来源于中国南海的微生物新种乙醇速生杆菌(Celeribacter ethanolicus)多相分类研究（英文）

【目的】研究来源于南海海水的一株速生杆菌属菌株NH195T的多相分类。【方法】采用表型、基因型和化学分类方法,并综合系统发育关系结果,分析菌株NH195T的分类学地位。【结果】菌株NH195T是一株革兰氏阴性、好氧、杆状、无运动性细菌;能积累Poly-β-hydroxy butyrate(PHB);能在0.5%-10.0%(质量体积比)NaCl浓度,pH 5.0-9.0和20-40°C条件下生长,最适NaCl生长浓度为1.0%-3.0%;氧化酶、触酶和脲酶反应结果阳性。菌株NH195T主要呼吸醌为Q-10,主要脂肪酸为C18:1ω7c、C18:1ω6c和11 methyl C_(18:1)ω7c,主要极性脂为磷脂酰胆碱、磷脂酰甘油、双磷脂酰甘油、一个未知的氨基脂和两个未知脂。基因组G+C含量为61.3 mol%。基于16S rRNA基因的系统发育结果显示,菌株NH195T隶属于速生杆菌属;其与速生杆菌属标准菌株的16S rRNA基因相似性范围为94.4%-97.7%。菌株NH195T与速生杆菌属标准菌株C.halophilus ZXM137T和C.indicus P73T的平均核苷酸一致性(ANI)分别为78.6%和78.0%;基于基因组数据计算所得的DNA杂交同源率分别为26.1%和23.0%。【结论】基于表型和基因型结果,菌株NH195T代表了速生杆菌属一个新物种,命名为Celeribacter ethanolicus,标准菌株为NH195T(CGMCC 1.15406T=JCM 31095T)。     

一株新的耐辐射菌Deinococcus guangxiensis sp.nov.的分离鉴定及耐辐射特性分析

摘要：【目的】从广西大学辐射中心辐射源附近被常年辐射的水样中分离并鉴定出新的耐辐射菌株,并对其耐辐射特性进行研究。【方法】通过GBM培养基分离培养得到一株新的耐辐射菌株,命名为WGR700T。应用生理生化试验,脂肪酸含量,(G+C) mol％含量测定以及16S rRNA序列同源性分析等方法对菌株进行鉴定,同时对WGR700T的耐辐射特性进行分析。【结果】菌株WGR700T为革兰氏阴性,杆状,没有鞭毛,不能运动,厌氧并能产生红色素。最佳生长温度和PH分别为37℃和pH7.0,主要的呼吸醌是MK-8,细胞壁内还有鸟氨酸,主要脂肪酸为16:1ω7c, 16:0, 15:1ω6c, iso-15:0和 iso-17:0。G+C含量为64.7mol%。菌株WGR700T具有很强的UV(>728 J/m2)和电离辐射抗性(D10 = 9.8 kGy)。菌株WGR700T和奇异球菌属（Deinococcus）内其它菌种16S rRNA有很高的相似性（87.1-95.6%）。【结论】根据16S rRNA及生理生化特征区别,菌株WGR700T应是奇异球菌属的一个新种,命名为Deinococcus guangxiensis sp. nov. 模式菌株为WGR700T(= CGMCC1.7045T =CICC 10360T = JCM 15082T)。     

一个可降解直链烷基苯磺酸盐的新种

本文鉴定了一株可完全降解直链烷基苯磺酸盐（Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate,简称LAS）的菌株GZ6。革兰氏染色阴性,细胞为杆状或短杆状,大小为0.5μm～0.8 μm×1.0μm～2.0 μm,其生长pH范围为pH6.0～10.0,最适生长pH为7.0,生长温度范围为4℃～40℃,最适生长温度为30℃。生化特征测定除过氧化氢酶、尿酶、精氨酸脱羧酶反应为阳性,其它均为阴性。可利用Chloridazon、安替比林（antipyrin）以及LAS等为碳源。不能利用大多数糖醇。醌组分以泛醌Q10为主。菌体脂肪酸主要为C18∶1、C16∶0及C16∶1。DNA中G+C mol％含量为7010。16S rRNA 序列分析表明菌株GZ6 与其亲缘关系最近的菌株Phenylobacterium immobile DSM1986T序列相似值为9749％,DNADNA杂交率为40%。菌株GZ6具极生鞭毛,可运动,两者在细胞形态有很大差异。故将菌株GZ6定为苯基杆菌属的新种可动苯基杆菌（Phenylobaterium mobile） GZ6。     

一株羽毛降解菌的分离与鉴定

【目的】从土壤中分离并鉴定羽毛降解菌,测定其生长最适温度及起始pH,并观察酶活动态。【方法】采用系列稀释法和选择培养基法筛选目的菌株,基于16S rRNA基因序列及Biolog方法鉴定其分类地位,利用全自动生长曲线分析仪监测菌株的最适生长条件,并通过测定蛋白水解活性观察其酶活动态。【结果】从混合羽毛的土壤样品中筛选到一株羽毛降解菌,命名为菌株GIMN1.015,初步判定该菌株属于芽孢八叠球菌属(Sporosarcina)。最适生长pH为9.0,温度为30°C。蛋白水解活性最高值出现在培养后96 h。【结论】菌株GIMN1.015在利用羽毛角蛋白资源中具有潜在的应用价值。这是芽孢八叠球菌在羽毛降解方面的首次报道。     

近海柴油降解菌群的构建及其对柴油的降解特性

【目的】实施近海柴油污染的生物治理。【方法】以柴油为唯一碳源,从深圳港口海域富集筛选柴油降解菌;采用复配、正交试验等方式构建混合菌群;通过单因素试验研究环境因素对菌群降解柴油的影响;使用气相色谱-氢火焰检测器(GC-FID)分析降解前后柴油各组分的变化;通过生理生化试验和16S rRNA基因序列分析对菌株进行鉴定。【结果】获得了16株柴油降解菌,7 d内对柴油的降解率最高达40.8%;选择菌株C1-8、C2-10、C3-13构建了混合菌群CQ1,投加量分别为0.5%、2.0%和1.0%,CQ1对柴油去除率比单菌提高了10%以上;CQ1的最适环境条件为：温度30 °C、pH 7.6、摇床转速220 r/min、柴油浓度20 g/L,优化后9 d内对柴油去除率达60%以上;GC-FID结果显示,菌群CQ1可降解大部分C11?C27的正构烷烃,对C21?C27的烷烃降解可达100%。经鉴定,菌株C1-8、C2-10和C3-13分别为微杆菌(Microbacterium sp.)、剑菌(Ensifer sp.)和变异棒杆菌(Corynebacterium variabile)。【结论】CQ1在近海柴油污染的生物修复中具有良好的应用前景。     

一株产蛋白酶嗜碱菌株的分离、鉴定及酶学特性

【目的】筛选产蛋白酶嗜碱菌并对其进行鉴定和特性分析。【方法】利用碱性脱脂牛奶培养基分离纯化产蛋白酶嗜碱菌,通过形态特征、生理生化、16S rRNA基因序列分析以及DNA-DNA杂交实验确定菌株的分类地位,利用酪蛋白水解法分析所产蛋白酶的pH和温度作用范围、稳定性和耐氧化剂能力。【结果】从我国西藏盐碱湖样品中分离到一株产碱性蛋白酶的菌株ZL223,该菌株为革兰氏阳性菌,最适生长温度为37℃,最适生长pH9.0,16S rRNA基因序列分析显示,菌株ZL223与假强芽孢杆菌Bacillus pseudo firmus OF4亲缘关系最近,16S rRNA基因序列相似性为98.6%,DNA-DNA杂交结果显示与B.pseudofirmus OF4同源性为86%。菌株ZL223产生的蛋白酶作用的最适pH为12.0,最适温度为40℃。【结论】结合生理生化指标测定的结果,鉴定菌株为假强芽孢杆菌ZL223(B.pseudofirmus ZL223)。该菌株产生的碱性蛋白酶具有较高的pH适应性,值得进一步研究。     

一株分离自胡杨的赖氨酸芽孢杆菌(Lysinibacillus)ML-64的微生物学特性

摘要:【目的】从胡杨茎秆液中分离得到的一株菌株ML-64,对其进行微生物学特性的分析。【方法】通过细菌培养和染色的方法进行了形态和培养特征的检测,使用多相分类学方法测定菌株的各项生理生化指标,脂肪酸组分、醌组分、极性脂类型、16S rRNA基因系统发育分析、(G+C)mol%含量的测定和DNA-DNA杂交分析。【结果】菌株ML-64为革兰氏阳性菌,杆状,产生芽孢。菌落为圆形,淡黄色,表面光滑。菌株生长温度范围为10－45℃(最适37℃),pH范围为7.0－9.0(最适pH7.0),NaCl浓度范围为0－6%(W/V) (最适0－2%)。菌株ML-64 的类脂酯酶,精氨酸双水解酶,脲酶活性和VP-实验为阳性。在API 50CH酶活性检测实验中菌株不能发酵任何糖类。可利用的碳源有: L-丝氨酸,丙酮酸甲酯,α-酮-丁酸,乙酰乙酸。对多粘菌素B(30 μg)、新生霉素(30 μg)、青霉素G(10 U)不敏感。16S rRNA基因序列分析结果表明,菌株ML-64T与ysinibacillus chungkukjangi 2RL3-2T,Lysinibacillus sinduriensis BLB-1T有密切亲缘关系。相似率分别为100%和99.1%。菌株ML-64与Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi 2RL3-2T和Lysinibacillus massiliensis CIP108446T之间的杂交率分别为82%和50.9%。基因组DNA(G+C)mol%含量为36.8%。菌株ML-64优势脂肪酸类型为iso-C15:0(55.05%)和anteiso-C15:0(20.70%),醌组分类型是MK-7。【结论】基于表型特征、遗传型特征和系统发育分析,将菌株定为Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi的新变种,获得序列注册号为KC609752。胡杨内生菌ML-64的基因组结构已与最近源菌株L．chungkukjangi产生了较大的分化,选择性地适应了胡杨内生环境。     

河南省白龟山水库下游水体氨化细菌分离鉴定及其降解有机氮条件

【目的】从河南省白龟山水库下游水体中分离筛选氨化细菌,并研究其降解有机氮的条件。【方法】利用选择性培养基从微污染水源水中筛选氨化细菌,进一步比较了不同氨化细菌降解有机氮的效果;采用单因子法研究菌株N24降解有机氮的条件;通过形态、生理生化特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析对菌株N24进行鉴定。【结果】从微污染水源水中分离筛选到4株氨化细菌,其中菌株N24培养48 h后氨氮浓度较高,达到138.926 mg/L。菌株N24降解有机氮最适温度为30-35°C,最适初始pH值为6.0,500 mL摇瓶最适装液量75 mL。菌株N24被鉴定为弯曲芽孢杆菌(Bacillus flexus,GenBank登录号:JX291240.1),其16S rRNA基因序列与基因库中芽孢杆菌属菌株的16S rRNA基因序列有99%-100%的相似性,与弯曲芽孢杆菌(Bacillus flexus IFO15717T,GenBank登录号:NR024691.1)的遗传距离最近。【结论】菌株N24是一株高效降解有机氮的弯曲芽孢杆菌;本研究丰富了降解有机氮菌种资源,可为该菌在环境工程领域的实际应用提供理论基础。     

高产吲哚乙酸东乡野生稻内生微杆菌KlspL18分离及鉴定

【目的】对分离自东乡野生稻叶组织的高产吲哚乙酸菌株KlspL18进行分类学鉴定。【方法】采用菌株形态、生理生化指标结合16S rRNA基因序列同源性比对以及全基因组测序等方法,对该菌株进行多相分类鉴定,并采用高效液相(HPLC)法测定其产吲哚乙酸的产量。【结果】菌株KlspL18为革兰氏阳性、不形成孢子的棒杆状,接触酶实验阳性,其温度、NaCl浓度和pH值生长范围分别为15–40℃ (最适为28℃)、1%–10%(最适为1%)及6.0–11.0 (最适为7.0),能利用多种糖和有机酸作为碳源。菌株细胞壁氨基酸主要为鸟氨酸,细胞壁多糖为半乳糖和甘露糖,极性脂类为二磷脂酰甘油、磷脂酰甘油和2种未鉴定的糖脂,细胞脂肪酸主要为anteiso-C15:0 (30.33%)、anteiso-C17:0 (31.53%)和iso-C16:0 (14.32%),萘醌类主要为MK-10和MK-11。16S rRNA基因序列分析表明,该菌株与Microbacterium proteolyticum RZ36T相似度为97.64%;全基因组测序分析显示,其G+C含量70.2%,与近缘标准菌株核苷酸同源性(A...     

一株来自大西洋表层海水的烷烃降解菌Gordonia sp. S14-10的分离鉴定及其降解相关特性的分析

摘要：【目的】本研究的目的是从大西洋表层海水分离筛选新的烷烃降解菌,了解其降解基因及降解特性,为海洋石油污染的生物治理提供材料。【方法】以柴油与原油作为混合碳源从大西洋表层海水样品中富集、并分离筛选出降解能力较强的烷烃降解菌。根据16S rRNA基因和其看家基因secA1序列确定其系统进化地位。分析了烷烃降解范围、表面活性剂产生能力及其他生理生化特性;利用已报道的兼并引物进行了烷烃羟化酶基因的PCR扩增及系统进化分析。【结果】分离筛选得到1株能够降解C10?C36直链烷烃的菌株S14-10。经16S rR     

Mutagenicity of C24H14 PAH in human cells expressing CYP1A1

Relatively little is known about the mutagenicity of C24H14 PAH, a diverse group of five- and six-ring PAH, some of which are present at trace levels in the environment. To better understand the mutagenicity of this class of compounds, 11 C24H14 PAH, including benzo[a]perylene, benzo[b]perylene, dibenzo[a,e]fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,f]fluoranthene, dibenzo[j,l]fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, dibenzo[e,l]pyrene, naphtho[1,2-b]fluoranthene, naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene, and naphtho[2,3-e]pyrene, were tested in a mutagenicity assay based on human h1A1v2 cells. h1A1v2 cells are a line of human B-lymphoblastoid cells that have been engineered to express cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), an enzyme capable of metabolizing promutagenic PAH. Mutagenicity was measured at the thymidine kinase (tk) locus following a 72-h exposure period. Our results show that nine of the compounds were mutagenic. Benzo[a]perylene, dibenzo[a,e]fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene were the most potent mutagens, having minimum mutagenic concentrations (MMC) (i.e., the dose at which the induced response was twice that of the negative controls) in the 1-5 ng/ml range. Benzo[b]perylene, dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, dibenzo[a,f]fluoranthene, and naphtho[2,3-e]pyrene were somewhat less potent mutagens, having MMC in the 10-30 ng/ml range. Dibenzo[e,l]pyrene, which had an MMC of 280 ng/ml, was the least potent mutagen. Dibenzo[j,l]fluoranthene and naphtho[1,2-b]fluoranthene were not mutagenic at the doses tested (1-3000 ng/ml). The most mutagenic compounds were also quite toxic. At the highest doses tested, benzo[a]perylene, dibenzo[a,e]fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, and dibenzo[a,f]fluoranthene induced > 60% killing, and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene and naphtho[2,3-e]pyrene induced > 50% killing. Benzo[b]perylene, dibenzo[e,l]pyrene, dibenzo[j,l]fluoranthene, and naphtho[1,2-b]fluoranthene induced < 50% killing at the highest doses tested. Comparing these results to a previous study in which nine other C24H14 PAH were tested for mutagenicity in this same assay, it was found that dibenzo[a]pyrene isomers were generally more mutagenic than the other groups of C24H14 PAH tested. These observations are discussed with emphasis given to identifying C24H14 PAH that may be important environmental mutagens.     

Apo[a] size and PNR explain African American-Caucasian differences in allele-specific apo[a] levels for small but not large apo[a

Apolipoprotein [a] (apo[a]) gene size is a major predictor of lipoprotein [a] level. To determine genetic predictors of allele-specific apo[a] levels beyond gene size, we evaluated the upstream C/T and pentanucleotide repeat (PNR) polymorphisms. We determined apo[a] sizes, allele-specific apo[a] levels, and C/T and PNR in 215 Caucasians and 139 African Americans. For Caucasians, apo[a] size affected allele-specific levels substantially greater in subjects with apo[a] < 24 K4; for African Americans, the size effect was smaller than in Caucasians, <24 K4, but did not decrease at higher repeats. In both groups, the level decreased with increasing size of the other allele. Controlling for apo[a] sizes, PNR decreased allele-specific apo[a] levels in Caucasians with increasing PNR > 8. In a multiple regression model, apo[a] allele size and size and expression of the other apo[a] allele (and PNR > 8 for Caucasians) significantly predicted allele-specific apo[a] levels. For a common PNR 8 allele, predicted values were similar in the two ethnicities for small size apo[a]. Allele-specific apo[a] levels were influenced by the other allele size and expression. Observed differences between Caucasians and African Americans in allele-specific apo[a] levels were explained for small apo[a] sizes by the other allele size and PNR; the ethnicity differences remain unexplained for larger sizes.     

Deriving behavioural receptive fields for visually completed contours

The visual system is constantly faced with the problem of identifying partially occluded objects from incomplete images cast on the retinae. Phenomenologically, the visual system seems to fill in missing information by interpolating illusory and occluded contours at points of occlusion, so that we perceive complete objects. Previous behavioural [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] and physiological [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] studies suggest that the visual system treats illusory and occluded contours like luminance-defined contours in many respects. None of these studies has, however, directly shown that illusory and occluded contours are actually used to perform perceptual tasks. Here, we use a response-classification technique [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] to answer this question directly. This technique provides pictorial representations - 'classification images' - that show which parts of a stimulus observers use to make perceptual decisions, effectively deriving behavioural receptive fields. Here we show that illusory and occluded contours appear in observers' classification images, providing the first direct evidence that observers use perceptually interpolated contours to recognize objects. These results offer a compelling demonstration of how visual processing acts on completed representations, and illustrate a powerful new technique for constraining models of visual completion.     

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity of mutagenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons determined using in vitro reporter gene assay

Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by 30 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined in the chemical-activated luciferase expression (CALUX) assay, using two exposure times (6 and 24h), in order to reflect the metabolization of PAHs. AhR-inducing potencies of PAHs were expressed as induction equivalency factors (IEFs) relative to benzo[a]pyrene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In 24h exposure assay, the highest IEFs were found for benzo[k]fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and dibenzo[a,k]fluoranthene (approximately three orders of magnitude lower than TCDD) followed by dibenzo[a,j]anthracene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene. The 6h exposure to PAHs led to a significantly higher AhR-mediated activity than the 24h exposure (generally by two orders of magnitude), probably due to the high rate of PAH metabolism. The strongest AhR inducers showed IEFs approaching that of TCDD. Several PAHs, including some strong mutagens, such as dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, cyclopenta[cd]pyrene, and benzo[a]perylene, elicited only partial agonist activity. Calculation of IEFs based on EC25 values and/or 6h exposure data is suggested as an alternative approach to estimation of toxic potencies of PAHs with high metabolic rates and/or the weak AhR agonists. The IEFs, together with the recently reported relative mutagenic potencies of PAHs [Mutat. Res. 371 (1996) 123; Mutat. Res. 446 (1999) 1] were combined with data on concentrations of PAHs in extracts of model environmental samples (river sediments) to calculate AhR-mediated induction equivalents and mutagenic equivalents. The highest AhR-mediated induction equivalents were found for benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[j]fluoranthene, followed by indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,j]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene. High mutagenic equivalents in the river sediments were found for benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene and to a lesser extent also for benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,e]fluoranthene and dibenzo[a,i]pyrene. These data illustrate that AhR-mediated activity of PAHs, including the highly mutagenic compounds, occurring in the environment but not routinely monitored, could significantly contribute to their adverse effects.     

Effect of particulates on metabolism and mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene

Mechanisms of co-carcinogenicity of particulates, such as iron oxide and asbestos, and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) are not completely understood. Particulates dramatically alter rates of uptake of B[a]P into membranes, a factor which could account for co-carcinogenicity. However, B[a]P must be activated to reactive forms to be carcinogenic and mutagenic so alterations in metabolism of B[a]P by particulates also could result in co-carcinogenesis. To elucidate mechanisms of particulate-B[a]P co-carcinogenesis, we have correlated rates of uptake of B[a]P into microsomes with metabolism of B[a]P and with mutagenicity of B[a]P in the Ames test. In general, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity paralleled rates of uptake of B[a]P, though some inhibition of AHH activity by particulates which was not attributable to availability of B[a]P was evident. This inhibition was studied further by assaying separately mixed function oxidase and epoxide hydrase activities in the presence of particulates. Both chrysotile and iron oxide inhibited O-deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin and hydration of B[a]P-4,5-oxide. To determine effects of this inhibition on activation of B[a]P to reactive forms, we studied profiles of metabolites of B[a]P and mutagenicity of B[a]P. The only alteration in profiles of B[a]P metabolites produced by particulates was that due to effects on rates of uptake. Similarly, mutagenicity of B[a]P was positively correlated with rates of uptake into microsomes. We conclude that the predominant effects of chrysotile and iron oxide are in altering rates of uptake of particle-adsorbed B[a]P. Changes in uptake rates then result in alterations of B[a]P metabolism and mutagenicity.     

Characterization of the basis of lipoprotein [a] lysine-binding heterogeneity

Although elevated plasma concentrations of lipoprotein [a] (Lp[a]) are considered to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis, the mechanisms by which Lp[a] mediates its pathogenic effects have not been conclusively determined. The apolipoprotein [a] (apo[a]) component of Lp[a] confers unique structural properties to this lipoprotein, including the ability to bind to lysine residues in biological substrates. It has been shown, however, that only a fraction of plasma Lp[a] (Lp[a]-Lys(+)) binds to lysine-Sepharose in vitro. The nature of the non-lysine-binding Lp[a] fraction in plasma (Lp[a]-Lys(-)) is currently unknown. In the present study, the Lp[a]-Lys(+) fraction was determined in the plasma of six unrelated individuals; the Lp[a]-Lys(+) fraction in these plasma samples ranged from approximately 37 to approximately 48%. Interestingly, purification of the Lp[a] by density gradient ultracentrifugation followed by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography resulted in progressive increases in the Lp[a]-Lys(+) fraction. Addition of either purified low density lipoprotein (LDL) or fibronectin to the purified Lp[a] at a 1:1 molar ratio reduced the Lp[a]-Lys(+) fraction (maximal decrease of 34 and 20%, respectively) whereas addition of both fibronectin and LDL to the purified Lp[a] resulted in a further decrease (45% maximally) in this fraction. Similar results were obtained by using a recombinant expression system for apo[a]: addition of a 4-fold molar excess of either LDL or fibronectin to conditioned medium containing metabolically labeled recombinant apo[a] reduced the Lys(+) fraction by 49 and 23%, respectively.Taken together, our data suggest that the lysine-binding heterogeneity of plasma Lp[a] is not primarily an intrinsic property of the lipoprotein, but rather results in large part from its ability to noncovalently associate with abundant plasma components such as LDL and fibronectin. These interactions appear to mask the lysine-binding site in apo[a] kringle IV type 10, which mediates the interaction of Lp[a] with lysine-Sepharose. The contribution of these interactions to the function of Lp[a] in vivo remains to be investigated.     

Dual-label high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for femtomole levels of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites

A dual-label HPLC assay to measure femtomole quantities of ethyl acetate-extractable [3H]benzo[a]pyrene metabolites was developed. 14C-labeled metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene formed by rat liver 9000g supernatant were used as both internal standards and chromatographic markers. The percentage deviation between assays was determined to be between 11 and 13% for 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene-3,6-quinone, benzo[a]pyrene-1,6-quinone, and 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, 22% for 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and less than 5% for 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. The detection limit of this assay was between 3 and 10 fmol per metabolite. The application of this technique to the metabolism of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene by microsomes of hamster and human oral cavity tissue is described.     

Lipoprotein [a] is cleared from the plasma primarily by the liver in a process mediated by apolipoprotein [a

The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for lipoprotein [a] (Lp[a]) catabolism are unknown. We examined the plasma clearance of Lp[a] and LDL in mice using lipoproteins isolated from human plasma coupled to radiolabeled tyramine cellobiose. Lipoproteins were injected into wild-type, LDL receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-), and apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe-/-) mice. The fractional catabolic rate of LDL was greatly slowed in Ldlr-/- mice and greatly accelerated in Apoe-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. In contrast, the plasma clearance of Lp[a] in Ldlr-/- mice was similar to that in wild-type mice and was only slightly accelerated in Apoe-/- mice. Hepatic uptake of Lp[a] in wild-type mice was 34.6% of the injected dose over a 24 h period. The kidney accounted for only a small fraction of tissue uptake (1.3%). To test whether apolipoprotein [a] (apo[a]) mediates the clearance of Lp[a] from plasma, we coinjected excess apo[a] with labeled Lp[a]. Apo[a] acted as a potent inhibitor of Lp[a] plasma clearance. Asialofetuin, a ligand of the asialoglycoprotein receptor, did not inhibit Lp[a] clearance. In summary, the liver is the major organ accounting for the clearance of Lp[a] in mice, with the LDL receptor and apolipoprotein E having no major roles. Our studies indicate that apo[a] is the primary ligand that mediates Lp[a] uptake and plasma clearance.