Catecholamine content of the rat brain at different stages of experimental alcoholism

Changes in the noradrenaline (NA) content in the hypothalamus, dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the striatum were determined in rats after chronic alcohol administration. A single injection of alcohol (2.5 g/kg i.p.) provoked a 30% decrease in NA only in rats predisposed to ethanol intake. Voluntary intake of 15% ethanol for 10 days made the NA content return to normal, the 4-month use of ethanol did not change whereas the 8-month use reduced the NA content by 17%, DA by 31% and raised the content of HVA by 25%. Twenty-four hours after alcohol abstinence the HVA content dropped by 13%. It is concluded that the noradrenergic system is involved in the formation and development of alcohol motivation and that the dopaminergic system participates in the development of the physical dependence and abstinence.     

Changes in the activity of enzyme systems of xenobiotic metabolism at different stages of insect development

The cytochrome P-450 content, activity of microsomal monooxygenases, nonspecific esterases and glutathione S-transferases were studied at different stages of development of the Colorado beetle, cotton bollworm, cabbage butterfly, wax moth from the laboratory and natural populations. The data obtained demonstrate significant species, sexual and age differences in the activity of enzyme systems of insecticide detoxication. The toxic efficiency of insecticides at certain developmental stages depends on the level of activity of the enzyme systems involved in their metabolism. These data are discussed with respect to the problem of insects' sensitivity to insecticides at different developmental stages.     

Hepatic ethanol metabolism: Respective roles of alcohol dehydrogenase,the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system,and catalase

The respective role of alcohol dehydrogenase, of the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system, and of catalase in ethanol metabolism was assessed quantitatively in liver slices using various inhibitors and ethanol at a final concentration of 50 mm. Pyrazole (2 mm) virtually abolished cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase activity but inhibited ethanol metabolism in liver slices by only 50–60%. The residual pyrazole-insensitive ethanol oxidation in liver slices remained unaffected by in vitro addition of the catalase inhibitor sodium azide (1 mm). At this concentration, sodium azide completely abolished catalatic activity of catalase in liver homogenate as well as peroxidatic activity of catalase in liver slices in the presence of dl-alanine. Similarly, in vivo administration of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, a compound which inhibits the activity of catalase but not that of the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system, failed to decrease both the overall rates of ethanol oxidation and the activity of the pyrazole-insensitive pathway. Finally, butanol, a substrate and inhibitor of the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system but not of catalase-H₂O₂, significantly decreased the pyrazole-insensitive ethanol metabolism in liver slices. These results indicate that alcohol dehydrogenase is responsible for half or more of ethanol metabolism by liver slices and that the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system rather than catalase-H₂O₂ accounts for most if not all of the alcohol dehydrogenase-independent pathway.     

Lipid composition and metabolism in megakaryocytes at different stages of maturation

The lipid composition and metabolism of isolated guinea pig megakaryocyte subgroups at various stages of maturation were investigated. Three groups were studied: 1) 67% of megakaryocytes in Group A were immature; 2) Group B was heterogeneous and contained both immature and mature subgroups of megakaryocytes; 3) 92% of megakaryocytes in Group C were mature. Lipid composition was determined by thin-layer chromatography, lipid-phosphorus, and gas-liquid chromatography. Cholesterol, ceramide, and de novo fatty acid synthesis were evaluated with [14C]acetate. [14C]Glycerol was used to assess de novo phospholipid synthesis. 14C-Labeled fatty acids were used to evaluate fatty acid uptake. The phospholipid and cholesterol content was found to be four times greater in mature megakaryocytes than that in immature megakaryocytes, which paralleled the protein content and volume of mature and immature cells. The cholesterol-phospholipid ratio was similar and there were no differences in the phospholipid species in the three groups. Phospholipid and cholesterol synthesis were established in immature megakaryocytes and persisted at about the same level in mature megakaryocytes. The uptake of arachidonic and palmitic acids also occurred primarily in immature cells, while the de novo synthesis of palmitic acid occurs predominantly in mature megakaryocytes. There was an inverse relationship between the uptake of exogenous palmitic acid and fatty acid synthesis, but the uptake of palmitic acid primarily inhibited fatty acid synthesis in mature megakaryocytes. There were differences in the acylation of phospholipid species with arachidonic acid in megakaryocytes at different stages of maturation since the acylation of phosphatidylcholine occurred primarily in immature megakaryocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

On the theoretical and experimental modeling of initial stages of metabolism formation in prebiotic systems

A concept of the initial stages of chemical prebiotic evolution, which eliminates a number of difficulties in the problem of the origin of life and permits experimental verification, is proposed. According to this concept, a predecessor of living beings has to be sufficiently simple to allow its self-assembly during a geologically short time period. In addition, the predecessor has to possess autocatalytic properties, and an ability for further complication (evolution). A possible scenario of the initial steps of the origin of life in nature and inside an experimental facility is considered. In the scope of the scenario the model of a multivariant oligomeric autocatalyst coupled with phase-separated particles is described. Results of computational simulations of possible initial steps in chemical evolution are presented. The estimates obtained show that the emergence of autocatalytic oligomeric phase-separated systems is possible at reasonable values of kinetics parameters of involved chemical reactions in a small-scale flow reactor.     

普甜玉米种子萌发期糖代谢和水解酶活性动态变化

种子萌发是一个较复杂的生理生化过程,是种子贮藏物质在酶的作用下经过一系列反应生成蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖等各种糖类化合物,为种子萌发提供碳源和能量。该研究利用两个不同来源、籽粒营养成分具有差异的普甜玉米种子动态分析了种子萌发期蔗糖、果糖和葡萄糖代谢及关键水解酶活性的变化。结果表明:在种子萌发过程中,E22和T26两个普甜玉米种子的物质动员量、物质利用率、蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖含量均存在遗传差异,其中淀粉含量较高的T26种子具有较突出的物质利用率,表明淀粉是影响普通甜玉米种子萌发的关键因子;在种子萌发4~8 d、6~10 d时,E22分别具有较高的蔗糖和葡萄糖含量,而T26是在萌发10 d时具有较高的果糖含量。随着种子发芽进程,蔗糖合成酶活性、淀粉酶活性都呈逐渐上升的趋势,但淀粉酶活性变幅较明显;进一步关联分析8个种子萌发物质利用性状间关系,结果表明种子萌发期间,种子物质动员量主要受淀粉酶活性影响,而种子物质利用率则主要受糖含量多少制约。因此,提高甜玉米种子萌发期物质利用率对其种子发芽和幼苗生长,增强其与杂草生长的竞争力,提高甜玉米产量均具有重要意义。     

网隙裂粉韧革菌不同生长时期转录组分析

网隙裂粉韧革菌Amylostereum areolatum是松树蜂Sirex noctilio携带并传播的共生真菌,与松树蜂之间存在严格的互利共生关系,其正常生长发育是松树蜂完成生活史的关键因子之一。为研究该共生菌生长发育的相关机制,我们对共生菌菌丝最大生长速率前期（7d）和后期（12d）样本进行转录组测序,在转录水平上分析差异表达基因在共生菌生长发育中的功能。结果显示,两个不同生长时期共有差异基因2 425个,其中在共生菌最大生长速率前期样本中上调的基因有946个,下调的有1 479个。Nr注释和GO功能富集分析结果表明,共生菌最大生长速率前期的差异表达基因主要与碳水化合物代谢、蛋白质合成以及水解酶活性相关。Pathway富集分析表明,差异表达基因显著富集在糖酵解/糖异生代谢通路上,并且这些基因在共生菌最大生长速率前期的样本中显著上调,表明其可能在网隙裂粉韧革菌的生长发育中发挥重要作用。通过分析两个不同生长时期共生菌基因的表达情况,挖掘参与共生菌生长发育的关键基因,旨在为探索松树蜂与其共生菌的互利共生机制提供理论基础。     

双孢蘑菇子实体不同发育时期的转录组分析

双孢蘑菇是世界第一大宗栽培食用菌,具有重要经济价值。为探讨双孢蘑菇子实体不同发育时期基因表达变化,利用高通量测序技术对双孢蘑菇原基期、采收期和开伞后期等不同发育时期进行RNA‐Seq分析,共筛选到6 328个差异表达基因,其中3 941个上调基因,2 387个下调基因。Gene Ontology(GO)功能聚类分析表明,差异表达基因主要富集在结合、催化分子功能组和代谢过程生物学通路中,且发育过程和有性繁殖相关的基因全部为上调表达,以利于细胞分化发育形成成熟子实体进入生殖生长阶段。KEGG功能富集分析结果表明,差异基因参与了氨基酸代谢、碳水化合物代谢、核苷酸代谢、脂类代谢和能量代谢这五大代谢通路,其中差异基因主要富集在氨基酸代谢通路中,氨基酸合成相关的多数基因上调表达,表明双孢蘑菇子实体发育形成需要一系列代谢反应协同调控,氨基酸代谢相关基因可能在双孢蘑菇子实体发育过程中起重要作用。本文通过全面分析双孢蘑菇子实体发育时期基因表达变化,获得了大量转录本信息,为深入了解双孢蘑菇子实体发育调控分子机理和相关功能基因提供了重要的基因数据资源。     

Gas exchange and leaf metabolism of irrigated maize at different growth stages

Abstract

Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), leaf gas exchange and biochemical traits were investigated in an irrigated maize crop grown under Mediterranean conditions. Sub-optimal irrigation water supply determined a drought stress during the early vegetative growth stage (45–49 days after swing) that decreased NEE. Drought, in the late vegetative stage, also caused a reduction of leaf gas exchange. In the latter period, proline, glycine and serine, as well as sucrose leaf contents increased, while starch, proteins and glucose contents decreased. In the early reproductive stage, the crop experienced a longer dry spell that induced a reduction in canopy as well as in leaf gas exchanges, while protein and free amino acid contents decreased with respect to the late vegetative stage. Both ecophysiological and biochemical data demonstrate a good capacity of cultivar Pioneer PR32D99 to endure the environmental stress, related to Mediterranean summer drought, leading to an elevated dry matter yield at harvest. Photosynthetic apparatus appeared fairly resistant to soil water shortage due likely to the increased leaf content of organic solutes, such as amino acids and soluble sugars.     

Transitional changes in arachidonic acid metabolism by bovine embryos at different developmental stages

In order to determine the profile of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites synthesized by bovine embryos during early developmental stages, embryos collected from superovulated beef cattle (days 6 through 17) were incubated with AA and its metabolites were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Embryos harvested and cultured before day 12 of the estrous cycle metabolized AA primarily to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), whereas, those harvested on day 13 of the cycle metabolized AA to both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. Furthermore, embryos collected after day 15 of the cycle metabolized AA to PGI2 in addition to PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. In view of the luteotropic properties that have been attributed to PGE2 and the vasodilatory effect of PGI2, this transitional change in prostaglandin synthesis during early stages of embryonic development may be a part of the mechanism by which the embryo exerts a luteotropic effect leading to maternal recognition of pregnancy and by which the conceptus begins preparing for subsequent implantation.     

Computerized analysis of chemotaxis at different stages of bacterial growth

Chemotactic behavior as a function of growth stage in an Escherichia coli strain commonly used for chemotaxis studies was characterized using computerized image analysis. The response and adaptation to saturating, step-like additions of the attractant L-aspartate were measured. Steady-state average tumbling frequency and adaptation time increased nearly twofold during logarithmic phase. In contrast, precision of adaptation, P, defined as the ratio between steady-state tumbling frequencies in the presence and absence of attractant, appeared to be constant throughout growth (P = 1.0 +/- 0.2). The variation of tumble duration over growth was consistent with a hydrodynamic mechanism for tumble termination.     

Purine nucleoside metabolizing enzyme activities in mouse thymocytes at different stages of differentiation and maturation

The activities of the enzymes involved in purine nucleoside metabolism, adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenosine kinase (AK), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and deoxycytidine kinase (deoxyCRK), were determined in mouse thymocytes at various stages of differentiation and maturation, and compared with those in other tissues. The thymocytes were characterized by high ADA and deoxyCRK activities with high ADA/AK and ADA/PNP ratios and low PNP/deoxyCRK ratio. In fetal thymocytes of 16 gestational days, ADA activity was lower, and PNP, AK and deoxyCRK activities were higher than those in the adult thymocytes. During differentiation of fetal thymocytes, ADA activity increased while PNP and AK activities decreased. DeoxyCRK activity decreased after birth. In spleen T lymphocytes, ADA and deoxyCRK activities were lower and PNP activity was about 2.5-fold higher than in the thymocytes. Thus the differentiation stages of T lymphocytes may be characterized by the absolute levels and the ratios of these enzymes.     

Functioning of opisthorchiasis-tuberculosis parasitocenosis at different stages of invasion (experimental investigation)

In experiments on golden hamsters the mutual influence of the co-members of opisthorchiasis-tuberculosis parasitocenosis has been established. This mutual influence depends on the stage of invasion and the state of the immune reactivity of the host. After additional immunization of the experimental animals with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) parasitocenosis formed special immune response different from those observed in both opisthorchiasis and tuberculosis. In cases of mixed pathology (opisthorchiasis-tuberculosis), reproduced at the acute stage of invasion, additional body reserves are seemingly switched on, thus leading the immunity system to increased functioning with respect to specific and heterologous antigens. In the chronization of invasion a decreased formation of antibodies to heterologous antigens (SRBC) together with a simultaneous decreased level of specific antiopisthorchiasis and antituberculosis immune response suggest that the reserve capacities of the host immune system, especially of humoral factors, are exhausted.     

Activity of root systems of six plant species at different stages of development

Summary A number of data on root performance of six different crop species during development were measured. The plants wre cultivated in nutrient solution. Normal plant requirements were in the range of 4 mg O₂ per g dry root per hour, 0.2–4μg K per cm² total root surface per hour,² 0.2–2μg NO₃ per om² total root surface per hour. An attempt was made to establish a ratio between forced water entry and total root surface as a measure of functional root surface. The indication is that the relative surface of permeable root remains dominant during the phase of exponential growth and declines thereafter. The data collected are considered to be representative of normal requirements. They compare well with results published in the literature.     

巴氏蘑菇子实体不同发育阶段的转录组分析

为探讨巴氏蘑菇子实体不同发育阶段基因的表达情况,本研究对巴氏蘑菇子实体不同发育时期（原基、采收期和开伞期）进行转录组测序,以本实验室已获得的巴氏蘑菇JA菌株的不育单孢菌株JA-15036基因组为参考基因组研究原基与采收期及开伞期样本间差异表达基因,并对差异表达基因进行了GO功能和Pathway富集分析。GO功能分析结果显示,差异表达基因主要富集在跨膜转运、碳水化合物代谢途径和膜组分,它们协同调控为子实体生长发育提供稳定的内环境。KEGG富集分析结果表明,原基期上调的差异表达基因主要富集在核糖体蛋白和DNA复制,表明原基期细胞代谢旺盛,其中核糖体蛋白基因上调为后期蛋白质合成提供重要场所;采收期和开伞期子实体时期差异表达基因主要富集在碳水化合物代谢、脂肪酸降解和氨基酸代谢等途径,为巴氏蘑菇子实体的生长发育与成熟提供营养与能量。