[Frost-resistance of subtropical evergreen woody plants: an evaluation based on plant functional traits].

Evaluating the frost-resistance of evergreen woody plants is of significance in guiding the species selection in forest management in subtropical region. In this paper, an investigation was made on the functional traits (including specific leaf area, stem wood density, leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf relative electrical conductance, and twig wood density) of 64 common evergreen broad-leaved and coniferous woody plant species in the Ningbo region of Zhejiang Province, East China, after a severe snowstorm in early 2008, aimed to select the evergreen woody plants with high ability of freeze-tolerance, and to establish a related evaluation system. By using a hierarchy analysis approach, the weight values of the functional traits of each species were determined, and an index system for evaluating the plants tolerance ability against freeze and mechanical damage was established. Based on this system, 23 evergreen plant species with high tolerance ability against freeze and mechanical damage, such as Cyclobalanopsis gilva, Cyclobalanopsis nubium, Neolitsea aurata, and Vacciniuim mandarinorum, were selected. In the meantime, on the basis of the ordering with each of the functional traits, the ordering of the tolerance ability of the 64 plant species against freeze and mechanical damage was made, and a list for the frost-resistance ability of the subtropical evergreen woody plant species in Ningbo region was constituted.

Spontaneous asymmetrical crystallization of a three-dimensional diamondoid framework material from achiral precursors.

Presented here is a homochiral three-dimensional diamondoid framework material, [Zn(AMTD)(2)](n) generated through an unusual spontaneous asymmetrical crystallization from achiral precursors without any enantiopure additives, which first demonstrates that symmetry breaking could be driven by the cooperation of twisted framework topology and an asymmetrical ligand.

New optical supramolecular compound constructed from a polyoxometalate cluster and an organic substrate.

A new optical supramolecular compound constructed from a polyoxometalate cluster and an organic substrate [(H3O)(C12H10N3)2(PW12O40)] (1) has been synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction and has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. The solid-state diffuse reflectance, IR, and photoluminescence spectra of the title compound indicate that there is an interaction between the alpha-PW12O40 and the organic substrate. The light-yellow title compound shows a certain second-order nonlinear optical response of I(2omega) = 2I(KDP)(2omega).

The layered compound poly[mu2-4,4'-bipyridyl-di-mu2-chlorido-mercury(II)].

The title compound, [HgCl2(C(10)H(8)N(2))]n, features two-dimensional [HgCl2(4,4'-bipy)]n neutral networks (4,4'-bipy is 4,4'-bipyridine), based on an octahedral Hg atom coordinated by four mu2-Cl atoms and two mu2-4,4'-bipy ligands in trans positions, yielding a HgCl(4)N(2) octahedron. The structure has mmm symmetry about the Hg atoms, with most of the atoms on at least one mirror plane, but the unsubstituted C atoms of the 4,4'-bipy rings are disordered across a mirror plane. Photoluminescent investigations reveal that the title compound displays a strong emission in the green region, which probably originates from a ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer transition.

Noninvasive molecular imaging to detect transgene expression of lentiviral vector in nonhuman primates.

UNLABELLED: Noninvasive imaging of a reporter gene is a new and promising technique to quantify transgene expression after gene therapy. This study was performed to demonstrate visualization of lentiviral-marked cells by PET. METHODS: We transduced nonhuman primate CD34+ hematopoietic cells with a lentiviral vector expressing a PET reporter gene, the mutant viral herpes simplex virus type 1-thymidine kinase (HSV1-sr39tk) gene. 1-(2-Fluoro-2-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-76Br-5-bromouracil (76Br-FBAU) was used as the substrate for the viral tk enzyme. Upon phosphorylation, 76Br-FBAU was retained by cells and imaged by PET. The long half-life of 76Br, 16.2 h, permitted us to perform extended pharmacokinetic and imaging studies. RESULTS: 76Br-FBAU was retained in vascular tissues of the animals with transplanted tk lentiviral vector-transduced CD34+ cells. Elimination of 76Br-FBAU was through renal and hepatic excretion. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive molecular imaging using PET will help us, in the future, to define the contribution and distribution of cells and their progeny to tissue repair and development.

Increased levels of Wee-1 kinase in G(2) are necessary for Vpr- and gamma irradiation-induced G(2) arrest.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr induces cell cycle arrest at the G(2)/M transition and subsequently apoptosis. Here we examined the potential involvement of Wee-1 in Vpr-induced G(2) arrest. Wee-1 is a cellular protein kinase that inhibits Cdc2 activity, thereby preventing cells from proceeding through mitosis. We previously showed that the levels of Wee-1 correlate with Vpr-mediated apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that Vpr-induced G(2) arrest correlated with delayed degradation of Wee-1 at G(2)/M. Experimental depletion of Wee-1 by a small interfering RNA directed to wee-1 mRNA alleviated Vpr-induced G(2) arrest and allowed apparently normal progression through M into G(1). Similar results were observed when cells were arrested at G(2) following gamma irradiation. Thus, Wee-1 is integrally involved as a key cellular regulatory protein in the signal transduction pathway for HIV-1 Vpr-induced cell cycle arrest.

Depletion of Wee-1 kinase is necessary for both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr- and gamma irradiation-induced apoptosis.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protein R (Vpr) induces G2 arrest, and prolonged G2 arrest leads to apoptosis. We find that in HeLa cells the cell cycle regulatory kinase, Wee-1, is depleted following prolonged G2 arrest induced by Vpr. Of note, small interfering RNAs directed to Wee-1 triggered apoptosis, suggesting a direct role for Wee-1 in apoptosis. In support of this hypothesis, overexpression of Wee-1 suppressed Vpr-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, similar results were observed with cells induced to undergo apoptosis gamma irradiation. Thus, Wee-1 may serve as a key regulator of both HIV type 1 Vpr- and gamma irradiation-mediated apoptosis and possibly serve as a general regulator linking the cell cycle to some pathways of apoptosis.