The role of duplication in the expression of a variable surface glycoprotein gene of Trypanosoma brucei

The variable surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes of Trypanosoma brucei have been classified into two groups depending upon whether or not duplication of the genes is observed when they are expressed. We report here the observation of duplication apparently linked to expression of the ILTaT 1.3 gene in the ETaR 1 trypanosome stock. In the ILTaR 1 stock, expression of the ILTaT 1.3 VSG did not involve a new duplication, but instead activation of a preexisting gene copy that had been apparently generated earlier by a duplication event analogous to that directly observed in the ETaR 1 trypanosomes. The results suggest that the well-characterised gene duplications found with other VSG genes are common to all VSG genes but are not directly responsible for controlling expression. All currently available data can be accommodated by a model that assumes that gene duplication and replacement occurs independently of antigenic switching.     

人体单臂间歇运动对发汗调定点的影响

本工作系在微小气候相对恒定条件下,对10名健康男青年每人进行四项实验。实验 Ⅰ 为测定双侧腿足浸入43℃水中,诱发左前臂屈侧显现定量汗点时的口腔温度(舌下)阈值,作为发汗调定点参考值(ToSSP);实验 Ⅱ 为 Ⅰ 附加右臂间歇轻负荷运动(77W)时测定 ToSSP,部分对象还记录了皮肤电反应;实验 Ⅲ、Ⅳ 为 Ⅰ、Ⅱ 均附加4.5m/s 气流(22—25℃)直吹头面部,再分别测定 ToSSP。实验 Ⅰ 与 Ⅱ 同体对照22人次,Ⅲ 与 Ⅳ 同体对照24人次。结果表明,实验 Ⅱ、Ⅳ 的 ToSSP 均值及其潜伏期均值分别较 Ⅰ、Ⅲ 者降低(P<0.01)或缩短(P<0.001);Ⅰ、Ⅱ间的 ToSSP 均值差、潜伏期均值差,分别与 Ⅲ、Ⅳ 之间者无显著差异(P>0.2);Ⅱ、Ⅳ 的ToSSP 均值各与其实验开始前的口温均值亦无明显差异(P>0.5)。此结果支持运动时体温调定点下降的论点,并提示在研究体温调定点活动时,以 ToSSP 为指标较用发汗速率为优越,因 ToSSP 不为许多干扰因素所影响。     

The isolation,characterization and application in the Triticeae of a set of wheat RFLP probes identifying each homoeologous chromosome arm

Summary To investigate the use of RFLP analysis in the Triticeae, a set of low copy number probes has been isolated from a wheat cDNA library. The probes identify each of the 14 homoeologous chromosome arms of wheat as determined by analysis of DNA fragments hybridizing to the probes in aneuploid lines of Chinese Spring. These probes can be used in RFLP analyses both for the assignment of homoeology of alien chromosomes or arms added to wheat, and for the determination of chromosome dosage in wheat aneuploids. Different chromosomes from various Triticeae species can therefore be followed in a wheat genetic background using a single technique. The potential uses of the set in facilitating the transfer of alien segments into wheat are outlined.     

Characterization of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in chloroplasts by fluorescence spectroscopy at 77 K II. ATP-dependent quenching

In intact, uncoupled type B chloroplasts from spinach, added ATP causes a slow light-induced decline ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{≈ 3}\text{min}$) of chlorophyll a fluorescence at room temperature. Fluorescence spectra were recorded after fast cooling to 77 K and normalized with fluorescein as an internal standard. Related to the fluorescence quenching at room temperature, an increase in Photosystem (PS) I fluorescence (F₇₃₅) and a decrease in PS II fluorescence (F₆₉₅) were observed in the low-temperature spectra. The change in the $\text{F}{}_{735}\text{F}{}_{695}$ ratio was abolished by the presence of methyl viologen. Fluorescence induction at 77 K of chloroplasts frozen in the quenched state showed lowered variable (F_v) and initial (F₀) fluorescence at 690 nm and an increase in F₀ at 735 nm. The results are interpreted as indicating an ATP-dependent change of the initial distribution of excitation energy in favor of PS I, which is controlled by the redox state of the electron-transport chain and, according to current theories, is caused by phosphorylation of the light-harvesting complex.     

Ultra-fastChara myosin: A test case for the swinging lever arm model for force production by myosin

Recent breakthroughs and technological improvements are rapidly generating evidence supporting the “swinging lever arm model” for force production by myosin. Unlike previous models, this model posits that the globular domain of the myosin motor binds to actin with a constant orientation during force generation. Movement of the neck domain of the motor is hypothesized to occur relative to the globular domain much like a lever arm. This intramolecular conformational change drives the movement of the bound actin. The swinging lever arm model is supported by or consistent with a large number of experimental data obtained with skeletal muscle or slime mold myosins, all of which move actin filaments at rates between 1 and 10 μm/sin vitro. Recently myosin was purified, fromChara internodal cells.In vitro the purifiedChara myosin moves actin filaments at rates one order of magnitude faster than the “fast” skeletal muscle myosin. While this ultra fast movement is not necessarily inconsistent with the swinging lever arm model, one or more specific facets of the motor must be altered in theChara motor in order to accommodate such rapid movement. These characteristics are experimentally testable, thus the ultra fast movement byChara myosin represents a powerful and compelling test of the swinging lever arm model.     

Variable selection in nonlinear function-on-scalar regression

We develop a new method for variable selection in a nonlinear additive function-on-scalar regression (FOSR) model. Existing methods for variable selection in FOSR have focused on the linear effects of scalar predictors, which can be a restrictive assumption in the presence of multiple continuously measured covariates. We propose a computationally efficient approach for variable selection in existing linear FOSR using functional principal component scores of the functional response and extend this framework to a nonlinear additive function-on-scalar model. The proposed method provides a unified and flexible framework for variable selection in FOSR, allowing nonlinear effects of the covariates. Numerical analysis using simulation study illustrates the advantages of the proposed method over existing variable selection methods in FOSR even when the underlying covariate effects are all linear. The proposed procedure is demonstrated on accelerometer data from the 2003–2004 cohorts of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in understanding the association between diurnal patterns of physical activity and demographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics of the participants.