鸡腿蘑胞外多糖的形貌结构及分子量动态变化与抗氧化的相关性研究

对鸡腿蘑多糖的结构进行检测,并在此基础上探讨结构与活性的关系,对深度发掘鸡腿蘑多糖的功效具有重要意义。制备发酵时间为72 h、96 h和120 h的鸡腿蘑胞外粗多糖,采用PMP柱前衍生化-HPLC法分析其单糖组成,结果表明发酵72 h、96 h和120 h胞外多糖均由D-甘露糖、L-鼠李糖、D-葡萄糖、D-半乳糖、D-阿拉伯糖组成,但各单糖的相对摩尔比不同。采用扫描电子显微镜和原子力显微镜对不同发酵时间的多糖形貌结构进行分析,结果显示发酵120 h多糖的板状结构更加规则,多糖分子的聚集作用更强。采用高效凝胶过滤色谱法对不同发酵时间的鸡腿蘑胞外多糖的分子量分布情况进行分析,结果显示发酵120 h的多糖分子量更大,分布范围更广。体外抗氧化试验结果显示,在相同浓度下,发酵120 h多糖的抗氧化活性较发酵72 h和96 h的多糖强。研究结果表明鸡腿蘑胞外多糖的抗氧化活性可能与其形貌结构和分子量分布有关。     

CO2浓度升高、增温和冬小麦种植对土壤酶活性的影响

研究农田土壤酶活性对CO₂浓度升高和增温的响应,可为气候变化背景下农田生态系统养分管理提供科学依据。本研究在人工模拟气候室进行盆栽控制试验,设置了4种气候情景,分别为对照(CK,CO₂浓度400 μmol·mol^-1+正常环境温度)、CO₂浓度升高(ECO₂,CO₂浓度800 μmol·mol^-1+正常环境温度)、增温(ET,CO₂浓度400 μmol·mol^-1+增温4 ℃)及CO₂浓度和温度均升高(ECO₂+T,CO₂浓度800 μmol·mol^-1+增温4 ℃),研究有、无冬小麦生长下β--葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、β-N-乙酰葡糖苷酶(NAG)、碱性磷酸单脂酶(ALP)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)4种土壤酶活性在冬小麦拔节期(JS)、开花期(AS)、灌浆期(FS)和成熟期(MS)对CO₂浓度升高和增温的响应。结果表明:无冬小麦生长下,ECO₂与CK间4种土壤酶活性差异不显著,而ET和ECO₂+T处理对4种土壤酶活性有显著抑制作用。有冬小麦生长条件下,与CK相比,ECO₂和ECO₂+T处理对4种土壤酶活性均无显著影响;ET处理对土壤ALP和PPO活性有显著影响;ECO₂+T与ET间4种土壤酶活性有显著差异,与ET相比,ECO₂+T处理的土壤βG活性在JS期显著增加,NAG活性在JS期显著降低,ALP活性在AS和FS期显著增加,PPO活性在JS期显著降低,而在AS期显著增加。CO₂浓度升高与增温的交互作用在有、无冬小麦生长下均对土壤NAG和ALP活性有显著影响;无冬小麦生长下,增温和试验时段的交互作用对4种土壤酶活性有显著影响,而在有冬小麦生长下,增温和生育期的交互作用仅对ALP和PPO活性有显著影响;CO₂浓度升高、增温与试验时段的交互作用在无冬小麦生长下对土壤βG、ALP和PPO活性有显著影响,而在有冬小麦生长下CO₂浓度升高、增温与生育期对土壤NAG、ALP和PPO活性有显著影响。冬小麦生长对土壤βG、NAG和ALP活性在前两个生育期(JS+AS期)表现为显著抑制作用,在后两个生育期(FS+MS期)表现为显著促进作用,对土壤PPO活性在全生育期均表现为显著抑制作用。总体上,CO₂浓度升高对冬小麦土壤酶活性的影响不显著,而CO₂浓度与温度均升高对冬小麦土壤酶活性的影响在不同生育期因土壤酶种类不同而不同;此外,有、无冬小麦条件下4种土壤酶活性对CO₂浓度升高与增温的交互作用响应程度不一。     

Determination of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 peptides presented by the type I diabetes-associated HLA-DQ8 class II molecule identifies an immunogenic peptide motif

Particular HLA class II allelic sequences are associated with susceptibility to type I diabetes. To understand the mechanism, knowledge of the molecular nature of the specific TCR/peptide/class II interactions involved in the disease process is required. To this end, we have introduced the diabetes-associated human class II HLA-DQ8 allele (DQA1*0301/DQB1*0302) as a transgene into mice and analyzed T cell responses restricted by this molecule to an important Ag in human diabetes, human glutamic acid decarboxylase 65. Hybridomas were used to determine the particular peptides from this Ag presented by HLA-DQ8 to T cells and to map the core minimal epitopes required for T cell stimulation. Analysis of these core epitopes reveals a motif and relevant features for peptides that are immunogenic to T cells when presented by HLA-DQ8. The major immunogenic epitopes of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 do not contain a negatively charged residue that binds in the P9 pocket of the HLA-DQ8 molecule. PBMC from HLA-DQ8+ diabetic and nondiabetic individuals respond to these peptides, confirming that the mouse model is a useful tool to define epitopes of autoantigens that are processed by human APC and recognized by human T cells.     

Isolation and functional analysis of a Brassica juncea gene encoding a com-ponent of auxin efflux carrier

Polar auxin transport plays a divergent role in plant growth and developmental processes including root and embryo development, vascular pattern formation and cell elongation. Recently isolated Arabidopsis pin gene family was believed to encode a component of auxin efflux carrier (G(?)lweiler et al, 1998). Based on the Arabidopsis pin1 sequence we have isolated a Brassica juncea cDNA (designated Bjpin1), which encoded a 70-kDa putative auxin efflux carrier. Deduced BjPIN1 shared 65% identities at protein level with AtPINl and was highly homologous to other putative PIN proteins of Arabidopsis (with highest homology to AtPIN3). Hydrophobic analysis showed similar structures between BjPINl and AtPIN proteins. Presence of 6 exons (varying in size between 65 bp and 1229 bp) and 5 introns (sizes between 89 bp and 463 bp) in the genomic fragment was revealed by comparing the genomic and cDNA sequences. Northern blot analysis indicated that Bjpin1 was expressed in most of the tissues tested, with a relatively h     

Butyrophilin, a milk protein, modulates the encephalitogenic T cell response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by sensitization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a T cell-dependent autoimmune disease that reproduces the inflammatory demyelinating pathology of multiple sclerosis. We report that an encephalitogenic T cell response to MOG can be either induced or alternatively suppressed as a consequence of immunological cross-reactivity, or "molecular mimicry" with the extracellular IgV-like domain of the milk protein butyrophilin (BTN). In the Dark Agouti rat, active immunization with native BTN triggers an inflammatory response in the CNS characterized by the formation of scattered meningeal and perivascular infiltrates of T cells and macrophages. We demonstrate that this pathology is mediated by a MHC class II-restricted T cell response that cross-reacts with the MOG peptide sequence 76-87, I GEG KVA LRIQ N (identities underlined). Conversely, molecular mimicry with BTN can be exploited to suppress disease activity in MOG-induced EAE. We demonstrate that not only is EAE mediated by the adoptive transfer of MOG74-90 T cell lines markedly ameliorated by i.v. treatment with the homologous BTN peptide, BTN74-90, but that this protective effect is also seen in actively induced disease following transmucosal (intranasal) administration of the peptide. These results identify a mechanism by which the consumption of milk products may modulate the pathogenic autoimmune response to MOG.     

Sambunigrin and cyanogenic variability in populations of Sambucus canadensis L. (Caprifoliaceae)

The presence or absence of cyanogenic glycosides was determined for individuals from nine populations of Sambucus canadensis L. (elderberry) of east-central Illinois. In most of the populations tested, all or most of the individuals did not produce these compounds, in one, all were cyanogenic, whereas in another population this trait was highly variable. Addition of the enzyme emulsin to negative tests did not result in any further release of cyanide. The glycoside responsible is (S)-sambunigrin.     

The use of basis functions in modelling joint articular surfaces: application to the knee joint

This article introduces a new method to represent bone surface geometry for simulations of joint contact. The method uses the inner product of two basis functions to provide a mathematical representation of the joint surfaces. This method guarantees a continuous transition in the direction of the surface normals, an important property for computation of joint contact. Our formulation handles experimental data that are not evenly distributed, a common characteristic of digitized data of musculoskeletal morphologies. The method makes it possible to represent highly curved surfaces, which are encountered in many anatomical structures. The accuracy of this method is demonstrated by modeling the human knee joint. The mean relative percentage error in the representation of the patellar track surface was 0.25% (range 0-1.56%) which corresponded to an absolute error of 0.17mm (range 0-0.16mm).     

The synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) by cultured, symbiotic dinoflagellates

We tested the hypothesis that there is a relation between phylotypes (phylogenetic types, as determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and partial sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSUrDNA)) and the synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) by symbiotic dinoflagellates under the influence of ultraviolet radiation (UV-B/A) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We exposed 27 isolates of symbiotic dinoflagellates simultaneously to UV-B/A and PAR, and subsequently determined the MAAs present in cell extracts and in the media. The algae used included 24 isolates of Symbiodinium spp. originating from jellyfishes, sea anemones, zoanthids, scleractinians, octocorals, and bivalves, and three others in the genera Gymnodinium, Gloeodinium and Amphidinium from a jellyfish, an hydrocoral and a flatworm, respectively. In this study, all of the phylotype A Symbiodinium spp. synthesized up to three identified MAAs. None of the 11 cultured phylotypes B and C Symbiodinium spp. synthesized MAAs. The three non-Symbiodinium symbionts also synthesized up to three MAAs. The results support a conclusion that phylotype A Symbiodinium spp. have a high predilection for the synthesis of MAAs, while phylotypes B and C do not. Synthesis of MAAs by symbiotic dinoflagellates in culture does not appear to relate directly to depths or to the UV exposure regimes from which the consortia were collected.