Binding of estradiol to synaptosomal mitochondria: physiological significance

The subsynaptosomal distribution and specific binding of 17beta-estradiol in vitro to mitochondria isolated from presynaptic nerve endings of female rat brain were examined. 17Beta-estradiol is (i) distributed unequally in synaptosomes and mitochondria posses the highest capacity to bind estradiol with respect to the available amount of the hormone. (ii) Estradiol binds specifically to isolated synaptosomal mitochondria. A Michaelis-Menten plot of specific binding was sigmoidal within a concentration range of 0.1-5 nM of added estradiol, with a saturation plateau at 3 nM. Binding of higher estradiol concentrations demonstrated an exponential Michaelis-Menten plot, indicating non-specific binding to mitochondria. Vmax and Km for the sigmoidal-shape range were estimated as 46 +/- 6 fmol of estradiol/mg of mitochondrial proteins and 0.46 +/- 0.07 nM free estradiol respectively. (iii) Estradiol binding is not affected by the removal of ovaries. The results show that inhibition of Na-dependent Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria by estradiol occurs according to an affinity change of the translocator for Na+, at the same estradiol concentrations that show specific binding to mitochondrial membranes. These data imply that physiological concentrations of estradiol, acting on mitochondrial membrane properties, extragenomically modulate the mitochondrial, and consequently the synaptosomal content of Ca2+, and in that way exert a significant change in nerve cell homeostasis.     

Changes in calpastatin localization and expression during calpain activation: a new mechanism for the regulation of intracellular Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-dependent proteolysis

The amount of calpastatin directly available in cytosol is under the control of [Ca²⁺] and [cyclic AMP]. Prolonged calpain activation also promotes degradation of calpastatin. The fluctuation of calpastatin concentration in cell soluble fraction is accompanied by an initial decrease in calpastatin gene expression, followed by a fivefold increase in its expression when the inhibitor protein is degraded. This process can be conceptualized as a mechanism to regulate calpastatin availability in the cell. This conclusion is supported by the fact that calpain, the other component of this proteolytic system, undergoes changes in its levels of expression in a much more limited manner. Furthermore, this process can be observed both in cells exposed to different natural stimuli, or in other cell lines. Modification of calpastatin gene expression might represent a new tool for the in vivo control of the regulatory machinery required for the modulation of Ca²⁺-dependent proteolysis.Received 18 July 2003; received after revision 3 September 2003; accepted 23 September 2003     

Cardiac protective role of a novel erythrocyte-derived depressing factor on rats and its Ca^2＋ mechanism

The cardiac protective role of a novel erythro-cyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF) on spontaneous hy-pertensive rats (SHR), calcium overload (CaO) rats and Wistar rats and its mechanism was evaluated. Mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and LVdp/dtmax were measured by physiological recorder. The effect of EDDF on the Ca2+-ATPase activity in myocardial sarcoplasmic reticu-lum (SR) of CaO rats was determined by inorganic phos-phate assay. Calcium transport in myocytes was measured by 45Ca2+ radioactive isotope measurement. The phosphoryla-tion levels of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in myocardial tissue of SHR and CaO rats were measured by Western blot method. And the ultrastructures of cardiac muscle cells were observed with the transmission electron microscope. The results indicated that EDDF could significantly decrease MAP, HR and LVdp/dtmax in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). It seems that the mechanism might relate with activating the Ca2+-APTase, enhancing the uptake and release of Ca2+ from SR (P < 0.05), decreasing the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 of myocytes (P < 0.01) and lightening the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells. In CaO rats, the Ca2+-ATPase activity decreased clearly com-pared to control (64.99 7.16 vs 94.48 7.68 nmol·min-1 ·mg-1 protein, P < 0.01), while EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly increase the activity (87.93 ?9.54 vs 64.99 ?7.16, P < 0.05, n = 7). Both uptake and release rate of Ca2+ (祄ol 45Ca2+/g protein/min) from myocardial SR of CaO rats re-markably decreased compared to control (32.40 ?2.70 and 15.46 ?1.49 vs 61.09 ?10.89 and 25.47 ?4.29, P < 0.05); EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly stimulate their activi-ties (50.48 6.76 and 21.76 2.75 vs 32.40 2.70 and 15.46 1.49, P < 0.05). EDDF could evidently down-regulate the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in myocardial tissue from SHR and CaO rats (P < 0.01), lighten the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells of SHR as well. It is concluded that EDDF seems to play protective roles on both structure and function of heart, which closely related with amelioration of Ca2+ transport and inhibition of Ca2+-MAP kinase pathway.     

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.     

TCE的物理化学特性及其生物降解作用

以加拿大一厂址区碳酸盐岩水是中地下受到三氯惭烯（ＴＣＥ）化合物的污染作为实例,对ＴＣＥ的物理化学特性及其降解作用进行论述,指出ＴＣＥ污染物的生物降解作用的存在的,但是不完全,因此,当ＴＣＥ污染物深度明显超标时,仍应考虑采取去除污染措施。     

共沉淀法制备的铁酸锌纳米材料的晶化与晶粒生长行为

采用共沉淀法合成了纳米铁酸锌粉体,并对所制粉体在100~1000℃不同温度下进行热处理,用TEM、XRD等手段对所制备的纳米铁酸锌晶体进行了表征,并对纳米铁酸锌晶体的晶粒生长进行了探讨.结果表明,具有尖晶石结构的铁酸锌纳米晶在共沉淀反应时就已形成,但晶粒的尺寸较小;随着热处理温度的进一步升高,晶粒迅速长大,粒径的尺寸分布在5~30 nm;当热处理温度升至1000℃左右时,晶粒尺寸已达微米数量级.对照TEM和XRD测量结果,表明所制备的铁酸锌纳米粉颗粒为单晶颗粒.     

固定化优势菌降解2，6-二叔丁基酚的研究

用前期研究中获得的2,6-二叔丁基酚(简2,6-DTBP)降解菌(Aeromonas sp.),进行了对2,6-二叔丁基酚的降解性能等研究。结果表明菌株经固定化包埋后,降解底物2,6-DTBP的能力大大提高。在100.0mg/L的初始浓度下其降解率在十二天可达到81%。通过对固定化菌株的降解反应过程的动力学分析,其对底物的降解反应符合一级动力学特征,当2,6-DTBP初始浓度为100mg/L时,固定化菌种其动力学常数为0.1232,半衰期为5.63day。扫描电镜观察到菌种在海藻酸钙包埋载体中能良好地生长和繁殖。     

Discussion of gas enrichment mechanism and natural gas origin in marine sedimentary basin,China

There are abundant natural gas resources in Chinese marine sedimentary basin. The exploration hot shots of natural gas are the Palaeozoic marine strata here in recent years, and several large scale gas fields have been discovered. Chinese Palaeozoic high-post matured and coal measure hydrocarbon source rocks are mainly prone to gas generation in the present. This research considered that gas source rocks and TSR are the key cause of gas enrichment of marine strata. High-quality argillaceous and coal measure hydrocarbon rocks are distributed widely in the Palaeozoic marine strata, which have been in highly matured phase in the present. The argillaceous source rock generally contains various sulfates that could accelerate crude oil cracking to gas for TSR occurrence, and coal measure source rock mainly generates gas, so Chinese marine basin gives priority to accumulating gas. Marine strata have not founded oil reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin and Ordos Basin, and they consist mainly of dry gas. Marine natural gases are the mixed gases of oil cracking gas and coal-formed gas in a general way, oil cracking gases contain usually some H2S and CO2. Hydrocarbon carbon isotopes are very complicated, and methane and ethane isotopic values bear apparent reversal caused by thermal evolution and mixing among different genetic types of natural gas. Coal-formed gases are the main component of Chinese marine natural gas. The Upper Permian of the Sichuan Basin and the Carboniferous-Permian of the Ordos Basin coal measure hydrocarbon source rock present large hydrocarbon generation potential, which are the prospecting highlight of marine natural gas hereafter. Oil cracking gas exploration will be paid much attention to in the Tarim Basin because of the lack of coal measure hydrocarbon source rock.     

The controlling factors and distribution prediction of H_2S formation in marine carbonate gas reservoir,China

Generally, there are some anhydrites in carbonate reservoir, as H2S is also familiar in carbonate oil and gas reservoirs. Nowadays, natural gas with high H2S concentration is usually considered as TSR origin, so there is close relationship between H2S and anhydrite. On the contrary, some carbonate rocks with anhydrite do not contain H2S. Recently, researches show that H2S is only a necessary condition of H2S formation. The reservoir porosity, sulfate ion content within formation water, reservoir temperature, oil/gas and water interface, hydrocarbon and some elements of reservoir rock have great controlling effects on the TSR occurrence. TSR deoxidizes hydrocarbon into the acidic gas such as H2S and CO2, and the H2S formation is controlled by TSR occurrence, so the relationship among reaction room, the contact chance of sulfate ion and hydrocarbon, the reservoir temperature has great influence on the TSR reaction. H2S has relatively active chemical quality, so it is still controlled by the content of heavy metal ion. Good conditions of TSR reaction and H2S preservation are the prerequisite of H2S distribution prediction. This paper builds a predictive model based on the characteristic of natural gas reservoir with high H2S-bearing. In the porosity reservoir with anhydrite, the formation water is rich in sulfate and poor in heavy metal ion. Oil and gas fill and accumulate in the gas reservoir with good preservation conditions, and they suffered high temperature later, which indicates the profitable area of natural gas with high H2S-bearing.     

标准态下碳酸二甲酯合成体系热力学分析

 用Benson基团贡献法计算了碳酸二甲酯(DMC)的热力学数据标准摩尔生成焓Δ_fH_m^θ、标准摩尔生成吉布斯自由能Δ_fH_m^θ和等压摩尔热容C_p,m;在标准态下,300~1 000 K温度范围内对比了甲醇或二甲醚(DME)氧化羰化合成DMC,甲醇或DME与CO₂直接合成DMC,由合成气合成DMC,DME,甲醛或甲醇这些反应的焓变Δ_fH_m^θ、吉布斯自由能变Δ_fH_m^θ和平衡常数lnK^θ.计算结果表明:在讨论的条件范围内,由DME氧化羰化合成DMC是热力学上可自发进行的反应,但DME和CO₂反应合成DMC与甲醇和CO₂反应合成DMC,均不能自发进行(需要通过耦合等方式来改变反应途径或重构反应体系,该反应才有可能进行).此计算将为合成DMC的反应路线设计以及新催化剂体系的探索提供热力学依据.