BOOK REVIEWS

SALMON RANCHING. Edited by J. E. Thorpe.
GUIDE TO LIVING FISHES. J. E. Webb, J. A. Wallwork & J. H. Elgood.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
E thnology and E thnography : Das religioese Weltbild einer fruehen Kultur . A dolf E. J ensen .
E thnology and E thnography : Mythos una Kult bei den Naturvoelkern . A dolf E. J ensen .     

人抗E．Coli J5噬菌体抗体制备的初步研究

以E．Coli J5株对合人Ig基因的噬菌体抗体库进行淘筛富集,免疫印迹筛选,以及ELISA检测,结果获得4株能与E．Coli J5株结合的阳性克隆,且阳性克隆结合抗原的活性可分别被E．Coli J5株、E．Coli Rc-LPS和抗E．Coli J5株核心糖脂域MAb抑制．PCR检测表明,4株阳性克隆均分别带有约660bp大小的重链和轻链基因片段．SDS－PAGE与蛋白质印迹的结果显示,经IPTG诱导的阳性克隆能表达分子量约为50000大小的蛋白,提示该4株阳性克隆能够表达具有一定抗原结合活性的人源Fab片段．     

Interaction with proteoglycans enhances the sterol efflux produced by endogenous expression of macrophage apoE.

Endogenous expression of apolipoprotein (apo)E in macrophages facilitates cholesterol efflux in the presence and absence of extracellular sterol acceptors. A proteoglycan-associated pool of apoE has also been described. The relationship between a proteoglycan-associated pool of apoE and enhanced cholesterol efflux was investigated in these studies. Inhibition of proteoglycan expression reduced cholesterol efflux from apoE-expressing cells ( J774E(+)) in the presence and absence of HDL, but did not do so from nonexpressing cells ( J774E(-)). The effect of proteoglycan depletion on sterol efflux from J774E(+) cells was confirmed by measuring differences in cell sterol mass, secreted sterol mass, and sterol efflux rates. Furthermore, apoE-containing particles secreted from proteoglycan-depleted J774E(+) cells were denser than those secreted from J774E(+) cells with intact proteoglycan expression. Also, in J774E(+) cells with intact proteoglycans, apoE particles isolated from the cell surface proteoglycan layer were denser than secreted particles. The apoE-lipid particles isolated from the cell surface proteoglycan layer had a lower lipid-to-apoE and cholesterol-to-apoE ratio compared with secreted particles. In distinction, proteoglycan depletion of J774E(-) cells did not reduce sterol efflux produced by the exogenous addition of apoE. These observations indicate that one mechanism by which endogenous expression of apoE facilitates effective cholesterol efflux from macrophages is related to its retention at the cell surface in a proteoglycan-associated pool. Further, our data suggest that apoE arrives at the cell surface in a relatively lipid-poor state, and that a proximate source of lipid available to the proteoglycan-bound apoE at the cell surface resides in the plasma membrane.     

Reviews

Plant Genetic Resources of Ethiopia. By J. M. M. E ngels , J. G. H awkes and M elaku W orede
Compartmentation of Plant Metabolism in Nonphotosynthetic Tissues. Ed. by M. J. E mes     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
A Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and Ferns . By the late J. C. W illis . Seventh edition, revised by H. K. A iry S haw .
The Principles of Pollination Ecology . By K. F aegri and L. van D er P ijl .
Studies in Biology, No. 5, Plant Taxonomy . By V. H. H eywood .
Deadly Harvest . By J ohn M. K ingsbury .
Plant Physiology . By H enrik G. L undegardh . Translated by F. M. I rvine , Translation edited by W. O. J ames .
The Biology of Lichens . By M ason E. H ale J r . In: Contemporary Biology Series, General editors E. J. W. B arrington and A. J. W illis .
Plant Biology Today . Second edition. Ed. by W. A. J ensen and L. G. K avaljian .
Organisation in Plants . Second edition. By B. M. B aron .
Fortschritte der Botanik , Band 28. Ed. by E. B ünning , H. E llenberg , K. E sser , H. M erxmuller and P. S itte .
Taxonomy of Flowering Plants . Second edition. By C. L. P orter .
The Study of Biology . By J. J. W. B aker and G. E. A llen .
Experiments in the Study of Biology . By J. J. W. B aker , G. E. A llen , E. G age and S. K. W ebster .
Grundriss der Phytopathologie iind des Pflanzenschutzes . By H ans -A lfred K irchner .
Bibliography of Seeds . Compiled and edited by L. V. B arton .
Pollen Grains of Western Himalaxan Plants . By P. K. K. N air .
Families of Flowering Plants in Ethiopia . By W. C. B urger .     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article
Growth Regulators in Plant Science, Monograph 8. Ed. by M. B. J ackson , B. G rout and I. A. M ackenzie .
An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy. By C. J effrey .
Pest and Diseases of Tropical Crops , Vol. 1. By D. S. H ill and J. M. W aller .
Flora of Turkey , Vol. 7 ( Orobanchaceae to Ceratophyllaceae and Ruhiaceae ). Ed. by P. H. D avis , assisted by J. R. E dmondson , R. R. M ill and K. T an .
Plant Growth Curves. The Functional Approach to Plant Growth Analysis. By R oderick H unt .
Bryophyte Ecology. Ed. by A. J. E. S mith . Bryophyte Ecology. Ed. by A. J. E. S mith . Bryophyte Ecology. Ed. by A. J. E. S mith . Bryophyte Ecology. Ed. by A. J. E. S mith .
Forest Succession: concepts and application. Ed. by D. C. W est , M. H. S hugart and D. B otkin .     

Genetic background modulates the phenotype of a mouse model of DYT1 dystonia

DYT1 dystonia is a debilitating neurological disease characterized by involuntary twisting movements. The disease is caused by an in-frame deletion (GAG, "ΔE") mutation in the TOR1A gene that encodes the torsinA protein. Intriguingly, only 30% of mutation carriers exhibit motor symptoms despite the fact that functional brain imaging studies show abnormal brain metabolism in all carriers. Because genetic modifiers may be a determinant of this reduced penetrance, we examined the genetic contribution of three different inbred strains of mice on the DYT1 mutation in animals that are homozygous (Tor1a(ΔE/ΔE)) or heterozygous (Tor1a(ΔE/+); disease state) for the disease-causing ΔE mutation. We find that the DBA/2J, C57BL/6J, and CD1-ICR contribution of genes significantly alter lifespan in Tor1a(ΔE/ΔE) mice, which die during the first few days of life on the 129S6/SvEvTac (129) background. The C57BL/6J (B6) strain significantly decreases life expectancy of Tor1a(ΔE/ΔE) animals but, like 129S6/SvEvTac Tor1a(ΔE/+) mice, congenic C57BL/6J Tor1a(ΔE/+) mice do not exhibit any motor abnormalities. In contrast, the DBA/2J (D2) strain significantly increases life expectancy. This effect was not present in congenic DBA/2J Tor1a(ΔE/ΔE) mice, indicating that the extended lifespan of F2 129/D2 mice was due to a combination of homozygous and heterozygous allelic effects. Our observations suggest that genetic modifiers may alter the penetrance of the ΔE mutation, and that mapping these modifiers may provide fresh insight into the torsinA molecular pathway.     

Buchbesprechungen / Book Reviews

Book reviews in this article:
Vanderplank, J. E. , Host-Pathogen Interactions in Plant Disease.
Vanderplank, J. E. , Host-Pathogen Interactions in Plant Disease.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Australian Vegetation. (2nd edition) ed. R. H. Groves
Plant Resources of South East Asia Rattans, edited by J. Dransfield and N. Nanokaran
Plant Growth and Development. A Molecular Approach, by Donald E. Fosket
Potato Genetics, eds J. E. Bradshaw and G. R. Mackay
Alien Plants of the British Isles, by E. J. Clement and M. C. Foster     

Suppression of mutations conferring penicillin tolerance by interference with the stringent control mechanism of Escherichia coli.

Mutations in Escherichia coli previously reported (R. E. Harkness and E. E. Ishiguro, J. Bacteriol. 155:15-21, 1983; L. C. Shimmin, D. Vanderwel, R. E. Harkness, B. R. Currie, A. Galloway, and E. E. Ishiguro, J. Gen. Microbiol. 130:1315-1323, 1984) as conferring a temperature-dependent tolerance to lysis induced by inhibitors of peptidoglycan synthesis were suppressed by treatment with inhibitors of the stringent response or by introduction of a relA mutation. The relA+ derivatives of the mutants exhibited a stringent response at the nonpermissive temperature. The consequent inhibition of the autolytic enzyme system (W. Kusser and E. E. Ishiguro, J. Bacteriol. 164:861-865, 1985) was apparently responsible for the lysis-tolerant phenotypes of these mutants.     

Effects of estradiol and estradiol sulfamate on the uterus of ovariectomized or ovariectomized and hypophysectomized rats

Estradiol sulfamate (J995), estradiol-17beta with a substituted sulfamate group in position 3, has much higher systemic estrogenic activity after oral administration than 17beta-estradiol (E2) due to reduced hepatic metabolism of the drug. The lower dose necessary for achievement of adequate systemic estrogenic effects results in a substantial reduction of otherwise commonly observed hepatic side-effects. This makes J995 a strong candidate as an estrogen suitable for oral administration. The present study was performed to examine and compare the effects of J995 and E2 on the uterus after oral or subcutaneous administration to ovariectomized or ovariectomized+hypophysectomized female rats, in particular on the levels of the estrogen receptor (ER) (alpha+beta), ERalpha mRNA and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mRNA. The ER levels were determined using a ligand binding assay and the mRNA levels using solution hybridization. The doses of J995 or E2 were chosen to achieve comparable uterotrophic activity. The rats were treated with hormones for 7 days and the treatment was initiated 14 days after surgery. We conclude that there are no major differences in the uterine response to treatment with J995 or E2 with respect to the effects on ER and ERalpha mRNA levels. The IGF-I mRNA level though, is more affected by J995 than by E2 after 7 days of treatment, indicating a prolonged effect of J995.     

Effects of estradiol and estradiol sulfamate on the liver of ovariectomized or ovariectomized and hypophysectomized rats

This study was performed to evaluate and compare the effects of estradiol sulfamate (J995) and estradiol (E2) on the hepatic levels of the estrogen receptor (ER) and its mRNA, in ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX+hypophysectomized (OVXHX) female rats and to study the effects on the liver-derived serum compounds angiotensin I, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and cholesterol. ER concentrations were determined using ligand-binding assay (LBA) and enzyme immuno assay (EIA), and the mRNA levels using solution hybridization.

The rats were treated orally (p.o.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) for 7 days, with treatments initiated 14 days after surgery.

No differences were found in ER mRNA levels between J995 and E2 treated rats.

The s.c. administered estrogens increased ER levels in OVX rats. Addition of GH+DEX to OVXHX rats restored the ER to levels above those seen in intact rats, whereas simultaneous oral treatment with E2 significantly decreased ER levels again. The s.c. treatment with either J995 or E2 limited the increase caused by addition of GH+DEX.

After oral treatment angiotensin I levels were increased by E2, but not by J995, while triglycerides, HDL and cholesterol levels were decreased by oral E2, J995 showing a similar pattern but was less effective.

In summary, these results on hepatic ER levels and estrogen dependent compounds produced by the liver showed that J995 has a lower impact on the normal liver functions after oral treatment than E2. Thus, J995 is a very promising substance for development of oral estrogen treatment with reduced hepatic side effects.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Books reviewed in this article:
PHYSIOLOGY OF ELASMOBRANCH FISHES. Edited by T. J. Shuttleworth
FISH VACCINATION. Edited by A. E. Ellis
FISH POPULATION DYNAMICS, 2nd Edition. Edited by J. A. Gulland
ON LAMPREYS AND FISHES. Edited by Don E. McAllister and Edward Kott
SHARKS OF THE ORDER CARCHARHINIFORMES. By L. J. V. Compagno     

闽南-台湾浅滩渔场二长棘鲷群体集群行为宏观量化与分析

根据1998年7月到2000年6月闽南-台湾浅滩渔场开展二长棘鲷资源的专项调查资料, 计算出闽南-台湾浅滩渔场二长棘鲷的各月E值, 定量分析其集群行为变化规律。结果表明: 闽南-台湾浅滩二长棘鲷全年月平均E为7.4409108J, 生殖期间12月到翌年3月, 其月平均E 2.4949108J, 是全年月平均E的0.34倍, 鱼群集中; 4-5月, 幼鱼大量出现, 月平均E为4.556108J, 是全年月平均 的0.61倍, 鱼群相对集中; 主要索饵季节6-8月, 月平均E为1.3448109J, 是全年月平均 的1.81倍, 鱼群分散; 9-11月, E分别为1.435109、9.7409108、5.769108J, 分别是全年月平均 的1.93、1.31、0.78倍, 鱼群为适应水温和寻找产卵场, 在外移过程中逐渐集中。可见, 闽南-台湾浅滩二长棘鲷的生殖群体集群性最强, 其次是幼鱼群体、以适应水温和寻找产卵场为目的的群体, 而索饵群体分散。       

Effects of estrogens on cholinergic neurons in the rat basal nucleus

Estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women may help prevent or delay development of Alzheimer's disease. Because loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons with reductions in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) concentration are associated with Alzheimer's disease, we investigated the effect of estradiol (E(2)) and J 861, a non-feminizing estrogen, on cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. Ovariectomized rats received E(2), J 861 or vehicle, and basal forebrain sections through the substantia innominata, medial septum, and nucleus of the diagonal band were immunostained for ChAT. ChAT-immunoreactive cells in the basal forebrain were significantly reduced in the ovariectomized rats compared to intact rats, but those ovariectomized rats receiving estrogen replacement with E(2) and J 861 had near normal levels of ChAT-positive neurons. While retrograde tracing experiments with fluorogold injected into the prefrontal cortex showed no significant differences in the number of fluorogold-labeled cells among the groups, ChAT-immunoreactive cells and double-labeled cells were significantly lower in OVX rats than in intact and E(2) rats. Some substantia innominata cells in the J 861 rats were ChAT/estrogen receptor alpha-positive. These results suggest that E(2) and J 861 have positive effects on cholinergic neurons that project from the basal nucleus to the forebrain cortex.     

REVIEWS

Books reviewed in this article:
The Control of Growth and Differentiation in Plants. By P. F. W areing and I. D. J. P hillips .
The Cuticles of Plants. By J. T. M artin and B. E. J uniper .
Vegetationszonen und Klima. By H einrich W alter .
Tertiäre Floren von Mähren. By E. K nobloch .
Drawings of British Plants. Part XXVII. Ulmaceae to Pinaceae. By S tella R oss C raig .
Seaweeds and their Uses. By V. J. C hapman .
Control of Organelle Development. Ed. by P. L. M iller .
Cell Biology. By J. W. K imball .
Phytochemical Phylogeny. Ed. by J. B. H arborne .
the study of botany. By P reston A dams , J effrey J. W. B aker and G arland E. A llen .
Little Botany, Big Botany. By D. H. J ennings .     

Ribonucleases J1 and J2: two novel endoribonucleases in B.subtilis with functional homology to E.coli RNase E

Many prokaryotic organisms lack an equivalent of RNase E, which plays a key role in mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. In this paper, we report the purification and identification by mass spectrometry in Bacillus subtilis of two paralogous endoribonucleases, here named RNases J1 and J2, which share functional homologies with RNase E but no sequence similarity. Both enzymes are able to cleave the B.subtilis thrS leader at a site that can also be cleaved by E.coli RNase E. We have previously shown that cleavage at this site increases the stability of the downstream messenger. Moreover, RNases J1/J2 are sensitive to the 5′ phosphorylation state of the substrate in a site-specific manner. Orthologues of RNases J1/J2, which belong to the metallo-β-lactamase family, are evolutionarily conserved in many prokaryotic organisms, representing a new family of endoribonucleases. RNases J1/J2 appear to be implicated in regulatory processing/maturation of specific mRNAs, such as the T-box family members thrS and thrZ, but may also contribute to global mRNA degradation.     

Pathogenicity of antigenic variants of murine coronavirus JHM selected with monoclonal antibodies.

To analyze the pathogenesis of the neurotropic murine coronavirus JHMV, we used monoclonal antibodies to the E2 viral glycoprotein to select antigenic variant viruses. Monoclonal antibodies J.7.2 and J.2.2 were shown to bind to topographically distinct regions of the E2 molecule, and the variants selected with the two antibodies demonstrated very different disease pictures in mice. Variants selected with J.7.2 were, like the parental virus, highly virulent and caused an acute encephalitic illness. By contrast, J.2.2-selected variants predominantly caused a subacute paralytic disease clinically and extensive demyelination histologically. Antigenic differences among the variants and parental virus were readily demonstrable with anti-E2 monoclonal antibodies. However, no differences between the viruses could be shown in binding studies with monoclonal antibodies directed against either E1 or N, the other two JHMV structural proteins. Since only J.2.2 selected demyelinating variants with reduced neurovirulence, it is likely that this monoclonal antibody recognizes a subregion of the E2 molecule that is particularly important in JHMV pathogenesis.