民勤绿洲二白杨树干液流的径向变化及时滞特征

树木的树干液流是反映树木生理活动动态、估算单株耗水量的重要基础.本文利用热扩散技术,对民勤绿洲二白杨3株(30年生)大树树干边材各4个深度(2、3、5、8 cm)的液流速率(J)进行连续两个生长季(2011、2012)的监测.结果表明: 二白杨边材液流速率最高的位点约在形成层下3 cm深处(J₃),其次依次为2、5和8 cm处(J₂、J₅和J₈),在大气蒸发潜力(ET₀)最强的6月,典型晴天日的J₃可达28.53 g·cm^-2·h-1,分别是J₂、J₅和J₈的1.42、2.74和4.4倍,径向差异明显.在日变化过程中,边材不同深处间液流速率峰值出现的时刻相差在20 min以内,但与太阳总辐射(R_s)、大气水汽压亏缺(VPD)峰值出现的时刻相差较大,在生长旺季(6—8月)的典型晴天,J的峰值滞后R_s峰值的时长(时滞)可达55～88 min,越靠近边材内侧,时滞越长.J峰值提前于VPD峰值的时长达60～96 min,越靠近边材内侧,时滞越短.液流速率的季节变化与ET₀的变化基本一致,随着树木生理活动的逐渐加强,液流传输的主要层次会向边材内部延伸.驱动不同深处液流变化的首要气象因子均为R_s,第二大因子因不同深度有所变化,越靠近内侧,代表水汽状况的因子(VPD)的重要性上升,甚至接近于R_s.
     

Translocation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein to plasma membrane leads to necrotic cell death

Mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) was identified to function downstream of receptor interacting protein 3 (RIP3) in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-induced necrosis (also called necroptosis). However, how MLKL functions to mediate necroptosis is unknown. By reconstitution of MLKL function in MLKL-knockout cells, we showed that the N-terminus of MLKL is required for its function in necroptosis. The oligomerization of MLKL in TNF-treated cells is essential for necroptosis, as artificially forcing MLKL together by using the hormone-binding domain (HBD*) triggers necroptosis. Notably, forcing together the N-terminal domain (ND) but not the C-terminal kinase domain of MLKL causes necroptosis. Further deletion analysis showed that the four-α-helix bundle of MLKL (1-130 amino acids) is sufficient to trigger necroptosis. Both the HBD*-mediated and TNF-induced complexes of MLKL(ND) or MLKL are tetramers, and translocation of these complexes to lipid rafts of the plasma membrane precedes cell death. The homo-oligomerization is required for MLKL translocation and the signal sequence for plasma membrane location is located in the junction of the first and second α-helices of MLKL. The plasma membrane translocation of MLKL or MLKL(ND) leads to sodium influx, and depletion of sodium from the cell culture medium inhibits necroptosis. All of the above phenomena were not seen in apoptosis. Thus, the MLKL oligomerization leads to translocation of MLKL to lipid rafts of plasma membrane, and the plasma membrane MLKL complex acts either by itself or via other proteins to increase the sodium influx, which increases osmotic pressure, eventually leading to membrane rupture.     

Plasma lipidome is independently associated with variability in metabolic syndrome in Mexican American families

Plasma lipidome is now increasingly recognized as a potentially important marker of chronic diseases, but the exact extent of its contribution to the interindividual phenotypic variability in family studies is unknown. Here, we used the rich data from the ongoing San Antonio Family Heart Study (SAFHS) and developed a novel statistical approach to quantify the independent and additive value of the plasma lipidome in explaining metabolic syndrome (MS) variability in Mexican American families recruited in the SAFHS. Our analytical approach included two preprocessing steps: principal components analysis of the high-resolution plasma lipidomics data and construction of a subject-subject lipidomic similarity matrix. We then used the Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines software to model the complex family relationships, lipidomic similarities, and other important covariates in a variance components framework. Our results suggested that even after accounting for the shared genetic influences, indicators of lipemic status (total serum cholesterol, TGs, and HDL cholesterol), and obesity, the plasma lipidome independently explained 22% of variability in the homeostatic model of assessment-insulin resistance trait and 16% to 22% variability in glucose, insulin, and waist circumference. Our results demonstrate that plasma lipidomic studies can additively contribute to an understanding of the interindividual variability in MS.     

Intrinsic Disorder Mediates Cooperative Signal Transduction in STIM1

Intrinsically disordered domains have been reported to play important roles in signal transduction networks by introducing cooperativity into protein–protein interactions. Unlike intrinsically disordered domains that become ordered upon binding, the EF-SAM domain in the stromal interaction molecule (STIM) 1 is distinct in that it is ordered in the monomeric state and partially unfolded in its oligomeric state, with the population of the two states depending on the local Ca^2 + concentration. The oligomerization of STIM1, which triggers extracellular Ca^2 + influx, exhibits cooperativity with respect to the local endoplasmic reticulum Ca^2 + concentration. Although the physiological importance of the oligomerization reaction is well established, the mechanism of the observed cooperativity is not known. Here, we examine the response of the STIM1 EF-SAM domain to changes in Ca^2 + concentration using mathematical modeling based on in vitro experiments. We find that the EF-SAM domain partially unfolds and dimerizes cooperatively with respect to Ca^2 + concentration, with Hill coefficients and half-maximal activation concentrations very close to the values observed in vivo for STIM1 redistribution and extracellular Ca^2 + influx. Our mathematical model of the dimerization reaction agrees quantitatively with our analytical ultracentrifugation-based measurements and previously published free energies of unfolding. A simple interpretation of these results is that Ca^2 + loss effectively acts as a denaturant, enabling cooperative dimerization and robust signal transduction. We present a structural model of the Ca^2 +-unbound EF-SAM domain that is consistent with a wide range of evidence, including resistance to proteolytic cleavage of the putative dimerization portion.     

Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A New Approach for Nanoparticle's Mapping and Quantification in Organ Tissue

Emission spectroscopy of laser-induced plasma was applied to elemental analysis of biological samples. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) performed on thin sections of rodent tissues: kidneys and tumor, allows the detection of inorganic elements such as (i) Na, Ca, Cu, Mg, P, and Fe, naturally present in the body and (ii) Si and Gd, detected after the injection of gadolinium-based nanoparticles. The animals were euthanized 1 to 24 hr after intravenous injection of particles. A two-dimensional scan of the sample, performed using a motorized micrometric 3D-stage, allowed the infrared laser beam exploring the surface with a lateral resolution less than 100 μm. Quantitative chemical images of Gd element inside the organ were obtained with sub-mM sensitivity. LIBS offers a simple and robust method to study the distribution of inorganic materials without any specific labeling. Moreover, the compatibility of the setup with standard optical microscopy emphasizes its potential to provide multiple images of the same biological tissue with different types of response: elemental, molecular, or cellular.     

Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process

In order to modify the surface tension of commercial available track-edged polymer membranes, a procedure of surface-initiated polymerization is presented. The polymerization from the membrane surface is induced by plasma treatment of the membrane, followed by reacting the membrane surface with a methanolic solution of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Special attention is given to the process parameters for the plasma treatment prior to the polymerization on the surface. For example, the influence of the plasma-treatment on different types of membranes (e.g. polyester, polycarbonate, polyvinylidene fluoride) is studied. Furthermore, the time-dependent stability of the surface-grafted membranes is shown by contact angle measurements. When grafting poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) in this way, the surface can be further modified by esterification of the alcohol moiety of the polymer with a carboxylic acid function of the desired substance. These reactions can therefore be used for the functionalization of the membrane surface. For example, the surface tension of the membrane can be changed or a desired functionality as the presented light-responsiveness can be inserted. This is demonstrated by reacting PHEMA with a carboxylic acid functionalized spirobenzopyran unit which leads to a light-responsive membrane. The choice of solvent plays a major role in the postmodification step and is discussed in more detail in this paper. The permeability measurements of such functionalized membranes are performed using a Franz cell with an external light source. By changing the wavelength of the light from the visible to the UV-range, a change of permeability of aqueous caffeine solutions is observed.     

Actin Dynamics Regulates Voltage-Dependent Calcium-Permeable Channels of the Vicia faba Guard Cell Plasma Membrane

Free cytosolic Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) is an ubiquitous second messenger in plant cell signaling, and [Ca²⁺]_cyt elevation is associated with Ca²⁺-permeable channels in the plasma membrane and endomembranes regulated by a wide range of stimuli. However, knowledge regarding Ca²⁺ channels and their regulation remains limited in planta . A type of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺-permeable channel was identified and characterized for the Vicia faba L. guard cell plasma membrane by using patch-clamp techniques. These channels are permeable to both Ba²⁺ and Ca²⁺, and their activities can be inhibited by micromolar Gd³⁺. The unitary conductance and the reversal potential of the channels depend on the Ca²⁺ or Ba²⁺ gradients across the plasma membrane. The inward whole-cell Ca²⁺ (Ba²⁺) current, as well as the unitary current amplitude and NP_o of the single Ca²⁺ channel, increase along with the membrane hyperpolarization. Pharmacological experiments suggest that actin dynamics may serve as an upstream regulator of this type of calcium channel of the guard cell plasma membrane. Cytochalasin D, an actin polymerization blocker, activated the NPo of these channels at the single channel level and increased the current amplitude at the whole-cell level. But these channel activations and current increments could be restrained by pretreatment with an F-actin stabilizer, phalloidin. The potential physiological significance of this regulatory mechanism is also discussed.     

低温处理对亚洲玉米螟幼虫抗寒性的诱导效应

室内条件下将亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)幼虫放置在5℃(LT1处理组)和0℃(LT2处理组)下低温处理2 h后,分别测定了其低温诱导识别温度、存活率、抗寒性、过冷却点、体内水分和脂质含量百分率,并进行抗冻特异蛋白的诱导; 利用SDS-PAGE方法分析了低温诱导后亚洲玉米螟5 龄幼虫血清中抗冻特异蛋白。结果表明：亚洲玉米螟3、4和5龄幼虫的低温诱导识别温度分别为-13.5℃、-16.5℃和-18.5℃; 3、4和5龄幼虫存活率LT2组>LT1组>对照组(P<0.05);随虫龄增加,幼虫抗寒性逐步增强;对幼虫过冷却点无明显影响(P>0.05); 幼虫水分和脂质含量百分率为LT2组>LT1组>对照组,且随虫龄增加,虫体含水率和脂质含量百分率增高(P<0.05); 低温诱导产生了一种分子量约为29.0 kD的抗冻特异蛋白。研究结果表明低温诱导可以增强亚洲玉米螟幼虫的抗寒性。