Genetic metabolic polymorphisms and the risk of cancer: a review of the literature

The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyse the design and results of epidemiological studies on the association between various types of cancer (lung, bladder, breast, colon, stomach) and four genetically-based metabolic polymorphisms, involved in the metabolism of several carcinogens (glutathione-S-transferase M1, debrisoquine hydroxylase, N acetyltransferase, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase). These inherited polymorphisms usually cause modifications in the quality or quantity of the relevant enzymes. Such enzymes are involved in the activation/inactivation of known carcinogens and seem to modify the extent to which carcinogens interact with DNA in target tissues. Two enzymes, debrisoquine hydroxylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, activate procarcinogens to carcinogens (phase I enzymes). The other two, glutathione-S-transferase M1 and N-acetyltransferase, mainly detoxity carcinogenic substances (phase II enzymes). Because of their role as host factors (modulating the action of carcinogens), it has been hypothesized that subjects presenting a specific phenotype for such polymorphisms could be at a greater risk of developing various types of cancer. A number of epidemiological studies have investigated such associations, often with discordant results. We examine and discuss the design of the studies, and present a meta-analysis of the available data.     

黑龙江省低额溞属的种类及分布（鳃足纲：双甲目）

本文对黑龙江省低额属Ｓｉｍｏｃｅｐｈａｌｕｓ的种类及分布进行了初步的调查。鉴定出低额９种,即锯顶低额Ｓｉｍｏｃｅｐｈａｌｕｓｓｅｒｒｕｌａｔｕｓ,老年低额Ｓ．ｖｅｔｕｌｕｓ,拟老年低额Ｓ．ｖｅｔｕｌｏｉｄｅｓ,棘爪低额Ｓ．ｅｘｓｆｉｎｏｓｕｓ,西伯利亚低额Ｓ．ｓｉｂｉｒｉｃｕｓ,角壳低额Ｓ．ｌｕｓａｔｉｃｕｓ,微齿低额Ｓ．ｈｉｍａｌａｙｅｎｓｉｓｍｉｃｒｏｄｕｓ,黑龙江低额Ｓ．ｈｅｉｌｏｎｇｊｔａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ和北安低额Ｓ．ｂｅｉａｎｅｎｓｉｓ。对各种低额的形态特征及分布特点作了概括并编制了种的检索表。对所述各种的模式形态及已获种中雄体的精子形态提供活体照片。对部分低额生活环境中的几种主要因子进行了测试,其结果表明,本属各种多生活在水质清洁溶解氧较高且偏碱的水环境中,其水质多在寡污到β中污之间。     

Two Phenol Sulfotransferase Species from One cDNA: Nature of the Differences

A phenol sulfotransferase from rat liver (EC 2.8.2.9), expressed inEscherichia colifrom a single cDNA, was purified as two separable but catalytically active proteins. The proteins appeared to be identical to each other and to the natural liver sulfotransferase by comparison of their amino acid constitution, amino-terminal end group, and interaction with a polyclonal antibody raised against the liver enzyme. Each of the recombinant forms, α and β, catalyzed the sulfuryl group transfer from 4-nitrophenylsulfate to an acceptor phenol, a reaction in which 3′-phospho-adenosine 5′-phosphate (PAP) is a necessary intermediate. Only form β, however, catalyzes the physiological transfer of a sulfuryl group from 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to the free phenol. Evidence is presented that sulfotransferase α, but not β, has 1 mol of PAP tightly bound per enzyme dimer. The ability to utilize PAPS as a sulfate donor could be altered: form α could be treated and purified as form β to acquire the ability to use PAPS, whereas form β was treated by extended incubation with PAP, lost its ability to use PAPS, and was purified as form α.     

Phospholipid surface density determines the partitioning and permeability of acetic acid in DMPC:cholesterol bilayers

Relationships between the permeability coefficient (P_HA) and partition coefficient (K _m/w) of acetic acid and the surface density of DMPC:cholesterol bilayers have been investigated. Permeability coefficients were measured in large unilamellar vesicles by NMR line broadening. Bilayer surface density, , was varied over a range of 0.5–0.9 by changing cholesterol concentration and temperature. The temperature dependence of P_HA for acetic acid exhibits Arrhenius behavior with an average apparent activation energy (E _a ) of 22±3 kcal/mole over a cholesterol mole fraction range of 0.00–0.40. This value is much greater than the enthalpy change for acetic acid partitioning between bulk decane and water (H° = 4.8±0.8 kcal/mole) and the calculated E _a (= 8.0 kcal/mole) assuming a bulk phase permeability model which includes the enthalpy of transfer from water to decane and the temperature dependence of acetic acid's diffusion coefficient in decane. These results suggest that dehydration, previously considered to be a dominant component, is a minor factor in determining E _a . Values of 1n P_HA decrease linearly with the normalized phospholipid surface density with a slope of = -12.4±1.1 (r = 0.90). Correction of P_HA for those temperature effects considered to be independent of lipid chain order (i.e., enthalpy of transfer from water to decane and activation energy for diffusion in bulk hydrocarbon) yielded an improved correlation ( = -11.7±0.5 (r = 0.96)). The temperature dependence of K_m/w is substantially smaller than that for P_HA and dependent on cholesterol composition. Values of 1n K_m/w decrease linearly with the surface density with a slope of = -4.6±0.3 (r = 0.95), which is 2.7-fold smaller than the slope of the plot of 1n P_HA vs. . Thus, chain ordering is a major determinant for molecular partitioning into and transport across lipid bilayers, regardless of whether it is varied by lipid composition or temperature.This work was supported by grants from Glaxo, INTERx/Merck, and University of Utah Research Committee.     

一类新内含子的研究状况

在真核细胞基因组中发现一类新内含子——AT-AC内含子, 除结构特征与普遍存在的核mRNA前体内含子有明显不同外,剪接机制上也存在一定差异.文章介绍了该内含子的分布,结构特征及剪接机理,并与主内含子作了相应比较.     

Three-dimensional structure prediction of the NAD binding site of proton-pumping transhydrogenase from Escherichia coli

A three-dimensional structure of the NAD site of Escerichia coli transhydrogenase has been predicted. The model is based on analysis of conserved residues among the transhydrogenases from five different sources, homologies with enzymes using NAD as cofactors or substrates, hydrophilicity profiles, and secondary structure predictions. The present model supports the hypothesis that there is one binding site, located relatively close to the N-terminus of the α-subunit. The proposed structure spans residues α145 to α287, and it includes five β-strands and five α-helices oriented in a typical open twisted α/β conformation. The amino acid sequence following the GXGXXG dinucleotide binding consensus sequence (residues α172 to α177) correlates exactly to a typical fingerprint region for ADP binding βαβ folds in dinucleotide binding enzymes. In the model, aspartic acid α195 forms hydrogen bonds to one or both hydroxyl groups on the adenosine ribose sugar moiety. Threonine α196 and alanine α256, located at the end of βB and βD, respectively, create a hydrophobic sandwich with the adenine part of NAD buried inside. The nicotinamide part is located in a hydrophobic cleft between αA and βE. Mutagenesis work has been carried out in order to test the predicted model and to determine whether residues within this domain are important for proton pumping directly. All data support the predicted structure, and no residue crucial for proton pumping Was detected. Since no three-dimensional structure of transhydrogenase has been solved, a well based tertiary structure prediction is of great value for further experimental design in trying to elucidate the mechanism of the energy-linked proton pump. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Nuclear migration advances in fungi

Nuclear migration encompasses three areas: separation of daughter nuclei during mitosis, congress of parental nuclei before they fuse during fertilization, and positioning of nuclei in interphase cells. This review deals primarily with interphase nuclear migration, which is crucial for events as disparate as vertebrate embryonic development and growth of fungal mycelia. Mutants of Aspergillus nidulans, Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been particularly informative, and a detailed molecular analysis of this process is now well under way.     

促黄体素释放激素类似物(LH-RH-A)对人蜕膜组织核糖核酸和蛋白质合成的抑制作用

高剂量LH-RH-A可明显抑制人蜕膜组织在离体下对~3H-尿嘧啶和~3H-亮氨酸的摄取;低剂量LH-RH-A无明显影响。在人蜕膜组织中也发现有高亲合力(K_?=3.83±1.36×10~?M~(-1))的LH-RH-A特异受体。上述发现表明,高剂量LH-RH-A可通过直接抑制RNA和蛋白质的合成而调节蜕膜组织的功能。     

亚东璃眼蜱的延迟交配对吸血时间和生殖力的影响

蜱类种群密度的制约因素包括生物的和非生物的两类,分析和认识这些规律,对蜱类的防治上有重要意义。 蜱类的生殖是维持种群密度的重要一环。后肛沟类硬蜱的雌虫当吸附在宿主体时,由于某些原因可发生延迟交配现象。蜱类延迟交配对生育力的影响,在这方面的研究较少。本文为亚东璃眼蜱Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi Olenev的延迟交配对吸血时间、饱食后的体重以及产卵量等的试验研究结果。     

桃小食心虫生物学的研究——果实对幼虫蛀果、成活、生长发育及滞育的影响

桃小食心虫(Carposina niponensis Wals)是我国苹果、梨上的重要害虫,初孵幼虫在果面爬行片刻,即蛀入果内。幼虫能否入果,除受捕食性天敌和风雨等外界条件影响之外,与果实表皮组织有关系,蛀入果内幼虫的成活数量和生长情况亦受果肉组织及果实内含物的直接影响。因此,研究食料条件与桃小食心虫发生数量的关系,对提高该虫现有