Biocomputing — tools,aims, perspectives

1. Download : Download high-res image (190KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Microproteins—Discovery,structure, and function

Advances in proteogenomic technologies have revealed hundreds to thousands of translated small open reading frames (sORFs) that encode microproteins in genomes across evolutionary space. While many microproteins have now been shown to play critical roles in biology and human disease, a majority of recently identified microproteins have little or no experimental evidence regarding their functionality. Computational tools have some limitations for analysis of short, poorly conserved microprotein sequences, so additional approaches are needed to determine the role of each member of this recently discovered polypeptide class. A currently underexplored avenue in the study of microproteins is structure prediction and determination, which delivers a depth of functional information. In this review, we provide a brief overview of microprotein discovery methods, then examine examples of microprotein structures (and, conversely, intrinsic disorder) that have been experimentally determined using crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and NMR, which provide insight into their molecular functions and mechanisms. Additionally, we discuss examples of predicted microprotein structures that have provided insight or context regarding their function. Analysis of microprotein structure at the angstrom level, and confirmation of predicted structures, therefore, has potential to identify translated microproteins that are of biological importance and to provide molecular mechanism for their in vivo roles.     

Barley—Botany,production, harvesting,processing, utilization and economics

Barley, probably the oldest cultivated cereal, is widely grown in cooler areas of the world. The annual world production of nearly two and a half billion bushels exceeds that of rye but is less than that of rice, wheat, corn and oats, respectively. Most of the annual 300 million dollar crop of the U.S. is fed to livestock, but about one- third is manufactured into malt.     

A prourokinase-RGDS chimera——Construction, expression and characterization

A tetrapeptide, RGDS, was inserted into proUK kringle domain G118-L119 by the construction of a mutant proUK-RGDS gene. The gene was expressed in the baculovirus expression system. Immunoaffinity chromatography was used to purify the chimera and protein with purity over 90% was achieved. The chimera was tested for its platelet membrane binding function and showed a calcium-dependent platelet binding activity. Amidolytic activity of the chimera was tested. The result indicated that specific amidolytic activity of plasmin activated chimera was 62000 IU/mg, comparable to the previously reported 65 355 IU/mg of plasmin activated natural proUK. Activation of plasminogen by the chimera after plasmin treatment followed Micbieal-Menten kinetics, and the Km was 0.97 μmol/L, which was also comparable to 1.64 μmol/L of native urokinase. The chimera also showed intensive ability to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro. These results indicate that this chimera might be useful as a bifunctional thrombolytic agent.     

49th Discussion forum on LCA—sustainable consumption patterns—September 18, 2012, Zurich, Switzerland

There are different ways and strategies to reduce the environmental impacts caused today. One starting point for reducing the environmental impacts of today is the private consumption. Finally, all goods and services provided in a country contribute to fulfil the needs and demands of consumers. Several national and international initiatives therefore aim for a considerable reduction of the environmental impacts of consumption patterns. The 49th LCA Discussion Forum analysed the present consumption patterns of households and their consequent environmental impacts. Based on this, potentials for a reduction of the environmental impacts were identified and discussed. In this context, the possible applications, advantages and drawbacks of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology were analysed. National and international speakers provided qualified insights on the topic. The 49th Discussion Forum concentrated on different aspects of sustainable consumption patterns. The focus lay on private households and the environmental impacts caused by their consumption patterns. In the first session, the idea of the “2000-Watt society” was introduced as an example of a concept of a “sustainable lifestyle”. Another way of analysing the total impacts is the consumption perspective introduced in a second presentation. Based on an analysis of environmental impacts due to final demand of Swiss households, different measures for a reduction of environmental impacts were proposed and analysed. The second session examined similar activities in Germany. The short presentations covered the communication of LCA results. The third session focused on web-based eco-calculators. In the last session, two scientific inputs were given on the modelling of household consumption patterns and on the impact of rebound effects on the environmental impact of private consumption. The most important consumption domains are nutrition, mobility and energy use in households. Apart from different modelling approaches and boundary conditions, the majority of the presentations showed that today’s consumption patterns in Switzerland and Germany are far away from a sustainable level. Considerable reduction measures are needed in order to reach this goal. Eco-calculators and similar tools provide an effective way to raise customer awareness. In general, it is very important to communicate LCA results in a simple, clear and transparent way.     

牛磺酸,羟脯氨酸,γ—氨基丁酸,鸟氨酸和色氨酸的测定

在日立８３５－５０型氨基酸分析仪上,用７２ｍｉｎ程序进行分析,通常一次只能分析１７种氨基酸。采用本文所述方法则一次能分析２２种氨基酸。在不延长分析时间,不增加成本的情况下,一次多分析了五种氨基酸,提高了仪器工作效率。     

Nanotechnology Nexus—Intersection of Research,Science, Technology,and Regulation

Not a day passes where nanotechnology does not make headlines in the popular press, scientific journals, as well as in the regulatory arena. Environmental and public health activists are voicing a growing concern and focus on the risks potentially posed by nanotechnology and the ability of the government to regulate these new and exciting technologies. Whereas such concerns state the need for stringent, precautionary, and almost exclusionary approaches to the regulation of nanotechnology, many entities believe that a voluntary approach to these often novel materials and technologies is the appropriate and sensible path. In this editorial, we discuss the importance of nanotechnology, who cares, and the available options for approaching the regulation of this often novel technology. We focus on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and its voluntary regulatory data submission program as the preferred alternative. ^{2 2}Comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their employers. View all notes     

乳腺癌HSV—1,HSV—2与c—erbB—2的免疫组化研究

采用免疫组织化学Ｓ－Ｐ法检测５２例手术切除乳腺癌组织ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２蛋白和ＨＳＶ－１、ＨＳＶ－２表达情况。结果发现癌组织中ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２阳性３４例（６５．４％）;ＨＳＶ－１阳性３８例（７３．１％）;ＨＳＶ－２阳性１５例（２８．８％）。癌旁组织３２例,阳性分别为３例（９．４％）;１２例（３７．５％）;２例（６．３％）。乳腺癌中ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２阳性率明显高于癌旁组织。乳腺癌及癌旁的ＨＳＶ－１阳性率明显高于ＨＳＶ－２,乳腺癌ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２阳性组中ＨＳＶ－１和ＨＳＶ－２的表达有显著差异,而在阴性组二者无差异,提示乳腺癌的发生可能和ＨＳＶ－１感染密切相关,ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２表达也可能和ＨＳＶ－１感染有关。     

D—氨基酸在人体的来龙去脉：人体中D—氨基酸,D—氨基酸氧化酶,D…

本文分析近年,特别是近两年有关人体、食物中Ｄ－氨基酸、Ｄ－氨基酸氧化酶、Ｄ－天冬氨酸氧化酶研究进展,强调：１．必须研究食品中Ｄ－氨基酸水平;２．Ｄ－氨基酸氧化酶、Ｄ．天冬氨酸氧化酶作为药物治疗因Ｄ－氨基酸过量所致疾病。     

β—1,—3葡聚糖的结构与功能

β－１,３－葡聚糖是一类具有抗癌及免疫调节等生物活性的生物大分子其高级结构为单股和３股螺旋体,它的生物活性,理化特性与其分子结构有一定对应关系。     

HeLa,HepG2,L—02,MCF—7细胞中增殖细胞核抗原启动子的？…

增殖细胞核抗原（ＰＣＮＡ）的ＤＮＡ聚合酶δ、ε的辅助蛋白,在ＤＮＡ复制修复中起重要作用。用ＰＣＲ方法对人的ＰＣＮＡ启动子的１７个位点进行了８ｂｐ替代突变,并组装到荧光素酶报告基因载体中。通过瞬时转染ＨｅＬａ,ＨｅｐＧ２,Ｌ－０２,ＭＣＦ７细胞株和体外转录方法,发现一些位点是４种细胞都使用的顺式作用元件,一些位点是细胞特异的顺式作用元件。     

蛇肌果糖1,6—二磷酸酯酶,果糖2,6—二磷酸,AMP的结…

腺苷一磷酸对４个快反应巯基被修饰的蛇肌果糖１,６－二磷酸酯酶活性的抑制作用增强,而该修饰的酶受果糖２,６－二磷酸的抑制脱敏,ＡＭＰ对酶抑制为半部位反应,酶受果糖２,６－二磷酸抑制的脱敏则表现为全部位反应,经枯草杆菌蛋白酶限制性酶解的果糖１,６－二磷酸酯酶的Ｋ１增大１０倍,但受果糖２,６－二磷酸抑制的性质不变,经胰蛋白酶限制性酶解的果糖１,６－二磷酸酯酶的活性不再为ＡＭＰ抑制,但果糖２,６－二磷酸对