Direct gene transfer into Actinidia deliciosa protoplasts: analysis of transient expression of the CAT gene using TLC autoradiography and a GC-MS-based method

Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene was used as a reporter gene to assess the conditions for polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transfection of kiwifruit protoplasts. The effect of plasmid concentration and the presence of carrier DNA were each assessed by analysing CAT activity in transfected protoplasts using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) autoradiographic detection of acetylated chloramphenicol. A gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) non-radioactive method was developed for monitoring CAT gene activity. This method provides a high speed of analysis (30 min) and precise means of detecting acetylated products at the nanomolar level, enabling quantification at very low transfection rates. Using this method we optimized plasmid and PEG concentration and also assessed the effect of heat shock on transfection. The best CAT activity was obtained using 30% polyethylene glycol 4000 and by submitting protoplasts to heat shock (45 °C, 5 min) prior to transfection.     

A short history of nuclear activation analysis

The major developments in the field of nuclear activation analysis, from 1936 to 1989, are discussed. The developments are grouped into five consecutive time periods. The impact of various scientists on the development of the field in the first 35 years is also discussed.     

Enhanced ethylene production by primary roots of Zea mays L. in response to sub-ambient partial pressures of oxygen

Ethylene production by primary roots of 72–h-old intact seedlings of Zea mays L. cv. LG11 was studied under ambient and sub-ambient oxygen partial pressures (pO₂) using a gas flow-through system linked to a photoacoustic laser detector. Despite precautions to minimize physical perturbation to seedlings while setting-up, ethylene production in air was faster during the first 6h than later, in association with a small temporary swelling of the roots. When roots were switched from air (20–8kPa O₂) to 3 or 5kPa O₂ after 6h, ethylene production increased within 2—3 h. When, the roots were returned to air 16 h later, ethylene production decreased within 2—3 h. The presence of 10kPa CO₂ did not interfere with the effect of 3kPa O₂. Transferring roots from air to 12–5kPa did not change ethylene production, while a reduction to 1 kPa O₂ induced a small increase. The extra ethylene formed in 3 and 5 kPa O₂ was associated with plagiotropism, swelling, root hair production, and after 72 h, increased amounts of intercellular space (aerenchyma) in the root cortex. Root extension was also slowed down, but the pattern of response to oxygen shortage did not always match that of ethylene production. On return to air, subsequent growth patterns became normal within a few hours. In the complete absence of oxygen, no ethylene production was detected, even when anaerobic roots were returned to air after 16 h.     

Partitioning behavior and enrichment of proteins with reversed micellar extraction: I. forward extraction of proteins from aqueous to reversed micellar phase

Protein extractions using aerosol OT (AOT)-isooctane reverse micelle solutions have been studied to explore the potential for separating and enriching proteins with the reversed micellar extraction. The effects of pH, ionic strength, and different cations of chlorides in a bulk aqueous phase and of AOT concentration in an organic phase on the partitioning of lysozyme and myoglobin and the solubilization of water are presented in detail. The extraction of lysozyme was affected by the concentration of potassium or barium but was almost independent of that of sodium or calcium, whose ionic diameter is smaller than that of potassium and barium. For the extraction of myoglobin, however, the effect of barium concentration was not appreciable. Lysozyme could be enriched into the reversed micellar phase up to 30 times the aqueous feed concentration. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Properties of acetylcholinesterase reconstituted in liposomes of a different charge

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) purified from mouse brain was reconstituted in liposomes of a different charge, and the properties of liposome-associated AChE were investigated. Relative to the K_m value (38.5 M) of AChE bound to a neutral liposome, the value of AChE reconstituted in a negatively-charged liposome decreased to 23.3 M, whereas that of AChE in a positively-charged liposome increased to 90.9 M. Additionally, AChE bound to a positively-charged liposome expressed a wider range of optimum pH than the enzyme in a negatively-charged liposome. In a stability study, it was found that soluble AChE was unstable at pH 5.5 and 7.4, while it was relatively stable at pH 10. Noteworthy, the immobilization of AChE to liposome enhanced the stability of soluble enzyme at acidic and neutral pH. Moreover, in the stabilization of the enzyme, a neutral liposome was more effective than charged liposomes, of which a positively-charged liposome was more effective than a negatively-charged liposome at acidic pH. Based on these results, it is proposed that while the K_m value and the pH dependence of AChE activity are affected by the charge of liposome, the stability of AChE is determined mainly by a hydrophobic binding to a phospholipid membrane.This work was supported in part by Agency for Defense Development.     

检测病毒气溶胶存活的方法学研究

以钝齿棒状杆菌噬菌体B271血清型为病毒等小颗粒生物粒子的模拟剂,建立了一种适合这类小颗粒生物粒子气溶胶存活研究的方法。本文从该噬菌体耐气溶胶化特性、气溶胶粒谱、用气溶胶示踪剂求算物理衰亡的方法和气溶胶采样回收技术等方面探讨了病毒气溶胶存活研究中的几个关键技术问题,为病毒气溶胶存活研究提供了参考。     

陕北黄土高原气象要素对植被覆盖的空间分异影响及风险探测

陕北黄土高原地处我国西北生态环境脆弱区,近年来受退耕还林（草）影响,区域植被覆盖变化显著,与气象要素的响应关系也呈现出了复杂的空间分异性和不确定性,亟待厘清。以不同地貌分区为响应单元,探究了陕北黄土高原变绿前后（1982-1992年与2005-2015年）NDVI指数的时空演化特征,分析了植被覆盖变化与气象要素之间的分异性响应关系,并透过最优参数的地理探测器模型（OPGD）探测了气象要素变化对植被覆盖演变的交互影响及风险。研究结果表明：（1）陕北黄土高原及各地貌分区在研究期内NDVI指数均呈显著上升趋势,且阶段化分异明显;各地貌区气温和实际蒸散发量在高原变绿前后趋势变化差异明显,1982-1992年主要呈不显著增加趋势,而2005-2015年则表现为不显著减少趋势;两个时期降水量的空间异质性较为显著,其中北部地区为持续增加趋势,而南部地区则由减少逆转为增加趋势。（2）不同地貌区NDVI指数与气温和蒸散发均呈正相关,且蒸散发与NDVI的相关性强于气温;相对高原变绿前,2005-2015年NDVI指数对各气象要素的响应强度均有所增大。（3）OPGD因子检测结果显示5km空间网格是评价气候变化对陕北黄土高原植被覆盖变化影响的最佳空间尺度,各地貌分区对NDVI指数变化影响最大的气象因子依次为：气温（黄土塬）、降水（盖沙黄土丘陵）、蒸散发（黄土峁状丘陵）、降水（黄土梁状丘陵）、降水（黄土宽谷丘陵）、蒸散发（风沙丘陵）、降水（土石丘陵）;交互探测表明气象因子间的交互作用对NDVI指数的空间分异具有协同增强性,但不同时期各地貌区的主导交互因子略有差异。（4）风险探测发现不同实际蒸散发量对NDVI指数的影响有显著空间差异。（5）陕北黄土高原的植被覆盖变化并不能简单归因于退耕还林（草）等生态修复措施,而应是多要素耦合驱动的结果,气象要素在其中扮演了不可忽视的作用。     

The survival of filoviruses in liquids,on solid substrates and in a dynamic aerosol

Aims: Filoviruses are associated with high morbidity and lethality rates in humans, are capable of human‐to‐human transmission, via infected material such as blood, and are believed to have low infectious doses for humans. Filoviruses are able to infect via the respiratory route and are lethal at very low doses in experimental animal models, but there is minimal information on how well the filoviruses survive within aerosol particles. There is also little known about how well filoviruses survive in liquids or on solid surfaces which is important in management of patients or samples that have been exposed to filoviruses. Methods and Results: Filoviruses were tested for their ability to survive in different liquids and on different solid substrates at different temperatures. The decay rates of filoviruses in a dynamic aerosol were also determined. Conclusions: Our study has shown that Lake Victoria marburgvirus (MARV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) can survive for long periods in different liquid media and can also be recovered from plastic and glass surfaces at low temperatures for over 3 weeks. The decay rates of ZEBOV and Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) plus MARV within a dynamic aerosol were calculated. ZEBOV and MARV had similar decay rates, whilst REBOV showed significantly better survival within an aerosol. Significance and Impact of the Study: Data on the survival of two ebolaviruses are presented for the first time. Extended data on the survival of MARV are presented. Data from this study extend the knowledge on the survival of filoviruses under different conditions and provide a basis with which to inform risk assessments and manage exposure to filoviruses.     

激光照射血液荧光光谱的初步研究

采用ＯＭＡ—ＩＩ微弱信号检测系统研究了人血液荧光光谱在激光照射下的变化情况。结果表明：在６３２．８ｎｍＨｅＮｅ激光诱导下,不同血液在６７０ｎｍ,７３０ｎｍ,９８１ｎｍ附近出现三个荧光峰;荧光强度在一定范围内与照射激光功率呈线性变化关系;随着激光照射时间的增加,三个峰位上的荧光强度下降,８分钟后趋于稳定值;在激光照射过程中,三个峰位出现不同数值的移动,同时在６７０ｎｍ和７３０ｎｍ两个荧光峰之间出现了竞争。