平截独活的香豆素成分

从四川省汶川县产平截独活Heracleum vicinum根的乙醇提取物中分离鉴定了6个成分,分别为虎耳草素(pimpinellin)(1),异佛手柑内酯(2),6-甲氧基当归素(sphondin)(3)。佛手柑内酯(bergapten)(4),异虎耳草素(isopimpincllin)(5),falcarindi01)(6).     

Endo β-N-acetylglucosaminidase F cleavage specificity with peptide free oligosaccharides

Endo β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities were determined based on conversion of oligosaccharides containing two N-acetylglucosamines to the oligosaccharides with a single N-acetylglucosamine at the reducing terminal and following their separation on a carbohydrate analyzer. The oligosaccharides eluted from the high performance anion exchange column in the order of fucosyl-N,N′ -diacetylchitobiose, N,N′ -diacetylchitobiose and N-acetylglucosamine containing reducing terminals. Using this assay, differences in cleavage specificity of the glycoproteins was determined. The commercial Endo F-peptide N-glycosidase/glycanyl amidase (PNGase)mixture readily leaved high mannose and complex oligosaccharides (neutral and sialyated) with common core α1–6 linked fucose found in porcine thyroglobulin including the trimannosyl-chitobiose core structure. However, the same Endo F mixture did not cleave the non-fucosylated complex oligosaccharides found in human transferrin and also the common core structure. Glycopeptide counterparts with and without fucose were good substrates for the endoglycosidases. These results show that the specificity of these enzymes is such that they can recognize the conformational differences between free oligosaccharides and glycopeptides with and without the common core α1–6 linked fucose. In contrast, highly purified Endo F cleaved only the high mannose type oligosaccharides and was unable to cleave ovalbumin hybrid type oligosaccharides. However, it was similar to Endo H when reduced ovalbumin oligosaccharides were used as substrates, consistent with the recently isolated Endo F subfraction F₁ being similar to Endo H [Trimble, R. B. and Tarentino, a. L. (1991). J. Biol. Chem. 266, 1646]. Results obtained in this study suggest that the complex oligosaccharides cleaving enzymes F₂ and F₃ show high specificity towards peptide free oligosaccharides with the core α1-6 linked fucose, unlike the glycopeptide substrates. Therefore PNGase free Endo F₁, F₂ and F₃ mixtures should be useful in the functional evaluation of the oligosaccharides in glycoproteins.     

Nocturnal polysomnographic characteristics of pediatric narcolepsy

The aim of this study was to describe the polysomnographic features of childhood-onset narcolepsy. A retrospective review was performed on children with narcolepsy. The polysomnogram findings were compared with reference values obtained from normative data in the general population. Narcolepsy subjects had a mean initial sleep latency of 10.9 min on nocturnal PSG, which was shorter by a mean of 18 min than corresponding values from normative data (P < 0.001). Short initial REM latency on nocturnal PSG correlated with the number of SOREMPs on MSLT in subjects with narcolepsy (P = 0.007). These findings may assist in the clinical diagnosis of narcolepsy.

     

Multiple origins of the mtDNA 9-bp deletion in populations of South India

The origins and genetic affinities of the more than 500 tribal populations living in South Asia are widely disputed. This may reflect differential contributions that continental populations have made to tribal groups in South Asia. We assayed for the presence of the intergenic COII/tRNALys 9-bp deletion in human mtDNA in 646 individuals from 12 caste and 14 tribal populations of South India and compared them to individuals from Africa, Europe, and Asia. The 9-bp deletion is observed in four South Indian tribal populations, the Irula, Yanadi, Siddi, and Maria Gond, and in the Nicobarese. Length polymorphisms of the 9-bp motif are present in the Santal, Khonda Dora, and Jalari, all of whom live in a circumscribed region on the eastern Indian coast. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA control region sequence from individuals with the 9-bp deletion indicate that it has arisen independently in some Indian tribal populations. Other 9-bp deletion haplotypes are likely to be of Asian and African origin, implying multiple origins of the 9-bp deletion in South India. These results demonstrate varying genetic affinities of different South Indian tribes to continental populations and underscore the complex histories of the tribal populations living in South Asia. Am J Phys Anthropol 109:147–158, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Funding translational work in cell-based therapy

The cell therapy branch of the regenerative medicine field has been innovative in developing new models of delivery and development and identifying alternative sources of funding. We discuss the implications of these changes for pharmaceutical companies and the opportunities they offer to a new entrepreneur.     

Genetic diversity and conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources

Biodiversity refers to variation within the living world, while genetic diversity represents the heritable variation within and between populations of organisms, and in the context of this paper, among plant species. This pool of genetic variation within an inter-mating population is the basis for selection as well as for plant improvement. Thus, conservation of this plant genetic diversity is essential for present and future human well-being. During recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the importance of adopting a holistic view of biodiversity, including agricultural biodiversity, conservation for sustainable utilization and development. These principles have been enshrined in the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Plan of Action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The emphasis is now to understand the distribution and extent of genetic diversity available to humans in plant species, so that the genetic diversity can be safely conserved and efficiently used. It is generally recognized that plant genetic diversity changes in time and space. The extent and distribution of genetic diversity in a plant species depends on its evolution and breeding system, ecological and geographical factors, past bottlenecks, and often by many human factors. Much of the large amount of diversity of a species may be found within individual populations, or partitioned among a number of different populations.A better understanding of genetic diversity and its distribution is essential for its conservation and use. It will help us in determining what to conserve as well as where to conserve, and will improve our understanding of the taxonomy and origin and evolution of plant species of interest. Knowledge of both these topics is essential for collecting and use of any plant species and its wild relatives. In order to mange conserved germplasm better, there is also a need to understand the genetic diversity that is present in collections. This will help us to rationalize collections and develop and adopt better protocols for regeneration of germplasm seed. Through improved characterization and development of core collections based on genetic diversity information, it will be possible to exploit the available resources in more valuable ways.     

Pleiotropic Relationships between Cortisol Levels and Adiposity: The HERITAGE Family Study

Objective: To investigate familial basis for the relationship between cortisol adiposity at baseline and their training responses. Research Methods and Procedures: Bivariate correlation and segregation analyses were employed between cortisol and several adiposity measures [body mass index, fat mass (FM), fat-free mass, percentage of body fat (% BF), abdominal visceral fat (AVF), abdominal subcutaneous fat (ASF), and abdominal total fat (ATF)] from 99 white families and 105 black families. Results: In both races, significant inverse phenotypic correlations were generally observed between cortisol and adiposity measures at baseline but not for training responses. Significant cross-trait familial correlations were found for cortisol with abdominal fat (ASF, AVF, ATF) and overall body adiposity (FM, % BF) measures at baseline, which accounted for 14% to 20% of the phenotypic variance in whites. The cross-trait correlations were not significant for baseline phenotypes in blacks, perhaps because of the small sample size. A bivariate segregation analysis showed evidence of polygenic pleiotropy for cortisol with both abdominal fat and overall adiposity measures that accounted for 14% to 17% of the phenotypic covariance, but major gene pleiotropy was not suggested in whites. However, when ASF, AVF, and ATF were additionally adjusted for FM, no familial cross-trait correlations or polygenic pleiotropy between cortisol and the abdominal fat measures remained. Discussion: Evidence was found for polygenic pleiotropy but not for pleiotropic major gene effects between cortisol and overall adiposity in whites. However, the covariation of cortisol with abdominal fat phenotypes is dependent on concomitant polygenic factors for total-body fat.     

Isolation and identification ofMicrococcus roseus andPlanococcus sp. from schirmacher oasis,antarctica

Five cultures isolated from soil samples collected in Schirmacher oasis, Antarctica, have been identified as members of the familyMicrococcaceae, with 3 belonging to the genusMicrococcus and two toPlanococcus. The 3Micrococcus isolates (37R, 45R and 49R) were red-pigmented and h a d ∼ 75 mol% G + C in their DNA; they were identified asMicrococcus roseus. The twoPlanococcus isolates (30Y and Lz3OR) were yellow and orange in colour, and had 43.5 and 40.9 mol % G + C in their DNA respectively; they were identified asPlanococcus sp.