An investigation of the dynamics of spermine bound to duplex and quadruplex DNA by <Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR spectroscopy

A detailed analysis of the ¹³C relaxation of ¹³C-labelled spermine bound to duplex and quadruplex DNA is presented. T₁, T₂ and heteronuclear NOE data were collected at four ¹³C frequencies (75.4, 125.7, 150.9 and 201.2 MHz). The data were analyzed in terms of a frequency-dependent order parameter, S ²(ω), to estimate the generalized order parameter and the contributions to the relaxation from different motional frequencies in the picosecond–nanosecond timescale and from any exchange processes that may be occurring on the microsecond–millisecond timescale. The relaxation data was surprisingly similar for spermine bound to two different duplexes and a linear parallel quadruplex. Analysis of the relaxation data from these complexes confirmed the conclusions of previous studies that the dominant motion of spermine is independent of the macroscopic tumbling of the DNA and has an effective correlation time of ∼50 ps. In contrast, spermine bound to a folded antiparallel quadruplex had faster relaxation rates, especially R ₂. As with the other complexes, a fast internal motion of the order of 50 ps makes a substantial contribution to the relaxation. The generalized order parameter for spermine bound to duplex DNA and the linear quadruplex is small but is larger for spermine bound to the folded quadruplex. In the latter case, there is evidence for exchange between at least two populations of spermine occurring on the microsecond–millisecond timescale. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effect of Maternal Ethanol Consumption during Pregnancy and Lactation on Kinetic Parameters of Folic Acid Intestinal Transport in Suckling Rats

Ethanol ingestion is known to interfere with folate absorption and metabolism. A fostering/crossfostering analysis of maternal ethanol exposure effects on jejunum and ileum kinetic parameters in vivo of offspring rat folic acid absorption at 21 days postpartum was carried out. The rats were divided into four groups: CP, control pups; GP, pups exposed to ethanol only during gestation; LP, pups exposed to ethanol only during lactation; GLP, pups exposed to ethanol during gestation and lactation. Jejunal and ileal loop transport studies were performed using in vivo perfusion at a flow rate of 3 ml/min for 5 min. Folic acid concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.5 μm were used. Jejunal and ileal absorption values were determined by the difference between the initial and the final amounts of substrate in the perfusate and expressed as picomoles per square centimeter of intestinal surface every 5 min. The results indicated that ethanol consumption by the dams during gestation and/or lactation led to significant changes in V _max, with no significant changes in apparent K _m. These findings suggest that exposure to ethanol during gestational and suckling periods leads to a general delay in postnatal body weight and that intestinal folate absorption appears to be upregulated in suckling rats, this effect being higher in the LP group.     

海洋细菌E18菌株的生物学特性及其蓝紫色素稳定性的研究

从海泥中分离获得一株海洋细菌Ｅ18菌株,发现其具有稳定产生蓝紫色素的特性。对该菌的形态特征、培养特征及生理生化特征进行了研究。对该菌的分子鉴定结果表明,该菌为假交替单胞菌属细菌。萃取该菌的色素,并试验光、紫外线、热、pH、氧化剂及还原剂对该色素的影响,结果表明：该色素的最大吸收峰为579nm,紫外光对其稳定性无影响,但自然光对其有一定的消色作用。60℃～80℃温度范围对色素有一定的增色作用,而90℃以上高温可使色素消色。色素在pH3～9区域内稳定。色素对还原剂Na₂SO₃较为稳定, 而高浓度的氧化剂H₂O₂可使色素改变颜色。     

Exact one-sided confidence bounds for the risk ratio in 2 x 2 tables with structural zero

This paper examines exact one-sided confidence limits for the risk ratio in a 2 x 2 table with structural zero. Starting with four approximate lower and upper limits, we adjust each using the algorithm of Buehler (1957) to arrive at lower (upper) limits that have exact coverage properties and are as large (small) as possible subject to coverage, as well as an ordering, constraint. Different Buehler limits are compared by their mean size, since all are exact in their coverage. Buehler limits based on the signed root likelihood ratio statistic are found to have the best performance and recommended for practical use.     

Probing the dynamics of intact cells and nuclear envelope precursor membrane vesicles by deuterium solid state NMR spectroscopy

Membrane dynamics is an essential part of many cellular mechanisms such as intracellular trafficking, membrane fusion/fission and mitotic organelle reconstitution. The dynamics of membranes is dependent primarily on their phospholipid and cholesterol composition and how these molecules are ordered in relation to one another. To determine the physical status of membranes in whole cells or purified membranes of subcellular compartments we have developed a novel application exploiting solid-state ²H-NMR spectroscopy. We utilise this method to probe the dynamics of intact sperm and nuclear envelope precursor membranes. We show, using mass spectrometry, that either multilamellar or small unilamellar vesicles of deuterium-labelled palmitoyl-oleoylphosphatidylcholine can be used to probe the dynamics of sperm cells or nuclear envelope precursor membrane vesicles, respectively. Using ²H-NMR we determine the order parameters of sperm cells and nuclear envelope precursor membrane vesicles. We demonstrate that whole sperm membranes are more dynamic than nuclear envelope precursor membranes due to the higher cholesterol levels of the latter. Our new application can be exploited as a generic method for monitoring membrane dynamics in whole cells, various subcellular membrane compartments and membrane domains in subcellular compartments.     

芽胞杆菌苎麻脱胶酶-甘露聚糖酶的纯化及酶学性质

研究了苎麻高效脱胶菌株Bacillus subtilisNo.16A甘露聚糖酶的产生条件,纯化过程以及酶学性质。其优化的培养基为魔芋胶30 g/L,蛋白胨9 g/L,酵母膏2 g/L,KH2PO45 g/L,MgSO4.7H2O 0.25 g/L。优化的培养条件为起始pH 8.0,装样量50 mL,接种量10 mL,发酵72 h。进一步通过硫酸铵沉淀、阴离子交换层析、凝胶过滤3步从Bacillus subtilisNo.16A发酵液中纯化了甘露聚糖酶。结果表明,该酶分子量约为38.5ku,最适作用pH为7.0,最适作用温度为60℃,在55℃以下、中性pH(6.0~8.0)范围内稳定,Ca2 、Mn2 和A l3 、Mg2 对该酶有激活作用,Cu2 、Zn2 有抑制作用。     

一株产蓝色素菌株生物学特性及色素基本性质的研究

对一株从土壤中筛选的产蓝色素链霉菌-ZLT菌株进行了生物学特性和色素基本特性的研究。根据其形态、培养特征和生理生化特性分析,该产蓝色素菌株为链霉菌属,命名为链霉菌-ZLT。与现有报道的放线菌蓝色素相比,该色素纯度较高,无毒副作用,初步认为该色素为一种新的天然蓝色素。     

番石榴果实蝇与桃实蝇的形态区别

介绍我国口岸截获频率较高的2种形态相似的实蝇---番石榴果实蝇Bactrocera (Bactrocera) correcta(Bezzi) 和桃实蝇Bactrocera zonata Saunders的鉴别特征。两者主要区别在于桃实蝇具1对卵圆形黑色颜斑,中胸背板红褐色。     

气候和流域特征变化对淮河流域地表水文过程的影响

定量认识和理解气候与流域特征变化对淮河流域地表水文过程的影响,可以为科学管理淮河流域水资源提供重要的理论参考和技术支撑。评估了多控制因子联立求解归因方法的适用性,以此量化了淮河流域气候和Budyko参数n对不同年代蒸散发(ET)、径流变化(较基准期1961—1980年)的贡献,并且进行了归因分析,结果表明：1)多控制因子联立求解法可以准确有效地分离气候和参数n对ET和径流变化的贡献。2)在气候和参数n变化的共同影响下,20世纪80年代、90年代的ET和径流在沂沭泗河各水文分区均呈减小趋势,而在上游和中游各水文分区的变化则表现出明显的时空差异性。3)就各年代控制ET变化的主要因子,多数水文分区为参数n,其次为降水和潜在蒸散发(PET),分别集中在沂沭泗河地区和淮河上游。20世纪80年代,中游水文分区径流变化的主控因子为PET,其他水文分区则多为降水;而20世纪90年代和21世纪初多数水文分区的主控因子为参数n,其次为降水。总之,控制淮河流域ET和径流变化的物理机制具有明显的空间差异和年代际变化特征。