Evolutionary analysis of Pinus densata (Masters), a putative Tertiary hybrid.

Summary Restriction fragment analysis and heterologous hybridization of chloroplast (cp) DNA was used to develop species-specific markers for P. tabulaeformis, P. yunnanensis and P. massoniana. Fragment patterns created by the BclI and DraI restriction enzymes and hybridization patterns to the psbC and psbD probes were distinctive among the three species. No intraspecific variation was detected with respect to any of the cpDNA markers developed in this study. The cpDNA markers obtained were subsequently used to examine the parentage of P. densata, a putative Tertiary hybrid between P. tabulaeformis and P. yunnanensis. The analysis demonstrated for the first time that P. densata populations accommodate chloroplast genomes of P. tabulaeformis and P. yunnanensis, which strongly supports earlier suggestions of the hybrid origin of this species. It appears that P. densata represents a stabilized natural hybrid that has become adapted to high mountain environments where neither of the parental species can normally grow.     

The effect of dehydration on the functional activity of the interrenal gland in adenohypophysectomized Rana catesbeiana frogs. A preliminary report

A significant increase of the content of corticosterone in the blood collected from intravenous cannula or by intracardiac punction has been detected using radioimmunoassay in non-operated and adenohypophysectomized frogs Rana catesbeiana subjected to dehydration in 6.2% mannitol solution during 24 hours. The osmolality of the blood plasma of these animals also increases although less significantly than the growth of plasma corticosterone content. There is a tendency to substantial increase of plasma arginine-vasotocin level prior to the growth of corticosterone level, already after 6 hours of dehydration. Based on the present results and literature data, it is suggested that in adenohypophysectomized frogs lacking endogenous ACTH just the increase of blood arginine-vasotocin level results in a substantial activation of corticosteroid-producing cells of the interrenal gland and in the growth of plasma content of corticosterone.     

Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle

Synthesis of enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle was investigated with Staphylococcus aureus type strains FRI137 and FRI361 and S. aureus isolates M5 (C1) and L2 (C2) of animal origin. Both enterotoxins were produced during the exponential growth phase or at the beginning of the stationary phase. The minimal incubation time (7 to 12 h) and the lowest population (10(7) to 2 x 10(9) CFU/ml) associated with detectable enterotoxin (1 to 6.5 ng/ml) were related to the total amount of toxin produced after 24 h. Thermonuclease was detected in all samples whenever enterotoxins were detected. Furthermore, strain FRI137 produced thermonuclease earlier and at lower cell populations than it did enterotoxin C1. Patterns of enterotoxin and thermonuclease synthesis did not correlate. The concentration of toxins increased throughout the growth cycle, while the concentration of thermonuclease remained constant during the last hours of the growth cycle.     

Marked differences in the antigenic structure of human respiratory syncytial virus F and G glycoproteins.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the glycoproteins of human respiratory syncytial virus were used in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for topological mapping of epitopes. Whereas epitopes of the F glycoprotein could be ascribed to five nonoverlapping antigenic sites, anti-G antibodies recognized unique epitopes, many of whose competition profiles overlapped extensively. Variant viruses selected with a neutralizing (47F) anti-F antibody lost the binding for only 47F and 49F antibodies, which mapped in the same antigenic area. In contrast, viruses selected with an anti-G antibody lost the capacity to bind most of the anti-G antibodies, and their G protein was not recognized by an anti-virus antiserum, indicating major changes in the antigenic structure of the G molecule. Finally, we found great antigenic variation of the G protein among viral isolates. This occurred even within viruses of the same subtype with only limited divergence of amino acid sequence between strains. All of these data indicate marked differences in the antigenic organization of the G and F glycoproteins of respiratory syncytial virus; we discuss these differences in terms of the chemical structure of the glycoproteins.     

Multiple origins for phenylketonuria in Europe

Phenylketonuria (PKU), a disorder of amino acid metabolism prevalent among Caucasians and other ethnic groups, is caused primarily by a deficiency of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PKU is a highly heterogeneous disorder, with more than 60 molecular lesions identified in the PAH gene. The haplotype associations, relative frequencies, and distributions of five prevalent PAH mutations (R158Q, R261Q, IVS10nt546, R408W, and IVS12n1) were established in a comprehensive European sample population and subsequently were examined to determine the potential roles of several genetic mechanisms in explaining the present distribution of the major PKU alleles. Each of these five mutations was strongly associated with only one of the more than 70 chromosomal haplotypes defined by eight RFLPs in or near the PAH gene. These findings suggest that each of these mutations arose through a single founding event that occurred within time periods ranging from several hundred to several thousand years ago. From the significant differences observed in the relative frequencies and distributions of these five alleles throughout Europe, four of these putative founding events could be localized to specific ethnic subgroups. Together, these data suggest that there were multiple, geographically and ethnically distinct origins for PKU within the European population.     

钐在小鼠肝脏细胞中的动态观察

It is generally considered that the rare earth compounds are plasma membrane-impermeable, thus affecting the cells only on their surface. Recently, we found that after repeated injections to mice of large dose of samarium trichloride, a soluble compound of rare earth, samarium aggregates appeared in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes of liver. In this study, we aimed at observing the route by which samarium enters the liver cells and the process of the formation of samarium aggregates. Samarium trichloride was given to Swiss mice at one dose of 70 mg/kg intravenously. Thereafter, at different intervals from 15 min to 48 h after the injection, the samarium in liver was traced dynamically by electron microscopy and X ray microanalysis. From 15 min to 2 h both Kupffer cells and hepatocytes endocytosed samarium-containing particles and formed phagosomes, in which the ingested particles were progressively concentrated. Besides, the small phagosomes fused with each other. Phagocytosis was especially active in Kupffer cells. During the 4 h to 24 h many Kupffer cells were degenerated and broken. In hepatocytes the phagosomes gathered mostly around the bile canaliculi. Groups of highly electron-dense particles were found in the lumen of bile canaliculi, implying the excretion of samarium by bile. At the 48 h, the samarium-containing phagosomies were found still in both kinds of cells in the liver.     

三水盆地早白垩世白鹤洞组的被子植物花粉*

系统描述了区内早白垩世白鹤洞组的被子植物花粉,11属20余种.结合前人研究成果,对一些容易混淆的属种作了区分性的讨论.据所发现的被子植物花粉的组合面貌,将白鹤洞组归人中晚阿尔必期.     

辽宁辽阳晚寒武世崮山组树形笔石

笔石发现于辽宁辽阳兰家晚寒武世崮山组 Drepanura 带,他们为 Dendrograptus liaoyangensis sp. nov., Dendrograptus liaoyangensis latus subsp. nov., Callograptus lanjiaensis sp. nov., Callograptus sp. A, Callograptus sp. B.,这是我国已知最低层位的笔石.     

新疆温泉煤田早、中侏罗世孢粉组合及其地层意义*

新疆温泉煤田艾肯拜尔段和柯克它乌组的孢粉化石,计有42属59种.根据孢粉类型和含量变化等特征,建立2个孢粉组合(自下而上):1. Dictyophyllidites-Chordasporites-Jugasporites 组合;2. Cyathidites-Neoraistrickia-Pseudopicea 组合.第一组合产于艾肯拜尔段,时代可能为早侏罗世,第二组合产于柯克它乌组,时代暂定为早、中侏罗世.根据孢粉组合反映的植物群面貌是:裸子植物非常茂盛,其中以松柏纲为主,蕨类植物较少(包括真蕨纲植物);反映的古气候属于温暖湿润的亚热带型.     

广东南雄盆地上湖组介形类动物群及白垩-第三系界线

南雄盆地上湖组介形类可划分为2个性质不同的动物群及4个化石带:下部为 Porpocypris 动物群,是以中生代属种为主,中、新生代属种混生的过渡性动物群,时代为晚白垩世最晚期;上部为 Cypris 动物群,以 Cypris 属占优势, Sinocypris 属开始出现, Cypridea 等古老属种绝灭为主要特征,时代为早—中古新世.根据介形类演化发展阶段和白垩纪末生物绝灭事件,南雄盆地白垩系与第三系的界线应划在 Porpocypris 与 Cypris 动物群之间,即上湖组坪岭段与下惠段之间.