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.     

CC to TT mutation in the mitochondrial DNA of normal skin: relationship to ultraviolet light exposure

We have previously reported that ultraviolet (UV)-specific (CC to TT) mutations in p53 gene can be detected in normal skin. This, however, cannot be used as a cumulative marker of UV exposure, since cells with the p53 mutation acquire a clonal growth advantage. Moreover, a large skin biopsy is necessary for each assay. In order to circumvent these problems, we have measured mitochondrial (Mt) DNA mutations; there are more than 1000 copies of the Mt genome per cell, and Mt genes are not directly involved in cell growth. We have established a sensitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) assay capable of detecting one CC to TT mutation in Mt DNA among 10(7) wild-type genes using a mismatch allele-specific primer. With this assay, we found no mutation-positive samples from internal non-exposed tissue (stomach, colon, and blood) (0/50). In contrast, 17 out of 111 skin samples were positive: the mutation frequency in positive samples was around 10(7)-10(-6) (10-100 copies of mutant in 10(8) wild-type Mt DNA). In normal skin tissue, the prevalence of positive samples was higher in those from exposed sites (13/51) than in those from less-exposed sites (1/26) (p<0.05). However, a quantitative correlation between sunlight exposure and the accumulation of mutations was not found. We conclude that the UV exposure-associated CC to TT mutation in Mt DNA can be detected in normal skin, but that further studies are required to develop this as a quantitative marker for UV exposure.     

JMJD6在胃癌组织中的表达及意义

目的:检测JMJD6蛋白在胃癌组织及相应癌旁正常组织中的表达情况,并分析JMJD6蛋白表达与胃癌患者临床病理参数及预后的关系。方法:应用免疫组织化学方法检测JMJD6蛋白在胃癌组织及相应癌旁正常组织中的表达情况,进一步用Kaplan-Meier生存分析、COX比例风险回归模型等统计学方法研究JMJD6表达与胃癌患者临床病理参数及预后的关系。结果:JMJD6在胃癌组织中的表达阳性率显著高于癌旁正常组织(P=0.001);JMJD6在胃癌组织的高表达与肿瘤临床分期(P=0.008)、病理分级(P=0.001)、局部浸润深度(P=0.028)、有无淋巴结转移(P=0.001)等显著相关;Kaplan-Meier生存分析结果表明JMJD6高表达的胃癌患者术后总体生存率显著低于JMJD6低表达的患者(P=0.023)。结论:JMJD6在胃癌的发生发展中可能发挥了癌基因样作用,可能作为胃癌治疗的潜在靶点。     

南方红豆杉产紫杉醇内生真菌的分离鉴定

从南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensisvar.mairei)植株分离到内生真菌63株,其中24株经鉴定分属于19个种(属).真子囊菌纲的2个属2株,半知菌纲的14个属22株.真子囊菌纲的无毛毛壳属(Achaetomiumsp.)的1株为新发现种.半知菌纲的葡萄孢属(Botrytissp.)1株和无孢菌群(Mycelia sterlia)2株的培养液,经浓缩萃取,薄层层析检测,Rf值分别为0.404、0.404、0.401,与紫杉醇对照品Rf值一致,为南方红豆杉产紫杉醇内生真菌.     

绿色糖单孢菌木质素过氧化物酶的分离纯化及鉴定

木质素过氧化物酶是一种重要的具有工业应用前景的木质素降解酶,但已报道真菌来源的木质素过氧化物酶只能在酸性低温条件下发挥作用,限制了其进一步的工业应用.通过培养一株耐热耐碱放线茵——绿色糖单孢茵发酵产酶,采用DEAE-Cellulose,CM-Cellulose和Superdex 75凝胶过滤层析等分离纯化方法,得到一种具有耐热耐碱特性的木质素过氧化物酶.经凝胶电泳检测其为单一蛋白,分子量为41 kD.最终纯化倍数达到20倍,活性回收率为6％.采用LTQ法对纯酶进行蛋白质归类鉴定,得到其部分氨基酸片段,为该酶的进一步分子生物学研究奠定基础.