Diurnal changes in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase properties in the natural environment: interplay of light and temperature in a C4 thermophile

Activities of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) were measured in leaf extracts of field grown Amaranthus paniculatus L. (C₄) during a natural diurnal irradiance and temperature pattern. Enzyme assays were run at both fixed (30°C) and the corresponding leaf temperature at the time of harvest. Light activation of PEP carboxylase (PEPCase) at fixed assay temperatures was expressed as a decrease in S_0–5 (PEP) after a threshold (> 330 μmol m^–2 s^–1) photon fluence rate was surpassed at noon. Earlier in the morning, increase in apparent enzyme affinity for PEP was observed when the assay was run at leaf temperature, indicating a physiologically meaningfull effect of temperature on S^0.5 (PEP). The 3.3-fold increase in PEPCase activity at low PEP and fixed assay temperature between the minimal and maximal irradiance and temperature hours of the day, became 12.8-, 11.5- and 7.4-fold when assays were run at the corresponding leaf temperature during three diurnal cycles with respective temperature differences (max minus min) of 9.0, 8.3 and 7.4°C. The extent of malate inhibition was the same for both day and night forms of PEPCase assayed at 35°C, but increased considerably with night enzyme at 25°C. The results indicate that light increases the apparent affinity of PEPCase for PEP and that at lower temperatures malate becomes more inhibitory. Pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase activity started to increase immediately after sunrise and the 10-fold increase at fixed temperature became 14.8-, 14.2- and 13.1-fold when assays were run at the above leaf temperatures. This indicates that the light effect predominates with pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase, while with phosphoenolpyravate carboxylase, light and temperature co-operate to increase the day enzyme activities.     

土壤易氧化有机碳对西双版纳热带森林群落演替的响应

土壤易氧化有机碳（Readily oxidizable carbon,ROC）作为土壤中易被氧化且活性较高的有机碳,能够敏感反映群落植被环境与土壤环境的早期变化。为探明土壤ROC时空变化对热带森林次生演替的响应,以西双版纳热带森林不同次生演替阶段（白背桐群落、野芭蕉群落与崖豆藤群落）为研究对象,采用高锰酸钾氧化法测定并分析土壤ROC时空动态特征,探究这些变化与土壤微生物量碳及理化性质之间的相互关系。结果表明：（1）不同次生演替阶段热带森林土壤ROC含量存在显著差异,其大小顺序为：野芭蕉群落（11.38 mg/g） > 崖豆藤群落（10.5 mg/g） > 白背桐群落（9.72 mg/g）;（2）不同次生演替阶段热带森林土壤ROC含量的月份变化趋势基本一致,均表现为6月显著高于12月,且各月份间差异显著;（3）不同次生演替阶段热带森林土壤ROC含量随着土层深度增加而递减,且不同土层间差异显著;（4）土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮、水解氮和铵态氮显著影响土壤ROC含量的时空变化,而pH值与土壤ROC显著负相关。因此,土壤ROC对西双版纳热带森林群落演替具有敏感的响应,土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮、水解氮、铵态氮及pH是土壤ROC时空变化的主控因素。     

Disclosure of new and recurrent microbial metabolites by mass spectrometric methods

The application of modern mass spectrometry methods (SI-CID-MS/MS; MS ⁿ ) in the disclosure of new and recurrent microbial metabolites is discussed. Spray ion (SI) sources coupled to different kinds of mass analyzers enable the determination of molecular weights and chemical formulas of given samples even in mixtures. Diagnostic fragment formation by collision-induced dissociation (CID-MS/MS) and MS ⁿ experiments using ion trap mass analyzers are shown as another indispensable source of structural information. Due to the development of benchtop-type mass spectrometers coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), MS can be practised in almost every laboratory as a powerful tool in natural product analysis. Examples are given for special MS applications in identification of bioactive metabolites from screening strains. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 27, 136–143. Received 21 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 19 January 2000     

The Urfold: Structural similarity just above the superfold level?

We suspect that there is a level of granularity of protein structure intermediate between the classical levels of “architecture” and “topology,” as reflected in such phenomena as extensive three‐dimensional structural similarity above the level of (super)folds. Here, we examine this notion of architectural identity despite topological variability, starting with a concept that we call the “Urfold.” We believe that this model could offer a new conceptual approach for protein structural analysis and classification: indeed, the Urfold concept may help reconcile various phenomena that have been frequently recognized or debated for years, such as the precise meaning of “significant” structural overlap and the degree of continuity of fold space. More broadly, the role of structural similarity in sequence?structure?function evolution has been studied via many models over the years; by addressing a conceptual gap that we believe exists between the architecture and topology levels of structural classification schemes, the Urfold eventually may help synthesize these models into a generalized, consistent framework. Here, we begin by qualitatively introducing the concept.     

The role of infectious disease in the evolution of females: Evidence from anther‐smut disease on a gynodioecious alpine carnation*

In flowering plants, the evolution of females is widely hypothesized to be the first step in the evolutionary pathway to separate male and female sexes, or dioecy. Natural enemies have the potential to drive this evolution if they preferentially attack hermaphrodites over females. We studied sex‐based differences in exposure to anther‐smut (Microbotryum), a sterilizing pollinator‐transmitted disease, in Dianthus pavonius, a gynodioecious perennial herb. We found that within a heavily diseased population, females consistently had lower levels of Microbotryum spore deposition relative to hermaphrodites and that this difference was driven by rapid floral closing in females following successful pollination. We further show that this protective closing behavior is frequency dependent; females close faster when they are rare. These results indicate that anther‐smut disease is an important source of selection for females, especially since we found in a common garden experiment no evidence that females have any inherent fecundity advantages over hermaphrodites. Finally, we show that among populations, those where anther‐smut is present have a significantly higher frequency of females than those where the disease is absent. Taken together our results indicate that anther‐smut disease is likely an important biotic factor driving the evolution and maintenance of females in this gynodioecious species.     

Biosynthesis of the anti‐diabetic metabolite montbretin A: glucosylation of the central intermediate mini‐MbA

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects over 320 million people worldwide. Healthy lifestyles, improved drugs and effective nutraceuticals are different components of a response against the growing T2D epidemic. The specialized metabolite montbretin A (MbA) is being developed for treatment of T2D and obesity due to its unique pharmacological activity as a highly effective and selective inhibitor of the human pancreatic α‐amylase. MbA is an acylated flavonol glycoside found in small amounts in montbretia (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora) corms. MbA cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities for drug development from its natural source or by chemical synthesis. To overcome these limitations through metabolic engineering, we are investigating the genes and enzymes of MbA biosynthesis. We previously reported the first three steps of MbA biosynthesis from myricetin to myricetin 3‐O‐(6′‐O‐caffeoyl)‐glucosyl rhamnoside (mini‐MbA). Here, we describe the sequence of reactions from mini‐MbA to MbA, and the discovery and characterization of the gene and enzyme responsible for the glucosylation of mini‐MbA. The UDP‐dependent glucosyltransferase CcUGT3 (UGT703E1) catalyzes the 1,2‐glucosylation of mini‐MbA to produce myricetin 3‐O‐(glucosyl‐6′‐O‐caffeoyl)‐glucosyl rhamnoside. Co‐expression of CcUGT3 with genes for myricetin and mini‐MbA biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana validated its biological function and expanded the set of genes available for metabolic engineering of MbA.     

Yields and nitrogen nutrition of intercropped maize and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb.] Ohwi and Ohashi)

Maize (Zea mays L.) and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb.] Ohwi and Ohashi) were grown in intercrop and monoculture on Tropaqualf soils under rainfed conditions in Northern Thailand yearly from 1983 to 1986. De Wit's replacement design was used to compare intercrops and monocultures with a constant plant density equivalent to 80 000 maize or 160 000 ricebean plants ha⁻¹. Combined nitrogen was applied at varying levels to 200 kg N ha⁻¹. In the final two seasons the intercrop ratio of maize: ricebean was also varied. At the time of maize maturity intercrops yielded upt 49 kg ha⁻¹ more N in the above ground plant parts than the best monoculture. Dry matter, grain and nitrogen yield of maize and ricebean in intercrop relative to their monoculture yields (RY, relative yield) were significantly greater than their respective share of the plant population. Relative yield totals (RYT) for grain, dry matter and nitrogen were always greater than 1. Nitrogen uptake per maize plant increased with progressive replacement of maize by ricebean plants. This increase was similar to that obtained by applying combined N. Available soil nitrogen tended to decrease with increasing maize:ricebean ratio. Increasing the maize:ricebean ratio increased the % of nitrogen derived from fixation in ricebean, the increase being equivalent to that obtained by decreasing combined nitrogen application. Approximately the same amount of fertilizer and soil nitrogen was taken up by maize plus ricebean in intercrop as the maize monoculture. The results suggest that the improved nitrogen economy of the intercrop resulted from the strong competitiveness of maize in the use of mineral nitrogen and the enhancement of nitrogen fixation in intercropped ricebean which made it less dependent on the depleted pool of soil nitrogen.     

对害虫具自然控制能力的益害比指标模型研究

在害虫测报和防治工作中,经常要考虑天敌与害虫数量的比例问题,以决定是否需对害虫进行防治或决定相应的防治措施。如果采取防治措施过早,不能充分发挥天敌的自然控制作用,则会浪费人力物力;如采用化防还会加     

中国天然林保护、生态恢复与可持续经营的理论与技术

全面总结了近年来中国在天然林保护与生态恢复的理论与技术实践方面所取得的研究进展。高度凝练出了天然林动态干扰与保育技术、典型退化天然林的生态恢复技术和天然林景观恢复与空间经营技术等三方面的创新成果,形成了天然林保护与生态恢复的理论与技术创新体系,对今后天然林保护、生态恢复与可持续经营进行了展望。