Crystallographic complexes of surfactant protein A and carbohydrates reveal ligand-induced conformational change

Surfactant protein A (SP-A), a C-type lectin, plays an important role in innate lung host defense against inhaled pathogens. Crystallographic SP-A·ligand complexes have not been reported to date, limiting available molecular information about SP-A interactions with microbial surface components. This study describes crystal structures of calcium-dependent complexes of the C-terminal neck and carbohydrate recognition domain of SP-A with d-mannose, d-α-methylmannose, and glycerol, which represent subdomains of glycans on pathogen surfaces. Comparison of these complexes with the unliganded SP-A neck and carbohydrate recognition domain revealed an unexpected ligand-associated conformational change in the loop region surrounding the lectin site, one not previously reported for the lectin homologs SP-D and mannan-binding lectin. The net result of the conformational change is that the SP-A lectin site and the surrounding loop region become more compact. The Glu-202 side chain of unliganded SP-A extends out into the solvent and away from the calcium ion; however, in the complexes, the Glu-202 side chain translocates 12.8 Å to bind the calcium. The availability of Glu-202, together with positional changes involving water molecules, creates a more favorable hydrogen bonding environment for carbohydrate ligands. The Lys-203 side chain reorients as well, extending outward into the solvent in the complexes, thereby opening up a small cation-friendly cavity occupied by a sodium ion. Binding of this cation brings the large loop, which forms one wall of the lectin site, and the adjacent small loop closer together. The ability to undergo conformational changes may help SP-A adapt to different ligand classes, including microbial glycolipids and surfactant lipids.     

高寒草甸矮嵩草种群的放牧中构件种群的反应特性

研究了不同放牧强度下高寒矮嵩草草甸建群种矮嵩草 (Kobresia humilis)构件种群的数量在放牧第四年 (1991年 )和停牧 1年后 (1993年 )的季节动态特性与反应。结果表明 ,随放牧强度增加 ,矮嵩草每分株中分蘖和叶片的数量增加 ,累积存活叶片数达到最大值的时间推迟。在各放牧处理下 ,分蘖数、生殖枝数和累积总叶数具有相同的季节动态过程。分蘖出生率分别在 5月中下旬和 8月下旬各有 1个高峰期 ,死亡率高峰在生长季末。叶片出生率和死亡率的周期与分蘖同步 ,叶片出生率和死亡率大小的变化也同步。矮嵩草分蘖和叶片群体的存活曲线类型分属“Deevey I”型和“阶梯”形 ,且不受放牧强度的影响。停牧 1年后 ,矮嵩草分蘖和叶片群体在放牧强度处理间的数量差异仍然存在     

基于音节聚类分析的被动声学监测技术及其在鸟类监测中的应用

被动声学监测通过分析鸟鸣声信息来实现物种识别,为鸟类多样性监测提供了一种切实可行的技术方案。由于鸟种的鸣声复杂多变,如何通过声纹快速准确辨别物种,分析鸟类丰度,降低对人工操作的需求等技术难题,成为基于声纹的鸟类多样性监测所面临的挑战。本文提出了基于音节聚类的鸟类鸣声监测框架:首先通过音高、频率平坦度等音频特征在声纹数据中提取音节,然后通过无监督表征学习与狄利克雷过程(Dirichlet process)混合模型对音节进行深度无监督聚类训练,完成音节聚类和自动音节种类推断。分析结果表明,本文提出的基于音节聚类的鸟类鸣声监测框架在处理开源数据集白腰文鸟(Lonchura striata)的曲目时可获得接近90%的聚类准确率。在此基础上,本研究对2022年4-5月在广州市白云山公园固定监测点所录制的10种鸟类鸣声进行了无监督的音节聚类分析,验证了本文所提出的基于音节聚类的鸟类鸣声监测框架的有效性:本技术不仅可以支持快速鸟类物种识别,还可以统计和分析不同物种鸟鸣在时间、频度、数量上的变化。这些结果表明,基于音节聚类的鸟类鸣声监测框架可以显著降低对人工标注训练数据的要求,克服传统鸟鸣物种识别框架...     

Rapid isolation of murine primary hepatocytes for chromosomal analysis

Primary hepatocyte culture is a crucial tool for investigations of liver function and for evaluating the toxic effects of drugs. In addition, chromosomal analysis of hepatocytes could also prove useful for understanding the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis. However, cultivation of primary hepatocytes for chromosome analysis has been hampered by the specific equipment and skill required to perform the in situ perfusion step necessary for isolation of primary hepatocytes. In the present study, we aimed to establish a simple and efficient method of isolating hepatocytes suitable for chromosome analysis. We performed hepatocyte isolation without using collagenase perfusion, instead digesting liver tissues using collagenase in tubes. In addition, we examined hepatocyte and bone marrow cell (BMC) co-culture and cultivation of hepatocytes with medium containing BMC culture medium supernatants. We found that hepatocyte viability and attachment rate were significantly improved, both by co-culture with BMCs and medium containing BMC culture media supernatants, with the latter also significantly increasing the mitotic index. Using this simple method of isolation and cultivation, we could successfully perform chromosomal analysis of mouse primary hepatocytes. This method has the potential to help understand the mechanisms underlying chromosomal instability-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Enhancing the Thermotolerance of Isochrysis zhangjiangensis Through Co-culturing With Algoriphagus marincola

Marine Biotechnology - Isochrysis zhangjiangensis is an important microalgal species used as bait in aquaculture. However, its optimal cultivation temperature is around 25 °C,...     

海南产螺旋藻粉蛋白质氨基酸

采用Tecator自动定氮仪和Waters PICO-TAG氨基酸自动分析仪测定了海南螺旋藻粉中蛋白质含量和17种氨基酸含量。结果显示海南螺旋藻粉中蛋白质含量达63.3%,总氨基酸含量达60.88%,其中必需氨基酸含量超过40%,比例平衡,符合FA0标准,可与国外产品媲美。     

UPPER TRIASSIC SPORO-POLLEN ASSEMBLAGES FROM MOSUOHE RIVER VALLEY OF BAODING, SICHUAN

In 1972, after frequent investigations on lithology, sedimentology and palaeontology (especially on palaeobotany), the Upper Triassic coal series (formerly the "Lalaqing Coal Series") in the Baoding area, southwestern Sichuan was previously divided by No. 1 Regional Geological Survey Team of Yunnan Province into two formations in ascending order as the Daqiaodi Formation, and the Daqing Formation (consisting of the Lower and Upper Members).     

阜新含煤盆地早白垩世植物组合及其意义

本文报道了阜新盆地含煤地层中的植物化石和植物群特征,对植物化石在垂直方向上的变化规律进行了讨论。