SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION OF HUMAN ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE IN Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A chemically synthesized α-hANP gene was inserted into plasmid YFD18, which was an expression-secretion vector of yeast. The recombinant then transformed in the yeast Y33. The expression level of yeast transformants was about 700 μg ANP/L detected by RIA. More than 99% of expression products were secreted in the culture medium. N-terminal analysis of purified product showed that the first 4 amino acid residues of α-hANP were deleted.     

离子交换色谱法研究蛋白质与RNA的结合特异性

RNA是以磷酸二酯键相连的核苷酸组成的聚阴离子,而蛋白质在PH小于它的等电点的缓冲溶液中带有正电性.因此,它们在离子交换色谱分子时能出现在差异很大的洗脱组分中.据此.我们设计了用离子交换色谱法研究蛋白质与RNA的结合特异性方法,用以研究位于T细胞核内的具有RNA结合活性的蛋白质人环素33(hCyP33)与不同RNA的结合特性.结果表明,人亲环素33只有ply(A)尾序列结构的mRNA,即poly(A)^ RNA发生特异性结合.     

THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF ESR SIGNAL IN BILIRUBIN

The ESR signals of bilirubin-IXα were studied including the samples treated with free radical generating and inhibiting systems, i.e.X-X0., Fe/EDTA, SOD, mannitol/ascorbate, DTPA, KCN et al.These stable signals all comprise those originated from a semiquinone radical(g=2.0012)and superoxide radical(g₁₁=2.041, g_⊥=2.0040).The latter is shown to be bound with metal ionsespecially iron, chelated by bilirubin.The iron probably comes from bilirubin precursor---hemootobin.Active oxygen free radical scavengers may destroy these radicals.Kinetic curves of regeneration of the bilirubin radicals have been determined.Bilirubin is discussed as"active oxygen trap"in mammatians.     

A FLUORESCENCE STUDY OF TRYPTOPHAN-HISTIDINE INTERACTIONS IN THE PEPTIDE ANANTIN AND IN SOLUTION

Abstract—Anantin is a heptadecapeptide in which the C-terminal peptide chain pierces the covalently cyclized peptide ring formed by an amide link between the α-NH₂ end group and the β-carboxyl group of Asp(8). It contains a tryptophan and a histidine at positions 5 and 12 , respectively. Des-Phe(17)-anantin lacks the C-terminal phenylalanine. Fluorescence emission intensity as a function of pH follows the ionization of a single residue. The pK_a amounts to 7.23 ± 0.03 for anantin and is attributed to His(12). At pH 9 the quantum yield is 0.12 ± 0.01 for anantin, whereas at pH 4.5 the quantum yield decreases more than two-fold (0.05 2 0.01). Practically identical parameters are observed for des-Phe(17)-anantin. This pH dependency reveals intramolecular quenching of the excited indole ring of Trp(5) by the imidazole of His(12), which results in a marked decrease of the tryptophan fluorescence at low pH. In a multifrequency phase fluorometric study the fluorescence lifetimes for both peptides at pH 4.5 and pH 9 are determined. At both, pH fluorescence decay is well described by a sum of two exponentials. For anantin at pH 4.5 the lifetimes are 0.72 ± 0.07 ns and 1.67 ± 0.07 ns. At pH 9 the lifetimes are 1.11 ±0.12 ns and 2.55 ± 0.03 ns. In methanol we find two lifetimes for anantin: 0.68 ± 0.01 ns and 2.57 ± 0.01 ns. The lifetimes are found to be slightly dependent upon emission wavelength. For des-Phe(17)-anantin practically the same values are observed. The quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by histidine is further studied in solution using N-acetyl-tryptophanamide in the presence of increasing concentrations of imidazole in the protonated (pH 4.5) and unprotonated (pH 9) state and in methanol. At both pH values and in methanol, a linear increase in both the inverse of the steady-state fluorescence F_o/F and the inverse of the lifetime 1/τ with increasing imidazole concentration indicates that a collisional mechanism is at the root of the observed quenching. The quenching efficiency values, γ, are calculated and amount to about 0.32 at pH 4. 5 , 0.02 at pH 9 and 0.002 in methanol, showing that protonated imidazole is a better quencher than the unprotonated form, and that the nature of the solvent is involved even in the quenching by unprotonated imidazole. Tryptophan-histidine interactions in solution and in the peptide are compared.     

PASSIVE AND ACTIVE ROLE OF FLUORESCERS IN THE CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF TETRAMETHOXYDIOXETANE

Abstract— Tests for the possible catalytic role of fluorescers in the chemiluminescent decomposition of dioxetanes are discussed and applied to the case of tetramethoxydioxetane. This dioxetane, which can undergo direct thermal decomposition yielding excited methyl carbonate with subsequent excitation of fluorescers (for example 9, 10-dibromoanthracene. DBA), is shown to be sensitive also to catalysis by fluorescers such as rubrene. 9, 10-diphenyl-anthracene (DPA) and 9, IOdicyanoanthracene (DCNA). The possibility of a charge-transfer mechanism of chemiluminescent catalysis is suggested.     

THE ROLE OF FRONTAL NEURONS IN PAIN AND ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA

To study the role of frontal neurons in pain and acupuncture analgesia, experiments were carried out on 4 monkeys (Macaca mulatta) during performing two tasks, the Heat Discrimination Response GO/NO-GO Task (Task Ⅰ) and the Heat Delayed Discrimination GO/NO-GO Task (Task Ⅱ). After a criterion of 90% of correct performances over three successive days had been reached, activity of single neurons was recorded from the frontal cortex. Of 276 Task Ⅰ-related neurons, 211 responded to noxious and/or innocuous heat stimuli. Of 73 Task Ⅱ-related neurons, 59 responded to noxious and/or innocuous heat stimuli. During acupuncture, the nociceptive reaction time for lever release to avoid painful stimuli was increased, the percentage of correct performances was lowered, and the neuronal responses to noxious and/or innocuous stimuli were suppressed. These neurons were mainly located in a circumscribed area medial to the superior ramus of the arcuate sulcus in frontal cortex, including the prefrontal and premotor a     

THE ROLE OF SUPEROXIDE AND SINGLET OXYGEN IN LIPID PEROXIDATION

Abstract— An investigation into the mechanism of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by xanthine oxidase showed a dependence upon superoxide, singlet oxygen and adenosine 5'-diphosphate chelated iron (ADP-Fe³⁺). In the absence of ADP-Fe³⁺ or in the presence of superoxide dismutase there is complete inhibition of enzymatic peroxidation. Initiation of peroxidation likely occurs through an ADP-perferryl ion complex formed by ADP-Fe³⁺ and superoxide. Use of the singlet oxygen trapping agent 2,5-diphenylfuran showed that singlet oxygen does not participate in the initiation of peroxidation but rather in the propagation of peroxidation. The mechanisms of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase-catalyzed and ADP-Fe²⁺ catalyzed lipid peroxidation parallel that of xanthine oxidase in that initiation occurs through a superoxide dismutase-sensitive reaction and that singlet oxygen is present during propagation of lipid peroxidation.     

THE ROLE OF ARGININES 82 AND 227 IN THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN PROTON PUMP

Abstract
Arginine residues 82 and 227 in bacteriorhodopsin were replaced by glutamine residues, using the site-directed mutagenesis techniques. Mutant bacteriorhodopsins were found to be competent in formation and decomposition of the photocycle M412 intermediate as well as in generation of photoelectric potential provided that pH of the medium is sufficiently high. Lowering of pH results in transition of bacteriorhodopsin into a blue acidic form which cannot produce M412 and photo-potential. The p K values of these transitions for Arg-227 → Gln and Arg-82 → Gln mutants are shifted correspondently for 1 and 4 pH units to a higher pH region in comparison with native bacteriorhodopsin. The rate of the M412 formation in both mutants was similar to that in the native protein. As to M412 decay, it is much slower in Arg-227 → Gln mutant than in native and Arg-82 → Gln bacteriorhodopsins. In all cases, the decay depends only slightly upon pH. It is concluded that Arg-82 is involved in maintenance of a bacteriorhodopsin structure that is resistant to the pH decrease down to 4 whereas Arg-227 is required first of all for the process of Schiff base reprotonation.     

FLUORESCENCE AND THE LOCATION OF TRYPTOPHAN RESIDUES IN PROTEIN MOLECULES

Abstract— Fluorescence spectra of a number of native and denaturated proteins have been analysed, using spectral band width (ΔΛ), spectral maximum position (Λ_m), fluorescence quenching by external ionic quenchers, lifetime (b), and quantum yield ( q ) and its changes upon denaturation. The results enabled a model of fluorescence properties of tryptophan residues in the proteins to be substantiated by considering the existence of three discrete spectral classes, one buried in nonpolar regions of the protein (Λ_m 330–332 nm, ΔΛ= 48–49nm, q 0.11, τ= 2.1 ns) and two on the surface. One of the latter is completely exposed to water (Λ_m# 350–353 nm, ΔΛ= 59–61 nm, q # 0.2, τ= 5.4 ns); the other is in limited contact with water which is probably immobilized by bonding at the macromolecular surface (Λ_m# 340–342 nm, ΔΛ= 53–55 nm, q # 0.3, = 4.4 ns). Some quantitative predictions from the model, for (a) the fraction of fluorescence that is quenched by ionic quenchers, (b) the mean values of quantum yield, and (c) the mean values of fluorescence lifetime for various proteins, show good concordance with independent experimentally determined values.     

STUDIES OF THE ROLE OF THE COAT PROTEIN IN THE U.V. PHOTOINACTIVATION OF U(1) AND U(2) STRAINS OF TMV*

Abstract— Two properties of the u.v. inactivation process in the u.v. sensitive U(2) strain have been investigated: (1) The increased binding of protein to RNA induced by irradiation of the virus at 254 nm; (2) The action spectrum for u.v. inactivation of U(2) between 250 nm and 285 nm. The extent of the u.v. induced binding of protein to RNA is similar to that previously found in the resistant U(1) strain, thereby eliminating the possibility that the capacity for this binding phenomenon bears any correlation to the difference in u.v. sensitivities of these two viruses at 254 nm. The results indicate that the radiation induced interaction of protein and RNA in U(1) and U(2) are probably similar. The action spectrum for U(2) resembles the absorption spectrum of the RNA between 250 nm and 285 nm implicating the RNA as the primary absorber leading to inactivation of the virus in this region of the spectrum. Quantum yields calculated for U(2) virus and free TMV-RNA irradiated at 254 nm reveal that the irradiated free RNA may be as much as 1–4 times more sensitive to inactivation at this wavelength than RNA in the intact virus. It is concluded that the coat protein of U(2) probably offers some protection to the enclosed RNA against u.v. damage at 254 nm, therefore, the difference in u.v. sensitivity between U(1) and U(2) TMV at this wavelength is a consequence of a difference in the degree of protection offered by the respective coat proteins to the enclosed RNA.     

Dawson结构钨钒磷杂多化合物催化苯酚过氧化氢的羟化作用及其羟化机理

合成了系列Ｄａｗｓｏｎ结构钨钒磷杂多化合物（Ｃｐｙｒ）７＋ｎＰ２Ｗ１８－ｎＶｎＯ６２（ｎ＝１～３），并用ＩＲ，ＮＭＲ等手段对其结构进行了表征．考察了这类杂多化合物对苯酚过氧化氢的羟化活性，探讨了反应机理．     

THE ROLE OF DIOXYGEN SPECIES IN THE BASE- AND COBALT-CATALYZED OXYGENATION OF HINDERED PHENOLS

Abstract— The mechanisms by which 4-substituted 2,6-di- t -butylphenols are oxygenated by base- and Co(II) Schiff base complex-catalysis into o - or p -peroxyquinols and their Co(III) complexes, respectively, have been investigated. For the base-catalyzed oxygenation, a one-step ionic mechanism involving no radical species is suggested to be the most probable one. For the formation of the peroxycobalt(III) complexes, the following stoichiometry is concluded: ArOH + Co(II) + 5/4 O₂→ peroxycobalt(III) complex + 1/2 H₂O. A mechanism involving an electron transfer between the phenols and the Co(II)-O₂ complex followed by further electron transfer between the formed phenoxy radicals and the Co(II) complex to give the corresponding phenolate anions is proposed.     

可逆与不可逆吸附CO在合成甲醇反应中的作用

合成甲醇反应是CO+H_2反应系列中较简单的反应之一,它与同系列的甲烷化反应有着不同的反应条件.从热力学观点来看,甲烷化反应和合成甲醇反应同是体积缩小反应,加压应该有利于两反应的进行,实际上合成甲醇反应需加压,而甲烷化反应却不一定需要加压.最近我们用动态分析技术对烃的临氢转化、乙炔加氢和苯加氢反应研究发现,在实际反应条件下,反应物在催化剂表面上的吸附可分为可逆与不可逆吸附两类,它们在多相催化反应中对活性、选择性和稳定性均有影响,但是它们对操作压力的依赖程度是不一样的.因此研究     

THE ROLE OF OXYGEN IN PHOTOSENSITIZATIONS WITH POLYACETYLENES AND THIOPHENE DERIVATIVES

Abstract— The mechanism of photosensitization by polyacetylenes and biosynthetically derived thiophenes from species of the plant family Asteraceae was examined. With thiophenes photosensitization of yeast and E. coli occurred under aerobic but not anaerobic conditions. For similar experiments with polyacetylenes, both photodynamic and non-photodynamic mechanisms were observed. While the relative toxicities of thiophenes and polyacetylenes under near UV radiation was in general similar, the in vitro generation of singlet oxygen was considerably less for polyacetylenes than thiophenes, which is additional evidence for the existence of an alternate mechanism of action in polyacetylene photosensitization. Rates of photodegradation of polyacetylenes are higher than for thiophenes suggesting that bond breaking/formation processes are more favored relative to energy transfer to oxygen for polyacetylenes than thiophenes.     

THE ROLE OF HYDRATION IN THE PHOTOTRANSFORMATION OF PHYTOCHROME

Abstract— Changes in the visible absorption spectrum and in phototransformation of phytochrome have been found to be associated with dehydration and rehydration. These spectral properties explain the previously reported rapid appearance of phytochrome in imbibing seeds. No evidence was found for the orientation of the phytochrome chromophore in gelatin films or in preparations subjected to a shearing force.     

可逆与不可逆吸附氢在合成甲醇反应中的作用

在自行设计和建立的加压动态分析装置上研究了合成甲醇催化剂上氢的吸附和反应行为。结果表明:在反应条件下催化剂上吸附的氢可分为可逆吸附氢和不可逆吸附氢;不可逆吸附氢又可分为能被CO顶替出来的和不能被CO顶替出来的两部分;能被CO顶替出来的不可逆吸附氢对CO的吸附起促进作用,不能被CO顶替出来的不可逆吸附氢是合成甲醇催化剂必不可少的“组分”或称“促进剂”;同时甲醇的生成是可逆吸附氢与一氧化碳作用的结果。     

可逆与不可逆吸附的CO在甲烷化反应中的作用

在自行设计和建立的加压动态分析装置上,研究了工业甲烷化催化剂(Ni/Al_2O_3)上CO的吸附和反应行为。结果表明,在反应温度250℃下催化剂上吸附的CO有可逆吸附和不可逆吸附之分,甲烷的生成是与不可逆吸附的CO作用的结果,而可逆吸附CO则与生成乙烷、丙烷等密切相关。同时发现甲烷化反应过程的发生必须以不可逆吸附的氢存在为前提,且催化剂上不可逆吸附的氢可分为两部分,一部分可以被CO顶出,这部分氢可能起到了诱导CO吸附的作用;另一部分不可逆吸附的氢不能被CO顶出,这部分氢可能是构成催化剂不可缺少的“组分”(或称“促进剂”)。