Complex-Formation of Ethidium Bromide with Poly[d(A-T)]·Poly[d(A-T)]

Abstract

The interaction of Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) with double-stranded (ds-) and single-stranded (ss-) poly[d(A-T)] was studied in different ionic strengths solutions. Optical spectroscopy and Scatchard analysis results indicate that the ligand interacts to both helix and coiled structures of the polynucleotide by “strong” and “weak” binding modes. The association parameters (binding constant—K—and the number of nucleotides corresponding to a binding site—n) of the strong type of interaction were found to be independent of Na+ concentration. Weak interaction occurs at low ionic strength and/or high EtBr concentration. Estimated binding parameters of EtBr with ss- and ds-polynucleotide are in good agreement with those for EtBr-B-DNA complexes. Data obtained provided an evidence for a stacking interaction of EtBr with single stranded poly[d(A-T)].     

A kinetic model for the B–Z transition of poly[d(G-C)]·poly[d(G-C)] and poly[d(G-m5C)]·poly[d(G-m5C)]

The analysis of the kinetic data of the B-Z conformational changes induced by salt in sized double-stranded poly[d(G-C)].poly[d(G-C)] and poly[d(G-m5C)].poly[d(G-m5C)] polymers indicated that there exists a salt threshold which reveals some largely, as yet, unrecognised characteristics of the transition. It was observed that there is a direct correlation between the length of the polymer and the rate of the B-Z transition when the salt concentration in the polymer solution is lower than the salt threshold. The correlation is inverse when the salt concentration is higher than the salt threshold. Thus, the molecular mechanism of the B- to Z-DNA transition varies depending on whether the salt concentration is higher or lower than the threshold. In this context, we have found that the contrasting results reported in the literature describing the rate of the B-Z transition are not contradictory but complementary. The finding of a salt threshold leads to the establishment of a relationship between the cooperativity index of the B-Z transition and the polymer chain length. That relationship is dependent on the chemical structure of the polymer but is temperature independent.     

Bh-DNA: Variations of the Poly[d(A)] · Poly[d(T)] Structure within the Framework of the Fibre Diffraction Studies

Abstract

A refinement of the recent results for poly[d(A)] · poly[d(T)] (Alexeev et al., J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 4, 989 (1987)) involving additional parameters of the base-pair structure and of the sugar- phosphate backbone expands the conformational potential of this polynucleotide of the B type to include the possibility of bifurcated hydrogen bonds of the kind recently discovered in crystalline deoxyoligonucleotide with lone d(A)_n · d(T)_n stretch (Nelson et al., Nature 330, 221 (1987)).

Still, analysis of the available data and energy calculations do not seem to indicate that the bifurcated H-bonds are a crucial factor responsible for the anomalous structure of the d(A)_n · d(T)_n sequence. The unique structural properties of poly [d(A)] · poly[d(T)] can hardly be explained without taking into account its interactions with the double-layer hydration spine in the minor groove. In view of the hydration mechanism stabilizing poly [d(A)] · poly [d(T)] and of the polynucleotide's heteronomous prehistory (Arnott et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 4141 (1983)) we suggest that this B-type structure be called B_h.     

Interactions of bis-[μ-chloro-chlorotricarbonylruthenium(II)] and poly-[μ-dichloro-dicarbonylruthenium(II)] with nucleosides

The interactions of dimeric complex bis-[μ-chloro-chlorotricarbonylruthenium(II)], [Ru(CO)₃Cl₂]₂, and the polymeric complex poly-[μ-dichlorodicarbonylruthenium(II)], [Ru(CO)₂Cl₂]_x, with nucleosides (Nucl) in a 1:1 Ru:Nucl molar ratio for the dimer and 1:2 Ru:Nucl for the polymer, resulted in formation of the monomeric mononucleoside [Ru(CO)₃(Nucl)Cl₂] and bis-nucleoside [Ru(CO)₂(Nucl)₂Cl₂] complexes, respectively. The dimer [Ru(CO)₃Cl₂]₂ also gave the ionic bis-nucleoside complexes [Ru(CO)₃(Nucl)₂Cl]Cl in the molar ratio 1:2 Ru:Nucl. The mononucleoside complexes are stable in solution while the bis-nucleoside complexes tend to lose one nucleoside in strong complexing solvents, probably by solvent substitution. The complexes [Ru(CO)₃(Nucl)Cl₂] and [Ru(CO)₂(Nucl)₂Cl₂] with one N(1)H ionizable imino proton undergo ionization in alkaline solution and the complexes [Ru(CO)₃(NuclH⁺)Cl] and [Ru(CO)₂(NuclH⁺)₂], respectively, were isolated. In these deprotonated complexes the nucleosides behave as bidentate ligands, while in the protonated ones they act as monodentate. All Complexes were characterized by elemental analyses and various spectroscopic methods.     

Thermodynamics of B-Z Transition of Poly[d(G-C)] in a Water-Ethanol Solution. The “Tie Calorimetry”

Abstract

Poly[d(G-C)] in a 55% ethanol solution undergoes a transition from the Z form to the B form when the temperature is increased from 20° to 50°C. The enthalpy of the transition, ΔH_BA =—1.4 kcal/mol, has been determined with a “tie” polyamine which stabilizes the Z conformation. This value has been shown to be practically independent of ionic strength within the range of 5 x 10⁴ M—2 x 10³ M NaCl.     

海鳗[Muraenesox cinereus(Forsk(?)l)]骨骼的研究

鱼类的骨骼是鱼体的基本结构之一,它有支持鱼体的作用;在分类学上,它是鱼类分类的重要依据;此外,许多鱼类的年龄和生长,必须依靠骨骼的年昼(或稻为年轮)作为鉴定的材料,所以,鱼类骨骼的研究,不但在理论上值得探讨,而且在渔业实践上也具有一定的意义。     

N-[C~(14)]甲酰溶肉瘤素代谢产物的研究

正常大鼠或吉田肉瘤大鼠腹腔注射N[C~(14)]-甲酰溶肉瘤素后第一次所排尿中,最少含有三个代謝产物。代謝物1为未变的N[C~(14)]-甲酰溶肉瘤素,其含量为尿中放射性的51.5—52.7％。代謝物2为未脫掉甲酰基的含羥基化合物排出量約为尿中放射性的20.2—23.1％。代謝物3可能是C~(14)-甲酸,排出量約为尿中放射性的9.5—12.6％。自梭形細胞肉瘤B_(22)及Krebs-2腹水癌小鼠尿中亦得到相似的結果。溶肉瘤素并非N[C~(14)]-甲酰溶肉瘤素的主要代謝产物,但并不能排除N[C~(14)]-甲酰溶肉瘤素通过溶肉瘤素轉变为溶肉瘤素羟基水解物的可能性。 N[C~(14)]-甲酰溶肉瘤素在正常动物体內的代謝在质与量上与肿瘤动物者并无不同;在对N-甲敏感瘤动物(吉田肉瘤大员、Krebs-2腹水癌小员)与不敏感瘤动物(梭形細胞肉瘤B_(22)小鼠)之間亦无明显差异。     

棉铃虫[Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)]蛾复眼视网膜电位研究

运用视网膜电位（Ｅｌｅｃｔｒｏｒｅｔｉｎｏｇｒａｍ , ＥＲＧ） 技术研究了棉铃虫［ Ｈｅｌｉｃｏｖｅｒｐａ ａｒｍｉｇｅｒａ（Ｈüｂｎｅｒ）］ 成虫在暗适应过程中对单色光和复合光（ 即白光） 刺激的光感受性变化, 并初步分析了ＥＲＧ 的波形成分组成及影响因素。结果显示：（１） 依ＥＲＧ 振幅大小（ 峰－ 峰值） ,棉铃虫蛾的光谱敏感曲线在３４０ － ６０５ｎｍ 波谱内有三个大小不等的峰,其中第一峰位于绿－ 黄光区的５６２ｎｍ ,第二峰位于蓝光区的４８３ｎｍ ,第三个峰在近紫外区的４００ｎｍ ,显示其复眼至少具有三种感受器类型。（２） 一定光强度范围内, 一定日龄的棉铃虫蛾的ＥＲＧ 值随单色光和白光刺激光强度的增强而增大, 至一定光强度时增加变缓,呈近似Ｓ 型曲线式样。表明该蛾复眼具有较强的光强度自调节和适应机制。（３） 棉铃虫蛾复眼的ＥＲＧ 波形成分由４ 个部分组成：开光反应、正相电位、持续负电位和闭光反应,波长、光强度及光刺激时程对其各成分有不同影响。     

A dual-site simultaneous binding mode in the interaction between parallel-stranded G-quadruplex [d(TGGGGT)]4 and cyanine dye 2,2′-diethyl-9-methyl-selenacarbocyanine bromide

G-quadruplexes have attracted growing attention as a potential cancer-associated target for both treatment and detection in recent years. For detection purpose, high specificity is one of the most important factors to be considered in G-quadruplex probe design. It is well known that end stacking and groove binding are two dominated quadruplex-ligand binding modes, and currently most reported G-quadruplex probes are designed based on the former, which has been proven to show good selectivity between quadruplexes and non-quadruplexes. Because groove of G-quadruplex also has some unique chemical properties, it could be inferred that probes that can interact with both the groove and G-tetrad site of certain G-quadruplexes simultaneously might possess higher specificity in aspects of discriminating different quadruplexes. In this article, we report a cyanine dye as a potential novel probe scaffold that could occupy both the 5′-end external G-tetrad and the corresponding groove of the G-quadruplex simultaneously. By using various spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, we give a detailed binding characterization for this dual-site simultaneous binding mode. A preliminary result suggests that this mode might provide highly specific recognition to a parallel-stranded G-quadruplex. These findings and the structural elucidation might give some clues in aspects of developing highly specific G-quadruplex probes.     

Seed germination requirements of Buck’s beard [Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald (Rosaceae)]

Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald (Rosaceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant whose young shoots are traditionally collected in the wild and consumed as a food in NE Italy. The aim of this study was to determine the germination requirements of its seeds in order to start its cultivation, and to assess the germination of six accessions of the species. Viability of seeds ranged from 86 to 97% in the various accessions. Germination rate was almost null in seeds of two accessions, and ranged from 10.5 to 37.3 in the other ones. The seed coat was permeable to water. Treatments with GA₃, KNO₃ and mechanical scarification did not enhance the germination, while the cold stratification treatment at 2 °C for different periods improved the germination rate and the mean germination time as compared with the untreated seeds. With 45 days of cold stratification, the germination rate and mean germination time (respectively, 90.1% and 7.7 dd) of seeds were different from those of the untreated seeds. Cold stratified seeds germinated under artificial light and did not germinate in the dark. Seeds of A. dioicus displayed an intermediate physiological dormancy, removable by a cold stratification treatment, requiring both light and cold conditions.     

Interaction of a dimeric distamycin analog with poly(dA)poly(dT), poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)], and duplex O<Subscript>23</Subscript> at the origin of replication of the herpes simplex virus

The binding of a dimeric distamycin analog (Pt–bis–Dst) to poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)], poly(dA)poly(dT), and duplex O₂₃ with the sequence 5’-GCCAATATATATATATTATTAGG-3’, which occurs at the origin of replication (OriS) of the herpes simplex virus, was studied via UV and CD spectroscopy. The synthetic polyamide differs from the natural antibiotic in having two distamycin moieties that are linked via a glycine cis-diamino platinum group. The Pt–bis–Dst binding to poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)] and poly(dA)poly(dT) reached saturation at approximately one ligand molecule per eight bp. As the ligand–base pair ratio further increased, the maximum wavelength band tended to shift toward longer wavelengths in the CD spectra of complexes with poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)] and a shoulder appeared in the 290–310 nm spectral region that was absent from the CD spectra of complexes with lower ligand coverages. At higher ligand–oligonucleotide molar ratios, Pt–bis–Dst could bind to poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)] in the form of hairpins or associations that result from interactions between the distamycin moieties of two neighbor Pt–bis–Dst molecules. The structures of the complexes were stabilized by interactions between the pirrolcarboxamide moieties of two Pt–bis–Dst molecules absorbed on adjacent overlapping binding sites. The interactions could also be responsible for the concentration-dependent spectral changes that were observed during the formation of a complex between Pt–bis–Dst and poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)]. Spectral changes were almost absent in the case of Pt–bis–Dst binding to poly(dA)poly(dT). The binding of Pt–bis–Dst to duplex O₂₃ reached saturation at two ligand molecules per duplex, which contained a cluster of 18 AT pairs. At higher molar-concentration ratios, duplex CD spectra underwent changes similar to those that were observed for Pt–bis–Dst binding to poly[d(A–T)]poly[d(A–T)]. Testing Pt–bis–Dst for antiviral activity identified 1.5 μg/mL as a concentration that halved the cytopathic effect of the herpes simplex virus on Vero E6 cells; the selectivity index of antiviral action was 65; cytotoxicity was relatively low. The Pt–bis–Dst concentration that caused the death of approximately half of the cells was estimated at 100 μg/mL.     

背孔屬(Notocotylus)一新種的描述 [吸蟲綱:背孔科(Notocotylidae)]

作者在检查广州的一些螺螄時,從Melania(melanoides)tuberculata chinensis的體中发现十餘種尾蚴,其中一種從螺體游出之後,卽在附近變为囊蚴。後以此種囊蚴感染家兔,一個月之後,从家兔的盲腸中找到了成蟲。经过详细之形態比较研究,决定该吸蟲係Notocotylidae科Notocotylus屬之一新種,擬命名为Notocotylus mamii sp. nov.(图1与2)。     

白介素-2对心肌细胞[Ca~(2 )]_i的作用及其信号转导途径

为研究白介素 2 (interleukin 2 ,IL 2 )对心肌细胞内钙浓度 ([Ca2 ]i)的影响及其信号转导途径 ,实验采用酶解法分离成年大鼠心室肌细胞 ,以Fura 2 /AM为钙探针 ,用细胞内双波长钙荧光系统检测细胞 [Ca2 ]i 的变化。结果发现 :(1)IL 2 (0 5～ 2 0 0U/ml)浓度依赖性地降低单个心室肌细胞内钙瞬态 ,IL 2 (2 0 0U/ml)对咖啡因诱导的肌浆网内储钙的释放无影响 ;(2 )纳洛酮 (naloxone ,Nal) (10 -8mol/L)和nor binaltorphimine (nor BNI,10 -8mol/L)可阻断IL 2对心肌细胞钙瞬态的作用 ,而纳曲吲哚 (naltrindole ,NTI) (10 -6mol/L)不能阻断此作用 ;(3)κ阿片受体激动剂U5 0 488H (10 -6mol/L)降低心肌细胞钙瞬态 ,nor BNI (10 -8mol/L)可阻断此作用 ;(4 ) 5mg/L百日咳毒素 (PTX)预处理可取消IL 2降低心肌细胞钙瞬态的作用 ,而酪氨酸激酶抑制剂genistein (10 -4 mol/L)不能取消IL 2的作用 ;(5 )U7312 2预处理可阻断IL 2的作用。研究结果表明 ,IL 2降低心肌细胞钙瞬态的作用 ,是通过心肌细胞上κ阿片受体介导的 ,其下游途径包括PTX敏感的G蛋白和磷脂酶C。     

The effect of protonation on [Mn(IV)(μ2-O)]2 complexes

The series of complexes [Mn(IV)(X-SALPN)(₂-O)]₂, 1: X=5-OCH₃; 2: X=H; 3: X=5-Cl; 4: X=3,5-diCl; 5: X=5-NO₂, contain [Mn₂O₂]⁴⁺ cores with Mn-Mn separations of 2.7 . These molecules can be protonated to form [Mn(IV)(X-SALPN)(₂-O,OH)]₂ ⁺ in which a bridging oxide is protonated. The pK_a values for the series of [Mn(IV)(X-SALPN)(₂-O,OH)]₂ ⁺ track linearly versus the shift in redox potential with a slope of 84 mV/pKa. This observation suggests that the [Mn₂O₂]⁴⁺ core can be considered as a unit in which the free energy of protonation is directly related to the ability to reduce the Mn(IV) ion. The marked sensitivity of the reduction potential to the presence of protons presents a mechanism in which an enzyme can control the oxidizing capacity of an oxo manganese cluster by the degree and timing of oxo bridge protonation.Abbreviations AnH⁺CF₃SO₃ ^- anilinium triflate - DMA N,N-dimethyl acetamide - H₂SALPN 1,3-bis(salicylideneiminato)propane - H₂(5-Cl-SALPN) 1,3-bis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminato)propane; - H₂(3,5-diCl-SALPN) 1,3-bis(3,5-dichlorosalicylideneiminato)propane - H₂(5-NO₂-SALPN) 1,3-bis(5-nitorosalicylideneiminato)propane - H₂(5-OMe-SALPN) 1,3-bis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminato)propane - LuH⁺CF₃SO₃ ^- 2,4-lutidinium triflate - ME₃NH⁺Ph₄B^- trimethylammonium tetraphenylborate - OEC oxygen evolving complex - PyH⁺ClO₄ ^- pyridinium perchlorate - SCE saturated calomel electrode     

中国黑腹果蝇中分离变相因子[Segregation Distorter(SD)]的初步研究

黑腹果蝇（Ｄｒｏｓｏｐｈｉｌａ ｍｅｌａｎｏｇａｓｔｅｒ）中的分离变相因子「Ｓｅｇｒｅｇａｔｉｏｎ Ｄｉｓｔｏｒｔｅｒ（ＳＤ）」是一种非常典型的具有减数分裂驱动性质的特殊遗传因子，ＳＤ在世界不同地区的黑腹果蝇群体中广泛存在，通过杂交的方法测得其频率在１％－５％范围之内。首次在中国北京，青岛采集大量野生黑腹果蝇样本，对ＳＤ进行频率测定，发现ＳＤ在中国野生黑腹果蝇群体中也广泛存在，且频率与世界其他地区     

衰老性记忆障碍与脑突触体内游离[Ca~(2 )]_i的相关性

采用行为观察和生化检测相结合的方法 ,在过去工作的基础上 ,研究了 12月龄和 18月龄小鼠学习记忆能力的变化和 18月龄小鼠四个脑区 (海马、大脑皮层、四叠体和小脑 )突触体内 [Ca2 ]i 的水平 ,同时还比较了老年记忆保持良好组与记忆障碍组小鼠的脑钙水平。结果表明 ,随着年龄的增长 ,小鼠的学习记忆能力显著下降 ,上述脑区 (除大脑皮层外 )突触内 [Ca2 ]i 均明显升高 ,其中老年记忆障碍小鼠脑钙水平升高最为显著。提示 ,小鼠衰老性记忆障碍可能与其脑突触体内 [Ca2 ]i 的超载有关。