Role of Potassium Channels in Amyloid-Induced Cell Death

Abstract: Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are severely depleted early in Alzheimer's disease and appear particularly susceptible to amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) toxicity in vivo. To model this effect in vitro, a cholinergic septal cell line (SN56) was exposed to Aβ. SN56 cells exhibited a tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive outward K⁺ current with delayed rectifier characteristics. Increases of 64% (±19; p < 0.02) and 44% (±12; p < 0.02) in K⁺ current density were noted 6–12 and 12–18 h following the addition of Aβ to SN56 cell cultures, respectively. Morphological observation and staining for cell viability showed that 25 ± 4 and 39 ± 4% of SN56 cells were dead after 48- and 96-h exposures to Aβ, respectively. Perfusion of SN56 cells with 10–20 mM TEA blocked 71 ± 6 to 92 ± 2% of the outward currents, widened action potentials, elevated [Ca²⁺]_i, and inhibited 89 ± 14 and 68 ± 14% of the Aβ toxicity. High [K⁺]_o, which depolarizes cell membranes and increases [Ca²⁺]_i, also protected SN56 cells from Aβ toxicity. This effect appeared specific since glucose deprivation of SN56 cells did not alter K⁺ current density and TEA did not protect these cells from hypoglycemic cell death. Furthermore, Aβ was toxic to a dopaminergic cell line (MES23.5) that expressed a K⁺ current with delayed rectifier characteristics; K⁺ current density was not altered by Aβ and MES23.5 cells were not protected by TEA from Aβ toxicity. In contrast, a noncholinergic septal cell line (SN48) that shows minimal outward K⁺ currents was resistant to the toxicity of Aβ. These data suggest that a K⁺ channel with delayed rectifier characteristics may play an important role in Aβ-mediated toxicity for septal cholinergic cells.     

(S)-3-Pentyn-2-ol production through microbial enzyme-catalyzed, highly enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic 3-pentyn-2-ol esters

Air-dried cells of Hansenula nonfermentans AKU 4332 catalyzed the production of (S)-3-pentyn-2-ol from (RS)-3- pentyn-2-ol acetate ester at 10% (v/v). The product was formed at 96.6% e.e. with a molar yield of 45% in 24 h. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

浅水草型湖泊──扁担塘中桡足类的群落结构（英文）

本文研究了一浅水草型湖泊──扁担塘中桡足类的群落结构,包括种类组成、种群动态及现存量。在一周年的研究中,共发现14种浮游桡足类（9种剑水蚤和5种哲水蚤）。根据年平均密度,剑水蚤的优势种为：Mesocyclops notius,Cyclops vincinuis vincinus和Thermocyclops brevifurcatus,而哲水蚤的优势种为Meodiaptomus yantsekiangensis和Sinocalanus dorrii。通过比较长江沿岸的5个湖泊的桡足类的种类组成发现,桡足类的种类数并不与湖泊面积大小成正比,这与Dodson通过研究欧洲及北美湖泊中的枝角类得出的结论并不一致。此外,虽然这5个湖泊中的桡足类的种类数多达35种,但每个湖泊中的优势种都非常相似地集中到少数几个属或种,而其它均为偶尔性种类。     

壳聚糖反渗透膜的制备初探

本文介绍了从虾、蟹甲壳制取壳聚糖用于制备反渗透膜的方法。运用正交试验设计分析制膜条件对膜性能的影响。     

永瓣藤濒危因素探讨

水瓣藤（MonimopetalumchinenseRehd．）是卫矛科（Celastraceae）的一个单种属植物,被列为国家二级珍稀濒危保护树种。永瓣藤濒危的因素主要是：（1）种子萌发障碍;（2）传粉受精不良,胚珠通常败育,结实率偏低;（3）种子成熟后胚因休眠或失水而失活;（4）人类活动对自然生态环境的严重干扰和破坏。本文提出了消除威胁生物多样性的社会因素、加强亚热带阔叶林生态系统的保护、重视自然保护区以外的就地保护工作、深入研究迁地保护的有效方法等保护策略。     

Tec/Bmx non-receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in regulation of Rho and serum response factor by Galpha12/13.

A transient transfection system was used to identify regulators and effectors for Tec and Bmx, members of the Tec non-receptor tyrosine kinase family. We found that Tec and Bmx activate serum response factor (SRF), in synergy with constitutively active alpha subunits of the G12 family of GTP-binding proteins, in transiently transfected NIH 3T3 cells. The SRF activation is sensitive to C3, suggesting the involvement of Rho. The kinase and Tec homology (TH) domains of the kinases are required for SRF activation. In addition, kinase-deficient mutants of Bmx are able to inhibit Galpha13- and Galpha12-induced SRF activation, and to suppress thrombin-induced SRF activation in cells lacking Galphaq/11, where thrombin's effect is mediated by G12/13 proteins. Moreover, expression of Galpha12 and Galpha13 stimulates autophosphorylation and transphosphorylation activities of Tec. Thus, the evidence indicates that Tec kinases are involved in Galpha12/13-induced, Rho-mediated activation of SRF. Furthermore, Src, which was previously shown to activate kinase activities of Tec kinases, activates SRF predominantly in Rho-independent pathways in 3T3 cells, as shown by the fact that C3 did not block Src-mediated SRF activation. However, the Rho-dependent pathway becomes significant when Tec is overexpressed.     

Structure and dynamics of the periphytic algae of Jinyang Lake in Shanxi Province, North China

The structure and dynamics of periphytic algae in Jinyang Lake, the largest man-made lake in Taiyuan, Shanxi, have been studied by examining the periphytic algae samples collected from four sampling stations, during March 2006 to February 2007. In total, 227 species of periphytic algae (including varieties), belonging to three divisions, 27 families, 62 genera, have been identified. Diatoms were the dominant periphytic algae group. Taken the Shannon–Weaver, Margalef and Simpson diversity index together, it showed obvious temporal and spatial dynamics among different seasons and different sampling stations. The highest periphytic community structure evenness appeared at sampling station I in spring, summer and autumn, while at sampling station III in winter. The average biomass of periphytic algae varied from seasons. Our data showed that major factors affecting the periphytic algae in Jinyang Lake was water temperature, nutrient levels as well as human activities. In addition, the main effect caused by thermal power plant has been discussed.     

Aplysia temptin - the 'glue' in the water-borne attractin pheromone complex

Temptin, a component of the complex of water-borne protein pheromones that stimulate attraction and mating behavior in the marine mollusk Aplysia, has sequence homology to the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains of higher organisms that mediate protein-cell surface contact during fertilization and blood coagulation. In this work, recombinant temptin for structural and functional studies was produced in Escherichia coli using a cold shock promoter and purified by RP-HPLC. CD spectra confirmed a predominantly beta-sheet structure. Two disulfide bonds were determined via limited proteolysis and MS. One internal disulfide (Cys57-Cys77) was predicted from initial alignments with class I EGF-like domains; the second, between Cys18 and Cys103, could protect temptin against proteolysis in seawater and stabilize its interacting surface. A three-dimensional model of temptin was prepared with our MPACK suite, based on the Ca(2+)-binding, EGF-like domain of the extracellular matrix protein fibrillin. Two temptin residues, Trp52 and Trp79, which align with cysteine residues conserved in fibrillins, lie adjacent to and could stabilize the disulfide bonds and a proposed metal-binding loop. The water-borne pheromone attractin in egg cordon eluates is complexed with other proteins. Docking results with our model and the NMR structure of attractin suggest that one face of temptin interacts with the pheromone, perhaps controlling its access to the cellular receptors. Gel shifts confirmed that temptin complexes with wild-type attractin. These results indicate that temptin, analogous to the role of fibrillin in controlling transforming growth factor-beta concentration, modulates pheromone signaling by direct binding to attractin.     

Stable Li–Organic Batteries with Nafion‐Based Sandwich‐Type Separators

Similar to Li–S batteries, Li–organic batteries have also been plagued by the dissolution of active materials and the resulting shuttle effect for many years. An effective strategy to eliminate the shuttle effect is adopting solid electrolytes or Li–ion permselective separators to prohibit the dissolved electroactive species from migrating to the Li anode. A polypropylene/Nafion/polypropylene (PNP) sandwich‐type separator is reported with many advantages in comparison with previously reported LISICON, polymer electrolyte, and other Nafion utilization forms. The physical and chemical properties of PNP separators are studied in detail by cross‐section scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. 1,1′‐Iminodianthraquinone (IDAQ), a novel organic cathode, is taken as an example to quantitatively investigate the function of PNP separators. In the presence of PNP5 with the most appropriate Nafion loading of 0.5 mg cm^–2, IDAQ is able to achieve dramatically improved cycling stability with capacity retention of 76% after 400 cycles and Coulombic efficiency above 99.6%, which reaches the highest level for reported soluble organic electrode materials. Besides Li–organic batteries, such kind of Nafion‐based sandwich‐type separators are also promising for Li–S batteries and other new battery designs involving dissolved electroactive species.