Protein Components of Bacteriophages λ and λ Virulent

Parallel studies have been made of the protein coats of the temperate bacteriophage λ and of a deletion mutant, λ virulent. A new method for preparing ghosts of both phages by the action of Cu⁺⁺ is described. Protein ghosts of both phages can be dissolved in citrate at pH values below 3, more rapidly in the presence of 8 m urea. Both phages yielded three apparently identical protein components which can be separated by thin-layer gel filtration and thin-layer gel electrophoresis. The protein of molecular weight 47,000 ± 1,500 represents about 55% of the protein of the ghosts and is therefore likely to be the subunit of the head. The other proteins of molecular weight 30,000 ± 1,500 and 16,000 ± 1,500 represent approximately 25% and 20% of the protein, respectively. Amino acid analyses of the ghosts from the two phages have been carried out and show no significant differences. The buoyant density of phage λ virulent is 0.016 g/ml less than that of λ. Since no differences have been found in the protein components of the two phages, this indicates that the virulent mutant contains approximately 16% less deoxyribonucleic acid than the temperate phage.     

Five New Guaiane Sesquiterpenes from the Endophytic Fungus Xylaria sp. YM 311647 of Azadirachta indica

Five new guaiane sesquiterpenes, 1 – 5 , were isolated from the culture broth of the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. YM 311647, isolated from Azadirachta indica A. Juss . The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, and their inhibitory activities against five pathogenic fungi were evaluated. All guaiane sesquiterpenes showed moderate or weak antifungal activities in a broth microdilution assay.     

Pectate distribution and esterification in Dubautia leaves and soybean nodules,studied with a fluorescent hybridization probe

Carbohydrate-hybridization probes (Vreeland and Laetsch, 1989, Planta (177, 423–434) were used to localize the homogalacturonan (pectate) component of pectins in the cell walls of leaves and soybean root nodules. Leaves of two species of the dicotyledon Dubautia were compared; these species contain much pectin but differ in their tissue water relations with respect to their cell-wall properties. Maturation of the primary cell walls in nodules was studied in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum-Glycine max symbiosis. Probe labelling was based on the divalent-cation-mediated association between pectate in tissue sections and fluorescein-conjugated pectate fragments. Pectate was also labelled by mixed-dimer formation with fluorescent polyguluronate derived from alginate. The specificity of the probe for unesterified polygalacturonate was indicated by increased cell-wall labelling after chemical or enzymatic deesterification of tissue sections, in contrast to elimination of labelling by chemical esterification. Postfixation of tissue sections improved retention of soluble pectate. Pectate differences were found in the leaves among cell types, in degree of esterification, and between plant species. The cell walls of soybean nodules were strongly labelled by the pectate probe in nodules one week and three weeks after infection. Pectate was more highly esterified in the central infected zone than in the surrouding cortex. Within the infected zone, walls of uninfected cells and infected cells were similarly labelled by the pectate probe. The results indicate that the pectate molecular probe provides detailed information on pectate distribution at the cellular level for investigations of cell-wall structure, development and physiology.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy - TTB 1,3,5-triazido-2,4,6-trinitrobenene     

外来杂草北美车前(Plantago virginica)种群分布格局的统计分析

采用连续样方法,分别调查了浙江师大校园内不同定居阶段和生境特点的北美车前(Plantago virginica)种群密度和盖度,以此为基础,计算了北美车前种群分布的偏离系数,并进行了种群的格局规模和格局纹理分析。结果表明:(1)北美车前呈明显的集群分布;(2)多数样点中的北美车前种群存在一个直径在30~50 cm的斑块(包括间隙);(3)随着北美车前种群定居时间延长,种群密度的增加,其斑块数目呈现出少→多→少的变化趋势,这一特点与其种子散布机制有关;(4)种群盖度与偏离系数呈现有统计学意义上的负相关,表明随着定居后时间的延长,外观上北美车前种群的集群分布趋势变弱。     

Three research priorities for just and sustainable urban systems: Now is the time to refocus

Now is the time to refocus efforts in urban research and design. A changing climate and extreme weather events are presenting unique challenges to urban systems around the world. These challenges illuminate the social barriers that accompany disruptive events such as resource inequities and injustices. In this perspective, we provide three research priorities for just and sustainable urban systems that help to address these matters. The three research priorities are: (1) social equity and justice, (2) circularity, and (3) digital twins. Conceptual context and future research directions are provided for each. For social equity and justice, the future directions are mandatory equity analysis and inclusionary practices, understanding and reconciling historical injustices, and intentional integration with diverse community stakeholders. For circularity applications, they are better metrics for integration, more robust evaluation frameworks, and dynamic modeling at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Future directions for digital twins include developing principles to reduce complexity, integrating model and system components, and reducing barriers to data access. These research priorities are core to meeting several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (i.e., 1—No Poverty, 8—Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10—Reduced Inequalities, and 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities). Useful social and technical matters are discussed throughout, where we highlight the importance of prioritizing localized research efforts, provide guidance for community-engaged research and co-development practices, and explain how these priorities interact to align with the evolving field of industrial ecology.     

An efficient protocol for stimulating cell development in protoplast culture of S<Emphasis Type=Italic>caevola</Emphasis>

Scaevola, characterised by unique fan-shaped flowers, is an Australian endemic ornamental having a great commercial potential. The breeding of Scaevola however is limited due to poor seed germination, therefore it is critical to understand the embryogenesis in Scaevola so as to facilitate its breeding improvement programs. Direct differentiation of embryo structures was first reported here in mesophyll protoplast cultures of Scaevola aemula. The isolated protoplasts initiated cell division when cultured in KM or MS medium. Higher plating efficiencies were observed in the medium containing a combination of NAA and BAP in contrast to 2,4-D and BAP. The formation of globular embryo structures was successfully achieved. This protoplast culture system can be utilized as an experimental platform for the study of embryogenic differentiation of cells. It may open new vistas to investigate the seed development at molecular and cellular levels in Scaevola and related Australian native plants that are well known for their low seed viability and germination.     

IGF-1 Reduces BACE-1 Expression in PC12 Cells via Activation of PI3-K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) stimulates α-secretase processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and decreases Aβ production. Little is known about the relationship between IGF-1 and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE-1), the protease essential for the production of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ). Here, we investigated the effect of IGF-1 on BACE-1 in PC12 cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blot showed that treatment of cells with IGF-1 significantly decreased the levels of BACE-1 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, IGF-1 increased the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. The presence of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor LY294002 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 blocked the effect of IGF-1 on BACE-1. Our data indicated that IGF-1-induced reduction of BACE-1 might involve the PI3-K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways.     

Quantitative assessment of the tetracycline resistance gene pool in cheese samples by real-time TaqMan PCR

A TaqMan real-time PCR assay was developed to quantify the tetS gene pool present in retail cheeses. This protocol offers a rapid, specific, sensitive, and culture-independent method for assessing antibiotic resistance genes in food samples rich in fats and proteins.