The random walk description for isotope exchange in a polypeptide

Isotope exchange in a polypeptide is considered from the point of view in which the boundary point between helix and coil regions of a polypeptide behaves like a weakly asymmetric random walker. We assume that the boundary point is reflected completely at the ends of a polypeptide. The equilibrium fraction of helix region is obtained under this assumption, and this is also confirmed by computer simulation. The experimental results of isotope exchange can be explained in this situation. On the other hand. the rate constant of exchange of a residue given by experiments can also be explained by another assumption, as considered before (M. Fujiwara and N. Saitô, Polym. J. 9 (1977) 625.), in which the nucleations of coil states take place in the helix region. Which of the two is of major importance is left to further studies.     

Passive uptake of K+(86Rb+) in sunflower roots at low external K+ concentrations

Passive fluxes of K⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) into roots of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L. cv. Uniflorus) were determined at low K⁺ concentration (0.1 and 1.0 mM K⁺) in the ambient solution. Metabolic uptake of K⁺ was inhibited by 10⁻⁴M 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). K⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) fluxes were studied both continuously and by time differentiation of uptake. In high K⁺ roots passive uptake was directly proportional to the K⁺ concentration of the uptake solution, indicating free diffusion. This assumption was supported by the fact that passive Rb⁺ uptake was not affected by high K⁺ concentrations. In low K⁺ roots the passive uptake of K⁺ was higher than in high K⁺ roots. The increase was possibly due to carrier-mediated K⁺ transport. As K⁺ effluxes were quantitatively similar to influxes, it is suggested that passive K⁺ fluxes represent exchange diffusion without relation to net K⁺ transport.     

Chemical equilibrium and E value of Zn (ZnE) in inceptisols and entisols of tropical india

Summary The chemical equilibrium and E value for Zn was calculated in 9 soils of Haryana (India) which represented mainly entisol and inceptisols. The rate of isotopic exchange between⁶⁵Zn and native soil Zn was quite rapid and radioactivity reduced to about 0.2 per cent of initial activity after 3 days but total Zn concentration in soil solution did not decrease. In 5 out of 9 soils equilibrium was established in 2 to 3 days. In typic ustochrepts having high clay content (3,4) equilibrium was attained in two days. In typic udipsamments (2), typic camborthids (8) and aquic vertic ustichrepts (9) it took 3 days to set equilibrium. Typic ustochrepts (5) took 5 days for equilibrium whereas typic ustipssaments (6) and typic camborthids of high O.C. did not attain equilibrium even in 7 days. This indicated that the chemistry and availability of Zn in soil would depend on soil types. When Zn_E was estimated by applying activity after equilibrium with carrier Zn and by applying activity with carrier Zn before equilibrium was set, there was no agreement in Zn_E in two methods. Increasing Zn_E with increasing Zn dose was observed by both methods only in alkaline typic ustochrept (4). In some soils higher E values than added amounts were observed, whereas, in soil 8 negative E values were obtained. The E values become erratic and are over estimated where complex reactions take place due to high pH, high O.C. and high complex forming elements.     

Isolation of a highly active H+-ATPase from beef heart mitochondria

The lysolecithin extraction procedure originally described by Sadleret al. (1974) has been modified to yield a H⁺-ATPase with high levels of P_i-ATP exchange activity (400–600 nmol × min^–1 × mg^–1). This activity is further enhanced (1400–1600 nmol × min^–1 × mg^–1) following sucrose density gradient centrifugation in the presence of asolectin. This enhancement results in part from a lipid-dependent activation and in part from removal of inactive complexes. The H⁺ translocating activity of the complex has been determined spectrophotometrically using binding of oxonol VI as an indicator of membrane potential. P_i-ATP exchange, ATP hydrolysis, and oxonol binding are sensitive to energy-transfer inhibitors (oligomycin, rutamycin) and/or uncouplers (DNP, FCCP).     

Protein-mediated hydroxyl radical generation--the primary event in NADH oxidation and oxygen reduction by the granule rich fraction of human resting leukocytes.

The granule rich-fraction isolated from human resting polymorphonuclear leukocytes is capable of CN-insensitive NADH oxidation and O₂-uptake, accompanied by production of superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals and H₂O₂. We showed that H₂O₂ initiates and maintains NADH oxidation and O₂-uptake but is also necessary for the formation of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals. It acts as a primary substrate for CN-insensitive protein-mediated formation of hydroxyl radicals, which in turn produce superoxide anions, probably through univalent oxidation of NADH as an intermediary.     

太行山南麓山区栓皮栎-扁担杆生态系统水分利用策略

分析了太行山南麓低丘山区降水、泉水、地下水、土壤水以及栓皮栎、扁担杆的氢氧稳定同位素特征,结合Iso Source模型确定了栓皮栎和扁担杆水分来源的季节性差异,并对栓皮栎和扁担杆水分利用策略进行分析。结果表明,同一生态系统中的栓皮栎和扁担杆枝条水的δ18O和δD值差别明显。雨季中栓皮栎和扁担杆水分来源较浅,以0—20 cm土壤水分为主,但旱季中栓皮栎和扁担杆水分主要来源均比雨季明显加深,其中栓皮栎主要利用40—60 cm土壤水分,扁担杆则主要利用20—40 cm土壤水分。此外,旱季后期栓皮栎还利用部分泉水,其比例达到了19.6%。二者水分来源的不同,使得栓皮栎与扁担杆在旱季期间能避开用水冲突。旱季中生长在生态系统上层的栓皮栎中午部分气孔关闭,蒸腾速率下降,生长在生态系统下层的扁担杆日均蒸腾速率、气孔导度则分别比栓皮栎下降了46.94%和30.58%。栓皮栎和扁担杆分别采取了深水源及部分气孔关闭和浅水源及低蒸腾耗散的水分利用策略来利用旱季中有限的水分,因而其组成的生态系统表现出较强地适合太行山南麓脆弱环境的生态适应性。     

Antioxidant Activity of New Sulphur- and Selenium-Containing Analogues of Potassium Phenosan against H2O2-Induced Cytotoxicity in Tumour Cells

Among known phenolic antioxidants, the overwhelming majority of compounds have lipophilic properties and the number of known water-soluble compounds is very small. The list of hydrophilic phenolic antioxidants can be expanded via the synthesis of a structurally related series of polyfunctional compounds for further research on their biological activity in vitro. New sulphur- and selenium-containing analogues of antioxidant potassium phenosan were synthesised. In vitro cytotoxicity and cytostaticity as well as antioxidant activity against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity to human cell lines (HepG2, Hep-2 and MCF-7) were investigated by high-content analysis. A selenium-containing analogue showed higher biological activity than did a sulphur-containing one. As compared to the activity of potassium phenosan, the selenium-containing analogue had a cell line-dependent antioxidant effect against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity: comparable in HepG2 cells and greater in Hep-2 cells. The selenium-containing analogue significantly increased the death of MCF-7 cells at concentrations above 50 µM. The sulphur-containing analogue has lower biological activity as compared to potassium phenosan and the selenium-containing analogue.     

培养条件对双歧杆菌EPS各组分产量及比例的影响

【目的】动物双歧杆菌RH产生的胞外多糖(exopolysaccharides, EPS)经阴离子交换柱层析可获得EPSa和EPSb两个组分。得到可提高EPS的总产量, 尤其是EPSb产量的最佳培养基和培养条件。【方法】对培养基类型、氮源、碳源、碳源浓度、培养基初始pH值、培养温度和时间对双歧杆菌EPSa和EPSb产量的影响进行分析。【结果】在初始pH值调整为7.0的含5%蔗糖的PTYG培养基上, 在35 °C温度下厌氧培养60 h时动物双歧杆菌RH的EPSa和EPSb产量分别为0.982±0.003 g/L和0.312±0.001 g/L。【结论】在上述条件下EPS总产量高且可获得较多的EPSb。     

植被光合呼吸模型在长白山温带阔叶红松林的优化及验证

植被光合呼吸模型(VPRM)关键参数的确定和优化是准确计算生态系统净CO_2交换(NEE)的基础。利用中国通量观测研究联盟(China FLUX)长白山站温带阔叶红松林2005年的通量观测资料,对VPRM的4个参数(最大光能利用率ε_0、光照为半饱和条件下光合有效辐射值PAR0和呼吸参数(α、β))进行优化,并使用2006年的观测资料对参数优化前后的模拟结果进行评估。结果表明:参数优化后,VPRM能够较好地模拟长白山地区2006年植物生长季NEE的变化。对30min NEE模拟的平均误差为-1.81μmol m~(-2)s~(-1),相关系数为0.72,模拟NEE平均日变化的峰值约为观测值的91%,相关系数为0.97。但在植物非生长季模型对森林NEE的模拟效果较差。模型模拟30min NEE的平均误差为0.39μmol m~(-2)s~(-1),相关系数仅为0.10,并且模拟低估NEE平均日变化白天吸收峰值约82%,日变化模拟值与观测值的相关系数为0.50。通过分析不同天气个例,发现模型可以较好地模拟晴天条件下NEE的变化,而对阴雨天NEE的模拟误差较大。该研究有利于提高VPRM模型对温带落叶阔叶林NEE的模拟能力,对进一步改进区域陆地NEE的模拟具有重要意义。