Structural aspects of Golgi function

Since its discovery, the Golgi complex has attracted the attention of cell biologists because of its fashionable morphology and central position within the secretory system of the cell. Here, we discuss how the three-dimensional architecture of the Golgi complex relates to its multiple functions in protein sorting and processing, and how an analysis of the morphology of the Golgi complex can help to provide an understanding of the mechanisms involved in transport through this unique organelle.     

Effective removal of microcystins using carbon nanotubes embedded with bacteria

Adsorption of microcystins (MCs) by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and clay materials was studied. Compared with various clays tested, CNTs showed a much stronger ability to adsorb MC-RR and LR that were two typical types of microcystins found in China. At initial 21.0 mg/L of MC-RR and 9.5 mg/L of MC-LR in solution, the adsorptiona mounts of MC-RR and LR by CNTs were 14.8 and 6.7 mg/gthat were about five times higher than those by the clay materials of sepiolite, kaolinite and talc, et~ In the presence of CNTs and the bacterial Ralstonia solanacearum that was firstly isolated and used for the biodegradation of MCs by the authors, a remarkable removal of MCs from water were observed. The mechanism was that CNTs could absorb large amount of both MCs and the embedded R. solanacearum so that, even when diluted by a large amount of water, the concentrations of both organic pollutants and the added bacteria could be largely enhanced on the surface of CNTs where a concerted biodegradation reaction was effectively conducted. This finding could be important for the further development of practical techniques to eliminate MCs from polluted drinking waters.     

Regulation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the nucleus

Canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a central role in development, homeostasis, as well as tumorigenesis. The regulation of the pathway involves various and complicated mechanisms, including the extracellular, intracellular and endonuclear regulation. As the key component of the pathway, the Lefl/Tcfs-β-catenin complex is also the key target of regulation in the nucleus. In the current review, we are going to summarize the regulators in the nucleus which can modify the transcrip- tional activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.     

Study of molecular events in cells by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

To understand processes in a living cell, sophisticated and creative approaches are required that can be used for gathering quantitative information about large number of components interacting across temporal and spatial scales without major disruption of the integral network of processes. A physical method of analysis that can meet these requirements is fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), which is an ultrasensitive and non-invasive detection method capable of single-molecule and real-time resolution. Since its introduction about 3 decades ago, this until recently emerging technology has reached maturity. As commercially built equipment is now available, FCS is extensively applied for extracting biological information from living cells unattainable by other methods, and new biological concepts are formulated based on findings by FCS. In this review, we focus on examples in the field of molecular cellular biology. The versatility of the technique in this field is illustrated in studies of single-molecule dynamics and conformational flexibility of proteins, and the relevance of conformational flexibility for biological functions regarding the multispecificity of antibodies, modulation of activity of C5a receptors in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and multiplicity of functional responses mediated by the p53 tumor suppressor protein; quantitative characterization of physicochemical properties of the cellular interior; protein trafficking; and ligand-receptor interactions. FCS can also be used to study cell-to-cell communication, here exemplified by clustering of apoptotic cells via bystander killing by hydrogen peroxide.Received 15 July 2004; received after revision 13 October 2004; accepted 12 November 2004     

乙酰胆碱对大鼠离体输精管平滑肌细胞膜电位的作用

采用细胞内微电极技术对大鼠离体输精管平滑肌细胞进行记录,观察其静息电位、膜阻抗等被动膜电性质及ACh对平滑肌细胞膜电位的作用,在此基础上运用微电泳技术对所记录细胞进行标记,从而分析不同走行方向的平滑肌细胞的电生理学特性。实验测得输精管平滑肌细胞静息电位为-48.56±0.46mV(n=1141),膜输入阻抗为1638.70±205.20MΩ(n=45)。实验用ACh(0.3～100μmol L)灌流平滑肌细胞,可引起膜发生浓度依赖性超极化。10μmol LACh引起超极化幅值为13.67±0.98mV(n=116),膜电导平均增加2.31%(n=10)。标本经1μmol L硫酸阿托品(n=10)和100nmol L2' deoxyadenosine5' monophosphate(n=11)预处理后,ACh引起的超极化幅值明显减小。经荧光染料(0.1%propidiumiodide)标记鉴别后,统计分析外纵走行细胞的静息电位为-53.56±3.88mV(n=37),膜输入阻抗为2245.60±372.50MΩ(n=13);内环走行细胞的静息电位为-51.62±4.27mV(n=17),膜输入阻抗为2101.50±513.50MΩ(n=10);并且2种走形方向的平滑肌细胞对ACh的反应形式亦无显著性差异。实验表明:输精管平滑肌细胞的电生理特性以及对ACh的反应与其走形方向无关。     

异丙嗪对下丘脑细胞内游离钙浓度的影响

目的：观察异丙嗪（ｐｒｏｍｅｔｈａｚｉｎｅ,ＰＭＺ）对下丘脑细胞内游离钙浓度（［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ）的影响。方法：以酶法制备家兔下丘脑细胞悬液,运用钙指示剂Ｆｕｒａ－２／ＡＭ作为细胞内游离钙的荧光探针测定下丘脑细胞［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ。结果：１）ＰＭＺ（０４６ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）使下丘脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ显著升高,且在一定的剂量范围内呈量效关系。２）事先向细胞悬液中加入钙通道阻滞剂维拉帕米可明显抑制ＰＭＺ诱导的［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ升高,但不能完全阻断ＰＭＺ的这种作用。结论：上述结果提示ＰＭＺ可引起下丘脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ升高,钙通道开放导致细胞外钙内流是ＰＭＺ引起下丘脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ升高的机制之一。     

红细胞膜变形能力与胞内血红蛋白聚合状态及细胞形态的关系

以显微激光散射光谱和图像分析技术,对单个活态红细胞在无扰、在位、实时的情况下,测量了人血红细胞胞膜的变形能力,以及与之同时对应的胞内血红蛋白的聚合状态和细胞的形态结构.并据此研究了它们的相关关系以及随各种生理条件而交互变化的情况.     

淡水水体中的蓝藻毒素研究进展（综述）

概述了蓝藻毒素的结构,毒性机理以及蓝藻毒素的危害,并简要介绍了蓝藻毒素的环境行为,对蓝藻毒素的危险评价和监测。     

UV/固定化TiO2对太湖源水中藻类胞内有机物的去除效能

采用溶胶-凝胶法,以玻璃纤维网为载体负载TiO2薄膜,X射线衍射分析表明,其薄膜中TiO2晶相为锐钛矿型.基于UV/TiO2体系,研究其对太湖源水中藻类胞内有机物(IOM)的降解机制及其影响因素.与腐殖酸(HA)对比研究结果表明,IOM较难被光催化氧化工艺降解,反应60 min时,UV254和DOC的降解率只有33.3％和19.1％,而HA的UV254和DOC降解率分别达到96.6％和57.3％;原因在于IOM主要是由大分子亲水性有机物组成,含有较多的氨基结构,而腐殖酸是强疏水性有机物,含有较多的芳香结构.同时,UV/TiO2体系的光强增强在一定程度上能提高IOM的降解效果;在pH=6.7时,IOM降解率达到最佳.     

伤寒沙门菌非编码RNA ArpH表达特征及功能初探

通过研究σ因子和RNase对伤寒沙门菌非编码RNA ArpH表达的影响，并结合全基因组芯片的结果，初步探讨ArpH对细菌侵袭力和胞内生存力的影响.应用qRT-PCR检测了rpoE和rpoS对ArpH转录的影响，以及RNase III、RNase G和RNase E分别对ArpH降解的影响.另外还利用全基因组芯片技术对ArpH高表达菌株在氧应激下的基因表达谱进行分析.最后观察了ArpH对伤寒沙门菌侵袭力的影响和对胞内生存力的作用.结果显示，rpoE在酸、氧及高渗应激下、rpoS在氧应激下调节ArpH的转录.细菌中RNase III主要参与了ArpH的降解.氧应激下高表达ArpH后，基因表达上调的有89个，基因表达下调的有24个.ArpH高表达可以减弱伤寒沙门菌对上皮细胞的侵袭力，并能增强细菌的胞内生存力.