Primary structure of the hemoglobin α-chain of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

The structure of the hernoglobin α-chain of Rose-ringed Parakeet was determined by sequence degradations of the intact subunit, the CNBr fragments, and peptides obtained by digestion with staphylococcal Glu-specific protease and trypsin. Using this analysis, the complete α-chain structure of 21 avian species is known, permitting comparisons of the protein structure and of avian relationships. The structure exhibits differences from previously established avian α-chains at a total of 61 positions, five of which have residues unique to those of the parakeet (Ser-12, Gly-65, Ser-67, Ala-121, and Leu-134). The analysis defines hemoglobin variation within an additional avian order (Psittaciformes), demonstrates distant patterns for evaluation of relationships within other avian orders, and lends support to taxonomic conclusions from molecular data.     

Calcium channels that are required for secretion from intact nerve terminals of vertebrates are sensitive to omega-conotoxin and relatively insensitive to dihydropyridines. Optical studies with and without voltage-sensitive dyes

Extrinsic absorption changes exhibited by potentiometric dyes have established the ionic basis of the action potential in synchronously activated populations of nerve terminals in the intact neurohypophyses of amphibia and mammals (Salzberg et al., 1983; Obaid et al., 1983, 1985b). Also, large and rapid changes in light scattering, measured as transparency, have been shown to follow membrane depolarization and to be intimately associated with the release of neuropeptides from the nerve terminals of the mouse neurohypophysis (Salzberg et al., 1985; Gainer et al., 1986). We report some experiments that help to define the pharmacological profile of the calcium channels present in intact neurosecretory terminals of vertebrates. For these, we used the peptide toxin omega-conotoxin GVIA (1-5 microM) and the dihydropyridine compounds Bay-K 8644 and nifedipine (2-5 microM), together with the after-hyperpolarization of the nerve terminal action potential. This undershoot depends upon the activation of a calcium-mediated potassium channel, as suggested by its sensitivity to [Ca++]o and charybdotoxin. omega-conotoxin GVIA substantially reduced the after-hyperpolarization in neurosecretory terminals of Xenopus, while neither of the dihydropyridine compounds had any effect under conditions that mimic natural stimulation. The effects of these calcium channel modifiers on the action potential recorded optically from the terminals of the Xenopus neurohypophysis were faithfully reflected in the behavior of the light-scattering changes observed in the neurohypophysis of the CD-1 mouse. omega-conotoxin GVIA (5 microM) reduced the size of the intrinsic optical signal associated with secretion by 50%, while the dihydropyridines had little effect. These observations suggest that the type of calcium channel that dominates the secretory behavior of intact vertebrate nerve terminals is at least partially blocked by omega-conotoxin GVIA and is insensitive, under normal conditions, to dihydropyridines.     

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.     

A small camel-milk protein rich in cysteine/half-cystine

A small protein (M_r about 14 000) rich in cysteine/half-cystine has been isolated from camel milk by exclusion chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence shows a region with several positional identities with and -caseins, which however lack cysteine residues; postions 16–20 are identical and involve the serine residues that have been found to be phosphorylated in -caseins.     

Bicarbonate-Chloride Exchange in Erythrocyte Suspensions: Stopped-Flow pH Electrode Measurements

A pH-sensitive glass electrode was used in a temperature-controlled stopped-flow rapid reaction apparatus to determine rates of pH equilibration in red cell suspensions. The apparatus requires less than 2 ml of reactants. The electrode is insensitive to pressure and flow variations, and has a response time of < 5 ms. A 20% suspension of washed fresh human erythrocytes in saline at pH 7.7 containing NaHCO₃ and extracellular carbonic anhydrase is mixed with an equal volume of 30 mM phosphate buffer at pH 6.7. Within a few milliseconds after mixing, extracellular HCO₃^- reacts with H⁺ to form CO₂, which enters the red cells and rehydrates to form HCO₃^-, producing an electrochemical potential gradient for HCO₃^- from inside to outside the cells. HCO₃^- then leaves the cells in exchange for Cl^-, and extracellular pH increases as the HCO₃^- flowing out of the cells reacts with H⁺. Flux of HCO₃^- is calculated from the dpH/dt during HCO₃^--Cl^- exchange, and a velocity constant is computed from the flux and the calculated intracellular and extracellular [HCO₃^-]. The activation energy for the exchange process is 18.6 kcal/mol between 5°C and 17°C (transition temperature), and 11.4 kcal/mol from 17°C to 40°C. The activation energies and transition temperature are not significantly altered in the presence of a potent anion exchange inhibitor (SITS), although the fluxes are markedly decreased. These findings suggest that the rate-limiting step in red cell anion exchange changes at 17°C, either because of an alteration in the nature of the transport site or because of a transition in the physical state of membrane lipids affecting protein-lipid interactions.     

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．     

苦瓜叶片结构与白粉病抗性的关系

以不同抗白粉病的苦瓜品系幼苗为材料,对它们的叶片及上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织及海绵组织厚度、叶片结构紧密度及疏松度、蜡质含量、比叶重、气孔及茸毛密度等叶片结构进行观察比较,探讨苦瓜白粉病抗性与其主要叶片结构指标的关系。结果显示:（1）抗病苦瓜品系叶片的蜡质含量显著高于感病品系,与病情指数呈显著负相关关系,蜡质层是其抵抗和延迟病原菌侵入的一个有力结构屏障。（2）感病品系叶片的气孔和叶背面茸毛数量显著多于抗病品系,且叶背面的气孔及茸毛密度与病情指数呈显著正相关关系,即气孔和茸毛越少越抗病。（3）抗病苦瓜品系的叶片栅栏组织以及海绵组织排列整齐、紧密,而高感品系的叶片组织出现大量孔隙,较难观察到完整细胞。（4）抗病品系叶片厚度、下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、叶片结构紧密度明显高于感病品系,而感病品系的海绵组织厚度、叶片结构疏松度明显高于抗病品系;且苦瓜比叶重与其白粉病抗性关系不大。研究认为,苦瓜叶片蜡质含量、叶背面气孔及茸毛密度可以作为苦瓜白粉病抗性鉴定的参考指标。