Butyrate-induced reactivation of the fetal globin genes: A molecular treatment for theβ-hemoglobinophaties

The inherited -hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell disease and thalassemia) are the result of a mutation in the adult () globin gene. The fetal globin chain, encoded by the globin genes, can substitute for the mutated or defective globin chain, but expression of the globin gene is developmentally inactivated prior to birth. Reinducing expression of the normal fetal globin genes is a preferred method of ameliorating sickle cell disease and the thalassemias. Stimulation of as little as 4–8% fetal globin synthesis in the bone marrow can produce >20% fetal hemoglobin in the peripheral circulation, due to enhanced survival of red blood cells containing both sickle and fetal hemoglobin, compared to those containing sickle hemoglobin alone. Butyric acid and butyrate derivatives are generally safe compounds which induce fetal hemoglobin production by stimulating the promoter of the fetal globin genes. An initial trial with the parent compound, delivered as Arginine Butyrate, has demonstrated rapid stimulation of fetal globin expression to levels that have been shown to ameliorate these conditions. Phase 1 trials of an oral butyrate derivative with a long plasma half-life have just begun. These agents now provide a specific new apporach for ameliorating these classic molecular disorders and merit further investigation in larger patient populations.     

A simple method for in vivo testing of glandular enzymatic activity on potential precursors of larval defensive compounds inPhratora species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelinae)

The presence of glandular -glucosidase and oxidase-specific activities, and the possible role of phenolglucosides and related compounds as precursors for larval defensive compounds, were directly demonstrated by introducing salicin, saligenin and helicin into the defensive glands ofPhratora species.Ph. tibialis andPh. laticollis that normally secrete endogenously-produced iridoid monoterpenes and do not use phenolglucosides from their food sources as precursors, were able to produce salicyladehyde from helicin when the latter was introduced into the defensive glands.     

Tissue-specific induction of intestinal glutathione S-transferases by αβ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Summary Glutathione S-transferase activity in rat intestinal mucosa was increased by the injection of -unsaturated carbonyl compounds such as phorone and diethylmaleate, but that in the liver and kidney was not. Since the administration of cycloheximide completely blocked the increase of the enzyme activity by phorone, the increase of the activity may be due to de novo synthesis rather than enzyme activation.     

Characterization of the third component of pig complement and its utilization in a C3b receptor study

Summary The third component of the pig complement system (C3) was isolated in hemolytically active form and characterized. The C3 component is a -globulin with the molecular weight of 191,000 and is composed of 2 non-identical polypeptide chains of M_t 112,000 and 74,000. The isolated C3 can be used for the detection of the C3b receptor on the membranes of heterologous peritoneal macrophages.     

Bacterial phytotoxins: Mechanisms of action

Many species of phytopathogenic procaryotes produce toxins that appear to function in disease development. The affect the plant in different ways, the end result of which is the elicitation of chlorosis, necrosis, watersoaking, growth abnormalities or wilting. The most extensively studied toxins cause chlorosis. They specifically inhibit diverse enzymes, all critical to the plant cell. This inhibition results in a complex series of metabolic dysfunctions ultimately resulting in symptom expression. Substances causing growth abnormalities consist of known phytohormones and other compounds with plant hormone-like activities, but which have no structural relationship to the known hormones. The former act in the usual manner but, because of their elevated levels and imbalances, the host's regulatory mechanisms are overwhelmed and abnormal growth results (hyperplasia, shoot or root formation); the mechanisms of action of the latter group are unknown. High molecular weight, carbohydrate-containing substances, also acting in unknown ways, cause tissue watersoaking or wilting. Likewise, we know little about toxins causing necrosis except for syringomycin which affects ion transport across the plasmalemma.     

抗生素生物合成基因簇克隆方法

抗生素生物合成基因簇的克隆是药物创新和产量提高的必要前提,PCR技术、基因文库的构建及标记探针的筛选、异源宿主的表达和染色体步查等方法, 常用于抗生素生物合成基因簇的克隆.载体系统及生物信息学的发展对基因克隆产生了重大影响.     

水溶性低分子质量壳聚糖致鼠脱毛的毒理性研究

通过对水溶性低分子质量壳聚糖致鼠脱毛的毒理性研究，评价低分子质量壳聚糖的潜在毒性．实验包括致小鼠脱毛观察、生理指标检测、组织切片等结果表明，水溶性低分子质量壳聚糖致鼠脱毛与肾毒性相关．     

微孔-大孔双孔结构β沸石材料的构筑规律

以聚苯乙烯小球（PS）为模板，纳米沸石为基元构件，采用受限空间和吸附沉降自组装法，在密堆积的聚苯乙烯小球间隙里组装纳米β沸石，高温焙烧除去PS模板后得到具有微孔－大孔双孔结构的β沸石多级孔材料。并考察了几何因素、化学因素以及浓度因素在受限空间自组装法中对制备规整有序大孔材料的影响。     

平滑l0范数约束的β NMF及其在聚类中的应用

针对基因表达数据噪声大、冗余性较高,传统的NMF算法在基因表达数据聚类中的低效性问题,提出了一种平滑的l_0范数约束的β散度的矩阵分解与K-means相结合的聚类算法,应用到基因表达数据当中;将平滑的l_0范数约束引入到基于β散度的矩阵分解的目标函数中,从而提取有用特征信息用于聚类;最后通过实验比较,改进的算法平均聚类精度达到70%,比传统的NMF聚类算法精度提高了11%,聚类效果相较其他方法显著。     

中国股票市场随机贝塔的估计

通过使用贝叶斯方法,在中国股票市场估计了Jostova与Philipov的SBETA模型.该模型假设投资组合的贝塔系数变化满足一个均值回归随机过程.通过使用马尔科夫链蒙特卡罗算法对中国股票市场部分行业及部分股票2000-06～2005-05的贝塔系数进行估计,发现中国股票市场投资组合的贝塔系数存在随机波动的现象,但是贝塔系数在发生改变以后,会立刻回到长期均值的水平.中国股票市场中股票的贝塔系数可以表示成为一个贝塔系数的长期均值加上一个随机"噪声"的形式.贝塔系数的长期均值可以作为对未来贝塔系数的预测.