Energetic landscape of alpha-lytic protease optimizes longevity through kinetic stability.

During the evolution of proteins the pressure to optimize biological activity is moderated by a need for efficient folding. For most proteins, this is accomplished through spontaneous folding to a thermodynamically stable and active native state. However, in the extracellular bacterial alpha-lytic protease (alphaLP) these two processes have become decoupled. The native state of alphaLP is thermodynamically unstable, and when denatured, requires millennia (t1/2 approximately 1,800 years) to refold. Folding is made possible by an attached folding catalyst, the pro-region, which is degraded on completion of folding, leaving alphaLP trapped in its native state by a large kinetic unfolding barrier (t1/2 approximately 1.2 years). alphaLP faces two very different folding landscapes: one in the presence of the pro-region controlling folding, and one in its absence restricting unfolding. Here we demonstrate that this separation of folding and unfolding pathways has removed constraints placed on the folding of thermodynamically stable proteins, and allowed the evolution of a native state having markedly reduced dynamic fluctuations. This, in turn, has led to a significant extension of the functional lifetime of alphaLP by the optimal suppression of proteolytic sensitivity.     

Fibulin-5/DANCE is essential for elastogenesis in vivo.

The elastic fibre system has a principal role in the structure and function of various types of organs that require elasticity, such as large arteries, lung and skin. Although elastic fibres are known to be composed of microfibril proteins (for example, fibrillins and latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-binding proteins) and polymerized elastin, the mechanism of their assembly and development is not well understood. Here we report that fibulin-5 (also known as DANCE), a recently discovered integrin ligand, is an essential determinant of elastic fibre organization. fibulin-5-/- mice generated by gene targeting exhibit a severely disorganized elastic fibre system throughout the body. fibulin-5-/- mice survive to adulthood, but have a tortuous aorta with loss of compliance, severe emphysema, and loose skin (cutis laxa). These tissues contain fragmented elastin without an increase of elastase activity, indicating defective development of elastic fibres. Fibulin-5 interacts directly with elastic fibres in vitro, and serves as a ligand for cell surface integrins alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and alpha9beta1 through its amino-terminal domain. Thus, fibulin-5 may provide anchorage of elastic fibres to cells, thereby acting to stabilize and organize elastic fibres in the skin, lung and vasculature.     

Comparative study of the karyotypes of two Egyptian species of bats,Taphozous perforatus andTaphozous nudiventris (Chiroptera: Mammalia)

A detailed karyotypic analysis of two Egyptian species of bats,Taphozous perforatus andTaphozous nudiventris, was made on the basis of conventional data and G-band patterns. No detectable karyotypic difference was found between the two species (2n=42, F.N. 64). By comparison of G-band patterns, some differences between the two species were seen in the corresponding autosomal pairs. These results are reported for the first time in Egypt.     

SIMULTANEOUS REACTION AND LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION IN THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE PRODUCTION

The gas-liquid-liquid reactive extraction system for preparing hydrogen peroxide via anthraquinone was investigated. The oxidation reaction of hydrogenated working solution was combined with the extraction of hydrogen peroxide from working solution in a sieve plate column. The reaction of 2-ethylanthrahydroquionone with oxygen and the liquid-liquid extraction of hydrogen peroxide take place simultaneously. The oxygen was introduced with hydrogenated working solution through a nozzle in the bottom of the column, which worked as agitated air as well as oxidation reagent. The results showed the oxidation and extraction do not hamper each other, on the contrary, the presence of oxidation gas in the column can promote the transfer of hydrogen peroxide from organic phase to aqueous phase, thus the reaction efficiency and extraction efficiency increased with increasing gas superficial velocity. Furthermore, the oxidation efficiency is almost 100% and the extraction efficiency is higher than 90% in this process.     

英汉交际语差异及其原因初探

文章就日常生活中一些较为典型的交际情景，对英汉交际语的差异及其潜在原因作了探讨。     

植物药超氧物歧化酶活性与某些性质的研究

应用NBT光还原法对23种植物药材SOD粗提液活性研究表明。供试材料全部达到200units·g~(-1)F·W的水平,13种超过300units·g~(-1)F·W,野山楂高达812.5units。酶的比活,玄参、何首乌位列前茅,超过300units·mg~(-1)protein~-,野山楂、枸杞等都在150units·mg~(-1)protein~(-1)以上。综合分析,何首乌、野山楂、玄参与枸杞等酶活性与比活都高,有开发利用的价值。植物药普遍具有Mn-SOD与Cu·Zn-SOD,本研究首先发现枸杞、宁夏枸杞、沙参和合子草具有Fe-SOD。酶粗提液的热稳定性明显优于纯化酶。     

域外奇点法分析薄板的平面应力问题

本文推导了两边简支无限长薄板平面应力问题的基本解，该基本解为级数解，为了便于应用和提高计算精度，还求出了这些级数的和函数。把该基本解应用在域外奇点法中可分析一对边简支另一对边为任意的矩形薄板的平面应力问题。本文给出的算例表明该法有计算量少、精度高的优点。     

一类用内积表达的函数凸性

本文研究用内积表达的某些函数,分析它们的凸性,其主要的结论如下:由一个实的半正定矩阵 An×n 及属于 n 维欧氏空间的向量 a,x 构成[x,Ax]+[a,x]+b(b 为常量)型关于向量 x 的一类内积函数,则此类函数为n 维欧氏空间上的凸函数。A,B 均为 n×n 阶实矩阵、a,x 均属于 n 维欧氏空间向量,那么由 Bx+a,A(Bx+a)构成关于 x 的内积函数,该函数在 n 维欧氏空间上凸的充分条件是 B为任意,A 为半正定的。