Green photosynthetic stems are often responsible for photosynthesis due to the reduction of leaves in arid and hot climates. We studied the response of PSII activity to high irradiance in the photosynthetic stems of Hexinia polydichotoma in the Taklimakan Desert by analysis of the fast fluorescence transients (OJIP). Leaf clips of a chlorophyll fluorometer were used in conjunction with a sponge with a 4-mm-width groove to prevent light leakage for precise in vivo measurements. High irradiance reduced performance indices, illustrating the photoinhibition of PSII to some extent. However, the decrease in active reaction centers (RC) per PSII absorption area and maximum quantum yield indicated a partial inactivation of RCs and an increase in excitation energy dissipation, resulting in downregulation of photosynthetic excitation pressure. In addition, the increased efficiency of electron transport to PSI acceptors alleviated overexcitation energy pressure on PSII. These mechanisms protected the PSII apparatus as well as PSI against damages from excessive excitation energy. We suggested that H. polydichotoma exhibited rather photoadaptation than photodamage when exposed to high irradiance during the summer in the Taklimakan Desert. The experiment also demonstrated that the modified leaf clip can be used for studying dark adaptation in a photosynthetic stem., L. Li, Z. Zhou, J. Liang, R. Lv., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
In previous studies, it has been shown that recombinant human neuregulin-1(rhNRG-1) is capable of improving the survival rate in animal models of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy; however, the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unknown. In this study, the role of rhNRG-1 in attenuating doxorubicin-induce apoptosis is confirmed. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were subjected to various treatments, in order to both induce apoptosis and determine the effects of rhNRG-1 on the process. Activation of apoptosis was determined by observing increases in the protein levels of classic apoptosis markers (including cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome c, Bcl-2, BAX and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining). The activation of Akt was detected by means of western blot analysis. The study results showed that doxorubicin increased the number of TUNEL positive cells, as well as the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c, and reduced the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. However, all of these effects were markedly antagonized by pretreament with rhNRG-1. It was then further demonstrated that the effects of rhNRG-1 could be blocked by the phosphoinositole-3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, indicating the involvement of the Akt process in mediating the process. RhNRG-1 is a potent inhibitor of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, which acts through the PI3K-Akt pathway. RhNRG-1 is a novel therapeutic drug which may be effective in preventing further damage from occurring in DOX-induced damaged myocardium., T. An, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury