A single residue mutation in Hha preserving structure and binding to H-NS results in loss of H-NS mediated gene repression properties

In this study, we report that a single mutation of cysteine 18 to isoleucine (C18I) in Escherichia coli Hha abolishes the repression of the hemolysin operon observed in the wild-type protein. The phenotype also includes a significant decrease in the growth rate of E. coli cells at low ionic strength. Other substitutions at this position (C18A, C18S) have no observable effects in E. coli growth or hemolysin repression. All mutants are stable and well folded and bind H-NS in vitro with similar affinities suggesting that Cys 18 is not directly involved in H-NS binding but this position is essential for the activity of the H-NS/Hha heterocomplexes in the regulation of gene expression.     

An efficient multivariate approach for estimating preference when individual observations are dependent

1. We discuss aspects of resource selection based on observing a given vector of resource variables for different individuals at discrete time steps. A new technique for estimating preference of habitat characteristics, applicable when there are multiple individual observations, is proposed. 2. We first show how to estimate preference on the population and individual level when only a single site- or resource component is observed. A variance component model based on normal scores in used to estimate mean preference for the population as well as the heterogeneity among individuals defined by the intra-class correlation. 3. Next, a general technique is proposed for time series of observations of a vector with several components, correcting for the effect of correlations between these. The preference of each single component is analyzed under the assumption of arbitrarily complex selection of the other components. This approach is based on the theory for conditional distributions in the multi-normal model. 4. The method is demonstrated using a data set of radio-tagged dispersing juvenile goshawks and their site characteristics, and can be used as a general tool in resource or habitat selection analysis.     

Studies of distribution,location and dynamic properties of EGFR on the cell surface measured by image correlation spectroscopy

In this work, we have studied the distribution and dynamic properties of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) receptors in the plasma membrane of fixed and live cells as well as the extent of co-localization of this transmembrane protein with proteins specific for three-membrane microdomains: membrane rafts, caveolae and clathrin-coated pits. This was achieved using a family of image-processing tools called image correlation spectroscopy (ICS), image cross-correlation spectroscopy (ICCS) and dynamic image correlation spectroscopy (DICS). Our results indicate that EGFR is diffusely distributed on the cell surface at 37°C and aggregates as the temperature is lowered to 4°C. This aggregation takes place within 15 min and is reversible. Changes in temperature also affect the diffusion of EGFR by two orders of magnitude. The dynamic properties of EGFR are similar to the dynamic properties of a GPI-anchored protein known to be present in membrane rafts, which motivated us to explore the extent of co-localization of EGFR with this membrane raft protein using ICCS. Our results indicate that more than half of the EGFR population is present in membrane rafts and smaller percentages are present in caveolae and clathrin-coated pits.     

地表火对红花尔基沙地樟子松种群空间分布格局的影响

利用全林木定位的方法, 对地表火干扰1年后的樟子松(Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongolica Litv.)林进行调查, 并通过假设检验和成对相关函数对其林火及林分结构特征和空间格局进行分析。结果表明, 林火强度相似的同一场地表火干扰下, 不同林分的密度均大大降低, 胸高断面积仅略有下降, 林分结构特征则有趋同的态势。不同林分的空间格局也有相似的变化趋势, 烧死木均表现为显著的双尺度聚集分布及显著的正相关, 活立木也表现出显著的正相关; 地表火干扰前后, 樟子松林的空间格局均为显著的聚集分布, 但地表火干扰后其聚集分布的尺度范围变小; 存活林木中, 大树和幼树则呈现出相互独立或略微排斥的关系。显然, 地表火驱动下, 不同樟子松林的空间格局呈现出相似的变化趋势, 并推动其向着成熟林方向演替, 这对天然樟子松林的资源保护和经营管理有着重要意义。     

青藏高原东缘红桦-岷江冷杉次生林中大径级保留木对其他林木的影响

为了研究森林采伐后保留木在次生群落恢复过程中对其他林木的影响, 采用Hegyi单木竞争指数(CI)和标记相关点格局k_d(r)函数对4 hm ²红桦-岷江冷杉(Betula albosinensis-Abies faxoniana)次生林样地中大径级保留木与其他林木的空间关系进行了分析。结果表明: 1)优势树种红桦(Betula albosinensis)与岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)的种间、种内竞争中, 种间Hegyi单木竞争指数(CI) (2.484) >红桦种内CI (1.711) >岷江冷杉种内CI (1.548); 2)大径级保留木与其他径级林木间的竞争指数中, 红桦大径级保留木与红桦小树的竞争指数最大, 红桦大径级保留木与岷江冷杉小树、岷江冷杉大径级保留木与红桦小树和岷江冷杉小树这三组的竞争指数之间无显著差异, 且三者的值最小; 3)在14.5-15.5 m尺度上, 红桦大径级保留木与岷江冷杉幼树呈显著的空间正关联; 在6.5-7.5 m的尺度上, 岷江冷杉大径级保留木与岷江冷杉幼树呈显著的空间负关联; 0-100 m尺度上, 岷江冷杉幼苗(树龄≥4年)与两种大径级保留木均呈相互独立的空间关系。     

浙江楠种群表型变异

以探讨浙江楠(Phoebe chekiangensis)种群间和种群内的表型变异程度和变异规律为目的, 对其分布区9个种群的10个表型性状进行了研究。采用巢式方差分析、变异系数、多重比较和相关分析等多种分析方法, 对种群间和种群内的表型多样性及其与地理生态因子的相关性进行了讨论。研究结果表明: 浙江楠叶片、种子等表型性状在种群间和种群内均存在着丰富的变异, 10个性状在种群间、种群内的差异均达极显著水平; 种群内的变异(21.74%)大于种群间的变异(18.45%), 表型性状的平均分化系数为41.43%, 种群内变异是浙江楠表型变异的主要变异来源。各性状平均变异系数为12.78%, 变化幅度为6.50%-19.38%。种群间叶片的平均变异系数(16.99%)高于种群间种子的平均变异系数(8.58%), 表明种子的稳定性高于叶片。叶宽、叶面积与叶片其他性状间多呈显著或极显著相关, 种子千粒重与种子宽、种子体积显著正相关; 而种子和叶片的各性状间多无显著相关性。种子宽、种子体积和种子千粒重随着海拔的增加出现减小的趋势, 种子体积受纬度控制, 随着纬度的增大表现出增大的趋势。     

Raman spectroscopic monitoring of Lactarius latex

Lactarius is a genus of Basidiomycotina with mainly agaricoid representatives, which are characterised by the excretion of a typical milky fluid. In particular, the colour, changes and taste of this latex-like milk are often used as a taxonomically important character. When it is exuded several chemical reactions occur. To date, NMR spectroscopy is generally used for chemical investigation of this latex. However, as a vibrational spectroscopic technique Raman spectroscopy has several advantageous properties for this type of research. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Raman spectroscopy can be used as an alternative analytical technique to monitor the chemical reactions in Lactarius latex. Therefore, this paper presents the first Raman spectra of Lactarius latex and provides an interpretation of the Raman bands that are present. L. lacunarum latex spectra are thoroughly investigated by 2D correlation analysis and are compared with latex spectra of other species (L. chrysorrheus, L. deterrimus, L. fluens, L. glyciosmus and L. salmonicolor).     

Residue-level NMR view of the urea-driven equilibrium folding transition of SUMO-1 (1-97): native preferences do not increase monotonously

SUMO-1 (1-97) is a crucial protein in the machinery of post-translational modifications. We observed by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy that urea-induced unfolding of this protein is a complex process with the possibility of occurrence of detectable intermediates along the way. The tertiary structure is completely lost around approximately 4.5 M urea with a transition mid-point at 2.53 M urea, while the secondary structure unfolding seems to show two transitions, with mid-points at 2.42 M and 5.69 M urea. We have elucidated by systematic urea titration, the equilibrium residue level structural and dynamics changes along the entire folding/unfolding transition by multidimensional NMR. With urea dilution, the protein is seen to progressively lose most of the broad beta-domain structural preferences present at 8 M urea, acquire some helical propensities at 5 M urea, and lose some of them again on further dilution of urea. Between 3 M and 2 M urea, the protein starts afresh to acquire native structural features. These observations are contrary to the conventional notion that proteins fold with monotonously increasing native-type preferences. For folding below approximately 3 M urea, the region around the alpha1 helix appears to be a potential folding initiation site. The folding seems to start with a collapse into native-like topologies, at least in parts, and is followed by formation of secondary and tertiary structure, perhaps by cooperative rearrangements. The motional characteristics of the protein show sequence-dependent variation as the concentration of urea is progressively reduced. At the sub-nanosecond level, the features are extremely unusual for denatured states, and only certain segments corresponding to the flexible regions in the native protein display these motions at the different concentrations of urea.