This paper determined the lethal concentration （LC） and hemi-inhibition concentration （HIC） of inorganic element Cu2+, Zn2+,Se4+,Cd2 to the unicellular alga Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis （cell densit...This paper determined the lethal concentration （LC） and hemi-inhibition concentration （HIC） of inorganic element Cu2+, Zn2+,Se4+,Cd2 to the unicellular alga Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis （cell density were 3.4× 10’cell/ ml ）, Phaeodaetylum iTnutum （cell density is 2. 7 × 106 cell/ml） Dicrateria zhan jiangensis Hu （cell density were 5. 6 × 106 cell/ml）, Paviova luther（cell density is 2. 7 × 106 cell/ml）. The culture condition: temperature was 25±2℃, pH 7. 9± 0. 1, salinity 31±1.0,natural sunlight for 5 days. The different species unicellular alga with different absorbability to these inorganic elements were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy X-ray Energy Spectrum. This is the international cooperation program with Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, USA.展开更多
Recently, whether Archaefructus has bisexual multi-parted flowers or just inflorescences of unisexual flowers, and whether it is ancestral to all angiosperms or a derived eudicot have been debated. Here, from the same...Recently, whether Archaefructus has bisexual multi-parted flowers or just inflorescences of unisexual flowers, and whether it is ancestral to all angiosperms or a derived eudicot have been debated. Here, from the same Yixian Formation, NE China, we report a new Archaefructus species, A. eoflora sp. nov., with the generic characteristics of dissected leaves and bisexual reproductive axes. It is entirely preserved with roots, rhizome, shoots and protogynous reproductive organs at different developmental stages. Its lateral and main fertile shoots form a pseudo-indeterminate pattern, while the reproductive branches on the main shoot form a cymose inflorescence. Subtended by 1-2 bract-like leaves, the section of stamen clusters changes into a much shorter section of carpels that have one row of orthotropous ovules. Significantly, one cluster bearing two carpels and one stamen between the two sections demonstrates a true bisexual flower, an important step of the origin of floral bisexuality, and the homology between the stamen and carpel. The complex reproductive axes represent a mix between flowers and inflorescences, and suggest that A. eoflora sp. nov. possesses the potential to evolve into a variety of diverse flower types as found in modern basal and early fossil angiosperms. A comparison with other two species also leads to a revision of the generic diagnosis.展开更多
Apoptosis manifests in two major execution programs downstream of the death signal: the caspase pathway and organelle dysfunction. An important antiapoptosis factor, Bcl-2 protein, contributes in caspase pathway of ap...Apoptosis manifests in two major execution programs downstream of the death signal: the caspase pathway and organelle dysfunction. An important antiapoptosis factor, Bcl-2 protein, contributes in caspase pathway of apoptosis. Calcium, an important intracellular signal element in cells, is also observed to have changes during apoptosis, which maybe affected by Bcl-2 protein. We have previously reported that in Harringtonine (HT) induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells, there’s a change of intracellular calcium distribution, moving from cytoplast especially Golgi’s apparatus to nucleus and accumulating there with the highest concentration. We report here that caspase-3 becomes activated in HT-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells, which can be inhibited by overexpression of Bcl-2 protein. No sign of apoptosis or intracellular calcium movement from Golgi’s apparatus to nucleus in HL-60 cells overexpressing Bcl-2 or treated with Ac-DEVD-CHO, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3. The results indicate that activated caspase-3 can promote the movement of intracellular calcium from Golgi’s apparatus to nucleus, and the process is inhibited by Ac-DEVD-CHO (inhibitor of caspase-3), and that Bcl-2 can inhibit the movement and accumulation of intracellular calcium in nucleus through its inhibition on caspase3. Calcium relocalization in apoptosis seems to be irreversible, which is different from the intracellular calcium changes caused by growth factor.展开更多
A number of studies show that environmental stress conditions increase abscisic acid (ABA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in plant cells. Despite this central role of ABA in altering stomatal aperture by regulati...A number of studies show that environmental stress conditions increase abscisic acid (ABA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in plant cells. Despite this central role of ABA in altering stomatal aperture by regulating guard cell ion transport, little is known concerning the relationship between ABA and H2O2 in signal transduction leading to stomatal movement. Epidermal strip bioassay illustrated that ABA- inhibited stomatal opening and ABA-induced stomatal closure were abolished partly by externally added catalase (CAT) or diphenylene iodonium (DPl), which are a H2O2 scavenger and a NADPH oxidase inhibitor respectively. In contrast, internally added CAT or DPI nearly completely or partly reversed ABA-induced closure in half-stoma. Consistent with these results, whole-cell patch-clamp analysis showed that intracellular application of CAT or DPI partly abolished ABA-inhibited inward K+ current across the plasma membrane of guard cells. H2O2 mimicked ABA to inhibit inward K+ current, an effect which was reversed by the addition of ascorbic acid (Vc) in patch clamping micropipettes. These results suggested that H2O2 mediated ABA-induced stomatal movement by targeting inward K+ channels at plasma membrane.展开更多
OLAND(oxygen limited autotrophic nitrification and denitrification) nitrogen removal system was constructed by coupling with oxygen limited nitritation stage and anaerobic ammonium oxidation stage. Ammonia oxidizer, a...OLAND(oxygen limited autotrophic nitrification and denitrification) nitrogen removal system was constructed by coupling with oxygen limited nitritation stage and anaerobic ammonium oxidation stage. Ammonia oxidizer, as a kind of key bacteria in N cycle, plays an important role at the oxygen limited nitritation stage of OLAND nitrogen removal system. In this study, specific amplification of 16S rDNA fragment of ammonia oxidizer by nested PCR, separation of mixed PCR samples by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE), and the quantification of ammonia oxidizer by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) were combined to investigate the shifts of community composition and quantity of ammonia oxidizer of the oxygen limited nitritation stage in OLAND system. It showed that the community composition of ammonia oxidizer changed drastically when dissolved oxygen was decreased gradually, and the dominant ammonia oxidizer of the steady nitrite accumulation stage were completely different from that of the early stage of oxygen limited nitritation identified by DGGE . It was concluded that the Nitrosomonas may be the dominant genus of ammonia oxidizer at the oxygen limited nitritation stage of OLAND system characterized by nested PCR-DGGE and FISH, and the percentage of Nitrosomonas was 72.5% ±0.8% of ammonia oxidizer at the steady nitrite accumulation stage detected by FISH.展开更多
The effects of NaCl stress on the H +-ATPase, H +-PPase activity and lipid composition of plasma membrane(PM) and tonoplast(TP) vesicles isolated from roots and leaves of two soybean cultivars(Glycine max L.) differ...The effects of NaCl stress on the H +-ATPase, H +-PPase activity and lipid composition of plasma membrane(PM) and tonoplast(TP) vesicles isolated from roots and leaves of two soybean cultivars(Glycine max L.) differing in salt tolerance(Wenfeng7, salt-tolerant; Union, salt-sensitive) were investigated. When Wenfeng7 was treated with 0.3%(W/V) NaCl for 3 d, the H +-ATPase activities in PM and TP from roots and leaves exhibited a reduction and an enhancement, respectively. The H +-PPase activity in TP from roots also increased. Similar effects were not observed in roots of Union. In addition, the increases of phospholipid content and ratios of phospholipid to galactolipid in PM and TP from roots and leaves of Wenfeng7 may also change membrane permeability and hence affect salt tolerance.展开更多
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding various sources of dietary lipid on weight gain, feed conversion, survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile red swamp crawfish, Procam-barus clarkii...An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding various sources of dietary lipid on weight gain, feed conversion, survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile red swamp crawfish, Procam-barus clarkii. Six semi-purified diets containing vitamin-free casein, defatted soybean meal, 0. 5% choline chloride, 0. 5% glycine and 0. 5% cholesterol were supplemented with 6. 0% of either anchovy oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil or pork lard. Each diet was fed to crawfish (3. 07±0. 21 g average weight) in three replicate aquaria for 60 days. Survival rate, weight gain and feed conversion were best for crawfish fed the diet containing anchovy oil. Crawfish fed the linseed oil diet had the second highest weight gain, followed by crawfish on soybean oil, repaseed oil, safflower oil and pork lard diets, respectively. Feed conversion values were a reflection of weight gain. Results showed that both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids are dietary essential for juvenile Procambarus clarkii, although n-3 fatty acids promoted faster growth than n-6. However, highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) (20 : 5n-3 and 22 :6n-3) had better growth-promoting effect than 18 : 3n-3, due probably to the limited ability of crawfish to bioconvert fatty acids to polyenoic forms of longer chain length. The fatty acid composition of the crawfish generally reflected that of the dietary lipids, especially for the diets containing unsaturated fatty acids.展开更多
Cellulose is one of many important polymers in plants. Cellulose is made of repeat units of the monomer glucose. Cellulose is a major industrial biopolymer in the forest products, textile, and chemical industries. It ...Cellulose is one of many important polymers in plants. Cellulose is made of repeat units of the monomer glucose. Cellulose is a major industrial biopolymer in the forest products, textile, and chemical industries. It also forms a large portion of the biomass useful in the generation of energy. Moreover, cellulose-based biomass is a renewable energy source that can be used for the generation of ethanol as a fuel. Cellulose is synthesized by a variety of living organisms such as plants and algae. It is the major component of plant cell walls with secondary cell walls having a much higher content of cellulose. The relationship between cellulose and lignin biosynthesis is complicated, but it is confirmed that inhibition of lignin biosynthesis in transgenic trees will increase cellulose biosynthesis and plant growth. Cellulose accumulation may be increased by down-regulating 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) as shown in transgenic aspen. There is no similar reports on down-regulating 4CL in transgenic conifers. Based on our established Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system in loblolly pine, we are able to produce antisense 4-CL transgenic loblolly pine which is predicted to have increas- ing cellulose accumulation. The overall objective of this project is to genetically engineer forest tree species such as loblolly pine with re- duced amount of lignin and increased cellulose content. The research strategy includes: (1) isolate the 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene from loblolly pine seedlings by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RACE-PCR) techniques from the cDNA library; (2) construct binary expression vectors with antisense 4CL coding sequences and introduce antisense constructs of the 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene cloned from loblolly pine into the loblolly pine to down regulate the 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene expression; (3) study the effect of the antisense transgene expres- sion on lignin content, cellulose accumulation, and loblolly pine biomass; and (4) select fast growth and high cellulose accumulation transgenic loblolly pine lines for future commercial application.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the relationship between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma, and the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.METHODS: 40 fresh tumor tissue specimens were taken ...AIM: To investigate the relationship between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma, and the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.METHODS: 40 fresh tumor tissue specimens were taken from primary gastric cancer patients. Expression of P16protein was detected by immunohistochemical method.Deletion and point mutation of p16 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing,respectively.RESULTS: The frequency of loss of P16 protein expression in the gastric cancer tissue, adjacent nontumor tissue, and distal normal tissue was 77.5 %(31/40), 55.0 %(22/40),and 17.5 % (7/40), respectively (P＜0.005). Homozygous deletion of exon 1 and exon 3 was observed in two and three cases, respectively, giving an overall frequency of homozygous deletion of 12.5 %. All five cases had diffuse type gastric carcinoma. No p16 gene point mutation was detected.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a close correlation between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma.Further investigations are needed to testify the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.展开更多
Methods for the localization of plant calmodulin by immuno-gold and immuno-peroxidase electron microscopy have been developed. In both corn root-cap cells and meristematic cells, calmodulin was found to be localized i...Methods for the localization of plant calmodulin by immuno-gold and immuno-peroxidase electron microscopy have been developed. In both corn root-cap cells and meristematic cells, calmodulin was found to be localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria as well as in the cell wall. In the meristematic cells, calmodulin was distinctly localized on the plasma membrane, cytoplasmic face of rough endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosomes. Characteristically, calmodulin was present in the amyloplasts of root-cap cells. The widespread distribution of calmodulin may reflect its pleiotropic functions in plant cellular activities.展开更多
A developmentally retarded mutant (drm1) was identified from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized M2 seedsin Columbia (Col-0) genetic background. The drm1 flowers 109 d after sowing, with a whole life cycle of abo...A developmentally retarded mutant (drm1) was identified from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized M2 seedsin Columbia (Col-0) genetic background. The drm1 flowers 109 d after sowing, with a whole life cycle of about 160 d.It also shows a pleiotropic phenotype, e.g., slow germination and lower germination rate, lower growth rate, curlingleaves and abnormal floral organs. The drm1 mutation was a single recessive nuclear mutation, which was mapped tothe bottom of chromosome 5 and located within a region of 20-30 kb around MXK3.1. There have been no mutantswith similar phenotypes reported in the literature, suggesting that DRM1 is a novel flowering promoting locus. Thefindings that the drm1 flowered lately under all photoperiod conditions and its late flowering phenotype was significantlyrestored by vernalization treatment suggest that the drm1 is a typical late flowering mutant and most likely associatedwith the autonomous flowering pathway. The conclusion was further confirmed by the revelation that the transcriptlevel of FLC was constantly upregulated in the drm1 at all the developmental phases examined, except for a very earlystage. Moreover, the transcript levels of two other important repressors, EMF and TFL1, were also upregulated in thedrm1, implying that the two repressors, along with FLC, seems to act in parallel pathways in the drm1 to regulateflowering as well as other aspects of floral development in a negatively additive way. This helps to explain why the drm1exhibits a much more severe late-flowering phenotype than most late-flowering mutants reported. It also implies that theDRM1 might act upstream of these repressors.展开更多
Responses of Sesbania rostrata and S. cannabina to Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd toxicities were assessed by a seed-suspending seedbed(SSS) approach. The results showed that the SSS approach was suitable for testing the tolerance...Responses of Sesbania rostrata and S. cannabina to Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd toxicities were assessed by a seed-suspending seedbed(SSS) approach. The results showed that the SSS approach was suitable for testing the tolerance of a plant to the stress of toxic metals. The endpoints include seed germination success, straightened radicle and hypocotyl of the seedlings from the seeds. The measurements could be done easily and accurately. It was found that the elongation of radicle was the most sensitive indicator to the stress of heavy metals among the endpoints. When exposure to lower or medium concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd, the development of the lateral roots were favorable. Species of S. rostrata was more tolerant than S. cannabina to the heavy metals, especially to Zn and Cd. The ED 50 of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd were 32.90, 5.32, 4.40 and 12.00 μg/ml for S. rostrata, respectively, and they were 30.11, 2.87, 4.05 and 4.94 μg/ml respectively for S. cannabina.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the mechanism and regulation of differentiation from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocytes and to find a new source of celltypes for therapies of hepatic diseases. METHODS: MSC...AIM: To investigate the mechanism and regulation of differentiation from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocytes and to find a new source of celltypes for therapies of hepatic diseases. METHODS: MSCs were isolated by combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence. The cells were cultured in osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation medium and determined by histochemical staining. MSCs were plated in plastic culture flasks that were not coated with components of extracellular matrix (ECM). When MSCs reached 70% confluence, they were cultured in low glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10 mL/L fetal bovine serum, 20 ng/mL hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and 10 ng/mL fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4). The medium was changed every 3 d and stored for albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and urea assay. Glycogen store of hepatocytes was determined by periodic acid-Schiff staining.RESULTS: By combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence, we isolated a homogeneous population of cells from rat bone marrow and differentiated them into osteocytes and adipocytes. When MSCs were cultured withFGF-4 and HGF, approximately 56.6% of cells became smallround and epithelioid on d 24 by morphology. Compared with the control, levels of AFP increased significantly from d 12 to 15.5±1.4 μg/L (t = 2.31, P＜0.05) in MSCs cultured with FGF-4and HGF, and were higher (46.2±1.5 μg/L)ond 21 (t = 41.926, P＜0.01), then decreased to 24.8±2.2 μg/L on d 24 (t = 10.345, P＜0.01). Albumin increased significantly on d 21 (t= 3.325, P＜0.01) to 1.4±0.2 μg/mL,and to 2.1±0.7 μg/mL on d 24 (t= 3.646, P＜0.01). Urea(2.3±0.4 mmol/L) was first detected on d 21 (t = 6.739, P＜0.01), and continued to increase to 2.6±0.9 mmol/Lon d 24 (t= 4.753, P＜0.01). Glycogen storage was first seen on d 21.CONCLUSION: The method combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence can isolate MSCs. Rat MSCs may be differentiated into hepatocytes by FGF-4 and HGF. Cytokines may play a more important role in differentiation from rat MSCs into hepatocytes.展开更多
Right before the excystment of an Euplotes encysti-cus sawtooth-like folds appeared among the pellicle plas- malemma, the inner and outer alveolar membranes were still sticking together, and were not distinguishable. ...Right before the excystment of an Euplotes encysti-cus sawtooth-like folds appeared among the pellicle plas- malemma, the inner and outer alveolar membranes were still sticking together, and were not distinguishable. Mi- crotubular layers already formed at the sites beneath the dorsal cortical pellicle corresponding to vegetative cells,but they still proceed to be organized on the ventral struc-tures. Cristae, highly-tangled with tubular-type struc-tures, appeared on the mitochondria, and were morpho-logically similar to that of vegetative cells. In the cor-tical ciliatures, such as ciliary shafts, kinetosomes, sur-rounding fibrillar cirral baskets, and attached structures of ciliatures, etc., they are different from those in rest- ing cysts which are degenerated or lost. All the cilia- ture microtubules of ciliary shafts are of the 9+2 pattern,but the microtubule-like structure aggregates at triplet - microtubule centers of many kinetosmes, are still under various stages of differentiation. Microtubules beneath the kinetosomal rows are of a developmentally elongated stage; crowded chromatins of various shapes and sizes are found in macronucleus, but there are no nuclear pores (formed by nuclear membrane as in resting cysts) on the nuclear membrane where these chromatins attached.展开更多
To understand the biogeochemical transfer of iodine, the absorbability and bioaccumulation of iodine in tested vegetables(radish, spinach and Chinese cabbage) are examined by applying iodic fertilizer composed of kelp...To understand the biogeochemical transfer of iodine, the absorbability and bioaccumulation of iodine in tested vegetables(radish, spinach and Chinese cabbage) are examined by applying iodic fertilizer composed of kelp and diatomaceous earth. The experimental results show that when iodine in soil is not excessive, the concentrations of iodine in tested vegetables increase as the content of iodine in soil increases. The absorbability and enrichment degree of iodine in various vegetables and in various parts of the same vegetable are different, which explains that the concentration of iodine in plant is determined by the plant type and the physiological action of plant. The patience order of tested vegetables to excessive iodine is Chinese cabbage>spinach>radish. These results have theoretical and practical significance in opening up a new way for ameliorating poor iodine environment with artificial means.展开更多
This experiment was an attempt to use the soybean residue derived from the production of 'soy milk'. The residue contains about 18% protein, 70% caf bohydrates and 7.5% lipid as fish feed for reafing common ca...This experiment was an attempt to use the soybean residue derived from the production of 'soy milk'. The residue contains about 18% protein, 70% caf bohydrates and 7.5% lipid as fish feed for reafing common carp, Cyrinus carpto. There were 4 types of diets: (1)soybean residue, (2 ) soybean residue digested with Papain, (3) soybean residue (64%)mixed with beef liver (34%) and (4) same mixture as (3) but digested with Papain. The results indicate that the percentage increase in weight and length of fish feeding with beef liver supplemented diets was higher than those feeding with soybean residue alone. This was possibly due to the fact that beef liver was able to supplement the nutrient deficiency in soybean. The two types of feeds (2 and 4) digested with Papain also yielded significantly better fish growth in terms of weight and length gains, than their counterparts without digestion. Furthermore, the water turbidity of the tanks added with digested feeds was significantly less, as papain was able to hyrolyse the protein substrates suspended in the water, and thus lowered the turbidity展开更多
文摘This paper determined the lethal concentration （LC） and hemi-inhibition concentration （HIC） of inorganic element Cu2+, Zn2+,Se4+,Cd2 to the unicellular alga Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis （cell density were 3.4× 10’cell/ ml ）, Phaeodaetylum iTnutum （cell density is 2. 7 × 106 cell/ml） Dicrateria zhan jiangensis Hu （cell density were 5. 6 × 106 cell/ml）, Paviova luther（cell density is 2. 7 × 106 cell/ml）. The culture condition: temperature was 25±2℃, pH 7. 9± 0. 1, salinity 31±1.0,natural sunlight for 5 days. The different species unicellular alga with different absorbability to these inorganic elements were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy X-ray Energy Spectrum. This is the international cooperation program with Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, USA.
文摘Recently, whether Archaefructus has bisexual multi-parted flowers or just inflorescences of unisexual flowers, and whether it is ancestral to all angiosperms or a derived eudicot have been debated. Here, from the same Yixian Formation, NE China, we report a new Archaefructus species, A. eoflora sp. nov., with the generic characteristics of dissected leaves and bisexual reproductive axes. It is entirely preserved with roots, rhizome, shoots and protogynous reproductive organs at different developmental stages. Its lateral and main fertile shoots form a pseudo-indeterminate pattern, while the reproductive branches on the main shoot form a cymose inflorescence. Subtended by 1-2 bract-like leaves, the section of stamen clusters changes into a much shorter section of carpels that have one row of orthotropous ovules. Significantly, one cluster bearing two carpels and one stamen between the two sections demonstrates a true bisexual flower, an important step of the origin of floral bisexuality, and the homology between the stamen and carpel. The complex reproductive axes represent a mix between flowers and inflorescences, and suggest that A. eoflora sp. nov. possesses the potential to evolve into a variety of diverse flower types as found in modern basal and early fossil angiosperms. A comparison with other two species also leads to a revision of the generic diagnosis.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 39730160).
文摘Apoptosis manifests in two major execution programs downstream of the death signal: the caspase pathway and organelle dysfunction. An important antiapoptosis factor, Bcl-2 protein, contributes in caspase pathway of apoptosis. Calcium, an important intracellular signal element in cells, is also observed to have changes during apoptosis, which maybe affected by Bcl-2 protein. We have previously reported that in Harringtonine (HT) induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells, there’s a change of intracellular calcium distribution, moving from cytoplast especially Golgi’s apparatus to nucleus and accumulating there with the highest concentration. We report here that caspase-3 becomes activated in HT-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells, which can be inhibited by overexpression of Bcl-2 protein. No sign of apoptosis or intracellular calcium movement from Golgi’s apparatus to nucleus in HL-60 cells overexpressing Bcl-2 or treated with Ac-DEVD-CHO, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3. The results indicate that activated caspase-3 can promote the movement of intracellular calcium from Golgi’s apparatus to nucleus, and the process is inhibited by Ac-DEVD-CHO (inhibitor of caspase-3), and that Bcl-2 can inhibit the movement and accumulation of intracellular calcium in nucleus through its inhibition on caspase3. Calcium relocalization in apoptosis seems to be irreversible, which is different from the intracellular calcium changes caused by growth factor.
基金National Natura1 Science Foundation of China (No. 39870372),StateKey Basic Research and Development Project (No.G1999011700)
文摘A number of studies show that environmental stress conditions increase abscisic acid (ABA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in plant cells. Despite this central role of ABA in altering stomatal aperture by regulating guard cell ion transport, little is known concerning the relationship between ABA and H2O2 in signal transduction leading to stomatal movement. Epidermal strip bioassay illustrated that ABA- inhibited stomatal opening and ABA-induced stomatal closure were abolished partly by externally added catalase (CAT) or diphenylene iodonium (DPl), which are a H2O2 scavenger and a NADPH oxidase inhibitor respectively. In contrast, internally added CAT or DPI nearly completely or partly reversed ABA-induced closure in half-stoma. Consistent with these results, whole-cell patch-clamp analysis showed that intracellular application of CAT or DPI partly abolished ABA-inhibited inward K+ current across the plasma membrane of guard cells. H2O2 mimicked ABA to inhibit inward K+ current, an effect which was reversed by the addition of ascorbic acid (Vc) in patch clamping micropipettes. These results suggested that H2O2 mediated ABA-induced stomatal movement by targeting inward K+ channels at plasma membrane.
文摘OLAND(oxygen limited autotrophic nitrification and denitrification) nitrogen removal system was constructed by coupling with oxygen limited nitritation stage and anaerobic ammonium oxidation stage. Ammonia oxidizer, as a kind of key bacteria in N cycle, plays an important role at the oxygen limited nitritation stage of OLAND nitrogen removal system. In this study, specific amplification of 16S rDNA fragment of ammonia oxidizer by nested PCR, separation of mixed PCR samples by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE), and the quantification of ammonia oxidizer by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) were combined to investigate the shifts of community composition and quantity of ammonia oxidizer of the oxygen limited nitritation stage in OLAND system. It showed that the community composition of ammonia oxidizer changed drastically when dissolved oxygen was decreased gradually, and the dominant ammonia oxidizer of the steady nitrite accumulation stage were completely different from that of the early stage of oxygen limited nitritation identified by DGGE . It was concluded that the Nitrosomonas may be the dominant genus of ammonia oxidizer at the oxygen limited nitritation stage of OLAND system characterized by nested PCR-DGGE and FISH, and the percentage of Nitrosomonas was 72.5% ±0.8% of ammonia oxidizer at the steady nitrite accumulation stage detected by FISH.
文摘The effects of NaCl stress on the H +-ATPase, H +-PPase activity and lipid composition of plasma membrane(PM) and tonoplast(TP) vesicles isolated from roots and leaves of two soybean cultivars(Glycine max L.) differing in salt tolerance(Wenfeng7, salt-tolerant; Union, salt-sensitive) were investigated. When Wenfeng7 was treated with 0.3%(W/V) NaCl for 3 d, the H +-ATPase activities in PM and TP from roots and leaves exhibited a reduction and an enhancement, respectively. The H +-PPase activity in TP from roots also increased. Similar effects were not observed in roots of Union. In addition, the increases of phospholipid content and ratios of phospholipid to galactolipid in PM and TP from roots and leaves of Wenfeng7 may also change membrane permeability and hence affect salt tolerance.
基金supported by the Scientific Fund of Hubei Agricultural Collegea grant from the Ministry of Education in Hubei Province,P.R.China
文摘An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding various sources of dietary lipid on weight gain, feed conversion, survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile red swamp crawfish, Procam-barus clarkii. Six semi-purified diets containing vitamin-free casein, defatted soybean meal, 0. 5% choline chloride, 0. 5% glycine and 0. 5% cholesterol were supplemented with 6. 0% of either anchovy oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil or pork lard. Each diet was fed to crawfish (3. 07±0. 21 g average weight) in three replicate aquaria for 60 days. Survival rate, weight gain and feed conversion were best for crawfish fed the diet containing anchovy oil. Crawfish fed the linseed oil diet had the second highest weight gain, followed by crawfish on soybean oil, repaseed oil, safflower oil and pork lard diets, respectively. Feed conversion values were a reflection of weight gain. Results showed that both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids are dietary essential for juvenile Procambarus clarkii, although n-3 fatty acids promoted faster growth than n-6. However, highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) (20 : 5n-3 and 22 :6n-3) had better growth-promoting effect than 18 : 3n-3, due probably to the limited ability of crawfish to bioconvert fatty acids to polyenoic forms of longer chain length. The fatty acid composition of the crawfish generally reflected that of the dietary lipids, especially for the diets containing unsaturated fatty acids.
文摘Cellulose is one of many important polymers in plants. Cellulose is made of repeat units of the monomer glucose. Cellulose is a major industrial biopolymer in the forest products, textile, and chemical industries. It also forms a large portion of the biomass useful in the generation of energy. Moreover, cellulose-based biomass is a renewable energy source that can be used for the generation of ethanol as a fuel. Cellulose is synthesized by a variety of living organisms such as plants and algae. It is the major component of plant cell walls with secondary cell walls having a much higher content of cellulose. The relationship between cellulose and lignin biosynthesis is complicated, but it is confirmed that inhibition of lignin biosynthesis in transgenic trees will increase cellulose biosynthesis and plant growth. Cellulose accumulation may be increased by down-regulating 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) as shown in transgenic aspen. There is no similar reports on down-regulating 4CL in transgenic conifers. Based on our established Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system in loblolly pine, we are able to produce antisense 4-CL transgenic loblolly pine which is predicted to have increas- ing cellulose accumulation. The overall objective of this project is to genetically engineer forest tree species such as loblolly pine with re- duced amount of lignin and increased cellulose content. The research strategy includes: (1) isolate the 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene from loblolly pine seedlings by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RACE-PCR) techniques from the cDNA library; (2) construct binary expression vectors with antisense 4CL coding sequences and introduce antisense constructs of the 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene cloned from loblolly pine into the loblolly pine to down regulate the 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene expression; (3) study the effect of the antisense transgene expres- sion on lignin content, cellulose accumulation, and loblolly pine biomass; and (4) select fast growth and high cellulose accumulation transgenic loblolly pine lines for future commercial application.
基金the Department of Education Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province,China,No.99j10216
文摘AIM: To investigate the relationship between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma, and the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.METHODS: 40 fresh tumor tissue specimens were taken from primary gastric cancer patients. Expression of P16protein was detected by immunohistochemical method.Deletion and point mutation of p16 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing,respectively.RESULTS: The frequency of loss of P16 protein expression in the gastric cancer tissue, adjacent nontumor tissue, and distal normal tissue was 77.5 %(31/40), 55.0 %(22/40),and 17.5 % (7/40), respectively (P＜0.005). Homozygous deletion of exon 1 and exon 3 was observed in two and three cases, respectively, giving an overall frequency of homozygous deletion of 12.5 %. All five cases had diffuse type gastric carcinoma. No p16 gene point mutation was detected.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a close correlation between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma.Further investigations are needed to testify the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.
文摘Methods for the localization of plant calmodulin by immuno-gold and immuno-peroxidase electron microscopy have been developed. In both corn root-cap cells and meristematic cells, calmodulin was found to be localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria as well as in the cell wall. In the meristematic cells, calmodulin was distinctly localized on the plasma membrane, cytoplasmic face of rough endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosomes. Characteristically, calmodulin was present in the amyloplasts of root-cap cells. The widespread distribution of calmodulin may reflect its pleiotropic functions in plant cellular activities.
文摘A developmentally retarded mutant (drm1) was identified from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized M2 seedsin Columbia (Col-0) genetic background. The drm1 flowers 109 d after sowing, with a whole life cycle of about 160 d.It also shows a pleiotropic phenotype, e.g., slow germination and lower germination rate, lower growth rate, curlingleaves and abnormal floral organs. The drm1 mutation was a single recessive nuclear mutation, which was mapped tothe bottom of chromosome 5 and located within a region of 20-30 kb around MXK3.1. There have been no mutantswith similar phenotypes reported in the literature, suggesting that DRM1 is a novel flowering promoting locus. Thefindings that the drm1 flowered lately under all photoperiod conditions and its late flowering phenotype was significantlyrestored by vernalization treatment suggest that the drm1 is a typical late flowering mutant and most likely associatedwith the autonomous flowering pathway. The conclusion was further confirmed by the revelation that the transcriptlevel of FLC was constantly upregulated in the drm1 at all the developmental phases examined, except for a very earlystage. Moreover, the transcript levels of two other important repressors, EMF and TFL1, were also upregulated in thedrm1, implying that the two repressors, along with FLC, seems to act in parallel pathways in the drm1 to regulateflowering as well as other aspects of floral development in a negatively additive way. This helps to explain why the drm1exhibits a much more severe late-flowering phenotype than most late-flowering mutants reported. It also implies that theDRM1 might act upstream of these repressors.
文摘Responses of Sesbania rostrata and S. cannabina to Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd toxicities were assessed by a seed-suspending seedbed(SSS) approach. The results showed that the SSS approach was suitable for testing the tolerance of a plant to the stress of toxic metals. The endpoints include seed germination success, straightened radicle and hypocotyl of the seedlings from the seeds. The measurements could be done easily and accurately. It was found that the elongation of radicle was the most sensitive indicator to the stress of heavy metals among the endpoints. When exposure to lower or medium concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd, the development of the lateral roots were favorable. Species of S. rostrata was more tolerant than S. cannabina to the heavy metals, especially to Zn and Cd. The ED 50 of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd were 32.90, 5.32, 4.40 and 12.00 μg/ml for S. rostrata, respectively, and they were 30.11, 2.87, 4.05 and 4.94 μg/ml respectively for S. cannabina.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30270554the Doctoral Foundation of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. DFXJTU2002-16
文摘AIM: To investigate the mechanism and regulation of differentiation from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocytes and to find a new source of celltypes for therapies of hepatic diseases. METHODS: MSCs were isolated by combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence. The cells were cultured in osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation medium and determined by histochemical staining. MSCs were plated in plastic culture flasks that were not coated with components of extracellular matrix (ECM). When MSCs reached 70% confluence, they were cultured in low glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10 mL/L fetal bovine serum, 20 ng/mL hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and 10 ng/mL fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4). The medium was changed every 3 d and stored for albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and urea assay. Glycogen store of hepatocytes was determined by periodic acid-Schiff staining.RESULTS: By combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence, we isolated a homogeneous population of cells from rat bone marrow and differentiated them into osteocytes and adipocytes. When MSCs were cultured withFGF-4 and HGF, approximately 56.6% of cells became smallround and epithelioid on d 24 by morphology. Compared with the control, levels of AFP increased significantly from d 12 to 15.5±1.4 μg/L (t = 2.31, P＜0.05) in MSCs cultured with FGF-4and HGF, and were higher (46.2±1.5 μg/L)ond 21 (t = 41.926, P＜0.01), then decreased to 24.8±2.2 μg/L on d 24 (t = 10.345, P＜0.01). Albumin increased significantly on d 21 (t= 3.325, P＜0.01) to 1.4±0.2 μg/mL,and to 2.1±0.7 μg/mL on d 24 (t= 3.646, P＜0.01). Urea(2.3±0.4 mmol/L) was first detected on d 21 (t = 6.739, P＜0.01), and continued to increase to 2.6±0.9 mmol/Lon d 24 (t= 4.753, P＜0.01). Glycogen storage was first seen on d 21.CONCLUSION: The method combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence can isolate MSCs. Rat MSCs may be differentiated into hepatocytes by FGF-4 and HGF. Cytokines may play a more important role in differentiation from rat MSCs into hepatocytes.
文摘Right before the excystment of an Euplotes encysti-cus sawtooth-like folds appeared among the pellicle plas- malemma, the inner and outer alveolar membranes were still sticking together, and were not distinguishable. Mi- crotubular layers already formed at the sites beneath the dorsal cortical pellicle corresponding to vegetative cells,but they still proceed to be organized on the ventral struc-tures. Cristae, highly-tangled with tubular-type struc-tures, appeared on the mitochondria, and were morpho-logically similar to that of vegetative cells. In the cor-tical ciliatures, such as ciliary shafts, kinetosomes, sur-rounding fibrillar cirral baskets, and attached structures of ciliatures, etc., they are different from those in rest- ing cysts which are degenerated or lost. All the cilia- ture microtubules of ciliary shafts are of the 9+2 pattern,but the microtubule-like structure aggregates at triplet - microtubule centers of many kinetosmes, are still under various stages of differentiation. Microtubules beneath the kinetosomal rows are of a developmentally elongated stage; crowded chromatins of various shapes and sizes are found in macronucleus, but there are no nuclear pores (formed by nuclear membrane as in resting cysts) on the nuclear membrane where these chromatins attached.
文摘To understand the biogeochemical transfer of iodine, the absorbability and bioaccumulation of iodine in tested vegetables(radish, spinach and Chinese cabbage) are examined by applying iodic fertilizer composed of kelp and diatomaceous earth. The experimental results show that when iodine in soil is not excessive, the concentrations of iodine in tested vegetables increase as the content of iodine in soil increases. The absorbability and enrichment degree of iodine in various vegetables and in various parts of the same vegetable are different, which explains that the concentration of iodine in plant is determined by the plant type and the physiological action of plant. The patience order of tested vegetables to excessive iodine is Chinese cabbage>spinach>radish. These results have theoretical and practical significance in opening up a new way for ameliorating poor iodine environment with artificial means.
文摘This experiment was an attempt to use the soybean residue derived from the production of 'soy milk'. The residue contains about 18% protein, 70% caf bohydrates and 7.5% lipid as fish feed for reafing common carp, Cyrinus carpto. There were 4 types of diets: (1)soybean residue, (2 ) soybean residue digested with Papain, (3) soybean residue (64%)mixed with beef liver (34%) and (4) same mixture as (3) but digested with Papain. The results indicate that the percentage increase in weight and length of fish feeding with beef liver supplemented diets was higher than those feeding with soybean residue alone. This was possibly due to the fact that beef liver was able to supplement the nutrient deficiency in soybean. The two types of feeds (2 and 4) digested with Papain also yielded significantly better fish growth in terms of weight and length gains, than their counterparts without digestion. Furthermore, the water turbidity of the tanks added with digested feeds was significantly less, as papain was able to hyrolyse the protein substrates suspended in the water, and thus lowered the turbidity
