Interaction of elongation factors EF-G and EF-Tu with a conserved loop in 23S RNA

The elongation factors EF-Tu and EF-G interact with ribosomes during protein synthesis: EF-Tu presents incoming aminoacyl transfer RNA to the programmed ribosome as an EF-Tu-GTP-tRNA ternary complex and EF-G promotes translocation of peptidyl-tRNA and its associated messenger RNA from the A to the P site after peptidyl transfer. Both events are accompanied by ribosome-dependent GTP hydrolysis. Here we use chemical probes to investigate the possible interaction of these factors with ribosomal RNA in E. coli ribosomes. We observe EF-G-dependent footprints in vitro and in vivo around position 1,067 in domain II of 23S rRNA, and in the loop around position 2,660 in domain VI.EF-Tu gives an overlapping footprint in vitro at positions 2,655 and 2,661, but shows no effect at position 1,067. The 1,067 region is the site of interaction of the antibiotic thiostrepton, which prevents formation of the EF-G-GTP-ribosome complex and is a site for interaction with the GTPase-related protein L11 (ref. 3). The universally conserved loop in the 2,660 region is the site of attack by the RNA-directed cytotoxins alpha-sarcin and ricin, whose effects abolish translation and include the loss of elongation factor-dependent functions in eukaryotic ribosomes.     

Correlation between the ATPase and microtubule translocating activities of sea urchin egg kinesin

Coupling between ATP hydrolysis and microtubule movement was demonstrated several years ago in flagellar axonemes and subsequent studies suggest that the relevant microtubule motor, dynein, uses ATP to drive microtubule sliding by a cross-bridge mechanism analogous to that of myosin in muscles. Kinesin, a microtubule-based motility protein which may participate in organelle transport and mitosis, binds microtubules in a nucleotide-sensitive manner, and requires hydrolysable nucleotides to translocate microtubules over a glass surface. Recently, neuronal kinesin was shown to possess microtubule-activated ATPase activity although coupling between ATP hydrolysis and motility was not demonstrated. Here we report that sea urchin egg kinesin, prepared either with or without a 5'-adenylyl imidodiphosphate(AMPPNP)-induced microtubule binding step, also possesses significant microtubule-activated ATPase activity when Mg-ATP is used as a substrate. This ATPase activity is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by addition of Mg-free ATP, by chelation of Mg2+ with EDTA, by addition of Na3VO4, or by addition of AMPPNP with or without Mg2+. Addition of these same reagents also inhibits the microtubule-translocating activities of sea urchin egg kinesin in a dose-dependent manner, supporting the hypothesis that kinesin-driven motility is coupled to the microtubule-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity.     

Real-time observation of trigger factor function on translating ribosomes

The contribution of co-translational chaperone functions to protein folding is poorly understood. Ribosome-associated trigger factor (TF) is the first molecular chaperone encountered by nascent polypeptides in bacteria. Here we show, using fluorescence spectroscopy to monitor TF function and structural rearrangements in real time, that TF interacts with ribosomes and translating polypeptides in a dynamic reaction cycle. Ribosome binding stabilizes TF in an open, activated conformation. Activated TF departs from the ribosome after a mean residence time of approximately 10 s, but may remain associated with the elongating nascent chain for up to 35 s, allowing entry of a new TF molecule at the ribosome docking site. The duration of nascent-chain interaction correlates with the occurrence of hydrophobic motifs in translating polypeptides, reflecting a high aggregation propensity. These findings can explain how TF prevents misfolding events during translation and may provide a paradigm for the regulation of nucleotide-independent chaperones.     

主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)的起源与进化概述

主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)是免疫球蛋白超基因家族中的一个大类,MHC分子作为个体标志抗原早已为大家所熟悉,因而在脊椎动物进化中扮演着不可替代的角色.到目前为止,我们已经完成了包括从真兽亚纲(胎盘动物)到非哺乳动物的部分物种,包括鸟类、硬骨鱼及软骨鱼(如鲨鱼)的MHC的基因结构图,但是由于在非哺乳动物和哺乳动物中MHC的基因结构和复杂度不一样,所以很难对非哺乳动物向哺乳动物进化的这一时间段进行有效的进化史或系统演化史研究.研究人员推测,原始MHC分子的进化最初是与发育调控需求相关的,就其进化机制及进化意义做一综述.     

复频声场的研究

讨论了存在着两种、三种频率的声波时,媒质中声场的均匀性,给出了可反应声场均匀性的平均声压及声压均方差表达式。可根据平均声压及声压均方差,选择合适的参数,使得声场的均匀性满足实际应用要求。     

半正定复矩阵的研究

讨论了半正定复矩阵的性质和半正定复矩阵的k阶主子阵、Kronecker积和Hadamard积的性质，给出半正定复矩阵特征值的估计。     

SMC复合材料特性及其在电气等领域中的应用

在电气设备外壳材料领域中，发达国家已经逐渐用新型复合材料代替以往惯用的金属材料．通过对新型复合材料SMC的性能和特点，以及电气设备安装的外界环境等方面的分析，探讨其在电气领域的应用和实施的可行性。