Schisandrin B protects against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury in BJ human fibroblasts

The effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) and its analogs on solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury were examined in BJ human fibroblasts. Sch B and schisandrin C (Sch C) increased cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level and protected against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury. The photoprotection was paralleled by decreases in the elastases-type protease activity and matrix-metalloproteinases-1 expression in solar-irradiated fibroblasts. The cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism of Sch B or Sch C caused ROS production. The results suggest that by virtue of its pro-oxidant action and the subsequent glutathione antioxidant response, Sch B or Sch C may offer the prospect of preventing skin photo-aging.     

Spatial changes of soil fungal and bacterial biomass from a sub-alpine coniferous forest to grassland in a humid, sub-tropical region

 Fungal and bacterial biomass were determined across a gradient from a forest to grassland in a sub-alpine region in central Taiwan. The respiration-inhibition and ergosterol methods for the evaluation of the microbial biomass were compared. Soil fungal and bacterial biomass both significantly decreased (P<0.05) with the shift of vegetation from forest to grassland. Fungal and bacterial respiration rates (evolved CO₂) were, respectively, 89.1 μl CO₂ g^–1 soil h^–1 and 55.1 μl CO₂ g^–1 soil h^–1 in the forest and 36.7 μl CO₂ g^–1 soil h^–1 and 35.7 μl CO₂ g^–1 soil h^–1 in the grassland surface soils (0–10 cm). The fungal ergosterol content in the surface soil decreased from the forest zone (108 μg g^–1) to the grassland zone (15.9 μg g^–1). A good correlation (R ²=0.90) was exhibited between the soil fungal ergosterol content and soil fungal CO₂ production (respiration) for all sampling sites. For the forest and grassland soil profiles, microbial biomass (respiration and ergosterol) declined dramatically with depth, ten- to 100-fold from the surface organic horizon to the deepest mineral horizon. With respect to fungal to bacterial ratios for the surface soil (0–10 cm), the forest zone had a significantly (P<0.05) higher ratio (1.65) than the grassland zone (1.05). However, there was no fungal to bacterial ratio trend from the surface horizon to the deeper mineral horizons of the soil profiles. Received: 30 March 2000     

Plasticity of the differentiated state

Heterokaryons provide a model system in which to examine how tissue-specific phenotypes arise and are maintained. When muscle cells are fused with nonmuscle cells, muscle gene expression is activated in the nonmuscle cell type. Gene expression was studied either at a single cell level with monoclonal antibodies or in mass cultures at a biochemical and molecular level. In all of the nonmuscle cell types tested, including representatives of different embryonic lineages, phenotypes, and developmental stages, muscle gene expression was induced. Differences among cell types in the kinetics, frequency, and gene dosage requirements for gene expression provide clues to the underlying regulatory mechanisms. These results show that the expression of genes in the nuclei of differentiated cells is remarkably plastic and susceptible to modulation by the cytoplasm. The isolation of the genes encoding the tissue-specific trans-acting regulators responsible for muscle gene activation should now be possible.     

"Coulomb Staircase" at Room Temperature in a Self-Assembled Molecular Nanostructure

Double-ended aryl dithiols [alpha,alpha'-xylyldithiol (XYL) and 4,4'-biphenyldithiol] formed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold(111) substrates and were used to tether nanometer-sized gold clusters deposited from a cluster beam. An ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscope was used to image these nanostructures and to measure their current-voltage characteristics as a function of the separation between the probe tip and the metal cluster. At room temperature, when the tip was positioned over a cluster bonded to the XYL SAM, the current-voltage data showed "Coulomb staircase" behavior. These data are in good agreement with semiclassical predictions for correlated single-electron tunneling and permit estimation of the electrical resistance of a single XYL molecule (approximately18 ± 12 megohms).     

Probing the Local Effects of Magnetic Impurities on Superconductivity

The local effects of isolated magnetic adatoms on the electronic properties of the surface of a superconductor were studied with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Tunneling spectra obtained near magnetic adsorbates reveal the presence of excitations within the superconductor's energy gap that can be detected over a few atomic diameters around the impurity at the surface. These excitations are locally asymmetric with respect to tunneling of electrons and holes. A model calculation based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations can be used to understand the details of the local tunneling spectra.     

苦楝果实中化学成分进一步研究及生物活性测定

采用生物活性追踪法,从苦楝果实中分离得苦楝新醇(Ⅰ)、苦楝酮(Ⅱ)、苦楝醇(Ⅲ)、苦楝二醇(Ⅳ)、苦楝三醇(Ⅴ)、香草酸(Ⅵ)、香草醛(Ⅶ)和川楝素(Ⅷ),并根据波谱(1R,MS,′H—NMR,~(13)C—NMR)分析和理化常数测定确定其结构.其中Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ的21—H存在差向异构现象.生测结果表明,Ⅱ～Ⅴ和Ⅷ对菜青虫(Pieris rapae)有明显的拒食活性,Ⅷ还表现出明显的胃毒活性;Ⅰ、Ⅳ和Ⅶ仅表现出一定的拒食活性.     

Chemical transformations in individual ultrasmall biomimetic containers

Individual phospholipid vesicles, 1 to 5 micrometers in diameter, containing a single reagent or a complete reaction system, were immobilized with an infrared laser optical trap or by adhesion to modified borosilicate glass surfaces. Chemical transformations were initiated either by electroporation or by electrofusion, in each case through application of a short (10-microsecond), intense (20 to 50 kilovolts per centimeter) electric pulse delivered across ultramicroelectrodes. Product formation was monitored by far-field laser fluorescence microscopy. The ultrasmall characteristic of this reaction volume led to rapid diffusional mixing that permits the study of fast chemical kinetics. This technique is also well suited for the study of reaction dynamics of biological molecules within lipid-enclosed nanoenvironments that mimic cell membranes.     

紫背金盘提取物对小菜蛾的作用研究

紫背金盘提取物对小菜蛾幼虫有拒食和生长发育抑制活性，以氯仿提取物活性为最高。饲喂处理幼虫出现脱肛，黑斑和畸形等缓慢症状，成虫的生殖过程受到影响，这种作用有利于压低田间种群数量。对多种杀虫剂产生抗性的小菜蛾品系对紫背金盘提取物没有抗性，因此，这种植物提取物可作为小菜蛾抗性治理的一条途径。     

几丁质合成抑制剂类杀虫剂的发展和应用

本文重点介绍了苯酰基脲类、噻嗪酮这两类几丁质合成抑制剂类杀虫剂的发展概况和应用的有关杀虫特性及其目前在防治几类农作物害虫方面的应用情况,分析了其在应用方面的主要问题,并对其前景进行了讨论。     

楝属川楝素含量与生物活性的关系

本文报道用高速液相色谱测定了川楝素含量的各地楝树样品水提物及几种川楝素产品对菜青虫的生物活性,讨论了川楝素含量与生物活性的关系。叶、果样品中虽不含或仅含少量川楝素,但对试虫仍表现出一定的活性。皮中含有较丰富的川楝素,其含量与拒食活性呈正相关,但与毒效作用不相关。四川样品川楝素含量及生物活性均很高而值得重视。川楝素粗产品相对于纯川楝素而言对试虫具更高的生物活性。这种川楝素含量与活性的非线性关系说明样品中其它成份也具活性或与川楝素有着协同作用。通过测定、分析和讨论,指出用川楝素粗产品防治菜青虫是一经济、有效,可行的措施。文中应用了评判援效型杀虫剂的新方法,供讨论和参考。