Conformation of the second disulfide loop in human transforming growth factor-alpha studied by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy

The determination of the conformation of a cyclic heptadecapeptide derived from the second loop of human transforming growth factor-α, [Ala²¹]-hTGF-α-(16–32), is described. Two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann–Hahn and rotating-frame cross-relaxation spectroscopy in H₂O were used to obtain the complete proton resonance assignments and the necessary distance constraints between nonbonded hydrogen atoms to derive a conformation without involving any energy minimization. The result is an ellipsoidal-shaped structure with a turn at Gly19 and a bend formed by residues 26–29, Gln-Glu-Asp-Lys. Comparison is made with the second loop of human epidermal growth factor and the results are discussed in terms of receptor binding and biological activity.     

在AppleⅡ型微机上实现核酸数据处理的工作程序

本文报道了在AppleⅡ型微机上实现核酸数据处理的一系列工作程序。应用这些程序,可进行核酸数据的贮存、对指定的核酸数据结构的改造、限制性内切酶识别位点的检索、核酸序列至蛋白序列的翻译、相关核酸序列及蛋白序列的同源性比较、氨基酸密码使用频率的统计和基因的启动子结构的初步探索等方面的工作。     

Sister chromatid differential staining and NOR activity of BrdU-resistant sublines

Summary Two 30 g/ml BrdU-resistant sublines and two 60 g/ml BrdU-resistant sublines are induced from a Chinese hamster cell line Wg3h (HGPRT^–) by one-step and two-step selections, respectively. By inoculating the cells into BrdU-free medium or by adding more BrdU into the culture medium for 26–27 h, it was found that the two BrdU-resistant sublines analysed have very clear sister chromatid differential (SCD) staining patterns. This indicates that some of the nuclear DNA of the BrdU-resistant cells incorporate with BrdU to reach a kinetic balance. Frequencies of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) of the resistant cells are twice to four times as high as those of the Wg3h cells, depending on which BrdU-resistant subline is analysed. The SCE frequencies of the resistant cells also increase with the BrdU concentration in the medium. Analysis of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) indicates that the NOR activity of three out of the four BrdU-resistant sublines is significantly suppressed, i.e., averages of the Ag-NOR number and number of the chromosomes bearing Ag-NORs per cell decrease significantly. The degree of suppression for different BrdU-resistant sublines may be quite different. The suppressed NOR activity of the resistant cells can gradually be restored when the cells are inoculated into BrdU-free medium, but the recovery speed is far lower than that of the Wg3h cells. The suppression of the NOR activity of the BrdU-resistant sublines should be due to BrdU toxicity.     

小鼠肝脏免疫抑制蛋白质(LISP)的分离纯化和鉴定

用硫酸铵分段盐析及DEAE-Sephadex A-50、羟磷灰石和CM纤维素等多种柱层析方法,从正常小鼠肝浸液中分离纯化出一种免疫抑制蛋白质(LISP)。在体外用微量该蛋白质就能强烈抑制小鼠T、B淋巴细胞对促有丝分裂原和同种异型抗原的增生反应。纯化的蛋白质在聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PACE)和等电聚焦(IEF)鉴定时均显示为一条区带,其等电点(pI)值在7.5—7.8范围。沉降系数利S_(20),w为5.39。Sephadex G-100凝胶层析测得LISP的分子量为78,000道尔顿。十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)提示LISP是由二个相同的亚基组成,亚基分子量为38,500道尔顿。LISP是一种既非糖蛋白又非脂蛋白的碱性蛋白质,对它的氨基酸组成也作了分析。     

Effect of gossypol on testicular blood flow and testosterone production in rats

Rats were treated with highly purified gossypol acetic acid at doses of 15 or 30 mg/kg day-1 for 6 weeks to produce an effect on spermatogenesis as shown by reduced sperm motility and increased sperm malformation rates. The treated rats did not differ from the controls in the body weight growth curves and reproductive organ weights. When stimulated with hCG, testicular blood flow was increased in the low dose group; the testosterone concentrations in peripheral and testicular venous blood were also increased to a greater extent than those of the control group. No difference was found between the high dose and control groups in testicular blood flow or testosterone concentrations. The morphology of the Leydig cells was apparently normal, although some degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium were observed in the high dose group. Therefore, there is no evidence in our experiment to show any anti-androgenic effect following 6-week treatment of gossypol in rats, even at the dose of 30 mg/kg day-1.     

红皮树胚胎发育

本文报道红皮树(Styrax suberifoltus Hook.et Arn.)大小孢子发育和早期胚胎发生。子房具胚珠20—23枚,胚珠横生,珠被二层,薄珠心,孢原细胞直接起大孢子母细胞作用。合点端大孢子具功能。胚囊发育为正常型。成熟胚囊具大量淀粉粒。小孢子形成为同时型,成熟花粉为二细胞型。传粉后、受精前两个助细胞在形状和对苏木精着色程度上有显著区别。胚乳发育为细胞型。在合子分裂前,胚乳细胞增至约26个时,暂时停止分裂。苏木精对细胞质不易着色,似解体细胞。有胚乳吸器。     

Crystal structure of plakalbumin, a proteolytically nicked form of ovalbumin. Its relationship to the structure of cleaved alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor

The crystal structure of plakalbumin, a proteolytically nicked form of ovalbumin, has been determined to a resolution of 2.8 A by the isomorphous replacement method and preliminary refinement. The structure closely resembles that of the cleaved form of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor, with some important exceptions. The disposition of the new carboxyl chain terminus liberated by proteolysis is different with respect to the central beta-sheet A in the structures of these two molecules. In alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor, the new chain terminus inserts in beta-sheet A to add a middle strand to the sheet. In plakalbumin, this strand remains free near the site at which the cleavage occurs. A structural basis for this difference in behavior is proposed from the structures and sequences of these two molecules and other members of the serpin family. The structures and positions of the putative signal peptide of ovalbumin, the several post-translational modifications, and the relationship of the intron-exon patterns of plakalbumin and alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor to their protein structures are also described.