Scaling sun and shade photosynthetic acclimation of Alocasia macrorrhiza to whole-plant performance – II. Simulation of carbon balance and growth at different photon flux densities

A whole-plant carbon balance model incorporating a light acclimation response was developed for Alocasia macrorrhiza based on empirical data and the current understanding of light acclimation in this species. The model was used to predict the relative growth rate (RGR) for plants that acclimated to photon flux density (PFD) by changing their leaf type, and for plants that produced only sun or shade leaves regardless of PFD. The predicted RGR was substantially higher for plants with shade leaves than for those with sun leaves at low PFD. However, the predicted RGR was not higher, and in fact was slightly lower, for plants with sun leaves than for those with shade leaves at high PFD. The decreased leaf area ratios (LARs) of the plants with sun leaves counteracted their higher photosynthetic capacities per unit leaf area (A_max). The model was manipulated by changing parameters to examine the sensitivity of RGR to variation in single factors. Overall, RGR was most sensitive to LAR and showed relatively little sensitivity to variation in A_max or maintenance respiration. Similarly, RGR was relatively insensitive to increases in leaf life-span beyond those observed. Respiration affected RGR only at low PFD, whereas A_max was moderately important only at high PFD.     

Different regulation of leaf respiration between Spinacia oleracea, a sun species, and Alocasia odora, a shade species

Mature leaves of shade species exhibit lower respiratory rates than those of sun species. To elucidate the mechanism underlying different respiratory rates between sun and shade species, we examined respiratory properties of leaves in Spinacia oleracea L., a sun species, and Alocasia odora (Lodd.) Spach, a shade species, with special reference to changes in the respiratory rate throughout the night. In S. oleracea , rates of both CO₂ efflux and O₂ uptake decreased with time during the night, whereas in A. odora both rates were virtually constant at lower levels. The rates of O₂ uptake in S . oleracea increased upon addition of sucrose, and the rates attained were virtually identical throughout the night. However, the addition of an uncoupler [carbonyl cyanide p -(trifluoromethoxy)-phenylhydrazone; FCCP] did not alter the rates. In contrast, the rates of O₂ uptake in A. odora were enhanced by the addition of FCCP, but not by sucrose. The concentrations of carbohydrates in the tissue decreased throughout the night in both species and the ATP/ADP ratio was always greater in A. odora. These results indicate that, in S. oleracea , the availability of respiratory substrate determines the respiratory rate, while the low respiratory rate in A. odora is ascribed to its low demand for ATP.     

Response of mitochondria to light intensity in the leaves of sun and shade species

The present authors have shown previously that both respiration rates and in vivo activities of the alternative oxidase (AOX) of leaves of Alocasia odora, a shade species, are lower than those in sun species, thereby optimizing energy production under limited light conditions (Noguchi et al., Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 28, 27–35, 2001). In the present study, mitochondria isolated from A. odora leaves were examined in order to investigate the biochemical basis for the differences in respiratory parameters. Alocasia odora and spinach plants were cultivated under both high and low light intensities, mitochondria were isolated from their leaves, and their respiratory properties compared. Mitochondrial content of leaf extracts from the two species was estimated using fumarase activities and antibody detection of porin (the voltage-dependent anion channel of the outer mitochondrial membrane). On a mitochondrial protein basis, spinach leaves showed higher capacities of the cytochrome pathway and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) than A. odora leaves. However, on a mitochondrial protein basis, A. odora showed higher capacities of AOX, which had a high affinity for ubiquinone when activated by pyruvate. Alocasia odora also had larger amounts of mitochondrial protein per leaf dry weight, even under severely shaded conditions, than spinach. Lower growth light intensity led to lower activities of most pathways and proteins tested in both species, especially glycine-dependent oxygen uptake. In the low light environment, most of the AOX protein in A. odora leaves was in its inactive, oxidized dimer form, but was converted to its reduced active form when plants were grown under high light. This shift may prevent over-reduction of the respiratory chain under photo-oxidative conditions.     

粗根荨麻水提取部分对佐剂性关节炎大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞分泌TNF—α及PGE2的影响

观察滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分对佐剂性关节炎(adjuvant arthritis,AA)大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞(peritoneal macrophages,PMcp)分泌肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-alpha,TNF-α)及前列腺素E2(prostaglandin E2,PGE2)的影响.建立大鼠佐剂性关节炎模型,Ur水提取部分连续灌胃给药14或21 d后分次获取大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,脂多糖(lipopolysacehafide,LPS)诱导大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,用酶联免疫吸附法检测培养上清液中TNF-α及PGE2水平.从大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-α及PGE2分泌较正常组升高,Ur水提取部分(400,200 mg/kg)对LPS诱导的AA大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞分泌TNF-α及PGE2水平有明显抑制作用.滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分对佐剂性关节炎的治疗作用可能与其抑制腹腔巨噬细胞分泌TNF-α及PGE2有关.     

海芋凝集素cDNA的分子克隆及其性质预测

用cDNA末端快速扩增-聚合酶链式反应（RACE-PCR）方法克隆了海芋（Alocasia macrorrhiza）凝集素的全长cDNA（GenBank检索号DQ340864）,并用多种生物信息学工具对其性质进行了预测。根据来源于天南星科其他植物的凝集素和类似蛋白的保守区的DNA序列,设计了几个海芋凝集素基因aml特异引物（GSP）。用RNeasy试剂盒从海芋块茎中提取出总RNA,并以此为模板,用SMART^TM RACE cDNA扩增试剂盒提供的经特殊设计的通用引物以及不同的基因特异引物,分别获得海芋凝集素5′-和3′-RACE-PCR扩增片段。这些PCR产物经0．8％琼脂糖凝胶纯化后,分别与T克隆载体pMD 18-T相连,筛选获得阳性克隆并提取质粒,经双酶切和特异引物的PCR验证无误后,进行序列分析。从5′-和3′-RACE-PCR测序结果拼接出全长海芋凝集素cDNA序列,并用新设计自5′-RACE-PCR 5′末端的引物GSP7进行全长3′-RACE-PCR反应,获得全长海芋凝集素cDNA克隆并再次测序验证。这一新克隆的海芋凝集素cDNA的长度为1124核苷酸,分析表明它是一个编码270个氨基酸残基的蛋白质,其等电点为pH 5．7,相对分子量为29．7kD。同源性分析结果表明,海芋凝集素与其他来源于天南星科的甘露糖凝集素以及相似蛋白具有高度同源性。在海芋凝集素序列中发现了2个B型凝集素功能区域和3个甘露糖的结合位点。综合上述信息,认为这一新克隆的海芋凝集素cDNA是一个编码甘露糖识别凝集素的基因序列。     

Interaction between photon flux density and elevated temperatures on photoinhibition in Alocasia macrorrhiza

The effects of light and elevated temperatures on the efficiency of energy conversion in PSII [?_PSII = (Fm′−Fs)/Fm′], pigment composition and heat tolerance of shade-acclimated Alocasia macrorrhiza were investigated. Leaf discs were exposed for 3 h to high light (HL; 1600 μmol photons · m⁻² · s⁻¹) or low light (LL; 20 μmol photons · m⁻² · s⁻¹) and a series of constant temperatures ranging from 30 to 49 °C. All HL treatments led to rapid and severe decreases in ?_PSII. During the 2-h recovery period (LL, 25 °C) following the HL treatments, fast and slow recovery phases could be distinguished. Leaf discs that had experienced HL and 30 °C recovered completely while no recovery of ?_PSII was seen after a 3-h exposure to HL and 45 °C. A 3-h exposure to 45 °C at LL led to a less severe decrease in ?_PSII and complete recovery was accomplished after less than 1 h. Under LL conditions a temperature of 49 °C was necessary to cause an irreversible decrease in ?_PSII, followed by necrosis the next day. Streptomycin had no effect on the degree of reduction and recovery in ?_PSII discs exposed to HL and 35–45 °C, but partially inhibited recovery in discs exposed to HL and 30 °C. Streptomycin led to a more severe decrease in ?_PSII at LL and 49 °C and completely inhibited recovery. Streptomycin had no effect on the conversion of the xanthophyll-cycle pigments during the treatment or the recovery. The epoxidation state was roughly the same in all leaf discs after a 3-h HL treatment (0.270–0.346) irrespective of the exposure temperature. The back-conversion of zeaxanthin into violaxanthin after a 2-h recovery period was only seen in leaf discs that had been exposed to HL and 30 °C. The thermotolerance of shade A. macrorrhiza leaves of 49.0 ± 0.7 °C (determined by fluorescence) coincided with the temperature at which damage occurred in leaf discs exposed to LL. However, under HL the critical temperature under which necrosis occurred was much lower (42 °C). The thermotolerance of A. macrorrhiza shade leaves could be increased by a short exposure (<20 min) to slightly elevated temperatures. Received: 11 June 1997 / Accepted: 9 September 1997     

Amino acid sequences of ferredoxin isoproteins from Japanese taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott)

The amino acid sequences of ferredoxins (Fd A and Fd B) from Japanese taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott) were determined. They consisted of single polypeptide chains of 98 residues, and both Fds had molecular masses of 10700 and 10500, respectively. There was a 92% homology between the sequences of the isoproteins (Fd A and Fd B). These sequences were compared with those of the closely related plant Fds and their phylogenetic tree was constructed. Two ferredoxin isoproteins from Hawaiian taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott) were also isolated and their N-terminal sequences were determined to be identical to those of Japanese taro.     

滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分对大鼠佐剂性关节炎作用研究

观察滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分对大鼠佐剂性关节炎的治疗作用。用佐剂性大鼠关节炎模型观察不同剂量滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分对佐剂性关节炎模型大鼠足肿胀及关节炎指数改变的影响。滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分（400、200mg／kg）能明显抑制佐剂性关节炎大鼠的足肿胀并能降低其关节炎指数。滇产粗根荨麻水提取部分具有抗大鼠佐剂性关节炎作用。     

观音莲的组织培养研究

通过观音莲的茎尖培养获得无菌试管苗,研究了生长调节剂和椰乳(CM)组合对芽增殖的影响,探讨了生长调节剂和多效唑(MET)组合对生根的影响,并对移栽基质进行了筛选。结果表明:观音莲增殖的适合培养基为MS+6-BA 4.0 mg/L+NAA 0.2 mg/L+CM 15%~20%;适合观音莲生根的培养基为1/2MS+NAA 0.5 mg/L+MET 0.5 mg/L;最佳的移栽基质为珍珠岩,移栽成活率达100%。