Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones for plant cyclins.

We have isolated and sequenced a carrot cDNA and two soybean cDNAs encoding mitotic cyclin homologs. The soybean clones were derived from nearly identical cognate genes. The carrot cyclin and soybean cyclins were slightly more similar to A-type and B-type cyclins thus far defined, respectively. However, they had divergent amino acid sequences in the portion that is most highly conserved in known cyclins and we could not easily include them in either of the phylogenetic types. Since the homology between carrot and soybean cyclins was low, each of them might define a novel and distinct type. The mRNA of carrot cyclin, 1.5 kb in length, was expressed concomitant with somatic embryogenesis of cultured cells. Expression of soybean cyclin mRNAs, 1.6 kb in length, was localized in proliferating parts of seedlings. As in the case of cyclin genes of marine invertebrates, microinjection of a synthetic mRNA for the soybean cyclin induced the maturation of Xenopus oocytes. Other cyclin genes may be present because, on Southern blot analysis of soybean genomic DNA, the isolated soybean cDNA probe hybridized with additional genes under low stringency.     

琼脂糖平板制备聚焦电泳法进一步提纯胸腺素组分五

用琼脂糖平板等电聚焦电泳法,由胸腺素组分五中分离出三种在聚焦电泳谱上是单一谱线的多肽成份——CP1、CP2和CP3,等电点分别为4.3、4.9和5.6。测定了这些多肽对脐带血中淋巴细胞形成羊红细胞玫瑰花的影响。与对照相比,CP1(2微克/0.6毫升),和CP3(0.2-2微克/毫升)分别在统计学上呈显著和非常显著差异。在相同测定条件下,这三种多肽成份的活性均高于化学合成的胸腺多肽——胸腺素α_1。     

Mechanism of erythromycin-induced ermC mRNA stability in Bacillus subtilis.

In Bacillus subtilis, the ermC gene encodes an mRNA that is unusually stable (40-min half-life) in the presence of erythromycin, an inducer of ermC gene expression. A requirement for this induced mRNA stability is a ribosome stalled in the ermC leader region. This property of ermC mRNA was used to study the decay of mRNA in B. subtilis. Using constructs in which the ribosome stall site was internal rather than at the 5' end of the message, we show that ribosome stalling provides stability to sequences downstream but not upstream of the ribosome stall site. Our results indicate that ermC mRNA is degraded by a ribonucleolytic activity that begins at the 5' end and degrades the message in a 5'-to-3' direction.     

胀果甘草化学成分的研究（Ⅲ）

继前文工作,本文报道从胀果甘草(Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat)根及根茎用95％乙醇渗滤后的提取部分中获得的另外五个化合物的结构鉴定。经理化性质及波谱分析,分别鉴定为胡萝卜甙(Daucosterol)、甘草查尔酮甲(Licochalcone A)、β-谷甾醇(β-Sitosterol),异芒柄花甙(Isoononin)和4＇,7一二羟基黄酮(4＇,7-Dihydroxy-flavone)。其中胡萝卜甙和异芒柄花甙为首次从该植物中获得。药理实验表明,甘草查尔酮甲对H_2O_2诱异的溶血有极好的抑制作用(97.3％),但甘草甙在三个体外氧化体系中都没有明显的活性。     

Proteomic analysis for Type I interferon antagonism of Japanese encephalitis virus NS5 protein

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) exhibits a Type I interferon (IFN) antagonistic function. This study characterizes Type I IFN antagonism mechanism of NS5 protein, using proteomic approach. In human neuroblastoma cells, NS5 expression would suppress IFNβ‐induced responses, for example, expression of IFN‐stimulated genes PKR and OAS as well as STAT1 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation. Proteomic analysis showed JEV NS5 downregulating calreticulin, while upregulating cyclophilin A, HSP 60 and stress‐induced‐phosphoprotein 1. Gene silence of calreticulin raised intracellular Ca²⁺ levels while inhibiting nuclear translocalization of STAT1 and NFAT‐1 in response to IFNβ, thus, indicating calreticulin downregulation linked with Type I IFN antagonism of JEV NS5 via activation of Ca²⁺/calicineurin. Calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin A attenuated NS5‐mediated inhibition of IFNβ‐induced responses, for example, IFN‐sensitive response element driven luciferase, STAT1‐dependent PKR mRNA expression, as well as phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT1. Transfection with calcineurin (vs. control) siRNA enhanced nuclear translocalization of STAT1 and upregulated PKR expression in NS5‐expressing cells in response to IFNβ. Results prove Ca²⁺, calreticulin, and calcineurin involvement in STAT1‐mediated signaling as well as a key role of JEV NS5 in Type I IFN antagonism. This study offers insights into the molecular mechanism of Type I interferon antagonism by JEV NS5.     

Signatures of Diversifying Selection in European Pig Breeds

Following domestication, livestock breeds have experienced intense selection pressures for the development of desirable traits. This has resulted in a large diversity of breeds that display variation in many phenotypic traits, such as coat colour, muscle composition, early maturity, growth rate, body size, reproduction, and behaviour. To better understand the relationship between genomic composition and phenotypic diversity arising from breed development, the genomes of 13 traditional and commercial European pig breeds were scanned for signatures of diversifying selection using the Porcine60K SNP chip, applying a between-population (differentiation) approach. Signatures of diversifying selection between breeds were found in genomic regions associated with traits related to breed standard criteria, such as coat colour and ear morphology. Amino acid differences in the EDNRB gene appear to be associated with one of these signatures, and variation in the KITLG gene may be associated with another. Other selection signals were found in genomic regions including QTLs and genes associated with production traits such as reproduction, growth, and fat deposition. Some selection signatures were associated with regions showing evidence of introgression from Asian breeds. When the European breeds were compared with wild boar, genomic regions with high levels of differentiation harboured genes related to bone formation, growth, and fat deposition.