醛固酮对大鼠主动脉bax基因表达的影响

目的研究醛固酮对大鼠主动脉bax基因表达的影响。方法32只SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组、腺瘤组、腺瘤＋依普利酮组和腺瘤＋肼苯哒嗪组。在每只大鼠皮下埋植的微量渗透泵内注入空白溶剂或醛固酮。8周后通过免疫组化、RT—PCR和Western印迹检测主动脉bax基因的表达。结果与对照组相比,腺瘤组大鼠主动脉bax mRNA和蛋白表达都显著上调（P〈0．05）;依普利酮能够抑制醛固酮对bax基因的诱导作用（P〈0．05）;而肼苯哒嗪虽然可以使大鼠收缩压下降,但不能阻止醛固酮对bax基因的作用。结论醛固酮通过诱导bax基因表达,调节血管平滑肌细胞凋亡和干预细胞周期进程,可能是其导致血管重构的机制之一。     

Non-β-cell progenitors of β-cells in pregnant mice

Pregnancy is a normal physiological condition in which the maternal β-cell mass increases rapidly about two-fold to adapt to new metabolic challenges. We have used a lineage tracing of β-cells to analyse the origin of new β-cells during this rapid expansion in pregnancy. Double transgenic mice bearing a tamoxifen-dependent Cre-recombinase construct under the control of a rat insulin promoter, together with a reporter Z/AP gene, were generated. Then, in response to a pulse of tamoxifen before pregnancy, β-cells in these animals were marked irreversibly and heritably with the human placental alkaline phosphatase (HP AP). First, we conclude that the lineage tracing system was highly specific for β-cells. Secondly, we scored the proportion of the β-cells marked with HP AP during a subsequent chase period in pregnant and non-pregnant females. We observed a dilution in this labeling index in pregnant animal pancreata, compared to nonpregnant controls, during a single pregnancy in the chase period. To extend these observations we also analysed the labeling index in pancreata of animals during the second of two pregnancies in the chase period. The combined data revealed statistically-significant dilution during pregnancy, indicating a contribution to new beta cells from a non-β-cell source. Thus for the first time in a normal physiological condition, we have demonstrated not only β-cell duplication, but also the activation of a non-β-cell progenitor population. Further, there was no transdifferentiation of β-cells to other cell types in a two and half month period following labeling, including the period of pregnancy.     

Three Members of the 6-cys Protein Family of Plasmodium Play a Role in Gamete Fertility

The process of fertilization is critically dependent on the mutual recognition of gametes and in Plasmodium, the male gamete surface protein P48/45 is vital to this process. This protein belongs to a family of 10 structurally related proteins, the so called 6-cys family. To identify the role of additional members of this family in Plasmodium fertilisation, we performed genetic and functional analysis on the five members of the 6-cys family that are transcribed during the gametocyte stage of P. berghei. This analysis revealed that in addition to P48/45, two members (P230 and P47) also play an essential role in the process of parasite fertilization. Mating studies between parasites lacking P230, P48/45 or P47 demonstrate that P230, like P48/45, is a male fertility factor, consistent with the previous demonstration of a protein complex containing both P48/45 and P230. In contrast, disruption of P47 results in a strong reduction of female fertility, while males remain unaffected. Further analysis revealed that gametes of mutants lacking expression of p48/45 or p230 or p47 are unable to either recognise or attach to each other. Disruption of the paralog of p230, p230p, also specifically expressed in gametocytes, had no observable effect on fertilization. These results indicate that the P. berghei 6-cys family contains a number of proteins that are either male or female specific ligands that play an important role in gamete recognition and/or attachment. The implications of low levels of fertilisation that exist even in the absence of these proteins, indicating alternative pathways of fertilisation, as well as positive selection acting on these proteins, are discussed in the context of targeting these proteins as transmission blocking vaccine candidates.     

Effect of the petite mutation on maltose and alpha-methylgucoside fermentation inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.

Summary Several hundred petite mutants were isolated from yeast strains of different genotype to examine the effect of the petite mutation on maltose and alpha-methylglucoside fermentation. In most cases petite mutants isolated retain the ability to ferment maltose and alpha-methylglucoside, although at a slower rate. In one strain (1403-7A), however, the ability to ferment alpha-methylglucoside is completely lost in all petite mutants isolated from this strain. It is suggested that mitochondrial factors may be involved in the utilization of alpha-methylglucoside in strain 1403-7A.     

国家标本资源共享平台(NSII)支撑生物多样性科学研究的成效分析

随着生物多样性信息学的迅速发展,越来越多开放的生物数据可供科研人员使用。以一个公开数据平台为例分析我国生物多样性领域的研究热点与发展趋势,有助于生物多样性工作者和决策者及时了解我国生物研究的现状及动向,为生物多样性建设提供决策支持。该文以“国家标本资源共享平台(NSII)”及相关词为检索对象,对中国知网和谷歌学术上2013—2023年间的文献进行全文检索,共检索出1 070篇NSII支撑的文献,包括期刊论文(822篇)、学位论文(233篇)、科普文章(5篇)、会议文章(6篇)和报道(4篇)。基于NSII支撑的822篇期刊论文,通过文献计量学的手段和方法,从发文情况、研究主题与热点、研究机构等方面探究NSII支撑的生物多样性研究现状、热点与态势。关键词共现网络图谱分析结果显示,基于数据平台的生物多样性研究热点集中在物种分布分析和建模、气候变化、分类学、生物多样性研究、研究平台建设五个方面。当前我国生物多样性信息学领域发展较快,未来仍需从数据源建设、资源整合、共享能力、业务能力和国际合作等方面努力提升,持续推动生物多样性科学研究的发展。     

The salting-out behavior of human plasma fibronectin and its possible correlation with heparin-induced cryoprecipitation of the protein

The solubility of human plasma fibronectin in concentrated ammonium sulfate solutions was measured at pH 7.0 and varying temperatures as well as at 25 degrees C and varying pHs. The salting-out parameters, KS and beta were found to increase linearly with temperature in the range 5 degrees-50 degrees C. KS-pH and beta-pH profiles were found to have maxima at pH 7.0. The dependence of both of the solubility parameters of plasma fibronectin on temperature and pH was thus found to be anomalous. The possibility of a correlation between the heparin-induced cryoprecipitation of fibronectin and the dependence of its solubility parameters on pH and temperature is considered. It is suggested that heparin-induced precipitation of human plasma fibronectin at low temperatures is caused by (i) a cold effect and (ii) conformational change in the protein due to heparin binding.     

Anomalous behaviour of cathepsin B: dependence of activity and stability on salt concentration

Effect of salt concentration on the activity and stability of cathepsin B from buffalo spleen has been investigated. Catheptic activity was maximal at a buffer concentration of 5.5 x 10(-3) M. The enzyme was, however, highly unstable at a salt concentration lower than 1.5 x 10(-2) M. The use of 0.02 M sodium phosphate buffer has been suggested for the assay of cathepsin B activity. For storage of the enzyme, however, a 0.1 M sodium phosphate or other buffer of equivalent ionic strength has been recommended.     

Women Plantation Workers: International Experiences

Women Plantation Workers: International Experiences. Shobhita Jain and Rhoda Reddock. eds. New York: Berg. 1998.186 pp.     

不同种源桃金娘表型性状多样性研究

为解析桃金娘表型性状多样性及其种源间关系，该文以20个不同来源的桃金娘为研究对象，在同质园栽培条件下，对其营养器官和花器官表型性状进行观测，采用方差分析、变异分析、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分析和聚类分析等方法，探讨不同种源桃金娘表型性状多样性。结果表明：(1)不同种源桃金娘表型性状存在显著差异(P<0.05),Shannon-Wiener多样性指数均值在1.35以上，表型性状多样性丰富。(2)种源内表型性状变异系数均值在10.81%～63.75%之间，种源间的变异系数均值在13.08%～74.04%之间，种源间变异(23.33%)高于种源内变异(19.79%),营养器官变异(29.52%)高于花器官变异(14.06%)。(3)部分性状存在极显著或显著相关性，株高与分枝数呈极显著负相关，而与叶长、叶宽和叶面积等却呈显著正相关。(4)在欧式距离10处，20个种源桃金娘可分为A、B、C三类，A类包含8个种源，该类种源表现为植株高大、分枝少、叶大和花大等特征；B类包含11个种源，该类种源表现为株高中等、叶较大和花中等等特征；C类仅包含1个种源，表现为植株低矮、分枝多、叶小和...