Epitopes and hemagglutination binding domain on subgenus B:2 adenovirus fibers.

The adenovirus fiber serves as a ligand between the virus and the host cell receptor and manifests hemagglutination (HA) activity and antigenic domains. We have screened both the antigenic and immunogenic epitopes on the adenovirus fibers of subgenus B:2 by using recombinant fiber proteins (rfibers) expressed in Escherichia coli, synthesized peptides (P1 to P8), and the corresponding antisera. The results indicated that P4 (amino acids [aa] 201 to 220), P5 (aa 231 to 250), and P7 (aa 275 to 295) presented both antigenic and immunogenic epitopes in adenovirus type 11 prototype (Ad11p), Ad34a, and Ad11a fibers. P6 (aa 251 to 270) presented both epitopes in Ad11a fiber but only an antigenic epitope in other fibers. The C-terminal 20 amino acids of the fiber, corresponding to P8, manifested an epitope of low-level immunogenicity. P5, localized at the N-terminal aa 231 to 250, displayed an epitope that reacted with fibers of all the members of subgenus B analyzed. The rfibers of Ad11p and Ad34a displayed HA activity with monkey erythrocytes, though those of Ad11a did not. Mutagenesis of the rfibers revealed that neither the fragment replacements, 11p20211a, llp26011a,and 11a28011p, nor the Ad11p rfiber with the substitutions of Tyr-260-->H (Tyr260H)and Arg279Q displayed HA activity. The Ad11a fiber knob was sensitive to proteolytic digestion, whereas that of Ad11p was resistant. The results demonstrated that the decisive HA binding domain was presented at aa 260 to 280 and was conformation dependent. Nearby amino acids, aa 283 and 284, may also affect the HA function.     

新疆亚鳞木（比较种）角质层特征

报道了产自江苏宜兴晚泥盆世五通组新疆亚鳞木（比较种）Ｓｕｂｌｅｐｉｄｏｄｅｎｄｒｏｎ ｃｆ． ｘｉｎｊｉａｎｇｅｎｓｅＳｕｎ）的表皮角质层用荧光分析显示的特征．该种茎干表皮角质层覆于叶座及叶座间隔带,其中间隔带角质层厚于叶座．表皮细胞在间隔带与叶座表现特征不同．间隔带中部,表皮细胞呈纵长的多边形,其纵长方向与茎干延伸方向相同,细胞壁略有弯曲．间隔带靠近叶座之表皮细胞,细胞壁直,形状类似于前者;但大小仅为前者的１／２左右,且其纵长方向逐渐向叶座边缘偏转．叶座表皮细胞呈近等多边形,有胞间隙．该种茎表皮无气孔     

A stochastic model for the sigmoidal behaviour of cooperative biological systems

A stochastic model for cooperative transitions in biological systems based on a Markov chain is proposed. This model requires only two parameters, the mean probability, p, and the coupling capacity, Deltap, which measure the probability of forming a new weak bond depending on the number of similar bonds already formed and it is also responsible for the transition. In this paper we show how the model works for a large number of identical molecules and how it can be useful for studying the noise around the centre of the transition where, increasing the degree of cooperativity, i.e. the number n in the well-known Hill equation, the width of the noise increases along with its fractal dimension. A simple relationship between the degree of cooperativity and the parameter Deltap is proposed, suggesting that the cooperativity of real biological transitions is related to the coupling capacity Deltap of the present model.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌δ-内毒素基因穿梭质粒的构建

在农业生产中长期使用化学农药已对环境和生态平衡造成一定破坏作用,同时有不少害虫也逐渐产生抗药性从而引起某些害虫的大流行,给农业生产带来巨大损失。应用苏云金杆菌杀虫蛋白基因(Bt基因)可构建具有抗虫作用的抗虫工程菌,这样通过拌种或植物叶面喷雾可达到快速、经济、有效的防治虫害的目的。国际上抗虫工程菌研究应用很快,如美国将BI基因转入到一种正常情况下定居在植物组织中的棒杆菌,将这种工程菌拌玉米种子,这样随植物生长该菌在植物体内大量繁殖,当玉米螟在茎和叶取食时,即因食用表达苏云金杆菌毒蛋白的工程菌而死亡。 田颖川等已克隆了苏云金芽孢杆菌内毒素基因CryIA(b)和CryIA(c)。本文将Bt基因CryIA(c)插入到大肠-枯草穿梭载体pBE-2中构建成Bt毒蛋白基因穿梭质粒pAMY,利用电穿孔法转人大肠杆菌DH5a,枯草芽孢杆菌B.subtilis BR151,IA511,野生型蜡状芽孢杆菌B.cereusa-47,短芽孢杆菌B.brevis A-5和枯草芽孢杆菌90-8,获得了具有较高杀虫活性的工程菌克隆。     

力竭游泳对大鼠心肌线粒体钙运输的影响

 力竭游泳对大鼠心肌线粒体钙运输的影响丁树哲,王文信,连克杰,许豪文（华东师范大学体育系运动生化实验室,上海２０００６２）线粒体钙运输在细胞功能调节方面有重要作用．线粒体通过摄取与释放钙,对其跨膜质子、不依赖底物及产物抑制的ＡＴＰ合成、磷酸化偶联等均有...     

Atomic composition of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane sides of self-assembled SC3p hydrophobin.

The hydrophobin SC3p of Schizophyllum commune self-assembles into a 10-nm-thick amphipathic membrane at hydrophilic-hydrophobic interfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the hydrophobic membrane side of SC3p, assembled in vitro, showed an atomic composition similar to the calculated composition of SC3p when glycosylation was taken into account. The atomic composition measured at the hydrophilic membrane side deviated from that at the hydrophobic side and indicated the presence of a lower number of peptide bonds. High levels of S and N were detected only on mycelia carrying hydrophobic aerial hyphae, as expected with assembled SC3p present at the surface of these hyphae.     

TGFβ alters growth and differentiation related gene expression in proliferating osteoblasts in vitro,preventing development of the mature bone phenotype

This study examines the mechanism by which TGF-β1, an important mediator of cell growth and differentiation, blocks the differentiation of normal rat diploid fetal osteoblasts in vitro. We have established that the inability for pre-osteoblasts to differentiate is associated with changes in the expression of cell growth, matrix forming, and bone related genes. These include histone, jun B, c-fos, collagen, fibronectin, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and osteopontin. Morphologically, the TGF-β1-treated osteoblasts exhibit an elongated, spread shape as opposed to the characteristic cuboidal appearance during the early stages of growth. This is followed by a decrease in the number of bone nodules formed and the amount of calcium deposition. These effects on differentiation can occur without dramatic changes in cell growth if TGF-β1 is given for a short time early in the proliferative phase. However, continuous exposure to TGF-β1 leads to a bifunctional growth response from a negative effect during the proliferative phase to a positive growth effect during the later matrix maturation and mineralization phases of the osteoblast developmental sequence. Extracellular matrix genes, fibronectin, osteopontin and α1(I) collagen, are altered in their expression pattern which may provide an aberrant matrix environment for mineralization and osteoblast maturation and potentiate the TGF-β1 response throughout the course of osteoblast differentiation. The initiation of a TGF-β1 effect on cell growth and differentiation is restricted to the proliferative phase of the culture before the cells express the mature osteoblastic phenotype. Second passage cells that are accelerated to differentiate by the addition of dexamethasone or by seeding cultures at a high density are refractory to TGF-β1. These in vitro results indicate that TGF-β1 exerts irreversible effects at a specific stage of osteoblast phenotype development resulting in a potent inhibition of osteoblast differentiation at concentrations from 0.1 ng/ml. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Differential effects of warfarin on mRNA levels of developmentally regulated vitamin K dependent proteins,osteocalcin, and matrix Gla protein in vitro

The role of the vitamin K dependent proteins, osteocalcin which is bone specific and matrix Gla protein (MGP) found in many tissues, has been studied by inhibition of synthesis of their characteristic amino acid, γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) with the anticoagulant sodium warfarin. The effect of sodium warfarin on expression of these proteins, and other phenotypic markers of bone and cartilage during cellular differentiation and development of tissue extracellular matrix, was examined in several model systems. Parameters assayed include cell growth (reflected by histone gene expression) and collagen types I and II, osteopontin, alkaline phosphatase, and mineralization. Studies were carried out in calvarial bone organ cultures, normal diploid rat osteoblast and chondrocyte cultures, and rat osteosarcoma cell lines ROS 17/2.8 and 25/1. In normal diploid cells, warfarin consistently stimulated cell proliferation (twofold). In osteoblast cultures, MGP mRNA levels were generally increased (three to tenfold). Notably, MGP mRNA levels were not affected in chondrocyte cultures, either with chronic or acute warfarin treatments. Osteocalcin mRNA levels and synthesis were decreased up to 50% in ROS 17/2.8 cells and in chronically treated (1 and 5 μg/ml sodium warfarin) rat osteoblast cultures after 22 days. Early stages of osteoblast phenotype development from the proliferation period to initial tissue formation (nodules) appeared unaffected; while after day 14, further growth and mineralization of the nodule areas were significantly decreased in warfarin-treated cultures. In summary, warfarin has opposing effects on the expression of two vitamin K dependent proteins, MGP and osteocalcin, in osteoblast cultures and MGP is regulated differently between cartilage and bone as reflected by cellular mRNA levels. Additionally, warfarin effects expression of nonvitamin K dependent proteins which may reflect the influence of warfarin on endoplasmic reticulum associated enzymes. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.