Differential expression inArabidopsis ofLhca2, a PSI cab gene

A cDNA clone of the geneLhca2 encoding a photosystem I (PSI) type II chlorophylla/b-binding protein was isolated fromArabidopsis thaliana. The isolation of this, the fourth PSI cab gene fromArabidopsis, confirms a previous report [1] that indicatedArabidopsis may contain all four PSI cab genes identified in other plant species.Lhca2 is a single-copy gene as are the other knownArabidopsis PSI cab genes. The patterns of developmental expression and tissue-specific regulation ofLhca2 are similar to those of other PSI and PSII cab genes, but the light induction pattern and the steady-state mRNA level ofLhca2 are distinct. This suggests that a different mechanism may be employed to regulate the expression ofLhca2.     

Effects of zinc on factor I cofactor activity of C4b-binding protein and factor H

Complement inhibition is to a large extent achieved by proteolytic degradation of activated complement factors C3b and C4b by factor I (FI). This reaction requires a cofactor protein that binds C3b/C4b. We found that the cofactor activity of C4b-binding protein towards C4b/C3b and factor H towards C3b increase at micromolar concentrations of Zn(2+) and are abolished at 2 mM Zn(2+) and above. 65Zn(2+) bound to C3b and C4b molecules but not the cofactors or FI when they were immobilized in a native form on a nitrocellulose membrane. Zn(2+) binding constants for C3met (0.2 microM) and C4met (0.1 microM) were determined using fluorescent chelator. It appears that higher cofactor activity at low zinc concentrations is due to an increase of affinity between C4b/C3b and cofactor proteins as assessed by surface plasmon resonance. Inhibition of the reaction seen at higher concentrations is due to aggregation of C4b/C3b.     

ATPase‐driven oligomerization of RIG‐I on RNA allows optimal activation of type‐I interferon

The cytosolic pathogen sensor RIG‐I is activated by RNAs with exposed 5′‐triphosphate (5′‐ppp) and terminal double‐stranded structures, such as those that are generated during viral infection. RIG‐I has been shown to translocate on dsRNA in an ATP‐dependent manner. However, the precise role of the ATPase activity in RIG‐I activation remains unclear. Using in vitro‐transcribed Sendai virus defective interfering RNA as a model ligand, we show that RIG‐I oligomerizes on 5′‐ppp dsRNA in an ATP hydrolysis‐dependent and dsRNA length‐dependent manner, which correlates with the strength of type‐I interferon (IFN‐I) activation. These results establish a clear role for the ligand‐induced ATPase activity of RIG‐I in the stimulation of the IFN response.     

汉、回、蒙古族拇指类型、环食指长、扣手、交叉臂及惯用手的研究

作者于1996年在内蒙古调查了汉、回、蒙古族5项人类遗传学经典指标(拇指类型、环食指长、扣手、交叉臂、惯用手)。研究结果显示:(1)3个民族间拇指类型、扣手出现率存在显著性差异,交叉臂、惯用手出现率则无显著性差异,环食指长出现率蒙-汉、蒙-回间存在显著性差异;(2)拇指类型、扣手、惯用手出现率无性别间差异,环食指长出现率男女间存在显著性差异;(3)惯用手与扣手、惯用手与交叉臂间存在明显的相互关系,交叉臂与扣手之间则无关;(4)与国外人群比较,3个民族环指长出现率高,交叉臂R型出现率较高,扣手R型出现率较低,惯用手L型出现率高于印度的一些群体。 Abstract:Authors in vestigated 5 general indexes of anthrotogical genetics including pollical type,palmar digital formula,hand clasping,arm folding and handedness in Han,Hui and Mongol nationalities in 1996.The results showed as follows:(1)There were significant differences in the frequency of pollical type and hand clasping in 3 nationalities,but those of arm folding and handedness showed nosignificant difference and the frequencies of palmar digital formula between the Mongol and the Hui revealed significant difference.(2)There were no significant sexual difference in the frequency of pollical type,hand clasping and handedness while the long type (R) of ring finger revealed significant sexual difference.(3)There were obvious correlations between handedness and hand clasping,handedness and arm folding but no relation between arm folding and hand clasping.(4)In comparison with foreign ethnic groups,the 3 nationalities showed higher frequencies of long type (R) of ring finger and right-arm folding but the frequence right-hand clasping revealed slightly lower.The findings showed higher frequence of Left-Handedness than that of Indian population.     

Functional LCAT deficiency in human apolipoprotein A-I transgenic, SR-BI knockout mice

Reduction of plasma LCAT activity has been observed in several conditions in which the size of HDL particles is increased; however, the mechanism of this reduction remains elusive. We investigated the plasma activity, mass, and in vivo catabolism of LCAT and its association with HDL particles in human apolipoprotein A-I transgenic, scavenger receptor class B type I knockout (hA-ITg SR-BI-/-) mice. Compared with hA-ITg mice, hA-ITg SR-BI-/- mice had a 4-fold higher total plasma cholesterol concentration, which occurred predominantly in 13-18 nm diameter HDL particles, a significant reduction in plasma esterified cholesterol-total cholesterol (EC/TC) ratio, and significantly lower plasma LCAT activity, suggesting a decrease in LCAT protein. However, LCAT protein in plasma, hepatic mRNA for LCAT, and in vivo turnover of 35S-radiolabeled LCAT were similar in both genotypes of mice. HDL from hA-ITg SR-BI-/- mice was enriched in sphingomyelin (SM), relative to phosphatidylcholine, and had less associated [35S]LCAT radiolabel and endogenous LCAT activity compared with HDL from hA-ITg mice. We conclude that the decreased EC/TC ratio in the plasma of hA-ITg SR-BI-/- mice is attributed to a reduction in LCAT reactivity with SM-enriched HDL particles.     

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in antiviral immunity and autoimmunity

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) represent a unique and crucial immune cell population capable of producing large amounts of type I interferons (IFNs) in response to viral infection. The function of pDCs as the professional type I IFN-producing cells is linked to their selective expression of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and TLR9, which sense viral nucleic acids within the endosomal compartments. Type I IFNs produced by pDCs not only directly inhibit viral replication but also play an essential role in linking the innate and adaptive immune system. The aberrant activation of pDCs by self nucleic acids through TLR signaling and the ongoing production of type I IFNs do occur in some autoimmune diseases. Therefore, pDC may serve as an attractive target for therapeutic manipulations of the immune system to treat viral infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.     

Assessment of antifungal effects of a novel compound from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia cepacia</Emphasis> against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium solani</Emphasis> by fluorescent staining

A novel compound CF66I produced by Burkholeria cepacia was investigated for its antifungal effects against Fusarium solani by three different fluorescent dyes. Dual staining with propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) demonstrated high doses of CF66I (120.0 μg ml⁻¹) killed the fungi by acting primarily on the cell membrane. However, at fungistatic concentration (20.0 μg ml⁻¹) of this compound, microscopic observations revealed swelling hyphae with abnormal chitin deposition, as determined by Calcofluor white (CFW) staining, which was indicative of the alterations in cell wall structure. In addition, inhibition of intracellular esterases activity was observed. These results led us to conclude that low doses of CF66I probably inhibited the fungal growth by interfering with the cell metabolic pathways.