分子生物学数据库及相关软件的开发利用

生物大分子序列和结构测定技术的完善和应用,使核酸及蛋白质序列数据库及蛋白质结构数据库迅速增长.面对不断增长的分子生物信息,很多生物学工作者又在此基础上构建了具有特殊生物学意义和专门用途的二次数据库,使得数据库的内容和种类更加丰富和具体,为生物学各个领域的深入研究提供了坚实的信息基础.     

β—连环素在信息传导中的研究进展

β－连环素（β－ｃａｔ）是实质细胞粘附连接处ｃａｄｈｅｒｉｎ／ｃａｔ复合体的胞内组织部分。近年发现,β－ｃａｔ还参与Ｗｎｔ信息传导途径及酪氨酸蛋白激酶信息传导途径,参与细胞的生长、分化、死亡及癌症发生。本文对β－ｃａｔ的基因、蛋白质结构、βｃａｔ在Ｗｎｔ信息途径及酪氨酸蛋白激酶信息途径的作用作一综述。     

生物数据库的现状与展望

生物领域中的数据库随着生物领域的扩大而多种多样。其中最基本的有两个:与核酸和蛋白质序列的结构及其功能有关的分子数据库和与有用的生物资源有关的数据库。 本文概要介绍上述两种数据库。 1.前言 所谓生物领域是无限宽广的,它与生物学、医学、农学、化学等几乎目前所有的学科领域都有关。因此,生物的信息分散记录于以汇集文献信息、专利信息。     

利用SWISS-PROT网上获取生物信息学资源

生物信息学是是采用数学、统计学和计算机方法对生物学数据信息进行采集、存储、传播、分析、归类、解释的科学[1].Internet网络是信息传输、检索、获取、交流的重要手段.当前,在Internet网上可以查询到大量的生物信息学数据库,其中SWISS-PROT蛋白质序列数据库是网上生物信息学最核心的3个数据库之一.通过该数据库,可以较完整地获得生物大分子的序列信息.同时,研究者也可以将测定的序列信息通过该数据库予以认定、发表、交流.本文主要探讨SWISS-PROT蛋白质序列数据库的特点、检索方法及利用Internet获取蛋白质序列信息.     

DRSP：蛋白质单残基替换结构数据库

蛋白质残基替换是基因突变的产物之一,它可能改变蛋白质三维结构,对其生物学功能产生重大影响,因此研究蛋白质残基替换与结构改变的关系具有重要意义．随着实验解析蛋白质结构的数量迅猛增长,越来越多的野生型-突变体被应用于结构生物学的比较研究中．本研究从蛋白质三维结构数据库(PDB)出发,收集和计算了大量结构特征数据,构建了一个目前已知最大的野生型-突变体(单残基差异)的结构对数据库DRSP,展示出氨基酸类型和主链偏好性对结构保守性的相关性．DRSP的开放使用可为高精度的蛋白质结构分析预测提供有用信息,它的数据库网址是http://www.labshare.cn/drsp/index.php．     

DRSP:蛋白质单残基替换结构数据库（英文）

蛋白质残基替换是基因突变的产物之一,它可能改变蛋白质三维结构,对其生物学功能产生重大影响,因此研究蛋白质残基替换与结构改变的关系具有重要意义.随着实验解析蛋白质结构的数量迅猛增长,越来越多的野生型-突变体被应用于结构生物学的比较研究中.本研究从蛋白质三维结构数据库(PDB)出发,收集和计算了大量结构特征数据,构建了一个目前已知最大的野生型-突变体(单残基差异)的结构对数据库DRSP,展示出氨基酸类型和主链偏好性对结构保守性的相关性.DRSP的开放使用可为高精度的蛋白质结构分析预测提供有用信息,它的数据库网址是http://www.labshare.cn/drsp/index.php.     

利用SWISS-PROT网获取生物信息学资源

生物信息学是是采用数学、统计学和计算机方法对生物学数据信息进行采集、存储、传播、分析、归类、解释的科学[1] 。Ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ网络是信息传输、检索、获取、交流的重要手段。当前 ,在Ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ网上可以查询到大量的生物信息学数据库 ,其中ＳＷＩＳＳ ＰＲＯＴ蛋白质序列数据库是网上生物信息学最核心的 3个数据库之一。通过该数据库 ,可以较完整地获得生物大分子的序列信息。同时 ,研究者也可以将测定的序列信息通过该数据库予以认定、发表、交流。本文主要探讨ＳＷＩＳＳ ＰＲＯＴ蛋白质序列数据库的特点、检索方法及利用Ｉ…     

蛋白质构象病

蛋白质结构生物学既从蛋白质一级结构序列 ,也从蛋白质空间结构及其动态变化去研究蛋白质的性质和功能。生物医学研究表明蛋白质空间构象发生异常变化会引起疾病发生 ,形成了蛋白质构象病 (Ｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｃｏｎｆｏｒｍａ ｔｉｏｎａｌｄｉｓｅａｓｅｓ)这一新的病理学概念[1] 。1 .蛋白质构象病及其分子构象病理学一般讲 ,引起构象疾病的蛋白质分子与正常蛋白质同时存在于机体内 ,至少部分蛋白质具有正常折叠的空间构象 ,并以正常形态释放。当蛋白质构象异常变化时可导致其生物功能丧失 ,或者引起其后发生的蛋白质聚集与沉积 ,使组织结构…     

生物信息数据库与序列分析

随着生物信息学与生物技术的不断发展,生物信息数据库中数据呈指数增长,理解其中所包含的生物学知识,揭示生物内在规律将成为今后自然科学研究中的重要课题。对近几年来国外常用生物信息数据库的使用作了简介,同时也较为详细地描述了如何进行序列分析。     

基于量子进化算法的RNA序列-结构比对

多序列比对是计算分子生物学的经典问题,也是许多生物学研究的重要基础步骤．RNA作为生物大分子的一种,不同于蛋白质和DNA,其二级结构在进化过程中比初级序列更保守,因此要求在RNA序列比对中不仅要考虑序列信息,更要着重考虑二级结构信息．提出了一种基于量子进化算法的RNA多序列-结构比对程序,对RNA序列进行了量子编码,设计了考虑进结构信息的全交叉算子,提出了适合于进行RNA序列-结构比对的适应度函数,克服了传统进化算法收敛速度慢和早熟问题．在标准数据库上的测试,证实了方法的有效性．     

白蚁与动物及微生物的共生类型及其机制

综述了白蚁螱客的主要种类、共生关系及相关机制的研究进展。白蚁螱客中,已报道的动物种类达170种。在与动物的共生关系中存在偏利共生（宾主共栖和异种共栖）、互利共生和无关共生三种;在与微生物的共生关系中,存在与内生菌（原生动物、细菌、真菌和放线菌）和外生菌（蚁巢伞菌等）间的互利关系。指出了白蚁与螱客研究中存在的问题,给出了解决方案,并提出了今后可能的研究热点或方向,为白蚁的综合利用（如纤维素酶）及今后研究物种间的协同进化提供了基础资料。     

Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on strontium and barium bone content and fecal and urinary excretion

To elucidate accumulation of minerals in human iliac arteries with aging, the content of minerals was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bilateral common, internal, and external iliac arteries of 16 men and 8 women, ranging ages from 65 to 93 yr, were examined. It was found that an extremely high accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the common iliac artery at old age, being higher than that of the internal and external iliac arteries. It should be noted that the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus is the highest in the common iliac artery among the human arteries examined to date. Regarding sexual differences, the content of calcium and phosphorus in the common and internal iliac arteries was higher in women than in men, whereas their content in the external iliac artery was lower in women than in men.     

New amino-dithiaphospholanes and phosphoramidodithioites and their rhodium and iridium complexes

New sulfur derivatives of phosphoramidite ligands were synthesized and the impact of the sulfur unit on the spectroscopic properties of their rhodium and iridium complexes was investigated. The new ligands Bn₂NPSCH₂CH₂S^a(P-S^a) (Bn = benzyl, 4), Bn₂NPSCHCHS^a(CH₂)₃C^aH₂(P-S^a)(C^a-S^a) (6) and Bn₂NP(4-XC₆H₄OMe)₂ (X = S, 7a; X = O, 7b) were converted to the rhodium and iridium complexes trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(L)₂] (L = 4, 6, 7), [RhCl(COD)(L)] (L = 4, 6, 7), [IrCl(COD)(7a)] and [IrCl₂Cp∗(6)]. For comparison, some phosphoramidite complexes of these formulations also were synthesized. The new metal complexes were spectroscopically analyzed. For the carbonyl complexes, the ν_CO IR stretching frequencies were lower than for the corresponding phosphite and phosphoramidite ligands. The ¹J_PRh coupling constants for the rhodium complexes with the new ligands were also smaller than for the respective phosphoramidite and phosphite complexes. Finally, the ¹J_PSe coupling constants of the selenides of the new ligands were lower than those of the phosphoramidite ligands but higher than for PPh₃. The spectroscopic data reveal that the new thio ligands 4, 6 and 7a are more electron donating than phosphites and phosphoramidites but less electron donating than PPh₃.     

Astrocytes and Synaptosomes Transport and Metabolize Lactate and Acetate Differently

Astrocytes transport the monocarboxylate acetate, but synaptosomes do not. The reason for this is unknown, because both preparations express monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The transport and metabolism of lactate, another monocarboxylate, was examined in these two preparations, and the results were compared to those for acetate. Lactate transport is more rapid in astrocytes than in synaptosomes, but of lower affinity (Kms of 17 and 4 mM, respectively). Lactate (0.2 mM) is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in synaptosomes than in astrocytes (rates of 0.37 and 0.07 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). The reason for this is unclear, but cellular differences in lactate dehydrogenase isotype expression may be involved. Acetate is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in astrocytes than in synaptosomes (rates of 0.43 and 0.02 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). This is likely due to cellular differences in the expression of monocarboxylate transporter subtypes.     

Rapporteur report: Basics and technology and metrology and standards

The first and second sessions of the Workshop focussed on the basics of ultrasound and infrasound, their applications in both industry and medicine, and metrology and protection standards for ultrasound applications.     

Chemokines and cytokines: axis and allies in asthma and allergy

Allergic asthma can be precipitated by many factors. For the atopic person, fungus, pollen, dust mites, cockroach antigens, and diesel exhaust are all agents that may trigger an allergic attack. Cytokines and chemokines are integral mediators of fungal asthma. From the earliest time points, they recruit and activate the cells required for the clearance of fungus as well as being critical factors involved in the immunopathology of this disease. In the final analysis, it is clear that these mediators can act to the benefit or the detriment of the host.     

Prostaglandin and thromboxane production by human and guinea-pig macrophages and leucocytes

The ability of partially purified human and guinea-pig haematogenous cell populations, when cultured in vitro, to metabolise arachidonic acid (AA) has been studied. Supernatants from 24 hour cell culture have been subjected to analysis for products of AA metabolism by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.The cell types studied were human peripheral blood monocytes (both glass adherent and non-adherent), neutrophils, eosinophils and leukemic leucocytes; thoracic duct lymphocytes and lung alveolar macrophages. From the guinea-pig, induced and non-induced macrophage or neutrophil enriched peritoneal exudate populations, lymph node cells, peritoneal eosinophils and peripheral blood platelets were examined. Supernatants were assayed for the presence of PGE₂, PGD₂, PGF_2α, TXB₂ and 6-keto-PGF_1α. In all types studied PGE₂ and TXB₂ were the major products formed. The identification of PGE₂ and TXB₂ was confirmed by GC/MS with multiple ion monitoring.The results have been compared with other reports and their possible significance discussed in relation to the proposed role of prostaglandins as mediators and modulators in immunopathology.     

Hip Circumference and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Men and Women

Objective: It has recently been demonstrated that, in middle‐aged women, a wide hip circumference is a protective factor for a number of health endpoints in later years. The effect seems to be independent of both overweight and waist circumference. This paper aims to replicate this finding in another population‐based sample consisting of women and men. Research Methods and Procedures: This was a prospective observational study consisting of a random subset of adult Danes. A total of 2987 subjects born in 1922, 1932, 1942, or 1952 and 35, 45, 55, or 65 years of age (at examination in 1987 to 1988) participated in the Danish MONICA (MONItoring trends and determinants of CArdiovascular disease) project, with measurements of height, weight, and hip and waist circumference taken. Through personal identification numbers, incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) until the end of 1998 and all causes of death until 2001 were retrieved from the National Registers of Hospital Discharge. There was an average of 10 years of follow‐up for incidence of CVD and CHD and 13 years of follow‐up for total mortality. Results: Large hip circumference, relative to body size and waist circumference, predicted less incidence of CVD, CHD, and total death in women. This was not the case in men; BMI and waist circumference were the strongest independent predictors. Discussion: A large hip circumference seems to have independent and positive effects on CVD and CHD morbidity and mortality in women, but no protective effect on cardiovascular health in men. However, a borderline significant protective effect on total mortality was observed.