Molecular pathogenesis of apolipoprotein E-mediated amyloidosis in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) ɛ4 allele is a genetic risk factor for late-onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the central nervous system, apoE is secreted mainly by astrocytes as a constituent of high-density lipoproteins. A recent study using apoE knockout mice provided strong evidence that apoE promotes cerebral deposition of amyloid β protein (Aβ). However, no clear explanation of the pathogenesis of apoE-induced AD has been provided. Here we discuss two possible mechanisms by which apoE might enhance Aβ deposition. One is the intracellular pathway in which apoE is internalized by neurons and induces lysosomal accumulation of Aβ and amyloidogenic APP (amyloid precursor protein) fragments, leading to neuronal death. The other is the extracellular pathway in which apoE-containing lipoproteins are trapped by Aβ1–42 deposits mobilizing soluble Aβ peptides and consequently enlarge amyloid plaques. These two mechanisms may operate at different stages of AD pathogenesis and suggest a chaperone-like function for the apoE molecule. Received 4 February 1999; received after revision 9 April 1999; accepted 23 April 1999     

MAP kinases in plant signal transduction

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are modules involved in the transduction of extracellular signals to intracellular targets in all eukaryotes. Distinct MAPK pathways are regulated by different extracellular stimuli and are implicated in a wide variety of biological processes. In plants there is evidence for MAPKs playing a role in the signaling of abiotic stresses, pathogens and plant hormones. The large number and divergence of plant MAPKs indicates that this ancient mechanism of bioinformatics is extensively used in plants and may provide a new molecular handle on old questions.     

Myosins from plants

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of myosin genes from Arabidopsis thaliana and electron microscopic observation of a myosin from characean alga have revealed that overall structure of plant unconventional myosins is similar to that of the class V myosins. These plant unconventional myosins have two heads, a coiled-coil tail of varied length and a globular tail piece at the end. The tail piece is probably a site for membrane interaction. Characean myosin is of special interest because it can translocate actin filaments at a velocity several times faster than muscle myosin, which must have evolved to support the quick movement of animals in the struggle for their lives.     

The effect of cycloheximide on nuclear uH2A content

Summary The effect of intraperitonal cycloheximide administration on acid-soluble rat liver chromatin proteins has been investigated by electrophoresis in acetic acid-urea polyacrylamide gels. A nonhistone protein, which migrates between oxidized histone H3 and histone H1 has been found tobe increased in amount following cycloheximide treatment. This protein seems to be identical with semihistone protein H24 (uH2A). A possible relationship of uH2A to the inhibition of rRNA synthesis is discussed.This work was supported by the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) Project No. TAG 339     

High molecular transport proteins for JH-III in insect hemolymph

Summary Using two independent techniques, ultracentrifugation in a KBr-gradient, and native pore polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in combination with [³H]-epoxyfarnesyldiazoacetate photoaffinity labeling, we showed that in the hemolymph ofPeriplaneta americana, and probably also inLeptinotarsa decemlineata JH-III binds to the lipophorin, whereas inLocusta migratoria JH-III binds to a different protein.     

The plasma membrane proton-translocating ATPase

Living cells require membranes and membrane transporters for the maintenance of life. After decades of biochemical scrutiny, the structures and molecular mechanisms by which membrane transporters catalyze transmembrane solute movements are beginning to be understood. The plasma membrane proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) is an archetype of the P-type ATPase family of membrane transporters, which are important in a wide variety of cellular processes. The H+-ATPase has been crystallized and its structure determined to a resolution of 8 angstrom in the membrane plane. When considered together with the large body of biochemical information that has been accumulated for this transporter, and for enzymes in general, this new structural information is providing tantalizing insights regarding the molecular mechanism of active ion transport catalyzed by this enzyme.     

利用支持向量机预测生物膜蛋白类型

利用统计学习理论中的支持向量机(SVM)，基于氨基酸组分含量预测生物膜蛋白类型。使用文献中2059个训练集和2625个检验集膜蛋白序列数据，运用统计预测中的校准检验，留一法交叉检验和独立数据集检验方法进行分类预测。结果表明，SVM对膜蛋白类型预测具有明显的优越性，该算法对当前已有方法起到重要的补充作用。     

逍遥散治疗原发性痛经的疗效评价及内分泌调节机制

原发性痛经（PD）是育龄期女性最常见的妇科疾病。以PD患者为研究对象,通过比较治疗前后女性激素水平和子宫形态学的改变,旨在明确逍遥散对PD患者内分泌水平的影响及其治疗机制。利用彩色多普勒技术测量治疗前后的子宫形态学参数,检测血清雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）等血清激素指标,疗效指标包括疼痛视觉模拟评分（VAS）和Cox痛经症状量表（CMSS）。结果显示,患者治疗后的血清E2水平、子宫前后径与内膜厚度、VAS、CMSS较治疗前显著降低,而血清P水平较治疗前显著提高,血清E2与子宫前后径之间呈正相关,血清P与内膜厚度之间呈负相关,血清P、E2与VAS、CMSS之间存在相关性;说明逍遥散对PD的疗效确切,其可通过调节E2、P水平降低PD患者的子宫前后径及内膜厚度、改善痛经症状及持续时间。