How does reorganization energy change upon protein unfolding? Monitoring the structural perturbations in the heme cavity of cytochrome c

In several classes of proteins the redox center provides an additional intrinsic biophysical probe that could be used to study the protein structure and function. In present report reorganization energy (lambda, as a parameter describing electron transfer properties) was used to study the protein structural changes around the heme prosthetic group in cytochrome c (cyt c). We attempted to monitor the value of this parameter upon the unfolding process of cyt c by urea, during which it was increased sigmoidally from about 0.52 to 0.82 eV for native and unfold protein, respectively. Results indicate that by structural changes in the heme site, lambda provides a complementary tool for following the unfolding process. Assuming a reversible two-state model for cyt c unfolding, Delta G(H2O), Cm and m values were determined to be 8.32+/-0.7 kcal mol(-1), 1.53+/-0.19 kcalmol(-1)M(-1) and 5.03 M, respectively.     

南水北调中线水源区浮游植物与水质评价

通过2003年3月至2005年8月对南水北调中线水源区水体浮游植物的调查,结果表明:该水域共有浮游植物8门63属96种及变种,其中以硅藻的种类最多,其次是绿藻和蓝藻。藻类的细胞密度表现出明显的季节变化,夏季最高冬季最低。从近3年的浮游生物检测结果可知,整个水源区年平均藻类细胞密度为109.33×10⁴ cells·L^-1,处于较低的水平,而且未检出水体重污染指示种,充分说明南水北调中线水源区富营养化程度较低。运用Margalef和Menkinick多样性指数对该水域的水质进行评价,数据显示2003~2005年该水源区的d值和α值,各采样点之间的差异并不显著,说明各采样点的水质营养状况虽有差异,但总体水平基本相当。水质评价结果:水体为寡污型,基本处于中营养状态。通过水生生物资源的调查,做好水源区的长期生态监测,可为建立中线水源区长期生态研究数据信息库及库区生态环境保护政策制定提供理论依据,对保证中线水质质量十分重要。     

不定根发生分子调控机制的研究进展

不定根发生问题,既是植物无性繁殖和工厂化育苗实践的核心问题,又是植物发育和形态建成等方面的重要理论问题。由于不定根发生过程的复杂性,到目前为止对其调控机制的了解还十分有限。大量研究证实,不定根发生与植物生长素类物质密切相关,因此现有的研究不仅围绕生长素及其信号传导途径展开,而且还涉及到基因表观遗传学调控水平。目前已经鉴定出一些与不定根发生相关的生长素信号传导因子,如NO、cGMP、microRNAs等。同时,还克隆到一些与不定根发生相关的基因,如OsPIN1、OsCKI1、NPK1、ARL1等。此外,发现DNA甲基化可以抑制DNA与蛋白(MeCP2) 的结合,从而抑制基因转录;microRNA可以使基因沉默来调控不定根的发生状况。本文围绕不定根发生的激素调控、不定根发生的基因调控、不定根发生的生长素信号传导机制、表观遗传调控等几个方面综述了近年来的研究进展。     

Sites of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production during fatty acid oxidation in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria

H₂O₂ production by skeletal muscle mitochondria oxidizing palmitoylcarnitine was examined under two conditions: the absence of respiratory chain inhibitors and the presence of myxothiazol to inhibit complex III. Without inhibitors, respiration and H₂O₂ production were low unless carnitine or malate was added to limit acetyl-CoA accumulation. With palmitoylcarnitine alone, H₂O₂ production was dominated by complex II (44% from site II_F in the forward reaction); the remainder was mostly from complex I (34%, superoxide from site I_F). With added carnitine, H₂O₂ production was about equally shared between complexes I, II, and III. With added malate, it was 75% from complex III (superoxide from site III_Qo) and 25% from site I_F. Thus complex II (site II_F in the forward reaction) is a major source of H₂O₂ production during oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine ± carnitine. Under the second condition (myxothiazol present to keep ubiquinone reduced), the rates of H₂O₂ production were highest in the presence of palmitoylcarnitine ± carnitine and were dominated by complex II (site II_F in the reverse reaction). About half the rest was from site I_F, but a significant portion, ∼40 pmol H₂O₂·min⁻¹·mg protein⁻¹, was not from complex I, II, or III and was attributed to the proteins of β-oxidation (electron-transferring flavoprotein (ETF) and ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase). The maximum rate from the ETF system was ∼200 pmol H₂O₂·min⁻¹·mg protein⁻¹ under conditions of compromised antioxidant defense and reduced ubiquinone pool. Thus complex II and the ETF system both contribute to H₂O₂ productionduring fatty acid oxidation under appropriate conditions.