Refined crystal structures of "aged" and "non-aged" organophosphoryl conjugates of gamma-chymotrypsin

"Aged" organophosphoryl conjugates of serine hydrolases differ from the corresponding "non-aged" conjugates in their striking resistance to nucleophilic reactivation. The refined X-ray structures of "aged" and "non-aged" organophosphoryl conjugates of gamma-chymotrypsin were compared in order to understand the molecular basis for this resistance of "aged" conjugates. "Aged" and "non-aged" crystalline organophosphoryl-gamma-chymotrypsin conjugates were obtained by prolonged soaking of native gamma-chymotrypsin crystals with appropriate organophosphates. Thus, a representative "non-aged" conjugate, diethylphosphoryl-gamma-chymotrypsin, was obtained by soaking native crystals with paraoxon (diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate), and a closely related "aged" conjugate, monoisopropyl-gamma-chymotrypsin, was obtained by soaking with diisopropylphosphorofluoridate. In both crystalline conjugates, the refined structures clearly reveal a high occupancy of the active site by the appropriate organophosphoryl moiety within covalent bonding distance of Ser195 O gamma. Whereas in the "non-aged" conjugate both ethyl groups can be visualized clearly, in the putative "aged" conjugate, as expected, only one isopropyl group is present. There is virtually no difference between the "aged" and "non-aged" conjugates either with respect to the conformation of the polypeptide backbone as a whole or with respect to the positioning of the side-chains within the active site. In the "aged" conjugate, however, close proximity (2.6 A) of the negatively charged phosphate oxygen atom of the dealkylated organophosphoryl group to His57 N epsilon 2 indicates the presence of a salt bridge between these two moieties. In contrast, in the "non-aged" conjugate the DEP moiety retains its two alkyl groups; thus, lacking a negative oxygen atom, it does not enter into such a charge-charge interaction and its nearest oxygen atom is 3.6 A away from His57 N epsilon 2. It is suggested that steric constraints imposed by the salt bridge in the "aged" conjugate lie at the basis of its resistance to reactivation.     

Group sequential distribution-free methods for the analysis of multivariate observations.

Many studies involve the collection of multivariate observations, such as repeated measures, on two groups of subjects who are recruited over time, i.e., with staggered entry of subjects. Various marginal distribution-free multivariate methods have been proposed for the analyses of such multivariate observations where some measures may be missing at random. Using the multivariate U statistic of Wei and Johnson (1985, Biometrika 72, 359-364), we describe the group sequential analysis of such a study where the multivariate observations are observed sequentially--both within and among subjects. We describe a multivariate generalization of the Hodges and Lehmann (1963, Annals of Mathematical Statistics 34, 598-611) estimator of a location shift that can be obtained via the multivariate U statistic with the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon kernel. We then describe large-sample group sequential interval estimators and tests based on an aggregate estimate of the location shift combined over all of the repeated measures. We also describe how the same steps could be employed to perform a group sequential analysis based on any one of the variety of marginal multivariate methods that have been proposed. These methods are applied to a real-life example.     

A comparison of neural networks and partial least squares for deconvoluting fluorescence spectra

This article compares backpropagation neural networks (BNN) with partial least squares (PLS) techniques in terms of their ability to deconvolute fluorescence spectra. Both actual experimental and simulated spectral data are studied for 2 binary systems. These systems consist of mixtures of tryptophan and tyrosine, and NADH and tryptophan over a total concentration range of 10(-7) to 10(-4) M. It is shown that BNN is superior to PLS for both systems.     

Enhancement of cellular immune function during cold adaptation of BALB/c inbred mice.

The cell-mediated immune function of cold-adapted BALB/c inbred mice was studied in experiments of splenic lymphocyte blastogenesis, indicated by tritium-labeled deoxythymidine incorporation and SDS-PAGE autoradiography of synthetic proteins in lymphocytes. Male BALB/c inbred mice were randomly divided into two groups: control (living at 25 degrees C) and cold-exposed (living at 2 degrees C). Results are as follows: in contrast with the control group, there was an obvious fluctuation of cell-mediated immune function in the cold-exposed group at initial cold exposure because of transient stress to cold; then cell-mediated immune function gradually recovered to control level. From Day 15, the cell-mediated immune function of the cold-exposed group was remarkably enhanced. On Day 15, the lymphocyte blastogenesis rate was increased by 20.66% (P less than 0.05), which implies the onset of cold adaptation; on Days 21 and 31, the rates increased by 80.15% (P less than 0.05) and 40.36% (P less than 0.05), respectively. Two to six months later, with continuing cold exposure, the murine lymphocyte blastogenesis rate in the cold-exposed group remained higher than that in the control group. The lymphocyte protein synthesis of the cold-exposed group, indicated by tritium-labeled leucine incorporation, apparently increased on Day 15 and the stimulated rate was 101.47% (P less than 0.05). SDS-PAGE autoradiography of synthetic proteins in lymphocytes demonstrated that after 2 weeks of cold exposure, protein bands were enriched in both quantity and quality. These results are identical to the results obtained from lymphocyte blastogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

UNC-5, a transmembrane protein with immunoglobulin and thrombospondin type 1 domains, guides cell and pioneer axon migrations in C. elegans.

The unc-5 gene is required for guiding pioneering axons and migrating cells along the body wall in C. elegans. In mutants, dorsal migrations are disrupted, but ventral and longitudinal movements are largely unaffected. The gene was tagged for molecular cloning by transposon insertions. Based on genomic and cDNA sequencing, the gene encodes UNC-5, a transmembrane protein of 919 aa. The predicted extracellular N-terminus comprises two immunoglobulin and two thrombospondin type 1 domains. Except for an SH3-like motif, the large intracellular C-terminus is novel. Mosaic analysis shows that unc-5 acts in migrating cells and pioneering neurons. We propose that UNC-5 is a transmembrane receptor expressed on the surface of motile cells and growth cones to guide dorsal movements.     

Genetic and molecular analysis of pIP417 and pIP419: Bacteroides plasmids encoding 5-nitroimidazole resistance.

This report describes a genetic and molecular analysis of two transferable Bacteroides plasmids, pIP417 and pIP419, which carry genetic determinants conferring low-level resistance to 5-nitroimidazoles. The restriction endonuclease cleavage sites for each plasmid were localized. The NiR genetic determinants of pIP417 and pIP419 plasmids have been cloned into the Bacteroides cloning vector pBI191 (C.J. Smith, J. Bacteriol. 164, 294-301, 1985) as PvuII and Sau3A fragments, respectively. Both inserts had different restriction sites and did not cross-hybridize by Southern blot analysis. Genetic data obtained by cloning into pBI191 clearly show that the PvuII-generated fragments A (Rep) and B (Mob) of pIP417 are involved in plasmid replication and transfer, respectively. Although encoding resistance to the same antibiotic, both plasmids appeared different with regard to the 5-nitroimidazole resistance and replication genetic determinants. However, they share a homology in a region involved, at least in one case, in plasmid transfer. Considering the spontaneous high level of resistance to 5-nitroimidazole in Escherichia coli, this work, based on direct gene cloning into Bacteroides, demonstrates the value of such an approach.     

Immunocytochemical localization of the epidermal growth factor receptor in mouse testis

The distribution of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mouse testis was ascertained by immunocytochemical methodology using a polyclonal antibody (RK2) shown previously to recognize the cytoplasmic domain of the human (A431 cells), murine (Swiss 3T3 cells), and chicken (CK 109 cells) EGFR. Initial studies performed to determine the usefulness of this antibody as a probe of the murine EGFR in testis employed two murine cell lines, TM4 and MA10, of Sertoli cell and Leydig cell origin, respectively, in which a physiological response of EGF and specific binding of iodinated EGF has been demonstrated. Western blotting in membrane preparations of TM4 and MA10 revealed only one prominent band at 170 kDa. Immunocytochemical localization in TM4 and MA10 cells illustrated a plasma membrane distribution of the receptor. Western blotting of membrane fractions prepared from testis also revealed a specific band at 170 kDa. In the intact testis, the EGFR was immunolocalized specifically in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells only. These results suggest that the involvement of EGF action in spermatogenesis may occur at the level of the somatic components of the testes, principally in the Leydig and Sertoli cells.     

生物炭-牛粪堆肥中产β-葡聚糖苷酶微生物群落应答碳代谢抑制效应

【背景】在高浓度葡萄糖引起的碳代谢抑制效应下,产β-葡聚糖苷酶(β-glucosidase)功能微生物群落为适应碳代谢压力的变化,会差异化表达糖耐受和非糖耐受的功能基因。在堆肥中添加生物炭可以改变微生物生存的环境,进而影响微生物群落的组成与功能。【目的】分析在不同碳代谢压力下添加生物炭对产β-葡聚糖苷酶功能微生物群落的结构组成与功能的影响。【方法】在生物炭牛粪-稻草堆肥中添加葡萄糖、纤维二糖及β-葡聚糖苷酶抑制剂,构建不同的碳代谢压力。以细菌来源GH1家族的β-葡聚糖苷酶基因为分子标记基因构建基因克隆文库。同时测定羧甲基纤维素酶酶活和β-葡聚糖苷酶酶活。【结果】放线菌、变形菌和拟杆菌是功能微生物群落中的优势菌群。其中,CL处理组变形菌数量有所下降,在添加了抑制剂的处理组中,拟杆菌的数量明显上升。高浓度葡萄糖显著抑制了羧甲基纤维素酶酶活,但对β-葡聚糖苷酶酶活影响不大,其中低浓度纤维二糖的处理可以显著诱导β-葡聚糖苷酶活性。GHCH处理组中β-葡聚糖苷酶表现出高浓度葡萄糖激活特性。【结论】添加生物炭未明显影响参与纤维素降解的功能微生物群落对碳代谢抑制效应的应答。与自然堆肥相比,在添加了生...     

祁连山林区基于水源涵养能力的人工林近自然度评价体系建立

建立近自然度评价体系对于修复森林生态功能、保障森林可持续发展有着重要的意义,然而近自然度尚未有统一的评价体系。祁连山地区的森林系统承担着我国西部重要的水源涵养功能,对其现存的人工林客观地开展基于水源涵养能力的近自然评价是亟需解决的问题。以祁连山东部金禅沟、塔尔沟小流域40个不同林分起源的云杉纯林、白桦纯林、云杉白桦混交林为对比研究样地,对涉及近自然度和水源涵养能力的指标进行敏感性分析,筛选出中高敏感度指标,通过欧氏距离法结合熵权法定量评价人工林近自然度,通过模糊物元法定量评价森林水源涵养能力,然后采用6种方法对近自然度和水源涵养得分分布进行拟合(R²>0.4),并利用K-means法建立了4个近自然度评价等级。研究表明祁连山东部地区大部分人工林近自然度评级处于半天然林阶段,通过改造纯林为针阔混交林可以同时提高其近自然度与水源涵养能力。研究旨在构建基于水源涵养能力的近自然度评价体系,为森林生态服务功能修复提供理论支持。