Neodymium cations Nd3+ were transported to the interior of Euglena gracilis 277

Euglena gracilis 277, a unicellular green alga, demonstrated remarkable ability to transport Nd³⁺ to the cell compartments. For a given amount of Nd³⁺ and cells, the results of ICP-AES indicated that the cellular uptake of Nd³⁺ was independent of Nd³⁺ concentration in the bulk solution. The average uptake of Nd³⁺ per cell (m _Nd) is proportional to a parameter ξ — the ratio of neodymium content to the cell counts of the system. A novel approach for probing cellular neodymium by tetraiodotetra chlorofluorescein (I4TCF) has been devised. Data derived from the cryosections of I4TCF-Nd³⁺ stained cells and EDAX of the fast freezing ultrathin cryosections indicate that Nd³⁺ is distributed over the cell compartments. Chloroplasts are the major compartments as the residence of Nd³⁺ in the alga. The transport should be against a concentration gradient of Nd³⁺ on the order of five, even higher. It is proposed that a calcium ion channel would play an important role in the Nd³⁺ transportation.     

褐藻酸钕配合物的研究

引入稀土金属离子钕（Ⅲ)，合成了褐藻酸钕（Ⅲ)配位聚合物，并用FT-IR，XPS、DTA-TG、电导率等分析手段对配位聚合物进行表征，证明了Nd^3 与褐藻酸的配位作用，并测得Nd^3 与褐藻酸单体单元的配位比为1:3.     

含烷氧基钕单体及其与MMA共聚物的荧光性质

用三烷氧基钕与顺丁烯二酸酐反应合成了１０种含烷氧基钕单体，将与其ＭＭＡ共聚制得１０种含烷氧钕共聚物，研究了单体和共的的荧光性质及其影响因素，发现在共聚物中三价钕离子的荧光特性其基质影响很小，且其荧光强度随钕含量增加而线性增大，在钕含量高达８％时仍未出现荧光浓度淬灭现象。     

Electrogenic glutamate uptake in glial cells is activated by intracellular potassium

Uptake of glutamate into glial cells in the CNS maintains the extracellular glutamate concentration below neurotoxic levels and helps terminate its action as a neurotransmitter. The co-transport of two sodium ions on the glutamate carrier is thought to provide the energy needed to transport glutamate into cells. We have shown recently that glutamate uptake can be detected electrically because the excess of Na+ ions transported with each glutamate anion results in a net current flow into the cell. We took advantage of the control of the environment, both inside and outside the cell, provided by whole-cell patch-clamping and now report that glutamate uptake is activated by intracellular potassium and inhibited by extracellular potassium. Our results indicate that one K+ ion is transported out of the cell each time a glutamate anion and three Na+ ions are transported in. A carrier with this stoichiometry can accumulate glutamate against a much greater concentration gradient than a carrier co-transporting one glutamate anion and two Na+ ions. Pathological rises in extracellular potassium concentration will inhibit glutamate uptake by depolarizing glial cells and by preventing the loss of K+ from the glutamate carrier. This will facilitate a rise in the extracellular glutamate concentration to neurotoxic levels and contribute to the neuronal death occurring in brain anoxia and ischaemia.     

The glial cell glutamate uptake carrier countertransports pH-changing anions.

Uptake into glial cells helps to terminate glutamate's neurotransmitter action and to keep its extracellular concentration, [Glu]o, below neurotoxic levels. The accumulative power of the uptake carrier stems from its transport of inorganic ions such as sodium (into the cell) and potassium (out of the cell). There is controversy over whether the carrier also transports a proton (or pH-changing anion). Here we show that the carrier generates an alkalinization outside and an acidification inside glial cells, and transports anions out of the cells, suggesting that there is a carrier cycle in which two Na+ accompany each glutamate anion into the cell, while one K+ and one OH- (or HCO3-) are transported out. This stoichiometry predicts a minimum [Glu]o of 0.6 microM normally (tonically activating presynaptic autoreceptors and post-synaptic NMDA receptors), and 370 microM during brain anoxia (high enough to kill neurons). Transport of OH-/HCO3- on the uptake carrier generates significant pH changes, and may provide a mechanism for neuron-glial interaction.     

Apolipoprotein-mediated pathways of lipid antigen presentation

Peptide antigens are presented to T cells by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, with endogenous peptides presented by MHC class I and exogenous peptides presented by MHC class II. In contrast to the MHC system, CD1 molecules bind lipid antigens that are presented at the antigen-presenting cell (APC) surface to lipid antigen-reactive T cells. Because CD1 molecules survey endocytic compartments, it is self-evident that they encounter antigens from extracellular sources. However, the mechanisms of exogenous lipid antigen delivery to CD1-antigen-loading compartments are not known. Serum apolipoproteins are mediators of extracellular lipid transport for metabolic needs. Here we define the pathways mediating markedly efficient exogenous lipid antigen delivery by apolipoproteins to achieve T-cell activation. Apolipoprotein E binds lipid antigens and delivers them by receptor-mediated uptake into endosomal compartments containing CD1 in APCs. Apolipoprotein E mediates the presentation of serum-borne lipid antigens and can be secreted by APCs as a mechanism to survey the local environment to capture antigens or to transfer microbial lipids from infected cells to bystander APCs. Thus, the immune system has co-opted a component of lipid metabolism to develop immunological responses to lipid antigens.     

钕离子掺杂对TiO_2相组成和光催化活性的影响

用溶胶-凝胶法制备掺杂钕离子的TiO_2纳米粒子,并研究钕离子掺杂对TiO_2相结构和光催化活性的影响。结果表明:掺杂钕离子能抑制锐钛矿相向金红石相转变,并能抑制TiO_2晶粒长大;掺杂钕离子能提高TiO_2的光催化活性,掺杂量为0.069％时,光催化活性最高。     

Cell membranes impermeable to NH3

Classically, there is a direct correlation between the lipophilic nature of a molecule and its rate of permeation across a biological membrane, so cell membranes should be more permeable to small, neutral molecules than they are to charged molecular species of similar size. Consequently, the distribution of NH+4 in biological systems is generally believed to be due to the rapid diffusion and equilibration of lipophilic NH3 across cell membranes and the accumulation of NH+4 to be governed by pH differences between compartments. Here we report that renal tubule cells from the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle have an apical membrane which is not only virtually impermeable to NH3, but is also highly permeable to NH+4. These remarkable properties have been incorporated into a model which explains how this renal epithelium can mediate vectorial movement of NH+4 between compartments of equal pH.     

Hormonal control of Mg2+ transport in the heart

Magnesium is abundant in the mammalian body and the second most abundant cation in cells. Because the concentration of intracellular free Mg2+ is relatively high (0.2-1 mM), Mg2+ is unlikely to act as a second messenger, like Ca2+, by rapidly changing its cytosolic concentration. But changes in Mg2+ do have profound effects on cellular metabolism, structure and bioenergetics. Key enzymes or metabolic pathways, mitochondrial ion transport, Ca2+ channel activities in the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles, ATP-requiring reactions, and structural properties of cells and nucleic acids are modified by changes in Mg2+ concentration. Yet, although some information is available from giant cells and bacteria, little is known about the regulation of intracellular Mg2+ in mammalian cells. Here we report a new transport mechanism for Mg2+ across the sarcolemma of cardiac cells in both intact hearts and dissociated myocytes. We show that noradrenaline, through beta-adrenergic stimulation and increase of cyclic AMP, stimulates a large efflux of Mg2+ from cardiac cells. This transport is of major dimensions and can move up to 20% of total cellular Mg2+ within a few minutes.     

Phagosomes are competent organelles for antigen cross-presentation

The ability to process microbial antigens and present them at the surface of cells is an important aspect of our innate ability to clear infections. It is generally accepted that antigens in the cytoplasm are loaded in the endoplasmic reticulum and presented at the cell surface on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, whereas peptides present in endo/phagocytic compartments are presented on MHC class II molecules. Despite the apparent segregation of the class I and class II pathways, antigens from intracellular pathogens including mycobacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Brucella abortus and Leishmania, have been shown to elicit an MHC class-I-dependent CD8+ T-cell response, a process referred to as cross-presentation. The cellular mechanisms allowing the cross-presentation pathway are poorly understood. Here we show that phagosomes display the elements and properties needed to be self-sufficient for the cross-presentation of exogenous antigens, a newly ascribed function linked to phagocytosis mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Nd∶YAG陶瓷粉体的晶相组成与发光性能

以铝、钕、钇的硝酸盐和尿素为原料,采用尿素均匀沉淀法制备了不同钕掺杂量的Nd∶YAG陶瓷粉体。采用TG-DSC、FT-IR、XRD、SEM和荧光分光光度计分别研究了前驱体的组成以及钕掺杂量对晶相组成、晶粒形貌和光致发光性能的影响规律。结果表明：尿素均匀沉淀法制备的前驱体是由氢氧化物和碳酸盐组成的复合盐。前驱体在1000℃焙烧2h后得到的样品,其晶相组成随钕掺杂量的增加由单一YAG相向YAG、YAM、YAP三相共存发展,颗粒的平均粒径随掺杂量的增加呈增大趋势。荧光发射强度随钕掺杂量的增加呈先增大后减小的变化趋势,在钕掺杂量为1.69%时出现最大值。     

丁二烯在稀土釹配合物催化体系下的聚合反应的研究

本文对氯化钕丙酰胺配合物与烷基铝组成的二元体系催化丁二烯聚合反应进行了研究。考察了AI/Nd(摩尔比),催化剂浓度,聚合温度对催化活性的影响。     

Rapid mobilization of Ca2+ from rat insulinoma microsomes by inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate

Several hormones and neurotransmitters raise the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration by stimulating the influx of Ca2+ and/or by mobilizing stored Ca2+. However, the link between the agonist receptor on the cell surface and the organelle(s) from which Ca2+ is mobilized is unknown. One feature of the agonists that increase cytosolic Ca2+ is their rapid induction of phosphatidylinositol turnover and polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis; in some tissues this leads, within seconds, to a marked accumulation of the water-soluble products, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate ( Ins1 , 4P2 ) and inositol-1,4,5- trisphosphate ( Ins1 ,4, 5P3 ), suggesting that these might mediate Ca2+ mobilization from internal pools. Such an action of Ins1 ,4, 5P3 has recently been inferred from studies with permeabilized pancreatic acinar cells and hepatocytes. Here we show directly that Ins1 ,4, 5P3 rapidly releases Ca2+ from a microsomal fraction of rat insulinoma but not from mitochondria or secretory granules. Moreover, this response is transient and desensitizes the microsomes to subsequent Ins1 ,4, 5P3 additions. These results suggest that Ins1 ,4, 5P3 functions as a cellular messenger inducing early mobilization of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum.     

槐属二氢黄酮G促进L6细胞内GLUT4的表达和转运

利用细胞葡萄糖摄取检测试剂盒检测苦参中槐属二氢黄酮G(Sophoraflavanone G,SFG) 对L6细胞葡萄糖摄取的影响,发现SFG能够增加大鼠成肌细胞 (L6) 的葡萄糖摄取;之后,使用Western blot检测发现SFG对L6细胞内GLUT4的表达有显著的促进作用;同时,在可稳定表达IRAP-mOrange荧光蛋白的L6细胞内,使用激光共聚焦显微镜监测SFG作用下葡萄糖转位蛋白4 (glucose transporter 4,GLUT4) 的转位,发现SFG对GLUT4的转位有显著的促进作用,而且SFG对GLUT4转位的促进呈浓度依赖性;另外,免疫荧光实验结果也显示SFG增强L6细胞中GLUT4与细胞膜的融合.这些结果显示利用SFG处理L6细胞后,L6细胞内GLUT4的表达、转运及与细胞膜的融合继而促进葡萄糖的摄取显著增强,说明SFG可能具备开发成一种新的降血糖药物的潜力.     

Plasticity of functional epithelial polarity

The fundamental characteristics that allow vectorial transport across an epithelial cell are the differential sorting and insertion of transport proteins either in the apical or the basolateral plasma membrane, and the preferential association of endocytosis and exocytosis with one or the other pole of the cell. Asymmetrical cellular structure and function, being manifestations of terminal differentiation, might be expected to be predetermined and invariant. Here we show that the polarity of transepithelial H+ transport, endocytosis and exocytosis in kidney can be reversed by environmental stimuli. The HCO3- secreting cell in the cortical collecting tubule is found to be an intercalated cell possessing a Cl-/HCO3- exchanger in the apical membrane and proton pumps in endocytic vesicles that fuse with the basolateral membrane; the H+-secreting cell in the medullary collecting tubule has these transport functions on the opposite membranes. Further, the HCO3- -secreting cell can be induced to change its functional polarity to that of the H+-secreting cell by acid-loading the animal.     

Mediation of cell volume regulation by Ca2+ influx through stretch-activated channels

Animal cells initially swell in hypotonic media by osmotic water equilibration, but their volume is subsequently regulated by a net loss of KCl and amino acids with concomitant loss of cell water. Mechanisms for regulating cell volume are important in allowing cells to adapt to variations in external tonicity and metabolic load. In red cells the KCl loss is mediated by electroneutral ion transport mechanisms. In contrast, conductive K+ and Cl- transport pathways are activated during regulatory volume decrease in several cell types including epithelia. The activation seems to be mediated by internal Ca2+, but the detailed mechanism is not known. In a leaky epithelium, the choroid plexus epithelium, we have found a cation-selective, Ca2+-permeable channel which opens with membrane stretch. The epithelium also contains a high density of the large (approximately 200 pS) type of Ca2+- voltage-activated K+ channel. Both channels are normally closed. I propose that in hypotonic media, the stretching of the cell membrane produced by the initial swelling causes influx of Ca2+ through the stretch-activated channels, which activates the neighbouring large K+ channels to produce increased K+ outflux with associated loss of cell water.     

Beta 2-microglobulin deficient mice lack CD4-8+ cytolytic T cells

Mice homozygous for a beta 2-microglobulin gene disruption do not express any detectable beta 2-m protein. They express little if any functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on the cell surface yet are fertile and apparently healthy. They show a normal distribution of gamma delta, CD4+8+ and CD4+8- T cells, but have no mature CD4-8+ T cells and are defective in CD4-8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our results strongly support earlier evidence that MHC class I molecules are crucial for positive selection of T cell antigen receptor alpha beta+ CD4-8+ T cells in the thymus and call into question the non-immune functions that have been ascribed to MHC class I molecules.     

A complex between the MHC class I homologue encoded by human cytomegalovirus and beta 2 microglobulin

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that persists in the host and can cause severe disease in the immunocompromised individual or in the fetus. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the virus genome has revealed the presence of an open reading frame whose predicted translation product has homology with the heavy chain of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule of higher eukaryotes, and the observed sequence homology was given additional significance by the independent observation that HCMV virions can bind beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m), the light chain of the MHC class I molecule. We expressed both the HCMV class I homologue and the human beta 2m gene in recombinant vaccinia viruses. We show that the coexpressed gene products associate, that the transport of beta 2m to the cell surface is dependent on coexpression of the class I homologue and that the viral gene product is therefore functionally related to its cellular counterpart. We observe also that, in HCMV-infected cells, no synthesis of mature cellular class I molecules occurs, while messenger RNA levels remain unaltered, and we speculate that one function of the viral homologue may be to sequester beta 2m, thus preventing the maturation of cellular class I molecules and rendering the infected cell unrecognizable by cytotoxic T cells.     

Functional interaction between human T-cell protein CD4 and the major histocompatibility complex HLA-DR antigen

Mature T cells segregate phenotypically into one of two classes: those that express the surface glycoprotein CD4, and those that express the glycoprotein CD8. The CD4 molecule is expressed primarily on helper T cells whereas CD8 is found on cytotoxic and suppressor cells. A more stringent association exists, however, between these T-cell subsets and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products recognized by their T-cell receptors (TCRs). CD8+ lymphocytes interact with targets expressing class I MHC gene products, whereas CD4+ cells interact with class II MHC-bearing targets. To explain this association, it has been proposed that these 'accessory' molecules bind to monomorphic regions of the MHC proteins on the target cell, CD4 to class II and CD8 to class I products. This binding could hold the T cell and its target together, thus improving the probability of the formation of the trimolecular antigen: MHC: TCR complex. Because the TCR on CD4+ cells binds antigen in association with class II MHC, it has been difficult to design experiments to detect the association of CD4 with a class II molecule. To address this issue, we devised a xenogeneic system in which human CD4 complementary DNA was transfected into the murine CD4-, CD8- T-cell hybridoma 3DT-52.5.8, the TCR of which recognizes the murine class I molecule H-2Dd. The murine H-2Dd-bearing target cell line, P815, was cotransfected with human class II HLA-DR alpha, beta and invariant chain cDNAs. Co-culture of the parental T-cell and P815 lines, or of one parental and one transfected line resulted in a low baseline response. In contrast, a substantial increase in response was observed when CD4+ 3DT-52.5.8 cells were co-cultured with HLA-DR+ P815 cells. This result strongly indicates that CD4:HLA-DR binding occurs in this system and that this interaction augments T-cell activation.