Kinetic studies on the irreversible inhibition of restriction endonucleasePst I by site-specific inhibitors

The irreversible modifying effects onPst I of several inhibitors have been studied with the irreversible inhibition kinetic theory of single substrate reaction provided by Tsou, C. L. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (PCMB), diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DEP), 2,3-diacetyl (DAC) and N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazoliun-3′-sulfonate (woodward's reagent K, WRK) modify the lysine, cysine, serteine, arginine and carboxyl groups of the protein molecule respectively. These five inhibitors have been found to inhibit both the prime activity and star activity ofPst I. Used with the irreversible inhibition theory, the apparent inhibition rate constant,A and the microcosmic inhibition rate constants,k ₊₀ andk′ ₊₀ of every inhibitor were calculated. We also found that their inhibition effects belong to the noncompetitive irreversible inhibition. Results show that among the groups to be modified, some have nothing to do with the combination with the substrate, and some may have, but any of them isn't the only factor involved in the specific binding. Despite all this, they may take part in the catalysis of enzyme or have important effects on maintaining the active structure of enzyme molecules. Furthermore, serine and arginine residues are related to the alteration ofPst I conformation and then influence the ability ofPst I recognizing and incising DNA specifically. Foundation item: Supported by the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (1999048601) Biography: Zou Guo-lin (1947-), male, Professor, research direction: enzymology.     

Nontrivial homoclinic orbits for second-order singular and periodic Hamiltonian systems

The existence of nontrivial homoclinic orbits of periodic Hamiltonian systems: q + Vq(t,q) = 0 is proved, where q = (q1, q2,…,qn), n > 2; V(t, q) R1 × Rn \ {e}→ R1 is a potential with a singularity, i.e. - V(t, q)→+∞, as q→e. The main assumptions are Gordon-strong force condion and the uniqueness of a global maximum of V( t, q).     

Chaos in the sense of Li-Yorke and the order of the inverse limit space

Let I= [0,1] and ω0 be the first limit ordinal number. Assume that f: I→I is continuous , piece-wise monotone and the set of periods of f is { 2': i∈ {0} ∪ N}. It is known that the order of (I, f) is ω0 or ω0 + 1. It is shown that the order of the inverse limit space (I, f) is ω0 (resp. ω0 + 1) if and only if f is not (resp. is) chaotic in the sense of Li-Yorke.     

Multi-parameter infinite-dimensional (r,δ)-OU process

The definition of n-parameter infinite-dimensional (r,δ) -Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process {xt (·) } ((r, δ)-OUPn∞ for short) is given. The absolute continuity of distribution μt of Xt(·) and the limit of Xt(·) when |t| →∞ is discussed.     

Regulation of angiotensinⅡon Gαq/11 protein of vascular smooth muscle cell and its underlying mechanism

To study the regulation of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) on Gαq/11 protein of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and its underlying mechanism, the protein synthesis was detected by [³H]-leucine incorporation. Gαq/11 expression was measured by Western blot in cultured VSMC of rat aorta. The results showed that the level of Gαq/11 was downregulated after stimulated by AngⅡ for 1—6 h, while it was upregulated significantly by 12—24 h stimulation (P < 0.01) in VSMC. The [³H]-leucine incorporation of VSMC was increased after 24 h Ang Ⅱ stimulation. The biphase regulation of Ang Ⅱ on Gαq/11 protein was blocked by the Ang Ⅱ type Ⅰ receptor (AT1) specific antagnist losartan or PLC inhibitor U73122, while PD98059 did not have this effect. These data indicated that Ang Ⅱ contributed to VSMC hypertrophy by regulating the level of Gαq/11, and this effect was mediated mainly through AT1 receptor-PLC signal transduction pathway.     

Nonlinear version of Holub’s theorem and its application

Holub proved that any bounded linear operator T or -T defined on Banach space L 1(μ) satisfies Daugavet equation1+‖T‖=Max{‖I+T‖, ‖I-T‖}.Holub's theorem is generalized to the nonlinear case: any nonlinear Lipschitz operator f defined on Banach space l 1 satisfies1+L(f)=Max{L(I+f), L(I-f)},where L(f) is the Lipschitz constant of f. The generalized Holub theorem has important applications in characterizing the invertibility of nonlinear operator.     

Identification of an AFLP marker linked to the stripe rust resistance geneYr10 in wheat

AFLP analysis of near-isogenic lines of the stripe rust resistance gene Yr10 was carried out with 6 PstⅠ- primers and 10 TaqⅠ-primers with the donor parent of Yr10 gene as the check. A total of about 4200 distinguishable bands were amplified, of which 5 were stable. The genetic linkage of the 5 polymorphic DNA fragments with the target gene were tested preliminarily on a segregating F₂ population derived from a cross between the gene donor parent “Moro” and susceptible cultivar “Mingxian 169”. The DNA fragment PT0502 was found closely linked to the Yr10 gene and cloned and sequenced. Based on the sequence specific primers for PCR were designed and synthesized. Genetic linkage analysis with 195 segregating F₂ plants indicated that the genetic distance was 0.5 cM between the main product SC₂₀₀ fragment produced by PCR with the primers and the Yr10 gene. The primers can be used to detect the Yr10 gene quickly, effectively and exactly.     

An explanation to the high efficiency ofm-THPC (temporfin) used in photodynamic therapy

Meso-tetrahydroxylphenyl chlorin (m-THPC) is one of the most efficient prospective sensitizers used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). ESR spectroscopy, fluorescence quenching experiments and cyclic voltammogram measurement were used to study its redox properties. The results showed that the ability of m-THPC generating superoxide radical anions was very strong, and the rate constant of m-THPC fluorescence quenching by oxygen k_q (O₂)=1.46×10¹⁰ mol^-1·s^-1. The values of fluorescence quen- ching rate constant of m-THPC by some other electron acceptors, such as methyl viologen (MV²⁺) and anthraquinone (An), were also measured. And they were k_q (MV²⁺)=5.51×10⁹ mol^-1·s^-1, k_q (An)=7.81×10⁹ mol^-1·s^-1. The oxidation potential of m-THPC was examined to be +0.62 V (vs. NHE) in acetonitrile. All these suggested that m-THPC should be a much stronger electron donor than photofrin, the currently used in clinical photodrug, and may react easily through electron transfer with biological matter to yield various radicals. So it seemed reasonable that the type Ⅰ reaction may play an important role in the high activity of m-THPC-PDT.     

Phenotypic analysis of the medullary-type CD4−CD8+ thymocytes in mice

Phenotypic analysis of the medullary-type CD4 CD8⁺ (CD8SP) thymocytes has revealed phenotypic heterogeneity within this cell population. The phenotype of mature peripheral CDS⁺T cells is TCRαβ⁺CD3⁺Qa-2⁺HSA 3G11⁻6C10, whereas in the medullary-type CD8SP thymocytes, 20% are Qa-2⁺; 33%, HAS; 30%, 3G11; and 70% are 6C10. The disparate expression patterns of these four cell surface markers suggest that medullary-type CD8SP thymocytes may undergo phenotypic maturation process. According to the distribution of these four cell surface markers, six subgroups of CD8SP thymocytes have been identified. The precursor-progeny relationship along with developmental pathway is postulated as follows: 6C10⁺HSA⁺3G11 Qa-2→ 6C10⁺HSA⁺ 3G11⁺Qa-2 → 6C10 HSA⁺3G11⁺Qa-2 → 6C10⁻HSA⁻3G11⁺Qa-2 → 6C10⁻HSA⁻3G11 Qa-2 → 6C10⁻HA S 3G11 Qa-2⁺, the cells in the last subgroup exit the thymus and home into periphery.     

The Distribution of a CP-asymmetric quantity in the decay channel J / Ψ → π + π ? π 0

The distribution of a CP-asymmetric quantityA in the decay channelJ/ψ→π ⁺ π ⁻ π ⁰ is investigated. This dimensionless quantityA is constructed from the momenta of the π-meson final states, namely A=P _x ^{π +} P _y ^{π −} -P _x ^{π −} P _y ^{π −}, whereP _h,P _x ^h andP _y ^h are the module of the momentum of a hadron h, the x- and y-components of that momentum respectively, theJ/ψ particle is produced by e⁺ e⁻ collision, and the direction of the momentum of e⁺ is taken to be the positive direction ofz axis. There would exists the violation under the combined transformation of charge conjugation and space reflection (CP violation) when the average ofA among a lot of events, 〈A〉, be examined to be nonzero clearly from data. In this way, 748 events are selected from the BES experimental data, and analyzed. The corresponding averageA-value is measured to be 〈A〉 = 0.010 39 ± 0.014 61 ± 0.015 2. Further, some discussion of our result, the size of the data sample being need for further attempt and a possible perspective are given.     

Formation of ζ phase in Cu-Ge peritectic alloys

Rapid growth behavior of ζ phase has been investigated in the undercooling experiments of Cu-14%Ge, Cu-15%Ge, Cu-18.5%Ge and Cu-22%Ge alloys. Alloys of the four compositions obtain the maximum undercoolings of 202 K（0.17TL）, 245 K（0.20TL）, 223 K（0.20TL） and 176 K（0.17TL）, respectively. As the content of Ge increases, the microstructural transition of ＂a（Cu） dendrite ＋ ζ＂ peritectic phase → ζ＂ peritectic phase →, ζ dendrite ＋ （ε＋ζ） eutectic＂ takes place in the alloy at small undercooling, while the microstructural transition of ＂fragmented α （Cu）dendrite ＋ ζ peritectic phase →, ζ peritectic phase →ζ dendrite ＋ ε phase＂ happens in the alloy at large undercooling. EDS analysis of the Ge content in peritectic phase indicates that undercooling enlarges the solid solubility of ζ rdendrite, which leads to a decrease in the Ge content in ζ phase as undercooling increases. In the Cu-18.5%Ge alloy composed of ζ peritectic phase, the Ge content in ζ phase increases when undercooling increases, which is due to the restraint of the Ge enrichment on the grain boundaries by high undercooling effect.     

Complete nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of Periplaneta fuliginosa densonucleosis virus

We have cloned the replicative form of thePeriplaneta fuliginosa densonucleosis virus (PfDNV) genome and determined its complete sequence. The sequence has 5 454 nucleotides (nt), the genome consists of an internal unique sequence flanked by inverted terminal repeats (201 nt). The first 122 nt at the 5′ end and the terminal 122 nt at the 3′ end of both plus and minus strands can fold into a typical hairpin structure. The genome contains seven major open reading frames (ORFs). The plus strand has 4 ORFs occupying the 5′ half of the plus strand, whereas the others span the 5′ half of the minus strand. Two potential promoters were found at map units (m.u.) 3 and 97. Computer analysis of sequence homologies with other parvoviruses suggests that the plus strand ofPf DNV encodes very likely the nonstructural proteins and the minus strand probably encodes the structural proteins.     

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of insulin T3R3 states created in different conditions

In the presence of a series of small organic molecules including 1, 4 dioxane, DMF, isopropanol, rDNA human insulin, mutants A21 Asn→Ser and (A21 Asn→Ser, B27 Thr→Arg) human insulin have been crystallized in both Zn 2+ containing and Zn 2+ free system. Preliminary crystallographic analyses show that they all belong to T 3R 3 structural type. The results indicate that, except phenolic derivatives and lyotropic anions reported before, some other appropriate organic molecules can also induce the T 3R 3 conformation transition of insulin.     

Mg2+-induced LHC II aggregation in thylakoid membrane

Mg²⁺-induced changes in 77K fluorescence spectra of wheat thylakoid membranes were analyzed by a Gaussian deconvolution program. All spectra were fitted well with 7 Gaussian sub-bands. The sub-band areas for the LHC H macroaggregate (F₆₉₉) and PS II (F₆₈₅ and F₆₉₅) were increased and those for the LHC II trimer (F₆₈₁) and PS I (F₇₂₉ and F₇₄₀) were decreased by Mg²⁺. Moreover, it was found that the sub-band area ratio for F₆₉₉ over F₆₈₁ was dramatically enhanced by Mg²⁺ by 1.72 times. It was concluded that the LHC II trimer in thylakoid membranes could be aggregated and transformed into its macroaggregate by Mg²⁺ on a large scale. The possible implication of the Mg²⁺-induced LHC II aggregation was also discussed.     

High-pressure sound velocity of perovskite-enstatite and the possible composition of the Earth’s lower mantle

The compressional sound velocity V_p for enstatite of polycrystalline specimens were measured at pressures from 40 to 140 GPa using the optical analytical techniques under shock loading. The dependence of V_P, (in km/s) on Hugoniot pressure (P, in GPa) can be described by InV_p= 3.079-0.691 In(P) + 0.094(lnP)². V_p satisfies Birch’s law:V _p = 4.068 + 1.677_ρ, where ρ is corresponding density, which indicated that enstatite is stable throughout the conditions of the lower mantle. The wave velocityP is 0.5% lower and the wave velocity S is 2% higher than that of PREM respectively. We concluded that the lower mantle is mainly composed of perovskite-(Mg_1-x, Fe_x) SiO₃ and only a small amount of (Mg_1-x, Fe_x) O is allowed in it.     

Root and xylem ABA changes in response to soil drying in two woody plants

Two woody plants, Platycladus orientalise (tolerant to drought) and Acacia auriculi-formis (sensitive to drought), have been subjected to rapid and slow soil drying. ABA levels in their roots and xylem sap have been determined using radioimmunoassay (RIA, sensitivity is 0.4 pmol per assay vial) with a monoclonal antibody against ( + )-ABA. ABA contents of P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis growing in well watered soil are 0.3 and 2.5 nmol·gDW-1 in roots and 1.6 and 0.4 μmol in xylem saps, respectively. A rapid soil drying has been applied to these two plants with soil water content (SWC) being reduced to 0.02 and 0.06 g·gDW-1 respectively. Under such treatment, ABA was increased by 22 times and 2 times in roots and by 7 times and 34 times in xylem saps respectively for P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis. After rewatering for 6 d, ABA in roots and xylem sap of both species returned to control levels. When a slow soil drying was applied, SWC was reduced to 0.1 and 0.13 g·gDW-1 respectively for P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis. ABA was increased by 5 times and 1.6 times in roots and by 6 times and 19 times in xylem saps respectively for these two plants. ABA in roots and xylem saps decreased to near control levels 8 d after watering. Plant leaf water potentials of both plants hardly changed at times when root and xylem ABA showed substantial increase in response to soil drying. It is concluded that ABA levels in the roots and xylem saps of P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis are more sensitively regulated than leaf water potential in response to soil drying and can act as a chemical signal in root-shoot communications of the drought stress.     

Existence of single-peaked solution of a semilinear elliptic problem

We discussed the Dirichlet problem of semilinear elliptic equationin (Pβ,α)D;-β△u=uε+εu,u>0,in Ω u=0, on(e),Ω where Ω(∪)RN(N≥4) is smooth and bounded domain,P=N+2/N-2,β,ε>0. We have proved that there exist positive ε0 and ε1 , such that when 0≤ε≤ε0,β>√ε1,(P0,1)has a single-peaked solution uβ, furthermore, |▽μβ|-0in the sense of measure as ε→0 and β→0.     

Summer monsoon and dust signals recorded in the Dasuopu firn core, central Himalayas

In September 1997, a 15-m firn core was recovered from an elevation of 7 000 m a. s.l. from the Dasuopu Glacier in the central Himalayas. The analysis of δ18O values and major ion (Ca2+ , Mg2+ , NH4+ , SO42- and NO3-) concentrations shows that average annual accumulation is 0.75 m (water equivalent) in the Dasuopu firn core. The seasonal variations of δ18O values and major ion concentrations in the core indicate that present summer monsoon and dust signals are recorded with high-resolution in the Dasuopu Glacier. δ18O in precipitation are controlled by amount effect in summer monsoon season, more negative δ18O is representative of summer monsoon signal in snow layers. Higher concentrations of Ca2+ , Mg2+ , SO42- and NO3-are dominated by spring dust storm imput derived from the arid and semi-arid desert regions in central Asia. Also EOF analysis verifies that high spring concentrations of major ions are consistent. Due to the possibly different sources, the secondary variations of NH4+ and NO3- are negatively relevant with that of Ca2+ and Mg2+ .