Crystallization of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

A possible link between cellular cyclic AMP content and Na+K+ATPase activity was investigated in homogenates of rat kidney. Enzyme kinetics of Mg2+ and Na+K+ATPase were run in the presence of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cAMP and compounds expected to elevate cyclic AMP levels such as forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator, IBMX, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterases, and the beta-agonist isoproterenol. Medullary Na+K+ATPase is strongly inhibited by cyclic AMP whereas cortical Na+K+ATPase was stimulated in the same conditions. The correlation between ATPase activity and cellular cyclic AMP content supports the concept of a possible regulation of the enzyme by cyclic AMP.     

Relationship between virulence and aggressiveness in Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew)

Relationship between virulence and aggressiveness was studied in seven Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew) pathotypes including five progeny pathotypes of races 300, 304, 314, 704 and 714 arising from two parental pathotypes of races 100 and 710. Aggressiveness criteria including percentage infection, latent period, sporulation density and reduction of hypocotyl length were analysed in one sunflower inbred line showing a high level of quantitative resistance. There were significant differences between P. halstedii pathotypes for all aggressiveness criteria. Pathogenicity of progeny pathotypes as compared with parental ones (relationship between virulence and aggressiveness) seems to be positive, negative or uncorrelated. Hypothesis explaining these cases are discussed.     

Acclimation of Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew) in relationship with trade-off between virulence and aggressiveness in a local pathogen population

The acclimation in relationship with virulence cost was analysed for seven Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew) isolates including five progeny isolates of several races descending from two parental isolates of races 100 and 710. Aggressiveness criteria were analysed in one sunflower inbred line showing a high level of quantitative resistance. Isolates of races 100 and 3xx were characterised with shorter latent period and higher sporulation density than isolates of races 7xx. All isolates showed high percentage infection values and caused a large reduction in seedling size except for one isolate involved in dwarfing. The seven isolates were divided, according to their virulence and aggressiveness, into two main groups as more aggressive isolates of the 100 and 3xx races which do not overcome the sunflower differential host D3, and less aggressive isolates of 7xx races which can overcome D3. Consequently, the 100 and 3xx avirulent races had a virulence cost measured by differences in aggressiveness (from 45.5 to 76.3%) compared to 7xx virulent races carrying unnecessary virulence gene.     

贵州鼠尾草化学成分的研究

从贵州鼠尾草95%乙醇提取物分离得到8个化合物,通过理化性质及波谱方法分别鉴定为正三十三烷(1),十二烷酸十四烷酯(2),β-谷甾醇(3),胡萝卜苷(4),乌苏酸(5),2 a,3β-二羟基乌苏酸(6),白桦酸(7)和迷迭香酸(8)。以上化合物均首次从该植物中分离得到。     

花色素苷形成中的基因表达和调控

介绍了花色素苷结构基因表达中两大类转录因子,即CI/PI和R/B基因家族和它们对花色素苷生物合成调控的研究进展。     

中国大戟科一新归化种——硬毛巴豆

首次报道了大戟科(Euphorbiaceae)巴豆属硬毛巴豆(Croton hirtus L'Hér.)在中国的归化新记录,并提供该种的特征描述和形态图。凭证标本保存于中国科学院华南植物园标本馆(IBSC)。     

Leptin

It is well established that the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is an important circulating satiety factor that regulates body weight and food intake via its actions on specific hypothalamic nuclei. However, there is growing evidence that leptin and its receptors are widely expressed throughout the brain, in regions not generally associated with energy homeostasis, such as cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, basal ganglia, and hippocampus. In this review the author discusses recent advances made in leptin neurobiology, with particular emphasis on the role of this endocrine peptide in normal and pathophysiological hippocampal function.     

麦红吸浆虫滞育习性研究

1986～1991年研究了麦红吸浆虫的滞育习性,提出了该由主动延长滞育和被动延长滞育的两种形式,探讨了土壤湿度、温度对延长滞育的影响,从体重、羽化率、卵胚数、死亡率等方面测定了延长滞育幼虫的生殖势能,文章最后讨论了麦红吸浆虫多峰羽化的特点和延长滞育的生物学意义。     

Comparison of Osborne-Mendel and S5B/PL Strains of Rat: Central Effects of Galanin,NPY, β-Casomorphin and CRH on Intake of High-Fat and Low-Fat Diets

The effects of central administration of galanin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), β-casomorphin_(1–7) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) on intake of either a high-fat or low-fat diet have been compared in two strains of rat, the dietary fat-sensitive Osborne-Mendel (OM) rat and the dietary fat-resistant S5B/Pl rat. Injection of galanin (0.1, 0.3 nmoles) into the 3rd cerebral ventricle stimulated the intake of both a high-fat and a low-fat diet in OM rats in a dose dependent manner but the response was significantly smaller in rats fed the low-fat diet. In S5B/Pl rats, galanin had a small stimulatory effect on food intake but only at a high dose (2 nmole). β-casomor-phin_(1–7) (5 nmoles), an opioid-like peptide, increased the intake of the high-fat but not the low-fat diet in OM rats, whereas S5B/Pl rats fed either a high-fat or a low-fat diet did not respond to β-caso-morphin/j.yy Both strains showed a similar stimulatory response to NPY (0.1, 0.5 nmoles) on the intake of the high-fat or the low-fat diet, but the magnitude of the response was attenuated in S5B/Pl rats. In contrast, the anorectic effects of CRH (0.26 nmoles) on food deprived animals was similar in both strains for both diets. We speculate that the regulatory system controlling the intake of fat activated by galanin and β-casomorphin_(1–7) may be defective in S5B/Pl rats.     

Independence with respect to Ca2+ changes of the neutrophil respiratory and secretory response to exogenous phospholipase C and possible involvement of diacylglycerol and protein kinase C

Exogenous phospholipase C induces in human neutrophils the activation of a respiratory burst, measured as O₂ consumption and O₂^? production and of secretion of specific granules, measured as release of vitamin B-12 binding protein. The secretory response is minimal and follows the onset of the respiratory response. Studies carried out using cells prelabeled with |³H|glycerol and³²P on the molecular mechanism of the stimulations demonstrate that the effects are dependent on the formation of diacylglycerol by hydrolysis of different classes of glycerophospholipids. They are, however, independent of the activation of a ‘phosphoinositide turnover’ as occurs in cells stimulated with fMet-Leu-Phe. Furthermore, the respiratory and secretory responses to exogenous phospholipase C are not associated with moditications of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration measured with the Quin-2 method, and the release of bound Ca²⁺, measured with the membrane probe, chlorotetracycline. Apart from a quantitative difference, mostly regarding the ratio of the intensity of the respiratory and secretory responses, the effects caused by exogenous phospholipase C are qualitative;y similar to those induced by phorbol myristate acetate and are probably linked to an involvement of protein kinase C, activated by diacylglycerol liberated in the plasma membrane.