Recombinant PsbF from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 forms β:β homodimeric cytochrome b559

All organisms with oxygenic photosynthesis contain two photosystems:photosystem Ⅰ(PSⅠ)and photo-systemⅡ(PSⅡ),The minimal photosystem Ⅱ particles which are photochemically active contain three subunits:D1,D2 and cytochrome b559 (Cyt b559),The function of Cyt b559 remains unclear,We have successfully overxpressed the psbF gene,encoding the β subunit of Cyt b559,from a marine cyanobacterium Synechoccous sp.PCC 7002 as a fusion gene and obtained a redox-active from of Cyt b559,When the N-terminal GST protein of the fusion gene product was removed with thrombin ,the PsbF protein was still redox-active,suggesting that the recombinant PsbF can form dimer in Escherichia coli.The absorption spectra of either the oxidized from or the reduced form of both GST fusion protein and the purified PsbF dimer and the difference Spectra between the two forms are the same as that of the Cyt b559 isolated from the higher plants .Redox titration analysis of recombinant PsbF showed that the mid-point redox potential of the recombinant Cyt b559 was approximately 50 mV, which is close to the low potential of Cyt b559 ,The results are helpful to the understanding of locatlization and function of Cyt b559 on thylakoid membranes.Ⅰ     

Assignment of Soret MLCT band of reduced form of copper binuclear cluster in cytochrome c oxidase film

Low concentration of dithionite results in the reduction of Cu-Cn binuclear and heine a active sites of the cytochrome c oxidase thin solid film immersed in the acidic phosphate buffer, but Fe-Cu binuclear center keeps in the oxidation state. It manifests as a negative peak at 426 nm and a positive one at -408 nln in the difference spectra induced by dithionite. The former implies decrease of the oxidized form of heme a center, that is, Fea^3 →Fea^2 . And the latter results from the contribution of metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition in the reduced binuclear Cu-Cu cluster, rather than from that of heine a center. This stronger Soret MLCT band must be helpful to overcoming the difficulty in distinguishing the weaker copper sign from the stronger one of iron when studying copper-iron protein.     

Effects of pattern shape on adaptation of dLGN cell

Pattern adaptation is one of the fundamental sensory processes in the visual system. In this study, we compared pattern adaptation induced by two types of sinusoidal drifting grating in dLGN cells of cat. The two types of grating have the same parameters (e.g. spatial frequency,temporal frequency and contrast) except their pattern shapes,one of which is normal grating and the other annular grating.The results suggested that the annular grating elicited stronger response and stronger pattern adaptation than the normal grating. This is consistent with the adaptation and aftereffect to the two types of drifting gratings seen in psychology and may reflect the subcortical neural mechanism underlying these psychological phenomena.     

一种新的微管相关蛋白JWA对细胞内氨基酸平衡有重要调节作用

探讨了JWA蛋白在细胞内的确切定位、与微管蛋白的相互关系及对细胞内氨基酸平衡的调节作用. 应用4~37℃(微管解聚-聚合)交替作用法提取纯化大鼠脑组织中微管及其相关蛋白; 用免疫共沉淀法研究JWA蛋白与微管蛋白的相互作用; 应用基因转染和免疫荧光等实验方法研究低温(4℃)、秋水仙素(1 × 10^-5, 5 × 10^-5 mol/L)等处理的HBE细胞/ NIH3T3细胞中JWA和微管的动态变化及相互关系. 应用反义寡核苷酸技术结合氨基酸分析技术探讨JWA蛋白对PC12细胞内氨基酸平衡的调节作用. 结果表明, JWA蛋白是一种新的微管相关蛋白, 与微管蛋白分布基本平行, 在绝大多数情况下伴随微管动力学改变(聚合或解聚)而同步发生变化, 并且可能参与了细胞有丝分裂的过程. JWA蛋白是细胞内氨基酸总量的一种重要负性调节蛋白, 并选择性地调节细胞内谷氨酸和牛磺酸含量.     

Nitric oxide produced by cumulus cells stimulates maturation of mouse oocytes

The effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a donor of nitric oxide, on meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes was studied by injecting N^w-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) intra-peritoneal (ip), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, or culturing oocytes in the medium supplemented with L-NAME or hypoxanthine (HX) to arrest the spontaneous oocyte maturation in vitro. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of L-NAME by injecting 10 mg/kg ip on extrusion of the first polar body only could be reversed by injecting 2.5 mg/kg SNP with L-NAME simultaneously (P < 0.05). Half an hour later ten mice died when given 10 mg/kg SNP ip. The treatment of some concentrations of SNP (10^–7, 10^–6, 10^–5mol/L) significantly stimulated meiotic maturation to metaphase Ⅱ stages in cumulus enclosed oocytes in the presence of HX. However, other concentrations of SNP (10^–8, 10^–4, 10^–3 mol/L) had no effect on HX-arrested oocyte meiotic maturation. The optimal concentration of SNP on CEOs had no effect on DOs. The dose of 10^–3 mol/LL-NAME demonstrated a significant suppression in formation of PB₁, but not in GVBD. This inhibition was reversed by the addition of SNP. These results indicated that the physiological levels of NO produced by cumulus cells could stimulate meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes both in vivo and in vitro.     

Study of β—amyloid adsorption and aggregation on graphite by STM and AFM

The scanning tunneling microscopy(STM) and the atomic force microscopy(AMF) have been applied to the direct study of the adsorption and aggregation of β-amyloid(1-42)(Aβ42)on the hydrophobic graphite surface.It was found that Aβ42 were preferentially adsorbed on graphite defects such as the edges.Aβ42 peptides self-assembled into intermediate protofibrils,which in turn self-associated to form fibrils.Usually,two or more fibrils intertwined to form the helical structure.These results will provide an important clue to studying the aggregation process of β-amyloid.     

血管内皮生长因子在小鼠胚胎植入"窗口"的表达和功能

血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor ,VEGF)是一种特异作用于血管内皮细胞,与血管生成密切相关的生长因子,目前已知VEGF参与胚胎植入及胚胎的血管发生,但是仍不清楚VEGF在植入窗口期的表达情况和具体功能,实验应用离体和间接免疫荧光－激光共聚焦扫描等方法对VEGF在胚胎植入窗口的表达和功能进行了研究,研究发现,VEGF的分布在体外培养的处于植入“窗口”期的小鼠胚泡及其扩展的滋养层细胞和子宫上皮细胞单层上;VEGF抗体能够显著降低在体小鼠胚胎的着床数,在共培养体系中,VEGF抗体能够显著降低小鼠胚泡在子宫上皮细胞单层上的黏附率和扩展率,此作用具有剂量依赖关系,实验表明,VEGF是一种在胚胎植入过程中起重要作用的细胞因子,VEGF可能作为植入胚胎及接受性子宫内膜之间的“局部介导者”（local mediator),参与母胎间的信息传递,促进胚胎植入。     

一种基于GO分子功能信息的序列编码辅助预测亚细胞定位方法

亚细胞定位与蛋白质的功能紧密相关. 本研究提出了一种新的编码方式, 试图根据那些与亚细胞定位相关的蛋白质分子功能信息, 结合氨基酸二肽组成以提高亚细胞定位预测的性能. 结果显示, 在使用支持向量机和RH数据集的测试中, 该方法的预测精度有了显著的提高, 同时对于蛋白质序列N端的不准确性也具有一定的鲁棒性.     

拟南芥微管结合蛋白MAP18通过使周质微管去稳定化参与细胞的定向生长

在细胞的生长发育过程中，微管骨架通过特定的组织和排列方式参与对细胞生长和细胞形态建成的调控，而微管在细胞中的组织和排列则主要受微管结合蛋白（microtubule associated proteins，MAPs）的控制．在植物细胞中，目前已经发现众多的微管结合蛋白，如切割微管的Katanin、稳定周质微管的MOR1、     

夜幕中的“小流星”

寂静的夏夜,当人们在微风中纳凉时,常会发现一盏盏绿色的小灯笼,在河边或田野徐徐流动,恰似在空中熠熠生辉的流星,这就是萤火虫。