激光光漂恢复技术测定林蛙卵第一次卵裂前卵表面的运动

激光光漂恢复技术测定了异硫氰基荧光素标记的林蛀卵表面分子在第一次卵裂前的运动。发现固着在玻片上的剥离“细胞膜”的分子运动形式为扩散。扩散系数为(4.6±1.3)×10~(-12)cm~2/s,可动部份为15%。完整卵子上的分子运动形式为流动。细胞膜在不停地流动着。它可能起着协助细胞质运动的作用。细胞膜流动的速度随时间而异,卵裂前不久,在大多数的卵子上,出现两个流动较慢的谷,少数细胞只测到一个谷。这可能与光漂起始时间,光斑与未来分裂沟的距离,和卵子间的差异有关。也讨论了这种速度变化与表面收缩波的关系。     

电刺激大鼠延髓头端腹外侧区对交感节前神经元单位放电的影响

本实验用氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉和箭毒化的雄性大鼠,细胞外记录脊髓胸2节段的交感节前神经元(SPN)单位放电,电刺激同侧颈交感干,逆向激活 SPN,以确定所记录的神经元为交感节前神经元。共分析了80个 SPN 单位放电,其中有自发活动和无自发活动的单位各40个。SPN 轴突传导速度为0.59—3.75m/s。实验观察到电刺激同侧延髓头端腹外侧区(Rostralventrolateral medulla:RVL)可兴奋多数有自发活动的 SPN(19/25),并可使少数静止SPN 产生诱发反应(4/23),潜伏期为6—115ms。电刺激对侧 RVL 结果类似:多数自发活动的 SPN(6/9)呈兴奋反应,及少数静止 SPN(3/17)产生诱发反应,潜伏期为11—105ms。表明 RVL 对双侧 SPN 有兴奋性影响。     

Expression of C4-like photosynthesis in several species of Flaveria

Abstract Photosynthetic metabolism was investigated in leaves of five species of Flaveria (Asteraceac), all previously considered to be C₄ plants. Leaves were exposed to ¹⁴CO₂ for different intervals up to 16s. Extrapolation of ¹⁴C-product curves to zero time indicated that only F. trinervia and F.bidentis assimilated atmospheric CO₂ exclusively through phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The proportion of direct fixation of ¹⁴CO₂ by ribulose-I, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) ranged from 5 to 10% in leaves of F. australasica. F. palmeri and F. vaginata. Protoplasts of leaf mesophyll and bundle sheath cells were utilized to examine the intercellular compartmentation of principal photosynthetic enzymes. Leaves of F. australasica, F. palmeri and F. vaginata contained 5 to 7% of the leaf's Rubisco activity in the mesophyll cells, while leaves of F. trinervia and F. bidentis contained at most 0.2 to 0.8% of such activity in their mesophyll cells. Thus, F. trinervia and F. bidentis have the complete C₄ syndrome, while F. australasica, F. palmeri and F. vaginata are less advanced, C₄-like species.     

Distribution of Metabolites and Enzymes of Nitrogen Metabolism between the Mesophyll and Paraveinal Mesophyll of Non-Nodulated Glycine max

The distribution of amino acids and key enzymes involved innitrogen metabolism was determined in mesophyll cells (MC),mesophyll protoplasts (MP), and paraveinal mesophyll protoplasts(PVMP) isolated from fully expanded trifoliolate leaves of non-nodulatedsoybean. Qualitative and quantitative differences were foundin the distribution of amino acids, with MP containing the highestconcentrations. Activity of nitrate reductase, glycolate oxidase,glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase was measuredin both tissue types and differences in activities between thetissue types were seen. PVMP had high glutamate dehydrogenaseactivity when compared to MP. Activities of glycolate oxidaseand glutamine synthetase were much higher in MP on a protoplastbasis while nitrate reductase activity was similar between thetwo protoplast types. These results, on the distribution ofmetabolites and associated enzymes, are discussed as to theirpossible significance to nitrogen metabolism in the soybeanleaf. Key words: Amino acids, glutamate dehydrogenase, Glycine max, nitrate reductase, nitrogen metabolism, paraveinal mesophyll, protoplasts     

Human myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration in heart failure

The Na,K-ATPase is of major importance for active ion transport across the sarcolemma and thus for electrical as well as contractile function of the myocardium. Furthermore, it is receptor for digitalis glycosides. In human studies of the regulatory aspects of myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration a major problem has been to obtain tissue samples. Methodological accomplishments in quantification of myocardial Na,K-ATPase using vanadate facilitated ³H-ouabain binding to intact samples have, however, made it possible to obtain reliable measurements on human myocardial necropsies obtained at autopsy as well as on biopsies of a wet weight of only 1–2 mg obtained during heart catheterisation. However, access to the ultimately, normal, vital myocardial tissue has come from the heart transplantation programs, through which myocardial samples from cardiovascular healthy organ donors have become available. In the present paper we evaluate the various values reported for normal human myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration, its regulation in heart disease and the association with digitalization. Normal myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration level is found to be 700 pmol/g wet weight. No major variations were found between or within the walls of the heart ventricles. During the first few years of life a marked decrease in myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration is followed by a stable level obtained in early adulthood and normally maintained throughout life. In patients with enlarged cardiac x-ray silhouette a significant positive, linear correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and Na,K-ATPase concentration was established. A maximum reduction in Na,K-ATPase concentration of 89% was obtained when EF was reduced to 20%. Generally, heart failure associated with heart dilatation, myocardial hypertrophy as well as ischaemic heart disease is associated with reductions in myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration of around 25%. During digoxin treatment of heart failure patients a further reduction in functional myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration of 15% has been found. Thus, the total reduction in functional myocardial Na,K-ATPase concentration in digitalised heart failure patients may well be of the magnitude 40%. In conclusion, it has become possible to quantify human myocardial Na,K-ATPase in health and disease. Revealed reductions are in heart failure of importance for contractile function, generation of arrhythmia and for digoxin treatment.     

Analysis of functional domain organization in DNA topoisomerase II from humans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The functional domain structure of human DNA topoisomerase IIalpha and Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA topoisomerase II was studied by investigating the abilities of insertion and deletion mutant enzymes to support mitotic growth and catalyze transitions in DNA topology in vitro. Alignment of the human topoisomerase IIalpha and S. cerevisiae topoisomerase II sequences defined 13 conserved regions separated by less conserved or differently spaced sequences. The spatial tolerance of the spacer regions was addressed by insertion of linkers. The importance of the conserved regions was assessed through deletion of individual domains. We found that the exact spacing between most of the conserved domains is noncritical, as insertions in the spacer regions were tolerated with no influence on complementation ability. All conserved domains, however, are essential for sustained mitotic growth of S. cerevisiae and for enzymatic activity in vitro. A series of topoisomerase II carboxy-terminal truncations were investigated with respect to the ability to support viability, cellular localization, and enzymatic properties. The analysis showed that the divergent carboxy-terminal region of human topoisomerase IIalpha is dispensable for catalytic activity but contains elements that specifically locate the protein to the nucleus.     

Characterization of an altered DNA catalysis of a camptothecin-resistant eukaryotic topoisomerase I.

We investigated topoisomerase I activity at a specific camptothecin-enhanced cleavage site by use of a partly double-stranded DNA substrate. The cleavage site belongs to a group of DNA topoisomerase I sites which is only efficiently cleaved by wild-type topoisomerase I (topo I-wt) in the presence of camptothecin. With a mutated camptothecin-resistant form of topoisomerase I (topo I-K5) previous attempts to reveal cleavage activity at this site have failed. On this basis it was questioned whether the mutant enzyme has an altered DNA sequence recognition or a changed rate of catalysis at the site. Utilizing a newly developed assay system we demonstrate that topo I-K5 not only recognizes and binds to the strongly camptothecin-enhanced cleavage site but also has considerable cleavage/religation activity at this particular DNA site. Thus, topo I-K5 has a 10-fold higher rate of catalysis and a 10-fold higher affinity for DNA relative to topo I-wt. Our data indicate that the higher cleavage/religation activity of topo I-K5 is a result of improved DNA binding and a concomitant shift in the equilibrium between cleavage and religation towards the religation step. Thus, a recently identified point mutation which characterizes the camptothecin-resistant topo I-K5 has altered the enzymatic catalysis without disturbing the DNA sequence specificity of the enzyme.     

凝集素抑制林蛙卵裂沟新膜外露的作用

剥去受精膜的林蛙卵分裂时,分裂沟中的新膜会暴露出来。林蛙老膜上有大量均匀分布的麦胚和大豆凝集素受体。卵裂前,将剥去受精膜的蛙卵浸于上述的凝集素溶液中,新膜的外露就被抑制。凝集素愈浓,浸泡时间愈长,抑制愈大。在这些卵的表面可看到一层较厚的由凝集素引起的外被。碱处理过的受精卵表面,凝集素受体减少,凝集素抑制新膜外露的作用亦减弱,由凝集素引起的外被亦薄。凝集素是多价的,会在细胞表面产生交链,形成“外骨骼”,抑制新膜外露。凝集素也可通过受体,影响微丝,产生作用。