FOUR NEW SPECIES OF COENOSIA MEIGEN (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) FROM YUNNAN, CHINA

Abstract  This paper describes four new species of Coenosia Meigen, 1826, namely C. angustifolia sp.nov., C. obscuriabdominis sp. nov., C. sparagmocerca sp. nov. and C. sponsa sp. nov. Type specimens are deposited in Institute of Entomology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China.     

1α,25-dihydroxy-24-oxo-16-ene vitamin D3, a metabolite of a synthetic vitamin D3 analog, 1α,25-dihydroxy-16-ene vitamin D3, is equipotent to its parent in modulating growth and differentiation of human leukemic cells

1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃, a synthetic analog of the steroid hormone, 1α,25(OH)₂D₃, has great potential to become a drug in the treatment of leukemia and other proliferative disorders, because of its minimal in vivo calcemic activity associated with a potent inhibitory effect on cell growth. However, at present, the mechanisms through which 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃ expresses its biological activities are still not completely understood. Our previous in vitro study in a perfused rat kidney indicated for the first time that 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃ and 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ are metabolized differently. 1α,25(OH)₂-24-oxo-16-ene-D₃, an intermediary metabolite of 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃ formed through the C-24 oxidation pathway, accumulated significantly in the perfusate when compared to 1α,25(OH)₂-24-oxo-D₃, the corresponding intermediary metabolite of 1α,25(OH)₂D₃. In a subsequent in vivo study, we also reported that 1α,25(OH)₂-24-oxo-16-ene-D₃ exerted immunosuppressive activity equal to its parent, without causing significant hypercalcemia. In order to establish further the critical role of 1α,25(OH)₂-24-oxo-16-ene-D₃, in generating some of the key biological activities ascribed to its parent, we performed the present in vitro study using a human myeloid leukemic cell line (RWLeu-4) as a model. Comparative target tissue metabolism studies indicated that 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃ and 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ are metabolized differently in RWLeu-4 cells, and the differences were similar to the ones we previously observed in the rat kidney. The significant finding was the accumulation of 1α,25(OH)₂-24-oxo-16-ene-D₃ in RWLeu-4 cells because of its resistance to further metabolism. Biological activity studies indicated that both 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃ and its 24-oxo metabolite produced growth inhibition and promoted differentiation of RWLeu-4 cells to the same extent, and these activities were several fold higher than those exerted by 1α,25(OH)₂D₃. In addition, the genomic action of each vitamin D compound was assessed in a rat osteosarcoma cell line (ROS 17/2.8) by measuring its ability to transactivate a gene construct containing the vitamin D response element of the osteocalcin gene linked to the growth hormone reporter gene. In these studies, both 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃ and its 24-oxo metabolite exerted similar but potent transactivation activity which was several fold greater than that exerted by 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ itself. In summary, our results indicate that the production and slow clearance of the bioactive intermediary metabolite, 1α,25(OH)₂-24-oxo-16-ene-D₃, in RWLeu-4 cells contributes significantly to the final expression of the enhanced biological activities ascribed to its parent analog, 1α,25(OH)₂-16-ene-D₃.     

Enhancement of CO2 tolerance of Chlorella vulgaris by gradual increase of CO2 concentration

Summary Chlorella vulgaris UTEX259 was cultivated using two different methods of gas supply. In one method the CO₂ concentration in bubbled gas was held constant and in the other method it was increased gradually. Algal growth was almost linear after a short period of lag phase in both methods. With the constant CO₂ concentration, the CO₂ fixation rate in the linear growth phase decreased over 10%(v/v) CO₂, while the rate increased up to 6% CO₂. However, the rate was enhanced by using the latter incremental increase method, especially under a higher concentration of CO₂. The maximum rate of CO₂ fixation was 52 mg CO₂/l·h at 20% CO₂ during the gradual increase of CO₂ concentration.     

不同蔬菜防癌抗促活性的比较研究

本研究采用EBV-EA诱导抑制实验的方法,对40种蔬菜,60个品种,共150个样品的防癌抗促作用效果进行了筛选与比较,其中具有中等以上抑制活性的样品117个,占样品总数的78％,尤其以非洲野苋菜、辣椒、羽衣甘蓝、山药芋头、苦瓜及紫苏、罗勒等一些芳香莱的效果较好。不同品种、不同植株部位、不同提取方法以及不同产地,对蔬菜的抗促活性也有影响,值得进一步研究。     

罗汉果双受精过程的细胞学观察

罗汉果（Ｓｉｒａｉｔｉａｇｒｏｓｖｅｎｏｒｉ（Ｓｗｉｎｇｌｅ）Ｃ．Ｊｅｍｅｙ）双受精过程属有丝分裂前配子融合类型,授粉后２４～４８ｈ,花粉管进入胚囊,穿过一个助细胞,放出两个精子。雌雄核融合和雄核与次生核融合同时发生在授粉后６２～７２,雄核与次生核融合速度快于配子融合,７２ｈ后即可见到初生胚乳核分裂。合子中的雌雄核仁在授粉后第５～６ｄ融合,授粉后８～９ｄ合成分裂形成二细胞胚。在双受精过程中,多次观察到有多条花粉管进入胚囊和多精入极核现象。原胚期有附加花粉管从珠孔进入。     

Karyotypes of Pneumocystis carinii from Korean rats.

Molecular karyotyping was applied to Pneumocystis carinii(Pc) from two strains of experimental rats, Sprague Dawley(SD) and Fisher(F), in Korea. Field inversion gel electrophoresis and contour clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis resolved 15 chromosomal bands from the Pc. The size of the bands was estimated 270kb to 684kb from SD rats, and 273kb to 713 kb from F rats. The bands of 283 kb from SD rats and of 273 kb from F rats stained more brightly suggesting duplicated bands. Total number of chromosomes was at least 16, and total genomic size was estimated 7 x 10(6) bp. All of the bands from F rats hybridized to the probe of repeated DNA sequences of Pc and the band of 448 kb size was proved to contain rDNA sequences, but Pc. chromosome bands from SD rats showed no reactions to the probes. The 2 different karyotypes of P. carinii from 2 strains of rats were maintained consistently for 2 years.     

Triterpenoid saponins from Clinopodium polycephalum.

A new triterpenoid saponin, clinopodiside A, has been isolated from Clinopodium polycephalum. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction analysis as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1----6)-[ beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1----4)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-11,13(18)-diene-3 beta,16 beta, 23,28-tetrol.     

Coupling of proadipocyte growth arrest and differentiation. II. A cell cycle model for the physiological control of cell proliferation

Experimental evidence is presented that supports a cell cycle model showing that there are five distinct biological processes involved in proadipocyte differentiation. These include: (a) growth arrest at a distinct state in the G1 phase of the cell cycle; (b) nonterminal differentiation; (c) terminal differentiation; (d) loss of the differentiated phenotype; and (e) reinitiation of cell proliferation. Each of these events is shown to be regulated by specific human plasma components or other physiological factors. At two states designated GD and GD', coupling of growth arrest and differentiation is shown to occur. We propose that these mechanisms for the coupling of growth arrest and differentiation are physiologically significant and mimic the regulatory processes that control stem cell proliferation in vivo.     

Spectrophotometric determination of bromopyruvate by reaction with 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid

A spectrophotometric method for determination of bromopyruvate, based on the reaction with 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid, is described. The reaction is complete in 30 min at room temperature in 0.1 m Tris-MES, 1 mm EDTA, pH 8.0. The method is sensitive to at least 1 × 10^?5m bromopyruvate. Reagents are stable, easy to prepare, and specific for β-halopyruvate. Bromopyruvate solutions must be prepared fresh daily. Solutions of bromopyruvate at pH 8.0 and 23°C have a half-life of 3 hr.     

Genetic Polymorphisms of Pneumocystis Jirovecii in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in Northern China

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungus that can cause severe and potentially fatal Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunodeficient patients. In this study, we investigated the genetic polymorphisms of P. jirovecii at eight different loci, including six nuclear genes (ITS, 26S rRNA, sod, dhps, dhfr and β-Tub) and two mitochondrial genes (mtLSU-rRNA and cyb) in three PCP cases, including two patients with HIV infection and one without HIV infection in Shanxi Province, P.R. China. The gene targets were amplified by PCR followed by sequencing of plasmid clones. The HIV-negative patient showed a coinfection with two genotypes of P. jirovecii at six of the eight loci sequenced. Of the two HIV-positive patients, one showed a coinfection with two genotypes of P. jirovecii at the same two of the six loci as in the HIV-negative patient, while the other showed a single infection at all eight loci sequenced. None of the three drug target genes (dhfr, dhps and cyb) showed mutations known to be potentially associated with drug resistance. This is the first report of genetic polymorphisms of P. jirovecii in PCP patients in Shanxi Province, China. Our findings expand our understanding of the genetic diversity of P. jirovecii in China. Open in a separate window