Genome-wide identification,classification, and expression profiling of serine esterases and other esterase-related proteins in the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta

Serine esterases (SEs) are hydrolases that catalyze the conversion of carboxylic esters into acids and alcohols. Lipases and carboxylesterases constitute two major groups of SEs. Although over a hundred of insect genomes are known, systematic identification and classification of SEs are rarely performed, likely due to large size and complex composition of the gene family in each species. Considering their key roles in lipid metabolism and other physiological processes, we have categorized 144 M. sexta SEs and SE homologs (SEHs), 114 of which contain a motif of GXSXG. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis have revealed 39 neutral lipases (NLs), 3 neutral lipase homologs (NLHs), 11 acidic lipases (ALs), 3 acidic lipase homologs (ALHs), a lipase-3, a triglyceride lipase, a monoglyceride lipase, a hormone-sensitive lipase, and a GDSL lipase. Eighty-three carboxylesterase genes encode 29 α-esterases (AEs), 12 AEHs (e.g., SEH4-1–3), 20 feruloyl esterases (FEs), 2 FEHs, 2 β-esterases (BEs), 2 integument esterases (IEs), 1 IEH, 4 juvenile hormone esterases, 2 acetylcholinesterases, gliotactin, 6 neuroligins, neurotactin, and an uncharacteristic esterase homolog. In addition to these GXSXG proteins, we have identified 26 phospholipases and 13 thioesterases. Expression profiling of these genes in specific tissues and stages has provided insights into their functions including digestion, detoxification, hormone processing, neurotransmission, reproduction, and developmental regulation. In summary, we have established a framework of information on SEs and related proteins in M. sexta to stimulate their research in the model species and comparative investigations in agricultural pests or disease vectors.     

山西糜子核心种质分子身份证构建

为快速鉴定糜子(Panicum miliaceum)资源, 建立分子标记检测平台, 以272份山西糜子核心种质为研究材料, 利用85对简单重复序列(SSR)引物, 应用ID Analysis 4.0软件, 构建DNA分子身份证。结果表明, 对85对SSR引物进行筛选, 发现20对引物组合(RYW67、RYW53、RYW37、RYW65、RYW62、RYW77、RYW5、RYW49、RYW84、RYW19、RYW11、RYW40、RYW54、RYW28、RYW31、RYW7、RYW16、RYW8、RYW9和RYW18)可区分272份材料。共检测到等位变异(Na) 60个, 平均每个位点检出3个; Shannon多样性指数(I)为0.957 8 (RYW16)-1.096 7 (RYW5), 平均值为1.055 2; 多态性信息含量(PIC)为0.604 4 (RYW77)-0.753 0 (RYW37), 平均值为0.692 1。利用20对引物构建山西糜子核心种质的字符串、条形码和二维码DNA分子身份证, 可为种质身份标识和溯源提供实践路径。     

1,5-diamino-2-pentyne is both a substrate and inactivator of plant copper amine oxidases.

1,5-diamino-2-pentyne (DAPY) was found to be a weak substrate of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus, GPAO) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia, OVAO) amine oxidases. Prolonged incubations, however, resulted in irreversible inhibition of both enzymes. For GPAO and OVAO, rates of inactivation of 0.1-0.3 min(-1) were determined, the apparent KI values (half-maximal inactivation) were of the order of 10(-5) m. DAPY was found to be a mechanism-based inhibitor of the enzymes because the substrate cadaverine significantly prevented irreversible inhibition. The N1-methyl and N5-methyl analogs of DAPY were tested with GPAO and were weaker inactivators (especially the N5-methyl) than DAPY. Prolonged incubations of GPAO or OVAO with DAPY resulted in the appearance of a yellow-brown chromophore (lambda(max) = 310-325 nm depending on the working buffer). Excitation at 310 nm was associated with emitted fluorescence with a maximum at 445 nm, suggestive of extended conjugation. After dialysis, the color intensity was substantially decreased, indicating the formation of a low molecular mass secondary product of turnover. The compound provided positive reactions with ninhydrin, 2-aminobenzaldehyde and Kovacs' reagents, suggesting the presence of an amino group and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure. The secondary product was separated chromatographically and was found not to irreversibly inhibit GPAO. MS indicated an exact molecular mass (177.14 Da) and molecular formula (C10H15N3). Electrospray ionization- and MALDI-MS/MS analyses yielded fragment mass patterns consistent with the structure of a dihydropyridine derivative of DAPY. Finally, N-(2,3-dihydropyridinyl)-1,5-diamino-2-pentyne was identified by means of 1H- and 13C-NMR experiments. This structure suggests a lysine modification chemistry that could be responsible for the observed inactivation.     

Kinetic studies of electron transfer in the cyt b 5 : metHb system

 The kinetics of methemoglobin reduction by cytochrome b ₅ has been studied by stopped-flow and saturation transfer NMR. A forward rate constant k _f = 2.44×10⁴ M^–1 s^–1 and a reverse rate constant k _b = 540 M^–1s^–1 have been observed at 10 mm, pH 6.20, 25  °C. The ratio k _f/k _b = k _eq = 43.6 is in good agreement with the equilibrium constant calculated from the electrochemical potential between cyt b ₅ and methemoglobin. A bimolecular collisional mechanism is proposed for the electron transfer from cyt b ₅ to methemoglobin based on the kinetic data analysis. The dependence of the rate constants on ionic strengths supports such collisional mechanism. It is also found that the reaction rate strongly depends on the conformations of methemoglobin. Received: 20 February 1996 / Accepted: 4 June 1996     

氟烷对慢性缺氧兔心肌β肾上腺素能受体的影响

用放射配基结合法和高效液相色谱电化学法分别测定氟烷对慢性缺氧免心肌β肾上腺素能受体（简称β受体）和血浆儿茶酚胺的影响。结果表明：慢性缺氧后兔心肌β受体密度明显下降,受体亲和力无明显变化,血浆肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素明显升高。缺氧吸入氟烷后兔心肌β受体密度进一步下降,亲和力增加,血浆肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素无进一步变化。常氧吸入氟烷后心肌β受体密度无明显变化,亲和力升高,血浆肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素反而降低。结果提示,氟烷抑制常氧兔交感神经活动而不能抑制缺氧兔交感神经活动,氟烷不改变常氧兔心肌β受体密度,但降低缺氧兔心肌β受体密度。β受体密度降低与缺氧后升高的儿茶酚胺下调β受体数目有关,同时可能与氟烷改变了缺氧心肌细胞膜脂质流动性使受体易向膜内移动有关。     

高压静电场分离水稻、油菜及芝麻种子对萌发期生物效应的影响

落入高压静电场内的水稻、芝麻及油菜种子,在场的作用下,即产生沿电场方向的位移,在同一跌落高度下,重量基本相同的种子,其分离距离产生很大的差异,且分离距离与种子的发芽率及发芽势的改善程度存在着较为明显的相关关系,研究中证实,种子活力强度得到提高,其α淀粉酶活性、蛋白酶活性、脂肪酶活性及电导率得到明显的改善。     

非酶促转氨测定蛋白质相对分子量及研究空间结构的变化

在非酶促转氨过程中测定生成甘氨酸的量,计算蛋白质的相对分子量是一种方便、节省经费和快速的方法,该方法的应用不受蛋白分子量大小的限制。非酶促转氨的另一产物２－羰化氨基酸可作为制备各种喹喔啉衍生物的原料。苯丙氨酸非酶促形成的苯丙酮酸与邻苯二胺反应生成３－苯基－２－羰基喹喔啉。该产物在３６３ｎｍ具有荧光发色性质。胰岛素及不同一级结构的短肽２－羰酰衍生物和２－喹喔啉衍生物的荧光在盐酸胍和不同ＰＨ训的变化各     

桂东、桂东南晚泥盆世一个弗拉斯期放射虫动物群

本文系统描述了广西玉林、贺县等地晚泥盆世榴江组硅质岩中的放射虫化石4属14种,其中有1新属2新种。这个放射虫动物群的多数分子曾见于苏联南乌拉尔地区和澳大利亚的弗拉斯阶。