Ultraviolet-B irradiation-induced freezing tolerance in relation to antioxidant system in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves

Seven-day-old seedlings of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a growth chamber were exposed to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation for 20 days with daily biologically effective (BE) UV-B irradiation (UV-B_BE) at low (4.2 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹, L_UVB) and high (7.0 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹, H_UVB) levels. The UV-B irradiated seedlings and the control without UV-B irradiation were then subjected to freezing stress at −6 °C for 6 h and recovered to 20 °C with gradually increased temperature, to investigate the effects of UV-B irradiation on freezing tolerance. During the UV-B exposure, both L_UVB and H_UVB irradiated seedlings had lower half lethal temperature (LT₅₀) values in comparison with the control, and L_UVB more effectively decreased the LT₅₀ values than H_UVB. Moreover, foliar concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the UV-B irradiated seedlings were lower than that of control after recovery from freezing stress. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) rapidly increased after UV-B exposure, as did activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). After recovery from freezing stress, activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) increased in both L_UVB and H_UVB leaves, whereas activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) significantly increased only in the L_UVB leaves. Furthermore, the ascorbic acid (AsA) concentration and reduced-to-oxidized ascorbate ratio (AsA/DHA) increased in the L_UVB leaves both at the end of UV-B exposure and after recovery from freezing stress. However, the reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration, together with reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) increased in both L_UVB and H_UVB leaves after recovery from freezing stress. UV-B irradiation increased freezing tolerance in winter wheat seedlings, and this response appears to involve the scavenging enzymes and compounds in the antioxidant defense systems, particularly the ascorbate–glutathione cycle.     

通过农杆菌介导法获得耐盐转甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因白三叶草

通过农杆菌介导法将耐盐植物山菠菜甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase,BADH)基因成功地转化了白三叶草。转基因植株在经过48h 1％NaCl胁迫后相对电导率为20％左右,而非转基因植株高达40％,表明转基因植株细胞膜在盐胁迫下受到的伤害较非转基因的轻,并且转基因植株能够在含有0．5％NaCl的水培养中正常生长两周以上,而非转基因植株则呈现不正常生长。     

Piriformospora indica?rescues growth diminution of rice seedlings during high salt stress

Piriformospora indica association has been reported to increase biotic as well as abiotic stress tolerance of its host plants. We analyzed the beneficial effect of P. indica association on rice seedlings during high salt stress conditions (200 and 300 mM NaCl). The growth parameters of rice seedlings such as root and shoot lengths or fresh and dry weights were found to be enhanced in P. indica-inoculated rice seedlings as compared with non-inoculated control seedlings, irrespective of whether they are exposed to salt stress or not. However, salt-stressed seedlings performed much better in the presence of the fungus compared with non-inoculated control seedlings. The photosynthetic pigment content [chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, and carotenoids] was significantly higher in P. indica-inoculated rice seedlings under high salt stress conditions as compared with salt-treated non-inoculated rice seedlings, in which these pigments were found to be decreased. Proline accumulation was also observed during P. indica colonization, which may help the inoculated plants to become salt tolerant. Taken together, P. indica rescues growth diminution of rice seedlings under salt stress.     

The Role of Nitric Oxide in the Neuroprotection of Limb Ischemic Preconditioning in Rats

Brief limb ischemia was reported to protect neurons against injury induced by subsequent cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and this phenomenon is known as limb ischemic preconditioning (LIP). To explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) in neuroprotection of LIP in rats, we observed changes in the content of nitric oxide (NO) and activity of NO synthase (NOS) in the serum and CA1 hippocampus of rats after transient limb ischemic preconditioning (LIP), and the influence of N^G-nitro-l-arginine methylester (l-NAME), a NOS inhibitor, on the neuroprotection of LIP against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Results showed that NO content and NOS activity in serum increased significantly after LIP compared with the sham group. The increase showed a double peak pattern, in which the first one appeared at time 0 (immediate time point) and the second one appeared at 48 h after the LIP (P < 0.01). The NO content and NOS activity in the CA1 hippocampus in LIP group showed similar change pattern with the changes in the serum, except for the first peak of up-regulation of NO content and NOS activity appeared at 6 h after LIP. Pretreatment with l-NAME before LIP blocked the neuroprotection of LIP against subsequent cerebral ischemic insult. The blocking effect of l-NAME was abolished with pretreatment of l-Arg. These findings indicated that NO may be associated with the tolerance of pyramidal cells in the CA1 hippocampus to ischemia induced by LIP in rats.     

The influence of antifouling practices on marine invasions

Vessel hull-fouling is increasingly recognised as one of the major vectors for the transfer of marine non-indigenous species. For hundreds of years, copper (Cu) has been used as a primary biocide to prevent the establishment of fouling assemblages on ships' hulls. Some non-indigenous fouling taxa continue to be transferred via hull-fouling despite the presence of Cu antifouling biocides. In addition, several of these species appear to enjoy a competitive advantage over similar native taxa within metal-polluted environments. This metal tolerance may further assist their establishment and spread in new habitats. This review synthesises existing research on the links between Cu and the invasion of fouling species, and shows that, with respect to the vector of hull-fouling, tolerance to Cu has the potential to play a role in the transfer of non-indigenous fouling organisms. Also highlighted are the future directions for research into this important nexus between industry, ecology and environmental management.     

高度耐盐双价转基因烟草的研究

随着全球性人口的增长和土地退化的加剧,开发利用广阔盐碱地和干旱土地的需要日益迫切。植物生物技术的日臻完善,为培育高效耐盐植物迎来了一丝曙光。在高渗条件下,耐盐的微生物或植物细胞通过增加胞内一些相溶性溶质的浓度来维持渗透压的平衡。这些可溶性溶质包括无机离子、糖类、多元醇、氨基酸和生物碱等。通过基因工程手段,使细胞内积累脯氮酸⑴、甜菜碱⑵、甘露醇⑶、海藻糖⑷,能够不同程度地提高转基因烟草的耐盐性。多元醇含有多个羟基,亲水性能强,能有效维持细胞内水活度。山梨醇、甘露醇等己糖分子结构、理化性质和生理功能相近。故此．我们认为：不同糖醇在转基因烟草中的积累．可能具有协同(或累加)效应,有希望更大地提高植物耐盐性。我们在获得大肠杆菌mtlD基因(编码l-磷酸甘露醇脱氢酶)和gutD基因(编码6-磷酸山梨醇脱氢酶)克隆⑸的基础上,获得了分别表达mtlD和gutD基因的单价转基因烟草,并首次证实了gucD基因的表达,能显著地提高转基因烟草的耐盐性⑹。本文工作进一步报道同时表达大肠杆菌mtlD和gutD基因双价转基因烟草的高效高度耐盐性。     

Room Temperature Processed Highly Efficient Large‐Area Polymer Solar Cells Achieved with Molecular Engineering of Copolymers

The room temperature (RT) processability of the photoactive layers in polymer solar cells (PSCs) from halogen‐free solvent along with their highly reproducible power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and intrinsic thickness tolerance are extremely desirable for the large‐area roll‐to‐roll (R2R) production. However, most of the photoactive materials in PSCs require elevated processing temperatures due to their strong aggregation, which are unfavorable for the industrial R2R manufacturing of PSCs. These limiting factors for the commercialization of PSCs are alleviated by synthesizing random terpolymers with components of (2‐decyltetradecyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)naphtho[1,2‐c:5,6‐c′]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole and bithiophene substituted with methyl thiophene‐3‐carboxylate (MTC). In contrast to the temperature‐dependent PNTz4T polymer, the resulting random terpolymers (PNTz4T‐MTC) show better solubility, slightly reduced crystallinity and aggregation, and weaker intermolecular interaction, thus enabling PNTz4T‐MTC to be processed at RT from a halogen‐free solvent. Particularly, the PNTz4T‐5MTC‐based photoactive layer exhibits an excellent PCE of 9.66%, which is among the highest reported PCEs for RT and ecofriendly halogen‐free solvent processed fullerene‐based PSCs, and a thickness tolerance with a PCE exceeding 8% from 100 to 520 nm. Finally, large‐area modules fabricated with the PNTz4T and PNTz4T‐5MTC polymer have shown 4.29% and 6.61% PCE respectively, with an area as high as 54.45 cm² in air.     

Ischemic preconditioning in a rodent hepatocyte model of liver hypothermic preservation injury

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a phenomenon of protection in various tissues from normothermic ischemic injury by previous exposure to short cycles of ischemia-reperfusion. The ability of IPC to protect hepatocytes from a model of hypothermic transplant preservation injury was tested in this study. Rat hepatocytes were subjected to 30min of warm ischemia (37 degrees C) followed by 24 or 48h of hypothermic (4 degrees C) storage in UW solution and subsequent re-oxygenation at normothermia for 1h. Studies were performed with untreated control cells and cells treated with IPC (10min anoxia followed by 10min re-oxygenation, 1 cycle). Hepatocytes exposed to IPC prior to warm ischemia released significantly less LDH and had higher ATP concentrations, relative to untreated ischemic hepatocytes. IPC significantly reduced LDH release after 24h of cold storage before reperfusion and after 48h of cold storage and after 60min of warm re-oxygenation, relative to the corresponding untreated hepatocytes. ATP levels were also significantly higher when IPC was used prior to the warm and cold ischemia-re-oxygenation protocols. In parallel studies, IPC increased new protein synthesis and lactate after cold storage and reperfusion compared to untreated cells but no differences in the patterns of protein banding were detected on electrophoresis between the groups. In conclusion, IPC significantly improves hepatocyte viability and energy metabolism in a model of hypothermic preservation injury preceded by normothermic ischemia. These protective effects on viability may be related to enhanced protein and ATP synthesis at reperfusion.     

碳酸酐酶靶向性抑制剂甲苯磺烷唑胺对机体缺氧耐力的影响

目的:探讨甲苯磺烷唑胺对提高小鼠缺氧耐力的影响及其机制.方法:将健康昆明小鼠放入缺氧装置瓶中,测定密闭缺氧存活时间;将雄性昆明小鼠放入梯形笼中,置于小动物低压舱进行减压低氧,测定小鼠减压低氧存活时间;观察小鼠组织碳酸酐酶Ⅱ(CAⅡ)活性改变.采用预防给药方式,研究碳酸酐酶靶向性抑制剂甲苯磺烷唑胺对提高低氧耐力的作用.结...