Induction of hemopoietic chimerism in the caprine fetus by intraperitoneal injection of fetal liver cells

Summary Intraperitoneal injection of allogeneic liver cells from 43-day-old male fetuses into normal 60-day female goat fetuses resulted in persistent hemopoietic chimerism in surviving recipients without clinical evidence of graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation of normal fetal liver cells into preimmunocompetent goat fetuses affected with -D-mannosidosis may provide an alternative strategy for evaluating hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of human lysosomal storage diseases.     

Proopiomelanocortin expression in the skin during induced hair growth in mice

We demonstrate for the first time a hair cycle-dependent gene and protein expression of proopiomelanocortin in mouse skin in vivo. Northern blot detected POMC mRNA with an apparent size of 0.9 kb in anagen but not telogen skin. Western blot emphasized a specific protein of 30–33 kDa recognized by anti -endorphin in late but not early anagen or telogen skin. By immunocytochemistry, -endorphin antigen was localized in the sebaceous gland in a hair cycle dependent manner.     

Purification of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth inhibitor and its characterization as transforming growth factor-β type 1

In 1986, Brown and Clemmons (Proc. natl Acad. Sci. USA83 (1986) 3321) showed that platelets contain a substance, platelet-derived growth inhibitor (PDGI), that inhibits in vitro endothelial cell replication. Although platelets are rich in transforming grwoth factor (TGF-), PDGI was considered not to be related to TGF-, on the basis of its reported properties (extraction from platelets at neutral pH, binding to heparin-Sepharose). However, we purified PDGI to near homogeneity and showed that on the basis of HPLC retention behavior, in vitro growth inhibitory activities with several cell types, receptor binding, and immunoneutralization of growth inhibitory activity with specific anti-TGF- type 1 antibodies, PDGI is most probably identical with TGF- type 1.     

Evaluation of the hepatotoxicological effects of a drug in an in vivo/in vitro model

Both in vivo and in vitro models have certain disadvantages for the study of the chronic hepatotoxicity of drugs. The aim of this work was to evaluate a new approach based on an in vivo/in vitro model. After chronic in vivo treatment of rats with Vincamine and Vindeburnol (an eburnamenine derivative which exhibits hepatotoxic properties in man) liver cells were isolated, and functional and metabolic disorders (metabolic utilization of fructose and protein biosynthesis) were studied to determine injury. The results showed no modification of blood parameters, but a direct relationship between the dose of Vindeburnol administered in vivo and the metabolic disorders observed in vitro, evidencing the high sensitivity and reliability of this model.     

Biosynthesis of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid: Steric course of the reaction at the C-4 position

Summary Under the action of the appropriate synthase from ripe tomatoes a 11 mixture of (3S, 4R)-[3,4-²H₂] and (3R, 4S)-[3,4-²H₂]-(2S)-adenosylmethionine is transformed into a 11 mixture of the two meso forms of [²H₂]-1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, a result which proves the operation of an inversion mechanism and which is consistent with direct nucleophilic displacement of the leaving group in the substrate.     

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection

Summary Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disporven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the sexy son hypothesis. These results suggest that the good genes approach to sexual selection may generally lead to erroneous results.Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantittive genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population.The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models^36–38,58. Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.     

A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

Summary The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of ¹-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.We thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this project by grants DA-02043 and DA-02052 and for supplying all of the cannabinoids. One of us (S.B.) is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from NIDA. We are grateful to Kristen Carlson and Thomas Honeyman for helpful suggestions in preparing this report.     

Structure of the human CLC-7/Ostm1 complex reveals a novel state

CLC-7 functions as a Cl?/H+ exchanger in lysosomes. Defects in CLC-7 and its β-subunit, Ostm1, result in osteopetrosis and neurodegeneration. Here, we present the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the human CLC-7/Ostm1 complex (HsCLC-7/Ostm1) at a resolution of 3.6 ?. Our structure reveals a new state of the CLC-7/Ostm1 heterotetramer, in which the cytoplasmic domain of CLC-7 is absent, likely due to high flexibility. The disordered cytoplasmic domain is probably not able to restrain CLC-7 subunits and thus allow their relative movements. The movements result in an approximately half smaller interface between the CLC-7 transmembrane domains than that in a previously reported CLC-7/Ostm1 structure with a well-folded cytoplasmic domain. Key interactions involving multiple osteopetrosis-related residues are affected by the interface change.     

基于PiggyBac转座系统的低溢漏诱导型Tet-On过表达体系的建立及应用

为避免诱导基因稳定表达的Tet-On诱导表达系统溢漏表达,实现简便且高效的外源基因稳定诱导表达, 本研究拟在Tet-On调控的转录水平基础上,将基于稳定配体Shield-1的不稳定结构域FK506结合蛋白引入目的基因的N端,从蛋白水平控制其本底表达水平.为验证该系统的效果,本研究以荧光蛋白TdTomato为报告基因,经流式分析结果证明优化后的体系较原体系的溢漏表达在蛋白水平上降低7倍左右.将该系统应用于基于小鼠胚胎干细胞的体外牙向分化模型,在诱导因子Dox和稳定配体Shield-1的协同作用下,诱导表达牙齿发育相关转录因子Hand2提高了牙向分化诱导的完成度.     

涂装车间漆雾过滤设备内流场数值模拟与设计优化

涂装车间在喷涂过程中会产生大量含有漆雾的喷涂废气,在处理喷涂废气之前需对其中的漆雾进行预过滤,在干式喷房中纸盒式漆雾过滤器由于更经济环保,越来越多地被投入使用。针对运行参数对过滤器过滤效率的影响,利用计算流体力学对折流板式纸盒过滤器的过滤效果进行了数值模拟研究,对过滤器的设计参数提出了优化建议。结果表明:设计参数对过滤器过滤效率的影响较大,过滤器对10 μm以下的漆雾颗粒过滤效率在10%~20%,过滤效率较低,对于10 μm以上的漆雾颗粒,过滤效率随粒径的增大而升高,对60 μm及以上的漆雾颗粒过滤效率达99%以上,部分大颗粒漆雾掉落至过滤器内,可实现漆雾储存;过滤器过滤效率随进口流速的增大而降低,随漆雾浓度的增大而升高,设备进出口压差随进口流速的增大而增大,但远低于喷房压阻限制。