Molecular dynamics analysis of the engrailed homeodomain-DNA recognition

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for investigating the role of Gln50 in the engrailed homeodomain-DNA recognition. Employing the crystal structure of free engrailed homeodomain and homeodomain-DNA complex as a starting structure, we carried out MD simulations of: (i) the complex between engrailed homeodomain and a 20 base-pair DNA containing TAATTA core sequence; (ii) the free engrailed homeodomain. The simulations show that homeodomain flexibility does not depend on its ligation state. The engrailed homeodomain shows similar flexibility, and the recognition helix-3 shows very similar characteristic of high rigidity and limited conformational space in two complexation states. At the same time, DNA structure has also no obvious conformational fluctuations. These results preclude the possibility of the side chain of Gln50 forming direct hydrogen bonds to the core DNA bases. MD simulations confirm a few well-conserved sites for water-mediated hydrogen bonds from protein to DNA are occupied by water molecules, and Gln50 interacts with corresponding core DNA bases through water-mediated hydrogen bonds. So Gln50 plays a relatively modest role in determining the affinity and specificity of the engrailed homeodomain. In addition, the electrostatic interaction between homeodomain and phosphate backbone of the DNA is a main factor for N- and C-terminal arm becoming ordered upon DNA binding.     

Home range and habitat use of male Reeves's Pheasant(Symaticus reevesii)during winter in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan Province,China

Home range and habitat use of male Reeves's Pheasant(syrmaticus reevesii)were studied during winter of 2001～2002 and 2002～2003 in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan Province.Results from five individuals of Reeves's Pheasant with over 30 relocations,indicated that the average size of home range was 10.03±1.17 hm2 by Minimum Convex Polygon method.8.60±0.35 hm2 by 90% Harmonic Mean Transformation method,and 9.50±1.90 hm2 by 95% Fixed Kernel method.It was observed that the winter range is smaller than that in the breeding season.The mean core area of the home range was found to be 1.88±0.37 hm2.Although the habitat composition of the core area varied greatly for individuals,a large part of the habitats used were composed of conifer and broadleaf mixed forests,masson pine forests,fir forests,and shrubs.Habitat use within the study area was non-random,while habitats within home ranges were randomly used.Habitat use was dictated by tree diameter at breast height,shrub height and coverage at 2.0 m.The proximity between forests and shrubs were also found to be important in providing refuge for the birds during winter.Recommendations for conservation management include protecting the existing habitats in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,increasing suitable habitat for Reeves's Pheasant through artificial plantations(e.g.firs),and restoring some parts of the large shrub area into forests.     

A B Functional Gene Cloned from Lily Encodes an Ortholog of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Arabidopsis PISTILLATA</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">PI</Emphasis>)

The classical ABC model proposed for flower development in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum appropriately sheds light on the biological process of flower development and differentiation and serves in manipulating the floral structure of other important ornamental plants. In this study, LLGLO1, a B functional gene from Lilium longiflorum was isolated and characterized. RT-PCR analysis elucidated that temporal and spatial expression pattern of LLGLO1. This putative gene was strongly expressed in 1, 2, and 3 whorl organs, i.e., outer whorl tepals, inner whorl tepals, and stamens. Genetic effect of LLGLO1 was assayed by ectopic expression in model plant Arabidopsis. Transformed plants showed homeotic transformation of sepals into petaloid sepals in the first whorl, which is similar to the transgenic plants of 35S::PI. So LLGLO1 was one member of GLO/PI sub-family gene to function in flower development.     

AngⅡ和PKC对心肌细胞AngⅡ 1型受体的转录调节

利用体外培养的心肌细胞,观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）和蛋白激酶Ｃ（ＰＫＣ）在诱导ＡｎｇⅡ１型受体（ＡＴ１）基因表达及蛋白质代谢中的作用．研究结果表明：ＡｎｇⅡ可诱导ＡＴ１ｍＲＮＡ水平一过性下调,呈时间及剂量依赖性,１０ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＡｎｇⅡ刺激细胞６ｈ,引起ＡＴ１ｍＲＮＡ水平降低幅度最大,降至对照的５１．６％±９．５％,然后逐渐回升,２４ｈ恢复至对照水平．３０μｍｏｌ／ＬＨ－７（ＰＫＣ抑制剂）能阻断ＡｎｇⅡ诱导的ＡＴ１ｍＲＮＡ水平的下调．０．３μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＰＭＡ（ＰＫＣ激活剂）单独应用可诱导ＡＴ１ｍＲＮＡ水平下调达对照的４３％±８％,加入ＡＴ１拮抗剂ＤＭＰ８１１及Ｄｕｐ７５３均可阻断ＡｎｇⅡ诱导的ＡＴ１ｍＲＮＡ水平的下调．１０ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＡｎｇⅡ刺激心肌细胞９６ｈ可使蛋白含量降低至对照的７３．４％±５．６％,而加药持续刺激１４４ｈ可使蛋白含量较对照增加３３．８％±６．３％,Ｈ－７不能阻断ＡｎｇⅡ诱导的蛋白含量降低,但可有效地抑制蛋白含量的增加．以上结果提示：ＡｎｇⅡ对心肌细胞ＡＴ１基因的转录和细胞的蛋白代谢有调节作用,而ＰＫＣ则参与了ＡｎｇⅡ的这种调节作用     

Studies on Pollen Morphology of Taxaceae of China

The present study deals with pollen morphology of 4 genera and l0 species of Taxaceae in gymnosperms. Pollen grains of the family are spheroidal or subspheroidal, 20.8μm in diameter and with laptoma or papilla in the distal face. Exine is two-layered, with sexine equal to nexine in thickness, but sometimes the stratification is indistinct. The surface is scabrous or slightly granular under LM. Coarse verrucae and fine tuberculae on pollen surface are observed under SEM. From thin section, endexine is shown to have lamellate structure, and ectexine is made of verrucate elements. In Amentotaxus argotaenia, some pollen grains show remnant saccate. According to pollen morphology, this family may be divided into two tribes: 1, Pseudotaxeae (including Pseudotaxus only), and 2, Taxeae (including Taxus and Torreya). Owirg to the special feature of pollen grains in Amentotaxus the present author suggests that the genus be separated from Taxaceae and raised to the level of family, Amentotaxaceae.     

Pharmacokinetic properties of crocin (crocetin digentiobiose ester) following oral administration in rats

This study investigated the pharmacokinetic properties of crocin following oral administration in rats. After a single oral dose, crocin was undetected while crocetin, a metabolite of crocin, was found in plasma at low concentrations. Simultaneously, crocin was largely present in feces and intestinal contents within 24h. After repeated oral doses for 6 days, crocin remained undetected in plasma and plasma crocetin concentrations were comparable to the corresponding data obtained after the single oral dose. Furthermore, the absorption characteristics of crocin were evaluated in situ using an intestinal recirculation perfusion method. During recirculation, crocin was undetected and low concentrations of crocetin were detected in plasma. The concentrations of crocin in the perfusate were reduced through different intestinal segments, and the quantities of drug lost were greater throughout the colon. These results indicate that (1) orally administered crocin is not absorbed either after a single dose or repeated doses, (2) crocin is excreted largely through the intestinal tract following oral administration, (3) plasma crocetin concentrations do not tend to accumulate with repeated oral doses of crocin, and (4) the intestinal tract serves as an important site for crocin hydrolysis.     

超微七味白术散对菌群失调小鼠的疗效研究

目的:研究超微七味白术散对抗生素引起的菌群失调小鼠的疗效。方法:将70只小鼠随机分为7组,以灌胃生理盐水建立对照组,以灌胃氨苄西林、头孢拉定、盐酸林可霉素复合抗生素构建菌群失调小鼠模型,以七味白术散传统汤剂及超微全量、1/2量、1/4量、1/8量治疗,通过粪便判断疗效。结果:七味白术散超微药剂与传统汤剂均能治疗抗生素引起的小鼠菌群失调,且超微七味白术散1/2量对小鼠的治疗效果已能达到传统汤剂水平。结论:超微七味白术散对菌群失调小鼠具有良好的治疗效果,与传统药物相比具有节约药材的价值。     

嫁接对辣椒根际土壤环境的影响及其与抗病性和产量的关系

以‘卫士’(WS)和‘部野丁’(BYD)辣椒为砧木,‘新丰2号’(XF)辣椒为接穗嫁接,以‘新丰2号’自根嫁接辣椒(XF/XF)为对照(CK),研究嫁接对辣椒根际土壤微生物量、物理性质、养分含量及土传病害和产量的影响.结果表明: 嫁接辣椒新丰/卫士(XF/WS)与新丰/部野丁(XF/BYD)根际土壤的真菌和放线菌数量较多,放线菌比例较大;定植60 d时,嫁接辣椒根际土壤过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著高于CK;定植90 d时,XF/WS根际土壤磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶(NR)活性显著高于CK;此外,嫁接辣椒根际土壤浸提液中的烃类化合物增多,XF/WS和XF/BYD根际土壤N、P、K含量显著低于CK,根际土壤电导率(EC)略高,XF/WS的pH显著高于CK,而XF/BYD与CK差异不显著.说明嫁接可优化辣椒根际土壤环境,增强其对土传病害的抗性,XF/WS和XF/BYD的产量分别比CK增加40.8%和28.7%.     

我国东北地区发现姬鼩鼱分布

2014年在黑龙江省横道河子地区(44°48′44″N,129°02′04″E,海拔约740 m)采集到1只鼩鼱(标本编号为CH5)。2015年在内蒙古自治区达赉湖地区(48°37′20″N,117°53′17″E,海拔约720 m)采集2只鼩鼱(标本编号为DE7和DE12)。这些新获标本经鉴定为姬鼩鼱(Sorex minutissimus)。《小鼩鼱(食虫目:鼩鼱科)辽宁省新纪录》文中的标本(080910,090920)经重新鉴定也为姬鼩鼱。利用mt DNA的Cyt b基因全序列构建系统进化树,结果揭示,小鼩鼱聚为一支,姬鼩鼱聚为另一支,新获标本(CH5、DE7、DE12)和待厘定标本(080910、090920)都聚在姬鼩鼱一支,进一步支持形态学鉴定结果。2015年采集的姬鼩鼱为内蒙古自治区新纪录,而《小鼩鼱(食虫目:鼩鼱科)辽宁省新纪录》文中的小鼩鼱(Sorex minutus)(标本号:080910,090920)更正为辽宁省姬鼩鼱新纪录。