In vitro synthesis of a putative precursor to the mitochondrial enzyme, carbamyl phosphate synthetase.

A simple and rapid procedure is described for purification of carbamyl phosphate synthetase from the matrix fraction of rat liver mitochondria. Antibodies to the enzyme were raised in sheep and purified from antiserum by affinity chromatography on enzyme-bound Sepharose columns. When membrane-free polyribosomes, isolated from a cytosolic fraction of rat liver, were incubated in a messenger-dependent rabbit reticulocyte protein-synthesizing system in the presence of [35S]methionine, the purified antibody precipitated a product of translation representing 0.2% of total trichloroacetic acid-insoluble radioactivity. It demonstrated mobility characteristics in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels expected for a polypeptide of molecular mass approximately 5500 daltons larger than the mature mitochondrial form of the enzyme (160,000 daltons). Proteolysis of both the mature and presumptive in vitro precursor forms of the enzyme yielded respective sets of peptide fragments which gave similar patterns upon gel electrophoresis. Excess mitochondrial enzyme effectively competed with the in vitro product for interaction with anti-carbamyl phosphate synthetase antibody.     

Preparative size-exclusion chromatography of human serum apolipoproteins using an analytical liquid chromatograph

Apolipoproteins, extracted from human serum high-density lipoproteins, can be resolved and recovered with high yield from a preparative MicroPak TSK Type 3000SW size-exclusion column using Tris-buffered 6 m urea or 6 m guanidinium chloride mobile phases. Adequate resolution of some apolipoprotein pairs is only achieved at low flow velocities and low sample loads, necessitating repetitive injections of small amounts of material for preparative isolation. An analytical high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a simplified sample introduction scheme and low-pressure switching valves for fraction collection was used to isolate milligram quantities of HDL apolipoproteins.     

An amino-terminal signal sequence abrogates the intrinsic membrane-targeting information of mitochondrial uncoupling protein

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein, a polytopic integral protein of the inner membrane, is initially made in the cytoplasm as a soluble polypeptide (307 amino acids) lacking a cleavable targeting (signal) peptide. Earlier studies (Liu, X., Bell, A. W., Freeman, K. B., and Shore, G. C. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 107, 503-509) identified internal regions of the molecule that are critical for targeting and membrane insertion. Here, we demonstrate that the ability of uncoupling protein to insert into the inner membrane is abrogated when the molecule is fused behind the matrix-targeting signal of preornithine carbamyltransferase; the hybrid protein was imported across the inner membrane and deposited in the matrix where it was processed. In this context, however, the processed product remained in the matrix and was incapable of inserting into the inner membrane.     

Analysis of mononuclear cell surfaces with fluoresceinated staphylococcal protein A complexed with IgG antibody of heat-aggregated gamma-globulin.

Fluorescein-conjugated staphylococcal protein A (SPA) was complexed with either: 1) heat-aggregated IgG, 2) B cell specific antibody, or 3) T cell specific antibody and then used for an immunofluorescent analysis of mononuclear cell surfaces. Cellular Fc receptors failed to recognize the Fc region of aggregated IgG that had been blocked by SPA. Moreover, fluoresceinated SPA that had been complexed either with anti-Fab (B-cell specific) or T cell-specific antisera prevented the nonspecific binding of these reagents to the IgG-Fc receptors on mononuclear cells, thereby permitting the latter to be properly identified as B or T lymphocytes. In addition, when unconjugated SPA was added to presensitized target cells in a test for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, cytolysis was abrogated.     

The site of cellulose synthesis. Hormone treatment alters the intracellular location of alkali-insoluble beta-1,4-glucan (cellulose) synthetase activities

Membrane preparations from growing regions of 8-day old Pisum sativum epicotyls contain multiple beta-1,4-glucan (cellulose) synthetase activities (UDP- or GDP-glucose: beta-1,4-glucan-glucosyl transferase), and the levels of some of these are influenced by treatments with the growth hormone, indoleacetic acid (IAA). When membranes from control epicotyl segments (zero time) are fractionated by isopycnic sedimentation in sucrose density gradients, all of the synthetase activities are associated mainly with Golgi membrane (density 1.55 g/cm3). After decapitation and treatment of epicotyls with IAA, synthetases also appear in a smooth vesicle fraction (density 1.11 g/cm3) which is rich in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) marker enzyme. Major fractions of these synthetases are not recovered in association with plasma membrane or washed cell walls. When [14-C]sucrose is supplied in vivo to segments +/- IAA, radioactive cellulose is deposited only in the wall. Cellulose or cellodextrin precursors do not accumulate in those membranes in which synthetase activities are recovered in vitro. In experiments where tissue slices containing intact cells are supplied with [14C]sugar nucleotide in vitro, alkali-insoluble beta-1,4-glucan is synthesized (presumably outside the protoplast) at rates which greatly exceeded (20-30 times) those obtained using isolated membrane preparations. Progressive disruption of cell structure results in increasing losses of this high activity. These results are consistent with the interpretation that Golgi and ER-associated synthetases are not themselves loci for cellulose synthesis in vivo, but represent enzymes in transit to sites of action at the wall:protoplast omterface. There they operate only if integrity of cellular organization is maintained.     

Bovine Heterografts for Hemodialysis

Long-term results with 52 bovine, 53 saphenous vein and 78 radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) were analyzed. Side-to-end radial-cephalic AVF provided the best patency data, and remain the preferred access system for hemodialysis. Bovine AVF were next in ranking with better patency rates than for the saphenous vein AVF studied. Corrected one-year patency rates were 71 percent for bovine, 45 percent for saphenous and 91 percent for radial-cephalic AVF. The incidence of nonthrombotic complications with bovine AVF was higher than with saphenous vein AVF. Distal ischemia due to “steal” and certain bleeding and wound complications were unique to bovine AVF. Excellent dialysis blood flow rates and easy accessibility were provided by bovine grafts. When a satisfactory radial-cephalic AVF cannot be created, bovine graft AVF is an acceptable alternative for hemodialysis access.     

创新实践教学模式对大学生素质教育的作用

大学生素质教育要求新时代的大学生不仅要学习理论知识,更重要的是培养科学思维并掌握应用技能。我校微生物学课程教学中探索了以创新实践为主要内容的模式改革,其中"理论—技能—创新实践"同步训练的创新模式,是以将参与创新实践计入期末成绩的形式"强迫"学生进入实验室参与科研项目。实施中我们以"教师—研究生—创新小组"交互学习的方式,任课教师制定规则与目标,研究生帮助创新项目的选题、研究方案设计及实施指导,创新小组依照目标参与研究生的科研课题,最后完成创新实践并获得一定比例的成绩。实践证实创新实践教学对促进学生的理论课程学习、科学思维培养以及创新意识训练等方面都有积极的促进作用,是大学生素质教育的一种实用且高效的教学模式。     

不同植物群落下酸化尾矿养分状况及土壤酶活性

调查不同植被群落下铜尾矿的养分状况及土壤酶活性的变化动态,通过常规方法测定了尾矿的pH和电导率,以及有机质,总氮,有效磷,速效钾的含量。用底物反应法测定了过氧化氢酶,芳基硫酯酶,脲酶,酸性磷酸化酶和脱氢酶的活性。结果表明,与酸化的裸露尾矿相比,定居其上的芦苇(Phragmites australis)、狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)和双穗雀稗(Paspalum distichum)均能显著增加尾矿基质pH值(从3.6上升到5.4),降低电导率,减缓尾矿酸化过程。芦苇和狗牙根能够显著提高尾矿基质中N、K和有机质含量(P<0.05),增加尾矿中的养分。3种植物群落下有效磷较裸露尾矿没有显著增加。植物的定居显著提高了尾矿中过氧化氢酶、芳基硫脂酶和脲酶的活性(P<0.05);但酸性磷酸化酶和脱氢酶活性没有显著提高。研究表明,植物对尾矿有明显的改良作用,而且芦苇和狗牙根优于双穗雀稗。在各种植被条件的尾矿中除酸性磷酸化酶以外的其它实验土壤酶活性均与尾矿中有机质和总氮呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。     

内葵杂3号染色体核型分析

对内蒙古地区的栽培品种内葵杂3号三交种和单交种了进行了核型分析。其结果为:内葵杂3号三交种和单交种的染色体数均为2n=34,各具一对随体染色体。三交种第2对染色体具随体且为近中部着丝粒染色体,其余为中部着丝粒染色体,染色体相对长度变异范围4.105%～7.703%,核型公式为2n=2x=34=32m+2sm(2sat),核型类型属于1A型;单交种均为中部着丝粒染色体,第4对染色体具随体,染色体相对长度变异范围3.661%～8.128%,其核型公式为:2n=2x=34=34m(2sat),核型类型属于1B型。     

宁夏盐池荒漠草原植被的数量分类和排序

为检验荒漠草原封育恢复的效果,对宁夏盐池围封9年的退化草场进行了植被调查,共记录34个物种,分属于12个科、27个属,其中豆科(9种)、禾本科(7种)、菊科(6种)所含物种数较多.与封育前相比,物种组成基本相同,常见种和建群种发生了明显变化.采用PCA排序和分层聚类将80个样方分为长芒草、白草、赖草3个群系,依据建群种或优势种的生物学特性将其生境划分为旱生生境、中生生境和轻度盐渍化生境.3个群系的演替速率不同,其中长芒草群系演替进入反应阶段,赖草群系的演替等级相对较高.群系间存在激烈的资源竞争关系,风蚀能够促进赖草群系的进一步扩大.建议通过划区轮牧的方式合理调控长芒草群系和赖草群系的放牧时期,以提高草场的放牧利用价值,降低赖草群系的扩张危险.