Effects of truncated mutants of the ε subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase on the fast phase of millisecond delayed light emission of chloroplast and its ATP synthesis ability

The ε subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase and the truncated ε mutants which lack some amino acid residues from the N-terminus or C-terminus were overexpressed in E. coil When the ε subunit or the truncated ε proteins was added to the spinach chloroplast suspension, both the intensity of the fast phase of millisecond delayed light emission (ms-DLE) and the cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation activity of chloroplast were enhanced. With an increase in the number of residues deleted from the N-terminus, the enhancement effect of the N-terminal truncated proteins decreased gradually. For the C-terminal truncated proteins, the enhancement effect increased gradually with an increase in the number of residues deleted from the C-terminus. Besides, the ATP synthesis activity of ε-deficient membrane reconstituted with the ε subunit or the truncated ε proteins was compared. The ATP synthesis activity of reconstituted membrane with the N-terminal truncated proteins decreased gradually as the number of residues deleted from the N-terminus increased. For the C-terminal truncated proteins, the ATP synthesis activity of reconstituted membrane increased gradually with an increase in the number of residues deleted from the C-terminus, but was still lower than that of the wild type ε protein. These results suggested that: (a) the N-terminal domain of the ε subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase could affect the ATP synthesis activity of ATP synthase by regulating the efficiency of blocking proton leakage of ε subunit; and (b) the C-terminal domain of the ε subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase had a subtle function in modulating the ATP synthesis ability of ATP synthase.     

Novel aspects of glypican glycobiology

Mutations in glypican genes cause dysmorphic and overgrowth syndromes in men and mice, abnormal development in flies and worms, and defective gastrulation in zebrafish and ascidians. All glypican core proteins share a characteristic pattern of 14 conserved cysteine residues. Upstream from the C-terminal membrane anchorage are 3–4 heparan sulfate attachment sites. Cysteines in glypican-1 can become nitrosylated by nitric oxide in a copper-dependent reaction. When glypican-1 is exposed to ascorbate, nitric oxide is released and participates in deaminative cleavage of heparan sulfate at sites where the glucosamines have a free amino group. This process takes place while glypican-1 recycles via a nonclassical, caveolin-1-associated route. Glypicans are involved in growth factor signalling and transport, e.g. of polyamines. Cargo can be unloaded from heparan sulfate by nitric oxide-dependent degradation. How glypican and its degradation products and the cargo exit from the recycling route is an enigma.Received 27 November 2003; received after revision 8 January 2004; accepted 13 January 2004     

BMP signaling inhibits intestinal stem cell self-renewal through suppression of Wnt-beta-catenin signaling

In humans, mutations in BMPR1A, SMAD4 and PTEN are responsible for juvenile polyposis syndrome, juvenile intestinal polyposis and Cowden disease, respectively. The development of polyposis is a common feature of these diseases, suggesting that there is an association between BMP and PTEN pathways. The mechanistic link between BMP and PTEN pathways and the related etiology of juvenile polyposis is unresolved. Here we show that conditional inactivation of Bmpr1a in mice disturbs homeostasis of intestinal epithelial regeneration with an expansion of the stem and progenitor cell populations, eventually leading to intestinal polyposis resembling human juvenile polyposis syndrome. We show that BMP signaling suppresses Wnt signaling to ensure a balanced control of stem cell self-renewal. Mechanistically, PTEN, through phosphatidylinosital-3 kinase-Akt, mediates the convergence of the BMP and Wnt pathways on control of beta-catenin. Thus, BMP signaling may control the duplication of intestinal stem cells, thereby preventing crypt fission and the subsequent increase in crypt number.     

Wet periods in northeastern Brazil over the past 210 kyr linked to distant climate anomalies

The tropics are the main source of the atmosphere's sensible and latent heat, and water vapour, and are therefore important for reconstructions of past climate. But long, accurately dated records of southern tropical palaeoclimate, which would allow the establishment of climatic connections to distant regions, have not been available. Here we present a 210,000-year (210-kyr) record of wet periods in tropical northeastern Brazil--a region that is currently semi-arid. The record is obtained from speleothems and travertine deposits that are accurately dated using the U/Th method. We find wet periods that are synchronous with periods of weak East Asian summer monsoons, cold periods in Greenland, Heinrich events in the North Atlantic and periods of decreased river runoff to the Cariaco basin. We infer that the wet periods may be explained with a southward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. This widespread synchroneity of climate anomalies suggests a relatively rapid global reorganization of the ocean-atmosphere system. We conclude that the wet periods probably affected rainforest distribution, as plant fossils show that forest expansion occurred during these intermittent wet intervals, and opened a forest corridor between the Amazonian and Atlantic rainforests.     

Correlation between geometrical parameters of electrical tree and corresponding partial discharge parameters in XLPE

This paper deals with the experimental study on the correlation between the geometrical parameters of electrical tree and corresponding partial discharge (PD) characteristic parameters in the course of electrical tree aging within cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation. The electrical tree aging tests were performed on specimens removed from a section of 220 kV transmission cable. The PD macroscopic characteristic parameters were found to be significantly dependent on the corresponding geometrical parameters of electrical tree channels in the course of aging of XLPE, and different kind of electrical tree has different characteristics, and there is obvious correlation between the type of electrical tree and the pre-applied power-frequency stress. Beside, using regression analysis, the expression of the relation between them were obtained, and from which it can be seen that there is significant nonlinear correlation between geometrical parameters of electrical tree and corresponding PD characteristic parameters in the course of aging of XLPE. Therefore, the aging degree of XLPE can be effectively evaluated by recognizing the changing regularity of the PD rnacroscopic characteristic parameters.     

Fast dating of Yongzheng copper coins in tsing empire by SEM-EDS

Twenty Yongzheng copper coins were fast dat-ing by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer with scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS) according to official ingredient. The 20 coins were classified in two groups according to the results. Group 1 represents the coins minted before AD 1 728 and group 2 represents the coins minted after AD 1 728. At concentration range (0.00%-5.13%), the distribution of lead is not homogeneous in the coins, and the largest diameter of lead inclusion is less than 15 μm. The official fineness degrade is supported.     

Random quadralinear forms and schur product on tensors

In this work, we made progress on the problem that [ symbol: see text] is a Banach algebra under schur product. Our results extend Tonge's results. We also obtained estimates for the norm of the random quadralinear form A:l(r)(M) x l(p)(N) x l(q)(K) x l(s)(H)-->C, defined by: A(e(i), e(j), e(k), e(s))=a(ijks), where the (a(ijks))'s are uniformly bounded, independent, mean zero random variables. We proved that under some conditions [ symbol: see text] is not a Banach algebra under schur product.     

Assessment of rice fields by GIS／GPS-supported classification of MODIS data

The new Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite image offers a large choice of opportunities for operational applications. The 1-km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) image is not suitable for retrieval of field level parameter and Landsat data are not frequent enough for monitoring changes in crop parameters during the critical crop growth periods.A methodology to map areas of paddy fields using MODIS,geographic information system (GIS) and global position system (GPS) is introduced in this paper. Training samples are selected and located with the help of GPS to provide maximal accuracy.A concept of assessing areas of potential cultivation of rice is suggested by means of GIS integration. By integration of MODIS with GIS and GPS technologies the actual areas of rice fields in 2002 have been mapped. The classification accuracy was 95.7% percent compared with the statistical data of the Agricultural Bureau of Zhejiang Province.     

Suppressing progress of pancreatitis through selective inhibition of NF-κB activation by using NAC

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of NF-KappaB activation in the progress of pancreatitis, the relationship with expression of TNF-alpha in the inflammatory reaction, and prevent the exacerbation of pancreatitis by using NAC. METHOD: Forty-eight rats were divided into three groups: therapy (group C), pancreatitis (group B) and control (group A). NAC served as the inhibitor of NF-KappaB activation. In the time intervals of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 hour, NF-KappaB activation was detected with flow cytometry (FCM) and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein with in situ hybridization (ISH) and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Meanwhile, the level of lipase and amylase in the serum was assayed and the pathological change was evaluated. RESULT: NF-KappaB activation in the pancreatitis group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01), peaked at 3 hours, and was depressed by the inhibitor of NF-KappaB, NAC. The expression of TNF-alpha as well as the level of lipase and amylase in the serum also rose synchronously with activation of NF-KappaB. In contrast to group A, it was significantly different (P<0.01) in group B. After using NAC in group C, all of these values were decreased and the inflammatory reaction in the pancreas abated evidently. The pathology changes of the pancreas were shown to be alleviated in group C. CONCLUSION: First, NF-KappaB activity is intensively initiated in the course of pancreatitis and shown to have closely relationship with the release of cytokines. Second, use of NAC markedly depressed NF-KappaB activation. TNF-alpha expression is down regulated by cytokines. It is suggested that NAC probably acts as a useful agent for treatment of pancreatitis by indirectly inhibiting activation of NF-KappaB.     

建构主义理论在计算机教学中的应用

该文通过对计算机类课程教学的设计与情景创设,阐明在建构主义教学模式下"以教师为主导,学生为主体"教学思想在计算机教学中的实现策略。