黑线毛足鼠年龄和种群密度与肝毛细线虫感染率的关系

2004—2005年,在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟阿巴嘎旗和东乌珠穆沁旗研究了肝毛细线虫病对黑线毛足鼠种群感染情况,分析肝毛细线虫对黑线毛足鼠的感染率与鼠体年龄以及种群密度的关系。结果表明,黑线毛足鼠达到一定的年龄(或体质量)才可感染肝毛细线虫病,最低感染个体体质量为14.6g。肝毛细线虫对低龄鼠的感染检出率比较低,而对成体鼠感染检出率较高,其感染率和感染度均随着个体年龄的增长而增高(感染率与年龄:r=0.97,P<0.05;感染度与年龄:r=0.93,P<0.05)。此外,黑线毛足鼠体质量与肝毛细线虫感染率和感染度也存在显著的相关关系(感染率与体质量:r=0.99,P<0.05;感染度与体质量:r=0.95,P<0.05),黑线毛足鼠的种群密度则对肝毛细线虫的感染率(r=0.27,P>0.05)和平均感染度(r=0.41,P>0.05)没有明显的影响,其感染率可能与地区不同有关。     

Molecular evolution of cytochrome c oxidase: rate variation among subunit VIa isoforms

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) consists of 13 subunits, 3 encoded in the mitochondrial genome and 10 in the nucleus. Little is known of the role of the nuclear-encoded subunits, some of which exhibit tissue-specific isoforms. Subunit VIa is unique in having tissue-specific isoforms in all mammalian species examined. We examined relative evolutionary rates for the COX6A heart (H) and liver (L) isoform genes along the length of the molecule, specifically in relation to the tissue-specific function(s) of the two isoforms. Nonsynonymous (amino acid replacement) substitutions in the COX6AH gene occurred more frequently than in the ubiquitously expressed COX6AL gene. Maximum-parsimony analysis and sequence divergences from reconstructed ancestral sequences revealed that after the ancestral COX6A gene duplicated to yield the genes for the H and L isoforms, the sequences encoding the mitochondrial matrix region of the COX VIa protein experienced an elevated rate of nonsynonymous substitutions relative to synonymous substitutions. This is expected for relaxed selective constraints after gene duplication followed by purifying selection to preserve the replacements with tissue-specific functions.      

A modular treatment of molecular traffic through the active site of cholinesterase

We present a model for the molecular traffic of ligands, substrates, and products through the active site of cholinesterases (ChEs). First, we describe a common treatment of the diffusion to a buried active site of cationic and neutral species. We then explain the specificity of ChEs for cationic ligands and substrates by introducing two additional components to this common treatment. The first module is a surface trap for cationic species at the entrance to the active-site gorge that operates through local, short-range electrostatic interactions and is independent of ionic strength. The second module is an ionic-strength-dependent steering mechanism generated by long-range electrostatic interactions arising from the overall distribution of charges in ChEs. Our calculations show that diffusion of charged ligands relative to neutral isosteric analogs is enhanced approximately 10-fold by the surface trap, while electrostatic steering contributes only a 1.5- to 2-fold rate enhancement at physiological salt concentration. We model clearance of cationic products from the active-site gorge as analogous to the escape of a particle from a one-dimensional well in the presence of a linear electrostatic potential. We evaluate the potential inside the gorge and provide evidence that while contributing to the steering of cationic species toward the active site, it does not appreciably retard their clearance. This optimal fine-tuning of global and local electrostatic interactions endows ChEs with maximum catalytic efficiency and specificity for a positively charged substrate, while at the same time not hindering clearance of the positively charged products.     

Diet-induced obesity in rats leads to a decrease in sperm motility

Background  

Obesity is rapidly becoming a worldwide epidemic that affects children and adults. Some studies have shown a relationship between obesity and infertility, but until now it remains controversial. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high-fat diet-induced obesity on male reproductive parameters.     

Reporting of Quantitative Protein Electrophoresis in Australia and New Zealand: a Call for Standardisation

Background

The lack of guidelines on reporting standards for protein electrophoresis may have led to significant differences in reports from different laboratories.

Objective

To determine the extent of variation in reporting of protein electrophoresis results in Australia and New Zealand.

Method

Questionnaires were distributed to laboratories throughout Australia and New Zealand asking about protein electrophoresis practices and reporting.

Results

Extensive variation was found in the following reporting practices: (a) units for urine Bence Jones protein (BJP); (b) reporting absence of a paraprotein rather than a normal pattern; (c) numerical reporting of all protein fractions or only the paraprotein; (d) warning of possible inaccuracy in the serum immunoglobulin result of the paraprotein type; (e) co-migration of a paraprotein with a normal serum protein; (f) use of a confirmatory test when a known paraprotein is no longer detectable.

Conclusions

A working party should be established to make recommendations on the reporting of protein electrophoresis. Implementation of such recommendations should reduce both report variation between laboratories and the risk of misinterpretation of reports.     

Cell cycle related proteins in hyperplasia of usual type in breast specimens of patients with and without breast cancer

Background  

Hyperplasia of usual type (HUT) is a common proliferative lesion associated with a slight elevated risk for subsequent development of breast cancer. Cell cycle-related proteins would be helpful to determine the putative role of these markers in the process of mammary carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of cell cycle related proteins in HUT of breast specimens of patients with and without breast cancer, and compare this expression with areas of invasive carcinomas.     

MDR1基因单靶点双荧光素酶报告基因系统的建立

目的通过构建以MDR1启动子为启动序列的双荧光素酶报告基因系统并进行活性分析,为MDR1基因表达的单靶点调控研究和逆转剂的筛选提供一种有效的方法。方法从HCT-8细胞中提取DNA并克隆含有MDR1基因启动子中Y—box序列。将该序列重组到萤光素酶报告基因载体pGL-3．Basic的启动区域中,从而构建报告基因载体pGL-MDR1。将pGL-MDR1和pRL-TK载体共转染到HCT-8和HCT-8／VCR细胞中。通过调节不同载体的比例来优化转染效率。利用MDRI基因激活剂（热诱导）和抑制剂（EGCG）等处理来分析其启动转录活性受外界因素的影响。结果通过直接测序法验证了pGL-MDR1含有MDR1基因启动子Y—box序列且没有出现碱基突变。在pGL-MDR1和pRL-TK的转染比例为5：5时,转染效率最高并具有最高的萤光素酶活性。通过MDR1基因激活处理后表现为时间依赖性地激活MDR1基因的表达,而MDR1基因抑制剂的作用则相反。结论MDR1启动子为启动序列的双荧光素酶报告基因系统建立成功。该系统不但可以用于研究活体生物发光成像和MDRI基因表达的机理,而且可用于单靶点的多药耐药抑制剂的筛选。     

H-FABP基因的多态性和营养因素对猪肉质的影响

遗传和营养因素都能影响猪肉的品质。但是, 到目前为止同时研究遗传和营养因素对肉质影响的报道很少。在本研究中, 136头PIC5系杂交猪, 体重65 kg, 被随机分成4组, 各组分别给予不同日粮。在饲养35 d、体重大约90 kg时统一屠宰并且进行肉质测定、H-FABP基因分型及其与肉质性状的关联分析。结果表明: (1)所采用的3种日粮对肉色、屠宰后24 h的pH、肌内脂肪和肌肉蛋白含量有极显著的影响; (2)H-FABP基因型对肌内脂肪和肌肉蛋白含量存在极显著的影响; (3)H-FABP基因多态性和营养因素的交互作用对pH 和肌内脂肪含量均有显著的影响, 对照组的AA基因型具有最高pH值, 高维生素E组的AA基因型具有最高肌内脂肪值。实验结果提示在关于猪肉质的育种和生产过程中应该同时考虑营养因素和遗传因素。