光系统Ⅱ反应中心D_1-D_2-Cyt b_(559)的光破坏作用研究

从高等植物叶绿体中分离得到的光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)反应中心D_1-D_2-Cytb(559)复合物很不稳定,极易受到光照的破坏。光照导致D_1-D_2-Cytb_(559)在红区(Qy带)的吸收光谱发生很大的变化,在最初光照45秒时间内,吸光度值升高,继续光照则吸光度值下降,而且680nm处的下降速度最大,吸收峰发生兰移,光照也导致荧光强度增大,发射峰兰移。所有这些结果表明,光破坏至少存在两个不同的过程,而且主要受到破坏的是原初电子供体P680。     

La salud de las personas mayores en España durante la crisis económica

Introduction

Numerous studies have shown that economic crises are linked to a worsening of health conditions of the population. During the current economic crisis in Spain, there have been significant cuts in social and health services and a general worsening of the emotional well-being of the population. All these changes could have an impact on the health of the population, especially in the most vulnerable groups like older people.

Quaternary climate instability is correlated with patterns of population genetic variability in Bombus huntii

Climate oscillations have left a significant impact on the patterns of genetic diversity observed in numerous taxa. In this study, we examine the effect of Quaternary climate instability on population genetic variability of a bumble bee pollinator species, Bombus huntii in western North America. Pleistocene and contemporary B. huntii habitat suitability (HS) was estimated with an environmental niche model (ENM) by associating 1,035 locality records with 10 bioclimatic variables. To estimate genetic variability, we genotyped 380 individuals from 33 localities at 13 microsatellite loci. Bayesian inference was used to examine population structure with and without a priori specification of geographic locality. We compared isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by resistance (IBR) models to examine population differentiation within and among the Bayesian inferred genetic clusters. Furthermore, we tested for the effect of environmental niche stability (ENS) on population genetic diversity with linear regression. As predicted, high‐latitude B. huntii habitats exhibit low ENS when compared to low‐latitude habitats. Two major genetic clusters of B. huntii inhabit western North America: (a) a north genetic cluster predominantly distributed north of 28°N and (b) a south genetic cluster distributed south of 28°N. In the south genetic cluser, both IBD and IBR models are significant. However, in the north genetic cluster, IBD is significant but not IBR. Furthermore, the IBR models suggest that low‐latitude montane populations are surrounded by habitat with low HS, possibly limiting dispersal, and ultimately gene flow between populations. Finally, we detected high genetic diversity across populations in regions that have been climatically unstable since the last glacial maximum (LGM), and low genetic diversity across populations in regions that have been climatically stable since the LGM. Understanding how species have responded to climate change has the potential to inform management and conservation decisions of both ecological and economic concerns.     

星星草光合蒸腾特性的季节变化

对松嫩碱化草地上人工种植生长一至三年的星星草和自然生长的天然星星草的光合蒸腾特性的季节变化进行了测定。星星草光合速率的季节变化是单峰曲线,抽穗期光合速率最大。星星草的蒸腾速率则随生育期进程逐渐减小,但单位面积草地上星星草群体蒸腾速率的季节变化为单峰曲线,一年生、二年生和三年生星星草的最大值在开花期,而天然星星草则在抽穗期。星星草水分利用效率的季节变化也是单峰曲线,峰值均在抽穗期。     

NMR assignments and relaxation studies of Thiobacillus versutus ferrocytochrome c-550 indicate the presence of a highly mobile 13-residues long C-terminal tail.

Cytochrome c-550 of Thiobacillus versutus functions as an electron transfer protein in a chain of redox proteins that enables T. versutus to grow on methylamine. It is a single-heme protein of 134 residues, related to mitochondrial cytochrome c. Cytochrome c-550, as well as several other bacterial c2-type cytochromes, contain a C-terminal extension of 13-16 amino acids of unknown function, compared to mitochondrial cytochrome c. NMR experiments were performed to obtain structural and dynamic information on the protein in solution. For this purpose, T. versutus cytochrome c-550 was labeled with 15N and 13C using 13C-methanol grown Paracoccus denitrificans as a host for heterologous expression. NMR assignments were obtained for the 1H, 15N, and 13C nuclei in the backbone and the beta-positions of the protein and the secondary structure was determined. 15N-relaxation studies were performed to characterize the dynamic properties of the protein. The results indicate that the main part of T. versutus ferrocytochrome c-550 exists in solution as a rigid, well-ordered molecule with a secondary structure that is very similar to that of P. denitrificans cytochrome c-550, as observed in crystals. The C-terminal extension, however, is unstructured and highly mobile. The possible origin and function of the extension are discussed.     

Archaea: what can we learn from their sequences?

Gene-by-gene and traditional biochemical approaches continue to reveal surprising molecular features in the archaeal domain. In addition, the complete sequencing of several archaeal genomes has further confirmed the phenotypic coherence of these micro-organisms at the molecular level. Nevertheless, the phylogeny of Archaea and the nature of the last universal common ancestor are still matters for debate.     

不同种植年限苹果根际土可培养根皮苷耐受菌的分布及多样性

【目的】筛选能够耐受苹果根系自毒物质根皮苷的细菌,研究不同种植年限苹果(Malus Mill.)根际可培养根皮苷耐受菌的微生物群落组成及多样性,旨在为筛选高效根皮苷降解菌、一定程度上了解苹果连作障碍机制并克服或减轻其造成的损失提供科学依据。【方法】以根皮苷为唯一碳源,筛选不同种植年限的根皮苷耐受细菌,通过ARDRA酶切聚类(Amplified r DNA restriction analysis)和16S r RNA基因序列分析确定分离的根皮苷耐受菌的分类地位,并利用生物信息学分析根皮苷耐受菌群落结构、多样性及与理化因子的关系。【结果】从种植年限为3、8、15、20和25年的苹果砧木山荆子[Malus baccata(Linn.)Borkh.]根际土壤中共分离103株根皮苷耐受菌,并在65%的相似水平上分成18个类群,分属于13个属,其优势菌分别为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和新鞘脂杆菌属(Novosphingobium)。分析发现种植年限为3年的根际土壤中分离的根皮苷耐受菌的物种丰富度最高,种植年限为15、20和25年的根际土壤中分离的根皮苷耐受菌的物种组成相似,且不同种植年限土壤的理化因子与根皮苷耐受菌的群落组成具有一定的相关性(P0.05)。冗余分析(Redundancy analysis,RDA)表明阿魏酸是影响群落结构的重要因子。【结论】不同种植年限苹果根际土壤中根皮苷耐受菌种类多样性丰富,其群落组成与土壤理化因子具有一定相关性,阿魏酸是影响根皮苷耐受菌群落结构的重要环境因子。研究结果可为探讨缓解苹果连作障碍的途径提供基础资料。     

Extinct Beringian wolf morphotype found in the continental U.S. has implications for wolf migration and evolution

Pleistocene diversity was much higher than today, for example there were three distinct wolf morphotypes (dire, gray, Beringian) in North America versus one today (gray). Previous fossil evidence suggested that these three groups overlapped ecologically, but split the landscape geographically. The Natural Trap Cave (NTC) fossil site in Wyoming, USA is an ideally placed late Pleistocene site to study the geographical movement of species from northern to middle North America before, during, and after the last glacial maximum. Until now, it has been unclear what type of wolf was present at NTC. We analyzed morphometrics of three wolf groups (dire, extant North American gray, Alaskan Beringian) to determine which wolves were present at NTC and what this indicates about wolf diversity and migration in Pleistocene North America. Results show NTC wolves group with Alaskan Beringian wolves. This provides the first morphological evidence for Beringian wolves in mid‐continental North America. Their location at NTC and their radiocarbon ages suggest that they followed a temporary channel through the glaciers. Results suggest high levels of competition and diversity in Pleistocene North American wolves. The presence of mid‐continental Beringian morphotypes adds important data for untangling the history of immigration and evolution of Canis in North America.