The type-1 and type-2 ribosome-inactivating proteins from<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Iris</Emphasis> confer transgenic tobacco plants local but not systemic protection against viruses

The antiviral activity of the type-2 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) IRAb from Iris was analyzed by expressing IRAb in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun NN) plants and challenging the transgenic plants with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Although constitutive expression of IRAb resulted in an aberrant phenotype, the plants were fertile. Transgenic tobacco lines expressing IRAb showed a dose-dependent enhanced resistance against TMV infection but the level of protection was markedly lower than in plants expressing IRIP, the type-1 RIP from Iris that closely resembles the A-chain of IRAb. To verify whether IRIP or IRAb can also confer systemic protection against viruses, transgenic RIP-expressing scions were grafted onto control rootstocks and leaves of the rootstocks challenged with tobacco etch virus (TEV). In spite of the strong local antiviral effect of IRIP and IRAb the RIPs could not provide systemic protection against TEV. Hence our results demonstrate that expression of the type-1 and type-2 RIPs from Iris confers tobacco plants local protection against two unrelated viruses. The antiviral activity of both RIPs was not accompanied by an induction of pathogenesis-related proteins. It is suggested that the observed antiviral activity of both Iris RIPs relies on their RNA N-glycohydrolase activity towards TMV RNA and plant rRNA.Abbreviations GUS -Glucuronidase - IRAb Iris agglutinin b - IRIP Iris type-1 RIP - PAG Polynucleotide:adenosine glycosylase - PAP Phytolacca americana antiviral protein - PR Pathogenesis-related - RIP Ribosome-inactivating protein - TCS Trichosanthin - TEV Tobacco etch virus - TMV Tobacco mosaic virus     

Protection of mice with a divalent tuberculosis DNA vaccine encoding antigens Ag85B and MPT64

Tuberculosis (TB) remains to be a major challenge tothe public health in the world. It is estimated that, through-out the world, 15 individuals are affected by TB and 6 ofthem die from it every minute [1]. Drug resistance andcoinfection with HIV, which ut…     

Solution structure of the RWD domain of the mouse GCN2 protein

GCN2 is the alpha-subunit of the only translation initiation factor (eIF2alpha) kinase that appears in all eukaryotes. Its function requires an interaction with GCN1 via the domain at its N-terminus, which is termed the RWD domain after three major RWD-containing proteins: RING finger-containing proteins, WD-repeat-containing proteins, and yeast DEAD (DEXD)-like helicases. In this study, we determined the solution structure of the mouse GCN2 RWD domain using NMR spectroscopy. The structure forms an alpha + beta sandwich fold consisting of two layers: a four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, and three side-by-side alpha-helices, with an alphabetabetabetabetaalphaalpha topology. A characteristic YPXXXP motif, which always occurs in RWD domains, forms a stable loop including three consecutive beta-turns that overlap with each other by two residues (triple beta-turn). As putative binding sites with GCN1, a structure-based alignment allowed the identification of several surface residues in alpha-helix 3 that are characteristic of the GCN2 RWD domains. Despite the apparent absence of sequence similarity, the RWD structure significantly resembles that of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s), with most of the structural differences in the region connecting beta-strand 4 and alpha-helix 3. The structural architecture, including the triple beta-turn, is fundamentally common among various RWD domains and E2s, but most of the surface residues on the structure vary. Thus, it appears that the RWD domain is a novel structural domain for protein-binding that plays specific roles in individual RWD-containing proteins.     

后倾座椅与GZ-2抗荷服综合抗荷性能测定

目的 :探讨后倾座椅与GZ 2抗荷服的综合抗荷性能。方法 :在离心机上 ( +Gz增长率为 3G/s)先测出 6名受试者采用 13°座椅时的基础 +Gz耐力 ,然后测定受试者采用 13°座椅、并穿GZ 2抗荷服充气时的 +Gz耐力 ,再测定受试者采用 45°后倾座椅、并穿GZ 2抗荷服充气时的 +Gz耐力 ,其与基础 +Gz耐力之差 ,即为 45°座椅与GZ 2抗荷服的综合抗荷性能。结果 :受试者采用 13°座椅、穿GZ 2时的抗荷性能为 3 .0 6G ,采用 45°座椅、穿GZ 2时的抗荷性能为 4.13G ,抗荷性能比前者高出 1.0 6G。结论 :后倾座椅 (椅背角为 45°)可大幅度提高人体 +Gz耐力     

Consequences of rigidity and conformational locking in a 4,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane ring system during protection of internal diol

The presence of an isopropylidene ketal protection of an internal diol in 3,4-O-isopropylidene-D-arabino-1-C-phenyl hexanone locks it in a conformation that prevents its cyclization to a pyranose ring.     

试论生态分类系统在我国天然林保护与经营中的应用

我国林业的发展正面临前所未有的机遇和挑战,现有资料表明,一方面,我国林业的宏观政策以及森林的采伐更新过程缺乏基本生态学原理的支持;另一方面,仅研究生态学理论还不够,还要研究生态学理论转化为生产力的工具,生产态分类系统是确定、描述和纵制生态系统类型图的方法。应用这种多层次系统的目的是用图的形式是把森景观的生物和环境特征抽象化,综合化、标准化和整体化,以实现生态系统管理的目标。通过纵绘制各种景观特征、林业人员可以根据土地承载力及适应性 确定森林的经营方向和经营措施,生态分类系统在吉林省东部针阔混交林区试验应用。     

Stress-mediated signaling in PC12 cells - the role of the small heat shock protein,Hsp27, and Akt in protecting cells from heat stress and nerve growth factor withdrawal

We have investigated the role of stress-activated signaling pathways and the small heat shock protein, Hsp27, in protecting PC12 cells from heat shock and nerve growth factor (NGF) withdrawal-induced apoptosis. PC12 cells and a stable cell line overexpressing Hsp27 (HSPC cells) were subjected to heat shock. This resulted in the rapid activation of Akt followed by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, with phosphorylation and intracellular translocation of Hsp27 also detectable. Hsp27 was found to form an immunoprecipitable complex with Akt and p38 MAPK in both non-stimulated and heat shocked cells, although after heat shock there was a gradual dissociation of Akt and p38 from the Hsp27. Cells were differentiated with NGF and then subjected to NGF withdrawal, a treatment which results in substantial cell death over 24-72 h. Hsp27 was shown to be protective against this treatment, since HSPC cells which overexpress Hsp27 showed significantly less cell death than the parental PC12 cells. In addition, we observed that phosphorylation of Akt was maintained in HSPC cells subjected to heat shock and NGF withdrawal compared with the parental cells. Taken together, our results suggest that Hsp27 may protect Akt from dephosphorylation and may also act in stabilizing Akt.     

The degenerative effect of a single intranigral injection of LPS on the dopaminergic system is prevented by dexamethasone,and not mimicked by rh-TNF-alpha,IL-1beta and IFN-gamma

It is becoming widely accepted that the inflammatory response is involved in neurodegenerative disease. In this context, we have developed an animal model of dopaminergic system degeneration by the intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent inductor of inflammation. To address the importance of the inflammatory response in the LPS-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurones, we carried out two different kinds of studies: (i) the possible protective effect of an anti-inflammatory compound, and (ii) the effect of the intranigral injection of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IFN-gamma) on dopaminergic neurones viability. Present results show that dexamethasone, a potent anti-inflammatory drug that interferes with many of the features characterizing pro-inflammatory glial activation, prevented the loss of catecholamine content, Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and TH immunostaining induced by LPS-injection and also the bulk activation of microglia/macrophages. Surprisingly, injection of the pro-inflammatory cytokines failed to reproduce the LPS effect. Taken together, our results suggest that inflammatory response is implicated in LPS-induced neurodegeneration. This damage may be due, at least in part, to a cascade of events independent of that described for TNF-alpha/IL-1 beta/IFN-gamma.     

Insect antifeedant activity of clerodane diterpenes and related model compounds

A comprehensive compilation of all test results on the insect antifeedant activity of clerodane diterpenes and related model compounds is reported. To increase the compatibility of data from different sources, some of the results reported in the literature have been converted into a standardized form. The compounds were sorted into groups according to the different types of sidechain attached to C-9. Despite the wealth of information, collected in 15 tables, it remains difficult to assign importance to separate structural elements in relation to the observed antifeedant activity. A detailed analysis of the structure-activity relationships could not be presented, but some interesting trends can be distinguished based on the structures of the strongest antifeedants. The compilation covers the literature up to December 2001.     

Operation of the cbb3-type terminal oxidase in Azotobacter vinelandii

A part of the gene encoding cbb ₃-type cytochrome oxidase CcoN subunit was cloned from Azotobacter vinelandii and a mutant strain of this bacterium with disrupted ccoN gene was constructed. In contrast to the wild type strain, this one is unable to oxidize cytochromes c ₄ and c ₅. Thus, the A. vinelandii respiratory chain is shown to contain cbb ₃-type cytochrome c oxidase. It is also shown that the activity of this enzyme is not necessary for diazotrophic growth of A. vinelandii at high oxygen concentrations.