The interactions of basic proteins and DNA

I. ELECTROPHORESIS OF THE NUCLEIC ACIDS

A zone electrophoresis apparatus using ultraviolet optics has been constructed to study nucleic acids at concentrations less than 0.004%. Native DNA has a mobility about 15% higher than denatured DNA over a range of conditions. Otherwise, the electrophoretic mobility is independent of molecular weight, base composition or source. DNA mobilities change in the expected way with pH but the fractional change in mobility is less than the calculated change in charge. A small decrease in mobility accompanies an increase in ionic strength. RNA’s from various sources have mobilities slightly lower than denatured DNA except for s-RNA which travels slightly faster. The important considerations governing the mobility of nucleic acids appear to be the nature of the hydrodynamic segment, and the binding of counterions. The differences between electrophoresis and sedimentation stem from the fact that all random coil polyelectrolytes are fundamentally free draining in electrophoresis.

II. THE CYTOCHROME C/DNA COMPLEX

The basic protein, cytochrome c, has been complexed to DNA. Up to a cytochrome:DNA mass ratio of 2, a single type of complex is formed. Dissociation of this complex occurs between 0.05F and 0.1F NaCl. The complexing of cytochrome to DNA causes a slight increase in the melting temperature of the DNA, and a reduction of the electrophoretic mobility proportional to the decrease in net charge. Above a cytochrome:DNA mass ratio of 2.5, a different type of complex is formed. The results suggest that complexes such as are formed in the Kleinschmidt technique of electron microscopy would not exist in bulk solution and are exclusively film phenomena.

III. STUDIES OF THE ELECTROPHORESIS AND MELTING BEHAVIOUR OF NUCLEOHISTONES

Electrophoresis studies on reconstituted nucleohistones indicate that the electrophoretic mobility for these complexes is a function of the net charge of the complex. The mobility is therefore dependent on the charge density of the histone complexing the DNA, as well as on the histone/DNA ratio. It is found that the different histones affect the transition from native to denatured DNA in different ways. It appears that histone I is exchanging quite rapidly between DNA molecules in 0.01 F salt, while histone II is irreversibly bound. Histone III-IV enhances the capacity of non-strand separated denatured DNA to reanneal. Studies on native nucleoproteins indicate that there are no gene-sized uncomplexed DNA regions in any preparations studied.

IV. THE DISSOCIATION OF HISTONE FROM CALF THYMUS CROMATIN

Calf thymus nucleoprotein was treated with varying concentrations of NaCl. The identity of the histones associated and dissociated from the DNA at each salt concentration was determined by gel electrophoresis. It was found that there is no appreciable histone dissociation below 0.4 F NaCl. The lysine rich histones dissociate between 0.4 and 0.5 F NaCl. Their dissociation is accompanies by a marked increase in the solubility of the chromatin. The moderately lysine rich histones dissociate mainly between 0.8 and 1.1 F NaCl. There are two arginine rich histone components: the first dissociates between 0.8 F and 1.1 F NaCl, but the second class is the very last to be dissociated from the DNA (dissociation beginning at 1.0 F NaCl). By 2.0 F NaCl, essentially all the histones are dissociated.

The properties of the extracted nucleoprotein were studied. The electrophoretic mobility increases and the melting temperature decreases as more histones are dissociated from the DNA. A comparison with the dissociation of histones from DNA in NaClO₄ shows that to dissociate the same class of histones, the concentration of NaCl required is twice that of NaClO₄.

Morfologia e biodegradação de compósitos de poli(ε-caprolactona) com fibra de coco verde

Neste trabalho foram analisadas a morfologia e a biodegradação de compósitos de poli(ε-caprolactona) com fibras provenientes da casca de coco verde. Parte destas fibras foi submetida à modificação química por meio da reação de acetilação. A avaliação da morfologia foi realizada nas amostras de poli(ε-caprolactona) puro e seus compósitos antes e após o teste de biodegradação. O teste de biodegradação foi feito pelo enterro das amostras em solo simulado por períodos distintos, variando de vinte a trinta semanas, seguindo a Norma ASTM G 160 03. Após cada período de teste, as amostras foram retiradas do solo e analisadas por microscopia ótica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), microscopia de força atômica (AFM), calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC), difratômetro de raios X (DRX) e ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) de baixo campo no estado sólido. Pelas análises, foram verificados perda de massa, alteração morfológica da superfície e variação no percentual de cristalinidade das amostras. O PCL e os compósitos sofreram biodegradabilidade e a presença das fibras retarda ligeiramente esse processo

Part I. Electric birefringence studies of deoxyribonucleic acids. Part II. Selective dissociation of nucleohistone complexes

Part I

The electric birefringence of dilute DNA solutions has been studied in considerable detail and on a large number of samples, but no new and reliable information was discovered concerning the tertiary structure of DNA. The large number of variables which effect the birefringence results is discussed and suggestions are made for further work on the subject.

The DNA molecules have been aligned in a rapidly alternating (10 to 20 kc/sec) square wave field confirming that the orientation mechanism is that of counterion polarization. A simple empirical relation between the steady state birefringence, Δn_st, and the square of the electric field, E, has been found: Δn_st = E²/(a E² + b), where a = 1/Δn_s and b = (E²/Δn_st)_E→o. Δn_s is the birefringence extrapolated to infinite field strength.

The molecules show a distribution of relaxation times from 10^-4 to 0.2 sec, which is consistent with expectations for flexible coil molecules. The birefringence and the relaxation times decrease with increasing salt concentrations. They also depend on the field strength and pulse duration in a rather non-reproducible manner, which may be due in part to changes in the composition of the solution or in the molecular structure of the DNA (other than denaturation). Further progress depends on the development of some control over these effects.

Part II

The specificity of the dissociation of reconstituted and native deoxyribonucleohistones (DNH) by monovalent salt solutions has been investigated. A novel zone ultracentrifugation method is used in which the DNH is sedimented as a zone through a preformed salt gradient, superimposed on a stabilizing D₂O (sucrose) density gradient. The results, obtained by scanning the quartz sedimentation tubes in a spectrophotometer, were verified by the conventional, preparative sedimentation technique. Procedures are discussed for the detection of microgram quantities of histones, since low concentrations must be used to prevent excessive aggregation of the DNH.

The data show that major histone fractions are selectively dissociated from DNH by increasing salt concentrations: Lysine rich histone (H I) dissociates gradually between 0.1 and 0.3 F, slightly lysine rich histone (H II) dissociates as a narrow band between 0.35 and 0.5 F, and arginine rich histone (H III, H IV) dissociates gradually above 0.5 F NaClO₄.

The activity of the partially dissociated, native DNH in sustaining RNA synthesis, their mobility and their unusual heat denaturation and renaturation behavior are described. The two-step melting behavior of the material indicates that the histones are non-randomly distributed along the DNA, but the implications are that the uncovered regions are not of gene-size length.

Part I. Synchronization of the cell division cycle of HeLa cells in suspension cultures. Part II. Studies on chromosomal proteins of HeLa cells during the cell division cycle

Part I

These studies investigate the potential of single and double treatments with either 5-fluorodeoxyuridine of excess thymidine to induce cell division synchrony in suspension cultures of HeLa cells. The patterns of nucleic acid synthesis and cell proliferation have been analyzed in cultures thus synchronized. Several changes in cell population during long incubation with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine or excess thymidine are also described. These results are subjected to detailed evaluation in terms of the degree and quality of synchrony finally achieved.

Part II

Histones and non-histone proteins associated with interphase and metaphase chromosomes of HeLa cells have been qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Histones were fractionated by chromatography on Amberlite CG-50 and further characterized by analytical disc electrophoresis and amino acid analysis of each chromatographic fraction. It is concluded that histones of HeLa cells are comprised of only a small number of major components and that these components are homologous to those of other higher organisms. Of all the histones, arginine-rich histone III alone contains cysteine and can polymerize through formation of intermolecular disulfide bridges between histone III monomers.

A detailed comparison by chromatography and disc electrophoresis established that interphase and metaphase histones are made up of similar components. However, certain quantitative differences in proportions of different histones of interphase and metaphase cells are reported. Indirect evidence indicates that a certain proportion of metaphase histone III is polymerized through intermolecular disulfide links, whereas interphase histone III occurs mainly in the monomeric form.

Metaphase chromosomes are associated with an additional acid-soluble protein fraction which is absent from interphase chromosomes. All of these additional acid-soluble proteins of metaphase chromosomes are shown to be non-histones and it is concluded that the histone/DNA ratio is identical in interphase and metaphase chromosomes. The bulk of acid-soluble non-histone proteins of metaphase chromosomes were found to be polymerized through disulfide bridges; corresponding interphase non-histone proteins displayed no evidence of similar polymerization.

The factors responsible for the condensed configuration and metabolic inactivity of metaphase chromosomes are discussed in light of these findings.

The relationship between histone and DNA synthesis in nondividing differentiated chicken erythrocyte cells and in rapidly dividing undifferentiated HeLa cells is also investigated. Of all the histones, only arginine-rich histones are synthesized in mature erythrocytes. Histone synthesis in HeLa cells was studied in both unsynchronized and synchronized cultures. In HeLa cells, only part of the synthesis of all histone fractions is dependent on concurrent DNA synthesis, whereas all histones are synthesized in varying degrees even in the absence of DNA synthesis.

Investigations of nonhistone chromosomal proteins

The major nonhistone chromosomal proteins (NHC proteins) are a group of 14-20 acidic proteins associated with DNA in eukaryotic chromatin. In comparisons by SDS gel electrophoresis (molecular weight sieving) one observes a high degree of homology among the NHC protein fractions of different tissues from a given species. Tissue-specific protein bands are also observed. The appearance of a new NHC protein, A, in the NHC proteins of rat liver stimulated to divide by partial hepatectomy and of rat ascites cells suggests that this protein may play a role in preparing the cell for division. The NHC proteins of the same tissue from different species are also very similar. Quantitative but not qualitative changes in the NHC proteins of rat uterus are observed on stimulation (in vivo) with estrogen. These observations suggest that the major NHC proteins play a general role in chromatin structure and the regulation of genome expression; several may be enzymes of nucleic acid and histone metabolism and/or structural proteins analogous to histones. One such enzyme, a protease which readily and preferentially degrades histones, can be extracted from chromatin with 0.7 N NaCl.

Although the NHC proteins readily aggregate, they can be separated from histone and fractionated by ion exchange chromatography on Sephadex SE C-25 resin in 10 M urea-25% formic acid (pH 2.5). Following further purification, four fractions of NHC protein are obtained; two of these are single purified proteins, and the other two contain 4-6 and 4-7 different proteins. These NHC proteins show a ratio of acidic to basic amino acids from 2.7 to 1.2 and isoelectric points from apparently less than 3.7 to 8.0. These isolated fractions appear more soluble and easier to work with than any whole NHC protein preparation.

长周期光纤光栅气敏薄膜传感器结构优化

基于三包层长周期光纤光栅模型，研究了包层表面涂覆-层溶胶-凝胶气敏薄膜的长周期光纤光栅化学传感器的灵敏度Sn与薄膜光学参量（折射率n3和厚度h3）和光纤光栅结构参量（光栅周期、折变量和光栅长度）之间的关系。采用最优化数值方法，找到了获得高灵敏度所需的最佳膜层光学参量和光栅结构参量。理论计算表明，该类型传感器对膜层折射率的测量分辨率高达10^-8。实验上制作了对乙醇气体敏感的传感器，并证实了传感器结构优化的必要性。

Alcohol-Related Brain Damage in Humans

Chronic excessive alcohol intoxications evoke cumulative damage to tissues and organs. We examined prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's area (BA) 9) from 20 human alcoholics and 20 age, gender, and postmortem delay matched control subjects. H & E staining and light microscopy of prefrontal cortex tissue revealed a reduction in the levels of cytoskeleton surrounding the nuclei of cortical and subcortical neurons, and a disruption of subcortical neuron patterning in alcoholic subjects. BA 9 tissue homogenisation and one dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) proteomics of cytosolic proteins identified dramatic reductions in the protein levels of spectrin beta II, and alpha- and beta-tubulins in alcoholics, and these were validated and quantitated by Western blotting. We detected a significant increase in a-tubulin acetylation in alcoholics, a non-significant increase in isoaspartate protein damage, but a significant increase in protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase protein levels, the enzyme that triggers isoaspartate damage repair in vivo. There was also a significant reduction in proteasome activity in alcoholics. One dimensional PAGE of membrane-enriched fractions detected a reduction in beta-spectrin protein levels, and a significant increase in transmembranous alpha 3 (catalytic) subunit of the Na+, K+-ATPase in alcoholic subjects. However, control subjects retained stable oligomeric forms of a-subunit that were diminished in alcoholics. In alcoholics, significant loss of cytosolic alpha-and beta-tubulins were also seen in caudate nucleus, hippocampus and cerebellum, but to different levels, indicative of brain regional susceptibility to alcohol-related damage. Collectively, these protein changes provide a molecular basis for some of the neuronal and behavioural abnormalities attributed to alcoholics

Biomimetic catalysts based on metalloporphyrin MOFs

Comunicación a congreso (póster): 12th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EuroBIC 12) Zurich, August 24-28 2014.

Avaliação do efeito do inibidor de histona deacetilase Panobinostat (LBH589) no metabolismo energético de células derivadas de câncer de pulmão

Os mecanismos de ação citotóxica do inibidor de histona deacetilase LBH589 foram investigados em associação com o quimioterápico cisplatina (CDDP) em duas linhagens derivadas de câncer de pulmão de não pequenas células (CPNPC). Os resultados foram analisados em relação ao tipo de morte celular associada às alterações em enzimas relacionadas ao metabolismo energético e a via glicolítica. Para realização do trabalho, foram utilizadas as linhagens tumorais A549 (selvagem para o gene de p53) e Calu-1 (nulo para o gene de p53) tratadas com LBH589 em combinação ou não com CDDP. Foram realizadas curvas de tempo e dose-resposta com as drogas isoladamente pelo ensaio de viabilidade celular (MTT) nas duas linhagens para a escolha das melhores condições para o nosso estudo. As condições dos tratamentos isolados com redução da viabilida celular menores que o IC50 de cada fármaco foram selecionados para realização dos tratamentos combinados. As avaliações de apoptose foram realizadas por citometria de fluxo pelo ensaio de Anexina V/PI, e com a marcação de proteínas por Western Blotting. As proteínas relacionadas a via glicolítica foram avaliadas por Western Blotting e a expressão de RNAm por qPCR. Os resultados demonstraram que o LBH589 combinado a CDDP foi capaz de induzir apoptose em 70% das células (Calu-1) e 54,9% (A549) no tempo de 24 horas, e 90% (calu-1) e 62,1% (A549) em 48 horas, independendo, portanto, do status da p53. Os níveis de expressão de enzimas relacionadas com o metabolismos energético também sofreram alterações nos tratamentos estudados. O LBH589 induziu aumento de cerca de 4x dos níveis de RNAm de HK isoformas I e II em ambas as linhagens. Houve também um aumento na expressão proteica das isoformas de HK I e II. Outras enzimas relacionadas a via glicolítica como PFKP, PKM2 e LDHA foram analisadas e apresentaram redução da expressão proteica, principalmente na presença do LBH589. A combinação da CDDP com LBH589 parece ser promissora para o tratamento de CPNPC induzindo apoptose através de alterações no metabolismo energético tumoral.

Efeito do Sistema de Secreção do Tipo VI de Pseudomonas aeruginosa em modelo murino de pneumonia aguda

O Sistema de Secreção do Tipo VI (SST6), o mais recente maquinário de secreção descrito em bactérias Gram-negativas, é amplamente distribuído entre as diversas espécies deste grupo de microrganismos. Esse aparato de secreção é capaz de injetar efetores proteicos em células alvo, eucarióticas e procarióticas. Estudos sobre o papel do SST6 na virulência microbiana revelaram que este sistema secretório participa ativamente do estabelecimento de infecções, contribuindo para a sobrevivência das bactérias no interior de fagócitos. O genoma da cepa PAO1 de Pseudomonas aeruginosa apresenta três loci que codificam aparatos de SST6, denominados de H1-SST6, H2-SST6 e H3-SST6, Porém, pouco se sabe sobre a participação do SST6 na patogênese de infecções por P. aeruginosa. Assim, o presente estudo investigou o papel de H1-SST6, H2-SST6 e H3-SST6 durante a infecção pulmonar aguda de camundongos. Para isso, camundongos C57/BL6 foram infectados com diferentes doses de bactérias da cepa selvagem PAO1 ou das cepas mutantes PAO1∆H1, PAO1∆H2, PAO1∆H3 ou PAO1∆H1∆H2∆H3. Após 24 horas, os lavados broncoalveolares (LBAs) de animais controle e infectados foram recuperados para a contagem de leucócitos totais e polimorfonucleares e para a quantificação, por ELISA, da quimiocina para neutrófilos, KC, e das citocinas pró-inflamatórias IL-1β e TNF-α. Em outros experimentos, os pulmões, fígados, baços e rins dos animais foram macerados para a pesquisa da carga bacteriana e da disseminação sistêmica das bactérias. A citotoxicidade do SST6 foi determinada, in vitro, em neutrófilos humanos, pela marcação com iodeto de propídeo (PI) e anexina-V seguida da análise em citometria de fluxo. Os resultados mostraram que a inativação dos três SST6 reduziu significativamente a concentração de neutrófilos nos LBAs quando os animais foram infectados com 10⁷ Unidades Formadoras de Colônias de P. aeruginosa. Nesta dose, foi observado que as medianas do número de bactérias detectadas nos animais infectados com as mutantes no SST6 foram menores do que as detectadas nos animais infectados com a cepa parental PAO1. As mutações no SST6 não afetaram a disseminação sistêmica da bactéria. A pesquisa da secreção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias mostrou que, embora tenha sido observada uma redução nas medianas das concentrações de TNF-α nos LBAs de camundongos infectados com a cepa PAO1∆H1∆H2∆H3, em relação aos LBAs de camundongos infectados com a cepa parental, essa diferença não foi significativa. Como a pesquisa de IL-1β e KC não contribuiu para a elucidação dos mecanismos envolvidos na redução da concentração de neutrófilos nos LBAs dos camundongos infectados pela cepa tripla mutante, foi pesquisado o possível efeito do SST6 na morte de neutrófilos humanos. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferenças significativas quando as diferentes amostras de células infectadas foram comparedas entre si. Em conclusão, os resultados do presente estudo mostraram que o SST6 pode interferir na resposta de neutrófilos durante a pneumonia aguda, mas estudos adicionais são necessários para determinar o papel deste mecanismo de secreção na patogênese de P. aeruginosa.

Optical and electronic properties of amorphous diamond

The optical and electronic properties of highly tetrahedral amorphous diamond-like carbon (amorphous diamond, a-D) films were investigated. The structure of the films grown on silicon and glass substrates, under similar deposition conditions using a compact filtered cathodic vacuum arc system, are compared using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Results from hydrogenation of the films are also reported. The hydrogenated films show two prominent IR absorption peaks centered at 2920 and 2840 cm-1, which are assigned to the stretch mode of the C-H bond in the sp3 configuration on the C-H3 and C-H sites respectively. The high loss EELS spectra show no reduction in the high sp3 content in the hydrogenated films. UV and visible transmission spectra of a-D thin films are also presented. The optical band gap of 2.0-2.2 eV for the a-D films is found to be consistent with the electronic bandgap. The relationship between the intrinsic compressive stress in the films and the refractive index is also presented. The space charge limited current flow is analyzed and coupled with the optical absorption data to give an estimate of 1018 cm-3 eV-1 for the valence band edge density of states.

藏麻黄与丽江麻黄的形态及遗传变异研究

麻黄属(Ephedra)起源较早，该属植物的形态性状极度退化或简化，可用于经典分类学的有价值的性状非常有限。分布于青藏高原的藏麻黄（E. saxatilis）和丽江麻黄（E. likiangensis）二者间形态相似，性状变异连续，很难分辨，但被《中国植物志》中、英文版作两个种处理。 本文对藏麻黄和丽江麻黄的七个居群、151个个体的叶、雌球花和节间长等形态学性状进行了分析，发现各性状的变异情况在群体间无明显差异。同时我们还对154个个体的叶绿体DNA trnT-trnF和 trnS-trnfM区进行了序列分析，两个片段的联合矩阵长1382bp，共有29个变异位点，其中有9个碱基变异和2个indel，可划分为H1、H2和H3三种单倍型。这3种单倍型在丽江麻黄中均有分布，但藏麻黄仅含H1和H2。 综合来自形态学和分子方面的证据，我们发现藏麻黄和丽江麻黄的关系非常近缘，因此建议予以合并。同时本文还以膜果麻黄（E. przewalskii）为外类群，从谱系生物地理学角度探讨了三种叶绿体单倍型的进化关系，发现H2最原始，分布最广;H1与其它两种单倍型间的序列差异较大，可能是较进化的类型。此外，无性克隆的繁殖方式可能是导致Ephedra单倍型非常简单的重要原因之一。

苍山冷杉复合体的居群遗传变异与谱系地理学

青藏高原为冷杉属(Abies)的多度中心，共分布有10种，9变种和4亚种。其中苍山冷杉复合体(Abies delavayi complex)包括3种，5变种和2亚种。它们的形态性状变异较小，且分布区重叠。迄今对该复合体的遗传多样性水平、分化程度以及进化历史仍缺乏了解。 本研究对苍山冷杉复合体的14个居群、302个个体进行取样，并对193个个体的母系遗传线粒体DNA nad1 intron2区和276个个体的父系遗传的叶绿体DNA trnS-trnG区进行了序列分析。该复合体的线粒体DNA nad1 intron2区的序列为675bp，其中有4个单碱基变异和1个插入/缺失，可分为6种线粒体单倍型。这14个居群的线粒体总核苷酸多态性(π)为0.00114，单倍型多态性(Hd)为0.627，居群间的遗传变异(FST)高达84.034%。叶绿体DNA trnS-trnG区的序列排列后为718bp，共有8个单碱基变异和4个插入/缺失，可分为12种叶绿体单倍型。这14个居群的总核苷酸多态性(π)为0.00116，单倍型多态性(Hd)为0.590，居群间的遗传变异(FST)为65.830%。以上结果显示苍山冷杉复合体居群间已经产生了强烈的遗传分化。叶绿体的3种主导单倍型(H1、H2和 H3)在YLXS、SKXS、GS和WX 4个居群中都有分布;而其它居群则只有主导单倍型(除SJLS外)中的1种或2种。造成边缘居群(如JZS)多样性较低的主要原因是冰期后群体在迁移过程中的遗传漂变和奠基者效应。根据谱系关系线粒体H1型和叶绿体H3型均为较古老的单倍型，线粒体和叶绿体的谱系关系均支持上述分析。 本研究初步推测青藏高原的东南部—横断山区(包括YLXS、SKXS、GS、WX、BMXS、ELS和EMS)可能为苍山冷杉复合体的冰期避难所，群体存在冰期后向西和向南扩张的过程。间冰期群体隔离和扩张过程中的奠基者效应是形成目前居群分化和遗传多样性分布格局的重要因素。

蔷薇类的分子系统学研究—兼论系统发育基因组学的原理和方法(以SET基因超家族为例)

分子系统发育分析的主要任务包括：（1）帮助建立生命之树（tree of life）;（2）追踪基因和基因家族（gene family）的起源和进化, 以获知基因在进化过程中的功能分化和伴随发生的重要分子事件（key molecular events）和形态性状的关键创新（key innovation）。这两个方面在本研究中都有所涉及。对于前者，选用植物线粒体matR基因重建被子植物蔷薇类群的系统发育关系;对于后者，则以SET基因超家族为例，探讨其在真核生物中的进化分类以及与功能多样性的关系。 I 蔷薇类的分子系统学 蔷薇类（rosids）是基于分子数据建立的被子植物的主要分支之一，包含13个目，大约三分之一的被子植物物种。两个主要蔷薇类内部分支是豆类fabids（包含7个目）和锦葵类malvids（包含3个目）。然而，这两个分支内部，以及这两个分支与蔷薇类基部类群，包括牻牛儿苗目（Geraniales）、桃金娘目（Myrtales）和流苏子目（Crossosomatales）之间的关系大多是不清楚的。本研究中，我们选取174个物种来代表72个蔷薇类（rosids）的科，利用两个数据集，即线粒体matR单基因数据集和包括线粒体matR基因、两个质体基因(rbcL、 atpB)和一个核基因(18S rDNA) 的4基因数据集，重建蔷薇类在科以上分类阶元水平的系统发育关系。同时，还对线粒体matR基因的进化特征和用于大尺度系统发育分析的适合度和潜力进行了评价。 线粒体matR单基因数据支持malvids和大多数蔷薇类目的单系性质，然而，豆类（fabids）成员没有形成一个分支，其COM亚支，包括卫矛目（Celastrales）、酢浆草目（Oxalidales）、金虎尾目（Malpighiales）和蒜树科（Huaceae），分辨为锦葵类（malvids）的姐妹群。这个关系在最近根据花结构特征曾被提出过，但从未在之前的分子系统发育分析中得到分辨。4基因数据集支持首先是牻牛儿苗目（Geraniales），接着是桃金娘目（Myrtales）作为蔷薇类（rosids）的最基部的分支;流苏子目（Crossosomatales）是锦葵类（malvids）姐妹群，以及蔷薇类（rosids）的核心部分包括豆类（fabids），锦葵类（malvids）和流苏子目（Crossosomatales）。线粒体matR基因的进化特征分析显示，与两个叶绿体基因(rbcL 和atpB)比较，同义替代速率约是它们的1/4，而非同义替代速率接近于自身的同义替代速率，表明matR 基因具有松弛的选择压力。线粒体matR基因相对慢速的进化使非同源相似（homoplasious）突变减少，提高了系统发育信息的质量，同时，松弛的选择压力使非同义替代数量增加，弥补了慢速进化导致的系统发育信息数量不足的缺陷，这两个方面的结合使线粒体matR基因非常适用于被子植物在科以上水平的系统发育研究。 II SET基因超家族的系统发育基因组学分析 SET基因超家族基因编码含有SET结构域的蛋白，在真核生物中，SET-domain蛋白一般是多结构域（multi-domain）的。SET-domain蛋白具有对组蛋白H3和H4的N末端尾部进行赖氨酸残基甲基化修饰的酶活性;从异染色质形成到基因转录，甲基化的组蛋白广泛影响染色质水平的基因调控。依据SET结构域一级序列的相似性和结构域组织（domain architecture）特征，目前，SET-domain基因超家族被划分为4-7个家族。由于这些划分或者使用动物或者使用植物SET基因，只有少数其它类群的物种加入分析，因此这样的划分可能是不完整的。本研究采用系统发育基 因组学方法（phylogenomic approach），在真核生物范围内广泛取样，期望获得相对完整的SET-domain基因家族的 进化分类方案，在此基础上加深理解SET-domain基因的进化机制和功能多样性。 在提取了17个物种，代表5个真核超群的SET蛋白序列基础上，系统发育分析结合“结构域组织特征”鉴别了9个SET基因家族，其中一个是新的SET基因家族。以前的SET8和Class VI家族,及SMYD和SUV4-20家族分别合并为一个家族。大部分家族在进化过程中发生了2次以上的基因重复事件，通过获得不同的结构域产生具有不同功能的新基因。一个SET基因家族在进化过程中推测发生了从脊椎动物祖先向盘基网柄菌（Dictyostelium discoideum）的水平基因转移。

固氮菌突变种DJ35钼铁蛋白和UW3细菌铁蛋白的纯化、特性、晶体生长及鉴定

一、棕色固氮菌突变种DJ35固氮酶钼铁蛋白的纯化、体外重组及结晶研究 　　棕色固氮菌(Azotobacter vinelandii Lipmann)突变种DJ35的菌体破碎后，所得的未经加热的粗提物经DEAE Cellulose 52柱层析后得到部分纯的钼铁蛋白（ΔnifE Av1）和铁蛋白(Av2)。部分纯的ΔnifE Av1再经Sephacryl S-300和Q-Sepharose Fast Flow柱层析进一步纯化，便首次得到SDS凝胶电泳检测为基本纯的ΔnifE Av1。SDS-PAGE及Western blotting的结果表明，ΔnifE Av1具有与野生型棕色固氮菌钼铁蛋白(OP Av1)相同的亚基种类和组成（α2β2）。质子还原活性测定表明，在与Av2进行活性互补时ΔnifE Av1不具有明显的质子还原活性，而与从OP Av1抽提出的FeMoco抽提液保温后便可与Av2实现活性互补。这表明，ΔnifE Av1是一种缺失FeMoco的钼铁蛋白。 　　将ΔnifE Av1用过量的邻菲啰啉(o-phenanthroline)厌氧处理并经Sephadex G-25柱层析分离后，便得到部分丢失Fe的ΔnifE Av1©。在同时存在Av2和MgATP发生系统的条件下，ΔnifE Av1©, 而不是处理前的ΔnifE Av1，可为由KMnO4或Na2CrO4、高柠檬酸铁、Na2S、Na2S2O4 和二硫苏糖醇组成的含Mn或含Cr重组液(RS-Mn或RS-Cr)显著激活，但在缺少MgATP或Av2的条件下，RS-Mn和RS-Cr则不能激活ΔnifE Av1©。这就表明，RS-Mn和RS-Cr对ΔnifE Av1©的激活都需要邻菲啰啉的预处理及Av2和MgATP的同时存在。从分别缺失nifZ和nifB点突变的固氮菌突变种DJ194和UW45中纯化得到的钼铁蛋白，ΔnifZ Av1和NifB- Av1，经邻菲啰啉厌氧处理并经Sephadex G-25柱层析分离后，也分别得到部分丢失Fe的ΔnifZ Av1©和NifB- Av1©。与ΔnifE Av1©一样，这两种蛋白在Av2和MgATP同时存在时也可被RS-Cr和含Mo重组液（RS-Mo）明显激活。 　　为获得可供X-射线衍射的ΔnifE Av1的大单晶，对组成蛋白质沉淀剂的各种化合物的种类和浓度、缓冲液的pH值、结晶方法及蛋白样品的批次、浓度等结晶条件进行了大量优化研究。首次获得了ΔnifE Av1的深棕色短斜四棱柱晶体，并对其蛋白组成进行了鉴定。 二、铬铁蛋白中残存的棕色固氮菌细菌铁蛋白的晶体生长及鉴定 　　从无钼、无氨而含铬的固氮培养基中生长的棕色固氮菌突变种UW3中纯化得到了部分纯的CrFe蛋白。在试图培养CrFe蛋白大晶体时发现，棕色晶体和砖红色晶体可同时或单独出现。SDS-和厌氧天然-PAGE皆表明，棕色晶体主要由与Av1类似大小的亚基（~60 kD）组成，而砖红色晶体则主要由~20 kD亚基组成。Western-blotting表明只有~60 kD亚基可与OP Av1的抗体发生反应，而~20 kD亚基则无这种反应。在部分纯的CrFe蛋白中，~20 kD的蛋白含量远低于~60 kD蛋白的含量，表明由这种小亚基组成的蛋白只是CrFe蛋白中的一种污染蛋白。用3,5-二氨基苯甲酸染色的天然电泳表明，形成砖红色和棕色晶体的蛋白是迁移率不同的两种含铁蛋白。质谱分析表明，该晶体蛋白为棕色固氮菌的细菌铁蛋白（AvBF）。分辨率为2.34 Å的X-射线衍射结果也表明，砖红色晶体属于H3空间群，晶胞参数为a = 124.965 Å, b= 124.965 Å 和 c = 287.406 Å。首次完成的结构解析也表明，这种砖红色晶体确为24聚体的AvBF。 关键词：棕色固氮菌突变种DJ35和UW3; ΔnifE Av1; 铬铁蛋白; 细菌铁蛋白; 纯化和特性; 体外激活组装; 晶体生长及组成鉴定