Diversity,metabolic types and δ13C carbon isotope ratios in the grass flora of Namibia in relation to growth form,precipitation and habitat conditions

The grass flora of Namibia (374 species in 110 genera) shows surprisingly little variation in ¹³C values along a rainfall gradient (50–600 mm) and in different habitat conditions. However, there are significant differences in the ¹³C values between the metabolic types of the C4 photosynthetic pathway. NADP-ME-type C4 species exhibit the highest ¹³C values (–11.7 ) and occur mainly in regions with high rainfall. NAD-ME-type C4 species have significantly lower ¹³C values (–13.4 ) and dominate in the most arid part of the precipitation regime. PCK-type C4 species play an intermediate role (–12.5 ) and reach a maximum abundance in areas of intermediate precipitation. This pattern is also evident in genera containing species of different metabolic types. Within the same genus NAD species reach more negative ¹³C values than PCK species and ¹³C values decreased with rainfall. Also in Aristida, with NADP-ME-type photosynthesis, ¹³C values decreased from –11 in the inland region (600 mm precipitation) to –15 near the coast (150 mm precipitation), which is a change in discrimination which is otherwise associated by a change in metabolism. The exceptional C3 species Eragrostis walteri and Panicum heterostachyum are coastal species experiencing 50 mm precipitation only. Many of the rare species and monotypic genera grow in moist habitats rather than in the desert, and they are not different in their carbon isotope ratios from the more common flora. The role of species diversity with respect to habitat occupation and carbon metabolism is discussed.     

大肠癌中p53基因突变的研究

应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)──单链构型多态性(SSCP)结合银染法对14例大肠癌p53基因的第4、第5─6和第7外显子进行了点突变的研究,结果共检测出6例点突变,而且发现各外显子的突变频率存在差异。另外,利用购自ATCC的两个探针 (p53cDNA探针和pYNZ22探针)对大肠癌中p53基因的杂合性失去进行了研究,在14例大肠癌中共检出6例杂合性丢失。将点突变检测结果同杂合性丢失结果进行比较分析, 并着重探讨了大肠癌中p53基因失活导致肿瘤的作用方式。 Abstract:The exons 4-7 of p53 gene were examined in 14 colorectal Cancer patients by using PCR-SSCP-silver staining method.The results showed 6 cases of point mutation and the mutation frequencies of exons were different from each other.p53 cDNA and pYNZ22 VNTR were used as probes to examine LOH(Loss of heterozygosity)of 14 colorectal cancers.6 cases with LOH were found.The results of present research suggest that mutation and LOH of p53 gene are critical events in the progress and development of Cancer.There were different kinds of inactivation model of p53 gene in the process of development of cancer and transformation of cells.     

Liver and intestinal fatty acid binding proteins in control and TGFβ1 gene targeted deficient mice

The effect of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF1) expression on fatty acid binding proteins was examined in control and two strains of gene targeted TGF1-deficient mice. Homozygous TGF1-deficient 129 × CF-1, expressing multifocal inflammatory syndrome, had 25% less liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) when compared to control mice. The decrease in L-FABP expression was not due to multifocal inflammatory syndrome since homozygous TGF1-deficient/immunodeficient C3H mice on a SLID background had 36% lower liver L-FABP than controls. This effect was developmentally related and specific to liver, but not the proximal intestine, where L-FABP is also expressed. Finally, the proximal intestine also expresses intestinal-FABP (1-FABP) which decreased 3-fold in the TGF1-deficient/immunodeficient C3H mice only. Thus, TGF1 appears to regulate the expression of L-FABP and I-FABP in the liver and the proximal intestine, respectively.Abbreviations L-FABP liver fatty acid binding protein - I-FABP intestinal fatty acid binding protein - TGF1 transforming growth factor beta-1 - TNF- tumor necrosis factor- - MIP- macrophage inflammatory protein- - PMSF phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride - PBS phosphate buffered saline     

Behavioral responses of three species of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to olfactory cues associated with prey and habitat

The responses ofPterostichus melanarius Illiger,Harpalus rufipes DeGeer, andNebria brevicollis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to olfactory cues of prey and habitat were studied in a four-arm continuous-airflow olfactometer. The process was semiautomated using time-lapse image analysis by microcomputer. The primary constituent of the aphid alarm pheromone, (E)--farnesene (EBF), was synthesized and tested for a kairomonal role in prey detection by carabids. In addition, individual beetles were exposed to odors from live aphids, live collembolans, and a crude extract of wheat. All three beetle species showed evidence of olfaction.P. melanarius responded to all the odors except collembolans,H. rufipes responded to EBF and wheat, andN. brevicollis to collembolans. The use of a defence allomone as a prey-finding kairomone by certain carabid species has implications for pest management. Manipulation of predator chemical ecology by the inclusion of behavior-modifying compounds in a crop spray mix with reduced amounts of insecticide may allow for efficient aphid control with less environmental contamination.     

Kinetics of retroviral production from the amphotropic ΨCRIP murine producer cell line

Rapidly expanding development and practice of gene therapy requires the availability of large quantities of high titer retroviral supernatants. One way to achieve high retroviral titers is through improved understanding of the kinetics of retroviral production and decay, and the subsequent development of improved cell culture methods. In the present study we investigated the effects of different operational modes on the retroviral production of the NIH 3T3 fibroblast derived amphotropic murine retroviral producing cell line pMFG/CRIP. Semi-continuous culture (exchange of 50% of medium volume daily) was found to promote cell growth and enhance retroviral production. The rapid medium exchange resulted in significantly larger amounts of high titer supernatants and an extended production phase as compared to the batch control cultures. The specific viral productivity of the pMFG/CRIP cells was in the range of 10 to 40 infectious viruses produced per thousand producer cells per day. The CV-1 African Green Monkey kidney cell line was used as the infection target. Lowering the serum level form 20% to 10% improved retroviral production slightly. However, at lower serum levels (1%, 5% and 10% (v/v)) growth of the producer cell line, and thus retroviral production, was directly proportional to the serum level. The half-life of the virus at 37°C was found to be 5.5 hours. Promoting the growth of producer cell lines can improve retroviral vectors titers and viral production. High cell density systems that allow for rapid cell growth and waste product removal are likely to be used to generate high-titer retroviral supernatants.     

Development of insect resistance in tomato plants expressing the δ-endotoxin gene ofBacillus thuringiensis subsp.tenebrionis

A crystal -endotoxin gene ofBacillus thuringiensis subsp.tenebrionis (B.t.t.) encoding a coleopteran insect-specific toxin was used to construct a chimeric gene which expressed the toxin in plant cells. Via anAgrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector system, the toxin gene was transferred into tomato cells. From leaf disks recombinant plants were regenerated. Hybridization experiments demonstrated that these plants synthesized toxin-specific mRNA of the expected size. Transgenic tomato plants with the chimericB.t.t. toxin gene contained a 74 kDa protein which cross-reacted with toxin antibodies. The expression caused a significant insecticidal activity of the transgenic tomato plants against Colorado potato beetle larvae.     

乳腺癌p53蛋白过度表达和雌激素受体免疫组化检测及意义

应用免疫组化方法,对３２例乳腺癌组织中肿瘤抑制基因ｐ５３蛋白的表达和雌激素受体的状态分别进行了检测。结果３２例中ｐ５３蛋白阳性１８例,阳性率５６．３％,１８例伴有同侧腋下淋巴结转移者阳性１３例（７２．２％）３而１４例无转移者阳性５例（３５．７％）二组阳性率差异显著（ＰＭＯ．０５）。３２例中雌激素受体阳性１７例,１８例伴转移者阳性８例（４４．４％）;１４例无转移者阳性９例（６４．３％）。结果表明,ｐ５３蛋白的异常表达与乳腺癌的浸润转移有关,结合雌激素受体的检查,可作为临床预后判断一个有价值的标志。