Purification and cloning of amyloid precursor protein beta-secretase from human brain

Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) generates amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide, which is thought to be causal for the pathology and subsequent cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Cleavage by beta-secretase at the amino terminus of the Abeta peptide sequence, between residues 671 and 672 of APP, leads to the generation and extracellular release of beta-cleaved soluble APP, and a corresponding cell-associated carboxy-terminal fragment. Cleavage of the C-terminal fragment by gamma-secretase(s) leads to the formation of Abeta. The pathogenic mutation K670M671-->N670L671 at the beta-secretase cleavage site in APP, which was discovered in a Swedish family with familial Alzheimer's disease, leads to increased beta-secretase cleavage of the mutant substrate. Here we describe a membrane-bound enzyme activity that cleaves full-length APP at the beta-secretase cleavage site, and find it to be the predominant beta-cleavage activity in human brain. We have purified this enzyme activity to homogeneity from human brain using a new substrate analogue inhibitor of the enzyme activity, and show that the purified enzyme has all the properties predicted for beta-secretase. Cloning and expression of the enzyme reveals that human brain beta-secretase is a new membrane-bound aspartic proteinase.     

Receptive field plasticity of neurons in rat auditory cortex

Using conventional electrophysiological technique, we investigated the plasticity of the frequency receptive fields (RF) of auditory cortex (AC) neurons in rats. In the AC, when the frequency difference between conditioning stimulus frequency (CSF) and the best frequency (BF) was in the range of 1--4 kHz, the frequency RF of AC neurons shifted. The smaller the differences between CSF and BF, the higher the probability of the RF shift and the greater the degree of the RF shift. To some extent, the plasticity of RF was dependent on the duration of the session of conditioning stimulus (CS). When the frequency difference between CSF and BF was bigger, the duration of the CS session needed to induce the plasticity was longer. The recovery time course of the frequency RF showed opposite changes after CS cessation.The RF shift could be induced by the frequency that was either higher or lower than the control BF, demonstrating no clear directional preference. The frequency RF of some neurons showed bidirectional shift, and the RF of other neurons showed single directional shift. The results suggest that the frequency RF plasticity of AC neurons could be considered asan ideal model for studying plasticity mechanism. The present study also provides important evidence for further study of learning and memory in auditory system.     

A novel metalloproteinase gene specifically expressed in stromal cells of breast carcinomas.

A gene has been identified that is expressed specifically in stromal cells surrounding invasive breast carcinomas. On the basis of its sequence, the product of this gene, named stromelysin-3, is a new member of the family of metalloproteinase enzymes which degrade the extracellular matrix. The suggestion is that stromelysin-3 is one of the stroma-derived factors that have long been postulated to play an important part in progression of epithelial malignancies.     

The influence of ethylene on primary attraction of the olive beetle,Phloeotribus scarabaeoides (Bern.) (Col., Scolytidae)

Two experiments have been carried out to verify the effect of ethylene on the primary attraction ofPhloeotribus scarabaeoides under both laboratory and field conditions. The experiments were based on the enhancement of ethylene production by olive branches and trunks after the application of (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid. Under laboratory conditions, the beetles' response was strongly stimulated on the treated branches. Under field conditions, the treatment aided the location of the olive wood by the flying beetles, and the attack density was significantly greater in the treated wood at the end of the experiment.     

An organic thyristor

Thyristors are a class of nonlinear electronic device that exhibit bistable resistance--that is, they can be switched between two different conductance states. Thyristors are widely used as inverters (direct to alternating current converters) and for the smooth control of power in a variety of applications such as motors and refrigerators. Materials and structures that exhibit nonlinear resistance of this sort are not only useful for practical applications: they also provide systems for exploring fundamental aspects of solid-state and statistical physics. Here we report the discovery of a giant nonlinear resistance effect in the conducting organic salt theta-(BEDT-TTF)2CsCo(SCN)4, the voltage-current characteristics of which are essentially the same as those of a conventional thyristor. This intrinsic organic thyristor works as an inverter, generating an alternating current when a static direct-current voltage is applied. Whereas conventional thyristors consist of a series of diodes (their nonlinearity comes from interface effects at the p-n junctions), the present salt exhibits giant nonlinear resistance as a bulk phenomenon. We attribute the origin of this effect to the current-induced melting of insulating charge-order domains, an intrinsically non-equilibrium phenomenon in the sense that ordered domains are melted by a steady flow.     

GPS单频PPP电离层延迟改正模型探讨

针对电离层延迟会导致GPS单频精密单点定位精度严重缺失的情况,分别探讨了克罗布歇模型、格网模型和历元差分模型,并采用IGS跟踪站数据进行电离层延迟改正。同时根据改正后的单频精密单点定位精度,比较了这三种电离层延迟改正模型的改正效果。结果表明:历元差分模型的改正效果最好,其改正后单频精密单点定位精度可达到厘米级,能较好地符合实际应用要求。     

Advances and applications of electrohydrodynamics

Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) has been applied in many areas, such as EHD enhanced heat transfer, EHD pump, electrospray mass spectrometry, electrospray nanotechnology, etc. The basic theories underlying these applications and a brief review of the EHD advances are presented in this paper. As electrospray is an important branch of EHD,the applications of electrospray are particularly discussed.Finally, this paper gives some suggestions for the future research and development.     

SLAC1 is required for plant guard cell S-type anion channel function in stomatal signalling

Stomatal pores, formed by two surrounding guard cells in the epidermis of plant leaves, allow influx of atmospheric carbon dioxide in exchange for transpirational water loss. Stomata also restrict the entry of ozone--an important air pollutant that has an increasingly negative impact on crop yields, and thus global carbon fixation and climate change. The aperture of stomatal pores is regulated by the transport of osmotically active ions and metabolites across guard cell membranes. Despite the vital role of guard cells in controlling plant water loss, ozone sensitivity and CO2 supply, the genes encoding some of the main regulators of stomatal movements remain unknown. It has been proposed that guard cell anion channels function as important regulators of stomatal closure and are essential in mediating stomatal responses to physiological and stress stimuli. However, the genes encoding membrane proteins that mediate guard cell anion efflux have not yet been identified. Here we report the mapping and characterization of an ozone-sensitive Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, slac1. We show that SLAC1 (SLOW ANION CHANNEL-ASSOCIATED 1) is preferentially expressed in guard cells and encodes a distant homologue of fungal and bacterial dicarboxylate/malic acid transport proteins. The plasma membrane protein SLAC1 is essential for stomatal closure in response to CO2, abscisic acid, ozone, light/dark transitions, humidity change, calcium ions, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide. Mutations in SLAC1 impair slow (S-type) anion channel currents that are activated by cytosolic Ca2+ and abscisic acid, but do not affect rapid (R-type) anion channel currents or Ca2+ channel function. A low homology of SLAC1 to bacterial and fungal organic acid transport proteins, and the permeability of S-type anion channels to malate suggest a vital role for SLAC1 in the function of S-type anion channels.     

Undoped semi-insulating indium phosphide (InP) and its applications

During the past several years, the research and development of InP material has made great progress due to serving as the substrate for most optoelectronic devices operating at the communications wavelength of 1.31 and 1.55 μm. At present, InP has become an important semiconductor material together with Si and GaAs. When compared to GaAs, InP has higher electron velocity, higher radiation hardness and better heat-conducting property. The advantage of InP crystal material allows higher frequency operation and lower power requirements. Therefore, InP is widely being used for the manufacture of microwave devices, high-frequency devices and optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) which are indispensable for wireless technology, satellite communications^[1—3]. Although n-type and p-type InP can meet actual needs, semi-insulating InP substrates remain to be improved due to their poor uniformity and consistency. For this reason, several possible approaches have been reported to the preparation of SI InP by wafer annealing under different conditions^[4—9].     

A study on nano-sized NiO electrodes doping with C and Co prepared by electrochemical deposition-sintering processes and their capacitance performance

In the present work, it was studied that nanoosized NiO electrodes doping with C and Co were prepared by electrochemical deposition in an ethanol solution containing nickel nitrate and cobalt nitrate and sintering processes. The capacitance performance of such electrodes was also studied. The results reveal that samples obtained by electrochemical deposition first on a porous nickel cathode in an ethanol solution contain 0.5 mol/L nitrates, in which Ni(NO3)2 and Co(NO3)2 were mixed in a molar proportion of 8 : 2. After sintering at 300℃ for 2 h, they exhibited the best performance. XRD analysis illustrates that the essential phase of the product is NiO doping with certain content of C and Co. The particles of product imaged a spherical morphology with sizes of 20---30 nm in diameter, and with an average crystal size of 4--5 nm. The capacitance measurement of the simulating C/NiO capacitors indicates that a single electrode can reach as high as 410.0 F/g, and still maintain the value of 323 F/g after 30 recycles showed as a stabilized value with increasing recycles, when it was discharged at a current of 5 mA.