A 40 kilodalton rat liver nuclear protein binds specifically to apolipoprotein B mRNA around the RNA editing site.

Apolipoprotein (apo) B-48 mRNA is the product of RNA editing which consists of a C----U conversion changing a CAA codon encoding Gln-2153 in apoB-100 mRNA to a UAA stop codon in apoB-48 mRNA. In the adult rat, RNA editing occurs both in the small intestine and the liver. We have studied the ability of rat liver nuclear extracts to bind to synthetic apoB mRNA segments spanning the editing site. Using an RNA gel mobility shift assay, we found the sequence-specific binding of a protein(s) to a 65-nucleotide apoB-100 mRNA. UV crosslinking followed by T1 ribonuclease digestion and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the formation of a 40 kDa protein-RNA complex when 32P-labeled apoB-100 mRNA was incubated with a rat liver nuclear extract but not with HeLa nuclear extract. Binding was specific for the sense strand of apoB mRNA, and was not demonstrated with single-stranded apoB DNA, or antisense apoB RNA. The complex also failed to form if SDS was present during the UV light exposure. Binding experiments using synthetic apoB mRNAs indicate that the 40 kDa protein would also bind to apoB-48 mRNA but not apoA-I, apoA-IV, apoC-II or apoE mRNA. Experiments using deletion mutants of apoB-100 mRNA indicate efficient binding of wildtype 65-nucleotide (W65), 40-nucleotide (W40) and 26-nucleotide (W26) apoB-100 mRNA segments, but not 10-nucleotide (or smaller) segments of apoB-100 mRNA to the 40 kDa protein. In contrast, two other regions of apoB-100 mRNA, B-5' (bases 1128-3003) and B-3' (bases 11310-11390), failed to bind to the protein. The 40 kDa sequence-specific binding protein in rat liver nuclear extract may play a role in apoB-100 mRNA editing.     

Ion channel expression by white matter glia: the type-1 astrocyte.

We describe the electrophysiological properties of acutely isolated type-1 astrocytes using a new "tissue print" dissociation procedure. Because the enzymes used did not destroy or modify the ion channels, and the cells retained many processes, the properties may reflect those in vivo. The types of ion channels in type-1 astrocytes changed rapidly during the first 10 postnatal days, when they attained their adult phenotype. This change was dependent on the presence of neurons. In culture, most of these channel types were not expressed, but a phenotype more typical of that in vivo could be induced by co-culture with neurons. The electrophysiological properties of astrocytes make some existing hypotheses of astrocyte function less likely.     

国产磨芋属的染色体核型报道(1)

本文报道了磨芋属(Amorphophallus Blume)六个种的染色体数目和核型,其中5个种属于首次报道。其核型公式如下: 1.滇磨芋 K(2n)=2x=26=26m.2.磨芋 K(2n)=2x=26=26m.3.攸落磨芋K(2n)=2x=26=22m(2SAT)+4sm.(2SAT).4.西盟磨芋 K(2n)=2x=26=20m+4sm+2st.5.勐海磨芋 K(2n)=2x=26=22m+4sm.6.白磨芋 K(2n)=2x=26=20m(2SAT)+6sm。     

人体小卫星DNA探针的制备

根据人体小卫星DNA核心顺序,化学合成长23碱基寡核苷酸探针,筛选人体基因组文库,旨在获得能用作遗传分析探针的小卫星顺序。结果得到15个含小卫星的阳性重组子。随机取其一(C_(35.9))作探针,试做群体分析。所有个体均可检出多条杂交带。其中某些带具有多态性。在一定检测条件下,检出的DNA图谱在有限的个体内具有个体特异性。结果表明筛选文库得到的小卫星顺序可用于小卫星多态性的检测。其它小卫星探针的筛选和应用性研究正在进行。     

异育淇鲫及其双亲同工酶的比较研究

用4.5％聚丙烯酰胺凝胶平板电泳研究了异育淇鲫及其母本淇鲫和父本兴国红鲤的肌可溶性蛋白以及肾、肝、眼、背白肌和心等五种组织的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)和酯酶(EST)。结果发现:异育淇鲫的肌可溶性蛋白以及同工酶的电泳图谱与母本淇鲫相同而与父本兴国红鲤显著不同,因而认为异育淇鲫是淇鲫雌核发育的产物,父本基因对子代基本无影响。在此基础上,本文对异源精子在雌核发育中所起的生物学作用进行了初步探讨。     

Early-blocked sporulation mutations alter expression of enzymes under carbon control in Bacillus subtilis

Summary The physiological roles of the gene subset defined by early-blocked sporulation mutations (spo0) and their second-site suppressor alleles (rvtA11 and crsA47) remain cryptic for both vegetative and sporulating Bacillus subtilis cells. To test the hypothesis that spo0 gene products affect global regulation, we assayed the levels of carbon- and nitrogen-sensitive enzymes in wild-type and spo0 strains grown in a defined minimal medium containing various carbon and nitrogen sources. All the spo0 mutations (except spo0J) affected both histidase and arabinose isomerase levels in an unexpected way: levels of both carbon-sensitive enzymes were two- to six-fold higher in spo0 strains compared to wild type, when cells were grown on the derepressing carbon sources arabinose or maltose. There was no difference in enzyme levels with glucose-grown cells, nor was there a significant difference in levels of the carbonindependent enzymes glutamine synthetase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. This effect was not due to a slower growth rate for the spo0 mutants on the poor carbon and nitrogen sources used. The levels of carbon-sensitive enzymes were not simply correlated with sporulation ability in genetically suppressed spo0 mutants, but the rvtA and crsA suppressors each had such marked effects on wild-type growth and enzyme levels that these results were difficult to interpret. We conclude that directly or indirectly the spo0 mutations, although blocking the sporulation process, increase levels of carbon-sensitive enzymes, possibly at the level of gene expression.     

C5 convertase of the alternative complement pathway: covalent linkage between two C3b molecules within the trimolecular complex enzyme

C5 convertase of the alternative C pathway is a complex enzyme consisting of three C fragments--one molecule of a major fragment of factor B (Bb) and two molecules of a major fragment of C3 (C3b). Within this C3bBbC3b complex, the first C3b binds covalently to the target surface, and Bb, which bears a catalytic site, binds noncovalently to the first C3b. In the present investigation, we studied the nature of the convertase that is assembled on E surfaces and obtained evidence that the second C3b binds directly to the alpha'-chain of the first through an ester bond rather than to the target surface. Thus, the alternative pathway C5 convertase could be described as a trimolecular complex in which Bb binds noncovalently to a covalently linked C3b dimer. We also obtained evidence that not only the second C3b but also the first C3b participates in binding C5, that is, covalently-linked C3b dimer acts as a substrate-binding site. Because of this two-site binding, the convertase has a much higher affinity for C5 than the surrounding monomeric C3b molecules. Based on this evidence, a new model of the alternative pathway C5 convertase is proposed. Covalent association of two subunits and the bivalent binding of the substrate are then common properties of the alternative and classical pathway C5 convertases.     

Monoclonal antibodies to mouse complement receptor type 1 (CR1). Their use in a distribution study showing that mouse erythrocytes and platelets are CR1-negative

mAb to murine C receptor type 1 (CR1) were produced and three of them were characterized. One antibody, designated as 8C12, immunoprecipitated a protein of 190,000 Mr from a detergent extract of surface-labeled spleen cells and stained spleen B but not T lymphocytes in fluorescent flow cytometry. It inhibited both CR1-mediated rosette formation and the cofactor activity of CR1 for factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b, suggesting that it recognizes the ligand-binding site of CR1. The two other antibodies, designated as 7G6 and 7E9, recognized different epitopes from that recognized by 8C12, and they cross-reacted with a protein of 150,000 Mr that is present in a spleen extract. The distribution of CR1 in murine hemopoietic cells was studied by binding experiments with radiolabeled 8C12 and fluorescent flow cytometry. When CR1 was not detected by 8C12 alone, the two other antibodies were used in combination with 8C12 to confirm the negative results. Almost all B lymphocytes from the spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood were CR1 positive. Most of the Thy-1-positive lymphocytes from these tissues were CR1 negative. Thymus lymphocytes were also CR1 negative. Peritoneal macrophages and chemotactic factor stimulated but not unstimulated peripheral blood granulocytes were CR1 positive. In contrast to human E, mouse E were CR1 negative. This pattern of distribution was consistent with previous results obtained by rosette assays. Although mouse platelets cause immune adherence hemagglutination with C3b-bearing SRBC, they are CR1 negative. Three other lines of evidence also indicated that platelets are CR1 negative. First, no band of CR1 was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with 8C12 of an extract of surface-labeled platelets. Second, 8C12, which inhibited rosette formation by lymphocytes, alone or in combination with 7G6 and 7E9, did not inhibit immune adherence between platelets and C3b-bearing SRBC. Third, polyclonal rabbit IgG prepared from anti-mouse CR1 antiserum did not inhibit immune adherence by platelets. These results strongly suggest that the C3b-binding factor(s) on mouse platelets is different from CR1 and that processing of C3b-bearing immune complexes in mouse blood may be mediated by a new and as yet unidentified C3b-binding factor(s).