禽内源性逆转录病毒

本文对有关禽内源性逆转录病毒(Avain Endogenous Restroviruses,AERs)的多样性、结构、表达和可能的进化方式等最新研究结果进行了总结和分析,同时还讨论了内源性逆转录病毒在个体发育和病理学方面所起的作用。     

The S3- ion is stable in geological fluids at elevated temperatures and pressures

The chemical speciation of sulfur in geological fluids is a controlling factor in a number of processes on Earth. The two major chemical forms of sulfur in crustal fluids over a wide range of temperature and pressure are believed to be sulfate and sulfide; however, we use in situ Raman spectroscopy to show that the dominant stable form of sulfur in aqueous solution above 250°C and 0.5 gigapascal is the trisulfur ion S(3)(-). The large stability range of S(3)(-) enables efficient transport and concentration of sulfur and gold by geological fluids in deep metamorphic and subduction-zone settings. Furthermore, the formation of S(3)(-) requires a revision of sulfur isotope-fractionation models between sulfides and sulfates in natural fluids.     

Organization of iron-sulfur clusters in respiratory complex I

Complex I of respiratory chains plays a central role in bioenergetics and is implicated in many human neurodegenerative diseases. An understanding of its mechanism requires a knowledge of the organization of redox centers. The arrangement of iron-sulfur clusters in the hydrophilic domain of complex I from Thermus thermophilus has been determined with the use of x-ray crystallography. One binuclear and six tetranuclear clusters are arranged, maximally 14 angstroms apart, in an 84-angstrom-long electron transfer chain. The binuclear cluster N1a and the tetranuclear cluster N7 are not in this pathway. Cluster N1a may play a role in the prevention of oxidative damage. The structure provides a framework for the interpretation of the large amounts of data accumulated on complex I.     

A role for interaction of the RNA polymerase flap domain with the sigma subunit in promoter recognition

In bacteria, promoter recognition depends on the RNA polymerase sigma subunit, which combines with the catalytically proficient RNA polymerase core to form the holoenzyme. The major class of bacterial promoters is defined by two conserved elements (the -10 and -35 elements, which are 10 and 35 nucleotides upstream of the initiation point, respectively) that are contacted by sigma in the holoenzyme. We show that recognition of promoters of this class depends on the "flexible flap" domain of the RNA polymerase beta subunit. The flap interacts with conserved region 4 of sigma and triggers a conformational change that moves region 4 into the correct position for interaction with the -35 element. Because the flexible flap is evolutionarily conserved, this domain may facilitate promoter recognition by specificity factors in eukaryotes as well.     

生防因子螺旋毛壳ND35的细胞壁降解酶与重寄生作用

1　IntroductionSomespeciesofthesaprophyticascomycetegeneraChaetomiumKunzeexFr .arepotentialantagonistsofseveralplantpathogenicfungi ,forexampleRhizoctoniasolaniandPythiumultimumwhichcauseseedlingdamping -offandVenturiainaequaliswhichcausestheapplescabChae…     

Absence of detectable arsenate in DNA from arsenate-grown GFAJ-1 cells

A strain of Halomonas bacteria, GFAJ-1, has been claimed to be able to use arsenate as a nutrient when phosphate is limiting and to specifically incorporate arsenic into its DNA in place of phosphorus. However, we have found that arsenate does not contribute to growth of GFAJ-1 when phosphate is limiting and that DNA purified from cells grown with limiting phosphate and abundant arsenate does not exhibit the spontaneous hydrolysis expected of arsenate ester bonds. Furthermore, mass spectrometry showed that this DNA contains only trace amounts of free arsenate and no detectable covalently bound arsenate.     

气候变化对家庭牧场复合系统的影响及其牧民适应

家庭牧场土-草-畜-人复合生态系统是北方草原应对气候变化的基本单元,研究其适应性是促进牧区可持续发展的科学基础之一。以草业系统论构建家庭牧场气候变化适应性的研究方法,基于问卷调查研究了内蒙古草原10个旗县599个家庭牧场对气候变化的响应过程。结果表明,1)放牧地、打草场、饲料地、购草作为家庭牧场草料供给途径存在明显的区域分异,饲料地、购草之间具有替代效应;2)以干旱为主的极端气候是气候变化影响家庭牧场的关键因子,雪灾、沙尘暴、大风的影响在内蒙古各地呈现分异格局;3)牲畜、草场是气候变化作用于家庭牧场经营的主要介质,而通过土壤、人群、设施等要素对家庭牧场影响相对较小;4)购草、卖畜是牧户应对极端气候的主要适应行为,分别为保畜与减畜策略,比较而言,保畜策略更为常见。研究认为,家庭牧场复合系统对气候变化的响应发生于草畜-经营界面,草、畜2因子是反馈过程的关键节点。     

温带草原区气候变化及其对植被影响的研究进展

为了深入研究温带草原区气候变化及其对自然-社会-经济系统的影响、系统响应及适应,回顾了温带草原区气候主要要素（如温度、降雨）与旱灾的变化及未来区域气候趋势预测等方面的研究进展,重点总结了气候变化对温带草原植被影响的最新研究成果。研究发现,温带草原区呈现总体气温明显升高,降水区域差异显著,干旱年份增多、旱灾增加的变化趋势。受此影响,植物物候、生理特征、生产力、覆盖度等发生明显的变化。最后指出,在气候变化核心要素预测、研究的时空尺度等方面还不完善,今后应重视开展大尺度气候变化的时空格局,微地形下气候变化的时空异质性等方面研究,同时加强气候变化对草原植被的影响与生态系统响应以及气候变化适应等方面的研究。