The NADP-linked glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases of Anabaena variabilis and Synechocystis PCC 6803, which lack one of the cysteines found in the higher plant enzyme,are not reductively activated

Light activation of NADP-linked glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase involves reductive cleavage of a disulfide bond. We have proposed that the inactivating disulfide locks the two domains of the enzyme, preventing catalysis, and we have tentatively identified the two critical cysteine residues in the chloroplast enzyme (D. Li, F.J. Stevens, M. Schiffer and L.E. Anderson (1994) Biophys J. 67: 29–35). We reasoned that if activation of this enzyme involves these cysteines that enzymes lacking one or both should be active in the dark and insensitive to reductants. One of these cysteines is present in the enzymes from Anabaena variabilis and Synechocystis PCC 6803 but the other is not. Consistent with the proposed mechanism, glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase is not affected by DTT-treatment in extracts of either of these cyanobacteria. Fructosebisphosphatase is DTT-activated in extracts of both of these cyanobacteria and glucose-6-P dehydrogenase is inactivated in Synechocystis, as in higher plant chloroplasts. Apparently reductive modulation is possible in these cyanobacteria but glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase is not light activated.     

Evidence for selective effects of vanadium on adipose cell metabolism involving actions on cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The insulin-like effects of vanadiumin vivo are likely to be achieved at micromolar concentrations. Demonstrated effects of vanadium on adipose tissue of streptozotocin-diabetic rats include inhibition of basal and stimulated rates of lipolysis and effects on fat cell protein phosphorylation. The studies described below examined the effects of vanadium (to a maximum concentration of 0.5 mM) on adipose cells or tissuein vitro. Vanadium, added as a vanadyl-albumin complex or as sodium orthovanadate, produced a marked (greater than 50%) inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. Inhibition of lipolysis equivalent to that seen with insulin, was achieved with 100 M vanadium. In contrast, no insulin-like stimulation ofde novo fatty acid biosynthesis was observed with vanadium below 0.5 mM. Surprisingly, the antilipolytic effects of vanadium persisted in the presence of cilostamide, an inhibitor of the insulin-sensitive isoform of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Studies with purified preparations of the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase revealed dose-dependent inhibition with vanadyl-glutathione (to a maximum of 40% inhibition). Equivalent inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of Kemptide (50%) was observed upon incubation of freshly-prepared fat-pad supernatant fractions with vanadyl-glutathione. These results suggest that effects of low concentrations of vanadium may be mediated, at least in part, by actions on the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

中国中生代晚期蛇蛉化石研究（蛇蛉目：巴依萨蛇蛉科,中蛇蛉科,异蛇蛉科）

本文根据最新采获的保存完好的蛇蛉化石,对中国古生代晚期蛇蛉化石巴依萨蛇蛉科,中蛇蛉科和异蛇蛉科的有关属种的构造特征,分类位置和异我进行新的补充和厘定,建立４个新属：野蛇蛉属Ｒｕｄｉｒａｐｈｉｄｉａ ｇｅｎ。ｎｏｖ,小蛇蛉属Ｍｉｏｒａｐｈｉｄｉａ ｇｅｎ。ｎｏｖ。普蛇蛉属Ｘｙｎｏｒａｐｈｉｄｉａ ｇｅｎ。ｎｏｖ。丽蛇蛉属Ｃａｌｏｒａｐｈｉｄｉａ ｇｅｎ,ｎｏｖ;７个新种;美脉巴依萨蛇蛉Ｂａｉｓｓｏｐ     

Genetic Analysis of Parasitism in the Soybean Cyst Nematode Heterodera Glycines

A genetic analysis of parasitic ability in the soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines was performed. To identify and characterize genes involved in parasitism, we developed three highly inbred H. glycines lines, OP20, OP25 and OP50, for use as parents for controlled crosses. Through these crosses, we have identified genes in the inbred parents that control reproduction of the nematode on hosts that carry resistance genes. These genes, designated as ror-* for reproduction on a resistant host, segregate in a normal Mendelian fashion as independent loci. Host range tests of F(1) generation progeny indicated that at least one parasitism gene in both the OP20 and OP50 lines for host PI 88788 was dominant. Parasitism genes in OP50 for hosts ``Peking' and PI 90763 are recessive. Two types of single female descent populations, a single backcrossed BC(1)F(2)-derived and a double backcrossed BC(2)F(1)-derived, were established on the susceptible soybean cultivar ``Lee 68.' Host range tests for parasitism in these lines demonstrated the presence of two independent genes in OP50, one for host PI 88788 designated ror-1 and one for host PI 90763 designated ror-2. OP20 carries two independent genes for parasitism on PI 88788, designated as alleles kr3 and kr4.     

Genetics of Soybean-Heterodera glycines Interactions

The soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, is one of the most economically important pathogens of soybean. Effective management of the nematode is often dependent on the planting of resistant soybean cultivars. During the past 40 years, more than 60 soybean genotypes and plant introductions (PI) have been reported as resistant to H. glycines. About 130 modern soybean cultivars registered in the United States are resistant to certain races of H. glycines. Several resistance genes have been identified and genetically mapped; however, resistance levels in many soybean cultivars are not durable. Some older cultivars are no longer resistant to certain H. glycines populations in many production areas, especially if a soybean monoculture has been practiced. Past soybean registration reports show that all resistant cultivars developed in public institutions from the mid-1960s to the present have been derived from five PIs. This narrow genetic background is fragile. To further complicate the issue, soybean-H. glycines genetic interactions are complex and poorly understood. Studies to identify soybean resistance genes sometimes have overlapped, and the same genes may have been reported several times and designated by different names. Nevertheless, many potential resistance genes in existing germplasm resources have not yet been characterized. Clearly, it is necessary to identify new resistance genes, develop more precise selection methods, and integrate these resistance genes into new cultivars. Rational deployment of resistant cultivars is critical to future sustained soybean production.     

Characterization of progenies of Triticum aestivum- Psathyrostachys juncea derivatives by using genomic in-situ hybridization

Using genomicin-situ hybridization (GISH) technique, 7 translocation-addition lines, 6 translocation and translocation-addition lines, 2 ditelosomic addition lines and 1 translocation line were identified fromTriticum aestivum L. -Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski intergeneric hybrids, of which translocation-addition and translocation and translocation-addition lines were not found in other reports. No substitutions and disornic additions were detected in the, hybrids and breakages occurred in allP. juncea chromosomes studied. Results have shown that the improved GISH technique is a rapid and economical method for use in this field.     

Localization of the enzymes involved in H2 and formate metabolism inSyntrophospora bryantii

Cell-free extracts of crotonate-grown cells of the syntrophic butyrate-oxidizing bacteriumSyntrophospora bryantii contained high hydrogenase activities (8.5–75.8 µmol · min^–1 mg^–1 protein) and relatively low formate dehydrogenase activities (0.04–0.07 µmol · min^–1 mg^–1 protein). The K _M value and threshold value of the hydrogenase for H₂ were 0.21 mM and 18 µM, respectively, whereas the K _M value and threshold value of the formate dehydrogenase for formate were 0.22 mM and 10 µM, respectively. Hydrogenase, butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase and 3-OH-butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase were detected in the cytoplasmic fraction. Formate dehydrogenase and CO₂ reductase were membrane-bound, likely located at the outer aspect of the cytoplasmic membrane. Results suggest that during syntrophic butyrate oxidation H₂ is formed intracellularly while formate is formed at the outside of the cell.     

Crystallization,molecular replacement solution,and refinement of tetrameric β-amylase from sweet potato

Sweet potato β-amylase is a tetramer of identical subunits, which are arranged to exhibit 222 molecular symmetry. Its subunit consists of 498 amino acid residues (Mr 55,880). It has been crystallized at room temperature using polyethylene glycol 1500 as precipitant. The crystals, growing to dimensions of 0.4 mm × 0.4 mm × 1.0 mm within 2 weeks, belong to the tetragonal space group P4₂2₁2 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 129.63 Å and c = 68.42 Å. The asymmetric unit contains 1 subunit of β-amylase, with a crystal volume per protein mass (V_M) of 2.57 ų/Da and a solvent content of 52% by volume. The three-dimensional structure of the tetrameric β-amylase from sweet potato has been determined by molecular replacement methods using the monomeric structure of soybean enzyme as the starting model. The refined subunit model contains 3,863 nonhydrogen protein atoms (488 amino acid residues) and 319 water oxygen atoms. The current R-value is 20.3% for data in the resolution range of 8–2.3 Å (with 2 σ cut-off) with good stereochemistry. The subunit structure of sweet potato β-amylase (crystallized in the absence of α-cyclodextrin) is very similar to that of soybean β-amylase (complexed with α-cyclodextrin). The root-mean-square (RMS) difference for 487 equivalent Cα atoms of the two β-amylases is 0.96 Å. Each subunit of sweet potato β-amylase is composed of a large (α/β)₈ core domain, a small one made up of three long loops [L3 (residues 91–150), LA (residues 183–258), and L5 (residues 300–327)], and a long C-terminal loop formed by residues 445–493. Conserved Glu 187, believed to play an important role in catalysis, is located at the cleft between the (α/β)₈ barrel core and a small domain made up of three long loops (L3, L4, and L5). Conserved Cys 96, important in the inactivation of enzyme activity by sulfhydryl reagents, is located at the entrance of the (α/β)₈ barrel. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.