The timing of the rise in U.S. obesity varies with measure of fatness

There are several ways to measure fatness and obesity, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The primary measure for tracking the prevalence of obesity has historically been body mass index (BMI). This paper compares long-run trends in the prevalence of obesity when obesity is defined using skinfold thickness instead of BMI, using data from the full series of U.S. National Health Examination Surveys. The results indicate that when one uses skinfold thickness rather than BMI to define obesity, the rise in the prevalence of obesity is detectable 10-20 years earlier. This underscores the importance of examining multiple measures of fatness when monitoring or otherwise studying obesity.     

三氯乙烷污染环境中脱卤素杆菌的多样性

三氯乙烷(1,1,1-Trichloroethane,TCA)是一种易挥发的氯代烃,密度大于水,曾作为金属清洗剂和高效溶剂在工业上广泛应用.近年来三氯乙烷对环境及人类健康的危害引起人们的关注,其自然分解过程较为困难,在环境中的存在具有一定的持久性.由于不合理的排放和意外泄漏等原因,三氯乙烷已成为地下水中最普遍的污染物之一,严重威胁生态系统和人体健康,是美国环保署(EPA)所确定的优先污染物.研究表明,Peptococcaceae科的脱卤素杆菌属(Dehalobacter)细菌纯培养物或含有Dehalobacter的混合培养物可催化三氯乙烷及1,1,-二氯乙烷还原脱氯,在其降解过程中起关键作用[1 3],并可利用含有Dehalobacter的菌群对三氯乙烷污染场地进行生物治理[4],其中Dehalobacter 16SrRNA基因的特异性探针被用作生物标记物来评价三氯乙烷污染场地的生物降解潜能[4-5].     

Protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes. XIII. Lack of mRNA (poly r (A)) binding activity in highly purified EIF-1.

Met-tRNA_f^Met binding factor (EIF-1) has been purified more than 100 fold over crude high salt (0.5 M KCl) ribosomal wash. The purified factor binds 2 nmoles Met-tRNA_f^Met per mg protein and shows very little poly r(A) binding activity. Crude ribosomal high salt wash possesses significant amounts of poly r(A) binding activity and also binds to other RNAs. The bulk of this unspecific RNA binding protein is separated from EIF-1 by DEAE-cellulose chromatography.     

Distribution of 1AL.1RS and 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocations in Triticum aestivum using specific PCR

Chromosome arm 1RS of rye (Secale cereale) is a valuable resource for wheat (Triticum aestivum) improvement. 1AL.1RS and 1BL.1RS translocations play an important role in wheat breeding, since wheat carrying these chromosomal translocations has higher tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, the presence of 1RS and the distribution of 1AL.1RS and 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocations were examined in 66 Iranian cultivars and 70 regional foreign accessions of bread wheat, using three rye-specific primers (“RYER3/F3”, “O-SEC5′-A/O-SEC3′-R”, “PAWS5/S6”). Based on “RyeR3/F3”, the presence of 1RS was verified in 15 (23%) Iranian cultivars and in two (3%) foreign accessions. Further, “O-SEC5′-A/O-SEC3′-R” and “PAWS5/S6” were used to distinguish 1AL.1RS and 1BL.1RS translocations. According to results from these primers, 1BL.1RS was identified in 14 (21%) Iranian cultivars and two (3%) foreign accessions. The results confirm that “Sholeh” is the only cultivar (1.5%), among all cultivars and accessions, that carries 1AL.1RS. This study provides a useful tool in marker-assisted selection of materials containing 1RS, and in the creation of new Iranian common wheat cultivars with a larger genetic diversity in wheat breeding programs.     

Microheterogeneity of human galactose-1-Phosphate uridylyl transferase. Isoelectrofocusing results

Using thin-layer acrylamide gel isoelectrofocusing, several bands of galactose-1-Phosphate uridylyl transferase were found in various human tissues. Liver transferase, as well as that of some other tissues, was resolved into several bands with pHi between 5.30 and 5.80; red cell enzyme was resolved into five bands with pHi between 5.0 and 5.45. The comparison of erythrocytes with their precursors, reticulocytes and erythroblasts, showed a striking difference: the pHi of the erythroblast enzyme was between 5.55 and 5.90 and that of reticulocytes between 5.30 and 5.50. It is possible that molecular aging is the cause of the anodisation of the erythrocyte transferase and the microheterogeneity of the enzyme observed in other tissues.     

竹节参中人参皂甙含量分析

本文报道了竹节参中二种主要皂甙(R_(b1)和R_(g1)的HPLC定性和定量测定法。结果表明:人参皂甙R_(b1)和R_(g1)的含量较高。R_(b1)和R_(g1)的相对标准偏差分别为3.05％和3.18％,R_(b1)和R_(g1)的回收率分别为86.5～110.1％和94.7～102.7％。     

Structural versatility of peptides containing C-dialkylated glycines: conformational energy computations, i.r. absorption and H n.m.r. analysis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid homopeptides

Conformational energy computations on the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid mono-, di-, and tripeptide amides, (Ac-(Ac₃c)_n---NHMe (n=1−3), indicate that this C^,-dialkylated, cyclic -amino acid residue is conformally restricted and that type-I(I′) β-bends and distorted 3₁₀-helices are particularly stable conformations for the di- and tripeptide amides, respectively. The results of the theoretical analysis are in agreement with those obtained in an i.r. absorption and ¹H n.m.r. investigation in chloroform solution of A.c.₃c-rich tri- and tetrapeptide esters. A comparisons is also made with the conclusions extracted from our previous work on peptides rich in Aib (-aminoisobutyric acid), Ac₅c(1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid), and Ac₆c (1-aminocyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid).     

去乙酰化酶SIRT1的表达及活性调控机制

SIRT1是哺乳动物中重要的NAD+依赖性去乙酰化酶,参与许多重要的生理和病理过程,如衰老、细胞死亡和肿瘤发生。如何精确调节SIRT1的表达和活性对SIRT1执行其生物学功能至关重要。文章以基因表达的不同阶段为切入点,对调控SIRT1表达及活性的机制进行了论述。     

Physiological response and extension of vase life of cut carnation flowers treated with ethanol and acetaldehyde. II. Protein content and enzyme activity

Ethanol and acetaldehyde both prevent the formation of ethylene bysenescing cut carnation flowers. This is due to the almost complete inhibitionof the activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-carboxylic acid oxidase. Thesetreatmentsalso reduce the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content of the tissue andresult in a loss of protein. The protein content of treated flowers wassignificantly lower than that of control flowers, due to a general rather thanspecific loss of protein. This affects the metabolism of the flowers,preventingenzyme mediated reactions as well as cell growth and development. One enzymethat remained active was alcohol dehydrogenase, allowing for a constantshuttling between ethanol and acetaldehyde.     

Rational proteomics of PKD1. I. Modeling the three dimensional structure and ligand specificity of the C_lectin binding domain of Polycystin-1.

Polycystin-1 (Pc-1) is the 4303 amino acid multi-domain glycoprotein product of the polycystic kidney disease-1 (PKD1) gene. Mutations in this gene are implicated in 85% of cases of human autosomal dominant polycystic disease. Although the biochemistry of Pc-1 has been extensively studied its three dimensional structure has yet to be determined. We are combining bioinformatics, computational and biochemical data to model the 3D structure and function of individual domains of Pc-1. A three dimensional model of the C-type lectin domain (CLD) of Pc-1 (sequence region 405–534) complexed with galactose (Gal) and a calcium ion (Ca⁺²) has been developed (the coordinates are available on request, e-mail: pletnev@hwi.buffalo.edu). The model has α/β structural organization. It is composed of eight β strands and three α helices, and includes three disulfide bridges. It is consistent with the observed Ca⁺² dependence of sugar binding to CLD and identifies the amino acid side chains (E499, H501, E506, N518, T519 and D520) that are likely to bind the ligand. The model provides a reliable basis upon which to map functionally important residues using mutagenic experiments and to refine our knowledge about a preferred sugar ligand and the functional role of the CLD in polycystin-1. Figure Carbohydrate binding site with bound galactose and calcium ion inC-lectin binding domain of polycystin-1     

1-甲基环丙烯(1-MCP)对'嘎拉'苹果贮藏期间果肉细胞结构的影响

在室温[(25±1)℃]条件下观察1-甲基环丙烯(1-MCP)影响下‘嘎拉’苹果采后果肉细胞结构变化的结果表明,随着贮藏时间的延长,未作1-MCP处理的果实果肉细胞逐渐失去张力,细胞壁皱褶,中胶层逐渐降解,继而出现胞间裂痕,细胞间隙逐渐增大,细胞壁纤维松散,细胞器逐渐空泡化等现象;1-MCP显著抑制果肉细胞的结构损伤,最终减缓果实的软化。     

Primary reactions of Photosystem II at low pH. I. Prompt and delayed fluorescence

Prompt and delayed chlorophyll fluorescence have been studied in broken spinach chloroplasts at pH values down to 2.6. No direct effect of low pH on the primary charge separation in Photosystem II was observed. The irreversible inactivation of a secondary electron donor in a narrow pH range around pH 4.5 was demonstrated. At lower pH values the photooxidized form of a more primary electron donor, revealed by its efficient fluorescence quenching, was reduced with a half time of about 200 μs, 25% by another electron donor and 75% by back reaction with the reduced acceptor. The electron donation had a half time of 800 μs and was practically irreversible. The back reaction had a pH dependent half time: about 270 μs at pH 4 and increasing towards lower pH. The competition of both reactions resulted in a net efficiency of the charge separation at pH 4 of 25%, increasing towards lower pH.     

Endo-beta-galactosidase of Escherichia freundii. Hydrolysis of pig colonic mucin and milk oligosaccharides by endoglycosidic action.

The purified keratansulfate degrading enzyme from $\text{Eschericia freundii}$ could hydrolyze desialyzed pig colonic mucin and milk oligosaccharides. Desialyzed pig colonic mucin was digested to produce GlcNAcβ(1→3)Gal, GlcNAc-6Sβ(1→3)Gal and resistant polymer. Lacto-N-tetraose and lacto-N-tetraitol were hydrolyzed endoglycosidically to release glucose and sorbitol, respectively. Therefore, this enzyme was found to be an endo-β-galactosidase of rather wide specificity.     

威岭栽培黑麦抗白粉病特性导入小麦的研究

威岭黑麦(Weiling rye)是一个高抗白粉病(Erysiphe gramininis f．sp．tritici)的中国矮杆栽培黑麦。以Weiling rye作为白粉病抗源,高感白粉病小麦栽培品种My8443为母本,从Weiling rye与小麦My8443远缘杂交的BC_2F_6后代中鉴定出一个新的小麦-黑麦易位系No．147,以实现威岭黑麦白粉病抗性向普通栽培小麦的转移。No．147及其亲本的抗白粉病特性通过苗期和成株期优势生理小种混合接种和室内单生理小种接种鉴定,改良的染色体C-分带和基因组原位杂交技术(GISH。Ge- nomic in situ hybridization)被用于鉴定小麦和黑麦的染色质,酸性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(APAGE)被用于鉴定黑麦醇溶蛋白1RS特异条带,11个黑麦种属特异性标记SCM(Secale cereale marker)引物被用于扩增分析黑麦特异性简单重复序列(SSR)。研究结果证实No．147是一个新的高抗白粉病的1BL/1RS小麦-黑麦染色体易位系,并对其产生的细胞学机制进行了分析。论文对中国栽培黑麦抗性基因资源的利用和该易位系在小麦遗传育种改良中的利用价值进行了讨论。     

短命植物东方旱麦草Rubisco大亚基基因（rbcL）的克隆及表达分析

利用PCR、DNA重组、原核与真核生物表达等技术从新疆短命植物东方旱麦草（Eremopyrum orientale）基因组中扩增出Rubisco大亚基基因rbcL（GenBank登录号为FJ346562）,并构建了原核与真核表达载体pGEX4T-1-rbcL和pcDNA3-rbcL,随后分别在原核宿主BL21（DE3）和小鼠中进行了表达,并利用真核表达载体和纯化蛋白制备的抗体,对表达产物的特异性进行了Western印迹检测。结果表明：东方旱麦草的rbcL基因可读区包含1431 bp,与旱麦草rbcL基因的同源性达99.86%,推测编码476个氨基酸,分子量56 kD。该基因在BL21中以融合蛋白GST-RBCL形式表达并存在于包含体中,融合蛋白大小约为82 kD。RT-PCR检测到该基因在小鼠肝脏中的表达。利用真核表达载体与纯化融合蛋白进行联合免疫制备的RBCL抗体可与RBCL特异性地结合,这为短命植物东方旱麦草基因后续的免疫定位检测奠定了基础。     

Regulation of leukocyte integrin function: Affinity vs. avidity

Leukocytes circulate freely in the bloodstream until receiving signals which activate adhesive mechanisms essential for immune responsiveness. Key mediators of these adhesion events are heterodimeric cell surface receptors called integrins. It is now apparent that several components may contribute to successful integrin-mediated adhesion: alterations in individual receptors lead to enhanced affinity for ligand; integrin clustering causes an increase in avidity; by spreading, the adhering cell is less susceptible to shear force. Model systems have allowed us to examine the contribution of each of these factors in generating adhesion. In more physiologically relevant situations, it can now be questioned whether integrin-mediated adhesion is regulated via alterations in receptor affinity or avidity, or whether both these mechanisms are involved. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

拟南芥JR1基因片段的克隆及分析

根据拟南芥CBF基因序列的保守区设计合成一对特异引物,以菠菜基因组DNA为模板,采用PCR扩增的方法扩出一条DNA特异片段并克隆到pUC18载体中。用酶切和测序分析法对克隆片段进行鉴定并进一步进行核苷酸序列分析。序列测定该片段长为430bp。OMIGA2.0软件分析结果表明,该片段与已报道的拟南芥JR1序列的一致性为99.1%。     

密码子优化小鼠socs-1基因及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

根据已报道的小鼠socs-1基因序列,依据大肠杆菌密码子偏爱性,设计并采用重叠PCR法合成了全长693bp的socs-1基因,将其克隆到表达载体pET-22b中构建表达载体pET-SOCS1。经IPTG诱导后,SDS-PAGE电泳显示此密码子优化后的基因可在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中高效表达。