The Cold Box stem-loop proximal to the 5'-end of the Escherichia coli cspA gene stabilizes its mRNA at low temperature.

The 5'-end region of cspA mRNA contains a Cold Box sequence conserved among several cold-shock mRNAs. This region forms a stable stem-loop structure followed by an AU-rich sequence. Here we show that the Cold Box region is essential for the normal scale of cspA mRNA induction after cold shock because a deletion of the stem-loop significantly destabilizes the mRNA and reduces the cold shock-induced cspA mRNA amount by approximately 50%. The AU-rich track, however, slightly destabilizes the mRNA. The integrity of the stem is essential for the stabilizing function, whereas that of the loop sequence is less important. Overexpression of a mutant cspA mRNA devoid of both the AUG initiation codon and the coding sequence results in a severe growth inhibition at low temperature along with a derepression of the chromosomal cspA expression. Furthermore, the overexpressed RNA is stably associated with the 30 S and 70 S ribosomes. Our results demonstrate that the AUG initiation codon and the coding region containing the downstream box are not required for cspA mRNA to bind ribosomes and that the 5'-untranslated region by itself has a remarkable affinity to ribosomes at low temperature.     

Understanding Performance Degradation in Cation‐Disordered Rock‐Salt Oxide Cathodes

The collective redox activities of transition‐metal (TM) cations and oxygen anions have been shown to increase charge storage capacity in both Li‐rich layered and cation‐disordered rock‐salt cathodes. Repeated cycling involving anionic redox is known to trigger TM migration and phase transformation in layered Li‐ and Mn‐rich (LMR) oxides, however, detailed mechanistic understanding on the recently discovered Li‐rich rock‐salt cathodes is largely missing. The present study systematically investigates the effect of oxygen redox on a Li_1.3Nb_0.3Mn_0.4O₂ cathode and demonstrates that performance deterioration is directly correlated to the extent of oxygen redox. It is shown that voltage fade and hysteresis begin only after initiating anionic redox at high voltages, which grows progressively with either deeper oxidation of oxygen at higher potential or extended cycling. In contrast to what is reported on layered LMR oxides, extensive TM reduction is observed but phase transition is not detected in the cycled oxide. A densification/degradation mechanism is proposed accordingly which elucidates how a unique combination of extensive chemical reduction of TM and reduced quality of the Li percolation network in cation‐disordered rock‐salts can lead to performance degradation in these newer cathodes with 3D Li migration pathways. Design strategies to achieve balanced capacity and stability are also discussed.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of Swertia tetraptera (Gentianaceae), an endemic species of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Swertia tetraptera Maxim is an annual alpine herb endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Its populations are locally scattered as isolated patches throughout this region. Genetic variation within and among thirty-four populations of this species was assessed using ISSR fingerprinting with 10 primers. High levels of genetic diversity exist within species (P = 98.9%, I = 0.3475; He = 0.2227), while the within-population diversity is low (P = 32.7%, I = 0.177; He = 0.12). High levels of genetic differentiation were detected among populations based on various statistics, including Nei’s genetic diversity analysis (G_ST = 0.4608), Bayesian analysis (θ^B = 0.476) and AMOVA (F_ST = 0.57). That is, populations shared low levels of genetic identity (I = 0.2622–0.0966). This genetic structure was probably due to severe genetic drift, breeding system and limited gene flow. The observed genetic structure of the populations implies that different populations across the distribution range of the species should be sampled to maintain high genetic diversity when a conservation strategy is implemented.     

The role of lysolecithin in the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle

The effect of lysolecithin (lysophosphatidylcholine) on the relaxation of rabbit aortic strip closely resembled that produced by acetylcholine (ACh) which releases the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). Relaxation induced by lysolecithin depended on the presence of endothelium and was inhibited by hemoglobin and methylene blue. It appeared to be mediated by the second messenger, c-GMP. Lysolecithin induced relaxation was slower but more persistent than that resulting from the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) produced by acetylcholine (ACh). Like lysolecithin, Triton X-100, a non-ionic detergent, also preferentially relaxed aortic strips with intact endothelium. The results demonstrate the importance of phospholipids derived from cell membranes in vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Endothelium-derived relaxing factors appear as a group of heterogeneous substances.     

应用蛋白印迹法检测鼻咽癌病人血清中抗Epstein—Barr病毒IgA/EA抗体

曾毅等建立了一系列检测EB病毒IgA/VCA和IgA/EA抗体的鼻咽癌早期诊断方法,取得了满意的结果。为了进一步提高对鼻咽癌诊断更为特异的IgA/EA抗体的检出率,我们建立了检测EB病毒IgA/EA抗体的蛋白印迹法。方法敏感特异,结果令人满意。 本法中所用的两个质粒系由本实验室与西德Pettenkofer研究所Wolf教授的实验室合作构建。pUCARG1140和pUC9MBcE3.2质粒均为表达质粒,前者携带着来源于EB病毒Bam     

水生观赏植物的调查和研究

水生绿化观赏植物是美化园林水景的重要植物材料,作者通过几年的调查研究和引种栽培,提出了28种(其中荷花含18个品种,睡莲含20个品种)水生绿化观赏植物,同时介绍了20种(其中荷花含6个品种)观赏价值较高的水生绿化观赏植物。     

青龙河底栖无脊椎动物群落结构及其水质评价

本文论述了青龙河底栖生物种类、数量、分布和结构等特点及其与环境因子间的关系。应用Beck、Gleason、Shannon、Simpson等生物指数对水质状况进行评价。结果表明青龙河除个别断面受污染外,大部分河段属尚清洁水。     

甜菜坏死黄脉病毒的分离提纯及其生物化学特性的研究

本研究工作中,建立了一个有效的甜菜坏死黄脉病毒的分离提纯程序,解决了该病毒粒体易于聚集难以提纯的问题,其操作要点是,(1)通过Sepharose 2B柱层析代替超离心,有效地除去一些小分子量核酸杂质;(2)经PEG再次沉淀浓缩后,调整pH至酸牲(pH3.0),使病毒充分悬浮以减少凝聚;(3)在病毒等电点(pH4.8～4.9)条件下,进一步沉淀以纯化病毒。根据病毒提取物的OD260/OD280比值,算出核酸含量约4.5％。核酸电泳出现4条带,分子量分别为:2.25×10~(?),1.8×10~(?),1.05×10~(?),0.75×10~(?)道尔顿。病毒提取物经超速离心出现4个界面,沉淀系数分别为,200.8S,165S,125.8S,100S。说明甜菜坏死黄脉病毒可能是4组分病毒粒体。病毒粒体含一蛋白亚基,分子量约为2.05±0.05×10~4道尔顿,由16种共199个氨基酸组成。