麦胚凝集素作用下膜血型糖蛋白A构象变化研究

为进一步验证麦胚凝集素作用下膜血型糖蛋白Ａ空间构象的变化,本文用傅里叶变换红外技术,定量测定了麦胚凝集素作用下,溶液血型糖蛋白Ａ和脂蛋白体膜血型糖蛋白Ａ的二级结构的改变,发现麦胚凝集素结合于血型糖蛋白Ａ导致血型糖蛋白Ａα—螺旋减少,β—结构增加,麦胚凝集素的抑制剂Ｎ—乙酰葡萄糖胺对麦胚凝集素诱导的血型糖蛋白Ａ二级结构的改变有抑制作用。本文同时用扫描隧道显微术直接观察了麦胚凝集素结合前后膜血型糖蛋白Ａ分子形态的变化。     

半夏属的染色体数目、倍性与珠芽发生的关系

本文通过对半夏属Pinellia 5个种10个群体的染色体计数和珠芽数量统计,首次报道了5个染色体数目,同时发现珠芽的发生与染色体基数及多倍化程度有关：x=13的类群无珠芽,而x=9的有珠芽;在有珠芽的半夏P．ternata(Thunb．)Breit．中,平均每叶珠芽数随倍性的提高而增大。半夏是一个多倍体复合种,起源于无珠芽、染色体基数为x=7～9的二倍体祖先,可能是在该属的早期进化中由鹞落坪半夏P.yaoluopingensis X．H．Guo et X．L.Liu的x=13经非整倍性跌落而成,在发生上比鹞落坪半夏进化。     

Endogenous abscisic acid and wheat germ agglutinin content in wheat grains during development

Abscisic acid (ABA) and wheat germ agglutinin content of immature wheat grains and embryos was determined by immunoassay throughout the development of a field-grown wheat crop ( Triticum aestivum cv. Timmo). Wheat germ agglutinin accumulation in the embryo was not preceded by an increase in endogenous abscisic acid amount or concentration in either embryos or grains. At a later stage in development the endogenous concentration of abscisic acid in both embryos and grains was found to be two orders of magnitude lower than the endogenous levels required to inhibit precocious germination and promote wheat germ agglutinin accumulation in excised embryos cultured in vitro. These findings are discussed in the context of the control of embryo development in vivo by both ABA and the water status of the grain and embryo.     

Caenorhabditis elegans: Stage Specific Differences in Cuticle Surface Carbohydrates

Stage-specific differences in wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) binding saccharides were demonstrated between the surfaces of the eggs, L1 larvae, young aduhs, and old adults of Caenorhabditis elegans. The WGA binding was to n-acetylglucosamine groups but not to terminally linked n-acetylneuraminic acids. An age-related decrease in WGA binding occurred in adults, supporting previous findings of a decrease in net negative cuticle surface charge during aging.     

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Bioodstream Forms: Surface Ricin-Binding Glycoproteins are Localized Exclusively in the Flagellar Pocket and the Flagellar Adhesion Zone

Specific binding of fluoresceinated succinyl-concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and ricin to untreated and trypsinized bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense was quantitated by flow cytofluorimetry, and sites of lectin binding were identified by fluorescence microscopy. All three lectins only bound to the flagellar pocket of untreated parasites. When parasites were trypsinized to remove the variant surface glycoprotein coat, new lectin binding sites were exposed, and specific binding of all three lectins increased significantly. New specific binding sites for succinyl-concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin were present along both the free flagellum and flagellar adhesion zone and were uniformly distributed on the parasite surface. However, ricin did not bind uniformly on the surface and did not stain the free flagellum of trypsinized cells. Ricin only bound to the flagellar adhesion zone of trypsinized cells and of cells that had been treated with formaldehyde prior to staining. Electron microscopy of cells exposed to ricin-colloidal gold complexes revealed that that ricin binding was restricted to the anterior membrane of the flagellar pocket of untrypsinized cells and to this portion of the flagellar pocket and the cell body membrane in the flagellar adhesion zone of trypsinized cells. Evidence that these membranes constitute a functionally important membrane microdomain is reviewed.     

Sexual agglutinin of mating-type minus gametes inChlamydomonas reinhardtii

The sexual agglutinin from the mating-type minus gametes ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii was purified by gel filtration and hydroxyapatite chromotography. The minus agglutinin was identified as a single glycopolypeptide termed Agg(-) of very high molecular weight by SDS-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was also observed as a glycoprotein with agglutinin activity on non-SDS polyacrylamide gels. The native agglutinin appeared to be composed of a complex of Agg(-) subunits. It consisted of about 60% protein and 40% carbohydrate and the activity was diminished by a mild periodate oxidation. When the plus agglutinin was also purified and compared with the minus agglutinin, it was found that both agglutinins migrate in the same position by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, whereas their behaviors on gel filtration and hydroxyapatite chromatography are different.Abbreviations mt ^+/– mating-tape plus or minus - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - V_e elution volume - V_o void volume - kDa kilodalton     

The Role of Wheat Germ Agglutinin in Plant–Bacteria Interactions: A Hypothesis and the Evidence in Its Support

Wheat plants are known to develop the associative symbiosis with the rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense.We studied the interaction of a lectin, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which is also found in wheat roots, with A. brasilense, strain sp245. When added to the azospirillum culture to the final concentration of 10^–8to 10^–9M, WGA enhanced IAA production, dinitrogen fixation, and ammonium excretion by bacterial cells. WGA also promoted the synthesis of proteins, both new and those already present in bacterial cells. The hypothesis that WGA is a signal molecule rerouting the bacterial metabolism in the direction favorable for the growth and development of the host plant has been put forward. It is suggested that signal properties of WGA are the basis for one of the functions of this lectin and essential for the effective associative symbiosis.