江西珍稀濒危药用植物分级标准的研究

以江西省受威胁的３２种药用植物为研究对象,制定出江西省珍稀濒危药用植物保护的定量化分级标准。经过一系列评价标准的定量化及权得分配处理,以求得药用植物种的“濒危系数”和“Ｑ刀切保护值”,然后确定药用植物的受威胁程度和急切的保护的序列。     

癸培养基的研制及在小麦花药培养中的应用研究

在多年的小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)花药培养育种及对多种培养基应用研究的基础上,从调整培养基的大量元素和微量元素入手,建立了癸培养基。经过L_(16)(4~5)正交实验,筛选出NH_4N0_3、KNQ_3、MgSO_4、MnSO_4在培养基中较优的配比。在培养基对比实验中,癸培养基的愈伤组织平均诱导率分别比C_(17)、W_(14)、N_6培养基提高了30.31％、50.60％和57.96％,且对不同的杂交组合都能表现出优越性。在癸培养基中附加0.9mg/L REA(rare eaxth addition,稀土元素附加剂),可使小麦花药愈伤组织诱导率提高54.25％～64.07％,并对愈伤组织的生长有促进作用。     

湖北的珍贵稀有植物

本文论述湖北的珍贵稀有植物108种,分为四级,一级的3种,二级23种,三级27种,四级55种,为我省植物资源的保护和合理利用提供资料。     

A comparison of levels of genetic polymorphism and self-compatibility in geographically restricted and widespread plant congeners

Summary Evolutionary theory predicts low levels of genetic polymorphism and high levels of self-compatibility in plant species with small ranges and few individuals. To test these predictions, I compared published data on electrophoretically detectable genetic variation and breeding systems for geographically restricted and widespread congeners in eleven genera. The restricted species exhibit significantly fewer polymorphic loci and alleles per polymorphic locus than do their widespread congeners. Although some rare species are genetically impoverished, others are nearly as polymorphic as their widespread congeners. The restricted species and their widespread congeners do not differ consistently with respect to breeding systems.     

Cross-taxon congruence in the rarity of subtidal rocky marine assemblages: No taxonomic shortcut for conservation monitoring

The implementation of protection strategies such as the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) is impeded for subtidal rock bottom habitats because of high sampling costs due to a very wide taxonomic diversity, and a lack of suitable evaluation tools to estimate their conservation importance. In this study, we seek to provide an evaluation procedure by (1) investigating the distribution of rarity among subtidal rock bottom phyla; (2) searching for potential surrogate phyla with a cross-taxon congruence approach based on their rarity; (3) proposing an appropriate multi-phyla indicator to evaluate the importance of subtidal rocky habitats for conservation. We analysed the distribution of 548 species belonging to 8 phyla sampled in 137 assemblages in subtidal rocky areas located around Brittany, Western France. We applied the Index of Relative Rarity, a flexible method which fits rarity weights to species depending on their respective phyla. We found only weak congruence in rarity patterns among phyla, which prevented any attempt to identify surrogate phyla. This finding has important implications for the conservation of subtidal rocky habitats as it means that there is no shortcut to monitor their rarity: working on a subset of phyla would imply a biased evaluation of biodiversity. Consequently, we propose a multi-phyla Index of Relative Rarity combining all phyla which allowed us to successfully describe rarity patterns across all sampled sites.     

Rare earth and yttrium elements (REY) patterns of mesostructures of Miaolingian (Cambrian) thrombolites at Jiulongshan,Shandong Province,China

The relationship between the thrombolitic mesostructures and their depositional environments is still poorly understood due to inconsistent results by sedimentary investigation. Rare earth elements plus yttrium (REY) in ancient microbialites have been extensively applied to paleoenvironmental studies owing to their fractionation in different depositional environments. In order to investigate the environmental controls on thrombolitic mesostructures, we present the REY concentrations and patterns of four types of mesostructures of the Miaolingian (Cambrian) thrombolites in the Changhia Formation at the Jiulongshan section, Shandong Province, China. The REY compositions of those thrombolites show two distinctive groups: (1) light REY depleted patterns with negative Ce anomalies in spotted (SM) and layered mesostructures (LM) of thrombolites; and (2) flat patterns with weak Ce anomalies in dendritic (DM) and meshed mesostructures (MM) of thrombolites. Controlling factors analysis reveals that terrigenous detritus inputs have stronger influence on REY in SM and LM. In contrast, early diagenetic porewaters from underlying sediments have more serious impacts on REY concentrations and patterns in DM and MM. Our results clearly indicate that SM and LM were formed under oxic marine settings with minor terrigenous inputs, whereas DM and MM formed under suboxic marine settings suffered from early diagenetic porewater from underlying sediments. This new geochemical evidence suggests that thrombolitic mesostructures were strongly influenced by paleoenvironment, and REY of thrombolites with controlling factors analysis can be utilized as effective proxies for paleoenvironments.     

To be or not to be native: From the discourse on the official status of Salix alba to the recommendation to strengthen the protection of marginal populations in Latvia,with notes to related taxa

In Europe, Salix euxina is considered to be an adventive species, while S. alba is regarded as native. When assessing the protection of species in wild habitats, it is important to know the status of each species so that not to protect unreasonably alien species. Analysing the sources of literature, it was noticed that the views of Latvian authors differed — both on the status of the indigenous S. alba, as well as the adventive S. euxina. Research has shown that the ‘official status’ assigned to both basic species on the national level differs and contradicts the scientifically recognized status. This is an interesting case when certain state institutions responsible for nature protection have officially recognized a native species as an alien one and an alien species as a native one through laws and regulations. Considering that there are marginal populations of S. alba of the natural distribution range in Latvia, the most valuable of which occur in the basin of the River Gauja, the current possible protection of S. alba on the national level was analysed. Analysing the legislation, it has been established that rare habitats with S. alba woods (Salicetum albae) on alluvial soils of river flats are also included among the specially protected habitats. Analysing the individual protection regulations of the two largest specially protected areas, i. e. the Protected Landscape Area of the Northern Gauja and the Gauja National Park, it has been concluded that the current protection regime in the country does not ensure full protection of marginal populations of S. alba in natural habitats. This is because the individual protection regulations do not include the specific protected habitats of Salicetum albae and allow the felling of young willows, which contradicts the provisions of the legal act on the structural elements of the habitat Salicetum albae. In order to ensure full protection of marginal populations of S. alba and special habitats formed by the species in Latvia, it is necessary to update and define more accurately the laws and regulation on its protection.     

Characterization of the C584R variant in the mtDNA depletion syndrome gene FBXL4, reveals a novel role for FBXL4 as a regulator of mitochondrial fusion

Mutations in FBXL4 (F-Box and Leucine rich repeat protein 4), a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein with an unknown function, cause mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. We report two siblings, from consanguineous parents, harbouring a previously uncharacterized homozygous variant in FBXL4 (c.1750 T > C; p.Cys584Arg). Both patients presented with encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and cardiac hypertrophy, which are reported features of FBXL4 impairment. Remarkably, dichloroacetate (DCA) administration to the younger sibling improved metabolic acidosis and reversed cardiac hypertrophy. Characterization of FBXL4 patient fibroblasts revealed severe bioenergetic defects, mtDNA depletion, fragmentation of mitochondrial networks, and abnormalities in mtDNA nucleoids. These phenotypes, observed with other pathogenic FBXL4 variants, confirm the pathogenicity of the p.Cys584Arg variant. Although treating FBXL4 fibroblasts with DCA improved extracellular acidification, in line with reduced lactate levels in patients, DCA treatment did not improve any of the other mitochondrial functions. Nonetheless, we highlight DCA as a potentially effective drug for the management of elevated lactate and cardiomyopathy in patients with pathogenic FBXL4 variants. Finally, as the exact mechanism through which FBXL4 mutations lead to mtDNA depletion was unknown, we tested the hypothesis that FBXL4 promotes mitochondrial fusion. Using a photo-activatable GFP fusion assay, we found reduced mitochondrial fusion rates in cells harbouring a pathogenic FBXL4 variant. Meanwhile, overexpression of wildtype FBXL4, but not the p.Cys584Arg variant, promoted mitochondrial hyperfusion. Thus, we have uncovered a novel function for FBXL4 in promoting mitochondrial fusion, providing important mechanistic insights into the pathogenic mechanism underlying FBXL4 dysfunction.     

Genetic,structural, and functional analysis of pathogenic variations causing methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase deficiency

Human methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (MCEE) catalyzes the interconversion of d-methylmalonyl-CoA and l-methylmalonyl-CoA in propionate catabolism. Autosomal recessive pathogenic variations in MCEE reportedly cause methylmalonic aciduria (MMAuria) in eleven patients. We investigated a cohort of 150 individuals suffering from MMAuria of unknown origin, identifying ten new patients with pathogenic variations in MCEE. Nine patients were homozygous for the known nonsense variation p.Arg47* (c.139C > T), and one for the novel missense variation p.Ile53Arg (c.158T > G). To understand better the molecular basis of MCEE deficiency, we mapped p.Ile53Arg, and two previously described pathogenic variations p.Lys60Gln and p.Arg143Cys, onto our 1.8 Å structure of wild-type (wt) human MCEE. This revealed potential dimeric assembly disruption by p.Ile53Arg, but no clear defects from p.Lys60Gln or p.Arg143Cys. We solved the structure of MCEE-Arg143Cys to 1.9 Å and found significant disruption of two important loop structures, potentially impacting surface features as well as the active-site pocket. Functional analysis of MCEE-Ile53Arg expressed in a bacterial recombinant system as well as patient-derived fibroblasts revealed nearly undetectable soluble protein levels, defective globular protein behavior, and using a newly developed assay, lack of enzymatic activity - consistent with misfolded protein. By contrast, soluble protein levels, unfolding characteristics and activity of MCEE-Lys60Gln were comparable to wt, leaving unclear how this variation may cause disease. MCEE-Arg143Cys was detectable at comparable levels to wt MCEE, but had slightly altered unfolding kinetics and greatly reduced activity. These studies reveal ten new patients with MCEE deficiency and rationalize misfolding and loss of activity as molecular defects in MCEE-type MMAuria.