Related functional domains in virus DNA polymerases.

Analysis of the lesions in several drug-resistant DNA polymerase mutants of herpes simplex virus along with comparative analysis of the published polymerase sequences of other human herpesviruses has shown that most lesions (five out of six) are substitutions at amino acid residues conserved in all four polymerases. Furthermore, the majority of lesions are in regions of the polypeptide where there are marked clusterings of conserved residues. On the basis of these data we have identified several domains within the polypeptide which we believe may have important functional roles in the action of the enzyme. The apparent restriction in the potential sites of lesions conferring drug resistance may explain the difficulty in selecting such mutants using acyclovir (ACV) in culture and their failure to emerge so far during ACV therapy. Extension of the comparative analysis to the polymerases of adenovirus type 2, vaccinia virus and phage phi 29 suggests that these enzymes also possess domains homologous to those most conserved in the herpes polymerases (regions I-III) and that these domains have a similar linear spatial distribution on the polypeptides. The results are discussed in relation to the known function of the DNA polymerases.     

Properties of purified enzymes induced by pathogenic drug-resistant mutants of herpes simplex virus. Evidence for virus variants expressing normal DNA polymerase and altered thymidine kinase

The DNA polymerases and thymidine kinases induced by three drug-resistant mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 (S1, Tr7, and B3) and their common parent strain, SC16, have been purified and their properties compared. No significant differences were seen in the affinities of the polymerases for TTP and dGTP, or for the triphosphates of 9-(2-hydroxyethyloxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir) or (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVdU) (drugs used in their isolation). In contrast all three mutants induced abnormal thymidine kinases. Those induced by the acyclovir-resistant mutants, S1 and Tr7, showed reduced affinities for thymidine, acyclovir, and also BVdU. Thymidine kinase induced by the BVdU-resistant mutant B3 showed reduced affinity for BVdU, but its affinities for thymidine and acyclovir were similar to those of the wild type enzyme. Thus, it appears that these variants of herpes simplex virus express altered thymidine kinases with impaired ability to phosphorylate particular nucleoside analogue drugs and these characteristics probably account for the drug resistance of the viruses. This strategy for resistance is important as it may result in variants with undiminished pathogenicity.     

MR弥散加权成像对鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值研究

目的：探讨MR弥散加权成像（DWI）鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值。方法：对57例经临床或病理证实的椎体良恶性压缩性骨折患者行矢状位T1M、T2WI、T2WI／FS及DWI扫描,研究其在常规序列和DWI序列上的表现,将常规MR序列和DWI序列检出率进行比较,测量正常椎体及病变椎体的表观弥散系数（ADC）值,并进行统计学分析。结果：（1）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）表现：良性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长或等T2改变,T2WI／FS呈高信号,DWI可以呈高信号、等信号及低信号;恶性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长T2信号,大部分病灶T2WUFS及DWI呈高信号,少数变现为低信号;（2）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）病灶检出率的比较：T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率均高于T2WI序列,其间的差别有显著性意义（P〈0．01）,T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率之间无显著性差异（P〉0．01）;（3）ADC值比较：在DWI（b=500s／mm2）上,良性组ADC值为（2．03±0．83）×10^3mm^2/s,恶性组ADC值为（1．37±0．75）×10^-3mm^2/s,正常组ADC值为（0．36±0．21）×10^-3mm^2／s,成像条件相同时,良性组高于恶性组,两组间有明显的统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：DWI可较好的反映椎体的弥散特征,ADC值作为量化指标可对良恶性椎体压缩性骨折进行可靠鉴别。     

Haemosporidian Parasites of Antelopes and Other Vertebrates from Gabon,Central Africa

Re-examination, using molecular tools, of the diversity of haemosporidian parasites (among which the agents of human malaria are the best known) has generally led to rearrangements of traditional classifications. In this study, we explored the diversity of haemosporidian parasites infecting vertebrate species (particularly mammals, birds and reptiles) living in the forests of Gabon (Central Africa), by analyzing a collection of 492 bushmeat samples. We found that samples from five mammalian species (four duiker and one pangolin species), one bird and one turtle species were infected by haemosporidian parasites. In duikers (from which most of the infected specimens were obtained), we demonstrated the existence of at least two distinct parasite lineages related to Polychromophilus species (i.e., bat haemosporidian parasites) and to sauropsid Plasmodium (from birds and lizards). Molecular screening of sylvatic mosquitoes captured during a longitudinal survey revealed the presence of these haemosporidian parasite lineages also in several Anopheles species, suggesting a potential role in their transmission. Our results show that, differently from what was previously thought, several independent clades of haemosporidian parasites (family Plasmodiidae) infect mammals and are transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes.     

Prenatal exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field has no effect on spatial learning in adult mice

Male CD1 mice were exposed in utero to a 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 5 mT (rms) for the period of gestation and were raised subsequently without applied fields. At 82-84 days of age, they began a radial-arm-maze experiment that was designed to test for deficits in spatial learning in memory. Mice exposed in utero and sham-exposed mice exhibited no statistically significant differences in performances. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

莲藕干物质和氮磷钾养分的累积与分配研究

连续2年采用盆栽试验研究了莲藕（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn）干物质和氮磷钾养分的累积与分配规律。结果表明：莲藕苗期以叶片生长并积累光合产物为主,膨大根状茎成型后,叶片、叶柄和根状茎中的干物质不断运输并贮存到膨大根状茎中,以产量形成为主,干物质累积总量增长呈＂慢-快-稳定＂的变化趋势;氮磷钾累积量与干物质累积量变化趋势一致,并与之呈极显著正相关,莲藕氮磷钾养分累积总量之比为1∶0.12∶1.31。移栽后97-160 d是莲藕产量形成的关键时期,不仅叶片、叶柄和根状茎中的氮磷钾随同干物质运输并贮存到膨大根状茎中,根系还从土壤中吸收更多的氮磷钾直接运输并贮存到膨大根状茎中,后者分别占同期氮磷钾累积量的69.8%、79.2%和75.0%。160 d膨大根状茎中干物质、氮、磷和钾累积量分别平均占植株总累积量的81.1%、85.2%、88.8%和80.2%。     

Molecular basis of ion permeability in a voltage‐gated sodium channel

Voltage‐gated sodium channels are essential for electrical signalling across cell membranes. They exhibit strong selectivities for sodium ions over other cations, enabling the finely tuned cascade of events associated with action potentials. This paper describes the ion permeability characteristics and the crystal structure of a prokaryotic sodium channel, showing for the first time the detailed locations of sodium ions in the selectivity filter of a sodium channel. Electrostatic calculations based on the structure are consistent with the relative cation permeability ratios (Na⁺ ≈ Li⁺ ≫ K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) measured for these channels. In an E178D selectivity filter mutant constructed to have altered ion selectivities, the sodium ion binding site nearest the extracellular side is missing. Unlike potassium ions in potassium channels, the sodium ions in these channels appear to be hydrated and are associated with side chains of the selectivity filter residues, rather than polypeptide backbones.     

黑皮质素受体-4调节通路的研究进展

黑皮质素系统来自阿片-促黑素细胞皮质素原,在中枢摄食行为和能量平衡代谢中起到重要作用,此系统生理功能的发挥主要通过与下丘脑神经元细胞上特定膜受体（黑皮质素受体）结合完成。黑皮质素受体（MCR）有五种亚型（MC1R-MC5R）,其中参与体重调节的受体主要是黑皮质素受体3（MC3R）和黑皮质素受体4（MC4R）。MC4R属于G蛋白耦联受体,具有七次跨膜结构。作为一种膜受体,MC4R发挥体重调节作用,一方面受外界激动剂或拮抗剂的调节;另一方面,此受体活化后会影响到细胞内的信号调节通路。研究MC4R的功能首先要了解受体的结构,本文对G蛋白耦联受体的结构进行了较详细的叙述,MC4R经信号调节通路,激活腺苷酸环化酶,增加cAMP的浓度,最终通过影响细胞内基因的转录和翻译,来调节体重和能量的消耗。     

血液磁极化疗法对糖尿病兔胰岛功能的影响

目的观察血液磁极化疗法(简称血磁治疗)对糖尿病(DM)的治疗效果和对胰岛功能的影响。方法制备了四氧嘧啶DM兔模型20只,随机分为两组,即DM模型血磁治疗组及DM模型未治疗组,同时设立正常对照组10只,分别测定治疗前后空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、胰岛素(INS)及C-肽(C-P),并于观察期结束后处死动物取胰腺组织常规石蜡包埋切片,行HE及Mallory三色法特殊染色观察3组胰岛形态学变化。结果血磁治疗显著降低DM兔的FPG(P<0.001)。DM治疗组INS及C-P水平较治疗前明显升高(P<0.01),与未治疗组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。胰岛病理改变可见治疗组β细胞数量明显多于DM未治疗组,提示血磁疗法具有促进胰岛修复,改善胰岛功能的作用。结论血磁疗法能够促进DM时受损胰岛组织的修复,改善胰岛β细胞分泌功能,降血糖作用明显。