Morphogenesis as a macroscopic self-organizing process

We start from reviewing different epistemological constructions used for explaining morphogenesis. Among them, we explore the explanatory power of a law-centered approach which includes top-down causation and the basic concepts of a self-organization theory. Within such a framework, we discuss the morphomechanical models based upon the presumption of feedbacks between mechanical stresses imposed onto a given embryo part from outside and those generated within the latter as a kind of active response. A number of elementary morphogenetic events demonstrating that these feedbacks are directed towards hyper-restoration (restoration with an overshoot) of the initial state of mechanical stresses are described. Moreover, we show that these reactions are bound together into the larger scale feedbacks. That permits to suggest a reconstruction of morphogenetic successions in early Metazoan development concentrated around two main archetypes distinguished by the blastopores geometry. The perspectives of applying the same approach to cell differentiation are outlined. By discussing the problem of positional information we suggest that the developmental pathway of a given embryo part depends upon its preceded deformations and the corresponding mechanical stresses rather than upon its static position at any moment of development.     

Effect of sexual recombination on population diversity in aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and evidence for cryptic heterokaryosis

Aspergillus flavus is the major producer of carcinogenic aflatoxins (AFs) in crops worldwide. Natural populations of A. flavus show tremendous variation in AF production, some of which can be attributed to environmental conditions, differential regulation of the AF biosynthetic pathway and deletions or loss‐of‐function mutations in the AF gene cluster. Understanding the evolutionary processes that generate genetic diversity in A. flavus may also explain quantitative differences in aflatoxigenicity. Several population studies using multilocus genealogical approaches provide indirect evidence of recombination in the genome and specifically in the AF gene cluster. More recently, A. flavus has been shown to be functionally heterothallic and capable of sexual reproduction in laboratory crosses. In the present study, we characterize the progeny from nine A. flavus crosses using toxin phenotype assays, DNA sequence‐based markers and array comparative genome hybridization. We show high AF heritability linked to genetic variation in the AF gene cluster, as well as recombination through the independent assortment of chromosomes and through crossing over within the AF cluster that coincides with inferred recombination blocks and hotspots in natural populations. Moreover, the vertical transmission of cryptic alleles indicates that while an A. flavus deletion strain is predominantly homokaryotic, it may harbour AF cluster genes at a low copy number. Results from experimental matings indicate that sexual recombination is driving genetic and functional hyperdiversity in A. flavus. The results of this study have significant implications for managing AF contamination of crops and for improving biocontrol strategies using nonaflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus.     

Accounting for biological variation in differential display two-dimensional electrophoresis experiments

Variation of protein expression levels was investigated in the heart, lung and liver from an inbred (C57/BL6) and an outbred (CD-1) mouse line. Based on the measured inter-individual variation, optimal sample sizes for two-dimensional electrophoresis experiments were determined by means of power analysis. For both lines, the level of protein expression variation was in the range of technical variation. Thus, although the differences in protein expression variation were significant between organs and mouse lines, optimal sample sizes were very similar (between 8 for heart proteins from C57/BL6 and 10 for liver proteins of the same line). Proteins with organ expression bias (higher expression in one organ as compared to the other two organs) exhibited higher variation of expression and the proportion of these proteins in each organ explained at least partly inter-organ differences in protein expression variation. The results suggest that proteomic experiments using more heterogeneous mouse samples would not require much larger sample sizes than those using narrowly standardized samples. Experiment designs encompassing a broader genetic variation and thus affording increased relevance of the results can be accessible to proteomics researchers at still affordable sample sizes.     

The aged microenvironment contributes to the age-related functional defects of CD4 T cells in mice

CD4 T cells, and especially T follicular helper cells, are critical for the generation of a robust humoral response to an infection or vaccination. Importantly, immunosenescence affects CD4 T‐cell function, and the accumulation of intrinsic defects decreases the cognate helper functions of these cells. However, much less is known about the contribution of the aged microenvironment to this impaired CD4 T‐cell response. In this study, we have employed a preclinical model to determine whether the aged environment contributes to the defects in CD4 T‐cell functions with aging. Using an adoptive transfer model in mice, we demonstrate for the first time that the aged microenvironment negatively impacts at least three steps of the CD4 T‐cell response to antigenic stimulation. First, the recruitment of CD4 T cells to the spleen is reduced in aged compared to young hosts, which correlates with dysregulated chemokine expression in the aged organ. Second, the priming of CD4 T cells by DCs is reduced in aged compared to young mice. Finally, naïve CD4 T cells show a reduced transition to a T follicular helper cell phenotype in the aged environment, which impairs the subsequent generation of germinal centers. These studies have provided new insights into how aging impacts the immune system and how these changes influence the development of immunity to infections or vaccinations.     

光果甘草营养器官不同季节总黄酮消长规律的研究

利用紫外分光光度法对二年生栽培光果甘草不同营养器官、不同季节中总黄酮含量的消长规律进行分析研究,以探索光果甘草中总黄酮含量的消长规律,为生产中确定合理的采收期及其采收部位提供依据。结果显示:不同营养器官中,二年生栽培光果甘草总黄酮含量的高低顺序为:上部叶>中部叶>毛状根>水平根茎>侧根>主根、垂直根茎、上部茎>中部茎、下部茎;4～11月,二年生栽培光果甘草总黄酮含量波动较大,6、9、10月含量较高。综合分析表明:叶和毛状根是总黄酮含量最高的部位,二年生栽培光果甘草最佳采收期为早秋;建议对叶采收入药,综合利用光果甘草资源。     

荚蒾属植物花期物候及生长对引种地年际气候波动的响应

专属引种植物的物候及生长研究能够掌握特定物候相在专属水平上的阈值,并为评估引种专属的适应潜力提供参考。通过对中国科学院植物研究所北京植物园内引种多年的9种荚蒾（Viburnum）的花期及2种荚蒾的生长动态进行观测,分析讨论了花期对冬春两季异常低温的响应及营养与生殖生长的关联机制。结果表明：2009–2010年冬春异常低温后,荚蒾始花期的整体延迟是由春季环境热量供应不及时所致,种间延迟程度的差异则与原产地的气候有紧密联系：分布于寒温带地区的欧洲绣球（V.opulus）和修枝荚蒾（V.burejaeticum）延迟天数最少（分别为10和12天）,分布于我国亚热带的琼花（V.macrocephalum）和桦叶荚蒾（V.betulifolium）延迟天数最多（分别为21和26天）。荚蒾花前有效积温介于39–368°C之间。经历异常低温后,花前有效积温呈上升和下降两种格局,与物种冷量和热量的内在需求有关。荚蒾属植物的生殖与营养生长呈现两种关联方式,早花种类开花座果伴随着营养生长的竞争,晚花种类花后即出现营养生长的支持,对果实发育的保障性较强。     

地枫皮营养器官解剖结构特征及其叶片结构的生态适应性

为了明确地枫皮的结构特征及其在石灰岩山顶和山腰疏林间两种环境下生长的叶片解剖结构的差异,本研究采用石蜡切片和半薄切片对地枫皮营养器官进行解剖观察并评价了叶片结构对不同生态环境的响应。结果表明:地枫皮根中次生维管组织发达,木射线和韧皮射线明显。老茎的次生构造中,皮层贮藏物质丰富,内有大的石细胞群,韧皮射线和木射线明显;而髓细胞内含有大量晶簇和少量单晶。在叶片横切面观上,叶为异面叶,表皮细胞一层,上表皮无气孔分布,主脉中薄壁细胞中分散有石细胞。叶片解剖结构显示,随海拔高度上升,地枫皮趋向于旱生植物的特点,其主要表现在叶片表皮细胞外壁角质层加厚,栅海比增加、海绵组织排列由紧密变疏松。另外,根皮、茎皮和叶肉中都分布有大量油细胞。     

Stink bug interaction with host plants during communication

In solitary plant-dwelling stink bug species, success depends crucially on efficient mate location and recognition, mediated by signals transmitted through the plant. All stink bugs investigated so far communicate with species and sex-specific narrow-band calling and courtship song signals produced by abdomen vibration. Calling songs of lower specificity are characterized by readily repeated units emitted with regular repetition rate from the same place on a plant, while courtship songs take place at shorter distances in the process of species and sex recognition, together with signals of other modalities. Signal spectra with about 100Hz fundamental frequency and harmonics below 1000Hz are tuned to the resonant properties of their green host plants. The majority of the identified leg vibratory receptor cells and the underlying ventral cord interneurons respond best in the frequency range below 500Hz. Green plants with low pass filtering properties transmit optimally signals with a dominant frequency around 100Hz and strongly attenuate vibrations above 600Hz. Accurate tuning of signal spectral properties with the plant's mechanical characteristics enables communication over several meter distances, with dispersive bending waves running through the plant's rod-like structures under standing wave conditions.     

First report of antennular attachment organs in a barnacle nauplius larva

Larvae released from Newmaniverruca albatrossiana were cultured in the laboratory until the cypris stage. The brood size of individuals was low, about 60 larvae per brood. The exact number of instars was not determined. Early instars had the morphology normally seen in lecithotrophic nauplii of thoracican cirripedes. They had uniramous antennules with a few apical setae and biramous antennae and mandibles equipped with natatory setae only. Neither antennae nor mandibles carried any enditic spines or setae and the mouth cone was diminutive. The last nauplius stage obtained in our cultures was typical except in the structure of antennules. The head shield was enlarged but not flexed down, the antennae and mandibles were virtually unchanged from earlier instars, and the ventral thoracic process was well developed but without any external appendages. In contrast, the antennules had the complex shape and segmentation otherwise seen only in cypris larvae, where they are used for bipedal walking on the substratum in search of a settlement site. The similarity included the specialized shape of the first two antennular segments and the specialization of the third as an attachment organ. Nauplii just prior to this last instar had simple, straight antennules but completely lacked setae and instead terminated bluntly in what appears to be an incipient attachment organ. The presence of cypris-like antennules in late nauplii has not previously been recorded in cirripedes. We suggest that this will allow the larvae to attach on the substratum temporarily before they reach the cypris instar and this will increase the chance of settling successfully on their rare substratum (sea urchin spines). The specialization in late N. albatrossiana nauplii will therefore decrease mortality during the larval phase and thus counterbalance the very low breeding potential in this deep-sea species.