Peptides of type II collagen can induce the cleavage of type II collagen and aggrecan in articular cartilage.

The objective of this study was to determine whether a fragment(s) of type II collagen can induce cartilage degradation. Fragments generated by cyanogen bromide (CB) cleavage of purified bovine type II collagen were separated by HPLC. These fragments together with selected overlapping synthetic peptides were first analysed for their capacity to induce cleavage of type II collagen by collagenases in chondrocyte and explant cultures of healthy adult bovine articular cartilage. Collagen cleavage was measured by immunoassay and degradation of proteoglycan (mainly aggrecan) was determined by analysis of cleavage products of core protein by Western blotting. Gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-13 and MMP-1 was measured using Real-time PCR. Induction of denaturation of type II collagen in situ in cartilage matrix with exposure of the CB domain was identified with a polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that only react with this domain in denatured but not native type II collagen. As well as the mixture of CB fragments and peptide CB12, a single synthetic peptide CB12-II (residues 195-218), but not synthetic peptide CB12-IV (residues 231-254), potently and consistently induced in explant cultures at 10 microM and 25 microM, in a time, cell and dose dependent manner, collagenase-induced cleavage of type II collagen accompanied by upregulation of MMP-13 expression but not MMP-1. In isolated chondrocyte cultures CB12-II induced very limited upregulation of MMP-13 as well as MMP-1 expression. Although this was accompanied by concomitant induction of cleavage of type II collagen by collagenases, this was not associated by aggrecan cleavage. Peptide CB12-IV, which had no effect on collagen cleavage, clearly induced aggrecanase specific cleavage of the core protein of this proteoglycan. Thus these events involving matrix molecule cleavage can importantly occur independently of each other, contrary to popular belief. Denaturation of type II collagen with exposure of the CB12-II domain was also shown to be much increased in osteoarthritic human cartilage compared to non-arthritic cartilage. These observations reveal that peptides of type II collagen, to which there is increased exposure in osteoarthritic cartilage, can when present in sufficient concentration induce cleavage of type II collagen (CB12-II) and aggrecan (CB12-IV) accompanied by increased expression of collagenases. Such increased concentrations of denatured collagen are present in adult and osteoarthritic cartilages and the exposure of chondrocytes to the sequences they encode, either in soluble or more likely insoluble form, may therefore play a role in the excessive resorption of matrix molecules that is seen in arthritis and development.     

不同盐碱类型胁迫对红地球/贝达葡萄植株离子分布的影响

以盆栽红地球/贝达葡萄为试材,定量浇灌NaCl、Na₂SO₄、NaHCO₃、NH₄Cl和(NH₄)₂SO₄,筛选导致葡萄叶片黄化的盐、碱离子,研究不同盐碱类型胁迫对葡萄植株离子分布的影响.结果表明： NaHCO₃对植株影响最大,叶片在处理14 d时出现黄化症状,而NaCl和NH₄Cl处理28 d时出现黄化症状.NaHCO₃和NaCl处理均显著增加了植株各器官中Na^+含量,NaHCO₃处理根中Na⁺含量是对照的 6.4倍;这两种盐处理均降低了除叶片外其他器官中的K⁺含量,NaHCO₃处理显著降低了各器官中K/Na,根中K/Na仅为0.1,NaCl处理降低了除茎外其他器官中K/Na;这两种盐处理还降低了Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Fe²⁺向地上部的运输.NH₄Cl、(NH₄)₂SO₄和Na₂SO₄处理降低了植株各器官中K/Na,以NH₄Cl处理显著.碱性盐NaHCO₃对葡萄叶片黄化影响最大,其次是中性盐NaCl,再次是NH₄Cl,而(NH₄)₂SO₄和Na₂SO₄影响较小.     

The urban heat island and its impact on heat waves and human health in Shanghai

With global warming forecast to continue into the foreseeable future, heat waves are very likely to increase in both frequency and intensity. In urban regions, these future heat waves will be exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, and will have the potential to negatively influence the health and welfare of urban residents. In order to investigate the health effects of the urban heat island (UHI) in Shanghai, China, 30 years of meteorological records (1975–2004) were examined for 11 first- and second-order weather stations in and around Shanghai. Additionally, automatic weather observation data recorded in recent years as well as daily all-cause summer mortality counts in 11 urban, suburban, and exurban regions (1998–2004) in Shanghai have been used. The results show that different sites (city center or surroundings) have experienced different degrees of warming as a result of increasing urbanization. In turn, this has resulted in a more extensive urban heat island effect, causing additional hot days and heat waves in urban regions compared to rural locales. An examination of summer mortality rates in and around Shanghai yields heightened heat-related mortality in urban regions, and we conclude that the UHI is directly responsible, acting to worsen the adverse health effects from exposure to extreme thermal conditions.     

Seed bank versus seed rain in the regeneration of a tropical pioneer tree

Summary We used the tropical pioneer tree, Cecropia obtusifolia to evaluate the relative importance of different sources of seeds in the regeneration of species that depend on ephemeral sites. We studied seed production in a population established in a 5 ha plot, and dispersal, dormancy and seed predation in two recent treefall gaps (<1 year-old), two building or successional forest patches (10–15 since disturbed), and two mature forest patches (>35 years since disturbed) for a one year period at Los Tuxtlas (Mexico). Flowers and fruits were counted at monthly intervals. Annual fecundity per tree ranged from 1.4×10⁴ to 1.4×10⁷ seeds. Seeds were continuously available on the trees and on the ground. Average annual seed rain per m² (as measured by 0.5×0.5 m seed traps) varied from 184 to 1925 among the six sites. Distance to nearest seed source and patch type explained more than 60% of the seed rain variation among sites. Soil seed density, estimated by counting seeds from ten samples (78.5 cm²×10 cm deep) collected from each site in October and January, ranged among the six sites from 269 to 4485 seeds per m² in January and from 204 to 5073 in October. Soil seed viabilities were much lower (17.1% in October and 5.1% in January) than those of rain seeds (48.26%). Annual survivorships of 2.2% were estimated for seeds artificially sown on the soil surface of a gap and a mature patch, and 3.75% in a building patch. In two other experiments seed removal rates ranged from 27% to 98% in 4 days. Removal rates were significantly higher in gap and mature patches than in building patches. Ants (Paratrechina vividula) and grasshopper nymphs (Hygronemobius. sp.) were the main predators. We draw three main conclusions from our data: (1) Pathogens and predators determine low survivorship of C. obtusifolia's seeds in the soil and a rapid turnover rate (1.07 to 1.02 years) of its seed bank; (2) a continuous and copious seed production and an abundant and extensive seed rain replenish the soil seed pool in patches with different disturbance ages at least up to 86 m from nearest source; (3) more than 90% of the seeds contributing to C. obtusifolia seedling recruitment in gaps are less than one year-old. We discuss our results in the context of previous similar studies for tropical forests.     

数量遗传学中一种新的求综合性状的方法

本文运用申农(Shannon)提供的最大熵原理,提出一种构成单一综合性状的新方法,并以此与数量遗传学中的多元统计法作了比较。在作多元遗传分析吋,常用多元统计法求出多个数量性状的综合性状,再对这些相互关联的基本性状作主成份分析或用典范相关进行遗传分析。本文提出了不同于多元统计学的另一种新的方法——最大熵法求出多个数量性状的单一综合性状值。它具有数学结构简单,过程明晰,结果简明等优点。     

聚乙二醇二缩水甘油醚交联氨基载体LX-1000EA固定化脂肪酶 *

聚乙二醇二缩水甘油醚(PEGDGE)作为双功能环氧试剂,在实验中被用于交联氨基载体LX-1000EA共价固定化海洋脂肪酶,经过处理后的载体共价固定化脂肪酶具有良好的效果。实验经过单因素初筛和正交试验,得到最佳的交联及固定化条件为0.75%交联剂浓度、交联温度35℃、交联时间3h、载体量1.25g、pH9.0、固定化温度55℃、固定化时间1h。对LX-1000EA-PEGDGE固定化酶与游离酶、戊二醛(GA)交联LX-1000HA-GA的固定化酶进行酶学性质的比较,发现LX-1000EA- PEGDGE固定化酶较游离酶最适反应温度未改变,与LX-1000HA-GA相同的是最适反应pH都由7.0提高为8.0。在最适条件中所测LX-1000EA-PEGDGE酶活达到78.84U/g,固定化改变了游离酶的酸碱耐受性,热稳定性和操作稳定性较游离酶和LX-1000HA-GA固定化酶均有提高。LX-1000EA-PEGDGE的热稳定表现优异,在60℃孵育3h后保留90%酶活;使用5次后仍能残余50%酶活;保存30天酶活仍保留60%。首次使用新型双环氧交联剂PEGDGE交联有机氨基载体共价结合固定化脂肪酶,为更有效的固定化方法提供了技术支持,同时也发现交联剂对固定化酶的性质存在较大影响。     

人胎盘碱性磷酸酯酶基因在毕赤酵母中的表达和活性检测

将人胎盘碱性磷酸酯酶 (hPLAP)基因克隆到质粒ppICZαA中并在巴斯德毕赤酵母Pichiapastoris蛋白酶缺陷菌株SMD1 1 6 8中诱导表达。结果表明 :2拷贝子的重组酵母诱导表达产物酶活性最高 ,拷贝Mut 和Muts 表型不同对hPLAP酶活性没有显著影响     

微生物学实践课程改革与学生创新能力的培养

微生物学是生命科学专业重要的基础课程,该课程应用性强。培养具有科学创新能力的科研人才和解决实际问题的应用型人才,是地方综合性大学的核心任务。为了更好地实现"学生为主体、教师为主导"的教育理念,对微生物学实践教学的教学内容和方法及师资培养等环节进行了改革,取得了一定的成效,形成了多样化的教学策略,为实践教学改革提供了新的思路。实践证明,学生能很好地掌握实验技能,促进了他们的实践能力和创新能力,提高了他们的科研素质。