Thymidine kinase gene mutation leads to reduced virulence of pseudorabies virus

To explore correlation between the tk gene structure of pseudorabies virus (PRV) and its virulence, to study the effect of the gene mutation on PRV biological properties, and to investigate mechinism of reduced virulence, thymidine kinase (TK)-deficient mutant of pseudorabies virus strain Hubei (PRV HB) was isolated by selection for resistance to 5-bromodeoxyuridine. The tk genes of PRV HB and its TK^― mutant were cloned and sequenced. 1587 base pairs of the tk gene and flanking regions of wild-type (wt) virus were sequenced, which included an open reading frame (ORF) of 1098 bp encoding a protein of 366 amino acids. The ORF contained two 137-bp repeated sequences, which were connected by an adenosine. 1458 bp of the tk and flanking regions of TK^― mutant were sequenced. Analysis of the tk gene sequence of TK^― mutant indicated that one of 137 bp repeated sequence and the connecting adenosine in the tk gene of the wt virus was deleted and a repeated sequence of 8 nucleotides (GCGCGCC) was inserted. All other nucleotides of TK^―mutant were identical to that of wt virus. Deletion and insertion of the nucleotide sequence resulted in a frameshift and a premature chain termination, and the resultant TK protein was not active. Analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed that TK protein of PRV HB contained the conserved consensus sequence of herpesviral TKs and an additional conserved-DHR-motif. The results of this work also indicated that TK^― mutant was genetically stable. Compared to PRV HB, virulence of TK^― mutant was greatly decreased. Mice vaccinated with TK^― mutant were completely protected against a lethal challenge with virulent PRV (HB).     

Mechanical and biochemical characterization of the contraction elicited by a calcium-independent myosin light chain kinase in chemically skinned smooth muscle

Summary The contraction induced by a Ca²⁺-independent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK-) was characterized in terms of isometric force (F_o), immediate elastic recoil (SE), unloaded shortening velocity (V_us), shortening under a constant load and ATPase activity of chemically skinned smooth muscle preparations. These parameters were compared to those measured in a Ca²⁺-induced contraction to assess the nature of cross bridge interaction in the MLCK-induced contraction. F_o developed in chicken gizzard fibers as well as SE were similar in contractions elicited by either agent. V_us in the contraction induced by MLCK-(0.36 mg/ml) was similar though averaged 39.3±8.9% less than V_us induced by Ca²⁺ (1.6x10^–6M) in the control fibers. Addition of Ca²⁺ (1.6x10^–6M) to a contraction induced by MLCK-resulted in small increases in both F_o and V_us. Shortening under a constant load was similar for both types of contractions. The contraction induced by MLCK-was accompanied by an increased rate of ATP hydrolysis. The MLCK-induced contraction is thus kinetically similar though not identical to a contraction induced by Ca²⁺. We conclude that with respect to actin-myosin interaction, MLCK- and Ca²⁺-induced contractions are similar.     

Oscillatory change of SR-protein kinase activities during oocyte maturation meiosis in fish

The SR-protein kinase activity was analyzed and the cytological changes were observed during oocyte maturation in bisexual transparent color crucian carp ( Carassius auratus color variety) . The results revealed that the SR-protein kinase activity was sensitive to the artificially induced spawning hormones, and the change of oscillatory activity was similar to that of the maturation-promoting factor (MPF) kinase that regulates meiotic cell cycle in fish.     

萄葡糖电合成葡葡糖酸锌

在无隔膜的电解槽中,用成对电合成法,制取了葡萄糖酸及山梨糠醇,完成了葡萄糖酸由钠盐向锌盐的转化,最佳操作条件:pH 9～10,温度55℃,葡萄糖和NaBr浓度均为0.8mol/L,电解的电流密度10mA/cm~2,电流浓度0.3F·mol~(-1)。在此条件下有效电耗为57.5%。     

选择性BCR-ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂体外筛选体系的建立

BCR—ABL融合基因表达的肿瘤蛋白是慢性髓性白血病的主要致病因素，应用人BCR—ABL，基因转染的细胞株FD—rv 210与其祖代细胞FDC—P1细胞组成的配对细胞株和不同的培养条件，建立了一个BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的体外筛选体系，用于检测BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的选择性，发现两种BCR—ABL，酪氨酸激酶抑制剂AG957和AG490，对BCR—ABL阳性细胞和阴性细胞的增殖抑制作用相似；培养体系中有无祖代细胞增殖所需的细胞因子，对其增殖抑制作用无影响；AG957短时作用于细胞即发生不可逆的增殖抑制现象，与已知的选择性BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂STI571特性明显不同，提示这两种抑制剂作用呈非选择性，所建立的体外培养体系及不同的培养条件的组合，可用于筛选各种选择性的BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂。     

丙酮酸、乳酸对体外肌酸激酶活性的抑制作用

 应用酶活测定的方法分析了肌酸激酶在不同浓度的乳酸、丙酮酸中的活性变化.实验结果说明在失活过程中没有蛋白质的聚沉,失活与乳酸浓度、丙酮酸的浓度呈正相关.通过对比实验结果提示,丙酮酸离子、乳酸离子对肌酸激酶没有明显影响,丙酮酸、乳酸是通过其解离状态的H⁺改变了机体pH值而影响肌酸激酶活性的,作者就丙酮酸、乳酸对肌酸激酶影响及其意义进行探讨.     

蛋白激酶C单克隆抗体的制备

应用杂交瘤技术制备了蛋白激酶C(PKC)的单克隆抗体,用蛋白A-Sepharose-CL4B协同沉淀复合物分析单抗识别的蛋白,分子质量与PKC相同。采用该抗体对正常和转化的C_3H_(10) T_(1/2)细胞进行免疫荧光观察,发现它们的PKC含量明显不同。但荧光分布都主要集中在细胞质和细胞膜部分。     

Molecular mechanism for the production of multiple form of MM creatine kinase

Summary Incubation of human, canine or rabbit MM creatine kinase with carboxypeptidase-N or B resulted in the production of 2 additional enzyme forms with increased anodal migration on polyacrylamide gels. The C-terminal amino acid of tissue MM creatine kinase from all 3 species was shown to be lysine, a specific substrate for carboxypeptidase-N and B.     

Structure and function of a calmodulin-dependent smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase

Summary In smooth muscle the M_r 20,000 light chain of myosin is phosphorylated by a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. It consists of 2 subunits: calmodulin, an acidic protein of M_r 17,000 that binds 4 moles of Ca²⁺; and a larger protein of M_r circa 130,000. Activation of the kinase is dependent upon their association in the presence of Ca²⁺. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation of the myosin light chain kinase occurs at 2 sites. It decreases the affinity of the kinase for calmodulin and a reduction in the rate of light chain phosphorylation occurs. The kinase has an overall asymmetric shape composed of a globular head and tail region for the skeletal muscle enzyme. Trypsin digestion of this kinase releases a fragment of M_r 36,000 from the globular region that contains the catalytic and calmodulin binding sites. Chymotrypsin digestion of the kinase from smooth muscle generates a fragment of M_r 80,000 that does not contain the calmodulin binding or cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation sites. It is a Ca²⁺-independent form of the kinase that phosphorylates the light chain of myosin. These structural features indicate a regulatory role for the kinase in smooth muscle phosphorylation and contraction.     

The phorbol ester TPA induces metamorphosis in Red Sea coral planulae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Controlled experiments on the metamorphosis of marine invertebrate larvae require artificial inducers. These inducers can be used for studying the involvement of known signal transduction pathways in settlement and metamorphosis. The ability of the tumor-promoting phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) to induce metamorphosis in planulae of the Red Sea soft coral speciesHeteroxenia fuscescens, Xenia umbellata, Dendronephthya hemprichii, Litophyton arboreum andParerythropodium fulvum fulvum, and the stony coralStylophora pistillata, was examined by using various concentrations of TPA. The chemical induced metamorphosis in all six species. The effect was unspecific and concentration-related. For all the corals except forX. umbellata the highest mean percentages of metamorphosis were obtained with 8.1×10^–7–10^–9 M TPA. ForX. umbellata, the percentage of metamorphosis was lower, and was obtained within a wider TPA concentration range. The present results, along with previous studies on Hydrozoa and Scyphozoa, demonstrate that TPA is the first common artificial inducer for these classes of Cnidaria. TPA is known to activate the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) and therefore plays an important role in studying the phosphatidylinositol signal transduction system. Evidence for the involvement of this pathway in triggering metamorphosis has already been reported for Hydrozoa and Scyphozoa. Our results suggest that PKC is also involved in initiating metamorphosis in Anthozoa.