A high-resolution genetic map around waltzer on mouse Chromosome 10 and identification of a new allele of waltzer

A new autosomal recessive mouse mutation characterized by deafness and circling behavior was recovered during mutagenesis experiments with chlorambucil (CHL). On the basis of allelism tests and linkage analyses, this mutation appears to represent a new allele of waltzer (v) that maps to mouse Chromosome (Chr) 10. We have designated this new allele, Albany waltzer (v ^Alb ). A high-resolution map of the region around v was constructed from data from two intersubspecific backcrosses involving Mus musculus castaneus. The analysis of 648 backcross mice has allowed v ^Alb to be localized 1.1 ± 0.4 cM distal to D10Mit60 and 0.2 ± 0.2 cM proximal to a cluster of four markers, D10Mit172, D10Mit112, D10Mit48, and D10Mit196. An independent backcross was used to confirm the map order and distances in the v ^Alb backcross. The two linkage maps were consistent, indicating that the lesion in v ^Alb , which is presumed to be a deletion based on the known action of CHL, is small and has not significantly altered the map at this level of detection. Additionally, three genes (Ros1, Grik2, and Zfa) were eliminated as possible candidates for v ^Alb , and several SSLP markers were separated genetically. Received: 3 July 1996 / Accepted: 13 August 1996     

鲨鱼软骨制剂抑制血管生成的研究

以鲨鱼软骨为原料,经盐酸胍抽提,丙酮分级沉淀, 超滤等步骤得到鲨鱼软骨制剂(shark cartilage preparation,SCP). 利用整装细胞扫描电镜方法测定SCP对血管内皮细胞骨架系统的影响,体外细胞迁移实验测定它对内皮细胞迁移的抑制效应,及鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜实验测定对血管生成的抑制效应. 结果表明SCP能显著抑制内皮细胞的骨架形成;显著抑制内皮细胞的迁移,并有明显的浓度依赖关系;显著抑制鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜的血管生成. 细胞骨架是细胞分裂增殖及运动迁移的基础,血管内皮细胞的运动迁移又是血管生成的基础,因此SCP的作用机理可能是通过抑制细胞骨架的形成,抑制内皮细胞的运动迁移,从而抑制血管生成.     

Long-lasting adenovirus transgene expression in mice through neonatal intrathymic tolerance induction without the use of immunosuppression.

The major barrier to the clinical application of adenovirus gene therapy for diseases that require stable transgene expression is the immunogenicity of recombinant adenovirus, which ordinarily limits the duration of its effects to a period of about 2 weeks. We postulated that tolerance to adenovirus could be induced and transgene expression could be prolonged if T lymphocytes underwent thymic selection in the presence of adenovirus antigens. Mice were inoculated in the thymus with a recombinant adenovirus containing the lacZ marker gene during the neonatal period at a time before T-cell maturation had occurred. When the virus was administered intravenously to these mice in adulthood, they were found to have an impaired adenovirus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response which allowed prolonged hepatic lacZ expression, for up to 260 days. The ability to achieve unresponsiveness to a recombinant adenovirus after inoculation of the thymus in neonates extends the paradigm of intrathymic tolerance induction. Furthermore, this model will enable the study of stable adenovirus transgene expression in vivo without the use of immunosuppression and ultimately may have clinical utility.     

Isolation and culture of daylily mesophyll protoplasts

Mesophyll protoplasts were isolated from leaf tissues of a diploid daylily (HemerocallisxRed Magic) by enzymatic digestion with a solution containing 0.5% Pectolyase Y-23, 0.1% Cellulase R-10, 0.1% Driselase, 0.6 M sorbitol and half-strength MS inorganic salts. When cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l BA, the protoplasts underwent sustained division to produce multicellular colonies. The optimal plating density for cell division was 0.5 × 10⁵ protoplasts/ml. The highest plating efficiency was obtained in cultures grown in media solidified with 0.2% Gelrite. Under these conditions, formation of colonies occurred from 14% of cultured protoplasts. Calli were recovered from 9 colonies only after the cultures were treated with a conditioned medium. Intact plants were regenerated from protoplast-derived calli through organogenesis.Abbreviations BA 6-benzylaminopurine - FDA fluorescein diacetate - GA₃ gibberellic acid - MS medium Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid     

Screening and characterization of glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid acylase from Pseudomonas sp.

Summary Three screening methods were used to isolate GL-7-ACA acylase-producing strains. Three positive isolates were identified with Pseudomonas nitroreducens CCRC 11041 possessing the highest activity, against GL-7-ACA and GL-7-ADCA. No activity was detected when Ceph C or succinyl-7-ACA was used as substrate; glutaric acid was found to be inhibitory. CCRC 11041 could produce maximal GL-7-ACA acylase activity when cultivated on meat extract medium II. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 5.0 and a temperature optimum of 42°C.     

软骨血管生成抑制因子抑制血管生成的研究

小牛气管软骨经盐酸胍抽提,丙酮分级沉淀,膜超滤,柱层析等步骤得到软骨血管生成抑制因子(cartilage angiogenesis inhibiting factor,CAIF).SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳显示CAIF由单一组分组成,分子量为27700.通过[ ³H]-TdR掺入,活细胞检测等方法测定CAIF对内皮细胞、Hela细胞、QGY7703细胞与小鼠骨髓细胞、人皮肤成纤维细胞等的DNA合成的影响,以及细胞毒作用.采用鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜实验测定CAIF对血管生成的抑制效应.结果显示:CAIF对内皮细胞产生强的抑制作用,对Hela细胞抑制很弱,对QGY7703细胞、小鼠骨髓细胞、人皮肤成纤维细胞均无抑制作用;对鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜的血管生成产生明显的抑制作用.提示CAIF能较特异地抑制血管生成,CAIF达到电泳纯,是专一性较强的血管生成抑制因子.     

外显子和内含子的序列复杂性

引入了两个新的关于序列复杂性的测度,并以此为指标分析比较了结构基因序列中的外显子和内含子的复杂性差异。     

The distribution of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in the central nervous system of the rat: an immunohistochemical study. II. Lower brain stem

The distribution of immunoreactive alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSHI) in the rat lower brain stem was examined by indirect immunofluorescence or peroxidase- anti-peroxidase immunohistochemical method using an antiserum against synthetic alpha-MSH. The results confirmed the presence of alpha-MSHI fibers in the midbrain central gray matter and parabrachial area, and demonstrated a much more extensive distribution of these fibers in various parts of the lower brain stem areas previously thought not contain alpha-MSHI fibers. In addition, the commissural nucleus was identified as a new alpha-MSHI neurons-containing site. No alpha-MSHI neurons were seen in other regions of the rat lower brain stem.     

Plasma growth hormone responses to repetitive administrations of growth hormone releasing factor in patients with pituitary dwarfism

Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses to the repetitive administrations of synthetic human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor (hpGRF-44) were studied in 15 patients with GH deficiency (11 diagnosed as idiopathic and 4 diagnosed as secondary to hypothalamo-pituitary tumor). hpGRF-44 was administered by single iv bolus (2 micrograms/kg), repetitive im (100 micrograms, twice a day), and/or repetitive iv infusion (2.5 micrograms/min for 90 min, once a day) for three to six consecutive days. Three of the eleven idiopathic GH deficient patients had plasma GH responses to both single iv bolus injection and repetitive administrations by im, or iv infusion of hpGRF. In four of the remaining eight, who had not had peak plasma GH levels above 5 ng/ml to a single iv bolus of the peptide, repetitive administrations of hpGRF-44 by im injection and/or iv infusion induced GH responses to the peptide. In the four patients with secondary GH deficiency, three had plasma GH response to hpGRF administration but one patient, who had indications of pituitary disorder, did not show any plasma GH response to either single iv injection or repetitive administrations of hpGRF-44. These data show that repetitive administrations of hpGRF-44 can induce plasma GH responses in some GH deficient patients who do not respond to a single iv bolus of the peptide.