Translation of polarity cues into asymmetric spindle positioning in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos

Asymmetric divisions are crucial for generating cell diversity; they rely on coupling between polarity cues and spindle positioning, but how this coupling is achieved is poorly understood. In one-cell stage Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, polarity cues set by the PAR proteins mediate asymmetric spindle positioning by governing an imbalance of net pulling forces acting on spindle poles. We found that the GoLoco-containing proteins GPR-1 and GPR-2, as well as the Galpha subunits GOA-1 and GPA-16, were essential for generation of proper pulling forces. GPR-1/2 interacted with guanosine diphosphate-bound GOA-1 and were enriched on the posterior cortex in a par-3- and par-2-dependent manner. Thus, the extent of net pulling forces may depend on cortical Galpha activity, which is regulated by anterior-posterior polarity cues through GPR-1/2.     

Polarization of the C. elegans embryo by RhoGAP-mediated exclusion of PAR-6 from cell contacts

Early embryos of some metazoans polarize radially to facilitate critical patterning events such as gastrulation and asymmetric cell division; however, little is known about how radial polarity is established. Early embryos of Caenorhabditis elegans polarize radially when cell contacts restrict the polarity protein PAR-6 to contact-free cell surfaces, where PAR-6 regulates gastrulation movements. We have identified a Rho guanosine triphosphatase activating protein (RhoGAP), PAC-1, which mediates C. elegans radial polarity and gastrulation by excluding PAR-6 from contacted cell surfaces. We show that PAC-1 is recruited to cell contacts, and we suggest that PAC-1 controls radial polarity by restricting active CDC-42 to contact-free surfaces, where CDC-42 binds and recruits PAR-6. Thus, PAC-1 provides a dynamic molecular link between cell contacts and PAR proteins that polarizes embryos radially.     

A role for thrombin receptor signaling in endothelial cells during embryonic development

The coagulation protease thrombin triggers fibrin formation, platelet activation, and other cellular responses at sites of tissue injury. We report a role for PAR1, a protease-activated G protein-coupled receptor for thrombin, in embryonic development. Approximately half of Par1-/- mouse embryos died at midgestation with bleeding from multiple sites. PAR1 is expressed in endothelial cells, and a PAR1 transgene driven by an endothelial-specific promoter prevented death of Par1-/- embryos. Our results suggest that the coagulation cascade and PAR1 modulate endothelial cell function in developing blood vessels and that thrombin's actions on endothelial cells-rather than on platelets, mesenchymal cells, or fibrinogen-contribute to vascular development and hemostasis in the mouse embryo.     

长白山森林生态系统二氧化碳通量与涡动相关研究

利用涡动相关技术观测资料和同步的气象要素监测资料,分析了CO2的浓度日变化,描述了CO2通量的变化规律,探讨了风速、温度、动量通量、感热通量、潜热通量以及光合有效辐射对长白山森林生态系统CO2通量的影响,结果表明:在白天,CO2通量和梯度的输送方向是从大气向植被,在中午输送达到负的最大值。在夜间,CO2通量和梯度输送的方向与白天相反,并且,在早晨达到正的最大值。     

Coupling between cortical potentials from different areas

At any instant, the electroencephalogram can be classified as to (i) polarity and (ii) direction of change in polarity. This classification provides a way to measure coupling between cortical areas. The technique is simple, yet of wide potential utility for studying functional relationships between cortical areas. The results of applying this technique suggest how the potentials giving rise to the electroencephalogram may play a role in information processing in the central nervous system.     

Distinct properties of the XY pseudoautosomal region crucial for male meiosis

Meiosis requires that each chromosome find its homologous partner and undergo at least one crossover. X-Y chromosome segregation hinges on efficient crossing-over in a very small region of homology, the pseudoautosomal region (PAR). We find that mouse PAR DNA occupies unusually long chromosome axes, potentially as shorter chromatin loops, predicted to promote double-strand break (DSB) formation. Most PARs show delayed appearance of RAD51/DMC1 foci, which mark DSB ends, and all PARs undergo delayed DSB-mediated homologous pairing. Analysis of Spo11β isoform-specific transgenic mice revealed that late RAD51/DMC1 foci in the PAR are genetically distinct from both early PAR foci and global foci and that late PAR foci promote efficient X-Y pairing, recombination, and male fertility. Our findings uncover specific mechanisms that surmount the unique challenges of X-Y recombination.     

生长素在烟草表皮毛中的极性运输及对细胞伸长的影响

利用生长素极性运输转运蛋白PIN1与增强绿色荧光蛋白EGFP的融合,对PIN1进行了荧光标记,并以烟草表皮毛为模式,开展了PIN1对生长素极性运输及对细胞伸长生长影响的研究。采用DNA重组技术,将融合标记基因EGFP–PIN1置于拟南芥表皮毛特异表达基因GL2的启动子调控下,构建成含GL2pro::EGFP–PIN1的Ti质粒,以根癌农杆菌叶盘共培转化法将重组标记基因转化至烟草WS38中,筛选鉴定出多株转基因烟草。通过对这些转基因烟草表皮毛进行显微荧光观察,结果发现,标记的绿色荧光信号集中分布在表皮毛细胞的间隔区,表现为明显的极性分布现象。用生长素极性运输抑制剂三碘苯甲酸(TIBA)处理后,表皮毛的伸长生长受到抑制,细胞中荧光的分布极性减弱。说明生长素在烟草表皮毛中的极性分布对烟草表皮毛伸长起关键作用,抑制生长素的极性运输不只抑制表皮毛的细胞伸长,同时还影响到生长素极性运输蛋白PIN的极性分布。     

Cooperative regulation of cell polarity and growth by Drosophila tumor suppressors

Loss of cell polarity and tissue architecture are characteristics of malignant cancers derived from epithelial tissues. We provide evidence from Drosophila that a group of membrane-associated proteins act in concert to regulate both epithelial structure and cell proliferation. Scribble (Scrib) is a cell junction-localized protein required for polarization of embryonic and, as demonstrated here, imaginal disc and follicular epithelia. We show that the tumor suppressors lethal giant larvae (lgl) and discs-large (dlg) have identical effects on all three epithelia, and that scrib also acts as a tumor suppressor. Scrib and Dlg colocalize and overlap with Lgl in epithelia; activity of all three genes is required for cortical localization of Lgl and junctional localization of Scrib and Dlg. scrib, dlg, and lgl show strong genetic interactions. Our data indicate that the three tumor suppressors act together in a common pathway to regulate cell polarity and growth control.     

兰州市南北两山三种绿化树种光合特性研究

利用LI-6200便携式光合测定仪(美国)对兰州市南北两山侧柏、油松、柽柳等3种绿化树种在自然条件下的光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(E)、气孔导度(Gs)、光合有效辐射(PAR)、空气相对湿度(RH)、大气温度(T)和水分利用效率(WUG)进行了测定.结果表明,侧柏、油松、柽柳的光合日进程均呈“双峰”曲线,出现明显的光合“午休”现象;气孔导度日变化曲线呈“W”型;蒸腾速率呈单峰;水分利用率最高值出现在上午较早时分.对3种树的光合速率和蒸腾速率与影响因子进行相关分析及逐步回归分析表明,各树种光合速率和蒸腾速率的回归方程分别为,侧柏:Pn=0.006PAR+1.176RH,E=1.120T;油松:Pn=0.010PAR,E=1.004T+0.482RH;柽柳:Pn=0.015PAR,E=0.757T+0.566RH-8.397Gs.对植物光合速率和蒸腾速率影响程度最大的因子主要是光合有效辐射和空气相对湿度,因此在干旱季节进行灌溉时,应选择喷灌,提高空气相对湿度,减少植物的蒸腾速率.     

Constraints on transport and kinetics in hydrothermal systems from zoned garnet crystals

Zonation of oxygen isotope ratios, fluorine, and rare earth element abundances across garnet crystals from the Permian Oslo Rift reflect temporal variation of the hydrothermal system in which the garnets grew. A sharp rimward decrease in the (18)O/(16)O ratio (of 5 per mil) across the interface between aluminum-rich garnet cores and iron-rich rims indicates influx of meteoric fluids to a system initially dominated by magmatic fluids. This influx may record the transition from ductile to brittle deformation of the hydrothermally altered rocks. In contrast, fluorine and light rare earth element concentrations increase at the core-rim interface. These data may reflect enhanced advective transport and notable kinetic control on trace element uptake by the garnets during brittle deformation.     

Chromatin docking and exchange activity enhancement of RCC1 by histones H2A and H2B

The Ran guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) controls nucleocytoplasmic transport, mitotic spindle formation, and nuclear envelope assembly. These functions rely on the association of the Ran-specific exchange factor, RCC1 (regulator of chromosome condensation 1), with chromatin. We find that RCC1 binds directly to mononucleosomes and to histones H2A and H2B. RCC1 utilizes these histones to bind Xenopus sperm chromatin, and the binding of RCC1 to nucleosomes or histones stimulates the catalytic activity of RCC1. We propose that the docking of RCC1 to H2A/H2B establishes the polarity of the Ran-GTP gradient that drives nuclear envelope assembly, nuclear transport, and other nuclear events.     

山西中部太阳辐射与光合有效辐射的特征研究

利用辐射观测站太原站1960~2003年的辐射资料和气象资料序列,探讨了计算山西中部太阳辐射和光合有效辐射的方法,并对太阳辐射和光合有效辐射的分布特征进行了系统分析。结果表明,利用日照百分率建立的经验公式可以比较精确地计算山西中部的太阳辐射,其相对误差除冬、夏个别月份大于1%外,其他月份均小于1%;在3种计算方法中,选出了符合山西实际的光合有效辐射计算方法,效果较好。山西中部太阳辐射年内差异明显,呈现单峰型,5月是太阳能利用的最佳时段;从太阳辐射和光合有效辐射的空间分布看,盆地较少,丘陵和山区较多。     

Abnormal polarity of thunderclouds grown from negatively charged air

Experiments were carried out in New Mexico to determine whether the electrification processes that lead to the formation of lightning in clouds are influenced by the polarity of the charges in the air from which the clouds grow. The normal, positive space charge in the sub-cloud air was reversed by negative charge released from an electrified wire, suspended across a 2-kilometer-wide canyon. On more than four occasions when the clouds over the wire grew and became electrified, they were of abnormal polarity with dominant positive charges instead of the usual negative charges in the lower part of the cloud. The formation of these abnormally electrified clouds suggests both that the electrification process in thunderclouds can be initiated and that its polarity may be determined by the small charges that are present in the atmosphere.     

Tin and methyltin species in seawater: concentrations and fluxes

The concentrations of tin and methyltin species in rivers, an estuary, and the surface and deep ocean generally are less than 50 picomoles of tin per liter. Estuarine profiles and river concentrations suggest that the dissolved riverine input of tin is only a minor source of this element to the oceans. Oceanic concentrations of inorganic tin decrease both with distance from land and with increasing depth from the surface, an indication of atmospheric transport to the surface ocean. Most of the contemporaneous eolian influx of tin to the oceans is anthropogenic. The vertical structure oftin concentrations in the northwestern Atlantic can be explained in terms of a model based on eolian input, advective processes, and removal of tin by particulate scavenging.     

Early γ oscillations synchronize developing thalamus and cortex

During development, formation of topographic maps in sensory cortex requires precise temporal binding in thalamocortical networks. However, the physiological substrate for such synchronization is unknown. We report that early gamma oscillations (EGOs) enable precise spatiotemporal thalamocortical synchronization in the neonatal rat whisker sensory system. Driven by a thalamic gamma oscillator and initially independent of cortical inhibition, EGOs synchronize neurons in a single thalamic barreloid and corresponding cortical barrel and support plasticity at developing thalamocortical synapses. We propose that the multiple replay of sensory input in thalamocortical circuits during EGOs allows thalamic and cortical neurons to be organized into vertical topographic functional units before the development of horizontal binding in adult brain.     

褐菖鲉和松江鲈侧线形态的比较

鱼类的侧线类型是由分类地位还是由环境的适应而定是进化形态学的关键问题之一。通过光镜和扫描电镜,首次描述和比较了同属鲉形目的褐菖鲉和松江鲈的侧线形态及其分布。研究结果显示,两种研究对象的侧线都仅具机械感觉系统,包括管道侧线和表面神经丘,但它们的形态及分布有差异。褐菖鲉头部管道属分枝型;松江鲈属简单型管道,比褐菖鲉有更多的表面神经丘。这两种鱼都属以管道为主,表面神经丘为辅助来感知水流动态的类型,但是,栖息在急流的褐菖鲉具有分枝型管道侧线和较少的表面神经丘分布;生活在缓流的松江鲈有简单型管道侧线和较多的表面神经丘分布,表明这些侧线的形态特征与不同栖息地水流环境关系密切。本文认为,分类地位接近的褐菖鲉和松江鲈侧线系统的形态区别,是其在进化过程中对不同栖息地水流特征的适应而形成。     

山西太岳山核桃楸光合特性的研究

用Li 6 4 0 0光合作用测定系统对自然生长的核桃楸壮龄林木的光合作用进行测定 .结果如下 :①核桃楸的光合速率在 1d内有两个峰值 ,两个光合峰高度接近 ,上午的光合速率峰持续时间较下午的长 .叶片气孔导度、蒸腾速率与光合速率间表现出较强的正相关 ,日变化曲线呈双峰型 .叶片胞内CO2 浓度受气孔导度和大气CO2 浓度的双重影响 ,呈现出早晚大幅升高 ,正午有 1h的峰值的日变化进程 .②在控制条件下 ,叶片的光合速率在低光合有效辐射 (0～ 5 0μmol (m2 ·s)下 ,表现出随CO2 浓度增加而降低的趋势 ;高出此光合有效辐射值后 ,光合速率随CO2 浓度的增加呈抛物线变化 ,最高点对应的光合有效辐射下的CO2 饱和点 ,且随光合有效辐射的增加CO2 饱和点增高 .当光合有效辐射为0～ 12 0 0 μmol (m2 ·s)时 ,叶片的气孔导度表现出随光合有效辐射的增加而增大 ,随CO2 浓度的增加而减小的趋势 ;光合有效辐射超过 12 0 0 μmol (m2 ·s)后 ,气孔导度随光合有效辐射、CO2 浓度的增加而降低 .叶片蒸腾速率的变化趋势与气孔导度类似 .     

贡湖环湖带河网污染物负荷及输移规律

通过实地调研、资料解析、模型计算等多种方式获取数据,对2005～2009年贡湖环湖带河网污染物负荷及输移规律进行深入研究。结果表明：①与贡湖湾进行水体交换的河道主要为苏州河网及望虞河。望虞河总体流量表现为出湖略大于入湖,污染负荷总体表现为入湖;苏州河网总体流量及污染负荷均表现为净入湖状态。②望虞河平均入湖污染负荷量COD为416.42 t/a,TP为29.84 t/a,TN为598.32 t/a,NH3-N为254.28 t/a;苏州河网平均入湖污染负荷量COD为481.73 t/a,TP为16.81 t/a,TN为540.87 t/a,NH3-N为250.66 t/a。③汛期,大部分污染负荷经苏州南部口门随水流进入贡湖;非汛期,贡湖湖水由南部口门进入河网,向东北流动进入浒光运河等周边水体。     

Imaging spin transport in lateral ferromagnet/semiconductor structures

We directly imaged electrical spin injection and accumulation in the gallium arsenide channel of lateral spin-transport devices, which have ferromagnetic source and drain tunnel-barrier contacts. The emission of spins from the source was observed, and a region of spin accumulation was imaged near the ferromagnetic drain contact. Both injected and accumulated spins have the same orientation (antiparallel to the contact magnetization), and we show that the accumulated spin polarization flows away from the drain (against the net electron current), indicating that electron spins are polarized by reflection from the ferromagnetic drain contact. The electrical conductance can be modulated by controlling the spin orientation of optically injected electrons flowing through the drain.     

不同树形对扁桃与冬小麦间作区域光环境的影响

【目的】 研究果粮间作模式下,扁桃树形对间作冬小麦不同生育时期间作区域光环境的影响,为新疆南疆果粮间作模式下高光效树形的选择和间作种植模式的优化提供理论依据。【方法】 以扁桃-冬小麦间作模式为研究对象,设置小冠形、开心形、高秆形和分层形4个树形处理,于小麦拔节期、扬花期、灌浆期等生长关键时期,对远冠区、东西两侧近冠区、东西两侧冠下区等5个间作区域的PAR日变化动态和环境光谱指标进行测定分析。【结果】 新疆南疆地区扁桃-冬小麦间作模式下,不同间作区域PAR均呈单峰曲线日变化动态,扬花期至拔节期不同树形处理间作区域光照条件均明显劣变,小冠形、开心形、高秆形和分层形4个树形处理2个时期间的降幅分别达到18.93%、39.06%、23.24%和46.00%;扬花期扁桃对间作区域光环境的影响已基本趋于稳定,该时期不同树形间作区域PAR强度水平分为小冠形、高秆形和开心形、分层形三个水平,每日PAR强度维持在400～1 400 μmol/(m²·s)范围内的时间占在全天70%、40%和20%左右。【结论】 扁桃-冬小麦间作模式下,小麦拔节期至扬花期(4月8日~5月3日)间作区域光合有效辐射(PAR)日均值大幅降低,扬花期至灌浆期(5月3~25日)基本稳定;小冠形对应间作区域光环境条件优于开心形和高秆形,优于分层形。