Infrared echoes near the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A

Two images of Cassiopeia A obtained at 24 micrometers with the Spitzer Space Telescope over a 1-year time interval show moving structures outside the shell of the supernova remnant to a distance of more than 20 arc minutes. Individual features exhibit apparent motions of 10 to 20 arc seconds per year, independently confirmed by near-infrared observations. The observed tangential velocities are at roughly the speed of light. It is likely that the moving structures are infrared echoes, in which interstellar dust is heated by the explosion and by flares from the compact object near the center of the remnant.     

Unwinding of duplex DNA from the SV40 origin of replication by T antigen

The T antigen specified by SV40 virus is the only viral-encoded protein required for replication of SV40 DNA. T antigen has two activities that appear to be essential for viral DNA replication: specific binding to duplex DNA at the origin of replication and helicase activity that unwinds the two DNA strands. As judged by electron microscopy, DNA unwinding is initiated at the origin of replication and proceeds bidirectionally. Either linear or circular DNA molecules containing the origin of replication are effective substrates; with closed circular DNA, a topoisomerase capable of removing positive superhelical turns is required for an efficient reaction. Presence of an origin sequence on duplex DNA and a single-strand DNA-binding protein appear to be the only requirements for T antigen to catalyze unwinding. This reaction mediated by T antigen defines a likely pathway to precise initiation of DNA replication: (i) the sequence-specific binding activity locates the origin sequence, (ii) the duplex DNA is unwound at this site, and (iii) the DNA polymerase and primase begin DNA replication. A similar pathway has been inferred for the localized initiation of DNA replication by bacteriophage lambda and by Escherichia coli in which a sequence-specific binding protein locates the origin and directs the DnaB helicase to this site. Observations with the SV40 system indicate that localized initiation of duplex DNA replication may be similar for prokaryotes and eukaryotes.     

Export-mediated assembly of mycobacterial glycoproteins parallels eukaryotic pathways

Protein O-mannosylation is an essential and evolutionarily conserved post-translational modification among eukaryotes. This form of protein modification is also described in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, the mechanism of mannoprotein assembly remains unclear. Evaluation of differentially translocated chimeric proteins and mass spectrometry to monitor glycosylation demonstrated that specific translocation processes were required for protein O-mannosylation in M. tuberculosis. Additionally, Rv1002c, a M. tuberculosis membrane protein homolog of eukaryotic protein mannosyltransferases, was shown to catalyze the initial step of protein mannosylation. Thus, the process of protein mannosylation is conserved between M. tuberculosis and eukaryotic organisms.     

兴安落叶松种源试验研究(Ⅰ)——地理变异的规律与模式

通过8a生16个种源13个参试点9类53个性状的系统研究,将兴安落叶松的适生范围划分了3个造林生态相似区:即大兴安岭西北部低湿、低温、低产区(包括满归、库都尔和莫尔道嘎);大小兴安岭中湿、中温、过渡区(包括甘河、加格达奇、黑河三站和北安);小兴安岭及张广才岭完达山高湿、高温、速生区(包括凉水、帽儿山、错海、石河、桦南和东方红)。以各造林生态区内代表试点为据,揭示了兴安落叶松主要性状的地理变异规律与模式。其主要特点是:变异性状多、内容丰富广泛、遗传性变异大,以经向变异为主,纬向变异为辅,属经纬双重连续渐变型。经向偏东、纬向偏南的种源项芽萌动晚、封顶迟、年生长期长、枝粗叶茂、苗期心止率低、季节生长量均匀、高径生长量大,特别是生长性状已形成了明显的南北东西的梯度变异。体现了由西—东、由北—南、干—湿、冷—暖气候生态模式的渐变。水热因子的综合作用是兴安落叶松产生变异的主要因素。在大兴安岭北部,种源子代的变异突出了种源与试点的互作,以当地和小兴安岭西北部种源表现较好。因此,在全分布区范围内适当由南向北调拔种子,将获得较大的增产效益。在种源的遗传分化中,以生长性状的分化最为明显,可作为种源选择和区划种源的主要依据。