Isolation and characterization of a catalase gene "HuCAT3" from pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) and its expression under abiotic stress.

Abiotic stresses usually cause H2O2 accumulation, with harmful effects, in plants. Catalase may play a key protective role in plant cells by detoxifying this excess H2O2. Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) shows broad ecological adaptation due to its high tolerance to abiotic stresses, e.g. drought, heat and poor soil. However, involvement of the pitaya catalase gene (HuCAT) in tolerance to abiotic stresses is unknown. In the present study, a full-length HuCAT3 cDNA (1870 bp) was isolated from pitaya based on our previous microarray data and RACE method. The cDNA sequence and deduced amino acid sequence shared 73-77% and 75-80% identity with other plant catalases, respectively. HuCAT3 contains conserved catalase family domain and catalytic sites. Pairwise comparison and phylogenetic analysis indicated that HuCAT3 is most similar to Eriobotrya japonica CAT, followed by Dimocarpus longan CAT and Nicotiana tabacum CAT1. Expression profile analysis demonstrated that HuCAT3 is mainly expressed in green cotyledons and mature stems, and was regulated by H2O2, drought, cold and salt stress, whereas, its expression patterns and maximum expression levels varied with stress types. HuCAT activity increased as exposure to the tested stresses, and the fluctuation of HuCAT activity was consistent with HuCAT3 mRNA abundance (except for 0.5 days upon drought stress). HuCAT3 mRNA elevations and HuCAT activities changes under cold stress were also in conformity with the cold tolerances among the four genotypes. The obtained results confirmed a major role of HuCAT3 in abiotic stress response of pitaya. This may prove useful in understanding pitaya's high tolerance to abiotic stresses at molecular level.

Anatomical characteristics of infra-lamina ridge in Chinese population / Características anatómicas del puente infra-laminar en la población china

The aim of our study was to observe the occurrence rate and morphological characteristics of Infra-Lamina ridge (ILR) in Chinese population and provide a comprehensive reference for its clinical implication. Vertebrae columns of 82 sets of Chinese adult skeletons were collected. The shape of ILR was classified into three types; the occurrence of it in different sides and sexes were counted. The length, width, thickness of ILR were measured using a caliper with 0.02 mm accuracy. The ILR was usually found to occur from C7 to L5, with its frequency higher from T8 to 12, and highest at T10being up to 80.5%. There was significant statistical difference to the occurrence rate by side, sex and vertebral level. The largest values in its length and width were from T9 to T12. The ILR at T10 was largest in dimensions, being 4.1±2.1 mm in length and 4.4±2.3 mm in width. The ILR is more frequently detected in female and at the left side, at the lower thoracic spine with a larger dimension.

El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue observar la tasa de incidencia y características morfológicas del puente infra-laminar (PIL) en la población china y ofrecer una referencia completa por su implicación clínica. Se utilizaron 82 series de vértebras pertenecientes a esqueletos adultos chinos. La forma del PIL se clasificó en tres tipos; además se cuantificó la presenciade la misma en diferentes lados y sexos. La longitud, ancho y grosor del PIL se midieron utilizando un caliper con 0,02 mm de precisión. Se encontró que el PIL por lo general se producía desde C7 a L5 , con una mayor frecuencia entre T8 y T12, la más alta en T10 donde alcanzó el 80,5%. No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la tasa de ocurrencia según lado, sexo y el nivel de la vértebra. Los mayores valores de longitud y ancho fueron de T9 a T12. El PIL en T10 tuvo las mayores dimensiones, con una longitud de 4,1±2,1 mm y ancho de 4,4±2,3 mm. El PIL se detecta con mayor frecuencia en mujeres y la lado izquierdo, con una mayor dimensión en la columna torácica inferior.