Photosynthetic UV-B Response of Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Saplings

Cloned saplings of beech (7-y-old) were exposed to enhanced UV-B irradiation (+25 %) continuously over three growing seasons (1999–2001). Analysis of CO₂ assimilation, variable chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, and pigment composition was performed in late summer of the third growing season to evaluate the influence of long-term elevated UV-B irradiation. This influence was responsible for the stimulation of the net assimilation rate (P _N) over a range of irradiances. The increase in P _N was partially connected to increase of the area leaf mass, and thus to the increased leaf thickness. Even a higher degree of UV-B induced stimulation was observed at the level of photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemistry as judged from the irradiance response of electron transport rate and photochemical quenching of Chl a. The remarkably low irradiance-induced non-photochemical quenching of maximum Chl a fluorescence (NPQ) in the UV-B plants over the entire range of applied irradiances was attributed both to the reduced demand on non-radiative dissipation processes and to the considerably reduced contribution of the quenching localised in the inactivated PS2 reaction centres. Neither the content of Chls and total carotenoids expressed per leaf area nor the contents of lutein, neoxanthin, and the pool of xanthophyll cycle pigments (VAZ) were affected under the elevated UV-B. However, the contributions of antheraxanthin (A) and zeaxanthin (Z) to the entire VAZ pool in the dark-adapted UV-B treated plants were 1.61 and 2.14 times higher than in control leaves. Surprisingly, the retained A+Z in UV-B treated plants was not accompanied with long-term down-regulation of the PS2 photochemical efficiency, but it facilitated the non-radiative dissipation of excitation energy within light-harvesting complexes (LHC) of PS2. Thus, in the beech leaves the accumulation of A+Z, induced by other factors than excess irradiance itself, supports the resistance of PS2 against combined effects of high irradiance and elevated UV-B.     

Changes in the quantities of violaxanthin de-epoxidase,xanthophylls and ascorbate in spinach upon shift from low to high light

Zeaxanthin, a carotenoid in the xanthophyll cycle, has been suggested to play a role in the protection against photodestruction. We have studied the importance of the parameters involved in zeaxanthin formation by comparing spinach plants grown in low light (100 to 250 mol m^-2 s^-1) to plants transferred to high light (950 mol m^-2 s^-1). Different parameters were followed for a total of 11 days. Our experiments show that violaxanthin de-epoxidase decreased between 15 and 30%, the quantity of xanthophyll cycle pigments doubled to 100 mmol (mol Chl)^-1, corresponding to 27 mol m^-2, and the rate of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin conversion was doubled. Lutein and neoxanthin increased from 50 to 71 mol m^-2 and from 16 to 23 mol m^-2, respectively. On a leaf area basis, chlorophyll and -carotene levels first decreased and then after 4 days increased. The chlorophyll a/b ratio was unchanged. The quantity of ascorbate was doubled to 2 mmol m^-2, corresponding to an estimated increase in the chloroplasts from 25 to 50 mM. In view of our data, we propose that the increase in xanthophyll cycle pigments and ascorbate only partly explain the increased rate of conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin, but the most probable explanation of the faster conversion is an increased accessibility of violaxanthin in the membrane.     

Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye on Pure and Carbonized Water Weeds

The influence of process variables in batch adsorption has been used to assess the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution using pure and carbonized biomasses of water hyacinth and water spinach. Dried leaves of the water weeds were carbonized at temperature up to 750°C. The optimum removal of dye was achieved at pH 10, 30°C, and 55 min at a dye concentration of 10 mg/L. In an attempt to describe the adsorption process, the equilibrium isotherm for each adsorbent was determined using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Maximum adsorption capacities based on the Langmuir model for pure and carbonized water hyacinth were (mg/g) 7.05 and 2.07, respectively, whereas those of pure and carbonized water spinach were 1.25 and 5.32, respectively. It was observed that the equilibrium data were well fit by both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms as R ² > .97. This study demonstrates that the two waterweeds are effective, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive biomaterials for the removal of color from industrial effluents.     

Water geochemistry and sedimentary pigments in northern Victoria Land lakes,Antarctica

Total concentrations of algal pigments, organic C, C, N, P and S were determined in surface sediments from the littoral zone of 21 lakes in ice-free areas of northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) with different climatic and environmental conditions. Concentrations of major ions and nutrients were also determined in water samples from the same lakes. The latter samples had extremely variable chemical compositions; however, all the lakes resulted oligotrophic. Pigment concentrations in surface sediments were comparable to those reported for other Antarctic lakes and lower than those in oligotrophic lakes at lower latitudes. Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta were the main taxa identified. These taxa correspond to those reported in previous microscopy-based studies on Antarctic phytoplankton and phytobenthos. Discriminant Function Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis of data indicate that the distribution of pigments in these Victoria Land lakes depends mainly on their geographical location (particularly the distance from the sea) and nutrient status.     

Gas exchange and antioxidative compounds in young beech trees under free-air ozone exposure and comparisons to adult trees

Three-year-old beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings growing in containers were placed into the sun and shade crown of a mature beech stand exposed to ambient (1 x O(3)) and double ambient (2 x O(3)) ozone concentrations at a free-air exposure system ("Kranzberg Forst", Germany). Pigments, alpha-tocopherol, glutathione, ascorbate, and gas exchange were measured in leaves during 2003 (a drought year) and 2004 (an average year). Sun-exposed seedlings showed higher contents of antioxidants, xanthophylls, and beta-carotene and lower contents of chlorophyll, alpha-carotene, and neoxanthin than shade-exposed seedlings. In 2003 sun-exposed seedlings showed higher contents of carotenoids and total glutathione and lower net photosynthesis rates (A(max)) compared to 2004. O(3) exposure generally affected the content of chlorophyll, the xanthophyll cycle, and the intercellular CO(2) concentration (c(i)). Seedlings differed from the adjacent adult trees in most biochemical and physiological parameters investigated: Sun exposed seedlings showed higher contents of alpha-tocopherol and xanthophylls and lower contents of ascorbate, chlorophyll, neoxanthin, and alpha-carotene compared to adult trees. Shade exposed seedlings had lower contents of xanthophylls, alpha-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol than shade leaves of old-growth trees. In 2003, seedlings had higher A(max), stomatal conductance (g(s)), and c(i) under 2 x O(3) than adult trees. The results showed that shade acclimated beech seedlings are more sensitive to O(3), possibly due to a lower antioxidative capacity per O(3) uptake. We conclude that beech seedlings are uncertain surrogates for adult beech trees.     

The First Homozygote Mutation c.499G>T (Asp167Tyr) in the RPE65 Gene Encoding Retinoid Isomerohydrolase Causing Retinal Dystrophy

RPE65, an abundant membrane-associated protein present in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is a vital retinoid isomerase necessary for regenerating 11-cis-retinaldehyde from all-trans retinol in the visual cycle. In patients with inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD), precise genetic diagnosis is an indispensable approach as it is required to establish eligibility for the genetic treatment of RPE65-associated IRDs. This case report aims to report the specific phenotype–genotype correlation of the first patient with a homozygous missense variant RPE65 c.499G>T, p. (Asp167Tyr). We report a case of a 66-year-old male who demonstrated a unique phenotype manifesting less severe functional vision deterioration in childhood and adolescence, and extensive nummular pigment clusters. The underlying causes of the differences in the typical bone spicule and atypical nummular pigment clumping are unknown, but suggest that the variant itself influenced the rate of photoreceptor death. Functional studies are needed to define whether the substitution of aspartate impairs the folding of the tertiary RPE65 structure only and does not lead to the complete abolishment of chromophore production, thus explaining the less severe phenotype in adolescence.     

斑块面积对干燥-复水条件下藓类植物生理活性的影响

干扰会导致生物结皮斑块破碎并退化。为明确生物结皮斑块破碎诱发生物结皮退化机理,以黄土丘陵区土生对齿藓(Didymodon vinealis)结皮为研究对象,研究了干燥-复水条件下,单株和直径1 cm、2 cm、3 cm、4 cm、5 cm的藓结皮斑块内土生对齿藓的干燥速率、渗透调节物质、丙二醛和光合色素含量等的变化,以期揭示干扰后生物结皮退化的生物学机理。结果表明(1)除单株外,干燥速率随斑块面积减小而增加,直径1 cm斑块内藓的干燥速率是直径5 cm的2倍。(2)反复干燥-复水25天后,直径小于5 cm的斑块内藓的可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和叶绿素含量低于直径5 cm斑块内藓的含量,丙二醛含量随斑块面积变化无明显规律。(3)干燥速率与斑块面积、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白及叶绿素含量均呈极显著负相关。以上结果表明,藓结皮斑块面积通过影响斑块内藓类植物干燥速率进而影响其渗透调节和光合作用能力。藓结皮斑块面积减小,藓类植物干燥速率增大,生理活性降低,是藓结皮斑块破碎诱发其退化的原因。研究从藓类植物生理的角度,阐明了干扰后藓类植物衰亡的生理学原因,为生物结皮的保护和管理提供了科学依据。     

GROWTH OF HETEROSIGMA CARTERAE (RAPHIDOPHYCEAE) ON NITRATE AND AMMONIUM AT THREE PHOTON FLUX DENSITIES: EVIDENCE FOR N STRESS IN NITRATE-GROWING CELLS

The marine alga Heterosigma carterae Hulburt (Raphidophyta) was grown in N-limiting batch cultures using either nitrate or ammonium as the N source, at photon flux densities (PFDs) of 50, 200, and 350 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 in a 12:12 h LD cycle. Carbon content could be estimated from biovolume (μg C = 0.278 × nL; R = 0.98) but not reliably from pigment content. During exponential growth, ammonium-grown cells (in comparison with nitrate-grown cells at the same PFD) attained higher growth rates by at least 20%, contained more N, and had a lower C:N ratio, higher concentrations of intracellular free amino acids, and higher ratios of glutamine: glutamate (Gln: Glu) and asparagine: aspartate (Asn:Asp). Growth was nearly light-saturated on ammonium at 200 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 (cell-specific growth rate of 1.2 d^-1) but probably not saturated in nitrate-grown cells at 350 μmol·m^-2·s^-1. PFD did not affect Gln: Glu or Asn: Asp for a given N source. These results indicate that the nitrate-growing cells were more N-stressed than those using ammonium (which in contrast were relatively C-stressed) and that this organism would show an enhanced competitive advantage against other species when supplied with a transient supply of ammonium rather than nitrate .     

Comparing microscopic counts and pigment analyses in 46 phytoplankton communities from lakes of different trophic state

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