Polynucleotide Ligase and φX174 Single Strand Synthesis

A DNA ligase mutant of E. coli when infected with φX174 produces linear single strands which appear in an intracellular pool and in phage particles. The linear single strands, which are infectious in a spheroplast assay, seem to be a normal intermediate in progeny DNA synthesis.     

Role of calcium in differentiation of murine erythroleu-kemia cells

Calcium plays a crucial role in the normal and abnomal cell metabolism.The role of calcium in the differentiation process of murine erythroleukemia cells(MELC)remains controversial.Here,based upon quantitative measurement of fluorescence in single cells,a method was developed to investigate the intracellular free calcium[Ca^2 ]i concentration and DNA contents simultaneously,by employing the fluorescent probe,fluo-3 acetoxymethyl ester and DNA dye Hoechst 33342.During MELC differentiation.[Ca^2 ]i concentration incresed.We also demonstrated that calcium ionophore,A23187,enhanced the HMB-induced MELC differentiation,while verapamil,an inhibitor of calcuim uptake,slightly reduced differentiation.These results suggested that an increase in the [Ca^2 ]i level was an essential step in HMBA-induced MELC differentiation.     

Heterogeneity of Intermediate Filament Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle: A Gradient in Desmin Positive Cells from the Rat Aortic Arch to the Level of the Arteria Iliaca Communis

The display of the two distinct intermediate filament proteins, desmin and vimentin, in rat vascular smooth muscle tissue was studied by immunofluorescence microscopy on frozen sections of aorta and other blood vessels. Vascular smooth muscle cells present in these vessels always appeared rich in vimentin. However, staining of sections covering six distinct but contiguous parts of the aorta showed that the number of desmin containing cells was low distal to the truncus brachiocephalicus, but increases until in distal parts of the aorta and in the arteria iliaca communis almost all cells appear positive for desmin. Thus blood vessels show heterogeneity of intermediate filament expression not only in cross-section but can also display heterogeneity along their length. Muscular arteries such as the renal artery and the arteria femoralis, as well as arterioles and veins including the vena jugularis and the vena cava also contain desmin. Thus it may be that low numbers of desmin-positive cells are typical of elastic arteries, while muscular arteries and other blood vessels are characterized by large numbers of desmin-positive cells. We discuss whether desmin-positive and desmin-negative vascular smooth muscle cells may perform different functions and raise the possibility that desmin expression may coincide with the turn on of a specially regulated contractility program.     

新疆植被生产力与叶面积指数的变化及其对气候的响应

利用美国探路者卫星遥感资料AVHRR LAI和全球生态模式CASA给出的植被净初级生产力资料(NPP)对新疆地区1982~2000年的植被时空变化进行了定量分析,结果表明新疆地区的LAI和NPP的空间分布严格受水分的制约,与气温呈负相关,表现出干旱内陆地区植被受降水控制的地带特征。相对于20世纪80年代,90年代整个新疆出现了变暖的趋势,降水基本也呈现增加的趋势,在42°N以北地区暖湿转型尤其明显,与这种气候型相对应,植被出现了明显的增加趋势,NPP最大增幅可达45gCm-2a-1。但植被对气温和降水的年际变化响应不一样,降水主要是影响植被峰值的起落,而植被在总体演变趋势上却主要受气温控制,3个分区1984~2000年的气温明显上升,而降水变化趋势不明显,植被受气温控制出现了显著的上升趋势(P<0.01)。     

卵形鲳鲹对刺激隐虫的免疫应答和免疫保护研究

用刺激隐核虫(Cryptocaryon irritans)的幼虫对卵形鲳NFDA8(Trachinotus ovatus)进行腹腔注射和体表感染,然后每隔一周用阻动试验(Immobilization assay)检测免疫鱼的抗血清和皮肤培养液对刺激隐核虫幼虫的阻动效价,在第14周中,分别用亚致死剂量和致死剂量的刺激隐核虫幼虫对免疫鱼攻毒以检测所产生的免疫保护力.实验结果显示:两种免疫方法都能让卵形鲳鲹的血清和皮肤生成阻动刺激隐核虫幼虫的特异性抗体,并能使被免疫鱼获得明显的免疫保护,但是体表感染免疫组的血清和皮肤培养液的阻动效价都要比腹腔注射免疫组高,所获得的免疫保护力也更强.同时还发现,免疫鱼血清和皮肤培养液中的抗体存在明显的差异:两者的最初生成时间、达到峰值的时间、变化规律以及阻动效价等都不一致.因此,我们推测鱼类的系统免疫应答和皮肤黏膜免疫应答有可能是相互独立的,或者是不同步的.鱼类的体液免疫应答,特别是黏膜免疫应答对抵御刺激隐核虫的感染起了重要的作用,采用刺激隐核虫虫体疫苗可能成为预防海水鱼类白点病的一种选择.     

An NMR-based metabonomic investigation of the toxic effects of 3-trifluoromethyl-aniline on the earthworm Eisenia veneta

¹H NMR spectra of earthworms Eisenia veneta treated with 3-trifluoromethyl-aniline in a 72-h contact filter paper test have been analysed using pattern recognition techniques to determine the biochemical response. Various strategies for data reduction of the metabolite profile, and illustration by principal components analysis are applied and discussed. The use of mean principal components plots in simplifying group data representation and highlighting the dose-response function is demonstrated. Hierarchical cluster analysis, and cluster significance analysis of the principal components were also used to examine the relative distribution of dose groups. Identification and assignment of metabolite responses to toxicity were found via correlation coefficient-shift plots. As measured by the correlation coefficients alanine was the most significant metabolite, but increased levels of other amino acids such as glycine and asparagine were also observed. Further, elevated levels of glucose, and the citric acid cycle intermediates citrate and succinate were noted as potential biomarkers of toxicity. This work provides a basis for examining the biochemical response of invertebrates to toxins. This should provide a framework to examine toxicity effects of other halogenated aromatic pollutants to earthworms used as environmental monitors.     

Hearing Range of White-Tailed Deer as Determined by Auditory Brainstem Response

Abstract: Basic knowledge of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hearing can improve understanding of deer behavior and may assist in the development of effective deterrent strategies. Using auditory brainstem response testing, we determined that white-tailed deer hear within the range of frequencies we tested, between 0.25–30 kilohertz (kHz), with best sensitivity between 4–8 kHz. The upper limit of human hearing lies at about 20 kHz, whereas we demonstrated that white-tailed deer detected frequencies to at least 30 kHz. This difference suggests that research on the use of ultrasonic (frequencies >20 kHz) auditory deterrents is justified as a possible means of reducing deer—human conflicts.     

宽口光唇鱼微卫星位点的筛选与特征分析

通过FIASCO法(Fast Isolation by AFLP Sequences Containing Repeats)筛选宽口光唇鱼Acrossocheilus monticola(Günter)基因组微卫星位点,利用生物素标记的寡核苷酸探针(AC)8、(CT)8、(GGT)8、(GATA)8和(GATT)7首次成功构建宽口光唇鱼基因组微卫星富集文库。从文库中共筛选495个克隆测序,成功设计163对微卫星引物,经PCR扩增检测,获得了18个多态性微卫星标记。利用这18对多态性引物,分析了赤水河赤水市宽口光唇鱼种群的遗传多样性,数据显示:18对多态性微卫星引物的等位基因数为8～31个,平均等位基因数为19.6个,平均期望杂合度为0.8701,平均观测杂合度为0.8312,其中引物Am07、Am35、Am47、Am69、Am78和Am127显著偏离哈迪温伯格平衡(P<0.05),以上数据表明赤水河赤水市宽口光唇鱼种群的遗传多样性水平较高。筛选的微卫星标记对于宽口光唇鱼的遗传背景分析和生物种质资源的保护有重要作用。