Alteration of the structure of theEscherichia coli ribosomes on treatment with Fab fragment of immunoglobulin raised against the ribosomes

Rabbits were immunised againstEscherichia coli ribosomes and the partially purified immunoglobulin G fraction had maximum ability to precipitate the ribosomes as well as the extracted ribosomal proteins. By digestion of immuno-globulin G with papain, monovalent Fab fragments were produced. The 70 S ribosome and its subunits (50 S and 30 S) were separately treated with Fab and then tested in the kinetic assay of degradation of ribosomes by ribonuclease I at various Mg²⁺ concentrations. Treated ribosomes and their subunits were degraded at faster rates than the nontreated ones; the rates in both the control and the treated cases were dependent on the concentration of Mg²⁺. These results indicate the unfolding of the structure of the ribosome on treatment with antibody fragments, which may be due to the weakening of the interaction between rRNAs and ribosomal proteins.     

Biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate: Microsomal proteoglycans

A microsomal preparation from chick embryo epiphyseal cartilage was incubated with UDP-[¹⁴C]glucuronic acid and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine to form [¹⁴C] chondroitin-labeled proteoglycan. Two [¹⁴C]proteoglycan populations were obtained which differed in size, [¹⁴C]glycosaminoglycan content, and susceptibility to alkali. One population of [¹⁴C]proteoglycan appeared near the void volume on Sepharose 2B, while the other population was smaller, similar in size to monomer proteoglycan. The larger [¹⁴C]proteoglycan contained long [¹⁴C]chondroitin chains added to short primers; these chains were in part resistant to alkali cleavage from protein. The smaller [¹⁴C]proteoglycan contained mainly [¹⁴C]chondroitin chains of intermediate length added to endogenous chondroitin sulfate; these chains were all susceptible to alkali cleavage from protein. The larger [¹⁴C]proteoglycan may represent a precursor proteoglycan present at the site of glycosaminoglycan chain synthesis.     

Chemical separation of helper cell function and delayed hypersensitivity responses

Studies were performed to investigate the effects of the immunosuppressive chemical TCDD. Fetal and neonatal rats were exposed to TCDD through maternal dosing (5 μg/Kg) at Day 18 of gestation and on Days 0, 7, and 14 of postnatal life. Another group of neonatal rats were exposed to TCDD through maternal dosing on Days 0, 7, and 14 of postnatal life only. Parameters of cell-mediated and humoral immune function were investgiated. TCDD suppressed delayed hypersensitivity responses and responses to the mitogens Con A and PHA without affecting humoral immune function. Suppression of T-cell function was selective in that helper function was not suppressed. Transfer of primed T-lymphocytes from TCDD treated and non-treated animals into neonatally thymectomized animals confirmed this. Results indicate that delayed hypersensitivity function and helper function reside in distinct T-cell subsets.     

Thermoregulatory responses to temperature manipulation of the spinal cord in the marmot

Yellow-bellied marmots (M. flaviventris) acclimated to T_a = 20 °C were implanted with U-shaped polyethylene thermodes in the peridural space of the spinal cord. Decreasing the temperature of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar areas of the cord increased heart rate, electromyographic activity, and oxygen consumption in the animals. These responses differed qualitatively from those elicited by heating the same cord areas, indicating specificity of the response to the temperature change.Increases in heat production were proportional to the amount of cooling of the cord. The thoracic area was found to be more thermosensitive than the lumbar area. No behavioral or physical thermoregulation was apparent when the spinal cord temperature was changed in these animals.In addition to the conclusion that regulation of spinal cord temperature may be important in the euthermic marmot, it was postulated that the temperature receptors located in the thoracic cord of the marmot may be important in maintaining shivering thermogenesis during arousal from hibernation.     

Studies on the binary and ternary complexes formed by a neurospora glutamate dehydrogenase and its substrates

The NADP⁺ specific glutamate dehydrogenase from wild-type $\text{Neurospora crassa}$ forms a stable binary complex with NADPH. This can combine with L-glutamate, α-ketoglutarate or the substrate analogue D-glutamate to form ternary complexes which can be distinguished by their different fluorescence properties. The affinity of the enzyme for NADPH diminishes with increases in pH or ionic strength of the solution. Experimental data obtained using modified glutamate dehydrogenases from mutant strains of $\text{N. crassa}$ suggest that the reduced-coenzyme binding sites observed fluorimetrically are the same as those observed by enzyme kinetics.     

水葫芦根际细菌群落结构多样性分析

【目的】了解水葫芦根际细菌群落结构。【方法】运用末端限制性片段长度多态性(Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism,T-RFLP)技术分析富营养化水体中水葫芦根际和水葫芦近、远水样的细菌群落特征及多样性,结合克隆文库技术和培养法分析根际的细菌种群类型。【结果】同一时期水葫芦根际细菌多样性(Shannon-Weiner指数H′或Simpson指数D)更高,水葫芦近水样次之,远水样最小。10月份的细菌多样性高于5月份的。通过水葫芦根际细菌的克隆文库可知变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)是水葫芦根际细菌的主要类群,占总群体的65.1%,包括噬菌弧菌(Bacteriovorax sp.)、Dechloromonas sp.、Leptothrix sp.、红螺菌科(Rhodospirillaceae)、Rhodoferax sp.和红环菌科(Rhodocyclaceae)等。T-RFLP图谱显示159 bp为最大优势菌,247 bp为第二大优势菌,对照克隆文库及培养结果分析247 bp属于γ-Proteobacteria,159 bp为不动杆菌(Acinetobacter sp.)。【结论】水葫芦根际细菌的群落结构丰富,不同时段水葫芦根际细菌的丰度略有变化,主要类群为变形杆菌门。     

A secreted ribonuclease effector from Verticillium dahliae localizes in the plant nucleus to modulate host immunity

The arms race between fungal pathogens and plant hosts involves recognition of fungal effectors to induce host immunity. Although various fungal effectors have been identified, the effector functions of ribonucleases are largely unknown. Herein, we identified a ribonuclease secreted by Verticillium dahliae (VdRTX1) that translocates into the plant nucleus to modulate immunity. The activity of VdRTX1 causes hypersensitive response (HR)‐related cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana and cotton. VdRTX1 possesses a signal peptide but is unlikely to be an apoplastic effector because its nuclear localization in the plant is necessary for cell death induction. Knockout of VdRTX1 significantly enhanced V. dahliae virulence on tobacco while V. dahliae employs the known suppressor VdCBM1 to escape the immunity induced by VdRTX1. VdRTX1 homologs are widely distributed in fungi but transient expression of 24 homologs from other fungi did not yield cell death induction, suggesting that this function is specific to the VdRTX1 in V. dahliae. Expression of site‐directed mutants of VdRTX1 in N. benthamiana leaves revealed conserved ligand‐binding sites that are important for VdRTX1 function in inducing cell death. Thus, VdRTX1 functions as a unique HR‐inducing effector in V. dahliae that contributes to the activation of plant immunity.     

Battling for Ribosomes: Translational Control at the Forefront of the Antiviral Response

In the early stages of infection, gaining control of the cellular protein synthesis machinery including its ribosomes is the ultimate combat objective for a virus. To successfully replicate, viruses unequivocally need to usurp and redeploy this machinery for translation of their own mRNA. In response, the host triggers global shutdown of translation while paradoxically allowing swift synthesis of antiviral proteins as a strategy to limit collateral damage. This fundamental conflict at the level of translational control defines the outcome of infection. As part of this special issue on molecular mechanisms of early virus–host cell interactions, we review the current state of knowledge regarding translational control during viral infection with specific emphasis on protein kinase RNA-activated and mammalian target of rapamycin-mediated mechanisms. We also describe recent technological advances that will allow unprecedented insight into how viruses and host cells battle for ribosomes.