Theory of lipid bilayer phase transitions as detected by fluorescent probes

Summary We present a quantitative theory that relates the fluorescence intensityvs. temperature (I vs. T) profile of a fluorescent-labeled two-component lipid bilayer to the phase diagram of the bilayer and the partition coefficientK of the fluorophore between fluid and solid phases of the bilayer. We show how the theory can be used to evaluateK from experimentalI vs. T profiles and the appropriate phase diagrams as well as to understand the different shapes ofI vs. T profiles obtained with particular fluorophores and phase diagrams. Using calculatedI vs. T graphs, we discuss the meaning of parameters, such as midpoint of the phase transition and onset and termination of a transition, which are often used to characterize phase transitions on the basis of fluorescence intensityvs. temperature profiles.     

Distribution of intermediate filaments in amphibian oxyntic cells

Summary Intermediate filaments of toad oxyntic cells were isolated and analysed by SDS-PAGE. The major proteins of the residue were identified as actin and a 51,000 dalton polypeptide. Immunological crossreactivity between toad oxyntic cell intermediate filament components and anti-prekeratin, was shown by double immunodiffusion tests and indirect immunofluorescence. The immunofluorescent decoration of oxyntic cells and the electron microscope images are coincident in locating the intermediate filaments mainly at the cortical and perinuclear basal zones. Furthermore, the cortical zone appears especially rich in prekeratin-like material at its adluminal third. This results in a cup-like structure that encloses the cell portion occupied by the tubulovesicular system, which does not contain intermediate filaments. The translocation of membranes occurring during the secretory cycle of the oxyntic cell, has been attributed to a system of contractile proteins. The disposition of the prekeratin-like material suggests a role for intermediate filaments in the generation of movement, produced by actin and myosin interaction, by providing a fixed plane for the anchoring of actin microfilaments.     

蛴螬病原菌(Bacillus sp.)的初步研究

蛴螬是农林生产上的重要地下害虫,由于长期栖居地下,防治较为困难。多年实践证明,采用综合防治措施可以有效地控制为害,利用病原微生物防治蛴螬是综合防治中的一个环节,是值得今后深入研究的课题。 1975年9月,我们在河北省任邱县白洋淀附近玉米地采到数头自然患病的阔胸犀金龟(Pento-don patruelis Frivaldszkz)三龄幼虫。1976年5     

1,3-β-Glucan synthase from Citrus phloem

1,3-β-Glucan synthase activity has been demonstrated in particulate fractions of bark extracts from Mexican lime. With respect to substrate, the enzyme kinetics did not conform to the Michaelis-Menten equation. The value of the Hill coefficient was 1.2 and S_0.5 is 1.1 mM. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 7.5. Maltose, sucrose, and especially cellobiose and glucose, were enzyme activators when tested at physiological concentrations. In the presence of 15 mM MgCl₂ the enzymic activity was stimulated at 10 μM UDP-glucose but decreased at 1 mM UDP-glucose, suggesting a minor 1,4-β-glucan synthase activity.     

A thermodynamic analysis of the interaction between the mitochondrial coupling adenosine triphosphatase and its naturally occurring inhibitor protein

1. The naturally occurring ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase)-inhibitor protein, from bovine heart mitochondria, was obtained as a single pure protein. It was not identical with any of the five subunits (alpha-epsilon) of the isolated ATPase, and appeared to be a single polypeptide chain. 2. The inhibitor combined with the ATPase in a 1:1 molar ratio, producing a completely inhibited ATPase molecule. The affinity of the ATPase for its inhibitor is high; the K(d) is of the order of 10(-8)m. 3. The enthalpy of the ATPase-inhibitor complex-formation is positive, the value of K(d) decreasing as the temperature is raised. This suggests that the forces involved are largely hydrophobic in nature. 4. Hydrolysis of a nucleoside triphosphate promoted formation of the ATPase-inhibitor complex, although the equilibrium position was almost unaffected by the rate of hydrolysis. At low salt concentration, less than 200 turnovers of the ATPase suffice for the ATPase to combine with the inhibitor protein. At higher salt concentrations, a larger number of turnovers is required. It is suggested that the inhibitor binds to a form of the ATPase that is produced transiently during hydrolysis. 5. In the presence of 75mm-K(2)SO(4), the rates of association and dissociation are slow enough to allow their kinetics to be studied. Association is first-order in inhibitor concentration, but fractional order in ATPase concentration. Dissociation is first-order in ATPase-inhibitor complex concentration. The temperature coefficients of the ;on' and ;off' processes were also measured. 6. A simple kinetic model for the ATPase-inhibitor interaction is proposed that can be extended to take into account release of inhibitor protein under energized conditions on the membrane. 7. The isolated ATPase is inhibited by preincubation with Mg(2+), reversible by subsequent addition of EDTA, and by ADP, reversible by subsequent addition of ATP. These effects are not found on the membrane-bound ATPase. The mechanism of these effects is discussed.     

精河株斑点热立克次体在非洲钝缘蜱体内的分布

本文报告用乙二醇甲基丙烯酸(GMA)包埋、切片和姬姆萨染色观察精河株斑点热立克次体在非洲钝缘蜱(Ornithodoros moubata)体内的分布情况。接种立克次体后2天,即可从蜱的血淋巴涂片中查见立克次体,但各器官和组织的切片6天后才开始出现阳性,尤以中肠最迟。叮咬感染的蜱的中肠感染较早也较严重。无论接种或叮咬感染,除睾丸和精子外,所查的器官和组织包括涎腺、基节器、中肠、直肠、卵巢以及雄蜱的附腺和贮精囊等切片中都查见立克次体。有的蜱感染很严重,立克次体充满了许多器官和组织的细胞。     

菜粉蝶幼虫感染颗粒体病毒后线粒体形态异常变化的初步观察

病毒侵入昆虫后引起细胞器形态变化的报道很少。我们进行菜粉蝶颗粒体病毒组织病理观察时,在脂肪细胞中,观察到线粒体有异常形态变化现象,现简要报道如下。 用病毒悬液浸湿甘蓝叶,晾干后饲喂3龄幼虫,感染后第3天,截取虫体中段,戍二醛和锇酸固定,618环氧树脂包埋,醋酸铀染色,透射电镜观察。 在脂肪细胞的超薄切片中,可以看到有些线粒体近似环状或液泡状,在有的切片中,此种线粒体的比例很大(图版Ⅰ:2),但在正常幼虫脂肪组织的超薄切片中,极少观察到此种形状的线粒体(图版Ⅰ:1)。     

非洲钝缘蜱传播精河株斑点热立克次体的途径

非洲钝缘蜱(Ornithodoros moubata)叮咬感染精河株斑点热立克次体的豚鼠后45-52天,再叮咬正常豚鼠,可使后者感染。除个别蜱外,受精的感染雌蜱第一次产的卵(吸感染血后10—19天产出)和1龄稚蜱均为阴性。间隔.1个月又喂以正常豚鼠血,这些蜱第二次的吸血率、产卵数和卵的孵化率都明显降低,但从第二次六的卵和1龄稚蚌压印片中均查见大量立克次体。经卵传递率60%,子代感染率59%(6-100%)。     

Evolution of the nucleotide sequence of influenza virus RNA segment 7 during drift of the H3N2 subtype

The complete genetic information contained in the influenza virus RNA segment 7 of the A/Bangkok/ $\text{1}\text{79}$ (H3N2) strain has been cloned by in vitro synthesis of the complementary dsDNA and its insertion into plasmid pBR322. The nucleotide sequence of the viral RNA segment has been determined from the cDNA insert. It is 1027 nucleotides long, and contains two open reading frames, as shown for other influenza virus strains. When compared with the previously published sequence for the A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) strain, 15 nucleotide exchanges are observed, most of them silent mutations, and only two causing amino acid changes in each of the M1 and M2 protein sequences.     

ADH and phylogenetic relationships ofDrosophila lebanonensis (Scaptodrosophila)

Summary Increasing data onDrosophila alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) sequences have made it possible to calculate the rate of amino acid replacement per year, which is 1.7×10^–9. This value makes this protein suitable for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within the genus for those species for which no molecular data are available such asScaptodrosophila. The amino acid sequence ofDrosophila lebanonensis is compared to all of the already knownDrosophila ADHs, stressing the unique characteristic features of this protein such as the conservation of an initiating methionine at the N-terminus, the unique replacement of a glycine by an alanine at a very conserved position in the NAD domain of all dehydrogenases, the lack of a slowmigrating peptide, and the total conservation of the maximally hydrophilic peptide. The functional significance of these features is discussed.Although the percent amino acid identity of the ADH molecule inDrosophila decreases as the number of sequences compared increases, the conservation of residue type in terms of size and hydrophobocity for the ADH molecule is shown to be very high throughout the genusDrosophila. The distance matrix and parsimony methods used to establish the phylogenetic relationships ofD. lebanonensis show that the three subgenera,Scaptodrosophila, Drosophila, andSophophora separated at approximately the same time.