Genetic diversity of ornamentalAllium species and cultivars assessed with isozymes

The aim of the study was to verify the similarity of 13 species and 5 cultivars of ornamental alliums and classify them into groups based on morphological and isozyme variation. The work embraced: Allium aflatunense, A. caeruleum, A. christophii, A. giganteum, A. karataviense, A. moly, A. nigrum, A. pyrenaicum, A. rosenbachianum, A. schubertii, A. siculum (syn. Nectaroscordum siculum), A. sphaerocephalon, A. strictum, A. stipitatum 'Album', A. 'Ivory Queen', A. 'Lucy Ball', A. 'Mont Blanc', and A. 'Purple Sensation'. Scape length, inflorescence diameter, and flowering period were recorded. Isozyme marker polymorphism was assessed by starch gel electrophoresis. Eight polymorphic isozyme systems (AAT, GPI, PGM, ALAT, ACP, DIAP, ALDO, PGD) were selected from 16 analysed in the taxa. Besides the differences between the taxa, the isozymes revealed intraspecific polymorphism in 5 systems. A total of 37 markers were obtained and used for dendrogram construction. The most similar taxa were A. karataviense with A. 'Ivory Queen', and A. karataviense with A. christophii (similarity level 0.78). A high similarity of 11 taxa belonging to one group (A. aflatunense, A. christophii, A. giganteum, A. karataviense, A. nigrum, A. schubertii, A. 'Ivory Queen', A. 'Lucy Ball', A. stipitatum 'Album', A. 'Mont Blanc', A. 'Purple Sensation') suggested that this group could be identified with the subgenus Melanocrommyum.     

Adenosine A1 and A2A receptor regulation of protein phosphatase 2A in the murine heart

Adenosine plays a role in regulating the contractile function of the heart. This includes a positive ionotropic action via the adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) and an inhibition of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor-induced ionotropy (antiadrenergic action) via the adenosine A(1) receptor (A(1)R). Phosphatase activity has also been shown to influence contractile function by affecting the level of protein phosphorylation. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) plays a significant role in mediating the A(1)R antiadrenergic effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of A(2A)R and A(1)R on the activities of PP2A in hearts obtained from wild-type (WT) and A(2A)R knockout (A(2A)R-KO) mice. PP2A activities were examined in myocardial particulate and cytoplasmic extract fractions. Treatment of wild-type hearts with the A(1)R agonist CCPA increased the total PP2A activity and increased the particulate:cytoplasmic PP2A activity ratio. Treatment with the A(2A)R agonist CGS-21680 (CGS) decreased the total PP2A activity and decreased the particulate:cytoplasmic PP2A activity ratio. This indicated a movement of PP2A activity between cell fractions. The effect of CCPA was inhibited by CGS. In A(2A)R-KO hearts the response to A(1)R activation was markedly enhanced whereas the response to A(2A)R activation was absent. These data show that A(2A)R and A(1)R regulate PP2A activity, thus suggesting an important mechanism for modulating myocardial contractility.     

Taxonomy and preliminary phylogeny of the parasitic genus Apocephalus, subgenus Mesophora (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract. The species of Apocephalus , subgenus Mesophora , are revised and twenty-eight species are recognized, including the following twenty-two new to science: from the Nearctic Region A. brunnipes, A. gemursus, A. pristinus, A. setialvus and A. unitarsus , and from the Neotropical Region A. absentis, A. adustus, A. anfractus, A. angustistylus, A. bisetus, A. brevicercus, A. curtus, A. gracilis, A. hansoni, A. leptotarsus, A. longistylus, A. micrepelis, A. moraviensis, A. prolatus, A. trisetus, A. tritarsus and A. truncaticercus. Additionally, three species known only from female specimens are described but not formally named. A lectotype is designated for A. mortifer Borgmeier, and immature stages of A. borealis, A. antennatus and A. mortifer are described. Unlike larvae of other Apocephalus species, all of which are parasites of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), those of Mesophora species are parasites of various other hosts.     

Occurrence of indole alkaloids among secondary metabolites of soil Aspergillus

The occurrence of indole alkaloids among secondary fungal metabolites was studied in species of the genus Aspergillus, isolated from soils that were sampled in various regions of Russia (a total of 102 isolates of the species A. niger, A. phoenicis, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. versicolor, A. ustus, A. clavatus, and A. ochraceus). Clavine alkaloids were represented by fumigaclavine, which was formed by A. fumigatus. alpha-Cyclopiazonic acid was formed by isolates of A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. versicolor, A. phoenicis, and A. clavatus. The occurrence of indole-containing diketopiperazine alkaloids was documented for isolates of A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. clavatus, and A. ochraceus. No indole-containing metabolites were found among the metabolites of A. ustus or A. niger.     

中南半岛紫金牛科植物志预报

紫金牛科是一个典型的热带分布科,中南半岛种类非常丰富。Ｐｉｔａｒｄ（１９３０）在“Ｆｌｏｒｅ Ｇｅｎｅｒａｌｅ ｄｅ Ｌ＇Ｉｎｄｏｃｈｉｎｅ”中记录了６属１０９种。此后,对这一地区的种类无人作过全面深入的研究。最近作者在编研《柬埔寨、老挝和越南植物志》的过程中,对紫金牛科作了全面的修订,被确认的种类增加到７属１４２种,其中包括紫金牛属,酸藤子属和杜茎山属的３０个新种,１０个新变种,另外还有紫金牛属     

Characterization of a novel acidic protein of 38 kDa, A0, in yeast ribosomes which immunologically cross-reacts with the 13 kDa acidic ribosomal proteins, A1/A2

A new ribosomal protein of 38 kDa, named A0, was detected in yeast ribosomes on immunoblotting. The antibody used here was that against A1/A2, 13 kDa acidic ribosomal proteins which cross-reacted with A0. Although A0 and A1/A2 share common antigenic determinants, they differ in the following biochemical properties. While A1/A2 could be extracted from ribosomes with ethanol and ammonium sulfate, A0 could not. A0 gave two protein spots in a less acidic region than for A1/A2 on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The heterogeneity observed for A0 was ascribable to phosphorylation because one spot disappeared after treatment of the ribosomes with phosphatase. The syntheses of A0 and A1/A2 are directed by different mRNA species, as judged with a cell-free translation system, ruling out the possibility that A0 is a precursor of A1/A2. Although a mammalian ribosomal protein equivalent to A0 has been shown to be associated with 13 kDa acidic proteins in the cytoplasm, essentially no A0 was detected on immunoblotting in the yeast cytosol, while a small but detectable amount of A1/A2 was present. The possibility that A0 is a eukaryotic equivalent of L10 of Escherichia coli is discussed.     

A revision of the genus Annesorhiza (Apiaceae)

The genus Annesorhiza is revised and twelve species are recognized, of which two are newly described: A. altiscapa, A. burttii, A. flbrosa, A. flagellifolia, A. grandiflora, A. lateriflora, A. latifolia, A. macrocarpa, A. nuda, A. schlechteri, A. thunbergii and A. wilmsii. A. marlothii is reduced to synonymy under A. lateriflora , a species hitherto poorly known as Peucedanum lateriflorum. A. thunbergii is only known from the type specimen. A. elata, A. hirsuta and A. villosa are sunk under A. grandiflora. A. fúicaulis has recently been excluded from Annesorhiza on the basis of fruit structure. A key to the species is provided, an update on the nomenclature, typification of names and distribution maps are provided for all the species.     

Selective inactivation or reconstitution of adenosine A2A receptors in bone marrow cells reveals their significant contribution to the development of ischemic brain injury

Inactivation of the adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) consistently protects against ischemic brain injury and other neural insults, but the relative contribution of A(2A)Rs on peripheral inflammatory cells versus A(2A)Rs expressed on neurons and glia is unknown. We created a chimeric mouse model in which A(2A)Rs on bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) were selectively inactivated or reconstituted by bone marrow transplantation. Selective reconstitution of A(2A)Rs on BMDCs (A(2A)R knockout mice transplanted with wild-type bone marrow cells) largely reinstates ischemic brain injury in global A(2A)R knockout mice. Conversely, selective inactivation of A(2A)Rs on BMDCs (wild-type mice transplanted with A(2A)R knockout bone marrow cells) attenuates infarct volumes and ischemia-induced expression of several proinflammatory cytokines in the brain, but exacerbates ischemic liver injury. These results indicate that the A(2A)R-stimulated cascade in BMDCs is an important modulator of ischemic brain injury and that ischemic brain and liver injuries are regulated distinctly by A(2A)Rs on BMDCs.     

Alanine scanning mutants of the HIV gp41 loop

Based on mutagenesis and structural studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope proteins, the loop region of gp41 is thought to directly interact with gp120. The importance of the HIV gp41 loop region to envelope function has been systematically examined by alanine scanning of all gp41 loop residues and the subsequent characterization of the mutagenic effects on viral entry, envelope expression, envelope processing, and gp120 association with gp41. With respect to the wild-type gp41, mutational effects on viral entry fall into four classes as follows: 1) little or no effect (G594A, S599A, G600A, K601A, N611A, S615A, N616A, and L619A); 2) significantly reduced entry (I595A, L602A, I603A, V608A, and K617A); 3) abolished entry (L593A, W596A, G597A, T606A, W610A, W614A, S618A, and I622A); and 4) enhanced entry (T605A, P609A, S613A, E620A, and Q621A). The reduced functionality of many mutants was apparently due to either disruption of envelope processing (L593A and T606A), viral incorporation of the envelope (W610A, W614A, and I662A), or increased dissociation of gp120 (W596A, G597A, and S618A). The extreme sensitivity of the gp120-gp41 interaction to alanine substitutions (e.g. the G597A and S618A mutants are relatively conservative substitutions) suggests that this association is an attractive and novel target for future drug discovery efforts.     

17种桤木属植物的亲缘关系研究及模糊种鉴定

利用AFLP分子标记结合形态学指标,采用UPGMA法进行聚类分析,对桤木属17个种57份材料进行了亲缘关系研究及一个模糊种鉴定。结果表明：7对引物扩增出369条带,其中346个多态位点,多态位点百分率为93.77%;根据AFLP标记位点聚类分析,在相似系数为0.782时,17种桤木属植物可分为4类,第一类为日本桤木(Alnus japonica);第二类为绿桤木(A.viridis)、意大利桤木(A.cordata)、欧洲桤木(A.glutinosa)、模糊种、四川桤木(A.cremastogyne)、江南桤木(A.trabeculosa)、斑点桤木(A.incana ssp.rugosa)、东北亚灰桤木(A.hirsuta)、台湾桤木(A.formosana)、日本特有桤木(A.firma)和裂叶桤木(A.sinuata);第三类为灰桤木(A.incana)、红桤木(A.rubra)及薄叶桤木(A.tenifolia);第四类喜马拉雅灰桤(A.nitida)和尼泊尔桤木(A.nepalensis)。根据形态学聚类分析,在距离为1.4时可分为三类,意大利桤木(A.cordata)单独为一类;日本桤木(A.japonica)、台湾桤木(A.formosana)、喜马拉雅灰桤木(A.nitida)、江南桤木(A.trabeculosa)和东北亚灰桤木(A.hirsuta);第三类包括模糊种、灰桤木(A.incana)、斑点桤木(A.incana ssp.rugosa)、裂叶桤木(A.sinuata)、红桤木(A.rubra)、欧洲桤木(A.glutinosa)、绿桤木(A.viridis)、四川桤木(A.cremastogyne)、薄叶桤木(A.tenuifolia)和尼泊尔桤木(A.nepalensis)。经形态特征和AFLP分析鉴定模糊种为欧洲桤木。形态学聚类与AFLP聚类结果基本一致,但仍存在一定的差异,说明桤木属植物遗传背景丰富,种的分子分类地位和形态学分类地位具有一定的差异。     

The glio-toxic mechanism of α-aminoadipic acid on cultured astrocytes

The mechanism of action of the glutamate analogue α-aminoadipic (A A A) acid was investigated in terms of its toxicity to cultured astrocytes. A A A was more toxic to type 1 astrocytes than type 2 astrocytes. Also the higher toxicity of the L-isomer as compared to the D-isomer was seen on type 1 astrocytes but not type 2. The toxicity of A A A can be reduced by co-culture of type 1 astrocytes with microglia. This inhibition may be due to glutamate release by microglia. No such effect is seen for type 2 astrocytes. The major uptake route for A A A by type 1 astrocytes is through the sodium dependent glutamate port. Both isomers of A A A are toxic to dividing astrocytes. The D-isomer appears to be toxic only for mitotic cells. The mechanism of this toxicity is protein synthesis dependent. It is suggested that A A A is toxic to mitotic astrocytes by interference with protein synthesis needed for cell division. D-A A A as opposed to L-A A A may prove a valuable tool for investigation of astrocyte proliferation in development and disease.     

中国列蛾属分类研究及二十三新种记述(鳞翅目,列蛾科)

报道了中国列蛾属Autosticha 33种昆虫,其中有23新种和中国3新纪录种.新种包括:连斑列蛾A.conjugiopuncla sp.nov.,茨坪列蛾A.cipingensis sp.nov.,小喜列蛾A.microphilodema sp.nov.,多斑列蛾A.maculosa sp.nov.,勐仑列蛾A.menglunica sp.nov.,粗鳞列蛾A.squarrosa sp.nov.,南昌列蛾A.nanchangensis sp.nov.,淡黄列蛾A.flavida sp.nov.,二瓣列蛾A.valvifida sp.nov.,复瓣列蛾A.complexivalvula sp.nov.,迷列蛾A.fallaciosa sp.nov.,直斑列蛾A.rectipunctata sp.nov.,齿瓣列蛾A.valvidentata sp.nov.,天目山列蛾A.tianmushana sp.nov.,异域列蛾A.heteramalla sp.nov.,沈氏列蛾A.shenaesp.nov,五峰列蛾A.wufengensis sp.nov.,奇异列蛾A.mirabilis sp.nov.,弓瓣列蛾A.arcivalvaris sp.nov.,刺列蛾A.oxyacantha sp.nov.,棒列蛾A.bacilliformis.sp.nov.,赤水列蛾A.chishuiensis sp. nov.和涉县列蛾A.shexianicasp.nov..中国新纪录种有:和列蛾A.modicella(Christoph,1882),粗点列蛾A.pachysticta(Meyrick,1936)和截列蛾A.truncicola Ueda,1997.此外,还报道了1个新组合--喜列蛾A.philodema(Meyrick,1938),comb.nov..文中提供了新种的外生殖器特征图.模式标本保存在南开大学生物系.     

II genere Amanita Pers. ex Fr. nei dintorni di Roma

Abstract

The genus Amanita Pers. ex Fr. in Rome neighbourood. — The presence of the genus Amanita in Rome neighbourood, small district, with vegetation and soil diversified, has been studied. The list includes 30 entities (A. caesarea, A. argentea°, A. nivalis, A. vaginata, A. vaginata var. cinerea°, A. fulva, A. crocea°, A. umbrinolutea°, A. lividapallescens°, A. strangulata, A. junquillea, A. eliae°, A. muscaria, A. pantherina, A. alba, A. phalloides, A. phalloides var. alba, A. verna, A. virosa, A. citrina, A. citrina var. alba°, A. porphyria°, A. rubescens, A. spissa. A. excelsa, A. aspera, A. vittadini, A. codinae°, A. strobiliformis, A. boudieri°), 11 new also for latium (°), among these A. codinae and A. vaginata var. cinerea hitherto not found in Italy. At last, the genus in whole region is examined.     

Audiovisuals Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Vagrant Woman . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Two Brothers . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Wrong Kid . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
The Informant . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
After the Game . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
901/904 . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
An Investigation of a Hit and Run . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
A Legal Discussion of a Hit and Run . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Nothing Hurt but My Pride . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Youth and the Man of Property . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Manifold Controversy . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Appitsch and the Drunk . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Henry is Drunk . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
T-Group . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
You Wasn't Loitering . A film by JOHN MARSHALL     

Interaction between S100A8/A9 and annexin A6 is involved in the calcium-induced cell surface exposition of S100A8/A9

The calcium binding S100A8/A9 complex (MRP8/14; calgranulin) is considered as an important proinflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation and has recently gained attention as a molecular marker up-regulated in various human cancers. Here, we report that S100A8/A9 is expressed in breast cancer cell lines and is up-regulated by interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in SKBR3 and MCF-7 cells. We identified the phospholipid-binding protein annexin A6 as a potential S100A8/A9 binding protein by affinity chromatography. This finding was verified by Southwestern overlay experiments and by coimmunoprecipitation with the S100A8/A9-specific monoclonal antibody 27E10. Immunocytochemical experiments demonstrated that S100A8/A9 and annexin A6 colocalize in SKBR3 breast cancer cells predominantly in membranous structures. Upon calcium influx both S100A8/A9 and annexin A6 are exposed on the cell surface of SKBR3 cells. Subcellular fractionation studies suggested that after A23187 stimulation membrane association of S100A8/A9 is not enhanced. However, both S100A8/A9 and annexin A6 are exposed on the cell surface of SKBR3 cells upon calcium influx. Experiments with artificial liposomes indicated that S100A8/A9 is able to associate with membranes independently of both annexin A6 and independently of calcium. Finally, cell surface expression of S100A8/A9 could not be observed in A23187-treated A431 and HaCaT cells. Both cell lines are known to be devoid of annexin A6. Repression of annexin A6 expression by small interfering RNA in SKBR3 cells abolishes the cell surface exposition of S100A8/A9 upon calcium influx, suggesting that annexin A6 contributes to the calcium-dependent cell surface exposition of the membrane associated-S100A8/A9 complex.     

Recombination and mutation of class II histocompatibility genes in wild mice

We have compared the tryptic peptide fingerprints of the A alpha, A beta, E alpha, and E beta subunits encoded by four wild-derived H-2 complexes expressing A molecules closely related to Ak. The A molecules encoded by these Ak-related mice have A alpha and A beta subunits that differ from A alpha k and A beta k by less than 10% of their tryptic peptides. Comparisons among the four wild-derived A molecules suggested that these contemporary A alpha and A beta alleles arose by sequential mutational events from common ancestor A alpha and A beta alleles. These results suggest that A alpha and A beta may co-evolve as an A beta A alpha gene duplex in wild mice. Tryptic peptide fingerprint comparisons of the E beta gene linked to these Ak-related A beta A alpha gene duplexes indicate that two encode E beta d-like subunits, whereas another encodes an E beta s-like subunit. These results strongly suggest that the A beta A alpha duplex and E beta recombine in wild mouse populations. The significantly different evolutionary patterns exhibited by the class II genes encoding A vs E molecules are discussed.     

七种蒿属植物种子重量形状及萌发特性的比较研究

在实验室条件下 ,对 7种蒿属植物种子 (差巴嘎蒿、乌丹蒿、万年蒿、大籽蒿、黄蒿、野艾蒿和冷蒿 )进行重量、形状及萌发特性的比较研究。沙生先锋植物乌丹蒿和差巴嘎蒿的种子重量较大、形状扁平 ,这些特征是植物对流沙环境进化的适应机制之一。黄蒿种子小且呈圆形 ,具有持久土壤种子库 ,因此黄蒿抗干扰能力较强。 7种蒿属植物有 3种萌发格局 :大籽蒿、万年蒿、差巴嘎蒿和冷蒿的萌发前期快 ,后期平缓 ;野艾蒿和黄蒿整个萌发过程平缓 ;乌丹蒿早期和后期萌发平缓 ,中间快。乌丹蒿推迟萌发高峰是它比差巴嘎蒿更适应流沙环境的机制之一。从种子萌发格局分析 ,黄蒿种子具有生理后熟或休眠机制 ,大籽蒿种子萌发是典型的机会主义。黄蒿、野艾蒿和冷蒿种子具有风险分摊的萌发机制。种子重量和形状与发芽率之间无相关性 ,重量和形状则显著相关。     

Adenosine A2A receptor is involved in cell surface expression of A2B receptor

The A2A and A2B adenosine receptors (A2AR and A2BR) are implicated in many physiological processes. However, the mechanisms of their intracellular maturation and trafficking are poorly understood. In comparative studies of A2AR versus A2BR expression in transfected cells, we noticed that the levels of cell surface expression of A2BR were significantly lower than those of A2AR. A large portion of the A2BR was degraded by the proteasome. Studies of cell surface expression of A2BR chimeric molecules in transfectants suggested that A2BR does not have the dominant forward transport signal for export from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface. A2BR surface expression was increased in A2BR chimeras where the A2BR carboxyl terminus (CT) was replaced or fused with the A2AR CT. Co-transfection of A2AR with A2BR enhanced surface expression of A2BR though the F(X)(6)LL motif in the A2AR CT. The requirements of A2AR expression for better A2BR cell surface expression was not only established in transfectants but also confirmed by observations of much lower levels of A2BR-induced intracellular cAMP accumulation in response to A2BR-activating ligand in splenocytes from A2AR(-/-) mice than in wild type mice. The results of mechanistic studies suggested that poor A2BR expression at the cell surface might be accounted for mainly by the lack of a dominant forward transport signal from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane; it is likely that A2BR forms a hetero-oligomer complex for better function.