Misting and nitrogen fertilization of shoots of a saltmarsh grass: effects upon fungal decay of leaf blades

We conducted a 12-week field manipulation experiment in which we raised the nitrogen availability (ammonium sulfate fertilization to roots) and/or water potential (freshwater misting) of decaying leaf blades of a saltmarsh grass (smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora) in triplicate 11-m² plots, and compared the manipulated plots to unmanipulated, control plots. The ascomycetous fungi that dominate cordgrass leaf decomposition processes under natural conditions exhibited a boosting (>2-fold) of living standing crop (ergosterol content) by misting at the 1 st week after tagging of senescent leaves, but afterwards, living-fungal standing crop on misted blades was equivalent to that on control blades, confirming prior evidence that Spartina fungi are well adapted to natural, irregular wetting. Misting also caused 2-fold sharper temporal declines than control in instantaneous rates of fungal production (ergosterol synthesis), 5-fold declines in density of sexual reproductive structures that were not shown by controls, and 2-fold higher rates of loss of plant organic mass. Extra nitrogen gave a long-term boost to living-fungal standing crop (about 2-fold at 12 weeks), which was also reflected in rates of fungal production at 4 weeks, suggesting that saltmarsh fungal production is nitrogen-limited. Although bacterial and green-microalgal crops were boosted by manipulations of nitrogen and/or water, their maximal crops remained 0.3 or 2% (bacteria or green microalgae, respectively) of contemporaneous living-fungal crop. The fungal carbon-productivity values obtained, in conjunction with rates of loss of plant carbon, hinted that fungal yield can be high (>50%), and that it is boosted by high availability of nitrogen. We speculate that one partial cause of high fungal yield could be subsidy of fungal growth by dissolved organic carbon from outside decomposing leaves.     

Herbivory-induced signalling in plants: perception and action

Plants and herbivores have been interacting for millions of years. Over time, plants have evolved mechanisms to defend against herbivore attacks. Herbivore-challenged plants reconfigure their metabolism to produce compounds that are toxic, repellant or anti-digestive for the herbivores. Some compounds are volatile signals that attract the predators of herbivores. All these responses are tightly regulated by a signalling network triggered by the plant's perception machinery. Several compounds that specifically elicit herbivory-induced responses in plants have been isolated from herbivore oral secretions and oviposition fluids. Elicitor perception is rapidly followed by cell membrane depolarization, calcium influx and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation; plants also elevate the concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and modulate phytohormone levels accordingly. In addition to these reactions in the herbivore-attacked regions of a leaf, defence responses are also mounted in unattacked parts of the attacked leaf and as well in unattacked leaves. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding how plants recognize herbivory, the involvement of several important signalling pathways that mediate the responses to herbivore attack and the signals that transduce local into systemic responses.     

Structure of the Ni(II) complex of Escherichia coli peptide deformylase and suggestions on deformylase activities depending on different metal(II) centres

Crystal structures of polypeptide deformylase (PDF) of Escherichia coli with nickel(II) replacing the native iron(II) have been solved with chloride and formate as metal ligands. The chloro complex is a model for the correct protonation state of the hydrolytic hydroxo ligand and the protonated status of the Glu133 side chain as part of the hydrolytic mechanism. The ambiguity that recently some PDFs have been identified with Zn²⁺ ion as the active-site centre whereas others are only active with Fe²⁺ (or Co²⁺, Ni²⁺) is discussed with respect to Lewis acid criteria of the metal ion and substrate activation by the CD loop.     

Canonical variables of aquatic bryophyte combinations for predicting water trophic level

Concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), nitrate, and soluble reactive silicon (SRSi) were monitored in 12 streams draining small catchments (<10 km2) in the English Lake District. The catchments varied with respect to underlying geology, soil type and land cover. Average concentrations of SRP were in the range 0.5–11.2 μg P l-1, and estimated loads ranged from 0.01 to 0.14 kg P ha-1 a-1. The higher concentrations and loads were associated with catchments containing improved pasture. Mean streamwater concentrations of nitrate varied from 55 to 660 μg N l-1, while loads were in the range 0.8–9.6 kg N ha-1 a-1; no general dependence on catchment properties was discerned. Concentrations of SRSi were similar in all the streams (0.8–2 mg Si l-1), and annual loads were in the range 10–26 kg Si ha-1 a-1. Loads of all three nutrients were greatest during the winter, because of higher discharges, but in some catchments containing improved pasture, considerable transport of P also took place during the summer. Concentrations of nitrate in streams draining unimproved moorland catchments are approximately twice those reported for samples taken from similar streams in 1973 and 1974, possibly because of increased atmospheric deposition of inorganic nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate). Concentrations of SRP in such streams were similar to those reported for the earlier samples. Comparisons of stream loads of SRP and nitrate with estimated inputs suggest that catchment soils retain substantial amounts of these nutrients. Implications for surface water eutrophication of changes in P retention by soils are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于线粒体ND2和ND4基因合并序列探讨豹属的分子系统关系

为了探讨豹属(Panthera)物种间的系统发生关系,测定了虎(Panthera agm)、豹(Panthera pardus)和雪豹(Panthera uncia)的线粒体ND2和ND4编码基因序列,结合来自Ganebank的其他7种猫科动物的同源序列进行合并分析(2 417 bp).在2 417 bp比对位点中,其中有948个变异位点,632个简约信息位点.以犬为外群,分别采用最大简约法(Maximum Parsimony,MP)、最大似然法(Maximum Likelihood,ML)和贝叶斯推论法(Bayesian In-ference,Bl)重建分子系统树.结果表明:豹属除包括传统的虎、豹、狮、美洲豹(Panthera onca)和雪豹外,云豹(Neofetis nebulosa)应并归于豹属,不支持将云豹另立为云豹属的观点;豹属各物种间的系统发生关系总结为:云豹(虎(美洲豹(豹(狮、雪豹))))     

人参茎叶皂甙对高胆固醇饮食大鼠再灌注性心律失常和脂质过氧化的影响(英文)

研究人参茎叶皂甙(GSL)对高胆固醇饮食大鼠心肌再灌注性心律失常(RPA_r)和脂质过氧化的影响。方法:将胆固醇乳剂用灌胃法饲养大鼠14d,建立高脂血症模型,各组大鼠进行心肌缺血再灌注实验,观察高脂血症和GSL对大鼠心肌缺血再灌注2h后血丙二醇(MDA),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和一氧化氮(NO)水平的影响和对再灌注性心律失常发生率的影响。结果显示:(1)用胆固醇乳剂饲养大鼠14d,成功建立高脂血症模型。同时给予GSL14d有明显降脂作用。(2)高脂血症状态下,心肌缺血再灌注2h后,血MDA升高(p<0.01),SOD降低(p<0.01)和NO(p<0.05)降低,再灌注10min内RPAr的发生率增高。(3)GSL组再灌注后2h的血MDA降低,而SOD和NO水平显著升高;使RPAr发生率大为降低,无VF发生。实验显示高脂血症加重心肌缺血再灌注损伤和提高RPAr发生率及动物死亡率,GSL可减少高脂饮食大鼠脂质过氧化和诱导体内NO生成而减轻缺血再灌注心肌损伤,降低缺血再灌注性心律失常发生率。     

渔游蛇(Natrix piscator)的雄性生殖周期及其肾性节的生殖生理学研究:Ⅰ.雄性生殖周期及肾性节的组织学和组织化学

福州近郊分布的渔游蛇睾丸精子发生在10月份达最高峰。全年出现二次雄性激素高峰。肾性节在10月份达发育高峰,其上皮细胞中的分泌颗粒含糖类、缩醛磷脂、酸性磷酸酶和乳酸脱氢酶,不含酸性粘多糖、碱性磷酸酶、琥珀酸脱氢酶或含量(活性)极低。肾性节的组织学变化与睾丸的精子发生活动呈同步性。     

乌苏里江洪泛湿地蜻蜓目幼虫对水文连通阻断的生态响应

大型底栖动物的群落组成完整性能够指示和预测水生态环境的健康程度和变化趋势,已经在大量研究中得到验证.然而,群落水平的全部样品采集过程的复杂性并不利于它们的便捷应用.蜻蜓目幼虫是大型底栖动物中相对易于捕捉和识别的类群,并且拥有特别的两栖生命周期,它们的多样性特征以及对水体性质变化的敏感反应,使其成为湿地生态系统中非常广泛...     

脱臭工艺对玉米油中反式脂肪酸含量的影响

目的：研究脱臭工艺对玉米油中反式脂肪酸含量的影响。方法：在实验室内对玉米油进行不同温度和时间的脱臭处理,利用气相色谱法分析处理后玉米油中的反式脂肪酸含量。结果：脱臭温度和脱臭时间均对玉米油中反式油酸的产生影响不显著。脱臭温度对玉米油中反式亚油酸含量影响显著,脱臭时间对玉米油中反式亚油酸含量影响不显著。在一定的脱臭时间,不同脱臭温度下,玉米油中总反式脂肪酸最多含量为最少含量的80倍以上;在一定的脱臭温度,而不同脱臭时间下,玉米油中总反式脂肪酸最多含量约为最少含量的1．5倍,且在255℃以下时,随脱臭时间延长,玉米油中总反式脂肪酸的形成速度缓慢、相对含量低。结论：玉米油精炼脱臭时,对脱臭工艺装备和工艺条件中的脱臭温度进行优化选择可有效减少玉米油反式脂肪酸的产生。