Global dynamics of a ratio-dependent predator-prey system

Recently, ratio-dependent predator-prey systems have been regarded by some researchers to be more appropriate for predator-prey interactions where predation involves serious searching processes. However, such models have set up a challenging issue regarding their dynamics near the origin since these models are not well-defined there. In this paper, the qualitative behavior of a class of ratio-dependent predator-prey system at the origin in the interior of the first quadrant is studied. It is shown that the origin is indeed a critical point of higher order. There can exist numerous kinds of topological structures in a neighborhood of the origin including the parabolic orbits, the elliptic orbits, the hyperbolic orbits, and any combination of them. These structures have important implications for the global behavior of the model. Global qualitative analysis of the model depending on all parameters is carried out, and conditions of existence and non-existence of limit cycles for the model are given. Computer simulations are presented to illustrate the conclusions.     

Identification of residues crucially involved in soluble guanylate cyclase activation

The ubiquitous heterodimeric nitric oxide (NO) receptor soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) plays a key role in various signal transduction pathways. Binding of NO takes place at the prosthetic heme moiety at the N-terminus of the beta(1)-subunit of sGC. The induced structural changes lead to an activation of the catalytic C-terminal domain of the enzyme and to an increased conversion of GTP into the second messenger cyclic GMP (cGMP). In the present work we selected and substituted different residues of the sGC heme-binding pocket based on a sGC homology model. The generated sGC variants were tested in a cGMP reporter cell for their effect on the enzyme activation by heme-dependent (NO, BAY 41-2272) stimulators and heme-independent (BAY 58-2667) activators. The use of these experimental tools allows the enzyme's heme content to be explored in a non-invasive manner. Asp(44), Asp(45) and Phe(74) of the beta(1)-subunit were identified as being crucially important for functional enzyme activation. beta(1)Asp(45) may serve as a switch between different conformational states of sGC and point to a possible mechanism of action of the heme dependent sGC stimulator BAY 41-2272. Furthermore, our data shows that the activation profile of beta(1)IIe(145) Tyr is unchanged compared to the native enzyme, suggesting that Tyr(145) does not confer the ability to distinguish between NO and O(2). In summary, the present work further elucidated intramolecular mechanisms underlying the NO- and BAY 41-2272-mediated sGC activation and raises questions regarding the postulated role of Tyr(145) for ligand discrimination.     

A framework for describing topological frustration in models of protein folding

In a natively folded protein of moderate or larger size, the protein backbone may weave through itself in complex ways, raising questions about what sequence of events might have to occur in order for the protein to reach its native configuration from the unfolded state. A mathematical framework is presented here for describing the notion of a topological folding barrier, which occurs when a protein chain must pass through a hole or opening, formed by other regions of the protein structure. Different folding pathways encounter different numbers of such barriers and therefore different degrees of frustration. A dynamic programming algorithm finds the optimal theoretical folding path and minimal degree of frustration for a protein based on its natively folded configuration. Calculations over a database of protein structures provide insights into questions such as whether the path of minimal frustration might tend to favor folding from one or from many sites of folding nucleation, or whether proteins favor folding around the N terminus, thereby providing support for the hypothesis that proteins fold co-translationally. The computational methods are applied to a multi-disulfide bonded protein, with computational findings that are consistent with the experimentally observed folding pathway. Attention is drawn to certain complex protein folds for which the computational method suggests there may be a preferred site of nucleation or where folding is likely to proceed through a relatively well-defined pathway or intermediate. The computational analyses lead to testable models for protein folding.     

Development of prophylactic recombinant HPV58-attenuated Shigella live vector vaccine and evaluation of its protective efficacy and immunogenicity in the guinea pig keratoconjunctivitis model

To develop a prophylactic recombinant HPV58L1-attenuated Shigella live vector vaccine and evaluate its protective efficacy and immunogenicity in the guinea pig keratoconjunctivitis model, the HPV58L1 gene was cloned into vector pUCmt, and then subcloned into the suicide vector pCVD442. The recombinant plasmid pCVD442-HPV58L1 was introduced into attenuated Shigella （sf301：AvirG） with the helper plasmid PRK2013 by filter mating. The positive colonies were harvested and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The expression of the HPV58L1 protein with a molecular weight of 60 kDa was confirmed by western blot. The ability of the interested protein to self-assemble into virus-like particles was identified by transmission electron microscope, and murine erythrocyte hemagglutination assay. The guinea pig keratoconjunctivitis model was used to evaluate the protective efficacy and immunogenicity of the vaccine. Animal experiments showed that there was no keratoconjunctivitis occurred in the immunized group （HPV58-attenuated Shigella）, and the serum levels of anti-HPV58Ll-IgG and -IgA were obviously increased （P 〈 0.05）, but the anti-sf301 LPS-IgG just slightly increased （P〉 0.05）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay showed that HPV58Ll-specific IgA-antibody-secreting cells （ASC） and IgG-ASC of spleen and lymph nodes were also obviously increased （P 〈 0.01）. In this study, a recombi- nant HPV58Ll-attenuated Shigella live vector vaccine was successfully constructed, and it could induce strong humoral immune responses in the immunized animals, and induce protective antibody production.     

RSSG58基因在水稻精细胞中的表达

RSSG5 8是利用抑制差减杂交技术从水稻精细胞文库中筛选到的在精细胞中优势表达的基因 ,推测其编码的蛋白质与拟南芥的肌球重链蛋白有一定的同源性 (4 6 % ) ,并具有肌球蛋白特色的结构域。把RSSG5 8基因开放编码框连接到表达载体pQE30上 ,重组质粒在E .coliM15中表达出N端融合了 6×His的融合蛋白。SDS PAGE分析表明 ,表达产物的分子量约为 6 6kD ,其表达量占菌体总蛋白的 8.6 %。分离纯化融合蛋白来免疫家兔 ,制得了高效价、高特异性的多克隆抗体。Western杂交显示 ,在分离的精细胞内该基因编码的蛋白表达量很高 ,而成熟花粉和二细胞中只有微弱表达 ,单细胞花粉、花粉母细胞没有杂交信号 ,表明RSSG5 8基因在精细胞中优势表达。     

Hormone-sensitive lipase is critical mediators of acute exercise-induced regulation of lipolysis in rat adipocytes

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of acute exercise on lipolysis via coordination of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and scaffold proteins, i.e., perilipin A and comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58), in rat primary adipocytes. Glycerol release was significantly elevated immediately (0 h) and three hours (3 h) after exercise. Both activity and localization to the pellet of HSL were significantly greater in the pellet fraction, which is included in lipid droplet associated-proteins, than in the supernatant fraction. In the pellet fraction, although neither perilipin A nor CGI-58 protein level changed, level of perilipin A/CGI-58 complex was significantly reduced, accompanied by up-regulated association of perilipin A/HSL at 0 h and 3 h after exercise. On the other hand, there were no changes in these molecules at 24 h after exercise, despite a significant decrease in lipolysis that was observed in response to isoproterenol. These findings suggest that acute exercise enhances lipolysis up to at least 3 h after exercise in a manner dependent on modification of HSL and its association with and alteration in scaffold protein.     

Selectivity of the excision of alkylation products in a xeroderma pigmentosum-derived lymphoblastoid line.

Lymphoblastoid cell derived from a complementation group C xeroderma patient were unable to remove 06-methyl guanine residues formed in DNA by treatment of cells with low concentration of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The xeroderma cells were competent in their ability to excise 3-methyl adenine adducts. MNNG treatment induced excision repair in the xeroderma line and in addition the treatment resulted in the presence of numerous single-strand breaks in the DNA. The single gene, UV-excision-defective mutants of Escherichia coli, uvrA and uvrB, are able to excise MNNG-induced 06-methyl guanine adducts indicating that excision of this compound is not due to operation of UV endonuclease system.     

比较基因识别-58

比较基因识别-58（comparative gene identification-58,CGI-58）属于脂肪酶家族,是脂肪性甘油三酯脂肪酶的激活蛋白,在调控脂肪代谢方面发挥着至关重要的作用,也是调控角质形成细胞的分化过程的重要分子。另外,CGI-58还具有溶血磷脂酸酰基转移酶活性,可将溶血磷脂酸酰化成磷脂酸。若CGI-58的基因发生突变,会引发一种隐性遗传的中性脂肪蓄积病——Chanarin—Dorfman综合征（Chanarin-Dorfman symptom,CDS）,病体表现出鱼鳞病。本文将针对CGI-58调控脂肪代谢以及其它方面的功能,对近些年来CGI-58的研究进展进行综述。     

Unexpected Transformations of Natural Chlorins under Treatment with Dichlorodicyanobenzoquinone

The treatment of natural chlorins with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone resulted not only in the intramolecular cyclization of the propionic acid residue in position 17 with the formation of an additional 58r414g/xxlarge948.gif" alt="delta" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-lactone cycle at the pyrrole ring D, but also in the oxygen-assisted oxidation of 8-ethyl group in ring B to an 58r414g/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-methoxyethyl substituent.