Organotypic Culture of Human Skin to Study Melanocyte Migration

An ex vivo model system was developed to investigate melanocyte migration. Within this model system, melanocytes migrate among other epidermal cells in the epibolic outgrowth of skin explants. This process is initiated by loss of contact inhibition of epidermal cells at the rim of the explants and by locally produced chemotactic factors. Punch biopsies provided explants of reproducible diameter. Optimal culture conditions include medium consisting of Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium containing 10% inactivated normal human serum and placement of explants epidermal side up at the air-liquid interphase. Within 7 days, epidermal cells completely surround the explant. Approximately 3 days after the onset of keratinocyte migration, melanocytes distribute themselves within the newly formed epidermis. Throughout the 7-day culture period, melanocytes and keratinocytes show maintenance of subcellular morphology, and the dermo-epidermal junction remains intact. Melanocyte migration was quantified using immunoperoxidase staining in combination with light microscopy and computer-aided image analysis. Preliminary results using the model system to compare migration in control and nonlesional vitiligo skin indicate that no inherent migration defect is responsible for impaired repigmentation of vitiligo lesions. The organotypic culture model system allows for investigations on melanocytes within their environment of autologous epidermal and dermal components, closely resembling in vivo circumstances in human skin.     

Contributions of the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex to energy and body weight regulation

The effects of selective ibotenate lesions of the complete hippocampus (CHip), the hippocampal ventral pole (VP), or the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in male rats were assessed on several measures related to energy regulation (i.e., body weight gain, food intake, body adiposity, metabolic activity, general behavioral activity, conditioned appetitive responding). The testing conditions were designed to minimize the nonspecific debilitating effects of these surgeries on intake and body weight. Rats with CHip and VP lesions exhibited significantly greater weight gain and food intake compared with controls. Furthermore, CHip-lesioned rats, but not rats with VP lesions, showed elevated metabolic activity, general activity in the dark phase of the light-dark cycle, and greater conditioned appetitive behavior, compared with control rats without these brain lesions. In contrast, rats with mPFC lesions were not different from controls on any of these measures. These results indicate that hippocampal damage interferes with energy and body weight regulation, perhaps by disrupting higher-order learning and memory processes that contribute to the control of appetitive and consummatory behavior.     

龙须菜体表附生细菌的几种分离方法比较

采用超声波粉碎法、涡旋振荡法、超声波清洗法、研磨匀浆法等4种不同的方法处理龙须菜,分离其体表的附生细菌,并对分离细菌的数量、种类、形态结构、细胞壁特性等进行了观察和分析。通过对不同方法和相间方法的不同处理所得结果比较显示,超声波清洗法和研磨匀浆法对分离细菌的数量和种类效果都较差;超声波粉碎法和涡旋振荡法效果较好,尤以超声波粉碎法的30W30s处理效果最好,该方法分离到本项目4个方法13个处理获得的16个菌株中的12个菌株,龙须菜的细菌数1．75×10~6cells/g。     

肺炎链球菌血红素结合脂蛋白PiuA的表达、纯化和表征

【背景】肺炎链球菌是社区获得性肺炎最常见的致病菌之一,它也会引起脑膜炎、鼻窦炎、中耳炎、菌血症等一系列疾病,对人类(特别是儿童、老人、免疫缺陷患者)健康造成重大威胁。铁是肺炎链球菌生存和感染所必需的元素之一,其中血红素转运系统PiuABCD是肺炎链球菌最重要的铁转运系统。【目的】克隆、表达和纯化肺炎链球菌血红素转运系统脂蛋白PiuA,并在体外表征PiuA蛋白的血红素结合特性。【方法】将肺炎链球菌D39菌株中的piuA(spd_1652)基因连接到载体pBAD-HisA上,在大肠杆菌Top10菌株中进行异源表达,然后运用Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化PiuA-His蛋白,并用肠激酶切掉His标签获得不含标签的PiuA蛋白,最后运用圆二色谱、紫外光谱和荧光光谱表征PiuA蛋白的血红素结合特性。【结果】构建了pBAD/HisA-PiuA重组表达载体,获得了纯度大于95%的PiuA蛋白,圆二色谱显示PiuA蛋白与Hemin结合后,其二级结构不发生改变;紫外光谱结果显示PiuA蛋白具有血红素结合能力;荧光光谱结果显示apo-PiuA蛋白与Hemin结合常数K=3.4×10~5 L/mol。【结论】肺炎链球菌血红素转运系统脂蛋白PiuA能够特异地结合血红素,为肺炎链球菌的生存和感染提供必需的铁源,PiuA蛋白的体外表征结果为针对PiuABCD血红素转运系统设计抗菌药物奠定了基础。     

Soil [N] modulates soil C cycling in CO2‐fumigated tree stands: a meta‐analysis

Under elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, soil carbon (C) inputs are typically enhanced, suggesting larger soil C sequestration potential. However, soil C losses also increase and progressive nitrogen (N) limitation to plant growth may reduce the CO₂ effect on soil C inputs with time. We compiled a data set from 131 manipulation experiments, and used meta‐analysis to test the hypotheses that: (1) elevated atmospheric CO₂ stimulates soil C inputs more than C losses, resulting in increasing soil C stocks; and (2) that these responses are modulated by N. Our results confirm that elevated CO₂ induces a C allocation shift towards below‐ground biomass compartments. However, the increased soil C inputs were offset by increased heterotrophic respiration (Rh), such that soil C content was not affected by elevated CO₂. Soil N concentration strongly interacted with CO₂ fumigation: the effect of elevated CO₂ on fine root biomass and –production and on microbial activity increased with increasing soil N concentration, while the effect on soil C content decreased with increasing soil N concentration. These results suggest that both plant growth and microbial activity responses to elevated CO₂ are modulated by N availability, and that it is essential to account for soil N concentration in C cycling analyses.     

加工番茄多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)基因的cDNA克隆和全序列测定

以加工番茄"87-5”为材料,采用反转录PCR(RT-PCR)技术将加工番茄PG基因的cDNA序列克隆到pGEM-T载体上,并进行了全序列测定分析.结果表明,加工番茄的PG基因的cDNA与国内外报道的番茄PG基因的cDNA,在碱基序列及氨基酸序列上均有差异.说明番茄的PG基因具有多态性.     

Devenir de la putrescine-1,4-14C chez Glycine max

Fate of Putrescine-1,4-¹⁴C in Glycine max Putrescine-1,4-¹⁴C was supplied to young decotylized Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Chippewa plants growing under aseptic conditions on a liquid medium with nitrogen supplied either as ammonium chloride or nitrates. Whatever the source of nitrogen the diamine was quickly transformed to γ-aminobutyric acid, succinic acid and malic acid; only a very minor part was utilized for the synthesis of polyamines. In the presence of ammonium chloride the putrescine catabolism may be slower than in the presence of nitrates. The results are explained by a weak isotopic dilution or by a diamine oxidase activity lower in “ammonium” plants than in “nitrate” plants; the two causes might co-exist. The possibility of a diamine compartmentation has to be considered.     

Studies on the coexistence of three species of Eupteryx (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on nettle

An account is given of the relative numbers of adults of three species of Eupteryx, coexisting on nettle, collected regularly over a period of seven years, and possible causes of fluctuations are suggested.