Nucleosomes are assembled by an acidic protein which binds histones and transfers them to DNA

The nucleosome subunits of chromatin are assembled from histones and DNA by an acidic protein which binds histones. The nucleosome assembly protein has been identified and purified from eggs of Xenopus laevis.     

The mechanism of Z alpha 1-antitrypsin accumulation in the liver.

Most northern Europeans have only the normal M form of the plasma protease inhibitor alpha 1-antitrypsin, but some 4% are heterozygotes for the Z deficiency variant. For reasons that have not been well-understood, the Z mutation results in a blockage in the final stage of processing of antitrypsin in the liver such that in the Z homozygote only 15% of the protein is secreted into the plasma. The 85% of the alpha 1-antitrypsin that is not secreted accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocyte; much of it is degraded but the remainder aggregates to form insoluble intracellular inclusions. These inclusions are associated with hepatocellular damage, and 10% of newborn Z homozygotes develop liver disease which often leads to a fatal childhood cirrhosis. Here we demonstrate the molecular pathology underlying this accumulation and describe how the Z mutation in antitrypsin results in a unique molecular interaction between the reactive centre loop of one molecule and the gap in the A-sheet of another. This loop-sheet polymerization of Z antitrypsin occurs spontaneously at 37 degrees C and is completely blocked by the insertion of a specific peptide into the A-sheet of the antitrypsin molecule. Z antitrypsin polymerized in vitro has identical properties and ultrastructure to the inclusions isolated from hepatocytes of a Z homozygote. The concentration and temperature dependence of this loop-sheet polymerization has implications for the management of the liver disease of the newborn Z homozygote.     

半胱氨酸亚金铵的合成、理化性质及电镀金应用

以半胱氨酸为配体合成一种新型亚金配合物NH4Au(Cys)2,对该配合物进行元素分析、红外光谱、紫外光谱、热失重分析和导电性测量等理化性质研究;以该亚金配合物为金源开展相关的电镀金工艺探索,并通过四因素三水平的正交试验获得其最佳条件参数;采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X线衍射(XRD)对镀金层的表面质量进行探讨。研究结果表明:该目标产物的分子式为NH4Au(Cys)2·2H2O,该配合物中以半胱氨酸的巯基和金配位为成健特征,在170℃以下热稳定性较好,该亚金配合物是一个典型的离子化合物。在电流密度为200~300 A/m2,p H为10.5~12.0,温度为35~45℃,金质量浓度为15~25 g/L的电镀工艺条件下,得到粒度为0.5~1.0μm的单质金,且主要沿着(111)面进行生长。     

Central adrenergic neurones and the initiation and development of experimental hypertension

Zusammenfassung Zerstörung zentraler adrenerger Neurone durch Injektion von 6-Hydroxydopamin in einen Seitenventrikel verursachte bei normotonen und genetisch hypertonen Ratten lediglich eine geringe und vorübergehende Blutdrucksenkung und beeinflusste die DOCA- und renale Hypertonie überhaupt nicht. Im Gegensatz dazu verhinderte 6-Hydroxydopamin die Entwicklung der DOCA- und renalen Hypertonie, wenn es 7–10 Tage vor deren Induktion in einen Seitenventrikel injiziert wurde. Bei genetisch hypertonen Ratten, bei denen eine allmähliche Blutdrucksteigerung schon bald nach der Geburt einsetzt, unterbrach intraventrikulär injiziertes 6-Hydroxydopamin die weitere Entwicklung der Hypertonie. Die Resultate weisen auf die Bedeutung zentraler adrenerger Neurone für die Pathogenese verschiedener experimenteller Hypertonieformen hin.     

Structure of the nucleosome core particle at 7 A resolution

The crystal structure of the nucleosome core particle has been solved to 7 A resolution. The right-handed B-DNA superhelix on the outside contains several sharp bends and makes numerous interactions with the histone octamer within. The central turn of superhelix and H3 . H4 tetramer have dyad symmetry, but the H2A . H2B dimers show departures due to interparticle associations.