Regulation of Magnesium Chelatase Activity during Excessive Accumulation of Porphyrins in Green Barley Leaves

Activity of magnesium chelatase was studied in green barley leaves treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). After this treatment, leaves accumulated excessive amounts of porphyrinic precursors of chlorophyll : protoporphyrin IX (PP), magnesium-protoporphyrin IX (MgPP), its monomethyl ester (MgPPE), and protochlorophyllide. The enzyme activity was found to be inversely dependent on the amount of MgPP formed from exogenous ALA. A conclusion was drawn about the existence of a mechanism for the regulation of the enzyme activity in vivo via its inhibition by the reaction product.     

A study of gene transfer and expression of human clotting factor IX in hemophilia B mice mediated by mini-adenoviral vector

Vector Gti'IX containing human clotting factor IX cDNA with intron 1 (hFIX mini-gene or Fi'IX) driven by CMV promoter was constructed based on the mini-adenoviral vector GT2073 (mini-Ad vector) with all viral protein coding sequences deleted. Mini-Ad packaging cell 293Cre4 was first transduced with Gti'IX, and then was transfected with helper-adenovirus AdLC8, thus mini-Ad virions AdGTi'IX were obtained. At the same time, previous normal adenoviral vector pAdSPi'IX containing viral genome and hFIX mini-gene was constructed, and then previous adenovirus (pre-Ad) AdSPi'IX was obtained as control. The ratio of helper-adenovirus among purified virons AdGTi'IX was less than 0.8%. 3T3 cells were transfected with AdGTi'IX and AdSPi'IX at a MOI of 50 per cell and ELISA result showed that transient expression level in vitro was 1.4±0.2 μg /106@24 h and 1.6±0.3 μg/106@24 h respectively. Each hemophilia B (FIX knock-out) mouse received celiac injection of 1×1010pfu AdGTi'IX or AdSPi'IX. The highest expression level of hFIX in mouse plasma was 590 ng/mL and 690 ng/mL respectively, and the expression time lasted for 16 weeks and 9 weeks respectively. The bleeding time reduced from over 30 min to 7.5 min, and 5-min blood lost reduced from 430 μL to 60 μL. The results of anti-Ad IgG assays indicated that immune response triggered by AdGTi'IX was obviously weaker than that triggered by AdSPi'IX. These results indicated that, compared with previous adenovirus (pre-Ad), the mini-Ad vector system prolonged the expression time of hFIX and reduced immune response, thus offering a promising result for further pre-clinical study.     

固氮红细菌(Rhodobacter azotoformans) 423 nm特征吸收峰成因与定位

【背景】在不产氧光合细菌中,因420-425nm特征峰位于类胡萝卜素(Carotenoid,Car)吸收区域,通常被认为是由Car积累引起,但固氮红细菌R7菌株呈现的423 nm特征峰不具备Car三指峰特征。【目的】阐明R7菌株423 nm特征吸收峰形成的物质基础及胞内定位。【方法】采用吸收光谱、薄层层析、高效液相色谱、质谱、超速离心和离子交换层析等方法阐明423 nm吸收峰形成原因。【结果】谷氨酸钠明显促进R7菌株活细胞呈现423 nm特征峰,色素提取液中该峰蓝移至415 nm,但其生长、细菌叶绿素(Bacteriochlorophyll,BChl)和Car含量大幅度降低,而添加酵母提取物则反之。色素组成分析表明,在检测到的色素成分中,只有镁卟啉单甲基酯Ⅸ (Magnesium Protoporphyrin Ⅸ Monomethylester,MPE)呈现415 nm特征吸收峰。MPE可定位于光合膜上并呈现出423 nm特征峰。对色素蛋白复合体(Pigment Protein Complex,PPC)的研究显示,添加谷氨酸和酵母提取物的菌体细胞虽然都检测到3种PPC组分[2个外周捕光复合体(Peripheral Light Harvesting Complex 2,LH2)和1个光反应中心(Reaction Center,RC)],但源自谷氨酸菌体细胞的RC和1个LH2则呈现423 nm特征吸收峰,表明R7菌株可产生2种不同类型的LH2,且MPE可定位于一种LH2和RC。【结论】R7菌株所呈现的423 nm特征峰不是由Car积累所致,而是由MPE积累所形成,且能与LH2和RC结合定位于光合膜上。MPE是BChl合成的中间产物,其合成受严格调控,不容易获得。MPE代谢调控的深入研究可为光合作用光氧化损伤与保护机理增添新内容。     

Time-Dependent Variations in the Coagulation Factors II,VII, IX,and X in Young and Elderly Volunteers

The existence of circadian (24-h) rhythms in the coagulation activity of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (Factors II, VII, IX, and X) were studied in six healthy young (18–30 years old) and six healthy elderly (69–75 years old) men. Aliquots of 5 ml of blood were obtained from each of the 12 subjects at six different time points over a 24-h period. Factors II, VII, and X were quantified by the prothrombin time test, whereas Factor IX was analyzed by the activated partial thromboplastin time test. Significant circadian variations were found for Factors II and VII in both age groups. The peak and trough values for Factor II were observed at 16: 00 and 00: 00 in young men and at 12: 00 and 16: 00 in elderly men. The amplitude of the rhythmic variation of Factor II was 3.3 ± 1.0 and 4.2 ± 0.9% in young and elderly volunteers, respectively. For Factor VII, the highest values were found during the activity period (08: 00–16: 00), while the lowest values occurred at night (00: 00) for both groups of subjects. The amplitude of the rhythms was twice as large in the young (6.2 ± 2.3%) as in the elderly (3.7 ± 0.8%). The data suggest that age does not alter significantly the chronobiology of Factors II and VII.     

Time-Dependent Variations in the Coagulation Factors II, VII, IX, and X in Young and Elderly Volunteers

The existence of circadian (24-h) rhythms in the coagulation activity of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (Factors II, VII, IX, and X) were studied in six healthy young (18-30 years old) and six healthy elderly (69-75 years old) men. Aliquots of 5 ml of blood were obtained from each of the 12 subjects at six different time points over a 24-h period. Factors II, VII, and X were quantified by the prothrombin time test, whereas Factor IX was analyzed by the activated partial thromboplastin time test. Significant circadian variations were found for Factors II and VII in both age groups. The peak and trough values for Factor II were observed at 16: 00 and 00: 00 in young men and at 12: 00 and 16: 00 in elderly men. The amplitude of the rhythmic variation of Factor II was 3.3 ± 1.0 and 4.2 ± 0.9% in young and elderly volunteers, respectively. For Factor VII, the highest values were found during the activity period (08: 00-16: 00), while the lowest values occurred at night (00: 00) for both groups of subjects. The amplitude of the rhythms was twice as large in the young (6.2 ± 2.3%) as in the elderly (3.7 ± 0.8%). The data suggest that age does not alter significantly the chronobiology of Factors II and VII.     

罕见的异常核型6例报告

ReportofSixRareCasesofAbnormalKaryotypesLiGuixinSongGuangjiangSongXingjun(BiologyDepartment,TaishanMedicalCollege,Taiah,Shandong271000)我定在对外遗传咨询并进行染色体检查时,发现6例异常核型,经医学细胞遗传学国家培训中心夏家辉等专家鉴定,为世界首报枝型．现报告如下：例1女,26岁,表型正常．妊娠4次,均于3个月自然流产．无任何诱因．常规染色体检查,核型为46,XX但有两条异常染色体．经G显带分析,异常核型为46,XX,t（1;8）（lqter-1p32：：8q22-8qter;8pier-8q22：：1p32－1pter）（图1）．例2女,25岁…     

Injecting skin fibroblasts into muscles to express human clotting factor IX cDNA

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Cartilage Fibrils of Mammals are Biochemically Heterogeneous: Differential Distribution of Decorin and Collagen IX

Cartilage fibrils contain collagen II as the major constituent, but the presence of additional components, minor collagens, and noncollagenous glycoproteins is thought to be crucial for modulating several fibril properties. We have examined the distribution of two fibril constituents—decorin and collagen IX—in samples of fibril fragments obtained after bovine cartilage homogenization. Decorin was preferentially associated with a population of thicker fibril fragments from adult articular cartilage, but was not present on the thinnest fibrils. The binding was specific for the gap regions of the fibrils, and depended on the decorin core protein. Collagen IX, by contrast, predominated in the population with the thinnest fibrils, and was scarce on wider fibrils. Double-labeling experiments demonstrated the coexistence of decorin and collagen IX in some fibrils of intermediate diameter, although most fibril fragments from adult cartilage were strongly positive for one component and lacked the other. Fibril fragments from fetal epiphyseal cartilage showed a different pattern, with decorin and collagen IX frequently colocalized on fragments of intermediate and large diameters. Hence, the presence of collagen IX was not exclusive for fibrils of small diameter. These results establish that articular cartilage fibrils are biochemically heterogeneous. Different populations of fibrils share collagen II, but have distinct compositions with respect to macromolecules defining their surface properties.     

Accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in light-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli.

The accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX) in light-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli was detected by spectrofluorimetry. Fluorescence emission and excitation spectra were recorded from extracts of bacterial cells. Proto IX clearly accumulated in cells with mutations in the visA (hemH) gene but not in the wild-type strain CA274 or in visA mutants that had been rendered light-resistant by introduction of the wild-type visA⁺ gene. Accumulation of Proto IX was also not observed in cells with a mutation in the visB gene. These results confirm the hypothesis that the sensitivity of the visA mutants to light is caused by the abnormal accumulation of Proto IX, a substrate of ferrochelatase, as the result of a genetic defect in the gene for ferrochelatase.