Effect of the gene silencing of phosphorus transporters on phosphorus absorption across primary cultured duodenal epithelial cell monolayers of chick embryos

The aim of the study was to investigate whether phosphorus(P) transporters, type IIb sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter(NaP-IIb) and inorganic phosphate transporter 2(PiT2), were directly involved in P absorption across primary cultured duodenal epithelial cell monolayers of chick embryos. The siRNAs against NaP-IIb or PiT2 were designed, synthesized and transfected into primary cultured duodenal epithelial cells of chick embryos. Then, the inhibitory efficiency of siRNAs against NaP-IIb or PiT2 was analyzed, and the most efficacious siRNAs were selected to be used for subsequent P absorption experiments. Briefly, primary cultured duodenal epithelial cells of chick embryos were transfected with either NaP-IIb or PiT2 siRNAs and grown in confluent monolayers on transwell plates. The untransfected or transfected cell monolayers were then incubated in an uptake medium containing 0 or 0.25 mmol L^(–1) of P as KH_(2) PO_(4) to measure the P absorption across duodenal epithelial cell monolayers. The results showed that among the siRNAs designed, si-1372 and si-890 were demonstrated to be the most effective in inhibiting the NaPIIb and PiT2 expressions, respectively. Supplemental P increased(P=0.065) the protein abundance of PiT2 and enhanced(P<0.0001) P absorption in primary cultured duodenal epithelial cell of chick embryos. Furthermore, NaPIIb silencing decreased(P=0.07) P absorption across duodenal epithelial cell monolayers, while PiT2 silencing had no effect(P=0.345). It is concluded that the NaP-IIb, but not PiT2, might be directly involved in the P absorption of chick duodenal epithelial cells.

Ectopic Expression of a Phytase Gene from Medicago truncatula Barrel Medic Enhances Phosphorus Absorption in Plants

In the present study, the phosphorus-absorption capacity of transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically ex- pressing a novel phytase gene from Medicago truncatula Barrel Medic was evaluated. A full-length cDNA encoding an extracellular form of phytase was isolated from the model legume M. truncatula. The phytase gene （MtPHY1） has an open reading frame of I 632 bp predicted to encode 543 amino acids, including an N- terminal signal peptide of 27 amino acids. The genomic sequence of the MtPHY1 gene is 5 151 bp, containing seven exons interrupted by six introns. Under high-Pi （2 mmol/L） growth conditions, higher levels of MtPHY1 transcripts accumulated in the leaf and stem than in the root. The transcript level was reduced in the stem and increased in the root, with no obvious changes in the hybridization signal detected in the leaf under IowPi （10 pmol/L） conditions. Chimeric transgenes were constructed by placing MtPHY1 under the control of the constitutive CaMV35S promoter and the root-specific MtPT1 promoter. Phytase activities in root apoplast of transgenic Arabidopsis were 12.3- to 16.2-fold of that in control plants. The phytase expressed was secreted into the rhizosphere, as demonstrated by HPLC analysis of phytate degradation by root exudates. Ectopic expression of MtPHY1 in Arabidopsis, leading to significant improvement in organic phosphorus absorption and plant growth, indicated that MtPHY1 has great potential for improving plant phosphorus absorption and phytoremediation.

Ultrafast nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction in few-layer oxidized black phosphorus

We experimentally investigated the nonlinear optical response in few-layer oxidized black phosphorus(OBP) by the femtosecond Z-scan measurement technique, and found that OBP not only possesses strong ultrafast saturable absorption but also a nonlinear self-defocusing effect that is absent in black phosphorus(BP). The saturable absorption property originates mainly from the direct band structure, which is still maintained in OBP. The emergence of self-defocusing might originate from the combined consequences of the oxygen-induced defects in BP. Our experimental findings might constitute the first experimental evidence on how to dynamically tune its nonlinear property, offering an inroad in tailoring its optical properties through chemical modification(oxidation, introducing defects, etc.). The versatile ultrafast nonlinear optical properties(saturable absorption and self-defocusing) imply a significant potential of the layered OBP in the development of unprecedented optoelectronic devices, such as mode lockers, optical switches, laser beam shapers, and wavelength converters.