Irradiance prior to and during desiccation improves the tolerance to excess irradiance in the desiccated state of the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria

Hydrated thalli of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria were either preconditioned to dim irradiance (DI, 5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) or medium irradiance (MI, 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) for 6 h. After this 6 h period, the thalli were allowed to desiccate under the two respective irradiances. Thereafter, these dry lichens were exposed to high irradiance (HI, 1 000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) for 60 h. After this HI treatment, the maximal photochemical quantum yield (F_V/F_M) and the de-epoxidation state of xanthophyll cycle pigments (DEPS) were highest in thalli preconditioned to MI. Hence irradiance in the last hydrated period before sampling is significant for the physiological state of lichens. A standardized irradiance pre-treatment before start of experiments is recommended.     

Glycine betaine improves thylakoid membrane function of tobacco leaves under low-temperature stress

Glycine betaine (GB) is an effective compatible solute that improves the tolerance in plants to various stresses. We investigated the effects of 2 mM GB applied to the roots of a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivar on enhancing photosynthesis under low-temperature (LT) stress (5/5 °C, 12/12 h, 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and in the subsequent recovery (25/18 °C) from the stress. The net photosynthetic rate, intrinsic efficiency measured as the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence, and actual efficiency of the photochemistry of photosystem 2 as well as the ATPase activity in the thylakoid membrane decreased, and a distinct K step in the fluorescence transient O-J-I-P appeared under cold stress. Exogenous GB alleviated the decrease in all these parameters. The LT-stress induced the accumulation of 33–66 kDa polypeptides and decreased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the thylakoid membrane. In plants subjected to LT-stress, GB protected these polypeptides from damage and enhanced the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. An increase in non-radiative energy dissipation (NPQ) may be involved in the improvement of the function of the thylakoid membrane by GB since exogenous GB protected violaxanthin de-epoxidase and enhanced NPQ.     

Responses of the resurrection plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haberlea rhodopensis</Emphasis> to high irradiance

The effect of high irradiance (HI) during desiccation and subsequent rehydration of the homoiochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant shade plant Haberlea rhodopensis was investigated. Plants were irradiated with a high quantum fluence rate (HI; 350 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ compared to ca. 30 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the natural rock habitat below trees) and subjected either to fast desiccation (tufts dehydrated with naturally occurring thin soil layers) or slow desiccation (tufts planted in pots in peat-soil dehydrated by withholding irrigation). Leaf water content was 5 % of the control after 4 d of fast and 19 d of slow desiccation. Haberlea was very sensitive to HI under all conditions. After 19 d at HI, even in well-watered plants there was a strong reduction of rates of net photosynthesis and transpiration, contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids, as well as photosystem 2 activity (detected by the Chl fluorescence ratio R_Fd). Simultaneously, the blue/red and green/red fluorescence ratios increased considerably suggesting increased synthesis of polyphenolic compounds. Desiccation of plants in HI induced irreversible changes in the photosynthetic apparatus and leaves did not recover after rehydration regardless of fast or slow desiccation. Only young leaves survived desiccation.     

Up-regulation of cyclic electron flow and down-regulation of linear electron flow in antisense-<Emphasis Type="Italic">rca</Emphasis> mutant rice

To investigate how excess excitation energy is dissipated in a ribulose-1,5-bisphospate carboxylase/oxygenase activase antisense transgenic rice with net photosynthetic rate (P _N) half of that of wild type parent, we measured the response curve of P _N to intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i), electron transport rate (ETR), quantum yield of open photosystem 2 (PS2) reaction centres under irradiation (F_v′/F_m′), efficiency of total PS2 centres (Φ_PS2), photochemical (q_P) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), post-irradiation transient increase in chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence (PITICF), and P700⁺ re-reduction. Carboxylation efficiency dependence on C _i, ETR at saturation irradiance, and F_v′/F_m′, Φ_PS2, and q_P under the irradiation were significantly lower in the mutant. However, NPQ, energy-dependent quenching (q_E), PITICF, and P700⁺ re-reduction were significantly higher in the mutant. Hence the mutant down-regulates linear ETR and stimulates cyclic electron flow around PS1, which may generate the ΔpH to support NPQ and q_E for dissipation of excess excitation energy.     

Photosynthesis and photosystem 2 efficiency of two salt-adapted halophytic seashore <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cakile maritima</Emphasis> ecotypes

The effects of salinity (0–400 mM NaCl, marked S₀, S₁₀₀, S₂₀₀, and S₄₀₀) on growth, photosynthesis, photosystem 2 (PS2) efficiency, ion relations, and pigment contents were studied in two seashore Cakile maritima ecotypes (Tabarka and Jerba, respectively, sampled from humid and arid bioclimatic areas). Growth of Jerba plants was improved at S₁₀₀ as compared to S₀. Tabarka growth was inhibited by salinity at all NaCl concentrations. Leaf sodium and chloride concentrations increased with medium salinity and were higher in Jerba than in Tabarka plants. Chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (g _s), and intracellular CO₂ concentration were stimulated at moderate salinity (S₁₀₀) in Jerba plants and inhibited at higher salt concentrations in both ecotypes: g _s was the most reduced parameter. The maximum quantum efficiency of PS2 (F_v/F_m), quantum yield, linear electron transport rate, and efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PS2 reaction centres showed no significant changes with increasing salt concentration in Jerba plant and were decreased in Tabarka subjected to S₄₀₀. However, the efficiency of dissipation of excess photon energy in the PS2 antenna was maintained in Jerba and was increased in Tabarka plants challenged with S₄₀₀. Hence the relative salt tolerance of Jerba was associated with a better ability to use Na⁺ and Cl⁻ for osmotic adjustment, the absence of pigment degradation, and the concomitant PS2 protection from photodamage.     

小动物体内可见光三维成像技术研究进展

活体动物体内可见光成像是采用生物发光和荧光为标记物,利用灵敏的仪器来监控活体动物体内的细胞活动、蛋白表达情况和基因行为。近年来,可见光成像在生物医学的各个方面得到了广泛的应用。随着成像技术和检测仪器的不断发展,现已从平面二维成像逐渐发展为立体三维成像。三维成像技术在靶点的空间定位、与器官的关系,及绝对定量方面都有了很大的进展。本文就三维成像技术的原理、应用和发展前景进行了简要的综述。     

荧光漂白后恢复技术及其在活细胞分子机制研究中的应用

荧光漂白后恢复（FRAP）是一项利用荧光探针研究活体细胞中各类分子迁移特性的技术。简要介绍了FRAP技术的原理和具体实施要求,列出了动态比和扩散系数的计算公式,并例举了近几年FRAP技术在细胞分子机制研究中的应用。     

双色荧光杂交芯片在近交系小鼠遗传监测中的应用

应用一种新的高通量SNP检测方法-双色荧光杂交芯片技术进行近交系小鼠遗传监测。应用双色荧光杂交芯片技术对4个品系近交系小鼠的多个基因组DNA样本进行SNP分型,整合6个SNP位点的芯片杂交信息,对样本所属品系进行判断。研究结果表明SNP检测方法-双色荧光杂交芯片技术能够对选定的6个SNP位点进行高准确率分型;双色荧光杂交芯片技术是一种高通量SNP检测的良好工具,适合于对少量近交系品系来源的大样本量小鼠进行遗传污染监测和品系鉴定,并具有扩大应用的潜力。     

Single Molecule Assays Reveal Differences Between In Vitro and In Vivo Synthesized β-Galactosidase

Genomic DNA was extracted from wild-type Escherichia coli strains ATCC 35321 and 8677. The lac Z gene was amplified and used as a template for in vitro synthesis of β-galactosidase. In addition the enzyme was synthesized in vitro with a C-terminal His₆ tag. The enzyme expression was also induced in these strains using isopropyl-β-D-galactoside. Single enzyme molecule assays were performed using a capillary electrophoresis-based protocol on both the in vitro and in vivo synthesized enzyme. In vivo produced enzyme from strains 35321 and 8677 showed average combined turnover numbers for the 4 active sites of the individual enzyme molecules of 53,400 ± 18,400 (N = 139) and 34,300 ± 17,800 min⁻¹ (N = 181) respectively. Average combined turnover numbers of 35,800 ± 20,900 (N = 302) and 31,700 ± 17,700 min⁻¹ (N = 315) were obtained respectively for the in vitro synthesized enzyme from strain 35321 with the absence and presence of a C-terminal His₆ tag. For strain 8677, the average combined turnover numbers were 29,000 ± 17,900 (N = 288) and 25,200 ± 12,600 min⁻¹ (N = 240) respectively for the absence and presence of a C-terminal His₆ tag. The average combined turnover numbers of the enzyme from both strains synthesized in vivo and in vitro and with the presence and absence of a His₆ tag were found to differ significantly. This indicates that the in vivo and in vitro produced enzymes are not identical and the presence of a C-terminal His₆ tag alters the activity of β-galactosidase.     

蒙古栎和紫椴幼苗对光环境转变的光合作用响应

比较研究了从温室5%光强转到10%、30%和100%光强处理下,蒙古栎（Quercus mongolica）和紫椴（Tilia amurensis）幼苗的光合能力和叶绿素荧光的响应,揭示了两个树种对光环境变化的不同适应情况及其光保护机制。结果表明,光强转换后两种幼苗都发生了严重光抑制,蒙古栎幼苗的最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）在光强转变后第3天降到最低（0.52）,紫椴幼苗在光强转变后第1天就降到了最低（0.67）,蒙古栎降低幅度明显高于紫椴。之后随着光适应时间的延长逐渐恢复到原有水平,说明短时期的光抑制没有对两种幼苗的光合机构造成光损伤;从不同光照条件来看,无论是最大净光合速率（P_max）,还是实际光化学效率（ФPSⅡ）,2种幼苗均为30%光强下的值高于10%和100%光强,说明过低或过高的光强都不利于幼苗的生长发育,只有适当的中光才利于幼苗的生长发育;与30%光强相比,蒙古栎幼苗100%光强下P_max、F_v/F_m、ФPSⅡ、NPQ的变化幅度远大于紫椴幼苗,表明高光强对蒙古栎幼苗的影响要大于紫椴;100%光强下,2种幼苗均通过大量增加非光化学淬灭（NPQ）、类胡萝卜素和叶绿素之比（Car/Chl）耗散过剩光能,降低单位鲜重叶绿素含量（Chl）以减少光能吸收,避免了光合机构光破坏。