A reference-grade genome of the xerophyte Ammopiptanthus mongolicus sheds light on its evolution history in legumes and drought-tolerance mechanisms.

Plants that grow in extreme environments represent unique sources of stress-resistance genes and mechanisms. Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Leguminosae) is a xerophytic evergreen broadleaf shrub native to semi-arid and desert regions; however, its drought-tolerance mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report the assembly of a reference-grade genome for A.

Cathepsin B degrades RbcL during freezing-induced programmed cell death in Arabidopsis.

Cathepsin B plays an important role that degrades the Rubisco large subunit RbcL in freezing stress. Programmed cell death (PCD) has been well documented in both development and in response to environmental stresses in plants, however, PCD induced by freezing stress and its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we characterized freezing-induced PCD and explored its mechanisms in Arabidopsis.

BYPASS1-LIKE regulates lateral root initiation via exocytic vesicular trafficking-mediated PIN recycling in Arabidopsis.

Auxin and auxin-mediated signaling pathways are known to regulate lateral root development. Although exocytic vesicle trafficking plays an important role in recycling the PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carriers and in polar auxin transport during lateral root formation, the mechanistic details of these processes are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that BYPASS1-LIKE (B1L) regulates lateral root initiation via exocytic vesicular trafficking-mediated PIN recycling in Arabidopsis thaliana.

TRANSTHYRETIN-LIKE and BYPASS1-LIKE co-regulate growth and cold tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Background: Cold stress inhibits normal physiological metabolism in plants, thereby seriously affecting plant development. Meanwhile, plants also actively adjust their metabolism and development to adapt to changing environments. Several cold tolerance regulators have been found to participate in the regulation of plant development.

Spatial patterns and interspecific relationships of two dominant cushion plants at three elevations on the Kunlun Mountain, China.

One of the most important ecological processes is the formation of interspecific relationships in relation to spatial patterns among alpine cushion plants in extreme environmental habitats. However, such relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the spatial patterns of alpine cushion plants along an altitudinal gradient of environmental severity and the interspecific relationship between two cushion species (Thylacospermum caespitosum and Androsace tangulashanensis) on the eastern Kunlun Mountain of China.

Targeting silencing androgen receptor gene by shRNA with low-intensity focused ultrasonic irradiation inhibits growth of prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice.

The androgen receptor (AR) plays a pivotal role in prostate cancer, making it a potential therapeutic target. Short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibits gene expression and offers a novel strategy to eradicate disease. Ultrasound-mediated gene transfection is a promising gene delivery method.

BYPASS1-LIKE, A DUF793 Family Protein, Participates in Freezing Tolerance the CBF Pathway in .

The C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR signaling pathway is strictly modulated by numerous factors and is essential in the cold response of plants. Here, we show that the DUF793 family gene modulates freezing tolerance through the CBFs in . The expression of was rapidly induced under cold treatment.

Nocardia mangyaensis sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from crude-oil-contaminated soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile and mycolic-acid-containing strain, designated Y48, was isolated from soil contaminated by crude oil located in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Y48 belongs to the genus Nocardia and is closely related to N. cummidelens DSM 44490 (99.

Thylacospermum caespitosum population structure and cushion species community diversity along an altitudinal gradient.

As alpine plants, cushion species are particularly susceptible to environment changes. Thus, understanding population structure and community diversity variation of cushion plants along elevational gradients is crucial for estimating their response to predicted climate changes. In this study, Thylacospermum caespitosum populations from three elevations (low, medium, and high) in three climate zones of China (the Kunlun, Qilian, and Tianshan Mountains) were selected to evaluate the effect of elevation on the structure of T.

Nonlinear inelastic electron scattering from Au nanostructures induced by localized surface plasmon resonance.

Nonlinear electron scattering is a recently-discovered physical process observed during the localized plasmonic excitation of Ag nanostructures on graphite surface. In the present work, nonlinear electron scattering phenomena is experimentally verified on Au nanostructures by measuring inelastic scattering of electrons field-emitted from tungsten tip. The relative intensity of the electron-energy-loss peak associated with the plasmonic excitation of Au shows again to increase nonlinearly with the electric field generated by the tip-sample bias, demonstrating the generality of nonlinear electron scattering process in plasmonic system.

[Adaptation mechanisms of alpine plants photosynthetic apparatus against adverse stress: a review].

Photosynthesis is one of the vital physiological processes easily affected by environmental changes. As a plant group growing in specific low temperature and strong irradiance environment, the photosynthetic apparatus of alpine plants have developed special morphologically and physiologically mechanisms in adapting to this extreme adverse environment. However, due to the high heterogeneity of habitats, there exist great differences in the photo-protection and adaptation mechanisms among different alpine plants.

Effects of carbon-ion beam or X-ray irradiation on anti-apoptosis ΔNp73 expression in HeLa cells.

ΔNp73 has emerged as an interesting novel factor in cancer research. Here, we report the effect of carbon-ion beams on ΔNp73 expression in human cervix carcinoma HeLa cells in contrast to the effect of X-rays. Cellular sensitivities were determined by colony formation.

Cloning, expression and characterization of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase from a psychrotrophic bacterium, Arthrobacter strain A3.

A trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene, otsB, from a psychrotrophic bacterium, Arthrobacter strain A3, was identified. The product of this otsB gene is 266 amino acids in length with a calculated molecular weight of 27,873 Da. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to apparent homogeneity.

Spatial distribution of polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins in Arabidopsis and their expression induced by Stemphylium solani infection.

Disease-induced polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are the major defense proteins which play an important role in resistance to infection of pathogens. To date, the AtPGIP expression in Arabidopsis induced by Stemphylium solani (S. solani) was not described.

Regulation of expression of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase during cold shock in Arthrobacter strain A3.

Trehalose is a chemical chaperone known to protect a variety of organisms against cold stress. Members of the genus Arthrobacter, which belongs to the Actinomycetales group, exhibit strong resistance to stress conditions, but exactly how trehalose synthesis is regulated in conditions of cold stress is still unknown. Here, we report that Arthrobacter strain A3, which was isolated from the alpine permafrost, has only two trehalose synthesis pathways (OtsA/B and TreS), while other Arthrobacter spp.

Analysis of the composition and characteristics of culturable endophytic bacteria within subnival plants of the Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China.

This study first described the composition and characteristics of culturable endophytic bacteria isolated from wild alpine-subnival plant species growing under extreme environmental conditions (i.e., on the border of a glacier with frequently fluctuating and freezing temperatures, strong wind, and high ultraviolet radiation).

Effect of inoculation with the endophyte Clavibacter sp. strain Enf12 on chilling tolerance in Chorispora bungeana.

Endophytic bacteria have been shown to increase resistance against biotic stress and tolerance to abiotic stress in many plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an endophytic bacterium, Clavibacter sp. strain Enf12, in regenerated plantlets of Chorispora bungeana subjected to chilling stress (0°C).

The catalytic efficiency of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase is effected by the N-loop at low temperatures.

The enzyme OtsA (trehalose-6-phosphate synthase) is ubiquitous in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, where it plays a critical role in stress resistance and glucose metabolism. Here, we cloned the otsA gene from Arthrobacter sp. Cjts, and expressed and then purified the recombinant proteins.

[Seasonal variation and related affecting factors of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Caragana korshinskii roots].

With the combination of root staining and PCR-DGGE, the seasonal variation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in Caragana korshinskii roots was investigated; and by the methods of principal component analysis and canonical correspondence analysis, the relationships between this variation and soil factors were analyzed. It was found that the total infection rate of AMF and the infection rates of arbuscules and vesicles in C. korshinskii roots as well as the spore density of AMF in soil varied significantly among seasons.

Defense strategy of old and modern spring wheat varieties during soil drying.

Different defense mechanisms of three spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties were studied by withholding watering in well-watered pots to gradually increase water deficit of plants grown in containers. The strategies of plant adaptation were divided into three phases according to the severity of drought: first, a positive defense phase that started from commencement of non-hydraulic root-sourced signals (nHRS) and ended at onset of hydraulic root-sourced signals (HRS)--the plant responded to imminent drought by decreasing stomatal aperture to lessen water loss and no membrane injury occurred.

[Assessment on vegetation restoration capacity of several grassland ecosystems under destroyed disturbance in permafrost regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

Vegetation restoration capacity of disturbed grassland ecosystem is one of the important components in assessing the influence of human engineering activities on the grassland ecosystems in permafrost region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. After comparing the features of vegetation communities, plant species diversity, grassland primary productivity, and economic group between disturbed and undisturbed communities, the comprehensive vegetation restoration capacity of several grassland communities under destroyed disturbance was assessed by using comprehensive assessment index. The results showed that the restoration of cover and community composition was obvious after 26 years natural restoration, being better for alpine steppes than for alpine meadows.

A new combination of RNA-mediated DNA ligation and on-chip elongation for detecting viral RNA.

We describe a novel method that combines RNA-mediated DNA ligation and on-chip elongation for detecting viral RNA. These virus species-specific detection probes (DPs) were designed to match sequences of the "target" virus and then chemically synthesized into 2 parts. If the target virus exists, 2 parts of the DP can be ligated by T4 DNA ligase.

The cooperative relation between non-hydraulic root signals and osmotic adjustment under water stress improves grain formation for spring wheat varieties.

Non-hydraulic root signals (nHRS) and osmotic adjustment (OA) are two important adaptive responses of plants to water stress. There is little understanding of their relationships during water stress. The threshold range of soil water potential to occurrence of nHRS, the capacity for OA, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were examined in three spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.

Phylogenetic analysis of lichen-forming fungi Rhizoplaca zopf from China based on ITS data and morphology.

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of Rhizoplaca melanophthalma, Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca, Rhizoplaca peltata and Rhizoplaca haydenii is presented based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and morphology. Rhizoplaca species were collected at 3400-3900 m in Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang province, China. Rhizoplaca haydenii is reported for the first time in China.