Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

With the techniques of specific radioimmunoassay and gel filtration it was found that CGRP was distributed in various tissues of normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with the highest concentration in the lumbar spinal cord (1197 +/- 94.8 pg/mg tissue) and the lowest in the auricle (15.0 +/- 2.1 pg/mg tissue). In comparison with WKY, CGRP concentration in the plasma was decreased and in the abdominal aorta and hypothalamus was increased in SHR. Gel filtration revealed only one major CGRP molecular form in the tissues. In addition, CGRP reduced the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in SHR in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that CGRP may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and its possible therapy.     

Expression and characterization of the tau subunit of phosphorylase kinase

A cDNA encoding the entire tau subunit of rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase was reconstructed and inserted into a plasmid containing the Escherichia coli ptac promoter and a constructed plasmid containing the ptac promoter and bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene, respectively. A significant phosphorylase kinase activity was found, in the first case. In the second case, a fused protein containing 73 amino acids from the CAT protein was obtained. After renaturation, the CAT-tau subunit protein shows enzymatic activity similar to the HPLC-purified and renatured tau subunit.     

Expression of lipoprotein lipase gene in combined lipase deficiency

The expression of the gene for lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was studied in brown adipose tissue and the liver of combined lipase deficient (cld/cld) and unaffected mice. The mRNA specific for LPL was detected in both animals. Although the size of LPL mRNA in cld mice was similar to that of unaffected mice, the mRNA concentration in affected animals was higher than in unaffected animals. We also studied the LPL gene mutation in cld mice by Southern blot analysis. No restriction fragment length polymorphisms were observed after digestion with 16 endonucleases. These data indicate that there is no gene insertion or deletion, but do not exclude the possibility of point mutation in the LPL structural gene. However, the present results agree with the hypothesis that the genetic defect in cld is not due to a mutation in the LPL structural gene, but instead involves the defective post-translational processing of LPL or defective cellular function affecting transport and secretion of this enzyme group.     

The use of micropreparative electrophoresis of protein/peptide isolations for primary structure determinations

High-performance electrophoresis chromatography (HPEC) is a recent development that features continuous-elution gel electrophoresis for isolating proteins or peptides in range of 1 to 300 microgram quantities. Column gel electrophoresis is conducted under thermostated conditions, and the field voltage can be varied within a run with a programmable power supply. Applications of this apparatus in protein purification are presented to demonstrate the utility of the (Model 230A) HPEC. These examples include on-line detection with direct analyte recovery of highly purified sample, which mimics high-performance liquid chromatography, for subsequent structure-function characterization. A method to remove salts from sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresed samples for subsequent sequencing or amino acid analysis is described. This desalting procedure recovers from 90%-95% of the sample and employs a low molecular weight cut-off membrane during sample centrifugation onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. Subsequent washings are performed to efficiently remove salts, free amino acids and detergents that are known to interfere with sequence analysis. Sequence information such as initial recovery, repetitive yields and chromatogram comparisons are presented to demonstrate the utility of this procedure when used following isolation of sample with HPEC.     

Effects of traces of rare earth elements on the protozoanBlepherisma and on mice

The growth of the protozoanBlepherisma is stimulated by Lanthanum (La) at concentrations as low as 0.32 ppm. In mice Yttrium (Y) and Ytterbium (Yb) are absorbed, accumulated, and metabolized. Both rare earth elements (RE) exhibit a high affinity for teeth and bones, accumulation occurs and metabolism is slow. In the livers of RE-exposed mice, concentrations are variable. The liver is apparently capable of absorbing and discharging RE in a manner depending on metabolic activity. The main route of discharge for ingested REs is the alimentary canal. Exposure of pregnant mice to RE leads to rapid placental transfer of RE; 14.1% of the total amount of RE administered was detected in newborn mice. Young, developing organisms appear to be especially susceptible to RE accumulation.     

用免疫荧光技术研究细胞周期中核基质的分布变化

本文利用含有抗核基质自发抗体的硬皮人血清,以小鼠艾氏腹水癌细胞为材料,用间接免疫荧光染色的方法,追踪了对应核基质抗原在细胞周期中分布的变化。结果显示,在末期和间期之间存在一个核基质抗原从细胞质向细胞核内转移的过程。由于这一过程是通过核膜进行的,从而提示核基质结构可能有解聚和再聚合的行为。用酶化学结合间接免疫荧光染色的方法,初步研究了抗原的化学性质。染色形态的比较研究显示所用血清中可能含有不同于以前发现的、抗新的核基质抗原的自发抗体。     

白腹锦鸡机体营养成分的分析与探讨

本文报道笼养和野生白腹锦鸡机体营养成分及其差异。分析表明,笼养的比野生种营养成分含量高的有:腿肌蛋白质高11％,胸肌、腿肌、全血的氨基酸分别高2.64％,1.39％和4.68％,胸肌、腿肌和肝脏的碳水化合物分别高0.076％、0.092％和3.962％,胸肌和腿肌的维生素A分别高188.63和84.09 I.U.,胸肌和腿肌的维生素D分别高47.2和12.8 I.U.。但是胸肌蛋白质含量笼养的比野生的低26％。     

柴达木盆地荒漠土壤蓝藻群落的初步研究

本文分析了柴达木盆地东部和中部具有代表性地区的丘陵、戈壁和沙丘的蓝藻种类组成、生物量及主要的土壤化学成分;采用了模糊聚类、系统聚类及多元线性回归等方法分析藻类的群落及其与环境因子的关系。共鉴定出21种蓝藻,其中6种为国内首次报道。研究表明:土壤含磷量、总盐量及与粘性和湿度有关的土壤结构是决定柴达木盆地蓝藻群落组成的重要因素。