Structural and energetic consequences of disruptive mutations in a protein core.

We have characterized the properties of a set of variants of the N-terminal domain of lambda repressor bearing disruptive mutations in the hydrophobic core. These mutations include some that dramatically alter the total core residue volume (by up to six methylene groups) and some that place a single polar residue into the otherwise hydrophobic core. The structural properties of the purified proteins have been studied by CD spectroscopy, biological activity, recognition by conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The stabilities of the proteins have been measured by thermal and guanidine hydrochloride denaturation. Proteins with disruptive core mutations are found to display a continuum of increasingly nonnative properties. Large internal volume changes cause both significant conformational rearrangements and destabilization by up to 5 kcal/mol. Variants with polar substitutions at core positions no longer behave like well-folded proteins but rather display characteristics of molten globules. However, even proteins bearing some of the most disruptive mutations retain many of the crude secondary and tertiary structural features of the wild-type protein. These results indicate that primitive elements of native structure can form in the absence of normal core packing.     

不同底物与固氮酶及其钼铁蛋白相互作用的荧光光谱分析

 本文研究了不同底物(N_2,H_2,N_2O,NaN_3,C_2H_2)对棕色固氮菌固氮酶及其钼铁蛋白荧光光谱的影响。结果表明,上述底物均能络合在钼铁蛋白及固氮酶上,但络合程度不同,从而为固氮酶系统有多个不同的底物络合中心,底物络合中心在钼铁蛋白分子上,铁蛋白对钼铁蛋白有变构作用,提供了光谱学证据。     

Production of Androgenetic Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)

To help investigate the evolutionary origin of the imprinting (parent-of-origin mono-allelic expression) of paternal genes observed in mammals, we constructed haploid and diploid androgenetic zebrafish (Danio rerio). Haploid androgenotes were produced by fertilizing eggs that had been X-ray irradiated to eliminate the maternal genome. Subsequent inhibition of the first mitotic division of haploid androgenotes by heat shock produced diploid androgenotes. The lack of inheritance of maternal-specific DNA markers (RAPD and SSR) by putative diploid and haploid androgenotes confirmed the androgenetic origin of their genomes. Marker analysis was performed on 18 putative androgenotes (five diploids and 13 haploids) from six families. None of 157 maternal-specific RAPD markers analyzed, some of which were apparently homozygous, were passed on to any of these putative androgenotes. A mean of 7.7 maternal-specific markers were assessed per family. The survival of androgenetic zebrafish suggests that if paternal imprinting occurs in zebrafish, it does not result in essential genes being inactivated when their expression is required for development. Production of haploid androgenotes can be used to determine the meiotic recombination rate in male zebrafish. Androgenesis may also provide useful information about the mechanism of sex determination in zebrafish.     

Helper virus-free transfer of herpes simplex virus type 1 plasmid vectors into neural cells.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) plasmid vectors have promise for genetic intervention in the brain, but several problems caused by the helper virus have compromised their utility. To develop a helper virus-free packaging system for these vectors, the DNA cleavage/packaging signals were deleted from a set of cosmids that represents the HSV-1 genome. Following cotransfection into cells, this modified cosmid set supported replication and packaging of vector DNA. However, in the absence of the DNA cleavage/packaging signals, the HSV-1 genome was not packaged, and consequently vector stocks were free of detectable helper virus. In the absence of helper virus, the vectors efficiently infected rat neural cells in culture or in the brain with minimal cytopathic effects. beta-galactosidase-positive cells were observed for at least 1 month in vivo, and vector DNA persisted for this period. This system may facilitate studies on neuronal physiology and potential therapeutic applications.     

槐种子发育中胚乳细胞半乳甘露聚糖积累的研究

槐 ( Sophora japonica L.)开花约 60 d至种子成熟 ,为胚乳半乳甘露聚糖积累期。用组织化学方法 ,对储藏于胚乳细胞壁上的半乳甘露聚糖的形成积累进行了观察 ,结果表明 ,半乳甘露聚糖最先在邻近胚的胚乳细胞的粗面内质网的囊泡腔内形成 ,并通过细胞质膜分泌至细胞壁周围。此后 ,半乳甘露聚糖的积累逐渐向种皮方向扩展 ,及至种子成熟时 ,除糊粉层外 ,所有胚乳细胞几乎全由多糖所填充。此外 ,对半乳甘露聚糖发生部位及其积累过程的消长变化进行了讨论     

The p160 RhoA-binding kinase ROK alpha is a member of a kinase family and is involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton.

The GTPase RhoA has been implicated in various cellular activities, including the formation of stress fibers, motility, and cytokinesis. We recently reported on a p150 serine/threonine kinase (termed ROK alpha) binding RhoA only in its active GTP-bound state and on its cDNA; introduction of RhoA into HeLa cells resulted in translocation of the cytoplasmic kinase to plasma membranes, consistent with ROK alpha being a target for RhoA (T. Leung, E. Manser, L. Tan, and L. Lim, J. Biol. Chem. 256:29051-29054, 1995). Reanalysis of the cDNA revealed that ROK alpha contains an additional N-terminal region. We also isolated another cDNA which encoded a protein (ROK beta) with 90% identity to ROK alpha in the kinase domain. Both ROK alpha and ROK beta, which had a molecular mass of 160 kDa, contained a highly conserved cysteine/histidine-rich domain located within a putative pleckstrin homology domain. The kinases bound RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC but not Rac1 and Cdc42. The Rho-binding domain comprises about 30 amino acids. Mutations within this domain caused partial or complete loss of Rho binding. The morphological effects of ROK alpha were investigated by microinjecting HeLa cells with DNA constructs encoding various forms of ROK alpha. Full-length ROK alpha promoted formation of stress fibers and focal adhesion complexes, consistent with its being an effector of RhoA. ROK alpha truncated at the C terminus promoted this formation and also extensive condensation of actin microfilaments and nuclear disruption. The proteins exhibited protein kinase activity which was required for stress fiber formation; the kinase-dead ROK alpha K112A and N-terminally truncated mutants showed no such promotion. The latter mutant instead induced disassembly of stress fibers and focal adhesion complexes, accompanied by cell spreading. These effects were mediated by the C-terminal region containing Rho-binding, cysteine/histidine-rich, and pleckstrin homology domains. Thus, the multidomained ROK alpha appears to be involved in reorganization of the cytoskeleton, with the N and C termini acting as positive and negative regulators, respectively, of the kinase domain whose activity is crucial for formation of stress fibers and focal adhesion complexes.     

Synodontisia moraveci n. sp. (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) from Osteochilus melanopleurus (Cyprinidae) of Malaysia, with a review of pinworms in fish and a key to species

Synodontisia moraveci n. sp. (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae), described from Osteochilus melanopleurus (Bleeker) (Cyprinidae) from Malaysia, is the 20th species of oxyuroid to be described from fish. It is distinguished from S. thelastomoides Petter, Vassiliades & Troncy, 1972 of Synodontis spp. in Africa by the absence of a spicule and the presence of two separate papillae on the caudal appendage rather than a fused pair as found in S. thelastomoides. The two species of Synodontisia are similar morphologically to some species of Thelastoma Leidy, 1850 of the intestine of Diplopoda, Blattoida and larval Scarabaeidae. The various species are listed with their hosts and geographical distributions, and a key to species is provided.     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding cysteine proteinase inhibitor from Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis) flower buds

A cDNA encoding a new phytocystatin isotype named BCPI-1 was isolated from a cDNA library of Chinese cabbage flower buds. The BCPI-1 clone encodes 199 amino acids resulting in a protein much larger than other known phytocystatins. BCPI-1 has an unusually long C-terminus. A BCPI-1 fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli strongly inhibits the enzymatic activity of papain, a cysteine proteinase. Genomic Southern blot analysis revealed that the BCPI gene is a member of a small multi-gene family in Chinese cabbage. Northern blot analysis showed that it is differentially expressed in the flower bud, leaf and root.