Insecticidal action of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) against the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

The effects of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) on development, fecundity, and mortality of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), were determined. Also determined were the effects of PHA on the activity of gut enzymes involved in sugar and phosphorus metabolism (α- and β-glucosidase and alkaline and acid phosphatase) and on the feeding behavior of adult apterae.When added to a liquid diet, PHA increased the pre-reproductive period, decreased fecundity, and increased mortality of S. avenae. PHA also increased the developmental time and reduced the intrinsic rate of natural increase. The aphids fed on sucrose-agarose gels with higher concentrations of PHA lectin exhibited no phloem-feeding behavior. The number of the gel penetrations was reduced and duration of the pathways was increased by higher concentrations of PHA. In addition, activities of α-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase in homogenates of adult aphids were reduced. The results indicate that PHA has potential in a biotechnological approach to insect management.     

Interspecific Facilitative Root Interactions and Rhizosphere Effects on Phosphorus and Iron Nutrition Between Mixed Grown Chickpea and Barley

A glasshouse study was conducted to investigate the effects of interspecific complementary and competitive root interactions and rhizosphere effects on phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) nutrition of mixed grown chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In order to provide more physiological evidence on the mechanisms of interspecific facilitation, we determined phosphatase activities in plant and rhizosphere, and root ferric reducing capacity (FR), Fe-solubilizing activity (Fe-SA) and rhizosphere pH. The results of the experiment revealed that biomass yield of barley was significantly increased by associated chickpea as compared to monocultured barley, while mixed cropping caused a slight decreases in the biomass yield of chickpea. The rhizosphere was strongly acidified under chickpea and chickpea/barley mixed cropping and this acidification, in turn, increased the available P, Fe(II) and DTPA-Fe concentrations in the rhizosphere. Fe-solubilizing activity (Fe-SA) and ferric reducing (FR) capacity of the roots were higher in both species grown in mixed culture relative to their monoculture which may improve Fe nutrition of both species. Leaf acid phosphatase (APase, EC 3.1.3.2) activity was higher in both plants under mixed cropping that may improve P nutrition of barley by chickpea.     

Conservation tillage and optimal water supply enhance microbial enzyme (glucosidase,urease and phosphatase) activities in fields under wheat cultivation during various nitrogen management practices

Field experiments were conducted on sandy clay loam soil at New Delhi, during the winter season of 2007 and 2008 to investigate the effect of tillage, irrigation regimes, i.e. sub-optimal, optimal and supra-optimal water supply, and integrated nutrient management practices (INM) on soil enzymatic activities after cultivation of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Soil glucosidase (54.5%), urease (88.8%), acid phosphatase (97.4%) and alkaline phosphatase (85.3%) activities increased significantly under conservation tillage compared with conventional tillage fields. An optimal water supply (i.e. three irrigations) led to a significant increase in soil enzymatic activity over sub-optimal (i.e. two) and supra-optimal (five) irrigation. Urease activity was slightly lower in the sub-optimal irrigations, but higher in supra-optimal irrigations by 15.5% than in optimal irrigation in conventional tillage. This study suggests that inorganic and organic nutrient combinations with conservation tillage and optimal water supply significantly improved soil enzymatic activities.     

Use of Okadaic Acid to Identify Relevant Phosphoepitopes in Pathology: A Focus on Neurodegeneration

Protein phosphorylation is involved in the regulation of a wide variety of physiological processes and is the result of a balance between protein kinase and phosphatase activities. Biologically active marine derived compounds have been shown to represent an interesting source of novel compounds that could modify that balance. Among them, the marine toxin and tumor promoter, okadaic acid (OA), has been shown as an inhibitor of two of the main cytosolic, broad-specificity protein phosphatases, PP1 and PP2A, thus providing an excellent cell-permeable probe for examining the role of protein phosphorylation, and PP1 and PP2A in particular, in any physiological or pathological process. In the present work, we review the use of okadaic acid to identify specific phosphoepitopes mainly in proteins relevant for neurodegeneration. We will specifically highlight those cases of highly dynamic phosphorylation-dephosphorylation events and the ability of OA to block the high turnover phosphorylation, thus allowing the detection of modified residues that could be otherwise difficult to identify. Finally, its effect on tau hyperhosphorylation and its relevance in neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia will be discussed.     

高浓度CO2气调胁迫对药材甲老熟幼虫磷酸酯酶活力的影响

用高浓度CO₂气体胁迫处理药材甲老熟幼虫及体外磷酸酯酶,通过终点法测定酶活性变化,分析气调胁迫与磷酸酯酶活性变化之间的关系。结果显示,高浓度CO₂密闭处理药材甲老熟幼虫6 h和12 h,ACP比活力分别升高6.41%和18.96%,ALP活力分别降低了7.69%和7.91%。ACP经CO₂体外处理30、60、120 min,比活力分别增强92.77%、127.43%和67.91%。可见,高浓度CO₂气调胁迫处理对药材甲老熟幼虫ACP和ALP活力均有一定影响。     

Pre-maturity α-amylase in wheat: The role of abscisic acid and gibberellins

The occurrence of pre-maturity α-amylase (PMA) is a major cause of poor bread-making quality (low Hagberg Falling Number) in wheat grain. In susceptible genotypes, it involves the excessive accumulation of high isoelectric point (pI) α-amylase in mature grain prior to germination and in the absence of pre-harvest sprouting. Several factors regulate PMA formation in developing grain, including genotype, agronomy, and environmental conditions. In particular, a cold period during mid-grain development has been found to be a major stimulus for PMA induction. Although the factors affecting the PMA occurrence are well known, little is known about the molecular mechanism governing its induction. The plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) influence various aspects of grain development, and it has been suggested that PMA involves changes in the amount of these hormones or the sensitivity of the grain to these hormones. This review summarizes recent studies investigating the role of ABA and GAs in PMA induction and PMA occurrence.     

‘Delayed’ interference effects of air exposure on adult Chinese horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus

As the haemolymph supplier of the tachypleus amebocyte lysate industry in China, Chinese horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) inevitably undergoes air‐exposure stress during transportation and haemolymph collection. In this study, the effects of air‐exposure stress and subsequent recovery process on the activities of phosphatases, antioxidant enzymes and haemocyanin concentration in Chinese horseshoe crab were investigated to understand its ability to resist air‐exposure stress. Results showed no significant effects on the total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) between the control and experimental groups during the air‐exposure stress period (0–4 hr), except acid phosphatase (ACP). During the subsequent recovery period in water, significant differences in plasma T‐AOC levels and SOD, CAT, AKP and ACP activities were observed between both groups. No significant effects of CAT activity, SOD activity, MDA content and T‐AOC level were noted between the two groups after 12 hr of recovery. However, the AKP and ACP activities of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Results revealed that air exposure may affect the activities of most non‐specific immune enzymes in the plasma of Chinese horseshoe crab, showing a ‘delayed” interference effect. Nevertheless, tested antioxidant enzymes have a strong recovery ability and can generally recover to the control group level after 12 hr. Haemocyanin concentration was not affected by air‐exposure stress during the whole experiment. Hereby, Chinese horseshoe crab can strongly resist air‐exposure stress.     

药材甲与烟草甲羧酸酯酶和磷酸酯酶毒理学特性比较

为了解药材甲、烟草甲在某些关键解毒酶毒理学方面的差异,采用终点比色法对其羧酸酯酶和磷酸酯酶的酶活力及酶促动力学参数进行了测定。结果显示:药材甲和烟草甲羧酸酯酶作用底物α-乙酸萘酯的比活力分别为0.28和0.21 mol.min-1.mg-1pro.;酸性磷酸酯酶作用底物对硝基苯基磷酸二钠的比活力分别为1.16和1.13 mol.min-1.mg-1pro.;碱性磷酸酯酶作用底物对硝基苯基磷酸二钠的比活力分别为0.31和0.36 mol.min-1.mg-1pro.。此外,药材甲和烟草甲除酸性磷酸酯酶酶活力无显著差异外,羧酸酯酶、碱性磷酸酯酶活力和动力学参数均差异显著。表明2种昆虫对外源性胁迫具有不同的解毒能力。     

花生紫色酸性磷酸酶基因家族的鉴定及表达分析

紫色酸性磷酸酶（purple acid phosphatase, PAP）是一类金属磷酸酯酶,参与植物的磷素利用、碳代谢、细胞壁合成等多种生理功能,尤其是对磷缺乏的适应。本研究利用生物信息学手段在花生（Arachis hypogaea L.）全基因组水平上对PAP基因家族进行了鉴定,并对其系统进化关系、保守结构域、基因结构以及它们在22个组织中的表达模式进行了分析。结果表明：花生基因组中有39个AhPAP基因,氨基酸序列长度为205~905,等电点大多数都小于7,蛋白质C端均含有金属磷酸酶结构域。以花生、拟南芥、水稻、苜蓿共74个PAP蛋白构建的系统发育树可分为四组,每组中都含有来自不同物种的PAP,并没有因为物种差异而各自聚为一类。AhPAP基因家族中部分成员的表达具有组织特异性,arahy.P03NME、arahy.DAPS6C在根瘤中表达量最高,而它们在其他组织中表达量较低或未检测到表达。本研究为揭示AhPAP基因家族在花生中的生物学功能奠定了基础。