Using scapular measurements in regression formulae for the estimation of stature

There are very few papers in forensic literature in which scapular dimensions have been used for estimation of living stature. Allowing the forensic duty to estimate the living stature of skeletal remains, using intact or fragmented scapulae, the Authors have performed multiple regression analysis between the measurements taken from 80 scapula (40 male and 40 female) belonging to a skeletal collection with anthropometric known data. Seven parameters (max length, max breadth, max acrocoracoid distance, length of acromion, max length of coracoid, length of glenoid cavity, width of glenoid cavity) have been recorded. By statistical analysis multiple and linear regressions have been obtained. The results show that living stature may be determined by using regression formulae of single or associated parameters taken from whole or fragmented scapulae. In absence of intact or fragmented long limb bones, scapula sample can be reliably employed for the estimation of stature in forensic practice.     

Circular dichroism study of ribonuclease A mutants containing the minimal structural requirements for dimerization and swapping

Four residues Pro19, Leu28, Cys31 and Cys32 proved to be the minimal structural requirements in determining the dimeric structure and the N-terminal segment swapping of bovine seminal ribonuclease, BS-RNase. We analyzed the content of secondary and tertiary structures in RNase A, P-RNase A, PL-RNase A, MCAM-PLCC-RNase A and MCAM-BS-RNase, performing near and far-UV CD spectra. It results that the five proteins have very similar native conformations. Thermal denaturation at pH 5.0 of the proteins, studied by means of CD measurements, proved reversible and well represented by the two-state ND transition model. Thermodynamic data are discussed in the light of the structural information available for RNase A and BS-RNase.     

Free D- and L-amino acids in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid from Alzheimer and normal subjects

Summary Free D-Ser, D-Asp and total D-amino acids were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Alzheimer (AD) ventricular CSF than in normal CSF. There was no significant difference in the total L-amino acids between AD and normal CSF, but L-Gln and L-His were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in ADCSF. The higher concentrations of these D- and L-amino acids in AD ventricular CSF could reflect the degenerative process that occurs in Alzheimer's brain since ventricular CSF is the repository of amino acids from the brain.     

大鼠催乳素基因真核细胞可表达性质粒的构建及应用研究

７３５ｂｐ的ＰＲＬｃＤＮＡ片段从质粒ＰＲＬ－ＳＰ６５＃１中回收后,用粘性末端连接法将其重组到真核表达载体ｐｃＤＮＡ３上,筛选出正向连接重组体ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＰＲＬＳ和反向连接重组体ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＰＲＬＡＳ。将重组体ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＰＲＬｓ和空载体ｐｃＤＮＡ３分别转入ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞系,用Ｇ４１８筛选出阳性细胞后与未转染的ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞在加Ｅ２和不加Ｅ２的情况下,用原位杂交的方法,分别用ＰＲＬｃＤＮＡ探针和原癌基因ｃ－Ｈ－ｒａｓｃＤＮＡ探针进行检测,未转染的ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞在加Ｅ２和不加Ｅ２时都几乎无催乳素基因的表达,同样,转入空载体的ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞也无ＰＲＬ的表达,而转入重组体ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＰＲＬＳ的ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞则有大量的ＰＲＬ基因的表达,与对照组相比有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。正常和转入空载体的ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞有一定程度的原癌基因ｃ－Ｈ－ｒａｓ的表达,当分别加入Ｅ２和转入重组体ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＰＲＬＳ后,ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞中的ｃ－Ｈ－ｒａｓ基因表达水平都显著升高（Ｐ＜０．０５）。     

培养基除菌过滤在百日咳菌苗生产中的应用

经一系列试验证实百日咳菌大罐培养浓度的下降与培养基中不耐热营养因子不足有关,将培养基的高压灭菌方式改为除菌过滤,保留热不稳定营养因子,可以提高百日咳菌大罐培养浓度;优化酸沉淀条件后,提高了菌苗回收率,从而节省了大量培养基,缩短了生产时间,获得了良好的经济效益。     

Plasmalemma hyperpolarity and culture of sense and antisenseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts

The relationship among transfer and expression of auxin binding protein gene (abp), auxin (NAA)-induced plasmalemma hyperpolarity and sensibility to auxin during protoplast culture was studied by measuring transmembrane potential difference (Em) and culturing the protoplasts of sense and antisenseabp transgenic tobacco. The concentration of NAA inducing the highest degree of hyperpolarity of senseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts was lower than the control, and in protoplast culture, their sensibility to auxin increased. The concentration of antisenseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts was higher than the control, and in protoplast culture, their sensibility to auxin decreased. These results demonstrated that ABP synthesized in endoplasmic reticulum needed to transport to cell membrane and functioned there.     

Oxidative modification of human low-density lipoprotein by horseradish peroxidase in the absence of hydrogen peroxide

Heme-peroxidases, such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP), are among the most popular catalysts of low density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation. In this model system, a suitable oxidant such as H₂O₂ is required to generate the hypervalent iron species able to initiate the peroxidative chain. However, we observed that traces of hydroperoxides present in a fresh solution of linoleic acid can promote lipid peroxidation and apo B oxidation, substituting H₂O₂.

Spectral analysis of HRP showed that an hypervalent iron is generated in the presence of H₂O₂ and peroxidizing linoleic acid. Accordingly, careful reduction of the traces of linoleic acid lipid hydroperoxide prevented formation of the ferryl species in HRP and lipid peroxidation. However, when LDL was oxidized in the presence of HRP, the ferryl form of HRP was not detectable, suggesting a Fenton-like reaction as an alternative mechanism. This was supported by the observation that carbon monoxide, a ligand for the ferrous HRP, completely inhibited peroxidation of LDL.

These results are in agreement with previous studies showing that myoglobin ferryl species is not produced in the presence of phospholipid hydroperoxides, and emphasize the relevance of a Fenton-like chemistry in peroxidation of LDL and indirectly, the role of pre-existing lipid hydroperoxides.     

Enzymes from Sulfolobus shibatae for the production of trehalose and glucose from starch

Enzymes that convert starch and dextrins to α,α-trehalose and glucose were found in cell homogenates of the hyperthermophilic acidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus shibatae DMS 5389. Three enzymes were purified and characterized. The first, the S. shibatae trehalosyl dextrin-forming enzyme (SsTDFE), transformed starch and dextrins to the corresponding trehalosyl derivatives with an intramolecular transglycosylation process that converted the glucosidic linkage at the reducing end from α-1,4 to α-1,1. The second, the S. shibatae trehalose-forming enzyme (SsTFE), hydrolyzed the α-1,4 linkage adjacent to the α-1,1 bond of trehalosyl dextrins, forming trehalose and lower molecular weight dextrins. These two enzymes had molecular masses of 80 kDa and 65 kDa, respectively, and showed the highest activities at pH 4.5. The apparent optimal temperature for activity was 70°C for SsTDFE and 85°C for SsTFE. The third enzyme identified was an α-glycosidase (SsαGly), which catalyzed the hydrolysis of the α-1,4 glucosidic linkages in starch and dextrins, releasing glucose in a stepwise manner from the nonreducing end of the polysaccharide chain. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 313 kDa and showed the highest activity at pH 5.5 and at 85°C. Received: October 29, 1997 / Accepted: April 29, 1998     

水稻(Oryza sativa)原生质体经钝化后诱导融合再生可育体细胞杂种

本研究在初步实现水稻原生质体培养的程序化后,选用普通栽培稻P339和特种稻苏御糯选的原生质体为融合亲本,利用碘乙酸(IA)和罗丹明-6G(R-6G)这两个代谢互补抑制剂钝化处理亲本原生质体,确定了合适的抑制条件。P339用0.25mmol/L IA,苏御糯选用50μg/ml R-6G分别经30min钝化处理,通过PEG和高Ca~(2 )、高pH法诱导融合,异源融合体具有代谢互补效应,经培养得到愈伤组织17块,并进一步分化获得不同形态的再生植株12棵。移栽存活的再生植株成熟后可育,通过对这些植株的形态以及酯酶和过氧化物酶同工酶电泳的分析表明是融合后的体细胞杂种植株。