Effect of copper sulfate on experimental atherosclerosis

Serum copper concentration increases significantly (p<0.01) in rats with experimental atherosclerosis compared to a control group. The serum zinc, the zinc, and copper concentration in abdominal aorta and in liver decreases significantly (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Administration of copper sulfate for 100 d in these animals induces a significant increase of serum copper (p<0.01), decrease of serum cholesterol (p<0.05) and increase of liver copper concentration as compared with the group fed only a high cholesterol diet. In the aorta of these animals the copper concentration increases and edema and lipid infiltration are considerably less than in the group of animals fed only a high lipid diet.     

Presynaptic Mechanism of Action of 4-Aminopyridine: Changes in Intracellular Free Ca2+ Concentration and Its Relationship to B-50 (GAP-43) Phosphorylation

Abstract: Recently we have shown that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a drug known to enhance transmitter release, stimulates the phosphorylation of the protein kinase C substrate B-50 (GAP-43) in rat brain synaptosomes and that this effect is dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Hence, we were interested in the relationship between changes induced by 4-AP in the intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and B-50 phosphorylation in synaptosomes. 4-AP (100 μ M ) elevates the [Ca²⁺]_i (as determined with fura-2) to approximately the same extent as depolarization with 30 m M K⁺ (from an initial resting level of 240 n M to ∼480 n M after treatment). However, the underlying mechanisms appear to be different: In the presence of 4-AP, depolarization with K⁺ still evoked an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, which was additive to the elevation caused by 4-AP. Several Ca²⁺ channel antagonists (CdCl₂, LaCl₃, and diphenylhydantoin) inhibited the increase in B-50 phosphorylation by 4-AP. It is interesting that the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i and the increase in B-50 phosphorylation by 4-AP were attenuated by tetrodotoxin, a finding pointing to a possible involvement of Na⁺ channels in this action. These results suggest that 4-AP (indirectly) stimulates both Ca²⁺ influx and B-50 phosphorylation through voltage-dependent channels by a mechanism dependent on Na⁺ channel activity.     

利用水螅检测Cd2+毒性的研究方法比较

利用中国水螅,分别检测了自来水、无EDTA培养液(NEC)、含EDTA培养液(HEC)内Cd2+抑制水螅摄食的10min半数效应浓度(10minEC50)和24h、48h、72h的LC50。结果表明:(1)自来水、NEC、HEC的对照组10min已摄食个体数分别为94.17%、94.66%和51.90%;(2)自来水组与NEC组的10minEC50分别为0.991mg/L和4.300mg/L;(3)自来水组、NEC组、HEC组24hLC50的Cd2+浓度分别为0.138mg/L、0.330mg/L和0.473mg/L;其48hLC50分别为0.046mg/L、0.080mg/L和0.203mg/L;其72hLC50分别为0.036mg/L、0.040mg/L和0.307mg/L。经分析认为,HEC对水螅摄食具抑制作用,对重金属具螯合作用,不宜用于水螅培养和重金属毒理实验;自来水因各地水质指标的差异,不宜用于毒理实验;NEC是理想的毒理实验稀释液与培养液。研究提出的10minEC50的方法简便、快速。中国水螅比其他水螅更易繁殖,便于鉴别,是毒理实验理想的模式生物。       

Action mechanism of tachyplesin I and effects of PEGylation

PEGylation of protein and peptide drugs is frequently used to improve in vivo efficacy. We investigated the action mechanism of tachyplesin I, a membrane-acting cyclic antimicrobial peptide from Tachypleus tridentatus and the effects of PEGylation on the mechanism. The PEGylated peptide induced the leakage of calcein from egg yolk l-α-phosphatidylglycerol/egg yolk l-α-phosphatidylcholine large unilamellar vesicles similarly to the parent peptide. Both peptides induced lipid flip-flop coupled to leakage and was translocated into the inner leaflet of the bilayer, indicating that tachyplesin I forms a toroidal pore and that PEGylation did not alter the basic mechanism of membrane permeabilization of the parent peptide. Despite their similar activities against model membranes, the peptides showed very different biological activities. The cytotoxicity of tachyplesin I was greatly reduced by PEGylation, although the antimicrobial activity was significantly weakened. We investigated the enhancement of the permeability of inner membranes induced by the peptides. Our results suggested that outer membranes and peptidoglycan layers play an inhibitory role in the permeation of the PEG moiety. Furthermore, a reduction in DNA binding by PEGylation may also contribute to the weak activity of the PEGylated peptide.     

液体培养条件下细菌浓度两种测定方法比较

液体培养细菌后,分别测定培养液、培养液沉淀 无菌盐水的吸光度,结果存在明显差异。采用稀释平板法和显微计数法测定了培养液中细菌数量,并推导出嗜水气单胞菌活菌数与吸光度的关系为logI0/I=6.848×10-25·C。     

Effect of soil moisture on leaf ecophysiology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parasenecio yatabei</Emphasis>, a summer-green herb in a cool–temperate forest understory in Japan

Leaf physiological and gas-exchange traits of a summer-green herbaceous perennial, Parasenecio yatabei, growing along a stream were examined in relation to leaf age. In its vegetative phase, the aerial part of this plant consists of only one leaf and provides an ideal system for the study of leaf longevity. Volumetric soil water content (SWC) decreased with increasing distance from the stream, whereas relative light intensity was nearly constant. The light-saturated net CO₂ assimilation rate (A _sat) and leaf stomatal conductance (gs) were approximately 1.5-fold and 1.4-fold higher, respectively, in the lower slope near the mountain stream than in the upper slope far from the mountain stream. The lifespan of aerial parts of vegetative plants significantly increased with decreasing SWC. The leaf mass-based nitrogen content of the leaves (N _mass) was almost constant (ca. 2.2%); however, the maximum carboxylation rate by ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) (V _cmax) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE, A _sat/N _area) decreased more slowly in the upper slope than in the lower slope. The higher leaf photosynthetic activity of P. yatabei plants growing lower on the slope leads to a decrease in V _cmax and PNUE in the early growing season, and to a shorter leaf lifespan.     

青霉素钠对萼花臂尾轮虫适合度的促进作用及其与藻密度的关系

以萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）为受试动物,在1.0×10⁶（较低）、2.0×10⁶（中等）和4.0×10⁶个细胞/mL （较高）的斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）密度下,研究了不同浓度（0、200、400、600、800和1000 μg/L）的青霉素钠对轮虫各生命表统计学参数的影响。结果表明,与各藻密度下的对照组相比,当藻密度为2.0×10⁶个细胞/mL时,200-1000 μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的生命期望和世代时间分别延长了40.67%-70.67%和34.04%-50.23%（P<0.05）,净生殖率和内禀增长率分别提高了204.35%-358.70%和36.26%-62.09%（P<0.05）;藻密度的降低或升高均显著降低青霉素钠对轮虫存活、生殖和种群增长的促进幅度。1.0×10⁶ 个细胞/mL的斜生栅藻密度下,400 μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的生命期望延长了21%（P<0.05）,200-400μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的世代时间延长了23.15%-33.13%（P<0.05）,200-600和1000 μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的净生殖率分别升高了40%-81.05%和41.05%（P<0.05）;但4.0×10⁶个细胞/mL的斜生栅藻密度下,各青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的所有生命表统计学参数均与对照组之间无显著性差异（P>0.05）。藻密度对轮虫的生命期望、净生殖率、内禀增长率和后代混交率均具有显著性影响（P<0.01）,青霉素钠浓度对轮虫的世代时间、净生殖率和内禀增长率均具有显著性影响（P<0.05）,藻密度和青霉素钠浓度的交互作用对轮虫的生命期望、净生殖率和内禀增长率也具有显著性影响（P<0.05）。在实验设置的青霉素钠浓度范围内,1.0×10⁶个细胞/mL藻密度下轮虫的生命期望、世代时间和净生殖率与青霉素钠浓度之间均具有显著的剂量-效应关系（P<0.05）;2.0×10⁶个细胞/mL藻密度下,轮虫的生命期望、世代时间和内禀增长率与青霉素钠浓度之间均具有显著的剂量-效应关系（P<0.05）。本研究结果提示,环境相关浓度的青霉素钠不会对萼花臂尾轮虫的存活、生殖和种群增长产生显著性影响。     

塔玛亚历山大藻的生长研究

在室内条件下研究了温度、N和P、维生素、抗生素对有毒赤潮甲藻塔玛亚历山大藻(香港株Ⅱ)生长的影响。结果表明,塔玛亚历山大藻的最适生长温度为21—25℃,最适N、P浓度分别为882—1765μmol/L和18—72μmol/L。复合维生素B1、B6、B12的加入有利于塔玛亚历山大藻的生长,而50U/mL以上的抗生素(氨苄青霉素液体)则对其有明显的抑制作用。     

茚虫威亚致死浓度对茚虫威敏感性降低的棉铃虫生物学参数及解毒酶活性的影响

【目的】本研究旨在明确茚虫威亚致死浓度对茚虫威敏感性降低的棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera生物学参数及解毒酶活性的影响,以科学有效防治这一害虫,避免其对茚虫威的抗性快速发展。【方法】采用浸叶法测定了茚虫威对棉铃虫茚虫威抗性汰选种群(TP)及其同源对照种群(CP)3龄幼虫的毒力;用两性生命表分析LC₂₀浓度茚虫威对TP种群当代(F₀)生命表参数的影响,并测定了LC₂₀浓度茚虫威处理48 h后CP和TP种群棉铃虫3龄幼虫体内解毒酶［多功能氧化酶(MFO)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)］及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的活性。【结果】茚虫威对棉铃虫CP种群和TP种群3龄幼虫的LC₂₀分别为2.27和9.91 mg/L。LC₂₀茚虫威处理TP种群后,48 h的生长量、化蛹率、羽化率和成虫畸形率均显著低于未用药对照,而特定年龄生命期望值e_xj高于未用药对照;TP种群棉铃虫3龄幼虫体内GST和MFO活性与CP种群相比显著升高,CarE活性显著降低。【结论】本研究结果表明棉铃虫TP种群在LC₂₀浓度茚虫威胁迫下存在明显的生长与繁殖不利性,同时对其也产生了适应能力。LC₂₀浓度茚虫威处理后,棉铃虫TP种群的GST和MFO活性被显著诱导,说明这两种酶可能与棉铃虫对茚虫威产生抗药性密切相关;而CarE活性被显著抑制,说明该酶可能参与了茚虫威转化成N-脱甲氧羰基代谢物(DCJW)的活化过程。     

Copper association with iron sulfide magnetosomes in a magnetotactic bacterium

Greigite (Fe₃S₄) and pyrite (FeS₂) particles in the magnetosomes of a many-celled, magnetotactic prokaryote (MMP), common in brackish-to-marine, sulfidic, aquatic habitats, contained relatively high concentrations of copper which ranged from about 0.1 to 10 atomic per cent relative to iron. In contrast, the greigite particles in the magnetosomes of a curved magnetotactic bacterium collected from the same sampling site did not contain significant levels of copper. The ability of the MMP to biomineralize copper within its magnetosomes appeared to be limited to that organism and dependent upon the site from which it was collected. Although the chemical mechanism and physiological function of copper accumulation in the magnetosomes of the MMP is unclear, the presence of copper is the first evidence that another transition metal ion could be incorporated in the mineral phase of the magnetosomes of a magnetotactic bacterium.Abbreviation MMP many-celled magnetotactic prokaryote