用酵母双杂合系统筛选与人血小板生成素受体c-Mpl相互作用的蛋白质的初报

血小板生成素（ｔｈｒｏｍ ｂｏｐｏｉｅｔｉｎ, ＴＰＯ）是调节血小板生成最主要的细胞因子,其生物学效应由其受体ｃ－Ｍｐｌ介导．利用酵母双杂合系统（ｔｗ ｏ－ｈｙｂｒｉｄ ｓｙｓｔｅｍ ）筛选与ｃ－Ｍｐｌ相互作用的蛋白质因子,以Ｇａｌ４ ＢＤ融合ｃ－Ｍｐｌ膜内部分ｃＤＮＡ 的ｐＡＳＭＭ 为靶蛋白质粒,筛选了人胎盘ｃＤＮＡ 文库,分离到人波形纤维蛋白（ｖｉｍ ｅｎｔｉｎ）的部分编码序列,首次检测到波形纤维蛋白与ＴＰＯ 受体之间的相互作用,这提示细胞骨架蛋白可能在ＴＰＯ 的信号转导过程中起着重要的作用     

Bacterial suicide through stress

Outside of the laboratory, bacterial cells are constantly exposed to stressful conditions, and an ability to resist those stresses is essential to their survival. However, the degree of stress required to bring about cell death varies with growth phase, amongst other parameters. Exponential phase cells are significantly more sensitive to stress than stationary phase ones, and a novel hypothesis has recently been advanced to explain this difference in sensitivity, the suicide response. Essentially, the suicide response predicts that rapidly growing and respiring bacterial cells will suffer growth arrest when subjected to relatively mild stresses, but their metabolism will continue: a burst of free-radical production results from this uncoupling of growth from metabolism, and it is this free-radical burst that is lethal to the cells, rather than the stress per se. The suicide response hypothesis unifies a variety of previously unrelated empirical observations, for instance induction of superoxide dismutase by heat shock, alkyl-hydroperoxide reductase by osmotic shock and catalase by ethanol shock. The suicide response also has major implications for current [food] processing methods. Received 29 March 1999; received after revision 14 May 1999; accepted 17 May 1999     

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     

The complexity of parathyroid hormone-related proteinsignalling

Our understanding of the mode of action of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has changed profoundly during the last decade. Most PTHrP activities are mediated by membrane receptors through autocrine/paracrine pathways. However, both endogenous and exogenous PTHrP also appear to have intracrine effects through translocation into the nucleus. The present review proposes unconventional PTHrP signalling, based on novel clues. First, PTHrP binding to its membrane receptor triggers internalization of the whole complex, mediated by beta-arrestin. There is growing evidence that the receptor and arrestin are the effectors of biological responses, rather than the ligand (or in addition to the ligand). Second, the existence of putative PTHrP targets within the cytoplasm is beginning to be supported. Recent findings of interactions between a COOH-terminus of PTHrP and beta-arrestin and between the PTHrP receptor and 14-3-3 proteins represent the starting point for identification of intracellular partners of both the hormone and its receptor.Received 19 June 2003; received after revision 10 July 2003; accepted 21 July 2003     

关于《兄终弟继质疑》的质疑

同世界许多民族一样,历史上壮族姓氏家族观念根深蒂固,壮族社会中长期流行“兄终弟继”或称为“夫兄弟婚”的传统婚俗。侬全福与侬夏卿是侬氏家族中的远房兄弟,侬全福被交趾王杀害后,其妻阿侬投奔于侬夏卿处,并与侬夏卿结为夫妻,其后,共同支持侬智高反抗交趾和北宋王朝。这应是不争的历史事实。     

Expression of nerve growth factor-like polypeptides and immunoreactivity related to the two types of neurotrophin receptors in earthworm tissues

Nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs by sequence homology to the neurotrophins, a family of proteins binding the same p75 receptor and closely related members of the Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Fundamental in the vertebrate nervous system, neurotrophin signals have also been suggested as essential for relatively complex nervous systems occurring in invertebrate species that live longer than Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Mammalian neurotrophins have been found to influence invertebrate neuronal growth. However, there are only a few data on the presence of molecules related to neurotrophin signalling components in invertebrates. Our studies provide evidence that analogues of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors are expressed in Eisenia foetida earthworms. In particular, NGF-like and Trk-like immunoreactive proteins are both expressed in the nervous system, whereas p75-like positivity identifies tubular structures associated with dorsal pores that are involved in the earthworm response to mechanical irritation or stress. Received 12 November 2001; received after revision 8 January 2002; accepted 8 January 2002     

Enzymes and receptors in the leukotriene cascade

Leukotrienes are a family of paracrine hormones derived from the oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid. These lipid mediators are recognized as important signal molecules in a variety of inflammatory and allergic conditions affecting the skin, joints, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems, in particular asthma. Such conditions are typified by local pain, tissue edema, hyperemia and functional losses. In the tissues, immunocompetent cells accumulate at the site of injury which contribute to tissue damage and perpetuation of the disease process. Leukotrienes can elicit most, if not all, of these signs and symptoms. Thus, leukotriene B₄ is one of the most powerful chemotactic agents known to date and participates in the recruitment of leukocytes. The cysteinyl leukotrienes, on the other hand, contract smooth muscles, particularly in the peripheral airways and microcirculation. Recently, drugs which block the formation and action of leukotrienes have been introduced as novel antiasthmatic medications. This chapter reviews the biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology of the key enzymes and cognate receptors in the leukotriene cascade.     

死亡与拯救 --《荒原》解读之一

死亡主题是《荒原》的核心和灵魂。但《荒原》描写的“死亡”是和生命熔铸在一起的,彼此无法分开的,即把人推向生与死的二元对立之中,着力表现处在生不如死的荒原中的人们对死的渴望,同时也孕育出“生的本能”,从而导致生死循环;这种死亡更和精神联系在一起,其中的“死亡”多以“力比多”的饥渴来对应,故死亡在这里只是一种仪式性死亡或象征性死亡,其目的是表现生命力的回归而实现精神复活,这样,艾略特就在描写死亡中完成了“拯救荒原”的主题。     

Neuromuscular synaptogenesis: clustering of acetylcholine receptors revisited

Clustering of neurotransmitter receptors in the postsynaptic membrane is critical for efficient synaptic transmission. During neuromuscular synaptogenesis, clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) is an early sign of postsynaptic differentiation. Recent studies have revealed that the earliest AChR clusters can form in the muscle independent of motorneurons. Neurally released agrin, acting through the muscle-specific kinase MuSK and rapsyn, then causes further clustering and localization of clusters underneath the nerve terminal. AChRs themselves are required for agrin-induced clustering of several postsynaptic proteins, most notably rapsyn. Once formed, AChR clusters are stabilized by several tyrosine kinases and by components of the dystrophin/utrophin glycoprotein complex, some of which also direct postnatal synaptic maturation such as formation of postjunctional folds. This review summarizes these recent results about AChR clustering, which indicate that early clustering can occur in the absence of nerves, that AChRs play an active role in the clustering process and that partly different mechanisms direct formation versus stabilization of AChR clusters. Received 10 April 2002; received after revision 4 June 2002; accepted 10 June 2002     

Melanocortin receptors: their functions and regulation by physiological agonists and antagonists

The melanocortins are a family of bioactive peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin, and share significant structural similarity. Those peptides are best known for their stimulatory effects on pigmentation and steroidogenesis. Melanocortins are synthesized in various sites in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues, and participate in regulating multiple physiological functions. Research during the past decade has provided evidence that melanocortins elicit their diverse biological effects by binding to a distinct family of G protein-coupled receptors with seven transmembrane domains. To date, five melanocortin receptor genes have been cloned and characterized. Those receptors differ in their tissue distribution and in their ability to recognize the various melanocortins and the physiological antagonists, agouti signaling protein and agouti-related protein. These advances have opened new horizons for exploring the significance of melanocortins, their antagonists, and their receptors in a variety of important physiological functions. Received 5 October 2000; accepted 10 November 2000