Some high-performance liquid-chromatographic studies of the metabolism of aflatoxins by rat liver microsomal preparations.

The metabolism of aflatoxin B1 in vitro was examined in rat liver microsomal preparations. 2. H.p.l.c. (high-performance liquid-chromatographic) systems were used. A silica column was used to separate non-polar metabolites. A system utilizing a reversed-phase column which separates both poar and non-polar metabolites was also developed. 3. The principal metabolites of aflatoxin B1 found were aflatoxin M1, aflatoxin Q1 and a compound which co-chromatographed with a degradation product of aflatoxin B1 2,3-dihydrodiol. 4. The time course of metabolism of aflatoxin B1 by microsomal preparations isolated from control and phenobarbitone-pretreated rats was examined. The rate and extent of metabolism was greater with microsomal preparations from the latter. The formation of aflatoxin Q1 was enhanced 4--5-fold by phenobarbitone pretreatment, whereas the production of aflatoxin M1 was only increased 1--2-fold. The formation of the degradation product of aflatoxin B1 2,3-dihydrodiol was increased 4--5-fold by the pretreatment with phenobarbitone. 5. The microsomal metabolism of aflatoxins M1, P1 and Q1 was examined. Aflatoxin M1 apparently underwent very limited microsomal metabolism to more polar compounds. Aflatoxin P1 was not metabolized. The situation with aflatoxin Q1 was complicated in that it was metabolized in the absence of NADPH to an unidentified metabolite. Aflatoxin B1 appeared as a metabolite of aflatoxin Q1 only when NADPH was present, and the formation of more polar metabolites was also then observed.     

Structural features of the first component of human complement, C1, as revealed by surface iodination.

Lactoperoxidase-catalysed surface iodination and sucrose-gradient ultracentrifugation were used to investigate the structure of human complement component C1. 1. Proenzymic subcomponents C1r and C1s associated to form a trimeric C1r2-C1s complex (7.6 S) in the presence of EDTA, and a tetrameric Clr2-C1s2 complex (9.1 S) in the presence of Ca2+. Iodination of the 9.1 S complex led to a predominant labelling of C1r (70%) over C1s (30%), essentially located in the b-chain moiety of C1r and in the a-chain moiety of C1s. 2. Reconstruction of proenzymic soluble C1 (15.2 S) from C1q, C1r and C1s was partially inhibited when C1s labelled in its monomeric form was used and almost abolished when iodinated C1r was used. Reconstruction of fully activated C1 was not possible, whereas hybrid C1q-C1r2-C1s2 complex was obtained. 3. Iodination of proenzymic or activated C1 bound to IgG-ovalbumin aggregates led to an equal distribution of the radioactivity between C1q and C1r2-C1s2. With regard to C1q, the label distribution between the three chains was similar whether C1 was in its proenzymic or activated form. Label distribution in the C1r2-C1s2 moiety of C1 was the same as that obtained for isolated C1r2-C1s2, and this was also true for the corresponding activated components. However, two different labelling patterns were found, corresponding to the proenzyme and the activated states.     

Antibody-independent activation of C1. I. Differences in the mechanism of C1 activation by nonimmune activators and by immune complexes: C1r-independent activation of C1s by cardiolipin vesicles

C1 activation is controlled by the regulatory protein C1-inhibitor (C1-INH). In contrast to immune-complex-induced activation, which is insensitive to C1-INH, antibody-independent activation of C1 is modulated by C1-INH. The mechanisms regulating nonimmune activation were studied with two phospholipids varying in their capacity to activate C1 in the presence of C1-INH: cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Whereas C1-INH consistently suppressed activation by PG vesicles, a dose-dependent increase in C1 activation was measured with CL vesicles above 40 mole %. A similar dose-response binding of C1s requiring C1q, but not C1r, was detected only on CL vesicles, but neither on PG vesicles nor on immune complexes. This binding was Ca2+-dependent, suggesting that dimeric C1s is involved and was inhibited by spermine. The C1q-bound C1s was specifically cleaved at 37 degrees C into its active 58 kDa and 28 kDa chains, in the absence of C1r. On the addition of anti-CL antibodies, the C1q-mediated cleavage of C1s by CL vesicles was specifically inhibited. The cleavage of C1r on CL vesicles was also determined. When macromolecular C1 was offered in the presence of C1-INH, C1r cleavage was detected; however, the presence of C1s was a critical factor for C1r activation, because it was required on CL vesicles, but not on immune complexes. These results show that nonimmune activation of C1 presents specific features which distinguish it from immune complex-induced activation. These characteristics varied with the capacity of antibody-independent activators to activate C1 in the presence of C1-INH.     

Shift of binding site at the interface between actin and myosin

The molar ratio dependent change in the binding manner between actin and the lysine-rich sequence at the junction between 50K and 20K domains of subfragment 1 was studied by both protease digestion and cross-linking with 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide. The tryptic cleavage site at the function between 50K and 20K was found to be located between the third and fourth lysine residues in the lysine-rich sequence -KKGGKKK-. This site was not protected by actin when the molar ratio of actin to subfragment 1 was 1:1 but was protected at 2:1 and 3:1. The V8 protease cleavage site of chicken subfragment 1 and the elastase cleavage site of rabbit subfragment 1 were found to be located four residues away from the N-terminus of the lysine-rich sequence. Unlike the tryptic cleavage site, this site was protected by actin more when the molar ratio of actin to subfragment 1 was 1:1 than when it was 2:1 and 3:1. To understand the reason for the opposite effect of the molar ratio observed at the middle of and at four residues away from the lysine-rich sequence, actual cross-linked residue(s) was (were) determined by subjecting cross-linked product to a protein sequencer. It was found that the cross-linked sites were mainly at the first and second lysine residues of the lysine-rich sequence when the molar ratio of actin to subfragment 1 was 1:1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Establishment of Salmonella strain expressing catalytically active human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)

Human uridinediphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) was expressed in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535 cells by transfection of the cells with plasmids carrying the UGT1A1 cDNA. UGT1A1 cDNA was isolated by a polymerase chain reaction from human liver total RNA and was inserted into the pSE420 plasmid, linked to the trc promoter and terminator. The plasmid thus constructed was introduced into Salmonella TA1535 cells. The expression of human UGT1A1 protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The maximal expression was observed at 24 h after the addition of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside, an inducer. However, the bilirubin conjugation activity of the membrane fraction from the Salmonella cells was not detectable. When a beta-glucuronidase inhibitor such as saccharic acid 1,4-lactone, glycyrrhizin or 1-naphtyl-beta-D-glucuronide was added to the reaction mixture, the bilirubin conjugation activity of the human UGT1A1 was detected. When geniposide was added to the reaction mixture, the bilirubin conjugation activity of UGT1A1 was not seen. Taking these results into account, the established Salmonella strain possesses the beta-glucuronidase activity. Since the beta-glucuronidase activity of the Salmonella was lower than that of E. coli, it was concluded that Salmonella seemed to be a good host to express UGT protein. This is the first study to demonstrate the establishment of a bacterial strain expressing native human UGT protein showing catalytic activity.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS1基因在昆虫细胞中的表达

将H5N1亚型禽流感病毒（AIV）NS1基因插入到杆状病毒转移载体pFastBac1中,获得重组转移载体pFastBac1- NS1。将pFastBac1- NS1转化到DH10Bac感受态细胞中,筛选到重组转座子rBacmid-NS1。在脂质体转染试剂介导下将rBacmid-NS1转染对数生长期的Sf9昆虫细胞获得重组杆状病毒rBV-NS1。rBV-NS1感染Sf9细胞后,通过SDS-PAGE、Western blot和ELISA分析表明：获得了分子量为26ku的特异性NS1蛋白;并且该蛋白可与H5N1 AIV攻毒鸭的血清发生特异性免疫反应,而不能与H5N1AIV灭活疫苗免疫鸭的血清发生反应。试验结果表明：NS1在Sf9昆虫细胞中获得了高效表达,具有与天然蛋白相似的免疫活性,并可以作为区分免疫及自然感染个体的鉴别诊断抗原。本实验为建立禽流感病毒自然感染家禽与禽流感灭活苗免疫家禽的鉴别诊断方法奠定基础。     

Characterization of the function of the ver-1A and ver-1B genes, involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus.

The ver-1A gene was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined as part of a previous study on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) biosynthesis in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus parasiticus SU-1. A second copy of this gene, ver-1B, was tentatively identified in this fungal strain. In this study, ver-1B was cloned by screening an A. parasiticus cosmid library with a ver-1A probe. The nucleotide sequence of ver-1B was determined. The predicted amino acid sequence of ver-1B had 95% identity with ver-1A. A translational stop codon, found in the ver-1B gene coding region, indicated that it encodes a truncated polypeptide. To confirm the function of the ver-1 genes in AFB1 synthesis, a plasmid (pDV-VA) was designed to disrupt ver-1A and/or ver-1B by transformation of the AFB1 producer A. parasiticus NR-1. One disruptant, VAD-102, which accumulated the pathway intermediate versicolorin A was obtained. Southern hybridization analysis of VAD-102 revealed that ver-1A but not ver-1B was disrupted. A functional ver-1A gene was transformed back into strain VAD-102. Transformants which received ver-1A produced AFB1, confirming that ver-1A is the only functional ver-1 gene in A. parasiticus SU-1 and that its gene product is involved in the conversion of versicolorin A to sterigmatocystin in AFB1 biosynthesis. A duplicated chromosomal region (approximately 12 kb) was identified upstream from ver-1A and ver-1B by Southern hybridization analysis. This duplicated region contained the aflR gene, which is proposed to be one regulator of AFB1, synthesis. A similar gene duplication was also identified in several other strains of A. parasiticus.     

Kinetics of p-cresol degradation by an immobilized Pseudomonas sp.

A p-cresol (PCR)-degrading Pseudomonas sp. was isolated from creosote-contaminated soil and shown to degrade PCR by conversion to protocatechuate via p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (PBA) and p-hydroxybenzoate (PHB). Cells of the Pseudomonas sp. were immobilized in calcium alginate beads and in polyurethane foam. The relationship between the PCR concentration and the PCR transformation rate was investigated in batch and continuous culture bioreactors. The biodegradation kinetics of PBA and PHB also were investigated. In batch culture reactors, the maximum PCR degradation rate (Vmax) for the alginate-immobilized Pseudomonas sp. cells was 1.5 mg of PCR g of bead-1 h-1 while the saturation constant (Ks) was 0.22 mM. For PHB degradation, the Vmax was 0.62 mg of PHB g of bead-1 h-1 while the Ks was 0.31 mM. For polyurethane-immobilized Pseudomonas sp. cells, the Vmax of PCR degradation was 0.80 mg of PCR g of foam-1 h-1 while the Ks was 0.28 mM. For PHB degradation, the Vmax was 0.21 mg of PHB g of foam-1 h-1 and the Ks was 0.22 mM. In a continuous column alginate bead reactor, the Vmax for PCR transformation was 2.6 mg g of bead-1 h-1 while the Ks was 0.20 mM. The Vmax and Ks for PBA transformation in the presence of PCR were 0.93 mg g of bead-1 h-1 and 0.063 mM, respectively. When PHB alone was added to a reactor, the Vmax was 1.48 mg g of bead-1 h-1 and the Ks was 0.32 mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Kinetics of p-cresol degradation by an immobilized Pseudomonas sp

A p-cresol (PCR)-degrading Pseudomonas sp. was isolated from creosote-contaminated soil and shown to degrade PCR by conversion to protocatechuate via p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (PBA) and p-hydroxybenzoate (PHB). Cells of the Pseudomonas sp. were immobilized in calcium alginate beads and in polyurethane foam. The relationship between the PCR concentration and the PCR transformation rate was investigated in batch and continuous culture bioreactors. The biodegradation kinetics of PBA and PHB also were investigated. In batch culture reactors, the maximum PCR degradation rate (Vmax) for the alginate-immobilized Pseudomonas sp. cells was 1.5 mg of PCR g of bead-1 h-1 while the saturation constant (Ks) was 0.22 mM. For PHB degradation, the Vmax was 0.62 mg of PHB g of bead-1 h-1 while the Ks was 0.31 mM. For polyurethane-immobilized Pseudomonas sp. cells, the Vmax of PCR degradation was 0.80 mg of PCR g of foam-1 h-1 while the Ks was 0.28 mM. For PHB degradation, the Vmax was 0.21 mg of PHB g of foam-1 h-1 and the Ks was 0.22 mM. In a continuous column alginate bead reactor, the Vmax for PCR transformation was 2.6 mg g of bead-1 h-1 while the Ks was 0.20 mM. The Vmax and Ks for PBA transformation in the presence of PCR were 0.93 mg g of bead-1 h-1 and 0.063 mM, respectively. When PHB alone was added to a reactor, the Vmax was 1.48 mg g of bead-1 h-1 and the Ks was 0.32 mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A dominant mutation that alters the regulation of INO1 expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A dominant, single nuclear gene mutation, CSE1, caused inositol auxotrophy in yeast cells. The inositol requirement was marked when choline was present in the medium. Inositol-1-phosphate synthase, the regulatory enzyme of inositol synthesis, is repressed by inositol, or more profoundly by a combination of inositol and choline in the wild type. In CSE1, the level of inositol-1-phosphate synthase was low and was greatly repressed on the addition of choline alone. In accordance with this, INO1 mRNA encoding the enzyme was low even under the depressed conditions and was profoundly decreased by choline in CSE1. But in the wild type, the addition of choline alone had little effect. An INO1-lacZ fusion was constructed and the control of the INO1 promoter in CSE1 was studied. lacZ expression was repressed not only by inositol, but also by choline in CSE1, whereas it was repressed by inositol, but only slightly by choline in the wild type. CSE1 was unlinked to the INO1 structural gene. Thus CSE1 was thought to be a regulatory mutation. Furthermore, when the CDP-choline pathway was mutationally blocked, choline did not affect INO1 expression, indicating that the metabolism of choline via the CDP-choline pathway is required for INO1 repression.     

盐穗木HcDMC1的原核表达和抗血清的制备

DMC1是减数分裂过程中同源染色体配对和重组修复所必需的减数分裂特异蛋白。根据盐胁迫下盐穗木转录组数据库,克隆获得的盐穗木DNA损伤修复基因命名为HcDMC1。为深入分析盐穗木HcDMC1基因的耐盐功能,通过原核表达获得盐穗木HcDMC1的融合蛋白,用于免疫小鼠制备特异性的HcDMC1抗血清。结果表明,利用pET30a-HcDMC1能够在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中诱导表达融合蛋白His-HcDMC1,纯化融合蛋白His-HcDMC1的含量为1.0 mg·mL^-1。每次每只小鼠免疫接种50 μg融合蛋白,三次免疫接种后进行抗体效价及特异性检测。ELISA检测抗血清滴度约为1：400 000,Western Blot检测证明了抗血清的特异性。本研究制备的小鼠抗血清能够为盐穗木HcDMC1蛋白的功能鉴定和免疫检测提供实验材料。     

Heat production, blood flow, O2 uptake and CO2 output in the secretary process of the dog submandibular gland (author's transl)

1. Under normal circulation of the dog submandibular gland, the electrical stimulation induced a massive salivary secretion (about 0.35 ml . min-1.g-1 gland weight) and an increase in the glandular temperature (about 0.2 degrees C). The heat production was calculated of about 60 mW.g-1. 2. Clamping of the glandular artery made both of secretion and heat production to be transient. The early peak of secretion was about 0.12 ml.min-1.g and that of heat production was 7 approximately 10mW,g-1. Then each 1 ml secretion followed about 4.6 J heat production. 3. Under constant blood flow in the glandular circulation, the secretory process was divided clearly into 2 phases of peak and plateau. The glandular temperature increased about 0.12 degrees C with an early temperature drop. In the secretory plateau phase, the secretary rate was about 0.043 ml.min-1.g-1, the heat production was about 5 approximately 7 mW.g-1 and each 1 ml secretion caused about 8.2 J heat production. 4. The rate of oxygen uptake was about 20.9 microl.min-1g-1 at the resting state. The maximum during secretion was about 192 microliter.min-1.g-1. THe half time of the recovery process of O2 uptake tended slightly longer than that of heat production. 5. THe rate of CO2 output was about 21.8 microliter.min-1.g-1 at resting. The maximum during secretion was about 142 microliter.min-1.g-1 R. Q. were about 1 at resting and about 0.74 under secretion.     

Differential distribution of major gangliosides in rat central nervous system detected by specific monoclonal antibodies

We investigated the localization of major gangliosides in adultrat brain by an immunofluorescence technique with mouse monoclonalantibodies (MAbs). Five MAbs (GMB16, GMR17, GGR12, GMR5 andGMR13) that specifically recognize gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GD1b,GT1b and GQ1b, respectively, were used. We have found that thereis a cell type-specific expression of the ganglioside in therat central nervous system. In cerebellar cortex, GM1 was expressedin myelin and some glial cells. GD1a was detected exclusivelyin the molecular layer. GD1b and GQ1b were present restrictedlyon the granular layer; GD1b was detected on the surface of thegranular cell bodies, whereas GQ1b was present in the cerebellarglomerulus. GT1b was distributed intensely in both the molecularlayer and the granular layer. In cerebral cortex, GM1 was detectedin some glial cells. Dense staining was limited to the whitematter. GD1a was distributed in layers I, II/III and Va, andthe upper part of layer VI, whereas GQ1b was localized in layersIV and Vb, and the lower part of layer VI. GD1b was detectedbeneath layer III. GT1b appeared to be distributed throughoutall layers. In other regions, such as hippocampal formationand spinal cord, the expression of the ganglioside was alsohighly localized to a specific cell type and layer. ganglioside monoclonal antibody rat brain     

重组胸腺素α1 pMAL-C2x-Tα1/TB1工程菌的构建与表达

目的构建表达重组胸腺素α1（Tα1）的pMAL-C2x-Tα1/TB1工程菌。方法将人工合成的Tα1序列进行PCR扩增,将扩增的片段和pMAL-C2x质粒载体分别经BamHI和EcoR I双酶切后,用T4 DNA快速连接酶连接构建pMAL-C2x-Tα1融合表达质粒,再经测序正确后,将重组体转化至大肠埃希菌TB1菌中,pMAL-C2x-Tα1/TB1菌在LB液体培养基中培养,经IPTG诱导表达麦芽糖结合蛋白与Tα1的融合蛋白（MBP-Tα1）,采用Westernblot对MBP-Tα1进行鉴定。结果 pMAL-C2x-Tα1/TB1工程菌能有效表达MBP-Tα1,融合蛋白占菌体蛋白的33.6%,分子量约为45×103。结论工程菌的成功构建和表达为重组Tα1的纯化、生物学活性等研究奠定了基础。     

新异养硝化菌Colloidessp. JZ1-1的鉴定及其硝化性能

从驯化后的活性污泥中筛分、诱变出一株性能较好的异养硝化菌JZ1-1.经形态及生理生化特性分析,鉴定菌株JZ1-1为胶样菌属(Colloides sp.).分别考察了碳源、C/N、pH、溶解氧、温度和铵态氮初始浓度对JZ1-1硝化性能的影响.结果表明: 菌株对柠檬酸钠的利用较好;C/N为10～14、30 ℃、pH 6-9和转速150 r·min^-1以上有利于铵态氮的降解;菌株对中高浓度铵态氮废水（100 mg·L^-1≤铵态氮浓度≤500 mg·L^-1）的降解效果显著.经5次继代培养,菌株的稳定性较好.     

Role of the Mf1-1 pheromone precursor gene of the filamentous ascomycete Cryphonectria parasitica

Site-directed recombination was used to obtain a Cryphonectria parasitica strain carrying deletions at the Mf1-1 gene locus. Macroscopic features such as growth rate and conidia production were unaffected by Mf1-1 deletions, but, when a strain containing a complete deletion of Mf1-1 was used as spermatia it was male sterile. The same strain was fully competent as a female parent. Deletion of three of the seven putative pheromone peptide repeats within the gene had no effect on mating. Male fertility of the complete deletion strain was restored when an ectopic copy of the Mf1-1 gene was returned by transformation. Expression of the mating type specific pheromone precursor gene Mf1-1 was stimulated by growth in nutritionally poor liquid media. It was found that age and source of inoculum of liquid cultures influences pheromone precusor gene expression, i.e., conidia did not express Mf1-1 and cultures derived from conidia were significantly delayed in expression of this gene, as were cultures derived from young mycelium. Cultures inoculated with older hyphae, however, expressed Mf1-1 within 1 day after inoculation.