载脂蛋白E拟肽EpK对apoE~(-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响

前期设计合成了一种模拟人载脂蛋白E(apoE)结构域的小分子多肽EpK,体外实验证实该拟肽具有抑制巨噬细胞炎症及增强高密度脂蛋白(HDL)介导细胞胆固醇外流的作用.本文拟借助慢病毒体系分泌性表达EpK,研究EpK在体对apoE基因敲除(apoE-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响.将11月龄雌性apoE-/-小鼠18只,随机分两组,分别经眼球后静脉丛注射p WPI慢病毒(Lv-GFP对照组)和含EpK的重组慢病毒(Lv-EpK组).小鼠普食喂养,间隔采血监测血脂状态,检测血浆对氧磷酯酶(PON1)活性,病毒注射18周后小鼠安乐死,从主动脉根部连续冰冻切片及主动脉胸腹段纵剖面(en face)进行油红O染色分析斑块面积,采用实时荧光定量PCR检测小鼠肝脏相关基因的m RNA表达水平,蛋白质印迹检测血浆中apo A-Ⅰ、PON1及血清淀粉样蛋白A(SAA)水平.结果显示:慢病毒感染小鼠可成功在血循环中检测到EpK,与Lv-GFP对照组比较,Lv-EpK组apoE-/-小鼠的血脂及脂蛋白分布、apo A-Ⅰ水平、PON1活性无明显改变,但EpK组小鼠的主动脉斑块面积较对照组显著减少(主动脉根部斑块面积(0.87±0.07)mm2 vs(1.03±0.08)mm2,P0.05;主动脉胸腹段斑块占管腔比42.0%vs 55.8%,P0.01).EpK可显著降低血中SAA水平,并抑制肝脏炎症因子TNFα和IL-6的表达.结果说明,EpK拟肽具有减退apoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块的作用,其机制可能与其发挥的抗炎作用有关.     

膜糖蛋白Ⅱb/Ⅲa单抗通过抑制HMGB1/TLR4 途径减轻ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化

观察膜糖蛋白(GP) Ⅱb/Ⅲa 单抗对小鼠动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,As)病变和HMGB1/TLR4途径基因表达变化的影响,以探讨膜糖蛋白Ⅱb/Ⅲa 受体拮抗剂对As进程的影响及其机制．30只5周龄雄性ApoE^-/-小鼠随机均分为3组：溶剂对照组(生理盐水50 μl,腹腔注射),IgG 对照组(50 μg,腹腔注射),GP Ⅱb/Ⅲa 单抗组(50 μg,腹腔注射)．实验ApoE^-/-小鼠均已高脂、高胆固醇饲料喂养,10周后处死动物．油红O染色观察主动脉窦As病变;活体荧光显微镜观察颈总动脉As病变处血小板黏附;Western blot 检测HMGB-1、TLR4与NF-κB蛋白的表达;免疫组化观察主动脉窦As病变部位MOMA-2 和VCAM-1的表达;ELISA法检测血浆中HMGB-1、IL-1β、TNF-α 与MCP-1的含量．研究结果表明：与对照组相比,GPⅡb/Ⅲa 单抗组ApoE^-/-小鼠As病变和血小板黏附显著减少(P < 0.05);且该组小鼠主动脉TLR4与NF-κB蛋白的表达明显降低;其血清中的HMGB-1、IL-1β、TNF-α 与MCP-1的水平也明显下降(P < 0.05)．此外,GP Ⅱb/Ⅲa 单抗治疗显著减少As病变处MOMA-2 和VCAM-1的表达(P < 0.05)．GP Ⅱb/Ⅲa 单抗减轻ApoE^-/-小鼠As病变可能与抑制HMGB1/TLR4途径介导的炎症有关．     

组蛋白去乙酰化酶3对外周CD4+ T细胞分化的影响

目的 探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶3（HDAC3）对外周CD4⁺ T细胞分化及功能的调控作用。方法 采用CD4cre酶介导Hdac3杂合基因缺失小鼠（Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-）及其野生型正常对照小鼠（Hdac3^fl/fl，WT），流式细胞术检测HDAC3缺失对外周CD4⁺和CD8⁺ T细胞比例和数量的影响；在体外佛波酯（PMA）和离子霉素（Ionomycin）刺激条件下，流式细胞术检测HDAC3缺失对CD4⁺ T细胞中IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17A的表达以及Tfh细胞产生的影响；采用ELISA检测HDAC3缺失对小鼠血清IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17表达的影响；分选Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-和WT小鼠外周初始CD4⁺ T细胞，分别在Th1和Th2分化条件下培养，细胞内染色检测HDAC3缺失对Th1、Th2以及Th17相关细胞因子及其特异转录因子表达的影响；采用Microarray检测HDAC3缺失对CD4⁺ T细胞分化亚群相关基因表达的影响；采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）处理小鼠构建I型糖尿病（TIDM）疾病模型，检测HDAC3缺失对T1DM发病的影响。结果 与WT小鼠相比，Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-小鼠外周CD4⁺和CD8⁺ T细胞的比例和数量显著降低。Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-小鼠CD4⁺ T细胞及血清中IFN-γ的表达显著降低，而IL-4和IL-17A的表达显著增加，Tfh细胞比例也显著增加；HDAC3缺失抑制体外培养CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1分化但促进其向Th2分化；Microarray检测发现HDAC3缺失导致Th1型细胞谱系基因表达降低，而Th2、Th17以及Tfh细胞谱系基因表达增加；在STZ诱导条件下，HDAC3缺失抑制小鼠T1DM的发生和CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1分化。结论 HDAC3促进外周CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1细胞分化并加重T1DM的发生。     

铜绿假单胞菌popN-突变子Ⅲ型分泌水平及与蛋白酶关系的研究

铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Ⅲ型分泌系统(typeⅢ secretion system,TTSS)是重要的细菌致病因子之一,能够将酶蛋白直接注入到宿主细胞内,导致细胞损害的发生。重点研究了TTSS中的popN基因的功能,通过构建popN^-突变子,发现该突变子在非诱导条件下,能够分泌酶蛋白,显示popN基因编码的蛋白对TTSS蛋白的分泌具有负调控作用。进一步研究发现,popN^-突变子在不同培养基中TTSS的分泌水平存在着显著差异,影响对popN基因的功能的判断。为了解决这一矛盾,从几个方面分析了造成表型差异的可能因素,确定蛋白酶对TTSS分泌蛋白的降解作用,是表型差异存在的主要原因,从而首次系统地阐明popN^--突变子在不同培养基中都具有TTSS组成型表达的表型,对于深入研究TTSS的调控机制具有重要意义。     

人成体肝细胞在Fah-/-Nod/Scid小鼠肝脏中的显著增殖

利用人肝细胞异种移植到受体鼠肝内建立人源化肝脏的嵌合体小鼠(人鼠嵌合肝)对药物代谢、乙型肝炎病毒等嗜肝性病毒及其疫苗的研究具有重要意义. 研究表明, 利用Fah^-/-Rag2^-/-Il2rg^-/-三基因剔除小鼠可获得人肝细胞在小鼠肝脏中的显著再殖, 但较高的死亡率及纯合子不能用于繁殖, 制约着该小鼠模型的规模化应用. 本研究结合延胡索酰乙酰乙酸水解酶基因剔除(Fah^-/-)小鼠的肝脏再殖优势和Nod/Scid小鼠异种移植的特点, 将这两种小鼠进行杂交繁育建立Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠品系, Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠可以纯合保种并能正常繁殖. 采用提前停药的预处理方案, 结合FK506处理, 移植的人成体肝细胞能够实现在Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠肝脏中的显著增殖, 肝脏再殖程度达到30%以上. 采用体重曲线、肝功能和人肝细胞功能蛋白表达等三方面指标评价嵌合肝脏中人肝细胞的功能, 结果表明再殖的肝细胞具有正常的人肝细胞功能. 这些结果表明, Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠可以作为理想的可规模应用的人鼠嵌合肝模型, 该技术体系的改进简化了Fah^-/-小鼠作为人源化肝脏小鼠模型的实用性问题.     

伪狂犬病病毒TK-/gG-缺失株的构建及其生物学特性研究

将伪狂犬病病毒TK^-/gG^-/LacZ⁺突变株的基因组DNA与含有缺失的gG基因的转移质粒pUSKBB共转染猪肾传代细胞PK-15,待完全病变后收获病毒进行空斑试验,用PCR筛选gG缺失的重组病毒。空斑纯化3次后,随机挑取空斑进行PCR扩增,证实所获得的病毒为均一的TK^-/gG^-缺失株。遗传稳定性试验表明该重组病毒能在PK-15细胞上稳定遗传,动物试验表明该缺失株对Balb/c小鼠极为安全且能保护Balb/c小鼠抵抗致死量PRV强毒的攻击。该突变株的获得为我国伪狂犬病的控制和根除奠定了基础。     

大鼠Bdnf基因慢病毒载体的构建及其在骨髓间质干细胞中的表达

骨髓间质干细胞（MSCs）是目前基因工程正在探讨应用的靶细胞,为构建带有脑源性神经营养因子（Bdnf）基因慢病毒载体并使其在大鼠骨髓间质干细胞中表达,采用RT-PCR技术获得大鼠Bdnf基因编码区（CDS）片段,限制性内切酶酶切和基因重组构建慢病毒载体质粒PNL-BDNF-IRES₂-EGFP,在脂质体介导下与包装质粒HELPER,包膜质粒VSVG共转染293T细胞包装生产慢病毒。所获慢病毒感染大鼠MSCs（rMSCs）后,PCR和免疫细胞化学法检测在rMSCs中Bdnf基因的插入和表达。结果显示所获的Bdnf基因经测序后与GenBank报道序列完全一致。重组慢病毒载体质粒PNL-BDNF-IRES2-EGFP经鉴定正确。三质粒共转染293T细胞成功,收集、浓缩病毒后测定其滴度为6.7×10⁷TU/mL, PCR证实Bdnf基因插入病毒基因组。感染rMSCs后RT-PCR、免疫细胞化学染色及Western检测各组细胞均有BDNF蛋白表达,其中试验组BDNF-rMSCs更大量表达BDNF,与其余2组(Mock-rMSCs、rMSCs)比较差异具有统计学意义。构建带有Bdnf基因慢病毒载体并在大鼠骨髓间质干细胞中成功表达,为今后基因修饰干细胞的移植后长期观察研究奠定了基础。     

O -·2增强谷氨酸与其受体的结合力及EBSELEN的保护作用

用放射配体测定受体法研究了黄嘌呤(X)/黄嘌呤氧化酶(XO)体系产生的超氧阴离子自由基(O -·2)对［3H］DL-谷氨酸与大鼠大脑皮层突触膜谷氨酸受体结合的影响,结果表明O -·2明显增强谷氨酸与其受体的结合力,此作用能被2-苯基-1,2-苯并异硒唑-3(2H)酮(EBSELEN)(1 μmol/L)所抑制.     

民族药刺梨根茎化学成分及其抗炎活性研究

民族药刺梨根茎在贵州少数民族地区有着广泛的应用,为验证其化学成分的抗炎活性,该文以民族药新鲜刺梨根茎为原料,采用硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱等方法对其根茎的化学成分进行分离纯化,通过理化性质和NMR等波谱数据鉴定化合物的结构; 采用脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7作为炎症模型,考察刺梨根茎化学成分对巨噬细胞经LPS刺激后产生的NO炎症因子的影响,评价其抗炎活性。结果表明:(1)从刺梨根茎乙醇提取物中共分离获得15个化合物,结构分别鉴定为刺梨苷(1)、野蔷薇苷(2)、蔷薇酸(3)、β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2a→1b)-2a-O-β-L-arabinopyranosyl-(2b→1c)-2b-O-β-L-arabinopyranosyl-(2c→1d)-2c-O-β-L-arabinopyranosyl-(2d→1e)-2d-O-β-L-arabinopyranosyl-(2e→1f)-2e-O-β-L-arabinopyranoside(4)、儿茶素(5)、3-O-methylellagic acid-4''-O-β-D-xylopyranoside(6)、3-O-methylellagic acid-4''-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside(7)、委陵菜酸(8)、桦木酸(9)、spinosic acid(10)、arjunic acid(11)、 β-谷甾醇(12)、β-胡萝卜苷(13)、α-tocopherol(14)、正二十六烷(15)。其中化合物4、6、7首次从该植物中分离得到。(2)对其中的化合物1-7进行体外抗炎活性实验,结果发现化合物1-7对LPS诱导的小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7释放的NO均有明显抑制作用,且呈剂量依赖关系; 化合物1-7在抗炎作用上表现出较好活性,其IC₅₀值分别为25.07、24.56、17.65、9.87、16.67、40.83、34.98 μmol·L^-1(阳性对照地塞米松为22.46 μmol·L^-1 ),其中化合物3、4、5的活性优于地塞米松。该研究结果阐明了刺梨根茎中的三萜类、鞣花酸类、黄酮类和寡糖类化合物是其抗炎作用的主要有效成分,并验证了刺梨根茎的民间抗炎功效。     

铜绿假单胞菌popN-突变子Ⅲ型分泌水平及与蛋白酶关系的研究

铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Ⅲ型分泌系统(typeⅢ secretion system,TTSS)是重要的细菌致病因子之一,能够将酶蛋白直接注入到宿主细胞内,导致细胞损害的发生。重点研究了TTSS中的popN基因的功能,通过构建popN^-突变子,发现该突变子在非诱导条件下,能够分泌酶蛋白,显示popN基因编码的蛋白对TTSS蛋白的分泌具有负调控作用。进一步研究发现,popN^-突变子在不同培养基中TTSS的分泌水平存在着显著差异,影响对popN基因的功能的判断。为了解决这一矛盾,从几个方面分析了造成表型差异的可能因素,确定蛋白酶对TTSS分泌蛋白的降解作用,是表型差异存在的主要原因,从而首次系统地阐明popN^--突变子在不同培养基中都具有TTSS组成型表达的表型,对于深入研究TTSS的调控机制具有重要意义。     

ATP/ADP exchange activity of gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase

The ATP/ADP exchange is shown to be a partial reaction of the $\text{(}\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ by the absence of measurable nucleoside diphosphokinase activity and the insensitivity of the reaction to $\text{P}{}^1$, $\text{P}{}^5$ -di(adenosine-5′) pentaphosphate, a myokinase inhibitor. The exchange demonstrates an absolute requirement for Mg²⁺ and is optimal at an ADP/ATP ratio of 2. The high ATP concentration ($\text{K}{}_{0.5}\text{= 116 μ}\text{M}$) required for maximal exchange is interpreted as evidence for the involvement of a low affinity form of nucleotide site. The ATP/ADP exchange is regarded as evidence for an ADP-sensitive form of the phosphoenzyme. In native enzyme, pre-steady state kinetics show that the formation of the phosphoenzyme is partially sensitive to ADP while modification of the enzyme by pretreatment with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in the absence of Mg²⁺ results in a steady-state phosphoenzyme population, a component of which is ADP sensitive. The ATP/ADP exchange reaction can be either stimulated or inhibited by the presence of K⁺ as a function of pH and Mg²⁺.     

Characterization of cytochrome P-450SCC-containing liposomes

Purified cytochrome $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria was incorporated into liposomes by the cholate-dilution method utilizing either dialysis or Sephadex gel filtration. Among synthetic phospholipids tested, dioleoylglycerophosphocholine showed the best stability during the incorporation of $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ into liposomes. A maximum amount of heme was incorporated into liposomes at a molar ratio of phospholipid to the cytochrome of approx. 200. When $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was incorporated into the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes by the cholate-filtration method, the $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}\text{-}\text{containing liposomes}$ showed two major populations on the elution pattern of the Sepharose 4B gel filtration, and were seen at a diameter of 200–600 Å and its aggregated forms. When the cytochrome was incorporated into dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes or cholesterol-free adrenocortical mitochondrial liposomes, $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was less stable than $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ in aqueous solution. Cholesterol or adrenodoxin markedly stabilized the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. Liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ required cholesterol for its optimum reduction with adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, and NADPH in the presence of CO. About 70% of the total heme in the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes was reduced by the enzymatic reduction in the presence of cholesterol, indicating that 70% of the total molecules are exposed to the surface of the outer monolayer. In order to see the location of the heme in membrane, the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine-liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was subjected to $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ treatment. This reagent destroyed the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. These results suggest that the heme is located in the proximity of the $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ reacting sites which are exposed to the surface, or located on the vincinity of polar heads of the membrane.     

AutoFACT: AnAutomaticFunctionalAnnotation andClassificationTool

Background  

Assignment of function to new molecular sequence data is an essential step in genomics projects. The usual process involves similarity searches of a given sequence against one or more databases, an arduous process for large datasets.     

Ligand-dependent reactivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with showdomycin

Showdomycin inhibited pig brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ with pseudo first-order kinetics. The rate of inhibition by showdomycin was examined in the presence of 16 combinations of four ligands, i.e., Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP, and was found to depend on the ligands added. Combinations of ligands were divided into five groups in terms of the magnitude of the rate constant; in the order of decreasing rate constants these were: (1)$\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, (2) $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$, $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and none, (3) $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{,}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$, (4) $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}\text{,}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$ and $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}\text{, (5)}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$ and ATP. The highest rate was obtained in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP. The apparent concentrations of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP for half-maximum stimulation of inhibition ($\text{K}{}_{0.5}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$) were 3 mM, 0.13 mM and 4μM, respectively. The rate was unchanged upon further increase in Na⁺ concentration from 140 to 1000 mM. The rates of inhibition could be explained on the basis of the enzyme forms present, including E₁, E₂, ES, E₁-P and E₂-P, i.e., E₂ has higher reactivity with showdomycin than E₁, while E₂-P has almost the same reactivity as E₁-P. We conclude that the reaction of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ proceeds via at least four kinds of enzyme form (E₁, E₂, E₁ · nucleotide and EP), which all have different conformations.     

A/California/7/2009与A/California/4/2009病毒感染力比较

目的甲型H1N1流感病毒A/California/7/2009与A/California/4/2009病毒序列比较同源性在99%以上,本实验旨在比较两株病毒感染BALB/c小鼠研究感染力强弱。方法分别将A/California/7/2009（CA7）与A/California/4/2009（CA4）两株病毒分别连续10倍稀释后,对4~6周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠经乙醚麻醉后进行滴鼻攻毒,每个稀释度接种10只实验小鼠,测定CA7 MLD50为101.24/0.05 mL,检测小鼠感染、致病的多项指标,观察期为14 d。结果相同TCID50的CA7和CA4病毒感染小鼠,CA4感染小鼠后14 d内死亡率为20%,而CA7感染小鼠后8 d内死亡率为100%。CA7 106TCID50感染的小鼠病理表现为重度弥漫性间质性肺炎,CA4 106TCID50感染的小鼠病理表现为中度-重度间质性肺炎。结论在相同条件下,CA7感染力明显强于CA4。     

Characterization of partially purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from porcine lens

The partial purification of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from pig lens has been achieved by treatment with deoxycholate followed by density gradient centrifugation. The specific activity of the final preparation, ranging from 300 to 500 nmol/h per mg protein, is increased approx. 100-fold compared to the homogenate. A parallel increase in $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity is also observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis reveals six major protein bands, one of which is the 93 kDa α subunit of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ which can be phosphorylated by reaction with [γ-³²P]ATP. A second band contains a glycoprotein which displays an apparent molecular weight of 51 000 and thus appears to be the β subunit of the enzyme. The enzyme is sensitive to ouabain with the $\text{I}{}_{50}$ for $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ inhibition being 1.2 and 1.3 μM, respectively. Several agents which inhibit $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from other tissues such as oligomycin, Ca²⁺, vanadate, $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$, $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid}$ (PCMBS) and 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) also inhibit the lens enzyme. Monovalent cations other than K⁺ are partially effective in activating the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activities. The K⁺ congeners were relatively more effective in supporting $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ compared to $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity. Other kinetic properties of the lens enzyme are also comparable to those of the enzyme from other tissues. Utilizing the partially purified membrane bound enzyme, discontinuities in Arrhenius plots of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity, $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity and fluoresence polarization of the fluidity probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), are observed near the physiological temperature of lens. The possible significance of these observations for the mechanism of cataract formation are discussed.     

An electron spin probe study of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase-Containing membranes

The modulating effect of membrane lipids on enzyme function has been described by several investigators. We have used the spin probe $\text{N-}\text{oxyl}\text{-4′,4′-}\text{dimethyloxazolidine}\text{-12-}\text{keto}$ methyl stearate (M 12-NSE) to study this interaction in ox brain membranes enriched with $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. This methyl ester of stearic acid is practically insoluble in aqueous media, and consequently spectra of M 12-NSE-labelled preparations are free of “liquid lines”.At least two types of spectra may be obtained when ox brain microsomes are spin labelled with M 12-NSE, indicating the presence of two distinct binding sites. At one site the spin label is relatively unrestricted and gives rise to an isotropic spectrum. A second spectrum, which is obtained from spin label at another site, is similar to that which is observed after incorporation of M 12-NSE into phospholipid bilayers. This suggests that this latter site is within the core of the microsomal membrane.The two binding sites differ in their affinity for the spin probe. The low affinity site is both more abundant in crude preparations and is more easily removed by detergent treatment; spin labels at this site produce isotropic spectra. The high affinity sites are fewer in number and produce broad spectra. In addition these high affinity sites increase in concentration as the enzyme undergoes purification.The two sites are quite distinct in their sensitivity to ascorbic acid, the low affinity site showing a considerably greater rate of reduction by this agent.This study also demonstrates that the delipidation effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium deoxycholate on $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase-enriched}$ microsomes from ox brain are not identical.It is suggested that the two spin probe binding sites represent two different lipid domains, one of which is very closely associated with the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ enzyme and may reflect a protein-directed phospholipid specificity for this enzyme.     

Annular and non-annular binding sites on the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase

Quenching of the fluorescence of the $\text{(}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ purified from muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum can be used to measure relative binding constants of hydrophobic compounds to the phospholipid-protein interface. We show that the binding constant for cholesterol is considerably less than that for phosphatidylcholine, so that cholesterol is effectively excluded from the phospholipid annulus around the ATPase. However, dibromocholestan-3β-ol causes quenching of the fluorescence of the ATPase, and so has access to other, non-annular sites. We suggest that these non-annular sites could be at protein/protein interfaces in ATPase oligomers. Oleic acid can bind at the phospholipid/protein interface, although its binding constant is less than that for a phosphatidylcholine, and it can also bind at the postulated non-annular sites. The effects of these compounds on the activity of the ATPase depend on the structure of the phospholipid present in the systems.     

Comparison of parameters estimated from A/Ci and A/Cc curve analysis

The parameters estimated from traditional A/C _i curve analysis are dependent upon some underlying assumptions that substomatal CO₂ concentration (C _i) equals the chloroplast CO₂ concentration (C _c) and the C _i value at which the A/C _i curve switches between Rubisco- and electron transport-limited portions of the curve (C _i-t) is set to a constant. However, the assumptions reduced the accuracy of parameter estimation significantly without taking the influence of C _i-t value and mesophyll conductance (g _m) on parameters into account. Based on the analysis of Larix gmelinii’s A/C _i curves, it showed the C _i-t value varied significantly, ranging from 24 Pa to 72 Pa and averaging 38 Pa. t-test demonstrated there were significant differences in parameters respectively estimated from A/C _i and A/C _c curve analysis (p<0.01). Compared with the maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate (V_cmax), the maximum electron transport rate (J_max) and J_max/V_cmax estimated from A/C _c curve analysis which considers the effects of g _m limit and simultaneously fits parameters with the whole A/C _c curve, mean V_cmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis (V_cmax-C _i) was underestimated by 37.49%; mean Jmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis (J_max-C _i) was overestimated by 17.8% and (J_max-C _i)/(V_cmax-C _i) was overestimated by 24.2%. However, there was a significant linear relationship between V_cmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis and V_cmax estimated from A/C _c curve analysis, so was it J_max (p<0.05).     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.