Protein-protein interactions, cytoskeletal regulation and neuronal migration

Neuronal migration, like the migration of many cell types, requires an extensive rearrangement of cell shape, mediated by changes in the cytoskeleton. The genetic analysis of human brain malformations has identified several biochemical players in this process, including doublecortin (DCX) and LIS1, mutations of which cause a profound migratory disturbance known as lissencephaly ('smooth brain') in humans. Studies in mice have identified additional molecules such as Cdk5, P35, Reelin, Disabled and members of the LDL superfamily of receptors. Understanding the cell biology of these molecules has been a challenge, and it is not known whether they function in related biochemical pathways or in very distinct processes. The last year has seen rapid advances in the biochemical analysis of several such molecules. This analysis has revealed roles for some of these molecules in cytoskeletal regulation and has shown an unexpected conservation of the genetic pathways that regulate neuronal migration in humans and nuclear movement in simple eukaryotic organisms.     

人扁桃体中应激免疫抑制蛋白的初步观察

以前的实验证明,在应激条件下,外周淋巴组织中产生一种蛋白质,具有抑制某些免疫功能的作用,称为应激免疫抑制蛋白（immune suppressive protein of stress,ISPS）。本实验用人外周淋巴器官扁桃体进行了研究,证明扁桃体的提取物能抑制小鼠由Con A诱导的淋巴细胞转化,而且这种抑制作用可被ISPS单克隆抗体（2C4）部分翻转。间接ELISA法证明人扁桃体提取物能与2C4单克隆抗体相结合。以ISPS单克隆抗体（2C4）作免疫组织化学研究,证明人扁桃体中有很多染色呈阳性的细胞。这些结果从不同角度提示,人外周淋巴组织中存在一种与ISPS相类似的免疫抑制物质。     

Precambrian animal life: probable developmental and adult cnidarian forms from Southwest China

We have previously described the affinity of a pig sperm surface protein, P68, to mammalian zonae pellucidae (ZP). In this report, we identified P68 as arylsulfatase A (AS-A) based on the presence of P68 tryptic peptide sequences in the pig testis AS-A cDNA sequence. Our objective was to demonstrate the presence of AS-A on the sperm surface and to elucidate its role in ZP binding. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed the presence of AS-A on the sperm surface. Furthermore, live pig sperm and the extract of peripheral sperm plasma membrane proteins exhibited AS-A's desulfation activity. Significantly, the role of pig sperm surface AS-A in ZP binding was demonstrated by dose-dependent decreases of sperm-ZP binding upon sperm pretreatment with anti-AS-A IgG/Fab, and by the binding of Alexa-430-conjugated sperm surface AS-A to homologous ZP. ZP pretreatment with anti-pig-ZP3 antibody abolished AS-A binding, suggesting that ZP3, recognized as the pig sperm receptor, was AS-A's binding ligand. This was further confirmed by the ability of exogenous ZP3 to competitively inhibit AS-A-ZP binding. Similarly, purified ZP3alpha, a major sperm receptor component of ZP3, exhibited great inhibitory effect on AS-A-ZP binding. All of these results designated a new function of AS-A in gamete interaction.     

Furrow-specific endocytosis during cytokinesis of zebrafish blastomeres

Mutations affecting endocytosis, such as those in clathrin and dynamin, unexpectedly cause defects in cytokinesis in a number of organisms. To explore the relationship between endocytosis and cytokinesis, we used the relatively large cells of the transparent zebrafish embryo. Using fluorescent markers for fluid-phase as well as plasma membrane uptake, we demonstrate that cytokinesis involves furrow-specific endocytosis. Clathrin-coated pits are visible near the furrow in ultrathin sections, while immunolabeling demonstrates that clathrin and caveolin are localized to the cleavage furrow. Hence, it is likely that both clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis occurs at the furrow during cytokinesis. Dynamin II is also localized to the furrow and may mediate furrow-specific endocytosis. Treatment of embryos with chlorpromazine or with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, both of which inhibit endocytosis, prevents the normal completion of cytokinesis. These data suggest that furrow-specific endocytosis is an integral part of cytokinesis.     

Genomic sequence and evolution of marine cyanophage P60: a new insight on lytic and lysogenic phages

The genome of cyanophage P60, a lytic virus which infects marine Synechococcus WH7803, was completely sequenced. The P60 genome contained 47,872 bp with 80 potential open reading frames that were mostly similar to the genes found in lytic phages like T7, phi-YeO3-12, and SIO1. The DNA replication system, consisting of primase-helicase and DNA polymerase, appeared to be more conserved in podoviruses than in siphoviruses and myoviruses, suggesting that DNA replication genes could be the critical elements for lytic phages. Strikingly high sequence similarities in the regions coding for nucleotide metabolism were found between cyanophage P60 and marine unicellular cyanobacteria.