Epstein─Barr病毒膜抗原在中国仓鼠卵巢（CHO）细胞中的表达

将切去３’端穿膜序列的ＥＢ病毒膜抗原（ＭＡ）基因,插入ｐＳＶ２－ｄｈｆｒ质粒的ＳＶ４０早期启动子下游,构建了真核表达载体ｐＳＶ２－ｄｈｆｒＧＰＴＲ,使两个ＳＶ４０早期启动子分别调控ＭＡ和二氢叶酸还原酶（ｄｈｆｒ）基因。将该重组质粒转化ＣＨＯ－ｄｈｆｒ细胞,在选择培养基中筛选阳性克隆,用氨甲喋呤加压扩增,建立了表达ＥＢＶ－ＭＡ的克隆细胞系。ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ分析证明,所表达的蛋白的分子量大约为３４０ｋｄ和２２０ｋｄ。经过细Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ２Ｂ琼脂糖凝胶层析初步纯化的抗原与福氏佐剂混合免疫小鼠,２周后小鼠血清中出现明显的ｇｐ３４０／２２０特异性抗体,表明切去嵌膜区结构的ＥＢＶ－ＭＡ基因在ＣＨＯ细胞中的表达产物具有同天然膜抗原相似的分子量大小、糖基化程度、免疫特异性和免疫原性,可望成为ＥＢ病毒人用基因工程亚单位疫苗。     

NIDDM发病前后中国地鼠胰岛和肝脏细胞GLUT的变化研究

用胶原酶法分离胰岛细胞、超速离心法提取中国地鼠胰岛和肝脏细胞膜蛋白,ＳＤＳ电泳、ＷｅｓｔｅｒｎＢｌｏｔｔｉｎｇ分离ＧＬＵＴ后,应用ＧＬＵＴ２抗体免疫结合法测定ＧＬＵＴ的含量与分子量,同时测定了动物血糖、尿糖和血浆胰岛素的含量、显微镜下直接计数了胰岛细胞总数。结果表明：ＮＩＤＤＭ发病后,自发ＮＩＤＤＭ中国地鼠胰岛细胞ＧＬＵＴ含量减少,与ＧＬＵＴ２抗体反应明显减弱,但肝脏ＧＬＵＴ无明显变化。胰岛细胞总数发病前后大体一致。而血糖、尿精及血浆胰岛素浓度明显升高。     

碳酸锂处理糖尿病中国地鼠疗效观察

本文报道小剂量碳酸锂对自发的遗传性糖尿病模型中国地鼠（ＮＩＤＤＭ）三个月处理疗效观察。采用胰岛素敏感性指数——空腹血浆胰岛素与血糖乘积的倒数,判断药物疗效。结果显示：碳酸锂使糖尿病鼠血糖降低,血胰岛素无变化,胰岛素敏感性增强。     

中国茶对变形链球菌的抑菌作用

对３６只ｓｐｒａｑｕｅ－Ｄａｗｌｅｙ鼠分４组给予诱龋饲料（Ｄｉｅｔ２０００,ｋｅｙｓ）,并连续５天在口腔内接种变链菌６７１５菌株,分别给予我国主要产茶区的三种茶浸液：龙井绿茶（Ｂ组）,四川涪陵红茶（Ｃ组）,乌龙茶（Ｄ组）,先用０．５ｇ茶和５０ｍｌ双蒸馏水加热煮沸过滤后浸泡１０分钟以及对照组（Ａ组）用双蒸馏水为饮料喂养实验鼠。实验６０天后,杀鼠观察计算鼠磨牙面的菌落形成单位（ＣＦＵ）和菌斑指数（ｐｌａｑｕｅｓｃｏｒｅ）均显著下降。实验结果,实验组和对照组菌斑指数下降值顺序如下：Ｃ组＞Ｄ组＞Ｂ组＞Ａ组,并与实验组含氟量有相关性。很多研究表明变链菌是较为肯定的致龋菌、茶中氟化物对变链菌生长、粘附都有抑制作用。本研究选用茶来源广泛、价廉、无毒安全等优点,为开拓新的防龋方法进行探索。     

Cytogenetic effects induced by cytochalasin B in Chinese hamster ovary cells

We determined the kinetics of the induction of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei (MN) by mitomycin C (MMC, 0.1 µg/ml) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells treated with cytochalasin B (Cyt-B, 3 µg/ml). In cells treated with Cyt-B as well as with Cyt-B plus MMC the highest yield of binucleated cells was obtained 24 h after treatment. After 40 h of treatment with Cyt-B the frequency of MN in binucleated cells was significantly higher than that observed at previous times in the same cultures as well as in controls. In cultures treated with MMC the frequency of MN increased with time, reaching the highest value at 24 h. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was also significantly higher in cells treated both with Cyt-B and Cyt-B plus MMC than in controls and exceeded that of MN in parallel cultures. These data confirm the capacity of MMC to induce chromosomal alterations in mammalian cells; in particular they indicate that Cyt-B is able to induce cytogenetic effects in CHO cells. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, after reaction with CREST antikinetochore antibodies, we found that in cells treated with Cyt-B or Cyt-B plus MMC the frequency of MN without kinetochore was, respectively, about 70 and 85%, indicating that under our experimental conditions MN originate mainly from acentric chromatid fragments. Present data suggest that the method based on the blockage of cytokinesis by Cyt-B normally used in the MN assay should be reconsidered.     

Activity of the tetramer and octamer of glutamine synthetase isoforms during primary leaf ontogeny of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

In extracts from the primary leaf blade of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) we separated a chloroplastic isoform (GS 2) of glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2) and one or two (depending on leaf age) cytosolic isoforms (GS 1a and GS 1b). The latter were prominent in the early (GS 1a) and late stages of leaf ontogeny (GS 1a and GS 1b), whereas during leaf maturation GS 2 was the predominantly active GS isoform. The GS 1 isoforms were active exclusively in the octameric state although tetrameric GS 1 protein was detected immunologically. Their activity stayed at a relatively constant level during leaf ontogeny; an increase was observed only in the senescent leaf. The activity of GS 2, however, changed drastically during primary leaf ontogeny and was modulated by changes in the oligomeric state of the active enzyme. In the early and late stages of leaf ontogeny when GS 2 activity was low (lower than that of the GS 1 isoforms), GS 2 was active only in the octameric state. In the maturing leaf, when GS 2 activity had reached its maximum level (much higher than that of the GS 1 isoforms), 80 of total GS 2 activity was due the activity of the tetrameric form of the enzyme and 20 was due to octameric GS 2. Tetrameric GS 2 was a hetero-tetramer and thus not the unspecific dissociation product of homo-octameric GS 2. In addition, GS 2 activity was modulated by an activation/inactivation of the tetrameric GS 2 protein. Due to an activation of the GS 2 tetramer, the activity of tetrameric GS 2 increased during leaf maturation from zero level 23-fold compared with that of GS 1a and 18-fold compared with that of GS 1b. Possible activators of tetrameric GS 2 are thiol-reactive substances. During leaf senescence, GS 2 activity decreased to zero; this decrease was due to an inactivation of the tetrameric GS 2 protein probably caused by oxidation.Abbreviations FLL final lamina length - FPLC fast protein liquid chromatography - GS glutamine synthetase - GHA -glutamyl hydroxamate - Rubisco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase Dr. Roger Wallsgrove's (Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, UK) generous gift of GS antiserum is greatly appreciated.     

Identification and localization of molecular markers linked to the Lr9 leaf rust resistance gene of wheat

Near-isogenic lines (NILs) for the leaf rust resistance gene Lr9 were screened for polymorphisms at the molecular level. RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) primers as well as RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) markers were used. Out of 395 RAPD primers tested, three showed polymorphisms between NILs, i.e., an additional band was found in resistant lines. One of these polymorphic bands was cloned and sequenced. Specific primers were synthesized, and after amplification only resistant lines showed an amplified product. Thus, these primers define a sequence-tagged site that is specific for the translocated fragment carrying the Lr9 gene. A cross between a resistant NIL and the spelt (Triticum spelta) variety Oberkulmer was made, and F₂ plants were analyzed for genetic linkage. All three polymorphisms detected by the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and one RFLP marker (cMWG684) showed complete linkage to the Lr9 gene in 156 and 133 plants analyzed, respectively. A second RFLP marker (PSR546) was closely linked (8±2.4 cM) to the Lr9 gene and the other four DNA markers. As this marker maps to the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 6B of wheat, Lr9 and the other DNA markers also map to the distal region of 6BL. All three PCR markers detected the Lr9 gene in independently derived breeding lines and varieties, thus proving their general applicability in wheat breeding programs.     

Rapid Communication: cis-Methyldioxolane Specifically Recognizes the m2 Muscarinic Receptor

Abstract: cis -Methyldioxolane (CD) is a muscarinic receptor agonist. [³H] CD has been used to label a subpopulation of muscarinic receptors described as exhibiting high agonist affinity. Pharmacological evidence suggests that the population of receptors labeled by [³H] CD consists of m2 and/or m4 subtypes; however, no studies have directly addressed the subtype selectivity of [³H] CD. The present study characterizes binding of this ligand to individual human receptor subtypes expressed in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. Results indicate that [³H] CD binds with high affinity only to Hm2 receptors but not to all Hm2 receptors. Twenty-eight percent of Hm2 receptors bound [³H] CD with a K _D of 3.5 ± 0.5 nM. Binding was eliminated in the presence of guanosine 5'- O -(3-thiotriphosphate), indicating that the Hm2 receptors labeled by [³H] CD are those that are associated with GDP-bound G protein. Binding of [³H] CD by only a subpopulation of Hm2 receptors is in agreement with data generated from studies of [³H] CD binding in mammalian brain. Because muscarinic receptors have been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as the neurotoxicity of organophosphorus compounds, knowledge of the binding specificity of the muscarinic agonist [³H] CD should aid research in these areas.     

Variation in the species composition and mean body size of an avian foliage-gleaning guild along an elevational gradient: correlation with arthropod body size

The composition of an avian foliage-gleaning guild was analyzed with respect to body size at nine sites along an elevational gradient in the Oregon Cascades. Mean body size decreased from 20.5 g near the lower forest boundary where it meets the grassland at about 775 m to 9.3 g near timberline at about 1720 m. Both the loss of larger species and the gain of smaller species contributed to the change. Mean volume of the foliage-dwelling arthropods also decreased with increasing elevation by two orders of magnitude along the same gradient. A significant decrease in body size occurred in three arthropod groups, larval Lepidoptera, Homoptera, and spiders, and of these, larval Lepidoptera dominated the overall size trend among arthropods. Both developmental differences (higher elevation sites are delayed seasonally on the same calendar date) and taxonomic differences contributed to the change in mean arthropod size. Mean bird size was positively correlated (r=0.93) with the body size of foliage-dwelling arthropods. A similar pattern was suggested for other avian guilds dependent directly or indirectly upon foliage-dwelling arthropods, but not for guilds independent of foliage-dwelling arthropods.     

Effects of different leaf traits on growth rates of insect herbivores on willows

We examined relative effects of traits of leaf quality of ten willow species (Salix: Salicaceae) on growth rates of five species of insect herbivores found in interior Alaska (a willow sawfly, Nematus calais; the tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio canadensis; and three species of chrysomelid beetles, Gonioctena occidentalis, Calligrapha verrucosa, and Chrysomela falsa). Leaf traits examined were water content, toughness, total nitrogen contnet, pubescence, and presence or absence of phenolic glycosides. Of ten Salix species, four species contain phenolic glycosides in their leaves. We examined relative effects of water content, toughness, and nitrogen content of the Salix leaves on larval growth rates at three different levels, i.e., on a single host species, between different host species, and between herbivore species. The within-host analyses showed that effects of water content, toughness and/or nitrogen content on herbivore growth rates were generally significant in early-season herbivores but not in late-season herbivores. For each herbivore species, differences in growth rates between hosts were not explained by differences in water content, toughness, or nitrogen content. The between-herbivore analysis showed that the interspecific difference in larval growth rates were related to difference in water and nitrogen content of the hosts. Pubescence of Salix leaves had little effects on herbivore growth rates. Presence of phenolic glycosides had a positive effects on growth rates of a specialist, N. calais, but no effect on the other specialist, Ch. falsa. Presence of phenolic glycosides had, in general, negative effects on growth rates of nonspecialists, G. occidentalis, C. verrucosa, and P. canadensis.