Absence of effects of low-frequency, low-amplitude magnetic fields on the properties of gramicidin A channels.

The effects of static and low-frequency magnetic fields on gramicidin A channels have been investigated using bilayer patch clamp recording and a bridge technique capable of detecting 0.3% changes in the conductance of glyceryl monooleate membranes containing many channels. In the bridge technique the conductance was assessed using 10-ms voltage pulses applied at 10 Hz. Measurements were made for LiCl, KCl, and CsCl using magnetic fields of 50, 100, 500, and 5000 microT with the frequency scanned from 10-200 Hz. The combinations of static and low-frequency fields employed include the "cyclotron resonance" conditions at which effects had been predicted to occur. In no case was there any detectable change in conductance when the magnetic fields were applied or changed. Potassium currents through single gramicidin channels have been recorded for patches in which several channels may be open at once. Fields were applied for 2 min periods interleaved with 2 min controls. Methods have been developed to analyze the multichannel records to reveal the amplitude and duration of the channels together with the frequency, depth, and apparent period of flickers. No significant differences were observed between the control and field-exposed recording periods. The peak of the distribution of opening and closing transitions always coincided for fields on and off within the resolution, 0.4%, of the recordings. There are at least two types of flicker, one with typical period less than 0.1 ms, the other with typical period from 0.3-0.8 ms. Most of the latter were not complete closures with the conductance during a flicker 15-20% above the level for a full closure.     

Cloning of the nupC gene of Escherichia coli encoding a nucleoside transport system, and identification of an adjacent Insertion element, IS 186

Escherichia coli is known to contain more than one active transport system for nucleoside uptake. In the present study we report the sequence of a gene encoding a second nucleoside transport system, nupC (in addition to nupG.) An open reading frame (ORF) of 1200bp was identified that codes for a hydrophobic polypeptide of 43 560 Da and an NupC fusion protein was shown to be membrane associated. The native NupC protein is also identified, following over-expression. NupC exhibits short regions of homology to several membrane-associated proteins, including LacY and Cyd. Analysis of the nupC promoter region revealed the presence of at least two putative CRP-binding sites, centred at–40bp and–89bp, which probably flank a CytR-binding site. In addition, an adjacent IS186 element was identified and found to reside within a putative terminator structure, downstream from the nupC ORF. This arrangement is shown to reflect the previously established gene order on the E. coli chromosome.     

带γδ和αβ受体的T细胞（TCR）在人胎儿组织内分布的研究

本文用细胞免疫化学方法,在冰冻切片上,检测了胎儿不同组织和器官内带γδ和αβ受体的Ｔ细胞（ＴＣＲ）的分布,结果发现ＴＣＲ细胞的分布与,般Ｔ细胞不同,有相对固定的分布区,如胸腺内ＴＣＲ细胞主要分布在皮筋质交界处和髓质部;脾脏内的γδＴ主要位于边缘区,而αβＴ主要位于动脉周围淋巴鞘,在红髓和血窦两种细胞共存;淋巴结内只有少数ＴＣＲ细胞位于滤泡间或副皮质,滤泡内则未见。消化管内的ＴＣＲ细胞主要分布在小肠的固有膜,而胃、大肠和阑尾的固有膜内很少见;肝内ＴＣＲ细胞主要集中在血管和血窦周围;皮肤切片内的少数ＴＣＲ细胞见于真皮内,表皮基底层细胞内未见。这些细胞在胎儿期的免疫皮应及其生理功能还不清楚。     

钙／钙调素依赖性蛋白激酶对17．7kD和6kD胰腺蛋白的磷酸化

本文报导了胰腺提取物中两种可被钙／钙调素依赖性蛋白激酶磷酸化的热稳定蛋白。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测定其表观分子量分别为１７．７ｋＤ和６ｋＤ。经钙／钙调素依赖性蛋白激酶磷酸化后,其最大磷酸参入量为８．８μｍｏｌ／ｇ蛋白。同时磷酸化作用导致１７．７ｋＤ蛋白在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ中迁移率发生变化。本文还进一步分析了各种阳离子对磷酸化的影响,并对此两种蛋白可能具有的生理功能进行了初步探讨。     

Posttranslational regulation of nitrogenase activity by anaerobiosis and ammonium in Azospirillum brasilense.

In the microaerophilic diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense, the addition of fixed nitrogen or a shift to anaerobic conditions leads to a rapid loss of nitrogenase activity due to ADP-ribosylation of dinitrogenase reductase. The product of draT (DRAT) is shown to be necessary for this modification, and the product of draG (DRAG) is shown to be necessary for the removal of the modification upon removal of the stimulus. DRAG and DRAT are themselves subject to posttranslational regulation, and this report identifies features of that regulation. We demonstrate that the activation of DRAT in response to an anaerobic shift is transient but that the duration of DRAT activation in response to added NH4+ varies with the NH4+ concentration. In contrast, DRAG appears to be continuously active under conditions favoring nitrogen fixation. Thus, the activities of DRAG and DRAT are not always coordinately regulated. Finally, our experiments suggest the existence of a temporary period of futile cycling during which DRAT and DRAG are simultaneously adding and removing ADP-ribose from dinitrogenase reductase, immediately following the addition of a negative stimulus.