Identification of the ATP·Mg-dependent protein phosphatase activator (Fa ) as a synapsin I kinase that inhibits cross-linking of synapsin I with brain microtubules

The ATP·Mg-dependent protein phosphatase activating factor (Fa) has been identified and purified to near homogeneity from brain. In this report, as evidenced on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography, factorFa has further been identified as a cAMP and Ca²⁺-independent brain kinase that could phosphorylate synapsin I, a neuronal protein that coats synaptic vesicles, binds to cytoskeleton, and is believed to be involved in the modulation of neurotransmission. Kinetic study further indicated that factorFa could phosphorylate synapsin I with a lowK _m value of about 2 µM and with a molar ratio of 1 mol of phosphate per mole of protein. Peptide mapping analysis revealed that factorFa specifically phosphorylated the tail region of synapsin I but on a unique site distinct from those phosphorylated by Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and cAMP-dependent protein kinase, the two well-established synapsin I kinases. Functional study further revealed that factorFa could phosphorylate this unique specific site on the tail region of synapsin I and thereby inhibit cross-linking of synapsin I with microtubules. The results further suggest the possible involvement of factorFa as a synapsin I kinase in the regulation of axonal transport process of synaptic vesicles via the promotion of vesicles motility during neurotransmission.     

Volatile anesthetics gate a chloride current in postnatal rat hippocampal neurons.

A volatile anesthetic-gated current was characterized in patch-clamped cultured postnatal rat hippocampal neurons. In this preparation, the major volatile anesthetics, isoflurane, halothane, and enflurane, open an anion-selective conductance. This volatile anesthetic-gated current exhibits anion selectivity with a chloride-to-acetate permeability ratio of 15, shows outward rectification well described by the constant field equation, and is activated in a dose-dependent fashion with half-maximal response to isoflurane at 0.8 mM (0.032 atm). The current persists in the absence of external Ca2+ and is not blocked by strychnine, a glycine antagonist. However, the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) antagonists, bicuculline and picrotoxinin, and the nonspecific anion channel blocker, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), completely block the response. These observations suggest that volatile anesthetics, like several other general anesthetics such as barbiturates, steroids, and etomidate, have a GABA-mimetic effect on vertebrate central neurons in culture. It is not clear whether this GABAA-gating property is a prerequisite for all general anesthetics. However, under normal physiological conditions of low intracellular Cl-, it is likely that drugs with both direct GABA agonist and GABA modulatory properties will produce overall depression of the central nervous system by increasing the normal inhibitory synaptic influence and by directly hyperpolarizing neurons.     

Metacercarial infections of Paragonimus westermani in freshwater crabs sold in markets in Seoul

Status of metacercarial infections of Paragonimus westermani was observed in freshwater crabs, which were purchased at 3 markets in its peak season of 1990. All of 85 crabs were Eriocheir japonicus. No other species of Eriocheir were found. When crushed muscle and viscera was examined individually, the infection rate was 11.8%; and mean number of metacercariae was 2.1 per infected crab. Unless adequately cooked, freshwater crabs are still potential sources of human paragonimiasis.     

Platinum-supported Bilayer Lipid Membranes modified by ferrocene and its derivatives

The biferrocene-containing Schiff base complexes (1) and (2) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses and spectral data. The Pt-supported Bilayer Lipid Membranes (BLMs) modified by ferrocene and its derivatives were studied by cyclic voltametry (CV) and the electrochemical properties of this system are reported. The oxidation mechanism of electrocatalysis of ascorbic acid on the Pt-supported BLMs is discussed.     

Hidden smectic properties of a chiral side-chain co-oligomer

We recently showed that a side-chain industrial co-oligosiloxane presents a quenchable enlarged blue phase behaviour at the cholesteric-isotropic phase transition. In this paper, we present the results of a structural study based on X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and optical measurements. In particular, the smectic A organisation is demonstrated in the lower temperature domain, which was hitherto understood as a cholesteric phase. A structural model for this phase is proposed on the basis of the analysis of the anisotropic scattering of stretched fibers. Our results also suggest that the observed glass transition is indeed a rather complex phenomenon, which seems to involve not only the freezing of the main chains, but also smectic correlations at the side-chain level. Moreover, the calorimetric study indicates that, notwithstanding the conservation of the processed film's optical properties, low kinetic reorganisations occur at room temperature.     

广东汉族健康人载脂蛋白AⅠ-CⅢl-AⅣ基因簇DNA多态性及其单倍型分布

本文研究了中国广东汉族健康人群apoAI-CⅢ-AIV基因簇DNA限制性内切酶PstI、SstI和EcoRI片段长度多态性。其中等位基因P_1,P_2,S_1,S_2,R_1和R_2的频率分别为0.98,0.02,0.96,0.04,0.90和0.10。经卡方检验符合Hardy-Weinbery氏遗传平衡,与其他种族比较,本文结果显示中国广东汉族人P_2等位基因频率低于日本人、亚洲印第安人和高加索人,S_2等位基因频率低于日本人、菲律宾人、沙特阿拉伯人和亚洲印第安人,而与高加索人相近,R_2等位基因频率稍高于高加索人。不同种族间apoAI-CⅢ-AIV基因簇DNA多态频率无疑存在差异,这种差异可能是由于遗传漂变和自然选择单独或联合作用所致。对P_1、P_2,S_1、S_2和R_1、R_2构成的单倍型和连锁平衡程度进行了分析,结果显示这些单倍型处于连锁不平衡状态。     

Further investigation on nuclear transplantation in different orders of teleost: the combination of the nucleus of Tilapia (Oreochromis nilotica) and the cytoplasm of Loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus).

The nucleus of a blastula cell from Tilapia (Oreochromis nilotica, family Cichlidae, order Perciformes) was transplanted into an enucleated egg of Loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus, family Cobitidae, order Cypriniformes). From among 3747 nucleo-cytoplasmic hybrid (NCH) eggs two NCH larval fish (0.05%) were obtained; one died on the 6th day and the other died on the 12th day after the operation. Morphological examinations showed that both NCH larval fish had developed normally with an opened mouth except they could not take food after complete utilization of their egg yolk on the 5th day of development. The possible mechanisms for obtaining such inter-order NCH larval fish are discussed. This is the first report indicating that inter-order NCH larval fish can be obtained in spite of their evolutionary divergence.