Matching nucleotide sequences of human antibodies with other known sequences

From an evolutionary point of view, the complementarity-determining regions of antibodies are distinct from other proteins including the framework regions of antibodies. A search for identical nucleotide sequences of eighty-four 15 consecutive bp in the complementary-determining regions of human antibody heavy chains with other known sequences yielded four matches: two sequential 15-bp matches, or one 16-bp match, with the coding region of a sea-urchin testis histone H2b-2, one 15-bp match with the promotor region of a cauliflower mosaic virus inclusion body protein, and a 15-bp match with an intron between exons 1 and 2 of human factor IX. As a control, an identical search of eighty-four 15 consecutive bp in the framework regions of human antibody heavy chains yielded no matches with other sequences except those from other antibody framework regions. Since the currently available nucleotide sequence database used in the search consisted of about 1 x 10(7) bp, finding such matches in the complementarity-determining regions might not be random.     

A method for purification of bacterial R-type lipopolysaccharides (lipooligosaccharides)

A new gel filtration method was developed for purification of R-type lipopolysaccharides (lipooligosaccharides) from some nonenteric gram-negative bacteria, including Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Bordetella pertussis. These wild-type lipooligosaccharides are poorly extractable by the phenol-chloroform-ether extraction method of C. Galanos, O. Luderitz, and O. Westphal [1969) Eur. J. Biochem. 9, 245-249) and therefore a new procedure was developed for their isolation. The lipooligosaccharides (LOS) were first extracted by hot phenol-water, treated with RNase, then disaggregated in deoxycholic acid, and purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. By comparison the conventional hot phenol-water purification method using repeated ultracentrifugations yielded less LOS. The yield of LOS by gel filtration was 30 to 108% higher and the purity was better.     

Analysis of Escherichia coli K12 F factor transfer genes: traQ, trbA, and trbB

The genes that encode the transfer properties of plasmid F, the fertility factor of Escherichia coli K12, are known to be clustered over a large, 33.3-kb segment of F DNA. As the central segment of the transfer region has not previously been well characterized, we constructed a detailed restriction map of the large F EcoRI DNA fragment, fl, and isolated a series of plasmid derivatives that carry various overlapping segments of this F tra operon DNA. We also analyzed the protein products of those clones that carried DNA segments extending over the region between traF and traH. This region was known to include traQ, a gene required for efficient conversion of the direct product of traA to the 7000-Da pilin polypeptide. We identified the traQ product as a polypeptide that migrates as a 12,500-Da protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. We also detected the products of two other new genes that we have named trbA and trbB. These polypeptides migrate with apparent molecular weights of 14,200 and 18,400, respectively. Analysis of plasmid deletion derivatives that we constructed in vitro shows that these genes map in the order traF trbA traQ trbB traH. The presence of a plasmid carrying a small 0.43-kb fragment that expressed only the 12,500 traQ product caused the traA product of a co-resident compatible plasmid to be converted to the 7000-Da pilin polypeptide, demonstrating that TraQ is the only tra operon product required for this step of F-pilin biosynthesis.     

A single dose of recombinant VSV-RABVG vaccine provides full protection against RABV challenge

Highlights:
1. A replication-competent recombinant VSV with RABV-G protein replacement was generated.
2. Single dose of VSV-RABVG immunization induce potent antigen-specific humoral immune response, especially the virus neutralizing antibodies.
3. Mice intranasally immunized with single dose of VSV-RABVG were 100% protected upon RABV challenge.     

高温大曲中地衣芽胞杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis CGMCC 3963)的耐高温特征

【目的】高温大曲的使用是中国酱香型白酒酿造的特征之一,耐高温的细菌是高温大曲中重要的优势功能菌,它们对酱香型白酒的酿造具有重要的价值。研究高温大曲中细菌的耐高温特征对于认识酱香型白酒的酿造特征具有一定的作用。【方法】本文以中国白酒高温大曲中筛选获得的一株具有自主知识产权的耐高温功能细菌地衣芽胞杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)CGMCC 3963为对象,测定其耐高温特征,并首次通过细胞形态学的分析,以及转录组学等技术的应用系统研究了B.licheniformis CGMCC 3963的耐高温机制。【结果】地衣芽胞杆菌B.licheniformis CGMCC 3963能够耐受55℃高温生长。在高温条件下,该菌仍具有较旺盛的代谢生长能力,且产生大量荚膜,同时大量I类热休克蛋白基因以及聚谷氨酸合成基因的表达水平均得到明显提高。【结论】B.licheniformis CGMCC 3963在高温下,I类热休克蛋白以及以聚谷氨酸为主要成分的荚膜大量产生,对功能细菌耐高温具有重要的作用。该结果首次从分子水平认识了中国白酒酿造微生物的耐高温特征,丰富了白酒酿造微生物学的科学理论。     

Expression of the alpha and beta tubulin genes of the African trypanosome in Escherichia coli

The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, contains multiple genes for both alpha- and beta-tubulins, which code for similar if not identical proteins. Studies of the structure and function of trypanosome microtubules have been limited due to the difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of purified tubulin. To produce large amounts of purified tubulin for studies of structure and function and to begin developing a system for producing systematic alterations of tubulin structure we have cloned and expressed the alpha- and beta-tubulin genes of T. brucei in Escherichia coli to produce the unfused proteins. Controlled high-level expression of both alpha- and beta-tubulin was achieved using a plasmid vector, pOTS, in which expression is controlled by phage lambda promoter/operator and a temperature-sensitive lambda repressor. The tubulins produced are insoluble, as has been found for many other proteins expressed to high levels in E. coli; they are readily purified to near homogeneity by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in 7 M urea. N-terminal analysis of the purified proteins indicates that they are initiated correctly and that the N-formyl group is removed from the initiating methionine. This factor will probably prove important in the reconstitution of biologically active tubulin.     

Studying bona fide SARS-CoV-2 biology in a BSL-2 biosafety environment using a split-virus-genome system

<正>Dear Editor,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARSCoV-2) was identified as the pathogen causing the coronavirus disease(COVID-19), which sometimes resulted in fatal pneumonia(Hu et al., 2021). SARS-CoV-2 is a biosafety level 3(BSL-3) pathogen, and the requirement for high containment conditions is a bottleneck for basic research on viral biology.     

供氮水平对盐胁迫下水稻叶片光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

为了解供氮水平对不同时期盐胁迫下水稻(Oryza sativa)叶片光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响, 以2个北方常规粳稻(Oryza sativa subsp. japonica)品种为材料, 在5个氮水平下进行培养, 于分蘖期、孕穗期和抽穗期分别进行盐胁迫处理, 测定分析了水稻叶片光合及叶绿素荧光参数的变化。结果表明, 与对照相比, 盐胁迫下水稻叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)和表观叶肉导度(AMC)均显著降低, 在分蘖期、孕穗期和抽穗期分别以2N、1N和1/2N水平下降低的百分率最小; 气孔限制值(L_s)则显著增加, 分别以2N、1N和1/2N水平下增加的百分率最大。盐胁迫下, 与对照相比, PSII的实际光合效率(ΦPSII)、表观光合量子传递效率(ETR)和光化学淬灭(qP)均显著降低, 在分蘖期、孕穗期和抽穗期分别以2N、1N和1/2N水平下降低的百分率最小; 非光化学淬灭(NPQ)呈增加的变化趋势, 与对照相比, 分别以2N、1N和1/2N水平下增加的百分率最小。以上结果说明盐胁迫下水稻孕穗后, 供氮水平适量降低有利于减缓叶片光合作用的下降, 提高其抵御盐害能力。     

中国羚牛分类、分布的研究

羚牛(Budorcas taxicolor)这种大型偶蹄类仅产于亚洲,它的个体大小可与云南野牛(Bos gaurus)及青藏高原的牦牛(Bos grunniens)相比,但体型又酷似羊类,特别是它具有隆起的吻鼻、低矮的臀部、成兽下颌的长须以及短小的尾巴,给人以似牛非牛、似羊非羊的印象。 羚牛体型粗壮,成兽体重约200—300公斤,体长在1.8—2.1米,四肢健壮有力,肩高一般在1.3—1.4米之间。肩高大于臀高。雌雄皆具角,一般雄角较粗大。角形特别,先由头顶略靠内侧向上长出,然后以90°方向向外侧弯曲,在角的1/2处又向后方弯转,