Essential fatty acid deficiency in mice is associated with hepatic steatosis and secretion of large VLDL particles

Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in mice decreases plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations and increases hepatic TG content. We evaluated in vivo and in vitro whether decreased hepatic secretion of TG-rich very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) contributes to this consequence of EFA deficiency. EFA deficiency was induced in mice by feeding an EFA-deficient (EFAD) diet for 8 wk. Hepatic VLDL secretion was quantified in fasted EFAD and EFA-sufficient (EFAS) mice using the Triton WR-1339 method. In cultured hepatocytes from EFAD and EFAS mice, VLDL secretion into medium was measured by quantifying [(3)H]-labeled glycerol incorporation into TG and phospholipids. Hepatic expression of genes involved in VLDL synthesis and clearance was measured, as were plasma activities of lipolytic enzymes. TG secretion rates were quantitatively similar in EFAD and EFAS mice in vivo and in primary hepatocytes from EFAD and EFAS mice in vitro. However, EFA deficiency increased the size of secreted VLDL particles, as determined by calculation of particle diameter, particle sizing by light scattering, and evaluation of the TG-to-apoB ratio. EFA deficiency did not inhibit hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase activities in plasma, but increased hepatic mRNA levels of apoAV and apoCII, both involved in control of lipolytic degradation of TG-rich lipoproteins. EFA deficiency does not affect hepatic TG secretion rate in mice, but increases the size of secreted VLDL particles. Present data suggest that hypotriglyceridemia during EFA deficiency is related to enhanced clearance of altered VLDL particles.     

Gamma Oscillations as a Neural Signature of Shifting Times in Narrative Language

Verbs and other temporal expressions allow speakers to specify the location of events in time, as well as to move back and forth in time, shifting in a narrative between past, present and future. The referential flexibility of temporal expressions is well understood in linguistics but its neurocognitive bases remain unknown. We aimed at obtaining a neural signature of shifting times in narrative language. We recorded and analyzed event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and oscillatory responses to the adverb ‘now’ and to the second main verb in Punctual (‘An hour ago the boy stole a candy and now he peeled the fruit’) and Iterative (‘The entire afternoon the boy stole candy and now he peeled the fruit’) contexts. ‘An hour ago’ introduces a time frame that lies entirely in the past, ‘now’ shifts the narrative to the present, and ‘peeled’ shifts it back to the past. These two referential shifts in Punctual contexts are expected to leave very similar traces on neural responses. In contrast, ‘The entire afternoon’ specifies a time frame that may encompass past, present and future, such that both ‘now’ and ‘peeled’ are consistent with it. Here, no time shift is required. We found no difference in ERPs between Punctual and Iterative contexts either at ‘now’ or at the second verb. However, reference shifts modulated oscillatory signals. ‘Now’ and the second verb in Punctual contexts resulted in similar responses: an increase in gamma power with a left-anterior distribution. Gamma bursts were absent in Iterative contexts. We propose that gamma oscillations here reflect the binding of temporal variables to the values allowed by constraints introduced by temporal expressions in discourse.     

一氧化氮与神经血管单元的关联性及相关药物研究进展

一氧化氮（NO）作为一种重要的信号分子,对中枢神经系统具有重要影响。神经血管单元是近年来提出的从整体上描述中枢神经 系统的新概念,NO对中枢系统的作用是多层次多角度的,NO与神经血管单元这个整体及其各组成单元均密切相关。综述NO及其合成酶 的功能,在中枢神经系统疾病中NO与神经血管单元的相互作用关系及以NO信号通路为靶点的相关药物研究进展。     

阿诺碱受体及其亚型2调控因子研究进展

阿诺碱受体(RyR)是心肌细胞等可兴奋细胞中重要的Ca2+释放受体,在维持细胞的兴奋性和生理功能方面起重要作用.研究发现,RyR存在3个亚型,每个亚型都是由4个单体组成的四聚体,后者构成Ca2+释放通道.RyR的结构中有调控因子的结合位点,一些内源性调控因子可影响RyR的构型和Ca2+释放.结合作者的研究,就RyR的结构功能、RyR2的一些重要内源性调控因子及其调控机制做一简要综述.     

A new,three‐dimensionally preserved enantiornithine bird (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from Gansu Province,north‐western China

In recent years, the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation has yielded approximately 100 avian partial skeletons, many with soft‐tissue traces, from sites in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, north‐western China. The most abundant taxon amongst these is the ornithuromorph Gansus yumenensis, but enantiornithines have also been identified in the sample. Here we describe two incomplete, semi‐articulated appendicular skeletons, the first consisting of a partial left pelvic girdle and complete pelvic limb, and the second comprised of a nearly complete right pelvic limb. Both specimens bear characteristics diagnostic of Enantiornithes, and are referred to a new taxon, Qiliania graffini gen. et sp. nov. The exceptional, three‐dimensional preservation of these specimens (compared to the crushed, nearly two‐dimensional condition of most other Early Cretaceous avian fossils) reveals new information regarding enantiornithine anatomy, evolution, and diversity. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 201–219.     

动物特异性基因筛选方法研究的新进展

对动物特异性基因进行筛选和分析,不仅有助于我们对生命本质的探索,而且为基因诊断、治疗和遗传育种提供重要的理论依据。对近几年来,一些传统方法不断被改进,研究者们提出了一些新方法和新策略,并对这些新理论新方法进行总结,为我们的实验和实践提供选择和参考。     

Utilization of amines by yeasts

461 Strains of the yeast collection of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS) were screened for their ability to utilize 9 different amines as a sole carbon and energy source and/or as nitrogen source. A miniaturized technique with microtiter plates was used. None of the primary and methylated amines tested (i.e. methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, tetramethylammonium chloride, choline, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine and benzylamine) were utilized as a carbon and energy source, although the majority of yeasts (86%) were able to utilize one or more of these compounds as a nitrogen source. The ability to utilize ethylamine and higher homologues occurred more frequently than the ability to utilize methylated amines. In almost all genera the utilization of primary and methylated amines was found, with utilizing and non-utilizing species occurring within a genus. The occurrence of specific assimilation patterns of amine utilization among yeasts and the inability of these organisms to utilize amines as a carbon and energy source is discussed.     

改性粉煤灰对废水中镉的吸附作用

以工业固废粉煤灰(FA)为原料,将其与NaOH和Ca(OH)₂混合后,在250 ℃下焙烧1.5 h,制得改性粉煤灰(MFA).利用扫描电镜(SEM)、能量色散X射线光谱仪(EDS)、X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、全自动比表面积分析仪(BET)和傅里叶红外光谱仪(FTIR)等技术分析MFA的理化性质.BET分析表明,MFA的比表面积比FA增大了20.6倍.SEM分析表明,FA表面玻璃相溶解,表面粗糙,具有多孔结构.FTIR分析表明,-OH官能团在Cd²⁺的吸附过程中具有重要作用.静态吸附试验研究表明,当MFA的投加量为0.2 g、Cd²⁺初始浓度为100 mg·L^-1、溶液pH为7、25 ℃下吸附90 min时,Cd²⁺的去除率达到97.3%;共存阳离子(K⁺、Na⁺、Mg²⁺和Ca²⁺)均会抑制MFA对Cd²⁺的吸附,其中Ca²⁺的抑制作用最强.Langmuir等温吸附模型和准二级吸附动力学方程能较好地描述Cd²⁺在MFA上的吸附行为,且最大吸附量为55.77 mg·g^-1.热力学研究表明,MFA对Cd²⁺的吸附是一个自发的吸热过程.MFA吸附能力优于FA,在废水处理方面有一定的应用前景.     

离子束介导玉米DNA影响水稻幼苗根系蛋白水解酶的表达

利用离子束介导法把玉米DNA导入水稻豫粳6号种子胚中,通过复性电泳技术,分析水稻幼苗根系中蛋白水解酶在pH4.5、pH7.0和pH8.5的表达情况.结果表明:(1)在不同pH条件下处理,各蛋白水解酶种类与活性存在差异,酸性、中性、碱性条件下,检到的蛋白水解酶酶带依次增多,酸性条件下酶活性较弱,中性和碱性条件下酶活性较强;(2)在3种pH条件下,离子束辐照处理均有部分蛋白水解酶带缺失,同时,在中性和碱性条件下检出50kD新酶带,说明离子束辐照可影响水稻蛋白水解酶表达;(3)离子束介导玉米DNA水稻幼苗根系中,pH4.5时无新蛋白水解酶酶带检出,pH7.0和pH8.5时均检到多条新酶带且活性较强.说明离子束介导玉米DNA引起水稻幼根蛋白水解酶表达发生变化.