Real-time observation of molecular motion on a surface

The laser-induced movement of CO molecules over a platinum surface was followed in real time by means of ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy. Because the CO molecules bound on different surface sites exhibit different C-O stretch vibrational frequencies, the site-to-site hopping, triggered by excitation with a laser pulse, can be determined from subpicosecond changes in the vibrational spectra. The unexpectedly fast motion--characterized by a 500-femtosecond time constant--reveals that a rotational motion of the CO molecules, rather than pure translation, is required for this diffusion process. This conclusion is corroborated by density functional theory calculations.     

转录因子AtOFP4影响拟南芥表皮细胞的伸长

为分析拟南芥中转录因子AtOFP4在植物生长发育过程中的功能,对拟南芥OVATE基因家族中第I亚组的Atofp4缺失突变体进行筛选与表型分析,对35S:HA-OFP4转基因植株进行表型分析。结果表明,与野生型相比,Atofp4突变体植株表型没有显著变化;而35S:HA-OFP4转基因植株各器官形态结构出现多效畸变,进一步分析发现因地上器官表皮细胞在长轴上显著缩短导致植株各器官形态结构发生变化。GA3处理35S:HA-OFP4转基因植物幼苗,结果表明,GA3对下胚轴生长具有明显补偿作用,说明转录因子AtOFP4与GA3相关。在正常生长条件下,AtOFP4基因过量表达可抑制表皮细胞伸长,影响转基因植物生长发育。     

Real-time observation of the vibration of a single adsorbed molecule

The newly developed femtosecond field emission camera was used to observe the time dependence of field emission through a single copper phthalocyanine molecule adsorbed on a tungsten tip. In many of the individual 212-picosecond-long recordings, the field emission was found to oscillate with a frequency between 5 x 10(10) and 20 x 10(10) hertz. The oscillations, which were not observed from a bare tip, are believed to arise from the vibration of a single molecule with respect to the surface. Numerical simulations confirmed the statistical significance of the data.     

Real-time observation of adsorbate atom motion above a metal surface

The dynamics of cesium atom motion above the copper(111) surface following electronic excitation with light was studied with femtosecond (10(-15) seconds) time resolution. Unusual changes in the surface electronic structure within 160 femtoseconds after excitation, observed by time-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy, are attributed to atomic motion in a copper-cesium bond-breaking process. Describing the change in energy of the cesium antibonding state with a simple classical model provides information on the mechanical forces acting on cesium atoms that are "turned on" by photoexcitation. Within 160 femtoseconds, the copper-cesium bond extends by 0.35 angstrom from its equilibrium value.     

乳酸对酵母凋亡及某些相关基因表达的影响

采用终浓度为200、250、300 mmol.L-1的乳酸作用酵母细胞200 min,同时,采用终浓度为250mmol.L-1的乳酸分别作用酵母细胞120、200、260 min后,通过DAPI染色、PI染色和TUNEL染色法检测酵母细胞的凋亡。结果表明,随着乳酸终浓度的增加,酵母的死亡率随之增加。死亡的细胞出现DNA断裂和染色质凝聚现象,但没有显示膜损伤,所以乳酸引起的酵母细胞死亡是以凋亡的形式进行。200 mmol.L-1乳酸处理酵母200 min,可引起约不到30%的凋亡,当终浓度增加到300 mmol.L-1时,凋亡率可达80%以上,乳酸引起的死亡率和凋亡率具有剂量依赖性,但无时间依赖性。RT-PCR检测结果表明,随着凋亡程度的增加,Fis1、Bir1、SOD1、SOD2基因的表达随之降低。     

薄皮甜瓜果实早期发育的细胞学观察及内源激素变化

[目的]分析不同授粉方式对薄皮甜瓜内源激素变化的影响,揭示薄皮甜瓜果实早期发育的规律.[方法]以薄皮甜瓜(Cucumis melo L.)“京蜜11号”为试材,设定坐果剂蘸花授粉和人工授粉两种授粉方式为处理,以未授粉果实为对照,采用石蜡切片技术观察了薄皮甜瓜果实早期发育阶段的细胞学变化,并利用酶联免疫法测定了其发育过程中的内源激素含量变化.[结果]薄皮甜瓜开花后,人工授粉和坐果剂蘸花处理后果实逐渐大于未授粉果实,且开花3d后差异非常明显.薄皮甜瓜生长前期,坐果剂蘸花和人工授粉后果实中生长素含量高于未授粉果实,赤霉素、细胞分裂素变化趋势与生长素相似,脱落酸含量显著低于未授粉果实.[结论]整体来看,薄皮甜瓜开花后3d可能是细胞快速膨大的启动时期,内源激素含量的变化与果实前期发育关系密切.     

Real-time observation of bimodal proton transfer in acid-base pairs in water

The neutralization reaction between an acid and a base in water, triggered after optical excitation, was studied by femtosecond vibrational spectroscopy. Bimodal dynamics were observed. In hydrogen-bonded acid-base complexes, the proton transfer proceeds extremely fast (within 150 femtoseconds). In encounter pairs formed by diffusion of uncomplexed photoacid and base molecules, the reaction upon contact was an order of magnitude slower, in agreement with earlier reported values. These results call for a refinement of the traditional Eigen-Weller picture of acid-base reactions: A three-stage model is introduced to account for all observed dynamics.     

The origins of gene instability in yeast

Two unstable mutations at the his4 locus of yeast are due to the insertion of the transposable elements Ty912 and Ty917 into the his4 regulatory region. The two transposons are related, one being derived from the other by a substitution of 4000 base pairs of DNA. Element Ty912 includes identical terminal repeats, whereas the terminal repeats of Ty917 are not identical. Transposition of Ty912 or Ty917 generates 5-base-pair duplications of the target DNA at either end of the element. Expression and reversion of a his4 gene containing Ty912 or Ty917 is controlled by three unlinked regulatory genes. The properties of these regulatory genes are similar to those described for the controlling elements in maize.