Quantifying apoprotein synthesis in rodents: coupling LC-MS/MS analyses with the administration of labeled water

Stable isotope tracer studies of apoprotein flux in rodent models present difficulties as they require working with small volumes of plasma. We demonstrate the ability to measure apoprotein flux by administering either (2)H- or (18)O-labeled water to mice and then subjecting samples to LC-MS/MS analyses; we were able to simultaneously determine the labeling of several proteolytic peptides representing multiple apoproteins. Consistent with relative differences reported in the literature regarding apoprotein flux in humans, we found that the fractional synthetic rate of apoB is greater than apoA1 in mice. In addition, the method is suitable for quantifying acute changes in protein flux: we observed a stimulation of apoB production in mice following an intravenous injection of Intralipid and a decrease in apoB production in mice treated with an inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. In summary, we demonstrate a high-throughput method for studying apoprotein kinetics in rodent models. Although notable differences exist between lipoprotein profiles that are observed in rodents and humans, we expect that the method reported here has merit in studies of dyslipidemia as i) rodent models can be used to probe target engagement in cases where one aims to modulate apoprotein production and ii) the approach should be adaptable to studies in humans.     

The first potassium channel toxin from the venom of the Iranian scorpion Odonthobuthus doriae

The very first member of K(+) channels toxins from the venom of the Iranian scorpion Odonthobuthus doriae (OdK1) was purified, sequenced and characterized physiologically. OdK1 has 29 amino acids, six conserved cysteines and a pI value of 4.95. Based on multiple sequence alignments, OdK1 was classified as alpha-KTx 8.5. The pharmacological effects of OdK1 were studied on six different cloned K(+) channels (vertebrate Kv1.1-Kv1.5 and Shaker IR) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Interestingly, OdK1 selectively inhibited the currents through Kv1.2 channels with an IC50 value of 183+/-3 nM but did not affect any of the other channels.     

四川大头茶若干生态问题的研究

四川大头茶(Gordonia acumenata)是我国亚热带西南地区常绿阔叶林优势种之一,材质好,生长快而又未被人注意的一种优良树种。由于它是喜阳的常绿阔叶顶极先锋种(pioneer climax species)其幼苗耐阴,所以在针阔叶混交林中排挤了先锋树种(pioneer species)马尾松,而本身又在常绿阔叶林演替阶段,被更耐阴的顶极种(climax species)所代替,这是由于顶极种有较高的生态位重叠(niche overiap)和最大的生态位宽度(niche breadth)值。四川大头茶Pn日变化具有双峰曲线型和单峰曲线型两种模式,而年变化有明显的季节现象。光照强度和温度是决定Pn的两个主要生态因子,并具有较高的饱和净光合速率和降低暗呼吸能力使其成为喜阳速生的特性。由于速生,其生物量可达176.62t·ha-1;生产量达10.86t·ha-1。四川大头茶幼苗的蒸腾强度与大气湿度、叶温、光强、相对湿度、叶含水量等参数的变化有密切关系。干旱胁迫使光合速率明显下降,从而影响地上部分的生物生产力,但根／冠比却增加18.18%,这可能是植株对干旱胁迫的一种生态适应对策。四川大头茶各器官的营养元素分配与季节有密切关系,同时与土壤中相应的元素含量也有关。     

Production ofBeauveria bassiana [Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes] in different liquid media and subsequent conidiation of dry mycelium

Mycelium ofBeauveria bassiana can be grown in liquid culture, filtered, and the mycelium dried. After rehydration the mycelium sporulates. Two carbohydrate sources (sucrose and maltose), and one nitrogen/vitamin source (yeast extract) were tested for mycelium growth and subsequent conidial production. Maximum mycelium growth (12.31 mg/ml), in liquid culture, was in the sucrose (3.5%)/yeast extract (3.5%) medium, but mycelium from a maltose (2%)/yeast extract (0.75%) medium produced the maximum of 4.62×10⁶ conidia/mg dry mycelium after incubation in moist Petri dishes. Using the data on mycelium yield (in liquid culture) and conidial production (by dry mycelium) it is calculated that the sucrose (3.5%)/yeast extract (3.5%) and the maltose (2%)/yeast extract (0.75%) media produce most conidia per media volume (an equivalent of 3.52–3.72×10⁷ conidia/ml).      

沙棘对中国亚湿润干旱区的杨树人工林养分分布及生物循环影响

通过将沙棘（ＨｉｐｐｏｐｈａｅｒｈａｍｎｏｉｄｅｓＬ．）与三种杨树品种（小黑杨（Ｐｏｐｕｌｕｓ‘Ｘｉａｏｈｅｉ’）昭林６号杨（Ｐ．‘Ｚａｏｌｉｎ０６’）和欧美杨６４号（Ｐ．ｅｕｒａｍｅｒｉｃａｎｅｃｖ．‘Ｎ３０１６’）的人工林分别按株混和行混两种方式进行混交实验,研究了固氮植物沙棘对亚湿润干旱区的杨树人工林养分分布和循环的影响,连续３ａ的观测研究得以下结果,沙棘叶片的氮,磷和钾的元素粪土了高于杨树     

Hybrid maize breeding with doubled haploids: I. One-stage versus two-stage selection for testcross performance

Optimum allocation of resources is of fundamental importance for the efficiency of breeding programs. The objectives of our study were to (1) determine the optimum allocation for the number of lines and test locations in hybrid maize breeding with doubled haploids (DHs) regarding two optimization criteria, the selection gain ΔG _k and the probability P _k of identifying superior genotypes, (2) compare both optimization criteria including their standard deviations (SDs), and (3) investigate the influence of production costs of DHs on the optimum allocation. For different budgets, number of finally selected lines, ratios of variance components, and production costs of DHs, the optimum allocation of test resources under one- and two-stage selection for testcross performance with a given tester was determined by using Monte Carlo simulations. In one-stage selection, lines are tested in field trials in a single year. In two-stage selection, optimum allocation of resources involves evaluation of (1) a large number of lines in a small number of test locations in the first year and (2) a small number of the selected superior lines in a large number of test locations in the second year, thereby maximizing both optimization criteria. Furthermore, to have a realistic chance of identifying a superior genotype, the probability P _k of identifying superior genotypes should be greater than 75%. For budgets between 200 and 5,000 field plot equivalents, P _k > 75% was reached only for genotypes belonging to the best 5% of the population. As the optimum allocation for P _k (5%) was similar to that for ΔG _k , the choice of the optimization criterion was not crucial. The production costs of DHs had only a minor effect on the optimum number of locations and on values of the optimization criteria. C. Friedrich H. Longin and H. Friedrich Utz contributed equally to this work.     

Direct peptide profiling of lateral cell groups of the antennal lobes of Manduca sexta reveals specific composition and changes in neuropeptide expression during development

The paired antennal lobes are the first integration centers for odor information in the insect brain. In the sphinx moth Manduca sexta, like in other holometabolous insects, they are formed during metamorphosis. To further understand mechanisms involved in the formation of this particularly well investigated brain area, we performed a direct peptide profiling of a well defined cell group (the lateral cell group) of the antennal lobe throughout development by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Although the majority of the about 100 obtained ion signals represent still unknown substances, this first peptidomic characterization of this cell group indicated the occurrence of 12 structurally known neuropeptides. Among these peptides are helicostatin 1, cydiastatins 2, 3, and 4, M. sexta-allatotropin (Mas-AT), M. sexta-FLRFamide (Mas-FLRFamide) I, II, and III, nonblocked Mas-FLRFamide I, and M. sexta-myoinhibitory peptides (Mas-MIPs) III, V, and VI. The identity of two of the allatostatins (cydiastatins 3 and 4) and Mas-AT were confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). During development of the antennal lobe, number and frequency of ion signals including those representing known peptides generally increased at the onset of glomeruli formation at pupal Stage P7/8, with cydiastatin 2, helicostatin 1, and Mas-MIP V being the exceptions. Cydiastatin 2 showed transient occurrence mainly during the period of glomerulus formation, helicostatin 1 was restricted to late pupae and adults, while Mas-MIP V occurred exclusively in adult antennal lobes. The power of the applied direct mass spectrometric profiling lies in the possibility of chemically identifying neuropeptides of a given cell population in a fast and reliable manner, at any developmental stage in single specimens. The identification of neuropeptides in the antennal lobes now allows to specifically address the function of these signaling molecules during the formation of the antennal lobe network.     

金沙江干旱河谷退化草地群落对氮磷施肥的反应

在云南省境内的金沙江干旱河谷区, 选择退化严重的草地群落研究氮磷施肥对群落动态的影响。经过一个生长季的施肥处理, 结果表明, 除大量施磷肥处理(20 g·a^-1·m^-2)时, 可能因施磷过多群落生物量和密度没有出现增加外。其余的施氮和施磷处理均导致群落地上生物量和密度增加, 而且施氮处理引起群落地上生物量和密度增加的程度都高于施磷处理。说明在干旱河谷退化严重的草地生态系统, 氮是限制系统恢复的主要因素。施肥后禾本科草本植物密度大量增加, 而乔灌木密度增加不明显, 群落在短期内变成以禾本科草本植物为主的状态。施氮和施磷没有引起群落种数量和植物多样性指数的明显变化。试验结束时土壤的铵态氮、硝态氮和有效磷浓度没因施肥而增加, 但施肥处理的植物体氮和磷浓度增加。     

The yeast Ski complex is a hetero-tetramer

The yeast Ski complex assists the exosome in the degradation of mRNA. The Ski complex consists of three components; Ski2, Ski3, and Ski8, believed to be present in a 1:1:1 stoichiometry. Measuring the mass of intact isolated endogenously expressed Ski complexes by native mass spectrometry we unambiguously demonstrate that the Ski complex has a hetero-tetrameric stoichiometry consisting of one copy of Ski2 and Ski3 and two copies of Ski8. To validate the stoichiometry of the Ski complex, we performed tandem mass spectrometry. In these experiments one Ski8 subunit was ejected concomitant with the formation of a Ski2/Ski3/Ski8 fragment, confirming the proposed stoichiometry. To probe the topology of the Ski complex we disrupted the complex and mass analyzed the thus formed subcomplexes, detecting Ski8-Ski8, Ski2-Ski3, Ski8-Ski2, and Ski8-Ski8-Ski2. Combining all data we construct an improved structural model of the Ski complex.