Growth hormone signal transduction

Growth hormone (GH) promotes animal growth by stimulating bone and cartilage cell proliferation, and influences carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Some of these effects are brought about indirectly via somatomedin induction in hepatocytes, others by acting directly on the target cells. In either case, GH first binds to specific receptors on cells to trigger a sequence of biochemical events culminating in a biological response. Recently much has been learnt about the molecular structure of GH receptor, its binding to ligand, and the ensuing signal transduction events.     

韭菜凝集素的纯化及部分性质的研究

用葡聚糖凝胶柱层析法从韭菜的叶片组织分离出一种对新鲜兔红细胞有强烈凝集作用的凝集素，ＰＡＧＥ鉴定和高碘酸－Ｓｃｈｉｆｆ试剂反应均显单一条带。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析表明该凝集素含有３个亚基，其相对分子质量分别约为３１０００、２４０００和２１０００。韭菜凝集素具有一定的热稳定性，在酸、碱处理中该凝集素对碱处理较酸处理稳定，氨基酸组成分析表明韭菜凝集素含有１４种氨基酸，其中半胱氨酸含量较高。     

The melatonin rhythm: both a clock and a calendar

The paper briefly reviews the data which shows that the circadian production and secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland can impart both daily, i.e., clock, and seasonal, i.e., calendar, information to the organism. The paper summarizes the 3 patterns of nocturnal melatonin production that have been described. Clearly, regardless of the pattern of nocturnal melatonin production a particular species normally displays, the duration of nightime elevated melatonin is proportional to the duration of the night length. Since daylength under natural conditions changes daily the melatonin rhythm, which adjusts to the photoperiod sends time of year information to the organism. The melatonin receptors which subserve the clock message sent by the pineal gland in the form of a melatonin cycle may reside in the biological clock itself, namely, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). The melatonin receptors that mediate seasonal changes in reproductive physiology are presumably those that are located on the pars tuberalis cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Besides these receptors which likely mediate clock and calendar information, melatonin receptors have been described in other organs. Interestingly, the distribution of melatonin receptors is highly species-specific. Whereas the clock and calendar information that the melatonin cycle imparts to the organism relies on cell membrane receptors, a fact that is of some interest considering the high lipophilicity of melatonin, recent studies indicate that other functions of melatonin may require no receptor whatsoever.     

生物活性物质—芦荟的抗炎,愈合活性

本文主要介绍具有生物活性的天然产物.文中以药用植物芦荟为例,通过具体的实验结果,阐明了它的抗炎与愈合活性及其机理.     

多巴胺能神经递质系统在癫痫发生与发展过程中的作用

在癫痫的发生与发展过程中，多巴胺（DA）受体密度及PDA可以发生改变，其变化情况因癫痫类型及不同脑区而异。不同的DA受体在癫痫发生与发展过程中发挥不同的作用，其作用也与癫痫类型等因素有关。     

中枢型尼古丁受体与阿尔茨海默病

阿尔茨海默病是一种以渐进性的认知功能障碍为主要特征的神经退行性疾病，该病最终会导致死亡，是痴呆病中最常见的一种类型。近年来研究发现中枢尼古丁受体在AD的发病中起着非常重要的作用，本文对此进行综述。     

Non-host-selective fungal phytotoxins: Biochemical aspects of their mode of action

During the last decade increasing attention has been directed towards the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the biological activity of phytotoxins. Studies on the mode of action of some non-host-selective phytotoxins, some following on from previous observations, have demonstrated a very specific interaction with particular components of the cell machinery, and have suggested the possible use of these phytotoxins as tools for the investigation of important biochemical processes. This review article reports and discusses results of studies carried out in the 1980s with seven non-host-selective fungal toxins: brefeldin A, cercosporin,Cercospora beticola toxin, fusicoccin, ophiobolins, tentoxin, and zinniol. Each of these interferes with the life of the host by interacting with a different biochemical target.     

Biogenesis of mitochondrial porin: The import pathway

Summary We review here the present knowledge about the pathway of import and assembly of porin into mitochondria and compare it to those of other mitochondrial proteins. Porin, like all outer mitochondrial membrane proteins studied so far is made as a precursor without a cleavble signal sequence; thus targeting information must reside in the mature sequence. At least part of this information appears to be located at the amino-terminal end of the molecule. Transport into mitochondria can occur post-translationally. In a first step, the porin precursor is specifically recognized on the mitochondrial surface by a protease sensitive receptor. In a second step, porin precursor inserts partially into the outer membrane. This step is mediated by a component of the import machinery common to the import pathways of precursor proteins destined for other mitochondrial subcompartments. Finally, porin is assembled to produce the functional oligomeric form of an integral membrane protein wich is characterized by its extreme protease resistance.     

海芋凝集素的理化性质鉴定

采用葡聚糖凝胶１００（ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００）从天南星科植物海芋（Ａｌｏｃａｓｉａｏｄｏｒａ（Ｒｏｘｂ）Ｃ．Ｋｏｃｈ）中分离出了一种凝集素（简称ＡＯＬ）．ＡＯＬ对兔血有较强的凝集效果,而对各类型人血的凝集活力较弱,在３种糖蛋白中,猪甲状腺球蛋白对ＡＯＬ的凝血活力抑制最强;ＡＯＬ对培养人外周血白细胞的转化率高达７９％,超过对照ＰＨＡ的转化率;用ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－２００柱测得ＡＯＬ的相对分子质量为３１５００;用癌细胞体外培养的方法证明了ＡＯＬ对肺腺癌细胞株Ｐ１８具有较强的直接杀伤能力．此外还发现ＡＯＬ对温度（８０℃以下）、变性剂（盐酸胍和脲）有较高的稳定性,在ｐＨ６～１０的范围内相当稳定．     

金属离子和变性条件对野花生豆凝集素活性和构象的影响

野花生豆凝集素在pH7．0和pH5．0缓冲体系中，用EDTA去除其金属离子，CML凝血活性下降．Ca^2 、Mg^2 、Mn^2 、Zn^2 可使去除金属离子CML活性基本恢复到天然水平，表明这些二价金属离子为CML活性所必需．研究不同温度和不同浓度盐酸胍条件下CML的圆二色谱、荧光光谱及其凝血活性的变化，结果表明CML含有较多β-折叠，具有较强的抗变性能力；脲变性的时间扫描荧光光谱证实了CML变性过程的阶段性。