The dynamical structure of the RNA in alfalfa mosaic virus studied by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance

The structure of the viral RNA in alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) was investigated by means of 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). It was found that the 31P-NMR line width of AlMV Top a particles is significantly smaller than that of the larger Bottom particles. At low temperatures, the totational correlation time of the 31P nuclei essentially equals the tumbling rate of the virus particle, indicating that the RNA is contained rigidly inside the virion. At more elevated temperatures, the NMR line width sharpens more than expected on the basis of viscosity changes and the RNA exhibits internal mobility. The occurrence of internal mobility is paralleled by an increased internal mobility of the N-terminal part of the coat protein, as could be observed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The influence of EDTA on the 31P-NMR line width appeared to be negligible, which is in agreement with the idea that AlMV does not 'swell' like several other RNA-containing plant viruses.     

Immunocytochemical localization of the elongation factor Tu in E. coli cells

The localization of the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) in ultrathin cryosections of E. coli cells was determined with the electron microscope using a highly specific immunological labelling technique. EF-Tu is distributed almost homogeneously throughout the cytoplasm. Although it has often been suggested that EF-Tu could be part of a putative prokaryotic cytoskeleton, we did not find any evidence for supramolecular assemblies, such as fibres or filaments, containing a large amount of EF-Tu. EF-Tu was not observed in association with the outer cell membrane and periplasmic space. A topological relationship with the inner membrane is not apparent in our micrographs. In cells in which the EF-Tu level is raised significantly, the protein piles up in discrete cell regions.     

A new role for PGRP-S (Tag7) in immune defense: lymphocyte migration is induced by a chemoattractant complex of Tag7 with Mts1

PGRP-S (Tag7) is an innate immunity protein involved in the antimicrobial defense systems, both in insects and in mammals. We have previously shown that Tag7 specifically interacts with several proteins, including Hsp70 and the calcium binding protein S100A4 (Mts1), providing a number of novel cellular functions. Here we show that Tag7–Mts1 complex causes chemotactic migration of lymphocytes, with NK cells being a preferred target. Cells of either innate immunity (neutrophils and monocytes) or acquired immunity (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes) can produce this complex, which confirms the close connection between components of the 2 branches of immune response.     

湖南省双季稻生产系统碳效率

提高农作物生产系统的碳效率是实现低碳农业的重要途径之一.本文采用2004—2012年农作物产量、农田作物生产系统农资投入等统计数据,利用生命周期法和投入产出法,对湖南省双季稻生产系统碳排放、碳吸收和碳效率特征及其动态进行估算.结果表明:湖南省2004—2012年双季稻生产系统年均碳排放总量为656.4×107kg CE,其中化肥和农药生产运输碳排放占农资投入碳排放总量的大部分,分别约占70.0%和15.9%,碳排放总量年际间持续降低,年均降低率为2.4%,碳排放强度则表现为增长趋势;湖南双季稻生产系统2004—2012年年均碳吸收总量为1547.0×107kg C,也呈现逐年降低的趋势,年降低率为1.2%,单位面积稻田碳吸收强度则表现为增长趋势;碳生产效率呈现缓慢增加的趋势,碳经济效率随着年份递进增加幅度较大,年均增长率为9.9%,碳生态效率则表现为稳定且较低,保持在2.4kg C·kg-1CE左右.表明湖南近几年双季稻生产系统碳综合效率提高缓慢,降低肥料和农药的投入量,提高利用效率是提高双季稻生产系统碳效率的关键.     

无症状吸烟者的肺功能改变情况分析

目的:探讨烟龄≥15年,日吸烟量≥15支的无症状男性吸烟者的肺功能改变情况。方法:选择男性无症状吸烟者190人及非吸烟者180人,进行肺功能测定,并比较两组人群的肺功能改变情况。结果:吸烟组与非吸烟组比较,肺活量(VC)、用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、Tiffeneau 1秒率(FEV1/VC)结果改变不明显,而Gaensler 1秒率(FEV1/FVC)、最大分钟通气量(MVV)、用力呼气50%肺活量的呼气流量(FEF50%)、用力呼气75%肺活量的呼气流量(FEF75%)、呼出25%～75%肺活量时的平均流量(FEF25%～75%)、肺一氧化碳弥散量(DLCO)结果均有显著降低,有统计学意义。结论:通过对无症状吸烟人群肺功能测定结果进行分析。发现有些吸烟者虽无临床症状,但已经出现了小气道及肺弥散功能的损伤,提醒吸烟者应早期戒烟,关爱自身健康,净化生存环境,提高生活质量。     

吐鲁番市胃食管反流病发生相关危险因素分析（附280例报道）

目的：探讨280例胃食管反流病（GERD）的分布特点及危险因素。方法：对临床诊断和胃镜确诊的280例GERD患者进行临床和风险因子相关性分析。结果：不论汉族还是维族,男性患者比例均明显高于女性;汉族患者高发年龄段早于维族患者（z=-2．939,P=0．003,）;汉族和维族患者占反流性食管炎和Barrett食管比例分别为42．4％、81_3％及56．5％、18．8％,其中汉族患者Barrett食管比例较高（X2=14．358,P=0．000）;肥胖、习惯性便秘、重体力活动者、饮食习惯不良在维族患者中的比例较高（P〈0．001）。结论：GERD与性别、年龄密切相关,男性多于女性,汉族患者发病年龄高峰旱于维族患者;汉族患者Barrett食管发生比例高于维族患者;肥胖、习惯性便秘、重体力活动、饮食习惯不良可能是GERD尤其是维族人群GERD的危险因素。     

Oxidant Sensing by Reversible Disulfide Bond Formation

Maintenance of the cellular redox balance is crucial for cell survival. An increase in reactive oxygen, nitrogen, or chlorine species can lead to oxidative stress conditions, potentially damaging DNA, lipids, and proteins. Proteins are very sensitive to oxidative modifications, particularly methionine and cysteine residues. The reversibility of some of these oxidative protein modifications makes them ideally suited to take on regulatory roles in protein function. This is especially true for disulfide bond formation, which has the potential to mediate extensive yet fully reversible structural and functional changes, rapidly adjusting the protein''s activity to the prevailing oxidant levels.     

Discovery of a new RNA-containing nuclear structure in UVC-induced apoptotic cells by integrated laser electron microscopy

Background information. Treatment of cells with UVC radiation leads to the formation of DNA cross‐links which, if not repaired, can lead to apoptosis. γ‐H2AX and cleaved caspase 3 are proteins formed during UVC‐induced DNA damage and apoptosis respectively. The present study sets out to identify early morphological markers of apoptosis using a new method of correlative microscopy, ILEM (integrated laser electron microscopy). Cleaved caspase 3 and γ‐H2AX were immunofluorescently labelled to mark the cells of interest. These cells were subsequently searched in the fluorescence mode of the ILEM and further analysed at high resolution with TEM (transmission electron microscopy). Results. Following the treatment of HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) with UVC radiation, in the majority of the cells γ‐H2AX was formed, whereas only in a subset of cells caspase 3 was activated. In severely damaged cells with high levels of γ‐H2AX a round, electron‐dense nuclear structure was found, which was hitherto not identified in UV‐stressed cells. This structure exists only in nuclei of cells containing cleaved caspase 3 and is present during all stages of the apoptotic process. Energy‐loss imaging showed that the nuclear structure accumulates phosphorus, indicating that it is rich in nucleic acids. Because the nuclear structure did not label for DNA and was not affected by regressive EDTA treatment, it is suggested that the UV‐induced nuclear structure contains a high amount of RNA. Conclusions. Because the UV‐induced nuclear structure was only found in cells labelled for cleaved caspase 3 it is proposed as an electron microscopic marker for all stages of apoptosis. Such a marker will especially facilitate the screening for early apoptotic cells, which lack the well‐known hallmarks of apoptosis within a cell population. It also raises new questions on the mechanisms involved in the UV‐induced apoptotic pathway.