Why Are There So Many Diverse Replication Machineries?

The replicon model has initiated a major research line in molecular biology: the study of DNA replication mechanisms. Until now, the majority of studies have focused on a limited set of model organisms, mainly from Bacteria or Opisthokont eukaryotes (human, yeasts) and a few viral systems. However, molecular evolutionists have shown that the living world is more complex and diverse than believed when the operon model was proposed. Comparison of DNA replication proteins in the three domains, Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, have surprisingly revealed the existence of two distinct sets of non-homologous cellular DNA replication proteins, one in Bacteria and the other in Archaea and Eukarya, suggesting that the last universal common ancestor possibly still had an RNA genome. A major puzzle is the presence in eukaryotes of the unfaithful DNA polymerase alpha (Pol α) to prime Okazaki fragments. Interestingly, Pol α is specifically involved in telomere biosynthesis, and its absence in Archaea correlates with the absence of telomeres. The recent discovery of telomere-like GC quartets in eukaryotic replication origins suggests a link between Pol α and the overall organization of the eukaryotic chromosome. As previously proposed by Takemura, Pol α might have originated from a mobile element of viral origin that played a critical role in the emergence of the complex eukaryotic genomes. Notably, most large DNA viruses encode DNA replication proteins very divergent from their cellular counterparts. The diversity of viral replication machineries compared to cellular ones suggests that DNA and DNA replication mechanisms first originated and diversified in the ancient virosphere, possibly explaining why they are so many different types of replication machinerie.     

Brugia pahangi: Immunization with early L3 ES alters parasite migration,and reduces microfilaremia and lymphatic lesion formation in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Previous studies have shown that intradermally (ID) injected Brugia pahangi L3s migrate through various tissues and into the lymphatics of gerbils in a distinct pattern. Excretory/secretory products (ES) produced at the time of invasion of B. pahangi are likely to be important in this early migration phase of the parasite life cycle in their rodent host. Hence, early L3 ES was collected from 24 h in vitro cultures of B. pahangi L3 larvae and used in immunization experiments to investigate the effect of immunity to early L3 ES on worm migration, survival and development of B. pahangi. Immunization of gerbils with ES in RIBI adjuvant produced antibodies to numerous ES proteins eliciting a strong humoral response to ES and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay using anti-ES serum recognized the ES proteins on the surface of B. pahangi L3 larvae. Following ES immunization, gerbils were challenged either ID or intraperitoneally (IP) with 100 L3s of B. pahangi and euthanized at 3 or 106 days post inoculation (DPI). Immunization with early ES slowed the migration of ID inoculated L3 at 3 DPI and significantly altered the locations of adult worms at 106 DPI. Immunization did not induce protection in any treatment group. However, immunized animals had significantly fewer microfilariae per female worm suggesting the antigens in ES are important in microfilariae development or survival in the host. The number of lymphatic granulomas was also significantly reduced in ES immunized animals. It is important to note that microfilariae serve as a nidus in these granulomas. Our results shows immunization with early Brugia malayi L3 ES alters the worm migration, affects circulating microfilarial numbers and reduces lymphatic granulomas associated with B. pahangi infection in gerbils.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel aminothiazoles as antiviral compounds acting against human rhinovirus

We describe here the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of antiviral compounds acting against human rhinovirus (HRV). A series of aminothiazoles demonstrated pan-activity against the HRV genotypes screened and productive structure–activity relationships. A comprehensive investigational library was designed and performed allowing the identification of potent compounds with lower molecular weight and improved ADME profile. 31d-1, 31d-2, 31f showed good exposures in CD-1 mice. The mechanism of action was discovered to be a host target: the lipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase III beta (PI4KIIIß). The identification of the pan-HRV active compound 31f combined with a structurally distinct literature compound T-00127-HEV1 allowed the assessment of target related tolerability of inhibiting this kinase for a short period of time in order to prevent HRV replication.     

山东省大学生生物化学实验技能大赛选题分析

通过分析山东省大学生生物化学实验技能大赛两届获奖课题的特点,找出目前大学生在该项竞赛选题中展现出来的不足,对大学生今后在此类实验技能比赛中的选题方向及方法提出了建议。     

正交试验法优选复方四参颗粒剂的提取工艺

本文研究复方四参颗粒剂的提取工艺,采用正交试验法,以丹酚酸B提取率和干膏得率为指标,考察加水量、煎煮时间和煎煮次数对提取效果的影响,确立了复方四参颗粒剂的最佳提取工艺为:加8倍量水,提取2次,第一次时间为2 h,第二次为1 h。在最佳提取工艺条件下,干膏得率为16.58%,丹酚酸B的平均量为22.42mg。与正交试验的结果相符,说明该提取方法合理、稳定、可行。     

Purification and Properties of meso-α,∊-Diaminopimelate Decarboxylase from Bacillus sphaericus

Soybean 7S and 11S globulins were stored at relative humidities (RHs) of 11% and 96% at 50°C. The redispersibility of the proteins at RH 96% decreased in a short time. However, it did not decrease, when stored for 45 days at RH 11%. Gel filtration showed that the proteins polymerized during storage. The effects of urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) on the redispersibilities of the proteins at RH 96% showed that the hydrogen, hydrophobic and disulfide bonds participate in the polymerization of 7S globulin, and that the disulfide bond is strongly related to the polymerization of 11S globulin. Redispersibility was restored with 2-ME in both the 7S and 11S globulins and some of the proteins in the supernatant redispersed with 2-ME were observed to be similar to the native ones with respect to the gel filtration, electrophoretic behavior and circular dichroism spectrum.     

南方红壤区3年生茶园土壤呼吸特征

为探讨南方红壤区茶园的土壤呼吸特征,采用LI-Cor8100开路式土壤碳通量测定系统观测3年生茶园系统的土壤呼吸速率,对茶园土壤呼吸速率的季节变化和在茶行尺度上的空间异质性进行了研究。结果表明,茶园土壤呼吸速率的月动态变化呈明显的单峰曲线特征,峰值出现在8月;茶园土壤呼吸速率的月动态变化与温度呈极显著相关(P<0.01),土壤10 cm的温度能够解释茶园不同观测区域土壤呼吸速率月动态变化的67.79%~88.52%;用指数方程计算的茶园不同观测区域土壤呼吸Q10值为1.58~1.86。在茶行尺度上,茶园土壤呼吸速率存在明显的空间异质性,土壤呼吸速率通常在距离茶树基部较近的位置较高;根系生物量能够解释茶园土壤呼吸速率在茶行尺度上空间变异的82.68%。因此,根系分布的空间差异是造成茶园土壤呼吸速率空间异质性的主要原因。     

Microbial composition affects the functioning of estuarine sediments

Although microorganisms largely drive many ecosystem processes, the relationship between microbial composition and their functioning remains unclear. To tease apart the effects of composition and the environment directly, microbial composition must be manipulated and maintained, ideally in a natural ecosystem. In this study, we aimed to test whether variability in microbial composition affects functional processes in a field setting, by reciprocally transplanting riverbed sediments between low- and high-salinity locations along the Nonesuch River (Maine, USA). We placed the sediments into microbial ‘cages'' to prevent the migration of microorganisms, while allowing the sediments to experience the abiotic conditions of the surroundings. We performed two experiments, short- (1 week) and long-term (7 weeks) reciprocal transplants, after which we assayed a variety of functional processes in the cages. In both experiments, we examined the composition of bacteria generally (targeting the 16S rDNA gene) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) specifically (targeting the dsrAB gene) using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). In the short-term experiment, sediment processes (CO₂ production, CH₄ flux, nitrification and enzyme activities) depended on both the sediment''s origin (reflecting differences in microbial composition between salt and freshwater sediments) and the surrounding environment. In the long-term experiment, general bacterial composition (but not SRB composition) shifted in response to their new environment, and this composition was significantly correlated with sediment functioning. Further, sediment origin had a diminished effect, relative to the short-term experiment, on sediment processes. Overall, this study provides direct evidence that microbial composition directly affects functional processes in these sediments.     

Grassland plant species occurring in extensively managed road verges are filtered by urban environments

Background: Urbanisation filters species in communities depending on their adaptability to conditions in built-up areas, especially in semi-natural habitats. Roadside vegetation is widespread along urban-rural gradients and is therefore a good place to study landscape-scale factors influencing plant community composition.

Aim: Our study aimed to assess how plant species distributions vary between urban and rural landscape contexts and to identify biological traits favoured in urban areas.

Methods: Presence/absence data for 63 indigenous common species were collected in 296 road verge patches distributed along the urban–rural gradient in three French cities. We investigated the effects of landscape composition on species assemblages and related individual species responses to urbanisation to functional traits associated with dispersal and persistence capacity.

Results: Many grassland species were negatively affected by increasing proportion of built-up areas in the landscape. Insect-pollination and high seed production appeared to be key traits favoured in grassland communities in urban areas, whereas dispersal modes were less related to plant distribution.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that urban filters affect common species of widespread, managed road verges. Better knowledge of the flora of these herbaceous roadsides may contribute to the conservation of common biodiversity within other grassland habitats found in urban areas.