Role of polymerase β in DNA metabolism and genomic instability

The major role of DNA polymerase β was thought to be limited in its involvement in short patch base excision repair by removing 5’-deoxyribose phosphate and base insertion. However, the recent researches indicate that polymerase β might take part in a wide spectrum of DNA metabolism reactions, including long patch base excision repair, DNA replication, recombination, meiosis and transleisional DNA synthesis. Because of its wide and important cellular function, an inappropriate intracellular polymerase β level might be associated with genomic instability. Down-regulation or mutation of polymerase β is mutagenic due to deficient in DNA repair, while overexpression of this error-prone β polymerase might perturb the normal function of other accurate polymerases and cause genomic instability as well.     

High efficient expression of human endostatin in E.coli and its antiangiogensis activity

AIM: To examine the expression of human endostatin in E.coli, produce its fusion protein antibody and observe its biological activity. METHODS: Endostatin gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction,recombined with plasmid vector pGEX-2T and induced expression with IPTG.The protein activity was tested by endothelial cell proliferation inhibitory assay.Inclusion body crudely purified was used to generate polyclonal antibody to detect its expression at mouse's liver and kidney etc. RESULTS: The protein expressed was 20kD after digestion by thrombin,it appeared the anti-angiogenesis activity and Western blotting indicated the expression of endostatin in liver and kidney of mouse. CONCLUSION: The successful expression of human endostatin and the preparation of polycolonal antibody indicated its potential application in anti-angiogenesis therapy and diagnosis tumors.     

Effects of angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy on the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas

AIM: To investigate the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas under angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy. METHODS: The brain tumor model was produced in Wistar rats by stereotaxic inoculation of C6 glioma cells (1×10¹² /L). Tumor-bearing rats were treated with carmustine, teniposide and lisplatin (chemotherapy) during angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Then, the survival time of tumor-bearing rats, tumor blood flow, the concentration of drug, volume of gliomas and the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in glioma were examined.RESULTS: The survival time of tumor-bearing rats was significantly longer in chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension group than that of chemotherapy alone. In addition, regional tumor blood flow, the concentration of chemotherapeutic drug and the activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme in transplanted rat gliomas were increased, while the volume of gliomas was decreased in hypertention chemotherapy group compared with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension has a enhancing effect on chemotherapy for improving the drug delivery to tumor tissue by a increased tumor blood flow and enhancing activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme.     

冬虫夏草的研究概况

冬虫夏草是一种十分重要的药用真菌，具有广阔的开发前景。本文介绍了冬虫夏草的生物学习性、化学成分、药理作用及人工培育现状，并展望了冬虫夏草研究的前提。     

Effect of take-all root infections on nitrate uptake in winter wheat

The effect of take-all root lesions on nitrate uptake of wheat was investigated in two experiments under controlled conditions. Plants were supplied with a nutrient solution labelled with ¹⁵N during stem elongation and flowering to assess the distribution of the isotopic tracer in the different plant organs, and particularly in root segments located on both sides of take-all lesions. The ¹⁵N atom percentage excess measured in root segments located below lesions longer than 1 cm was reduced on average by half compared with that in healthy roots and root segments above lesions, reflecting a reduction in nitrogen uptake by these root segments. This reduction probably resulted from the invasion and breakdown of phloem vessels by the fungus hyphae, interrupting energy supply and thus the uptake process. Severely infected plants showed an increase in the uptake rate per unit of efficient root, which appeared to be a compensatory response to reduction of efficient root biomass in order to satisfy shoot nitrogen demand. However, this compensatory response was insufficient to ensure nitrogen accumulation equivalent to that of healthy plants, as reductions in nitrogen accumulated in roots and aerial parts at flowering were up to 56 and 49%, respectively, for plants with more than 50% of the root system below lesions longer than 1 cm.     

枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）S9对植物病原真菌的溶菌作用

本研究共分离了976株细菌分离物，发现来自甘蔗根围的1株枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)S9对立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)、终极腐霉(Pythium ultimum)和西瓜枯萎病菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum)在PDA平板的对峙培养过程中不形成抑菌圈，但4d后可使上述植物病原真菌的菌丝溶解。扫描电镜观察发现S9菌株在待测的立枯丝核菌表面形成了溶菌斑。S9菌株对立枯丝核菌的作用过程是通过吸附在病原真菌的菌丝上，并随菌丝生长而生长，而后产生溶菌物质消解菌丝体。液体共培养测定也证明了S9菌株具有上述作用。本研究还发现，S9菌株对植物病原真菌的拮抗真菌绿色木霉(Trichoderma viride)、鲜红毛壳菌(Chaetomium cupreum)和球毛壳菌（Chaetomium globosum）的生长没有影响。盆栽试验证明了S9菌株可有效地控制立枯丝核菌(R．solani)引起的番茄苗期病害。S9菌株与其它拮抗真菌混合具有促进防治植物病原真菌引起的植物病害的潜力。     

Immunocytochemical localization of the Bacillus sphaericus binary toxin components in Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae midgut

This study describes the immunocytochemical localization of the Bacillus sphaericus 2362 binary toxin components, BinA and BinB, in Culex quinquefasciatus larvae that had been intoxicated with this entomopathogen. Ultrathin sections of C. quinquefasciatus larvae midgut embedded in the hydrophilic resin L.R. White were incubated with the antibodies anti-BinA or anti-BinB and then revealed with goat anti-rabbit IgG coupled to gold particles. Immunocytochemical detection demonstrated the presence of specific labeling in ultra-thin sections that had been incubated with the BinA antiserum. Gold particles were detected on the apical areas of cell membranes and inside the epithelial cell cytoplasm, particularly the mitochondria, of cells from the gastric caeca and posterior stomach in larvae exposed during 2 or 24 h to the entomopathogen. A similar labeling pattern was observed in ultrathin sections from both midgut regions when incubated with BinB antiserum.     

螟虫长距茧蜂研究进展

本文综述了对螟虫长距茧蜂的研究概况，包括该寄生蜂的主要生物学习性、对玉米螟自然寄生率及田间防治玉米螟效果等。     

施氮量对棉田主要害虫种群动态的影响

通过不同施氮肥量对棉田主要害虫种群动态影响的研究结果表明,在低、中、高3种施氮肥水平处理条件下,随着氮肥量的增加,棉田棉铃虫落卵量增加,棉苗蚜、棉叶螨种群数量减少,发生为害减轻,但棉伏蚜种群数量增加。中等施氮肥条件下,第二、三代棉铃虫幼虫数量高于低和高施氮肥处理,对棉铃虫幼虫的生长发育和存活较为有利。     

Weed:spring barley competition for applied nitrogen in pig slurry

Summary The experiments were carried out in the two spring barley fields of the organic six-course cattle:crop rotation at Foulumgaard, Denmark. The weed density was 300 and 1800 plants m⁻² respectively. Pig slurry was applied by hand in microplots by four methods: broadcasting followed by incorporation, or injected in bands to depths of 5, 10 or 15 cm. Spring barley and weeds were sampled separately six times during the tillering and elongation phase of the spring barley. The effect of application method on dry-matter (d.m.) production, nitrogen uptake and recovery of applied nitrogen in the spring barley and the weeds is reported. Slurry banding halved the weed d.m. and weed N uptake compared with broadcasting, irrespective of weed density. Weeds recovered up to 12% of the applied nitrogen, which made them a significant competitor when the slurry was broadcast and incorporated. Banding by direct injection reduced the slurry:soil contact and the weed:crop competition balance for applied nitrogen moved in favour of the crop. Thus, the crop recovery of applied nitrogen at the end of the sampling period was increased from approximately 45% for broadcast and incorporated to approximately 50% for injected slurry, and coincidental weed recovery was reduced to a maximum of 5%. As the nitrogen supply normally affects plant d.m. production, banding of slurry might well improve crop competitiveness and its tolerance to mechanical weed control.