The structure and evolution of the spider monkey delta-globin gene

We have isolated the delta-globin gene of the New-World spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi, and compared its nucleotide sequence with those of other primate delta- and beta-globin genes. Among primate delta-globin genes, the rate of nonsynonymous substitutions is much less than the rate of synonymous substitutions. This suggests that primate delta- globin genes may remain under evolutionary conservation, perhaps because hemoglobin A2 has an as yet unknown physiological importance.      

Using dynamic pupillometry as a simple screening tool to detect autonomic neuropathy in patients with diabetes: a pilot study

Background  

Autonomic neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes. Early detection is essential to enable appropriate interventional therapy and management. Dynamic pupillometry has been proposed as a simpler and more sensitive tool to detect subclinical autonomic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate pupil responsiveness in diabetic subjects with and without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) using dynamic pupillometry in two sets of experiments.     

Soluble carbohydrates in developing and mature diaspores of polar Caryophyllaceae and Poaceae

The accumulation of soluble carbohydrates in maturing diaspores of flowering plants comprising Arctic populations of Cerastium alpinum, indigenous Antarctic species Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, and cosmopolitan Poa annua from the Antarctic was investigated. For comparative purposes, the diaspores of two species of flowering plants growing in the area of Olsztyn (Poland), Poa annua (Poaceae) and Cerastium arvense (Caryophyllaceae) were used. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of soluble carbohydrates conducted by means of high-resolution gas chromatography showed that monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), maltose and sucrose, raffinose, myo-inositol and galactinol are ubiquitous in developing and mature diaspores among investigated species. Moreover, D. antarctica and P. annua caryopses additionally contained stachyose and 1-kestose; the seeds of Caryophyllaceae studied were found to contain d-pinitol and d-ononitol. The development and maturation of the seeds of polar Caryophyllaceae and Poaceae were accompanied by the changes in the concentration of their soluble carbohydrates. During maturation, seeds accumulated galactinol and raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs), except C. quitensis. Although seeds of the studied Caryophyllaceae contained d-pinitol and lower amounts of d-ononitol, they did not accumulate α-d-galactoside derivatives of mentioned cyclitols. P. annua caryopses, occurring in the Antarctic, were found to accumulate considerably higher amounts of sucrose and 1-kestose than those developed in Olsztyn.     

一种新的肝细胞生成素（HPO）转录本及其生物学活性

利用 5′RACE技术从人胎肝组织中分离一种新形式的肝细胞生成素 (HPO 2 0 5 )cDNA ,其编码蛋白质氨基酸序列的N端较已报道的人肝细胞生成素HPO(hepatopoietin)多 80个氨基酸 ,推测其蛋白质分子量为 2 3kD。RT PCR检测HPOmRNA在多种肝癌细胞中表达 ,Western印迹可检测到 2 3kDHPO 2 0 5表达 ,表明此种形式HPO在自然状态下存在。将构建的HPO 2 0 5真核表达载体转染入COS 7细胞 ,其表达蛋白质能够刺激HepG2肝癌细胞DNA合成 ;将HPO 2 0 5、HPO和荷空表达载体分别转染入低水平表达HPO的Bel 740 2肝癌细胞株 ,发现HPO 2 0 5比HPO具有较强的激活MAPK磷酸化的活性。细胞周期分析稳定转染HPO 2 0 5 ,HPO细胞的增殖周期也支持这一结论。这些结果表明HPO 2 0 5具有刺激肝源性细胞增殖的活性 ,并提示HPO 2 0 5可能较HPO有更强的生物学活性     

Do the seeds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solidago gigantea</Emphasis> Aiton have physiological determinants of invasiveness?

Solidago gigantea Ait. (goldenrod) belongs to the most expansive environmental weeds, and it is the most dangerous plant-invader of American origin in Europe. The species easily propagates vegetatively, but it also produces large amounts of wind-disseminated achenes that contribute to the colonization of new areas. A sound knowledge of the germination biology of goldenrods is required to control the spread of this invasive species. The objective of this study was to investigate selected aspects of germination of giant goldenrod achenes and to determine: the influence of temperature and humidity on seed dormancy and germination, the content of soluble carbohydrates in seeds and the sensitivity of seeds to selected phytohormones. Unlike native weed species of the same family, S. gigantea seeds did not display symptoms of innate dormancy, and high seed vigor was maintained after storage in a wide range of temperatures, in both dry and moist conditions. The physiological mechanisms behind those traits have not yet been fully explored, but they could be associated with the relatively high sucrose-to-hexose ratio in seeds and significant sensitivity to abscisic acid. More extensive research is required to explain the internal causes for the atypical behavior of goldenrod seeds during dry and moist storage, especially in the context of its invasiveness, because the species has a preference for sites located close to river banks.     

High concentrations of d-pinitol or d-chiro-inositol inhibit the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides in maturing smooth tare (Vicia tetrasperma [L.] Schreb.) seeds

In the present study we have investigated the effect of exogenous cyclitols on accumulation of their galactosides and raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) in maturing smooth tare (Vicia tetrasperma [L.] Schreb) seeds. Feeding d-pinitol to pods of smooth tare increased the amount of free d-pinitol and its galactosides: galactopinitol A, galactopinitol B, di- and trigalactopinitol A in seeds. Similarly, feeding d-chiro-inositol, which does not occur naturally in Vicia seeds, resulted in the transport of this cyclitol in the seed, and caused accumulation of high levels of d-chiro-inositol galactosides (fagopyritol B1, B2 and B3). Accumulation of both cyclitols and their galactosides drastically reduced accumulation of verbascose and, to a lesser extent, stachyose and di-galactosyl- myo-inositol. Feeding d-chiro-inositol also decreased accumulation of di- and tri-galactosyl pinitols, naturally occurring in seeds. Inhibition of RFOs accumulation by elevated levels of free cyclitols indicates competition between biosynthesis of both types galactosides, and similarity of both biosynthetic pathways in smooth tare seeds.     

Changes in soluble carbohydrates in polar Caryophyllaceae and Poaceae plants in response to chilling

Four species of flowering plants comprising Arctic populations of Cerastium alpinum and Poa arctica var. vivipara and indigenous Antarctic species Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica were investigated. Plants derived from natural origins were grown in an experimental greenhouse in Poland (53°47′N and 20°30′E latitude). Plants for experiment were collected during spring of 2010. Soluble carbohydrates in the intact shoots of C. alpinum and C. quitensis, polar plants of the family Caryophyllaceae, and D. antarctica and P. arctica var. vivipara, representatives of the family Poaceae, were analyzed by gas chromatography, and their involvement in the plants’ response to chilling stress was examined. Plant tissues of the examined families growing in a greenhouse conditions (18–20 °C, short day 10/14 h light/darkness) differed in the content and composition of soluble carbohydrates. In addition to common monosaccharides, myo-inositol and sucrose, Caryophyllaceae plants contained raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), d-pinitol and mono-galactosyl pinitols. RFOs and d-pinitol were not detected in plants of the family Poaceae which contain 1-kestose, a specific tri-saccharide. The accumulation of significant quantities of sucrose in all investigated plants, RFOs in Caryophyllaceae plants and 1-kestose in Poaceae plants in response to chilling stress (4 °C for 48 h with a long day photoperiod, 20/4 h) indicates that those compounds participate in the stress response. The common sugar accumulating in cold stress response and probably most important for chilling tolerance of four investigated plants species seems to be sucrose. On the other hand, the accumulation of above-mentioned carbohydrates during chilling stress can be a return to sugars metabolism, occurring in natural environmental conditions. No changes in d-pinitol concentrations were observed in the tissues of C. alpinum and C. quitensis plants subjected to both low and elevated temperatures, which probably rules out the protective effects of d-pinitol in response to cold stress.     

固氮酶铬铁蛋白的晶体生长

在合适的结晶条件下 ,从含Cr无氨培养基中生长的固氮菌 (AzotobactervinelandiiLipmann)突变种UW3 中纯化出的CrFe蛋白可从溶液中析出深棕色斜四棱柱晶体 ,晶体最大的两条对角线长度分别可达 0 .2 5mm和 0 .12mm。PEG 80 0 0、MgCl2 、NaCl、Tris和Hepes缓冲液的浓度及结晶方法等对该蛋白的出晶率、晶核数目、晶体大小和质量都有明显影响。CrFe蛋白结晶所需的上述化合物的最适浓度与在Mn中生长的固氮菌突变种UW3 的MnFe蛋白和缺失nifZ固氮菌突变种的ΔnifZMoFe蛋白结晶所需的最适浓度有所不同。结果表明 ,该蛋白晶体可能为CrFe蛋白的晶体