高稳定人胰岛素的晶体学研究:Ⅲ,A21-Asp突变体的结晶和初步晶体学分析

研究一系列有明确意义改性胰岛素的结构将有益于新型胰岛素分子的设计。经蛋白质工程制备的AspA21—人胰岛素(ADHI)基本保持了生物活力,而在酸性溶夜(pH3—4)中的稳定性比天然胰岛素在中性溶液中高5—10倍。本文报道ADHI的结晶、初步晶体学研究及中等分辨率衍射数据的收集。ADHI晶体属R3空间群:a_H=b_H=82.72埃,c_H=34.02埃。     

叶穗香茶菜的二萜成分

从云南省中甸县产叶穗香茶菜[Rabdosia phyllostachys(Diels)Hara]叶中分得1个新二萜化合物,命名为叶穗香茶菜乙素(phyllostachysin B),经各项波谱数据确定,叶穗香茶菜乙素为6β,11β,14β—三羟基-15α-乙酰氧基-对映-贝壳杉-16-烯-20 醛-7-酮。另一个为已知化合物叶穗香茶菜甲素(phyllostachysin A)。     

外侧臂旁核神经元对穹隆下器逆向刺激和孤束核顺向刺激的反应

细胞外记录大鼠外侧臂旁核(LPBN)神经元单位放电,观察了刺激穹隆下器(SFO)在记录单位诱发的逆向反应和静脉注射新福林兴奋外周压力感受器和刺激孤束核(NTS)减压区诱发的顺向反应。实验发现:刺激 SFO,9.9%(15/151)的 LPBN 神经元有逆向反应。静脉注射新福林,40.7%(22/54)的 LPBN 神经元有抑制反应,27.8%(17/54)有兴奋反应。刺激 NTS,55.6%(94/169)的 LPBN 神经元呈现顺向兴奋反应;22.5%(38/169)呈现顺向抑制反应。观察静脉注射新福林对 SFO 刺激有逆向反应的 LPBN 神经元自发放电的影响,在两个受试单位均见抑制反应。观察刺激 NTS 对逆向反应单位自发放电的影响,在8个受试单位中,6个呈兴奋反应;2个呈抑制反应。以上结果表明:LPBN 接受来自 NTS 的兴奋性或抑制性压力感受性传入,并把这种信息经 LPBN-SFO 直接通路传输到 SFO。     

消炎痛及PGF_(2α)对在体培养人子宫内膜出血的影响

利用甾体激素撤退方法造成移植在地鼠颊囊内人子宫内膜出血的动物模型,研究消炎痛和PGF_(2a)对内膜出血的作用。结果表明,注射三种不同剂量消炎痛并不能完全抑制内膜出血,但对内膜出血时间有延缓作用。用两种不同剂量的PGF_(2a)采取缓慢释放给药方法,虽然地鼠在给药后外周血液中PGF_(2a)水平比给药前显著增高,但内膜出血并不出现在撤退甾体激素之前。结果提示,PGF_(2a)对内膜血管破裂无直接作用,而纤溶活性变化可能是触子宫内膜出血更直接的原因。     

根田鼠静止代谢率特征的研究

通过实地测定分布于青海高原的根田鼠的RMR,发现其RMR水平明显高于与其体重相似的其它田鼠,而平均最小热传导值并不比后者低,说明可能是以保持高的RMR水平来适应高原寒冷气候的。同时发现,根田鼠以化学体温调节为主,以适应高原气温较大的波动。     

Genomic DNA sequence for human C-reactive protein

The gene for the prototype acute phase reactant, C-reactive protein, has been isolated from two lambda phage libraries containing inserted human DNA fragments using synthetic oligonucleotide probes. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that after coding for a signal peptide of 18 amino acids and the first two amino acids of the mature protein, there is an intron of 278 base pairs followed by the nucleotide sequence for the remaining 204 amino acids. The intron is unusual in that it contains on the positive strand a poly(A) stretch 16 nucleotides long and a poly(GT) region 30 nucleotides long which could adopt the Z-form of DNA. The nucleotide sequence reported here confirms the amino acid sequence of mature C-reactive protein as originally reported except that it codes for an additional 19 amino acids beginning at position 62. Thus DNA sequence analysis predicts that the mature protein consists of 206 amino acids rather than 187 as originally reported. The mRNA cap site is located 104 nucleotides from the start of the signal peptide and there is a 3' noncoding region 1.2 kilobase pairs in length. The gene has a typical promoter containing the sequences TATAAAT and CAAT 29 and 81 base pairs upstream, respectively, of the cap site.     

An improved DNA sequencing strategy

A modification of Hong's systematic DNA sequencing strategy is described. The original procedure has been simplified and transfectant yield increased. After DNase I limited cleavage in the presence of Mn2+, the single-cut linear DNA does not have to be separated from supercoiled or open circular DNA on an agarose gel. After ligation, the DNA is digested with a second restriction endonuclease for which a unique cleavage site resides between the insert and the first restriction endonuclease cutting site. The original intact DNA is linearized whereas the deleted subclone is not. The background is decreased to an undetectable level. This DNA sequencing strategy was tested on a 1.4-kb DNA fragment containing the araC regulatory gene from Erwinia carotovora. A set of subclones sufficient to sequence the fragment on both strands was produced in 2 days and the yield was at least 60-fold higher than in the original protocol.     

Regeneration of the arterial wall in microporous,compliant, biodegradable vascular grafts after implantation into the rat abdominal aorta

Summary The ultrastructure of a new type of vascular graft, prepared from a mixture of polyurethane (95 weight %) and poly-L-lactic acid (5 weight %), was examined six weeks after implantation into the abdominal aorta of rats. These microporous, compliant, biodegradable, vascular grafts function as temporary scaffolds for the regeneration of the arterial wall.Smooth muscle cells, covering the grafts, regenerated a neo-media underneath an almost completely regenerated endothelial layer (neo-intima). These smooth muscle cells varied in morphology from normal smooth muscle cells to myofibroblasts. They were surrounded by elastic laminae and collagen fibers.Macrophages, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and capillaries were present in the disintegrating graft lattices. The epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells engulfed polymer particles of the disintegrating grafts.The regeneration of the endothelial and smooth muscle cells is similar to the natural response of arterial tissue upon injury. The presence of macrophages, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and capillaries in the graft lattices resembles the natural response of tissue against foreign body implants. Both of these responses result in the formation of a neo-artery that possesses sufficient strength, compliance and thromboresistance to function as a small caliber arterial substitute.Supported by Grant nr. 82.042 from the Dutch Heart Foundation     

Cloning of the pectate lyase genes from Erwinia carotovora and their expression in Escherichia coli

A hybrid cosmid coding for pectate lyase (PL) activity was identified from an Erwinia carotovora genomic library by an immunological screening method. A 7-kb DNA fragment was identified which codes for three proteins identical in size to proteins with PL activity purified from E. carotovora culture supernatants. The three proteins had apparent Mrs of 41, 44 and 44 X 10(3) as estimated by SDS-PAGE. None of the PLs were exported from Escherichia coli strain HB101 but all were found in the periplasmic space. Plant tissue was macerated by the PLs made in E. coli.     

The araBAD operon of Salmonella typhimurium LT2. I. Nucleotide sequence of araB and primary structure of its product, ribulokinase

Hybrid plasmids containing the araBAD operon of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 were characterized by Southern blot and genetic analyses. The nucleotide sequence of araB was determined. The araB gene product, ribulokinase (EC 2.7.1.16), was purified and the results of amino acid composition analysis and partial amino acid sequence are in agreement with predictions from the DNA sequence. Ribulokinase is 569 amino acid residues long and has a calculated Mr of 61 793. Ribulokinase shares significant homology with xylulose kinase from Escherichia coli. Codon usage in the araB gene does not favor those codons which have intermediate codon-anticodon binding energy.