OBJECTIVETo study the effect of light intensity on physiological and biochemical characteristics of Chrysanthemum morifolium at the vegetative stage.

METHODThe dynamic response of physiological and biochemical indexes of Ch. morifolium were measured under different treatments (100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% of the full sunlight) at the vegetative stage.

RESULTThe physiological and biochemical indexes of Ch. morifolium showed dynamic changes with the progress of growth and the increase of the treatment time. The soluble sugar content decreased when the light intensity reduced, and had a significant positive correlation with the light intensity. Soluble protein content rose firstly and fell later, malondialdehyde content increased, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity decreased initially and increased afterwards.

CONCLUSIONProper shading benefits the nitrogen accumulation of Ch. morifolium at the vegetative stage, and reduces the strength of stress condition. The suitable light environment for growth of Ch. morifolium at the vegetative stage is about 80%-60% of full sunlight and the optimum treatment time is 20-40 days.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Chrysanthemum ; physiology ; Light ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study responses of physiological ecology and quality evaluation of Rehmannia glutinosa in continuous cropping.

METHODThe potted plant R. glutinosa which consists of first cropping, 1 year continuous cropping and 2 year continuous cropping were used as experimental materials. The photosynthetic activity, descending axis vitality, the protective enzymes system and MDA content were measured, the quality was evaluated by FTIR and HPLC.

RESULTContinuous cropping reduced the content of chlorophyll in the non-first cropping R. glutinos, the photosynthetic activity and descending axis vitality were weakened. Because of the increase of the free radical in the R. glutinos due to the continuous cropping, the activity of protective enzymes including POD, SOD and CAT were enhanced and MDA content were increased, more importantly the medical potency declined . And along with the increasing years of the continuous cropping, this effect becomes even stronger.

CONCLUSIONContinuous cropping affects the descending axis ability of absorbing water and nutrition and photosynthesis are inhibited R. glutinosa, at the same time, it also causes the disorders of antioxidation systems in R. glutinos, resulting in continuous cropping obstacle and decline of the medicinal materials quality.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Ecology ; Photosynthesis ; physiology ; Rehmannia ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Female ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Microcirculation ; physiology ; Rats ; Splanchnic Circulation ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

BACKGROUNDRNA interference (RNAi) is a potential cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by dominant, gain-of-function superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations. The success of such therapy relies on the functional small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that can effectively deliver RNAi. This study aimed to design the functional siRNAs targeting ALS-associated mutant alleles.

METHODSA modified dual luciferase system containing human SOD1 mRNA target was established to quantify siRNA efficacy. Coupled with validated siRNAs identified in the literature, we analyzed the rationale of siRNA design and subsequently developed an asymmetry rule-based strategy for designing siRNA. We then further tested the effectiveness of this design strategy in converting a naturally symmetric siRNA into functional siRNAs with favorable asymmetry for gene silencing of SOD1 alleles.

RESULTSThe efficacies of siRNAs could vary tremendously by one base-pair position change. Functional siRNAs could target the whole span of SOD1 mRNA coding sequence as well as non-coding region. While there is no distinguishable pattern of the distribution of nucleobases in these validated siRNAs, the high percent of GC count at the last two positions of siRNAs (P18 and P19) indicated a strong effect of asymmetry rule. Introducing a mismatch at position 1 of the 5' of antisense strand of siRNA successfully converted the inactive siRNA into functional siRNAs that silence SOD1 with desired efficacy.

CONCLUSIONSAsymmetry rule-based strategy that incorporates a mismatch into siRNA most consistently enhances RNAi efficacy and guarantees producing functional siRNAs that successfully silence ALS-associated SOD1 mutant alleles regardless target positions. This strategy could also be useful to design siRNAs for silencing other disease-associated dominant, gain-of-function mutant genes.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; Superoxide Dismutase-1

OBJECTIVETo study the growth state and physiological changes of Epimedium wushanense under different light conditions (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%), and investigate its adaptation mechanism to shade environment so that it can provide theoretical basis for cultivation and production.

METHODThe growth index, the content of photosynthetic pigments, proline content, MDA content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content and antioxidant enzymy activity of E. wushanense under different shade conditions were measured.

RESULTExcept for length/width, the other form index of E. wushanense changed significantly. The E. wushanense grew well between light intensity 80%-40%, besides, the biomass above the earth was relatively high. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content and carotenoids cotent were enhanced after shaded, the values of chlorophyll a\chlorophyll b increased between light intensity 100% -60% and reduced between light intensity 60% -20%. The proline and MDA content decreased after shading, the soluble sugar and soluble protein content increased respectively between light intensity 100% -60%, 100% -40% and reduced respectively between light intensity 60% -20%, 40% -20%. The SOD activity, CAT activity decreased after shading, and the POD activity, APX activity reduced between light intensity 60% -40%, raised under 20% treatment.

CONCLUSION80% 40% irradiance treatment was favorable to the growth of E. wushanense.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; physiology ; Light ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe studies were carried out on the physiologic characteristics of Panax notoginseng seeds during the after--ripening process in order to understand the seed's biochemical and physiological changes and lay the foundation for the germplasm conversation and breeding research of P. notoginseng seeds.

METHODDynamic changes of storage material contents, respiratory rate and protective enzymatic activity were determined by normal biochemical and physiological measuring methods.

RESULTThe respiratory rate increased continuously during the stratification process, the contents of starch, soluble protein, crude fat decreased and the content of water-soluble saccharide increased with the embryo development, activities of CAT, POD and SOD increased with the raise of MDA content.

CONCLUSIONP. notoginseng seed's biochemical and physiological changes interacted with its embryo morphological changes to complete its after-ripening development.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

A decline in the activities of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes has been consistently reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and animal models of ALS, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we report that receptor expression enhancing protein 1 (REEP1) acts as an important regulator of complex IV assembly, which is pivotal to preserving motor neurons in SOD1^G93A mice. We found the expression of REEP1 was greatly reduced in transgenic SOD1^G93A mice with ALS. Moreover, forced expression of REEP1 in the spinal cord extended the lifespan, decelerated symptom progression, and improved the motor performance of SOD1^G93A mice. The neuromuscular synaptic loss, gliosis, and even motor neuron loss in SOD1^G93A mice were alleviated by increased REEP1 through augmentation of mitochondrial function. Mechanistically, REEP1 associates with NDUFA4, and plays an important role in preserving the integrity of mitochondrial complex IV. Our findings offer insights into the pathogenic mechanism of REEP1 deficiency in neurodegenerative diseases and suggest a new therapeutic target for ALS.
Mice ; Animals ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase-1/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Spinal Cord/pathology* ; Mitochondria/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal

The oxidative response of Bacillus sp F26 to different forms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress including H2O2, O2- * and OH * were investigated by using diverse generating source of ROS, which were characterized by synthesis of antioxidative enzymes. It was shown that the responses of cells to oxidative stress are largely dependent on species, mode (instantaneous and continual) and intensity of stress. Higher synthesis rate of catalase (CAT) is crucial for Bacillus sp F26 to resist H2O2 stress. The damage of H2O2 to cell was minor if CAT can efficiently decompose H2O2 entering into cell, furthermore, the response can stimulate cell growths and sugar consumption. Conversely, cell growth and synthesis of antioxidative enzymes are greatly inhibited when the intensity of H2O2 stress overwhelms the cell capability of clearing H2O2. Due to the difference in mode and effect on cells between O2- * and H2O2, higher synthesis rates of CAT and superoxide dismutase (SOD) couldn't guarantee cells to eliminate H2O2 and O2- * efficiently. Therefore, the toxicity to cells induced by intracellular O2- * is more severe than H2O2 stress. Unlike response to H2O2 and O2- *, OH stress significantly inhibited cell growth and synthesis of antioxidative enzymes due to the fact OH * is most active ROS. Our results indicated that Bacillus sp F26 will show diverse biological behaviour in response to H2O2, O2- * and OH * of stress due to the discrepancy in chemical property. In order to survive in oxidative stress, cells will timely adjust their metabolism to adapt to new environment including regulating synthesis level of antioxidative enzymes, changing rates of cells growth and substrate consumption.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacillus ; enzymology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Catalase ; biosynthesis ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; analysis ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of drought stress on the changes of physiological adaptation of Atractylodes lancea seedlings.

METHODInvestigation was carried out on content changes of MDA, soluble protein, and activities of SOD, POD, CAT, APX in A. lancea seedlings under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-simulated drought stress.

RESULTIn A. lancea seedlings treated with 15% and 25% PEG, the content of MDA increased significantly with the stress time, and increased more significantly at a higher concentration of PEG. The content of soluble protein increased significantly after treatment on the day one and day three; activities of SOD, POD, CAT and APX increased at first and decreased later, increasing rates rose at high concentration of PEG moreover, activities of POD, APX reached the maximum after three days, and the time of maximum activities changed with concentration of PEG.

CONCLUSIONA. lancea seedlings adapted to drought stress by increasing the content of soluble protein to decrease water potential, and by improving activities of protective enzymes to enhance anti-oxidative ability under drought stress.

Adaptation, Physiological ; physiology ; Ascorbate Peroxidases ; Atractylodes ; enzymology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; physiology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; enzymology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSleep/wake disturbances in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are well-documented, however, no animal or mechanistic studies on these disturbances exist. Orexin is a crucial neurotransmitter in promoting wakefulness in sleep/wake regulation, and may play an important role in sleep disturbances in ALS. In this study, we used SOD1-G93A transgenic mice as an ALS mouse model to investigate the sleep/wake disturbances and their possible mechanisms in ALS.

METHODSElectroencephalogram/electromyogram recordings were performed in SOD1-G93A transgenic mice and their littermate control mice at the ages of 90 and 120 days, and the samples obtained from these groups were subjected to quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSFor the first time in SOD1-G93A transgenic mice, we observed significantly increased wakefulness, reduced sleep time, and up-regulated orexins (prepro-orexin, orexin A and B) at both 90 and 120 days. Correlation analysis confirmed moderate to high correlations between sleep/wake time (total sleep time, wakefulness time, rapid eye movement [REM] sleep time, non-REM sleep time, and deep sleep time) and increase in orexins (prepro-orexin, orexin A and B).

CONCLUSIONSleep/wake disturbances occur before disease onset in this ALS mouse model. Increased orexins may promote wakefulness and result in these disturbances before and after disease onset, thus making them potential therapeutic targets for amelioration of sleep disturbances in ALS. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms in the future.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neuropeptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Orexins ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sleep ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase-1 ; Wakefulness ; physiology