Structure of the house dust mite allergen Der f 2: implications for function and molecular basis of IgE cross-reactivity

The X-ray structure of the group 2 major allergen from Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f 2) was determined to 1.83 A resolution. The overall Der f 2 structure comprises a single domain of immunoglobulin fold with two anti-parallel beta-sheets. A large hydrophobic cavity is formed in the interior of Der f 2. Structural comparisons to distantly related proteins suggest a role in lipid binding. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) cross-reactivity between group 2 house dust mite major allergens can be explained by conserved surface areas representing IgE binding epitopes.     

Myosin light chain 3f attenuates age-induced decline in contractile velocity in MHC type II single muscle fibers

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and impaired contractility (e.g., decline in force, velocity, and power). Although the slowing of contraction speed in aging muscle is well described, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the decrement in speed are unknown. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms are the primary molecules determining contractile velocity; however, the contraction speed of single fibers within a given MHC isoform type is variable. Recent evidence proposes that the decline in shortening velocity (Vo) with aging is associated with a decrease in the relative content of essential myosin light chain 3f (MLC(3f) ) isoform. In the current study, we first evaluated the relative content of MLC(3f) isoform and Vo in adult and old rats. We then used recombinant adenovirus (rAd) gene transfer technology to increase MLC(3f) protein content in the MHC type II semimembranosus muscle (SM). We hypothesized that (i) aging would decrease the relative MLC(3f) content and Vo in type II fibers, and (ii) increasing the MLC(3f) content would restore the age-induced decline in Vo. We found that there was an age-related decrement in relative MLC(3f) content and Vo in MHC type II fibers. Increasing MLC(3f) content, as indicated by greater % MLC(3f) and MLC(3f) /MLC(2f) ratio, provided significant protection against age-induced decline in Vo without influencing fiber diameter, force generation, MHC isoform distribution, or causing cellular damage. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first data to demonstrate positive effects of MLC(3f) against slowing of contractile function in aged skeletal muscle.     

枯萎菌毒素粗提液对4种陆地棉外植体愈伤组织诱导率的影响

将培养5d的4种陆地棉栽培品种军棉1号,泗棉2号,2234及中棉12号无菌苗,取其根,下胚轴及子叶接种在含不同浓度枯萎菌毒素粗提液的培养基上,每隔3d观察统计其成活率,统计至33d。结果表明：陆地棉外植体愈伤组织的诱导率与枯萎菌毒素浓度呈负相关,而不同的外植体对枯萎菌毒素浓度的敏感程度有所差异。     

地黄育种研究进展

地黄是一种玄参科药用植物,是我国著名的四大怀药之一,具有重要的药用价值和经济价值。该文综述了地黄的引种、选择育种、杂交育种、组织培养辅助育种、转基因育种和DNA分子标记辅助育种等育种研究的成果,以期为地黄育种工作者提供参考。     

紫堇属和钻地风属植物二新异名

将白花刻叶紫堇(Corydalis incisa (Thunb.)Pers. var. alba S. Y. Wang)作为新异名归并入刻叶紫堇(C. incisa (Thunb.)Pers.);将心叶钻地风(Schizophragma integrifolium Oliv. f. cordatumS. Y. Wang)作为新异名归并入秦榛钻地风(S. corylifolium chun).     

抗褐变剂对雷公藤愈伤组织生长和次生代谢产物含量的影响

以雷公藤（Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f.）根愈伤组织为材料,以NT为基本培养基,添加不同浓度硫代硫酸钠、抗坏血酸、柠檬酸、硝酸银、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮以及活性炭,探讨抗褐变剂对雷公藤愈伤组织生长、抗褐化和雷公藤内酯醇及总生物碱含量的影响。结果表明：除较低浓度柠檬酸以外,其他抗褐变剂均不同程度抑制雷公藤愈伤组织的生长。培养基中添加不同浓度硫代硫酸钠、抗坏血酸、柠檬酸、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮以及活性炭,雷公藤愈伤组织褐化程度不但没有得到控制,反而使褐化加重。但所有处理中,愈伤组织中内酯醇含量明显升高,其中加入50mg/L柠檬酸处理的内酯醇含量为对照的2.4倍。培养基中加入10～50mg/L硝酸银不仅能抑制雷公藤愈伤组织褐变,内酯醇的含量也随着硝酸银浓度的增加而增加。供试抗褐变剂中除较低浓度硫代硫酸钠以外,其他处理对雷公藤总生物碱的合成起抑制作用。     

Complexes of Photosynthetic Redox Proteins Studied by NMR

In the photosynthetic redox chain, small electron transfer proteins shuttle electrons between the large membrane-associated redox complexes. Short-lived but specific protein:protein complexes are formed to enable fast electron transfer. Recent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have elucidated the binding sites on plastocyanin, cytochrome c (6) and ferredoxin. Also the orientation of plastocyanin in complex with cytochrome f has been determined. Based on these results, general features that enable the formation of such transient complexes are discussed.     

Down-regulation of particulate protein kinase Cepsilon and up-regulation of nuclear activator protein-1 DNA binding in liver following in vivo exposure of B6C3F1 male mice to heptachlor epoxide

The effects of in vivo administration of the cyclodiene tumor promoter heptachlor epoxide on mouse liver protein kinase C were studied in male B6C3F1 mice by protein kinase C activity assays and Western blotting under conditions known to increase the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma because protein kinase C is thought to be critical in phorbol ester-induced tumor promotion. Under these test conditions, 20 ppm dietary heptachlor epoxide for 1-20 days increased cytosolic and decreased particulate total protein kinase C activities, while 10 ppm had no effect. Further, total cytosolic and particulate protein kinase C activities were decreased within 1 hour by 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.) heptachlor epoxide. Western blotting showed that conventional protein kinase Calpha and beta isoforms were unaffected by heptachlor epoxide. Particulate novel protein kinase Cepsilon, however, was selectively down-regulated by 1, 10, and 20 ppm dietary heptachlor epoxide, whereas the cytosolic isoform was decreased by 1 and 10 ppm heptachlor epoxide for 10 days. The high-dose treatment for 24 hours also decreased particulate novel protein kinase Cepsilon but increased the cytosolic titer. These results demonstrate that this isoform is unique in its sensitivity to heptachlor epoxide. Activator protein-1 DNA binding, a critical factor in tumor promotion, was substantially increased at 3 and 6 hours with 3.7 mg/kg (i.p.) heptachlor epoxide and at 3 and 10 days with 20 ppm dietary heptachlor epoxide. The effects of heptachlor epoxide on protein kinase C and activator protein-1 are similar to those caused by phorbol ester treatments and correlate well to heptachlor levels found to induce tumors in mice. However, heptachlor epoxide did not initially activate protein kinase C with in vivo treatments or with in vitro treatments of a plasma membrane fraction aimed at demonstrating direct activation, as has been shown for phorbol esters. The ability of heptachlor epoxide to down-regulate particulate novel protein kinase Cepsilon correlates to dosages used in in vivo tumor promotion studies. However, this may represent a negative feedback response rather than a causative effect.     

Developing Inflorescences of Male and Female <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex acetosa</Emphasis> L. Show Differences in Gibberellin Content

Rumex acetosa L. (common sorrel) is a dioecious perennial in the family Polygonaceae. Gibberellins (GAs) of the early 13-hydroxylation pathway and the putative early 3, 13-hydroxylation pathway were previously identified in young R. acetosa inflorescences by GC-MS. In this investigation to examine the GA content of individual inflorescences ELISAs were used for quantitative analysis. Significant differences were revealed between the sexes in the GA content of young inflorescences, and GC-SRM was used to validate the observed trends. Males had higher levels of the 3, 13-hydroxylated C₂₀-GA GA₁₈ and the 2, 13-hydroxylated C₁₉-GA GA₂₉, whereas females had higher levels of the 13-hydroxylated C₂₀-GAs GA₅₃ and GA₁₉. It is suggested that the conversion from C₂₀-GAs to C₁₉-GAs is under tighter control in the inflorescences of females compared to male plants and therefore there is accumulation of the C₂₀-GAs in the females. Results from flowering bioassays using authentic GAs indicate that differences in GA content between the sexes are unlikely to be a consequence of sex determination.