松材线虫和拟松材线虫活体染色比较其分泌-排泄物

松树萎蔫病是由松材线虫(Bursaphelenchusxylophilus)引起的松属树种上的一种毁灭性的病害,因此,对松材线虫致病机理的研究具有重要的理论和实践意义.根据松材线虫和拟松材线虫致病性的差异,通过活体染色对松材线虫和拟松材线虫分泌-排泄物进行了比较研究,发现松材线虫和拟松材线虫线虫分泌-排泄物存在明显的差别,这种差别可能与松材线虫的致病性有关.     

棉花细胞壁蛋白基因分离鉴定与表达分析

棉纤维起源于棉花胚珠外层表皮细胞．研究棉纤维发育,具有重要理论和实践意义．从棉纤维等组织cDNA文库中分离了186个棉花细胞壁结构蛋白基因,按照所编码的蛋白质结构特点,可将这些基因分为三类;富含脯氨酸细胞壁蛋白（Proline—rich cell wall proteins,PRPs）基因、伸展蛋白（Extensins）或者富含羟脯氨酸糖蛋白（Hydroxyproline—rich glycoprotein,HRGP）基因,富含甘氨酸蛋白（Glycine—rich proteins,GRPs）基因．采用cDNA microarray技术,比较上述基因在开花后10天的野生型棉花纤维和无絮无绒（fuzzless—lintless,fl）突变体胚珠表皮中表达谱发现,其中有7个基因在野生型纤维中特异性或高效性表达,表明它们可能与纤维发育有关．     

Targeted inhibition of Livin resensitizes renal cancer cells towards apoptosis

Cancer cells are typically characterized by apoptosis deficiency. In order to investigate a possible role for the anti-apoptotic livin gene in renal cell cancer (RCC), we analyzed its expression in tumor tissue samples and in RCC-derived cell lines. In addition, we studied the contribution of livin to the apoptotic resistance of RCC cells by RNA interference (RNAi). Livin gene expression was detected in a significant portion of RCC tumor tissue specimens (13/14, 92.9%) and tumor-derived cell lines (12/15, 80.0%). Moreover, targeted inhibition of livin by RNAi markedly sensitized RCC cells towards proapoptotic stimuli, such as UV irradiation or the chemotherapeutic drugs etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and vinblastine. These effects were specific for livin expressing tumor cells. We conclude that livin can contribute significantly to the apoptosis resistance of RCC cells. Targeted inhibition of livin could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to increase the sensitivity of renal cancers towards pro-apoptotic agents. Received 30 November 2006; received after revision 22 February 2007; accepted 20 March 2007     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Legionella pneumophila</Emphasis> — a human pathogen that co-evolved with fresh water protozoa

The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila is found ubiquitously in fresh water environments where it replicates within protozoan hosts. When inhaled by humans it can replicate within alveolar macrophages and cause a severe pneumonia, Legionnaires disease. Yet much needs to be learned regarding the mechanisms that allow Legionella to modulate host functions to its advantage and the regulatory network governing its intracellular life cycle. The establishment and publication of the complete genome sequences of three clinical L. pneumophila isolates paved the way for major breakthroughs in understanding the biology of L. pneumophila. Based on sequence analysis many new putative virulence factors have been identified foremost among them eukaryotic-like proteins that may be implicated in many different steps of the Legionella life cycle. This review summarizes what is currently known about regulation of the Legionella life cycle and gives insight in the Legionella-specific features as deduced from genome analysis. Received 1 September 2006; received after revision 10 October 2006; accepted 22 November 2006     

Immunological systematics of the extinct quagga (Equidae)

Summary It has been debated whether the extinct quagga was a distinct fourth species of African zebra or whether it was merely the southern variant of the Plains zebra (Equus burchelli). Using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique, we have shown that proteins remaining in quagga skins from museums are much more similar to serum proteins of the Plains zebra than to those of the other two extant zebras.     

Malaria vaccine

Summary Among infectious diseases caused by protozoa, malaria is still the greatest killer of children. Mortality in adults living in endemic areas is significantly lower because they frequently acquire partial or complete immunity to the major pathogen,Plasmodium falciparum. This natural protection indicates that vaccination may be possible, and the first candidate antigens were cloned with the use of human immune sera as probes. Genetic and biochemical analysis of the parasite proteins revealed that they are polymorphic, and frequently gene sequences were discovered which were specific for a particular parasite isolate, which eliminated most antigens for purposes of vaccine development. The most promising candidate antigens today are the major surface proteins of sporozoites and blood stage parasites. However, the immune response against those is not sufficient for complete protection, and additional, intensive research is necessary to identify new molecules to be included in a vaccine cocktail against malaria. The current spread of the disease due to increasing drug resistance of parasites and mosquito vectors emphasizes the urgent need for a vaccine.     

Review¶Psychrophilic enzymes: molecular basis of cold adaptation

Psychrophilic organisms have successfully colonized polar and alpine regions and are able to grow efficiently at sub-zero temperatures. At the enzymatic level, such organisms have to cope with the reduction of chemical reaction rates induced by low temperatures in order to maintain adequate metabolic fluxes. Thermal compensation in cold-adapted enzymes is reached through improved turnover number and catalytic efficiency. This optimization of the catalytic parameters can originate from a highly flexible structure which provides enhanced abilities to undergo conformational changes during catalysis. Thermal instability of cold-adapted enzymes is therefore regarded as a consequence of their conformational flexibility. A survey of the psychrophilic enzymes studied so far reveals only minor alterations of the primary structure when compared to mesophilic or thermophilic homologues. However, all known structural factors and weak interactions involved in protein stability are either reduced in number or modified in order to increase their flexibility.     

Membrane fusion

Summary The factors involved in the regulation of biological membrane fusion and models proposed for the molecular mechanism of biomembrane fusion are reviewed. The results obtained in model systems are critically discussed in the light of the known properties of biomembranes and characteristics of biomembrane fusion. Biological membrane fusion is a local-point event; extremely fast, non-leaky, and under strict control. Fusion follows on a local and most probably protein-modulated destabilization, and a transition of the interacting membranes from a bilayer to a non-bilayer lipid structure. The potential role of type II non-bilayer preferring lipids and of proteins in the local destabilization of the membranes is evaluated. Proteins are not only responsible for the mutual recognition of the fusion partners, but are most likely also to be involved in the initiation of biomembrane fusion, by locally producing or activating fusogens, or by acting as fusogens.     

Hemolysins: Pore-forming proteins in invertebrates

Summary Invertebrates possess lytic molecules which lyse vertebrate erythrocytes. In all the species studied so far, hemolytic activity depends on proteins which possess a wide range of reactivity. It is generally calcium-dependent and heat-labile, although calcium-independent and heat-stable hemolysins have also been detected. The molecules interact with sugars or lipids which could represent the membrane receptors by which circular lesions on target membranes are produced.On the basis of some analogies with vertebrate lytic molecules it is conceivable that the hemolysins evolved from a common ancestral gene which also led to vertebrate pore-forming proteins.