Distamycin-induced inhibition of formation of a nucleoprotein complex between the terminase small subunit G1P and the non-encapsidated end (pacL site) of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPP1.

The small subunit of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPP1 terminase (G1P) forms a sequence-specific nucleoprotein complex with the SPP1 non-encapsidated end (pacL site) during initiation of DNA encapsidation. Gel mobility shift assay was used to study the G1P-pacL interaction. Distamycin, a minor groove binder that induces local distortion of the DNA, inhibits G1P-pacL complex formation. The competition of G1P with distamycin for DNA binding at the pacL site is independent of the order of addition of the reactants. Other minor groove binders, such as spermine or Hoechst 33258, which do not distort DNA, failed to compete with G1P for pacL DNA binding. Cationic metals, which generate a repertoire of DNA structures different from that caused by the minor groove binders, can partially reverse the distamycin-induced inhibition of G1P binding to pacL DNA. The major groove binder methyl green, which does not distort sequence-directed bending of pacL DNA, competes with G1P for binding at the pacL site. Our data suggest that the natural sequence-directed bend that exists within the pacL site is the architectural element that facilitates assembly of a nucleoprotein complex and hence initiation of DNA encapsidation by bacteriophage SPP1.     

促葡萄糖转运蛋白基因家族的分子进化研究

葡萄糖转运蛋白是一个在结构上相似功能上不同的多基因家族（ＧＬＵＴ１－ＧＬＵＴ５）。由于这一组蛋白和体内的葡萄糖利用有关,因此被认为是糖尿病胰岛素抵抗（抗性）的一个候选基因。本文比较了不同种生物这一基因家族的氨基酸和核苷酸顺序;推测了亲水性和疏水性分布;计算了蛋白质和核苷酸的进化距离,并在此基础上构建了分子进化树。研究表明：这一基因家族具有高度的同源性、极为相似的亲水性和疏水性分布以及结构的对称性。提示这一基因家族起源于一个共同的祖先并可能通过基因的重复而形成。这一进化机制可能有利于氨基酸结构的稳定及抵抗突变的作用。由于邻元法构建的进化树其分支长度存在差异,提示在这一基因家族的进化过程中,各分支上的进化速率并不相同。蛋白质进化距离和核苷酸进化距离所构建进化树的差异提示了在基因组中可能存在隐匿替换。两种方法构建的进化树都提示了ＧＬＵＴ１、３、４在结构和功能上要更为保守。     

原噬菌体PBSX阻遏基因及其温度敏感型等位基因的克隆分析

本研究利用聚合酶链式反应技术,成功地克隆了枯草芽孢杆菌缺陷型原噬菌体ＰＢＳＸ阻遏基因及其温度敏感型等位基因。核苷酸序列分析发现,野生型及其温度敏感型阻遏基因之间的碱基变异较大,但却存在几乎完全相同的开放读框,尤其是开放读框ｏｒｆⅠ,可能编码着１１３个氨基酸的阻遏蛋白,并且还推定了开放读框的启动区和核糖体结合位点。通过互补实验,证实了野生型阻遏基因的产物能够抑制温度诱导ＰＢＳＸ原噬菌体,表明克隆的基因有着正常的生物活性。     

Formation of tight junctions and desmosomes protects MDCK cells against hyperthermic killing

Cell density is known to modify the survival of mammalian cells exposed to elevated temperatures. We have examined the role that cell–cell contact plays in this phenomenon. The formation of cell–cell contact is carried out by cells' junctional complex, i.e., tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions. Lack of formation of tight junctions and desmosomes, or their opening, could interfere with the functions and structures of cell membrane. Membrane damage is at least partially responsible for cell death at elevated temperatures. MDCK cells with high density plated in low calcium medium form confluent monolayers devoid of the formation of tight junctions and desmosomes but quickly assemble them after Ca²⁺ restoration. We used MDCK cells and the calcium switch technique to investigate effects of cell–cell contact and, independently, of cell density on hyperthermic cell killing. We found that MDCK cells that formed tight junctions and desmosomes were more resistant to hyperthermic treatment than those that did not. Blocking the formation pathway of tight junctions made cells sensitive to heat. Cells growing at lowdensity showed almost the same survival as did cells at high density in the absence of the formation of tight junctions and desmosomes. The results suggest that the formation of tight junctions and desmosomes play a more important role in determining hyperthermic response than does density per se. The formation of tight junctions and desmosomes appears to protect cells modestly against hyperthermic killing. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Water potentials for developing cladodes and fruits of a succulent plant, including xylem-versus-phloem implications for water movement

Developing cladodes had lower water potentials and developingfruits had higher water potentials than the underlying cladodesof the widely cultivated prickly pear cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica.The 0.06 MPa lower value in 4-week-old daughter cladodes indicateda typical water potential gradient from the underlying clad-odealong the xylem of –0.2 MPa m^–1; the 0.17 MPa highervalue in 4-week-old fruits, which decreased to 0.07 MPa by 10weeks, implicated the phloem as their supplier of water. Thephloem sap of the underlying cladodes had an osmotic pressureof only 0.90 to 0.98 MPa, so the phloem could supply a relativelydilute solution to the photosynthetically dependent fruits (daughtercladodes of O. ficus-indica are photosynthetically independentat 4 weeks). Although the water potentials were similar foradjacent tissues, the osmotic pressures were lower for the water-storagecompared with the photosynthetic tissue; the osmotic pressureswere higher for xylem sap from fruits, for which xylary flowapparently occurred toward the underlying cladodes, than fordaughter cladodes. The relative capacitance (change in relativewater content divided by change in tissue water potential) wasapproximately 0.71 MPa^–1 for the water-storage tissueand the photosynthetic tissue of both daughter cladodes andfruits at 4 weeks of age. When these organs approached maturityat 10 weeks, the relative capacitance increased about 40% fortheir water-storage tissue, but decreased 30% for their photosynthetictissue. As the plant water content decreases during drought,about twice as much water will thus be lost per unit volumeof the water-storage tissue compared with the photosynthetictissue of maturing fruits and cladodes. Key words: Opuntia ficus-indica, phloem, relative water content, water capacitance, water potential     

Amino Acid Residues 226–240 of τ Which Encompass the First Lys-Ser-Pro Site of τ, Are Partially Phosphorylated in Alzheimer Paired Helical Filament-τ

Abstract: A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 226–240 (E9 peptide) of human τ, which contains an Lys-Ser-Pro motif, was used to raise a polyclonal antibody. The antibody, E9, was 10-fold less reactive with phospho-E9 peptide than with native E9 peptide. E9 antibody was used to study the extent of phosphorylation in a modified form of τ (PHF-τ) that is found in Alzheimer's disease brain and is incorporated into paired helical filaments (PHFs). E9 immunolabeled Alzheimer's disease neurofibrillary tangles and abnormal neurites in brain sections intensely, with increased immunoreactivity detected after pretreatment of sections with phosphatase. On immunoblots and ELISA, E9 reacted with PHF-τ and recombinant human τ but not with the high and middle molecular weight neurofilament proteins. Phosphatase treatment of PHF-τ improved the E9 immunoreactivity by 30–50%. Dephosphorylated high but not middle molecular weight neurofilament protein became reactive with E9. These results indicate that <50% of the PHF-T is phosphorylated in the subregion corresponding to residues 226–240 of τ and suggest that the phosphorylation of this region may not be essential for PHF formation.     

红旗泡水生植物群落结构与功能的研究

红旗泡是松嫩平原上的水草型湖泊,１９７２年由引嫩干渠补入嫩江水,使其成为大庆市主要水源地和渔业基地。该湖水生植被分布面积大,覆盖近１／２的水面。本文分析了芦苇,狭叶香蒲和稗等单优群落的结构与分布,并统计了混合群落的数量特征。随着油田开发,大庆地区的水体均受到不同程度的污染;因红旗泡水生植物资源丰富且其具清除油污、吸附重金属和沉降悬浮物等净化功能,故使其成为大庆地区水质最好和鱼产量最高的湖泊。     

Effects of chorda-lingual nerve injury and repair on human taste

Citric acid detection threshold and magnitude response weremeasured on the anterior tongue in 10 patients with unilateralchorda-lingual nerve transections before and after repair. Fungiformtaste buds were analysed by videomicroscopy. Preliminary datasuggests that humans can regenerate fungiform taste buds andrecover some taste sensitivity after repair.     

Reduction in omega-3 fatty acids by UV-B irradiation in microalgae

UV-B irradiation reduced the levels of omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:53) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:63), in microalgae; the degree of reduction varied with species.Chaetoceros calcitrans andSkeletonema costatum were high UV-B tolerant species, followed byPhaeodactylum tricornutum, Chroomonas salina, Pavlova lutheri, andThalassiosira pseudonana.Isochrysis galbana (T.ISO) andProrocentrum micans were UV- B sensitive. Cells in logarithmic phase were most sensitive to UV- B irradiation. Nitrate-, phosphate-, or sulphate-starved cells were more UV-B sensitive than non-starved cells grown in a complete basal medium. A relatively short exposure to high UV-B was more damaging than a longer exposure to lower irradiance. Visible light intensity levels had a profound impact on the sensitivity of microalgal cultures to UV-B, with high levels decreasing UV-B dependent damage. Addition of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine or spermine) or an amino acid (cysteine) to the culture medium minimized the reduction of omega-3 fatty acid content in microalgae caused by UV-B irradiation.Author for correspondence     

几种CAM植物PEP羧化酶同工酶的比较研究

比较研究几种兼性和专一性ＣＡＭ植物材料的ＰＥＰＣ同工酶表明：经自然干旱诱导,兼性ＣＡＭ植物露花（Ｍｅｓｅｍｂｒｙａｎｔｈｅｍｕｍｃｏｒｄｉｆｏｌｉｕｍ）、长药景天（Ｓｕｄｕｍｓｐｅｃｔａｂｉｌｅ）有新的ＰＥＰＣ同工酶的出现,诱导前后各同工酶的天然分子量变化不大;而土三七（Ｓｅｄｕｍａｉｚｏｏｎ）则没有新的ＰＥＰＣ同工酶出现,但诱导后其同工酶的天然分子量有所增大。以上几种兼性ＣＡＭ植物的ＰＥＰＣ同工酶酶谱无明显昼夜变化。专一性ＣＡＭ植物的ＰＥＰＣ酶谱和天然分子量均较一致,亦无昼夜差异。