Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer

Cancers arise owing to the accumulation of mutations in critical genes that alter normal programmes of cell proliferation, differentiation and death. As the first stage of a systematic genome-wide screen for these genes, we have prioritized for analysis signalling pathways in which at least one gene is mutated in human cancer. The RAS RAF MEK ERK MAP kinase pathway mediates cellular responses to growth signals. RAS is mutated to an oncogenic form in about 15% of human cancer. The three RAF genes code for cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinases that are regulated by binding RAS. Here we report BRAF somatic missense mutations in 66% of malignant melanomas and at lower frequency in a wide range of human cancers. All mutations are within the kinase domain, with a single substitution (V599E) accounting for 80%. Mutated BRAF proteins have elevated kinase activity and are transforming in NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, RAS function is not required for the growth of cancer cell lines with the V599E mutation. As BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase that is commonly activated by somatic point mutation in human cancer, it may provide new therapeutic opportunities in malignant melanoma.     

RhoA/Rho激酶在大鼠阴茎勃起机制中的调节作用

一般认为一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）释放增加促进小动脉和海绵体平滑肌舒张是导致男性阴茎勃起的主要机制。研究发现内源性血管收缩因子对维持阴茎萎状态有重要作用。应用大鼠模型活体检测使用Y-27632拮抗Rho-激酶活性后对阴茎勃起生理机制的影响;应用免疫转印技术检测 阴茎海绵体内RhoA和Rho激酶蛋白的表达。结果显示在大鼠海绵体组织内有内源性RhoA和Rho激酶蛋白的表达和存在;Y-27632海绵体内注射阻滞RhoA/Rho激酶活性使ICP和CCP/MAP比值明显升高;局部小剂量应用Y-27632对MAP没有明显影响;Y-27632可增强系列电刺激引起的由NO介导的CCP/MAP比值的增加;NO合成酶和鸟苷酸环化酶抑制剂的作用不能阻滞RhoA/Rho激酶抑制剂对大鼠阴茎海绵体平滑肌的松弛作用和CCP/MAP的增加。说明RhoA/Rho激酶信号系统发挥了维持海绵体萎软状态重要作用,这是与NO介导途径不同的阴茎勃起生理调节机制。RhoA/Rho激酶抑制剂可能是ED治疗的新领域新方法。     

Study on molecular interaction between NifA and NifL of Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501 by using the yeast two-hybrid system

Pseudomonas stutzeri AI501 (formerly Alcaligenes faecalis A1501), which was isolated from rice paddies in South China in 1980, can colonize tightly on rhizoplane of the host plants or invade the roots of plants for growth and nitrogen fixation. But A1501 can fix nitrogen only under the micro-aerobic and nitrogen-free conditions. The oxygen concentration and the availability of fixed nitrogen are therefore important factors in the regulation of nitrogenase biosynthesis of associative nitrogen-fixing bacteria.     

光突发交换网络的数据信道分组抢占调度策略研究

光突发交换是面向下一代因特网的光交换模式,它结合了光电路交换和光分组交换的优点,同时克服了他们的一些缺点.介绍了光突发交换网络中一种支持区分服务的数据信道调度策略,通过仿真分析了数据信道分组策略对网络性能的影响,为进一步研究提供了有价值的参考.     

温度和pH值对羊毛织物尺寸稳定性的影响

通过一系列实验分析了温度和pH值对羊毛纤维的膨胀和羊毛织物尺寸变化的影响．在pH2．1的溶液中，羊毛织物的尺寸随温度的升高而下降，变化的幅度取决于织物组织和织物的定型率．在羊毛等电点pH4．8时，纤维的膨胀达到最小值，而织物的尺寸则随着溶液酸性的增加而减小．     

Mass march of termites into the deadly trap.

Carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes are not usually very selective about their prey, catching anything that is careless enough to walk on their slippery peristome, but Nepenthes albomarginata is an exception. We show here that this plant uses a fringe of edible white hairs to lure and then trap its prey, which consists exclusively of termites in enormous numbers. This singular feature accounts for the specialization of N. albomarginata for one prey taxon, unique so far among carnivorous plants.     

Indicators of δ13C and δ18O of gas hydrate-associated sediments

The analyses of δ13C and δ18O of gas hydrate-associated sediments from two cores on Hydrate Ridge in Cascadia convergent margin offshore Oregon, eastern North Pacific show the values of d 13C from -29.81‰ to -48.28‰ (PDB) and d 18O from 2.56‰ to 4.28‰ (PDB), which could be plotted into a group called typical carbonate minerals influenced by the methane in cold venting. Moreover, the values of d 13C and d 18O show a consistent trend in both cores from top to bottom with increasing of d 13C and decreasing of d 18O. This trend could be explained as an effect caused by the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in depth and the oxygen fraction during the formation of gas hydrate in depth together. These characteristics of d 13C and d 18O indicate that the gas hydrate-associated sediments are significantly different from the normal marine carbonates, and they are deeply influenced by the formation and evolution of gas hydrate. So, the distinct characteristics of d 13C and d 18O of gas hydrate-associated sediments could be undoubtedly believed as one of parameters to determine the presence of gas hydrates in other unknown marine sediment cores.