Identification and partial characterization of α2-macroglobulin from the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

α₂-Macroglobulin (α₂-M), a large molecular mass proteinase-binding protein, was identified in plasma from tuatara (Sphenodon), a rare reptile endemic to New Zealand. In this genus, α₂-M constitutes 11–13% of total plasma protein (∼2.2–3.9 mg/ml). Analysis of blood samples collected at approximately monthly intervals from individual tuatara indicated that the plasma level of α₂-M remains fairly constant. The subunits of tuatara α₂-M have an apparent molecular mass of ∼160 kDa as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the intact protein is an oligomer that contains inter-chain disulfide bonds. N-terminal sequence analyses of tuatara α₂-M revealed a distinct similarity to α-macroglobulins of other vertebrates and that at least two types of α₂-M subunits are present in plasma of tuatara.     

马尾松R2R3-MYB基因特征及进化和表达分析

MYB类转录因子在植物生长发育、代谢、应答生物胁迫和非生物胁迫的响应等生物过程发挥重要作用。为探究马尾松R2R3-MYB基因结构及功能,该研究以转录组数据为研究区域,从中筛选获得了17个马尾松R2R3-MYB基因,利用生物信息学对基因进行理化性质、系统进化树等分析,同时利用荧光定量PCR技术分析基因的组织特异性以及在花发育时期和非生物胁迫下的表达模式。结果表明：(1)17个PmMYBs亚细胞定位于细胞核,均无跨膜结构,且均含有Motif1、Motif2保守基序。系统发育进化树将马尾松PmMYBs划分为9个亚家族,且与火炬松、白云杉等裸子针叶植物关系较近。(2)17个基因均属于组成型表达,但在不同组织的表达量不同;所有基因均参与了花发育和非生物胁迫,不同基因在花发育不同时期的表达存在差异,有7个基因可能参与了雌雄性状转变;大部分基因响应非生物胁迫上调表达,但响应胁迫的时间存在差异;少数基因在胁迫中下调表达,尤其是PmMYB11基因在所有胁迫中均明显下调表达。该研究较系统地分析了马尾松R2R3-MYB基因的结构特征、系统进化及其在花发育时期和非生物胁迫下的表达模式,为深入探究马尾松R2R3...     

Dissociation of Bimolecular αIIbβ3-Fibrinogen Complex under a Constant Tensile Force

The regulated ability of integrin αIIbβ3 to bind fibrinogen plays a crucial role in platelet aggregation, adhesion, and hemostasis. Employing an optical-trap-based electronic force clamp, we studied the thermodynamics and kinetics of αIIbβ3-fibrinogen bond formation and dissociation under constant unbinding forces, mimicking the forces of physiologic blood shear on a thrombus. The distribution of bond lifetimes was bimodal, indicating that the αIIbβ3-fibrinogen complex exists in two bound states with different mechanical stability. The αIIbβ3 antagonist, abciximab, inhibited binding without affecting the unbinding kinetics, whereas Mn²⁺ biased the αIIbβ3-fibrinogen complex to the strong bound state with reduced off-rate. The average bond lifetimes decreased exponentially with increasing pulling force from ∼5 pN to 50 pN, suggesting that in this force range the αIIbβ3-fibrinogen interactions are classical slip bonds. We found no evidence for catch bonds, which is consistent with the known lack of shear-enhanced platelet adhesion on fibrinogen-coated surfaces. Taken together, these data provide important quantitative and qualitative characteristics of αIIbβ3-fibrinogen binding and unbinding that underlie the dynamics of platelet adhesion and aggregation in blood flow.     

凌云沼虾(Macrobrachium lingyunense)

凌云沼虾(Macrobrachium lingyunense u,Cai & Clarke 2006)(封面图片)是一种典型的洞穴沼虾.眼睛极度退化,步足等外部形态特征及其他生物学特性也显示出真洞穴生物(troglobiont)的特征,包括缺乏体色素、附肢延长、繁殖无季节性、耗氧量降低、新陈代谢缓慢等.     

汾河中上游湿地植被β多样性

探讨和揭示群落构建机制(生态位理论和中性理论)是生态学和生物地理学研究的热点和难点之一。研究β多样性格局及其与空间距离和环境异质性的关系为解释群落构建机制提供了一定的理论依据,以往群落β多样性的研究主要集中于物种组成的差异性,对种间在进化关系和功能属性方面的差异则关注较少。在野外调查的基础上,分析了汾河中上游湿地植被Tβ(taxonβ-diversity)、Pβ(phylogeneticβ-diversity)和Fβ(functionalβ-diversity)多样性格局及其与空间距离和生境异质性的关系。结果表明:(1)随着样地间距离的增加,Tβ、Pβ和Fβ整体上表现出逐渐增加的趋势,即表现出群落的距离衰减效应。(2)土壤因子中,TP是影响样地间Tβ、Pβ和Fβ的主要因子(P0.05);p H、TOC和TN对Tβ、Pβ和Fβ的影响均未达到显著水平(P0.05)。(3)由于受到空间扩散限制和生境异质性的影响,样地间β多样性表现出较大的差异,Tβ(0.66—1)、Pβ(0.42—0.85)和Fβ(0.51—0.94)。(4)尽管Tβ、Pβ和Fβ反映了多样性的不同方面,但三者之相关性极显著(P0.01);(5)对Tβ、Pβ和Fβ多样性格局及其与空间距离和生境异质性的关系进行研究,表明环境因子和扩散限制共同决定着β多样性的格局,即群落的构建机制由生态位理论和中性理论共同主导。     

香菜CsEF 1α基因克隆与表达分析

翻译延伸因子EF 1α(elongation factor 1 alpha)是细胞中最丰富的蛋白质之一,其在确保mRNA正确解码以产生细胞蛋白质方面发挥重要作用。该研究采用RT PCR扩增方法克隆香菜CsEF 1α基因序列,利用生物信息学对CsEF 1α基因结构、序列特征及系统进化等进行分析,并采用qPCR探究CsEF 1α基因在香菜不同生长时期和非生物胁迫下的表达模式,为进一步揭示EF 1α基因调控机制的研究奠定基础。结果显示：(1)成功克隆获得香菜CsEF 1α基因序列;CsEF 1α基因包含1个1 344 bp的开放阅读框,编码447个氨基酸,分子式为C₂₂₀₂H₃₅₄₄N₅₉₄O₆₄₄S₂₀,蛋白质分子量为49.29 kD,等电点为9.12;氨基酸序列组成中赖氨酸数量最多(49个,占11.0%),色氨酸数量最少(3个,占0.7%);属碱性蛋白。(2)CsEF 1α蛋白主要由无规则卷曲(36.91%)和α 螺旋(30.43%)构成,定位于细胞质;系统进化树分析显示,CsEF 1α与胡萝卜、野生番茄、青蒿素和非洲菊的亲缘关系较接近;启动子分析包括4种植物生长发育元件、3种激素响应元件和3种胁迫响应元件。(3)qRT PCR结果显示,CsEF 1α基因的表达量随着香菜生长发育时间的延长而升高,并且与转录丰度的变化一致;CsEF 1α基因对4种不同非生物胁迫的响应表达模式有所差异;随着胁迫时间的延长,在盐胁迫下CsEF 1α基因表现出先升高后降低趋势,而在低温、高温和干旱胁迫下表现出先降低再升高的趋势。研究表明,CsEF 1α基因参与了香菜对非生物胁迫的应答,在香菜生长发育和非生物胁迫中具有重要调控作用。     

A simple method for preparation of valency hybrid hemoglobins, (α3+β2+)2 and (α2+β3+)2

The improved methods for the preparation of valency hybrid hemoglobins, (α³⁺β²⁺)₂ and (α²⁺β³⁺)₂ were presented. The (α³⁺β²⁺)₂ valency hybrid was separated from the solutions of partially reduced methemoglobin with ascorbic acid, by using CM 32 column chromatography. The (α²⁺β³⁺)₂ valency hybrid was also isolated from hemoglobin solutions, which were partially oxidized with ferricyanide, by chromatography on CM 32 column. These valency hybrid hemoglobins were found to be single on isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. Present procedures are very simple and are suitable for the bulk preparation of (α³⁺β²⁺)₂ and (α²⁺β³⁺)₂ valency hybrids.     

Molecular Mechanism of Resistance of Equine (Equus caballus) Platelets to α2-Adrenergic Regulation

Adrenaline is a weak aggregating agonist for human platelets acting through G-protein-coupled α₂-adrenoceptors to inhibit adenylate cyclase and thus reduce cyclic AMP levels. Studies of equine platelets have shown that adrenaline is unable to promote their aggregation. We now confirm that adrenaline is without effect on equine platelet aggregation and demonstrate that it is also without effect on equine platelet membrane adenylate cyclase activity. We have previously shown that equine platelet membranes contain conventionally regulated adenylate cyclase activity, with both stimulatory ligands (forskolin and PGE₁) and inhibitory ligands (collagen and PAF) each showing substantial and dose-dependent effects. We now show, in Western blots, that equine platelet membranes contain G proteins, including G_i2 (which mediates inhibition of adenylate cyclase by adrenaline in human platelets), G_i3, G_s, and G_q. Hence, all the necessary components and responses are in place in equine platelets to provide for a conventional role for cyclic AMP and adenylate cyclase in modulating platelet aggregation. The basis for the failure of adrenaline, unlike other ligands, to deliver such a signal, appears to be a marked lack of α₂-adrenoceptors. This is supported by the low receptor density we found in idazoxan binding studies.     

Purification and Comparison of β-1,3-Glucan Binding Protein From White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

A β-glucan binding protein (BGBP) was identified in both white (Penaeus vannamei) and blue shrimp (P. stylirostris) plasma. White shrimp BGBP was purified by affinity chromatography using immobilized laminarin, and its molecular and biological properties were described. White shrimp BGBP is a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 100 kDa, similar to those described for other crustacean BGBPs. White and blue shrimp BGBPs can be detected with antisera against crayfish BGBP and brown shrimp BGBP. Both amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence are markedly similar to brown shrimp (P. californiensis) and crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) BGBP, indicating that this recognition protein is present in freshwater and marine crustaceans.     

Der Bienenfresser(Merops apiaster L.) in ?sterreich

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The impact of different chelating leaving groups on the substitution kinetics of mononuclear PtII(1,2- trans - R , R -diaminocyclohexane)(X–Y) complexes

A set of three oxaliplatin derivatives containing 1,2-trans-R,R-diaminocyclohexane (dach) as a spectator ligand and different chelating leaving groups X–Y, viz., [Pt(dach)(O,O-cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylate)], or Pt(dach)(CBDCA), [Pt(dach)(N,O-glycine)]⁺, or Pt(dach)(gly), and [Pt(dach)(N,S-methionine)]⁺, or Pt(dach)(l-Met), where l-Met is l-methionine, were synthesized and the crystal structure of Pt(dach)(gly) was determined by X-ray diffraction. The effect of the leaving group on the reactivity of the resulting Pt(II) complexes was studied for the nucleophiles thiourea, glutathione (GSH) and l-Met under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature, using UV–vis spectrophotometric techniques. ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to follow the substitution of the leaving group by guanosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP²⁻) under second-order conditions. The rate constants indicate for all reactions a direct substitution of the X–Y chelate by the selected nucleophiles, thereby showing that the nature of the chelate, viz., O–O (CBDCA²⁻), N–O (glycine) or S–N (l-Met), respectively, plays an important role in the kinetic and mechanistic behavior of the Pt(II) complex. The k ₁ values for the reaction with thiourea, l-Met, GSH and 5′-GMP²⁻ were found to be as follows (10³ k ₁, 37.5 °C, M⁻¹ s⁻¹): Pt(dach)(CBDCA) 61 ± 2, 21.6 ± 0.1, 23 ± 1, 0.352 ± 0.002; Pt(dach)(gly) 82 ± 3, 6.2 ± 0.2, 37 ± 1, 1.77 ± 0.01; Pt(dach)(l-Met) (thiourea, GSH) 62 ± 2, 24 ± 1. The activation parameters for all reactions studied suggest an associative substitution mechanism. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Characterization of an acid-labile, thermostable β-glycosidase from Thermoplasma acidophilum

A recombinant putative β-galactosidase from Thermoplasma acidophilum was purified as a single 57 kDa band of 82 U mg⁻¹. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was 114 kDa as a dimer. Maximum activity was observed at pH 6.0 and 90°C. The enzyme was unstable below pH 6.0: at pH 6 its half-life at 75°C was 28 days but at pH 4.5 was only 13 h. Catalytic efficiencies decreased as p-nitrophenyl(pNP)-β-d-fucopyranoside (1067) > pNP-β-d-glucopyranoside (381) > pNP-β-d-galactopyranoside (18) > pNP-β-d-mannopyranoside (11 s⁻¹ mM⁻¹), indicating that the enzyme was a β-glycosidase.     

Coevolution of actin and associated proteins: an α-actinin-like protein in a cyanobacterium (Spirulina platensis)

Actin, together with associated proteins, such as myosin, cross-linking or capping proteins, has been observed in all eukaryotic cells. Presence of actin or actin-like proteins has also been reported in prokaryotic organisms belonging to the cyanobacteria. Our aim was first to extend the characterization of an actin-like protein to another prokaryotic cell, i.e. Spirulina, then to compare the antigenic reactivity of this new protein with that of Synechocystis and skeletal actins. We observed that some of the conserved antigenic epitopes corresponded to actin regions known to interact with cross-linking proteins. We also report for the first time that α-actinin and filamin purified from chicken gizzard both interact with a prokaryotic actin-like protein. Finally, we searched for the occurrence of a cross-linking protein in these cyanobacteria and identified a 105-kDa protein as an α-actinin-like protein using specific antibodies.     

Syntheses of (14β,17α)-14-Hydroxy- and (14β,17α)-2,14-Dihydroxyestradiols and Their Activities

Structure 1 is proposed for the Inagami-Tamura endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF), and (14β,17α)-14-hydroxy- and (14β, 17α)-2,14-dihydroxyestradiols (2 and 3) were synthesized as models for studies on 1. The latter compound was remarkably potent in inducing a contractile response in isolated rat aorta and guinea pig left atrium.     

Emergence, development and diversification of the TGF- β signalling pathway within the animal kingdom

Background  

The question of how genomic processes, such as gene duplication, give rise to co-ordinated organismal properties, such as emergence of new body plans, organs and lifestyles, is of importance in developmental and evolutionary biology. Herein, we focus on the diversification of the transforming growth factor- β (TGF- β) pathway – one of the fundamental and versatile metazoan signal transduction engines.     

The identification and characterization of the c19o3 steroid metabolites of 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol produced by the canine prostate: 5α-androstane-3β, 6α, 17β-triol and 5α-androstane-3β, 7α, 17β-triol

This study has identified the polar metabolites of 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol(3β-diol) produced by the canine prostate. The major metabolite is 5α-androstane-3β, 7α, 17β-triol (7α-triol) accounting for approximately 80% of the total polar metabolites of 3β-diol. The remaining 20% is accounted for exclusively by another triol, 5α-androstane-3β, 6α, 17β-triol(6α-triol). This study has also characterized two enzymatic hydroxylases responsible for respective triol formation: 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol 6α-hydroxylase (6α-hydroxylase) and 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol 7α-hydroxylase (7α-hydroxylase). Both of these irreversible hydroxylases are located in the particulate fraction of the prostate and can utilize either NADH or NADPH as cofactor. Several $\text{in vitro}$ steroid inhibitors of these hydroxylases were identified including cholesterol, estradiol and diethylstilbestrol. Neither of the hydroxylases were found to be decreased by castration (3 months) when expressed as activity/DNA. Using a variety of C₁₉ androstane substrates, 6α- and 7α-triol were found to be major components of the total 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstane metabolites produced by the canine prostate.     

甜荞花青素合成相关基因FeR2R3-MYB的克隆与表达分析

MYB 是一类常见的转录因子,广泛参与植物花青素生物合成的调控。为探究 MYB转录因子在甜荞花青素生物合成中的调控作用,该研究从红花甜荞和白花甜荞转录组学数据中筛选并克隆出一个和花青素生物合成相关的MYB基因,将其命名为 FeR2R3-MYB,GenBank 登录号为 MT151381.1,并对该序列进行生物信息学分析,以及利用 qRT-PCR 分析FeR2R3-MYB基因在白花甜荞和红花甜荞中的表达特征。结果表明:(1)FeR2R3-MYB基因全长 831 bp,编码 276 个氨基酸,蛋白的相对分子质量为 30.95 kD,理论等电点(pI)为 8.73,蛋白的不稳定指数为 69.64,属于不稳定蛋白,总疏水值为-0.679,整条肽链呈现亲水特性。(2)FeR2R3-MYB 具有典型的 R2R3-MYB 结构域,属于 R2R3-MYB 亚家族。(3)FeR2R3-MYB 与同属蓼科的苦荞和虎杖亲缘关系比较近。(4)FeR2R3-MYB 的启动子序列共含有 9 个光照响应元件、17 个转录因子结合位点、4 个非生物响应元件和 2 个激素响应元件。(5)亚细胞定位发现 FeR2R3-MYB 只在细胞核中表达。(6)FeR2R3-MYB 基因的表达量在叶片和花序中红花甜荞均高于白花甜荞,推测 FeR2R3-MYB 基因可以正向调节甜荞花青素生物合成。综上所述,该研究结果为进一步深化 FeR2R3-MYB 基因在甜荞花青素生物合成途径中的功能及表达调控方面的研究提供了基础。     

Multiple elements of the S 2 ?-RNase promoter from potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) are required for cell type-specific expression in transgenic potato and tobacco

A functional analysis of the promoter of the S ₂ -RNase gene from potato was performed in transgenic potato and tobacco plants, using a deletion series of S ₂ -RNase promoter GUS fusions. A detailed histochemical and quantitative analysis of the transgenic tobacco plants revealed that S ₂ promoter fragments ranging in size from 5.6 kb in length down to 0.2 kb mediate a weak developmentally regulated expression in the pistil, and strong ectopic expression in pollen. In the pistil, different expression patterns were seen depending on the transformant, the predominant one being characterised by expression in the stigma and the transmitting tract of the style, whereas a few plants showed expression exclusively either in the stigma or in the stylar transmitting tissue. All transformants also showed GUS expression in the placental epidermis of the ovary. Two sequences that are conserved between the potato S ₁ -RNase and S ₂ -RNase promoters, termed motif I and motif III, are located in a fragment of the S ₂ promoter extending from position −200 to bp −100, and motif II, located between bp −498 and −480, was identified on the basis of sequence comparisons between pistil-specific promoters. Motif II was found to be dispensible for pistil-specific and for pollen-specific expression. Two submotifs, A and B, were identified within motif I. Both were essential for expression in the pistil but only B was necessary for expression in pollen. Although motif III has a similar bipartite structure and sequence to motif I, it was not sufficient to confer either pollen- or pistil-specific expression. However, deletion of motif III abolished pollen-specific expression in transient expression experiments, suggesting that an interaction between the two sequence motifs may be needed to specify cell type-specific expression. In transgenic potato the S ₂ -RNase promoter also mediates expression in pollen and in the pistil; however, significantly fewer plants showed expression than in tobacco, with most plants also exhibiting GUS expression in other tissues. Received: 7 August 1997 / Accepted: 8 September 1997     

Identification of critical amino acids involved in α1-β interaction in voltage-dependent Ca channels

In voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels, the α₁ and β subunits interact via two cytoplasmic regions defined as the Alpha Interaction Domain (AID) and Beta Interaction Domain (BID). Several novel amino acids for that interaction have now been mapped in both domains by point mutations. It was found that three of the nine amino acids in AID and four of the eight BID amino acids tested were essential for the interaction. Whereas the important AID amino acids were clustered around five residues, the important BID residues were more widely distributed within a larger 16 amino acid sequence. The affinity of the AID_A GST fusion protein for the four interacting β_1b BID mutants was not significantly altered compared with the wild-type β_1b despite the close localization of mutated residues to disruptive BID amino acids. Expression of these interactive β mutants with the full-length α_1A subunit only slightly modified the stimulation efficiency when compared with the wild-type β_1b subunit. Our data suggest that non-disruptive BID sequence alterations do not dramatically affect the β subunit-induced current stimulation.     

Ultrastructural and functional abnormalities of mitochondria in cultivated fibroblasts from α -mannosidosis patients

α-Mannosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by α-mannosidase deficiency. Clinical course of the disease ranges from severe infantile to milder juvenile type and includes mental retardation, skeletal deformities, coarse facies, hepatomegaly and hearing loss. The aim of the study was to analyse mitochondrial ultrastructure and function in cultivated fibroblasts from three patients with α-mannosidosis. All patients were homozygous for the c.2248C>T mutation in the MAN2B1 gene encoding lysosomal α-mannosidase. The mutation results in incorrect protein folding and severe decrease of α-mannosidase activity. The misfolded protein is retained by the control system of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In analysed fibroblasts, we observed dilated ER, higher amount of aberrant mitochondria and reduced mitochondrial mass compared to controls. Respiratory chain complex IV, cytochrome c oxidase (COX), activity and the ratio between COX and citrate synthase (control enzyme) were significantly increased in comparison to controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the activity at least from one of other respiratory chain complexes was increased in each studied cell line. Mitochondrial membrane potential as well as reactive oxygen species production were comparable with controls. Based on our results, we hypothesize more profound effect of swelled and damaged mitochondria and ER dilatation on tissues with higher energy demand than fibroblasts have.