Effects of Nitrate and Potassium on Ammonium Toxicity in Cucumber Plants

ABSTRACT

Interactions between nitrate (NO₃ ^?), potassium (K⁺), and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) were investigated using hydroponically grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. Ammonium as the sole nitrogen (N) source at 10 mM was toxic and led to overall growth suppression, chlorosis, and necrosis of leaves. After 20 days, 50% of the plants were dead. However, when NO₃ ^? was supplied at very low concentration together with high NH₄ ⁺ (only 1% of total 10 mM N) all seedlings survived and their growth was improved. High K⁺ concentration (5 mM) also alleviated NH₄ ⁺ toxicity and increased plant growth several fold compared to intermediate concentration of K⁺ (0.6 mM). Leaf total N and ¹⁵N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled NH₄ ⁺ increased in the presence of NO₃ ^?, but decreased at high K⁺ concentration. High K⁺ supply enhanced total carbon (C) and δ ¹³C and stimulated GS and PEPCase activities in leaves and roots. Nitrate supplementation had no effect on GS or PEPCase activities. It is concluded that K⁺ may alleviate NH₄ ⁺ toxicity, partly by inhibiting NH₄ ⁺ uptake, partly by stimulating C and N assimilation in the roots.     

Effect of Phosphorus Application on Clusterbean under Different Intensities of Water Stress

ABSTRACT

Response of clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] to phosphorus (P) application (0 and 40 kg ha^?1) under different intensities of water stress at the critical pre-flowering stage was studied in a pot trial by withholding irrigation for 0, 3, 6, and 9 days. Increasing stress intensity progressively decreased plant water potential (Ψ_plant), relative water content, levels of different leaf metabolites, photosynthetic rate, and nitrate reductase activity under both phosphorus (P) treatments. However, P-fertilized plants displayed higher photosynthetic efficiency, leaf metabolism, and enzyme activity than unfertilized plants, though decrease in plant water status was more in P-fertilized plants. Recovery upon rewatering was also more in P-fertilized than unfertilized plants with respect to all the parameters studied. Consequently, P application significantly enhanced dry matter and seed yields at all stress intensities. The results indicate the possibility of alleviation of water stress effects by P nutrition in clusterbean, at least up to moderate stress level.     

Effects of inhibitors for signaling components on the expression of the genes for nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase in excised barley leaves

Nitrate-induced accumulation of mRNAs for nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase was strongly inhibited by treatment with inhibitors of Ca²⁺ channels, protein phosphatases, and tyrosine protein kinases in excised barley leaves. It was shown that these components may be involved in the nitrate-response signaling pathways for the expression of nitrate and nitrite reductase genes in barley leaves.     

猪脑中硫氧还蛋白还原酶的纯化与表征

[目的]用新的方法从猪脑中提取纯化硫氧还蛋白还原酶(TrxR)并对其进行表征。[方法]通过硫酸铵盐析、DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow弱阴离子交换凝胶色谱柱层析、Blue-Sepharose亲和色谱柱层析、Resource Q强阴离子交换色谱柱层析和Superdex 200 prep grade凝胶过滤色谱柱层析等方法,从猪脑中分离并纯化TrxR。采用聚丙烯酰胺电泳法、等电聚焦法、DTNB还原法和胰岛素还原法对TrxR的性质进行表征。[结果]从猪脑中分离并纯化出TrxR,其纯度大于99%,是酶粗提液的6 000倍,最终产率为13.9%。猪脑TrxR的分子量为56.0 kD,等电点为5.0。以DTNB为底物测得其K m和k cat值分别为62.9μmol/L和467 min-1,以硫氧还蛋白为底物测得其K m和k cat值分别为3.9μmol/L和2 813 min-1。[结论]用新的方法从猪脑中纯化得到较高纯度的TrxR,为进一步研究该蛋白的结构和功能奠定了基础。     

芹菜叶面微生物吡哆醛还原酶的研究

植物叶际有着丰富的生物多样性,是一个复杂的微生态系统,叶际表面微生物通过与宿主植物的互作,改善其栖居环境并促进植物生长.从芹菜叶际生态系统中分离得到吡哆醛还原酶(Pyridoxal Reductase,PLR),采用苯肼衍生方法检测其活性并确定PLR的来源,对叶际表面微生物进行分离、计数,确定储藏过程中芹菜叶片表面微生物的变化情况,并对PLR的基本酶学性质进行初步研究.结果表明,PLR主要来源于真菌,在相同菌浓度下,PLR活性的强弱依次为真菌＞细菌＞放线菌.该酶的最适温度为37℃,最适反应pH值为7.5,并且在NADPH的参与下,其催化活性显著提高.     

角蛋白降解菌分离、鉴定及其降解机制研究

实验旨在筛选具有高效角蛋白水解活性的微生物,并对其降解羽毛角蛋白机制进行研究,为提高角蛋白生物降解率提供理论指导。采用透明圈和完整羽毛降解相结合的方法,从废弃羽毛中筛选角蛋白降解菌,并进一步研究其羽毛角蛋白降解过程。获得一株可高效降解角蛋白菌株,基于形态观察和16S rDNA分子鉴定,该菌被命名为Bacillus licheniformis CP-7,其5 d可将天然完整羽毛完全降解。CP-7发酵过程产生大量巯基、可溶性蛋白和亚硫酸盐。分离发酵48 h菌株胞内、胞外粗酶液,发现胞外酶液具有较高的角蛋白酶活性,而胞内酶液具有一定二硫键还原酶活性。胞内酶液能够极显著地促进胞外酶液水解角蛋白活性(P<0.01),但对酪蛋白水解活性无影响(P>0.05)。筛选菌CP-7为具有高二硫键还原能力的角蛋白降解菌,二硫键还原酶可能是高效降解羽毛角蛋白的关键。     

O3污染胁迫下冬小麦的伤害症状及其对叶片氮代谢脯氨酸和谷胱甘肽含量的影响

采用开顶式气室模拟研究O3污染胁迫对冬小麦叶片可见伤害症状、氮代谢、脯氨酸和谷胱甘肽含量的影响,结果表明冬小麦在O3胁迫下表现出明显的受害症状,且O3浓度越高受害症状越严重。O3浓度升高导致不同生长期冬小麦叶片硝酸还原酶活性显著降低,当O3浓度为40～120 nL.L-1时,拔节期、抽穗期和乳熟期的叶片硝酸还原酶活性分别比对照处理降低45.4%～92.9%、58.0%～93.5%和90.0%～93.2%。O3污染胁迫对冬小麦叶片硝态氮和铵态氮含量也有影响,但是随着O3浓度、冬小麦生长期的不同影响不一样;冬小麦叶片脯氨酸和谷胱甘肽含量在O3污染胁迫下变化也各异。在冬小麦抽穗期,当O3浓度为40、80 nL.L-1时,脯氨酸含量分别比对照处理提高163.9%和173.2%,但是在O3浓度为120 nL.L-1时却降低42.4%。O3污染胁迫下拔节期冬小麦叶片还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著比对照处理增加,而抽穗期GSH含量在较高O3浓度胁迫下却显著地比对照处理降低,说明植物在O3胁迫下表现出不同的调节和适应机制。     

滞育发动前家蚕滞育性与非滞育性卵的谷胱甘肽氧化还原循环状态分析

为了调查滞育和非滞育性家蚕卵的谷胱甘肽氧化还原循环在滞育发动前是否存在差异,利用分光光度法检测滞育发动前(25℃中蚕卵产下后0～24 h)滞育与非滞育蚕卵的谷胱甘肽含量和相关代谢酶活性。滞育发动前,滞育性家蚕卵中的还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量、氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量、总谷胱甘肽(GSH+2GSSG)含量和GSH/GSSG比值变化不显著,谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)活性变化不显著,但硫氧还蛋白过氧化物酶(TPX)活性下降23%,谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性升高57%;非滞育性家蚕卵中的GSH含量及TPX和GST活性变化不显著,但GSSG含量升高61%,GSH+2GSSG含量升高41%,GSH/GSSG比值下降33%,GR活性下降16%。与非滞育性家蚕卵相比,滞育发动前滞育性家蚕卵中的GSH含量、GSSG含量和GSH+2GSSG含量较低,GSH/GSSG比值较高,TPX活性较低,GST活性无显著差异,GR活性较高。两种蚕卵中都未能检测到谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)和硫氧还蛋白还原酶(TrxR)活性。结果表明,滞育发动前滞育性家蚕卵中较低的TPX活性和较高的GR活性共同导致较高的GSH/GSSG比值,使其谷胱甘肽氧化还原循环处于相对还原态。