Biological role of major transplantation antigens in T cell self-recognition

Summary The proposal is made, illustrated and supported by experimental evidence that T cell-mediated immunopathology triggered initially by low- or non-cytopathic infectious agents may cause diseases, susceptibility to which is linked to the major histocompatibility gene complex.This summary is an updated version of the paper given on the occasion of the Paul Ehrlich Prize ceremonies in 1983; it was also presented at the meeting New Trends in Allergy II in München 1985, and is reproduced here with the permission of Springer Verlag, Heidelberg.     

Morphological,biochemical and molecular changes during ectomycorrhiza development

Summary An ectomycorrhiza, a specialized root organ, is the result of a complex interaction leading to a finely-tuned symbiosis between a plant and a compatible ectomycorrhizal fungus. Ultrastructural observations combined with cytochemical and biochemical studies reveal that structural and metabolic changes in the symbiont cells lead to the final phenotype of the active ectomycorrhiza. In the present review these changes are interpreted as changes in gene expression and discussed within the context of ectomycorrhiza development. Recent genetic data indicate that the continued vegetative growth of the ectomycorrhizal hyphae and the root tissues, and their ability to switch to symbiotic organ formation, is basically controlled by developmentally critical genes. The activity of these symbiotic genes during the differentiation of ectomycorrhizas is associated with extensive changes in the concentration of particular polypeptides and protein biosynthesis. The present state of knowledge about the developmental biology of ectomycorrhizas allows only speculation about the events during their development.Puisant mes forces aux sources des galaxies En buvant la sève des arbres M. Jonasz     

Gigantecin: A novel antimitotic and cytotoxic acetogenin,with nonadjacent tetrahydrofuran rings,fromGoniothalamus giganteus (Annonaceae)

Summary Gigantecin (I), a novel tetrahydroxy-di-tetrahydrofuran fatty acid -lactone (acetogenin), was isolated from an ethanolic extract of the stem bark ofGoniothalamus giganteus Hook. f., Thomas (Annonaceae), by means of activity-directed fractionation (brine shrimp lethality test). This new compound is extremely cytotoxic to human tumor cells, inhibits crown gall tumors on potato discs, and is active in an assay designed to detect antimitotic agents (9 ASK).     

满江红鱼腥藻glnA基因上游调控区的克隆及其序列分析

以满江红鱼腥藻（Ａａｃ）提取总ＤＮＡ为模板,通过ＰＣＲ技术,扩增得到其谷氨酰胺合成酶基因（ｇｌｎＡ）上游区．经酶切得到４０９ｂｐ的片段,并将其连接到ｐＢｌｕｅｓｃｒｉｐｔⅡｋｓ＋上测序．将测序结果与Ａｎａｂａｅｎａ７１２０调控序列比较,有９８２％的同源性．在上游调控中也具有ｎｉｆｌｉｋｅ和Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉｌｉｋｅ启动子,值得注意的是,调节蛋白ＶＦ１的结合位点正好位于ｎｉｆｌｉｋｅ启动子上．所克隆的片段不但对蓝藻固氮、泌氨的基因调控研究具有意义,也对表达载体的构建具有实用价值．     

脂多糖—被动血凝试验早期诊断伤寒的价值

为评估脂多糖－被动血凝试验（ＬＰＳ－ＰＨＡ）早期诊断伤寒的应用价值,对病程不同的１０２例伤寒患者用ＬＰＳ－ＰＨＡ、肥达反应和细菌培养进行检测,２００例非伤寒发热患者作为对照。结果显示：伤寒患者病程第一周ＬＰＳ－ＰＨＡ阳性率为８０％（２４／３０）,第二周达９７７３％（４３／４４）;细菌培养阳性率２４５１％;肥达反应的伤寒与副伤寒鞭毛抗体交叉阳性率达３７２５％;对照组ＬＰＳ－ＰＨＡ有２％的假阳性。结果表明：ＬＰＳ－ＰＨＡ可早期、简便及快速诊断伤寒,有较高的敏感性和特异性。     

Cloning, construction of prokaryotic expression vector and expression ofEscherichia coli cytosine deaminase gene

Cytosine deaminase gene ofEscherichia coli strain H-30 was cloned, and its initiation codon of ‘GTG’ was mutated to ‘ATG’ by PCR. Prokaryotic recombinant expression vector pBV220-CD was constructed. Clone with high enzyme activity were selected by detecting their specific activity of cytosine deaminase. 5-FC(5-FC, 5-fluorocytosine) could induce the lethal toxicity to cells containing active CD gene. DNA sequence analysis indicated that there were 16 altered bases and 5 of them resulted in the alteration of amino acids in predicted peptide by comparing DNA sequence of the clone H-30-CD-11 with high enzyme activity with CD gene reported in Gene Bank.     

Research advances in gene therapy for Parkinson's disease

During the long period of time when people have been seeking for an effective therapeutic method for PD, the gene therapy has shown greater and greater advantages over other methods. It can be performed mainly in two ways: ex vivo and in vivo. With the former, TH gene as well as some neurotrophic factor genes (such as GDNF, BNDF genes) can be invited to some cell lines or primary cells thus forming engineered cells and then implanting them into brain. While with the latter, viral vectors including HSV-1, Ad, AAV that can be utilized to construct recombinant viruses, or non-virus vectors can be used to delived DNA into brain directly. The present review summarizes the recent research advances in the gene therapy for PD, and it is reasonable for us to predict a notable progress in prevention and treatment for PD in the next decade.     

Neuropeptide Y receptors in a protozoaStylonychia mytilus

Radio ligand binding assays(RLBA) were used to study neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors in a protozoa Stylonychia mytilus. The experimental results showed that 2-3×10+3/mL Stylonychia cells incubated in Pringsheim solution which contained 3H-NPY could specifically bind 3H-NPY and concomitantly present saturable characteristic. This suggested that Stylonychia possessed some specific binding sites for NPY. Scatchard transformations of binding assay for the NPY receptors at 25℃ are compatible with the specific activity of 42.47 fmol/10+3 cells and the binding equilibrium constant of 0.113 nmol/L. The data of 125I-NPY binding assay to the membrane protein extract of Stylonychia indicated that there was a significant difference between the amount of total bound and nonspecific bound of 125I-NPY. This result indicated that NPY receptors were probably localized mainly on the cell membrane.     

Cloning and expression of the vp39 gene ofBombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus inE. coli

The nuclear capsid protein gene (vp39) ofBombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) was amplified successfully by PCR technique and inserted into pGEM 3zf(+). The 5′ and 3′ terminal area of the amplified vp39 gene were sequenced with silver-staining dideoxy method. Bmvp39 gene was sub-cloned into the expression vector pRSET-A, and transformed intoE. coli BL21. This gene was highly expressed by IPTG induction. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the expressed protein is about 38 kd, and the expressed amount reached maxium in 4 h with IPTG induction. Supported by the National Natural science Foundation of China and the Doctoral Foundation of Edn carto Committee Liu Deli: born in 1954, Doctoral Candidate from Huazhong Normal University To whom correspondence should be addressed: (027-7882712-2938)