Effects of nitrogen ion implantation on Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential of pollen cell

The effects of low energy nitrogen ion implantation on Ca²⁺ concentration and membrane potential of lily (lilium davidii Duch) pollen cell have been studied. The results showed that the Ca²⁺ concentration was increased when pollen grain was implanted by nitrogen ion with energy 100 keV and dose 10¹³ ions/cm². However, the increase of Ca²⁺ concentration was partly inhibited by the addition of Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor depending on dose. And nitrogen ion implantation caused depolarization of pollen cell membrane potential. In other words, membrane potential was increased, but the effect decreased by adding Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor. However, it was still significantly higher than the membrane potential of control cells. It was indicated that the depolarization of cell membrane potential opened the calcium channel on the membrane that caused the increasing of intracellular calcium concentration. This might be an earlier step of the effect of low energy nitrogen ion implantation on pollen germination.     

Dynamic organization of actin cytoskeleton during the polarity formation and germination of pollen protoplasts

The formation of the polarity of pollen protoplast and the dynamics of actin cytoskeleton were observed by non-fixation, Alexa-Phalloidin probing and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Our results showed that the protoplast obtained from stored pollen contained numerous crystalline fusiform bodies to constitute a storage form of actin. When dormant pollen was hydrated, the actin cytoskeleton forms a fine network spreading uniformly in the protoplast. In the process of polarity formation and germination of pollen protoplast, actin filaments marshaled slowly to the brim, and then formed multilayer continuous actin filament bundles surrounding the cortical of the protoplast. When the protoplast was exposed to actin filament-disrupting drugs, such as Latrunculin A and Cytochalasin D, continuously arranged actin bundles were disturbed and in this condition, the protoplast could not germinate. But when exposed to actin filament stabiling drug-phalliodin, the dynamics of actin filaments in the protoplasts behaved normally and the protoplasts could germinate normally. These results were also confirmed by the pharmacology experiments on pollen grains. And when Latrunculin A or Cytochalasin D was washed off, the ratio of pollen germination was resumed partly. All the results above show that the dynamic organization of the actin cytoskeleton are critical in the cell polarity formation and germination of pollen protoplast, and that the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton is mainly due to the rearrangement of actin filament arrays.     

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.     

Actin and myosin during pollen germination

Actin and myosin from pollen tubes of Lilium davidii were studied by using immunoblotting, Dot_Blot and myosin Ca 2+_ATPase analysis. On immunoblotting of the total soluble pollen tube proteins, anti_α_actin antibody labelled a polypeptide approximately 43 ku, which is considered to be the actin of lily. The mRNA encoding actin in ungerminated pollen and germinated pollen were both undetectable in our experiments. A myosin exhibited Ca 2+_ATPase activity, with a native molecular weight of 460 ku has been identified by using immunoblotting. A polypeptide of about 205 ku and a polypeptide of about 20 ku were the heavy chain and a set of light chain of the myosin, which can crossreact with anti_skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain monoclonal antibody and anti_skeletal muscle myosin light chain (20 ku) monoclonal antibody, respectively. The Ca 2+_ATPase activities of myosin in crude extracts of germinated pollen were positively related to the growth rates of pollen tubes.     

Polymerization of fluorescent analogue of plant actinin vitro andin vivo

Maize pollen actin has been labeled with Oregon Green 488 iodoacetamide. A yield of 3 mg fluorescent actin analogue has been obtained from 10 mg of maize pollen actin, which is 99% in purity and the dye/protein ratio is 72%. In the presence of Mg²⁺ and K⁺, the fluorescent actin analogue polymerized into filamentsin vitro. Green fluorescent filaments were observed when the fluorescent actin was introduced into living plant cells by microinjection, indicating that the fluorescent actin analogue functions similarly to the native actin.     

Effects of extracellular calmodulin on pollen germination and tube growth

The effects of calmoddin (CaM) antagonist W7-agarose, anti-CaM serum and exogenous purified CaM on pollen germination and tube growth ofForsythia suspensu were studied. The pollen germination and tube growth were inhibited or completely stopped by CaM antagonist W7-agarose. The addition of exogenous purified CaM stimulated pollen germination and tube growth, whereas the same amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) had no effect. The inhibitory effects caused by W7-agarose and anti-CaM serum could be reversed completely by the addition of exogenous purified CaM. The tube growth of germinated pollen was also inhibited or completely stopped by W7-agarose. The results suggest that endogenous extracellular CaM initiates pollen germination and tube growth, whereas exogenous CaM enhances the above processes.     

Antibacterial properties and corrosion resistance of AISI 420 stainless steels implanted by silver and copper ions

Silver or copper ions are often chosen as antibacterial agents. But a few reports are concerned with these two antibacterial agents for preparation of antibacterial stainless steel (SS). The antibacterial properties and corrosion resistance of AISI 420 stainless steel implanted by silver and copper ions were investigated. Due to the cooperative antibacterial effect of silver and copper ions, the Ag/Cu implanted SS showed excellent antibacterial activities against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) at a total implantation dose of 2×1017 ions/cm2. Electrochemical polarization curves revealed that the corrosion resistance of Ag/Cu implanted SS was slightly enhanced as compared with that of un-implanted SS. The implanted layer was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Core level XPS spectra indicate that the implanted silver and copper ions exist in metallic state in the implanted layer.     

二月兰对铜污染的耐受与富集分析

为探究十字花科植物二月兰对土壤中铜离子的吸收和耐受性，采用不同浓度的硫酸铜溶液对其种子萌发阶段和生长阶段进行处理，测定了二月兰的生理指标.结果表明：铜离子溶液处理15 d后会对二月兰的萌发率产生影响.当铜离子质量分数为35，100 mg∙kg^-1时，均能促进二月兰种子的萌发，而400 mg∙kg^-1处理组则导致萌发率显著下降，发芽率仅为对照组的41％；土壤栽培处理，35，100 mg∙kg^-1均能促进二月兰生长，而400 mg∙kg^-1处理组则导致生长幅度减小，叶片数量和株高也显著少于前两组实验.同时，400 mg∙kg^-1处理组导致超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）的活性提高，铜离子对二月兰造成一定生长胁迫.铜离子转运系数和富集系数分别为0.56和0.52，说明二月兰对铜离子的富集能力表现优良，尚未造成毒害.进一步分析铜离子转运相关基因的表达，外源施加铜离子，导致体内OvCOPT1基因表达量相对于对照组显著降低.本研究揭示了二月兰对于土壤中铜离子污染具有吸收和富集作用，为治理土壤中铜离子污染提供了理论依据，并证明二月兰可作为优良的富集植物.     

Transferring gfp gene with ion implantation and transient expression of gfp in liliaceous pollen cells

Liliaceous pollen cells were implanted by 4.0 MeV C2+ ion beam or by 25.0 keV N+ ion beam. Laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM) of the implanted intact samples showed that parts of the implanted pollen cells could be stained by propidium iodide (PI). This indicated that energetic ion beam could directly act on cells beneath the pollen coats and made channels for entry of the molecules from outside of the cells. LCSM analysis of green fluorescent protein (GFP) showed that energetic ion beam could mediate transient expression of gfp in treated pollen cells. Compared with 25.0 keV N+ ion beam, implantation of 4.0 MeV C2+ ion beam greatly improved gene transfer efficiency in pollen cells.     

Structure and magnetic properties of ZnO:Cr prepared by Cr ion implantation into ZnO crystals

ZnO:Cr layer was prepared by Cr ion implantation into ZnO bulk crystals. The structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the ZnO:Cr layer were studied with X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and superconductor quantum interferometer, respectively. The ZnO:Cr layer implanted Cr with a dose of 5 10 16 cm 2 remained wurtzite structure and exhibited near-band-edge photoluminescence at 3.365 eV with full-width at half-maximum of 8.4 meV at 10 K. The magnetic measurement showed that the ferromagnetism changed at room temperature by different Cr concentration. For samples implanted to high doses, remanent magnetization reached 1.805 10 -4 emu/g and coercive field was 244.5 Oe. Hall effect measurement showed a decrease of the resistivity from 251.7 cmto 28.6 cmafter annealing at 800 ℃. The magnetism is interpreted by bound magnetic polarons, which were taken into account of the process that electrons were locally trapped by oxygen vacancies and occupied the orbitals that overlapped with d shell of neighboring Cr ions.     

芍药花粉离体萌发培养基组分的优化

以芍药花粉为材料,采用正交设计L^9（34）法研究蔗糖、硝酸钙、硼酸对芍药花粉离体萌发和花粉管生长的影响,筛选芍药花粉离体萌发最适宜的培养基,并研究了不同pH值对芍药花粉萌发的影响。结果表明,蔗糖对芍药花粉萌发率和花粉管生长影响最大,硼酸次之,硝酸钙影响最小;芍药花粉离体萌发最适宜培养基为,蔗糖20g·L^-1＋硼酸20mg·L^-1＋硝酸钙60mg·L^-1;其萌发率和花粉管长度分别为63．12％和183．33μm;适合芍药花粉萌发的pH为6～7。     

Improving DNA damage repair ability ofE. coli to UV-radiosensitivity by DNA-mediated gene transfer of low energy ion beam

Using calcium chloride method of transfer gene as control, a new technique of transferring gene by low energy ion beam has been applied to the study of improving DNA damage repair ability ofE. coli to UV-radiosensitivity. The genome DNA pieces ofDeinococcus radiodurans, as “foreign” genetic materials, were introduced into the UV-radiosensitive strains ofE. coli by implantation of 20 keV Ar⁺ at doses ranging from 1 × 10¹⁵ to 2 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm². Results show that the transfected strains present higher UV-radioresistance than that of un-transfected ones and start ones. The survival rate of transfected strains and their unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) ability is increased, indicating that the transfer gene is a success.     

The environmental signal of an early Holocene pollen record from the Shiyang River basin lake sediments, NW China

Pollen analyses of 85 samples from the Sanjiaocheng section well along the margin of a palaeolake at the end of the Shiyang River, NW China, show that Picea and Sabina dominate the pollen assemblage. Together they reach as high as 40%–60%, with the percentage of Picea varying inversely with that of Sabina. Similar results were obtained from another section in the Shiyang River drainage. Using modern ecological habitat relationship analogues, pollen transport characteristics, and the overall pollen assemblage, we propose that both Picea and Sabina pollen were transported by the river from the mountains at the upper reaches of the Shiyang River, and that the assemblage is more indicative of changes in upland vegetation than of local conditions near the section. This interpretation is supported by pollen data derived from surface samples, water samples, and riverbed samples. Using a moisture indicator (the Picea to Sabina ratio) and calculated pollen concentrations, we identify a series of palaeoenvironmental changes during the early Holocene (10–6.3 ¹⁴C kaBP).     

Molecule modification and mass deposition induced by the implantation of low energy Fe+ ion beams into amino acids

Fe⁺ ion beams with the energy of 110 keV were implanted into films of L(+)-cysteine (HSCH₂CH(NH₂)COOH). One of the single crystals grown in hydrochloric acid solution with the implanted samples through slow evaporation was structurally characterized by the X-ray crystallography. The crystal is monoclinic, space group C2, with a = 1.8534(4) nm, b = 0.5234(1) nm, c = 0.7212(1) nm, β= 103.72°, V = 0.67965(3) nm³, Z = 4, F(000) = 144.0, D{clac} = 1.763 g · cm⁻³, μ(MoK _a = 1.06 mm⁻¹, T = 293(2) K. R = 0.0379, wR = 0.0835 for 660 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). The structural formula of the crystal compound is (CH₂CH(NH₂)NO₂)ClFe (M _r = 180.38 u). Products of heavy ion beam irradiation were purified and it was directly confirmed that the implanted Fe⁺ ions had been deposited in the novel molecules. The same doses of Fe⁺ ion beams of the same energy were implanted into films of L(+)-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate. FTIR spectroscopy of the implanted samples proved that some of the original molecules were seriously damaged and significant modifications were induced.     

尿素和硼及生长调节剂对荔枝花粉萌发与生长的影响

25度条件下,在荔枝花粉萌发培养基上添加0．1％－0．4％的尿素,0．1－1．5％的硼酸及0．1－1．0mg.L^-1的萘乙酸均不同程度地促进花粉萌发与花粉管生,5－50mg.L^-1乙烯对花粉的萌发与花粉管生长则有抑制作用,抑制程度与其浓度呈正相关,在1－5mg.L^-1的BA下,花粉萌发率下降,但花粉管生长受促,25mg.L^-1BA可显著抑制花粉的萌花与生长,三个荔枝品种花粉萌发对温度较敏感,18度时不萌发。     

Photocatalytic activity of ferric oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposite films on stainless steel fabricated by anodization and ion implantation

A simple surface treatment was used to develop photocatalytic activity for stainless steel. AISI 304 stainless steel specimens after anodization were implanted by Ti ions at an extracting voltage of 50 kV with an implantation dose of 3 × 1015 atoms·cm?2 and then annealed in air at 450℃ for 2 h. The morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue solution was carried out under ultraviolet light. The corrosion resistance of the stainless steel was evaluated in NaCl solution (3.5 wt%) by electrochemical polarization curves. It is found that the Ti ions depth profile resembles a Gaussian distribution in the implanted layer. The nanostructured Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ composite film exhibits a remarkable enhancement in photocatalytic activity referenced to the mechanically polished specimen and anodized specimen. Meanwhile, the annealed Ti-implanted specimen remains good corrosion resistance.     

Pollen assemblage characteristics of lakes in the monsoon fringe area of China

This paper presents the pollen assemblages from 108 surface sediment samples from 4 lakes （the Lake Daihai, Lake Hongjiannao, Lake Hulunnao and Lake Duikounao） in the monsoon fringe area of China. The herb pollen taxa Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae and Compositae are the major components of pollen assemblages of the 4 lakes and Pinus, Betula, Quercus, Ulmus, Populus, Ostryopsis and Elaeagnaceae are frequently presented, which reflect regional and local vegetation well. The mean similarity coefficients for samples from the Lake Daihai, Lake Hongjiannao, Lake Hulunnao and Lake Duikounao are 0.66±0.17, 0.71±0.11,0.73±0.12 and 0.67±0.12 respectively, so pollen assemblages are relatively consistent in each lake, which shows that focusing and mixing effects have occurred before and after pollen deposition. However, pollen assemblages do differ between sampling sites in each lake. The largest difference is seen in the Lake Daihai, followed by the Lake Duikounao, Lake Hulunnao and Lake Hongjiannao （The mean Euclidean distance is 20.09 ± 11.11, 11.22 ± 3.64, 10.67 ± 4.03 and 8.44 ± 4.51 respectively）. These differences are possibly caused by the differences of focusing and mixing effects, pollen source areas, drainage areas and regional vegetation compositions. The Lake Daihai and Lake Hongjiannao have water deeper than 5 m and strong re-suspension, focusing and mixing effects occur in the lakeshore and shallow water areas, where pollen concentrations are lower than in deeper lake areas. In the Lake Hulunnao and Lake Duikounao, with depths less than 5 m, re-suspension and mixing effects are obvious across the whole lake area, so pollen assemblages and pollen concentrations are more consistent among sampling sites in each lake. Comparison between the lake samples and samples from the inflowing river reveals that wind is primary pollen transportation force in the Lake Hongjiannao, where the consistency of pollen assemblage is conspicuous, while there is greater variation in lakes where pollen input is do     

Immunochemical identification of gelsolin in maize pollen

Gelsolin is a representative of a type of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) universally found in eukaryotes. It plays role in nucleation, capping and severing of actin filamentsin vitro. In our experiment, gelsolin was purified from pig plasma and the polyclonal antibodies against it were prepared. The crude extracts of maize pollen were immunodetected by Western-blotting with polyclonal antibody and monoclonal antibody respectively. The immunodetection results show that gelsolin exists in maize pollen and its molecular weight is about 91 ku, similar to that of gelsolin found in animal tissues.     

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.     

Cryopreservation of pollen by vitrification inBrassica

The key factors affecting pollen cryopreservation by vitrification inBrassica campestris var.purpurea were investigated. The factors involved the pollen maturity, the pollen resistance to dehydration, the components of vitrification solution (PVS), and the concentration of diluent. Thus, a suitable procedure was established for pollen vitrification, the maximum relative survival rates of mature (at the day of anthesis) and nearly mature (3 days before anthesis) pollen were about 80%, 63% respectively. This procedure has been also successfully applied to two other species (Brassica napus, Brassica chinensis). The advantage of cryopreservation of pollen by vitrification was discussed. Xu Bingfang: born in Sep. 6. 1970, Ph. D graduate student