Comparison of growth rates of two clones ofBacillus subtilis,producer ofα-amylase

In a population of the productiveBacillus subtilis strain the production of α-amylase differentiates at the cell level. Individual cells in the population were analyzed and the production of isolates was tested. The mean specific activity of α-amylase in the productive group after the isolation was 5.0 U/mg dry substance and in the nonproductive group 1.5 U/mg dry substance. This ratio remained unchanged during long-term observations and after repeated transfers. In selected strains of both groups the specific growth rate was determined in a synthetic medium containing various amounts of casein hydrolyzate. The detected differences in the growth rate between the productive and the nonproductive clones are determined by amino acid concentration.     

The genetic transfer, heredity and phenotypic expression of plasmid RP4::Mu cts genes in Bacillus cereus

The transcipients were obtained in intrageneric matings of E.coli donor harbouring the plasmid PR4::Mu cts 62 with Bac. cereus GP7 recipient cells with the frequency 10(-9). The transcipient clone Bac. cereus 682 was selected having stably inherited and expressed the hybrid plasmid PR4::Mu cts 62 genes for antibiotic resistance and temperature sensitivity. Production of the bacteriophage Mu cts 62 particles was not registered in the bacillary transcipient cells. The plasmid RP4::Mu cts 62 genes were localized in the chromosome of Bac. cereus 682 transcipient by the blot-hybridization technique with 32P-labelled DNA of the bacteriophage Mu cts 62 and the plasmid PR4. The transcipient of Bac. cereus 682 has the donor properties and transfers the RP4::Mu cts 62 genes to recipient cells of Bac. cereus DSM 318 with the frequency of 10(-6)-10(-7). The expression and transfer of the gram-negative plasmid genes in gram-positive bacterial cells are discussed.     

Effect of environment on the functional state of adolescents

Adolescents of both sexes 14–15 years of age residing under different environmental conditions have been examined. The group exposed to atmospheric pollution with sulfur-containing substances from a pulp-and-paper mill, as compared with the control (residing in a relatively “clean” area), is characterized by lower tolerance to hypoxemia, reserves of the cardiorespiratory system, core body temperature, level of physical health, concentrations of nitrogen oxide metabolites in the blood, and antioxidant vitamin supply. In addition, this group shows a tendency towards hypertension and worsening of hemodynamic regulation.     

紫毛香茶菜中的黄酮类化合物

从紫毛香茶菜（Isodon enanderianus)的茎叶提取物中分离到7个黄酮类化合物,经波谱分析鉴定,其中一个为新的黄酮甙,即5-羟基-6,7,4-三甲氧基黄酮-8-O-β-D-葡萄糖甙（1）;其它6个已知的黄酮类化合物分别为芫花素（genkwanin,2)、滨蓟素（cirsimar-tin,3)、胡麻素（pedalitin,4)、鼬瓣花亭（ladanetin,5)、isothymusin-8-O-β-D-glucoside（6）和槲皮甙（quercitrin,7)。     

小黑麦抗真菌蛋白组分的分离纯化和性质研究

以木霉为指示菌,小黑麦中饲237种子中的蛋白提取物经过分离纯化后,得到了3种主要的抗真菌蛋白组分,经酶活检测鉴定,分别是分子量为30.5 kD的ClassⅡ型几丁质酶,两种分子量为51kD和23 kD的β-1,3-葡聚糖酶。其中几丁质酶的最适反应pH为6.0,最适反应温度为37℃,测定的N末端氨基酸序列与大麦几丁质酶的有很高的同源性。在一定条件下,这3种蛋白组分都有较强的抗木霉活性,并且有明显的协同作用,同时它们对离体易感小麦叶片上白粉菌有很好的生长抑制作用。     

苜蓿银纹夜蛾核多角体病毒iap1和iap2基因功能分析

苜蓿银纹夜蛾核多角体病毒（Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus,AcMNPV）基因组含有3个细胞凋亡抑制基因,即p35,iap1和iap2.其中,p35作为一个有效的依赖于天冬氨酸的半胱氨酸蛋白酶（caspase）抑制因子,能够抑制多种因素诱发细胞凋亡,而iap1和iap2的功能仍未完全明晰,本研究对IAP1和IAP2的功能进行了详细分析.缺失了p35的AcMNPV仍可抑制棉铃虫核多角体病毒（Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid NPV,HearNPV）诱导的BTI-Tn-5B1-4（Tn-Hi5）细胞凋亡并挽救HearNPV在Tn-Hi5细胞中复制及HearNPV出芽型病毒粒子的产生.进一步构建了瞬时表达质粒以及分别表达AcMNPV的p35,iap1和iap2基因的重组HearNPV,转染瞬时表达的IAP1和IAP2对HearNPV感染诱导的Tn-Hi5细胞凋亡有抑制效果,而重组病毒感染Tn-Hi5细胞也可抑制其凋亡并在其中复制,然而重组HearNPV表达的p35,iap1和iap2并未能挽救出芽型病毒粒子的产生.结果表明,AcMNPV的iap1和iap2基因表达产物作为细胞凋亡抑制因子是有功能的。     

高糖环境下Trx1过表达对HBZY-1细胞中MMP9表达的影响

硫氧还蛋白1（thioredoxin1,Trx1）是细胞内一种重要的巯基 二硫键氧化还原酶,在细胞内氧化还原状态的调控及抵抗氧化应激损伤过程中发挥重要的作用.为了探讨高糖环境下Trx1过表达对 肾小球系膜细胞（glomerular mesangial cells）HBZY-1中基质金属蛋白酶9(matrix metalloproteinase 9,MMP9)表达水平的影响,本实验采用脂质体介导的瞬时转染实现Trx1蛋白过表达;采用RT-PCR和明胶酶谱法检测HBZY-1中MMP9 mRNA及酶活性的变化;通过流式细胞仪检测细胞内活性氧的含量.实验结果显示,高糖状态下,细胞中MMP9的mRNA和酶活性分别在12 h、24 h、48 h时表达增加（P＜0.05）;HBZY-1细胞中转染正义Trx1组,MMP9 mRNA水平及MMP9酶活性,高糖组与正常糖组无明显差异（P＞0.05）,转染反义Trx1组和未转染组中,高糖组均比正常糖组表达增加,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）;细胞中活性氧含量,高糖作用12 h、24 h、48 h均较正常糖组明显增多（P＜0.01）,高糖环境下转染正义Trx1质粒较转染反义Trx1质粒,细胞中活性氧含量明显减少,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.实验提示,高糖环境下,Trx1过表达对MMP9的抑制作用是通过减少细胞内活性氧含量来实现的.本实验为Trx1的抗氧化作用提供新的证据,也为继续探讨 Trx1在糖尿病肾病的预防和治疗提供新的思路.     

Androgen receptor coregulator ARA267-α interacts with death receptor-6 revealed by the yeast two-hybrid

ARA267-α is a newly identified androgen receptor coactivator. In order to further elucidate its precise role in cells, using the ARA267-α fragment containing four PHD and one SET conserved domains as bait we revealed an ARA267-α-PHD-SET-interacting protein, death receptor-6 (DR6), in the yeast two-hybrid screening. DR6 is the member of TNF receptor family and has a death domain in its intracellular cytoplasmic portion (DR6cp) to mediate the cell apoptosis. The interaction between ARA267-α-PHD-SET and DR6cp was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Our finding implied that androgen signaling pathway might cross talk with apoptosis signaling pathway through the interaction between ARA267-α and DR6.     

A Dutch guideline for the treatment of scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders

Background

Children with neuromuscular disorders with a progressive muscle weakness such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy frequently develop a progressive scoliosis. A severe scoliosis compromises respiratory function and makes sitting more difficult. Spinal surgery is considered the primary treatment option for correcting severe scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. Surgery in this population requires a multidisciplinary approach, careful planning, dedicated surgical procedures, and specialized after care.

Methods

The guideline is based on scientific evidence and expert opinions. A multidisciplinary working group representing experts from all relevant specialties performed the research. A literature search was conducted to collect scientific evidence in answer to specific questions posed by the working group. Literature was classified according to the level of evidence.

Results

For most aspects of the treatment scientific evidence is scarce and only low level cohort studies were found. Nevertheless, a high degree of consensus was reached about the management of patients with scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. This was translated into a set of recommendations, which are now officially accepted as a general guideline in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

In order to optimize the treatment for scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders a Dutch guideline has been composed. This evidence-based, multidisciplinary guideline addresses conservative treatment, the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative care of scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders.