Adenylate cyclase-mediated modulation of interaction between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic influences on smooth muscles

We found that nonadrenergic inhibitory synaptic potentials (ISP) induced by intramural stimulation in atropine-treated smooth muscles of the guinea-pig large intestine demonstrated no changes upon the influence of an activator of adenylate cyclase, forskolin. This indicates that cAMP-dependent pathways are not involved in the generation of ISP. However, in these muscles with no atropine pretreatment ISP were suppressed by forskolin; intramural stimulation evoked in these smooth muscle cells M-cholinergic excitatory synaptic potentials (ESP) instead of ISP. An increase in the intracellular cAMP concentration due to application of its membrane-penetrating form, dibutyryl-cAMP, did not mimic the above-described effect of forskolin. Hence, it can be supposed that the effect of forskolin on inhibitory synaptic transmission in the atropine-untreated smooth muscles is not related to changes in the intracellular cAMP level; this effect is determined by other mechanisms. The above differences between the effects of forskolin on ISP in the atropine-treated and atropine-untreated smooth muscle strips indicate that the interaction of intracellular signal pathways (probably, through protein G_q/11), which is observed with activation of adenylate cyclase, occurs under conditions of simultaneous activation of M cholinoreceptors and purinoreceptors. The pattern of adenylate cyclase-mediated modulation of inhibitory effects of purinergic neurons on smooth muscles does not allow us to rule out the possibility of involvement of interstitial cells of Cajal as a relay link providing this synaptic effect. Transmission of excitation from cholinergic nerve terminals to smooth muscles is realized without the participation of the interstitial cells of Cajal.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 36, Nos. 5/6, pp. 438–445, September–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date and copyright year.     

Genetic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster X-Chromosome Neurodegenerative Mutants Induced by Ethyl Methansulfonate and Nitrosoethylurea

In a series of Drosophila mutants with changes in the brain structure, some characters (reduced life span, behavioral changes, and neuronal loss in various brain regions) resemble symptoms observed in human patients with neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, similar specific phenotypes shared by different species suggest that common mechanisms underlie degeneration of their nerve cell. This study reports the results of a genetic analysis of new X-chromosome mutants with neurodegenerative changes in brain structure, which were induced by chemical mutagenesis. According to complementation test, all mutants were divided into three complementation groups, in which the life span and dynamics of neurodegenerative changes were studied. The life span of Drosophila melanogaster flies was found to depend on the state of their nervous system.     

Wolbachia感染导致果蝇dHira基因表达下调

Wolbachia是广泛存在于节肢动物体内的一类共生微生物,可通过宿主卵的细胞质传递给子代.     

Genetic aspects of the interrelation between alkaloids and chemical elements in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atropa belladonna</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glaucium flavum</Emphasis> Crantz. Plants

The variability of the contents of tropane and isoquinoline alkaloids, ashes, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo, Cr, Al, Ba, V, Ni, Sr, Cd, Pb, J, and Ag was studied in individual plants of the industrial population of belladonna (Atropa belladonna L.) and yellow horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz.). Numerous linear and nonlinear correlations of isoquinoline and tropane alkaloids with ashes and mineral elements were revealed by means of correlation and regression analyses. Alkaline earth elements (especially Sr and Ba) were shown to have a major role in the regulation of tropane alkaloid accumulation in belladonna leaves. K and Ni were of particular importance in the aerial part of yellow horned poppy. These elements at the suboptimal concentrations were most favorable for isoquinoline alkaloid accumulation in yellow horned poppy. Analytical mathematical models were derived for the regulation of alkaloid metabolism in test plants by some mineral elements (Ba, Mg, Al, Sr, Ni, Mn, and K). Our results indicate that the interrelation between alkaloids and elements in these plants is genetically determined.     

Detection and characterization of IgG-and sIgA-abzymes capable of hydrolyzing histone H1

Immunoglobulins IgG and sIgA actively hydrolyzing histone H1 have been detected on analyzing proteolytic activity of antibodies isolated by chromatography on Protein A-agarose from blood serum of patients with multiple sclerosis and from colostrum of healthy mothers. These antibodies hydrolyze other histones less actively and virtually failed to cleave lysozyme of chicken egg. By gel filtration at acidic pH and subsequent analysis of protease activity of chromatographic fractions, it was shown that IgG and sIgA molecules were responsible for hydrolysis of histone H1. Anti-histone H1 antibodies of IgG and sIgA classes were purified by affinity chromatography on histone H1-Sepharose from catalytically active antibody preparations. The protease activity of anti-histone H1 IgG antibodies was inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors, whereas anti-histone H1 sIgA antibodies were insensitive to inhibitors of serine, asparagine, and cysteine proteases.     

中国蝴蝶新种, 新亚种及新记录种（Ⅲ）（鳞翅目）

记述中国粉蝶科1新种,4新亚种,1新型,1中国新记录种及6个《中国蝶类志》未记述的已知种,所有模式标本保存在西北农林科技大学昆虫博物馆。     

嗜麦芽假单胞菌热休克基因dnaK启动子的亚克隆及其在大肠杆菌中功能的研究

通过聚合酶链式反应（PCR）得到了嗜麦芽假单胞菌（Pseudomonas maltophilia)热休克基因dnaK启动子的DNA片段dnaKp,将dnaKp的PCR的产物亚克隆在报道载体质粒pUCD615的LuxCDABE基因上游,成重组的具有启动子的质粒融合体pUCD615p。转化到大肠杆菌的pUCD615p启动子对热、有机化合物和重金属的诱导响应快速灵敏,表现出强的启动子功能,能启动LuxCDABE基因表达,使荧光酶活性提高。借助荧光敏活性的变化,可检测系统中一些有机物和重金属的存在,作为一种灵敏的环境污染生物检测工具。