Characterization of Flavin-Containing Opine Dehydrogenase from Bacteria

Opines, in particular nopaline and octopine, are specific compounds found in crown gall tumor tissues induced by infections with Agrobacterium species, and are synthesized by well-studied NAD(P)H-dependent dehydrogenases (synthases), which catalyze the reductive condensation of α-ketoglutarate or pyruvate with L-arginine. The corresponding genes are transferred into plant cells via a tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid. In addition to the reverse oxidative reaction(s), the genes noxB-noxA and ooxB-ooxA are considered to be involved in opine catabolism as (membrane-associated) oxidases; however, their properties have not yet been elucidated in detail due to the difficulties associated with purification (and preservation). We herein successfully expressed Nox/Oox-like genes from Pseudomonas putida in P. putida cells. The purified protein consisted of different α-, β-, and γ-subunits encoded by the OdhA, OdhB, and OdhC genes, which were arranged in tandem on the chromosome (OdhB-C-A), and exhibited dehydrogenase (but not oxidase) activity toward nopaline in the presence of artificial electron acceptors such as 2,6-dichloroindophenol. The enzyme contained FAD, FMN, and [2Fe-2S]-iron sulfur as prosthetic groups. On the other hand, the gene cluster from Bradyrhizobium japonicum consisted of OdhB ₁ -C-A-B ₂, from which two proteins, OdhAB₁C and OdhAB₂C, appeared through the assembly of each β-subunit together with common α- and γ-subunits. A poor phylogenetic relationship was detected between OdhB₁ and OdhB₂ in spite of them both functioning as octopine dehydrogenases, which provided clear evidence for the acquisition of novel functions by “subunit-exchange”. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to have examined flavin-containing opine dehydrogenase.     

BJ-HCC-20, a potential novel cancer-testis antigen.

In an effort to identify novel Cancer-Testis genes, we analyzed the sequence in the q26-28 region of human X chromosome by several on-line tools. The candidate sequences were then confirmed by experiments. We have obtained a novel Cancer-Testis gene, BJ-HCC-20. In vivo, it was found to have two isoforms. In samples of liver, colon, gastric and lung cancer tested, the expression frequency of BJ-HCC-20 is 25%, 17%, 21% and 15%, respectively. Full-length cDNAs of both BJ-HCC-20 isoforms were isolated and their gene structures and promoter regions were characterized. BJ-HCC-20 might have implications in theoretical and practical tumor biology.     

五种雀形目鸟类核型的比较研究

染色体核型的比较研究,对于了解物种的特性,探索物种的遗传、进化、系统发育及分类地位都有一定的意义。有关鸟类的核型研究,国外已有不少报道(Castrovicja,1969; Hammar,1966,1975; Ray-Chaudhuri et al.,1969;Shidds,1982;Ta—kagi,1972等)国内在这方面的工作开展较迟,已作过核型分析的鸟类为数不多,仅见王应祥等(1982)的报道。迄今,作过核型研究的鸟类已达500多种,其中雀形目有200种。本文比较分析了五种野生雀形目鸟类的核型,它们是黑头蜡嘴雀,斑鸫,黄腹山雀,红尾伯劳和灰背椋鸟。     

Microcalorimetric measurements of tissue cells in vitro

A culture flask was designed for the microcalorimetric measurements of tissue cells by an MS 80 standard calvet microcalorimeter. Tissue cells cultured in this flask behaved in the same manner as in the common culture flask used in cytobiological studies. The thermograms of human adenocarcinoma gastric cells (SGc 7901) and HeLa cells were obtained. The heat output power of SGc 7901 cells continuously increased for 70 h with an initial cell number of 3.0 X 10(5). The thermogram was reproducible under strictly controlled conditions. The relationship between the heat output power and the number of SGc 7901 cells within 48 h was obtained. The heat output power was 40 pW/cell to 49 pW/cell when the cell number was in the range 4.5 X 10(5) to 10.4 X 10(5). It was 62.3 +/- 2.9 pW/cell for HeLa cells when the cell number was 6 X 10(5).     

洈水水库鳡鱼(Elopichthys bambusa)生长规律的研究

本文对洈水水库鳡鱼的生长及其利用进行了分析研究,结果表明:1.该种鱼生长快,高速生长时间长,可连续5年每年生长6kg以上;2.雌、雄鱼体长与体重生长分别适合Von.Bertalanffy的生长公式:L=L_∞(1-e-k(t-t·))和W=W_∞(1-e-k(t-t·))~3;3.雌鱼体重生长速度快于雄鱼,体长生长无明显差别;4.建议大中型水体中的鳡鱼与其它鱼类群落体重之比控制在3—5％为宜。     

洈水水库鳡鱼(Elopichthys bambusa)生长规律的研究

本文对洈水水库鳡鱼的生长及其利用进行了分析研究,结果表明:1.该种鱼生长快,高速生长时间长,可连续5年每年生长6kg以上;2.雌、雄鱼体长与体重生长分别适合Von.Bertalanffy的生长公式:L=L_∞(1-e-k(t-t·))和W=W_∞(1-e-k(t-t·))~3;3.雌鱼体重生长速度快于雄鱼,体长生长无明显差别;4.建议大中型水体中的鳡鱼与其它鱼类群落体重之比控制在3—5％为宜。     

限制性内切酶诱发的姊妹染色单体互换

用限制性内切酶PstⅠ,SalⅠ,PvuⅡ和BamHⅠ处理CHO细胞后,发现其SCE率升高,与对照相比,前三种酶具有显著性差异。但这些酶诱导SCE的效应与其致染色体畸变效应相比则较弱,提示引起DNA双链断裂的限制性内切酶不是SCE的强刺激物。实验结果表明,BrdU取代胸苷不能消除限制酶对底物DNA的识别及裂解。