Murine phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1 (Ps-pla1) maps to Chromosome 16 but is distinct from the lpd (lipid defect) locus

We have previously generated a mouse transgenic line with an insertional mutation designated lpd that demonstrates a phenotype of hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver. Since the recently identified phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1 (PS-PLA1) demonstrates significant homology to triglyceride lipases, we reasoned that the mouse Ps-pla1 gene may be the disrupted gene within the lpd locus. Using a rat PS-PLA1 cDNA sequence to search the EST database, we identified a mouse EST homolog AA839424. Sequencing analysis of AA839424 revealed a putative Ps-pla1 protein of 456 amino acids with extensive overall structural conservation with human and rat PS-PLA1 and with triglyceride lipases. Conserved sequences in Ps-pla1 include a lipase consensus sequences G×S×G, a catalytic triad, and eight of the ten conserved cysteine residues that are required for tertiary structure. Mouse Ps-pla1 carries a phosphatidylserine-binding motif that is absent in all triglyceride lipases. Using a mouse whole-genome radiation hybrid (WG-RH) mapping panel (T31), we mapped mouse Ps-pla1 to Chromosome (Chr) 16 between genetic markers D16Mit194 and D16Mit38, which is 17.1 cM centromeric to the lpd locus. On the basis of chromosome location, we conclude that Ps-pla1 and lpd are distinct genes in lipid metabolism. Received: 31 May 2000 / Accepted: 5 October 2000     

Isolation and characterization of 16 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens)

A total of 15 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the red panda, Ailurus fulgens, were characterized in this study. Based on evaluations of 33 red pandas, the number of observed alleles for each locus ranged from seven to 17 and the expected and observed heterozygosities were 0.412–0.897 and 0.121–0.909, respectively. The mean polymorphic information content was 0.721. These markers would greatly strengthen the utilization of microsatellite tools in genetic variation studies in red panda populations.     

Analysis on the Relevance of Asthma Susceptibility with the Alteration of Integrin β 4 Expression

Accumulated research has suggested the importance of the adhesion molecules modulation as therapeutic approach for bronchial asthma. Adhesion molecules expression alteration contributes to the pathogenesis of asthma. In order to probe the roles of expression imbalance of adhesion molecules in asthma pathogenesis, expression profiling of adhesion molecules was performed using cDNA microarray assay. The results showed that the expression pattern of adhesion molecules was altered in peripheral blood leucocytes of asthma patients. In this study, we focused on one of the abnormally expressed molecule, integrin β4, which was down-regulated in all asthma patients, to analyze the relevance of asthma susceptibility with the alteration of integrin β4 expressions. Real time PCR was used to verify the down-regulation of integrin β4 in additional 38 asthma patients. Next, the 5′flanking region of integrin β4 DNA were amplified, sequenced and site-directed mutagenesis technology in correspondent variation sites were carried out. Among 4 variation sites found in 5′ flanking region of integrin β4, 3 were related to asthma susceptibility: -nt1029 G/A, -nt 1051 G/A, and -nt 1164 G/C. A reduction of human integrin β4 promoter activity was observed at mutants of these sites. This study demonstrates that various adhesion molecules in asthma patients are abnormally expressed. Mutations in 5′ flanking region result in reduced integrin β4 expression, which is related to increased risk of asthma.     

峨眉山世界遗产地植物多样性全球突出普遍价值及保护

该研究在申遗文本和大量文献资料的基础上,以峨眉山世界遗产地原生植物及植被群落为研究对象,从物种多样性、物种组成、植物区系、植被类型及垂直分布格局等方面,分析论证了峨眉山世界遗产地植物多样性的全球突出普遍价值,并简要概述了当前峨眉山世界遗产地植物受威胁状况以及在保护与发展中出现的问题。结果表明:(1)峨眉山世界遗产地目前拥有高等植物242科3 200种以上,特有植物、孑遗植物种类丰富。(2)与中国其他湿润性亚热带山地森林垂直带谱相比,峨眉山亚热带森林植被类型完整,常绿阔叶林东部类型在山地垂直带谱中占据显著地位,海拔上限最高,跨度最大,具有典型的亚热带常绿阔叶林东部亚区森林群落特点。(3)植物区系复杂,既有热带、亚热带和温带植物区系成份,又有中国—日本与中国—喜马拉雅植物区系分布。(4)受人为活动(旅游发展、基础设施建设等)和自然扰动(气候变暖、地质灾害等)影响,峨眉山世界遗产地植物多样性下降明显,珍稀濒危植物受威胁程度增加,典型群落面积退化,稳定性降低。建议在划定珍稀植物保护区,对植物栖息地进行专门保护的基础上,开展植物多样性、环境因子、人为活动动态监测,预见性地保护其突出普遍价值,实现世界遗产地的可持续发展。     

Identification and expression of epidermal growth factor gene in mouse testis

INTRODUCTIONEpidermalgrowthfactor(EGF)wasinitiallyisolatedandpurifiedfromthesubmaxillarygland(SMG)ofmalemouse[1].Itisapolypeptidecomposedof53aminoacidresidues[2].Itinfluencescellproliferationanddifferentiationandmodulatesthegrowthanddevelopmentofmammalianorgans[3--7].AnoteworthyfindingisthatextirpationofmouseSMGresultsinamarkedreductionofserumEGFconcentrationassociatedwithanimpairedspermatogenesis[3].ThisfindingsuggeststhatEGFmayregulatespermproductionanddifferentiation.Inhumantest…     

载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ通过PKA信号途径影响ABCA1的表达与功能

以THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞为研究对象,观察载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ与三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1(ATP binding cassette transporter A1,ABCA1)的相互作用,并探讨它们相互作用的机制,以便了解载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ和ABCA1在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的作用.THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞经各种因素处理后,采用油红“O”染色,观察细胞内的脂滴,运用液体闪烁计数器检测细胞内胆固醇流出,高效液相色谱分析细胞内总胆固醇、游离胆固醇和胆固醇酯含量,用逆转录-聚合酶链反应和蛋白质印迹分析法分别检测ABCA1 mRNA与ABCA1蛋白质的水平.实验结果显示,载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ和腺苷酸环化酶激动剂Forskolin(FRK)引起THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞总胆固醇、游离胆固醇与胆固醇酯减少,而腺苷酸环化酶抑制剂SQ-22536引起THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞总胆固醇、游离胆固醇与胆固醇酯增加.载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ引起THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞ABCA1蛋白质水平和细胞内胆固醇流出增加.FRK引起THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞ABCA1蛋白质水平和细胞内胆固醇流出呈时间和浓度依赖性增加.SQ-22536引起THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞ABCA1蛋白质水平和细胞内胆固醇流出减少.结果提示,载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ可提高THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞ABCA1蛋白质水平,增加细胞内胆固醇流出,降低细胞内胆固醇聚积.其机制可能是通过PKA信号途经使细胞ABCA1蛋白质水平增加.     

Driving forces shaping phytoplankton assemblages in two subtropical plateau lakes with contrasting trophic status

1. We studied driving forces shaping phytoplankton assemblages in two subtropical plateau lakes with contrasting trophic status, the oligotrophic deep Lake Fuxian and the eutrophic shallow Lake Xingyun. 2. Phytoplankton samples were taken monthly for a year and phytoplankton species were sorted into the main taxonomic groups and associations proposed by Reynolds. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to test the occurrence of these classification schemes and to determine their discriminatory power. 3. The results suggest that the major driving forces in Lake Fuxian were physical variables, and particularly the underwater light climate, whereas, nutrients were the important driving force in Lake Xingyun. 4. Top–down control through zooplankton grazing in Lake Fuxian was hardly ever a significant determinant itself, because of the scarcity of zooplankton and their low grazing efficiency of predation while a dominance of inedible cyanobacteria throughout the year rendered top–down controls ineffective failing in Lake Xingyun. Hence phytoplankton communities in both lakes appear to be regulated primarily by bottom–up controls.     

松毛虫黑卵蜂(Telenomus dendrolimus Chu)在林内散放后的习性观察

一.绪言 松毛虫是为害松林的主要害虫之一,松树被害后丧失针叶,妨碍了树木的正常发育,轻者造成大面积松林枯萎,重者致使树木枯死,从而影响国家工业化建设所需木材的供应和造林事业的顺利开展。几年来在党和政府英明领导下在积极防除方面曾采取了人工捕杀与化学防除等办法,对歼灭松毛虫起了一定效果。至於应用松毛虫天敌消灭松毛虫的生物防除法过去在国内尚缺乏深入的研究。因而仍无成熟经验来指导实     

Structural Identification of Kudinchagenin I

A novel triterpenoid, kudinchagenin Ⅰ was isolated from the leaves of Ilex kudincha C. J. Tseng and its structure was determined to be 3β-hydroxy- 11 (12), 13 ( 18 ), 19 ( 29 ) - triene-28,20β-lactonic-ursane by a combination of spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray analysis.     

蚤消化系统的研究：14种蚤前胃的结构

蚤的前胃结构与其传病机制密切相关。 本文应用解剖、组织切片和扫描电镜研究14种蚤的前胃。前胃的外部形态可分为：球状、椭球状、管状和圆台状。前胃刺内部有原生质。 前胃刺的末端形态可分为：钩形、弯叉形、叶形、针形、矛形、喇叭口形、“W”形、大叉形、小叉形、马刀形、锥形和舌形。 前胃刺包括有齿刺和无齿刺两类,有齿刺上齿的分布茫固有：1/2、1/3、1/4、2/3和刺全长。未观察到花蠕形蚤 yermipsylla alakurt 和缓慢细蚤Leptopsylla sehnis的前胃刺上有齿。 前胃刺末端形态和齿的分布呈现出科的相似性。 前胃刺基部的形态有：四棱形、正方形、五边形、不规则五边形、六边形、卵形和圆形。致痒蚤Pulex irrirans和印鼠客蚤Xenopsylla cheopis的前胃刺较粗长、骨化强、在刺两侧具较密的齿且多分布于刺的一半以上,这些特征可能适宜于鼠疫杆菌的生存与大量聚集。没有观察到俊潜蚤Tunga callida的前胃和前胃刺。