Studies on a leukocyte elastase inhibitor present in the culture medium of inflamed synovial tissue

The spent medium of cultured inflamed synovial tissue contains a potent inhibitor of leukocyte elastase. This leukocyte elastase inhibitor has no effect on leukocyte cathepsin G and pancreatic elastase is only marginally affected. The inhibitor is a glycoprotein, stable to heat, acid and reductive alkylation. Pretreatment of the inhibitor with either trypsin or chymotrypsin results in its inactivation.     

Production of DON-related trichothecenes byFusarium graminearum Schw from Krasnodarski krai of the USSR

34Fusarium graminearum Schw isolates produced 4-deoxynivalenol to form significant amounts of 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol and lesser amounts of 4 — deoxynivalenol monoacetates on grain substratesin vitro. This is the first report on the capability a large group of naturally occurring isolates to produce 4,7-dideoxynivalenol. The average levels of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol on rice, corn, barley, and wheat as a substrate were respectively 26.8, 14.0, 12.8, and 10.5% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol was present in all examined naturally contaminated wheat kernel samples at levels of 1.7 to 7.9% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. These findings suggest that more attention should be given to the occurrence of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol in cereals.     

Physiological and Environmental Requirements for Poplar (Populus deltoides) Bark Storage Protein Degradation

In poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh), a 32-kD bark storage protein (BSP) accumulates in the bark during autumn and winter and declines during spring shoot growth. We investigated the physiological and environmental factors necessary for the degradation of poplar BSP. Poplar plants were exposed to short-day (SD) photoperiods for either 28 or 49 d. Plants exposed to short days for 28 d formed a terminal bud but were not dormant, whereas exposure to short days for 49 d induced bud dormancy. BSP accumulated in bark of plants exposed to both SD treatments. The level of BSP declined rapidly when nondormant plants were returned to long days. BSP levels did not decline in dormant plants that were exposed to long-day (LD) conditions. If dormant plants were first treated with either low temperatures (0[deg]C for 28 d) or with 0.5 M H2CN2 to overcome dormancy and then returned to long days, the level of BSP declined. Removal of buds from non-dormant or dormant plants in which dormancy had been overcome inhibited the degradation of BSP in LD conditions. BSP mRNA levels rapidly declined in plants exposed to long days, irrespective of the dormancy status of the plants or the presence or absence of buds. These results indicate that the buds of poplars are somehow able to communicate with bark storage sites and regulate poplar BSP degradation. These results further support an association of BSP mRNA levels with photoperiod because short days stimulate BSP mRNA accumulation, whereas long days result in a decline of BSP mRNA abundance.     

Variation in the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) among eight taxa of the Mimulus guttatus species complex

The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 and ITS2) of the 18S-25S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence and the intervening 5.8S region were sequenced from three individuals in each of eight taxa of the Mimulus guttatus species complex. Three discrete variants, or "types," of ITS sequences were found, among which 30%-40% of sites differed, compared with 1%-2% within types. Dot plots indicate that these types were not related by conspicuous rearrangements or inversions. More than one ITS type was often found in the same taxon, and two of three ITS types span species boundaries, indicating their presence prior to speciation. These ITS sequences showed essentially no positional homology with the nearest sequenced relative, tomato. In contrast, the 5.8S region was relatively unvaried, with 8 of 162 sites varied in the sample among all eight taxa. The phylogeny inferred by the most common ITS sequence type, rooted by the two other ITS types, agreed with isozymes in showing the distinctness of M. nudatus, M. laciniatus, and M. tilingii from the other five taxa.      

Chromosome analyses of children after ecological lead exposure

In the present work chromosome analysis was performed in a group of 30 children living in a town with a lead plant. Due to the emission of the smelter the individual lead uptake through food, drinking water and inhalation was increased. They were selected out of 1600 children whose blood lead level, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in the erythrocytes and erythrocyte porphyrine level was measured. In the investigated group of children the values of these parameters showed to be indicative for a significant lead exposure. A total of 10,000 cells was scored after 48 h culture time. Despite a significantly increased lead load as compared with two groups of 10 children from a suburb and the isle of Helgoland there was neither evidence for a higher number of cells with structural chromosome aberrations, nor for an increased aberration yield.     

中国小菇属十个新记录种

报道了小菇科小菇属真菌10个中国新记录种,香菌组：橙盖小菇Mycena aurantiidisca、黄白小菇Mycena flavoalba、粉黄小菇Mycena floridula;棘刺组：异刺小菇Mycena heteracantha;纤柄组：碱味小菇Mycena amygdalina;脆足组：粉被小菇Mycena zephirus;冬生组：绣线菊小菇Mycena speirea、冬生小菇Mycena hiemalis;小菇组：绒柄小菇Mycena flos-nivium,分别来自吉林等11个省份、自治区。提供了每个物种的形态描述和线条图,以及与相近种的讨论。共计90条自测及下载ITS序列,在采用贝叶斯法和最大似然法构建的小菇属系统发育树中,新记录种均得到分子数据支持。凭证标本存放于吉林农业大学菌物标本馆（HMJAU）。     

川芎嗪对Aβ25-35诱导体外大鼠海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响

本文通过Aβ25-35诱导体外原代培养的SD乳大鼠海马神经元,建立Aβ毒性损伤细胞模型,结合AnnexinV-FITC/PI荧光双染法流式细胞术、MTT比色法、实时荧光定量PCR及Western blot方法检测川芎嗪(tetrameth-ylpyrazine,TMP)对原代培养的海马神经元细胞活性、早期凋亡率和Bax、Bcl-2基因表达的影响。结果显示川芎嗪高、中剂量可明显增强细胞活性,增加神经元细胞的存活率(P<0.01),可显著抑制海马神经元细胞早期凋亡(P<0.01),抑制凋亡蛋白Bax的表达(P<0.01),增强抗凋亡蛋白bcl-2的表达(P<0.01)。川芎嗪可通过调节Bax/Bcl-2平衡抵抗Aβ25-35诱导的海马神经元凋亡,降低Aβ的神经元毒性,对海马神经元损伤有明显的保护作用。     

非生物胁迫下植物表观遗传变异的研究进展

植物在整个生命过程中固着生长,不能主动躲避外界不良环境的危害,需要通过自身的防御机制来抵御和适应外界胁迫,而表观遗传修饰在调控植物应对不良环境胁迫中起重要作用。该文从DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重塑和非编码RNA等方面进行了综述,主要阐述了近年来国内外有关非生物胁迫下植物的表观遗传变化,以期为利用表观遗传变异提高植物的抗胁迫能力提供参考。