Frequency of sex chromosomal mosaicism in bovine embryos and its effects on sexing using a single blastomere by PCR

Assessment of nuclear status is important when a biopsied single blastomere is used for embryo sexing. In this study we investigated the nuclear status of blastomeres derived from 8- to 16-cell stage in vitro fertilised bovine embryos to determine the representativeness of a single blastomere for embryo sexing. In 24 embryos analysed, the agreement in sex determination between a biopsied single blastomere and a matched blastocyst by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was 83.3%. To clarify the discrepancies, karyotypes of blastomeres in 8- to 16-cell stage bovine embryos were analysed. We applied vinblastine sulfate at various concentrations and for different exposure times for metaphase plate induction in 8- to 16-cell stage bovine embryos. The 1.0 mg/ml vinblastine sulfate treatment for 15 h was selected as the most effective condition for induction of a metaphase plate (> 45%). Among 22 embryos under these conditions, only 8 of 10 that had a normal diploid chromosome complement showed a sex chromosomal composition of XX or XY (36.4%) and 2 diploid embryos showed mosaicism of the opposite sex of XX and XY in blastomeres of the embryo (9.1%). One haploid embryo contained only one X-chromosome (4.5%). Four of another 11 embryos with a mixoploid chromosomal complement contained a haploid blastomere with a wrong sex chromosome (18.2%). In conclusion, assessment of nuclear status of 8- to 16-cell stage bovine embryos revealed that morphologically normal embryos had a considerable proportion of mixoploid blastomeres and sex chromosomal mosaicism; these could be the cause of discrepancies in the sex between biopsied single blastomeres and matched blastocysts by PCR.     

高肺血流对大鼠肺血管结构及尾加压素Ⅱ表达的影响

目的：探讨新型血管活性肽人类尾加压素Ⅱ(hUⅡ)在高肺血流量所致肺动脉高压大鼠肺动脉中的表达及其作用。方法：对大鼠行腹主动脉-下腔静脉分流术。11周后,以右心导管法测肺动脉压力,观测肺血管显微结构的变化,以免疫组织化学方法检测肺动脉hUⅡ的表达。结果：分流术后11周,大鼠肺动脉高压形成,肺小血管肌化程度明显增强,肺中、小型肌型动脉相对中膜厚度明显增加。分流组大鼠肺动脉内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞hUⅡ蛋白表达上调,并且与肺动脉压力和肺血管结构的改变呈正相关。结论：肺动脉内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞hUⅡ的上调可能参与了高肺血流量所致肺血管结构重建和肺动脉高压的形成。     

Behavioral modification in choice process of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis>

In visual operant conditioning ofDrosophila at the flight simulator, only motor output of flies—yaw torque—is recorded, which is involved in the conditioning process. The current study used a newly-designed data analysis method to study the torque distribution ofDrosophila. Modification of torque distribution represents the effects of operant conditioning on flies’ behavioral mode. Earlier works^[10] showed that, when facing contradictory visual cues, flies could make choices based upon the relative weightiness of different cues, and it was demonstrated that mushroom bodies might play an important role in such choice behavior. The new “torque-position map” method was used to explore the CS-US associative learning and choice behavior inDrosophila from the aspect of its behavioral mode. Finally, this work also discussed various possible neural bases involved in visual associative learning, choice processing and modification processing of the behavioral mode in the visual operant conditioning ofDrosophila.     

A genotype-specific pollen gene associated with self-incompatibility in Lycopersicon peruvianum

Self-incompatibility is a genetically controlled process used to prevent self-pollination. We report here the characterization of pollen cDNA clones of Lycopersicon peruvianum, and the identification of a genotype-specific pollen factor involved in self-incompatibility. To identify the latter, differential mRNA display RT-PCR was performed on pollen cDNAs from S12Sa and S11Sa genotypes. We isolated four cDNA fragments expressed preferentially in S12Sa pollen, and screened a cDNA library from S12Sa pollen with the four cDNA fragments to isolate the corresponding full length cDNAs. One of the four isolated cDNAs encoded part of an actin depolymerizing factor protein that we named LpADF. LpADF is highly homologous to actin depolymerizing factors of Arabidopsis thaliana, Lilium longiflorum, and Zea mays. RNA blot analysis revealed that LpADF is only expressed in mature pollen of the S12Sa genotype, and is therefore a candidate pollen factor in the gametophyte self-incompatibility system of L. peruvianum.     

CD28/B7 regulation of anti-CD3-mediated immunosuppression in vivo

FcR-binding "classical" anti-CD3 mAb is a potent immunosuppressive drug that alters CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell function in vivo via anergy induction and programmed cell death (PCD). Anti-CD3-mediated PCD was Fas independent but was mediated by the mitochondria-initiated apoptosis that was abrogated in Bcl-x(L)-transgenic T cells. The PCD was more pronounced in CD28-deficient mice consistent with defective Bcl-x(L) up-regulation. Residual T cells isolated from anti-CD3-treated wild-type, CD28(-/-), and Bcl-x(L)-transgenic mice were hyporesponsive. The hyporesponsiveness was more pronounced in CD28(-/-) and wild-type mice treated with anti-B7-2, suggesting that CD28 interaction with B7-2 regulates T cell responsiveness in anti-CD3-treated animals. Finally, anti-CD3 treatment led to indefinite cardiac allograft survival in wild-type but not Bcl-x(L) animals. Together these results implicate CD28/B7 signaling in the regulation of both anti-CD3-induced T cell depletion and hyporesponsiveness in vivo, but T cell depletion, not hyporesponsiveness, appears to be critical for anti-CD3 mAb-mediated long-term immune regulation.     

Crystal structure of tabtoxin resistance protein complexed with acetyl coenzyme A reveals the mechanism for beta-lactam acetylation

Tabtoxin resistance protein (TTR) is an enzyme that renders tabtoxin-producing pathogens, such as Pseudomonas syringae, tolerant to their own phytotoxins. Here, we report the crystal structure of TTR complexed with its natural cofactor, acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA), to 1.55A resolution. The binary complex forms a characteristic "V" shape for substrate binding and contains the four motifs conserved in the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily, which also includes the histone acetyltransferases (HATs). A single-step mechanism is proposed to explain the function of three conserved residues, Glu92, Asp130 and Tyr141, in catalyzing the acetyl group transfer to its substrate. We also report that TTR possesses HAT activity and suggest an evolutionary relationship between TTR and other GNAT members.     

Root pressurization affects growth-induced water potentials and growth in dehydrated maize leaves

Profiles of water potential (Psi w) were measured from the soil to the tips of growing leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) when pressure (P) was applied to the soil/root system. At moderately low soil Psi w, leaf elongation was somewhat inhibited, large tensions existed in the xylem, and Psi w were slightly lower in the elongating leaf tissues than in the xylem, i.e. a growth-induced Psi w was present but small. With P, the tension was relieved, enlarging the difference in Psi w between the xylem and the elongating tissues, i.e. enlarging the growth-induced Psi w, which is critical for growth. Guttation occurred, confirming the high Psi w of the xylem, and the mature leaf tissue rehydrated. Water uptake increased and met the requirements of transpiration. Leaf elongation recovered to control rates. Under more severe conditions at lower soil Psi w, P induced only a brief elongation and the growth-induced Psi w responded only slightly. Guttation did not occur, water flow did not meet the requirements of transpiration, and the mature leaf tissues did not rehydrate. A rewatering experiment indicated that a low conductance existed in the severely dehydrated soil, which limited water delivery to the root and shoot. Therefore, the initial growth inhibition appeared to be hydraulic because the enlargement of the growth-induced Psi w by P together with rehydration of the mature leaf tissue were essential for growth recovery. In more severe conditions, P was ineffective because the soil could not supply water at the required rate, and metabolic factors began to contribute to the inhibition.     

A catalytically inactive form of protein kinase C-associated kinase/receptor interacting protein 4, a protein kinase C beta-associated kinase that mediates NF-kappa B activation,interferes with early B cell development

Protein kinase C-associated kinase (PKK)/receptor interacting protein 4 (RIP4) is a protein kinase C (PKC) beta-associated kinase that links PKC to NF-kappaB activation. The kinase domain of PKK is similar to that of RIP, RIP2, and RIP3. We show in this study that PKK is expressed early during lymphocyte development and can be detected in common lymphoid progenitor cells. Targeting of a catalytically inactive version of PKK to lymphoid cells resulted in a marked impairment in pro-B cell generation in the bone marrow. Although peripheral B cell numbers were markedly reduced, differentiation into follicular and marginal zone B cells was not defective in these mice. B-1a and B-1b B cells could not be detected in these mice, but this might be a reflection of the overall defect in B cell production observed in these animals. In keeping with a possible link to PKCbeta, peripheral B cells in these mice exhibit a defect in anti-IgM-mediated proliferation. These studies suggest that PKK may be required early in B cell development and for BCR-mediated B cell proliferation.