Regulation of pollen tube growth by cellular pH and ions.

Tip growth of the pollen tube is a model system for the study of cell polarity establishment in flowering plants. The tip growth of the pollen tube displays an oscillating pattern corresponding to cellular ion and pH dynamics. Therefore, cellular pH and ions play an important role in pollen growth and development. In this review, we summarized the current advances in understanding the function of cellular pH and ions in regulating pollen tube growth. We analyzed the physiological roles and underlying mechanisms of cellular pH and ions, including Ca2+, K+, and Cl-, in regulating pollen tube growth. We further examined the function of Ca2+ in regulating cytoskeletons, small G proteins, and cell wall development in relation to pollen tube growth. We also examined the regulatory roles of cellular pH in pollen tube growth as well as pH regulation of ion flow, cell wall development, auxin signaling, and cytoskeleton function in pollen. In addition, we assessed the regulation of pollen tube growth by proton pumps and the maintenance of pH homeostasis in the trans-Golgi network by ion transporters. The interplay of ion homeostasis and pH dynamics was also assessed. We discussed the unanswered questions regarding pollen tube growth that need to be addressed in the future.

Lipidomic analysis of plant membrane lipids by direct infusion tandem mass spectrometry.

Plant phospholipids and glycolipids can be analyzed by direct infusion electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. A biological extract is introduced in solvent by continuous infusion into the mass spectrometer's electrospray ionization source, where ions are produced from the lipids. For analysis of membrane lipids, a series of precursor and neutral loss scans, each specific for lipids containing a common head group, are obtained sequentially. The mass spectral data are processed and combined, using the Web application LipidomeDB Data Calculation Environment, to create a lipid profile.

Novel acid-activated fluorophores reveal a dynamic wave of protons in the intestine of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Unlike the digestive systems of vertebrate animals, the lumen of the alimentary canal of Caenorhabditis elegans is unsegmented and weakly acidic (pH ~4.4), with ultradian fluctuations to pH > 6 every 45-50 s. To probe the dynamics of this acidity, we synthesized novel acid-activated fluorophores termed Kansas Reds. These dicationic derivatives of rhodamine B become concentrated in the lumen of the intestine of living C. elegans and exhibit tunable pKa values (2.3-5.4), controlled by the extent of fluorination of an alkylamine substituent, that allow imaging of a range of acidic fluids in vivo. Fluorescence video microscopy of animals freely feeding on these fluorophores revealed that acidity in the C. elegans intestine is discontinuous; the posterior intestine contains a large acidic segment flanked by a smaller region of higher pH at the posterior-most end. Remarkably, during the defecation motor program, this hot spot of acidity rapidly moves from the posterior intestine to the anterior-most intestine where it becomes localized for up to 7 s every 45-50 s. Studies of pH-insensitive and base-activated fluorophores as well as mutant and transgenic animals revealed that this dynamic wave of acidity requires the proton exchanger PBO-4, does not involve substantial movement of fluid, and likely involves the sequential activation of proton transporters on the apical surface of intestinal cells. Lacking a specific organ that sequesters low pH, C. elegans compartmentalizes acidity by producing of a dynamic hot spot of protons that rhythmically migrates from the posterior to anterior intestine.

Effects of rhubarb powder on serum complement 3, complement 4, and hs-CRP in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of rhubarb powder on serum complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) after operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty inpatients with HICH after operation were recruited from Department of Cerebral Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2009 to March 2010. They were randomly assigned to the treatment group (20 cases) and the control group (20 cases). From the 4th day after surgery, all patients received routine Western medical treatment. The rhubarb powder, 5-10 g dissolving in 40 mL warm water, was administered or nasally fed to those in the treatment group, 2 -3 times daily for 10 successive days. The contents of serum C3, C4, and hs-CRP were detected in the two groups on the 7th day and the 14th day after operation. The serum hs-CRP content was detected using latex particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. The Scandinavia Stroke Scale (SSS) scores were recorded in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the same group on the 4th day after operation, the levels of serum C3 and C4 increased on the 7th day after operation, and SSS score increased on the 14th day after operation in the control group (P < 0.05). The contents of C4 and hs-CRP decreased, and the SSS score increased on the 14th day after operation in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group on the 7th day after operation, the contents of C4 and hs-CRP decreased and the SSS score increased on the 14th day after operation in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group at the same time points, the contents of C4 and C3 decreased on the 7th day after operation; the contents of C3, C4, and hs-CRP decreased, and SSS score increased in the treatment group on the 14th day after operation (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rhubarb powder could significantly decrease the serum levels of C3, C4, and hs-CRP, and improve the curative effect in patients with HICH after operation.</p>

LipidomeDB data calculation environment: online processing of direct-infusion mass spectral data for lipid profiles.

LipidomeDB Data Calculation Environment (DCE) is a web application to quantify complex lipids by processing data acquired after direct infusion of a lipid-containing biological extract, to which a cocktail of internal standards has been added, into an electrospray source of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. LipidomeDB DCE is located on the public Internet at http://lipidome.bcf.ku.edu:9000/Lipidomics . LipidomeDB DCE supports targeted analyses; analyte information can be entered, or pre-formulated lists of typical plant or animal polar lipid analytes can be selected. LipidomeDB DCE performs isotopic deconvolution and quantification in comparison to internal standard spectral peaks. Multiple precursor or neutral loss spectra from up to 35 samples may be processed simultaneously with data input as Excel files and output as tables viewable on the web and exportable in Excel. The pre-formulated compound lists and web access, used with direct-infusion mass spectrometry, provide a simple approach to lipidomic analysis, particularly for new users.

[Clinical observation of the height of the alveolar after bone grafting in cleft alveolar repair in various ages.].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of transplanted bones after cancellous iliac bone grafting in cleft alveolar repair in various ages. METHODS: The patients were divided into A and B groups according to their canine eruption. The changes of alveolar height in grafting regions were examined by clinical follow up and radiographs after the cancellous iliac bone grafting in cleft alveolar repair. RESULTS: The bone grafting before the eruption of canines was more effective than that after eruption. The orthodontics after operation can increase the alveolar height. CONCLUSION: The alveolar height after the bone grafting in cleft alveolar repair increased with the eruption of canines.