Let them eat (GM) straw

Approximately half of aboveground biomass of grain crops (straw) is wasted, with negative ecological and economic impact. Straw use could increase animal production by at least one third if lignin could be transgenically decreased or modified, rendering more carbohydrate available to ruminant animals. Such digestible straw can be upgraded by ammonification, which further separates lignin and serves as a nitrogen source for ruminant bacteria, or biotreatment with ligninolytic fungi and/or physical treatments. Such technologies could supply animal protein to an increasing population, while releasing more grain for direct human consumption without the need to put more land under plough.     

GM(1,1)模型和等维递补GM(1,1)模型在流动人口结核病预测中的应用

目的:探讨流动人口结核病疫情预测方法,为结核病控制提供依据.方法:利用2000～2009年深圳市宝安区流动人口初治涂阳结核病发病人数,建立GM(1,1)模型和等维递补GM(1,1)模型进行预测,并用多种方法检验两模型的拟合效果.结果:GM(1,1)模型参数α值为-0.173,μ值为210.815,其拟合精度指标均方差比值为0.183,平均相时误差为7.839,小误差概率为1.等维递补GM(1,1)模型的一阶递补参数α值为-0.174,μ值为249.856,二阶递补参数α值为-0.172,μ值为310.436,拟合精度指标均方差比值和平均相对误差均较GM(1,1)模型小,小误差概率均为1.后者预测到2010、2011和2012年深圳市宝安区流动人口初治涂阳结核病发病人数分为1316人、1570人和1851人.结论:两模型均能合理地对流动人口结核病疫情进行预测,但动态等维递补GM(1,1)模型拟合效果优于普通的静态GM(1,1)模型;深圳市宝安区流动人口初治涂阳结核病人数在今后三年有明显增加趋势,结核病疫情形势严峻,需进一步加强流动人口结核病的防控.     

ＧＭ（１，Ｎ）模型对生物系统应用的研究

灰色系统理论的GM(1,N)模型已被广泛地用于生态,农业、林业等与生命现象有关的系统的分析和处理。但GM(1,N)本质上是一线性系统,在生态系统中,由于个体和种群的发展均受个体和种群间对有限资源竞争的限制,一般地说线性假设不能成立。本文对GM(1、N)在生态系统的适应性进行了探讨,提出丁系统线性度,系统非线性显著度的概念、定义和具体计算方法,并在此基础上建立了GM(1,N)模型的适用标准。将这一标准施用于计算机模拟的非线性程度不同的生态系统,结果说明本文所提出的系统表征的度量标准基本准确。另外,本文对GM(1,N)中的参数拟合略有改进,新方法在计算上有合理。省时等特点。     

Distribution of gangliosides, GM1 and GM3, in the rat oviduct

It is known that gangliosides, being ubiquitous membrane components, play important roles in cell-cell recognition, differentiation and transmembrane signalling. GM3, GM1 and GD1a were detected in the rat oviduct as major gangliosides by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. The total amounts of gangliosides from the oviducts at various times after hormone injection were not much changed. In order to identify their distribution and possible changes during ovulation, frozen sections of the rat oviducts were stained with specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the ganglio-series gangliosides. GM3 and GM1 were expressed in a different manner, but GD1a and other gangliosides were not immunohistochemically detected. In the ampullar region, GM3 was expressed in all the stroma and epithelial cells, but not GM1. GM1 was also not observed in epithelial cells. Staining by anti-GM1 monoclonal antibodies revealed long and minute thread-like structures in some of the stroma cells, whereas anti-GM3 monoclonal antibodies stained the entire cytoplasm, but not the nucleus, of all the stroma and epithelial cells. Other ganglio-series gangliosides, including GD1a, were not detected to some extent in the ampullar region by immunohistochemistry. Thus, these data suggest that GM3 and GM1 are oviduct-specific gangliosides.     

OLIGOSACCHARIDE STORAGE IN BRAINS FROM PATIENTS WITH FUCOSIDOSIS,GM1-GANGLIOSIDOSIS AND GM2-GANGLIOSIDOSIS (SANDHOFF'S DISEASE)1

Abstract— Analysis of whole autopsy brain from a patient with fucosidosis (α-fucosidase deficiency) revealed minor storage of H-antigen glycolipid [Fuc (α, 1→2) Gal-GlcNAc-Gal-Glc-Ceramide] and a slightly abnormal ganglioside composition in the form of a two-fold elevation of G_M1 and the presence of a fucose-containing glycolipid (a minor component) which co-migrated with G_D1a. The major storage materials in fucosidosis brain were an oligosaccharide (Fuc-Gal-GlcNAc-Man[Fuc-Gal-GlcNAc-Man]-ManGlcNAc) and a disaccharide [Fuc(α, 1→6)-GlcNAc] in the approximate ratio of 5:1. Lesser amounts of a related oligosaccharide (Gal-GlcNAc-Man[Gal-GlcNAc-Man]-Man-GlcNAc) were isolated from the brain of patients with G_M1-gangliosidosis (Types I and II) where the major storage material is known to be G_M1-ganglioside (Gal (β, 1→3)GalNAc(β, 1→4) [NeuNAcf(α, 2→3) Gal(β, 1→4)Glc-Ceramide). Similarly, a related oligosaccharide (GlcNAc-Man [GlcNAc-Man]-Man-GlcNAc) was isolated from the brain of a patient with a total deficiency of N-acetyl-β-d -hexosaminidase (Sandhoff variant of G_M2-gangliosidosis) where the major storage products are known to be G_M2-ganglioside (GalNAc (β 1→4) [NeuNAc (α, 2→3)Gal(β, 1→4)Glc-Ceramine) and its asialo derivative. These studies indicate that glycoproteins containing at least 2 mol of l -fucose per oligosaccharide unit are normally catabolized in human brain. Further, it appears that such glycoproteins are initially catabolized by an endo-N-acetylglucosaminidase to release an oligosaccharide which is then degraded by the sequential action of exo-glycosidases.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas cepacia isolated from cystic fibrosis patients bind specifically to gangliotetraosylceramide (asialo GM1) and gangliotriaosylceramide (asialo GM2)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the lungs is a leading cause of death of patients with cystic fibrosis, yet a specific receptor that mediates adhesion of the bacteria to host tissue has not been identified. To examine the possible role of carbohydrates for bacterial adhesion, two species of Pseudomonas isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis were studied for binding to glycolipids. P. aeruginosa and P. cepacia labeled with 125I were layered on thin-layer chromatograms of separated glycolipids and bound bacteria were detected by autoradiography. Both isolates bound specifically to asialo GM1 (Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer) and asialo GM2 (GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer) but not to lactosylceramide (Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer), globoside (GalNAc beta 1-3Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer), paragloboside (Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer), or several other glycolipids that were tested. Asialo GM1 and asialo GM2 bound the bacteria equally well, exhibiting similar binding curves in solid-phase binding assays with a detection limit of 200 ng of either glycolipid. Both isolates also did not bind to GM1, GM2, or GDla suggesting that substitution of the glycolipids with sialosyl residues prevents binding. As the Pseudomonas do not bind to lactosylceramide, the beta-N-acetylgalactosamine residue, positioned internally in asialo GM1 and terminally in asialo GM2, is probably required for binding. beta-N-Acetylgalactosamine itself, however, is not sufficient as the bacteria do not bind to globoside or to the Forssman glycolipid. These data suggest that P. aeruginosa and P. cepacia recognize at least terminal or internal GalNAc beta 1-4Gal sequences in glycolipids which may be receptors for these pathogenic bacteria.     

Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pool levels in three cell strains of human chromosome instability syndromes: ataxia telangiectasia (GM2052), Bloom's syndrome (GM1492), and Fanconi's anemia (GM368)

Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) pool sizes were determined in cell strains derived from patients with the genetic diseases ataxia telangiectasia (GM2052), Bloom's syndrome (GM1492), and Fanconi's anemia (GM368), and were compared to the dNTP pools in a normal human fibroblast cell strain (253/79). In addition, the effect of deoxythymidine on both dNTP pool levels and cell growth was examined. The three mutant cell strains differed only slightly from the normal cell strain. The cellular characteristics of the cell strains, such as chromosome instability, are apparently not an effect of dNTP pool imbalance.     

GM1 gangliosidosis (type 1) in a cat.

A kitten with clinical and morphological symptoms of a neurovisceral lysosomal-storage disease has been shown to have a marked deficiency of acidic beta-D-galactosidase in the brain, kidney and spleen. Chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and inhibition studies with 2,5-dihydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine, a selective inhibitor of the neutral broad-specificity beta-D-galactosidase, have shown that the residual beta-D-galactosidase at pH 4.0 in the tissues of the affected cat is due to the neutral beta-D-galactosidase and that there is a complete deficiency of the acidic (lysosomal) beta-D-galactosidase. There is marked accumulation in all tissues and excretion in the urine of neutral oligosaccharides. Analysis of these oligosaccharides by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry and g.l.c. suggests that they arise from the incomplete catabolism of N-glycans of glycoproteins. The ganglioside content of all the tissues is elevated, and it has been shown by t.l.c. that the concentration of a ganglioside fraction with a mobility similar to that of GM1 ganglioside is particularly increased. There is also some evidence of accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the brain. The clinical symptoms, the complete deficiency of acidic beta-D-galactosidase and the storage products in visceral organs all suggest that this is a case of feline GM1-type gangliosidosis comparable with the severe infantile (Type 1) form of the disease in humans.     

Immunoglobulin (GM and KM) allotypes in the Sikh population of India

The populations of India are genetically diverse, both within and between geographic regions; immunoglobulin (GM) allotypes provide important information on genetic differences between populations, since the frequencies of combinations of allotypes (termed "haplotypes") vary dramatically among ethnic groups. As part of a project to assess genetic diversity among defined Indian populations, we have examined eight GM allotypes in a sample of 101 unrelated Sikhs who have migrated to Toronto, Canada: Glm(1, 2, 3, 17) and G3m (5, 15, 16, 21). Sikhs are a religious group that arose in the Punjab about 1500 A.D.; most of the original converts are believed to have been middle to upper-middle caste Hindus. Gm allotyping showed that six Gm haplotypes occurred at polymorphic frequencies (greater than 0.01) in Sikhs: Gm3;5, Gm1,17;21, Gm1,2,17;21, Gm1,17;5, Gm1,17;15,16, and Gm1,3;5. These haplotypes have all been previously reported in Indian populations. The frequencies of the first four haplotypes resembled the published frequencies for lower-caste Hindus of NW India more than upper-caste Hindus. However, the last two haplotypes have been found only in upper-caste Hindus. The frequency of one of these, Gm1,17;15,16 was higher in Sikhs (0.09) than has been reported in any Indian population with the exception of Parsis (who are descended from Iranians). We speculate that the high frequency of this haplotype may have been characteristic of some of the Hindu castes in the Punjab from which Sikhs are descended.     

Monoclonal antibody directed to a Hanganutziu-Deicher active ganglioside, GM2 (NeuGc)

Spleen cells from NZB mouse immunized with a membrane fraction of rabbit thymus tissue were fused with BALB/c 6-thioguanine-resistant myeloma cells, P3-X63-Ag8.653. One hybridoma clone (Y-2-HD-1) produced IgM immunoglobulin that bound to an N-glycolylneuraminic acid-containing GM2 ganglioside, GM2(NeuGc), which is known to be a Hanganutziu-Deicher antigen. The specificity of the Y-2-HD-1 monoclonal antibody was examined, using authentic glycosphingolipids structurally related to GM2(NeuGc), by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and thin-layer chromatography/enzyme immunostaining, respectively. The monoclonal antibody was found to be highly specific to GM2(NeuGc) and the epitope was a non-reducing terminal GalNAc beta 1-4[NeuGc alpha 2-3]Gal structure. This monoclonal antibody (Y-2-HD-1) bound to native mouse erythrocytes, in which GM2(NeuGc) is a major ganglioside. These results indicate that GM2(NeuGc) is located on the surface of mouse erythrocytes.     

Equivalent Circuit Method Analysis of Graphene-Metamaterial (GM) Absorber

This paper presents an effective method to model and analyze graphene-metamaterial (GM) absorbers by using an equivalent circuit model. A reliable and closed formula to describe the absorption mechanism of the GM structure was derived from this approach. With the obtained expressions, the effect of the graphene chemical potential on the absorber’s resonance frequency is able to be predicted. In order to verify this proposed equivalent circuit method, an absorber consists of metamaterial and graphene was simulated and the physical mechanism was well explained. This method provides an effective way to analyze multilayered GM absorbers for the future.     

Serum lipoproteins inhibitors of granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony formation

Normal and chloroform-extracted human sera, fractionated by Sephadex column chromatography, were tested for inhibitory activity on granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony formation. This activity was found to be connected with lipoproteins with a molecular weight of about 200,000. Serum native fractions of lipoproteins were isolated and mainly high density lipoproteins (HDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) were shown to have an unspecific inhibitory activity directed on colony stimulating factor (CSF) action.     

Preparation of deacetyl-, lyso-, and deacetyl-lyso-GM(3) by selective alkaline hydrolysis of GM3 ganglioside

Three methods (using GM3 quantities ranging from a few milligrams to grams) have been developed to prepare, in high yield, the three derivatives of ganglioside GM3 [alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-3)-beta-Gal-(1-4)-beta-Glc-(1-1)-ceramide]: deacetyl-GM3 [alpha-Neu-(2-3)-beta-Gal-(1-4)-beta-Glc-(1-1)-ceramide], lyso-GM3 [alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-3)-beta-Gal-(1-4)-beta-Glc-(1-1)-sphingosine], and deacetyl-lyso-GM3 [alpha-Neu-(2-3)-beta-Gal-(1-4)-beta-Glc-(1-1)-sphingosine]. This is the first report of the preparation of lyso-GM3 by a one-pot reaction. We can now define the optimal conditions for the different preparations. Preparation of deacetyl-GM3: alkaline reagent, 2 M KOH in water; GM3 concentration, 33 mg/ml; reaction temperature, 90 degrees C; reaction time, 3.5 h; nitrogen atmosphere. Preparation of deacetyl-lyso-GM3: alkaline reagent, 8 M KOH in water; GM3 concentration, 10 mg/ml; reaction temperature, 90 degrees C; reaction time, 18 h; nitrogen atmosphere. Preparation of lyso-GM(3): alkaline reagent, 1 M sodium tert-butoxide in methanol; GM3 concentration, 10 mg/ml; reaction temperature, 80 degrees C; reaction time, 18 h; anhydrous conditions. The percentage yield of deacetyl-GM3 was 70;-75%, that of deacetyl-lyso-GM3 100%, and of lyso-GM3 36;-40%.Deacetyl-GM3, deacetyl-lyso-GM3, and lyso-GM3 were purified by column chromatography, and chemical structures were confirmed by electron spray-mass spectrometry.     

Genetic regulation of GM4(NeuAc) expression in mouse erythrocytes

The polymorphic expression of GM4(NeuAc), GM3(NeuGc), GM2(NeuGc), and GM1(NeuGc) was found in erythrocytes of inbred strains of mice [Nakamura, K. et al. (1988) J. Biochem. 103, 201-208]. In this paper, we report the results of genetic analysis of the expression of GM4(NeuAc) and GM2(NeuGc). Ganglioside analysis of the progeny obtained on mating between BALB/c mice [GM4 (+)] and WHT/Ht or C57BL/6 mice [both GM4 (-)] indicated that the expression of GM4(NeuAc) is an autosomal dominant trait, and that WHT/Ht and C57BL/6 mice carry a defect on a single autosomal gene. We named this gene Gsl-4. On quantitative determination of galactosylceramide (GalCer), which is the biosynthetic precursor of GM4(NeuAc), the content of GalCer was found to be quite low in WHT/Ht erythrocytes, compared with in BALB/c erythrocytes. On analysis of GM4(NeuAc) and GalCer in 92 backcross mice produced on mating between BALB/c and WHT/Ht mice, it was found that 45 GM4(+) mice apparently expressed a detectable amount of GalCer and that 47 GM4(-) mice expressed an almost undetectable amount of GalCer. These results suggest that Gsl-4 controls the expression of GM4(NeuAc) by regulating the content of GalCer. Linkage analysis of Gsl-4 and the gene controlling GM2(NeuGc) in erythrocytes indicated that the two genes are not genetically linked. Comparison of the ganglioside expression in liver and erythrocytes of the same backcross mice suggested that the gene controlling GM2(NeuGc) expression in the liver (Ggm-2) is also responsible for the expression of GM2(NeuGc) in erythrocytes.     

Brain ceramide hexosides in Tay-Sachs disease and generalized gangliosidosis (GM1-gangliosidosis)

The carbohydrate composition was determined for ceramide hexosides isolated from brains of patients with Tay-Sachs disease and generalized gangliosidosis (hereby named GM1-gangliosidosis). Gray matter of patients with each disease showed a characteristic abnormal ceramide hexoside pattern. In Tay-Sachs gray matter, ceramide trihexoside is the major component, whereas ceramide tetrahexoside is barely detectable. In GM1-gangliosidosis, ceramide tetrahexoside is the major ceramide hexoside, while ceramide trihexoside is present only in small amount. These two major components have been characterized as the asialo derivatives of, respectively, the "Tay-Sachs ganglioside" (GM2-ganglioside) and the normal major monosialoganglioside (GM1-ganglioside). In both diseases, more than half the ceramide monohexoside of gray matter was glucocerebroside. Gray matter ceramide dihexoside, present in both diseases at higher than normal levels, was mostly ceramide lactoside, with possibly a small amount of ceramide digalactoside. Sulfatide contained only galactose. The abnormal ceramide hexoside pattern is limited to gray matter: white matter showed normal ceramide hexosides, i.e. a preponderance of monohexosides and sulfatide, with no detectable glucocerebroside.     

Expression machinery of GM4: the excess amounts of GM3/GM4S synthase (ST3GAL5) are necessary for GM4 synthesis in mammalian cells

The ganglioside GM4 is a sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipid mainly expressed in mammalian brain and erythrocytes. GM4 is synthesized by the sialylation of galactosylceramide (GalCer), while the ganglioside GM3 is synthesized by the sialylation of lactosylceramide (LacCer). Recently, the enzyme GM3 synthase was found to be responsible for the synthesis of GM4 in vitro and in vivo, yet the mechanism behind GM4 expression in cells remains unclear. In this study, we attempted to establish GM4-reconstituted cells to reveal the regulation of GM4 synthesis. Interestingly, GM4 was not detected in RPMI 1846 cells expressing LacCer, GalCer, and GM3. Similarly, GM4 was not detected in CHO-K1 cells, even when such cells expressing LacCer and GM3 were stably transfected with the GalCer synthase (GalCerS) gene. GM4 became detectable only when the GM3/GM4 synthase (GM3/GM4S, ST3GAL5) gene was overexpressed in either RPMI 1846 or CHO-K1/GalCerS cells. A mutant of the B16 melanoma cell line, GM-95, lacks GlcCer and LacCer, due to an absence of GlcCer synthase, but carries endogenous LacCer synthase and GM3/GM4S. GalCer became detectable after transfection of GalCerS into GM95 cells, but the GM95/GalCerS reconstituted cells did not express GM4, indicating that competition between the substrates LacCer and GalCer for GM3/GM4S does not cause the failure of GM4 synthesis. These results suggest that the expression machinery of GM4 under physiological conditions is independent from that of GM3.