Structure insights into mechanisms of ATP hydrolysis and the activation of human heat-shock protein 90

The activation of molecular chaperone heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is dependent on ATP binding and hydrolysis, which occurs in the N-terminal domains of protein. Here, we have determined three crystal structures of the N-terminal domain of human Hsp90 in native and in complex with ATP and ATP analog, providing a clear view of the catalytic mechanism of ATP hydrolysis by Hsp90. Additionally, the binding of ATP leads the N-terminal domains to be an intermediate state that could be used to partially explain why the isolated N-terminal domain of Hsp90 has very weak ATP hydrolytic activity.     

Bisphenol A exposure at an environmentally relevant dose induces meiotic abnormalities in adult male rats

Whether environmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may induce reproductive disorders is still controversial but certain studies have reported that BPA may cause meiotic abnormalities in C. elegans and female mice. However, little is known about the effect of BPA on meiosis in adult males. To determine whether BPA exposure at an environmentally relevant dose could induce meiotic abnormalities in adult male rats, we exposed 9-week-old male Wistar rats to BPA by gavage at 20 μg/kg body weight (bw)/day for 60 consecutive days. We found that BPA significantly increased the proportion of stage VII seminiferous epithelium and decreased the proportion of stage VIII. Consequently, spermiation was inhibited and spermatogenesis was disrupted. Further investigation revealed that BPA exposure delayed meiosis initiation in the early meiotic stage and induced the accumulation of chromosomal abnormalities and meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the late meiotic stage. The latter event subsequently activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinase (ATM). Our results suggest that long-term exposure to BPA may lead to continuous meiotic abnormalities and ultimately put mammalian reproductive health at risk.     

Purification and characterization of the cold-active killer toxin from the psychrotolerant yeast Mrakia frigida isolated from sea sediments in Antarctica

The psychrotolerant yeast Mrakia frigida 2E00797 isolated from sea sediments in Antarctica was found to be able to produce killer toxin against Metschnikowia bicuspidata, Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans. In the present study, the killer toxin was purified and characterized. The molecular weight of the purified killer toxin was estimated to be 55.6 kDa and the purified killer toxin shared 35.1% sequence homology with a protein kinase. The purified killer toxin's optimal temperature and pH for killing activity were 16 °C and 4.5, respectively, and it was stable in the temperature range from 10 to 25 °C at pH 4.5. The toxin's highest killing activity was observed in the presence of 3.0 g/100 ml NaCl. The purified killer toxin was able to actively kill whole cells of M. bicuspidata but could not kill the protoplast of the sensitive yeast. Of the eight yeast species tested in this study, the killer toxin was able to kill C. tropicalis and C. albicans in addition to M. bicuspidata.     

启动子CMV和EF1α对人胰岛素基因在BHK细胞中表达的影响

目的　构建人胰岛素基因真核高效表达载体 ,为胰岛素转基因研究奠定基础。方法　用限制性内切酶SpeⅠ和HindⅢ消化pEF1α GFP ,回收 1 2kbEF1α启动子 ,插入到pCMV mINS的NruⅠ和HindⅢ位点中 ,获得重组质粒pEF1α mINS ;将pCMV mINS和pEF1α mINS分别转染BHK细胞 ,用G418筛选 ,阳性克隆传至 2 0代后 ,分别用放免方法和免疫组化法分析胰岛素和 或胰岛素原在BHK细胞中的表达情况。结果　经放免测定 ,pCMV mINS和pEF1α mINS在BHK细胞中胰岛素和 或胰岛素原的表达量分别为 4 0 77μIU ml和 6 897μIU ml。经免疫组化分析 ,pCMV mINS在BHK细胞质中胰岛素表达水平的灰度值为 190 0± 19 5 6 ;pEF1α mINS在BHK细胞质中胰岛素表达水平的灰度值为 181 4± 18 45 ,在BHK细胞核中表达水平的灰度值为 15 5 4± 11 6 6。结论　在BHK细胞中启动子EF1α启动胰岛素基因表达的活性比启动子CMV高。     

灵光注射液对失血性休克大鼠心脏和肝脏的影响

目的　观察灵光注射液 (复方樟柳碱 )对失血性休克再灌注大鼠心脏和肝脏损伤的影响。方法　将5 6只雄性大鼠随机分 4组 ,分别设为假休克组 (8只 )、模型组 (16只 )、灵光注射液低剂量组 (16只 )和高剂量组 (16只 ) ,除假休克组外 ,大鼠均经历 4kPa ,70min的失血性休克 ,在休克复苏后 6h和 12h各组分别处死半数动物 ,检测血清CK、CK MB、LDH、ALT、AST ,心脏和肝脏做组织学和超微结构检查。结果与结论　灵光注射液对大鼠失血性休克再灌注引起的心脏和肝脏功能和形态损伤均有明显的治疗作用 ,其机制可能与改善微循环、清除氧自由基和保护生物膜作用有关。     

Effect of Host Plants on Honeydew Production of an Invasive Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Honeydew production plays a key role in mutualism between the mealybugs and ants. However, no studies have focused on the amount and circadian rules of honeydew excreted by Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, a new invasive species which has conditional mutualism with Solenopsis invicta Buren in China. To address this problem, we measured the weight and estimated honeydew production in all stages of development of the invasive mealybug, P. solenopsis, as well as its honeydew production on tomato (Solanum lycopersicun), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and cotton (Gossypium sp.) for 24 h. The honeydew excreted by each instar of the mealybug in H. rosa-sinensis was measured for 2 weeks. Our results revealed that the weight of mealybugs significantly varied at different development stages. Host plants had no significant effect on the weight of nymphs, although the weight of a single adult reared on S. lycopersicun was significantly heavier than those reared on H. rosa-sinensis and G. sp. The amount of honeydew excreted by the 1st instar nymphs in S. lycopersicum was significantly greater than that on H. rosa-sinensis and G. sp. Each instar mealybug produced more honeydew when fed with S. lycopersicum compared with H. rosa-sinensis and G. sp. The amount of honeydew excreted by mealybugs when provisioned with H. rosa-sinensis was no different from mealybugs provisioned with G. spp. while in the same instar. The amount of honeydew excreted by the 1st and 2nd instar nymphs was not significantly different on the same host plant. However, there was a significant difference between the 3rd instar nymph and the adult. The amount of honeydew excreted by a single adult when provisioned with H. rosa-sinensis decreased from 3085.3 μg to 572.0 μg in 2 weeks. The 2nd instar nymph, 3rd instar nymph, and adult excreted honeydew more frequently during the day than at night, while the frequency of honeydew excretion of the 1st instar nymph had no significant difference between daytime and night.     

植酸对稻米品质影响的研究（Ⅰ）

本文报道在水稻生长的抽穗期、齐穗期、灌浆期和蜡熟期喷施不同浓度植酸改良稻米品质的研究。结果表明,在水稻生长的不同阶段,控制喷施植酸浓度可提高糙米率,降低稻米垩白。     

细菌巨大质粒的快速检测

本文报道了一种快速检测微生物巨大质粒的方法．该方法是通过对Ｅｃｋｈａｒｄｔ所报道的方法加以改进,使之能对根瘤菌、大肠杆菌、甚至链霉菌的大质粒进行快速检测．     

球形芽孢杆菌的抗药标记及外源DNA的转化与表达

用亚硝基胍（NTG）对球形芽孢杆菌（Bacillussphaericus）进行化学诱变,筛选到利福平（Rif）和链霉素（Sm）二个标记菌株。抗药浓度均达100u／ml培养基。其抗药性状能够获得较好地遗传。用含溶葡球菌酶基因的质粒DNA对RifR菌株进行原生质体转化,酶基因在该抗药菌株中获得了高效表达。经摇瓶发酵试验,溶葡球菌酶的活性约为122u／ml培养液。