盐胁迫对四季竹细胞膜透性和矿质离子吸收、运输和分配的影响

采用盆栽控制试验,研究了土壤不同NaCl浓度(0(CK)、1‰、2‰、3‰、4‰、5‰和6‰)处理45 d对四季竹叶片脱落率和细胞膜透性以及立竹器官K+、Na+、Ca2+和Cl-等矿质离子的吸收、运输和分配的影响.结果表明,1‰～2‰NaCl处理对四季竹叶片脱落率和离子渗漏率无显著影响,3‰～6‰ NaCl处理显著提高了叶片脱落率和离子渗漏率,四季竹的盐胁迫伤害随土壤盐浓度的增大而加剧.随着Na+、Cl-在四季竹立竹各器官中的显著增加,竹根、竹秆、竹枝K+含量逐渐下降,Ca2+含量变化较小,并且K+、Ca2+在竹根、竹秆中的向上选择性运输能力逐渐减弱.由于竹叶在低浓度(1‰～2‰)和高浓度(3‰～6‰)盐胁迫下分别对Ca2+和K+具有较高的选择性吸收能力,随盐浓度的增大,竹叶K+含量迅速升高,Ca2+含量先升高后下降,这对维持竹叶的营养平衡和正常生长具有重要意义.3‰～6‰NaCl处理时,Na+、Cl-在竹叶中的浓度显著高于立竹其他器官,不仅降低了竹叶的渗透势,有利于水分的向上运输,而且四季竹还可以通过叶片脱落的方式降低体内的盐分含量,减轻盐离子毒害.     

Trafficking mechanisms of extracellular matrix macromolecules: Insights from vertebrate development and human diseases

Cellular life depends on protein transport and membrane traffic. In multicellular organisms, membrane traffic is required for extracellular matrix deposition, cell adhesion, growth factor release, and receptor signaling, which are collectively required to integrate the development and physiology of tissues and organs. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that govern cargo and membrane flow presents a prime challenge in cell biology. Extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion remains poorly understood, although given its essential roles in the regulation of cell migration, differentiation, and survival, ECM secretion mechanisms are likely to be tightly controlled.Recent studies in vertebrate model systems, from fishes to mammals and in human patients, have revealed complex and diverse loss-of-function phenotypes associated with mutations in components of the secretory machinery. A broad spectrum of diseases from skeletal and cardiovascular to neurological deficits have been linked to ECM trafficking. These discoveries have directly challenged the prevailing view of secretion as an essential but monolithic process. Here, we will discuss the latest findings on mechanisms of ECM trafficking in vertebrates.     

Large-scale production of mouse phenotypes: the search for animal models for inherited diseases in humans

This paper is aimed principally at bioinformaticians and biologists as an introduction to recent advances in mouse mutagenesis, concentrating on genome-wide screens utilising the powerful mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitroso-urea (ENU). It contains a brief background to the underlying genetics as well as details of the practical aspects of organisation and data capture for such projects.     

Statistical methods for detecting molecular adaptation

The past few years have seen the development of powerful statistical methods for detecting adaptive molecular evolution. These methods compare synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates in protein-coding genes, and regard a nonsynonymous rate elevated above the synonymous rate as evidence for darwinian selection. Numerous cases of molecular adaptation are being identified in various systems from viruses to humans. Although previous analyses averaging rates over sites and time have little power, recent methods designed to detect positive selection at individual sites and lineages have been successful. Here, we summarize recent statistical methods for detecting molecular adaptation, and discuss their limitations and possible improvements.     

温度变化对化州市水稻两迁害虫发生的影响

利用广东省化州市1959—2008年气温资料及化州市病虫测报站1989—2008年稻飞虱、稻纵卷叶螟Cnaphalocrocis medinalis(Guenée)田间测报资料,运用统计分析方法分析了该地区气温变化与稻飞虱、稻纵卷叶螟发生的关系。结果表明:与1959—1988年1—4月各旬平均气温比较,1989—1998年气温变化不明显,而从1999—2008年呈明显的增温态势,这种气候背景使得上述2害虫发生期和发生程度随1—4月平均气温的升高而显著提前和加重,平均气温与发生期和发生程度的相关性达到显著或极显著水平。     

Morphological, physiological and behavioural evaluation of a ‘Mice in Space’ housing system

Environmental conditions likely affect physiology and behaviour of mice used for life sciences research on Earth or in Space. Here, we analysed the effects of cage confinement on the weightbearing musculoskeletal system, behaviour and stress of wild-type mice (C57BL/6JRj, 30 g b.wt., total n = 24) housed for 25 days in a prototypical ground-based and fully automated life support habitat device called “Mice in Space” (MIS). Compared with control housing (individually ventilated cages) the MIS mice revealed no significant changes in soleus muscle size and myofiber distribution (type I vs. II) and quality of bone (3-D microarchitecture and mineralisation of calvaria, spine and femur) determined by confocal and micro-computed tomography. Corticosterone metabolism measured non-invasively (faeces) monitored elevated adrenocortical activity at only start of the MIS cage confinement (day 1). Behavioural tests (i.e., grip strength, rotarod, L/D box, elevated plus-maze, open field, aggressiveness) performed subsequently revealed only minor changes in motor performance (MIS vs. controls). The MIS habitat will not, on its own, produce major effects that could confound interpretation of data induced by microgravity exposure during spaceflight. Our results may be even more helpful in developing multidisciplinary protocols with adequate scenarios addressing molecular to systems levels using mice of various genetic phenotypes in many laboratories. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Atheroma development in apolipoprotein E-null mice is not regulated by phosphorylation of p27(Kip1) on threonine 187

Excessive cellular proliferation is thought to contribute to neointimal lesion development during atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity by p27 inhibits mammalian cell growth. Mounting evidence indicates that p27 negatively regulates neointimal thickening in animal models of restenosis and atherosclerosis, and its expression in human neointimal lesions is consistent with such a protective role. Cell cycle progression is facilitated by cyclinE/CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of p27 on threonine 187 (T187) during late G1. The purpose of this study was to assess whether this phosphorylation event plays a role during atherosclerosis. To this end, we generated apolipoprotein E-null mice with both p27 alleles replaced by a mutated form non-phosphorylatable at T187 (apoE-/-p27T187A mice) and investigated the kinetics of atheroma development in these animals compared to apoE-/- controls with an intact p27 gene. Fat feeding resulted in comparable level of hypercholesterolemia in both groups of mice. Surprisingly, aortic p27 expression was not increased in fat-fed apoE-/-p27T187A mice compared with apoE-/- controls. Moreover, atheroma size, lesion cellularity, proliferation, and apoptotic rates were undistinguishable in both groups of fat-fed mice. Thus, in contrast to previous studies that highlight the importance of p27 phosphorylation at T187 on the control of p27 expression and function in different tissues and pathophysiological scenarios, our findings demonstrate that this phosphorylation event is not implicated in the control of aortic p27 expression and atheroma progression in hypercholesterolemic mice.     

长潭水库铁锰含量与环境因子的季节性变化相关性分析及铁锰氧化菌群的富集培养

【背景】目前对水库水体污染原因的研究往往专注于水体的富营养化、pH值、溶解氧、氨氮、菌落总数指标的变化,而重金属含量与环境因子的季节性变化相关性分析研究较少,同时对于典型季节原位微生物种群的多样性差异研究尚未见报道。【目的】研究浙江省台州市长潭水库底部水中正二价金属离子(二价锰离子Mn²⁺;二价铁离子Fe²⁺)浓度与不同环境因子的季节性变化规律,并对其相关性进行分析;富集平水期(2月)和丰水期(8月)水库底部水体中功能微生物菌群,分析其种类和丰度的差异。【方法】分别检测12个月的水库水Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度及多种环境因子(水体溶解氧浓度、pH值、总磷浓度、浊度、水库环境温度及降水量),过滤并富集培养水库底部水体的功能微生物菌群,对其16S rRNA基因V3-V4区测序并分析其菌群结构。【结果】长潭水库水中Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度呈季节性变化,每年的春夏交替季节水体中铁锰含量从零开始慢慢升高,至夏秋高温季节水体中Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度达到最高值,然后慢慢降低,至秋末冬初检测不到含量。在检测的多种环境因子中,水体溶解氧浓度、水库环境温度及降水量呈明显的季节性规律变化。Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度与温度、降水量和浊度有正相关性,与溶解氧浓度、pH值和总磷浓度有负相关性,其中在正负相关性分析中两种金属离子的浓度与溶解氧浓度的相关性最强,其次是环境温度及降水量。丰水期和平水期中富集获得的功能微生物菌群的种类和丰度差异很大,从属水平上分类,丰水期时菌群只包含不动杆菌(Acinetobacter)和鲑色沉积物杆状菌(Sediminibacterium)这2个属的菌株,含量各占约50%;平水期时菌群则主要由杆菌属(Bacillariophyta) (47.62%)和Limnohabitans(9.52%)等9个属的菌株构成。富集获得的平水期和丰水期的两个可培养的菌群均具有去除水库水中Mn²⁺的功能,去除率分别约为35.9%和11.4%。【结论】长潭水库底部水体中Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度与不同环境因子均呈季节性规律变化,它们之间呈现不同的正负相关性,丰水期和平水期的功能微生物菌群结构差异很大。本研究为利用微生物进行重金属污染水体的治理储备了微生物资源,为实现国家“美丽乡村”的建设目标提供一定的参考价值。     

Global stability of an SIR epidemic model with time delays

An SIR disease transmission model is formulated under the assumption that the force of infection at the present time depends on the number of infectives at the past. It is shown that a disease free equilibrium point is globally stable if no endemic equilibrium point exists. Further the endemic point (if it exists) is globally stable with respect to the whole state space except the neighborhood of the disease free state.Research partly supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, Grant 05640256