Type I phosphatidylinositol kinase makes a novel inositol phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate

The generation of second messengers from the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) by phosphoinositidase C has been implicated in the mediation of cellular responses to a variety of growth factors and oncogene products. The first step in the production of PtdInsP2 from phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) is catalysed by PtdIns kinase. A PtdIns kinase activity has been found to associate specifically with several oncogene products, as well as with the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor. We have previously identified two biochemically distinct PtdIns kinases in fibroblasts, and have found that only one of these, designated type I, specifically associates with activated tyrosine kinases. We have now characterized the site on the inositol ring phosphorylated by type I PtdIns kinase, and find that this kinase specifically phosphorylates the D-3 ring position to generate a novel phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P). In contrast, the main PtdIns kinase in fibroblasts, designated type II, specifically phosphorylates the D-4 position to produce phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P), previously considered to be the only form of PtdInsP. We have also tentatively identified PtdIns(3)P as a minor component of total PtdInsP in intact fibroblasts. We propose that type I PtdIns kinase is responsible for the generation of PtdIns(3)P in intact cells, and that this novel phosphoinositide could be important in the transduction of mitogenic and oncogenic signals.     

Myeloid leukaemia inhibitory factor maintains the developmental potential of embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, the totipotent outgrowths of blastocysts, can be cultured and manipulated in vitro and then returned to the embryonic environment where they develop normally and can contribute to all cell lineages. Maintenance of the stem-cell phenotype in vitro requires the presence of a feeder layer of fibroblasts or of a soluble factor, differentiation inhibitory activity (DIA) produced by a number of sources; in the absence of DIA the ES cells differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. We recently noted several similarities between partially purified DIA and a haemopoietic regulator, myeloid leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a molecule which induces differentiation in M1 myeloid leukaemic cells and which we have recently purified, cloned and characterized. We demonstrate here that purified, recombinant LIF can substitute for DIA in the maintenance of totipotent ES cell lines that retain the potential to form chimaeric mice.     

Multiple liquid crystal phases of DNA at high concentrations

DNA packaging in vivo is very tight, with volume concentrations approaching 70% w/v in sperm heads, virus capsids and bacterial nucleoids. The packaging mechanisms adopted may be related to the natural tendency of semi-rigid polymers to form liquid crystalline phases in concentrated solutions. We find that DNA forms at least three distinct liquid crystalline phases at concentrations comparable to those in vivo, with phase transitions occurring over relatively narrow ranges of DNA concentration. A weakly birefringent, dynamic, 'precholesteric' mesophase with microscopic textures intermediate between those of a nematic and a true cholesteric phase forms at the lowest concentrations required for phase separation. At slightly higher DNA concentrations, a second mesophase forms which is a strongly birefringent, well-ordered cholesteric phase with a concentration-dependent pitch varying from 2 to 10 micron. At the highest DNA concentrations, a phase forms which is two-dimensionally ordered and resembles smectic phases of thermotropic liquid crystals observed with small molecules.     

Noradrenaline contracts arteries by activating voltage-dependent calcium channels

Noradrenaline (NA) regulates arterial smooth muscle tone and hence blood vessel diameter and blood flow. NA apparently increases tone by causing a calcium influx through the cell membrane. Two calcium influx pathways have been proposed: voltage-activated calcium channels and NA-activated calcium-permeable channels that are voltage-insensitive. Although voltage-activated calcium channels have been identified in arterial smooth muscle, voltage-insensitive calcium channels activated by NA have not. We show here that NA contractions of rabbit mesenteric arteries increase with depolarization. The increase parallels the elevation of open-state probability (P0) of single, voltage-dependent calcium channels. The action of noradrenaline can be explained by NA-activating voltage-dependent calcium channels, rather than by opening a second type of channel. We show directly that NA increases the open-state probability of single calcium channels. Thus, in the presence of NA, calcium entry through voltage-dependent calcium channels can regulate smooth muscle tone at physiological membrane potentials. These results may have relevance to pathophysiological conditions such as hypertension.     

Madey定理在几种类型自由电子激光中的推广证明

Madey定理由两部分组成,它们是从静磁泵场自由电子激光分析中得到的。本文针对其它几种常见类型的自由电子激光进行了分析,结果表明,除渡越辐射型外,在其它几种类型中Madey定理第一部分成立。这样,与已推广了的第二部分一起,Madey定理就得到了完整的推广。渡越辐射自由电子激光中也存在相应的形式,但远为复杂。     

亚纯函数的唯一性定理

本文得到几个关于亚纯函数唯一性的结果,如果两个亚纯函数以及它们的k阶导数取一些复数的值点集合相同。     

扭角羚的舔盐行为观察及初析

通过观察发现,扭角羚舔盐行为,在唐家河是每年8—10月的每天傍晚19:00—20:00至次日06:30—08:30。其舔盐行为一是类似觅食,再是类似饮水。这些行为我们认为可能与繁殖交配、受孕期生理所需的特殊矿物质营养或帮助解除某些植物的毒性有关。     

YZ-530型剁锉机动态特性的试验研究

本文是以复模态理论为指导,采用以“假梯度”为核心的MB-1模态参数识别软件,对YZ-530剁锉机一点激振,X、Y、Z三个方向同时拾振的动态特性试验,利用HP5423(A)结构动态分析仪计算系统的频响函数.然后由PC9801计算机进行曲线拟合和模态参教识别.形象地演示了该机的十五阶振型,清晰地反映了该机的薄弱环节,为该机的优化设计和模态噪声的降低提供了可靠的数据.     

中华猕猴桃的组织培养和植株再生

本文报道了中华猕猴桃79-1、79-3、79-5优株系的茎段及叶片的愈伤组织在N_6并附加适量生长素的培养基上能分化出具茎植株,分化率达80％以上,但这种处理不适应于MS基本培养基。实验证明,不同品种类型和株系要求的培养基有所差异。实验程序的简化,为工厂化育种提供了可能性。     

海水中分散石油烃的自然风化及其影响因素

本文用实验室模拟的方法研究了分散于海水中的烷烃的自然风化。用厦门港湾日高盐度海水(S=29‰)加入20~#柴油搅拌2h使油分散于海水中,静置过夜,取中层部份作为含油海水。另取盐度为10‰的河口水和高盐海水(均用脱脂棉过滤)按不同比例混为含油海水。另取盐度为10‰的河口水和高盐海水(均用脱脂棉过滤)按不同比例混合,加入等量的含油海水,配成一系列初始油含量相同(约0.2mg/l)而不同盐度的溶液,恒温25℃,取初始和8天后的水样萃取分析。实验均分两组平行进行,其中一组加入HgCl_2(Hg~(2+)含量为1ppm)以杀死微生物。