Influence of Disulfide Bonds on the Induction of Helical Conformation in Proteins

The effect(s) of TFE (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol) on three different conformational states (native, denatured, and carboxymethylated) of CTX III and RNase A has been examined. Contrary to the general belief, the results of the present study reveal that TFE can induce helical conformation in a protein which has no sequence propensity to form a helix. It is found that the helix induction in TFE is intricately related to the destabilization of the tertiary structural conformation in proteins. More importantly, the disulfide bonds in proteins are found to have significant influence on the TFE-mediated helix induction. The results obtained in this study strongly suggest that information pertaining to the influence of disulfide bonds on helix induction need to be considered to improve the accuracy of secondary structure prediction algorithms.     

Acidosis antagonizes intracellular calcium response to kappa -opioid receptor stimulation in the rat heart

To study the effects of -opioid receptor stimulation onintracellular Ca²⁺ concentration([Ca²⁺]_i)homeostasis during extracellular acidosis, we determined the effects of-opioid receptor stimulation on[Ca²⁺]_iresponses during extracellular acidosis in isolated single ratventricular myocytes, by a spectrofluorometric method. U-50488H (10-30 µM), a selective -opioid receptor agonist, dosedependently decreased the electrically induced[Ca²⁺]_itransient, which results from the influx ofCa²⁺ and the subsequentmobilization of Ca²⁺ from thesarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). U-50488H (30 µM) also increased theresting[Ca²⁺]_iand inhibited the[Ca²⁺]_itransient induced by caffeine, which mobilizesCa²⁺ from the SR, indicating thatthe effects of the -opioid receptor agonist involved mobilization ofCa²⁺ from its intracellular poolinto the cytoplasm. The Ca²⁺responses to 30 µM U-50488H were abolished by 5 µMnor-binaltorphimine, a selective -opioid receptorantagonist, indicating that the event was mediated by the -opioidreceptor. The effects of the agonist on[Ca²⁺]_iand the electrically induced[Ca²⁺]_itransient were significantly attenuated when the extracellular pH(pH_e) was loweredto 6.8, which itself reduced intracellular pH(pH_i) and increased[Ca²⁺]_i.The inhibitory effects of U-50488H were restored during extracellular acidosis in the presence of 10 µM ethylisopropyl amiloride, a potentNa⁺/H⁺exchange blocker, or 0.2 mM Ni²⁺,a putativeNa⁺/Ca²⁺exchange blocker. The observations indicate that acidosismay antagonize the effects of -opioid receptor stimulation viaNa⁺/H⁺andNa⁺/Ca²⁺exchanges. When glucose at 50 mM, known to activate theNa⁺/H⁺exchange, was added, both the resting[Ca²⁺]_iand pH_i increased. Interestingly,the effects of U-50488H on [Ca²⁺]_iand the electrically induced[Ca²⁺]_itransient during superfusion with glucose were significantly attenuated; this mimicked the responses during extracellular acidosis. When a high-Ca²⁺ (3 mM) solutionwas superfused, the resting[Ca²⁺]_iincreased; the increase was abolished by 0.2 mMNi²⁺, but thepH_i remained unchanged. Like theresponses to superfusion with high-concentration glucose andextracellular acidosis, the responses of the[Ca²⁺]_iand electrically induced[Ca²⁺]_itransients to 30 µM U-50488H were also significantly attenuated. Results from the present study demonstrated for the first time thatextracellular acidosis antagonizes the effects of -opioid receptorstimulation on the mobilization ofCa²⁺ from SR. Activation of bothNa⁺/H⁺andNa⁺/Ca²⁺exchanges, leading to an elevation of[Ca²⁺]_i,may be responsible for the antagonistic action of extracellular acidosis against -opioid receptor stimulation.

     

Cloning and tissue distribution of the human B3GALT7 gene, a member of the β1,3-Glycosyltransferase family

We report here the cloning and tissue distribution of the human B3GALT7 gene, a member of the beta1,3-Glycosyltransferase family, structurally related to the beta1,3-Galactosyltransferase family and beta1,3- N -acetylglucosaminyltransferase family, isolated from a human lung cDNA library. B3GALT7 is mapped to chromosome 19q13.2 by browsing the UCSC genomic database. It contains an ORF with length of 1191bp, encoding a protein with a signal peptide sequence and galactosyl-T domain, and its molecular weight and isoelectric point is predicted to be 43.3 kDa and 8.67 respectively. The molecular weight of the protein when expressed in E. coli corresponded to that expected. Northern blotting showed that B3GALT7 was highly expressed in lung, throat and ileum, whereas the expression level was low in tongue, breast, uteri, testis. In addition, it was also demonstrated that B3GALT7 is differentially transcribed in human tumor cell lines.     

Recent genetic studies of mouse kidney development

Recent functional studies in mouse further illustrate the importance of the epithelial-mesenchymal interaction between the ureteric bud epithelium and the metanephric mesenchyme in kidney formation. Genetic ablation of Gdf11, Six1, Slit2/Robo2 reveal a role of these genes in regulating the outgrowth of a single ureteric bud from the Wolffian duct. Studies of Wnt11 and Fras1/Grip1, all expressed in the ureteric bud, show a role for these genes in regulating events in the adjacent metanephric mesenchyme. Furthermore, various approaches were used to address the function of Pod1, Pbx1, the Notch pathway and Brn1 in nephron formation.     

Hydrolysis, lactonization, and identification of alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) alternatively linked tri-, tetra-, and polysialic acids

Alpha-(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) alternatively linked polysialic acid (PSA) can be identified by controlled hydrolysis followed by the analysis with capillary electrophoresis (CE). Due to the different stability of alpha(2 --> 8) and alpha(2 --> 9) linkages in acidic hydrolysis, oligosialic acids (OSAs) from the hydrolysis of alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) OSA/PSA could be classified into two groups in the CE profile. The group with an odd numerical degree of polymerization (DP) had two peaks in the CE profile, and the other group, with even number of DP, showed one peak. Each alternating alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) linked OSA contains two isomers: one starts with the alpha(2 --> 8) linkage from the nonreducing end and the other starts with the alpha(2 --> 9) linkage from the nonreducing end. Trimers and tetramers were isolated by using a Mono Q column with an HPLC system. The two trimer isomers are alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) and alpha(2 --> 9)/alpha(2 --> 8) linkages and only showed partial separation by CE. After lactonization, sialidase hydrolysis, and alkaline treatment, the two trimer isomers could be separated and identified by CE analysis, but only the alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) trimer could be converted to the dilactone in glacial acetic acid. The two tetramer isomers could be converted to four monolactones and three dilactones. These lactonized species could be identified on the basis of several principles in sialidase hydrolysis and lactonization. In conclusion, regioselectivity on the lactonization of oligosialic acids proceeds under several principles: (1) Lactonization takes place more easily in the alpha(2 --> 8) linkage than in the alpha(2 --> 9) linkage; (2) all of the positions of alpha(2 --> 8) linkages in alpha(2 --> 8)/alpha(2 --> 9) alternatively linked OSA can be lactonized regardless of external or internal carboxyl groups involved; and (3) for the site of alpha(2 --> 9) linkage, only internal carboxyl groups can be lactonized.     

Mapping of Changes in EEG Spectrum Power during a Session of Biofeedback Training of the β1 Rhythm

Changes in EEG spectrum power from 19 electrode sites were studied in 19 children with attention disorders during one session of EEG–biofeedback (EEG–BFB). EEG–BFB was aimed at increasing the relative power of the ₁ rhythm (15–18 Hz) in sites Fz–C ₃ with a bipolar electrode assembly. Comparison of the EEG spectrum powers at relaxation versus training periods in one BFB session revealed significant changes in the left parasagittal frontoparietal area (F ₃, Fz, C ₃, C ₄, P ₃).     

采用共聚焦显微术对家兔呼吸道感受器进行观察

呼吸道感受器在机体对肺部物理和化学环境变化作出反应时起到重要作用,它们引起的反射具有调节或保护作用,或产生病理效应。基于电生理研究,可将呼吸道感受器分为四类,但它们的组织结构不详。由于对感受器形态的认识不足,阻碍了对其生理功能的理解。近来,我们采用共聚焦显微术与免疫组织化学方法（用钠钾ATP酶作为标记),首次高清晰度地展示了呼吸感受器结构。本文采用这种新方法在家兔中进行了系统观察。结果显示,各级气道通均有多种不同的感受器结构。大气道中的结构往往比小气道中的复杂,虽然它们的大小、所在部位与走向不尽相同,但都有多个终端末梢。有些感受器埋置在气道平滑肌中,其结构便于感受对气道的机械性刺激：有些覆盖在气道上皮的表面,其形态适合于感受通过气道的刺激性物质;另一些则位于气道粘膜下,在上皮与平滑肌之间。有些传入神经轴突可支配多个感受器结构。据此,传入单纤维中记录到的电活动是来自一个感觉单位。后者可以由多个感受器组成。除了感受器之外,我们还观察到气道内神经节,它们与感受神经的轴突密切相关。本文证实气道内存在不同形态结构的感受器,并探讨了其生理分类。