Identification of a secondary zinc-binding site in staphylococcal enterotoxin C2. Implications for superantigen recognition

The previously determined crystal structure of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin C2 (SEC2) showed binding of a single zinc ion located between the N- and C-terminal domains. Here we present the crystal structure of SEC2 determined to 2.0 A resolution in the presence of additional zinc. The structure revealed the presence of a secondary zinc-binding site close to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-binding site of the toxin and some 28 A away from the primary zinc-binding site of the toxin found in previous studies. T cell stimulation assays showed that varying the concentration of zinc ions present affected the activity of the toxin and we observed that high zinc concentrations considerably inhibited T cell responses. This indicates that SEC2 may have multiple modes of interaction with the immune system that are dependent on serum zinc levels. The potential role of the secondary zinc-binding site and that of the primary one in the formation of the TCR.SEC2.MHC complex are considered, and the possibility that zinc may regulate the activity of SEC2 as a toxin facilitating different T cell responses is discussed.     

不同储藏时间笔架茶生物碱成分分析

本实验以三种储藏时间不同的笔架茶1#、2#和3#茶为原料,用热回流法和有机溶剂萃取法联用的方法提取其生物碱,分析了热回流时间(A)和料液比(B)对三种茶生物碱提取率的影响。用M arqu is等五种试剂对提取的生物碱进行鉴定分析,并用HPLC分析生物碱主要成分的含量。结果表明:笔架茶中生物碱的含量随储藏时间的延长而降低。A和B对储藏时间不同的三种笔架茶生物碱提取率的影响各不相同。沉淀及显色反应鉴定显示提取生物碱的主要成分为咖啡因,HPLC定量分析表明3#新茶生物碱中咖啡因含量最高(94.33%),1#陈茶咖啡因含量最低(75.76%)。     

低温弱光对黄瓜幼苗Rubisco与Rubisco活化酶的影响

以‘津优3号'黄瓜幼苗为试材,研究弱光(100 μmol·m-2·s-1)下适温(WL:25℃/18℃)、亚适温(ST+WL:18℃/12℃)和低温(LT+WL:10℃/5℃)对黄瓜幼苗光合速率(Pn)、核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化/加氧酶(Rubisco)、Rubisco活化酶(RCA)活性及其基因表达量的影响.结果表明:与对照(25℃/18℃,400 μmol·m-2·s-1)相比,WL、ST+WL和LT+WL处理的单株叶面积和干物质量均明显减小.处理初期,Pn、Rubisco活性及其大亚基基因(rbcL)、小亚基基因(rbcS)表达、RCA活性与基因(CsRCA)表达量大幅度降低,5～7 d后,WL处理趋于平稳,ST+WL处理缓慢回升,而LT+WL处理持续下降,表明黄瓜光合机构对适温弱光和亚适温弱光环境有逐步适应机制.Rubisco和RCA活性及其基因表达对低温弱光的响应与Pn基本一致,表明低温弱光下RCA和Rubisco活性及其基因表达量下降是黄瓜幼苗Pn降低的重要原因.     

莫诺苷对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤神经功能的影响

目的观察中药山茱萸的有效成分莫诺苷对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后神经功能的影响。方法Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、莫诺苷小剂量组（30 mg/kg）、莫诺苷中剂量组（90 mg/kg）、莫诺苷大剂量组（270 mg/kg）、维生素E（VE）（35 mg/kg）,采用线栓法制作大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型,缺血30 min后再灌注3 d,应用Zea Longa法、爬网格、平行木、吊绳、Ludmila Belayev 12分评分法,观察莫诺苷对神经功能缺损的改善作用。结果与模型组比较,莫诺苷给药组（小、中、大剂量）Zea Longa法评分均差异极显著（P〈0.01）;与模型组比较,莫诺苷给药组（小、中、大剂量）吊绳法评分均差异极显著（P〈0.01）;Ludmila Belayev 12分评分法评分与模型组比较,莫诺苷大剂量组差异极显著（P〈0.001）,中剂量组差异极显著（P〈0.01）。结论莫诺苷对局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型大鼠有改善行为学评分的作用。     

Ti2448合金种植体表面不同纳米管径生物活性膜对成骨细胞早期黏附的影响

观察Ti2448合金表面不同纳米管径生物活性膜对成骨细胞早期黏附的影响,筛选出能够抵抗细菌在种植体表面黏附和定植的最适管径,为研制开发具有抗菌性能的种植体提供实验基础。采用阳极氧化法,设定不同氧化电压,在Ti2448合金表面生成具有不同纳米管径的生物活性膜。通过MTT实验检测不同管径纳米管表面在不同时间点黏附的MG-63细胞数量差异;通过免疫荧光法观察接种24h后不同管径纳米管表面黏附细胞形态学差异。结果显示,细胞接种3h和24h后,30nm组的OD值显著高于对照组及其他实验组(P0.05);随着纳米管径的增加,细胞骨架蛋白的铺展范围逐渐减小,细胞由多角形渐变为梭形、椭圆形、圆形。研究结果表明,30nm管径生物活性膜更有利于成骨细胞的早期黏附,可能更能抵抗细菌在钛种植体上的黏附与定植。     

1株产紫杉醇内生真菌LNUF014的鉴定及产物检测

从红豆杉的韧皮部组织中分离得到的360株内生真菌中,通过对发酵粗提的检测,共筛选到11株产紫杉醇的真菌。其中1株内生真菌LNUF014的发酵液采用有机试剂抽提紫杉醇,经薄层层析和高效液相色谱分析,初步表明该菌株的紫杉醇类物质含量为53.68μg/L。根据形态学研究和真核生物18S rDNA基因序列分析,将其鉴定为镰刀菌属(Fusarium)。产紫杉醇内生真菌的研究将对紫杉醇类抗肿瘤药物的研制具有重要意义。     

How intellectual is chess? -- a reply to Howard

Howard's (2005) claim that male dominance in chess is 'consistent with the evolutionary psychology view that males predominate at high achievement levels at least partly because of ability differences' (p. 378) is based on the premise that top level chess skill depends on a high level of IQ and visuospatial abilities. This premise is not supported by empirical evidence. In 1927 Djakow et al. first showed that world-class chess players do not have exceptional intellectual abilities. This finding has subsequently been confirmed many times. Different participation rates, or differences in the amount of practice, motivation and interest for chess in male and female chess players, may provide a better explanation for gender differences in chess performance.     

贵州苏铁根的解剖学研究

对贵州苏铁（Cycas guizhouensis K.M.Lan et R.F.Zou）的根进行了解剖学研究,结果表明：（1）据外部形态和内部结构不同,贵州苏铁的根可分为正常根、珊瑚状根和肉质根三种类型。（2）正常根与肉质根的木栓形成层起源于表皮内方第1～2层皮层薄壁细胞,珊瑚状根的木栓形成层则起源于外方皮层的第2～3层细胞,而非中柱鞘。（3）首次发现肉质根一种新的增粗方式,是由周皮内方的皮层薄壁细胞恢复分裂能力,持续或周期性产生新的皮层薄壁细胞,引起根的增粗。     

高黎贡山地区雉类多样性及其保护

根据高黎贡山地形和气候变化,将其分为南、中、北三段。通过查阅文献、访谈和野外调查,在该地区共记录到21种雉类。分布在海拔2500m以上的仅有9种,占45%;在海拔2500m以下的地域分布有雉类17种,占85%。北段有雉类13种,中段有11种,南段有12种。其中北、中、南段均有分布的仅有3种,北段和中段共有种为9种,中段和南段共有种为5种,北段和南段共有种也是5种。结果表明雉类多样性随海拔升高而降低,北段高于南段。生境破坏与狩猎是该区雉类生存的主要威胁因子。加强管理,恢复和建立生境走廊,加强宣传教育和执法力度以及开展观鸟旅游,可使该区雉类得到更好的保护。     

Separation and identification of neisserial lipooligosaccharide oligosaccharides using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

We determined the optimal conditions for high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAE-PAD) of oligosaccharides (OS) released from neisserial lipooligosaccharides (LOS) by mild acid hydrolysis. We efficiently obtained detailed composition, sequence, and linkage information about high Mr LOS. We found that HPAE-PAD can discriminate isobaric (same Mr) molecules of different structure, for example, nLc4 and Gb4, distinguish alpha from beta chain extensions, and determine the number of phosphoethanolamine (PEA) substituents. HPAE-PAD provided quantitative information that could be used to compare the relative abundances of OS. We used HPAE-PAD to identify all of the known LOS alpha chain antennae. When used with antibody-binding profiles and exoglycosidase digestion results, HPAE-PAD can provide nearly complete structures rapidly.