Reduced Na+ and K+ permeability of K+ channel in plasma membrane isolated from roots of salt-tolerant mutant of wheat

The Na⁺ and K⁺ permeability of K⁺ channel in plasma membrane, isolated from roots of the salt-tolerant mutant of wheat, was lower than that of wild type in 100 mmol/L KCl and NaCl solution. The opening frequency of K⁺ channel of the mutant reduced more significantly than that of wild type in two kinds of solution mentioned above. It is assumed that the reduction of opening frequency mainly contributes to the Na⁺ and K⁺ permeability of K⁺ channel of the mutant. The electric conductance of single-channel of the mutant was similar to that of wild type and the main difference between them was exhibited as the opening frequency. Their K⁺/Ka⁺ selectivity of K⁺ channel had no significant difference. The K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity of the mutant and wild type was 3.35 and 3.18 respectively.     

Effect of fatty acids on polyamine contents and Na+/H+ antiport activity in PM vesicles isolated from roots of barley under salt stress

With 200 mmol/L NaCl treatment on barley cultivar “Jian 4” (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. J4) seedlings for 6 d, the contents of covalently and noncovalently conjugated polyamines (PAs) and activities of H⁺-ATPase in plasma membrane (PM) vesicles isolated from the roots decreased remarkably. Moreover, the activity of Na⁺/H⁺ antiport was detected first in PM vesicles. The results showed that the decrease in the contents of membrane phospholipid, noncovalently conjugated PAs and activity of H⁺-ATPase caused by NaCl could be restored partially by application of 1 mmol/L stearie acid (C_16:0) and linoleic acid (C_18:2), and C_18:2 was more effective than C_16:0 In addition, a reduction in the contents of covalently conjugated PAs was only reversed partially in the presence of C_18:2 Furthermore, Na⁺/H⁺ antiport activity was strengthened by exogenous C_16:0 and C_18:2 and C_18:2 was more effective than C_16:0. The correlative analysis suggested that, after application of C_16:0 and C_18:2 under salt stress, there was a significant positive correlation existing among phospholipid content, noncovalently conjugated PA levels, H⁺-ATPase activities and Na⁺/H⁺ antiport activities, indicating that one of the mitigative mechanisms of exogenous fatty acids on salt injury was to improve membrane phospholipid and PA contents, leading to an enhance in membrane integrity and a change in charge status of PM vesicles, so the activity of membrane-associated enzyme H⁺-ATPase was increased and synthesis of Na⁺/H⁺ antiport protein was activated.     

Analysis of active sites for N2 and H^＋ reduction on FeMo-cofactor of nitrogenase

Dinitrogen (N2) and proton (H ),which act as physiological substrates of nitrogenase,are reduced on FeMo-co of the MoFe protein. However,researchers have different opinions about their exact reduction sites. Nitrogenases were purified from the wild type (WT) and five mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii (Av),including Qα191K,Hα195Q,nifV-,Qα191K/nifV- and Hα195Q/nifV-; and the activities of these en-zymes for N2 and H reduction were analyzed. Our results suggest that the Fe2 and Fe6,atoms closed to the central sulfur atom (S2B) within FeMo-co,are sites for N2 binding and reduction and the Mo atom of FeMo-co is the site for H reduction. Combining these data with further bioinformatical analysis,we propose that two parallel electron channels may exist between the 8Fe7S cluster and FeMo-co.     

The short C-terminal hydrophilic domain of NhaH Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter from Halobacillus dabanensis with roles in resistance to salt and in pH sensing

The Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter plays key roles in maintaining low cytoplasmic NaNa^＋ level and pH homeostasis, while little is known about the Carboxyl-terminal hydrophilic tails of prokaryotic antiporters. In our previous study, the first Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter gene nhaH from moderate halophiles was cloned from Halobacillus dabanensis D-8 by functional complementation. A topological model suggested that only nine amino acid residues （^395PLIKKLGMI403） existed in the hydrophilic C-terminal domain of NhaH. The C-terminal truncated mutant of NhaH was constructed by PCR strategy and designated as nhaH△C. Salt tolerance experiment demonstrated that the deletion of hydrophilic C-terminal nine amino acid residues significantly inhibited the complementation ability of E. coil KNabc, in which three main Na^＋/H^＋ antiporters nhaA, nhaB and chaA were deleted. Everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coil KNabc/nhaHAC decreased both Na^＋/H^＋ and Li^＋/H^＋ exchange activities of NhaH, and also resulted in an acidic shift of its pH profile for Na^＋, indicating a critical role of the short C-terminal domain of NhaH antiporter in alkali cation binding/translocation and pH sensing.     

Role of two phosphohexomutase genes in glycogen synthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

Phosphohexomutases catalyze the interconversion between hexose-6-phosphate and hexose-l-phosphate and play important roles in polysaccharide synthesis. In Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, sl10726 is predicted to encode PGM （phosphoglucomutase）, slr1334 is predicted to encode a PGM/PMM （phosphomannomutase） bifunction enzyme. In comparison to the wild type, a sllO726-null mutant showed 3.4% PGM activity but 45%-69% glycogen content. Down-regulation of slr1334, an essential gene, by using a copper regulated promoter further decreased the PGM activity in the sllO726：：Kmr PpetE-slr1334 double mutant to 0.3% of the wild type level. However, the glycogen content was not further decreased in parallel. In vitro, recombinant Sl10726 or S1r1334 showed predicted enzyme activities. Our results indicate that a relatively high level of glycogen can be maintained in Synechocystis mutants with low levels of PGM activity. The high PGM activity in the cyanobacterium may be required for turnover of glycogen or synthesis of other polysaccharides or oligosaccharides.     

Mutagenesis of Ser24 of Cytochrome b559 α Subunit Affects PSII Acitivies in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In order to study the functions of cytochrome b559 (Cyt b559) in photosystem two (PSII) activity, mutant S24F of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was constructed using site directed mutagenesis, in which Serine24 (Ser24) locating downstream of Histidine23 (His23) in α subunit of Cyt b559 was replaced by Phenylalanine (Phe). Physiological and biochemical analysis showed that mutant S24F could be grown photoautotrophically or photoheterotrophically. However, their growth rate was slower either on HSM or TAP medium than that of the control; Analysis of PSII activity revealed that its oxygen evolution was about 71% of wild type (WT); The Photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) of S24F was reduced 0.23 compared with WT; S24F was more sensitive to strong light irradiance than the wild type; Furthermore, SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting analysis indicated that the expression levels of α subunit of Cyt b559, LHCII and PsbO of S24F were a little less than those of the wild type. Overall, these data suggests that Ser24 plays a significant role in making Cyt b559 structure maintain PSII complex activity of oxygen evolution although it is not directly bound to heme group.     

Comparative expression analysis of three genes from the Arabidopsis vacuolar Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter （AtNHX） family in relation to abiotic stresses

Na~ /H~ antiporters (NHX) are ubiquitous transmembrane proteins that play a key role in salt tolerance of plants. In this study, the sequence of 3 Arabidopsis NHX gene (AtNHX2―4) were compared with other AtNHX members. Putative cis-elements analysis identified elements that have been associated with stress responses. The activities of the promoters AtNHX2―4 were studied in transgenic plants carrying corresponding promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions. The AtNHX2 promoter-GUS analysis indicated that AtNHX2 was expressed in constitutive pattern with high GUS activity in roots and leaves. AtNHX2 promoter activity was not up-regulated by NaCl or abscisic acid (ABA), in contrast to the AtNHX1 promoter which was previously studied. The AtNHX3 and AtNHX4 promoters showed tissue-specific activities. Strong GUS activity was detected in roots and vascular bundles of the stele in plants carry-ing an AtNHX4 promoter-GUS fusion, and GUS activity increased under salt stress suggesting a func-tion related to salt tolerance. Transgenic plants carrying the AtNHX3 promoter-GUS fusion showed strong GUS activity in petals, stamens and tops of siliques, suggesting a possible role of AtNHX3 in flower and seed development. Results of histochemical analysis suggested that AtNHX2―4 are involved in divergent functions and are differentially regulated under abiotic stress. The structure of AtNHX4 was predicted to include 12 transmembrane regions and a NHX domain. Overexpression of AtNHX4 in Arabidopsis transgenic lines confers greater salt tolerance than in wild type plants. These results suggest that AtNHX4 may encode a putative vacuolar NHX that plays an important role in salt tolerance.     

Construction and characterization of partiallyntrC-deleted mutants inAlcaligenes faecalis

To study the effect of ntrC gene product on the expression and regulation of other important nitrogen-fixing genes in Alcaligenes faecalis, partially ntrC-deleted mutants of A. faecalis have been generated. To start with, the ntrC gene of A. faecalis was cloned into a suicide plasmid pSUP202 to create a recombinant plasmid pSUM1. The ntrC gene in pSUM1 was then replaced by a lacZ-Km^r fragment resulted in the generation of a plasmid pSUM2. The lacZ fragment in pSUM2 was further removed and a plasmid pSUM3 produced. As a second step, the plasmid pSUM2 or pSUM3 was introduced into the wild type of A. faecalis A1501 by conjugation and two partially ntrC-deleted mutants A15CM1 (ntrC∷lacZ) and A15CM2 (ntrC ^- ) were obtained. To understand the regulatory effect of the NtrC on the expression of nifH and nifA, a nifH-lacZ gene or a nifH-lacZ gene was introduced into the ntrC^- mutant by conjugation. The results indicated that: (ⅰ) although the ntrC^-mutant was nif ⁺ , its nitrogen fixation activity was only 20% that of the wild type; (ⅱ) the ntrC^- mutant failed to grow on the medium containing nitrate as a sole nitrogen source; (ⅲ) the regulation of ntrC gene expression did not require its own product; (ⅳ) the expression of nifH in A . faecalis was positively regulated by the ntrC. Deletion of the ntrC resulted in the reduction of nifH expression or even totally inactivated nitrogen fixation; (ⅴ) there was no obvious influence on the expression of nifA in A. faecalis if the ntrC gene was deleted.     

Cell responses ofDunaliella salina FACHB 435 (Green Alga) to microgravitational stimulation by clinorotation

Clinorotation experiments were established to simulate microgravity on ground. It was found that there were obvious changes ofDunaliella salina FACHB435 cells and their metabolic characteristics during clinorotation. The changes included the increases of glycerol content, the rate of H⁺ secretion and PM H⁺ -ATPase activity, and the decrease of ratio of the plasma membrane (PM) phospholipid to PM protein. These results indicated that microgravity was a stress environment toDunaliella salina. It is deduced that it would be possible to attribute the effect of microgravity on algal cells to the secondary activation of water stress.     

Effect of exogenous ammonium on glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, and glutamate dehydrogenase in the root of rice seedling

Root biomass of rice seedlings was increased at lower concentration of exogenous NH ₄ ⁺ , but it was decreased at higher concentration of exogenous NH ₄ ⁺ . The level of free NH ₄ ⁺ in the roots was accumulated gradually with the increase of NH ₄ ⁺ concentration in the nutrient solution. The content of the soluble proteins was essentially constant at higher NH ₄ ⁺ . The activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), NADH-dependent glutamate synthase (NADH-GOGAT), and NADH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (NADH-GDH) were risen with exogenous NH ₄ ⁺ concentration at the lower NH ₄ ⁺ concentration range. But the activities of GS and NADH-GOGAT were declined, and the level of NADH-GDH activity was kept constant under higher NH ₄ ⁺ concentration. The GS/GDH ratio suggested that NH ₄ ⁺ was assimilated by GS-GOGAT cycle under lower NH ₄ ⁺ concentration, but NADH-GDH was more important for NH ₄ ⁺ assimilation and detoxifying NH ₄ ⁺ to the tissue cells at the higher NH ₄ ⁺ level. According to the growth and the activity changes of these ammonium-assimilating enzymes of rice seedling roots, 10. 0 μg/mL NH ₄ ⁺ -N in nutrient solution was more suitable to the rice growth. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 3987052), Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province and International Rice Research Institute, P.O. Box. 3217, 1271 Makati City, Philippines. Biography: LI Ze-song(1968-), male, Graduate student.     

Characterization of a nitrogenase CrFe protein from a mutant UW3 of Azotobacter vinelandii grown on a Cr-containing medium

Biological nitrogen fixation is one of the most im-portant biochemical reactions in nature. It is catalyzed by an anaerobic metalloenzyme complex-nitrogenase. Three genetically distinct nitrogenase systems exist in Azotobacter vinelandii (A. vinelandii): Mo-containing nitrogenase, V-containing one and “Fe only” nitro-genase[1―4]. They are composed of two separable com-ponent proteins. For example, conventional Mo-con- taining nitrogenase is composed of component I (MoFe protein) and com…     

利用CRISPR /Cas9技术快速创制香型“秀水134”水稻

以目前上海市主栽的高产常规水稻"秀水134"为材料,利用CRISPR/Cas9技术成功敲除甜菜碱醛脱氢酶2基因,获得了两种类型纯合突变体植株.采用表达载体特异性结合的引物检测T_1代转基因植株,成功获得6株不携带载体骨架的转基因植株.定量PCR分析显示,突变体植株甜菜碱醛脱氢酶2基因表达量极显著低于野生型对照(p0.01),但突变体植株成熟种子香味物质2-乙酰-1-吡咯啉(2AP)含量极显著高于野生型对照(p0.01).比较野生型对照与突变体植株的主要农艺性状和产量性状,两者间都没有显著差异(p0.05).本研究可为加快高产香型水稻在上海及周边地区的推广应用,以及为今后利用CRISPR/Cas9技术快速培育其他高产香型水稻新品种研究奠定基础.     

抗冻蛋白基因定向突变及其抗冻关系的研究

为探讨抗冻蛋白的抗冻机制,根据抗冻活力较高的肝型抗冻蛋白的氨基酸组成,改造皮肤型抗冻蛋白基因,使皮肤型抗冻蛋白基因的10位氨基酸－丙氨酸（A）改造成天冬氨酸（D）,方法：合成一段含有突变位点的DNA片段,用其取代野生型DNA上相对应的片段,DNA测序法筛选阳性克隆并表达该蛋白,Western-blot法、氨基酸组成分析法、及质谱法鉴定表达蛋白,测定突变后抗冻蛋白的的活力并与野生型比较,以期揭示抗冻蛋白的抗冻机制。     

H-ATPase in the plasma membrane of Arabidopsis pollen cells is involved in extracellular calmodulin-promoted pollen germination

In this paper, the role of the plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase in extracellular calmodulin (CaM)-promoted pollen germination and in tube growth of Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated. Pollen germination, pollen tube growth rate, free cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) and Ca²⁺ channel activity in the PM of pollen cells were measured. In response to fusicoccin or CaM treatment, in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth rate, [Ca²⁺]_cyt and activity of a hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺-permeable channel increased. Sodium vanadate inhibited the promotion of these parameters by extracellular CaM. The results suggest that H⁺-ATPase may be involved in extracellular CaM-regulated pollen germination and in tube growth by modulation of the hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channel in the PM of A. thaliana pollen cells.     

盐度胁迫对非洲斑节对虾生理特征的影响

为探讨不同盐度梯度下非洲斑节对虾(Penaeus monodon)的盐度耐受性,本研究测定了盐度胁迫下对虾生长、渗透、抗氧化及消化指标的变化.实验设置4个盐度梯度(20,30,40,50),以30盐度组作为对照,进行为期35 d的喂养实验.实验结束时计算增重率(Weight Gain Rate,WGR)、特定生长率(S...     

Effect of mutation in ribosomal protein on translation elongation

Translation accuracy, translation elongation rate and translation processivity are three important parameters for each elongation cycle. To study the role of ribosomal protein in translation elongation, these parameters were measured simultaneously for the first time in threeEscherichia coli T83 mutantsrpsL, rplX andrpmA. The results suggested that the mutants of ribosomal protein S12(rpsL) and ribosomal protein L24(rplX) decreased the processivity of ribosome while the mutant of ribosomal protein L27(rpmA) had little effect on the processivity;rplX mutant andrpmA mutant had higher accuracy; the elongation rate ofrplX mutant was faster than that of the wild type, whereas the elongation rate ofrpmA mutant was the same as that of the wild type.     

The evolution of molecular wave packet in superstrong laser fields

Summary In this note wc numerically simulate the wave packet evolution of H₂ ⁺ in superstrong laser fields with the multiple electronic-states model. The result is that the evolution process of H₂ ⁺ wave packet is mainly determined by the laser frequency. For the high-frequency fields H₂ ⁺ wave packet extends out of the interaction region step by step. However, the H₂ ⁺ wave packet is quickly dissociated in low-frequency fields. In addition, the molecular stabilization effect can be characterized at the intensity of 8 × 10¹⁵ W/cm² for the low-frequency field ω₁.     

Efficient polymerization of acrylonitrile catalyzed by divalent lanthanide complex/ sodium phenolate systems

Four divalent lanthanide complexes Sm(ArO)₂ - (THF)₄, Yb(ArO)₂(THF)₃, Eu(ArO)₂(THF)₃ (ArO = 2,6-di- tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate) and (Bu^tCp)₂Sm(THF)₂ were synthesized. Their catalytic activities on the polymerization of acrylonitrile were studied. The catalytic activities were influenced by the central metal ions involved. The catalytic activities of these divalent lanthanide complexes can be greatly increased by adding NaOC₆H₂-2,6-Bu^t₂-4-Me, NaOC₆H₄-4-Bu^t, or NaOC₁₀H₆-2-Me. The amount of additive has apparent effect on the catalytic activity, but the additive has no effect on the tacticity of the resulting polyacrylonitrile.     

Low concentrations of NaHSO3 enhance NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-dependent cyclic photophosphorylation and alleviate the oxidative damage to improve photosynthesis in tobacco

Bisulfite at low concentrations(L-NaHSO3) increases cyclic electron transport around photosystem I(PSI) and photosynthesis.However,little is known regarding the detailed contribution of cyclic electron transport to the promoted photosynthesis by L-NaHSO3.In the present work,we used tobacco mutant defective in ndhC-ndhK-ndhJ(ndhCKJ) to investigate the role of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase(NDH)-dependent cyclic electron transport around PSI in an increase in photosynthesis by L-NaHSO3.After the treatment of tobacco leaves with L-NaHSO3(10 μmol L-1),the NDH-dependent cyclic electron transport,monitored by a transient post-illumination increase in Chl fluorescence and the amount of NDH,was notably up-regulated in wild type(WT).The NDH-dependent cyclic electron transport was severely impaired in ndhCKJ and was not significantly affected by treatment with L-NaHSO3.Accordingly,the NDH-dependent transthylakoid membrane proton gradient(pH),as reflected by the slow phase of millisecond-delayed light emission(ms-DLE),was increased by L-NaHSO3 in WT,but not in ndhCKJ;the enhancement of cyclic photophosphorylation(PSP) activity by L-NaHSO3 was more obvious in WT than ndhCKJ.The accumulation of both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide was reduced in WT when subjected to L-NaHSO3 treatment,but not in ndhCKJ.Furthermore,the increase of photosynthetic O 2 evolution rate by L-NaHSO3 was more significant in WT than in ndhCKJ.We therefore conclude that L-NaHSO3 alleviates the photo-oxidative damage by the enhancement of NDH-dependent cyclic PSP,thereby improving photosynthesis.     

Low energy H+ effects on the photovoltaic and optical properties of polycrystalline silicon solar cells

Low energy hydrogen ion was used to passivate the electrically active defects existing in grains and grain boundaries of polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Short-circuit current of H⁺ implanted cells remarkably increased before and after preparing TiO₂AR (antireflective) coating. The measurements (at λ=6328 Å) of the optical properties of H⁺ implanted silicon samples show that: the value of absorption coefficient reached the level of a-Si; refractive indexn and ref?ectivityR significantly decreased; the optical band gap increased from 1.1 eV to 1.3 eV. The results indicate that Si-H bonds have been formed after H⁺ implantation. The calculation shows that the optical thickness cycle of TiO₂ AR coating will reduce correspondingly in order to obtain the optimum optical match between AR coating and implanted silicon since refractive index decreases after H⁺ implantation.