Using caged neurotransmitters

The development of photolabile caged neurotransmitters has made possible the study of the split-second kinetics of receptor-ligand interactions. An instrument has now been developed for activating the neurotransmitter and measuring the neuron's response.     

笼养竹鼠的可行性实验

于 1995～ 1999年 ,进行了野生竹鼠的饲养 ,观察了竹鼠的生长与食物的种类、饲养条件有密切的关系 ,并作了详细记录。结果表明 ,野生竹鼠在人工饲养的条件下远较在野生环境下竹鼠的生长情况好     

双功能笼状阻燃抗静电剂的合成与表征

以丙基三甲氧基硅烷和四羟甲基硫酸鏻为原料,合成笼状有机硅酸酯阻燃抗静电剂1-丙基-4-羟甲基-1-硅杂-4-磷杂-2,6,7-三氧杂双环[2,2,2]-辛烷季鏻硫酸盐,讨论温度、时间、溶剂等对产率的影响,并采用FTIR、1H-NMR、差热、极限氧指数及表面电阻等技术表征了产品的结构及性能.最佳工艺条件为:丙基三甲氧基硅烷与四羟甲基硫酸磷的物质的量之比为2∶1,二甲苯作溶剂,反应温度为140℃,反应时间为9 h.实验表明:该化合物分解温度为265.5℃,有优良的阻燃抗静电性能.     

The wMel Wolbachia strain blocks dengue and invades caged Aedes aegypti populations

Dengue fever is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease of humans with more than 50 million cases estimated annually in more than 100 countries. Disturbingly, the geographic range of dengue is currently expanding and the severity of outbreaks is increasing. Control options for dengue are very limited and currently focus on reducing population abundance of the major mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. These strategies are failing to reduce dengue incidence in tropical communities and there is an urgent need for effective alternatives. It has been proposed that endosymbiotic bacterial Wolbachia infections of insects might be used in novel strategies for dengue control. For example, the wMelPop-CLA Wolbachia strain reduces the lifespan of adult A. aegypti mosquitoes in stably transinfected lines. This life-shortening phenotype was predicted to reduce the potential for dengue transmission. The recent discovery that several Wolbachia infections, including wMelPop-CLA, can also directly influence the susceptibility of insects to infection with a range of insect and human pathogens has markedly changed the potential for Wolbachia infections to control human diseases. Here we describe the successful transinfection of A. aegypti with the avirulent wMel strain of Wolbachia, which induces the reproductive phenotype cytoplasmic incompatibility with minimal apparent fitness costs and high maternal transmission, providing optimal phenotypic effects for invasion. Under semi-field conditions, the wMel strain increased from an initial starting frequency of 0.65 to near fixation within a few generations, invading A. aegypti populations at an accelerated rate relative to trials with the wMelPop-CLA strain. We also show that wMel and wMelPop-CLA strains block transmission of dengue serotype 2 (DENV-2) in A. aegypti, forming the basis of a practical approach to dengue suppression.     

Naturalistic experience transforms sensory maps in the adult cortex of caged animals

Much of what is known about the functional organization and plasticity of adult sensory cortex is derived from animals housed in standard laboratory cages. Here we report that the transfer of adult rats reared in standard laboratory cages to a naturalistic habitat modifies the functional and morphological organization of the facial whisker representation in the somatosensory 'barrel' cortex. Cortical whisker representations, visualized with repeated intrinsic signal optical imaging in the same animals, contracted by 46% after four to six weeks of exposure to the naturalistic habitat. Acute, multi-site extracellular recordings demonstrated suppressed evoked neuronal responses and smaller, sharper constituent receptive fields in the upper cortical layers (II/III), but not in the thalamic recipient layer (IV), of rats with naturalistic experience. Morphological plasticity of the layer IV barrel field was observed, but on a substantially smaller scale than the functional plasticity. Thus, transferring animals to an environment that promotes the expression of natural, innate behaviours induces a large-scale functional refinement of cortical sensory maps.     

Kinetics of smooth and skeletal muscle activation by laser pulse photolysis of caged inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) can stimulate skinned smooth and skeletal muscle to contract by initiating Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Whether this process is an integral component of the in vivo muscle activation mechanism was tested by releasing InsP3 rapidly within skinned muscle fibers of rabbit main pulmonary artery and frog semitendinosus. InsP3 was liberated on laser pulse photolysis of a photolabile but biologically inactive precursor of InsP3 termed caged InsP3. Caged InsP3 is a mixture of compounds in which InsP3 is esterified with 1(2-nitrophenyl)diazoethane (probably at the P4- or P5-position). Photochemical release of InsP3 induced a full contraction in both muscles at physiological free Mg2+ concentrations, but only in the smooth muscle were the InsP3 concentration (0.5 microM) and the activation rate compatible with the in vivo physiological response. Endogenous InsP3-specific phosphatase activity was present in smooth muscle and had about 35-fold greater activity than that in the skeletal-muscle preparation. Caged InsP3 was not susceptible to phosphatases in either preparation.     

The structural basis of calcium transport by the calcium pump

The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, a P-type ATPase, has a critical role in muscle function and metabolism. Here we present functional studies and three new crystal structures of the rabbit skeletal muscle Ca2+-ATPase, representing the phosphoenzyme intermediates associated with Ca2+ binding, Ca2+ translocation and dephosphorylation, that are based on complexes with a functional ATP analogue, beryllium fluoride and aluminium fluoride, respectively. The structures complete the cycle of nucleotide binding and cation transport of Ca2+-ATPase. Phosphorylation of the enzyme triggers the onset of a conformational change that leads to the opening of a luminal exit pathway defined by the transmembrane segments M1 through M6, which represent the canonical membrane domain of P-type pumps. Ca2+ release is promoted by translocation of the M4 helix, exposing Glu 309, Glu 771 and Asn 796 to the lumen. The mechanism explains how P-type ATPases are able to form the steep electrochemical gradients required for key functions in eukaryotic cells.     

Three types of neuronal calcium channel with different calcium agonist sensitivity

How many types of calcium channels exist in neurones? This question is fundamental to understanding how calcium entry contributes to diverse neuronal functions such as transmitter release, neurite extension, spike initiation and rhythmic firing. There is considerable evidence for the presence of more than one type of Ca conductance in neurones and other cells. However, little is known about single-channel properties of diverse neuronal Ca channels, or their responsiveness to dihydropyridines, compounds widely used as labels in Ca channel purification. Here we report evidence for the coexistence of three types of Ca channel in sensory neurones of the chick dorsal root ganglion. In addition to a large conductance channel that contributes long-lasting current at strong depolarizations (L), and a relatively tiny conductance that underlies a transient current activated at weak depolarizations (T), we find a third type of unitary activity (N) that is neither T nor L. N-type Ca channels require strongly negative potentials for complete removal of inactivation (unlike L) and strong depolarizations for activation (unlike T). The dihydropyridine Ca agonist Bay K 8644 strongly increases the opening probability of L-, but not T- or N-type channels.     

Reversible inactivation of K+ channels of Vicia stomatal guard cells following the photolysis of caged inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

RECENT investigations suggest that cytoplasmic D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) functions as a second messenger in plants, as in animals, coupling environmental and other stimuli to intracellular Ca2+ release. Cytoplasmic levels of InsP3 and the turnover of several probable precursors in plants are affected by physiological stimuli--including light, osmotic stress and the phytohormone indoleacetic acid--and InsP3 activates Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ flux across plant vacuolar and microsomal membranes. Complementary data also link changes in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ to several physiological responses, notably in guard cells which regulate gas exchange through the stomatal pores of higher plant leaves. Recent evidence indicates that guard cell K+ channels and, hence, K+ flux for stomatal movements may be controlled by cytoplasmic Ca2+. So far, however, direct evidence of a role for InsP3 in signalling in plants has remained elusive. Here we report that InsP3 released from an inactive, photolabile precursor, the P5-1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl ester of InsP3 (caged InsP3) reversibly inactivates K+ channels thought to mediate K+ uptake by guard cells from Vicia faba L. while simultaneously activating an apparently time-independent, inward current to depolarize the membrane potential and promote K+ efflux through a second class of K+ channels. The data are consistent with a transient rise in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ and demonstrate that intact guard cells are competent to use InsP3 in signal cascades controlling ion flux through K+ channels.     

Structural changes in the calcium pump accompanying the dissociation of calcium

In skeletal muscle, calcium ions are transported (pumped) against a concentration gradient from the cytoplasm into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, an intracellular organelle. This causes muscle cells to relax after cytosolic calcium increases during excitation. The Ca(2+) ATPase that carries out this pumping is a representative P-type ion-transporting ATPase. Here we describe the structure of this ion pump at 3.1 A resolution in a Ca(2+)-free (E2) state, and compare it with that determined previously for the Ca(2+)-bound (E1Ca(2+)) state. The structure of the enzyme stabilized by thapsigargin, a potent inhibitor, shows large conformation differences from that in E1Ca(2+). Three cytoplasmic domains gather to form a single headpiece, and six of the ten transmembrane helices exhibit large-scale rearrangements. These rearrangements ensure the release of calcium ions into the lumen of sarcoplasmic reticulum and, on the cytoplasmic side, create a pathway for entry of new calcium ions.     

氢氧化钙和碳酸钙混合物的分析方法

在甲醇存在下,用EDTA四钠盐能准确而精密地络合滴定Ca(OH)2和CaCO3混合物.当甲醇与水的体积比在0.2～0.6之间时,CaCO3 对Ca(OH)2的滴定不干扰,且能准确滴定Ca(OH)2.本法可用来监测石灰乳碳化的全过程.     

Depletion of intracellular calcium stores activates a calcium current in mast cells.

In many cell types, receptor-mediated Ca2+ release from internal stores is followed by Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. The sustained entry of Ca2+ is thought to result partly from the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ pools. Most investigations have characterized Ca2+ influx indirectly by measuring Ca(2+)-activated currents or using Fura-2 quenching by Mn2+, which in some cells enters the cells by the same influx pathway. But only a few studies have investigated this Ca2+ entry pathway more directly. We have combined patch-clamp and Fura-2 measurements to monitor membrane currents in mast cells under conditions where intracellular Ca2+ stores were emptied by either inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, ionomycin, or excess of the Ca2+ chelator EGTA. The depletion of Ca2+ pools by these independent mechanisms commonly induced activation of a sustained calcium inward current that was highly selective for Ca2+ ions over Ba2+, Sr2+ and Mn2+. This Ca2+ current, which we term ICRAC (calcium release-activated calcium), is not voltage-activated and shows a characteristic inward rectification. It may be the mechanism by which electrically nonexcitable cells maintain raised intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and replenish their empty Ca2+ stores after receptor stimulation.     

稀土尾矿中钙的提取及硫酸钙晶须的制备

本研究采用稀硫酸溶解稀土尾矿,稀土尾矿中难溶的稀土矿物和钙的溶解产物硫酸钙存在于硫酸不溶物中,固液分离后用稀盐酸进一步溶解硫酸不溶物,使固态的硫酸钙溶解在稀盐酸中.尾矿中的稀土富集于盐酸不溶物中,盐酸不溶物中稀土氧化物质量分数为43.60％.采用乙醇结晶的方法制备硫酸钙晶须,确定结晶制备的最佳条件为:室温下,硫酸钙的初始浓度为0.009 mol/L左右,pH为1.0～1.5,溶液与乙醇的体积比为1:2,静置时间为2h.在此最佳条件下,稀土尾矿中钙的回收率大于85％,产品硫酸钙晶须纯度达98％以上,晶须平均直径为1 μm,平均长径比达80.     

盐湖副产硫酸钙转化法制备高纯氧化钙

利用盐湖副产硫酸钙和碳酸氢铵溶液进行转化反应得到氧化钙的前驱体碳酸钙;然后,将其直接热解制备高纯氧化钙,分别考察物料配比、反应时间、反应温度等因素对硫酸钙转化率的影响,采用XRD和化学分析方法对产物进行分析,并对转化反应过程进行动力学分析。研究结果表明,在物料配比为1.3:1.0,反应时间为2.5 h,反应温度为50℃时,硫酸钙的转化率可达到99.6%,将固相产物在1 000℃热解1 h后所制备的氧化钙纯度为99.7%。转化反应过程符合收缩核模型,其的数学表达式为kt=1-(1-X)1/3,反应的表观活化能为43.4 kJ/mol,该模型表明转化反应过程受界面化学反应控制。     

电石渣制备纳米晶碳酸钙的液相法工艺研究

文章研究了以氯化铵为提取液,利用液相法从电石渣中提取钙的工艺条件,并利用提取的钙与碳酸铵反应,成功制备出了纳米碳酸钙;从降低生产成本与提高产品质量出发,设计了一个二级循环浸取工艺,从而成功实现了氯化铵在整个制备过程中的循环利用,并达到环保的目的;该工艺中钙的提取率可达91.43%,产品碳酸钙的纯度与白度分别为99.93%与98,符合国家标准;X射线粉末衍射(XRD)结果表明,产物为纯净的方解石型碳酸钙;透射电子显微镜(TEM)显示产物的粒径为30 nm左右。     

天门冬氨酸钙和葡萄糖酸钙兔体内吸收度的研究

用原子吸收分光光度法测定兔血清钙浓度,结果表明,天门冬氨酸钙和葡萄糖酸钙的吸收度无显著性差异。