Divergent responses of two cereal aphids to previous infestation of their host plant

The role of pollen odour in resource location by the pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a pollen-feeding insect regarded as a pest of oilseed rape, Brassica napus L., (Brassicaceae) crops, was investigated in a linear track olfactometer. Both male and female beetles were attracted to the odour of whole oilseed rape flowers, indicating that these insects can locate their host plants using floral odours as cues. The attractive odour of flowers was found to emanate from all floral parts tested: the petals/sepals, the anthers, and from pollen itself. Therefore, at least part of the attractive odour of oilseed rape flowers emanates from pollen. Beetles were more attracted to floral samples containing anthers than those without anthers when these odours were directly compared in a choice-test, and this indicates that there were detectable differences between them. Anthers and pollen may therefore release distinctive odours that are quantitatively and/or qualitatively different from the odour of the rest of the flower. These experiments support the hypothesis that pollen-seeking insects use pollen odour cues to locate this food source.     

How hydrogen bonds impact P-glycoprotein transport and permeability

The requirement to cross a biological membrane can be a complex process especially if multidrug transporters such as P-gp must be considered. Drug partitioning into the lipid membrane and efflux by P-gp are tightly coupled processes wherein H-bonding interactions play a key role. All H-bond donors and acceptors are not equal in terms of the strength of the H-bonds that they form, hence it is important to consider their relative strength. Using various examples from literature, we illustrate the benefits of considering the relative strengths of individual H-bonds and introducing intramolecular H-bonds to increase membrane permeability and/or decrease P-gp efflux.     

肽合成中多对二硫键的形成策略及分析方法

二硫键的正确配对是富含二硫键多肽合成的关键。本文综述了含两对二硫键以上的多肽二硫键的形成策略,优化方法、以及二硫键配对方式的测定方法。     

Disulfide bonds stabilize JC virus capsid-like structure by protecting calcium ions from chelation

To investigate the role of disulfide bonds in the capsid structure, a recombinant JC virus-like particle (VLP) was used. The major capsid protein, VP1, of the JC virus was expressed in yeast cells. The yeast-expressed VP1 was self-assembled into a VLP. Disulfide bonds were found in the VLP which caused dimeric and trimeric VP1 linkages as demonstrated by non-reducing SDS–PAGE. The VLP remained intact when disulfide bonds were reduced by dithiothreitol. The VLP without disulfide bonds could be disassembled into capsomeres by EGTA alone, but those with disulfide bonds could not be disassembled by EGTA. Capsomeres were reassembled into VLPs in the presence of calcium ions. Capsomeres formed irregular aggregations instead of VLPs when treated with diamide to reconstitute the disulfide bonds. These results indicate that disulfide bonds play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the JC VLP by protecting calcium ions from chelation.     

Cyto-Chromosomal Analysis of Developing Wheat Monosomics

In order to achieve the aim of advanced breeding program with the definite direction, it is necessary for us to develop the monosomic lines used for the wheat breeding programs in China. We fixed the wheat ears at appropriate stage in Carnoy’s fluid, and stained with acetocarmine in every generation from the different crosses mentioned above. According to their karyotypes of metaphase 1, the monosomics, normal bodies, monotelosomics, ditelosomics and allotypic bivalents were identified (Plate Ⅰ, 1–8). In the process of developing monosomic lines “Beijing Red No.1”, some monosomic lines such as 5A’s and 4D’s, can be directly proved by their phenotypes, other lines of monosomic 1B, 5B add 6B can also be directly proved to be true by their typical chromosomal morphology. In order to check the accuracy of chromosomal orders of monosomic lines, we tested all 21 monosomic lines of “Beijing Red No.1” by means of telosomic testing. At the same time we tested the origirnal monosomics of “Chinese Spring” as a check. In the F1’s of test crosses, those showing 20 bivalents and one monoelemic (20”+t’) were proved to be right. Whereas those showing 19 bivalents, 1 univalent and 1 allotypic bivalent (19”+1’+1’t’) were proved to be wrong. The karyotypes of F1’s from the test crosses for “Beijing Red No.1” can be verified by compairing with that of the check. During some years, we have examined 500 F1 plants of test crosses for monosomic lines of “Beijing Red No.1”, and some what less plants for monosomic lines of “Chinese Spring”. The number of observed cells usually was 100–200, the least was 40 and the most was 600. As the result, all F1's of test crosses showed accurate karyotypes. Besides detemning the F1 karyotypes of test crosses, we also analysed and compared their phenotypes with each other (photograph 9–12). According to the pbenotypes caused by the chang in chromosome number, structure and gene dosage, not only we can check the accuracy of testing result, but also locate the genes controlling some characters on the chromosomes or chromosomal arms.     

Surface EMG: The issue of electrode location

This paper contributes to clarifying the conditions under which electrode position for surface EMG detection is critical and leads to estimates of EMG variables that are different from those obtained in other nearby locations. Whereas a number of previous works outline the need to avoid the innervation zone (or the muscle belly), many authors place electrodes in the central part or bulge of the muscle of interest where the innervation zone is likely to be. Computer simulations are presented to explain the effect of the innervation zone on amplitude, frequency and conduction velocity estimates from the signal and the need to avoid placing electrodes near it. Experimental signals recorded from some superficial muscles of the limbs and trunk (abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, biceps, upper trapezius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis) were processed providing support for the findings obtained from simulations. The use of multichannel techniques is recommended to estimate the location of the innervation zone and to properly choose the optimal position of the detection point(s) allowing meaningful estimates of EMG variables during movement analysis.     

Multinuclear magnetic resonance, electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy, and parametric method 5 studies of a new derivative of gossypol with 2-thiophenecarbohydrazide as well as its complexes with LI+, Na+, K+, RB+, and Cs+ cations

A new derivative of racemic gossypol with 2-thiophenecarbohydrazide (GHHT) and its complexes with monovalent cations have been synthesized and studied by electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as well as by the Parametric Method 5 (PM5) methods. It is demonstrated that GHHT forms stable complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry with monovalent metal cations. The structures of the complexes are stabilized by three types of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The spectroscopic methods have provided clear evidence that GHHT and its complexes exist in the DMSO-d6 solution in the N-imine-N-imine tautomeric forms. The structures of the GHHT and its complexes with Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+ cations are visualized and discussed in detail.     

Conformational stability of CopC and roles of residues Tyr79 and Trp83

CopC is a periplasmic copper Chaperone protein that has a β‐barrel fold and two metal‐binding sites distinct for Cu(II) and Cu(I). In the article, four mutants (Y79F, Y79W, Y79WW83L, Y79WW83F) were obtained by site‐directed mutagenesis. The far‐UV CD spectra of the proteins were similar, suggesting that mutations did not bring any significant changes in secondary structures. Meanwhile the effects of mutations on the protein's function were manifested by Cu(II) binding. Fluorescence lifetime measurement and quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by acrylamide and KI showed that the microenvironment around Trp83 was more hydrophobic than that around Tyr79 in apoCopC. Unfolding experiments induced by guanidinium chloride (GdnHCl), urea provided the conformational stability of each protein. The Δ<ΔG⁰_element> obtained using the model of structural elements was used to show the role of Tyr79 and Trp83. On the one hand, the <ΔG⁰_element> induced by urea for Y79F, Y79W have a loss of 6.51, 2.03 kJ/mol, respectively, compared with apoCopC, proving that replacement of Tyr79 by Phe or Trp all decreased the protein stability, meaning that the hydrogen bonds interactions between Tyr79 and Thr75 played an important role in stabilizing apoCopC. On the other hand, the <ΔG⁰_element> induced by urea for Y79WW83L have a loss of 11.44 kJ/mol, but for Y79WW83F did a raise of 1.82 kJ/mol compared with Y79W. The replacement of Trp83 by Phe and Leu yields opposite effects on protein stability, which suggested that the aromatic ring of Trp83 was important in maintaining the hydrophobic core of apoCopC.     

CIRCADIAN PATTERN OF BLOOD PRESSURE,HEART RATE,AND DOUBLE PRODUCT IN LIVER GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE

The objective of this study was to determine systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure (SBP, DBP, and MAP), heart rate (HR), double-product (DP: SBP×HR), and activity levels and their 24h pattern in liver glycogen storage disease (LGSD) patients. A case series of 12 (11 pediatric and one adult) diurnally active LGSD (seven type I, three type III, and two type IX) subjects were simultaneously assessed by 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and wrist actigraphy. Nine subjects were judged to be hypertensive based on the criterion of an elevated 24h mean SBP and/or DBP being elevated beyond reference standards or the SBP and/or DBP load (percentage of time BP exceeds normal values) being greater than 25%. Two of the three other subjects, not viewed as hypertensive based on their 24h average SBP or DBP, exhibited daytime or nighttime SBP and/or DBP load hypertension. Each study variables displayed statistically significant (p<0.001) group circadian rhythmicity. The SBP, DBP, and MAP displayed comparable 24h patterns of appreciable amplitude (total peak–trough variation equal to 17.7, 23.6, and 19.6%, respectively, of the 24h mean) with highest values (orthophase) occurring ～11 h after the commencement of daytime activity. The sleep-time trough (bathyphase) occurred ～4.5 h before morning awakening. The statistically significant (p<0.006) circadian rhythms of HR (amplitude equal to 33.2% of the 24h mean) and DP (amplitude equal to 49.4% of the 24h mean) peaked earlier, ～7.4 h into the daytime activity span. The sleep-time trough occurred ～3 h before morning awakening. The 24h pattern in the cardiovascular variables was correlated with the 24h pattern of activity, with r ranging from 0.50 for DBP to 0.39 for HR.