Effect of lanthanum on ion absorption in cucumber seedling leaves

Scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis were used to study the tissular distributions of elements Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, and Fe in leaves of cucumber seedlings in the absence or presence of La³⁺. The results showed that the atomic percentages of Na, Mg, Cl, K, and Ca were basically reduced and those of Mn and Fe were increased in the presence of La³⁺; in addition, at 0.02 mM La³⁺, the reduced or increased degrees were higher than those at 2.0 mM La³⁺. The effects of La³⁺ on ion absorption were similar to those of Ca²⁺, suggesting that the rare earth element lanthanum affects the plant physiological mechanism by regulating the Ca²⁺ level in plant cell.     

Characterization of the Porphyridium cruentum Chl a-binding LHC by in vitro reconstitution: LHCaR1 binds 8 Chl a molecules and proportionately more carotenoids than CAB proteins

The Porphyridium cruentum light harvesting complex (LHC) binds Chl a, zeaxanthin and -carotene and comprises at least 6 polypeptides of a multigene family. We describe the first in vitro reconstitution of a red algal light-harvesting protein (LHCaR1) with Chl a/carotenoid extracts from P. cruentum. The reconstituted pigment complex (rLHCaR1) is spectrally similar to the native LHC I, with an absorption maximum at 670 nm, a 77 K fluorescence emission peak at 677 nm (ex. 440 nm), and similar circular dichroism spectra. Molar ratios of 4.0 zeaxanthin, 0.3 -carotene and 8.2 Chl a per polypeptide for rLHCaR1 are similar to those of the native LHC I complex (3.1 zeaxanthin, 0.5 -carotene, 8.5 Chl a). The binding of 8 Chl a molecules per apoprotein is consistent with 8 putative Chl-binding sites in the predicted transmembrane helices of LHCaR1. Two of the putative Chl a binding sites (helix 2) in LHCaR1 were assigned to Chl b in Chl a/b-binding (CAB) LHC II [Kühlbrandt et al. (1994) Nature 367: 614–21]. This suggests either that discrimination for binding of Chl a or Chl b is not very specific at these sites or that specificity of binding sites evolved separately in CAB proteins. LHCaR1 can be reconstituted with varying ratios of carotenoids, consistent with our previous observation that the carotenoid to Chl ratio is substantially higher in P. cruentum grown under high irradiance. Also notable is that zeaxanthin does not act as an accessory light-harvesting pigment, even though it is highly likely that it occupies the position assigned to lutein in the CAB LHCs.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On-line metabolic pathway analysis based on metabolic signal flow diagram

In this work, an integrated modeling approach based on a metabolic signal flow diagram and cellular energetics was used to model the metabolic pathway analysis for the cultivation of yeast on glucose. This approach enables us to make a clear analysis of the flow direction of the carbon fluxes in the metabolic pathways as well as of the degree of activation of a particular pathway for the synthesis of biomaterials for cell growth. The analyses demonstrate that the main metabolic pathways of Saccharomyces cerevisiae change significantly during batch culture. Carbon flow direction is toward glycolysis to satisfy the increase of requirement for precursors and energy. The enzymatic activation of TCA cycle seems to always be at normal level, which may result in the overflow of ethanol due to its limited capacity. The advantage of this approach is that it adopts both virtues of the metabolic signal flow diagram and the simple network analysis method, focusing on the investigation of the flow directions of carbon fluxes and the degree of activation of a particular pathway or reaction loop. All of the variables used in the model equations were determined on-line; the information obtained from the calculated metabolic coefficients may result in a better understanding of cell physiology and help to evaluate the state of the cell culture process.     

A combinatorial synthesis of tyrphostins via the "directed sorting" method

Using solid-phase organic synthesis, we have prepared a 432-member (18 x 8 x 3) sample library based on the AG 490 "tyrphostin" template. By utilizing 432 reactors each equipped with a unique radiofrequency memory ID tag, the 432 products could be obtained as discrete entities (i.e., not as mixtures) via 18 + 8 + 3, or 29 reactions. Reading each ID tag after each reaction step permitted the "directed sorting" of reactors into appropriate reaction vessels containing multiple reactors. After synthesis, all products were cleaved from the solid-phase support and lyophilized to afford powders. Characterization of 5% of the library members by NMR and mass spectrometry provided verification of structure. In addition, TLC analysis of every library member provided evidence that most (or all) are composed of a single major organic compound. Some 88% of these samples were obtained in amounts of between 5 and 19 mg. Using this reaction sequence and the "directed sorting" approach, the synthesis of much larger AG 490-based libraries can be envisioned.     

OCI-5/GPC3, a Glypican Encoded by a Gene That Is Mutated in the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Overgrowth Syndrome, Induces Apoptosis in a Cell Line–specific Manner

OCI-5/GPC3 is a member of the glypican family. Glypicans are heparan sulfate proteoglycans that are bound to the cell surface through a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. It has recently been shown that the OCI-5/GPC3 gene is mutated in patients with the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS), an X-linked disorder characterized by pre- and postnatal overgrowth and various visceral and skeletal dysmorphisms. Some of these dysmorphisms could be the result of deficient growth inhibition or apoptosis in certain cell types during development. Here we present evidence indicating that OCI-5/GPC3 induces apoptosis in cell lines derived from mesothelioma (II14) and breast cancer (MCF-7). This induction, however, is cell line specific since it is not observed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts or HT-29 colorectal tumor cells. We also show that the apoptosis-inducing activity in II14 and MCF-7 cells requires the anchoring of OCI-5/GPC3 to the cell membrane. The glycosaminoglycan chains, on the other hand, are not required. MCF-7 cells can be rescued from OCI-5/GPC3–induced cell death by insulin-like growth factor 2. This factor has been implicated in Beckwith-Wiedemann, an overgrowth syndrome that has many similarities with SGBS. The discovery that OCI-5/GPC3 is able to induce apoptosis in a cell line– specific manner provides an insight into the mechanism that, at least in part, is responsible for the phenotype of SGBS patients.     

Effects of temperature gradients on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes

The effect of temperature gradients on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes was examined in this study. Six treatment groups were made by combining 3 different maturation periods (0 to 10 h, 10 to 18 h and 18 to 24 h) with 2 different culture temperatures (37.0 degrees C and 38.5 degrees C). The frequency of oocytes matured to the metaphase II stage was apparently gradually increased as the culture temperature was increased from 37.0 degrees C to 38.5 degrees C at 0, 10 and 18 h after the onset of culture (75.2 vs 80.5, 82.3 and 84.3%, respectively), but this difference was not significant. Neither was the minor decrease in the proportion of oocytes reaching metaphase II when the temperature was decreased from 38.5 degrees C to 37.0 degrees C at 10 and at 18 h after the onset of maturation (84.3 vs 82.4 and 78.0%, respectively). However, more oocytes cleaved (79.2%; P = 0.0653) and developed to morulae (43.6%; P = 0.0019) and blastocysts (27.4%; P = 0.1568) when they were in vitro matured at 38.5 degrees C between 0 and 10 h, and then at 37.0 degrees C from 10 to 24 h. Although only the morula group was statistically different, cleavage- (79.2 vs 69.8, 72.5, 74.2, 76.3, 74.3%, respectively) and blastocyst formation (27.4 vs 23.2, 24.6, 25.2, 19.6, 21.9%, respectively) from this group was the highest among the 6 treatments.     

马尾松毛虫幼虫的捕食天敌及其捕食作用的研究

根据林间调查和室内观察资料,分析了江西省万年县不同松林中马尾松毛虫不同发生代别低龄幼虫期的主要捕食天敌种类及数量。结果表明低龄幼虫期捕食无敌有13科31种,其中以蜘蛛类最多,其次为蚂蚁类。不同林型中捕食天敌的种类和数量在年份间代别间均存在一定差异,数量差异尤其显著。在室内研究了几种主要捕食无敌对马尾松毛虫低龄幼虫的捕食作用及其功能反应,结果表明功能反应为S型,由此建立了它们的功能反应模型。     

哺乳动物及人精子膜离子通道的研究进展

离子的跨膜转动对精子的生理活动起重要的作用。近年,应用膜片钳及人工膜重组等研究通道有关的电生理技术,人们直接观察到哺乳动物及人精子膜上Ｋ、Ｎａ＾＋、Ｃａ＾２＋、Ｃｌ通道的存在。这些结果为揭示精子成熟、获能精卵结合反应等生理过程的某些细节提供了有有的资料,特别是对人精子膜的研究,还为临床应用提供了可能。