Differential expression of the two Arabidopsis nitrate reductase genes

The differential regulation of the two nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) genes of Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynh was examined. cDNAs corresponding to each of the NR genes (NR1 and NR2) were used to measure changes in the steady-state levels of NR mRNA in response to nitrate, light, circadian rhythm, and tissue specificity. Although nitrate-induction kinetics of the two genes are very similar, NR1 is expressed in the absence of nitrate at a higher basal level than NR2. Nitrate induction is transient both in the roots and leaves, however the kinetics are different: the induction and decline in the roots precede that in the leaves. Light induces the expression of each of the genes with significantly different kinetics: NR2 reached saturation more rapidly than did NR1. Both genes showed similar diurnal patterns of circadian rhythm, with NR2 mRNA accumulating earlier in the morning.     

Randomised controlled trial of short term treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether one week''s drug treatment is sufficient to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer. DESIGN--Single blind, randomised controlled trial. SETTING--Specialised ulcer clinic in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS--155 patients with H pylori and a duodenal ulcer verified endoscopically which had either bled within the previous 24 hours or was causing dyspepsia. INTERVENTIONS--Patients were allocated randomly to receive either omeprazole for four weeks plus bismuth 120 mg, tetracycline 500 mg, and metronidazole 400 mg (all four times a day) for the first week (n = 78), or omeprazole alone for four weeks (n = 77). Further endoscopy was performed four weeks after cessation of all drugs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Presence or absence of H pylori (by urease testing, microscopy, and culture of antral biopsy specimens), duodenal ulcer, and side effects. RESULTS--Eradication of H pylori occurred in 70 (95%) patients taking the four drugs (95% confidence interval 86% to 97%) compared with three (4%) patients taking omeprazole alone (1% to 11%). Duodenal ulcers were found in four (5%) patients taking the four drugs (2% to 12%) and in 16 (22%) patients taking omeprazole alone (14% to 32%). Mild dizziness was the only reported side effect (six patients in each group) and did not affect compliance. CONCLUSIONS--A one week regimen of bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole is safe and effective in eradicating H pylori and reduces the number of duodenal ulcers four weeks after completing treatment.     

Intracellular protein trafficking defects in human disease

Secretory proteins and integral membrane proteins travel through the secretory pathway to a variety of destinations. Their targets are often specified by signals in the amino acid sequence or signals added post-translationally. The KDEL sequence that retains soluble proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and the mannose 6-phosphate group of lysosomal enzymes are well-characterized examples of targeting signals; other signals are less well understood. Given the complexity and importance of the intracellular trafficking pathways, it is perhaps not surprising that mutations that affect the trafficking of proteins are associated with some human genetic diseases.     

满天香精油化学成分的研究

采用Finngan-4510型毛细管气相色谱/质谱/电子计算机联用(GC/MS/DS)技术,辅以~1H NMR,~18C NMR和化学的手段,对广西龙州产满天香精油进存定性定量分析,分离出37个组分,鉴定了其中26个,占精油总量的97.40％。其主要成分为薄荷酮(51.09％)、异满天酮(7.95％)、(+)-新薄荷醇(19.42％)、枞油烯(5.71％)、薄荷醇,β-水芹烯等。薄荷香是一种富含薄荷酮、薄荷醇的新资源植物。     

黄根豆的核型分析

本文首次对单种属植物黄根豆(Chrysoirhiza adenotricha T.Chen)进行了核型分析,其核型公式为K(2n)=22=22m,并确认黄根豆属(Chrysorhiza)的染色体基数为X=11。     

美洲蜚蠊机械感受器输出信号的计算机分析

对蜚蠊单个机械感受器诱发反应峰电位的历程及幅度,使用系列分析、栅分析、时序分布、累加密度函数、栅—频分析、特征参数的伪三维隐线显示、峰电位幅度概率密度函数、峰电位间隔概率密度函数等分析方法,获得较多的神经信号间隔编码信息,以揭示刺激和反应之间的复杂关系。峰电位间隔和栅—频分析图由函数经曲线拟合后,分别求得描述其动态过程的时间常数τ_1,τ_2和τ_3,应用上述多种分析显示方法,使研究者更为直观地观察和定量描述刺激—反应间的动态关系。     

用TOPSIS方法评价黄土丘陵区草场质量的研究

一、自然概况黄土高原位于我国西北部,西起青海日月山,东抵山西太行山,北至晋陕长城,南达甘陕秦岭,构成一个独具特色的、比较完整的自然区域,其地理范围大致是北纬34°—41°,东经103°—113°之间。高原到处有起伏的黄     

Purification and characterization of antifreeze proteins from larvae of the beetle Dendroides canadensis

Summary Four antifreeze proteins (AFPs) were purified from larvae of the beetle Dendroides canadensis. The AFPs are similar in amino acid compositions, having high contents of hydrophilic amino acids (45–55 mol%) and cysteine (16 mol% Cys). Approximately half of the Cys residues form disulfide bridges, and both the disulfide bridges and free sulfhydryls are essential for activity. The N-terminals of the AFPs are blocked. The pH optimum of the AFPs is 7.8, but major loss of activity occurred only at very high pH (12.0). The detergents SDS and Triton X-100 did not inactivate the AFPs. Circular dichroism spectra indicate the presence of both and secondary structures in the AFPs, in addition to a large random structure component.Abbreviations AFP antifreeze protein - CD circular dichroism - DTT dithiothreitol - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PAS periodic acid Schiff - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - TFA trifluoroacetic acid