Rab1 recruitment of p115 into a cis-SNARE complex: programming budding COPII vesicles for fusion

The guanosine triphosphatase Rab1 regulates the transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus through interaction with effector molecules, but the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are unknown. Here, the tethering factor p115 was shown to be a Rab1 effector that binds directly to activated Rab1. Rab1 recruited p115 to coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles during budding from the endoplasmic reticulum, where it interacted with a select set of COPII vesicle-associated SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) to form a cis-SNARE complex that promotes targeting to the Golgi apparatus. We propose that Rab1-regulated assembly of functional effector-SNARE complexes defines a conserved molecular mechanism to coordinate recognition between subcellular compartments.     

Uptake of glutamate into synaptic vesicles by an inorganic phosphate transporter

Previous work has identified two families of proteins that transport classical neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles, but the protein responsible for vesicular transport of the principal excitatory transmitter glutamate has remained unknown. We demonstrate that a protein that is unrelated to any known neurotransmitter transporters and that was previously suggested to mediate the Na(+)-dependent uptake of inorganic phosphate across the plasma membrane transports glutamate into synaptic vesicles. In addition, we show that this vesicular glutamate transporter, VGLUT1, exhibits a conductance for chloride that is blocked by glutamate.     

超高产橡胶芽接树的光合特性

用LI-6400测定了超高产橡胶芽接树PB86茎干(接穗)割面涂乙烯利刺激剂后的叶片光合参数.结果表明,普通芽接树和超高产橡胶芽接树叶片净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)均具有随着光照强度增加而增大,胞间CO2浓度(C i)则随之下降的趋势;超高产橡胶芽接树叶片的Pn、Gs、Tr和C i均大于普通芽接树,且有随光照强度增强差异增大的趋势.超高产橡胶芽接树光饱和点(LSP)与普通芽接树有显著差异.以上表明,在乙烯利刺激下,超高产橡胶芽接树能充分利用有效辐射.     

Role of LBPA and Alix in multivesicular liposome formation and endosome organization

What are the components that control the assembly of subcellular organelles in eukaryotic cells? Although membranes can clearly be distorted by cytosolic factors, very little is known about the intrinsic mechanisms that control the biogenesis, shape, and organization of organellar membranes. Here, we found that the unconventional phospholipid lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) could induce the formation of multivesicular liposomes that resembled the multivesicular endosomes that exist where this lipid is found in vivo. This process depended on the same pH gradient that exists across endosome membranes in vivo and was selectively controlled by Alix. In turn, Alix regulated the organization of LBPA-containing endosomes in vivo.     

Protein uptake in multivesicular bodies in the molt-intermolt cycle of an insect

Plant peroxidase injected into the hemocoel is taken up in granules by almost all tissues. These granules may become multivesicular bodies or isolation bodies which later breakdown. There is most uptake and breakdown at times in the molt-intermolt cycle when cells are engaged in active syntheses.     

Methylation increases sodium transport into A6 apical membrane vesicles: possible mode of aldosterone action

When isolated apical membrane vesicles prepared from cultured A6 epithelia were incubated in vitro with the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, the control rate of amiloride-inhibitable sodium transport was doubled. The methylation inhibitors 3-deazaadenosine and S-adenosyl homocysteine returned the S-adenosyl-methionine-stimulated sodium transport to control levels. Neither these agents nor adenosine affected sodium transport into control vesicles. In vesicles incubated with S-adenosyl-[3H-methyl]methionine, both membrane phospholipids and proteins were labeled, and this labeling was inhibited by deazaadenosine. In vesicles prepared from A6 cells treated with aldosterone, sodium transport was twice the control value and S-adenosylmethionine did not cause any further stimulation of transport. In those vesicles, both lipid and protein methylation were increased. These results suggest that methylation, which increases the rate of amiloride-sensitive sodium transport is involved in the action of aldosterone at the apical membrane level in epithelia.     

Dynamics of replication-independent histone turnover in budding yeast

Chromatin plays roles in processes governed by different time scales. To assay the dynamic behavior of chromatin in living cells, we used genomic tiling arrays to measure histone H3 turnover in G1-arrested Saccharomyces cerevisiae at single-nucleosome resolution over 4% of the genome, and at lower (approximately 265 base pair) resolution over the entire genome. We find that nucleosomes at promoters are replaced more rapidly than at coding regions and that replacement rates over coding regions correlate with polymerase density. In addition, rapid histone turnover is found at known chromatin boundary elements. These results suggest that rapid histone turnover serves to functionally separate chromatin domains and prevent spread of histone states.     

Genetic dissection of transcriptional regulation in budding yeast

To begin to understand the genetic architecture of natural variation in gene expression, we carried out genetic linkage analysis of genomewide expression patterns in a cross between a laboratory strain and a wild strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Over 1500 genes were differentially expressed between the parent strains. Expression levels of 570 genes were linked to one or more different loci, with most expression levels showing complex inheritance patterns. The loci detected by linkage fell largely into two categories: cis-acting modulators of single genes and trans-acting modulators of many genes. We found eight such trans-acting loci, each affecting the expression of a group of 7 to 94 genes of related function.     

Brain evolution triggers increased diversification of electric fishes

Communication can contribute to the evolution of biodiversity by promoting speciation and reinforcing reproductive isolation between existing species. The evolution of species-specific signals depends on the ability of individuals to detect signal variation, which in turn relies on the capability of the brain to process signal information. Here, we show that evolutionary change in a region of the brain devoted to the analysis of communication signals in mormyrid electric fishes improved detection of subtle signal variation and resulted in enhanced rates of signal evolution and species diversification. These results show that neural innovations can drive the diversification of signals and promote speciation.     

优质速生蔬菜——芽菜的生产技术研究

凡利用作物的种子在遮光或不遮光的条件下，发芽培育成幼嫩芽苗蔬菜，简称芽菜。芽菜根据其所利用的营养源，又可分种籽芽菜和体芽菜。前者主要指利用种子中贮藏的养分直接培育成幼嫩的芽或芽苗，后者多指枝条、根茎、直根中积累的养分转移而培育成嫩芽。芽菜幼嫩多汁、风味独特、营养丰富、清洁卫生、无污染易达到绿色食品的标准，而被消费者青睐。除此之外，多数芽菜具有祛病健身的功能。     

苹果育苗中两种芽接方法的应用试验

通过对“丁字形”芽接法与带木质切腹嵌芽接法的对比试验,结合各类田间观察数据的统计分析,可以看出,在接穗与砧木都离皮的期间,用“丁字形”芽接法成活率高;砧木苗相对较细小,接穗或砧木任一有不离皮现象时,用带木质切腹嵌芽接,可当年完成嫁接任务;在大面积生产育苗中,用带木质切腹嵌芽接法嫁接,苗木成本比用“丁字形”芽接法嫁接低,经济效益相对较高。     

硒对花生种子萌发和脂肪酶活力的影响

选用花生种子为试材 ,设计不同浓度硒 (亚硒酸钠 )溶液浸泡花生种子后催芽 ,观察种子的萌发状况 ,检测各处理萌发前后脂肪酶活力变化 ,结果表明 ,硒浓度在 10～ 10 0 μg ml-1的范围内处理 ,均比对照能提高花生的发芽率和生长势 ,促进胚芽的生长 ,超过一定浓度后会产生中毒 ;同时脂肪酶活力增加 ,脂肪酶活力的高低与种子发芽状况相一致。     

超高产橡胶芽接树叶片矿质养分特性研究

对云南省西双版纳地区出现的极少数超高产橡胶芽接树(砧木为无选择种子砧木,接穗为PB86)的叶片养分特性等进行研究。结果表明:与我国现有指标比较,超高产橡胶芽接树和普通橡胶芽接树叶片的全N、全P、全Mg、N/K和Mg/P的比值均表现为缺乏或极缺乏,而全钙和K/P表现丰富。这一结果与我国现行的橡胶树叶片养分诊断指标出入颇大。同时,超高产橡胶芽接树的叶片全N、全P、N/P和N/K比值均显著或极显著低于对照树,而叶片全K、K/P和K/Ca比值却显著或极显著地高于对照树。原因可能是由于超高产芽接树在矿质养分吸收、运转和分配机制上不同于普通芽接树。     

Acetylcholine and cholinacetylase content of synaptic vesicles

Acetylcholine, cholinacetylase, and acetylcholinesterase were determined in three subfractions that resulted from the osmotic shock of the "mitochondrial" fraction of the rat brain. Acetylcholine and cholinacetylase were found concentrated in the subfraction that contained mainly synaptic vesicles and some membranes, whereas the larger proportion of the acetylcholinesterase was observed in the subfraction that contained torn nerve endings. These results support the idea that synaptic vesicles are the morphological units of acetylcholine within the synapse.     

Golgin tethers define subpopulations of COPI vesicles

Coiled-coil proteins of the golgin family have been implicated in intra-Golgi transport through tethering coat protein complex I (COPI) vesicles. The p115-golgin tether is the best studied, and here we characterize the golgin-84-CASP tether. The vesicles bound by this tether were strikingly different from those bound by the p115-golgin tether in that they lacked members of the p24 family of putative cargo receptors and contained enzymes instead of anterograde cargo. Microinjected golgin-84 or CASP also inhibited Golgi-enzyme transport to the endoplasmic reticulum, further implicating this tether in retrograde transport. These and other golgins may modulate the flow patterns within the Golgi stack.     

T cell receptor peptide therapy triggers autoregulation of experimental encephalomyelitis

Encephalitogenic T cells specific for myelin basic protein share common V beta 8 peptide sequences in their T cell receptor (TCR) that can induce autoregulatory T cells and antibodies that prevent clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). It is not known, however, if TCR peptides can treat established disease. To test its therapeutic value, TCR-V beta 8-39-59 peptide was injected into rats with clinical signs of EAE. This treatment reduced disease severity and speeded recovery, apparently by boosting anti-V beta 8 T cells and antibodies raised naturally in response to encephalitogenic V beta 8+ T cells. These results demonstrate that synthetic TCR peptides can be used therapeutically, and implicate the TCR-V beta 8-39-59 sequence as a natural idiotope involved in EAE recovery. Similarly, human TCR peptides may be effective in enhancing natural regulation of autoreactive T cells that share common V genes.     

Ceramide biogenesis is required for radiation-induced apoptosis in the germ line of C. elegans

Ceramide engagement in apoptotic pathways has been a topic of controversy. To address this controversy, we tested loss-of-function (lf) mutants of conserved genes of sphingolipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans. Although somatic (developmental) apoptosis was unaffected, ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis of germ cells was obliterated upon inactivation of ceramide synthase and restored upon microinjection of long-chain natural ceramide. Radiation-induced increase in the concentration of ceramide localized to mitochondria and was required for BH3-domain protein EGL-1-mediated displacement of CED-4 (an APAF-1-like protein) from the CED-9 (a Bcl-2 family member)/CED-4 complex, an obligate step in activation of the CED-3 caspase. These studies define CEP-1 (the worm homolog of the tumor suppressor p53)-mediated accumulation of EGL-1 and ceramide synthase-mediated generation of ceramide through parallel pathways that integrate at mitochondrial membranes to regulate stress-induced apoptosis.