细胞壁在植物重金属耐性中的作用

植物细胞壁主要是由多糖、蛋白质和木质素等组成的一个复合体,广泛参与植物生长发育及对各种逆境胁迫的响应,是重金属离子进入细胞质的第一道屏障。本文主要综述了植物细胞壁主要成分,包括细胞壁多糖、细胞壁蛋白质和木质素,在响应重金属胁迫反应中的作用及其参与重金属耐性的机制,以期能对植物细胞壁在重金属耐性中的作用有更深入的了解。     

植物锌铁转运蛋白ZIP基因家族的研究进展

金属离子对植物的正常发育至关重要,但过量又会中毒.植物体内的自动调节平衡机制会调节金属离子的吸收和运输,从而控制金属离子的含量.锌铁调控蛋白ZIP( ZRT,IRT-like protein)家族是广泛存在于植物中的转运蛋白,具有Ca2+、Fe2+、Mn2+及Zn2+等多种金属元素的转运功能.了解ZIP转运体在植物中如何发挥离子转运功能,从分子水平认识金属离子缺乏或过量积累的机理有重要意义.综述拟南芥、水稻、大麦、苜蓿和玉米ZIP家族成员及其研究进展.     

盐胁迫对芦苇细胞超微结构的影响

于2009年3月从辽宁盘锦双台河口湿地挖取芦苇根茎并人工桶栽,待缓苗成功后进行不同浓度的盐胁迫处理,用透射电镜观察芦苇细胞超微结构对不同盐度胁迫的响应,以明确芦苇细胞的耐盐性。结果表明:芦苇细胞可承受4.0%以下浓度的盐胁迫。当盐度介于0%～4.0%时,芦苇细胞膜系统开始遭到破坏,使芦苇细胞受损的膜结构发生局部内陷或萎缩变形,细胞器表面变得凹凸不平,或将功能丧失的细胞器清理出细胞外,出现破裂和解体,以响应结构损伤的膜系统的修复,使细胞功能得到修复;当盐度为4.0%时,芦苇细胞叶绿体、线粒体、细胞核等具有膜结构细胞器及细胞壁遭到破坏,造成芦苇细胞膜系统的不可逆损伤,使细胞正常的物质代谢与能量转换和信息传递无法完成,导致芦苇细胞新陈代谢过程的中断,芦苇细胞生命活动趋于停止;在8.0%浓度盐胁迫下,芦苇细胞膜系统结构完全消失解体,导致芦苇细胞直接死亡。     

Ca2+在植物盐胁迫响应机制中的调控作用

对植物而言,Ca2+不仅作为一种必须的营养元素,更重要的是作为耦联胞外信号与胞内生理反应的第二信使,当植物受到外界的环境刺激时,细胞中Ca2+会出现变化,引起一系列保护性生理反应,从而减轻环境胁迫对植物体的伤害.我国盐碱地面积广阔,极大地限制了作物种植和农业生产.大量研究表明,Ca2+可以提高植物对盐胁迫的抗性,针对盐胁迫对植物的伤害机制,重点讨论了盐胁迫条件下Ca2+参与的植物体内有关响应途径及作用机制.     

猕猴桃茎尖超低温保存过程中超微结构观察

应用透射电镜观察了猕猴桃组培苗茎尖细胞在玻璃化法超低温保存过程中的超微结构变化.研究发现:在预培养、PVS2脱水处理过程中,茎尖细胞内液泡逐渐变多、变小,质壁分离愈加显著,表明细胞的抗冻力增强;在随后的冷冻和解冻过程中,部分细胞的质壁分离更加严重,细胞壁与细胞膜之间出现液腔,细胞器变得模糊,有些细胞的细胞膜、甚至细胞壁撕裂,细胞腔内留下破碎的细胞膜和细胞残片,细胞结构破坏严重,这可能是导致材料在恢复培养中死亡的原因之一;部分细胞经过7d的恢复培养后,细胞器清晰,细胞膜完好并紧贴细胞壁,细胞中央出现较大的液胞,具有与对照相似的结构特征,最终存活下来并能够再生植株.     

拟南芥膜联蛋白2的亚细胞定位研究

膜联蛋白(annexin)是一类依赖钙离子的多功能磷脂结合蛋白家族,在进化上高度保守,但不同的膜联蛋白基因的表达模式和蛋白质的亚细胞定位具有特异性。拟南芥中已经鉴定出8个编码膜联蛋白的基因,在生长发育和对逆境胁迫响应过程中起作用。已知拟南芥膜联蛋白2参与根的分泌活动和生长素介导的根的向地性反应,但作用机制不清楚。蛋白质的亚细胞定位能为研究其功能和作用机制提供重要参考信息。将编码膜联蛋白2的序列克隆到植物双元表达载体p CAMBIA1300-m Cherry上,在拟南芥中表达Ann At2-m Cherry。利用荧光蛋白技术、m Cherry与绿色荧光蛋白标记的细胞器标记物共定位技术以及细胞器特异性荧光染料染色技术,作者研究了膜联蛋白2的亚细胞定位。结果显示,膜联蛋白2定位于细胞质、细胞核、高尔基体和内质网中,表明该蛋白质可能具有非常重要的功能和复杂的蛋白质翻译与转运调控机制。更多结果发现,转基因拟南芥中膜联蛋白2与绿色荧光蛋白标记的微丝骨架存在共定位现象,推测该蛋白可能通过微丝骨架调节及微丝骨架介导的囊泡运输参与细胞分泌活动。该文为进一步研究膜联蛋白2蛋白质的翻译与转运调控以及作用机制提供了实验依据。     

固有无序蛋白质及逆境胁迫下的分子功能

固有无序蛋白质是一类在生理条件下缺乏稳定三维结构而具有正常功能,参与信号转导、转录调控、胁迫应答等多种生物学过程的蛋白质.植物中许多逆境响应蛋白是固有无序蛋白质,通过其结构无序或部分无序区域在蛋白质 蛋白质、蛋白质 膜脂、蛋白质 核酸的互作中发挥重要作用.本文主要对固有无序蛋白质的类别、氨基酸组成和结构特点以及在逆境胁迫下其稳定细胞膜、保护核酸和蛋白质、调控基因表达等分子功能进行综述,以拓展对逆境胁迫下蛋白质作用分子机制的认识.     

酿酒酵母氧化胁迫应答反应机制

氧化胁迫是生物体面对逆境时的重要反应。在与逆境和活性氧做斗争的过程中,细胞进化出一套完整的应答调控机制,通过调节体内活性氧的代谢平衡,来保护DNA、脂质和蛋白质等免受氧化攻击。本文以酿酒酵母为例,根据近年来国内外研究的进展,围绕其在氧化胁迫应答过程中的三道保护屏障,即抗氧化物质和防御酶系统、转录调节和氧化物降解以及细胞器自噬,综述了其抗氧化代谢机理,为深入认识细胞的抗氧化应答机制奠定基础。     

铜离子胁迫对两种地衣细胞结构的影响

采用光学显微镜徒手切片技术和透射电子显微镜超薄切片制备技术,以两种叶状地衣即中国树花(Ramalina sinensis)和地卷(Peltigera rufescens)为实验材料,研究了不同浓度CuSO4(0、1、2、3、4mmol/L)处理24h后地衣体细胞的存活率以及Cu2+胁迫对细胞超微结构的影响。结果显示:(1)光学显微镜下可初步确定,Cu2+浓度越大中国树花共生藻细胞存活率越小,而同样处理条件下地卷共生藻细胞的存活率则基本保持不变。(2)低浓度Cu2+(1mmol/L)对中国树花细胞结构基本无影响,细胞壁、细胞膜及细胞内的线粒体、叶绿体完整;随着Cu2+浓度增加,当处理Cu2+浓度为2mmol/L时,细胞壁无损,但细胞膜开始破坏形成小空泡,线粒体嵴变凌乱,叶绿体也出现皱缩,类囊体膨胀,基粒排列紊乱;当Cu2+处理浓度大于2mmol/L时,共生藻的细胞膜和细胞器出现不同程度的损伤;当Cu2+浓度为3mmol/L时,细胞壁变薄,细胞膜形成的空泡变大,细胞内部结构变松散,蛋白核消失,叶绿体与细胞质混在一起,基粒片层扭曲,分布混乱,线粒体变形;当Cu2+浓度达4mmol/L时,细胞结构完全受到破坏。(3)不同浓度Cu2+处理对地卷共生藻细胞结构无明显的影响,在所有处理条件下地卷共生藻细胞壁、细胞膜都完整,且大多数共生藻细胞处于分裂状态。研究认为,中国树花对Cu2+胁迫较敏感,Cu2+耐受在1~2mmol/L之间,Cu2+浓度与中国树花细胞结构的损伤程度存在着明显的剂量效应关系,Cu2+浓度越高,其属于共球藻的真核共生藻细胞受损程度越大;地卷对Cu2+胁迫具有一定的耐性,Cu2+胁迫下地卷属于蓝藻的原核共生藻细胞仍能繁殖分裂产生子代细胞。     

Ca2+预处理对热胁迫下辣椒叶肉细胞中Ca2+-ATP酶活性的影响

在常温下生长的辣椒(Capsicum annum L.)叶肉细胞中Ca2+-ATP酶主要分布于质膜、液泡膜上,叶绿体的基质和基粒片层上也有少量分布;在40℃下热胁迫不同的时间,酶活性逐渐下降,直至叶绿体超微结构解体.同样条件下,经过Ca2+预处理后,分布在上述细胞器膜或片层上的酶活性大大提高,表明Ca2+预处理对该酶活性具有激活作用;Ca2+预处理对热胁迫下的超微结构的完整性具有一定的保护作用,并且能使Ca2+-ATP酶在热胁迫下维持较高活性.结果表明,Ca2+预处理增强辣椒幼苗的抗热性,可能与其稳定细胞膜、从而使Ca2+-ATP酶在热胁迫下保持较高活性有一定关系.     

Scurvy in capybaras bred in captivity in Argentine

In order to determine if the absence of vitamin C in the diet of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) causes scurvy, a group of seven young individuals were fed food pellets without ascorbic acid, while another group of eight individuals received the same food with 1 g of ascorbic acid per animal per day. Animals in the first group developed signs of scurvy-like gingivitis, breaking of the incisors and death of one animal. Clinical signs appeared between 25 and 104 days from the beginning of the trial in all individuals. Growth rates of individuals deprived of vitamin C was considerably less than those observed in the control group. Deficiency of ascorbic acid had a severe effect on reproduction of another population of captive capybaras. We found that the decrease in ascorbic acid content in the diet affected pregnancy, especially during the first stages. The results obtained suggest that it is necessary to supply a suitable quantity of vitamin C in the diet of this species in captivity.     

Role for dopamine in malonate-induced damage in vivo in striatum and in vitro in mesencephalic cultures

Defects in mitochondrial energy metabolism have been implicated in the pathology of several neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, the reactive metabolites generated from the metabolism and oxidation of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) are thought to contribute to the damage to neurons of the basal ganglia. We have previously demonstrated that infusions of the metabolic inhibitor malonate into the striata of mice or rats produce degeneration of DA nerve terminals. In the present studies, we demonstrate that an intrastriatal infusion of malonate induces a substantial increase in DA efflux in awake, behaving mice as measured by in vivo microdialysis. Furthermore, pretreatment of mice with tetrabenazine (TBZ) or the TBZ analogue Ro 4-1284 (Ro-4), compounds that reversibly inhibit the vesicular storage of DA, attenuates the malonate-induced DA efflux as well as the damage to DA nerve terminals. Consistent with these findings, the damage to both DA and GABA neurons in mesencephalic cultures by malonate exposure was attenuated by pretreatment with TBZ or Ro-4. Treatment with these compounds did not affect the formation of free radicals or the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation resulting from malonate exposure alone. Our data suggest that DA plays an important role in the neurotoxicity produced by malonate. These findings provide direct evidence that inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase causes an increase in extracellular DA levels and indicate that bioenergetic defects may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic neurodegenerative diseases through a mechanism involving DA.     

Changes in lactate dehydrogenase activity in chicken tissues in hyperthyreosis in ontogenesis

The lactate dehydrogenase activity in reactions of lactate oxidation and synthesis was studied in subfractions of the chicken brain, heart and liver at the embryonal, early postembryonal and adult stages of development after thyroxine administration. It has been shown that during embryogenesis thyroxine predominantly enhanced the rate of lactate oxidation in the mitochondrial tissues. A marked increase in the lactate synthesis was found in cytoplasm of the adult chicken tissues. Specificity of enzyme activity alterations was detected in the chicken brain during ontogenesis after thyroxine administration.     

SSTR5 ablation in islet results in alterations in glucose homeostasis in mice

Somatostatin (SST) peptide is a potent inhibitor of insulin secretion and its effect is mediated via somatostatin receptor 5 (SSTR5) in the endocrine pancreas. To investigate the consequences of gene ablation of SSTR5 in the mouse pancreas, we have generated a mouse model in which the SSTR5 gene was specifically knocked down in the pancreatic beta cells (betaSSTR5Kd) using the Cre-lox system. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that SSTR5 gene expression was absent in beta cells at three months of age. At the time of gene ablation, betaSSTR5Kd mice demonstrated glucose intolerance with lack of insulin response and significantly reduced serum insulin levels. Insulin tolerance test demonstrated a significant increase of insulin clearance in vivo at the same age. In vitro studies demonstrated an absence of response to SST-28 stimulation in the betaSSTR5Kd mouse islet, which was associated with a significantly reduced SST expression level in betaSSTR5Kd mice pancreata. In addition, betaSSTR5Kd mice had significantly reduced serum glucose levels and increased serum insulin levels at 12 months of age. Glucose tolerance test at an older age also indicated a persistently higher insulin level in betaSSTR5Kd mice. Further studies of betaSSTR5Kd mice had revealed elevated serum C-peptide levels at both 3 and 12 months of age, suggesting that these mice are capable of producing and releasing insulin to the periphery. These results support the hypothesis that SSTR5 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of insulin secretion in the mouse pancreas.