Serum beta 2 microglobulin in adult myeloid acute leukemias

Serum beta 2 microglobulin levels, measured by radioimmunoassay (Phadebas test), were found increased in acute myeloid leukemias at diagnosis. Serum beta 2 microglobulin levels were significantly higher in patients with monocytic leukemias (13 patients, M4-M5 FAB classification) than in those with other cytological types (18 patients). Beta 2 microglobulin levels at diagnosis were correlated with serum lysozyme levels, but they were not correlated with blood blast counts, serum LDH and ferritin levels. 195 serum beta 2 microglobulin measurements were made serially in 30 patients with acute myeloid leukemias in first remission. Compared to values at diagnosis, beta 2 microglobulin levels in remission were significantly decreased. Out of 30 patients in remission 12 had increased serum beta 2 microglobulin levels (greater than 3 mg/l). Serial measurements were not predictive for relapses.     

Virion orientation in cubic crystals of the human common cold virus HRV14

A new cubic crystal form (a = 445.1 A) of space group P23 is reported for human rhinovirus R14. There are four particles per unit cell, each situated on a crystallographic 3-fold axis. The orientation of these particles has been determined with a rotation function and their approximate positions have been derived from a Patterson map. The crystals diffract to at least 2.8 A resolution. Limitations to the possible surface features of the virus are set by a comparison of the cubic and orthorhombic crystal forms.     

Nonrandomness of point mutation as reflected in nucleotide substitutions in pseudogenes and its evolutionary implications

Summary We have obtained a revised estimate of the pattern of point mutation by considering more pseudogene sequences. Compared with our previous estimate, it agrees better with expectations based on the double-strand structure of DNA. The revised pattern, like the previous one, indicates that mutation occurs nonrandomly among the four nucleotides. In particular, the proportion of transitional mutations (59%) is almost twice as high as the value (33%) expected under random mutation. The same high proportion of transitions is observed in synonymous substitutions in genes. The proportion of transitional changes observed among electrophoretic variants of human hemoglobin is about the same as that predicted by the revised pattern of mutation. We also show that nonrandom mutation increases, by about 15%, the proportion of synonymous mutations due to single-nucleotide changes in the codon table, and increases, from 10% to 50%, the rate of synonymous mutation in the seven genes studied. However, nonrandom mutation reduces (by about 10%) the proportion of polar changes among nonsynonymous mutations in a gene. As far as single-nucleotide changes (in the codon table) are concerned, nonrandom mutation only slightly favors relatively conservative amino acid interchanges, and has virtually no effect on the proportions of radical changes and nonsense mutations.     

三种核型多角体病毒核酸同源性的研究

用分子杂交技术研究了黑点银纹夜蛾(Arqyrogramma agnata Stgr,)单粒包埋型核型多角体病毒(简称A,A,SNPV),斜纹夜蛾(Prodenia litura)多粒包埋型核型多角体病毒(简称PL MNPV)以及用A,A,SNPV感染斜纹夜蛾幼虫所获得的多粒包埋型核型多角体病毒(暂称PoI MNPV)三种病毒核酸的同源性,用SDS-Tris酚法分别提取病毒核酸,用内切酶Eco RⅠ酶解,比较了病毒核酸的酶解图谱及分子量,用〔α-~(32)P〕dATP标记的三种病毒核酸Eco RⅠ酶解片段作探针,分别与各病毒核酸的Eco RI酶解片段杂交,结果表明PoI MNPV与PL MNPV的病毒核酸同源,而A,A,SNPV DNA不与PoI MNPV DNA、PL MNPV DNA杂交,无同源序列。     

克山病是一种“心肌线粒体病(Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathy)”

亚急克病人心肌线粒体内膜电子传递链的琥珀酸氧化酶系,琥珀酸脱氢酶和细胞色素氧化酶活性明显低于对照。H~ -ATP酶的活性及其对寡霉素的敏感性都明显下降。ATP能量化后线粒体膜电位的变化也比对照明显降低。膜脂流动性低于对照。亚急克病人心肌线粒体内观察到较多的电子致密无定形物质,经电镜X射线微区等方法分析,认为这些物质不是Ca_3(PO_4)_2,而可能是一种蛋白质凝聚物。此外,心肌线粒体的硒含量远低于对照,而Ca含量明显高于对照。上述结果都反映亚急克病人心肌线粒体明显损伤。根据克山病患者心肌细胞线粒体结构与功能方面呈现的如此广泛与明显的异常,可将克山病称为“心肌线粒体病(Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathy)”。     

In vitro lipid oxidation modifies proteins and functional properties of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Changes in protein and fatty acid compositions of flounder sarcoplasmic reticulum during NADH plus ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidationin vitro were related to the ability of the sarcoplasmic reticulum to sequester Ca⁺². Progressive accumulation of high-molecular-weight protein components occurred concomitantly with loss of Ca⁺²-sequestering activity. Part of this polymerized protein may be the dimer or trimer of Ca⁺², Mg⁺²-ATPase. Loss in Ca⁺², Mg⁺²-ATPase protein could account for over 60% of the polymerized protein. Rate of loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids was C22:6>C20:4>C20:5>C22:5. Loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids and accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances occurred concomitantly with protein polymerization.     

Induction and rapid repair of sister-chromatid exchanges in multiple murine tissues in vivo by diepoxybutane

Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) induction by the direct-acting bifunctional carcinogen, diepoxybutane (DEB), was investigated in multiple tissues in vivo. The log-log dose SCE response relationship was found to be parallel to that previously reported for DEB induction of lung adenomas. However, the SCE assay is approximately 20 times as sensitive in detecting genotoxic effects of DEB than indicated by the lung adenoma assay. Examination of second and third division cells following various treatment protocols revealed that regardless of the nature of initially induced lesions, they are rapidly repaired with no evidence of persistence beyond 1 cell cycle.     

四川王朗自然保护区大熊猫主食竹——缺苞箭竹(Fargesia denudat)不同发育时期酯酶和α-淀粉酶同工酶的研究

通过聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,对生长在亚高山地带的大熊猫主食竹的实生苗、成竹和开花竹中不同发生年龄鞭系,以及同一鞭系内一系列生长年龄竹株作了酯酶、α-淀粉酶同工酶的比较研究。结果表明,同一竹种的不同发生年龄鞭系之间叶酯酶电泳类型存在明显差异,而同一鞭系内α-淀粉酶同工酶的变化表现与竹株生长年龄有关。由此认为,上述同工酶系统可以用作竹类无性系发育分析的生理指标。