Is the timing of scent emission correlated with insect visitor activity and pollination in long‐spurred Satyrium species?

Plants are expected to emit floral scent when their pollinators are most active. In the case of long‐tubed flowers specialised for pollination by crepuscular or nocturnal moths, scent emissions would be expected to peak during dawn. Although this classic idea has existed for decades, it has rarely been tested quantitatively. We investigated the timing of flower visitation, pollination and floral scent emissions in six long‐spurred Satyrium species (Orchidaceae). We observed multiple evening visits by pollinaria‐bearing moths on flowers of all study species, but rarely any diurnal visits. The assemblages of moth pollinators differed among Satyrium species, even those that co‐flowered, and the lengths of moth tongues and floral nectar spurs were strongly correlated, suggesting that the available moth pollinator fauna is partitioned by floral traits. Pollinarium removal occurred more frequently during the night than during the day in four of the six species. Scent emission, however, was only significantly higher at dusk than midday in two species. Analysis of floral volatiles using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry yielded 168 scent compounds, of which 112 were species‐specific. The scent blends emitted by each species occupy discrete clusters in two‐dimensional phenotype space, based on multivariate analysis. We conclude that these long‐spurred Satyrium species are ecologically specialised for moth pollination, yet the timing of their scent emission is not closely correlated with moth pollination activity. Scent composition was also more variable than expected from a group of closely related plants sharing the same pollinator functional group. These findings reveal a need for greater understanding of mechanisms of scent production and their constraints, as well as the underlying reasons for divergent scent chemistry among closely related plants.     

茉莉酸甲酯对紫杉醇生物合成的诱导作用

本文采用分裂素自养型中国红豆杉细胞株 ,研究了在细胞悬浮培养过程中茉莉酸甲酯 ( MJ)对紫杉醇生物合成的诱导作用。结果表明 ,以乙醇为 MJ助溶剂时 ,MJ的诱导作用以剂量为 2 0 0 μmol/L于继代培养开始时加入为最佳 ,此时紫杉醇产量较对照组提高 71.2 %。以吐温为 MJ助溶剂时 ,MJ的诱导作用以剂量为 10μmol/L于继代培养 d2 0加入为最佳 ,此时紫杉醇产量较对照组提高 2 80 .7%。此外 ,本文对 MJ的诱导作用机理进行了探讨。     

Eicosapentaenoic acid decreases expression of anandamide synthesis enzyme and cannabinoid receptor 2 in osteoblast-like cells

Anandamide (AEA) is an endogenous agonist for the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) which is expressed in osteoblasts. Arachidonic acid (AA) is the precursor for AEA and dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are known to reduce the concentrations of AA in tissues and cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which reduce AA in cells, could lower AEA in osteoblasts by altering enzyme expression of the endocannabinoid (EC) system. MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells were grown for 6, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 days in osteogenic medium. Osteoblasts were treated with 10 μM of AA, EPA, DHA, oleic acid (OA) or EPA+DHA (5 μM each) for 72 h prior to their collection for measurement of mRNA and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Compared to vehicle control, osteoblasts treated with AA had higher levels of AA and n-6 PUFA while those treated with EPA and DHA had lower n-6 but higher n-3 PUFA. Independent of the fatty acid treatments, osteoblasts matured normally as evidenced by ALP activity. N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-selective phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and CB2 mRNA expression were higher at 20 days compared to 10 days. NAPE-PLD and CB2 mRNA was lower in osteoblasts treated with EPA compared to all other groups. Thus, mRNA expression for NAPE-PLD, FAAH, and CB2 increased during osteoblast maturation and EPA reduced mRNA for NAPE-PLD and CB2 receptor. In conclusion, EPA lowered mRNA levels for proteins of the EC system and mRNA for AEA synthesis/degradation is reported in osteoblasts.     

超临界甲醇酯交换法制备生物柴油研究进展

超临界甲醇法制备生物柴油是动、植物油脂与超临界甲醇发生酯交换反应生成脂肪酸甲酯的工艺。与传统的酸、碱催化法以及酶催化法等技术相比,超临界酯交换反应具有不需要催化剂、反应速度快、产物分离简单等突出特点。缺点在于反应温度和压力条件不够温和,对设备要求较高,操作费用可观。如何从系统工程的角度发挥其优点、克服缺点,则是未来该项技术能否实现工业化应用的关键。回顾了该技术的研究进展,重点对过程的影响因素进行了分析讨论。     

Inactivation of chicken muscle enolase by carbodiimide and glycine methyl ester

The effect of insulin on polypeptide chain initiation and elongation has been studied in soleus muscles isolated from lean and goldthioglucose-obese mice. Insulin increased the amount of radioactivity present in nascent chains by ～30% in muscles from both lean and obese mice, indicating that it stimulates peptide chain initiation. In contrast, elongation rates, estimated by measurement of half transit time, were similar in basal conditions and insulin-treated muscles of lean and obese animals. Thus, insulin increased the initiation without modifying the elongation rates. Obesity did not affect either basal rates of initiation and elongation or the effect of insulin.     

6-Methoxyflavonoids from Brickellia californica

Two new and eleven known 6-methoxyflavonoids were identified in leaf tissue of Brickellia californica. The new flavonols are eupatin 3-SO₃ Ca_1/2 and patuletin 3-SO₃K. The known compounds include the flavones hispidulin and eupafolin and their respective 7- and 4′-monomethyl ethers and the flavonols; spinacetin, eupatin, patuletin 3-glucoside and 3-galactoside, and eupatolitin 3-galactoside.     

Differential Staining of Mucin Granules from Epoxy Resin Sections by a Phosphotungstic Acid-Methyl Green Procedure

After treatment of epoxy resin semithin sections from glutaraldehyde fixed rat large intestine with 5% aqueous phosphotungstic acid (PTA), staining with unpurified 0.2% solutions of methyl green at 60 C for 5 min produces a color differentiation between mucin granules of goblet cells. Some mucin granules and the glycocalyx appear deep green while the remaining granules, luminal mucin and collagen fibers are pink. The known contamination of unpurified methyl green with crystal violet seems to be responsible for the pink staining reaction of the latter structures, which also present an orange-red fluorescence under green exciting light. Electron microscopic observations show selective contrast of mucin granules which appear with a different amount of PTA deposits. This procedure is useful to reveal the heterogeneity of mucin granules in light and electron microscopy.