Ergasiophygophytes and xenophytes of East Asiatic origin in Adjaria a stimulus to new terminology,especially for ergasiophygophytes

Studies of the Adjarian flora resulted in a detailed classification of the ergasiophygophytes, based mainly on the degree of their naturalization: (1) The ephemeroergasiophygophytes display unstable naturalization both in artificial and natural habitats, and disappear after only a few growing seasons. (2) The deuteroergasiophygophtes show stable naturalization in anthropogenic habitats. (3) The protoergasiophygophytes are distinguished by uncertain stability of naturalization in natural habitats, and, if firmly naturalized on a certain spot, they lack any tendency to further spreading. (4) The autergasiophygophytes tend to spread in natural habitats. (5) The aggressive ergasiophygophytes transform natural vegetation in new plant communities, and can become dominant species in these communities. New terms, viz. emphemeroxenophytes, protoneophytes, non-aggressive neophytes, slightly aggressive neophytes, and postneophytes with vegetative reproduction have also been introduced to express diverse features of the xenophytes.     

6_m2细胞转化与肌醇磷脂代谢相关性研究

肌醇磷脂代谢与V-mos癌基因转化细胞的相关性,迄今为止未见报导。本文用6m2细胞(Moloney鼠类肉瘤病毒(含V-mos)温度敏感突变株(MoMuSVts110)转化的NRK细胞)为模型,探讨了肌醇磷脂代谢与细胞转化的相关性。在33℃ (转化型温度)时,细胞内PIP(磷脂酰肌醇-4-磷酸)含量明显高于39℃(正常型温度),显示出转化型6m2细胞中存在一个提高的PI激酶活性。同时可见DG(二酰甘油)和IP_3(肌醇三磷酸)含量和蛋白激酶C(PKC)活性均明显高于正常型细胞。当细胞由39℃转至33℃10min,PIP、DG、IP_3含量和PKC活性均明显增加,并伴随有PKC活性由胞质向质膜上的转移。实验结果表明肌醇磷脂代谢参与了6m2细胞转化过程。文中对其作用机理进行了讨论。     

Conversion of lysine 91 to methionine or glutamic acid in human choriogonadotropin alpha results in the loss of cAMP inducibility.

Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone. The alpha subunit comprises 92 amino acids, of which 6 are Lys residues (Morgan, F.G., Birken, S., and Canfield, R.E. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 5247-5258). Our photoaffinity-labeling studies indicate that several of these Lys residues make contact with the lutropin receptor and are covalently cross-linked to the receptor. Lys-91 of the alpha subunit is of interest because deletion of the two alpha C-terminal residues, Lys-91 and Ser-92, results in a significant reduction in the bioactivity of lutropin and thyrotropin (Cheng, K.-W., Glazer, A.N., and Pierce, J.G. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 7930-7937). To determine the importance of Lys-alpha 91, we substituted it with Arg, Met, or Glu. The resulting mutant alpha cDNA constructs were co-transfected into CHO cells with the wild type hCG beta cDNA construct. Secreted hCG dimers were assayed for binding to receptors on porcine granulosa cells and stimulation of cAMP synthesis in a murine Leydig tumor cell line. The natural hCG, wild type hCG, and all mutant hCGs recognized the receptor, although with somewhat divergent affinities. However, there was a striking difference in the ability of cAMP induction. The natural hCG, wild type hCG, and Lys-91----Arg mutant hCG induced cAMP synthesis, whereas the Lys-91----Met and Lys-91----Glu mutants did not. These results demonstrate that Lys-91 is important for receptor modulation in the stimulation of cAMP synthesis.     

Intercellular communication between follicular angiotensin receptors and Xenopus laevis oocytes: medication by an inositol 1,4,5- trisphosphate-dependent mechanism

In Xenopus laevis oocytes, activation of angiotensin II (AII) receptors on the surrounding follicular cells sends a signal through gap junctions to elevate cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) within the oocyte. The two major candidates for signal transfer through gap junctions into the oocyte during AII receptor stimulation are Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ca2+. In [3H]inositol-injected follicular oocytes, AII stimulated two- to fourfold increases in phosphoinositide hydrolysis and production of inositol phosphates. Injection of the glycosaminoglycan, heparin, which selectively blocks Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors, prevented both AII-stimulated and Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ mobilization in Xenopus follicular oocytes but did not affect mobilization of Ca2+ by ionomycin or GTP. These results indicate that the AII-regulated process of gap junction communication between follicular cells and the oocyte operates through an Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent mechanism rather than through transfer of Ca2+ into the ooplasm and subsequent Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release.     

β-carboxyl catalytic effect of N-phosphoryl aspartic acid

The β-carboxylic group in N-dialkylphosphorylated aspartic acid has an activating effect that gives rise to peptides, esters, and ester exchange at the phosphoryl group. In contrast, the γ-carboxylic group of N-alkylphosphorylated glutamic acid has a much smaller effect. Some of the self-activating products were isolated and many model compounds were synthesized to study the novel activating effect of the β-carboxylic group. Mixed anhydride intermediates derived from α-carboxylphosphoryl and β-carboxylphosphoryl groups are proposed for the self-activation mechanism.     

Notes on some African hepatic genera 1–5

The present study deals with five genera of hepatics in Africa, Isotachis Mitt., Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph., Tritomaria Schiffn. ex Loeske, Gymnocoleopsis (Schust.) Schust. and Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. All African populations of the genus Isotachis Mitt. are considered to be one species, I. aubertii (Schwaegr.) Mitt. Four species of Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. (s.l.), A. auritum (Lehm.) Steph., A. piligerum (Nees) Spruce, A. subcomplicatum (Lehm. et Lindenb.) Steph. and A. minutum (Schreb.) Schust., and two species of Tritomaria Schiffn. et Loeske, T. camerunensis S. Arnell and T. exsecta (Schrad.) Schiffn. ex Loeske occur in Africa. Gymmocoleopsis multiflora (Steph.) Schust. represents a genus and species hitherto unreported for the African flora. Finally, five Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. species, L. argentina (Steph.) Schust., L. capensis S. Arnell, L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph., L. hedbergii S. Arnell and L. tristaniana (S. Arnell) Váňa, are reported from central and southern Africa; two of these (L. argentina (Steph.) Schust. and L. decolorans (Limpr.) Steph.) represent the first reports from Africa.