Calcium-Independent Release of Acetylcholine from Electric Organ Synaptosomes and Its Changes by Depolarization and Cholinergic Drugs

Chemiluminescent detection was applied to measure the continuous spontaneous Ca2+-independent liberation of acetylcholine (ACh) from Torpedo electric organ synaptosomes. Differentiation between the release of ACh and choline was achieved by inhibiting cholinesterases with phospholine, and a way to quantify the continuous release was devised. The method permitted measurements during short time intervals from minute amounts of tissue and without an accumulation of ACh in the medium. Synaptosomes continuously liberated small amounts of ACh during incubations in the presence of 3 mM K+ and in the absence of Ca2+. The spontaneous liberation of ACh was similar both quantitatively and qualitatively at pH values of 8.6 and 7.8. It was unaltered by MgCl2 (10.4 mM), 2-(4-phenylpiperidino)cyclohexanol (10 microM), ouabain (104 microM), atropine (10 microM), and valinomycin (102 nM). Carbamoylcholine brought about a decrease, which could be partially reversed by atropine. The Ca2+-independent output of ACh was increased considerably when the concentration of K+ ions was raised (eightfold at 103 and 35-fold at 203 mM K+). Carbamoylcholine (104 microM) blocked the increase in ACh release produced by high K+; this effect of carbamoylcholine was not reversed by atropine (10 microM). When Ca2+ was added to synaptosomes depolarized by a high concentration of K+, the amount of ACh released during the first 1-3 min after the addition of Ca2+ was at least 20 times higher than in the absence of Ca2+, but the release returned rapidly to predepolarization values. Similarly high values of ACh release could be achieved by adding Ca2+ plus the ionophore A23187 and even higher values by adding Ca2+ plus gramicidin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

小麂、黑麂、赤麂精母细胞联会复合体的比较研究

本工作以界面铺张——硝酸银染色技术,对小麂(Muntiacus reeuesi)、黑麂(M.crinifrons)和赤麂(M.muntjak)的精母细胞联会复合体(Syna ptonemal complex,SC)进行亚显微结构的比较研究。结果表明: 1.SC的平均相对长度和臂比指数同有丝分裂细胞相应染色体的数值有很好的一致性。根据SC的相对长度和臂比指数绘制了三种麂的SC组型图。雄性黑麂减数分裂前期形成一个复杂的易位多价体,意味着其核型的演化过程涉及两次染色体易位和一次臂间倒位。 2.在减数分裂前期,性染色体的形态和行为同常染色体的有明显差异,如性染色体嗜银性较强,配对延迟等。XY的配对起始于早粗线期,在中粗线期,Y的全长均同X配对;XY-SC开始解体于晚粗线期。 3.在粗线期,X染色体未配对区域出现自身折叠,形成“发夹”状结构。这种“发夹”结构的形成,可能是在性染色体的进化过程中,X染色体通过不对称易位得到的重复片段在减数分裂前期同源配对的一种细胞学表现。     

单克隆抗体对肾综合征出血热病毒50k蛋白的分析

用18株抗肾综合征出血热(Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome,以下简称HFRS)病毒McAb,以Western-blot技术分析了纯化的该病毒50k蛋白。结果有7株McAb可与该蛋白反应。这7株McAb的特性(包括感染细胞膜抗原免疫荧光染色模式、中和活性及HI活性等)亦各不相同,提示它们所针对的抗原决定簇的特性也不同。用ELISA阻断试验等证明,上述7株McAb中,有5株所针对的抗原决定簇之间有部分相同或重叠,提示这些具有不同特性的抗原决定簇确实位于同一结构蛋白上。分析结果表明,该50k蛋白的特性及结构均较复杂,尚须进一步研究。     

Nomenclatural remarks on the association names ofNardus stricta-rich communities in Central Europe

The present paper gives comments on the nomenclature of associations ofNardetalia andNardo-Caricion rigidae from Central Europe. A brief list of important homonyms and ambiguous names is added.     

白腹锦鸡,红腹锦鸡,中国雉鸡SC组型的比较研究

以微铺展—硝酸银染色技术制备三种鸡的SC标本,进行电镜观察。结果表明:三种鸡的SC组非常相似,即2n=82,ZZ/ZW型性别决定,雄性为ZZ。除1号SC和Z-SC为中着丝粒外,其余均为端着丝粒。Z-SC的相对长度有明显的细胞间差异;平均相对长度度介于第3和第4号SC之间。三者SC组型上的差异主要表现在相应SC长度上的不同。并对其亲缘关系及在鸟类进化中的可能地位进行了讨论。此外,在微铺展法制备的锦鸡精母细胞SC标本中还发现了巨大中心粒,这在高等动物尚属首次。     

Woronin bodies in arthrinium genus

Woronin bodies are present near all septal pores and in conidia of Arthrinium strains and may regulate cytoplasmic flow in both injured and actively growing healthy colonies. They vary in size and frequency, the central one plugs the septal pores in actively developing colonies and in mature conidia. The septa are thinner in the Woronin-body region.     

Deletion ΔF508 and haplotype analysis of CFTR gene region in Slovak CF patients

Summary Analysis of a sample of 50 unrelated cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and 46 nuclear families from Slovakia (Czechoslovakia) by the polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization revealed that the proportion of the F508 mutation was 58% in this population, and that the frequency of the B (i.e., KM19/XV2c [1–2]) haplotype was increased in both F508 and nonF508 CF chromosomes (98% and 46%, respectively). These results support the view that the trans-European gradient of the F508 frequency is of a geographical rather than of an ethnic origin, and that in Slavonic populations, there exists an as yet unidentified but frequent CF mutation other than F508, associated with the B haplotype.     

Polypeptide cytolytic toxins from sea anemones (Actiniaria)

Abstract Biochemical and biological properties of 30 cytolytic polypeptide toxins isolated from 18 species of sea anemones ( Actiniaria ) are presented and classified into three groups according to their molecular mass, isoelectric points and the molecular mechanism of action. Phospholipase A₂-like toxins (30 kDa) from Aiptasia pallida are dissimilar to acidic metridiolysin (80 kDa) from Metridium senile and the group of about 27 predominantly basic toxins, having a molecular mass of 16–20 or 10 kDa, inhibited by sphingomyelin. They are lethal for both invertebrates and vertebrates, cardiotoxic, cutolytic and cytotoxic. Pharmacological activities, cytotoxic and cytolytic properties are mediated, at least in part, by forming pores in lipid membranes. Channels, 1–2 nm in diameter, formed in planar lipid membranes are cation selective and rectified. The mechanisms and some characteristics of ion channel formation by the toxins in the cells as well as in artificial lipid membranes are summarized and discussed in view of the structure-function studies of the toxins. Putative biological roles of toxins, based on their channel-forming activity, in the capture and killing of prey, digestion, repelling of predators and intraspecific spatial competition are suggested.     

A missense mutation (Asp250----Asn) in exon 6 of the human lipoprotein lipase gene causes chylomicronemia in patients of different ancestries.

We have previously reported two common lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene mutations underlying LPL deficiency in the majority of 37 French Canadians (Monsalve et al., 1990. J. Clin. Invest. 86: 728-734; Ma et al., 1991. N. Engl. J. Med. 324: 1761-1766). By examining the 10 coding exons of the LPL gene in another French Canadian patient, we have identified a third missense mutation that is found in two of the three remaining patients for whom mutations are undefined. This is a G to A transition in exon 6 that results in a substitution of asparagine for aspartic acid at residue 250. Using in vitro site-directed mutagenesis, we have confirmed that this mutation causes a catalytically defective LPL protein. In addition, the Asp250----Asn mutation was also found on the same haplotype in an LPL-deficient patient of Dutch ancestry, suggesting a common origin. This mutation alters a TaqI restriction site in exon 6 and will allow for rapid screening in patients with LPL deficiency.