Biosynthesis of a syringyl 8-O-4′ neolignan in Eucommia ulmoides: formation of syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether from sinapyl alcohol

To investigate the biosynthesis and stereochemistry of syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether (SGSE), a syringyl 8-O-4′ neolignan, feeding experiments and enzyme assays using Eucommia ulmoides were carried out. Diastereoselective formation of erythro-SGSE was found. When [8-¹⁴C]sinapyl alcohol was administered to excised shoots of E. ulmoides, ¹⁴C was incorporated into free SGSE and SGSE glucosides. In stems, incorporation into (+)-erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE (0.037%) with 9.1% enantiomeric excess (% e.e.) was found; incorporation into the threo isomer was not detectable. Erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE glucosides (0.047%) dominated over threo forms (0.007%) with 74.0% diastereomeric excess (% d.e.); both diastereomers were levorotatory with 32.0% e.e. and 18.3% e.e., respectively. In leaves, higher incorporation into (−)-erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE (0.500%, 15.9% e.e.) than into the threo isomer (0.206%, 7.4% e.e.) was observed (41.6% d.e.). (−)-Erythro-[¹⁴C]SGSE glucosides (1.692%, 25.0% e.e.) were produced at higher rates than threo isomers (0.177%, 16.4% e.e.) with 81.0% d.e. In incubations of a mixture of [8-¹⁴C]sinapyl and [8-¹⁴C]coniferyl alcohols with an insoluble enzyme preparation from stems of E. ulmoides, erythro-SGSE was preferentially produced. The highest % d.e. (82.8) was observed at 60 min with the (+)-erythro isomer (21.4% e.e.) and the (−)-threo form (4.3% e.e.).Part of this report was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002, and the 47th Lignin Symposium, Fukuoka, October 2002     

Growth change of young Picea sitchensis in response to deer browsing

Taking advantage of the introduction of the black-tailed deer to the Queen Charlotte Islands (British Columbia, Canada), we used dendrochronological analyses to understand the consequences of deer browsing on Sitka spruce growth. We compared shape, radial growth, height growth and age of young spruce in three sites. We identified two types of trees growing side by side: (1) stunted and heavily browsed spruce, smaller than the browsing limit and (2) escaped spruce that were taller than the browsing limit but still browsed in their lower part. The compact and heavily ramified shape in stunted spruce was the result of repeated and intense browsing. In escaped spruce this was also the case below the browsing limit (1.16 m±0.07 m), in sharp contrast with the normal shape that escaped spruce resumed above the browsing limit. We show that the release of browsing pressure, once the tree reaches the browsing limit, is characterised by an abrupt increase in radial growth. Before release, trees show a growth stagnation characterized by narrow rings (0.5 mm per year) and small annual height increments (<5 cm per year). After release, trees show a growth stabilisation characterised by wider rings (3 mm per year) and larger annual height increments (20 cm per year). We use this pattern to estimate frequency and age at release and their possible variation over time. Age differences between stunted and escaped spruce are highly significant and indicate that, despite of browsing, most if not all trees will ultimately reach the browsing limit and escape. Heavy deer pressure (30 deer per km²) delays spruce sapling recruitment by about 8 years. This delay varies in relation to site quality and seems to have increased over time, suggesting an increase in browsing pressure.     

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of lignin-derived products from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> treated in supercritical water

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood was treated with supercritical water (374°C, 22.1MPa), and fractionated into the water-soluble portion, the methanol-soluble portion, and the methanol-insoluble residue. The methanol-soluble portion mainly consisted of the lignin-derived products. To characterize the compounds in the methanol-soluble portion, gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses were performed. The GPC analysis indicated that the methanol-soluble portion contained lignin-derived monomeric and dimeric products. GC-MS analysis detected 31 products which were expected to be monomeric compounds, and 18 of these were identified to be guaiacol, methylguaiacol, ethylguaiacol, vinylguaiacol, eugenol, propylguaiacol, vanillin, cis-isoeugenol, homovanillin, trans-isoeugenol, acetoguaiacone, propioguaiacone, guaiacylacetone, 2-methoxy-4-(1-hydroxypropyl)phenol, homovanillic acid, 2-methoxy-4-(prop-1-en-3-one)phenol, coniferyl aldehyde, and ferulic acid. In addition, 22 dimeric products were detected, and 4 of these were believed to be compounds with biphenyl type (5-5), diphenylethane type (-1), stilbene type (-1), and phenylcoumaran type (-5) structures. These results clearly indicated that the methanol-soluble portion included various monomeric and dimeric compounds produced as a result of the cleavage of ether linkages and propyl chains of lignin.     

植物生长调节剂GGR8在寒富苹果栽培上的应用

通过对绿色植物生长调节剂GGR8号在寒富苹果栽培上的应用进行的试验研究,结果表明:GGR8能够提高寒富苹果的品质,20、40、60 mg·kg-1等3种施用浓度在新梢生长量、含糖量、硬度方面均比对照有所提高,尤以60 mg·kg-1的施用浓度应用效果最好,其新梢生长量达到了36.7 cm,比对照增加9.3 cm;单果质量达到了240 g,比对照增加了95 g;含糖量达到了15%,比对照提高3个百分点;硬度达到了9.5 kg·cm-2,比对照增加了1.1 kg·cm-2。     

池塘培育草鱼种关键技术

1999年6月9月，使用池塘3口（面积1．21hm^2)培育草鱼种。经87d，总产10571kg,其中草鱼种6249kg，出塘率92．5％，饵料系数1．57；鲢、鳙鱼种4322kg，出塘率71．3％。总产值7．35万元，利润4．15万元。同时对草鱼夏花至秋片不同生长阶段蛋白质需求量，以及颗粒饲料粒径与鱼口裂大小关系等进行了试验。     

Relationship between rate of infection and markers of inflammation/immunity in Holy Birman cats with feline coronavirus

The aim of this study was to assess whether Holy Birman cats (HB) have a peculiar immune profile and a higher rate of infection by feline coronaviruses (FCoV). Leucocyte and lymphocyte subsets, antibody titers, α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP), globulin fractions, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ in blood and fecal FCoV excretion were determined in HB (n = 75) and in cats from other breeds (n = 94). Significantly higher CD4/CD8 ratio, IFN-γ concentration and IL12/IL4 ratio and significantly lower IL-4 concentration and proportion of shedders were found in HB than in other breeds. No other differences were found. In conclusion, this study did not provide evidence of peculiar immune profiles in HB, except for a prevalent Th1 profile, that may explain why in our caseload the rate of shedders was lower in HB than in other breeds.     

Functional characteristics of porcine peripheral T cells stimulated with IL-2 or IL-2 and PMA

In human or mouse, mature T cells express either CD4 or CD8, resulting in different functions in the periphery. Interestingly, porcine CD4 and CD8 double positive (DP) T cells are present in the blood, and their proportions change from youth to adulthood. However, the features of these cells in swine are poorly understood. We investigated the fate of porcine peripheral T cells based on their functional characteristics, including proliferation and the expression of CD4 and CD8 co-receptors. The results showed that all the populations changed their CD8 expression in a time-dependent manner and porcine T cells had different proliferative pattern from human T cells. The results further revealed that Th2 cytokines were increased later in porcine T cells compared to human T cells upon stimulation with IL-2 + PMA. Collectively, we found that the fate of porcine peripheral T cells is different from that of human T cells, and the changes occur in a time- and stimulation-dependent manner.     

种植密度对洛薯8号生物学性状及产量的影响

以洛薯8号为材料,采取随机区组设计,进行相同施肥管理水平下的密度试验,探索洛薯8号获得最好经济效益的栽培密度.结果表明:群体随密度增加而增大,但个体转弱,导致营养生长与生殖生长不协调,植株的抗病性、抗逆性变差;随着密度加大(45 000～90 000株/hm2),单株结薯个数由4.8个减少到3.6个,单株结薯质量由684.71 g减小到410.41 g,平均薯块质量由142.64 g减小到114.00 g,大薯率由75.26％减小到38.92％,商品率逐渐变差,由90.64％下降到63.54％;产量随着栽培密度的增加呈现先增加后减少趋势,栽植密度为45 000株/hm2时产量最低,为30 811.80 kg/hm2,密度为67 500株/hm2时产量达到峰值,为38 426.10 kg/hm2,随后产量逐渐降低.密度67 500株/hm2与密度为60 000、75 000、82 500株/hm2之间产量差异不显著,而与其他密度(45 000、52 500、90 000株/hm2)处理间存在显著差异.从而得出洛薯8号在河南两季作区的适宜栽植密度为60 000～82 500株/hm2,最适宜密度为67 500株/hm2.     

Artificial induction of maturation and fertilization in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

Repeated injections of salmon pituitary extract (20 mg per fish per week) induced vitellogenesis in feminized, cultivated Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica). Oocytes were attained at the migratory nucleus stage after 11 or 12 injections. Addition of 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) into the incubation medium induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in the oocytes at the migratory nucleus stage. An injection of DHP (2 µg g^-1 BW), given 24h after an injection of salmon pituitary extract (20 mg fish^-1), succeeded in inducing maturation and ovulation in females which contained occytes at the migratory nucleus stage. Most fish ovulated 15–18h following the DHP injection. Eggs that were ovulated within 15h after the DHP injection showed high fertility and hatchability, but eggs ovulated 18 or 21h after the DHP injection, showed considerably lower fertility and hatchability. A delay between ovulation and stripping of the eggs rapidly decreased both the fertility and hatchability within 6–9h after ovulation, indicating that artificial fertilization must be carried out immediately after ovulation. Repeated injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at a concentration of 1 IU g^-1 BW week^-1 induced spermatogenesis, spermiation, and the acquisition of potential for sperm motility in cultivated males. Most males spermiated after the fifth or sixth injection of hCG, and the milt weight gradually increased and remained constant (1–2 g) from the 11th to 31th injection. Sperm motility peaked 24h after each weekly injection, and decreased from the 3^rd day after the injection. Potassium ions are an essential constituent for the maintenance of motility in the eel spermatozoa. Artificial seminal plasma containing 15.2 mM KCl is applicable as a milt diluent. Using these techniques developed for female and male eels, we have succeeded in obtaining many fertilized eggs from cultivated eels.     

Advances in Gene Structure,Evolution and =unction of Plac8

胎盘特异蛋白8（Placenta special gene 8, PLAC8）又称 onzin或 C15,是一种富含半胱氨酸的蛋白。 Plac8广泛分布于真核生物中,其功能也得到越来越广泛的研究,发现其不仅可以调控细胞的分裂,分化和凋亡,还在机体免疫过程中发挥重要作用。本文旨在对 plac8的基因结构特点、进化、表达和功能等方面的最新研究进展及其可能的作用机制进行概述。