Linkage of familial Hibernian fever to chromosome 12p13.

Autosomal dominant periodic fevers are characterized by intermittent febrile attacks of unknown etiology and by recurrent abdominal pains. The biochemical and molecular bases of all autosomal dominant periodic fevers are unknown, and only familial Hibernian fever (FHF) has been described as a distinct clinical entity. FHF has been reported in three families-the original Irish-Scottish family and two Irish families with similar clinical features. We have undertaken a genomewide search in these families and report significant multipoint LOD scores between the disease and markers on chromosome 12p13. Cumulative multipoint linkage analyses indicate that an FHF gene is likely to be located in an 8-cM interval between D12S77 and D12S356, with a maximum LOD score (Z max) of 3.79. The two-point Z max was 3.11, for D12S77. There was no evidence of genetic heterogeneity in these three families; it is proposed that these markers should be tested in other families, of different background, that have autosomal dominant periodic fever, as a prelude to identification of the FHF-susceptibility gene.     

Equilibrium of the Cis-Trans Isomerisation of the Peptide Bond with N-alkyl Amino Acids Measured by 2D NMR

Summary The conformationalcis-trans equilibrium around the peptide bond in model tripeptides has been determined by 2D NMR methods (HOHAHA, ROESY). The study was limited to three different N-substituted amino acids in position 2, namely Pro (proline), Tic (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid), and N-MePhe (N-methylphenylalanine). In all cases the amino acid in position 1 was tyrosine and in position 3, phenylalanine. The results of our studies show that thecis-trans ratio depends mostly on the configuration of the amino acids forming the peptide bond undergoing thecis-trans isomerisation. The amino acid following the sequence (in position 3) does not have much influence on thecis-trans isomerisation, indicating that there is no interaction of the side chains between these amino acids. The model peptides with the L-Tyr-L-AA-(L-or D-)Phe (where AA is N-substituted amino acid) chiralities give 80–100% more of thecis form in comparison to the corresponding peptides with the D-Tyr-L-AA-(L-or D-)Phe chiralities. These results indicate that the incorporation of N-substituted amino acids in small peptides with the same chirality as the precedent amino acid involved in the peptide bound undergoing thecis/trans isomerisation moves the equilibrium to a significant amount of thecis form.     

Comparative Analysis of Different DNA Extraction Protocols: A Fast, Universal Maxi-Preparation of High Quality Plant DNA for Genetic Evaluation and Phylogenetic Studies

Four DNA extraction protocols were compared for ability to produce DNA from the leaves or needles of several species: oak, elm, pine, fir, poplar and maize (fresh materials) and rhododendron (silica dried or frozen material). With the exception of maize and poplar, the species are known to be difficult for DNA extraction. Two protocols represented classical procedures for lysis and purification, and the other two were a combination of classical lysis followed by anion exchange chromatography. The DNA obtained from all procedures was quantified and tested by PCR and Southern hybridisation.Test results indicated superiority of one of the four protocols; a combination of CTAB lysis followed by anion exchange chromatography which enabled DNA extraction from all seven species. A second protocol also produced DNA from leaves or needles of all species investigated and was well suited for PCR applications but not Southern hybridisations. The remaining protocols produced DNA from some but not all species tested.Abbreviations: CTAB, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide; EtOH, Ethanol; TBE, tris-borate-EDTA.     

13C shieldings, 18O isotope effects on 13C shieldings, and 57Fe-13C spin couplings of the Fe-C-O unit in superstructured hemoprotein models: Comparison with hemoproteins, C-O vibrational frequencies, and X-ray structural data

¹³C NMR spectra of several carbon monoxide (99.7% ¹³C and 11.8% ¹⁸O enriched) hemoprotein models with varying polar and steric effects of the distal organic superstructure and constraints of the proximal side are reported. This enables the ⁵⁷Fe-¹³C(O) coupling constants ( ), ¹³C shieldings ((¹³C)), and ¹⁸O isotope effects on¹³ C shieldings (¹¹³C(¹⁸O/¹⁶O)) to be measured and hence comparisons with hemoproteins, C-O vibrational frequencies and X-ray structural data to be made. Negative polar interactions in the binding pocket and inhibition of Fe//CO back-donation or positive distal polar interactions with amide NH groups appear to have little direct effect on couplings. Similarly, the axial hindered base 1,2-dimethylimidazole has a minor effect on the values despite higher rates of CO desorption being observed for such complexes. On the contrary,¹³ C shieldings vary widely and an excellent correlation was found between the infrared C-O vibrational frequencies ((C-O)) and¹³ C shieldings and a reasonable correlation with¹⁸ O isotope effects on ¹³C shieldings. This suggests that (¹³C), (C-O) and^{1 13} C(¹⁸O/¹⁶O) are accurate monitors of the multiple mechanisms by which steric and electronic interactions are released in superstructured heme model compounds. The ¹³C shieldings of heme models cover a 4.0 ppm range which is extended to 7.0 ppm when several HbCO and MbCO species at different pH values are included. The latter were found to obey a similar linear (¹³ (¹³C) versus (C-O) relationship, which proves that both heme models and heme proteins are homogeneous from the structural and electronic viewpoint. Our results suggest that (C-O), (¹³C) and ¹¹³C(¹⁸O/¹⁶O) measurements reflect similar interaction which is primarily the modulation of back-bonding from the Fe d to the CO * orbital by the distal pocket polar interactions. The lack of correlation between^{1 13} C(¹⁸O/¹⁶O) and crystallographic CO bond lengths (r(C-O)) reflects significant uncertainties in the X-ray determination of the carbon and oxygen positions.     

Guinea Pig Histamine H1 Receptor. II. Stable Expression in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Reveals the Interaction with Three Major Signal Transduction Pathways

Abstract: A cDNA encoding a guinea pig histamine H₁ receptor was stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In one resulting clone, named CHO(H₁), the H₁ receptor was found to be coupled to several major signal transduction pathways. In each case the involvement of a G_i/G_o protein with pertussis toxin (PTX) was assessed, as well as the influence of extracellular Ca²⁺ and of protein kinase C activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Histamine induced, in a PTX- and PMA-insensitive manner, a biphasic increase in the intracellular Ca²⁺ level of which only the second sustained phase was dependent on the extracellular Ca²⁺ level. Histamine also caused a threefold elevation of inositol phosphate production, which was PTX-insensitive, but slightly inhibited by PMA and reduced by 75% in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Histamine also caused a massive release of arachidonic acid, which occurred in a Ca²⁺- and PMA-sensitive manner, probably through the activation of a cytosolic phospholipase A₂, which partly involves coupling to a PTX-sensitive G protein. In comparison, in HeLa cells endowed with a native H₁ receptor, the histamine-induced arachidonic acid release was also Ca²⁺- and PMA-sensitive, but totally PTX-insensitive. Finally, in CHO(H₁) cells, histamine in very low concentrations potentiated the cyclic AMP accumulation induced by forskolin. This response appeared to be insensitive to PTX, extracellular Ca²⁺, and PMA. These various observations show that stimulation of a single receptor subtype, the guinea pig H₁ receptor, can trigger four major intracellular signals through coupling to several G proteins that are variously modulated by extracellular Ca²⁺ and protein kinase C activation.     

Examination of primary metabolic pathways in a murine hybridoma with carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Primary metabolism of a murine hybridoma was probed with (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Cells cultured in a hollow fiber bioreactor were serially infused with [1-(13)C] glucose, [2-(13)C] glucose, and [3-(13)C] glutamine. In vivo spectroscopy of the culture was used in conjunction with off-line spectroscopy of the medium to determine the intracellular concentration of several metabolic intermediates and to determine fluxes for primary metabolic pathways. Intracellular concentrations of pyruvate and alanine were very high relative to levels observed in normal quiescent mammalian cells. Estimates made from labeling patterns in lactate indicate that 76% of pyruvate is derived directly from glycolysis; some is also derived from the malate shunt, the pyruvate/melate shuttle associated with lipid synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway. The rate of formation of pyruvate from the pentose phosphate pathway was estimated to be 4% of that from glycolysis; This value is a lower limit and the actual value may be higher. Incorporation of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle appears to occur through only pyruvate dehydrogenase; no pyruvate carboxylase activity was detected. The malate shunt rate was approximately equal to the rate of glutamine uptake. The rate of incorporation of glucosederived acetyl-CoA into lipids was 4% of the glucose uptake rate. The TCA cycle rate between isocitrate and alpha-ketoglutarate was 110% of the glutamine uptake rate. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

测墒补灌条件下施氮量对小麦开花后13C同化物积累量和水氮利用效率的影响

为探究黄淮冬麦区测墒补灌节水条件下协同提高小麦产量和水氮利用效率的氮肥管理措施,以小麦品种‘烟农1212'为材料,在拔节期和开花期将各处理0～40 cm土层土壤相对含水量均补灌至70%条件下,设置3个施氮水平,即150(N₁)、210(N₂)和270 kg·hm^-2(黄淮冬麦区常规施氮量,N₃),研究施氮量对小麦开花后旗叶光合特性、¹³C同化物积累与转运及水氮利用效率的影响。结果表明: N₂和N₃处理开花后14～35 d旗叶光合能力显著高于N₁处理,N₂与N₃处理间差异不显著。¹³C同位素示踪结果显示,N₂处理开花后营养器官¹³C同化物转运量比N₁和N₃处理分别高12.1%和7.1%,成熟期¹³C同化物在籽粒中的分配量比N₁和N₃处理分别高10.1%和5.3%。施氮量亦调节了小麦不同生育阶段的耗水量、耗水模系数和总耗水量,小麦全生育期耗水量表现为N₂与N₃处理无显著差异,但均显著高于N₁处理,N₂处理拔节至成熟期阶段耗水量和耗水模系数均较高。N₂处理水分利用效率比N₃和N₁处理分别高7.5%和4.8%,籽粒产量比N₃和N₁处理分别高4.7%和10.9%,氮肥偏生产力比N₃处理高34.6%。综合考虑小麦籽粒产量和水氮利用效率,施氮量为210 kg·hm^-2处理为研究区测墒补灌节水条件下的最佳施氮量。     

亚热带人工林松树~(13)C/~(12)C比率和水分利用效率

1 引言 亚热带季风阔叶林自然林被破坏后,代之以人工林,由于自然林郁密的树冠层的消失,引起环境因素明显变化,如太阳辐射的增强,气温变幅变大,同时由于风速增大,加大了蒸腾的需要量,造成空气相对湿度降低和土壤水分亏缺,特别是在干旱季节尤为显著。该林地中除被动适应这一生境的1年生草本外,尚有灌木桃金娘(Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)、三叉苦(Euodia