Export by red blood cells of nitric oxide bioactivity

Previous studies support a model in which the physiological O2 gradient is transduced by haemoglobin into the coordinate release from red blood cells of O2 and nitric oxide (NO)-derived vasoactivity to optimize oxygen delivery in the arterial periphery. But whereas both O2 and NO diffuse into red blood cells, only O2 can diffuse out. Thus, for the dilation of blood vessels by red blood cells, there must be a mechanism to export NO-related vasoactivity, and current models of NO-mediated intercellular communication should be revised. Here we show that in human erythrocytes haemoglobin-derived S-nitrosothiol (SNO), generated from imported NO, is associated predominantly with the red blood cell membrane, and principally with cysteine residues in the haemoglobin-binding cytoplasmic domain of the anion exchanger AE1. Interaction with AE1 promotes the deoxygenated structure in SNO-haemoglobin, which subserves NO group transfer to the membrane. Furthermore, we show that vasodilatory activity is released from this membrane precinct by deoxygenation. Thus, the oxygen-regulated cellular mechanism that couples the synthesis and export of haemoglobin-derived NO bioactivity operates, at least in part, through formation of AE1-SNO at the membrane-cytosol interface.     

Detection of singlet oxygen production by ESR

SINGLET molecular oxygen is a very powerful oxidant. Its action is important in a variety of chemical and biological processes(1-4), for examples dye-sensitised photooxidation of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids(4), photodynamic inactivation of viruses(5) and cells(4), phototherapy of cancer(6,7), carcinogenesis(8), haemolysis of erythocytes(9), sensitisation of the human skin(4) and degradation of food(4). The methods used to detect singlet oxygen are unspecific, of low sensitivity or laborious. Photooxidation of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran seems to be the most widely used diagnostic test for (1)O(2). However, in the absence of additional control experiments this test does not prove the intermediacy of (1)O(2) (ref. 4) and 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran has very low solubility and dimerises in aqueous solutions. Lion et al.(10) have proposed a new method to detect (1)O(2) involving the generation of stable nitroxide radicals when (1)O(2) reacts with the sterically hindered amine 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidin. When using this method to detect (1)O(2) in neutral aqueous solutions, we found no radical production. We report here our investigation of this problem, as it is biologically important to be able to detect (1)O(2) production in such solutions.     

S-glutathionylation uncouples eNOS and regulates its cellular and vascular function

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is critical in the regulation of vascular function, and can generate both nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O(2)(?-)), which are key mediators of cellular signalling. In the presence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin, eNOS produces NO, endothelial-derived relaxing factor, from l-arginine (l-Arg) by means of electron transfer from NADPH through a flavin containing reductase domain to oxygen bound at the haem of an oxygenase domain, which also contains binding sites for tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) and l-Arg. In the absence of BH(4), NO synthesis is abrogated and instead O(2)(?-) is generated. While NOS dysfunction occurs in diseases with redox stress, BH(4) repletion only partly restores NOS activity and NOS-dependent vasodilation. This suggests that there is an as yet unidentified redox-regulated mechanism controlling NOS function. Protein thiols can undergo S-glutathionylation, a reversible protein modification involved in cellular signalling and adaptation. Under oxidative stress, S-glutathionylation occurs through thiol-disulphide exchange with oxidized glutathione or reaction of oxidant-induced protein thiyl radicals with reduced glutathione. Cysteine residues are critical for the maintenance of eNOS function; we therefore speculated that oxidative stress could alter eNOS activity through S-glutathionylation. Here we show that S-glutathionylation of eNOS reversibly decreases NOS activity with an increase in O(2)(?-) generation primarily from the reductase, in which two highly conserved cysteine residues are identified as sites of S-glutathionylation and found to be critical for redox-regulation of eNOS function. We show that eNOS S-glutathionylation in endothelial cells, with loss of NO and gain of O(2)(?-) generation, is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In hypertensive vessels, eNOS S-glutathionylation is increased with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation that is restored by thiol-specific reducing agents, which reverse this S-glutathionylation. Thus, S-glutathionylation of eNOS is a pivotal switch providing redox regulation of cellular signalling, endothelial function and vascular tone.     

Eu（bpy）2（NO3）3（H2O）2/Nafion修饰于金电极上的电化学发光性质研究（英文）

本文合成了铕-联吡啶的二元配合物Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2,用元素分析、红外及紫外光谱对配合物进行了表征.采用循环伏安法,研究了用Nafion将Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2修饰于金电极上的电化学发光行为.讨论了介质、pH对该体系电化学发光性质的影响,推测了Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2电化学发光的机理.结果表明:在没有共反应试剂存在的条件下,Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2在pH 8.0的硼砂缓冲溶液中可以产生较强的电化学发光,其发光体可能为Eu*(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2.     

Nitric oxide regulates the heart by spatial confinement of nitric oxide synthase isoforms

Subcellular localization of nitric oxide (NO) synthases with effector molecules is an important regulatory mechanism for NO signalling. In the heart, NO inhibits L-type Ca2+ channels but stimulates sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release, leading to variable effects on myocardial contractility. Here we show that spatial confinement of specific NO synthase isoforms regulates this process. Endothelial NO synthase (NOS3) localizes to caveolae, where compartmentalization with beta-adrenergic receptors and L-type Ca2+ channels allows NO to inhibit beta-adrenergic-induced inotropy. Neuronal NO synthase (NOS1), however, is targeted to cardiac SR. NO stimulation of SR Ca2+ release via the ryanodine receptor (RyR) in vitro, suggests that NOS1 has an opposite, facilitative effect on contractility. We demonstrate that NOS1-deficient mice have suppressed inotropic response, whereas NOS3-deficient mice have enhanced contractility, owing to corresponding changes in SR Ca2+ release. Both NOS1-/- and NOS3-/- mice develop age-related hypertrophy, although only NOS3-/- mice are hypertensive. NOS1/3-/- double knockout mice have suppressed beta-adrenergic responses and an additive phenotype of marked ventricular remodelling. Thus, NOS1 and NOS3 mediate independent, and in some cases opposite, effects on cardiac structure and function.     

SNCR应用于水泥窑氮氧化物控制的氨氧化

为了对水泥窑应用SNCR控制技术时CaO催化NH3氧化问题进行研究,该文采用固定床反应器,研究温度(650～950℃)、NH3体积分数(100×10-6～1500×10-6)和O2体积分数(0～4%)对于CaO催化NH3氧化作用的影响。采用Fourier变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)测量NH3和NO组分的体积分数。实验结果表明:CaO催化NH3氧化反应的转化率和产物NO的选择性随NH3体积分数增加而下降,随温度和O2体积分数增加而增加。基于NH3转化率和产物NO选择性随NH3体积分数的变化规律,提出CaO催化NH3氧化的首要途径是NH3和O2的吸附,吸附态NH3会与O2反应生成NO,而非前人提出的NH3与CaO反应生成CaN。采用该机理可以较好地解释实验规律。     

Eu(bpy)_2(NO_3)_3(H_2O)_2/Nafion修饰于金电极上的电化学发光性质研究(英文)

本文合成了铕-联吡啶的二元配合物Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2,用元素分析、红外及紫外光谱对配合物进行了表征.采用循环伏安法,研究了用Nafion将Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2修饰于金电极上的电化学发光行为.讨论了介质、pH对该体系电化学发光性质的影响,推测了Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2电化学发光的机理.结果表明:在没有共反应试剂存在的条件下,Eu(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2在pH 8.0的硼砂缓冲溶液中可以产生较强的电化学发光,其发光体可能为Eu*(bpy)2(NO3)3(H2O)2.     

有氧条件下Au/CeO2/Al2O3催化还原NO的研究

NO是形成光化学烟雾、生成酸雨和破坏大气臭氧层的前驱气体之一，消除NO巳成为近几年国内外催化界的研究热点，Cu0-ZSM-5是国内外研究最成熟的催化剂，但实用性差，本研究以HAuCl4为前驱体，沉积-沉淀法制备Au/CeO2/Al2O3催化剂，用X-射线衍射（XRD）进行表征，考察了加入CeO2对Au/CeO2/Al2O3催化活性的影响。结果表明：Al2O3、CeO2/Al2O3表面的Au晶粒小，分散度高，Au/Al2O3的deNOx活性较低，而含金复合催化剂Au/CeO2/Al2O3的活性高于Au/Al2O3及Cu-ZSM-5。     

Expression of interleukin-2 receptors as a differentiation marker on intrathymic stem cells

The thymus is regarded as the primary site for T-cell lymphopoiesis, but very little is known about the lineage inter-relationships of cells within that organ. At least four subpopulations of mouse thymocytes can be defined on the basis of staining with monoclonal antibodies directed against the T-cell differentiation antigens Lyt-2 and L3T4 (ref. 2). Thus immunocompetent (medullary) thymocytes, like peripheral T cells, express either Lyt-2 (cytotoxic phenotype) or L3T4 (helper phenotype) but not both, whereas non-functional (cortical) thymocytes express both markers. In addition, a small subpopulation comprising 2-3% of cells in the thymus and expressing neither Lyt-2 nor L3T4 has recently been described. The latter cells have the properties of intrathymic 'stem cells' in that they are the first to appear in the embryonic thymus and at least some can be shown to give rise, both in vivo (ref. 4. and our unpublished data) and in vitro, to other thymocyte subpopulations. We show here that 50% of Lyt-2-/L3T4- cells in the adult thymus express receptors for the polypeptide growth hormone interleukin-2 (IL-2) whereas other cells in the thymus do not. Furthermore, immunohistochemical localization studies on frozen sections indicate a disperse distribution of IL-2 receptor-positive cells in both the cortex and medulla. These novel findings have potential implications in the context of current models of differentiation pathways within the thymus.     

基于四唑乙酸的二维Ce（III）配合物的合成、结构和光学性能研究

以四唑乙酸（Htza）与Ce（NO3）3·6H2O在少量三乙胺存在的CH3OH溶剂中,室温挥发的方法培养出无色配合物[Ce（tza）（3CH3OH）（H2O）]n.晶体结构分析表明,配合物属于单斜晶系P2（1）/n空间群.Ce（III）中心采取十配位的畸变双加冠四方反棱柱构型.四唑乙酸配体存在双齿桥联和双齿螯合桥联两种配位模式,通过羧酸上氧原子与铈配位形成一维的配位聚合物.链与链通过氮原子和配位水分子间氢键作用形成最终的二维网状结构.对配合物的红外和紫外可见光谱性质也进行了研究.     

The p66shc adaptor protein controls oxidative stress response and life span in mammals

Gene mutations in invertebrates have been identified that extend life span and enhance resistance to environmental stresses such as ultraviolet light or reactive oxygen species. In mammals, the mechanisms that regulate stress response are poorly understood and no genes are known to increase individual life span. Here we report that targeted mutation of the mouse p66shc gene induces stress resistance and prolongs life span. p66shc is a splice variant of p52shc/p46shc (ref. 2), a cytoplasmic signal transducer involved in the transmission of mitogenic signals from activated receptors to Ras. We show that: (1) p66shc is serine phosphorylated upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or irradiation with ultraviolet light; (2) ablation of p66shc enhances cellular resistance to apoptosis induced by H2O2 or ultraviolet light; (3) a serine-phosphorylation defective mutant of p66shc cannot restore the normal stress response in p66shc-/- cells; (4) the p53 and p21 stress response is impaired in p66shc-/- cells; (5) p66shc-/- mice have increased resistance to paraquat and a 30% increase in life span. We propose that p66shc is part of a signal transduction pathway that regulates stress apoptotic responses and life span in mammals.     

Preparation of alumina supported on carbon nanotubes and its application in fluoride adsorption from an aqueous solution

A novel material, alumina supported on carbon nanotubes (Al₂O₃/CNT), was prepared from carbon nanotubes and Al(NO₃)₃.X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra demonstrate that alumina is amorphous, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that CNT and alumina are homogeneously mixed. Furthermore, the fluoride adsorption behavior on the surface of Al₂O₃ /CNT has been investigated and compared with other adsorbents. The results indicate that Al₂O₃/CNT has a high adsorption capacity, with a saturation adsorption capacity of 39.4 mg/g. It is also found that the adsorption capacity of Al₂O₃/CNT is 3.0—4.5 times that of g-Al₂O₃ while almost equal to that of IRA-410 polymeric resin at 25℃. The adsorption isotherms of fluoride on Al₂O₃/CNT fit the Freundlich equation well, and optimal pH ranging from 5.0 to 9.0.     

Superoxide dismutase as a target for the selective killing of cancer cells

Superoxide dismutases (SOD) are essential enzymes that eliminate superoxide radical (O2-) and thus protect cells from damage induced by free radicals. The active O2- production and low SOD activity in cancer cells may render the malignant cells highly dependent on SOD for survival and sensitive to inhibition of SOD. Here we report that certain oestrogen derivatives selectively kill human leukaemia cells but not normal lymphocytes. Using complementary DNA microarray and biochemical approaches, we identify SOD as a target of this drug action and show that chemical modifications at the 2-carbon (2-OH, 2-OCH3) of the derivatives are essential for SOD inhibition and for apoptosis induction. Inhibition of SOD causes accumulation of cellular O2- and leads to free-radical-mediated damage to mitochondrial membranes, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and apoptosis of the cancer cells. Our results indicate that targeting SOD may be a promising approach to the selective killing of cancer cells, and that mechanism-based combinations of SOD inhibitors with free-radical-producing agents may have clinical applications.     

Mn（Ⅱ）—OP—5—Br—PADAP分光光度法研究

研究了在ｐＨ９．４的硼砂介质中，Ｍｎ（Ⅱ）－ＯＰ－５－Ｂｒ－ＰＡＤＡＰ红色络合物形成的适宜条件和络合物的稳定性等．锰含量在（０～１）ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内服从Ｂｅｅｒ定律．其回归方程为：Ａ＝０．０５９９２Ｃ＋３．４×１０－２，（ｒ＝０．９９８６）．摩尔吸光系数ε＝１．０６×１０５．测定６次相对偏差小于３．０％．加标回收率在９６％～９８％．该法用于茶叶中锰的测定，结果令人满意．     

水热法合成磷酸锰及其表征

以六水硝酸锰和十二水磷酸钠为原料,酸性条件150℃水热条件下反应24 h制备出深绿色MnPO4.H2O颗粒。对产物的结构进行X-射线粉末衍射(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM),荧光(FL)光谱,红外(IR)光谱等表征。X-射线粉末衍射(XRD)分析表明得到产物为纯净的底心单斜相MnPO4.H2O,显示原料中的正二价的锰离子被氧化为正三价的锰离子;通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)可以观察到MnPO4.H2O的形貌为边长约15μm的立方体。在水热条件下,Mn(NO3)2的浓度?溶液的pH、反应时间和反应温度对最终产物物相和形貌均有影响。     

NO在负载型金属氧化物催化剂上的氧化反应机理

研究了γ- Al2 O3负载的金属氧化物催化剂对 NO催化氧化性能。实验发现 ,30 0°C下催化剂活性顺序为 Mn>Cr>Co>Cu>Fe>Ni>Zn,P-型金属氧化物对 NO的氧化活性较强。对 Mn O2这种具有代表性的 P-型金属氧化物催化剂 ,提出了其 NO催化氧化的反应机理和动力学模型。     

大环希夫碱铈(Ⅳ)配合物的合成及表征

在水合硝酸铈（Ⅳ）的存在下,２,９－二甲醛－１,１０－邻啡咯啉与２,２′－（亚乙二氧基）双苄胺在ＴＨＦ介质中形成了配合物Ｃｅ（ＮＯ３）４Ｌ．７Ｈ２Ｏ（Ｌ是相应的希夫碱大环）,且进行了元素分析,摩尔电导,红外光谱和ＴＧ－ＤＴＡ分析等性质表征,结果表明,铈（Ⅳ）可作为２０员希夫碱大环的有效反,配合物的可能结构式建议为「Ｃｅ（Ｈ２Ｏ）２（ＮＯ３）３Ｌ」ＮＯ３．５Ｈ２Ｏ,其中铈（Ⅳ）的配位数为１２。     

pH-sensitive activation of the intracellular-pH regulation system in squid axons by ATP-gamma-S

The regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) is essential for normal cell function, and controlled changes in pHi may play a central role in cell activation. Sodium-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchange is the dominant mechanism of pHi regulation in the invertebrate cells examined, and also occurs in mammalian cells. The transporter extrudes acid from the cell by exchanging extracellular Na+ and HCO3- (ref. 9) (or a related species) for intracellular Cl- (refs 3, 4). It is blocked by the stilbene derivatives DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyano-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonate, ref. 10) and SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonate, ref. 3), and has a stoichiometry of two intracellular H+ neutralized for each Na+ taken up and each Cl- extruded by the axon. Because the inwardly-directed Na+ concentration gradient is sufficiently large to energize both the HCO3- influx and Cl- efflux, this electroneutral exchanger could be a classic secondary active transporter, thermodynamically independent of ATP hydrolysis. However, at least in the squid axon, the exchanger has an absolute requirement for ATP (ref. 3). Thus, a major unresolved issue is whether this Na-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchanger stoichiometrically hydrolyses ATP (the pump hypothesis), or whether ATP activates the transporter by a mechanism such as phosphorylation or simple binding (the activation hypothesis). We have now explored the role of ATP in pHi regulation by dialysing axons with the ATP analogue ATP-gamma-S. In many systems, ATP-gamma-S is an acceptable substrate for protein kinases, whereas the resulting thiophosphorylated proteins are not as readily hydrolysed by phosphatases as are phosphorylated proteins. Our results rule out the pump hypothesis, and show that the basis of the axon's ATP requirement is the pH-dependent activation (by, for instance, phosphorylation or ATP binding) of the exchanger itself, or of an essential activator.     

Internal sequences that distinguish yeast from metazoan U2 snRNA are unnecessary for pre-mRNA splicing

U2 small nuclear RNA is a highly conserved component of the eukaryotic cell nucleus involved in splicing messenger RNA precursors. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, U2 RNA interacts with the intron by RNA-RNA pairing between the conserved branchpoint sequence UACUAAC and conserved nucleotides near the 5' end of U2 (ref. 4). Metazoan U2 RNA is less than 200 nucleotides in length, but yeast U2 RNA is 1,175 nucleotides long. The 5' 110 nucleotides of yeast U2 are homologous to the 5' 100 nucleotides of metazoan U2 (ref. 6), and the very 3' end of yeast U2 bears a weak structural resemblance to features near the 3' end of metazoan U2. Internal sequences of yeast U2 share primary sequence homology with metazoan U4, U5 and U6 small nuclear RNA (ref. 6), and have regions of complementarity with yeast U1 (ref. 7). We have investigated the importance of the internal U2 sequences by their deletion. Yeast cells carrying a U2 allele lacking 958 nucleotides of internal U2 sequence produce a U2 small nuclear RNA similar in size to that found in other organisms. Cells carrying only the U2 deletion grow normally, have normal levels of spliced mRNA and do not accumulate unspliced precursor mRNA. We conclude that the internal sequences of yeast U2 carry no essential function. The extra RNA may have a non-essential function in efficient ribonucleoprotein assembly or RNA stability. Variation in amount of RNA in homologous structural RNAs has precedence in ribosomal RNA and RNaseP.     

低温燃烧技术合成钴掺杂镓酸镁锌复合尖晶石材料

采用Mg(NO3)2·4H2O,Ga(NO3)3·6H2O,Zn(NO3)2·6H2O,CO(NH2)2,NH4NO3及Co(NO3)2·6H2O等为原料,于500℃利用低温燃烧技术成功获得了一系列钴掺杂镓酸镁锌复合尖晶石材料。采用X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、F-4500型荧光分光光度计对样品进行分析表征。结果表明,所得产品不是MgGa2O4和ZnGa2O4的简单混合物,而是一种新型的固溶体材料。ZnxMg1-xGa2O4:Co2+(0≤x≤1.0)晶体的晶格常数与掺杂比例x之间存在比较好的线性关系。合成的晶体结晶度高,排列较规整。发射光谱的形状和位置分析表明,可见光区670 nm附近的强发射峰源于四面体位中Co2+的4T1(4P)→4A2(4F)能级跃迁;近红外区的弱发射峰源于四面体位中Co2+的4T1(4P)→4T2(4F)能级跃迁。