A defined range of guard cell calcium oscillation parameters encodes stomatal movements.

Oscillations in cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) are central regulators of signal transduction cascades, although the roles of individual [Ca2+]cyt oscillation parameters in regulating downstream physiological responses remain largely unknown. In plants, guard cells integrate environmental and endogenous signals to regulate the aperture of stomatal pores and [Ca2+]cyt oscillations are a fundamental component of stomatal closure. Here we systematically vary [Ca2+]cyt oscillation parameters in Arabidopsis guard cells using a 'calcium clamp' and show that [Ca2+]cyt controls stomatal closure by two mechanisms. Short-term 'calcium-reactive' closure occurred rapidly when [Ca2+]cyt was elevated, whereas the degree of long-term steady-state closure was 'calcium programmed' by [Ca2+]cyt oscillations within a defined range of frequency, transient number, duration and amplitude. Furthermore, in guard cells of the gca2 mutant, [Ca2+]cyt oscillations induced by abscisic acid and extracellular calcium had increased frequencies and reduced transient duration, and steady-state stomatal closure was abolished. Experimentally imposing [Ca2+]cyt oscillations with parameters that elicited closure in the wild type restored long-term closure in gca2 stomata. These data show that a defined window of guard cell [Ca2+]cyt oscillation parameters programs changes in steady-state stomatal aperture.     

Mutations in CAV3 cause mechanical hyperirritability of skeletal muscle in rippling muscle disease.

Hereditary rippling muscle disease (RMD) is an autosomal dominant human disorder characterized by mechanically triggered contractions of skeletal muscle. Genome-wide linkage analysis has identified an RMD locus on chromosome 3p25. We found missense mutations in positional candidate CAV3 (encoding caveolin 3; ref. 5) in all five families analyzed. Mutations in CAV3 have also been described in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1C (LGMD1C; refs. 6,7), demonstrating the allelism of dystrophic and non-dystrophic muscle diseases.     

A MAP kinase-dependent actin checkpoint ensures proper spindle orientation in fission yeast.

The accurate segregation of chromosomes at mitosis depends on a correctly assembled bipolar spindle that exerts balanced forces on each sister chromatid. The integrity of mitotic chromosome segregation is ensured by the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) that delays mitosis in response to defective spindle organisation or failure of chromosome attachment. Here we describe a distinct mitotic checkpoint in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, that monitors the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton and delays sister chromatid separation, spindle elongation and cytokinesis until spindle poles have been properly oriented. This mitotic delay is imposed by a stress-activated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway but is independent of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC).     

Striped iron zoning of olivine induced by dislocation creep in deformed peridotites.

Deformation of solid materials affects not only their microstructures, but also their microchemistries. Although chemical unmixing of initially homogeneous multicomponent solids is known to occur during deformation by diffusion creep, there has been no report on their chemical zoning due to deformation by dislocation creep, in either natural samples or laboratory experiments. Here we report striped iron zoning of olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4) in deformed peridotites, where the iron concentration increases at subgrain boundaries composed of edge dislocations. We infer that this zoning is probably formed by alignment of edge dislocations dragging a so-called Cottrell 'atmosphere' of solute atoms (iron in this case) into subgrain boundaries during deformation of the olivine by dislocation creep. We have found that the iron zoning does not develop in laboratory experiments of high strain rates where dislocations move too fast to drag the Cottrell atmosphere. This phenomenon might have important implications for the generation of deep-focus earthquakes, as transformation of olivine to high-pressure phases preferentially occurs in high-iron regions, and therefore along subgrain boundaries which would be preferentially aligned in plastically deformed mantle peridotites.     

Primary structure of alpha-subunit precursor of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor deduced from cDNA sequence

DNA sequences complementary to the Torpedo californica electroplax mRNA coding for the alpha-subunit precursor of the acetylcholine receptor were cloned. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA indicates that the precursor consists of 461 amino acids including a prepeptide of 24 amino acids. Possible sites for acetylcholine binding and antigenic determinants on the alpha-subunit molecule are discussed.     

基于J2EE构架的药物与靶点综合数据库及其查询系统（DTDB）的设计与实现

本文扼要介绍了作者收集、整理目前已发现的所有药物及其作用靶点的相关信息,并整合现代分子生物、药物、化学等的最新进展,采用业界领先的Java的j2ee框架,建立一个综合的数据库系统的过程。同时在该综合数据库系统的基础上,嵌入药物分子和靶点的对接技术,使得我们的系统除用于一般的药物分子和靶点查询之外,还能实现基于分子反向对接的虚拟筛选和通过药物分子寻找其作用的潜在蛋白靶点。本数据库暂时只能本机访问,对外访问地址尚在建设中。     

福寿螺消化系统的性别差异及摄食行为观察 (动物科学)

采用野外及室内喂养观察、野外采集、室内解剖等方法,对福寿螺(Pomacea canaliculata)消化系统的结构、性别差异及摄食行为进行了全面观察。结果表明：福寿螺消化系统结构独特,咽内具有颚片和齿舌,能够有效摄取食物;唾液腺发达,有助于食物的搅拌、消化和吞咽;胃内壁皱褶较多,具有舌形角质栓和胃盾,有助于容纳和磨碎食物。福寿螺的消化系统具有雌雄差异,雌螺肝脏全部灰色,上面密布黑色花纹;雄螺肝脏顶部黄白色,基部灰黑色。雌螺消化器官的测量指标大于雄螺,与雌螺生长速度大于雄螺相适应;但雄螺的咽长/消化道长、胃长/消化道长显著大于雌螺(p<0.05),肠长/消化道长、肝重/去壳重大于雌螺,食道长/消化道长小于雌螺,可能与雄螺的体型、摄食行为和肠道的消化补偿机制有关。研究认为福寿螺为广食性动物,它的消化系统结构与摄食行为相适应,使之有广泛的适应能力。
     

Molecular dynamics simulation and continuum modelling of granular surface flow in rotating drums

Numerical simulations of granular flows in rotating drums operated at medium to high rates (Fr=0.1― 0.2) have been carried out by using a Molecular Dynamics (MD) algorithm that incorporates inelastic particle interactions, sliding friction and rolling friction. The results indicate that the behavior of granular flow in rotating drums can be classified into two distinct zones: a shear active layer at the bed surface and a quasi-static plug flow region adjacent to the wall. The residence time of a tracer particle in the active layer is approximately a third or a half of that in the plug flow region. The thickness of the active layer at mid-chord is about 0.57―0.61 times that of the plug flow region. It is found that all cases simulated in this work are in the rolling-cascading intermediate regime instead of the pure rolling re-gime. The simulated tangential velocity at the mid-chord is also compared with experimental results reported in the literature and good agreement has been obtained. Based on the MD simulations and experimental results, a continuum approach has also been developed. It is shown that the behavior of granular solids in the plug flow region experiences plastic deformation along the radial direction from the wall with the velocity profiles well described by an exponential function, whereas the active layer velocity follows a simple expression for the Couette shear flow. Discussion has also been made on the granular temperature and concentration profiles.     

昆虫精子获能与顶体反应的研究

综述了近年来国内外在昆虫精子获能与顶体反应方面的研究概况,并系统地简述了昆虫精子顶体复合体基本结构,以及目前用于动物精子获能与顶体反应方面先进的方法和技术,同时对昆虫受精机理的研究进行了展望