微管的冷稳定性与植物抗寒性关系的研究

利用间接免疫荧光的细胞化学技术对番茄、黄瓜、菠菜、甜菜及小麦等不同抗寒性植物微管的冷稳性进行了比较研究。结果指出,不抗寒的喜温性植物番茄和黄瓜的气孔保卫细胞的微管在0℃—1℃冷处理3小时即解聚;属于中等抗寒性植物的菠菜和甜菜幼苗经秋季低温锻炼后,其气孔保卫细胞的微管在0℃和—5℃低温处理3小时,均不发生解聚;具有较强抗寒性的冬小麦品种农大139幼苗在2—3℃低温锻炼期间,微管结构保持完整,经过15天低温锻炼的幼苗在-8℃冰冻处理3小时,微管也不受破坏。这些结果表明,微管的冷稳性与植物的抗寒性成正相关。     

成人及新生儿颅骨铜和锌含量的初步研究

本文系用原子吸收光谱法测定了西安地区10例成人尸体和15例新生儿尸体的颅盖骨内Cu和zn的含量。结果求得成人颅骨中Cu正常含量(均数±标准差)为4.48±3.78mg/kg(干组织重);zn为597.05±472.54mg/kg。新生儿颅骨中Cu和zn的含量分别为1.96±0.76mg/kg;1160.38±859.71mg/kg。结果表明,成人颅骨内Cu含量高于新生儿,而成人颅骨内Zn含量显著低于新生儿。     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding N alpha-acetyltransferase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Acetylation is the most frequently occurring chemical modification of the alpha-NH2 group of eukaryotic proteins and is catalyzed by an N alpha-acetyltransferase. Recently, a eukaryotic N alpha-acetyltransferase was purified to homogeneity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and its substrate specificity was partially characterized (Lee, F.-J. S., Lin L.-W., and Smith, J. A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14948-14955). This article describes the cloning from a yeast lambda gt11 cDNA library and sequencing of a full length cDNA encoding yeast N alpha-acetyltransferase. DNA blot hybridizations of genomic and chromosomal DNA reveal that the gene (so-called AAA1, amino-terminal, alpha-amino, acetyltransferase) is present as a single copy located on chromosome IV. The use of this cDNA will allow the molecular details of the role of N alpha-acetylation in the sorting and degradation of eukaryotic proteins to be determined.     

Subunit structure of the erythropoietin receptor

Chemical cross-linking of the red blood cell hormone, erythropoietin (Epo), to its receptor on erythroid cells has revealed the presence of two proteins closely associated with Epo, but the relationship between these two proteins is controversial. Using the cross-linking reagents disuccinimidyl suberate and dithiobissuccinimidyl propionate, we show that 125I-Epo can be specifically conjugated in a complex of 224kDa using mouse fetal liver cells, bone marrow cells, and Friend virus-induced splenic erythroblasts as demonstrated by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the 224-kDa complex appeared as two Epo conjugates of 136 kDa and 119 kDa, and these bands were also observed to a variable extent in some nonreducing gels. Disulfide linking of the 136-kDa and 119-kDa bands was confirmed by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis run under nonreducing followed by reducing conditions. With increasing time of 125I-Epo binding to Friend virus erythroblasts in the presence of sodium azide to inhibit receptor internalization, the 136-kDa and 119-kDa bands seen under reducing conditions increased markedly in intensity, whereas the 224-kDa band seen under nonreducing conditions declined. These results suggest that the 224-kDa Epo conjugate is inefficiently solubilized under nonreducing conditions following prolonged periods of Epo binding. A single class of saturable, high affinity receptors for Epo on each of the cell types tested is demonstrated. It is concluded that the two disulfide-linked Epo-binding proteins which can be independently cross-linked to Epo form a single ligand binding site.     

Activities of the pentose phosphate pathway and enzymes of proline metabolism in legume root nodules

Based on localization and high activities of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase and proline dehydrogenase activities in soybean nodules, we previously suggested two major roles for pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase in addition to the production of the considerable quantity of proline needed for biosynthesis; namely, transfer of energy to the location of biological N₂ fixation, and production of NADP⁺ to drive the pentose phosphate pathway. The latter produces ribose-5-phosphate which can be used in de novo purine synthesis required for synthesis of ureides, the major form in which biologically fixed N₂ is transported from soybean root nodules to the plant shoot. In this paper, we report rapid induction (in soybean nodules) and exceptionally high activities (in nodules of eight species of N₂-fixing plants) of pentose phosphate pathway and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase. There was a marked increase in proline dehydrogenase activity during soybean (Glycine max) ontogeny. The magnitude of proline dehydrogenase activity in bacteroids of soybean nodules was sufficiently high during most of the time course to supply a significant fraction of the energy requirement for N₂ fixation. Proline dehydrogenase activity in bacteroids from nodules of other species was also high. These observations support the above hypothesis. However, comparison of pentose phosphate pathway and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activities of ureide versus amide-exporting nodules offers no support. The hypothesis predicts that pyrroline-5-carboxylate and pentose phosphate pathway activities should be higher in ureide-exporting nodules than in amide-exporting nodules. This predicted distinction was not observed in the results of in vitro assays of these activities.     

Purification, characterization, and amino terminal sequence of xylose reductase from Candida shehatae.

D-Xylose is a major component of the carbohydrates derived from agricultural residues and forest products. Among more than two hundred known xylose-utilizing yeasts, only a few species are known to be able to ferment xylose anaerobically. Candida shehatae is one of such xylose-fermenting yeasts. Xylose reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.21) is a key enzyme responsible for xylose metabolism in xylose-utilizing as well as xylose-fermenting yeasts. In this paper, we report the development of a convenient and reliable procedure for the purification of xylose reductase from C. shehatae to near homogeneity. The amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of the enzyme have also been analyzed. C. shehatae seems to contain only a single xylose reductase, but the enzyme has a dual coenzyme specificity for both NADPH and NADH. The enzyme is remarkably stable at room temperature and 4 degrees C.     

Cellular gene expression in papillomas of the choroid plexus from transgenic mice that express the simian virus 40 large T antigen.

Transgenic mice that contain the simian virus 40 (SV40) enhancer-promoter and large tumor (T) antigen gene develop papillomas of the choroid plexus. The tumors remain well differentiated on histological examination and express normal levels of tissue-specific mRNAs for transthyretin (TTR) and the 5-HT1C serotonin receptor, two differentiated cell markers. Both Northern (RNA) blot analysis and in situ cytohybridization have been used to monitor the steady-state levels of the mRNAs from the viral oncogene (T antigen) and from several cellular oncogenes. In situ hybridization demonstrated, in serial sections, increased levels of both T antigen mRNA and p53 mRNA localized in the tumor tissue but not in the normal brain tissue. The ratios of the steady-state levels of mRNA for p53/TTR and p53/L32, a ribosomal protein gene, were 2- to 20-fold higher in the tumor tissue than in the normal choroid plexus tissue. Several other oncogenes did not show elevated levels of mRNA in these tumors. p53 protein levels were not detectable in normal brain tissue, but p53 levels were very high in tumor tissue in which all of the p53 was found in a complex with the SV40 large T antigen. These data continue to show a close relationship between SV40 T-antigen-mediated tumorigenesis and the role of p53 in these tumors.