Examination of ras oncoproteins in human plasma from healthy controls and workers exposed to petroleum emissions, including benzene-related compounds

Ras oncoproteins in blood plasma from workers exposed to petroleum emissions and unexposed controls were examined from Polish and Estonian samples. Twenty-four workers and 35 unexposed controls were examined from Poland and 97 exposed and 40 unexposed controls from Estonia. Of the Estonian workers, 50 were exposed to benzene in a benzene production plant and 47 to polyaromatic hydrocarbons and benzene in a cokery. Blood plasma proteins were separated by gel electrophoresis, transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane by Western blotting and detected by chemiluminescence using a monoclonal antibody as the primary antibody. There were no statistically significant differences between the exposed and the control groups in either the Polish or the Estonian samples.     

Binding ofNicotiana nuclear proteins to the subterminal regions of theAc transposable element

Specific binding ofNicotiana nuclear protein(s) to subterminal regions of theAc transposable element was detected using gel mobility shift assays. A sequence motif (GGTAAA) repeated in both terminal regions ofAc, was identified as the protein binding site. Mutation of two nucleotides in this motif was sufficient to abolish binding. Based on a series of competition assays, it is deduced that there is cooperative binding between two repeats, each similar to the GGTAAA motif. The binding protein is probably similar to a previously characterized maize protein which binds to a GGTAAA-containing motif located in the ends ofMutator. Moreover, we show that DNA fromDs1 competes for protein binding toAc termini, and we show, by sequence analysis, that GGTAAA binding sites are present in the terminal region ofTgm1, Tpn1, En/Spm, Tam3 andDs1-like elements. This suggests that the binding protein(s) might be involved in the transposition process.     

Antioxidative response of Lemna minor plants exposed to thallium(I)-acetate

The physiological effects of thallium(I)-acetate on the duckweed Lemna minor after 1-, 4-, 7- and 14-d exposure were analyzed. High bioaccumulation of Tl (221 mg kg⁻¹ dry wt at 2.0 μM Tl-acetate) caused an inhibition of plant growth. After 14-d exposure, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 μM Tl-acetate reduced the frond-number growth rate by 21.1%, 39.4%, 66% and 83.1%, respectively. Tl-acetate also induced a modulation of the antioxidative response by depleting the ascorbate content and affecting the antioxidative enzymes activities. Superoxide dismutase showed a continuous increase of activity (31–67%) after Tl-acetate exposure. Other antioxidative enzymes displayed a biphasic response to both the concentration and the exposure period. Exposure up to 7 d decreased the catalase activity (up to 40%) in plants treated with higher Tl-acetate concentrations. In contrast, 14-d exposure increased the activity of the enzyme (≥90%). Short-term exposure increased ascorbate peroxidase activity (13–41%), except in plants exposed to the highest Tl-acetate concentration. However, 14-d exposure decreased the enzyme activity at all concentrations tested (38–60%). Although pyrogallol peroxidase activity increased (up to 26%) during 4-d exposure, longer exposures to the highest two concentrations decreased the activity of the enzyme (25–48%). In general, short-term exposure to Tl-acetate activated the antioxidant capacity, which resulted in recovery of the frond-number growth rates in Tl-treated plants. In spite of the activation of the antioxidative response during short-term exposure, higher Tl-acetate concentrations increased the hydrogen peroxide level (up to 45%) and induced marked oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. Longer exposure induced a decline of the antioxidative response, and plants showed the symptoms of oxidative damage even at lower Tl-acetate concentrations. The genotoxic effect was evaluated by an alkaline version of the cellular and acellular Comet assay, which revealed an indirect genotoxic effect of Tl-acetate, suggesting oxidatively induced damage to DNA.     

Molecular Dynamics on Complexes of ras-p21 and Its Inhibitor Protein, rap-1A, Bound to the ras-Binding Domain of the raf-p74 Protein: Identification of Effector Domains in the raf Protein

We have computed the average structures for the ras-p21 protein and its strongly homologous inhibitor protein, rap-1A, bound to the ras-binding domain (RBD) of the raf protein, using molecular dynamics. Our purpose is to determine the differences in structure between these complexes that would result in no mitogenic activity of rap-1A-RBD but full activity of p21-RBD. We find that despite the similarities of the starting structures for both complexes, the average structures differ considerably, indicating that these two proteins do not interact in the same way with this vital target protein. p21 does not undergo major changes in conformation when bound to the RBD, while rap-1 A undergoes significant changes in structure on binding to the RBD, especially in the critical region around residue 61. The p21 and rap-1A make substantially different contacts with the RBD. For example, the loop region from residues 55–71 of rap-la makes extensive hydrogen-bond contacts with the RBD, while the same residues of p21 do not. Comparison of the structures of the RBD in both complexes reveals that it undergoes considerable changes in structure when its structure bound to p21 is compared with that bound to rap-1A. These changes in structure are due to displacements of regular structure (e.g., -helices and -sheets) rather than to changes in the specific conformations of the segments themselves. Three regions of the RBD have been found to differ significantly from one another in the two complexes: the binding interface between the two proteins at residues 60 and 70, the region around residues 105–106, and 118–120. These regions may constitute effector domains of the RBD whose conformations determine whether or not mitogenic signal transduction will occur.     

来源于马赛菌(Massilia sp.) UMI-21的ACSMU和PhaCMU体外表达及功能研究

【目的】构建马赛菌(Massilia sp.) UMI-21来源乙酰辅酶A合成酶ACS_MU和聚羟基脂肪酸酯(polyhydroxyalkanoate, PHA)合酶PhaC_MU的体外重组表达体系并过表达2种酶,利用体外合成体系确定2种酶在Massilia sp. UMI21聚3-羟基丁酸(polyhydroxybutyrate, PHB)合成途径中的主要功能。【方法】利用无缝克隆技术将来源于Massilia sp. UMI-21的乙酰辅酶A合成酶基因acs_MU和PHA合酶基因phaC_MU扩增后与pQE-80L质粒连接,转导大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli) BL21(DE3)构建2个基因的重组表达体系;利用6×His标签纯化蛋白ACS_MU和PhaC_MU,并采用5,5′-二硫双(2-硝基苯甲酸) [5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), DTNB]法测定其活性;使用体外单相合成系统(one-phase reaction system, OPRS),以(R)-3HB为底物,验证ACS_MU和PhaC_MU这2种酶在合成PHB途径中的功能。【结果】成功构建了ACS_MU和PhaC_MU蛋白重组表达菌株BL21-pQE-80L-acs_MU和BL21-pQE-80L-phaC_MU,提纯得到过表达蛋白ACS_MU和PhaC_MU产率分别为24.8 mg/L和25.6 mg/L;ACS_MU酶比活力为(0.148±0.011) U/mg。PhaC_MU酶对(R)-3HBCoA的比活力为(0.102±0.011) U/mg;核磁共振氢谱(nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy, ¹H-NMR)分析结果表明,使用ACS_Pt-PCT_CP-PhaC_Re、ACS_MU-PCT_CP-PhaC_Re和ACS_MU-PCT_CP-PhaC_MU这3条OPRS途径均能合成PHB,产量分别为0.62、0.76和0.64 g/L。【结论】acs_MU和phaC_MU基因可利用大肠杆菌表达体系过表达并可获得具有活性的可溶性蛋白;对比ACS_Pt-PCT_CP-PhaC_Re合成体系,ACS_MU替代ACS_Pt合成PHB产量增加22.58%,在聚合酶相同的情况下,PHB的合成产量依赖乙酰辅酶A合成酶(acetyl-CoA synthase, ACS)合成乙酰辅酶A的稳定性。使用PhaC_MU代替PhaC_Re,对比ACS_MU-PCT_CP-PhaC_Re组合,合成PHB产量减少了15.79%。在聚合前体浓度相同的情况下,PHB合成量依赖聚合酶的活性。     

Exocellular (glyco)proteins of Lupinus albus plants and suspension-cultured cells

Plant species from genus Lupinus are among the oldest known legumes, and various aspects of their biology are considerably different from those commonly observed within Leguminosae. To study this issue in more detail, a suspension culture of Lupinus albus cells was developed, and the glycosylation patterns of exocellular proteins analysed. N-linked oligosaccharide side-chains were detected with two lectins: concanavalin A (ConA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) used with respective anti-lectin antibodies, while O-linked arabinosylated side-chains of (hydroxy)proline-rich glycoproteins were identified with anti-(42 kDa French bean chitin-binding protein) antibodies. The obtained data were compared with analogous ones for exocellular (glyco)proteins from suspension-cultured Phaseolus vulgaris cells and from various tissues of L. albus plants. Major species-specific differences between exocellular (glyco)proteins from lupin and bean cells were identified. Similarly, developmentally regulated glycosylation changes following transition from organised plant tissue to dedifferentiated suspension-cultured lupin cells were detected and analysed.     

辛基酚胁迫对雄性泥鳅抗氧化酶及卵黄蛋白原的影响

为研究辛基酚(OP)对雄性泥鳅抗氧化酶活性及血清卵黄蛋白原(VTG)含量的影响,将雄性泥鳅分别暴露于4种不同质量浓度OP(0.12、0.19、0.32、0.52 mg/L)中持续7、14、21 d和28 d,采用试剂盒检测肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)的含量,采用碱不稳定性蛋白结合磷法检测血清VTG的含量。结果表明,0.12 mg/L OP胁迫14 d,肝脏SOD和CAT含量均无显著变化,但是随着胁迫剂量增大和时间延长,SOD和CAT含量降低极其显著,在0.52 mg/L OP胁迫28 d时降到最低水平;泥鳅在0.12 mg/L OP中暴露7 d时,血清VTG含量就有极其显著升高,且随着胁迫剂量增大和时间的延长,VTG含量呈升高趋势。提示OP胁迫对SOD和CAT活性有显著的抑制作用,并随胁迫剂量增大和时间延长而抑制加剧,造成氧化损伤;OP胁迫可诱导VTG合成,并随暴露剂量增大和时间延长而诱导增强,具有明显的雌激素效应,这可能与其氧化损伤有密切关系。     

The effect of seasonality on oxidative metabolism in Nacella (Patinigera) magellanica

We studied the seasonal variation on aerobic metabolism and the response of oxidative stress parameters in the digestive glands of the subpolar limpet Nacella (P.) magellanica. Sampling was carried out from July (winter) 2002 to July 2003 in Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Whole animal respiration rates increased in early spring as the animals spawned and remained elevated throughout summer and fall (winter: 0.09 ± 0.02 μmol O₂ h^− 1 g^− 1; summer: 0.31 ± 0.06 μmol O₂ h^− 1 g^− 1). Oxidative stress was assessed at the hydrophilic level as the ascorbyl radical content / ascorbate content ratio (A / AH⁻). The A / AH⁻ ratio showed minimum values in winter (3.7 ± 0.2 10^− 5 AU) and increased in summer (18 ± 5 10^− 5 AU). A similar pattern was observed for lipid radical content (122 ± 29 pmol mg^− 1 fresh mass [FW] in winter and 314 ± 45 pmol mg^− 1 FW in summer), iron content (0.99 ± 0.07 and 2.7 ± 0.6 nmol mg^− 1 FW in winter and summer, respectively) and catalase activity (2.9 ± 0.2 and 7 ± 1 U mg^− 1 FW in winter and summer, respectively). Since nitrogen derived radicals are thought to be critically involved in oxidative metabolism in cells, nitric oxide content was measured and a significant difference in the content of the Fe–MGD–NO adduct in digestive glands from winter and summer animals was observed. Together, the data indicate that both oxygen and nitrogen radical generation rates in N. (P.) magellanica are strongly dependent on season.     

Induction of PR proteins and resistance by the biocontrol agent Clonostachys rosea in wheat plants infected with Fusarium culmorum

Clonostachys rosea (CR) is a common worldwide saprophyte with destructive effect against several plant pathogenic fungi showing antagonistic features against a wide variety of pathogens. We recently isolated a strain of C. rosea, named CR47, from wheat crown infected with Fusarium culmorum (FC); this strain proved to be effective against Fusarium seed borne diseases of cereals under field condition. In this paper the function of C. rosea applied as seed treatment on wheat seedling growth was investigated. In addition, we investigated the expression pattern of peroxidases and chitinases as well as PR4 proteins following both CR treatments of seeds and FC infection and also in the three-component system pathogen–antagonist–wheat. Several chitinase isoforms were induced by CR-treatment both in coleoptiles and roots, whereas some peroxidase isoforms were induced only in the presence of both antagonist and pathogen. In the latter case, it seems that CR-treatment by itself promotes plant growth and reduces the peroxidase expression, while enhances some chitinase isoforms probably involved in cell wall disruption. Moreover, both the antagonist and the pathogen studied induced PR4 protein expression, which probably exerts its role on the invading microorganisms by a translation-inhibitory process that could be ascribed to their ribonuclease activity.     

鳊鱼和宽鳍鱲幼鱼流速选择与运动能量代谢特征的关联

为考察喜好激流环境的宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)和喜好缓流环境的鳊鱼(Parabramis pekinensis)的最适游泳速度和流速选择的关联以及运动能量代谢特征对流速选择的影响,在(25±0.5)℃条件下将实验鱼(n=13×2)单尾分别置于梯度流速选择仪(设定流速范围为18.6—102.7 cm/s,等距离划分为5个流速区域)中获取视频资料,采用Ethovision XT19软件分析视频资料并计算两种实验鱼在5个流速区域的平均停留时间百分比(P_t)和平均出入频率百分比(Pf);另外,使用游泳代谢仪测定两种实验鱼的临界游泳速度(U_(crit))和不同游泳速度下的运动耗氧率(M_(O2)),并计算出不同速度下单位位移耗能(COT)、最适游泳速度(U_(opt))、静止耗氧率(RMR)和净单位位移耗能(COTnet)。结果显示:鳊鱼的U_(crit)和RMR均显著小于宽鳍鱲(P0.05),但二者的最大耗氧率(MMR)无显著差异;随游泳速度的增加,两种实验鱼的M_(O2)均显著上升,尽管在较低游泳速度下,鳊鱼的M_(O2)和COT均小于宽鳍鱲,但在高游泳速度下则相反;两种实验鱼的U_(opt)分别为(6.20±1.29)体长(BL)/s和(11.56±1.57)BL/s,鳊鱼显著小于宽鳍鱲;两种实验鱼的COTnet随着游泳速度增加差异逐渐增大,鳊鱼显著高于宽鳍鱲(P0.05);两种实验鱼在最低流速区域(18.6—23.8 cm/s)的P_t和Pf显著大于其他速度区域(P0.05),由此可见两种实验鱼的偏好游泳速度(U_(perf))等于或小于(18.6—23.8 cm/s),然而鳊鱼在最低速度区域P_t和Pf均显著大于且在较高速度区域的P_t和Pf则均显著小于宽鳍鱲(P0.05)。结果表明:有别于过往研究的是两种实验鱼的U_(perf)均与U_(opt)偏离;在激流环境中生存的宽鳍鱲更加偏好较高的水流速度,生境水流对实验鱼的水流速度选择特征存在显著影响,这种影响的主要能量学机制与鱼类的运动能量效率有关。     

Characterization and cloning of a stearoyl/oleoyl specific fatty acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase from the seeds of Madhuca longifolia (latifolia)

Deposition of oleate, stearate and palmitate at the later stages of seed development in Mahua (Madhuca longifolia (latifolia)), a tropical non-conventional oil seed plant, has been found to be the characteristic feature of the regulatory mechanism that produces the saturated fatty acid rich Mahua seed fat (commonly known as Mowrah fat). Although, the content of palmitate has been observed to be higher than that of stearate at the initial stages of seed development, it goes down when the stearate and oleate contents consistently rise till maturity. The present study was undertaken in order to identify the kind of acyl-ACP thioesterase(s) that drives the characteristic composition of signature fatty acids (oleate 37%, palmitate 25%, stearate 23%, linoleate 12.5%) in its seed oil at maturity. The relative Fat activities in the crude protein extracts of the matured seeds towards three thioester substrates (oleoyl-, stearoyl- and palmitoyl-ACP) have been found to be present in the following respective ratio 100:31:8. Upon further purification of the crude extract, the search revealed the presence of two partially purified thioesterases: a long-chain oleoyl preferring house-keeping LC-Fat and a novel stearoyl-oleoyl preferring SO-Fat. The characteristic accumulation of oleate and linoleate in the M. latifolia seed fat is believed to be primarily due to the thioesterase activity of the LC-Fat or MlFatA. On the other hand, the SO-Fat showed almost equal substrate specificity towards stearoyl- and oleoyl-ACP, when its activity towards palmitoyl-ACP compared to stearoyl-ACP was only about 12%. An RT-PCR based technique for cloning of a DNA fragment from the mRNA pool of the developing seed followed by nucleotide sequencing resulted in the identification of a FatB type of thioesterase gene (MlFatB). This gene was found to exist as a single copy in the mother plant genome. Ectopic expression of this MlFatB gene product in E. coli strain fadD88 further proved that it induced a higher level of accumulation of both stearic and oleic acids when compared to the negative control line that did not contain this MlFatB gene. It also indicated that SO-Fat indeed is the product of the MlFatB gene present in the maturing seeds of M. latifolia in nature. Additionally, a predicted 3D-structure for MlFatB protein has been developed through use of bioinformatics tools.     

金霉素生物合成基因簇中调控基因ctcB的功能

【目的】研究金霉素产生菌中SARP家族转录调控基因ctc B的作用。【方法】利用大肠杆菌、链霉菌的属间接合转移和同源重组双交换的方法,构建ctc B基因缺失突变株。通过c DNA在相邻同转录方向的基因间隔进行PCR验证,确定金霉素生物合成基因簇中的转录单元。利用荧光定量RT-PCR方法进行突变株金霉素生物合成基因簇的转录水平检测。随后,生物信息学预测分析了金霉素生物合成基因簇内Ctc B与DNA的结合位点。【结果】获得了ctc B基因缺失的双交换突变株。发酵结果显示,该突变株失去产生金霉素与四环素的能力。金霉素生物合成基因簇内有6个共转录单元,其中4个共转录单元在ctc B基因缺失突变株中转录水平明显下降。软件分析预测到一致性较高的Ctc B结合重复序列。【结论】ctc B正调控金霉素生物合成结构基因ctc G-D、ctc H-K、ctc N-P、ctc W-T 4个转录单元和ctc Q,为进一步研究ctc B调控机制奠定了基础。     

薇甘菊颈盲蝽细胞色素P450 PmCYP4基因克隆及表达分析

【目的】薇甘菊颈盲蝽是入侵植物薇甘菊的天敌昆虫。CYP4家族基因在专食性昆虫与宿主植物的相互作用中发挥着极其重要的作用,探明其在不同部位的表达情况,可为薇甘菊生物控制提供科学依据。【方法】采用RACE技术克隆薇甘菊颈盲蝽CYP基因,实时荧光定量PCR检测其在不同部位的表达情况。【结果】PmCYP4C1基因全长1713 bp,其中ORF长1500 bp,共编码500个氨基酸,理论分子质量为57.44 ku,无信号肽;与其他昆虫CYP4家族基因的同源性大于40%,与温带臭虫CYP的亲缘关系最近。该基因在雌、雄虫各部位均有表达,且都是足部的表达量明显地高于其他部位;雌、雄虫的表达差异在于雄虫翅膀中的表达量明显地高于触角和残体,但在雌虫中这3个部位的表达量无显著差异,且雄虫翅膀中的表达量显著地高于雌虫,是其2.37倍。【结论】薇甘菊颈盲蝽PmCYP4基因除参与代谢有毒物质外,其主要功能可能是编码与薇甘菊颈盲蝽运动相关的酶。     

Identification of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild cervids ( Cervus elaphus hippelaphus and Capreolus capreolus ) from Northwestern Italy

Seventy-seven red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus), 40 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from the Northwestern (NW) Alps (Turin Province, NW Italy) and 29 roe deer from the NW Apennines (Alessandria province, NW Italy) were examined for the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) by culture, IS900 nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IS1311 PCR restriction endonuclease analysis for strain characterisation. MAP identification (nested PCR and/or culture) allowed us to detect 32.9% MAP-infected red deer and 22.5% infected roe deer in the NW Alps and 41.4% MAP infected roe deer in the NW Apennines. On the basis of the polymorphism present in the IS1311 sequence, all MAP isolates were characterised as cattle strains. Our results show that MAP circulates widely among populations of wild cervids in NW Italy.     

Micromorphological and chemical characterisation of Stachys recta L. subsp. serpentini (Fiori) Arrigoni in comparison to Stachys recta L. subsp. recta (Lamiaceae)

Stachys recta L. is a very polymorphous species in which numerous subspecies were recognised. S. recta L. subsp. serpentini (Fiori) Arrigoni is a typical endemism growing on serpentine soils in northern Apennines and particularly in Tuscany (Italy). In order to contribute to a better knowledge of this plant and to its differentiation with respect to S. recta L. subsp. recta, the micromorphological characters (non-glandular and glandular trichomes) and the essential oil composition of the two subspecies were investigated. Micromorphological characters were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, while light microscopy was used for histochemical observations. Essential oil analysis was carried out by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.In the two examined taxa, the morphology and distribution of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, and the different essential oil composition, may be considered distinctive characters at subspecies level. This is consistent with the taxonomic classification considering S. recta subsp. serpentini a subordinate taxon of S. recta.     

Induction of a non-specific permeability transition in mitochondria from Yarrowia lipolytica and Dipodascus (Endomyces) magnusii yeasts

In this study we used tightly-coupled mitochondria from Yarrowia lipolytica and Dipodascus (Endomyces) magnusii yeasts, possessing a respiratory chain with the usual three points of energy conservation. High-amplitude swelling and collapse of the membrane potential were used as parameters for demonstrating induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition due to opening of a pore (mPTP). Mitochondria from Y. lipolytica, lacking a natural mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake pathway, and from D. magnusii, harboring a high-capacitive, regulated mitochondrial Ca²⁺ transport system (Bazhenova et al. J Biol Chem 273:4372–4377, 1998a; Bazhenova et al. Biochim Biophys Acta 1371:96–100, 1998b; Deryabina and Zvyagilskaya Biochemistry (Moscow) 65:1352–1356, 2000; Deryabina et al. J Biol Chem 276:47801–47806, 2001) were very resistant to Ca²⁺ overload. However, exposure of yeast mitochondria to 50–100 μM Ca²⁺ in the presence of the Ca²⁺ ionophore ETH129 induced collapse of the membrane potential, possibly due to activation of the fatty acid-dependent Ca²⁺/nH⁺-antiporter, with no classical mPTP induction. The absence of response in yeast mitochondria was not simply due to structural limitations, since large-amplitude swelling occurred in the presence of alamethicin, a hydrophobic, helical peptide, forming voltage-sensitive ion channels in lipid membranes. Ca²⁺- ETH129-induced activation of the Ca²⁺/H⁺-antiport system was inhibited and prevented by bovine serum albumin, and partially by inorganic phosphate and ATP. We subjected yeast mitochondria to other conditions known to induce the permeability transition in animal mitochondria, i.e., Ca²⁺ overload (in the presence of ETH129) combined with palmitic acid (Mironova et al. J Bioenerg Biomembr 33:319–331, 2001; Sultan and Sokolove Arch Biochem Biophys 386:37–51, 2001), SH-reagents, carboxyatractyloside (an inhibitor of the ADP/ATP translocator), depletion of intramitochondrial adenine nucleotide pools, deenergization of mitochondria, and shifting to acidic pH values in the presence of high phosphate concentrations. None of the above-mentioned substances or conditions induced a mPTP-like pore. It is thus evident that the permeability transition in yeast mitochondria is not coupled with Ca²⁺ uptake and is differently regulated compared to the mPTP of animal mitochondria.     

NAD(P)H oscillation in relation to the rhythmic contraction in thePhysarum plasmodium

Summary ThePhysarum plasmodium shows rhythmic contractile activities with a period of a few min. Phases of the oscillation in the plasmodium migrating unindirectionally agreed sideways throughout at the frontal part. So, time course of an intracellular chemical component was determined by analyzing small pieces cut off successively from the frontal part of the large plasmodium. Intracellular NAD(P)H concentration oscillated with the same period as the rhythmic contraction but with a different phase advancing about 1/3 of the period. UV irradiation suppressed the rhythmic contraction without affecting the rhythmic variation of NAD(P)H. Thus, the NAD(P)H oscillator works independently of the rhythmic contractile system, but seems entraining with each other.Abbreviations UV ultraviolet - NADH nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form - NADPH nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form - ATP adenosine 5-triphosphate - cAMP cyclic adenosine 3, 5-monophosphate - FMNH₂ flavin mononucleotide, reduced form - TCA tricarboxylic acid - BSA bovine serum albumin - DTT dithiothreitol