N49 phospholipase A2, a unique subgroup of snake venom group II phospholipase A2

A novel phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) with Asn at its site 49 was purified from the snake venom of Protobothrops mucrosquamatus by using SP-Sephadex C25, Superdex 75, Heparin-Sepharose (FF) and HPLC reverse-phage C₁₈ chromatography and designated as TM-N49. It showed a molecular mass of 13.875 kDa on MALDI-TOF. TM-N49 does not possess enzymatic, hemolytic and hemorrhagic activities. It fails to induce platelet aggregation by itself, and does not inhibit the platelet aggregation induced by ADP. However, it exhibits potent myotoxic activity causing inflammatory cell infiltration, severe myoedema, myonecrosis and myolysis in the gastrocnemius muscles of BALB/c mice. Phylogenetic analysis found that that TM-N49 combined with two phospholipase A₂s from Trimeresurus stejnegeri, TsR6 and CTs-R6 cluster into one group. Structural and functional analysis indicated that these phospholipase A₂s are distinct from the other subgroups (D49 PLA₂, S49 PLA₂ and K49 PLA₂) and represent a unique subgroup of snake venom group II PLA₂, named N49 PLA₂ subgroup.     

A survey of phenotype distribution of subgroup A2, blood groups MNS, P, and Kell in the Kazak nationality living in northern Xinjiang of China

The research was undertaken to study the phenotypic polymorphisms of the subgroup A2, blood groups MNS, P, and Kell in the Kazakh population in northern Xinjiang, China and establish data on rare blood group antigens in the Kazakh population, in order to provide references for clinical blood transfusion safety and prevention of hemolytic disease of the new born. In this study, 6,862 unrelated Kazakh individuals in northern Xinjiang were randomly selected, and their blood samples were collected for serological testing. The antigens of A, B, A1, M, N, P1 and K were detected by serological saline tube method, and the antigens of S, s, and k were detected by the microcolumn gel antiglobulin card method. The results were as follows: ① The detection rates of subgroup A2 in group A and group AB were 7.08% and 21.79%, respectively; ② The allele frequencies of the blood groups MNS, P and Kell were M=0.5668, N=0.4332, S=0.1860, s= 0.8140, P1=0.2848, P2=0.7152, K1=0.0096, K2=0.9904. The observed values and expected values of frequency distribution of genotypes were compared by χ² test, which conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg genetic law (P>0.05); ③ Fourteen cases of S^-s^- rare phenotype were detected in MNS blood group system, with a frequency of 1.16%; ④ The frequency of K antigen in the Kell blood group system was 1.92%. One case of rare KK homozygote was detected, with a frequency of 0.034%. Our study suggested that the distribution of gene frequency of subgroup A2, blood groups MNS, P and Kell in the Kazakh population in northern Xinjiang has its own characteristics, and their blood group MNS has unique genotypes. The positive rate of K antigen of blood group Kell in the Kazakh population was significantly higher than Chinese Han population.     

Confirmation of the F2 allele in the bovine F blood group system

Serological evidence is presented to prove the presence of an F₂ allele in the F system of British Friesian cattle.     

Preparation of 2- and 3-substituted gibberellins A9 and A4 for bioassay

To test the effects of preventing enzymatic 2β- and 3β-hydroxylation on the biological activities of gibberellins, the preparation of the following compounds is described: 2β-methyl- and 2,2-dimethyl-gibberellins A₄ and A₉; 2α-fluoro-, 2β-fluoro- and 2β-methoxy-gibberellin A₉; and 3β-chloro-, 3β-fluoro-, 3β-methoxy- and 3-methylene A₉.     

The AB blood group system of cats

Holmes (1950) and Eyquem. Podliachouk & Milot (1962) classified feline erythrocytes into two types according to their reactions with naturally occurring antibodies in cats' plasmas. Eyquem et al. (1962) designated the two antigens, A and B. and this nomenclature has been retained in the present study. The blood group system. AB. was investigated in more detail, both genetically and serologically. Frequencies of 73.3 % A and 26.3 % B were found in a survey of 1895 Brisbane cats and in addition, a new phenotype. AB. was discovered with a low incidence of 0.4 %.The results of the serological testing and limited family information suggested that the AB phenotype is inherited and not due to blood chimaerism. Preliminary genetic studies indicated that the A gene is dominant to the B in the usual situation and hypotheses to explain the occurrence of the AB phenotype are discussed.
The incidence of naturally occurring antibodies was investigated in cats, with 1895 of blood type B having anti-A and only 35 % of type A having anti-B. No subgroups of the A and B antigens were detected and no blood group substances were found in the salivas of 37 cats. There was no evidence of any serological relationship of the feline A and B antigens with the human ABO antigens.     

Serological and genetic analysis of ABO ambiguous blood group samples

The accuracy of regular serum methods to detect ABO blood groups can be negatively affected by some factors, such as irregular antibodies, autoantibodies or effects of diseases leading to false or weak agglutination. This study aimed to accurately identify ambiguous ABO blood groups by serological and gene detection methods. The samples were collected in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from December 2018 to December 2019. ABO genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) method in 20 samples, and ABO exons 6 and 7 or FUT1 and FUT2 genes were sequenced in 5 samples. The genes detected in the 21 specimens included 4 cases of A/B, 2 cases of A205/O01, 3 cases of A/O01, 3 cases of A/O02, 1 case of O01/O01, 1 case of O01/O02, 1 case of B/O01, 1 case of B/O02, 1 case of Bel/O01, 1 case of Cisab01/O01, 1 case of rare B/O04, 1 case of Bombay-like Bmh, 1 case of new gene showing c.261del G of exon 6, c.579 T>C of exon 7 and B new/O01. This study suggests that ABO blood group genotyping technology combined with serological typing can be used for accurately typing ambiguous blood groups.     

The M-N-V-A-B-D blood group system of chimpanzee and other apes: Serology and genetics

Poly- and monoclonal anti-M and anti-N reagents detect on the red cells of anthropoid apes the M and/or N antigens which are similar to, but not identical with human M and N. A series of V-A-B-D specificities, closely related to the M-N system, are recognized on ape red blood cells by chimpanzee immune sera. To account for the distributions of the M-N-V-A-B-D types in man and in various apes, a genetic model is proposed that assumes the existence of two independent pairs of alleles: M/m, and N/n. In the processes of speciation, some of the alleles were lost or replaced by multiple mutations, resulting in chimpanzee in a series of codominant alleles responsible for as many as 16 M-N-V-A-B-D phenotypes.     

Serological and genetic analysis of a rare CisAB01/O01 blood group

The paper aims to analyze a rare blood sample in Ganzhou City Hospital with CisAB subtype and explore a feasible pattern for blood typing of rare blood type patients, so as to ensure clinical transfusion safety. The routine serological methods were used for ABO forward and reverse blood typing and the fluorescence real-time PCR technique was used for sample genotyping. A human ABO blood group 6-7 exon sequencing kit was used for sequence analysis. The nucleic acid sequence of the sample was compared with reference sequences. The forward typing results demonstrated that the sample was ABw, RhD positive. The sample exhibited 4+ agglutination with anti-H and anti-AB antibodies. Reverse typing by microcolumn gel method showed an AB result, but the serum sample demonstrated weak agglutination with B cell under room temperature, 4 °C and 37 °C in saline when tested with tube method respectively. The serological results matched with the A₂B₃ serotype. The fluorescent real-time PCR genotyping results displayed A/O01. The sequence analysis demonstrated deletion of guanine in 261-position 467C>T (heterozygote) and 803G>T (heterozygote) mutation respectively. The mutation caused the A glycosyltransferase peptide chain to change from proline to leucine (P156L) at 156 and from glutamate to alanine (G268A) at 268. The result demonstrated that the sample''s genotype was CisAB01/O01. The mutation of glycosyltransferase coding gene leads to an abnormal serological reaction pattern. Only by combining the results of genetic analysis can we get the true sample blood type and better ensure the safety of clinical blood transfusion.     

Metabolism of prostaglandins A1 and A2 by human whole blood

The effect of human blood on prostaglandin metabolism in vitro was studied at 37°C and 4°C. Labeled prostaglandins were incubated for up to one hour in whole blood or plasma. After extraction, the prostaglandins were purified by LH-20 Sephadex chromatography. Appropriate ¹⁴C labeled compounds, when available, were used to correct for losses. Metabolism was determined by comparison of incubated samples with zero time controls. There was no reduction in isotopic recovery of prostaglandins B₁, B₂ and E₁ after incubation with whole blood for up to one hour. In contrast, human whole blood, but not plasma, rapidly metabolized prostaglandins A₁ and A₂ at 37°C. The rate of metabolism was temperature dependent, but still continued at 4°C. The products of these reactions were not identified, but they appeared to remain in the aqueous solution after extraction with the neutral organic solvent.     

Expansion of the canine A blood group system

A detailed study of the canine A blood group system was undertaken, resulting in the expansion of this system into a three-factor, four-allelic one with the recognition of an additional subtype, a3. The serological and extensive family data supported the proposed genetic theory of four alleles with dominance with the order being Aa1, Aa2, Aa3 and A-. Gene frequencies of the alleles were determined in various breeds of dogs with frequencies in the general Brisbane population being 0.244 (Aa1), 0.042 (Aa2), 0.045 (Aa3) and 0.669 (A-).     

甜荞查尔酮合酶基因Chs的克隆及序列分析

利用RT-PCR技术从甜荞中克隆得到查耳酮合酶(CHS)的cDNA开放阅读框(ORF)序列,命名为FeChs,NCBI登录号为GU172166.1.该序列长1 179 bp,编码392个氨基酸,与其它植物CHS基因的同源性为78%～92%,其推导的氨基酸序列含有CHS高度保守的活性位点及CHS的标签序列GFGPG.     

Biosynthesis of gibberellins A12, A15, A24, A36, and A37 by a cell-free system from Cucurbita maxima

GA₁₂-aldehyde obtained from mevalonate via ent-kaurene, ent-kaurenol, ent-kaurenoic acid and ent-7α-hydroxykaurenoic acid in a cell-free system from immature seeds of Cucurbita maxima was converted to GA₁₂ by the same system. When Mn²⁺ was omitted from the system GA₁₂-aldehyde and GA₁₂ were converted further to several products. Among these GA₁₅, GA₂₄, GA₃₆ and GA₃₇ were conclusively identified by GC-MS. With the exception of GA₃₇ these GAs have not previously been found in higher plants. Another biosynthetic pathway led from ent-7α-hydroxykaurenoic acid to very polar products via what was tentatively identified as ent-6α, 7α-dihydroxykaurenoic acid. An unidentified component with an MS resembling that of a dihydroxykaurenolide was also obtained from incubations with mevalonate.     

The synthesis of [3H]gibberellin A3 and [3H]gibberellin A1 by the palladium-catalyzed actions of carrier-free tritium on gibberellin A3

Reaction of gibberellin A₃ (GA₃) with carrier-free tritium gas and 5% palladium on calcium carbonate as catalyst gave a complex mixture of products, several of which were isolated and identified. Three of the purified products are the radioactive forms of naturally occurring gibberellins: [³H]GA₃ (1), [³H]GA₁ (2) and [³H]tetrahydro GA₃ (4). Another substance was isolated and tentatively identified as [³H]16,17-dihydro GA₃ (3). GLC was used to determine the specific activities of 1 and 2. [³H]GA₃ likely arises from palladium catalysed nonspecific exchange of GA₃ alkane hydrogen atoms with tritium. [³H]GA₁ is also exchange labeled but most of its radioactivity is due to tritium addition to the C-1,2 olefinic bond of GA₃.     

小麦种子中几丁质酶基因的扩增及序列分析

根据http://www.tigr.org中与小麦几丁质酶基因相关的序列TC187877,设计引物,分别从小麦品种Gamenya和苏麦3号中扩增到大小约为1 000bp的片段。经序列测定和软件分析比较,发现这些片段所编码的蛋白质氨基酸序列,都有CHITINASE-19.1和CHITINASE-19.2的基序,为第II类几丁质酶基因。扩增的核酸序列在GenBank上发表,登录号分别为AY973229和AY973230。     

德国小蠊泛素基因的克隆及序列分析

设计一对简并引物,从德国小蠊Blattellager manica细胞中克隆了泛素基因的编码区,GenBank登录号为AY501003。序列分析表明,该编码区的长度为228 bp,编码的多肽由76个氨基酸残基组成,相对分子质量为8.47 Kd ,其等电点为5.73。同源性比较发现,德国小蠊泛素基因与其他真核生物泛素基因在氨基酸水平上具有94%以上的相似性。     

Bioconversion of phospholipids by immobilized phospholipase A2

Phospholipase A₂ selectively hydrolyses the ester linkage at the sn-2 position of phospholipids forming lysocompounds. This bioconversion has importance in biotechnology since lysophospholipids are strong bioemulsifiers. The aim of the present work was to study the kinetic behaviour and properties of immobilized phospholipase A₂ from bee venom adsorbed into an ion exchange support. The enzyme had high affinity for CM-Sephadex^® support and the non-covalent interaction was optimum at pH 8. The activity of immobilized phospholipase A₂ was comparatively evaluated with the soluble enzyme using a phospholipid/Triton X-100 mixed micelle as assay system. The immobilized enzyme showed high retention activity and excellent stability under storage. The activity of the immobilized system remained almost constant after several cycles of hydrolysis. Immobilized phospholipase A₂ was less sensitive to pH changes compared to soluble form. The kinetic parameters obtained (V_max 883.4 μmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹ and a K_m 12.9 mM for soluble form and V_max = 306 μmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹ and a K_m = 3.9 for immobilized phospholipase A₂) were in agreement with the immobilization effect. The results obtained with CM-Sephadex^®-phospholipase A₂ system give a good framework for the development of a continuous phospholipid bioconversion process.     

杧果LEAFY同源基因的分离及序列分析

分析在植物开花过程中起重要作用的LEAFY(LFY)基因的保守区序列,设计1对长度均为23bp的PCR引物,以杧果基因组DNA为模板,采用PCR方法扩增出长为822bp的DNA片段,克隆入pGEM-T Easy载体。测序和序列分析表明,获得了杧果LFY同源基因(miLFY)3’端的1个片段,该片段有1个415bp的内含子,编码区共编码135个氨基酸,其序列已经在GenBank中登记(登录号AY189684)。在GenBank中进行同源性检索,发现其氨基酸序列与其它植物LFY同源基因的氨基酸序列同源性高达74%~97%,推测它们具有相似的功能。