Some substrates and inhibitors of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase induce sister-chromatid exchanges in mammalian cells, but do not induce gene mutations in Salmonella typhimurium and V79 cells

Trans-stilbene oxide, trans-β-methylstyrene, 7,8-oxide, trans-β-ethylstyrene, 7,8-oxide, trans-β-propylstyrene 7,8-oxide and 4-fluorochalcone oxide were investigated for genotoxic activity in bacterial and mammalian cells, in the absence of external xenobiotic-metabolising systems. All compounds strongly enhanced the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in cultured human lymphocytes. None of them was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium (reversion of the his⁻ strains TA98, TA100 and TA104). The limit of detection was 1/20,000 to 1/10⁶ of the activity of the positive control, benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide, depending on the compound and the bacterial strain. Trans-β-methylstyrene 7,8-oxide and 4-fluorochalcone oxide were additionally tested for induction of SCE and gene mutations in the same target cells, namely Chinese hamster V79 cells. Their influence on the level of SCE was similar to that observed in human lymphocytes, whilst gene mutations (at the hprt locus) were not induced. The four investigated styrene oxide derivatives are known to be excellent substrates for a mammalian enzyme, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (cEH). 4-Fluorochalcone oxide is a potent selective inhibitor of this enzyme and is structurally similar to the investigated styrene oxide derivatives. These properties of the test compounds however cannot explain the observed discrepancies in the results, since the genetic end point (SCE versus gene mutations) was decisive, and SCE were induced in cEH-proficient human lymphocytes as well as in cEH-deficient V79 cells.     

Heavy metals in some Chinese herbal plants

The concentrations of nine heavy metals, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc and mercury in 42 Chinese herbal medicinal plants were determined. Generally, all the samples studied had, relative to the other trace metals, higher concentrations of iron, manganese, and zinc. The concentration range of the metals determined was comparable to that in many of the East Asian vegetables and fruits. A few samples were found to contain relatively higher concentrations of the toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury. This was probably caused by contamination during air-drying and preservation.     

Molecules and Morphology,Phylogenetics and Genetics

Various explanations can be offered for the incongruence between phylogenetic hypotheses resulting from morphological and molecular data sets. Of these, the possibility that incongruence may result from the mutation of major morphogenetic genes leading to dramatic morphological divergence unaccompanied by equivalent change of the phylogenetic marker molecule(s) used is discussed in detail. As evidence for this hypothesis, several examples for such incongruence are surveyed. It seems possible that in many cases the genetic basis of the morphological characters responsible for the incongruence found may be simple, and that the genes involved may be homologous to genes known from mutant systems. It is suggested that: 1. the systematic documentation of incongruence between molecular and morphological phylogenies may help to assess the frequency of evolutionary change through the mutation of major morphogenetic genes, and that 2. the identification of major morphological characters distinguishing closely related taxa with mutant phenotypes known from mutant systems eventually may allow an experimental approach to the problem of evolutionary change resulting from major genes. Natural taxa suspected to be the result of such processes could be changed morphologically through transformation with the relevant genes.     

用荧光指示剂Fura－2测定正常和电刺激后蛙肌胞浆自由Ca~（2＋）浓度

蛙半腱肌肌束负载Ｆｕｒａ－２／ＡＭ后,可用荧光信号Ｆ３４０、３８０ｎｍ波长比值（Ｒ３４０／３８０）反映胞浆内游离Ｃａ２＋浓度（〔Ｃａ２＋〕）。利用这一技术,我们发现长时间电刺激后的骨骼肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕,高于未刺激肌,Ｒ３４０／３８０分别为１．４９±０．５４（ｎ＝１０）和１．０２±０．２６（ｎ＝１０）。加入Ｃａ２＋载体伊屋诺霉素（ｉｏｎｏｍｙｃｉｎ,１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）后,正常肌与电刺激肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕,均上升,但刺激肌上升幅度低,持续时间短。说明电刺激至力竭后,细胞内有较多的Ｃａ２＋负载。增加细胞外Ｃａ２＋浓度至１５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ,〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ下降。而给予Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换阻断剂奎尼丁（１０４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）后,正常肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ上升,刺激肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ下降。结果提示：Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换是正常骨胳肌外排Ｃａ２＋的途径之一;而长时间肌肉活动则可能使细胞膜Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换方式改变,从而导致力竭肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ上升。     

河南木兰属9种植物过氧化物同工酶分析

本文采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳系统,测定了河南木兰属8种、1变种50多份的成熟叶片材料的过氧化物同工酶酶谱。测定结果表明,该属植物9种、变种的酶谱均有差异性,每种、变种均有特征酶谱,种间酶谱显著大于种内酶谱,根据其酶谱差异性,可以进行生物种、变种的鉴别和良种的选择。为免除其酶带Rf单一指标,鉴别生物种、变种可能出现的问题,作者创立了"酶谱多指标综合判断距离法"分析技术,首次将该属植物种、变种酶谱的酶带数目、Rf、酶带宽度及其活性强弱4个因子的差异性,进行编码联机、电脑运算分析,其结果与该属玉兰亚属内的玉兰派和辛夷派的形态分类相吻合。但是,从酶学观点不支持椭圆叶玉兰作为独立种的存在,以作为河南玉兰的变种为宜,也不支持河南玉兰派和腋花玉兰派的成立,以并入辛夷派为佳。     

杭州西湖水质预测方法和结果分析

本文利用二维对流扩散模型对西湖水质总磷浓度进行预测,给出方程的理论基础,编制FORTRAN77程序,在386微机上实现预测,并对预测结果作了较为详细的分析．本模型对水质环境防治决策具有实际意义．     

中国瑟姬小蜂及二新种的描述（膜翅目：姬小蜂科）

瑟姬小蜂属Cirrospilus昆虫是鳞翅目,双翅目,特别是细蛾,潜叶蛾,潜叶蝇类及其他荫蔽性小幼虫或蛹的重要寄生蜂,有些也能重寄生于绒茧蜂和蜘蛛卵等中,本文除二新种描述外,还收入瑟姬小蜂六种。一并列于检索表中。     

Discrimination Amongst Leishmania by Polymerase Chain Reaction and Hybridization with Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Derived Oligonucleotides

ABSTRACT. A method for discriminating among Leishmania is described, based upon small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence differences. The method was to amplify the entire 2.2 kb small subunit rDNA by polymerase chain reaction using conserved primers specific for the 5' and 3' termini of the small subunit ribosomal RNA, and then hybridize the product dotted onto nylon membranes with labeled oligonucleotides. The design of the hybridization probes was based upon complete small subunit rDNA sequences from L. amazonensis, L. major and L. guyanensis and partial sequences of L. mexicana, L. braziliensis, L. tropica and L. chagasi. A high degree of sequence similarity (> 99%) among species was found. However, sufficient sequence divergence occurred to permit the design of internal oligonucleotide probes specific for species complexes. This procedure successfully discriminated amongst a wide range of Leishmania isolates. The method detected as few as 10 cultured organisms and detected parasites in tissue samples from experimentally infected animals. Non-radioactive labeling showed the same specificity and sensitivity as radioactive probes.     

History of diatom research in The Netherlands and Flanders

The history of diatom research in The Netherlands and Flanders is summarized in this report. A. van Leeuwenhoek observed diatoms as early as 1702. The first inventories were made in The Netherlands by R. B. van den Bosch (1846) and in Flanders by J.-J. Kickx (1867). Diatoms were already used in geological research in the second half of the nineteenth century. The Synopsis by H. van Heurck (1880–1885) enabled many twentieth century workers to do applied research for geological and ecological purposes.     

Long-term changes in Noctiluca scintillans blooms along the Chinese coast from 1933 to 2020

Noctiluca scintillans is one of the most common harmful algal species and widely known due to its bioluminescence. In this study, the spatial distribution, seasonal variations, and long-term trends of N. scintillans blooms in China and the related drivers were analyzed and discussed. From 1933 to 2020, a total of 265 events of N. scintillans blooms were recorded in Chinese coastal waters, with a total duration of 1052 days. The first N. scintillans bloom occurred in Zhejiang in 1933, and only three events were recorded before 1980. From 1981 to 2020, N. scintillans caused harmful algal blooms (HABs) almost every year, both the average duration and the proportion of multiphase HABs showed an increasing trend. 1986–1992, 2002–2004, and 2009–2016 were the three peak periods with a frequency of no less than five events of N. scintillans blooms per year. In terms of spatial distribution, N. scintillans blooms spread from the Southeast China Sea to the Bohai Sea after 2000, Guangdong, Fujian, and Hebei were the three provinces with the highest numbers of recorded events of N. scintillans blooms. Moreover, 86.8% of the events of N. scintillans blooms occurred in spring (March, April, and May) and summer (June, July, and August). Among environmental factors, the dissolved inorganic phosphate, dissolved silicate and chemical oxygen demand were significantly correlated with the cell density of N. scintillans during N. scintillans blooms, and most of N. scintillans blooms were recorded in the temperature range of 18.0–25.0°C. Precipitation, hydrodynamics, water temperature, and food availability might be the main factors affecting the spatial–temporal distribution of N. scintillans blooms along the Chinese coast.