Identification of essential residues in Thermus thermophilus DNA ligase.

DNA ligases play a pivotal role in DNA replication, repair and recombination. Reactions catalyzed by DNA ligases consist of three steps: adenylation of the ligase in the presence of ATP or NAD+, transferring the adenylate moiety to the 5'-phosphate of the nicked DNA substrate (deadenylation) and sealing the nick through the formation of a phosphodiester bond. Thermus thermophilus HB8 DNA ligase (Tth DNA ligase) differs from mesophilic ATP-dependent DNA ligases in three ways: (i) it is NAD+ dependent; (ii) its optimal temperature is 65 instead of 37 degrees C; (iii) it has higher fidelity than T4 DNA ligase. In order to understand the structural basis underlying the reaction mechanism of Tth DNA ligase, we performed site-directed mutagenesis studies on nine selected amino acid residues that are highly conserved in bacterial DNA ligases. Examination of these site-specific mutants revealed that: residue K118 plays an essential role in the adenylation step; residue D120 may facilitate the deadenylation step; residues G339 and C433 may be involved in formation of the phosphodiester bond. This evidence indicates that a previously identified KXDG motif for adenylation of eukaryotic DNA ligases [Tomkinson, A.E., Totty, N.F., Ginsburg, M. and Lindahl, T. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, 400-404] is also the adenylation site for NAD+-dependent bacterial DNA ligases. In a companion paper, we demonstrate that mutations at a different Lys residue, K294, may modulate the fidelity of Tth DNA ligase.     

应用PCR技术检测细小病毒H－1DNA在人肝癌与裸鼠正常组织中复制的差异

应用ＰＣＲ技术检测细小病毒Ｈ－１ＤＮＡ在人肝癌与裸鼠正常组织中复制的差异黄青山,马承武,郭兰萍,陈献华,罗祖玉（上海复旦大学生理与生物物理学系,上海２００４３３）关键词：自主性细小病毒Ｈ－１及ＭＶＭ,聚合酶链式反应（ＰＣＲ）,人肝癌模型,抑瘤作用,肿...     

生长抑制素能神经元在人胎丘脑网状核内的分布

本文用免疫细胞化学方法调查了生长抑素（ＳＯＭ）免疫反应神经元在人胎丘脑网状核内的分布。流产的胚胎３例,胎龄分别为１８周,２３周,３２周。意外死亡足月新生儿１例、在１８周胚胎的丘脑网状核内可见少数染色较浅的ＳＯＭ免疫反应阳性神经元,呈圆形。从１８周到３２周,ＳＯＭ免疫反应阳性细胞数明显增多,突起更丰富。在足月新生儿,ＳＯＭ阳性细胞数较３２周有所减少。结果表明,ＳＯＭ阳性神经元存在于人胎丘脑网状核内,并且有一定的发育过程。出现于人脑发育的早期阶段,可能在中枢神经系统的发育过程中起重要的作用。     

兼具SOD和GPX活力的双功能酶的制备及性质研究

用苯甲基磺酰氟（ＰＭＳＦ）和Ｈ_２Ｓｅ相继处理铜锌超氧化物岐化酶（Ｃｕ,Ｚｎ－ＳＯＤ）,将酶分子中的丝氨酸（Ｓｅｒ）转化为硒代半胱氨酸（ＳｅＣｙｓ）,从而引入了谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＰＸ）的催化基团,使其在ＳＯＤ酶活性大部分保留的情况下,具有ＧＰＸ活性,其ＧＰＸ活力是ＰＺ５１活力的３０倍。研究了双功能酶的最佳制备条件,包括ＰＭＳＦ的剂量、反应最适温度及Ｈ_２Ｓｅ处理时间等,并用电子能谱、ＤＴＮＢ等方法测定了双功能酶的硒含量;测定了双功能酶对不同底物的米氏常数及双功能酶的荧光光谱、紫外吸收光谱及稳定性。     

Removal of Adsorbed Toxin Fragments That Modify Bacillus thuringiensis CryIC delta-Endotoxin Iodination and Binding by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Treatment and Renaturation

We report that 10- and 25-kDa toxin fragments adhere to CryIC prepared from Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystals, block iodination, and alter membrane binding. There is no apparent affect on CryIC toxicity against Spodoptera exigua. Associated peptides remained bound to CryIC in the presence of 50 mM dithiothreitol or 6 M urea. A novel detergent-renaturation procedure was developed for the purification of B. thuringiensis CryIC toxin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment followed by gel filtration chromatography yielded a homogeneous 62-kDa CryIC toxin. After removal of SDS and renaturation, the purified CryIC toxin was fully insecticidal to S. exigua larvae. I-labeled CryIC bound with high affinity to brush border membrane vesicles from S. exigua larvae.     

Characterization of proteins by means of their buffer capacity, measured with an ISFET-based coulometric sensor—actuator system

Proteins form the specific selector in many biochemical sensors. A change in one of the properties of such a protein has to be detected by an appropriate transducer, which completes the biochemical sensor. One of these properties is the buffer capacity of a protein. If the binding of a substance to a protein can significantly change the proton binding, which accounts for the buffer capacity of proteins, the detection of this changed buffer capacity enables the construction of a new type of biosensor.

It will be shown that the buffer capacity can be measured with an ISFET-based sensor—actuator device. The alternating generation of protons and hydroxyl ions by alternating current coulometry at a porous noble metal actuator electrode causes an associated small pH perturbation, which is detected by the underlying pH-sensitive ISFET. The amplitude of the measured signal is a function of the buffer capacity of the solute, in which proteins can be present (or these proteins can be adsorbed in the porous actuator electrode of the device). A model describing the transfer function from the electrical input signal of the actuator to the resulting chemical output, which is subsequently detected by the ISFET pH sensor, is presented. Preliminary results of the measured buffer capacity of ribonuclease and lysozyme are presented.     

A simple procedure for the expression of genes in transgenic soybean callus tissue

Cotyledons from germinating seeds of the soybean cultivar Peking were inoculated with virulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A281:pZA-7 which carries a wild type Ti plasmid pTiBo542 and a disarmed Ti plasmid (a binary vector)pZA-7 which contains the glucuronidase (uidA) and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) genes. Tumors were produced on all inoculated explants and 82% of these tumor lines were cotransformed by the nptII gene from the binary vector pZA-7 as shown by PCR analysis (18 of 22 lines tested). Eleven of these 18 lines were also resistant to kanamycin. Eleven lines expressed -glucuronidase activity (GUS), six of which were also kanamycin resistant. Since there is a high rate of coexpression of genes carried by the binary vector, this system provides a simple and rapid method for the expression of genes of interest in transformed soybean tissue which has been used successfully to test constructs designed for soybean transformation.     

A NEW EULOPHID PARASITIZING LITCHI GALL MIDGE FROM CHINA (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA)

Abstract  Mangocharis litchii sp. nov. is described from south China as a parasitoid of Mayetiola sp. on leaf of litchi tree. The gall midge is a serious pest of the fruit tree in south China. The biology of the new chalcidoid is also dealt with. The genus Mangocharis is new to China.     

重组人IL6／2融合蛋白对6.5Gy照射小鼠造血功能恢复的影响

观察了ｈＦＰＩＬ６／２对６．５Ｇｙγ线照射ＮＩＨ小鼠第１０天造血功能恢复的影响。结果表明：照射小鼠连续４ｄ给予ｈＦＰＩＬ６／２２５０μｇ·ｋｇ－１·ｄ－１,其脾重、ＣＦＵ－８、骨髓有核细胞数及ＣＭ－ＣＦＵ分别比对照组增加５９．０％、２７８．５％、５７．９％和１３８．２％,统计学处理均有显著差异;对此四项指标的改善也明显优于２５μｇ组。另外,２５０μｇ剂量组小鼠外周血象３０ｄ的动态观察结果表明,ｈＦＰＩＬ６／２不但能明显提高红细胞和血红蛋白的最低值,而且能使血小板的恢复提前。提示ｈＦＰＩＬ６／２在促进血小板生成和促进红系造血方面可能具有良好的应用前景。