Analysis of the structure of lignin-carbohydrate complexes by the specific13C tracer method

In the present study the specifically¹³C-enriched lignin precursors of biosynthesis (i.e., coniferin-[side chain–¹³C], coniferin-[side chain-–¹³C] and coniferin-[side chain-–¹³C]) were synthesized and administered exogeneously to ginkgo shoots (Ginkgo biloba L.) to obtain¹³C-enriched lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs). The specifically¹³C-enriched LCCs were isolated from the newly formed xylem of ginkgo shoots administered with the¹³C-enriched precursors and degraded by enzymes. Lignin-rich fractions, so called enzyme-degraded LCCs (EDLCCs), were obtained. By determining their¹³C-NMR spectra, information related to the chemical structure of lignin building units and linkages between phenylpropane units of lignin and carbohydrates were obtained. It was found that these precursors were incorporated in natural lignin successfully. Three lignin-carbohydrates linkages (i.e., ether type, ester type, ketal type) were found at the C -position of the side chain of phenylpropane units in ginkgo LCC. No lignin-carbohydrate bond at the C- or C-position of the lignin side chain was observed in the¹³C-NMR spectra of the¹³C-enriched LCCs. This fact indicates that a specific¹³C tracer technique can be useful in NMR study of the chemical structure of LCCs.Part of this paper was presented at the 5th Pacific Polymer Conference, Kyongju, Korea, October 1997     

C化学位移特点研究

由诺卜醇和丙酸酐合成了丙酸诺卜酯，用MS，IR，^1HNMR及^13CNMR分析进行了结构表征，利用^13C化学位移分析出其构象是：C-1-C-2-C-3-C-4-C-5部分处于同一平面，整个6，6-二甲基双环[3.1.1]庚-2-烯部分呈“Y”形。丙酸诺卜酯可以看成是阿朴蒎烯在C-2发生取代的衍生物，取代基对^13C化学位移的影响主要集中在C-2，C-1和C-3，对其它碳原子的影响比较小。     

Lignin Characterization of Triploid Clones of Populus tomentosa Carr.

In order to understand the structural characteristics of lignin in triploid clones ofPopulus tomentosa and its changes in the processes of pulping and bleaching, milled wood lignin （MWL）, lignin carbohydrate complex （LCC） and the residual lignin from kraft pulp （KP） and sulfite pulp （SP） were isolated and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared （FTIR） spectrum and ^13C nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR）. The most diagnostic peaks were assigned and the differences were discussed. The spectral patterns reveal that triploid P tomentosa shows the specific features of hardwood from temperate areas, but in the spectrum of FTIR, the strength ratio orAl270 cm^-1 to A1226 cm^-1 is 0.88, higher than the average of hardwood from temperate areas, which will make the lignin delignification more difficult during pulping and bleaching. The LCC from triploid P tomentosa is mainly composed of xyloglucan and glucuronic acid, and other glucides have much lower ratio. In LCC FTIR, there are three peaks at 1 427, 1 329 and 1 046 cm^-1, indicating that both semi-cellulose and cellulose could exist in LCC, and that there might be relationships between cellulose and lignin. Compared with the residual lignin from KP and SP, the condensed structure in KP is more than that in SP.     

Decomposition of needle/leaf litter from Scots pine, black cherry, common oak and European beech at a conurbation forest site

Litter decomposition was studied for 2 years in a mixed forest serving as a water protection area (Rhine-Neckar conurbation, SW Germany). Two experiments differing in initial dry weight equivalent in litterbags were set up: one to compare decomposition of European beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) with common oak leaves (Quercus robur), and the other comparing decomposition of Scots pine needles (Pinus sylvestris) with black cherry leaves (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), respectively. Mass losses were greater for oak litter than for beech (75.0 versus 34.6%), and for cherry litter than for pine (94.6 versus 68.3%). In both experiments, a strong initial loss of soluble compounds occurred. The changes in litter N and P concentrations and the decrease in C-to-N ratio coincided with changes in residual mass. However, neither tannin and phenolic concentrations nor NMR could explain the pronounced variation in mass loss after 2 years. Differences in litter palatability and toughness, nutrient contents and other organic compounds may be responsible for the considerable differences in residual mass between litter types. The fast decay of black cherry leaves appears to play a major role in the present humus dynamics at the studied site. Since black cherry has a high N demand, which is mainly met by root uptake from the forest floor, this species is crucial for internal N cycling at this conurbation forest site. These effects together may significantly contribute to prevent nitrate leaching from the forest ecosystem which is subject to a continuous N deposition on an elevated level.     

Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on water use efficiency, stomatal conductance, leaf nitrogen content and morphological characteristics of Spiraea pubescens in a warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest

Spiraea pubescens, a common shrub in the warm-temperate deciduous forest zone which is distributed in the Dongling Mountain area of Beijing, was exposed to ambient and enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280–320 nm) radiation by artificially supplying a daily dose of 9.4 kJ/m² for three growing seasons, a level that simulated a 17% depletion in stratospheric ozone. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of long-term UV-B enhancement on stomatal conductance, leaf tissue δ ¹³C, leaf water content, and leaf area. Particular attention was paid to the effects of UV-B radiation on water use efficiency (WUE) and leaf total nitrogen content. Enhanced UV-B radiation significantly reduced leaf area (50.1%) but increased leaf total nitrogen content (102%). These changes were associated with a decrease in stomatal conductance (16.1%) and intercellular CO₂ concentration/ air CO₂ concentration (C _i /C _a) (4.0%), and an increase in leaf tissue δ ¹³C (20.5‰), leaf water content (3.1%), specific leaf weight (SLW) (5.2%) and WUE (4.1%). The effects of UV-B on the plant were greatly affected by the water content of the deep soil (30–40 cm). During the dry season, differences in the stomatal conductance, δ ¹³C, and WUE between the control and UV-B treated shrubs were very small; whereas, differences became much greater when soil water stress disappeared. Furthermore, the effects of UV-B became much less significant as the treatment period progressed over the three growing seasons. Correlation analysis showed that enhanced UV-B radiation decreased the strength of the correlation between soil water content and leaf water content, δ ¹³C, C _i/C _a, stomatal conductance, with the exception of WUE that had a significant correlation coefficient with soil water content. These results suggest that WUE would become more sensitive to soil water variation due to UV-B radiation. Based on this experiment, it was found that enhanced UV-B radiation had much more significant effects on morphological traits and growth of S. pubescens than hydro-physiological characteristics. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2006, 30(1): 47–56 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

黑荆树树皮单宁组分研究——Ⅲ.原花色素的分离鉴定及其~(13)C NMR特征(英文)

从我国江西四年生黑荆树(Acacia mearnsii)树皮单宁中分离鉴定了三个二聚原花色素:刺槐亭醇-(4α→8)-儿茶素、菲瑟亭醇-(4β→8)-儿茶素和刺槐亭醇-(4β→8)-儿茶素。其中刺槐亭醇-(4β→8)-儿茶素为首次从黑荆树树皮中以天然形式分离得到,为一新天然化合物。文中首次对黑剂树树皮二聚原花色素的~(13)CNMR进行了报道,并就其特征和确定二聚原花色素的相对和绝对构型进行了讨论。     

杨树种质SSR指纹数据库构建

【目的】构建林木种质资源指纹数据库是林木种质材料遗传鉴定的前提,也可为林木杂交育种提供清晰的遗传学背景。【方法】选取亲缘关系较远的8份杨树无性系材料筛选SSR引物,基于TP-M13-SSR技术进行SSR-PCR扩增,采用ABI3730XL毛细管电泳系统检测PCR扩增产物,利用GeneMarkerV1.91进行基因分型,Cervus3.0.7估算多态信息含量(PIC)和各位SSR位点无效等位基因频率(pN),POPGENE3.2估算各SSR位点上的等位基因数目(Na)、Shannon信息指数(I)和观测杂合度(HO),NTSYS-pc2.1进行遗传聚类分析。【结果】共筛选出13对条带清晰、重复性好的SSR引物,共扩增出89条多态性条带,单个位点上的等位基因数目为2~12个,平均值为6.5个;Shannon’s信息指数(I)为0.13~1.91,平均值为0.97;多态信息指数(PIC)为0.19~0.81,平均值为0.56;观测杂合度为0.06~0.76,平均值为0.40。聚类分析结果表明,参试的无性系种质材料分为3类,第一类为南林系列无性系;第二类为中林108杨、中潜1号、中潜3-2、中驻2号、中驻4号、中驻6号、中驻7号、中驻8号、浙7、中皖1号、中皖2号、丹红杨、A65/27、南抗4、南抗3;第三类为湘林系列无性系。【结论】TP-M13-SSR分子标记技术能有效地鉴别杨树无性系种质,明晰无性系间亲缘关系,遗传聚类的结果与其谱系关系基本一致。研究结果为杨树无性系种质鉴定及进一步开展杨树杂交育种奠定了基础。     

地膜覆盖与施肥对秸秆碳氮在土壤中固存的影响

【目的】作物秸秆不仅含有较高的有机碳,而且含有丰富的矿质营养元素。秸秆还田是东北黑土地区培肥土壤和农业可持续发展的重要技术措施。然而不同地膜覆盖（简称“覆膜”）及施肥方式下秸秆碳（C）和氮（N）在土壤中的固持特征还不是很明确。本研究通过定量分析秸秆碳对土壤有机碳（SOC）和秸秆氮对土壤全氮（TN）的贡献,探讨不同覆膜和施肥条件下秸秆碳和氮在土壤中固定的差异,以期为土壤肥力提升和东北黑土地保护提供依据。【方法】基于覆膜与施肥的长期定位试验,选择覆膜和不覆膜（裸地）栽培条件下不施肥（CK）、单施氮肥（N₄）和有机肥配施氮肥（M₂N₂）处理,在表层（0—20 cm）土壤添加¹³C¹⁵N双标记秸秆后在田间原位培养150 d,测定SOC含量及其δ¹³C值、TN含量及其δ¹⁵N值,分析SOC中秸秆来源C（¹³C-SOC）、TN中秸秆来源N（¹⁵N-TN）和土壤碳氮比随时间的动态变化特征。【结果】施肥、覆膜及其它们的交互作用显著影响（P<0.05）¹³C-SOC和¹⁵N-TN含量。整个培养期间,M₂N₂处理秸秆碳对SOC的贡献率（¹³C-SOC/SOC）和秸秆氮对TN贡献率（¹⁵N-TN/TN）平均分别为10.48%和3.18%;施肥（N₄和M₂N₂）处理¹³C-SOC/SOC和秸秆碳残留率在覆膜方式下平均分别为12.65%和37.14%,不覆膜方式下分别为12.08%和34.50%。同一栽培方式培养第150天,N₄处理¹³C-SOC/SOC和秸秆碳残留率平均分别为14.33%和39.40%,其他施肥处理平均分别为11.77%和33.21%;CK处理¹⁵N-TN/TN平均为4.56%,分别比N₄和M₂N₂处理高26.00%和44.53%。培养第150天,秸秆氮残留率在覆膜和不覆膜条件下CK处理最高,平均为10.03%;不覆膜N₄处理最低,为7.87%。无论覆膜与否,N₄处理¹³C-SOC与¹⁵N-TN比值为32—39,其他施肥处理均<30。【结论】秸秆碳氮在土壤中的固存对覆膜与施肥的响应敏感。单施氮肥有利于秸秆碳在土壤中的积累和有机碳的更新,不施肥处理秸秆氮对土壤氮库的固定起正反馈效应,而有机肥配施氮肥土壤碳氮的更新相对滞后。     

Evaluation of the oral 13C-bicarbonate technique for measurements of energy expenditure in dogs before and after body weight reduction

Background

Overweight and obesity are the most common nutritional disorders in dogs and may lead to various secondary diseases and decreased lifespan. In obesity research, measurement of energy expenditure (EE) and determination of the energy requirements are essential. The objective with this study was to validate and evaluate the suitability of the oral ¹³C-bicarbonate technique (o¹³CBT) for measuring EE in dog obesity studies. A further objective was to investigate the impact of body weight (BW) reduction and changes in body composition on the EE when measured under conditions corresponding to the basal metabolic rate (BMR).

Results

The EE in five privately owned, overweight dogs was measured simultaneously with the o¹³CBT and indirect calorimetry (IC) for comparison of the results. Two measurements per dog were performed under the same standardised conditions (i.e. fasted and resting state) at the start, and after completing a 12-week BW reduction program. Additionally, measurements of body composition by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were conducted at the beginning and at the end of the BW reduction program. There were no differences in EE results obtained by the o¹³CBT and IC. Overweight and the BW reduction did not affect the estimates for the respiratory quotient (RQ) or the recovery factor for the ¹³C-tracer (RF), both needed when using the o¹³CBT. The dogs lost 16% (SD ± 2.0) of their initial BW in reduced fat mass (P < 0.001), whereas fat free mass (FFM) remained unchanged. There was no effect of the BW reduction on the determined EE expressed in kJ/kg BW/d, or in kJ/kg BW^0.75/d. However, EE was lower (P < 0.001) after the BW reduction program when expressed in relation to FFM (kJ/kg FFM/d).

Conclusions

Results from the present study show that the o¹³CBT can be a used in obesity research to determine EE in fasted dogs and under resting conditions. Furthermore, the results suggest that the BMR does not change with reduced BW in overweight dogs as long as the FFM remains unchanged. This indicates that the BMR to maintain one gram of fat is equal to maintaining one gram of FFM in overweight dogs.     

Carbon source and trophic position of pelagic fish in coastal waters of south-eastern Izu Peninsula,Japan, identified by stable isotope analysis

ABSTRACT:   It is important to clarify trophic dynamics in marine ecosystems for management of the fishing ground. Organic carbon sources and trophic position of pelagic fishes in the coastal waters of the south-eastern Izu Peninsula, Japan, were examined on the basis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope distributions. The δ¹³C of the fishes was mostly distributed from −19 to −16‰ for nektonic fishes (13 species of adults and immatures) and planktonic fishes (10 species of larvae and juveniles), close to the δ¹³C values of particulate organic matter and planktonic decapods. These δ¹³C signatures for the inhabitants of the water column were in contrast with the high δ¹³C values (mainly −16 to −13‰) for demersal fishes of Scorpaeniformes and benthic polychaetes collected in the surf zone. These results indicate that nektonic and planktonic fishes depend on phytoplankton for carbon supply. The δ¹⁵N signatures suggest that the trophic position ranged 3.1–4.5 for the nektonic fishes and 2.9–3.7 for the planktonic fishes, premised on trophic level 3 for larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus . Thus, planktivorous fishes should be mainly assigned to trophic levels 3 and 4 in this area.