Surface-to-air signals.

Powerful volatile regulators of gene expression, pheromones and other airborne signals are of great interest in biology. Plants are masters of volatile production and release, not just from flowers and fruits, but also from vegetative tissues. The controlled release of bouquets of volatiles from leaves during attack by herbivores helps plants to deter herbivores or attract their predators, but volatiles have other roles in development and in the control of defence gene expression. Some of these roles may include long-distance signalling within and perhaps between plants.     

The nuclear receptor CAR mediates specific xenobiotic induction of drug metabolism

Organisms encounter a wide range of foreign compounds--or 'xenobiotics'--with potentially harmful consequences. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes metabolize xenobiotics and thus are a primary defence against these compounds. Increased expression of specific CYP genes in response to particular xenobiotics is a central component of this defence, although such induction can also increase production of toxic metabolites. Here we show that the nuclear receptor CAR mediates the response evoked by a class of xenobiotics known as the 'phenobarbital-like inducers'. The strong activation of Cyp2b10 gene expression by phenobarbital, or by the more potent TCPOBOP, is absent in mice lacking the CAR gene. These animals also show decreased metabolism of the classic CYP substrate zoxazolamine and a complete loss of the liver hypertrophic and hyperplastic responses to these inducers. Cocaine causes acute hepatotoxicity in wild-type mice previously exposed to phenobarbital-like inducers and this toxicity is also absent in the CAR-deficient animals. Thus, loss of CAR function alters sensitivity to toxins, increasing or decreasing it depending on the compound. Modulation of CAR activity in humans may significantly affect metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics.     

Herbivory: caterpillar saliva beats plant defences

Blood-feeding arthropods secrete special salivary proteins that suppress the defensive reaction they induce in their hosts. This is in contrast to herbivores, which are thought to be helpless victims of plant defences elicited by their oral secretions. On the basis of the finding that caterpillar regurgitant can reduce the amount of toxic nicotine released by the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, we investigate here whether specific salivary components from the caterpillar Helicoverpa zea might be responsible for this suppression. We find that the enzyme glucose oxidase counteracts the production of nicotine induced by the caterpillar feeding on the plant.     

褐飞虱细胞色素P450基因cDNA片段的克隆、测序及表达分析

利用反转录多聚酶链式反应(RT-PCR)技术克隆了褐飞虱细胞色素P450基因编码区的cDNA片段,并进行了序列测定.结果表明,所克隆到的cDNA片段长度为237bp,经BLAST查找比对发现,该片段所编码的氨基酸序列与来自烟草天蛾、棉铃虫、埃及伊蚊、家蝇、黑腹果蝇和线虫的CYP6家族的P450的氨基酸序列存在同源性.Northern杂交分析显示,在褐飞虱取食抗性水稻后,P450基因的表达水平明显升高.以上结果表明,P450基因的表达受抗性水稻的诱导,该基因在褐飞虱对抗性水稻的耐受性和解毒方面可能起着重要作用.     

植物抗病信号传导途径及其相互作用

植物与病原物长期的互作过程中产生了一系列的防卫反应，其中系统获得性抗性(Systemic Acquired Resistance,SAR)和诱导性系统抗性（Induced Systemic Resistance,ISR)是植物抗病信号传导途径中的两 种重要形式。它们分别由植物内源信号分子SA和JA／Et作介导，两种信号的传导途径之间既相互独立相互联系，协同作用，从而使植物出对自身伤害最小却又最有有效的防卫反应。笔就SA－领带性信号传导途径和SA－非领带性信号传导途径的分子生学研究进展，以及两种信号传导途径间的相互作用等方面进行了综述。     

3个白桦细胞色素P450基因生物信息学及表达分析

【目的】研究白桦细胞色素P450基因表达的组织特异性,以及在茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)、水杨酸(SA)、赤霉素(GA₃)、脱落酸(ABA)、乙烯利和伤害处理下的基因表达模式。【方法】筛选白桦转录组,获得3个BpCYP450 基因,分别命名为BpCYP4、BpCYP5、 BpCYP14,利用生物信息学分析BpCYP450蛋白的分子结构特征及其与其他物种CYP450蛋白的亲缘关系。采用QRT-PCR技术,对白桦BpCYP450组织特异性、激素信号及伤害诱导下的表达特征进行分析。【结果】生物信息学结果表明BpCYP4、BpCYP5、BpCYP14 cDNA序列长度分别为1 569、1 584和1 530 bp,具有完整的开放阅读框(ORF),分别编码522、527和509个氨基酸,均为亲水性跨膜蛋白,主要定位于叶绿体。白桦BpCYP450与百脉根、扁豆及豌豆等豆科植物CYP450蛋白亲缘性较高。组织特异性分析结果显示,3个BpCYP450 基因在叶和根中表达较高,茎中较低。激素信号及伤害诱导结果表明,3个BpCYP450基因不同程度地响应MeJA、SA、GA₃、ABA、乙烯利激素信号及伤害诱导。【结论】3个BpCYP450基因均为CYP450基因家族的新成员,具有组织特异性及激素诱导表达特性,可能在白桦生长发育、抵御胁迫及代谢物合成中发挥重要作用。     

细胞色素P450表达在植物防御反应中的作用

细胞色素P450是广泛存在植物体中的一种多功能氧化酶,它在植物对病原侵袭的防御反应中起着重要的作用.本文从植物P450的多样性,及在寄主-病原物不亲和互作中的特异表达,证明了P450参与植物的抗病反应;同时,分析P450在植物抗病反应的作用途径,说明P450在植物抗病基因工程中存在巨大的应用潜力.     

Timing of plant immune responses by a central circadian regulator

The principal immune mechanism against biotrophic pathogens in plants is the resistance (R)-gene-mediated defence. It was proposed to share components with the broad-spectrum basal defence machinery. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. Here we report the identification of novel genes involved in R-gene-mediated resistance against downy mildew in Arabidopsis and their regulatory control by the circadian regulator, CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1). Numerical clustering based on phenotypes of these gene mutants revealed that programmed cell death (PCD) is the major contributor to resistance. Mutants compromised in the R-gene-mediated PCD were also defective in basal resistance, establishing an interconnection between these two distinct defence mechanisms. Surprisingly, we found that these new defence genes are under circadian control by CCA1, allowing plants to 'anticipate' infection at dawn when the pathogen normally disperses the spores and time immune responses according to the perception of different pathogenic signals upon infection. Temporal control of the defence genes by CCA1 differentiates their involvement in basal and R-gene-mediated defence. Our study has revealed a key functional link between the circadian clock and plant immunity.     

Herbivory-induced volatiles elicit defence genes in lima bean leaves

In response to herbivore damage, several plant species emit volatiles that attract natural predators of the attacking herbivores. Using spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis), it has been shown that not only the attacked plant but also neighbouring plants are affected, becoming more attractive to predatory mites and less susceptible to spider mites. The mechanism involved in such interactions, however, remains elusive. Here we show that uninfested lima bean leaves activate five separate defence genes when exposed to volatiles from conspecific leaves infested with T. urticae, but not when exposed to volatiles from artificially wounded leaves. The expression pattern of these genes is similar to that produced by exposure to jasmonic acid. At least three terpenoids in the volatiles are responsible for this gene activation; they are released in response to herbivory but not artificial wounding. Expression of these genes requires calcium influx and protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.     

植食性昆虫、植物和共生微生物的功能关联

植食性昆虫和植物均能与微生物形成密切关系，它们各自的生态功能及相互关系也常被共生微生物所影响。近年来，随着分子水平研究方法的进展，植食性昆虫和植物中很多可遗传共生微生物（细菌、真菌等）被发现。共生微生物能够在营养、生殖、防御和解毒等方面给宿主带来显著影响，并与宿主形成竞争、互利或寄生等关系。植食性昆虫体内的含菌胞、肠道、血淋巴、唾液腺等常含有重要功能的共生微生物。新的分子生物学手段和高通量测序技术的应用使得我们能够增加对宿主和共生微生物（即使处于低丰度）之间关系的了解。本文尝试总结了植食性昆虫和植物共生微生物的多样性及其关系、昆虫和植物互作机制、昆虫共生菌解毒植物毒素等方面的近期证据，突出强调了应以系统观思维来理解共生微生物、植食性昆虫和植物间的功能关联，并就将来值得研究的问题提出了建议。     

害虫对转基因植物抗性进化的计算机模拟

采用人工生命的方法，定量模拟了不同条件下害虫对转基因植物抗性性的进化速度。结果显示只转入植物一个毒性基因常使害虫在短时间内产生抗性，若转３－４个不会产生交互抗性的毒性基因则可大大推迟到或阻止抗性的产生。     

三种水稻挥发物对稻田节肢动物群落和嗅觉行为的影响

茉莉酸甲酯、水杨酸甲酯和芳樟醇是水稻受虫害诱导后产生的重要挥发物性物质。它们通过直接或间接的途径,参与植物抵抗病虫害的过程中。通过田间调查和昆虫触角电生理分析,对这3种挥发物在稻田节肢动物群落和嗅觉行为水平上的作用进行了研究。结果发现水杨酸甲酯对害虫的虫口密度影响较明显,晚稻田中,水杨酸甲酯组的害虫数量(14.42头/板)显著高于其余各处理组。赤眼蜂的嗅觉电位随芳樟醇和茉莉酸甲酯浓度的升高而显著增大,浓度为1/50时赤眼蜂嗅觉电位的变化值显著高于浓度为1/5000时嗅觉电位变化值。     

Tree use by koalas in a chemically complex landscape

Although defence against herbivores is often argued to be the main action of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs), very few examples have demonstrated that intraspecific variation in PSM concentrations influences foraging by wild vertebrate herbivores. Experiments with captive animals often indicate that PSM concentrations influence how much herbivores eat from individual plants, but these experiments do not replicate the subtle trade-offs in diet selection faced by wild animals, which must avoid predators and extremes of weather, interact with conspecifics, and achieve a balanced, nutritious diet, while avoiding intoxication by PSMs. We characterized the foliar chemistry of every tree from two Eucalyptus species available to a population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and considered rates of tree visitation over a ten-year period. We show that visitation rate was most strongly influenced by tree size, but that koalas also visited trees less frequently if the foliage contained either high concentrations of deterrent PSMs known as formylated phloroglucinol compounds, or low concentrations of nitrogen. Consequently, plant chemistry restricts the use of trees by this herbivore, and thus limits the food available to koalas and potentially influences koala populations.     

球孢白僵菌对棉铃虫细胞防御反应的影响

研究了球孢白僵菌（Ｂｅａｕｖｅｒｉａｂａｓｓｉａｎａ）对棉铃虫（Ｈｅｌｉｏｔｈｉｓｚｅａ）细胞防御反应的作用发现五龄棉铃虫幼虫对球孢白僵有强烈的细胞防御能力，表明为吞噬作用和细胞集结作用，但伴随基结球孢白僵菌的细胞防御反应过程，棉铃虫的全血细胞，粒血细胞和浆血细胞的数量均下降，有吞噬能力的血细胞数量和比例也急剧减少，而球孢白僵菌却具有克服棉铃虫细胞吞噬和细胞集结的能力，能在虫体血腔中萌发和生长繁殖     

Global environmental controls of diversity in large herbivores

Large mammalian herbivores occupy half of the earth's land surface and are important both ecologically and economically, but their diversity is threatened by human activities. We investigated how the diversity of large herbivores changes across gradients of global precipitation and soil fertility. Here we show that more plant-available moisture reduces the nutrient content of plants but increases productivity, whereas more plant-available nutrients increase both of these factors. Because larger herbivore species tolerate lower plant nutrient content but require greater plant abundance, the highest potential herbivore diversity should occur in locations with intermediate moisture and high nutrients. These areas are dry enough to yield high quality plants and support smaller herbivores, but productive enough to support larger herbivores. These predictions fit with observed patterns of body size and diversity for large mammalian herbivores in North America, Africa and Australia, and yield a global map of regions with potentially high herbivore diversity. Thus, gradients of precipitation, temperature and soil fertility might explain the global distribution of large herbivore diversity and help to identify crucial areas for conservation and restoration.     

Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females

Plants respond to insect herbivory by synthesizing and releasing complex blends of volatile compounds, which provide important host-location cues for insects that are natural enemies of herbivores. The effects of these volatile blends on herbivore behaviour have been investigated to only a limited extent, in part because of the assumption that herbivore-induced volatile emissions occur mainly during the light phase of the photoperiod. Because many moths-whose larvae are some of the most important insect herbivores-are nocturnal, herbivore-induced plant volatiles have not hitherto been considered to be temporally available as host-location cues for ovipositing females. Here we present chemical and behavioural assays showing that tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) release herbivore-induced volatiles during both night and day. Moreover, several volatile compounds are released exclusively at night and are highly repellent to female moths (Heliothis virescens). The demonstration that tobacco plants release temporally different volatile blends and that lepidopteran herbivores use induced plant signals released during the dark phase to choose sites for oviposition adds a new dimension to our understanding of the role of chemical cues in mediating tritrophic interactions.     

Effect of hydrogen attack on acoustic emission behavior of low carbon steel

In order to investigate the effect of hydrogen attack degree on acoustic emission(AE) behavior of low carbon steel during tensiling, specimens made of Low carbon steel was exposed to hydrogen gas of 18 MPa at 450 and 500℃ for 240, 480 and 720 h respectively. Experimental results show that with increase of the hydrogen attack degree, the totally AE activity decreases during tensiling. In addition, the count of AE signals with high amplitude for the specimens with hydrogen attack keeps a constant which is less than that without hydrogen attack. It is concluded that AE signals originate in the specimens with hydrogen attack from intergranular fracture induced by methane blisterings or/and microcracks on grain boundaries.     

SS6菌对菲的降解和发光菌对菲及其降解产物毒性的反应

研究了海洋微生物SS6在无机盐培养基中对多环芳烃菲的降解和解毒作用和发光细菌对菲及其降解产物毒性的反应．结果表明：SS6菌能利用菲作为唯一的碳源和能源生长;培养液中有酸性代谢产物产生,并且形成积累;发光细菌毒性测试技术可以有效地检测菲及其微生物降解中间产物的相对毒性;母体菲的毒性远大于其水杨酸代谢途径的中间产物水杨酸和儿茶酚及邻苯二甲酸代谢途径的中间产物邻苯二甲酸毒性,并且邻苯二甲酸代谢途径的解毒效果优于水杨酸代谢途径;菲降解过程中培养液萃取物的毒性逐渐降低,但上清液的毒性先出现下降后又呈增大趋势;含菲培养液的毒性变化是培养液中存在的中间产物和其它组成成分及pH值变化的综合结果．