Organization of intracellular reactions with rationally designed RNA assemblies

The rules of nucleic acid base-pairing have been used to construct nanoscale architectures and organize biomolecules, but little has been done to apply this technology in vivo. We designed and assembled multidimensional RNA structures and used them as scaffolds for the spatial organization of bacterial metabolism. Engineered RNA modules were assembled into discrete, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional scaffolds with distinct protein-docking sites and used to control the spatial organization of a hydrogen-producing pathway. We increased hydrogen output as a function of scaffold architecture. Rationally designed RNA assemblies can thus be used to construct functional architectures in vivo.     

Stable, monomeric variants of lambda Cro obtained by insertion of a designed beta-hairpin sequence

lambda Cro is a dimeric DNA binding protein. Random mutagenesis and a selection for Cro activity have been used to identify the contacts between Cro subunits that are crucial for maintenance of a stably folded structure. To obtain equivalent contacts in a monomeric system, a Cro variant was designed and constructed in which the antiparallel beta-ribbon that forms the dimer interface was replaced by a beta-hairpin. The engineered monomer has a folded structure similar to wild type, is significantly more stable than wild type, and exhibits novel half-operator binding activity.     

A domain in TNF receptors that mediates ligand-independent receptor assembly and signaling

A conserved domain in the extracellular region of the 60- and 80-kilodalton tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) was identified that mediates specific ligand-independent assembly of receptor trimers. This pre-ligand-binding assembly domain (PLAD) is physically distinct from the domain that forms the major contacts with ligand, but is necessary and sufficient for the assembly of TNFR complexes that bind TNF-alpha and mediate signaling. Other members of the TNFR superfamily, including TRAIL receptor 1 and CD40, show similar homotypic association. Thus, TNFRs and related receptors appear to function as preformed complexes rather than as individual receptor subunits that oligomerize after ligand binding.     

16-month-olds rationally infer causes of failed actions

Sixteen-month-old infants (N = 83) rationally used sparse data about the distribution of outcomes among agents and objects to solve a fundamental inference problem: deciding whether event outcomes are due to themselves or the world. When infants experienced failed outcomes, their causal attributions affected whether they sought help or explored.     

茶多酚钝化大豆胰蛋白酶抑制因子(STI)的研究

探索钝化豆类中胰蛋白酶抑制因子(STI)的生物抑制方法.通过测定胰蛋白酶活性来间接反映大豆STI的活性.在探明STI对胰蛋白酶抑制效果的基础上,进行了茶多酚(TP)在不同浓度、pH值、温度和时间条件下对鲜豆奶中的STI及STI标准品(KSTI及BBI)的钝化效果.结果表明:鲜豆奶中的STI和STI标准品均对胰蛋白酶活性具有很强的抑制作用;当鲜豆奶试液、KSTI及BBI的添加浓度分别为0.5 mg/ml、28.0 μg/ml和21.0 μg/ml时,对胰蛋白酶活性的抑制程度最大,抑制率分别为86.67%、100.00%和97.94%;当TP试液与鲜豆奶试液的比例为1:2(体积比)时,TP对STI的钝化效果最好,抑制率为52.30%;当TP:KSTI为25:1(质量比)、作用温度45 ℃、pH4.5、作用时间90 min时,TP对KSTI的抑制率达83.15%;当TP :BBI为20:1(质量比)、作用温度40 ℃、pH4.5、作用时间60 min,TP对BBI的抑制率达76.58%.     

差示扫描量热法在稗草种子灭活中的应用

[目的]为了减少热除草设备的能耗、提高工作效率,研究稗草种子灭活的升温速率和最高温度。[方法]采用差示扫描量热法(DSC),研究了升温速率和最高温度对稗草种子玻璃化转变的影响。同时,对加热后的种子进行发芽率试验。[结果]升温速率是影响稗草种子玻璃化转变的重要因素。升温速率为5 K/min时,玻璃化转变不明显;升温速率为20 K/min时,玻璃化转变明显,玻璃化温度为75.9℃;升温速率增加到25 K/min时,玻璃化转变滞后,玻璃化转变温度为80.2℃。对加热后的种子进行发芽率试验,发现玻璃化转变是种子退化的重要原因。升温速率为5 K/min、最高温度为91℃时,稗草种子的发芽率为57%。而当升温速率达到20 K/min、最高温度为91℃时,种子全部丧失活性。[结论]影响杂草种子灭活的升温速率和最高温度,对于热除草设备的设计和田间作业参数设置具有重要的参考意义。     

Shared actions of endotoxin and taxol on TNF receptors and TNF release

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exerts profound effects on mammalian hosts in part by inducing macrophages to release tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha); the mechanisms involved are unresolved. The microtubule stabilizer taxol shared two actions of LPS on macrophages: it rapidly decreased TNF-alpha receptors and triggered TNF-alpha release. Both actions of taxol were absent in LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice. In recombinant inbred mice, the genes controlling responses to LPS and to taxol were closely linked. Dexamethasone blocked release of TNF-alpha by both stimuli but did not block the decrease in TNF-alpha receptors. Thus, a protein associated with microtubules may be a cellular target of LPS.     

Inactivation of Antinutritive Factors in Soya Bean by Proteolytic Enzymes

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Inactivation of Penicillins G and K by Liver and Kidney

The inactivation of penicillin K is more rapid in the renal-ligated rabbit than in the renal-ligated, eviscerate preparation. Inactivation of penicillin K occurs in the presence of surviving liver and kidney slices. Small amounts of penicillin G were inactivated by liver slices; larger amounts disappeared in the presence of kidney slices. The inactivation of penicillin K in the presence of rabbit liver and kidney slices is demonstrable anaerobically as well as aerobically.     

等离子体对玉米优势腐败菌黄曲霉灭活作用的研究

以玉米优势腐败菌黄曲霉为试验对象,采用低温等离子体技术对污染黄曲霉菌的玉米籽粒进行处理,研究不同等离子体处理功率、处理时间和真空度对黄曲霉杀菌效果的影响.结果表明,杀菌最佳工艺为:等离子体处理功率447W、等离子体处理时间160s、真空度80Pa;在此条件下,等离子体对黄曲霉的杀菌率为85.42％.     

Inactivation of horizontal cells in turtle retina by glutamate and aspartate

Glutamate and aspartate completely suppress the activity of horizontal cells but only partially affect the response of receptor cells to light. The changes observed in the receptor responses are consistent with the interruption of a synaptically mediated process rather than with a direct action on the receptor membrane.     

Structure of a 16-nm cage designed by using protein oligomers

Designing protein molecules that will assemble into various kinds of ordered materials represents an important challenge in nanotechnology. We report the crystal structure of a 12-subunit protein cage that self-assembles by design to form a tetrahedral structure roughly 16 nanometers in diameter. The strategy of fusing together oligomeric protein domains can be generalized to produce other kinds of cages or extended materials.     

高压脉冲电场对微生物的致死动力学模型

通过建立微生物存活率与脉冲电场强度的数学模型,电场强度从2.5 kV/cm到20 kV/cm,获得青霉的临界电场强度Ec=2.02kV/cm>大肠杆菌Ec=1.80kV/cm>酵母菌Ec=0.339 kV/cm;而且比较模型的回归系数k,青霉的k值是最小的,酵母菌的k值是最大的,说明酵母菌对电场最敏感,而青霉菌对电场耐受力最强.