Stream denitrification across biomes and its response to anthropogenic nitrate loading

Anthropogenic addition of bioavailable nitrogen to the biosphere is increasing and terrestrial ecosystems are becoming increasingly nitrogen-saturated, causing more bioavailable nitrogen to enter groundwater and surface waters. Large-scale nitrogen budgets show that an average of about 20-25 per cent of the nitrogen added to the biosphere is exported from rivers to the ocean or inland basins, indicating that substantial sinks for nitrogen must exist in the landscape. Streams and rivers may themselves be important sinks for bioavailable nitrogen owing to their hydrological connections with terrestrial systems, high rates of biological activity, and streambed sediment environments that favour microbial denitrification. Here we present data from nitrogen stable isotope tracer experiments across 72 streams and 8 regions representing several biomes. We show that total biotic uptake and denitrification of nitrate increase with stream nitrate concentration, but that the efficiency of biotic uptake and denitrification declines as concentration increases, reducing the proportion of in-stream nitrate that is removed from transport. Our data suggest that the total uptake of nitrate is related to ecosystem photosynthesis and that denitrification is related to ecosystem respiration. In addition, we use a stream network model to demonstrate that excess nitrate in streams elicits a disproportionate increase in the fraction of nitrate that is exported to receiving waters and reduces the relative role of small versus large streams as nitrate sinks.     

Linear ubiquitination prevents inflammation and regulates immune signalling

Members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily have important functions in immunity and inflammation. Recently linear ubiquitin chains assembled by a complex containing HOIL-1 and HOIP (also known as RBCK1 and RNF31, respectively) were implicated in TNF signalling, yet their relevance in vivo remained uncertain. Here we identify SHARPIN as a third component of the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex, recruited to the CD40 and TNF receptor signalling complexes together with its other constituents, HOIL-1 and HOIP. Mass spectrometry of TNF signalling complexes revealed RIP1 (also known as RIPK1) and NEMO (also known as IKKγ or IKBKG) to be linearly ubiquitinated. Mutation of the Sharpin gene (Sharpin(cpdm/cpdm)) causes chronic proliferative dermatitis (cpdm) characterized by inflammatory skin lesions and defective lymphoid organogenesis. Gene induction by TNF, CD40 ligand and interleukin-1β was attenuated in cpdm-derived cells which were rendered sensitive to TNF-induced death. Importantly, Tnf gene deficiency prevented skin lesions in cpdm mice. We conclude that by enabling linear ubiquitination in the TNF receptor signalling complex, SHARPIN interferes with TNF-induced cell death and, thereby, prevents inflammation. Our results provide evidence for the relevance of linear ubiquitination in vivo in preventing inflammation and regulating immune signalling.     

竹类研究进展

自古以来竹子一种重要的自然资源,在人们的日常生活中得到了广泛的应用,随着竹材加工工艺的不断改进,以竹子为原料的新产品层出不穷,竹材的工业化利用,使竹子已经不再是“穷人的木材”,竹制精品已称豪华,而竹子的化学利用将成为开拓高附加值竹产品的有效途径,在基础理论研究方面,竹子生物多样性的研究成为新的热点。竹林的生太民功能及其在可持续发展中的重要性愈来愈受到国际社会的广泛关注。在拉丁美洲和非洲,以及在没有天然竹林分布的欧洲和北美洲都日趋注重对竹类的研究与开发利用,现代生物学技术为分子水平揭示竹类植物系统发育和个体发育的机制提供了更有效的手段。     

载畜率对短花针茅荒漠草原土壤物理特性的影响

放牧对土壤物理特性的影响至关重要.为了研究放牧对土壤物理特性的影响,在内蒙古荒漠草原上开展了不同绵羊载畜率放牧试验.试验采取完全随机区组设计,设置4个不同载畜率处理,3次重复.4个处理分别是对照(CK)、轻度放牧(LG)、中度放牧(MG)和重度放牧(HG),相应的载畜率分别是0,0.15,0.30和0.45只羊/(公顷·月).放牧时间为每年6月-11月.从2004年到2006年的放牧期间,每月测定一次土壤含水量和土壤容重,土壤紧实度和机械组成每年秋季测定一次.通过对测定数据的分析表明,土壤表层(0-10cm)的含水量从对照到轻度放牧显著(p＜0.05)增加,然后随着载畜率的增大明显(p＜0.05)降低.土壤容重在不同载畜率条件下没有明显变化(p＞0.05),但土壤紧实度随载畜率的增加显著(p＜0.05)增大.中度和重度放牧显著降低了土壤黏粒的含量(p＜0.05).重度放牧加快了草地土壤水分的损失,进而增加了土壤的紧实度,使草地土壤发生退化.载畜率和土壤水分是影响荒漠草原可持续管理的关键因子,轻度载畜率是实现草地的可持续发展的最适宜载畜率.