The 5′ untranslated region of Arabidopsis thaliana calmodulin cDNA is an independent cDNA containing an open reading frame

A cDNA clone, pAUK1, with an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a hypothetical 164-amino-acid protein was isolated from an Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh cDNA library. The clone was attached, tail to tail, to the 3′ end of A. thaliana hexokinase cDNA. An almost identical sequence had been previously described as the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of A. thaliana calmodulin cDNA (ACaM-2). Sequence comparison with three additional A. thaliana truncated cDNA clones which appear in a database (GenBank) supports the conclusion that pAUKl is identical to the 5′ UTR of ACaM-2 and that the 5′ UTR of ACaM-2 is an independent cDNA artificially linked to A. thaliana calmodulin cDNA.     

Estimation of the primary productivity of Spartina alterniflora using a canopy model

A comprehensive canopy productivity model was built to study the productivity of a primary salt marsh grass, Spartina alterniflora. in Georgia, USA The canopy model was unique in employing plant demographic data to reconstruct canopy profiles and dynamics, which showed many growth processes that are otherwise difficult to discern in the field By linking canopy dynamics and leaf photosynthesis, the net total primary productivity of S alterniflora m a Georgia salt marsh was estimated to be 1421, 749, and 1441 g C m^-2 yr^-1 for the tall, short, and N-fertilized short populations respectively These estimates are reasonable in terms of the physiological capacity of S alterniflora and well below the range of 3000–4200 g C m^-2 yr^-1 as reported by some recent harvest studies Our detailed analysis suggested the net total productivity of S alterniflora might be greatly overestimated in the past This is mainly because of 1) failure to consider the translocation of photosynthate between aboveground and belowground parts, and 2) possible overestimates of belowground production We estimated the net belowground production to be 872, 397, and 762 g C m^-2 yr^-1 for the tall, short, and N-fertilized populations respectively After receiving nitrogen fertilizer, the net leaf carbon fixation in the short population increased from 1489 to 2487 g C m^-2 yr^-1, and our simulation showed the contribution of elevated leaf N to this increase was small, 21%, compared with that of increased leaf area, 79% Both tall and short populations allocated ca 48-49% of their annual gross leaf carbon fixation to belowground structures Nitrogen enrichment caused more allocation to aboveground parts in the short population, mainly for increasing leaf area The canopy model assumed that there was no leaf photosynthesis under tidal submergence, but if this assumption was relaxed, then leaf carbon fixation might increase 7–13% for different S alterniflora populations Although this research focused only on a salt marsh species, our general approaches, especially the coupling of leaf physiology with the reconstructed canopies, should be applicable to the study of production processes of many other plant populations     

细胞骨架对凝血酶诱导人血小板分泌反应的调节(英文)

本文利用血小板表面外露的GMP-140为血小板分泌反应的特异性标志,通过放射免疫分析法定量测定血小板表面GMP-140分子数,研究了细胞骨架抑制剂对凝血酶诱导血小板分泌反应的影响。结果表明,凝血酶激活使血小板表面GMP-140的外露明显增加,反应迅速,并在一定范围内呈剂量和时间依赖性;而ADP刺激则几乎不引起GMP-140外露的增加。凝血酶激活前加入不同的细胞骨架抑制剂处理可产生不同的效应:细胞松驰素B(肌动蛋白微丝抑制剂)可明显上调凝血酶诱导的GMP-140外露;而秋水仙素(微管抑制剂)则下调GMP-140的外露;两者同时处理仍呈现明显的上调作用。提示凝血酶作为一种强激活剂,不仅可通过受体-G蛋白-第二信使的途径启动血小板分泌反应,而且可能经诱导肌动蛋白微丝的形成对分泌反应起反馈性负调节作用。微管的存在则可能对凝血酶诱导的分泌反应起促进作用。虽然两种细胞骨架的作用相反,但以微丝的作用为主,两者间无相互拮抗现象。     

长白山劲松林场植物群落的分类和排序

将长白山白河林业局劲松林场的５４块样地用聚类分析法划分成６个植被类群,再用ＰＣ－ＶＴＡＢ程序中经过改进的Ｂｒａｕｎ－Ｂｌａｎｑｕｅｔ学派的植被排表分析法进行综合,产生了鉴别概要表,为各个等级的植被类群筛选出诊断种。此外,还用鉴别种地样地记录进行主成分分析,以验证诊断种的有效性,结果表明,ＰＣ－ＶＴＡＢ中的植被排表分析法是筛选鉴别种的有效方法,而鉴别种以显著地提高植被分析和排序的质量。     

Cell aggregation and neurite growth in gels of extracellular matrix molecules

Components of the extracellular matrix are believed to guide both nerve cells and neurites to their targets during embryogenesis and, therefore, might be useful for controlling regeneration of nervous tissue in adults. To study the influence of extracellular conditions on neurite outgrowth and cell motility, PC12 cells were suspended in three-dimensional gels containing (i) collagen (0.4 to 2 mg/mL), (ii) collagen (1 mg/mL) with added fibronectin or laminin (1 to 100 mug/mL), and (iii) agarose (7 mg/mL) with added collagen (0.001 to 1 mg/mL). Neurite outgrwoth was stimulated with nerve growth factor (NGF) and both the extent of neurite outgrowth ad cell aggregation were quantitated over 10 to 12 days in culture. The extent of neurite outgrowth was greatest at the lowest collagen concentration tested (0.4 mg/mL) and decreased with increasing concentration. The addition of laminin or fibronectin altered the extent of neurite outgrowth in collagen gels, but the differences were small. Although no neurite growth was observed in pure agarose gels, considerable neurite outgrowth occurred with the addition of small amounts (>/=0.01 mg/mL) of collagen. Mean aggregate size increased more quickly in gels with lower concentrations of collagen. For cells in 1.0 mg/mL collagen, a four- to fivefold increase in aggregate volume was seen between days 2 and 10 o the culture period, whereas the increase in DNA content during this same period was less than twofold, suggesting that the cells were aggregating, not multiplying. These results suggest that the composition of the matrix supporting nerve cells has a significant effect on both neurite outgrowth and cell motility. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A comparative analysis of genetic polymorphism in wild and cultivated barley from Tibet using isozyme and ribosomal DNA markers.

This study was conducted to address some of the issues concerning the possible significance of Tibet in the origin and evolution of cultivated barley. A total of 1757 barley accessions from Tibet, including 1496 entries of Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare (HV), 229 entries of the six-rowed wild barley H. vulgare ssp. agriocrithon (HA), and 32 entries of the two-rowed wild barley H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum (HS), were assayed for allozymes at four esterase loci. A subsample of 491 accessions was surveyed for spacer-length polymorphism at two ribosomal DNA loci. Genetic variation is extensive in these barley groups, and the amount of genetic diversity in cultivated barley of this region is comparable with that of cultivated barley worldwide. The level of genetic variation of HA is significantly lower than the other two barley groups, and there is also substantial heterogeneity in the level of polymorphism among different agrigeographical subregions. However, little genetic differentiation was detected among the three barley groups (HV, HA, and HS), as well as among different agrigeographical subregions. Comparison of the results from this and previous studies indicated a strong differentiation between Oriental and Occidental barley, thus favoring the hypothesis of a diphyletic origin of cultivated barley.     

黄芪改善红细胞变形能力的活性成分研究

膜荚黄芪(Astragalus Membrannaceus(Fisch)Bunge)为豆科紫云英属植物,其根作为传统中药黄芪之正品。本课题通过以改善红细胞变形能力为活性导向筛选,用核孔膜滤筛法,以IF值为指标,对膜荚黄芪的成分进行了系统分离和鉴定。结果表明:黄芪中的黄芪皂甙Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ(Astragaloside Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ)等皂甙类及芒柄花素(Formononetin),毛蕊异黄酮(Calycosin)等异黄酮类化合物,对孵化红细胞的变形能力有明显的改善作用,这可能是黄芪改善血液流变学指标的重要机理。     

Definition of an HLA-DPw2-restricted epitope on NS3, recognized by a dengue virus serotype-cross-reactive human CD4+ CD8- cytotoxic T-cell clone.

We previously reported that the clone JK34 was cross-reactive for dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4 and recognized NS3 (I. Kurane, M. A. Brinton, A. L. Samson, and F. A. Ennis, J. Virol. 65:1823-1828, 1991). In the present experiments, we defined the epitope at the amino acid level, with 93 15-mer overlapping peptides which cover the entire NS3. A peptide 4 which contains amino acids 251 to 265 of NS3 sensitized the autologous B lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) to the lysis by JK34. The smallest peptide recognized by JK34 was a 10-mer peptide which contains amino acids 255 to 264 (EIVDLMCHAT). A monoclonal antibody to HLA-DP inhibited the lysis of epitope peptide-pulsed autologous LCL by JK34. Genotypic typing revealed that the HLA-DP of this donor is DPA1*01, DPB1*0201, which is serologically defined as HLA-DPw2. JK34 lysed peptide 4-pulsed allogeneic LCL which carried HLA-DPw2. These results indicate that HLA-DPw2 is the restriction allele for recognition of this epitope by JK34.     

High-level cryIVD and cytA gene expression in Bacillus thuringiensis does not require the 20-kilodalton protein, and the coexpressed gene products are synergistic in their toxicity to mosquitoes.

Interactions among the 20-kDa protein gene and the cytA and cryIVD genes located in a 9.4-kb HindIII fragment were studied. A series of plasmids containing a combination of these different genes was constructed by using the Escherichia coli/Bacillus thuringiensis shuttle vector pHT3101. The plasmids were then used to transform an acrystalliferous strain, cryB, derived from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. The results from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analyses suggest that although the 20-kDa protein is required for the efficient CytA protein production in E. coli, it is not required in B. thuringiensis. With or without the truncated 20-kDa protein gene, the CtyA and/or CryIVD proteins are produced and form parasporal inclusions in B. thuringiensis cells. However, more-efficient expression is obtained when a second protein, probably acting as a chaperonin, is present. In addition, the time course studies show that the CytA and CryIVD proteins are coordinately produced. Both the crude B. thuringiensis culture and purified inclusions from each recombinant B. thuringiensis strain are toxic to Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The parasporal inclusions formed in B. thuringiensis cells are mosquitocidal, with CytA synergizing CryIVD toxicity.     

A study of the association between schizophrenia and the dopamine D3 receptor gene

A study of the genetic association between schizophrenia and aBalI polymorphism in exon 1 of the dopamine D₃ (DRD3) gene, a candidate gene for schizophrenia, was conducted. The polymorphism was examined in 91 patients whose symptoms satisfied DSM-III-R for schizophrenia and 90 controls. There were no significant differences between the groups in allele frequencies or genotype counts. Contrary to a previous report, the patients were no more likely to be homozygous than controls. Moreover, no association with the presence of illness could be demonstrated when the patients were grouped according to sex, age of onset, history of admission to psychiatric institutions or positive family history.