most favourably predicted substrate orientation in CpAAT1 was observed for methanol and butanoyl-CoA, showing a perfect coincidence with the high production rate of methyl butanoate of C. papaya fruit.     

我国亚热带毛竹林CO2通量的变异特征

2010年12月至2011年11月,利用涡度相关技术研究了我国亚热带(浙江)毛竹林生态系统的CO₂通量,分析了毛竹林净生态系统交换量(NEE)、生态系统呼吸量(RE)和生态系统总交换量(GEE)的变化.结果表明: 研究期间,毛竹林各月的NEE均为负值,7月最大,为-99.33 g C·m^-2,11月最小,仅-23.49 g C·m^-2,其变化曲线呈双峰型.各月CO₂通量平均日变化差异明显,9月最大,为-0.60 g CO₂·m^-2·s^-1,1月最小,为-0.30 g CO₂·m^-2·s^-1,且在NEE正负转换的时间点上呈明显的季节变化特征;全年RE呈单峰型变化,夏季最高、冬季最低,夜间RE与土壤温度呈极显著正相关.全年NEE、RE和GEE分别为-668.40、932.55和-1600.95 g C·m^-2·a^-1,NEE占GEE的41.8%.与其他生态系统相比,毛竹林的固碳能力极强.     

Quercetin 3,7-O-dimethyl ether from Siegesbeckia pubescens suppress the production of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages and colon epithelial cells

Siegesbeckia pubescens (Compositae) is an annual herb indigenous to Korean mountainous regions. Recent reports have been issued on some compounds derived from S. pubescens for its anti-inflammatory activity or mode of action. The quercetin 3,7-O-dimethyl ether (QDE) isolated from the herbs of S. pubescens suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein production in mouse macrophages. QDE downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor -α levels in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Also, QDE decreased the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and the production of IL-8 in LPS-induced HT-29 cells. Macrophages and colon epithelial cells are important for regulating the colon immune systems, thus QDE may regulate inflammatory colon disease via LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages and colon epithelial cells. QDE, anti-inflammatory constituent of S. pubescens herbs, can be expected to be a potential candidate for therapeutics against inflammatory bowel disease.     

毛竹7个新近发表种下类型的AFLP分析

为了解毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)种下类型的遗传关系,对花龟竹(P.edulis‘Mira’)、斑毛竹(‘Porphyrosticta’)、安吉锦毛竹(‘Anjiensis’)、麻衣竹(‘Exaurita’)、黄皮毛竹(‘Holochrysa’)、绿槽龟甲竹(‘Lücaoguijiazhu’)、孝丰紫筋毛竹(‘Purpureosulcata’)等7个新近发表的种下类型进行了AFLP分子标记分析。结果表明,采用筛选的8对引物组合共扩增了1728条条带,多态性条带百分率达98.77%,检测到多态性位点881个。Nei’s遗传多样性指数(H)为0.2736,Shannon信息指数(I)为0.4291。这丰富了毛竹所有23个种下类型的分子亲缘关系研究数据。