Prediction of location of active sites in biologically active peptides

In a previous paper we demonstrated that the short-range compact regions in atrial natriuretic factor (-hANF) predicted by the average distance map (ADM) correspond to its active sites [Kikuchi,J. Protein Chem.11, 579–581 (1992)]. In the present paper we apply the same method to other bioactive peptides and peptidic enzyme inhibitors. We again observe that active sites in each peptide are contained in short-range compact regions predicted by the ADM for the peptide. This demonstrates that the ADM method predicts the possible location of active sites in biologically active peptides in general. The possibility of practical application of the present method to rational drug design is also discussed.     

The 5′ untranslated region of Arabidopsis thaliana calmodulin cDNA is an independent cDNA containing an open reading frame

A cDNA clone, pAUK1, with an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a hypothetical 164-amino-acid protein was isolated from an Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh cDNA library. The clone was attached, tail to tail, to the 3′ end of A. thaliana hexokinase cDNA. An almost identical sequence had been previously described as the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of A. thaliana calmodulin cDNA (ACaM-2). Sequence comparison with three additional A. thaliana truncated cDNA clones which appear in a database (GenBank) supports the conclusion that pAUKl is identical to the 5′ UTR of ACaM-2 and that the 5′ UTR of ACaM-2 is an independent cDNA artificially linked to A. thaliana calmodulin cDNA.     

黑曲霉糖化酶高产和低产菌株糖化酶基因调控区的克隆及其分析比较

以PCR合成的糖化酶高产菌株黑曲霉(Asp. Niger)T21糖化酶基因5’近端非编码区588bp(EcoRI-BamHI)的序列为探针,从T21染色体DNA中克隆到近2.0kb的糖化酶基因5’端非编码区序列,并以此序列为探针从糖化酶低产菌株黑曲霉3.795(T21的诱变出发株)的染色体DNA中克隆到1.5kb的糖化酶基因5’端非编码区序列。该二序列的分析测定结果表明,其结构特征与文献报道的黑曲霉糖化酶基因5’端非编码区的基本一致,被称为“核心启动子”(Core promoter)的TATAAAT框及GCAAT框,分别在翻译起始点的-109bp及-178bp处。此外,在曲霉amdS,amyB基因中已发现有调控功能的CCAAT序列存在于-449bp和-799bp处。高产和低产菌株糖化酶基因5’端非编码区序列的分析比较结果表明,有9个部位的碱基发生了变化。此实验结果为进一步研究黑曲霉糖化酶基因在转录水平上的调控规律打下了基础。     

Phylogenetic reticulation in subtribe Helianthinae

Incongruence between phylogenetic estimates based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers was used to infer that there have been at least two instances of chloroplast transfer, presumably through wide hybridization, in subtribe Helianthinae. One instance involved Simsia dombeyana, which exhibited a cpDNA restriction site phenotype that was markedly divergent from all of the other species of the genus that were surveyed but that matched the restriction site pattern previously reported for South American species of Viguiera. In contrast, analysis of sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region showed Simsia to be entirely monophyletic and placed samples of S. dombeyana as the sister group to the relatively derived S. foetida, a result concordant with morphological information. A sample of a South American species of Viguiera was placed by ITS sequence data as the sister group to a member of V. subg. Amphilepis, which was consistent with cpDNA restriction site data. Samples of Tithonia formed a single monophyletic clade based on ITS sequence data, whereas they were split between two divergent clades based on cpDNA restriction site analysis. The results suggested that cpDNA transfer has occurred between taxa diverged to the level of morphologically distinct genera, and highlight the need for careful and complete assessment of molecular data as a source of phylogenetic information.     

Cell division of binuclear cells induced by caffeine: Spindle organization and determination of division plane

Synchronously dividing binuclear cells were induced in root tips ofTriticum turgidum by caffeine treatment. Spindle and other microtubular configurations of such cells were studied using tubulin immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. The binuclear cells developed one, two or three preprophase microtubule bands longitudinally, transversely or rarely in a cross configuration. During the mitotic entry binuclear cells formed prophase spindles separately around each nucleus. When the nuclei were located fairly apart, their spindle structures developed independently throughout all mitotic phases. But when the nuclei were located closely together their metaphase and anaphase spindles shared a common polar region. However, the two spindles in such cells retained their functional autonomy. They display structurally independent minipoles in the common polar region. After anaphase the neighbouring nonsister chromosome groups of nuclei divided by a common polar region come to lie close together and in telophase, become enclosed by a common nuclear envelope. During cytokinesis of binuclear cells cell plates were formed only between sister nuclei. These cell plates may develop normally or may curve or branch giving rise to aberrant daughter cell walls. The peculiar mode of spindle and spindle polar region organization of binuclear cells and determination of the division plane in them are discussed.     

皖南汉族的趾纹研究

本文对皖南地区520例汉族大学生的趾纹进行了调查分析,计算出了各型趾纹频率、趾纹组合、趾嵴纹计数等项参数。比较了不同性别、不同侧别和不同人种间的差异,分析了趾纹类型和趾嵴纹计数在各趾的分布特点,并对差异的原因进行了讨论。Abstract: The authors inverstigated and analysed the toe prints of 520 cases of good healthy students in Wannan area of Aahui, and calculated the frequency of various toe patterns, combinations of toe patterns, toe ridge counts (TRC) and so on. The differences between sexes, sides and reces were compared. The distributive character of toe patterns and toe ridge count on every toe were analysed. The different cause were discussed.     

Monitoring the persistence of Laccaria bicolor as an ectomycorrhizal symbiont of nursery-grown Douglas fir by PCR of the rDNA intergenic spacer

The large-scale inoculation of selected beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest nurseries has generated renewed interest in the ecology of these symbiotic fungi. However, information on the dissemination and persistence of introduced symbionts is scarce due to the limitation of the current identification methods. To identify ectomycorrhizal fungi on single root tips, we investigated the polymorphism of the PCR-amplified ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer (IGS) from a wide range of ectomycorrhizal fungi. To investigate the reliability of this molecular approach in large-scale surveys, the dissemination and persistence on Douglas fir seedlings of the introduced Laccaria bicolor S238N were assessed in a forest nursery in the Massif Central (France). Several hundred ectomycorrhizas and fruiting bodies were sampled from plots where control and L. bicolor inoculated-Douglas fir seedlings were grown for 1.5 years. PCR typing of mycorrhizas indicated that trees inoculated with L. bicolor S238N remained exclusively colonized by that isolate (or sexually derived isolates) for the entire test period. In contrast, control seedlings were infected by indigenous isolates of Laccaria laccata and Thelephora terrestris. The molecular evidence for the persistence of the introduced mycobiont despite the competition from indigenous isolates of the same species provides further illustration of the potential of exotic species for large-scale microbial application.     

Mitochondrial DNA control region polymorphisms: genetic markers for ecological studies of marine turtles

We describe a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of population-specific genetic markers in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the use of such markers to analyse population structure of marine turtles. A series of oligonucleotide primers specific for the amplification of the mtDNA control region in Cheloniid turtles were designed from preliminary sequence data. Using two of these primers, a 384–385-bp sequence was amplified from the 5′ portion of the mtDNA control region of 15 green turtles Chelonia mydas from 12 different Indo-Pacific rookeries. Fourteen of the 15 individuals, including some with identical whole-genome restriction fragment patterns, had sequences that differed by one or more base substitutions. Analysis of sequence variation among individuals identified a total of 41 nucleotide substitutions and a 1-bp insertion/deletion. Comparison with evidence from whole-genome restriction enzyme analysis of the same individuals indicated that this portion of the control region is evolving approximately eight times faster than the average rate and that the sequence analysis detected approximately one fifth of the total variation present in the genome. Restriction enzyme analysis of amplified products from an additional 256 individuals revealed significant geographic structuring in the distribution of mtDNA genotypes among five of the 10 rookeries surveyed extensively. Additional geographic structuring of genotypes was identified through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of amplified products. Only two of the 10 rookeries surveyed could not be differentiated, indicating that the Indo-Pacific C. mydas include a number of genetically differentiated populations, with minimal female-mediated gene flow among them. Important applications for genetic markers in the conservation and management of marine turtles include the identification of appropriate demographic units for research and management (i.e. genetically discrete populations) and assessment of the composition of feeding and harvested populations.