59 resultados para nitric oxide donor
Resumo:
To investigate effects of nitric oxide on cellular radio-sensitivity, three human glioma cell lines, i.e. A172, A172 transfected green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene (EA172) and A172 transfected inducible nitric oxide synthesis (iNOS) gene (iA72), were irradiated by C-12(6+) ions to 0, 1 or My. Productions of nitric oxide and glutathione (GSH) in A172, EA172 and iA172 were determined by chemical methods, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry at the 24th hour after irradiation, and survival fraction of the cells was measured by colorimetric MTT assay at the 5th day after irradiation. The results showed that the concentrations of nitric oxide and GSH in iA172 were significantly higher than in A172 and EA172; the G(2)/M stage arrest induced by the C-12(6+) ion irradiation was observed in A172 and EA172 but not in iA172 at the 24th hour after exposure; and the survival fraction of iA172 was higher than that of EA172 and iA172. Data suggest that the radio-sensitivity of the A172 was reduced after the iNOS gene transfection. The increase of GSH production and the change of cellular signals such as the cell cycle control induced by nitric oxide may be involved in this radio-resistance.
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The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the haemocytes of shrimps Fenneropenaeus chinensis (Osbeck) and Marsupenaeus japonicus (Bate) was Studied after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection to determine its characteristics in response to virus infection. First, the NOS activity in haemocytes of shrimps was determined by the means of NBT reduction and changes in cell conformation. And the variations of NOS activity in shrimps after challenge with WSSV intramuscularly were evaluated through the analysis Of L-citrulline and total nitrite/nitrate (both as NO derivates) concentrations. The result showed that NOS activity in the haemocytes of F chinensis increased slightly from 0 to 12 h postchallenge, indicated by the variations Of L-Citrulline (from 11.15 +/- 0.10 to 12.08 +/- 0.64 mu M) and total nitrite/nitrate concentrations (from 10.45 +/- 0.65 to 12.67 +/- 0.52 mu M). Then it decreased sharply till the end of the experiment (84 h postchallenge), the concentrations Of L-Citrulline and total nitrite/nitrate at 84 It were 1.58 +/- 0.24 and 2.69 +/- 0.70 mu M, respectively. The LPS-stimulated NOS activity kept constant during the experiment. However, in M. japonicus, the NOS activity kept increasing during the first 72 It postchallenge, the concentrations Of L-Citrulline and total nitrite/nitrate increased from 7.82 +/- 0.77 at 0 h to 10.79 +/- 0.50 mu M at 72 h, and from 8.98 +/- 0.43 at 0 h to 11.20 +/- 0.37 mu M at 72 h, respectively. Then it decreased till the end of the experiment (216 h postchallenge), and the concentrations of L-Citrulline and total nitrite/nitrate at 216 h were 5.66 +/- 0.27 and 4.68 +/- 0.16 mu M, respectively. More importantly, an apparent increase of I-PS-stimulated NOS activity was observed in M japonicus at 48 h postchallenge, which was about 4 times higher than that in the control group of health shrimps. In correspondence with the difference of NOS activity between the two species of shrimps, the Cumulative mortalities of the shrimps were also different. All shrimps of F. chinensis in the mortality experiment died in 66 h, much more quickly than M. japonicus, Whose accumulative mortality reached 100% after 240 h. Data here reported let us hypothesize that NOS activity in the haemocytes of shrimps F chinensis and M. japonicus responses to WSSV infection differently, and this might be one of the reasons for the different susceptibility of F chinensis and M. japonicus to WSSV infection. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
The coadsorption of NO and O-2 on Ag(110) surface has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and in situ Raman spectroscopy. The existence of oxygen enhances the adsorption of NO by forming the NOx species, that is, NO2 and NO3, and the NO in turn as a promotor facilitates the cleavage of the dioxygen bond, forming the surface atomic oxygen species having the same spectral characteristics as those produced using oxygen at high pressure. The oxygen species generated by the interaction is composed of two parts. One is produced directly by the decomposition of surface NO-O-2 complex at ca 625 K, which raised an O 1s feature at 530.5 eV and is absent at ca 800 K, while the another with an O 1s binding energy of 529.2 eV emerges at higher temperatures and shows similar properties as the reported gamma-state oxygen which bound tightly on restructured silver surface. The exposure to NO and O-2 causes noticeable changes in the morphology of the Ag(110) surface and the flat terraces superseded by small (ca 0.1 mu m) pits, and particles with typical diameters of a few micrometres were formed at elevated temperatures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
A new poly(fullerene oxide) thin film material has been fabricated by thermal activation and electron bombardment on hexanitro[60]fullerene (HNF) film deposited on a An substrate, all under vacuum conditions. The reaction products in the polymerization process are analyzed by XPS, UPS, IR, TGA-MS and LDI-MS techniques. It is found that the main effect of thermal and radiation treatments is to induce cleavage of -NO bonds from HNF molecules resulted in the release of nitric oxide gas and the formation of fullerene-bound oxyradicals, C-60-C-6. Spectroscopic evidence strongly suggests that rearrangement of fullerenic nitro moieties into nitrito groups is involved in the HNF decomposition process prior to the generation of reactive oxyradical intermediates. Consequently, the intermolecular coupling reaction of these oxyradicals leads to carbon polymer networks containing oxygen-bridged fullerenes. The thermally generated polymeric thin film is stable up to 900 K. Electron bombardment is also effective in both the decomposition of -NO2 groups and the removal of -OH groups present in HNF films. UV irradiation at 365 nm alone is shown to be not as efficient for the polymer formation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Resumo:
In our previous work, bone cell networks with controlled spacing and functional intercellular gap junctions had been successfully established by using microcontact printing and self assembled monolayers technologies [Guo, X. E., E. Takai, X. Jiang, Q. Xu, G. M. Whitesides, J. T. Yardley, C. T. Hung, E. M. Chow, T. Hantschel, and K. D. Costa. Mol. Cell. Biomech. 3:95-107, 2006]. The present study investigated the calcium response and the underlying signaling pathways in patterned bone cell networks exposed to a steady fluid flow. The glass slides with cell networks were separated into eight groups for treatment with specific pharmacological agents that inhibit pathways significant in bone cell calcium signaling. The calcium transients of the network were recorded and quantitatively evaluated with a set of network parameters. The results showed that 18 alpha-GA (gap junction blocker), suramin (ATP inhibitor), and thapsigargin (depleting intracellular calcium stores) significantly reduced the occurrence of multiple calcium peaks, which were visually obvious in the untreated group. The number of responsive peaks also decreased slightly yet significantly when either the COX-2/PGE(2) or the NOS/nitric oxide pathway was disrupted. Different from all other groups, cells treated with 18 alpha-GA maintained a high concentration of intracellular calcium following the first peak. In the absence of calcium in the culture medium, the intracellular calcium concentration decreased slowly with fluid flow without any calcium transients observed. These findings have identified important factors in the flow mediated calcium signaling of bone cells within a patterned network.
Resumo:
随着现代工农业的发展,环境污染日益加剧。农用土壤作为我们赖以生存的基础,大量含砷(Arsenic, As)和铜(Copper, Cu)的化肥和农药的应用造成As、Cu及其他重金属的复合污染日趋加重。蜈蚣草作为一种天然的砷超富集植物,在清除土壤砷污染的应用中备受人们关注。然而,目前的研究多集中在蜈蚣草对单一砷污染的吸收、转运和超富集等方面,几乎没有对土壤复合污染尤其是As、Cu复合污染的的响应和生理机制的研究。本文针对As、Cu复合污染的现实,研究了不同浓度砷、铜复合污染胁迫对蜈蚣草生长和发育的影响,探讨了蜈蚣草对砷、铜复合污染抗性和富集的生理生化机制,以期为蜈蚣草在植物修复复合污染的应用提供理论基础。 主要研究结果如下: 1、以砷超富集植物蜈蚣草成熟孢子为外植体材料,建立了一套成熟的蜈蚣草孢子植株再生体系,包括配子体分化和愈伤组织分化两条途径。为蜈蚣草的生理生化机制以及将来的遗传转化奠定了基础。同时证明了蜈蚣草愈伤组织与其孢子体及配子体一样具有对砷的抗性和超富集特性以及铜抗性。 2、以组培的蜈蚣草孢子体为材料,通过比较高浓度砷、低浓度砷以及高浓度铜、低浓度铜的相互组合对孢子体毒性的差异,表明适度浓度砷可以增强蜈蚣草对铜的抗性,但高、低浓度铜都不能增强砷的抗性。同时测定了不同浓度砷、铜处理对蜈蚣草体内砷和铜的吸收分配情况,探讨了蜈蚣草对砷铜复合污染土壤的植物修复的潜在可能性 。 3、以蜈蚣草组培的配子体为材料,研究了蜈蚣草对不同浓度铜砷复合处理的生理生化响应。结果表明砷的加入可以缓解铜对蜈蚣草配子体的植物毒性,而铜的加入并没有缓解砷的植物毒性。而且随着砷浓度的提高可以显著降低铜在配子体中的积累,显著提高了配子体细胞生存能力,降低了配子体细胞膜透性,且可以改变铜砷在配子体中亚细胞定位,暗示砷对铜的积累具有拮抗作用。同时观察到适度的铜也可以降低砷在孢子体根中的积累,对砷在叶柄以及羽叶中的积累有一定的降低作用,但并不显著。 4、以蜈蚣草愈伤组织为材料,研究了蜈蚣草愈伤组织对砷和铜复合污染胁迫的生理生化响应,结果表明适度的砷可以显著提高蜈蚣草愈伤组织中抗氧化酶系统,进而提高抵御铜胁迫引起的ROS胁迫的能力而显著缓解铜对蜈蚣草愈伤组织的毒性。低浓度砷加入显著诱导POD、CAT活性的升高,提高了蜈蚣草愈伤组织抵抗ROS胁迫能力,尤其是POD与生长呈显著的正相关;SOD活性在0-1.0 mM Na3AsO4条件下并没有显著增加,暗示在相对较低的砷胁迫和铜胁迫条件下POD对蜈蚣草愈伤组织解毒起到重要作用。同时在高砷或者高铜胁迫条件下GR活性和GPx活性与之的相关系数可以达到显著水平,这说明高砷或者高铜胁迫条件下GR和GPx在蜈蚣草解毒中起到重要作用。 5、首次证明NO可能参与砷缓解铜对蜈蚣草的植物毒性的过程。发现加入0.2 μM NO加入并没有显著改善蜈蚣草砷的植物毒性,清除蜈蚣草愈伤组织内的NO后,显著增强了砷胁迫条件下对蜈蚣草愈伤组织生长的抑制作用。同时加入NO后却显著改善了蜈蚣草铜胁迫条件下愈伤组织的生长。测定了As、Cu处理后蜈蚣草愈伤组织内源NO含量的变化以及CAT抗ROS能力的变化,结果表明蜈蚣草愈伤组织NO合成显著受As诱导,但不受铜的诱导,同时内源NO浓度的升高,伴随着抵抗ROS胁迫的抗氧化的CAT活性升高。暗示砷可能是通过诱导内源NO浓度升高提高蜈蚣草愈伤组织抵抗ROS胁迫能力来缓解对铜的植物毒性。
Resumo:
花粉管是种子植物受精过程中的雄性生殖单位载体,具有典型的顶端极性生长特点,因此成为近年来研究植物细胞间相互识别、胞内外信号传递的模式系统。裸子植物花粉管与被子植物花粉管相比具有萌发时间长、生长缓慢等特点。一氧化氮(NO)作为一个重要的胞内信号分子,参与调节植物生长发育和多种生理过程,但是,有关NO对花粉管生长的作用机制目前尚不清楚。本研究以裸子植物白皮松(Pinus bungeana)花粉为材料,应用不同浓度的NO释放剂SNAP和SNP, NO清除剂cPTIO和哺乳动物一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NNA处理,对白皮松花粉萌发和花粉管伸长进行了细胞学研究,从而为进一步揭示NO调控裸子植物花粉管生长机理提供参考。 本论文首先研究了NO释放剂、清除剂及NOS抑制剂对白皮松花粉萌发和花粉管生长的影响。结果显示,SNAP和SNP能够促进白皮松花粉萌发和花粉管伸长,并具有浓度效用,但对其花粉管的形态特征无明显影响;cPTIO和L-NNA能够抑制白皮松花粉萌发和花粉管生长,并且具有浓度效应,同时还可使花粉管顶端膨大呈球形,并丧失花粉管的极性生长。运用NO特异探针DAF-2DA标记显示,SNAP和SNP处理可促进花粉管胞内NO产生;经cPTIO和L-NNA处理后,花粉管内荧光强度比对照花粉管明显减弱。上述结果表明,NO参与裸子植物花粉管极性生长,并且适量NO可以促进花粉管的生长。 用显微注射技术将Ca2+特异探针注射入白皮松花粉管,以检测白皮松花粉管胞内Ca2+浓度梯度。结果显示,SNAP和SNP处理后,NO荧光增加的同时,花粉管顶端Ca2+浓度梯度增加。与此相反,cPTIO和L-NNA处理后,NO荧光降低的同时,花粉管顶端Ca2+浓度梯度也相应降低。应用非损伤微测技术测定花粉管胞外Ca2+内流,结果显示,SNAP和SNP促进胞外Ca2+内流,而cPTIO和L-NNA则抑制胞外Ca2+内流。据此,我们推测,在白皮松花粉管中,NO可能通过调节胞外Ca2+内流来调节胞内Ca2+浓度梯度,然而,我们不能排除在NO信号传递过程中,胞内Ca2+库可能影响胞内Ca2+浓度梯度。 通过微丝特异探针标记的白皮松花粉管显示,SNAP和SNP可使花粉管顶端细微丝束解聚,而cPTIO和L-NNA处理后,花粉管中微丝聚合,尤其在花粉管顶端形成粗的微丝束,并一直延伸到花粉管的最顶端。结合上述Ca2+结果,我们认为,经NO处理后,白皮松花粉管微丝骨架的动态变化,可能是通过Ca2+浓度来进行调控的。通过FM4-64探针标记显示,正常生长白皮松花粉管胞吞作用主要集中在顶端和亚顶端,并且形成倒“V”形的分布模式,SNAP与SNP处理后荧光分布模式与对照花粉管类似,但达到饱和所用时间相对较短;而L-NNA处理后顶端膨大丧失极性的花粉管,荧光分布在膨大花粉管靠近质膜的区域,未见倒“V”形分布模式;经L-NNA处理后,顶端没有膨大的花粉管,荧光几乎均匀分布于整个花粉管,并且L-NNA处理后达到饱和的时间较对照长。上述结果表明,适量NO能够促进白皮松花粉管胞吞。 免疫抗体标记技术分析发现,对照花粉管的酯化果胶质和AGPs都集中在顶端,酸性果胶质分布在侧壁,胼胝质均匀分布在整个花粉管壁上。L-NNA处理后的花粉管,在其顶端出现酸性果胶和酯化果胶,以及有胼胝质积累,而AGPs则分布在花粉管的基部。运用傅里叶红外光谱技术(Fourier Transform Infared Spectroscopy, FTIR)技术分析白皮松花粉管顶端细胞壁成分,结果显示,SNAP处理后花粉管顶端酯化果胶增加而酸性果胶降低;与之相反,经L-NNA处理后的花粉管,其顶端酯化果胶降低而酸性果胶增加。 综上所述,在白皮松花粉管中,NO促进胞外Ca2+内流,从而维持胞内Ca2+浓度梯度,进而影响花粉管顶端微丝骨架的组装,促进囊泡运输,使花粉管顶端酯化果胶累积,最终促进花粉管的正常生长。
Resumo:
一氧化氮(NO)是重要的植物信号分子,参与许多植物生理过程。以拟南芥野生型和Atnoa1突变体为材料研究了NO在植物抗盐胁迫中的作用。 T-DNA插入AtNOA1基因的第一个外显子,使Atnoa1突变体中NOS活性大幅度下降,NO释放减少。用不同浓度的NaCl对拟南芥野生型和Atnoa1突变体进行盐胁迫处理后,Atnoa1突变体中Na+离子积累较野生型多,K+离子吸收较野生型少,从而使突变体中的Na+/K+比野生型高,对突变体造成了更大的伤害。Atnoa1突变体种子萌发和幼苗生长对盐胁迫更敏感。盐胁迫处理后,Atnoa1突变体的存活率比野生型低。无论是在正常生长条件下,还是盐胁迫条件下,Atnoa1突变体中的H2O2和TBARS含量都比野生型中高,说明Atnoa1突变体对盐胁迫和氧化胁迫都比野生型更敏感。用NOS抑制剂和NO清除剂处理拟南芥野生型,减少内源NO释放量,使其在盐胁迫条件下的Na+/K+比增高。盐胁迫处理降低了野生型体内的NOS活性,减少了NOA1蛋白的表达,DAF-2DA标记的NO荧光强度减弱。用NO供体SNP处理Atnoa1突变体,可以减少盐胁迫引起的Na+/K+比增加。以上研究结果证明NOS介导的NO合成在植物抗盐胁迫中起重要作用。 乙烯作为一种植物气体激素参与植物生长发育的许多生理生化过程。植物细胞自由钙离子([Ca2+]c)是重要信号分子,在植物应答外界信号中起非常重要的作用。外界信号通过开启植物细胞质膜的钙离子通道,使得胞外钙离子进入细胞,导致瞬间[Ca2+]c的增加,激活钙依赖型的蛋白和蛋白激酶,从而改变生理生化过程。本研究利用膜片钳和激光共聚焦显微技术,研究了外源乙烯对烟草悬浮细胞质膜Ca2+离子通道和细胞中[Ca2+]c活性的影响。乙烯供体乙烯利和乙烯合成前体ACC能够迅速诱导内向型电流,表明这些处理能开启离子通道。通过离子替代实验和离子通道的药理学分析证实乙烯利和ACC激活了一种对Ba2+, Mg2+和Ca2+等阳离子具有通透性的离子通道,La3+、Gd3+和Al3+抑制该通道的活性。乙烯受体拮抗物(1-MPP)和ACC合成酶抑制剂,能够减弱乙烯利和ACC对这种通道的活化作用,说明乙烯利和ACC是通过乙烯活化此类Ca2+离子通道。用Ca2+敏感的荧光标记物Fluo-3标记,通过激光共聚焦显微观察,发现乙烯利能够诱导烟草悬浮细胞中[Ca2+]c离子浓度的增加,而且Gd3+和BAPTA显著抑制乙烯利诱导的细胞中[Ca2+]c离子的增加。说明外源Ca2+离子通过质膜上被激活的Ca2+离子通道进入细胞,使细胞中[Ca2+]c离子浓度增加。以上结果说明,乙烯活化质膜上的Ca2+离子通道,使细胞外Ca2+离子进入细胞,导致细胞中[Ca2+]c离子浓度增加,是乙烯信号转导途径的重要步骤。
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植物根系大小和形态是决定植物吸氮能力的重要因素,而植物根系生长发育与土壤中营养元素的分布及其有效性密切相关,尤其是硝酸盐。然而目前关于硝酸盐调节植物根系生长的生理机制仍不清楚。一氧化氮(NO)是一种重要的气体信号分子,参与植物体内多种生理生化过程,包括调节根的生长发育。本研究以玉米自交系478为材料,采用营养液培养法,探讨了NO在硝酸盐调节玉米根系生长中的作用。主要结果和结论如下: 玉米幼苗在不同硝酸盐水平下生长7天后,主根伸长随着硝酸盐浓度的升高而下降;与0.01 mM硝酸盐处理下的玉米主根伸长相比,0.1 mM和1 mM硝酸盐处理对玉米主根伸长分别抑制了30%和36%。随着硝酸盐浓度的增加,玉米主根根尖过氧化氢(H2O2)含量表现出降低的趋势,而抗氧化酶,如超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)的活性则表现出增加的趋势。外源供应过氧化氢对低浓度硝酸盐(0.01 mM)和高浓度硝酸盐(10 mM)处理下的玉米根伸长都没有影响,这表明了根尖过氧化氢含量的下降不是高浓度硝酸盐抑制玉米主根伸长的原因。 NO供体硝普钠(SNP)能够缓解高浓度硝酸盐对玉米主根伸长的抑制,而对低浓度硝酸盐处理下的主根伸长没有影响,而且NO清除剂亚甲基兰(MB)和NO合成酶抑制剂Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸(L-NNA)显著抑制了低浓度硝酸盐处理下的玉米主根伸长,而对高浓度硝酸盐处理下的玉米主根伸长没有影响。用NO特异性荧光染料4,5-二氨基乙酰乙酸荧光素(DAF-2DA)检测结果表明:高浓度硝酸盐显著降低玉米根尖NO含量。而玉米根中的硝酸还原酶活性随硝酸盐浓度的增加而增加。以上结果说明,高浓度硝酸盐抑制玉米主根伸长可能是与根尖NO合成酶的下调所导致的内源NO含量的降低有关。 另外,外源生长素(IAA)能缓解高浓度硝酸盐对玉米主根伸长的抑制,同时,也增加了高浓度硝酸盐处理下玉米根中内源NO含量,而对低浓度硝酸盐处理下的玉米根中内源NO没有影响。因此推测,根尖生长素的下降导致内源NO含量的降低可能是高浓度硝酸盐抑制玉米主根伸长的原因。
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磷缺乏已成为制约世界农业生产的重要因子。植物根系的大小和形态是决定植物吸收土壤磷能力的重要因素,而且根系的生长发育与磷素的分布及其有效性密切相关。关于磷酸盐调节植物根系生长研究已有很多报道,但其生理和分子机制仍不清楚。一氧化氮 (NO) 是一种重要的气体信号分子,参与调控植物的生长发育和对多种逆境胁迫的应答反应。本文选用拟南芥为实验材料,研究探讨了NO与缺磷诱导的拟南芥根系形态变化之间的关系,主要结果如下: 用正常磷水平 (1 mM) 和低磷水平 (1 µM) 处理拟南芥幼苗,发现低磷抑制主根伸长,刺激侧根发生。外源NO供体销普纳 (SNP) 也抑制主根、刺激侧根生长,与低磷诱导根系形态变化相似。NO清除剂c-PTIO和一氧化氮合成酶 (NOS)抑制剂L-NNA均可部分减缓由低磷引起的对主根生长的抑制和对侧根的刺激作用。暗示低磷诱导的拟南芥根系形态的变化可能与NO含量的降低有关。 利用NO荧光标记物DAF-FM和激光共聚焦显微成像技术,本研究发现缺磷6 h和24 h后根细胞内源NO含量显著增加,而且NOS 抑制剂能减少低磷诱导的根细胞NO含量的增加。与正常供磷处理相比,低磷处理6 h和24 h,拟南芥根中编码与NO合成相关的基因(AtNOA1)的表达量增加,缺磷24 h后根中NOS酶活性升高。为了明确低磷诱导的NO 增加是否与硝酸还原酶(NR)介导的NO合成有关,本论文进一步研究了低磷对拟南芥硝酸还原酶活性和编码NR基因 (AtNR1和AtNR2)表达的影响。研究发现低磷处理6 h和24 h后和AtNR1和AtNR2基因的表达均没有变化,且蛭石中生长的拟南芥缺磷1个月后NR活性也没有发生变化;拟南芥的NR双突变体nia1,nia2在低磷处理24 h后,其根中的内源NO含量表现出与野生型相同的增加。因此这些研究结果表明,缺磷后拟南芥根细胞NO的含量增加主要由于NOS的活性升高,而与NR介导的NO合成无关。 已有资料表明低磷诱导植物根细胞内源过氧化氢(H2O2)分布和含量的变化。本论文研究了低磷处理对用H2O2标记物CM-H2DCFDA标记不同磷处理下的拟南芥根中的H2O2。研究发现,缺磷6 h根中H2O2的分布无明显变化,缺磷24 h后H2O2呈斑块状分布,且多集中在根尖伸长区。缺磷24 h后,叶片中的抗氧化保护酶—超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性没有明显变化。说明缺磷24 h 后产生的H2O2没有引起氧化胁迫,而是作为一种信号分子,与NO相互作用共同介导低磷胁迫的应答反应。关于NO与H2O2在低磷诱导的根形态变化中的信号转导过程还有待进一步研究。
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The ability to feed on vertebrate blood has evolved many times in various arthropod clades. Consequently, saliva of blood-feeding arthropods has proven to be a rich source of antihemostatic molecules. A variety of platelet aggregation inhibitors antagonize platelet responses to wound-generated signals, including ADP, thrombin, and collagen. Anticoagulants disrupt elements of both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Vasodilators include nitrophorins (nitric oxide storage and transport heme proteins), a variety of peptides that mimic endogenous vasodilatory neuropeptides, and proteins that catabolize or sequester endogenous vasoconstrictors. Multiple salivary proteins may be directed against each component of hemostasis, resulting in both redundancy and in some cases cooperative interactions between antihemostatic proteins. The complexity and redundancy of saliva ensures an efficient blood meal for the arthropod, but it also provides a diverse array of novel antihemostatic molecules for the pharmacologist.