生态系统与耗散结构

1977年,比利时著名科学家伊·普里高津成功地提出耗散结构理论,荣获了诺贝尔奖。普里高津的理论告诉我们:“一个远离平衡态的复杂系统,各元素的作用具有非线性特点,正是这种非线性的相关机制,导致了大量离子的协同动作,突变而产生有序结构。”普里高津的耗散结构理论,研究系统怎样从混沌无序的动态向稳定有序的结构组织演化及其规律,故也称为非平衡系统自组织理论。这一系统理论的奇葩,对于生态系统的深入研究将起到不可估量的作用。同时,这一理论使我们对生态     

从抗体阳性的甲型肝炎接触者粪便中分离出一株甲型肝炎病毒

几年来,国内外已相继用组织培养法分离多株甲型肝炎病毒(HAV),并已证实了甲型肝炎患者及亚临床型感染在传染本病中的重要性。但HAV在流行点的正常人群中存在短期携带的问题还尚未见报道。本文采用人胚肺二倍体细胞(2BS)从甲型肝炎接触者粪便中分离出一株HAV,并经免疫电镜、免疫荧光及参比血清鉴定等证实。现将结果报告如下。     

巨细胞病毒中性红斑定量试验与高滴度病毒的制备

在巨细胞病毒(CMV)的研究中常需对病毒定量。CMV需低滴度传代,否则会产生没有感染性的缺损病毒颗粒;CMV的抗原性受其感染量的影响;检测CMV中和抗体或纯化病毒都需具备病毒空斑定量基础。另外,制备高感染滴度的无细胞病毒(游离病毒)是对CMV进行分子生物学研究的前提。本文建立了CMV微量板法中性红斑定量技术并比较了几种制备无细胞CMV的方法。     

Properties,synthesis, and accumulation of storage proteins in Pieris rapae L.

Two kinds of storage proteins (SP-1, SP-2) were confirmed in hemolymph and fat body of Pieris rapae during metamorphosis. Both proteins were present in high concentrations in the hemolymph during the last larval instar. Hemolymph concentrations of SP-1 and SP-2 dropped after pupation as the proteins were being deposited in fat bodies. SP-2 is present in a larger amount than SP-1. Detailed studies on storage proteins determined their properties, mode of synthesis, and accumulation in the fat body. SP-1 has a molecular weight of 500,000 and consists of one type of subunit (M_r 77,000), while SP-2 has a molecular weight of 460,000 and is composed of two types of subunits (M_r 80,000 and 69,000). The pl values of SP-1 and SP-2 were determined to be 6.97 and 7.06, respectively. Fat body cells from 1-day-old fifth instar larvae synthesized storage proteins in large amounts, whereas those from late prepupae exhibited high protein sequestration. Proteins taken up in fat body accumulated in dense granules during the pupal stage but sharply decreased at the adult stage. Morphological changes in the fat body tissues were observed during the larval-pupal transformation; the nuclei of fat body cells became irregularly shaped, and the boundaries between cells seemed to be obscure. Synthesis, storage, or degradation of storage proteins in fat body during development is closely associated with morphological changes in the tissues.     

Expression of low density lipoprotein receptor gene in human placenta during pregnancy

Mammalian cells require cholesterol as a structural component of plasma membranes. It is also required for placental steroid synthesis. De novo synthesis of cholesterol is limited in human placenta and cholesterol is obtained mainly from plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL). Cholesterol delivery from LDL is mediated by receptor-mediated uptake and the receptor amount is the most important factor for cellular delivery. Thus, the regulation of receptor synthesis is important for placental development and function. Since the regulation of LDL receptor gene expression has not been studied in human placenta, LDL receptor mRNA was measured in placentae of 5-40 weeks of gestation by hybridization of RNA with 32P-labeled cDNA for human LDL receptor. Two mRNA species for LDL receptor were demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. The longer mRNA [5.3 kilobases (kb)] was much more abundant than the shorter mRNA (3.7 kb). The amount of 5.3 kb mRNA was highest early in gestation and decreased during pregnancy. However, the amount of 3.7 kb mRNA did not change appreciably during gestation. Dot blot analysis of 26 placental mRNAs obtained from various stages of gestation revealed a negative correlation between LDL receptor mRNA and gestation (r = -0.76, P less than 0.001). Considering the rapid growth of the trophoblast during gestation, especially in the first and the second trimester, increased expression of the LDL receptor gene and subsequent translation are expected for efficient cholesterol uptake to provide a sufficient substrate for cell growth. Possible mechanisms for the appearance of two mRNA species for LDL receptor are also discussed.     

Molecular dissection of the NH2-terminal signal/anchor sequence of rat dipeptidyl peptidase IV

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a membrane glycoprotein with a type II orientation in the plasma membrane. As shown in a cell-free translation system, the amino-terminal 34 amino acids of rat DPPIV are involved in translocating nascent polypeptide across the membrane of microsomes and in anchoring the translocated polypeptide in the microsomal membrane. The amino-terminal sequence performing this dual function is composed of: a central hydrophobic core of 22 amino acid residues; 6 amino-terminal residues preceding the hydrophobic core (MKTPWK); and 6 residues following the hydrophobic core. The six residues preceding the hydrophobic core are exposed on the outside (cytoplasmic side) of the microsomal membrane. Site-directed mutagenesis studies show that deletion of this cytoplasmic domain, excluding the amino-terminal initiating methionine, does not affect translocation of nascent DPPIV polypeptide, but does affect significantly anchoring of the translocated polypeptide in the microsomal membrane. In contrast, changing the two cytoplasmic Lys to Glu residues or shortening of the hydrophobic core from 22 to 15 residues or converting the last 11e of the shortened hydrophobic core into Ala affects neither translocation across nor anchoring of the DPPIV polypeptide in the microsomal membrane. These and other structural features of the DPPIV amino-terminal signal-anchor sequences are discussed along with other types of sequences for their role in targeting nascent polypeptides to the RER.     

The fate of spargana inoculated into the cat brain and sequential changes of anti-sparganum IgG antibody levels in the cerebrospinal fluid

To establish an animal model of intracranial sparganosis, the fate and behavior of the experimentally inoculated spargana were observed. A total of 102 scolices of spargana were injected into 22 cat brains, and the cats were sacrificed at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after the inoculation. Neurosparganosis was established in 77% of the cats. Of 43 recovered worms, 19 (44%) were located in the subdural or subarachnoid space, 16 (37%) in the brain parenchyme, and 2 (5%) in the lateral ventricle. One was detected at the diploic space of the skull and 5 were outside the cranial cavity. All but one were alive, and had grown tails. They were distributed in the brain parenchyme randomly. There was no place which they could not invade. No adult was found in the intestine. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected before inoculation, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after inoculation. The level of anti-sparganum IgG antibody in CSF measured by ELISA began to increase above the criteria of positivity 1 month after inoculation. Three months after inoculation, the values markedly increased. The present findings reveal that intracranial inoculation of spargana into the brains of cats would be a good animal model of experimental neurosparganosis.     

Molecular genetic, biochemical and nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the role of the tryptophan residues of glutamine-binding protein from Escherichia coli

The results of molecular genetic, biochemical and nuclear magnetic resonance studies on glutamine-binding protein of Escherichia coli suggest that the only two tryptophan residues, at positions 32 and 220, in the protein molecule are likely to be involved in (or sensitive to) interactions with the membrane-bound protein components of the glutamine transport system. It has been found that both tryptophan residues have limited motional freedom, are located away from the surface of the protein molecule and are not close to the ligand-binding site. Their presence, however, is required for the optimal transport of L-glutamine across the cytoplasmic membrane, though not essential for the ligand-binding process. The relevance of these results to the structure and function of the glutamine-binding protein in the glutamine transport system is discussed.