生物能量在生命体中传递的新理论及实验证实

我们从蛋白质的分子结构和ATP水解所放出能量的特征出发,提出了一个新的生物能量传递理论。并用新的哈密顿函数和波函数代替了原来旧的函数,用解析的方法求出了传递生物能量的孤子在其生理温度和它的寿命时间内能够传递过上千个氨基酸分子,于是它可能是传递生物能量的真正载流子。用解析和数值模拟的方法研究了这种传递生物能量孤子的特性和在生理温度300K时的热力学稳定性,证明了这种孤子在生理温度时是十分稳定的,它的寿命能达到300ps,可能是生物能量的传递者。再通过实验测定了在胶原蛋白和牛血清蛋白等(-螺旋蛋白的光谱特性及其在27-95℃范围内其谱线分布和谱线强度随温度的变化,把所检测的三个结果与能量传递的理论预示的结果相比较,发现它们完全一致,从而从实验上证明了在蛋白质分子中建立的生物能量传递理论是正确的。而理论预示的孤子是蛋白质当中生物能量传递的真正载流子。     

Plant growth regulators from ash strains ofPseudomonas syringae subsp.savastanoi

Indole-3-acetic acid and its methyl ester have been isolated from cultures ofPseudomonas syringae subsp.savastanoi isolated from ash. However, typical strains produced only small amounts of the auxins, whereas relatively high amounts of the above phytohormones accumulated in the culture of an atypical strain. No cytokinins were isolated from cultures of the typical ash strains. Conversely, four cytokinins, namely dihydrozeatin and its 9-β-riboside,trans-zeatin riboside and its 1″-methyl derivative, were found in an atypical strain culture.     

Similarities between sodium channels in excitable membranes and in epithelia.

The inhibitory effects of the pyrazine derivative, amiloride, on sodium transport in an amphibian epithelium has been studied as a function of pH. It is concluded that the charged (guanidinium) group interacts with a negatively charged acid grouping in the membrane. Similarities between sodium channels in excitable membranes and epithelia are highlighted.     

Identification of Trypanosoma theileri as a contaminant in primary cultures of bovine retina

T. theileri has been isolated from primary cultures of bovine retina and subcultered successfully for 2 passages in sub-confluent cultures. When cultures reached confluency no trypomastigotes or epimastigotes could be detected and attempts to recover trypanosomes from these cultures were unsuccessful. The presence of intracellular forms could not formally be excluded.     

Similarities between sodium channels in excitable membranes and in epithelia

Summary The inhibitory effects of the pyrazine derivative, amiloride, on sodium transport in an amphibian epithelium has been studied as a function of pH. It is concluded that the charged (guanidinium) group interacts with a negatively charged acid grouping in the membrane. Similarities between sodium channels in excitable membranes and epithelia are highlighted.     

Possible involvement of protein kinase C in the stimulation of amino acid transport by phorbol ester,platelet-derived growth factor and A23187 in Swiss 3T3 cells

Summary Stimulation of amino acid transport induced by phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate, platelet-derived growth factor or A23187 was not observed in cells lacking protein kinase C. On the other hand, stimulation of transport by epidermal growth factor or insulin was not affected. These results suggested that the stimulation of amino acid transport is mediated by at least two separate pathways.This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan.     

Amino acid transport by small and large intestine of newborn pig

Summary Unidirectional fluxes of different amino acids have been determined across newborn pig small intestine and colon. The systems responsible for amino acid transport are present in the same proportion in both tissues. Colonic transport of amino acids appears to represent a transient overspill function of the small intestine.     

Demonstration of neuronal activities in primary cultures from fetal mouse hypothalamus maintained in a serum-free medium

Fetal neuronal cells dissociated from mouse hypothalamus are able to grow in a serum-free medium for two to four weeks. Several neuronal activities have been measured during the in vitro cell development. Whereas glutamic acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15) activity disappears, those of thyroliberin (TRH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (EC. 1.14.16.2) remain stable, and acetylcholine transferase one (EC 2.3.1.6) rises earlier than in a serum supplemented medium. These results show that primary cultures grown in serum-free medium offer a promising model for studying neuronal activity differentiation.     

Cellular uptake of long-chain fatty acids: role of membrane-associated fatty-acid-binding/transport proteins

The critical importance of long-chain fatty acids in cellular homeostasis demands an efficient uptake system for these fatty acids and their metabolism in tissues. Increasing evidence suggests that the plasma-membrane-associated and cytoplasmic fatty-acid-binding proteins are involved in cellular fatty acid uptake, transport and metabolism in tissues. These binding proteins may also function in the fine tuning of cellular events by modulating the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids implicated in the regulation of cell growth and various cellular functions. Several membrane-associated fatty-acid-binding/transport proteins such as plasma membrane fatty-acid-binding protein (FABPpm, 43 kDa), fatty acid translocase (FAT, 88 kDa) and fatty acid transporter protein (FATP, 63 kDa) have been identified. In the feto-placental unit, preferential transport of maternal plasma arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids across the placenta is of critical importance for fetal growth and development. Our studies have shown that arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids are preferentially taken up by placental trophoblasts for fetal transport. The existence of a fatty-acid-transport system comprising multiple membrane-binding proteins (FAT, FATP and FABPpm) in human placenta may be essential to facilitate the preferential transport of maternal plasma fatty acids in order to meet the requirements of the growing fetus. The preferential uptake of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids by the human placenta has the net effect of shunting these maternal plasma fatty acids towards the fetus. The roles of plasma membrane-associated binding/transport proteins (FABPpm, FAT and FATP) in tissue-specific fatty acid uptake and metabolism are discussed.     

Defect of uric acid uptake in Dalmatian dog liver

Summary The uptake rate of uric acid into liver slices of the Dalmatian dog was found to be significantly lower compared with that in the beagle. Since there was no difference in the hepatic uricase activity between the two breeds, the abnormality of uric acid metabolism in the Dalmatian dog is considered to result from a defective hepatic transport system for uric acid.     

Free amino acid composition of the intestinal contents,intestinal cells and hemolymph ofPhilosamia cynthia larvae

Summary Free amino acid composition of the intestinal contents, intestinal cells and hemolymph has been determined in larvae of the mothPhilosamia cynthia. From the hemolymph/lumen concentration ratio, an active transport could be inferred for neutral and basic amino acids. The values of cell/lumen and hemolymph/cell ratios suggested that the active step in the transport mechanism could be localized at the luminal pole of the enterocyte for neutral amino acids (except aromatic amino acids) and at the basolateral pole of the enterocyte for basic amino acids (except arginine).This work was supported by grants from Italian Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and from Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione, Rome. The authors are indebted to Prof. V. Capraro for helpful discussion.     

Possible involvement of protein kinase C in the stimulation of amino acid transport by phorbol ester, platelet-derived growth factor and A23187 in Swiss 3T3 cells

Stimulation of amino acid transport induced by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, platelet-derived growth factor or A23187 was not observed in cells lacking protein kinase C. On the other hand, stimulation of transport by epidermal growth factor or insulin was not affected. These results suggested that the stimulation of amino acid transport is mediated by at least two separate pathways.     

Light stimulated 'shunt-metabolism' succinate-alpha-ketoglutarate-isocitrate cycle and accumulation of citric acid in Aspergillus niger.

Studies with light of the visible range had shown that light plays significant role in the biosynthesis and accumulation of citric acid in Aspergillus niger. Accumulation of 14C-labelled carbon atoms in alpha-ketoglutaric, isocitric, succinic and glycolic acids in the cultures grown under illumination suggest a probable 'shunt-metabolism' leading to the succinate-alpha-ketoglutarate-isocitrate (SKI) cycle. This shunt metabolism minimizes the accumulation of citric acid in cultures due to depletion of intermediates.     

生物能量在生命体中传递的新理论及应用

生物能量在生物体当中的传递是生命科学中的一个基本问题，它相关于ATP水解放出的能量沿着蛋白质分子的传递。这种传递与蛋白质的动力学相关。根据ATP分子分布和水解的特性以及蛋白质结构的特点，在Davyclov理论的基础上提出了一个新的生物能量传递的理论。在这个理论当中，Amide振动的集体激发状态用一个两量子准相干态表示，系统的哈密顿量不但包含了Amide振动引起的相邻氨基酸残基的位移，而且包含了相邻Amide之间的共振相互作用所引起的氨基酸残基的相对位置的改变。由这个理论得出的传递生物能量的孤子的寿命可得10^-10秒，在这个时间之内孤子能传递过上千个氨基酸残基，因此它能在生物过程中起着重要的作用。这个理论与E．col．的Ramma谱的实验结果和我们做出的胶原蛋白的红外吸收谱等实验结果相一致，因此它可能是生物体中生物能量传递的一个可利用的和正确的理论。     

Antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid

Summary Glycyrrhizic acid inhibits the growth of several DNA and RNA viruses in cell cultures and inactivates Herpes simplex 1 virus irreversibly.This work has been supported by a grant of Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (progetto finalizzato Virus) Rome.     

Oxidation of malate, NADH and glycine in C3 and C4 plant mitochondria]

Spinach leaf mitochondria (C3 plant) were capable of oxidizing Glycine. This oxidation was linked to the mitochondrial electron transport chain, was coupled to three phosphorylation sites and was sensitive to electron transport inhibitors. In marked contrast however, neither mitochondria from dark grown plants nor mitochondria from C4 leaf plants were capable of oxidizing this amino acid.     

Synthetic activities of mass cultures and clones of human gingival fibroblasts

The percentage of synthesis dedicated to collagen is elevated in low-density cultures of human gingival fibroblasts, as is per-cell total protein synthetic activity and glycosaminoglycan accumulation. These observations can be explained, in part, by a decrease in membrane transport of precursor substance in high-density cultures. Synthetic activity by human fibroblasts can be reliably assayed in vitro using as few as 500 cells sparsely seeded. Such low-cell number assay is essential for study of single-cell clones, where replicative life span is limited.     

Identification ofTrypanosoma theileri as a contaminant in primary cultures of bovine retina

Summary T. theileri has been isolated from primary cultures of bovine retina and subcultered successfully for 2 passages in sub-confluent cultures. When cultures reached confluency no trypomastigotes or epimastigotes could be detected and attempts to recover trypanosomes from these cultures were unsuccessful. The presence of intracellular forms could not formally be excluded.We wish to thank Dr S. Dershko, Division of Meat Inspection, Health of Animals Branch, Department of Agriculture (Canada) and Intercontinental Packers, Ltd. for their assistance in obtaining the freshest possible specimens. The skillful technical assistance of Mrs J. Graham is also gratefully acknowledged. This investigation was supported by the M. R. C. of Canada.     

Changes in IAA oxidase activity in rooting hypocotyl cuttings ofPhaseolus mungo L.

Summary IAA oxidase activity increased concomitant with root initiation during 16–52 h, in all cultures, thus showing the necessity of an active IAA oxidase for root initiation inPhaseolus mungo hypocotyl cuttings. The increase being very sharp in IAA alone, but less in all other cultures. The role of sucrose in root initiation via IAA oxidase activity has been discussed.The research has been partly financed by a grant from the US Department of Agriculture. One of us (R.N.C.) is thankful to the CSIR, India, for financial assistance.