冬虫夏草多糖的分子结构与免疫活性

 冬虫夏草多糖(在本文中名为CS-81002)是由冬虫夏草菌Cordyceps sinensis(Berk)Sacc在人工发酵条件下产生的胞外多糖。用凝胶过滤法测出CS-81002的分子量Mr=43kD。CS-81002的单糖组成为Man:Gal:Glc=10.3:3.6:1。甲基化分析和部份酸水解结果表明,CS-81002是多分支的杂多糖,由→6)-Manp-(1→形成主链,大约每10个主链Man残基中,有6个在C3位上被取代(即形成→3,6)-Manp-(1→分支),有4个在位C2上被取代(即形成→2,6-Manp-(1→分支),从而形成侧链。主链中还有少许未被取代的Man残基。侧链则由→3-)-Galf-(1→,→4)-Glcf-(1→,→4)-Manp-(1→和→2)-Manp-(1→组成。位于非还原末端的,则三种单糖残基都有。CS-81002在5mg/kg体重×12剂量条件下,对正常的昆明小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能有显著促进作用。在同样剂量条件下,对正常LACA小鼠脾脏溶血斑形成细胞(PFC)对绵羊红细胞的溶血作用无显著影响。不同程度的部份酸水解可使CS-81002的分子量下降,分支减少,并且对巨噬细胞吞噬功能的促进作用亦有下降趋势。在所得到的各个部份酸水解级分(分子量分别为41000,40000,32000,16000和12000)中,分子量为12000的级分对巨噬细胞吞噬功能无促进作用。     

用定点突变技术研究转录终止——rpoBC操纵子上~tL7茎环结构的作用研究

 E.coli RNA聚合酶ββ'亚单位编码的基因rpoBC与核糖核蛋白基因rplJL共同构成rpoBC操纵子。rpl-rpo间区转录终止信号~tL7的转录产物RNA有两组富含C-G的反向对称结构及一串寡聚U;反向对称区可形成1:2和3:4茎环或单一5:6茎环。 用M13mp11噬菌体插入~tL7的112bp片段重组M13mp11-490,在此基础上用定点突变技术建立~tL7的七核苷酸缺失突变体,从而破坏1:2茎环,建成M13mp11-85。 分别把原型~tL7及缺失型~tL7~v克隆到表达质粒pHR24中,构建成pHR37(P_ftsQ~tL7-galk)及pHR24-9(p_ftsQ-~tL7~v-galk)。测定galk基因产物半乳糖激酶活性,推算转录的终止效率。结果表明:~tL7终止效率为50％,~tL7~v为20％。说明仅有3:4茎环及寡聚U,即具终止作用; 1:2茎环通过某种方式加强3:4茎环从而提高终止效率。     

Euglena gracilis as a supplementary test organism for detecting biologically active compounds

The mutagenic activity of more than 120 antimicrobial agents and protective components was investigated. Only Kathon showed a consistent increase in revertant counts in the Ames test onSalmonella typhimurium. The hereditary bleaching test onEuglena gracilis used for detecting extranuclear mutations, showed positive results for Kathon, triethanolamine and diamine silver tetraborate.     

Identification and Characterization of Autosomal Genes That Interact with Glass in the Developing Drosophila Eye

The glass gene encodes a zinc finger, DNA-binding protein that is required for photoreceptor cell development in Drosophila melanogaster. In the developing compound eye, glass function is regulated at two points: (1) the protein is expressed in all cells' nuclei posterior to the morphogenetic furrow and (2) the ability of the Glass protein to regulate downstream genes is largely limited to the developing photoreceptor cells. We conducted a series of genetic screens for autosomal dominant second-site modifiers of the weak allele glass(3), to discover genes with products that may regulate glass function at either of these levels. Seventy-six dominant enhancer mutations were recovered (and no dominant suppressors). Most of these dominant mutations are in essential genes and are associated with recessive lethality. We have assigned these mutations to 23 complementation groups that include multiple alleles of Star and hedgehog as well as single alleles of Delta, roughened eye, glass and hairy. Mutations in 18 of the complementation groups are embryonic lethals, and of these, 13 show abnormal adult retinal phenotypes in homozygous clones, usually with altered numbers of photoreceptor cells in some of the ommatidia.     

Multiple glucan-binding proteins of Streptococcus sobrinus.

Several proteins from culture supernatants of Streptococcus sobrinus were able to bind avidly to Sephadex G-75. The proteins could be partially eluted from the Sephadex by low-molecular-weight alpha-1,6 glucan or fully eluted by 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. Elution profiles were complex, yielding proteins of 16, 45, 58 to 60, 90, 135, and 145 kDa, showing that the wild-type strain possessed multiple glucan-binding proteins. Two mutants of Streptococcus sobrinus incapable of aggregation by high-molecular-weight alpha-1,6 glucan were isolated. One mutant was spontaneous, from a cell suspension to which glucan had been added, whereas the other was induced by ethyl methanesulfonate. Both mutants were devoid of a 60-kDa protein, as shown by gel electrophoresis of culture supernatants and whole cells. Amino acid analysis showed that the 58- to 60-kDa protein and the 90-kDa protein were distinct, although both were N-terminally blocked. Both mutants retained their ability to adhere to glass in the presence of sucrose and to ferment mannitol and sorbitol. Both mutants retained their glucosytransferase activities, as shown by activity gels. Western blots (immunoblots), employing antibody against a glucan-binding protein of Streptococcus mutans, failed to reveal cross-reactivity with S. sobrinus proteins. The results show that even though S. sobrinus produces several proteins capable of binding alpha-1,6 glucans, the 60-kDa protein is probably the lectin needed for glucan-dependent cellular aggregation.     

Human aging brain disorders: Role of antioxidant enzymes

In order to investigate the role of two free radical detoxificant enzymes in patients with aging brain disorders, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities have been measured in blood from male and female human patients of different ages with several types of aging brain disorders. When compared with activities in the normal population, we have detected: 1) SOD and CAT activities are decreased in patients with Parkinson disease. 2) SOD activity seems to be normal and CAT activity is decreased in patients with dementia. 3) In the patients with stroke, SOD activity is normal, while CAT activity is decreased. SOD activity was measured in red blood cells using the Minami and Yoshikawa method. CAT activity was measured in hemolysates by the method of Aebi. We can conclude that SOD and CAT activities in patients with Parkinson disease are decreased.     

盾负泥虫对鸭跖草的专食性

盾负泥虫Lema scutellaris (Kraatz.)1年发生1代, 以成虫滞育。用与鸭跖草Commelina communis L. 同科及近缘科,属的植物对其食性进行测定,结果是食性单一,只取食鸭跖草。盾负泥虫的发生期与鸭跖草的苗期同步,幼虫的喜食与鸭跖草的多分枝特性相吻合。取食营养位与粘液细胞在鸭跖草植株上的分布及细胞的含糖量关系密切。