Relations between water content, potential and permeability in stems of conifers

Abstract. The influence of sapwood water content on the conductivity of sapwood to water was measured on stem sections of Pinus contorta. A reduction in relative water content from 100 to 90% caused permeability to fall to about 10% of the saturated value.
Pressure–volume curves of branchwood and stem sapwood of Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis have been analysed to definè the tissue capacitance and the time constant and resistance for water movement between stored water and the functional xylem as functions of tissue water potential. Three phases in water loss were discernible. In the initial phase at high water potentials (> –0.5 MPa), the capacitance was large, the time constant long and the resistance to flow large in comparison with intermediate water potentials (−0.5 to −1.5 MPa). At still lower water potentials (−1.5 to −3.0 MPa), the time constant and resistance declined still further but the capacitance had a tendency to increase again, especially in the stemwood of Sitka spruce. Typical values in the second phase were for the time constant 5 s, for the resistance 4 × 10⁻¹³ N s m⁻⁵ and for the capacitance (change in relative water content per unit change in potential) 1×10⁻¹¹ m³ Pa⁻¹. These parameters define the availability of stored water and are being used in a dynamic model of water transport in trees.     

A respiration-dependent primary sodium extrusion system functioning at alkaline pH in the marine bacterium Vibrioalginolyticus

The membrane potential generated at pH 8.5 by K⁺-depleted and Na⁺-loaded $\text{Vibrio}\text{alginolyticus}$ is not collapsed by proton conductors which, instead, induce the accumulation of protons in equilibrium with the membrane potential. The generation of such a membrane potential and the accumulation of protons are specific to Na⁺-loaded cells at alkaline pH and are dependent on respiration. Extrusion of Na⁺ at pH 8.5 occurs in the presence of proton conductors unless respiration is inhibited while it is abolished by proton conductors at acidic pH. The uptake of α-aminoisobutyric acid, which is driven by the Na⁺-electrochemical gradient, is observed even in the presence of proton conductors at pH 8.5 but not at acidic pH. We conclude that a respiration-dependent primary electrogenic Na⁺ extrusion system is functioning at alkaline pH to generate the proton conductor-insensitive membrane potential and Na⁺ chemical gradient.     

Oxygen availability,redox and the distribution of some Turbellaria Schizorhynchidae and other forms

Records from a considerable number of meiofaunal samples are reexamined in relation to the depth within sediment distribution of various taxa especially Schizorhynchidae and the main turbellarian orders.Frequency and density records in samples with particular oxygen flow rates and redox potentials confirm that the ranges of Schizochilus, Proschizorhynchus and Neoschizorhynchus spp. within these factors may help account for congeneric occurrence within cores. However, statistical analysis of the records is seldom able to confirm apparent differences. There is, for example, a statistically significant difference in distribution in relation to redox potential between the red schizorhynchians Pseudoschizorhynchides ruber, Diascorhynchus rubrus and the red acoelan Paratomella rubra but not in relation to oxygen availability and depth within sediment. On one beach Gnathostomula aff. paradoxa was found at Eh and O₂ availability values under which it must be assumed to be living anaerobically.Contingency and other analyses are extended to differences between higher taxa and the results discussed in relation to habitat evolution of the Turbellaria. The suggestion that structural complexity of turbellarians has increased with increased oxygenation of the environment is tentatively supported.     

PKC regulation of ion channels: The involvement of PIP2

Ion channels are integral membrane proteins whose gating has been increasingly shown to depend on the presence of the low-abundance membrane phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate. The expression and function of ion channels is tightly regulated via protein phosphorylation by specific kinases, including various PKC isoforms. Several channels have further been shown to be regulated by PKC through altered surface expression, probability of channel opening, shifts in voltage dependence of their activation, or changes in inactivation or desensitization. In this review, we survey the impact of phosphorylation of various ion channels by PKC isoforms and examine the dependence of phosphorylated ion channels on phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate as a mechanistic endpoint to control channel gating.     

Mycorrhizal colonization of Pinus muricata from resistant propagules after a stand-replacing wildfire

Colonization of mycorrhizal fungi was studied in a Pinus muricata forest on the coast in California, USA, burned by a stand-replacing wildfire in October 1995. Naturally established field seedlings of P. muricata were harvested 1 yr after the fire. The species composition of the mycorrhizal fungi on these field seedlings was dominated by Rhizopogon species, Wilcoxina mikolae and Tomentella sublilacina . Bioassays, set up with soil collected immediately after the fire, were used to determine which mycorrhizal species had colonized the burned area from resistant propagules. The P. muricata seedlings in these bioassays were dominated by suilloid and ascomycetous fungi, the same fungi which dominated the mycorrhizal flora of seedlings in pre-fire bioassays derived from the same forest site, suggesting that resistant propagules were the primary inoculum source for naturally establishing seedlings. Drying of post-fire soil for 1 month raised the number of bioassay seedlings associated with Rhizopogon olivaceotinctus , while the number of bioassay seedlings associated with Rhizopogon ochraceorubens was reduced. Fire appeared to have either stimulated or provided a competitive advantage to R. olivaceotinctus , which increased in abundance on the post-fire bioassay and field seedlings. Soil collected from the burned area was diluted with sterile soil in three different concentrations, and the number and frequency of mycorrhizal taxa on bioassay seedlings decreased with increased dilution. Although precise quantification was not possible, propagules of the Rhizopogon species were much more abundant than those of Tomentella or Wilcoxina species. Differences between the mycorrhizal associates of bioassay seedlings, naturally regenerated seedlings, and different inoculum sources are discussed.     

近40a甘肃省气候生产潜力时空变化特征

根据甘肃省69个气象站1971-2007年温度和降水资料,采用Miami模型、Thornthwaite Memorial模型计算了全省温度生产潜力、降水生产潜力和气候生产潜力,分析了影响气候生产潜力的气候驱动力,用经验正交函数(EOF)分析其时空变化特征。结果表明:温度生产潜力显著增加,降水生产潜力略有减少,平均气候生产潜力为733.86 kg · hm^-2 · a^-1,呈逐渐减少趋势。区域差异性明显,呈东南-西北递减,陇南山区＞陇东高原＞陇中高原＞甘南草原＞河西走廊,气候生产潜力以1997年为转型年。增湿和增温均有利于气候生产潜力的增加,但增湿增益更为显著,另气候的暖干化趋势是研究区气候生产潜力减少的重要原因。     

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: spectroscopic investigations with the recombinant enzyme throw light on catalytic properties and metabolism of fumarate analogues

In all organisms the fourth catalytic step of the pyrimidine biosynthesis is driven by the flavoenzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH, EC 1.3.99.11). Cytosolic DHODH of the established model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyses the oxidation of dihydroorotate to orotate and the reduction of fumarate to succinate. Here, we investigate the structure and mechanism of DHODH from S. cerevisiae and show that the recombinant ScDHODH exists as a homodimeric enzyme in vitro. Inhibition of ScDHODH by the reaction product was observed and kinetic studies disclosed affinity for orotate (K(ic)=7.7 microM; K(ic) is the competitive inhibition constant). The binding constant for orotate was measured through comparison of UV-visible spectra of the bound and unbound recombinant enzyme. The midpoint reduction potential of DHODH-bound flavine mononucleotide determined from analysis of spectral changes was -242 mV (vs. NHE) under anaerobic conditions. A search for alternative electron acceptors revealed that homologues such as mesaconate can be used as electron acceptors.     

Evaluation of the denitrifying microbiota of anoxic reactors

Removal of inorganic nitrogen compounds from wastewaters can be accomplished by a combination of the biological processes of nitrification and denitrification. The information on the microbiota present in denitrifying reactors is still scarce. In the present work the evaluation of the denitrifying microbiota of different reactor sludges was performed by specific activity measurements and MPN count of denitrifiers. We also present the isolation and physiological and phylogenetic characterisation of denitrifying bacteria from the anoxic reactor of a combined system treating landfill leachate. Specific denitrifying activity measurements were faster to perform and more reliable than MPN enumerations. 16S rDNA characterisation of the isolates showed that they belonged to the genera Thauera, Acidovorax and Alcaligenes and were closely related to microorganisms retrieved from ecosystems rich in recalcitrant compounds. Two of the isolates could grow on aromatic compounds as sole carbon source.     

基于生态位模型的番荔枝实蝇潜在适生性分布预测

番荔枝实蝇Ceratitis artortoe(Graham)是一种重要的外来人侵性检疫害虫.在广东口岸,其幼虫连续从入境旅客所携带的水果中被榆出.目前关于番荔枝实蝇潜在适生性分布的研究进行得很少,但对于我国的生物生态安全却有重要意义.本研究中,我们使用3种牛态位模型(ENFA模型,马氏典型性模型和Maxent模型)对番荔枝实蝇在中斟以及全球范尉内的潜在适生性分布区域进行了预测分析.结果显示:Maxent模型拥有最好的预测精确度,马氏典型件模型次之,而ENFA模型的预测精确度最差;Maxent模型和马氏典型性模型的预测精确度无显著性差异;根据Maxent模型的预测结果,番荔枝实蝇在中国的潜在适生区主要是广西、广东、海南以及云南的少部分地区.分析结果显示,番荔枝实蝇从境外传人中国南部地区并最终在上述地区定殖的风险可能性存在,但风险较小.另外,折刀法(Jackknife)分析显示,6种环境因子,例如地面霜冻频率、年平均降雨量、十月降雨量、四月降雨量、年最低温度以及蒸气压,对于番荔枝实蝇在全球和局部地区的分布模式有显著的影响.