Reflections on biosystems motivating supramolecular engineering

Some goals of bioelectronics—interfacing biology and electronics — are the understanding of supramolecular bioprocesses and the construction of supramolecular devices. The principles for the design and fabrication of machineries with functional components of molecular size are inspired by reflecting on biosystems, and it seems important to consider such principles. We first discuss attempts to construct supramolecular machines, and then we consider the bacterial reaction centre as an example where supramolecular engineering helps to elucidate a bioprocess. We then discuss possible mechanisms leading to the emergence of life-like systems in the light of the basic principles used to design supramolecular devices. Finally, we reflect on prospects in molecular engineering inspired by studying the emergence of life-like systems.     

Receptor interactions of the position 4 side chains of angiotensin II analogues: Importance of aromatic ring quadrupole

A triad of interacting group (TyrOH? His$ \underline\ominus$O₂C) in angiotensin II (ANG II) has been postulated to create the tyrosinate anion pharmacophore (tyanophore) responsible for receptor activation/triggering (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1991, 1065, 21). In the present study we investigated the effects on bioactivity of substituting the Tyr⁴ residue in [Sar¹]ANG II with other anionic or electronegative amino acids, and with a number of aromatic amino acids lacking a hydroxyl group. [Sar¹ Nva(δ-OH)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Nva(δ-OCH₃)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Met⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Gln⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Glu⁴]ANG II and [Sar¹ DL -Alg⁴]ANG II had agonist activities in the rat isolated uterus assay of 4, 3, 19, 10, > 0.1 and > 0.1%, respectively, of that of ANG II. [Sar¹ Nal⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Pal⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ DL -Phg(4′-F)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Phe(4′-F)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Phe(F₅)⁴]ANG II and [Sar¹ His⁴]ANG II had agonist activities of 4.5, 7, < 0.1, 0.2, 1 and 0.6%, respectively. All peptides investigated were devoid of measurable antagonist activity except [Sar¹] Phe(4′-F)⁴ ANG II (pA₂ = 7.7). These findings illustrate that anionic or electronegative aliphatic side chains replacing tyrosinate at position 4 can partially activate the angiotension receptor. For ANG II analogues containing an aromatic amino acid other than Tyr at position 4, ligand binding and agonist activity are not dependent on the electronegativity or dipole moment of the aromatic ring, or on the ability of the 4′ ring substituent to accept a proton. Modelling based on ab initio calculations of aromatic ring multipoles illustrate that the apparent binding affinity (PA₂) of ANG II analogues is associated with a perpendicular electrostatic interaction of the position 4 aromatic ring with a receptor-based group. In addition, intramolecular interactions providing for the conformation of the ligand as it approaches its receptor appear to have a role in determining agonist vs antagonist activity.     

Bats of the Gulf of Guinea islands: faunal composition and origins

The present study compares the bat faunas of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Species composition. endemism and hypothetical origins are discussed. All families present in the mainland region are found in Bioko, a typical landbridge island. Foliage gleaning guild species (Nycteridae) show limited colonization abilities. This is also true of the family Rhinolophidae, but not for the closely related family Hipposideridae. The majority of the oceanic island species are African bats which show a widespread distribution and, therefore, have a high ecological plasticity. The continental relatives of the two endemic species Myonycteris brachycephala and Chaerephon tomensis are restricted to relatively small forested areas. Bioko's bat fauna is the result of the recent isolation from a formerly land-connected community. The oceanic bat faunas originated from the establishment of incomers from other areas. Nevertheless, extinction appears in both vicariant and dispersal processes, as an important factor in modelling the current bat communities of the Gulf of Guinea islands.     

Genetic analysis of populations of threatened snake species using RAPD markers

Snakes are a particularly threatened vertebrate taxon, with distributions of many species and populations becoming increasingly fragmented. At present, little is known about the degree of genetic differentiation that exists between isolated populations even though such information may be critical to their survival and conservation. As an example of how recently developed RAPD genetic markers can be used in conservation genetics, we present preliminary results from a study which used these DNA-based markers to assess population divergence in two threatened Canadian snakes, the black rat snake ( Elaphe o. obsoleta ) and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake ( Sistrurus c. catenatus ). We present information on the levels of variation and reliability of amplification for fragments generated from five primers. We then use a recently developed analytical technique to estimate levels of nucleotide diversity within populations and sequence divergence between populations. Our results show that intrapopulation levels of divergence as estimated by the methods of Clark & Lanigan ( Molecular Biology and Evolution 1993, 10 , 1096–1111) approximate those found for mtDNA in vertebrates and that diversity between snake populations is small and non-significant when tested using randomization procedures. Thus, our study provides an example of how RAPDs can be applied to conservation genetic studies of vertebrates and suggest that the snake populations we examined have only recently become isolated and maybe considered genetically equivalent from a conservation perspective, although this conclusion needs to be confirmed with other DNA-based markers.     

高原鼠兔季节性繁殖中的神经内分泌调控Ⅱ．不同光制对生殖恢复期的影响

本项研究将野外捕获的成年雄性高原鼠兔（Ｏｃｈｏｔｏｎａｃｕｒｚｏｎｉａｅ）分３组进行不同光制的饲养,以检验光周期对其神经内分泌─—生殖轴功能的影响：（１）长光照组睾丸及附属性腺的重量和血浆睾酮水平均明显高于自然光组（ｐ＜０．０５）和短光照组（ｐ＜０．０１）。（２）长光照组的松果腺重量（１．５±０．１毫克,ｎ＝１５）和褪黑激素含量（８９．７±５．８微微克／松果腺）,均显著低于其它两组。（３）自然光组和短光照组性腺的显著萌发表明,在高原鼠兔季节性繁殖的年周期中,其神经内分泌─—生殖轴对春分前短光照的抑制作用具有不应期。     

电脉冲穿孔法将苏云金杆菌δ-内毒素基因导入野生型芽孢杆菌

利用电脉冲穿孔法将带有苏云金杆菌毒蛋白基因的穿梭质粒导入几株野生型芽孢杆菌中。它们是野生型的蜡状芽孢杆菌、短芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌。通过观察在新霉素和氨苄青霉素平板上长出的抗性菌落数,计算出转化效率为10~1—10~4转化子/μgDNA。从转化子中分离到的质粒DNA大小及其用HindⅢ酶切的片段与原始质粒DNA相同,毒性测试表明重组转化子对烟青虫六天的致死率达90—100％。     

从水稻根部悬浮培养细胞分离原生质体及植株再生

以长香稻(Oryza sativa L．)(糯稻)的幼嫩种子根为材料,在Ms和N6培养基上诱导产生结构松软而分散的愈伤组织,经过AA液体培养基振荡悬浮培养,悬浮培养细胞经酶解后得到了活性较高的原生质体,试验结果表明这是分离原生质体较理想的材料。在附加2,4-D lmg／L(以下单位同)、KT(激动素)0．2、各氨酰胺876、天门冬酰胺266的Ms琼脂糖培养基中,诱导出了大量愈伤组织,在含KT2、NAA(α-萘乙酸)0．2、zT(玉米素)0．2、cH(水解酪蛋白)1000和4％椰子汁的N6培养基中成功地诱导出了由原生质体再生的植株。当代原生质体再生植株能正常开花、结实、产生种子;染色体数均为二倍性(2n＝24),最显著的特点是结实率低,穗粒数减步、生育期延迟。     

基因工程链激酶(r—SK)纯化及其单克隆抗体制备和鉴定

采用Rotofor等电聚焦和分子筛技术纯化大肠杆菌表达的重组链激酶(r—SK),其纯度为97%。比活性1×10⁶IU／mg,回收率41％。分析所纯化的r—SK　N端氨基酸顺序证实其1—15个氨基酸顺序与SK基因的核苷酸顺序所示3联密码子一致。以纯化r—SK为抗原,通过杂交瘤技术构建了分泌抗r—SK单克隆抗体(McAb)杂交瘤细胞(4D11),该McAb属IgG1亚型．特异地作用于r-SK和C组口溶血性链球菌分泌的SK。用底物显色法测定该McAb可抑制SK对纤溶酶原的激活。Western blot法证实该McAb能识别分子量为16 250Da的r—SK的CNBr裂解片段。推测SK蛋白中第71残基至第237残基间的氨基酸顺序参与SK与纤溶酶原的结合。     

广东种子植物区系地理成分研究

广东种子植物区系共有２１９科１４３４属４９８６种。其中：①热带区系成分占有较大的比例,约占非世界属的６２．３％,表明广东区系受到热带区系的强烈渗透,次之为亚热带（至亚热带山地）成分约占３２．２％,及中国特有分布占５．６％;②以单型属（７２属）,单种属（５８５属）和寡种属（５６２属）占绝对优势,共占８５．０％,充分显示了广东区系的古老性和过渡性特点;③从区系组成和植被结构的特征成分来看,以华夏植物区系成分为主,包括：亚热带分布,亚热带山地分布,中国特有分布,东亚—北美间断分布,及一些亚洲热带分布中以亚热带为主的属：④在这些属中有东亚特有属１３２属,中国特有属７５属以及华南—西南—中南半岛特有属６８属等;这些属的存在毫无疑问地说明,广东区系是华夏植物区系的核心地区之一,同时也显示了热带区系与亚热带区系有着不可分隔的统一性。     

油梨果实的生长和内含物变化的观察

本文报道对油梨果实的生长及内含物的变化的观察结果．果实生长发育过程中,以６—７份生长最快,干物质及脂肪含量由低到高变化,以１１月份增加最快,蛋白质含量由高到低递诚．１１月份后含量相对稳定,总糖和维生素Ｃ含量随果实的发育程度而下降。