Evidence for cleft closure in actomyosin upon ADP release

Structural insights into the interaction of smooth muscle myosin with actin have been provided by computer-based fitting of crystal structures into three-dimensional reconstructions obtained by electron cryomicroscopy, and by mapping of structural and dynamic changes in the actomyosin complex. The actomyosin structures determined in the presence and absence of MgADP differ significantly from each other, and from all crystallographic structures of unbound myosin. Coupled to a complex movement ( approximately 34 A) of the light chain binding domain upon MgADP release, we observed a approximately 9 degrees rotation of the myosin motor domain relative to the actin filament, and a closure of the cleft that divides the actin binding region of the myosin head. Cleft closure is achieved by a movement of the upper 50 kDa region, while parts of the lower 50 kDa region are stabilized through strong interactions with actin. This model supports a mechanism in which binding of MgATP at the active site opens the cleft and disrupts the interface, thereby releasing myosin from actin.     

Extractive cultivation of Lactococcus lactis using a polyethylene glycol/MgSO4 · 7H2O aqueous two-phase system to produce nisin

To relieve lactic acid inhibition, an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was used to grow Lactococcus lactis. Its composition was 11% (w/v) PEG 20000/3.5% (w/v) MgSO₄ 7H₂O. In this ATPS medium, the cells were completely partitioned in the bottom phase, and lactic acid had the biggest partition coefficient of the eight ATPS media tested. The cell biomass in this medium was 0.64 mg ml^–1, only 60% of that of the control medium, but nisin production (803 IU ml^–1) was enhanced by 33%. The increase in nisin was explained as a result of extraction of lactic acid from the bottom phase to the top one. The changes of tie-line length and phase volume ratio for the identical tie line could affect cell growth and nisin accumulation.     

Plant regeneration through organogenesis from callus induced from mature zygotic embryos of loblolly pine

Mature zygotic embryos from three seed sources of loblolly pine were cultured on callus induction medium containing 10 mg l^–1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid, 4 mg l^–1 benzyladenine (BA), 400 mg l^–1 casein hydrolysate, and 400 mg l^–1 glutamine for 6 weeks. Light-yellow, loose, glossy, globular callus was formed, and the highest frequency was 35.7%. The highest differentiation frequency of callus on adventitious bud induction medium was 62.1%. After culture of calli with adventitious buds on elongation medium for 6 weeks, adventitious shoots more than 1.0 cm in height were selected for rooting. On rooting medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l^–1 indole-3-butyric acid, 1 mg l^–1 BA, and 0.5 mg l^–1 gibberellic acid, the highest rooting frequency of adventitious shoots was 46% in a culture period of 6 weeks. Established plants survived following transfer to soil at a frequency of 71%. Received: 14 May 1997 / Revision received: 25 September 1997 / Accepted: 11 October 1997     

Propagation of potato tubers in a nutrient mist bioreactor

The newly designed nutrient mist bioreactor provided an environment supporting multiple-layer culture. In vitro tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were induced and cultured in this bioreactor by using two culture methods. The percentage of the inocula eventually forming tubers in a two-step method was 98% with only 54% being formed in a one-step method. The two-step method improved the efficiency of tuber induction, expedited and synchronized the tuberization. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Metal ion binding to calmodulin: NMR and fluorescence studies

Calmodulin is an important second messenger protein which is involved in a large variety of cellular path-ways.Calmodulin is sensitive to fluctuations in the intracellular Ca levels and is activated by the bindingof four Ca ions. In spite of the important role it plays in signal transduction pathways, it shows a surpris-inglybroad specificity for binding metal ions. Using 15N-Gly biosynthetically-labelled calmodulin, we havestudied the binding of different metal ions to calmodulin, including K+, Na+, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, Sr, La and Lu, by 1H, 15N HMQC NMR experiments. The effects of these ions on the substrate-bindingability of calmodulin have also been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy of the single tryptophan residue in a 22-residue synthetic peptide encompassing the skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase calmod-ulin-binding domain. Most of these metal ions can activate a calmodulin target enzyme to some extent,though they bind to calmodulin in a different manner. Mg, which is of direct physiological interest, has adistinct site-preference for calmodulin, as it shows the highest affinity for site I in the N-terminal domain,while the C-terminal sites III and IV are the high affinity binding sites for Ca (as well as for Cd ). At ahigh concentration of Mg and a low concentration of Ca, calmodulin can bind Mg in its N-terminallobe while the C-terminal domain is occupied by Ca; this species could exist in resting cells in which the Mg level significantly exceeds that of Ca. Moreover, our data suggest that the toxicity of Pb-which,like Sr, binds with an equal and high affinity to all four sites-may be related to its capacity to tightlybind and improperly activate calmodulin.     

痘苗病毒诱导HeLa细胞的凋亡

痘苗病毒感染ＨｅＬａ细胞后形态学上出现了较典型的细胞凋亡特征,电泳分析显示出ＤＮＡ阶梯,用ＤＮＡ断裂原位检测技术发现其染色质断裂主要存在于核周,与染色质凝聚位置相似。     

甜菊愈伤组织生长、分化与甜菊糖苷积累的关系

耐菊（Steviarebaudiana）愈伤组织中甜菊糖苷的积累与愈伤组织的生长呈负相关、与愈伤组织细胞的组织化及转绿呈正相关。愈伤组织芽的分化并不是积累较高水平甜菊糖苷的必要前提。绿色、质地致密、生长缓慢的愈伤组织,不论有芽分化或无芽分化时,其甜菊糖苷含量均较高。在电镜下观察到,这两种愈伤组织细胞具有类似的超微结构特征：细胞高度液泡化;叶绿体发育成熟,光合膜系统结构发达,基质浓厚且含有质体小球;微体具有典型的晶格结构,常与叶绿体紧密相靠。黄色、质地致密、生长缓慢的愈伤组织中甜菊糖苷含量较低,其细胞内质体富含淀粉粒,只有少量分散的片层结构,有的质体甚至完全被淀粉粒所充塞。黄色、质地疏松、生长快速的愈伤组织中甜菊糖苷含量最低,其细胞内质体结构简单,片层稀少。质体的发育和液泡的分化与甜菊糖苷的积累密切相关。愈伤组织具有较高的甜菊糖苷含量在于愈伤组织细胞的组织化以及细胞的高度液泡化并具有发育成熟的叶绿体。     

火炬松胚性细胞悬浮培养物的生长参数变化

以火炬松（PinustaedaL.）成熟合子胚来源的胚性愈伤组织为材料建立了胚性细胞悬浮系,测定了其培养物的鲜重、干重、细胞体积和胚数及培养液中的pH值、电导率和蔗糖浓度等生长参数在培养过程中的变化动态。结果表明,在培养周期内,培养液中的pH值、电导率和蔗糖浓度的逐步降低与培养物的鲜重、干重、细胞体积和胚胎数的逐步增加保持一致性。在培养至18—21d,pH值、电导率和蔗糖浓度均接近或降到最低点,而胚数及细胞体积的增长都达到最高点。     

Enhanced production of artemisinin by Artemisia annua L hairy root cultures in a modified inner-loop airlift bioreactor

Hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua L were cultured in a modified inner-loop airlift bioreactor for achieving maximum artemisinin production. The effects of initial pH, air flow rate, cycle of light irradiation and temperature on growth and artmisinin production in Artemisia annua L hairy root cultures were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the maximum production of artemisinin reached to 577.5?mg/l after 20 days.     

内生真菌Alternaria sp. GHX-P17代谢产物防治广藿香青枯病及保护酶的变化

广藿香是著名药材,青枯病是威胁广藿香生产和质量的主要病害。针对从广藿香茎叶中分离出的1株有抑菌活性的内生真菌Alternaria sp. GHX-P17,研究其代谢产物对广藿香青枯病的防治作用及耐病机制。在室内通过人工接种Alternaria sp. GHX-P17菌株与喷施粗提物稀释液2种方式,于不同时间调查广藿香青枯病的发病率和严重度,并计算其病情指数(disease index,DI)。同时,对处理后不同时间的广藿香苯丙氨酸解氨酶(phenylalanine ammonia lyase,PAL)、过氧化物酶(peroxidase,POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)3种保护酶活性进行测定。结果表明:(1)Alternaria sp. GHX-P17处理后青枯病DI显著降低,与对照比较,204 h后DI降低为27.16%,方差分析呈显著性差异(P<0.05)。(2)随着处理时间延长,青枯病严重度升高缓慢,严重度等级降低,到204 h时,处理组的严重度明显低于对照,防治效果达到74.65%。(3)处理后的广藿香3种保护酶PAL、POD和SOD活性增强,但3种酶活性高峰出现时间不同。PAL随时间逐渐升高; POD先升高后降低,然后又升高,出现2个峰值; SOD快速升高后逐渐降低。这表明内生真菌菌株Alternaria sp. GHX-P17可以提高广藿香3种保护酶活性,延缓了青枯菌的侵染过程,降低了青枯病的发病程度。该研究结果为植物内生真菌次级代谢产物活性成分研究及生物农药开发提供了参考。