An approach to the residence time distribution for stochastic multi-compartment models

Stochastic compartmental models are widely used in modeling processes such as drug kinetics in biological systems. This paper considers the distribution of the residence times for stochastic multi-compartment models, especially systems with non-exponential lifetime distributions. The paper first derives the moment generating function of the bivariate residence time distribution for the two-compartment model with general lifetimes and approximates the density of the residence time using the saddlepoint approximation. Then, it extends the distributional approach to the residence time for multi-compartment semi-Markov models combining the cofactor rule for a single destination and the analytic approach to the two-compartment model. This approach provides a complete specification of the residence time distribution based on the moment generating function and thus facilitates an easier calculation of high-order moments than the approach using the coefficient matrix. Applications to drug kinetics demonstrate the simplicity and usefulness of this approach.     

Photosynthetic pathway alters hydraulic structure and function in woody plants

Xylem structure and function is proposed to reflect an evolutionary balance between demands for efficient movement of water to the leaf canopy and resistance to cavitation during high xylem tension. Water use efficiency (WUE) affects this balance by altering the water cost of photosynthesis. Therefore species of greater WUE, such as C₄ plants, should have altered xylem properties. To evaluate this hypothesis, we assessed the hydraulic and anatomical properties of 19 C₃ and C₄ woody species from arid regions of the American west and central Asia. Specific conductivity of stem xylem (K_s ) was 16%–98% lower in the C₄ than C₃ shrubs from the American west. In the Asian species, the C₃ Nitraria schoberi had similar and Halimodendron halodendron higher K_s values compared with three C₄ species. Leaf specific conductivity (K_L ; hydraulic conductivity per leaf area) was 60%–98% lower in the C₄ than C₃ species, demonstrating that the presence of the C₄ pathway alters the relationship between leaf area and the ability of the xylem to transport water. C₄ species produced similar or smaller vessels than the C₃ shrubs except in Calligonum, and most C₄ shrubs exhibited higher wood densities than the C₃ species. Together, smaller conduit size and higher wood density indicate that in most cases, the C₄ shrubs exploited higher WUE by altering xylem structure to enhance safety from cavitation. In a minority of cases, the C₄ shrubs maintained similar xylem properties but enhanced the canopy area per branch. By establishing a link between C₄ photosynthesis and xylem structure, this study indicates that other phenomena that affect WUE, such as atmospheric CO₂ variation, may also affect the evolution of wood structure and function.     

嗜盐菌素HalC8基因簇克隆与分析

采用基因组部分文库及锚定PCR技术,克隆了嗜盐菌素HalC8编码基因及其上下游可能的相关基因共约9.3kb的DNA序列。序列分析表明已知序列至少含有6个ORF,包括上游编码跨膜蛋白的halU基因、编码可能的调节蛋白的halR基因,编码嗜盐菌素HalC8及其免疫蛋白HalⅠ的proC8基因、以及位于proC8基因下游的编码可能的转运蛋白的halT1,halT2和halT3基因。这是国际上首次对嗜盐菌素基因簇可能的相关基因的克隆。     

Probing Structure–Function Relationships of Serine Hydrolases and Proteases with Carbamate and Thiocarbamate Inhibitors

Benzene-1,3-di-N-n-octylcarbamate (1), benzene-1-hydroxyl-3-N-n-octylcarbamate (2), benzene-1,3-di-N-n-ocztylthiocarbamate (3), and benzene-1-hydroxyl-3-N-n-octylthiocarbamate (4) are synthesized from 1,3-benzene-diol and are characterized as the pseudo-substrate inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, cholesterol esterase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin. For these six enzyme inhibitions by 1-4, the pKi values are linearly correlated with their log ki values - Br?nsted plots. Therefore, 1-4 inhibit these enzymes through a common mechanism. Moreover, both pKi and log ki values for the inhibitions by 1,3, and 4 are linearly correlated with both pKi and log ki values for the inhibitions by 2, respectively. Thus, the pKi values for the inhibitions by 2 are defined as the nucleophilicity constants of these enzymes (nenzyme). The log k2 values for the inhibitions by 1-4 are also linearly correlated with the nenzyme values. Therefore, the nucleophilicity for serine hydrolases and proteases toward 1-4 also applies the Swain-Scott correlations.     

转录调控因子WRKY 超级家族: 起源、结构和功能*

WRKY 蛋白质是一个植物特有的超级转录调控因子家族, 在拟南芥和水稻基因组中分别拥有至少74 个和97 个成员。最古老的WRKY 转录调控因子拥有2 个高度保守的WRKY 结构域, 可能起源于15~ 20 亿年前的真核生物。虽然所有WRKY 蛋白质主要通过特异地结合靶基因启动子区域的W 盒序列而调控其表达, 但各家族成员基因的生物学功能存在着各自的特异性。本文详细总结了WRKY 蛋白质在调控植物发育和逆境诱导反应的信号转导途径建立等方面的分子生物学功能。     

Cloning, expression and function of phosphate transporter encoded gene in Oryza sativa L.

OsPT6:1, a phosphate transporter encoding gene from the leaf samples of Oryza sativa, was identified through PCR with specifically designed primers. The phylogenetic analysis and the conserved amino acid residue site detection suggested OsPT6:1 a possible high-affinity phosphate transporter encoding gene. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR demonstrated the expression of OsPT6:1 in both roots and leaves. The peak expression signal was observed in mesophyll cells under low phosphorus (P) induction. A homologous recombination study indicated that OsPT6:1 can enhance the Pi uptake efficiency of Pichia pastoris. At the meantime, the introduction of OsPT6:1 was able to complement the Pi uptake function of yeast cells with high-affinity phosphate transporters deficient. Those results substantiated our contention that OsPT6:1 encoded a high-affinity phosphate transporter of Oryza sativa. These authors contributed equally to this work.     

杜氏盐藻硝酸盐还原酶基因5′上游序列的克隆与功能分析

目的:克隆杜氏盐藻硝酸盐还原酶（NR）基因5′上游序列序列,并对其功能进行分析。方法: 利用BamHI、EcoRI、HindIII、PstI、SalI、Xbal 6种限制性内切酶分别酶切盐藻基因组DNA,并与接头连接,构建成盐藻基因组步行文库。采用 LA-PCR方法,从上述盐藻步行基因组文库中扩增NR基因5′上游序列序列,测序并进行分析。为检测其表达特性,构建了该片段与GUS 嵌合基因的表达载体pNR-GUS, 通过电击法将所构建的重组表达载体转化盐藻,组织化学染色法观察GUS的表达。结果: 从盐藻基因组步行文库中扩增出约1200bp特异片段,序列分析表明5′上游序列含有启动子的特征性序列。GUS瞬时表达染色结果显示,该DNA 片段具有硝酸盐诱导和铵抑制的启动子活性。结论：所克隆的盐藻的5′上游序列可能是一种具有"开关"活性的可控性启动子。     

植物化感作用与生物多样性

本文简要地阐释了化感作用的含义、基本特征以及作用机制,并结合生物多样性理论,综述了化感作用研究中化感物种的多样性、化感物质的多样性及其释放途径的多样性,具体讨论了化感作用对物种多样性、遗传多样性及生态系统多样性中的种群生态、协同进化、土壤生境、生态系统功能和生物入侵等方面的可能影响。文中提出了化感作用的利用、管理应与生物多样性保护相统一的看法,并指出对化感作用与生物多样性的关系以及相互影响机制进行本质的探索,特别是对植物化感作用的生态服务功能与价值评估与探讨,可为保护生物学和系统生态学提供理论基础,这也是今后工作开展的一个重要方向。     

植物基因功能鉴定新工具--病毒诱导基因沉默技术的研究进展

病毒诱导基因沉默（Virus—induced gene silencing,VIGS）技术是指带一段靶基因序列的VIGS重组病毒侵染植物、引起植物同源基因沉默与表型变异,进而通过表型变异进行基因功能分析的方法,是近年发展起来的从反向遗传学方向快速鉴定植物基因功能的技术,是转录后基因沉默机制的一种表现。①VIGS的分子机制,涉厦基因沉默的起始、维持和信号放大、传播共3个阶段;②VIGS技术、栽体与方法学的发展;③VIGS作为基因功能研究的优越性,如不必进行转基因、操作方法简便、获得结果快速等;④应用VIGS对植物抗病途径、代谢与发育调控中参与基因功能进行研究的概况。同时。展望了VIGS技术作为植物功能基因组学功能分析的高通量技术平台的美好前景。     

烟草叶片发育过程中光合功能衰退与H_2O_2积累的关系

以烟草(NicotianatabacumL.cvNC89)为材料,研究了叶片发育过程中H2O2积累与叶绿体光合功能衰退、抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GSH)循环的关联。结果表明,光合功能衰退过程中,各光合参数均表现为先缓慢后快速的下降趋势,核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶(RuBPCase)活性下降较电子传递活性下降迅速,H2O2含量与叶绿素含量、光合速率、RuBPCase活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性显著负相关。H2O2的定位染色也证实光合功能衰退与H2O2积累密切相关。APX和GR在光合功能可逆衰退阶段维持较高水平,不可逆衰退阶段下降稍快。烟草叶片光合功能衰退快于AsA-GSH循环运转的下调。