Combined infection by Moloney murine leukemia virus and a mink cell focus-forming virus recombinant induces cytopathic effects in fibroblasts or in long-term bone marrow cultures from preleukemic mice.

We described previously a preleukemic state in mice inoculated with Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) characterized by generalized hematopoietic hyperplasia in the spleen. To investigate this further, long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) from preleukemic mice were established. Surprisingly, LTBMC from M-MuLV-inoculated preleukemic mice showed less hematopoiesis than LTBMC from control mice. This resulted from a quantitative defect in establishment of bone marrow stromal cells in the LTBMC. This phenomenon could also be observed in LTBMC from normal mice infected in vitro with a stock of M-MuLV containing a mink cell focus-forming virus (MCF) derivative (M-MCF), but not in LTBMC infected with M-MuLV alone. This implicated MCF derivatives in the reduction in bone marrow stromal cells. The phenomenon could also be detected in infected NIH 3T3 cells. Combined infection of M-MuLV plus M-MCF resulted in fewer cells, in comparison to uninfected cells or cells infected with either virus alone. Further studies indicated that this was predominantly due to an inhibition in cell growth rather than to cell lysis. The cytopathic effect did not appear to result from overreplication of viral DNA, as measured by Southern blots. Thus, combined infection with M-MuLV and an MCF derivative had cytostatic effects on cell growth. This phenomenon might also contribute to the leukemogenic process in vivo.     

The biological effect of sodium butyrate (NaBT) on SGC-7901 cells

Changes of (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity, cAMP and fibronectin (FN) content and cell surface microvilli were studied cytochemically, immunocytochemically and scanning electron microscopically on human stomach Glandular carcinoma (SGC-7901) cells treated with NaBT(2.5 mM). It was found that NaBT not only inhibited cell growth but also remarkably decreased the activity of cell surface (Na+-K+)-ATPase of SGC-7901 cells. Note worthy was that, in comparison with the untreated tumor cells, the increase of the intensity of intracellular cAMP and FN immunofluorescence in NaBT-treated tumor cells was striking. Moreover, in contrast to untreated tumor cells, the cell surface of NaBT-treated tumor cells showed more smooth and fewer microvilli under SEM. That NaBT may induce differentiation of SGC-7901 cells through inhibition of (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity and modulation of cellular cAMP and FN content was discussed.     

Adaptive response to 2 low doses of X-rays in human blood lymphocytes

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to a single adaptive dose of 1 cGy X-rays or 2 adaptive doses, each of 1 cGy, were found to be equally resistant to the induction of chromosome damage by subsequent challenge with a high dose of 1 Gy X-rays, as compared to cells that were not pre-exposed. They responded with a significantly reduced incidence of chromatid and isochromatid breaks. These results indicate the presence of an inducible chromosomal repair mechanism in human blood lymphocytes and confirm the observations made by earlier investigators. The incidence of chromosome damage was found to be similar in the lymphocytes pre-exposed to a single or 2 adaptive doses, suggesting that, under the conditions tested, the second adaptive dose did not offer any additional protection against the chromosome damage induced by the challenge dose.     

Vitamin A--a pregnancy hazard alert.

Vitamin A is essential to human health, but concerns have arisen recently regarding its potential teratogenicity. Human and animal birth defects have been associated with the use of the vitamin A analogue, isotretinoin, or Accutane, for acne treatment, although the association of such defects with vitamin A itself is unclear. The federal Food and Drug Administration is evaluating the health issues surrounding vitamin A and, together with the manufacturer, has developed restrictions and label warnings to ensure the appropriate use of Accutane. We also have evaluated these issues, with concerns about the possible teratogenicity of high vitamin A intake during pregnancy. Practitioners should be familiar with the possible hazard of excessive dosages of vitamin A and its analogues. Vitamin A daily doses of higher than 8,000 IU for pregnant woman are not necessary for good health and are not recommended. Foods high in beta-carotene can provide the necessary amounts of vitamin A and, in contrast to the synthetic analogues, their use has not been associated with vitamin A toxicity or teratogenicity in humans or animals.     

14,15N, 13C, 57Fe, and 1,2H Q-band ENDOR study of Fe-S proteins with clusters that have endogenous sulfur ligands.

The benefits of performing ENDOR experiments at higher microwave frequency are demonstrated in a Q-band (35 GHz) ENDOR investigation of a number of proteins with [nFe-mS] clusters, n = 2, 3, 4. Each protein displays several resonances in the frequency range of 0-20 MHz. In all instances, features are seen near v approximately 13 and 8 MHz that can be assigned, respectively, to "distant ENDOR" from 13C in natural-abundance (1.1%) and from 14N (the delta m1 = +/- 2 transitions); the nuclei involved in this phenomenon are remote from and have negligible hyperfine couplings to the cluster. In addition, a number of proteins show local 13C ENDOR signals with resolved hyperfine interactions; these are assigned to the beta carbons of cysteines bound to the cluster [A(13C) approximately 1.0 MHz]. Five proteins show resolved, local delta m1 = +/- 2 ENDOR signals from 14N with an isotropic hyperfine coupling, 0.4 less than or equal to A(14N) less than or equal to 1.0, similar to those seen in ESEEM studies; these most likely are associated with N-H...S hydrogen bonds to the cluster. Anabaena ferredoxin further shows a signal corresponding to A(14N) approximately 4 MHz. Quadrupole coupling constants are derived for both local and distant 14N signals. The interpretation of the data is supported by studies on 15N- and 13C-enriched ferredoxin (Fd) from Anabaena 7120, where the 15N signals can be clearly correlated with the corresponding 14N signals and where the 13C signals are strongly enhanced. Thus, the observation of 14N delta m1 = +/- 2 signals at Q-band provides a new technique for examining weak interactions with a cluster.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

白百利烟草愈伤组织细胞细胞分裂素结合蛋白的研究

利用BA-Sepharose 4B亲和层析技术丛白百利烟草(Nicotiana tabacum Baibaili)愈伤组织细胞分离提纯了分子量为4400±100道尔顿的细胞分裂素结合蛋白(CB-蛋白)。在细胞表面、核糖体、线粒体、叶绿体和细胞核上以及在细胞液中都有CB-蛋白存在,而核糖体上的CB-蛋白含量量高。探讨了CB-蛋白的功能。     

中国连香树科的系统研究——Ⅰ.叶的宏观结构及叶柄维管束变化

本文研究了连香树科(Cercidiphyllaceae)叶的宏观结构,首次报道连香树齿腺体显微结构及晶体类型,并对叶柄维管束的变化作了进一步研究。通过与近缘科的比较,我们认为连香树科的系统演化处于孤立地位,和金缕梅科有较近的亲缘关系,与木兰科较为疏远。     

长期低浓度SO2对大豆生长和产量的影响

随着化石燃料消耗量不断增加,由此产生的主要大气污染物之一SO_2的浓度和影响范围也日趋增大。SO_2对植物,特别是对农作物的影响已受到普遍重视。本研究选择我国北方种植面积大、分布广的大豆为供试作物,在野外开顶式熏气装置中进行低浓度SO_2长期暴露试验,观察SO_2对大豆生长发育及产量的影响,以期为制订农田大气环境质量标准提供有一定参考价值的生态学基准。     

化学法合成生物素标记寡核苷酸探针

 生物素可通过氨烷基磷酰胺基团连接到寡核苷酸5'末端,反应在水溶液中进行,核苷酸的侧链基团不用保护。我们以这种化学法合成了生物素标记的寡核苷酸探针,其显色灵敏度达50pg,杂交灵敏度达0.4fmol,并与酶标生物素寡核苷酸探针进行了比较,也对两种不同显色体系作了比较。