Examination of DNA sequences undergoing chromatin conformation changes at a variegating breakpoint in Drosophila melanogaster

Position effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster is associated with the inability of certain genes to be correctly expressed in a proportion of cells, giving a mosaic phenotype. The lack of expression is thought to be due to alterations in the gene's chromatin structure due to its proximity to a region of heterochromatin. Because of the difficulties involved, there is little biochemical data to support the intuitively appealing model of heterochromatin spreading used to explain this phenomenon.Differences in restriction fragment length were used to distinguish DNA regions from either normal (non-position affected) or rearranged (position affected) chromosomes so as to examine possible changes in gene copy number and the effects of endogenous nucleases. DNA sequences at the breakpoint of In (1)w ^m4, which variegates for the white gene, were assayed under conditions where the chromatin conformation was altered using second site modifier mutations (Su(var) or En(var)). No change in the DNA sequerice copy number was observed at either chromosome breakpoint, relative to wild type, when either suppressor or enhancer mutations were present. Therefore copy number change, through differential polyploidization or somatic gene loss, is not affected by Su(var) or En(var) induced changes in the chromatin conformation.Initial experiments showed a gross difference in the sensitivity of DNA to endogenous nucleases that appeared associated with Su(var) and En(var) mutations. En(var) mutation bearing samples appeared delayed in the digestion, relative to Su(var). This differential sensitivity seemed to be genome-wide as there was no detectable difference between either breakpoint of In(1)w ^m4 or the sequences on the homologous w ^- chromosome. However, after isogenizing the genetic background, the previously noted difference between the Su(var) and En(var) mutations was eliminated. In studies dealing with nuclease digestion of chromatin, the isogenization of genetic background is essential before meaningful comparisons can be made.     

Stimulatory effect of β-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc on cell proliferation is dependent on protein synthesis in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

The effect of -alanyl-L-histidinato zinc (AHZ) on bone metabolism was investigated in osteoblastic MC3T3-El cells. Cells were cultured for 3 days at 37°C in a CO₂ incubator in plastic dishes containing -modified minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. After the cultures, the medium was exchanged for that containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin plus various concentrations of AHZ or other reagents, and the cells were cultured further for appropriate periods of time. The presence of AHZ (10^–7–10^–5M) stimulated the proliferation of cells. AHZ (10^–6 and 10^–5M) increased deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content in the cells with 48hr-culture. This increase was completely blocked by the presence of cycloheximide (10^–6M) or hydroxyurea (10^–3M). Also, the presence of cycloheximide (10^–6M) completely inhibited the AHZ (10^–5M)-induced increase in the proliferation of cells. Meanwhile, parathyroid hormone (10^–7M), estrogen (10^–9M) and insulin (10^–M) significantly increased cellular DNA content. However, these hormonal effects clearly lowered in comparison with that of AHZ (10^–5M). Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10^–4M) and zinc sulfate (10^–5M) did not cause a significant increase in cellular DNA content. The present results support the view that AHZ has a direct specific proliferative effect on osteoblastic cellsin vitro and that this effect is dependent on protein synthesis.     

Ar^＋,远红外激光,γ射线单一及复合处理水稻的诱变效果

用Ar~+、远红外两种激光和~(60)Co—r射线单一或复合处理两个籼稻品种的干种子,分析和比较了不同处理对水稻的当代生物学效应及处理二代的变异频率。结果表明,两种激光对当代的几个性状均表现为刺激效应,并有减轻,射线辐射损伤的作用,复合处理二代的变异频率和变异类型数明显高于相应的单一处理。说明复合处理是提高激光育种效果的有效方法。     

番茄种子经激光和咖啡因处理后其当代生物效应的研究

咖啡因具有抑制一些酶的活性,可减弱或消除生物体自身对激光引起的生物效应的修复作用。试验证明咖啡因对番茄种子萌发有强烈的抑制作用,咖啡因和激光复合处理生物效应显著,可降低番茄种子的发芽,并促进番茄果实增大和生长前期速率加快。     

Synergistic antibacterial activity of carvacrol loaded chitosan nanoparticles with Topoisomerase inhibitors and genotoxicity evaluation

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a significant healthcare crisis with substantial socioeconomic impact on global community. The development of new antibiotics is both costly and time-consuming prompting the exploration of alternative solutions such as nanotechnology which represents opportunities for targeted drug delivery and reduced MIC. However, concerns have arisen regarding genotoxic effects of nanoparticles on human health necessitating an evaluation of nanoparticle induced DNA damage.This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial potential of already prepared, characterized chitosan nanoparticles loaded with carvacrol and their potential synergism with Topoisomerase II inhibitors against S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhi using agar well diffusion, microdilution and checkerboard method. Genotoxicity was assessed through comet assay.Results showed that both alone and drug combinations of varying concentrations exhibited greater zones of inhibition at higher concentrations. Carvacrol nanoparticles combined with ciprofloxacin and doxorubicin significantly reduced MIC compared to the drugs used alone. The MIC₅₀ values for ciprofloxacin were 35.8 µg/ml, 48.74 µg/ml, 35.57 µg/ml while doxorubicin showed MIC₅₀ values of 20.79 µg/ml, 34.35 µg/ml, 25.32 µg/ml against S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhi respectively. The FICI of ciprofloxacin and doxorubicin with carvacrol nanoparticles found ≤ 0.5 Such as 0.44, 0.44,0.48 for ciprofloxacin and 0.45, 0.45, 0.46 for doxorubicin against S. aureus, E. coli and S. typhi respectively revealed the synergistic effect. The analysis of comet assay output images showed alteration of DNA at high concentrations.Our results suggested that carvacrol nanoparticles in combination with Topoisomerase inhibitors may prevent and control the emergence of resistant bacteria with reduced dose.     

Interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation on birds across different climate zones: A mechanistic perspective

Climate change and urbanisation are among the most pervasive and rapidly growing threats to biodiversity worldwide. However, their impacts are usually considered in isolation, and interactions are rarely examined. Predicting species' responses to the combined effects of climate change and urbanisation, therefore, represents a pressing challenge in global change biology. Birds are important model taxa for exploring the impacts of both climate change and urbanisation, and their behaviour and physiology have been well studied in urban and non-urban systems. This understanding should allow interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation to be inferred, yet considerations of these interactions are almost entirely lacking from empirical research. Here, we synthesise our current understanding of the potential mechanisms that could affect how species respond to the combined effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation, with a focus on avian taxa. We discuss potential interactive effects to motivate future in-depth research on this critically important, yet overlooked, aspect of global change biology. Increased temperatures are a pronounced consequence of both urbanisation (through the urban heat island effect) and climate change. The biological impact of this warming in urban and non-urban systems will likely differ in magnitude and direction when interacting with other factors that typically vary between these habitats, such as resource availability (e.g. water, food and microsites) and pollution levels. Furthermore, the nature of such interactions may differ for cities situated in different climate types, for example, tropical, arid, temperate, continental and polar. Within this article, we highlight the potential for interactive effects of climate and urban drivers on the mechanistic responses of birds, identify knowledge gaps and propose promising future research avenues. A deeper understanding of the behavioural and physiological mechanisms mediating species' responses to urbanisation and rising temperatures will provide novel insights into ecology and evolution under global change and may help better predict future population responses.     

Accelerated organic matter decomposition in thermokarst lakes upon carbon and phosphorus inputs

Mineralization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in thermokarst lakes plays a non-negligible role in the permafrost carbon (C) cycle, but remains poorly understood due to its complex interactions with external C and nutrient inputs (i.e., aquatic priming and nutrient effects). Based on large-scale lake sampling and laboratory incubations, in combination with ¹³C-stable-isotope labeling, optical spectroscopy, and high-throughput sequencing, we examined large-scale patterns and dominant drivers of priming and nutrient effects of DOM biodegradation across 30 thermokarst lakes along a 1100-km transect on the Tibetan Plateau. We observed that labile C and phosphorus (P) rather than nitrogen (N) inputs stimulated DOM biodegradation, with the priming and P effects being 172% and 451% over unamended control, respectively. We also detected significant interactive effects of labile C and nutrient supply on DOM biodegradation, with the combined labile C and nutrient additions inducing stronger microbial mineralization than C or nutrient treatment alone, illustrating that microbial activity in alpine thermokarst lakes is co-limited by both C and nutrients. We further found that the aquatic priming was mainly driven by DOM quality, with the priming intensity increasing with DOM recalcitrance, reflecting the limitation of external C as energy sources for microbial activity. Greater priming intensity was also associated with higher community-level ribosomal RNA gene operon (rrn) copy number and bacterial diversity as well as increased background soluble reactive P concentration. In contrast, the P effect decreased with DOM recalcitrance as well as with background soluble reactive P and ammonium concentrations, revealing the declining importance of P availability in mediating DOM biodegradation with enhanced C limitation but reduced nutrient limitation. Overall, the stimulation of external C and P inputs on DOM biodegradation in thermokarst lakes would amplify C-climate feedback in this alpine permafrost region.     

四川缙云山森林群落林窗边缘效应的研究

 本文运用Shannon—Wiener物种多样性指数、Simpson生态优势度指标以及边缘效应强度指数,对缙云山亚热带森林群落林窗的边缘效应现象进行了初步研究。29个林窗样地不同部位上述指标的测定表明用物种多样性指数拟合边缘效应测度通式,缙云山亚热带森林群落林窗的边缘效应强度值为1—3左右;而用生态优势度值拟合边缘效应强度测式,则上述边缘效应强度值为0.1一1.2左右。研究表明林窗边缘区由于边缘效应的作用有增大物种多样性的趋势。而林窗面积、所处坡向以及林窗所在的森林群落类型,都对处于不同发育阶段的林窗的边缘效应强度具有影响。在此基础上,本文对林窗边缘效应强度的变化规律、效应性质、测定意义以及对森林营造和优化管理上的作用进行了一定探讨。     

用转移因子治疗159例奶牛乳房炎的效果观察

本文报道了在国内首次用转移因子制剂治疗奶牛隐性乳房炎的效果。我们采用的转移因子制剂是本单位从健康猪脾细胞提取的,经按人用转移因子制检规程检测达到要求后,用于本省西部、东部和郊区三个奶牛场计159头患隐性乳房炎的奶牛,每天一次肌注,连续用药5次,测定用药前后的客观指标(CMT、BTB、苛性钠及氯化物凝乳试验等),以痊愈、显效、好转及无效等判定标准,经统计学处理后看出,用药后与用药前比较,差异非常显著(P<0.01),治疗组的有效率为91.2％,看出了应用转移因子治疗奶牛隐性乳房炎具有明显的治疗效果。