The effects of continuous illumination on southern and northern Micrasterias strains

Different strains of Micrasterias (Chlorophyta, Conjugatophyceae); M. rotata (Grev.) Ralfs ex. Ralfs and M. denticulata Breb. ex. Ralfs var. angulosa (Hantzsch) W. & G. S. West from northern and southern Finland were treated with continuous illumination in order to study the cellular effects of the treatment and whether the tolerance to continuous light of the northern Finnish strains is related to the different daylenght conditions in northern and southern areas. During the growing season the Finnish strains normally live in long-day conditions or even in continuous light (between 60 and 70°N), and they also tolerated continuous illumination in the laboratory. Ultrastructural changes were found especially in the chloroplasts, where formation of calcium precipitates of different forms and sizes and also formation of plastoglobuli containing lipids appeared. However, even in 4-week treatments the ultrastructure of cells of these northern strains was not totally disrupted, contrary to what was found in southern M. torreyi , studied earlier. Southern and northern strains tolerated continuous illumination in different ways. They seem to differ from each other physiologically, and the differences are possibly located in their ionic metabolism and regulation. The injuries sustained during continuous illumination of Micrasterias may largely be caused by the accumulation of Ca²⁺ in cytoplasm and organelles, especially in the chloroplasts.     

Structural studies of reagents for peptide bond formation: Crystal and molecular structures of HBTU and HATU

Summary X-ray structure determinations of HBTU and HATU, well-known reagents for peptide bond formation, show that the solid-state structures of these compounds differ markedly from those commonly presented in the literature. The solid-state structures are isomers of the N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium salt formulation commonly written for HBTU and HATU. HBTU and HATU, obtained either directly from synthesis or from CH₃CN solution, crystallize as the guanidinium N-oxide isomers. Both compounds crystallize in nearly identical conformations, despite marked differences in crystal packing.     

Peptide crystal growth via sulfonate salt formation: The structure of bis-glycylglycine-1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate hydrate

Summary Continuing a line of investigations on methods for formation and growth of high-quality crystals of peptides, the glycylglycine sequence has been crystallized by evaporation methods as a salt with 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid. The structure of the peptide is highly extended, and is conformationally quite similar to the structures which have been characterized for other zwitterionic and salt forms of this sequence. Thus, crystallization as a salt with this sulfonic acid has imposed no undue influence upon the molecular conformation. These results offer further indication that the preparation of peptide sulfonate salts, particularly with arene templates, may have broad general utility for crystallization of interesting sequences which until now have not been approachable in their zwitterionic forms.     

Thermodynamics of staphylococcal nuclease denaturation. II. The A-state.

Staphylococcal nuclease, at low pH and in the presence of high salt concentrations, has previously been proposed to exist in a partially folded or molten globule form called the "A-state" (Fink et al., 1993, Protein Sci 2:1155-1160). We have found that the A-state of nuclease at pH 2.1 in the presence of moderate to high salt concentrations and at low temperature exists in a substantially folded form structurally more similar to a native state. The A-state has the far-UV circular dichroism spectra characteristic of the native protein, which indicates that it has a large degree of secondary structure. Upon heating, the A-state denatures with a sigmoidal change in far-UV ellipticity and an observable peak in a differential scanning calorimeter trace, indicating that it is thermodynamically distinct from the denatured state. Three different mutations in a residue normally buried in the protein's core stabilize or destabilize the A-state in the same way as they affect the denaturation of the native state. The A-state must, therefore, contain at least some tertiary packing of side chains. Unlike the native state, which shows cold denaturation at low temperatures, the A-state is most stable at temperatures below 0 degrees C.     

滇蜀豹子花核型及其变异研究

本文详细报道了滇蜀豹子花的核型,发现居群中存在两种细胞型,即A型和B型。A型参考核型为2n = 24＝2m(2SAT)+2sm+8st(4SAT)+12t(2SAT),其第3号两条同源染色体长臂均无居间随体：B型参考核型为2n=24＝2m(2SAT)+2sm+8st(2SAT)+12t(3SAT)+0—1b,其第3号一条同源染色体长臂紧靠着丝点处有一大而明显的居间随体,而另一条同源染色体则无,构成明显的3号染色体的结构杂合性。统计表明,居群中二者的比例近似为1A;2B。研究还发现了大量的体细胞染色体结构变异核型,表明滇蜀豹子花核型尚未趋于稳定,还处于强烈分化之中,高频率的体细胞染色体结构变异是其种内分化不可忽视的一种进化要素。     

1.56 Å structure of mature truncated human fibroblast collagenase

The X-ray crystal structure of a 19 kDa active fragment of human fibroblast collagenase has been determined by the multiple isomorphous replacement method and refined at 1.56 Å resolution to an R-factor of 17.4%. The current structure includes a bound hydroxamate inhibitor, 88 waters and three metal atoms (two zincs and a calcium). The overall topology of the enzyme, comprised of a five stranded β-sheet and three α-helices, is similar to the thermolysin-like metalloproteinases. There are some important differences between the collagenase and thermolysin families of enzymes. The active site zinc ligands are all histidines (His-218, His-222, and His-228). The presence of a second zinc ion in a structural role is a unique feature of the matrix metalloproteinases. The binding properties of the active site cleft are more dependent on the main chain conformation of the enzyme (and substrate) compared with thermolysin. A mechanism of action for peptide cleavage similar to that of thermolysin is proposed for fibroblast collagenase. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A surface mutant (G82R) of a human α-glutathione S-transferase shows decreased thermal stability and a new mode of molecular association in the crystal

A chimeric enzyme (GST121) of the human α-glutathione S-transferases GST1-1 and GST2-2, which has improved catalytic efficiency and thermostability from its wild-type parent proteins, has been crystallized in a space group that is isomorphous with that reported for crystals of GST1-1. However, a single-site (G82R) mutant of GST121, which exhibits a significant reduction both in vitro and in vivo in protein thermostability, forms crystals that are not isomorphous with GST1-1. The mutant protein crystallizes in space group P2₁2₁2₁, with cell dimensions a = 49.5, b = 92.9, c = 115.9 Å, and one dimer per asymmetric unit. Preliminary crystallographic results show that a mutation of the surface residue Gly 82 from a neutral to a charged residue causes new salt bridges to be formed among the GST dimers, suggesting that the G82R mutant might aggregate more readily than does GST121 in solution resulting in a change of its solution properties. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Conservation,protected areas and the global economic system: how debt,trade, exchange rates,inflation and macroeconomic policy affect biological diversity

The main characteristics of the dominant economic system, including the increasing use of markets and money are described. The global system has expanded trade, including international trade, and production tremendously. While this system has the potential to favour nature conservation, in practice the opposite has occurred. Difficulties raised for conservation of biodiversity by short-term economic crises such as deficits in a country's international payments, the adoption of policies for structural economic adjustment, international capital flows, international loans and foreign aid as well as debt-for-nature swaps are discussed. As explained, it is politically difficult in market economies to support nature conservation at the expense of economic growth and as more economies develop and become market economies this problem spreads. Given global interdependence of nations, an important issue is the distribution of net benefits from biodiversity conservation between developed and less developed countries. Possible distributions of benefits and related issues are discussed. In conclusion, the importance of political lobbying by nature conservation groups in developed market economies is emphasised as a means of ensuring correction of market failures. Unfortunately, no economic system is likely to prove satisfactory in itself in conserving biodiversity so political action by conservationists is always required.     

Zn对细胞保护作用机理的研究

应用扫描质子微探针和同步辐射ｘ荧光分析技术测定了细胞中元素的分布和组成,为确定Zn是细胞结构成分提供了直接的实验依据.用上述核技术结合有关生化指标,分析测定了正常和损伤细胞（脂质过氧化损伤）中Fe,Zn和丙二醛、SH基含量变化的相互关系.实验结果表明,当细胞发生脂质过氧化损伤时,Fe含量和丙二醛含量同步增高,而Zn含量和SH基量则降低.给细胞补充Zn后,提高了细胞质膜中的Zn含量,SH基量也随之增加,同时丙二醛量降低.提示Zn保护细胞完整性的作用机理之一是控制脂质过氧化作用.Zn可保护膜蛋白的SH基,减少和阻止被Fe所催化的过氧化反应.