Localization and dynamic change of saikosaponin in root of Bupleurum chinense

Anatomical,histochemlcal and phytochemical methods were used to investigate the structure,the localization and content changes of total saikosaponin and saikosaponin-a of the roots of Bupleurum chinense DC.at different developmental stages.Results showed that saikosaponin was mainly distributed in pericycle and primary phloem in the young root;but In the mature root,it was mainly distributed in vascular camblum and secondary phloem.During the whole growth period from the pre-blossom,blossom,fruit,and fruit mature periods until the pre-withering period,it was in the fruit mature period that both the total saikosaponin content and the saikosaponin-a content reached the highest level.So the last 20 d of October was considered as the right collecting season for the drug of B.chinense.In addition,the quality of 1-year-old drug was better than that of 2-year-old drug due to its higher saikosaponin content.On the other hand,judging from the external characteristics of the drug,the one with an acerose taproot and more lateral roots was of better quality.The results offered theoretical bases for selecting medicinal material of high quality and determining the most appropriate harvesting stage and part of B.chinense.     

Microtubule length and dynamics: Boundary effect and properties of extended radial array

In interphase cells, microtubules (MT) form an extended radial array. The length of individual MTs in living cells exhibits substantial stochastic fluctuations, while the average length distribution in a cell remains nearly constant. We present a quantitative model that describes the relation of the MT length and dynamics in the steady state in the cell using the minimal set of parameters (cell radius, tubulin concentration, critical concentration for plus-end elongation and the number of nucleation sites). The MT array is approximated as a radial system, where minus-ends of MTs are associated with nucleation sites on the centrosome, while plus ends grow and shorten. Dynamic instability of MT plus ends is approximated as a random walk process with boundary conditions; the behavior of an MT array is quantified using diffusion and drift coefficients (Vorobjev et al., 1997; Vorobjev et al., 1999). We show that the establishment of the extended steady-state array could be accomplished solely by the limitation of MT growth by the cell margin. For the cell radius, tubulin concentration, critical concentration for plus-end elongation, and the number of nucleation sites we determined the reference point in the parameter space where plus ends of individual MTs, on average, neither elongate nor shorten. In this case, the average MT length is equal to the half of the cell radius. When any parameter is shifted from its reference value, MTs become longer or shorter and, consequently, acquire a positive or negative drift of their plus ends. In the vicinity of the reference point, a change in any parameter has a major effect on the MT length and a rather small effect on the drift. When the average MT length is close to the cell radius, the drift of free plus ends becomes substantial, resulting in processive growth of individual MTs in the internal cytoplasm, accompanied by the apparent stabilization of plus ends at the cell margin. Under these conditions small changes in parameters have a significant impact on the magnitude of the drift. Experimental analysis of MT plus-end dynamics in different cultured cells shows that, in most cases, plus ends display positive drift, which, in the framework of the presented model, is in agreement with the simultaneous presence of long MTs.     

Potential for an Arctic‐breeding migratory bird to adjust spring migration phenology to Arctic amplification

Arctic amplification, the accelerated climate warming in the polar regions, is causing a more rapid advancement of the onset of spring in the Arctic than in temperate regions. Consequently, the arrival of many migratory birds in the Arctic is thought to become increasingly mismatched with the onset of local spring, consequently reducing individual fitness and potentially even population levels. We used a dynamic state variable model to study whether Arctic long‐distance migrants can advance their migratory schedules under climate warming scenarios which include Arctic amplification, and whether such an advancement is constrained by fuel accumulation or the ability to anticipate climatic changes. Our model predicts that barnacle geese Branta leucopsis suffer from considerably reduced reproductive success with increasing Arctic amplification through mistimed arrival, when they cannot anticipate a more rapid progress of Arctic spring from their wintering grounds. When geese are able to anticipate a more rapid progress of Arctic spring, they are predicted to advance their spring arrival under Arctic amplification up to 44 days without any reproductive costs in terms of optimal condition or timing of breeding. Negative effects of mistimed arrival on reproduction are predicted to be somewhat mitigated by increasing summer length under warming in the Arctic, as late arriving geese can still breed successfully. We conclude that adaptation to Arctic amplification may rather be constrained by the (un)predictability of changes in the Arctic spring than by the time available for fuel accumulation. Social migrants like geese tend to have a high behavioural plasticity regarding stopover site choice and migration schedule, giving them the potential to adapt to future climate changes on their flyway.     

M1毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱受体同源建模模板的选取及验证

目的:探讨不同同源模板所获得M1毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱受体模型的合理性及可靠性。方法:以牛视紫红素受体、人源β2-肾上腺素受体、M2胆碱受体和M3胆碱受体为模板,分别对M1胆碱受体进行同源建模;采用分子对接获得各M1胆碱受体同源模板与配体的互作模式,并与已报道的M胆碱受体晶体结构进行静态比对,得到最佳M1胆碱受体同源模板;采用分子动力学模拟分析配体与关键残基距离的变化,对M1胆碱受体同源模板进行动态验证。结果:M2胆碱受体与M1胆碱受体的序列相似度较高,为67.9%;以Inactive M2胆碱受体为模板构建的M1胆碱受体(M1R_(inactive-M2R))与其他晶体结构间RMSD值的均值最低,为1.39;M1R_(inactive-M2R)别构位点K392及E397残基侧链与结合口袋距离更近,与配体结合构象更匹配;分子对接结果显示,双位点别构激动剂VU0184670与M1R_(inactive-M2R)别构结合位点Y85、Y381的距离分别为4.8、6.8,优于其他模型;分子动力学模拟后,配体与Q177残基的距离由7.4降至2.9,提示配体VU0184670向Q177方向偏转,与文献结果一致。结论:以Inactive M2受体结构为模板构建的M1胆碱受体模型最为合理,更接近M1胆碱受体的晶体结构。本研究为M1胆碱受体药物开发提供重要工具,为其他GPCRs受体同源建模提供创新范式。     

Identification of active constraints in dynamic flux balance analysis

This study deals with the calibration of dynamic metabolic flux models that are formulated as the maximization of an objective subject to constraints. Two approaches were applied for identifying the constraints from data. In the first approach a minimal active number of limiting constraints is found based on data that are assumed to be bounded within sets whereas, in the second approach, the limiting constraints are found based on parametric sensitivity analysis. The ability of these approaches to finding the active limiting constraints was verified through their application to two case studies: an in‐silico (simulated) data‐based study describing the growth of E. coli and an experimental data‐based study for Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis). © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:26–36, 2017     

室内饲养的红火蚁工蚁毒腺生物碱含量动态分析

【目的】分析红火蚁 Solenopsis invicta 工蚁在室内长时间饲养时,体内生物碱主要成分的含量变化。【方法】每10 d取0.5 g红火蚁工蚁用正己烷溶剂浸提48 h,浸提液通过硅胶柱分离,经气相色谱（GC）和气相色谱 质谱联用仪（GC-MS）鉴定其生物碱的主要成分,并用外标法测其生物碱各个主要成分的含量。【结果】红火蚁工蚁体内生物碱主要成分为9种顺式生物碱和5种反式生物碱,并测出90 d内这14种化合物在红火蚁工蚁体内的含量变化。其中,反式生物碱2-甲基-6-（4′-十三烯）哌啶的含量最高,第1天为3 391.57 μg/g,90 d后为556.70 μg/g;顺式生物碱2-甲基-6-十五烷基哌啶的含量最低,第1天为10.27 μg/g,90 d后为2.93 μg/g。【结论】红火蚁工蚁在室内长时间饲养时,体内生物碱的含量开始时持续下降,当生物碱含量下降到一个极低的水平后,基本不再变化,处于平衡状态。结合室内饲养时红火蚁工蚁死亡情况,可推测出当红火蚁蚁巢中生物碱含量很低时,蚁巢中体型较大的工蚁数量会比较少。     

林下密集蕨类层生态学研究进展

林下密集蕨类层在森林尤其是受干扰森林中广泛存在,对森林更新具有强烈的过滤效应,能够改变林下层的多样性,影响群落的结构、功能和动态,林下密集蕨类层的生态学研究,对揭示森林群落物种分布格局和群落构建机制具有重要意义.结合国内外最新研究,论述了林下密集蕨类层的特征,从机制上解释了林下密集蕨类层形成的主要原因;分类阐述了林下密...