Molecular cloning of rat cytolysin

Rat cytolysin is one of the cytolytic factors present in the cytoplasmic granules of rat NK-like cytolytic cells and purified cytolysin exhibits an apparent Mr or 70 kDa. Cytolysis produced by cytolysin occurs in the presence of Ca2+ and is accompanied by the formation of membrane lesions of 160 A diameter. We have isolated a cDNA encoding rat cytolysin from the cDNA library of a rat large granular lymphocyte (LGL) cell line, by hybridization of the rat library with a cDNA probe for mouse perforin. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the isolated cDNA insert indicates that the mature cytolysin protein consist of 534 amino acids with a leader peptide of 20 amino acids. The protein contains two functionally important domains: the first domain is believed to contain the transmembrane channel and the second domain consists of an epidermal growth factor-type "class B" cysteine-rich region. A comparison with mouse perforin indicates that the two genes are very similar (89.9% nucleotide and 84.9% amino acid identity). Northern blot hybridization analysis indicates that cytolysin mRNA is expressed in rat lymphocytes (lymphokine-activated killer cells and LGL cells) and LGL cell lines.     

Pharmacologic profile of BN 50739, a new PAF antagonist in vitro and in vivo

The effect of a new PAF antagonist BN 50739 was studied on PAF-induced [3H]-serotonin release from washed rabbit platelets in vitro and on PAF-induced hypotension in vivo. BN 50739 competitively inhibited PAF-induced [3H]-serotonin release from the platelets in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of 4, 10 and 50 nM of BN 50739, the concentration of PAF inducing 50% maximal [3H]-serotonin release from the platelets (EC50) increased from 2.15 nM to 5.10, 45.10 and 900 nM, respectively. The IC50 of BN 50739 for PAF (10 nM) induced [3H]-serotonin release was 3.67 nM. Under the same experimental condition, the IC50s of BN 50726, BN 50730, BN 50741, WEB 2086, SRI 63-441 and BN 52021 were 5.40, 4.61, 6.88, 5.98, 40.90 nM and 14.90 microM, respectively. PAF-induced hypotension in conscious rats was also inhibited dose-dependently by i.p. pretreatment of BN 50739 (3 and 10 mg/kg). PAF-induced hypotension was diminished both in magnitude and duration in rats pretreated with BN 50739. These data taken together indicate that BN 50739 is a most potent PAF antagonist in vitro and in vivo.     

Geometric design improvements for femoral graft-artery junctions mitigating restenosis

The present study is based on the hypothesis that nonuniform hemodynamics, represented by large time-averaged wall shear stress gradients, trigger abnormal biological processes leading to rapid restenosis, i.e. excessive tissue overgrowth and renewed plaque formation, and hence early graft failure. It implies that this problem may be significantly mitigated by finding graft-artery bypass configurations for which the wall shear stress gradient is approximately zero and hence nearly uniform hemodynamics is achieved. These fluid flow and geometric design considerations are applied to four different end-to-side anastomoses for the distal end of a femoral artery bypass with an appropriate test input pulse and a typical 20–80 flow division. A validated finite-volume code has been used to compute the transient three-dimensional velocity vector fields, wall shear stress distributions and surface contours of the wall shear stress gradients. It is shown that large anastomotic flow areas, small continuously changing bifurcation angles, and smooth junction wall curvatures reduce local time-averaged wall shear stress gradients significantly and hence should mitigate restenosis.     

Regulated, stable expression and nuclear presence of retrovirus double-stranded RNA-binding protein sigma3 in HeLa cells.

Reovirus genome segment S4 codes for polypeptide sigma3, a major outer capsid component of virions and a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein implicated in viral cytopathogenesis. We have constructed a stable HeLa cell line (S4tTA) that produces functional sigma3 under tetracycline transactivator control. In the absence of tetracycline, S4tTA cells synthesized stable dsRNA-binding sigma3 that accumulated in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm. However, in induced S4tTA cells also expressing reovirus outer shell polypeptide mu1/mu1C, migration of sigma3 into the nucleus was blocked, probably as a result of formation of a complex with mu1/mu1C which was exclusively in the cytoplasm. Mutant analyses indicated a correlation between dsRNA-binding activity and nuclear entry of sigma3, suggesting an additional role(s) for this capsid protein in virus-cell interactions.     

Kinetics of tert-[35S]Butylbicyclophosphorothionate Binding in the Cerebral Cortex of Newborn and Adult Rats: Effects of GABA and Receptor Desensitization

Abstract: The effects of GABA on the kinetics of tert -[³⁵S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([³⁵S]TBPS) binding to the convulsant site of GABA_A receptors were studied in membrane suspensions from the cerebral cortex of newborn (1-day-old) and adult (90-day-old) rats. TBPS dissociation was biphasic in neonates and adults, indicating that more than one interconvertible state of [³⁵S]TBPS binding sites may be present in the cerebral cortex. In the absence of GABA, the fast ( t _1/2, 11 min) and slow ( t _1/2, 77 min) components of TBPS dissociation in newborn rats were approximately fourfold slower than in adults. The acceleration of the dissociation rates caused by 2 µ M GABA, however, was more robust in neonates than in adults (six- to ninefold vs. twofold increase, respectively). Moreover, the dissociation rates of TBPS in membranes preincubated with 2 µ M GABA (dissociation started by adding 40 µ M picrotoxin) were two- to fourfold slower than in membranes preincubated without GABA (dissociation started by adding 40 µ M picrotoxin plus 2 µ M GABA). Taken together, these results suggest that (1) the closed state of GABA_A receptors is associated with a more effective steric barrier for the binding of TBPS in neonates compared with adults, (2) GABA produces a larger acceleration of the binding kinetics of TBPS in neonates than in adults, and (3) long incubations with GABA may cause receptor desensitization, which in turn slows down the dissociation rates of TBPS.     

几种昆虫生长调节剂对家白蚁的毒效试验

在室内条件下测定了卡死克、抑太保、灭幼豚3号、爱力螨克和扑虱灵五种昆虫生长调节剂对家白蚁的毒杀效果。初步筛选结果表明：卡死克、抑太保和爱力螨克对家白蚁的毒杀效果均较好,家白蚁对爱力螨克尤其敏感。2．30pm。yL爱力螨克、327．36pm0VL、卡死克和369．80V＊wL抑太保处理白蚁5～6天后,其死亡率可达100％。忌避性试验表明：卡死克、抑太保和爱力螨克对家白蚁均无明显的驱避作用。     

A lea-class gene of tomato confers salt and freezing tolerance when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

During periods of water deficit, plants accumulate late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins which are thought to protect cells from stresses associated with dehydration. One of these genes, le25, is expressed in tomato leaves and roots in response to water deficit and abscisic acid accumulation. To study the function of this protein and to test the effect of overproduction of the LE25 protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc), a recombinant plasmid in which le25 is expressed under the control of the GAL1 promoter was constructed. The content of LE25 was high in Sc cells transformed with the recombinant plasmid. The transformant exhibited several stress-tolerant phenotypes. Growth of the transformant in a medium with 1.2 M NaCl was improved, as compared to a control strain. While the control strain showed a long lag phase of 40 h, le25-expressing cells showed a shortened lag phase of 10 h. However, no growth improvement was observed in a medium with 2 M sorbitol. In addition, the transformant had an increased survival rate after freezing stress, but not after high-temperature stress. These results, together with its predicted secondary structure, may indicate that LE25 functions as an ion scavenger.     

抗癌药对黑胸大蠊淋巴细胞和生殖细胞核结构的损伤

噻替派浓度为0.1%、0.3%、0.5%时,黑胸大蠊精母细胞染色体断裂和裂隙率分别为6.3%、 10.5%和14.2%,显著地高于对卵母细胞的影响;和雄虫外周血淋巴细胞微核率呈平行关系,随微核率增多而增加。5-氟尿嘧啶浓度为0.1%、0.3%和0.5%时,卵母细胞染色体断裂和裂隙率分别为3.5%、9.8%和16.2%,和雌虫外周血淋巴细胞微核率呈平行关系,随微核率增多而增加,而对雄虫生殖细胞影响不显著。 Abstract:0.1%,0.3%,0.5% Thio-TEPA induced 6.3%,10.5% and 14.2% chromosome break or gap in spermatocyte of cockroach respectively.This was markedly higher than those in oocyte.In doses from 0.1 to 0.5 Tho-TEPA the frequency of micronucleus increased parallely with nuclear damage.0.1%,0.3%,0.5% 5-fluorouracil induced 3.5%,9.8%,16.2% chromosome break or gap in oocytes respectively.This was paralled with the frequency of micronucleus in lymphocytes of the female.5-fluorouracil showed not marked effect on spermatocyte.     

滇产薄荷的化学研究

研究了滇产３８个薄荷样品,测定了样品的得油率及化学成分。滇产薄荷的得油率在０．１８％￣０．５２％之间。从挥发油中鉴定出了１００多种化学成分,主要含醇、酮、酯、萜烯类化合物。栽培的家薄荷挥发油富含香芹酮、柠檬烯,其化学分类属于香芹酮系列。野生薄荷挥发油富含薄荷醇和薄荷酮,属于薄荷酮系列;部分野薄荷样品,富含香芹酮、环氧辣薄荷烯酮或芳樟醇,属于混合系列。     

流行性出血热循环免疫复合物组分分析

应用ＳＤＳ－聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳及免疫转印技术对流行性出血热患才血清中免疫合物组分进行了分析。流行性出血热循环免疫复合物经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分离,考马斯亮兰染色,显色主要有７条带,分子量分别为２３ｋＤ,５０ｋＤ,５２ｋＤ,６５ｋＤ,７２ｋＤ,８０ｋＤ及１００ｋＤ。采用该病毒特异性抗血清、单克隆抗体以及人免疫球蛋白、补体成分抗血清识别,在其特环免疫复合物中可检出特异性病毒抗在及相应的免疫球状蛋白和补体成