Theoretical study on primary reaction of photosynthetic bacteria

Theoretical calculation was carried out on the primary electron donor P_(870) of photosynthetic bacteria. The results show that: (ⅰ) the bimolecular structure of the primary electron donor is more advantageous in energy than monomolecular structure; (ⅱ) the initial configuration of primary electron donor is no longer stable and changes to the configuration with lower energy and chemical reactivity after the charge separation. In the P_(870), such structural change is completed through the rotation of C_3 acetyl, so the oxygen atom of acetyl interacts with the magnesium atom of another bacterio-chlorophyll molecule, and the total energy and chemical reactivity are reduced evidently. It is suggested that the structural change of the primary electron donor is important in preventing the occurrence of charge recombination during the primary reaction and maintaining the high efficiency of the conversion of sun-light to chemical energy. A new mechanism of primary reaction has been proposed, which can give r     

Preparation of polyclonal antibody specific for NOR1 and detection of its expression pattern in human tissues and nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Oxidored-nitro domain containing protein 1 （NORI） gene is a novel nitroreductase gene first isolated from nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC）. It plays an important role in the formation of chemical carcinogen and the carcinogenesis of NPC for its nitrosation function. Overexpression of the wild-type NOR1 gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells is effective to inhibit cell growth and proliferation. In this study, for the first time, we generated a highly specific NOR1 antibody and analyzed NOR1 distribution in the human tissues and NPC biopsies. The results showed that NOR1 protein is predominantly expressed in human nasopharynx and tracheal tissues. Human heart, liver, spleen, stomach, colon, kidney, skeletal muscle, thymus, and pancreas are all deficient of NOR1 protein. More importantly, we performed immunohistochemistry assay of NOR1 protein expression in the NPC tissues, and the result showed that NOR1 protein is frequently down-expressed in NPC. These data shed light on the selectivity of potential physiological functions of NOR1 and provides an indispensable reference to the carcinogenesis process of NPC and to identify or validate tissue-specific drug targets.     

FIRST SYNTHESIS OF A PROTEIN

<正>Chinese chemists have synthesized crystalline insulin,thereby achieving what has long been attempted with only partial success——the artificial production and purification of a complete active natural protein.It is a tour de force in fundamental chemical research,with no obvious technological application     

The Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infected Cell Protein 22

As one of the immediate-early(IE)proteins of herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1),ICP22 is a multifunctional viral regulator that localizes in the nucleus of infected cells.It is required in experimental animal systems and some nonhuman cell lines,but not in Vero or HEp-2 cells.ICP22 is extensively phosphorylated by viral and cellular kinases and nucleotidylylated by casein kinase Ⅱ.It has been shown to be required for efficient expression of early(E)genes and a subset of late(L)genes.ICP22,in conjunction wit...     

Instructions for Authors

Acta Theriologica Sinica is a Chinese mammalogy journal founded in 1981 with international interests. It is sponsored jointly by Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Mammalogical Society of China, It publishes quarterly and mainly on original research papers, scientific notes, and reviews of all fields of mammalogy.     

中国珊瑚枝属地衣的特殊种

Stereocaulon incrustatum, a new record in China, and St. massartianum and St. sorediiferum have several special chemical races, and the absence of atranorin in the genus is reported for the first time. Investigation results show that chemistry is not very important in taxonomy of the genus. Evolutionally, the cephalodia of St. incrustatum are possibly a transition characteristic from poorly developed cortex to protosacculate cephalodia.     

Instructions for Authors

Acta Theriologica Sinicu is a Chinese mammalogy joural founded in 1981 with intermational interests.It is sponsored jointly by Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,and Mammalogical Society of China,It publshes bimonthly and mainly on original research papers,scientifie notes,and reviews of all fields of mammalogy.     

Recent Advances in Biological Control of Pest Insects by Using Viruses in China

Insect viruses are attractive as biological control agents and could be a feasible alternative to chemical insecticides in the management of insect infestations. This review describes recent advances in the development of wild-type and genetically modified viruses as insecticides. A new strategy of application of insect viruses in China is reviewed. Also, the assessment of biosafety of genetically modified Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedovirus (HearNPV) is emphasized as a case-study.     

双酚A和壬基酚对隆线溞和微型裸腹溞的毒性

我们以隆线溞和微型裸腹溞为实验动物,进行了两种酚类内分泌干扰物双酚A（BPA）和壬基酚(NP)的毒性效应研究。急性实验测定出双酚A对隆线溞的24h和48h半数致死浓度（LC50）为：12.02mg/L和11.64mg/L,对微型裸腹溞24h和48h半数致死浓度LC50为：13.70mg/L和9.63mg/L。而壬基酚对隆线溞的24h和48h半数致死浓度（LC50）分别为：0.221mg/L和0.159mg/L,对微型裸腹溞的24h和48h半数致死浓度（LC50）分别为：0.334mg/L和0.126mg/L。实验表明微型裸腹溞对双酚A和壬基酚的敏感度高于隆线溞,能够很好的指示水环境的污染。慢性毒性实验发现双酚A对微型裸腹溞后代的雌雄比例有明显的影响,影响类似于hormesis现象。而壬基酚对隆线溞的慢性毒性研究发现,隆线溞的生活史、后代成活率均受到暴露的壬基酚浓度升高的不利影响。这些研究表明低浓度双酚A长期暴露的潜在毒性与高浓度壬基酚的急性毒性在这两种内分泌干扰物污染环境的研究中有重要意义。     

双酚A暴露对东亚三角涡虫急性毒性及神经酶的影响

旨在探讨双酚A (BPA)对东亚三角涡虫的急性毒性及神经系统相关酶活性的影响。采用不同浓度的BPA处理涡虫24 h、48 h、72 h,求出半致死浓度,以此为基础,采用不同浓度的BPA处理涡虫24 h、72 h、144 h,测定AchE、ChAT及Na+~K+^-ATP酶活性。BPA对三角涡虫的24 h、48 h、72 h,LC50分别为12.18 mg/L、8.49 mg/L、6.43 mg/L。ChE、ChAT、Na+~K+^-ATP酶活性对BPA反应敏感,具有较好的规律性。24 h处理组,AChE酶活力随BPA浓度的升高而升高,72 h和144 h处理组则呈现先上升后下降的趋势,除0.643 mgBPA/L以外,其它处理组均表现出了时间-效应关系;在BPA胁迫下,ChAT酶活力均呈现降低趋势,在BPA浓度为0.643 mg/L、1.286 mg/L时,表现出了时间-效应关系;24 h、72 h处理组Na+~K+^-ATP酶活力随BPA浓度升高呈现先上升后下降的趋势,144 h处理组则呈现下降趋势,Na+~K+^-ATP酶活力随BPA胁迫时间的延长呈现先升高后下降的趋势。BPA对涡虫具有较强的生态毒性,AchE、ChAT、Na+~K+^-ATP酶活性可与其他敏感指标一起作为水体BPA污染的早期监测指标。     

Oxygen requirements of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in embryo toxicity tests with environmental samples

The zebrafish embryo test is a widely used bioassay for the testing of chemicals, effluents and other types of environmental samples. Oxygen depletion in the testing of sediments and effluents is especially important and may be a confounding factor in the interpretation of apparent toxicity. In order to identify oxygen levels critical to early developmental stages of zebrafish, oxygen consumption of zebrafish embryos between 0 and 96h post-fertilization, minimum oxygen levels required by the embryos for survival as well as the effects of oxygen depletion following exposure to model sediments were determined. No significant effects on zebrafish embryo development were observed for oxygen concentrations between 7.15 and 3.33mg/L, whereas at concentrations between 3.0and 2.0mg/L minor developmental retardations were observed, yet without any pathological consequences. Oxygen concentrations lower than 0.88mg/L were 100% lethal. In the sediment contact tests with zebrafish embryos, native sediments rich in organic materials rapidly developed strongly hypoxic conditions, particularly at the sediment-water interface (0 to 500μm distance to the sediment).     

Daily rhythms of toxicity and effectiveness of anesthetics (MS222 and eugenol) in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Although the chronotoxicity of xenobiotics is relatively well known in mammals, the existence of daily rhythms of drug toxicity and effectiveness in fish has been neglected to date. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of the time (middle of the light phase [ML] versus middle of the dark phase [MD]) of exposure to two anesthetic substances (MS-222 or clove oil) commonly used with fish on the median lethal concentration (LC(50)) and swimming activity of zebrafish (Danio rerio). To this end, adult zebrafish were kept under a 12 h:12 h light-dark (LD) cycle and exposed to different concentrations of the anesthetics for 15 min at ML or MD. LC(50) calculations were performed using the Spearman-Karber program, whereas swimming activity was video-recorded and analyzed with specialized software. Zebrafish exhibited a mostly diurnal activity pattern (77.9% of activity occurring during daytime). The acute toxicity and mortality caused by MS-222 and eugenol varied with the time of exposure. For MS-222, the LC(50) was 170.6 ± 7.4 mg/L in fish exposed at ML and 215.6 ± 3.9 mg/L at MD, whereas for eugenol the LC(50) was 70.3 ± 3.1 mg/L at ML and 104.9 ± 5.4 mg/L at MD. Exposure to sublethal concentrations of MS-222 and eugenol altered the swimming patterns of zebrafish in a different manner depending on the time of exposure. Thus, the time required for decreasing swimming activity during exposure to anesthetics was shorter at ML than at MD, whereas the recovery period was longer during the day. In conclusion, these results revealed that the toxicity and effectiveness of both anesthetic substances is highest during daytime, the active phase of fish, thus suggesting a link between the daily rhythms of behavior and toxicity.     

氯丙嗪在斑马鱼胚胎和早期幼鱼发育过程中的神经毒性作用

目的 采用模式动物斑马鱼作为研究对象,观察氯丙嗪（chlorpromazine,CPZ）暴露对胚胎和幼鱼早期神经发育的影响.方法 在一般毒性评价的基础上,通过整体胚胎细胞凋亡检测和脑组织病理学检查,了解CPZ对神经发育的器质性改变;采用神经行为学方法,包括幼鱼触动逃避反应、自发运动以及惊恐逃避反射等,研究氯丙嗪暴露所致的神经发育功能性障碍.结果斑马鱼胚胎受精后6 h（6 hpf）～72 hpf暴露于CPZ（≥5 mg/L）可引起胚胎和幼鱼死亡、致畸和幼鱼孵化延迟,并呈浓度和时间依赖性;采用吖啶橙染色检测36 hpf整体胚胎凋亡细胞,发现凋亡细胞主要集中在胚胎中脑、后脑、丘脑以及中后脑连接区、脊索和尾部等处;脑组织病理学检测发现,7dpf幼鱼颅腔增大、脑体积减小、脑细胞缩小且细胞间隙增宽.6～72 hpf CPZ（≥0.0625 mg/L）暴露后,幼鱼神经行为学研究发现,CPZ（≥0.125 mg/L）可引起3dpf幼鱼触觉运动能力下降;CPZ（≥0 5 mg/L）可浓度依赖性地抑制幼鱼自发运动,并出现僵直不动、震颤或快速刻板式转圈运动等行为改变;光惊恐实验中,暗环境下各暴露组幼鱼对突发强光刺激均表现为惊跳逃避,并且暗-光交替期运动加速度变化与对照组无显著差异;在撤除光源后,1mg/L和2 mg/L暴露组幼鱼暗适应时程缩短,而0.125 mg/L和0.25 mg/L暴露组暗适应时程延长,提示CPZ对外界刺激引发的幼鱼活跃游动有抑制和促进双重毒性作用.结论 CPZ暴露对斑马鱼胚胎和幼鱼具有明显的神经发育毒性作用.模式动物斑马鱼作为一种高通量筛选模型在外源性化合物神经发育毒性评价中具有较好的应用前景.     

马兜铃水提液对斑马鱼胚胎的致畸作用和心脏毒性的研究

目的：探索马兜铃水提液对斑马鱼胚胎的致畸作用和心脏毒性.方法：分别用不同浓度的马兜铃水提液和马兜铃酸A（AA）处理斑马鱼胚胎,观察致畸作用和对心脏发育影响.结果：给药组的斑马鱼胚胎出现畸形和死亡;当水提液中AA含量为0.5 μg/mL时,胚胎心率明显减慢;AA含量为5μg/mL时,胚胎在24～48 hpf之间全部死亡;水提液的LC50为1.43 μg/mL.结论：与AA相比,马兜铃水提液对斑马鱼胚胎有着更强的致畸和心脏毒性,且毒性作用具有时间和浓度依赖性.     

PFOS对斑马鱼胚胎及仔鱼的生态毒理效应

全氟辛烷磺酸（Perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS）是一种广泛存在于水生生态系统的新型持久性有机污染物（Persistent Organic Pollutants, POPs）,其对鱼类健康的影响以及水生生态系统安全的潜在威胁是当前人们高度关注的水环境问题。为探究PFOS对斑马鱼（Danio rerio）胚胎及仔鱼的生态毒理效应,本文研究了不同浓度（0,0.1,1,10 mg/L）PFOS暴露对斑马鱼胚胎孵化率、仔鱼畸形率与死亡率、仔鱼心率、仔鱼运动行为以及生长的影响。结果表明：PFOS暴露对斑马鱼胚胎孵化率、孵出仔鱼死亡率与畸形率的影响显著（P﹤0.05）,10 mg/L PFOS暴露导致胚胎孵化率下降,孵化延迟,仔鱼死亡率与畸形率升高;PFOS暴露4 dpf（day post-fertilization,dpf）或8 dpf 对斑马鱼仔鱼心率影响显著（P﹤0.05）,心率随PFOS暴露浓度升高而增加;PFOS 暴露6 dpf 或9 dpf 对斑马鱼仔鱼的运动行为影响显著（P﹤0.05）,10 mg/L PFOS暴露6 dpf 导致运动斑马鱼仔鱼比例和仔鱼最大持续运动距离增加（P﹤0.05）,PFOS暴露9 dpf,单位时间内仔鱼的运动距离、停顿频率、平均每次运动距离随PFOS暴露浓度升高而减少（P﹤0.05）,最大持续运动距离随PFOS暴露浓度升高而增加（P﹤0.05）,呈剂量依赖的毒理学效应;PFOS暴露导致斑马鱼仔鱼体长和吻宽下降（P﹤0.05）或有下降的趋势,并对吻宽/体长、吻宽/头长影响显著（P﹤0.05）。以上研究结果提示：PFOS对斑马鱼胚胎及仔鱼具有显著的发育与行为毒性,仔鱼心率、运动行为、吻宽/体长以及吻宽/头长等是评估水体PFOS污染敏感而有效的生物标志物。     

Metabolism of bisphenol A in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in relation to estrogenic response

The kinetics of bisphenol A (BPA) were investigated in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to 100 microg BPA/l. BPA uptake was measured during a 7-day period followed by an elimination phase of similar duration. After 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 h of uptake/elimination, fish were analysed for their content of BPA, bisphenol A glucuronic acid (BPAGA) and bisphenol A sulfate (BPAS). Within the first 24 h steady state levels of BPA, BPAGA and BPAS were reached and the total body concentrations were calculated to be 569, 12,600 and 39.9 ng/g fish, respectively. Elimination rates of the three compounds in zebrafish were estimated by fitting the data to a compartment model. An initial rapid elimination phase was observed for BPA and BPAS with total body half lives (T(1/2)) of <1.1 h and 30 min, followed by a slower second elimination phase with T(1/2) values of 139 and 71 h, respectively. Excretion of BPAGA occurred from a single compartment with a T(1/2) of 35 h. The steady state concentration of BPA and its metabolites were investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to 100 microg BPA/l. The toxicokinetic parameters from zebrafish and rainbow trout were compared; including previously published data on the rainbow trout. The data indicate that the smaller estrogenic sensitivity observed for the zebrafish may be caused by a more rapid metabolism of BPA in the zebrafish liver.     

The Effects of Cobalt on the Development, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis in Zebrafish Embryos

Metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty has been performed with increasing frequency throughout the world, particularly in younger and more active patients, including women of childbearing age. The potential toxicity of cobalt exposure on fetus is concerned since cobalt ions generated by metal-on-metal bearings can traverse the placenta and be detected in fetal blood and amniotic fluid. This study examined the effects of cobalt exposure on early embryonic development and the mechanisms underlying its toxicity. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to a range of cobalt concentrations (0?C100?mg/L) between 1 and 144?h postfertilization. The survival and early development of embryos were not significantly affected by cobalt at concentrations <100???g/L. However, embryos exposed to higher concentrations (>100???g/L) displayed reduced survival rates and abnormal development, including delayed hatching, aberrant morphology, retarded growth, and bradycardia. Furthermore, this study examined oxidative stress and apoptosis in embryos exposed to cobalt at concentrations of 0?C500???g/L. Lipid peroxidation levels were increased in cobalt-treated embryos at concentrations of 100 and 500???g/L. The mRNA levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase 2, p53, caspase-3, and caspase-9 genes were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assays also revealed abnormal apoptotic signals in the brain, trunk, and tail when treated with 500???g/L cobalt. These data suggest that oxidative stress and apoptosis are associated with cobalt toxicity in zebrafish embryos.