猫纹状皮层神经元整合野亚区结构和亚区间的空间总合特性

用正弦调制的光栅图形研究了猫纹状皮层神经元传统感受野外区域(整合野)的亚区结构,整合野不同亚区的作用可表现为抑制或易化。根据端区和侧区的作用性质,整合野有4种不同的结构形式。在端区和侧区的内部以及在这两个区域之间,空间总合显示非线性特性。其非线性程度随刺激面积的增加而变大,表明在整合野的亚区内和亚区间存在着相互抑制。     

cⅠ857基因的体外定位同义突变

 ｃⅠ８５７基因的体外定位同义突变陈南春,高辉,陈苏民,杨萍,刘新平（西安第四军医大学分子生物学研究所,西安７１００３２）外源基因要在大肠杆菌中获得高表达,需要合适的ＳＤ序列和可调控的强启动子［１］。ＰＬ启动子在原核启动子中属强启动子,它受ｃⅠ基因产物...     

Crystal structure determination of a neutral neurotoxin BmK M4 from Buthus martensii Karsch at 0.20 nm

BmK M4 is a neutral neurotoxin in the BmK toxin series.It is medially toxic and belongs to group III α-toxins.The purified sample was crystallized in rhombic space group P61.Using an X-ray diffraction technique,the crystal structure of BmK M4 was revealed by molecular replacement at 0.20 nm resolution.The model was refined.The final crystallographic R factor was 0.142 and the free R factor was 0.173.The root mean square deviation is 0.001 5 nm for the bond length and 1.753°for the bond angles.64 water molecules were added to the asymmetric unit.The refined structure showed an unusual non-prolyl cis peptide bond at residue 10.The structure was compared with group II α-toxin BmK M8 (an acidic,weak toxin).The potential structural implications of the cis peptide bond were discussed.     

Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic investigations of selenium-containing phycocyanin from selenium-rich algae ( Spirulina platensis )

The selenium-containing phycocyanin from the selenium-rich algae (Spirulina platensis) has been crystallized in two crystal forms by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion techniques. A chromatographic procedure of gel filtration and anion exchange was used for purification. Form I crystal with space group P2₁ and cell parameters a =108.0 ?, b= 117.0 ?, c = 184.0?, β= 90.2° and 12(αβ) units in the asymmetric unit was obtained by using (NH₄)₂SO₄ as precipitant. These crystals diffract up to 2.8 ?. Form II crystal obtained by using PEG4000 as precipitant belongs to space group P6₃ with unit cell constants a = 155.0 ?, c = 40.3 ?, γ =120.0° and one(αβ) unit in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract beyond 2.9 ?. The possible stacking forms of phycocyanin molecules in the first crystal form were discussed.     

A novel and highly efficient production system for recombinant adeno-associated virus vector

Recombinant adeno-associated virus(rAAV) has proven to be a promising gene delivery vector for human gene therapy. However, its application has been limited by difficulty in obtaining enough quantities of high-titer vector stocks. In this paper, a novel and highly efficient production system for rAAV is described. A recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1(rHSV-1) designated HSV1-rc/△UL2, which expressed adeno-associated virus type2(AAV-2) Rep and Cap proteins, was constructed previously. The data confirmed that its functions were to support rAAV replication and packaging, and the generated rAAV was infectious. Meanwhile, an rAAV proviral cell line designated BHK/SG2, which carried the green fluorescent protein(GFP) gene expression cassette, was established by transfecting BHK-21 cells with rAAV vector plasmid pSNAV-2-GFP. Infecting BHK/SG2 with HSV1-rc/△UL2 at an MOI of 0.1 resulted in the optimal yields of rAAV, reaching 250 transducing unit(TU) or 4.28×104 particles per cell. Therefore, compared with the conventional transfection method, the yield of rAAV using this "one proviral cell line, one helper virus" strategy was increased by two orders of magnitude. Large-scale production of rAAV can be easily achieved using this strategy and might meet the demands for clinical trials of rAAV-mediated gene therapy.     

家蚕核型多角体病毒同源重复区hr5的结构和功能

家蚕核型多角体病毒(BmNPV)和首蓿尺蠖核型多角体病毒(AcMNPV)是宿主不同的同类昆虫杆状病毒.AcMNPV有5个同源重复区,hr5具较强增强子功能,最近被发现可能参与病毒DNA复制.Maeda等曾将BmNPV hrs图谱定位,最近又报道了BmNPV hr s的结构,但功能研究至今未见报道.与Maeda等同时,从野生型BmNPV基因组中克隆了hr 5区,进行了全序列测定,与Maeda等的报道有一定差别.功能分析证实,含BmNPV hr 5的质粒在辅助病毒存在下,不仅在宿主细胞(BmN)中能进行复制,而且在非宿主细胞 Sf 21中亦能进行复制.此外,不仅完整的BmNPV hr 5(含 8个重复单位),而且部分序列(含6个重复单位)亦显示上述功能.以上研究结果,并对hr 5在病毒 DNA复制过程中可能有的功能进行了探讨.     

The quorum-sensing system in a plant bacterium Mesorhizobium huakuii affects growth rate and symbiotic nodulation

Mesorhizobium huakuii is a free-living bacterium which is capable of establishing a specific symbiotic relationship with Astragalus sinicus, an important winter green manure widely used in Eastern Asia, allowing for nitrogen fixing during this process. Previous studies demonstrate that M.␣huakuii produces quorum-sensing molecules at high cell density and quorum sensing plays a role in biofilm formations. In this study, we isolated and characterized two quorum-sensing deficient mutants in M. huakuii. Analysis of the flanking region of transposon insertions indicated that autoinducer synthase related genes are not homologous to acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) synthase genes that are shared among many Gram-negative bacteria, but related to peptide synthesis, indicating that M. huakuii quorum-sensing signals are distinct from AHLs. Compared with the wild-type strains, these quorum-sensing deficient mutants promoted their growth rate and were defective in nodule formation on host plants, indicative of a critical role of quorum sensing in M.␣huakuii during the host–bacterium symbiotic interaction.Yijing Gao and Zengtao Zhong contributed equally to this work.     

Fine-Scale Population Genetic Structure of Zhikong Scallop (Chlamys farreri): Do Local Marine Currents Drive Geographical Differentiation?

Marine scallops, with extended planktonic larval stages which can potentially disperse over large distances when advected by marine currents, are expected to possess low geographical differentiation. However, the sessile lifestyle as adult tends to form discrete "sea beds" with unique population dynamics and structure. The narrow distribution of Zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri), its long planktonic larval stage, and the extremely hydrographic complexity in its distribution range provide an interesting case to elucidate the impact of marine currents on geographical differentiation for marine bivalves at a fine geographical scale. In this study, we analyzed genetic variation at nine microsatellite DNA loci in six locations throughout the distribution of Zhikong scallop in the Northern China. Very high genetic diversity was present in all six populations. Two populations sampled from the same marine gyre had no detectable genetic differentiation (F (ST) = 0.0013); however, the remaining four populations collected from different marine gyres or separated by strong marine currents showed low but significant genetic differentiation (F (ST) range 0.0184-0.0602). Genetic differentiation was further analyzed using the Monmonier algorithm to identify genetic barriers and using the assignment test conducted by software GeneClass2 to ascertain population membership of individuals. The genetic barriers fitting the orientation of marine gyres/currents were clearly identified, and the individual assignment analysis indicated that 95.6% of specimens were correctly allocated to one of the six populations sampled. The results support the hypothesis that significant population structure is present in Zhikong scallop at a fine geographical scale, and marine currents can be responsible for the genetic differentiation.     

The mechanical stability of ubiquitin is linkage dependent

Ubiquitin chains are formed through the action of a set of enzymes that covalently link ubiquitin either through peptide bonds or through isopeptide bonds between their C terminus and any of four lysine residues. These naturally occurring polyproteins allow one to study the mechanical stability of a protein, when force is applied through different linkages. Here we used single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques to examine the mechanical stability of N-C-linked and Lys48-C-linked ubiquitin chains. We combined these experiments with steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations and found that the mechanical stability and unfolding pathway of ubiquitin strongly depend on the linkage through which the mechanical force is applied to the protein. Hence, a protein that is otherwise very stable may be easily unfolded by a relatively weak mechanical force applied through the right linkage. This may be a widespread mechanism in biological systems.     

梳帽卷瓣兰花部特征对蝇类传粉者的适应性

为揭示梳帽卷瓣兰（Bulbophyllum andersonii）的繁殖特性和传粉机制,在2023年对分布于云南西双版纳的梳帽卷瓣兰野生居群开展了传粉生物学研究,包括开花物候、繁育系统、传粉昆虫、花部微观形态特征及花的挥发性成分等。结果如下：梳帽卷瓣兰的盛花期在7月中旬,单花花期为5 d;繁育系统属于异交并依赖传粉者,自然结实率为26.06%;套袋试验表明自交不亲和,不存在无融合生殖和自动自花授粉现象;唇瓣的铰链结构、传粉通道及宽大的侧萼片等花部特征在传粉过程中发挥重要作用;曲角杆蝇（Gampsocera sp.）是其唯一有效传粉者并在访花过程中表现出舔舐唇瓣的行为;通过扫描电镜观察发现,唇瓣上附着大量的特殊颗粒,可能是访花者的食物报酬;花部挥发性气味主要含有单萜类、芳香类等化合物,其中邻苯乙醚和避蚊胺可能与昆虫访花行为有关。上述研究结果表明,梳帽卷瓣兰的花形态结构与气味适应于曲角杆蝇进行传粉,属于特化传粉系统。