C5 convertase of the alternative complement pathway: covalent linkage between two C3b molecules within the trimolecular complex enzyme

C5 convertase of the alternative C pathway is a complex enzyme consisting of three C fragments--one molecule of a major fragment of factor B (Bb) and two molecules of a major fragment of C3 (C3b). Within this C3bBbC3b complex, the first C3b binds covalently to the target surface, and Bb, which bears a catalytic site, binds noncovalently to the first C3b. In the present investigation, we studied the nature of the convertase that is assembled on E surfaces and obtained evidence that the second C3b binds directly to the alpha'-chain of the first through an ester bond rather than to the target surface. Thus, the alternative pathway C5 convertase could be described as a trimolecular complex in which Bb binds noncovalently to a covalently linked C3b dimer. We also obtained evidence that not only the second C3b but also the first C3b participates in binding C5, that is, covalently-linked C3b dimer acts as a substrate-binding site. Because of this two-site binding, the convertase has a much higher affinity for C5 than the surrounding monomeric C3b molecules. Based on this evidence, a new model of the alternative pathway C5 convertase is proposed. Covalent association of two subunits and the bivalent binding of the substrate are then common properties of the alternative and classical pathway C5 convertases.     

Monoclonal antibodies to mouse complement receptor type 1 (CR1). Their use in a distribution study showing that mouse erythrocytes and platelets are CR1-negative

mAb to murine C receptor type 1 (CR1) were produced and three of them were characterized. One antibody, designated as 8C12, immunoprecipitated a protein of 190,000 Mr from a detergent extract of surface-labeled spleen cells and stained spleen B but not T lymphocytes in fluorescent flow cytometry. It inhibited both CR1-mediated rosette formation and the cofactor activity of CR1 for factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b, suggesting that it recognizes the ligand-binding site of CR1. The two other antibodies, designated as 7G6 and 7E9, recognized different epitopes from that recognized by 8C12, and they cross-reacted with a protein of 150,000 Mr that is present in a spleen extract. The distribution of CR1 in murine hemopoietic cells was studied by binding experiments with radiolabeled 8C12 and fluorescent flow cytometry. When CR1 was not detected by 8C12 alone, the two other antibodies were used in combination with 8C12 to confirm the negative results. Almost all B lymphocytes from the spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood were CR1 positive. Most of the Thy-1-positive lymphocytes from these tissues were CR1 negative. Thymus lymphocytes were also CR1 negative. Peritoneal macrophages and chemotactic factor stimulated but not unstimulated peripheral blood granulocytes were CR1 positive. In contrast to human E, mouse E were CR1 negative. This pattern of distribution was consistent with previous results obtained by rosette assays. Although mouse platelets cause immune adherence hemagglutination with C3b-bearing SRBC, they are CR1 negative. Three other lines of evidence also indicated that platelets are CR1 negative. First, no band of CR1 was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with 8C12 of an extract of surface-labeled platelets. Second, 8C12, which inhibited rosette formation by lymphocytes, alone or in combination with 7G6 and 7E9, did not inhibit immune adherence between platelets and C3b-bearing SRBC. Third, polyclonal rabbit IgG prepared from anti-mouse CR1 antiserum did not inhibit immune adherence by platelets. These results strongly suggest that the C3b-binding factor(s) on mouse platelets is different from CR1 and that processing of C3b-bearing immune complexes in mouse blood may be mediated by a new and as yet unidentified C3b-binding factor(s).     

从“湖北光敏感核不育水稻”的未受精子房和花药培养出单倍体植株

采用10种诱导培养基,培养湖北光敏感核不育水稻农垦58品种的未受精子房和花药。共培养未受精子房2790个,获得胚囊愈伤组织17块,最高诱导频率达3.33%,其中2块分化出绿苗。培养花药16740个,获得花药愈伤组织15块,最高诱导频率为0.92%,其中3块分化出苗,2丛白苗,1株绿苗。胚囊植株和花粉植株经根尖染色体检查为单倍体,2n=x=12。实验证明,液体培养、2,4-D0.2-0.5 mg/1、低温预处理对诱导胚囊愈伤组织及花粉愈伤组织的形成具良好效果。     

中国钩蛾亚科黄钩蛾属(鳞翅目:钩蛾科)

黄钩蛾属Tridrepana全世界已有32种(Watson,1957),其中包括中国的10种(Watson,1968)。我们手中标本已鉴定10种,其中新增4新种及1新亚种。本文作一全般记录。     

川实蝇属一新种(双翅目:实蝇科)

本文记述川实蝇属Ortalotrypeta Hendel一新种,模式标本存于中国科学院动物研     

五种恙螨染色体核型的研究

恙螨染色体的研究迄今仅Shirai等(1984)简要地报道了三种纤恙螨的染色体核型。本实验采用压片法和改良空气干燥法,研究观察五种恙螨有丝分裂染色体核型。初静止化蛹1—3天的成蛹阶段是制作恙螨有丝分裂染色体标本的最佳虫期。微红纤恙螨,地里纤恙螨和巨螫齿恙螨染色体数目为2n=14;苍白纤恙螨和小板纤恙螨为2n=16。染色体呈大小不等的小棒状,单着丝粒,但多不清晰,仅可见着丝点区浅染。部分核型出现染色体异型现象。核型性别未明,性别决定机制不清。     

蚤类幼虫分类的尝试

自1872年Laboulbene,A.描述了猫栉首蚤(Ctenocephalides felis felis)的幼虫形态以来,至今已过百余年。在此期间。各国先后有些学者虽描述了不同种类蚤幼虫形态,但总数不超过30种。与世界上已知蚤类数比,不到百分之一。在吸血医学昆虫幼虫的分类研究方面,蚤类则远远落后于蚊虫。究其原因,主要是蚤类幼虫多孳生在宿主洞穴巢窝内的浮土中。比如啮齿动物的窝巢,除了在平原地区或草原地带的洞穴容易发现之外,在山区或森林地带,鼠洞就难以找寻。即使找到洞口的位置,要挖到洞内的窝巢就更加困难。因此在采集上蚤类幼虫较蚊虫困难得多。     

小地老虎变态期脂肪体变化及保幼激素类似物的影响

本文对小地老虎Agrotis ypsilon(Rottemberg)从四龄幼虫开始经预蛹和蛹的变态期及羽化为成虫后的脂肪体出现的超微结构变化,蛋白质含量的变动,以及蛋白质颗粒的形成和消失过程,进行了系统观察和组织化学分析。结果表明:(1)在幼虫期的后期,脂肪体扩大成宽带状,细胞体积增大的同时出现双核和多核。进入预蛹期,细胞内开始出现嗜碱性“蛋白质颗粒”,血细胞吞噬部分脂肪体细胞。蛹龄一天时,脂肪体转变成块状,细胞内充满大型蛋白质颗粒。在蛹龄5—10天内,“幼虫脂肪体”逐步崩解,围膜及细胞膜消失。至蛹龄12天时转变为预成虫,脂肪体细胞重新出现,并以气管分支为中心聚合成花朵状圆球体,再组成串状“成虫脂肪体”,仍充满蛋白质颗粒。幼虫期发达的粗面内质网和线粒体,至预蛹期则衰变成几种类型的蛋白质颗粒。(2)六龄幼虫在1—5日龄期间,每克脂肪体的蛋白质含量稳定在7.1—8.4毫克之间,随后逐步升高,至预蛹期达16.3毫克的峰值。蛹初期,雄蛹和雌蛹的含量分别增高到预蛹期的1.63和2.4倍。但在蛹龄2—8天内迅速下降到六龄幼虫期的水平。至蛹龄9—13天时间(包括预成虫),含量又突然猛增,雌蛹尤为显著。蛹期脂肪体细胞充满着的几种蛋白质颗粒,在羽化为成虫后的24小时内全部消失。在六龄幼虫期用保幼激素类似物ZR-515(20微克)作体壁处理,可使幼虫期延长4天,并使九日龄幼虫的脂肪体仍保持幼虫型状态。     

The ontogeny of the vascular cambium inGinkgo biloba roots

Observation was made on early ontogeny of vascular cambium in the developing root ofGinkgo biloba L. After completion of root elongation, the vascular meristem gradually acquires cambial characteristics. Strips of the periclinal division of cells in transverse section are observed on the inner side of phloem when the primary xylem and phloem in the stele have been established. The strips are united into a continuous layer between phloem and xylem. In tangenital section, the procambium shows a homogeneous structure, which is initially composed of short cells with transverse end walls and subsequently, of long cells with tapering ends. Then, the procambium is organized into two systems of cells; axial strands of short cells with transverse end walls resulting from the sporadic transverse divisions of long cells, and long cells with tapering ends. Still later, the short cells are divided frequently in a trasverse plane exhibiting one or a few cells in width and several decades of cells in height, while the long cells are elongated. The frequency of transverse divisions of the short cells decreases in subsequent stages. Eventually, the short cells in axial strands are vertically separated from one another by the elongation of neighboring long cells and by the decrease in the frequency of transverse divisions of short cells themselves. Cambial initials occur in two forms; ray initials a few cells in height and one cell in width derived from the short cells, and fusiform initials with tapering ends derived from the long cells.     

植物激素对草莓叶片不定芽形成的影响

用试管内生长的草莓幼嫩叶片作外植体,培养在MS基本培养基上附加1.5—2.5毫克/升6—BA和0.1毫克/升NAA,可直接诱导成不定芽,诱导率可达20%。如果不定芽继代培养在同样浓度的培养基上,继而可形成大量的丛生芽。能使叶外植体形成不定芽的植物激素组合而不能使其愈伤组织分化成芽。IAA与6—BA的不同浓度组合对不定芽形成效果不明显。