Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax) and wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

The ingestion of undercooked meat from wild animals can be a source of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and other animals. In this study, we determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in 175 wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax) and 107 wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) hunted in 2004–2007 in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, by using a commercial latex agglutination test (LAT). Antibodies (LAT, 1:64 or higher) to T. gondii were found in 6.3% of wild boars and 1.9% of sika deer. This is the first record of T. gondii infection in wild deer in Japan, and deer and wild boar meat should be cooked well before human consumption.     

Structure and dynamics of small soluble Aβ(1-40) oligomers studied by top-down hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry

Aβ peptides can assemble into amyloid fibrils, which represent one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies, however, have focused on the behavior of small soluble Aβ oligomers that possess a much greater neurotoxicity than mature fibrils. The structural characterization of these oligomers remains difficult because of their highly dynamic and polymorphic nature. This work explores the behavior of Aβ(1-40) in a slightly basic solution (pH 9.3) at a low salt concentration (10 mM ammonium acetate). These conditions lead to the formation of small oligomers, without any signs of fibrillation for several hours. The structure and dynamics of these oligomers were characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and millisecond time-resolved hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry (MS). Our results reveal rapid interconversion between Aβ(1-40) oligomers and monomers. The mole fraction of monomeric molecules is on the order of 40%. Oligomers consist of ~4 Aβ(1-40) molecules on average, and the resulting assemblies have a predominantly β-sheet secondary structure. Hydrogen exchange proceeds in the EX1 regime. This feature allows the application of conformer-specific top-down MS. Electron capture dissociation is used for interrogating the deuteration behavior of the Aβ(1-40) oligomers. This approach provides a spatial resolution of ~2 residues. The backbone amide deuteration pattern uncovered in this way is consistent with a β-turn-β motif for L17-M35. The N-terminus is involved in hydrogen bonding, as well, whereas protection gradually tapers off for C-terminal residues 35-40. Our data are consistent with earlier proposals, according to which Aβ(1-40) oligomers adopt a β-barrel structure. In general terms, this study demonstrates how top-down MS with precursor ion selection can be employed for structural studies of specific protein conformers within a heterogeneous mix.     

Rotary torque produced by proton motive force in FoF1 motor

We have attempted direct observation of the light-driven rotation of a FoF(1)-ATP motor. The FoF(1)-ATP motor was co-reconstituted by the deletion-delta subunit of FoF(1)-ATP synthase with bacteriorhodopsins (BRs) into a liposome. The BR converts radiation energy into electrochemical gradient of proton to drive the FoF(1)-ATP motor. Therefore, the light-driven rotation of FoF(1)-ATP motor has been directly observed by a fluorescence microscopy using a fluorescent actin filament connected to beta-subunit as a marker of its orientation. The rotational torque value of the Fo motor was calculated as 27.93+/-1.88pNnm. The ATP motor is expected to be a promising rotary molecular motor in the development of nanodevices.     

西南岩溶地区黄荆和檵木叶片结构对其生态环境的响应

应用常规石蜡切片法对生长于桂林毛村岩溶区和非岩溶区的黄荆(Vitex negundo)和檵木(Loropetalumchinense)的解剖特征进行了比较研究,并对两区的黄荆叶片表皮形态进行了扫描电镜观察.结果显示:(1)两地的黄荆叶片背面均有浓密的绒毛,但致密程度有差异,岩溶区黄荆叶片的气孔深藏于绒毛间隙,这种结构可减少水分蒸发,降低因岩溶干旱带来的水分缺失.(2)岩溶区黄荆和檵木的叶片厚度、上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织的厚度以及栅栏组织的致密程度均大于非岩溶区,这些特征有利于减少水分蒸腾.(3)岩溶区黄荆和檵木叶片的维管组织发达程度高于非岩溶区,有利于在蒸腾减小的情况下促进水分运输和营养元素的迁移,说明2种植物叶片结构特征在不同生境区的改变是其长期在岩溶区干旱环境条件下形成的适应性变化.     

不同含水量下尖叶拟船叶藓光合速率对光温的响应及其模型

对不同大气温度、藓体含水量及光照条件下尖叶拟船叶藓光合速率测定研究结果表明,光合速率(Pn)与光照强度(PAR)、大气温度(Ta)及藓体含水量(PWC)之间密切相关,光合速率的光响应曲线为直角双曲线,温度、藓体含水量影响图形的曲度参数,在低含水量、高气温组合和高含水量、低气温组合的藓体高光强下都使光合速率降低．弱光下(PAR<200μmol·s^-1·m^-2),光合速率最大值Pmax出现在PWC：为50％～80％,但随着Ta的升高而增大,当Ta>25℃,Pmax随Ta升高而降低;随着光照强度的增大,Pmax出现的PWC水平随之提高,当PAR<200μmol·s^-1·m^-2时,光合速率最大值Pmax出现在Ta比较高的范围(20～25℃),并随PWC的升高而增大,当PWC>80％时,Pmax随PWC升高而降低;随着光照强度的增大,Pmax出现的Ta水平降低、在230     

土贝母的化学成分研究

采用反复柱色谱方法进行分离,通过理化性质和波谱分析鉴定结构。从土贝母(Bolbostemma paniculatum)分离并鉴定了8个化合物,分别为：麦芽酚(Ⅰ)、大黄素(Ⅱ)、△^7,22,25-豆甾三烯-3-醇(Ⅲ)、△^7,22,25-豆甾三烯醇-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(Ⅳ)、α-羟基丙酬葡萄糖苷(V)、β-D-葡萄糖2→1 β-D-葡萄糖苷(Ⅵ)、胡萝卜苷(Ⅶ)、正三十一烷(Ⅷ)。化合物V～Ⅷ为首次从该属中分离得到。     

三种樟科植物的细胞总DNA提取

为了从富含次生代谢物的樟科植物肉桂、锡兰肉桂、阴香中获得高质量DNA ,研究和改进了CTAB法、高盐低pH法和尿素法。改进方法包括 :1)在裂解液中加入 2 % β -巯基乙醇和 5 %PVP ,以防止氧化褐变的发生 ;2 )在酚 :氯仿抽提前加入 1 5mol L醋酸铵冰浴处理 ,能降低DNA的黏性。所得DNA的质量和产量经电泳、紫外吸收A2 60 A2 80 、PCR扩增和限制性内切酶酶切检测 ,结果表明改进法提取的DNA质量要比常规法的好。其中改进的CTAB法获得的DNA纯度最高 ,能用于PCR扩增和限制性内切酶酶切 ,是提取这 3种樟科植物总DNA的最佳方法。     

生物炭施用的固碳减排潜力及农田效应

气候变暖及粮食安全是保证人类可持续发展的重要课题。生物炭具有较高的稳定性、较高碳含量等特点,能增加土壤碳储量,提高土壤物理及化学性质,提高农田产出,能应对高温胁迫及土壤退化双重压力,具有一举多赢的生态环境效益,在缓解温室效应及粮食危机方面展现出巨大的潜力。综合前人研究成果,分析了生物炭固碳减排潜力及农田效应影响因素(包括:生物炭原料、制备温度、施用量、土壤类型等)。综合固碳减排及提高产出两方面因素,提出了较合适的生物炭施用标准,即300—700℃制备的农林废弃物生物炭,且施用量不超过5%。对生物炭固碳减排及田间效应领域未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

Binding model for eriodictyol to Jun-N terminal kinase and its anti-inflammatory signaling pathway

The anti-inflammatory activity of eriodictyol and its mode of action were investigated. Eriodictyol suppressed tumor necrosis factor (mTNF)-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (miNOS), interleukin (mIL)-6, macrophage inflammatory protein (mMIP)-1, and mMIP-2 cytokine release in LPS-stimulated macrophages. We found that the anti-inflammatory cascade of eriodictyol is mediated through the Toll-like Receptor (TLR)4/CD14, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular-signalregulated kinase (ERK), Jun-N terminal kinase (JNK), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 pathway. Fluorescence quenching and saturation-transfer difference (STD) NMR experiments showed that eriodictyol exhibits good binding affinity to JNK, 8.79 × 10⁵ M^-1. Based on a docking study, we propose a model of eriodictyol and JNK binding, in which eriodictyol forms 3 hydrogen bonds with the side chains of Lys55, Met111, and Asp169 in JNK, and in which the hydroxyl groups of the B ring play key roles in binding interactions with JNK. Therefore, eriodictyol may be a potent anti-inflammatory inhibitor of JNK. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(12): 594-599]