一种基于多特征的大肠杆菌启动子判别算法

主要对从一段DNA序列中提取出信息以判别其中是否含有启动子的问题进行了研究。首先从固定长度的序歹4中提取成分特征和结构特征,然后将这些特征输入到一个非线性分类器中进行判别。测试结果显示,在正集＆非编码区负集中,平均错误率降低为13．4％;在正集＆编码区负集中,平均错误率降低到17．0％。表明该方法是非常有效的。     

一种新型的昆虫标本标签卡

介绍了一种新型的昆虫标本标签卡,这种标签卡有5个优点:多个标签互不遮挡;标签上不会留下昆虫针的针孔;标签卡所占空间可调节;不同大小的标签可兼顾使用;成本低,易操作。     

光强转换对不同生长环境下桑树叶片光化学效率的影响

以桑树品种‘蒙古桑’为试验材料,利用叶绿素荧光技术研究了光强转换对生长在不同光强下的桑树叶片实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、电子传递速率(ETR)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)的影响,分析了非光化学淬灭(NPQ)3个组分的变化.结果表明:当光强从黑暗或弱光转换到自然光条件下,自然光桑树叶片的光量子转化效率高于弱光叶片,ΦPSⅡ、ETR诱导平衡较快,NPQ诱导呈先升后降趋势.自然光叶片在强光下状态转换淬灭组分(qT)占NPQ的18%,而弱光叶片qT仅占NPQ的7%.与弱光桑树叶片相比,自然光桑树叶片可以通过较高的光量子转化效率和较强的调节激发能在PSⅠ和PSⅡ之间的分配能力来适应光强的变化.     

周期节律与肿瘤关系的分子机理

周期节律是由内在时钟系统介导的多重生物过程的周期循环.周期节律系统是由位于大脑的视神经交叉上核的中央时钟系统和位于外周的几乎存在于所有细胞的外周时钟系统组成的.中央时钟与外周时钟都能够对生物体的生理过程进行调控,如激素的分泌、能量代谢、细胞增殖、DNA损伤修复等.而周期节律基因的表达失调,对其下游靶基因包括细胞周期相关基因的表达,以及细胞抗凋亡能力等产生重要的影响.而这一结果会导致细胞增殖加速及基因组不稳定,并可能促进肿瘤的发生.许多实验证据表明,肿瘤是一种节律相关的生理失调,在许多肿瘤中都发现周期节律遭到破坏,如乳腺癌、前列腺癌、子宫内膜癌等.本文将从周期节律对细胞周期进程及对细胞DNA损伤修复的影响来讨论分子水平上细胞的周期节律与肿瘤发生发展的关系.     

Tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 regulates IL-1 signaling in fibroblasts through focal adhesions

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) mediates destruction of matrix collagens in diverse inflammatory diseases including arthritis, periodontitis, and pulmonary fibrosis by activating fibroblasts, cells that interact with matrix proteins through integrin-based adhesions. In vitro, IL-1beta signaling is modulated by focal adhesions, supramolecular protein complexes that are enriched with tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. We assessed the importance of tyrosine phosphatases in regulating cell-matrix interactions and IL-1beta signaling. In human gingival fibroblasts plated on fibronectin, IL-1beta enhanced the maturation of focal adhesions as defined by morphology and enrichment with paxillin and alpha-actinin. IL-1beta also induced activation of ERK and recruitment of phospho-ERK to focal complexes/adhesions. Treatment with the potent tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate, in the absence of IL-1beta, recapitulated many of these responses indicating the importance of tyrosine phosphatases. Immunoblotting of collagen bead-associated complexes revealed that the tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, was also enriched in focal complexes/adhesions. Depletion of SHP-2 by siRNA or by homologous recombination markedly altered IL-1beta-induced ERK activation and maturation of focal adhesions. IL-1beta-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 on residue Y542 promoted focal adhesion maturation. Association of Gab1 with SHP-2 in focal adhesions correlated temporally with activation of ERK and was abrogated in cells expressing mutant (Y542F) SHP-2. We conclude that IL-1beta mediated maturation of focal adhesions is dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 at Y542, leading to recruitment of Gab1, a process that may influence the downstream activation of ERK.     

Effect of extraction parameters on the chemical structure and gel properties of kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenans obtained from Mastocarpus stellatus

Extraction parameters (temperature, pH, duration) and alkaline pre-treatment duration have been systematically varied in the aim of exploring their impact on both chemical structure and gelling properties of carrageenan biopolymers obtained from Mastocarpus stellatus seaweeds, collected on the Northern coast of Portugal. Increasing the alkaline pre-treatment duration PT leads to kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenans containing less sulphate groups and biological precursor monomers. As a result, gel properties in the presence of KCl are improved as demonstrated by the increase in the Young's modulus with parameter PT. Increasing the extraction duration t ameliorates the biopolymer yield with no significant change in the complex kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenan chemical structure. However, smaller molecular weights are obtained and gel properties are seen to be negatively affected. Extraction temperature and pH have dramatic effects on the biopolymer gel strength, and a set of extraction parameters optimized with respect to extraction yield and gel properties is reported. In addition, kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenans obtained throughout this study exhibit a wide range of gel strengths in KCl, and allow us to present correlations between gel thermal properties and the kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenans chemical structure.     

The variability of ovum pick-up response and in vitro embryo production from monozygotic twin cows

Oocytes were recovered by ovum pick up (OPU) from nine pairs of monozygotic twin German Simmental cows. The hypothesis was that there is less variability between identical twins versus among non-related individuals in the variation in the recovery of oocytes by OPU and in the efficiency of in vitro embryo production. Estrous cycles were synchronized with two doses of cloprostenol, 11 days apart. Beginning 3-4 days after synchronized estrus, OPU was done twice weekly (every 3 or 4 days; total of 11 sessions). The influence of repeated OPU on estrous cyclicity was established by estrus detection, plasma progesterone concentrations, and ovarian ultrasonography. There were no differences among days of collection for the number and quality of cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs), and rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation. A total of 1,661 COCs, including 657 (39.6%) good-quality COCs, were recovered. From 1,457 (87.7%) cultured COCs, 827 zygotes cleaved and 314 blastocysts were produced on Day 7. The total number of COCs and the blastocyst rates varied among pairs of monozygotic twins; within pairs, only slight differences were observed. In conclusion, recovery of COCs and production of embryos had substantially less variation within pairs of monozygotic twins than among non-related cattle.     

A propolis extract and the labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m

Since ancient times propolis has been employed for many human purposes because to their favourable properties. Blood constituents labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) have been used in nuclear medicine procedures. Some authors have reported that synthetic or natural drugs can interfere with the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the action of a propolis extract on the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc. Samples of whole blood of male Wistar rats were incubated in sequence with an aqueous propolis extract at different concentrations, stannous chloride and 99mTc, as sodium pertechnetate. Blood samples were centrifuged to separate plasma and blood cells, soluble and insoluble fractions of plasma and blood cells were also separated after precipitation in trichloroacetic acid solution and centrifugation. The radioactivity was counted and the percentage of incorporated radioactivity (%ATI) for each fraction was calculated. The data obtained showed that the aqueous propolis extract used decreased significantly the %ATI in plasma proteins at higher concentration studied. Results suggest that at high concentration the constituents of this extract could alter the labeling of plasma proteins competing with same binding sites of the 99mTc on the plasma proteins or acting as antioxidant compounds.     

Detection of the damage caused to DNA by niclosamide using an electrochemical DNA-biosensor

Niclosamide is the only commercially available molluscicide recommended by the WHO for large-scale use in schistosomiasis control programs. The electrochemical reduction and oxidation mechanism of niclosamide was studied using cyclic, differential and square wave voltammetry, at a glassy carbon electrode. An indirect procedure for in situ quantification of niclosamide using batch injection analysis with electrochemical detection, possible to be used for in situ determinations in river streams and effluents, was developed. It enabled a detection limit of 8 x 10(-7) M. The investigation of the niclosamide-DNA interaction using an electrochemical DNA-biosensor showed for the first time clear evidence of interaction with DNA and suggested that niclosamide toxicity can be caused by this interaction, after reductive activation.