Silicon modifies root anatomy, and uptake and subcellular distribution of cadmium in young maize plants

Background and Aims

Silicon (Si) has been shown to ameliorate the negative influence of cadmium (Cd) on plant growth and development. However, the mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood. Here we describe the effect of Si on growth, and uptake and subcellular distribution of Cd in maize plants in relation to the development of root tissues.

Methods

Young maize plants (Zea mays) were cultivated for 10 d hydroponically with 5 or 50 µm Cd and/or 5 mm Si. Growth parameters and the concentrations of Cd and Si were determined in root and shoot by atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The development of apoplasmic barriers (Casparian bands and suberin lamellae) and vascular tissues in roots were analysed, and the influence of Si on apoplasmic and symplasmic distribution of ¹⁰⁹Cd applied at 34 nm was investigated between root and shoot.

Key Results

Si stimulated the growth of young maize plants exposed to Cd and influenced the development of Casparian bands and suberin lamellae as well as vascular tissues in root. Si did not affect the distribution of apoplasmic and symplasmic Cd in maize roots, but considerably decreased symplasmic and increased apoplasmic concentration of Cd in maize shoots.

Conclusions

Differences in Cd uptake of roots and shoots are probably related to the development of apoplasmic barriers and maturation of vascular tissues in roots. Alleviation of Cd toxicity by Si might be attributed to enhanced binding of Cd to the apoplasmic fraction in maize shoots.     

“In vitro” Antifungal activity of protease inhibitors

In the last five years, as HAART has become standard therapy in HIV seropositive or AIDS patients, changes have been noted in the numbers and types of opportunistic fungal infections in these cohorts of patients. Particularly, oropharyngeal candidiasis have become rare in HIV infected patients since the introduction of new anti-HIV drugs of the protease inhibitors type. At the Immunology Institute of the Universidad Central de Venezuela the most frequent protease inhibitors (PIs) used for the treatment of these patients have been: Nelfinavir (Viracept^TM, Roche),Indinavir (Crixivan^® Merck),Ritonavir (Norvir^®, Abbott),Saquinavir (Fortovase^®, Roche).Recently, we observed that recurrent candidiasis was less frequent and no Candidacould be isolated in our patients. A direct relation to the PIs was suspected. In order to assess the in vitro antifungal activity of the afore mentioned protease inhibitors on Candida sp., we used both the well diffusion test and the NCCLS broth microdilution test to assay 100 Candida sp. isolates from HIV seropositive or AIDS patients with syntomatic oropharyngeal Candida infection. In general, the data obtained with the well diffusion test were in agreement with those obtained by the broth microdilution test. All 100 isolates were susceptible to Saquinavir and 32 were susceptible to Indinavir using the NCCLS microdilution test,while 97 were susceptible to Saquinavir and 52 to Indinavir by the well diffusion test. From 17 C. albicans resistant to fluconazole, all were susceptible to Saquinavir by the NCCLS micro method and 16 by the well diffusion test. Our results showed anticandidal activity in vitro of PIs, mainly Saquinavir.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

春玉米根系生育特征与冠层关系的研究

以农田实际观测资料为依据,分析了春玉米根系生育特征及其与冠层生长的关系,并提出了定量描述方程;较详细地阐述了水分条件对根系生长的影响,指出利用根系伸展深度确定灌溉计划湿润深度和进行根冠调控,以指导农田优化灌溉的可行性。     

Purification and partial characterisation of and α-tocopherol-binding protein from rabbit heart cytosol

An -tocopherol-binding protein has been isolated and purified from rabbit heart cytosol. The purified protein had an apparent molecular mass of 14,200, as derived from SDS-PAGE. The content of the protein in rabbit heart was around 11.8 g per g of tissue. The binding of -tocopherol to the purified protein was rapid, reversible, and saturable. Neither nor tocopherol could displace the bound -tocopherol from the protein, suggesting a high specificity for -tocopherol. -Tocopherol-binding protein did not bind oleate. Transfer of -tocopherol from liposomes to mitochodria was stimulated 8-fold in the presence of the binding protein, suggesting that this protein may be involved in the intracellular transport of -tocopherol in the heart.     

Evidence for growth ofSporothrix schenckii on dead but not on living sphagnum moss

When clinical isolates ofSporothrix schenckii were inoculated onto the apices of living or dead sphagnum moss plants maintained under growth chamber conditions, populations of the fungus, assessed by standard dilution plate methods, increased swiftly up to about 70-fold on moist, dead plants but did not increase on the live moss. Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed fungal growth and sporulation on and within dead plants, but no evidence of either on live plants. These data provide indirect support for the contention thatS. schenckii does not grow on living sphagnum in bogs, but rather that sporotrichosis epidemics associated with sphagnum moss are likely to result from contamination of the dead plants at some point(s) in the chain of events during or after harvest. One practical implication of our results is that precautions should be taken to insure that sphagnum moss is stored dry and that it is not wetted any sooner than necessary before use. We also report here improvement of the Mycose isolation medium by an increase in cycloheximide from 400 to 800 mg/l, chloramphenicol from 50 to 250 mg/l, and the addition of rifampicin at 20 mg/l.     

A Fos-Jun element in the first intron of an α2u-globulin gene

The hepatic expression of the _2u gene family is controlled by a variety of hormones including steroids, growth hormone and insulin. The mechanisms by which these hormones affect -globulin expression are only partially understood. Recently we isolated and characterized clone RAP 01, an _2u-globulin gene expressed in the liver. In preliminary experiments we noted that partial hepatectomy, a procedure which results in a sharp rise in the level of the oncoproteins c-Fos and c-Jun, also causes a transient induction of the messenger RNA corresponding to clone RAP 01. Using the DNAseI footprinting technique we were able to show that this clone contains a TPA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)-responsive element (TRE) in its first intron. This element (denoted as element X) is identical to the consensus AP-1 binding site (TGACTCAG) and is protected by rat liver nuclear extracts as well as by purified c-Jun. Gel retardation experiments show that an oligonucleotide containing the TRE consensus sequence competes for binding of liver nuclear proteins to element X and that antibodies directed against the M₂ peptide of the mouse Fos protein or the PEP-2 peptide of Jun prevent the formation of specific complexes with the same element. Moreover, element X functions as a TRE in transfected BWTG₃ hepatoma cells treated with TPA. Co-transfection withfos andjun expression vectors mimics the effects of TPA suggesting that AP-1 is in fact the mediator of the observed response. It is concluded that the first intron of RAP 01 contains a functional Fos-Jun element.     

不同花生品种对旱涝胁迫的响应及生理机制

为评价花生对旱、涝胁迫的响应,本试验以4个旱、涝耐性差异明显的花生品种为材料,运用温室防雨盆栽方法,在苗期、花针期分别进行正常灌溉(对照)、干旱(7d,叶片萎蔫)、根部淹涝(土面水深2 cm,时间1d、3d、7d)和整株淹涝(水深至苗顶,时间1d、3d、7d)的处理,测定地上部及根系生物量、根冠比、根系活力、叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果表明,苗期、花针期干旱均抑制地上部生长,提高根冠比;苗期干旱降低根系生物量,而花针期增加。2个时期淹涝均促进地上部生长、抑制根系生长、降低根冠比,并随淹水加深、延时而加重。旱、涝条件下根系活力均降低,SOD、MDA呈上升趋势。遭受相同时间(7d)的水分胁迫后,危害程度以干旱重于淹涝,花针期重于苗期。基于生物量、生理指标变化的综合分析进一步表明,4个花生品种的旱、涝耐性差异很大,湘花55号耐旱性强、耐涝性弱,豫花15号耐旱性弱、耐涝性强,中花4号耐旱、涝性均最弱,中花8号耐旱、涝性均最强。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal phosphate transport under monoxenic conditions using radio-labelled inorganic and organic phosphate

Compartmented monoxenic cultures of Ri T-DNA transformed carrot roots and a symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus demonstrated for the first time that phosphate in an organic form (³²P-labelled AMP) may be hydrolysed by extra-radical mycorrhizal hyphae in the absence of other organisms, and subsequently utilized as a mineral nutrient source by the host plant after fungal transport.     

Stem CO2 efflux in six co‐occurring tree species: underlying factors and ecological implications

Stem respiration plays a role in species coexistence and forest dynamics. Here we examined the intra‐ and inter‐specific variability of stem CO₂ efflux (E) in dominant and suppressed trees of six deciduous species in a mixed forest stand: Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus petraea [Matt.] Liebl, Quercus pyrenaica Willd., Prunus avium L., Sorbus aucuparia L. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. We conducted measurements in late autumn. Within species, dominants had higher E per unit stem surface area (E_s) mainly because sapwood depth was higher than in suppressed trees. Across species, however, differences in E_s corresponded with differences in the proportion of living parenchyma in sapwood and concentration of non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC). Across species, E_s was strongly and NSC marginally positively related with an index of drought tolerance, suggesting that slow growth of drought‐tolerant trees is related to higher NSC concentration and E_s. We conclude that, during the leafless period, E is indicative of maintenance respiration and is related with some ecological characteristics of the species, such as drought resistance; that sapwood depth is the main factor explaining variability in E_s within species; and that the proportion of NSC in the sapwood is the main factor behind variability in E_s among species.     

Identification of beta subunit of the rhesus monkey chorionic gonadotropin (rmCG)

Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) is a placental derived hormone that plays a crucial role in successful implantation and establishment of early pregnancy in the primates. The rhesus monkey was chosen as a model to understand the feasibility of developing human DNA immuno-contraceptive. The coding region of rhesus monkey CG -subunit (rmCG) was isolated by the TDRT-PCR method. The nucleotide sequence including the leader peptide was 499 nucleotide long and encoded 166 amino acids. In comparing with the previous known primates CG -subunits, the rmCG was the highest degree of homology with baboon CG -subunit at the deduced amino acid sequence (94%), 79.5% homology with human CG -subunit and 70.4% homology with marmoset monkey CG -subunit. The eukaryotic expression vector pCMV4-rmCG inserted full-coding cDNA sequence of rmCG was constructed, and the expression of rmCG -subunit in HeLa cells transient expressing system in vitro and BALB/c mice in vivo was determined. The results demonstrated that the recombinant PCMV4-rmCG eukaryotic expression vector could express rmCG -subunit in vitro and in vivo.