Conformationally altered aortic myosin light chains

Aorta smooth myosin contains two types of light chain, LC20 and LC17, which fold together with the N-terminal region of each heavy chain to form the globular head region of myosin. We demonstrate an altered conformation of LC20 after its separation from heavy chain by high concentrations of urea, on the basis of the following evidende: 1) A polyclonal antibody against LC20 was not able to recognize this conformationally altered form; 2) Myosin reconstituted from heavy chains and urea-dissociated light chains exhibited extremely low ATPase activity. Circular dichroism unfolding profiles showed that light chains dissociated from heavy chains by SDS appeared to be more stable than those generated by urea dissociation.     

Identification and characterization of a pregnane steroid recognition site that is functionally coupled to an expressed GABAA receptor

Conclusion Based on the pharmacological and biochemical evidence to date, especially that derived from the recombinantly expressed receptor studies, the suggestion that a novel GBRC-linked steroid recognition site exists becomes a cogent argument. The high affinity of the steroid site for certain naturally occurring metabolites of progesterone and glucocorticoids favors a physiologic role for these steroids in the regulation of brain excitability. Clearly, investigations of such a regulatory role is warranted. If present, it provides an important example of endocrine control of a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. Moreover, as we gain a greater understanding of the molecular organization of the GBRC, the putative steroid site provides a novel target for the rational design of therapeutic agents for the treatment of anxiety, epilepsy, and insomnia.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Eugene Roberts.     

室旁核在刺激猫肾神经传入纤维引起的血压效应中的作用

本研究的目的是在氯醛糖麻醉、颈动脉窦、主动脉弓去神经和切断迷走神经的猫中探讨室旁核和室旁核α_1肾上腺素受体在刺激肾神经传入纤维引起的升压反应中的作用。刺激肾神经中枢端可引起动脉血压明显升高。这种血压升高由两个成分组成。第一成分可被植物性神经阻断剂六烃季铵和阿托品所阻断,第二成分不能被植物性神经阻断剂所阻断。双侧室旁核毁损后,植物性神经阻断前、后刺激肾神经中枢端引起的升压反应都明显减弱。侧脑室和室旁核微量注射α_1肾上腺素受体拮抗剂哌唑嗪,可显著抑制刺激肾神经传入纤维引起的升压反应。这些结果表明,室旁核和中枢的,尤其在室旁核的α_1肾上腺素受体在刺激肾神经传入纤维引起的升压反应中起重要作用。     

Ornithine lipid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: its distribution in some slow- and fast-growing mycobacteria

An ornithine-amide lipid is present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its structure was established by a combination of chemical analysis and mass spectrometry. 3-Hydroxyoctadecanoic and 3-hydroxyeicosanoic acids (and homologues) were found to be linked through an amide bond to the alpha-amino group of L-ornithine, the hydroxyl group of the fatty acid being esterified mainly by tuberculostearic acid (10-methyloctadecanoic acid). This ornithine-amide lipid was detected in several other slow-growing pathogenic mycobacteria by thin layer chromatography, but not in an avirulent strain (H37 Ra) of M. tuberculosis. In each case mass spectrometry showed that all the structures were identical, thus revising an earlier reported structure for the lipid from M. bovis.     

中国盲走螨属Agilis群种类记述（蜱螨亚纲：植绥螨科）

本文新建立盲走螨属ａｇｉｌｉｓ群并限定了该群的主要特征,归纳了世界上已描述的８种,其中分布于我国的３种,此外描述了３个新种。     

铅锌矿尾矿场植被重建的生态学研究Ⅰ.尾矿对种子萌发的影响

在实验条件下,供试的林木、农作物及牧草种子均能在铅锌矿尾矿中萌发,其中萌发率与非污染土壤中的相近,多数种子的萌发速率低于对照组。供试植物幼苗出土30天内没有死苗现象,但与对照相比,株高下降28.4%,复叶数减少34.1%,生物量下降52.6%.     

大鼠胰腺γ-氨基丁酸免疫组织化学定位

本文用ABC—GDN免疫组织化学方法,研究了γ-氨基丁酸(Gamma—Aminobutyric Acid,GABA)在大鼠胰腺的定位和分布,并用相邻切片法,观察它与胰岛素的共存关系。结果发现GABA免疫反应阳性细胞主要分布于胰腺内分泌部(胰岛)。在外分泌部亦有少许分布。大部分胰岛细胞呈GABA免疫反应阳性,集中位于胰岛的中央部。相邻连续切片免疫染色证实GABA与胰岛素共存于胰岛B细胞中。外分泌部胰腺GABA免疫反应阳性细胞,呈零散分布于腺泡和导管上皮间。本文为进一步探讨GABA在胰腺的生理作用提供了形态学依据。     

人体β-珠蛋白基因5’旁侧调控元件与不同发育时期调控因子的相互作用

人β-珠蛋白基因主要在成年期的骨髓中表达,在胎儿肝,成年肝和K 562细胞中则处于关闭状态。凝胶电泳阻抑法分析发现,在人胎儿肝,成年肝及K 562细胞的核蛋白抽提物中存在着不同的与β-珠蛋白基因5'旁侧调控元件(-372到-194 bp)相结合的红系组织特异性的调控因子。竟争试验的结果表明,成年肝和K 562细胞中的调控因子与β-珠蛋白基因5'旁侧调控元件相互作用的方式具有一定的相似性,这两种细胞的调控因子既结合于负调控区(NCR 2)也结合于正调控区,说明两种细胞中β-珠蛋白基因的关闭机制可能是相似的。胎儿肝的核蛋白因子只结合于负调控区,推测在胎儿期存在独特的关闭机制。     

羊角椒辣味物质成份分析

用紫外光谱法、红外光谱法和高效液相色谱法分析羊角椒中辣味物质纯度与组成,表明辣味物质由辣椒素、二氢辣椒素和降二氢辣椒素组成。     

Nutrients and heavy metal contamination of plants and sediments in Futian mangrove forest

An ecological survey was carried out to determine the levels of nutrients and heavy metals in the sediments and leaf tissues of two dominant mangrove plant species, Kandelia candel and Aegiceras corniculatum, in Futian mangrove forest, Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China. The spatial and seasonal variations of these elements were also investigated. The results show that there was no major difference between two sampling sites 150 m apart. In both sites, the sediment concentrations of total and NH₄ ⁺-N, total and extractable P, total and extractable K, total organic carbon were consistently higher in the landward locations and decreased gradually towards the sea. The sediment sample collected at the seaward edge of the mangrove plant community had the lowest levels of nutrient and organic matter. The vertical variations (from the land to the sea) of sediment heavy metals were less obvious and no particular trend could be identified. Extremely high contents of Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn were found at certain locations, suggesting the occurrence of some local contamination. The mean total metal concentrations in sediments decreased in the order Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr = Pb > Cd for the sample locations. Most of the heavy metals were not in a bioavailable form as the concentrations of extractable metals were relatively low (< 1% of total metals). Pb, Cr and Cd were not detected in leaf samples. Leaf C, N, P and K contents were similar between the two species and no significant difference was found among locations, although A. corniculatum seemed to have lower Mn concentrations than K. candel. With reference to temporal variations, no significant difference in sediment concentrations of some nutrients and metals was found between the spring and autumn seasons.