High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a valuable tool for characterization of peptides, is frequently used in combination with sensitive radioimmunoassays (RIA). The shadow phenomenon, representing carry-over of the peptide from previous application of the standard, can appear to result in the presence of endogenous peptide in the test sample when none is actually there. With delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), we found the shadowing to be as high as 10%, although it was only 1% with 125I-Tyr-DSIP. Thus, when HPLC-RIA systems are used for identification of peptides, caution must be used to avoid false positive results. 相似文献
Methanogenesis from acetate by a rod-shaped enrichment culture grown at 60° C was found to require the presence of two organisms rather than a single aceticlastic methanogen. A thermophilic Methanobacterium which grew on H2/CO2 or formate was isolated from the enrichment. Lawns of this methanogen were used to co-isolate an acetate oxidizer in roll tubes containing acetate agar. The rod-shaped acetate oxidizer was morphologically distinct from the methanogen and did not show F420 autofluorescence. The coculture completely degraded 40 mol/ml acetate, and produced nearly equal quantities of methane, and methanogenesis was coupled with growth. The doubling time for the coculture at 60°C was 30–40 h and the yield was 2.7±0.3 g dry wt/mol CH4. Studies with 14C-labelled substrates showed that the methyl group and the carboxyl group of acetate were both converted primarily to CO2 by the coculture and that CO2 was concurrently reduced to CH4. During growth, there was significant isotopic exchange between CO2 and acetate, especially with thecarboxyl position of acetate. These results support a mechanism for methanogenesis from acetate by the coculture in which acetate was oxidized to CO2 and H2 by one organism, while H2 was subsequently used by a second organism to reduce CO2 to CH4. Since the H2 partial pressure must be maintained below 10-4 atm by the methanogen for acetate oxidation to be thermodynamically feasible, this is an example of obligate interspecies hydrogen transfer. This mechanism was originally proposed for a single organism by Barker in 1936. 相似文献
In this study we examined the effect of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the bumetanide-sensitive Na+/K+/Cl- transporter in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells. We have shown that exposure of quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cultures to phorbol ester did not inhibit the basal bumetanide-sensitive Rb+ influx or efflux. In fact, at high concentration (100 ng/ml), TPA slightly stimulated the bumetanide-sensitive Rb+ influx and efflux. However, when the quiescent cultures were stimulated by serum or by defined growth factors, the stimulated fraction of the bumetanide-sensitive Rb+ influx was drastically inhibited by exposure of the cells to the phorbol ester TPA. Based on the above findings, we propose that activation of protein kinase C by the phorbol ester TPA does not inhibit the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport activity; however it does suppress only the growth-factors-stimulated fraction of the cotransport in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells. These data propose that activation of kinase C has a regulatory feedback effect on the stimulation of the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport activity by growth factors. 相似文献
An attempt was made to identify the human hookworm involved in failed-treatment cases using abnormal hosts and scanning electron microscopy. Thirty-seven, 2 to 6 month old Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) from a closed, outbred, conventional colony, were each given between 20 and 120 filariform larvae per os. The larvae were cultured from faeces from mebendazole (Vermox) 500 mg single-dose, failed-treatment cases living in the lowveld farming area of the Transvaal Province, South Africa. About 60 to 78 days after inoculation, the animals were killed and adult worms were removed from their small intestines. Eleven (30%) of the 37 hamsters harboured a total of 31 adult worms (19 males and 12 females), while 26 hamsters were refractory to infection. The greatest number of worms recovered from a single animal was six. A total of 27 worms (17 males and 10 females) were subjected to examination by scanning electron microscopy. Micrographs showed male and female worms to be morphologically all of the Necator americanus species, as identified by a pair of ventral and dorsal cutting plates, a dorsal tooth and the fused terminus of spicules in the male bursa. The transverse cuticular striations were distinct and smooth. Several points of interest arose from the results of this study and are discussed. 相似文献
Zusammenfassung In einer intensiv landwirtschaftlich genutzten Fläche des schweizerischen Mittellandes wurden 1983–1987 vier Feldlerchenaggregationen mit maximal 39 Brutpaaren untersucht. Die Tradition (Ortstreue) bestimmte in erster Linie die Revierwahl und das Verteilungsmuster. Die Reviere waren mit
ha sehr groß; ihre Größe korrelierte negativ mit der Anzahl Parzellen pro Fläche und der Kulturendiversität. Die Nutzung des Ressourcenangebots (Nistplatz, Nahrung, Schutz) war abhängig von den Fortbewegungsmöglichkeiten. In großparzellig strukturierten Flächen mit geringer Kulturendiversität kam es häufig zu Revierverschiebungen und Reviervergrößerungen. Die Feldlerche versucht, im Laufe der Brutperiode den Getreideanteil im Revier zu verkleinern und Kulturen wie Rüben, Kartoffeln und auch Mais zu aquirieren. Die Nistplatzwahl zeigte eine deutliche Präferenz für alle nicht zu dicht stehenden, grasartigen Kulturen (Weizen, Hafer, Fettwiese). Eine Vegetationshöhe von 15–25 cm und eine Bodenbedeckung von 20–50 % bieten optimale Bedingungen für den Nestbau. 51 % aller Nester wurden in der Fettwiese angelegt, 20 % im Winterweizen und 18 % im Mais. Je nach Bewirtschaftungsart brüteten die im Mittel 2,4–2,8mal pro Brutsaison. Die Schlüpfrate von 220 Gelegen betrug 0,58. 44 % der geschlüpften Jungvögel verließen das Nest. Der Bruterfolg (nestverlassende Junge/gelegte Eier) lag bei max. 25 %. Dem Fütterungsverhalten der Altvögel nach zu schließen, wurden maximal 50 % der nestverlassenden Jungen flügge. Durchschnittlich war mit 0,9 flüggen Jungen pro Brutpaar und Jahr zu rechnen. Brutverluste waren kulturspezifisch und daher in erster Linie vom Neststandort abhängig.
Territoriality and breeding biology of Skylark (Alauda arvensis) in an intensively farmed area in Switzerland
Summary In 1983–1987 four plots (total surface 307 ha) with up to 39 breeding pairs were studied in an area of intensive cultivation in the Swiss Lowlands (390 m asl). Distribution pattern and selection of territories are determined by a strong site tenacity of the birds. The size of territories averaged 3,3±0,9 hectares. It correlates negatively with the number of different crops per unit area and the diversity of cultures.The mobility within the vegetation determined which types of farmland ressources may be used for nesting, feeding and cover. Shifts of territories and attempts to enlarge them were frequent in areas of large plots with low crop diversity. During the season, Skylarks tried to reduce the proportion of cereal fields within their territory and to gain plots planted with sugar-beet, potatoes and corn.Their choice of nesting sites showed a strong preference for less dense grass crops such as wheat, oat or meadows. Optimal conditions for nest sites were in fields with a vegetation height of 15–25 cm and a ground coverage of 20–50 %. 51 % of 220 nests were constructed in heavily manured meadows, 20 % in winter wheat fields and 18 % in corn fields. Females bred on average 2,4–2,8 times per breeding season, depending on the type of cultivation (agriculture, husbandry). Hatching rate was 58 % out of 220 clutches, and 44 % of the hatched young left the nest. Maximum breeding success (i. e. young birds leaving the nest/number of eggs laid) was thus maximal 25 %. Observations of parental feeding behaviour suggest that a maximum of 50 % of the young larks which leave the nests survive to the age of fledging. It is estimated that 0,9 fledglings are raised per breeding pairs and year. Losses of broods vary according to farming practises in the different crops and therefore are largely depending on nesting sites.
Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 was able to utilize 4-chlorophenylacetic acid as the sole source of carbon and energy. When this strain was grown with 4-chlorophenylacetic acid, homoprotocatechuic acid was found to be an intermediate which was further metabolized by the meta-cleavage pathway. Furthermore, three isomers of chlorohydroxyphenylacetic acid, two of them identified as 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 4-chloro-3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, were isolated from the culture medium. 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid was catabolized in a different manner by the glutathione-dependent homogentisate pathway. Degradation enzymes of both of these pathways were inducible. 相似文献
Gap junctions (GJ) are important determinants of cardiac conduction and the evidence has recently emerged that altered distribution of these junctions and changes in the expression of their constituent connexins (Cx) may lead to abnormal coupling between cardiomyocytes and likely contribute to arrhythmogenesis. However, it is largely unknown whether changes in the expression and distribution of the major cardiac GJ protein, Cx43, is a general feature of diverse chronic myocardial diseases or is confined to some particular pathophysiological settings. In the present study, we therefore set out to investigate qualitatively and quantitatively the distribution and expression of Cx43 in normal human myocardium and in patients with dilated (DCM), ischemic (ICM), and inflammatory cardiomyopathies (MYO). Left ventricular tissue samples were obtained at the time of cardiac transplantation and investigated with immunoconfocal and electron microscopy. As compared with the control group, Cx43 labeling in myocytes bordering regions of healed myocardial infarction (ICM), small areas of replacement fibrosis (DCM) and myocardial inflammation (MYO) was found to be highly disrupted instead of being confined to the intercalated discs. In all groups, myocardium distant from these regions showed an apparently normal Cx43 distribution at the intercalated discs. Quantitative immunoconfocal analyis of Cx43 in the latter myocytes revealed that the Cx43 area per myocyte area or per myocyte volume is significantly decreased by respectively 30 and 55% in DCM, 23 and 48% in ICM, and by 21 and 40% in MYO as compared with normal human myocardium. In conclusion, focal disorganization of GJ distribution and down-regulation of Cx43 are typical features of myocardial remodeling that may play an important role in the development of an arrhythmogenic substrate in human cardiomyopathies. 相似文献
In order to study the effects of temperature enhancement on alpine calcareous grassland species, a warming experiment was carried out in the Berchtesgaden National Park (Southeast Germany, Northern Calcareous Alps) between 2002 and 2004. The study was conducted in stands of the Carex sempervirens and the Carex firma communities; the two most widespread grassland types in the alpine zone of the Northern Calcareous Alps. The temperature of the vegetation stand and the upper soil was passively enhanced using open top chambers (OTCs). The construction of the OTCs was appropriate since temperature was clearly increased while water conditions (humidity, soil water content) were not changed.
By comparing manipulated (temperature enhancement) with non-manipulated plots, the effects of warming on growth and reproduction of selected key species were studied. To test if vegetation response to temperature enhancement is at least partly due to increases in nutrient availability, soil solution concentrations of nitrate and ammonium were analysed.
We found that most of the studied plant species are sensitive to temperature enhancement. Growth and/or reproduction of 12 of the 14 studied species were significantly stimulated by warming. Only two species showed no response; none of the species experienced decreases in growth or reproduction. Dwarf shrubs and graminoids showed a stronger response than herbaceous perennials. A significant effect of warming on nutrient availability could not be detected. The observed response of vegetation is therefore mainly caused by direct and not by indirect temperature effects. 相似文献
Animals living in extreme environments with predictable seasonality may have important life history events correlated to favourable periods. These animals pass critical life stages in protected habitats, especially during early life, often receiving parental care. It is thus hypothesized that juveniles rely on protective microhabitats provided by their parents, becoming independent only during favourable seasons. Semi-terrestrial crayfish Parastacus pugnax inhabit burrows in highly seasonal and predictable environments, thus being well suited to test this hypothesis. Following marked burrows and individual crayfish we examined the life history patterns of P. pugnax in their natural environment to test the predictions that (i) burrowing activity is higher during the wet season, (ii) reproductive events occur during favourable seasons and (iii) juveniles only disperse after reaching larger sizes. There was little or no burrowing activity during the dry season, when soil was more compact, but burrows became wider and had more openings during the wet season. After hatching, juveniles cohabited with adults for at least 4 months during the dry season. During this period juveniles grew considerably, starting independent lives during the wet season. These results suggest that the prolonged parent-offspring cohabitation evolved in response to the predictable seasonal variations in the crayfish habitat. 相似文献