Conformational differences between cis and trans proline isomers of a peptide antigen representing the receptor binding domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as studied by 1H-nmr

A 17-residue disulfide-bridged peptide (PAK 128–144) corresponding to the C-terminus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pilin strain K has been studied by one- and two-dimensional nmr techniques. This synthetic immunogen has been found to exist as two distinct conformations in solution, which have been demonstrated to arise as a result of the isomerization of the I¹³⁸-P¹³⁹ amide bond. The two isomers occur in the ratio of 3 : 1 trans to cis at 5°C. Sequential assignments for both forms have been accomplished through the use of nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) spectra and most side-chain resonances have been assigned using a combination of correlated spectroscopy, total correlated spectroscopy, and NOESY spectra. The presence of the cis isomer, which is considerably more predominant in the oxidized peptide, was confirmed by the observation of the characteristic NOEs between P¹³⁹ and the preceding residue. Further corroboration was given by the disappearance of the cis resonances in the spectrum of the P139A analogue of PAK 128–144. From observation of the differences in the chemical shifts and amide proton temperature coefficients of the two isomers, it is apparent that the two forms differ markedly in their solution conformation. The biological implications of the isomerization are discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Identification of stable fly attractant compounds in vinasse,a byproduct of sugarcane–ethanol distillation

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is a worldwide pest of livestock. Recent outbreaks of stable flies in sugarcane fields in Brazil have become a serious problem for livestock producers. Larvae and pupae found inside sugarcane stems after harvesting may indicate that stable flies use these stems as potential oviposition or larval development sites. Field observations suggest that outbreaks of stable flies are associated with the vinasse and filter cake derived from biomass distillation in sugarcane ethanol production that are used as fertilizers in sugarcane fields. Adult stable flies are attracted to vinasse, which appears to present an ideal larval development site. The primary goal of the present study is to demonstrate the role of vinasse in influencing the sensory physiological and behavioural responses of stable flies, and to identify its associated volatile attractant compounds. Both laboratory and field studies showed that vinasse is extremely attractive to adult stable flies. Chemical analyses of volatiles collected revealed a wide range of carboxylic acids, alcohols, phenols and aldehydes as potential attractant compounds. These newly identified attractants could be used to develop a tool for the attractant‐baited mass trapping of stable flies in order to reduce infestations.     

Inductive Capacities for the Dorsal Mesoderm of the Dorsal Marginal Zone and Pharyngeal Endoderm in the Very Early Gastrula of the Newt,and Presumptive Pharyngeal Endoderm as an Initiator of the Organization Center*

The organization center of Cynops pyrrhogaster was divided into Parts 1, 2 and 3 of equal size (0.3×0.4 mm²) with presumptive fates as pharyngeal, pharyngeal+prechordal+trunk notochord, and trunk-tail notochord, respectively. Movements and changes in size and shape of each part were followed through gastrulation. Differentiation tendencies of each part were examined under three conditions: I, isolated; II, sandwiched with presumptive ectoderm; 111, sandwiched with presumptive ectoderm after preculture in isolation for various times. In I, Parts 2 and 3 differentiated into dorsal mesoderm. In II, each part induced dorsal mesoderm and neural tissues, the frequency being highest in Part 2 and lowest in Part 3. In III, Parts 1 and 2 realized their presumptive fates, through changes in inductive capacities from trunk-tail to head. This change progressed rapidly in Part 1, and slowly in Part 2. Part 3 required induction by neighbouring Part 2 to realize its presumptive fate. Changes of inductive capacity of Parts 1 and 2 respectively, were chronologically similar in normal development and in preculture experiments. Lastly, the primary presumptive pharyngeal zone at blastula was proposed to act as an initiator of the organization center, its programmed information being transmitted to Part 2, and then to Part 3.     

骨软骨复合支架的研究进展

软骨的修复是当前医学界十分棘手的难题,人们采取若干手段均收效甚微。由于软骨缺损时,其下的软骨下骨常出现硬化、退变,而新生软骨是无法与病变的软骨下骨进行整合的,所以在修复软骨的同时,必须重视软骨下骨的修复。近十几年来,人们开始发明和利用各种骨软骨复合支架,进行同时修复软骨与软骨下骨的动物实验研究。在正常骨软骨组织中,软骨与软骨下骨被钙化层所相连,此外钙化层也将软骨与软骨下骨分隔在不同的生存环境中。根据仿生学原理,人们又设计出一种带有隔离层的新型骨软骨复合支架,并取得了较为理想的实验结果。本文就国内外骨软骨复合支架的研完进展作一综述。     

Structure of the regulatory N-domain of human cardiac troponin C in complex with human cardiac troponin I147-163 and bepridil

Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) is the Ca(2+)-dependent switch for contraction in heart muscle and a potential target for drugs in the therapy of heart failure. Ca(2+) binding to the regulatory domain of cTnC (cNTnC) induces little structural change but sets the stage for cTnI binding. A large "closed" to "open" conformational transition occurs in the regulatory domain upon binding cTnI(147-163) or bepridil. This raises the question of whether cTnI(147-163) and bepridil compete for cNTnC.Ca(2+). In this work, we used two-dimensional (1)H,(15)N-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR spectroscopy to examine the binding of bepridil to cNTnC.Ca(2+) in the absence and presence of cTnI(147-163) and of cTnI(147-163) to cNTnC.Ca(2+) in the absence and presence of bepridil. The results show that bepridil and cTnI(147-163) bind cNTnC.Ca(2+) simultaneously but with negative cooperativity. The affinity of cTnI(147-163) for cNTnC.Ca(2+) is reduced approximately 3.5-fold by bepridil and vice versa. Using multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy, we have determined the structure of the cNTnC.Ca(2+).cTnI(147-163).bepridil ternary complex. The structure reveals a binding site for cTnI(147-163) primarily located on the A/B interhelical interface and a binding site for bepridil in the hydrophobic pocket of cNTnC.Ca(2+). In the structure, the N terminus of the peptide clashes with part of the bepridil molecule, which explains the negative cooperativity between cTnI(147-163) and bepridil for cNTnC.Ca(2+). This structure provides insights into the features that are important for the design of cTnC-specific cardiotonic drugs, which may be used to modulate the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the myofilaments in heart muscle contraction.     

应用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术分析河西走廊地区盐碱土壤微生物多样性

【目的】以甘肃省河西走廊地区的9个盐碱土壤样品(原生盐碱土、次生盐碱土、农田土)为材料,研究该地区盐碱土壤中微生物群落的多样性。【方法】提取土壤微生物总DNA,应用Illumina Mi Seq高通量测序技术进行分析。【结果】从分布在河西走廊3个流域的9个盐碱土样品中共获得325 089条微生物的16S r RNA基因序列。冗余分析和热图分析表明,原生盐碱土与次生盐碱土、原生盐碱土与农田土微生物群落构成差异较大,次生盐碱土与农田土微生物群落差异较小。土壤p H对微生物群落组成的影响最显著。多样性指数和稀释性曲线分析得出,在9个土壤样品中,S6号Shannon指数最大,S1号Shannon指数最小,S1号Simpson指数最大,S6号Simpson指数最小,说明原生盐碱土的微生物群落多样性最低,次生盐碱土的微生物群落多样性最高。盐碱土壤中主要的微生物群落包括9个门,其中变形菌门占主导地位,其余依次是放线菌门、拟杆菌门、酸杆菌门、浮霉菌门、绿弯菌门、芽单胞菌门、厚壁菌门和疣微菌门。原生盐碱土和农田土中占优势的微生物群落是变形菌门,次生盐碱土中占优势的微生物群落是放线菌门。【结论】河西走廊地区盐碱土壤中微生物多样性非常丰富,存在大量的微生物类群,尤其是在次生盐碱土壤中。     

Modification of the Recalde method for the isolation of human monocytes

A modification of the method for monocyte isolation reported by Recalde (1984. J. Immunol. Methods. 69: 71-77) is described. Application of the modified method to 36 consecutive healthy adult donors gave a monocyte purity of 73 +/- 8% monocytes with less than 1% polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a yield of 3.44 +/- 0.93 x 10(5) monocytes/ml blood. While the monocyte purity of the modified Recalde method was lower than that obtained by elutriation (method BB in Fogelman et al. 1981. J. Lipid Res. 22: 1131-1141) in 15 donors (71 +/- 10% vs. 83 +/- 6%) the monocyte yield and the viability of the cells before and after culture were similar in both methods. The modified Recalde method does not require the expensive or complicated equipment required for elutriation and permits the isolation of human monocytes for culture in autologous serum from multiple donors in a single day.     

Human CC chemokine I-309, structural consequences of the additional disulfide bond

I-309 is a member of the CC subclass of chemokines and is one of only three human chemokines known to contain an additional, third disulfide bond. The three-dimensional solution structure of I-309 was determined by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dynamic simulated annealing. The structure of I-309, which remains monomeric at high concentrations, was determined on the basis of 978 experimental restraints. The N-terminal region of I-309 was disordered, as has been previously observed for the CC chemokine eotaxin but not others such as MCP-1 and RANTES. This was followed in I-309 by a well-ordered region between residues 13 and 69 that consisted of a 3(10)-helix, a triple-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, and finally a C-terminal alpha-helix. Root-mean-square deviations of 0.61 and 1.16 were observed for the backbone and heavy atoms, respectively. A comparison of I-309 to eotaxin and HCC-2 revealed a significant structural change in the C-terminal region of the protein. The alpha-helix normally present in chemokines was terminated early and was followed by a short section of extended strand. These changes were a direct result of the additional disulfide bond present in this protein. An examination of the I-309 structure will aid in an understanding of the specificity of this protein with its receptor, CCR8.     

Acetylcholine release and choline uptake by cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) optic lobe synaptosomes

Acetylcholine (ACh), which is synthesized from choline (Ch), is believed to hold a central place in signaling mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and other coleoid cephalopods. Although the main elements required for cholinergic function have been identified in cephalopods, the transmembrane translocation events promoting the release of ACh and the uptake of Ch remain largely unsolved. The ACh release and Ch uptake were quantitatively studied through the use of in vitro chemiluminescence and isotopic methods on a subcellular fraction enriched in synaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from cuttlefish optic lobe. The ACh release evoked by K+ depolarization was found to be very high (0.04 pmol ACh.s(-1).mg(-1) protein). In response to stimulation by veratridine, a secretagogue (a substance that induces secretion) that targets voltage-gated Na+ channels, the release rate and the total amount of ACh released were significantly lower, by 10-fold, than the response induced by KCl. The high-affinity uptake of choline was also very high (31 pmol Ch.min(-1).mg(-1) protein). The observed ACh release and Ch uptake patterns are in good agreement with published data on preparations characterized by high levels of ACh metabolism, adding further evidence that ACh acts as a neurotransmitter in cuttlefish optic lobe.