ARK2 stabilizes the plus-end of microtubules and promotes microtubule bundling in Arabidopsis

Microtubule dynamics and organization are important for plant cell morphogenesis and development. The microtubule-based motor protein kinesins are mainly responsible for the transport of some organelles and vesicles, although several have also been shown to regulate microtubule organization. The ARMADILLO REPEAT KINESIN (ARK) family is a plant-specific motor protein subfamily that consists of three members (ARK1, ARK2, and ARK3) in Arabidopsis thaliana. ARK2 has been shown to participate in root epidermal cell morphogenesis. However, whether and how ARK2 associates with microtubules needs further elucidation. Here, we demonstrated that ARK2 co-localizes with microtubules and facilitates microtubule bundling in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacological assays and microtubule dynamics analyses indicated that ARK2 stabilizes cortical microtubules. Live-cell imaging revealed that ARK2 moves along cortical microtubules in a processive mode and localizes both at the plus-end and the sidewall of microtubules. ARK2 therefore tracks and stabilizes the growing plus-ends of microtubules, which facilitates the formation of parallel microtubule bundles.     

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.     

草菇子实体多肽提取工艺及其抗氧化活性

为了优化草菇子实体多肽的提取工艺和探究其抗氧化活性,以草菇子实体为原料,采用酶解法提取草菇子实体多肽,通过单因素试验得出最佳的酶解工艺,并使用Box-Behnken设计试验组合。结果表明：草菇子实体提取多肽的最佳工艺为料液比1:52 (g/mL)、加酶量7 200 U/g、酶解温度43 ℃,此工艺条件下的多肽得率为67.76%。从1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)自由基清除能力、铁离子还原能力、超氧阴离子自由基清除能力和羟自由基清除能力4个方面研究其体外抗氧化能力,结果表明,草菇子实体多肽对DPPH自由基清除率为74.11%,超氧阴离子自由基和羟自由基清除率分别在69.64%和91.83%达到稳定,草菇子实体多肽还具有一定的还原力,说明草菇子实体多肽可以作为优质抗氧化肽的良好来源。该研究为草菇多肽的高效制备和抗氧化肽等高附加值产品的研发提供理论依据。     

THE ROLE OF BACTERIAL SYMBIONTS IN AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF BLACK BEAN APHIDS

To evaluate the role of bacterial symbionts (Buchnera spp.) in the black bean aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch), the aphids were treated with the antibiotic, rifampicin, to eliminate their intracellular symbiotic bacteria. Analysis of protein and amino acid concentration in 7‐day‐old of aposymbiotic aphids showed that the total protein content per mg fresh weight was significantly reduced by 29%, but free amino acid titers were increased by 17%. The ratio of the essential amino acids was in general only around 20% essential amino acids in phloem sap of broad bean, whereas it was 44% and 37% in symbiotic and aposymbiotic aphids, respectively, suggesting that the composition of the free amino acids was unbalanced. For example, the essential amino acid, threonine represented 21.6% of essential amino acids in symbiotic aphids, but it was only 16.7% in aposymbiotic aphids. Likewise, two nonessential amino acids, tyrosine and serine, represented 8.9% and 5.6% of total amino acids in symbiontic aphids, respectively, but they enhanced to 21.1% and 13.6% in aposymbiotic aphids. It seems likely that the elevated free amino acid concentration in aposymbiotic aphids was caused by the limited protein anabolism as the result of the unbalanced amino acid composition.     

Human Epidermal Melanocyte and Keratinocyte Melanocortin Receptors: Visualization by Melanotropic Peptide Conjugated Microspheres (Latex Beads)

The objectives of this research were to determine whether melanocortin receptors are characteristic (constant) membrane markers of human epidermal melanocytes. Methodologies were developed to visualize melanotropin receptors by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Multiple copies (up to a hundred) of [Nle⁴,D-Phe⁷]α-MSH, a superpotent analog of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), were conjugated to a macromo-lecular carrier (latex beads: microspheres). Incubation in the presence of the melanotropin-conjugated microspheres resulted in binding of human normal epidermal melanocytes to the beads. Almost every (possibly all) melanocyte possesses melanocortin receptors as visualized by SEM. Specificity of binding of the macromolecular conjugate was demonstrated by several studies: 1) Binding of melanocytes to the microspheres was specific since it could be blocked by prior incubation of the cells in the presence of the unconjugated hormone analog; 2) microspheres lacking bound ligand did not bind to the melanocytes; 3) micro-spheres that were first treated with reducing agents (e.g., dithiothreitol) did not subsequently bind to melanocytes; 4) another peptide hormone ligand (e.g., a substance-P analog) attached to the latex beads failed to bind to the cells; 5) B16/F10 mouse melanoma cells known to express melanocortin receptors bound to the microspheres; and 6) cells of nonmelanocyte origin (e.g., mammary cancer cells, small-cell lung cancer cells, fibroblasts) did not bind to the macromolecular conjugate. One exception was that human epidermal keratinocytes also expressed melanocortin receptors as determined by all the criteria established above for epidermal melanocytes. Thus, cell specific melanocortin receptors appear to be characteristic cell surface markers of epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes.     

渗透胁迫下稻苗中铁催化的膜脂过氧化作用

在－０．７ＭＰａ渗透胁迫下,水稻幼苗体内和Ｈ２Ｏ２大量产生,Ｆｅ２＋积累,膜脂过氧化作用加剧。水稻幼苗体内Ｆｅ２＋含量与膜脂过氧化产物ＭＤＡ含量呈极显著的正相关。外源Ｆｅ２＋、Ｆｅ３＋、Ｈ２Ｏ２、Ｆｅ２＋＋Ｈ２Ｏ２、ＤＤＴＣ均能刺激膜脂过氧化作用,而铁离子的螯合剂ＤＴＰＡ则有缓解作用。ＯＨ的清除剂苯甲酸钠和甘露醇能明显地抑制渗透胁迫下Ｆｅ２＋催化的膜脂过氧化作用。这都表明渗透胁迫下水稻幼苗体内铁诱导的膜脂过氧化作用主要是由于其催化Ｆｅｎｔｏｎ型Ｈａｂｅｒ－Ｗｅｉｓｓ反应形成ＯＨ所致。     

人体β-珠蛋白基因5’旁侧调控元件与不同发育时期调控因子的相互作用

人β-珠蛋白基因主要在成年期的骨髓中表达,在胎儿肝,成年肝和K 562细胞中则处于关闭状态。凝胶电泳阻抑法分析发现,在人胎儿肝,成年肝及K 562细胞的核蛋白抽提物中存在着不同的与β-珠蛋白基因5'旁侧调控元件(-372到-194 bp)相结合的红系组织特异性的调控因子。竟争试验的结果表明,成年肝和K 562细胞中的调控因子与β-珠蛋白基因5'旁侧调控元件相互作用的方式具有一定的相似性,这两种细胞的调控因子既结合于负调控区(NCR 2)也结合于正调控区,说明两种细胞中β-珠蛋白基因的关闭机制可能是相似的。胎儿肝的核蛋白因子只结合于负调控区,推测在胎儿期存在独特的关闭机制。     

野生猕猴声行为的研究

本文通过在华南四省区对四个野生种群猕猴声行为的观察和现场录音,对它们的叫声声学特性,行为模式和其它个体对其相应的行为反应进行了定量的分析研究,并得出１１种不同的声行为,这些声行为有相互不同的声学特性,不同的行为模式并引起其它个体相应的行为反应,从而起着通讯的作用。叫声在猕猴的声行为通讯中,一些借助视觉提示,至少以不同的刺激度来“表示”某一类事物,并得到个体间的“共识”有些甚至无需视觉提示而单独传递     

紫貂冬季食性的分析

１９９１至１９９８年的三个冬季,在大兴安岭地区共收集紫貂粪样２２３个．食性分析结果表明,紫貂冬季食物主要为小型哺乳类（５４．１％）、植物浆果和种子（３２．４％）、鸟类（１２．５％）和昆虫（１．０％）．在紫貂选择的７种小型哺乳类中,主要以棕背（２７．３％）和红背（１９．２％）为食,其次为雪兔和冬眠的花鼠。对于鸟类,紫貂主要捕食花尾榛鸡（８．１％）,松鸦（０．７％）,大山雀（０．５％）和黑啄本鸟等。有２．２％的粪样中含有小型鸟的卵壳、紫貂的植物性食物主要为越桔浆果（２０．８％）和偃松种籽（８．８％）。昆虫中只有蚂蚁在紫貂食性中出现（１．０％）．紫貂冬季食物构成没有年度间差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。通过捕食迹,我们还发现紫貂捕食黑嘴松鸡。虽然红背的捕获率（７９．４％）高于棕背（２．９％）,但食性分析结果却相反,说明紫貂更喜欢捕捉身体较大的鼠类。有较强气味的中虽有一定的数量,但在紫貂冬季食物中未出现过。     

板齿鼠种群数量中长期预测的时间序列模型

本文利用时间序列方法（三次指数平滑法）,并结合季节指数法,建立了板齿鼠种群数量中长期预测（６个月～１年）的时间序列模型,依据１９９１年１１月～１９９３年１２月在广东省博罗县石湾镇里波水管理区对板齿鼠种群数量动态的调查数据,分别预测了１９９４年和１９９５年板齿鼠种群数量的发生,预测准确率达到了８６．５６％。