The fully-active nature of synthetic and hydrolytic activities of glucose-6-phosphatase of intact nuclear membrane

Carbamyl-P: glucose phosphotransferase, mannose-6-P: glucose phosphotransferase, and mannose-6-P and glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase activities of D-glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.3.9) have been demonstrated in avian and mammalian liver (and kidney) nuclear membrane. In marked contrast with activities of this enzyme of fragmented endoplasmic reticulum (“microsomes”), those of the intact membrane of isolated nuclei are totally, or nearly-totally, manifest without the need for preliminary activation by detergents or similar treatments. Disruption of nuclei and isolation of nuclear membranes results in the acquisition of detergent-sensitivity of such activities. Physiological implications of these observations are discussed.     

Ethylene Directly Inhibits Foliar Gas Exchange in Glycine max

Gas exchange of individual attached leaves of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr cv Davis, was monitored during exposure to exogenous ethylene (C₂H₄) to test the hypothesis that the effects of C₂H₄ on net photosynthesis (P_N) and stomatal conductance to H₂O vapor (g_s) are direct and not mediated by changes in leaf orientation to light. Leaflets were held perpendicular to incident light in a temperature-controlled cuvette throughout a 5.5 hour exposure to 10 microliters per liter C₂H₄. Declines in both P_N and g_s were evident within 2 hours and became more pronounced throughout the exposure period. In C₂H₄ treated plants, P_N and g_s decreased to 80 and 62%, respectively, of the rates in control plants. Because epinastic movement of the leaflets was prohibited by the cuvette, the observed declines in P_N and g_s were a direct effect of C₂H₄ rather than the result of reduced light interception caused by changing leaf angle.     

Synthesis in vitro of a seven amino acid peptide encoded in the leader RNA of Rous sarcoma virus

Sequences of avian retroviral RNAs suggest that short open reading frames in the putatively untranslated leader sequences might direct the synthesis of small peptides. Previous analyses indicate that translation of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) RNA in vitro faithfully reflects translation of the viral RNA in the chick cell. Accordingly, we sought to determine if the heptapeptide LP1, encoded in the open reading frame closest to the 5' end of RSV RNA, could be synthesized in vitro since this would strongly suggest that it might also be synthesized in vivo. Here we confirm that RSV RNA directs the synthesis of LP1 in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. LP1 is rapidly degraded in the lysate by an aminopeptidase activity. On the basis of the following observations, we propose that the open reading frame encoding LP1 plays a role in the life cycle of avian retroviruses. The LP1 open reading frame is ubiquitous with respect to position and length in 12 strains of avian retrovirus. In the amino acid sequences of the 12 strains, only three of the seven residues are invariant. On the basis of the conservation of the -3 and +4 nucleotides flanking the AUG codon, the strengths of initiation for translation of LP1 are approximately the same in the different viruses. The LP1 open reading frame is positioned in front of sites on retrovirus RNA that are required for initiation of cDNA synthesis and for packaging of the RNA into mature virus.     

理解运动行为抑制调控的新视角：乙酰胆碱门控氯离子通道受体

Acetylcholine, the first identified neurotransmitter, plays crucial roles in various brain functions. One well-known case is its involvement as an activating neurotransmitter in the regulation of locomotion. However, its inhibitory regulatory role, particularly in locomotion, remains poorly understood. In a study conducted by Polat et al., the authors investigated the inhibitory role of acetylcholine in locomotion in C. elegans. In this organism, the acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptor consists of four subunits. The authors thoroughly examined the loss-of-function of each subunit in movement regulation. Interestingly, the mutant worms were still capable of performing various movements such as forward, backward crawling, and turning, suggesting that the overall movement was not significantly affected. However, quantitative behavior analysis revealed subtle yet significant differences in the timing and postures of the movement in these mutants. Furthermore, the authors employed optogenetics to stimulate a specific neuron involved in backward crawling and demonstrated that the loss-of-function of the receptors in individual neurons affects the transitioning between locomotion modes. This work provides evidence for the inhibitory regulatory role of acetylcholine in locomotion. The loss-of-function of acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptors likely disrupts the balance of neuronal and circuit physiology, thereby affecting the regulation of locomotion. Moreover, this study highlights the powerful role of quantitative behavior analysis in discovering and understanding more sophisticated functions of neural circuits.     

铁皮石斛花总RNA提取方法的比较研究

为筛选铁皮石斛(Dendrobiumofficinale)花总RNA提取方法,对8种提取方法进行了比较研究,包括改良CTAB-LiCl法(M1)、改良CTAB-异丙醇法(M2)、改良SDS-LiCl法(M3)、改良SDS-异丙醇法(M4)、多糖多酚植物RNA提取试剂盒法(M5)、柱式植物RNAout 2.0试剂盒法(M6)、RNAprep Pure多糖多酚植物总RNA提取试剂盒法(M7)和Biospin多糖多酚植物总RNA提取试剂盒法(M8)。结果表明,以M4和M5提取的总RNA带型清晰,完整性好,A260 nm/A280 nm为1.8～2.0,A260 nm/A230 nm大于2.0,RNA产率分别为(159.45±1.45)和(170.84±3.53)μg/g。利用M4、M5提取霍山石斛、金钗石斛、鼓槌石斛和美花石斛花的总RNA,样品的完整性、浓度和纯度均符合质量要求。以M4、M5提取的铁皮石斛总RNA为模板,扩增Actin基因片段,扩增产物大小与预期一致且条带单一。这说明M4、M5方法操作简便,结果重复性好,能够较好地提取石斛属植物花的总RNA。     

江西省2010年柯萨奇病毒A组24型变异株的全基因组序列分析

急性出血性结膜炎(Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis,AHC)是目前人类最常见的眼病之一,柯萨奇病毒A组24型变异株(Coxsackievirus A24 variant,CV-A24v)是近年来报道引起该病的主要病原体。本研究选取10株来自江西省2010年AHC暴发疫情的CV-A24v,采用特异性引物扩增并测定其全基因组序列。对该10条CV-A24v的全基因组序列进行系统发育分析以及重组分析,计算本研究测定的江西10条以及GenBank中所有22条CV-A24v的全基因组序列的氨基酸置换熵值,并预测其正向选择位点。结果表明,在江西10条CV-A24v基因组序列中未检测到重组。基于全基因组序列构建的最大似然树表明江西10株CV-A24v属于GIV基因型,且分处于两条传播链。对上述32条CV-A24v序列的氨基酸置换熵值计算,共得到25个易突变位点(熵值>0.6),易突变概率最高的区段为2A区。基于Datamonkey中FUBAR和FEL模型分析,发现位于结构蛋白VP2区的234位氨基酸为两种模型共同获得的CV-A24v的正向选择位点。本研究分析了江西10株CV-A24v的全基因组序列特征,为CV-A24v引起的AHC防控工作提供了基础资料。     

幼虫密度和温度对水芹叶象甲未成熟阶段生长发育的影响

[目的]为明确不同幼虫密度和不同温度条件对水芹叶象甲Hypera sp.未成熟阶段生长发育的影响.[方法]在室内条件下对不同幼虫饲养密度和不同温度条件饲养的水芹叶象甲未成熟阶段(卵、幼虫、预蛹和蛹)的存活和生长发育进行研究.[结果]幼虫密度对水芹叶象甲幼虫、预蛹和蛹的存活和生长发育均具有显著影响.水芹叶象甲幼虫、预蛹和蛹在50头/盒的密度条件下的存活率均显著高于其它密度条件,且发育历期显著短于其它密度条件.此外,各密度条件下的雌蛹重均显著重于雄蛹重,但性比(♀/♂)不受密度条件的影响.温度条件对水芹叶象甲卵、幼虫、预蛹和蛹的存活和生长发育亦均具有显著影响.27℃条件下的幼虫和蛹的存活率均显著高于其它温度条件,1龄幼虫在30℃条件下的存活率显著高于其它温度条件,而3龄幼虫在27℃条件下的存活率显著高于其它温度条件,但温度条件对2龄幼虫的存活率无显著影响.水芹叶象甲各龄期幼虫及各虫态的发育历期随着温度升高而显著缩短.[结论]幼虫饲养密度和温度是影响水芹叶象甲种群变化的重要因子,这将为分析水芹叶象甲种群动态变化规律,以 及提高该虫的预测预报和综合防控水平提供依据.     

小鼠初级听皮质神经元的强度调谐特性与机制分析

强度是声音的基本参数之一,听神经元的强度调谐在听觉信息处理方面具有重要意义．以往研究发现γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA)能抑制性输入在强度调谐的形成过程中起重要作用,但对抑制性输入与局部神经回路之间的关系并不清楚．本实验通过在体细胞外电生理记录和神经药理学方法,分析了小鼠初级听皮质神经元的强度调谐特性,结果显示：单调型神经元在声刺激强度自中等强度增高时潜伏期缩短(P < 0.05)且发放持续时间延长(P < 0.05),非单调型神经元在声刺激强度自最佳强度增高时潜伏期不变且发放持续时间缩短(P < 0.01)．注射GABA能阻断剂荷包牡丹碱(bicuculline, Bic)后,39.3%的神经元强度调谐类型不变,42.9%的神经元非单调性减弱,17.9%的神经元非单调性增强．表明GABA能抑制并非是形成非单调性的唯一因素,兴奋性输入本身的非单调性和高阈值非GABA能抑制的激活也可能在其中发挥作用．推测由兴奋性和抑制性输入所构成的局部神经功能回路及其整合决定了听皮质神经元的强度调谐特性．