Public, private and non-specific antibodies induced by non-cytopathic viral infections

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) represents a useful experimental model of murine infection with a non-cytopathic virus, bearing resemblance to HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in humans. Recent data from the LCMV model indicate that the humoral immune response that is induced by non-cytopathic viruses is far more complex than previously appreciated. LCMV-induced IgG production is largely polyclonal, with more than 90% of the antibody repertoire constituting non-relevant specificities. A delayed virus-neutralizing antibody response is induced, including specificities directed not only against the parental LCMV-strain present in the host but also cross-specifically against LCMV-variants isolated from other hosts. These findings provide novel insights to aid our understanding of clinically relevant observations that are recorded following human infection with HIV, HCV and dengue viruses.     

Production of lipid compounds in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This review describes progress using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism for the fast and efficient analysis of genes and enzyme activities involved in the lipid biosynthetic pathways of several donor organisms. Furthermore, we assess the impact of bakers yeast on the production of novel, high-value lipid compounds. Yeast can be genetically modified to produce selected substances in relatively high amounts. A major advantage in choosing yeast as an object for metabolic engineering is the fact that the lipid pathways in this organism have been described in detail and are well characterized. We focus on the de novo production of three major families of lipid products. These are: (1) sterols, providing some previously known and some novel applications as examples of the lipid pathway enhancement that occurs naturally in yeast, (2) the reconstitution of the biosynthetic pathway of steroid hormones and (3) the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids, leading to the biosynthesis of different omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which do not occur naturally in yeast. We utilize the current knowledge and point out perspectives and problems for future biotechnological applications in the field of lipid compounds.     

不同藻类对成熟前文蛤的生长及其生化成分的影响

为了找到适于文蛤(Meretrix meretrix)暂养、育肥的藻类,通过实验观察了不同藻类对成熟前文蛤生长的影响.实验共分为5组,分别单独投喂4种单胞藻,包括海水小球藻(CMorella vulgaris)(A组)、球等边金藻(Isochrysis golbana)(B组)、青岛大扁藻(Platymonas halgolandica)(C组)和牟氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros müelleri)(D组),及混合投喂海水小球藻、球等边金藻与牟氏角毛藻(E组).结果表明,单胞藻无论是单独投喂还是混合投喂,对成熟前文蛤的壳长和体重增长没有显著影响(P>0.05),其常规生化成分如蛋白质、脂肪、总糖及各种脂肪酸含量在某些实验组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05).E组蛋白质含量(63.57%)最低,与其他组之间存在显著性差异;E组脂肪含量(8.17%)除低于D组(8.64%)外,高于其他3组,但与其他组间无显著性差异;E组总糖含量(7.08%)除低于C组(7.62%)外,高于其他3组,与其他组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05).亚油酸(C18:2)、亚麻酸(C18:3)和花生四烯酸(C20:4)均为C组最高,含量分别为2.06%、2.28%和6.50%,与其他组之间存在显著性差异.EPA以D组为最高(8.51%),DHA以B组为最高(10.33%).     

PGE2-induced apoptotic cell death in K562 human leukaemia cells.

Prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) is known to trigger suicidal death of nucleated cells (apoptosis) and enucleated erythrocytes (eryptosis). In erythrocytes PGE2 induced suicidal cell death involves activation of nonselective cation channels leading to Ca2+ entry followed by cell shrinkage and triggering of Ca2+ sensitive cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure at the cell surface. The present study was performed to explore whether PGE2 induces apoptosis of nucleated cells similarly through cation channel activation and to possibly disclose the molecular identity of the cation channels involved. To this end, Ca2+ activity was estimated from Fluo3 fluorescence, mitochondrial potential from DePsipher fluorescence, phosphatidylserine exposure from annexin binding, caspase activation from caspAce fluorescence, cell volume from FACS forward scatter, and DNA fragmentation utilizing a photometric enzyme immunoassay. Stimulation of K562 human leukaemia cells with PGE2 (50 microM) increased cytosolic Ca2+ activity, decreased forward scatter, depolarized the mitochondrial potential, increased annexin binding, led to caspase activation and resulted in DNA fragmentation. Gene silencing of the Ca2+-permeable transient receptor potential cation channel TRPC7 significantly blunted PGE2-induced triggering of PS exposure and DNA fragmentation. In conclusion, K562 cells express Ca2+-permeable TRPC7 channels, which are activated by PGE2 and participate in the triggering of apoptosis.     

Structure/activity relationships of C-terminal neuropeptide Y peptide segments and analogues composed of sequence 1-4 linked to 25-36

C-terminal analogues of neuropeptide Y have been synthesized. The influence of chain length, single-amino-acid substitutions and segment substitutions on receptor binding, biological activity and conformational properties has been investigated. Receptor binding and in vivo assays revealed biological activity already for amino acids 28-36 of neuropeptide Y [neuropeptide Y-(Ac-28-36)-peptide] which increased with increasing chain length. Replacement of Arg25 in neuropeptide Y-(Ac-25-36)-peptide had no influence on binding, whereas Arg33 and Arg35 cannot be replaced by lysine or ornithine without considerable decrease in receptor binding. The introduction of conformational constraints by the 2-aminoisobutyric acid residue (Aib) in position 30 and replacing the amino acids 28-32 by Ala-Aib-Ala-Aib-Ala decreased receptor binding. However, the corresponding Aib-Ala-Aib-Ala-Aib-substituted analogue and a more flexible analogue with Gly5 at position 28-32 exhibited considerable affinity for the receptor. All these substitutions led to a decrease in postsynaptic activity. Strong agonistic activities could be detected in a series of 10 discontinuous analogues, which are constructs of N-terminal parts linked via different spacer molecules to C-terminal segments. One of the most active molecules was neuropeptide Y amino acids 1-4 linked to amino acids 25-36 through aminohexanoic acid (Ahx) [neuropeptide Y-(1-4-Ahx-25-36)-peptide].     

中国泥炭主要植物残体类型的初步研究

根据泥炭中植物残体组合在发生上的联系和形态上“质”的差异这一分类原则,以组成植物残体的造炭植物为依据,按植物残体组合中的优势造炭植物的生活型和造炭植物的优势种,将中国泥炭的主要植物残体组合初步划分为6个型和15个组。根据各植物残体组合型的主要特征,进行合理地开发,利用,以免浪费宝贵的泥炭资源。我国领土辽阔,自然条件复杂,沼泽类型繁多,由不同造炭植物组成的泥炭种类也十分丰富。在泥炭矿体中,造炭植物种类随着沼泽植被类型的演替而使泥炭的植物残体种类发生垂直变化,形成各种泥炭类型。因而,对泥炭植物残体的研究,既有生产实践价值,又有理论意义。     

Lineage analysis in the chicken inner ear shows differences in clonal dispersion for epithelial, neuronal, and mesenchymal cells

The epithelial components of the vertebrate inner ear and its associated ganglion arise from the otic placode. The cell types formed include neurons, hair-cell mechanoreceptors, supporting cells, secretory cells that make endolymphatic fluid or otolithic membranes, and simple epithelial cells lining the fluid-filled cavities. The epithelial sheet is surrounded by an inner layer of connective and vascular tissues and an outer capsule of bone. To explore the mechanisms of cell fate specification in the ear, retrovirus-mediated lineage analysis was performed after injecting virus into the chicken otocyst on embryonic days 2.5-5.5. Because lineage analysis might reveal developmental compartments, an effort was made to study clonal dispersion by sampling infected cells from different parts of the same ear, including the auditory ganglion, cochlea, saccule, utricle, and semicircular canals. Lineage relationships were confirmed for 75 clones by amplification and sequencing of a variable DNA tag carried by each virus. While mesenchymal clones could span different structural parts of the ear, epithelial clones did not. The circumscribed epithelial clones indicated that their progenitors were not highly migratory. Ganglion cell clones, in contrast, were more dispersed. There was no evidence for a common lineage between sensory cells and their associated neurons, a prediction based on a proposal that the ear sensory organs and fly mechanosensory organs are evolutionarily homologous. As expected, placodal derivatives were unrelated to adjacent mesenchymal cells or to nonneuronal cells of the ganglion. Within the otic capsule, fibroblasts and cartilage cells could be related by lineage.