Biochemical and autoradiographic studies of TRH receptors in sections of rabbit spinal cord

Receptors for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (pGlu-His-Pro-NH2, TRH) on thaw-mounted sections of rabbit spinal cord have been identified biochemically and visualized by light microscopic autoradiography. Binding of [3H] [3-Me-His2]TRH to 20 microns sections exhibited high apparent affinity and a pharmacological specificity almost identical to that previously demonstrated for spinal TRH receptors in membranes. In autoradiograms, the highest density of TRH receptors appeared in the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal gray and around the central canal, with intermediate levels in the ventral gray.     

Energy detection and temporal integration in the noctuid A1 auditory receptor

The temporal integration of the A1 auditory receptor of two species of noctuid moths (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) was investigated. Tympanal nerve spikes were recorded while stimulating the ear with broad band clicks. Thresholds were measured for single clicks, pairs of clicks with a separation of 1–20 ms, and trains of up to 8 clicks at separations of 1–2 ms. The average threshold for single clicks was 52.9 dB peSPL (SD 1.7 dB, n = 40) for Noctua pronuba and 50.1 dB peSPL (SD 4.0 dB, n = 27) for Spodoptera littoralis. The thresholds for double clicks with a 1 ms separation were lower than the thresholds for single clicks. The difference decreased as the separation between the clicks was increased. The results were fully consistent with an energy detector model (a leaky integrator with an exponential decay) with a time constant of about 4 ms.The results are compared to previously published results with pure tone intensity/duration trading. A common underlying mechanism is suggested, based on the passive electric properties of the receptor cell membrane.It is suggested, that the time constant revealed in the present study characterizes auditory receptors in general, and is related to the short time constants in vertebrate audition.Abbreviations peSPL peak equivalent sound pressure level - SD standard deviation - time constant     

大肠杆菌精氨酰－tRNA合成酶的变种ArgRS306KR的纯化和基本性质

本文从含ＡｒｇＲＳ３０６ＫＲ基因ａｒｇｓ３０６ＫＲ的ｐＵＣ１８重组质粒的大肠杆菌ＴＧ１转化子中经ＤＥＡＥ－Ｓｅｐｈａｃｅｌ和Ｂｌｕｅ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ两步柱层析,得到电泳一条带的ＡｒｇＲＳ３０６ＫＲ。纯酶的比活为２７９０单位／毫克。该酶氨酰化和ＡＴＰ～ＰＰｉ交换活力的最适ｐＨ分别为ｐＨ８．３和ｐＨ７．５。氨酰化活力对ＡＴＰ、Ａｒｇ和ｔＲＮＡ的Ｋｍ分别为２．６ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１４．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ和５．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ：Ｖｍａｘ为７６３０单位／毫克;ｋｏａｔ为９Ｓ－１。ＡＴＰ～ＰＰｉ交换活力对ＡＴＰ和Ａｒｇ的Ｋｍ分别为８．３ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ和９９μｍｏｌ／Ｌ;Ｖｍａｘ为１６３２０单位／毫克;ｋｃａｔ为１８Ｓ－１。     

变温对两种昆虫发育速率的影响

报道了松毛虫赤眼蜂和瓜螟在多组恒温、交替变温下的发育历期。对结果的分析表明,温度交替对这两种昆虫在任一温度下的瞬时发育率无明显影响,恒温下和变温下完成发育所需的热量无显著差异或基本相似。     

Guanine nucleotide regulatory protein alterations in young Milan hypertensive strain rats

Vascular smooth muscle cell membranes from prehypertensive rats of the Milan hypertensive strain (MHS) were used to examine adenylyl cyclase activity and its regulation by guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G-proteins). Basal adenylyl cyclase activity was similar in MHS and Milan normontensive strain (MNS) membranes. Forsokolin (10^?4 M) produced a significantly greater stimulatory response in MHS membranes, but this was not observed with NaF (10^?2 M). Isoporterenol (10^?4 M) caused a significantly decreased stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity in MHS membranes, while prostaglandin E₁ (10^?5 M) produced similar responses in the two strains. G_i function and GTP responses, as observed by biphasic effects of GTP on isoproterenol-stimulated membranes, were similar in both strains. The levels of G_i2α and G_qα/G₁₁α were similar in the two strains, while the levels of G_sα (44 and 42 kDa forms) and the β-subunit were significantly reduced by ～20% in MHS membranes. The α-subunit of G_i3 was dramatically reduced by ～80% in MHS membranes. The affinities of β-adrenergic receptors for the antagonist, cyanophindolol, were similar in the two strains; however, the number of β-adrenoceptors was substantially reduced in MHS membranes. These findings may be of relevance to altered vascular reactivity and transmembrane ion distribution observed in the MHS.     

Inhibition of mugineic acid-ferric complex uptake in barley by copper, zinc and cobalt

The interfering effects of copper, zinc, and cobalt on the uptake of mugineic acid-ferric complex were studied in barley ( Hordeum vulgare , cv. Minorimugi) grown in nutrient solution. Short-term uptake experiments of 3 h were performed utilizing both ionic and mugineic acid-complex forms of each metal at two different concentrations. Copper was most effective in decreasing iron uptake when added in an ionic form at either concentration. The inhibition order at higher concentrations followed Cu(II) > Zn(II) ≥ Co(II), Co(III), which is consistent with the stability constants of these metal complexes with mugineic acid. The displacement of iron from its mugineic acid complex by these metals is suggested as a probable explanation for the decreased iron uptake. The inhibitory effect of metal complexes with mugineic acid on iron uptake was only found in cases with higher concentrations of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes. Deformation of the specific iron transport system in the plasma membrane due to their adsorption may be responsible for this effect.     

The effect of pulsed microwaves on passive electrical properties and interspike intervals of snail neurons

The effects of pulsed microwaves (2.45 GHz, 10 μs, 100 pps, SAR: 81.5 kW/kg peak, 81.5 W/kg average) on membrane input resistance and action potential (AP) interval statistics were studied in spontaneously active ganglion neurons of land snails (Helix aspersa), at strictly constant temperature (20.8±.07°C worst case). Statistical comparison with sham-irradiated neurons revealed a significant increase in the mean input resistance of neurons exposed to pulsed microwaves (P ? .05 ). Pulsed microwaves had no visible effect on mean AP firing rate; this observation was confirmed by analysis of interspike intervals (ISIs). Using an integrator model for spontaneously active neurons, we found the net input current to be more variable in neurons exposed to pulsed microwaves. The mean input current was not affected. The standard deviation of ISIs and the autocorrelation of the input current were marginally affected, but these changes were not consistent across neurons. Although the observed effects were less obvious than those reported in other studies, they represent evidence of a direct interaction between neurons and pulsed microwaves, in the absence of macroscopic temperature changes. The data do not suggest a single, specific mechanism for such interaction. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

黑曲霉S4生淀粉糖化酶纯化组分的性质及其动力学常数

生淀粉糖化酶是可以水解生淀粉的葡萄糖糖化酶(Ec3.2.1.3,α-1.4-糖苷酶),它是近代工业中极为重要的酶类之一。虽然对生淀粉糖化酶可水解淀粉中所有的D-糖苷键已经清楚,由单糖逆合成寡糖的动力学研究也比较深入,但有关它对各种常用生淀粉材料的水解动力学以及各生淀粉糖化酶组分之间的相互关系的研究却很少。本研究通过在不同温度和pH下,生淀粉糖化酶的三个组分对寡糖和各种生淀粉作用的动力学常数,以及在不同pH值下它们对各生淀粉     

Improved pulse sequences for measuring coupling constants in 13C, 15N-labeled proteins

Summary NMR pulse sequences for measuring coupling constants in ¹³C, ¹⁵N-labeled proteins are presented. These pulse sequences represent improvements over earlier experiments with respect to resolution and number of radiofrequency pulses. The experiments are useful for measuring J_NH , J_NCO, J_NC , J_H ^N _CO and J_H ^N _H . Applications to chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI-2) are shown.     

Manipulation of quality and mineralization of tropical legume tree prunings by varying nitrogen supply

The effect of N supply on the quality of Calliandra calothyrsus and Gliricidia sepium prunings was studied in a glasshouse over a 7-month growing period. Increasing the concentration of N supplied from 0.625 to 10.0 mM NO₃-N resulted in increased N concentration but decreased polyphenol concentration, protein-binding capacity and C:N ratio of prunings from both species. Lignin concentration was not consistently altered by the N treatment. Mineralization of N from the prunings was measured over a 14-week period under controlled leaching and non-leaching conditions. The results indicated a strong interaction between legume species and concentration of N supply in their influence on N mineralization of the prunings applied to the soil. Differences in the %N mineralized were dictated by the quality of the prunings. The (lignin + polyphenol):N ratio was the pruning quality factor which could be used most consistently and accurately to predict N mineralization of the legume prunings incubated under leaching conditions, and the relationship was best described by a linear regression. Under non-leaching conditions, however, the protein-binding capacity appeared to be the most important parameter in determining the patterns of N release from the prunings studied. The relationship between the N mineralization rate constant and the protein-binding capacity was best described by a negative exponential function, y=0.078 exp(–0.0083x). The present study also indicated that the release of N from legume prunings containing a relatively high amount of polyphenol could be enhanced by governing the N availability conditions under which the plant is grown, for example whether or not it is actively fixing nitrogen. Estimates of pruning N mineralization after 14 weeks with the difference method averaged 6% (leaching conditions) and 22% (nonleaching conditions) more than with the ¹⁵N method for all legume prunings studied. The recovery of pruning by maize (4–38%) was well correlated with the % pruning N mineralized suggesting that incubation data closely reflect the pruning N value for a given catch crop under non-leaching conditions.