Two mechanisms for the recapture of extracellular GM2 activator protein: evidence for a major secretory form of the protein

The GM2 activator protein is a small monomeric protein containing a single site for Asn-linked glycosylation. Its only proven in vivo function is to act as a substrate specific cofactor for the hydrolysis of GM2 ganglioside by lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase A. However, we and others have shown it can act as a general glycolipid transporter at neutral pH in vitro. Any other possible in vivo functions would require that some of the newly synthesized activator molecules not be targeted to the lysosome. The lysosomal targeting mechanism for the activator has not been conclusively identified. While earlier reports suggested that it is likely through the mannose-6-phosphate receptor, another more recent report demonstrated that deficient human cells could recapture nonglycosylated, bacterially produced activator, suggesting its use of an alternate targeting pathway. Here, we demonstrate that the mannose-6-phosphate pathway is likely the major intracellular, biosynthetic route to the lysosome, as well as a high affinity recapture pathway for the endocytosis of activator protein from extracellular fluids. Additionally, we show that there exists a second lower affinity recapture pathway that requires its native protein structure, is carbohydrate independent, and likely does not involve its ability to bind glycosphingolipids in the plasma membrane. Finally, we document that the pool of newly synthesized precursor activator protein contains a majority of molecules with a complex-type oligosaccharide, which cannot contain a functional mannose-6-phosphate targeting signal. These molecules makeup the secreted forms of the protein in normal human fibroblasts.     

Independent modulation of horse airway smooth muscle by epithelium and prostanoids

The effects of epithelial removal and cyclooxygenase inhibition on contractions induced by exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) were evaluated in horse tracheal strips and bronchial rings. Epithelial removal potentiated the response to ACh but had no influence on the response to EFS. The effect of epithelial removal was not altered by pretreating the tissues with meclofenamate, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. In trachealis strips, meclofenamate augmented contractions induced by EFS but not by ACh. In bronchial rings, meclofenamate augmented EFS-induced contraction to a greater extent than ACh-induced contraction. These effects of meclofenamate were epithelium-independent. We conclude that horse airway epithelium produces a relaxant factor that is not a prostanoid. Endogenous prostanoids originating from non-epithelial sites inhibit only cholinergic nerves in the trachea but both parasympathetic nerves and smooth muscle in the bronchi.     

The effects of retinol on in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis by cord blood and adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells

In this study we examined the effects of retinol (ROH), a metabolic precursor of retinoic acid (RA), on Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC)-induced immunoglobulin synthesis of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). ROH augmented SAC-induced IgM synthesis of CBMC by 5.9 +/- 1.5-fold (n = 7, mean +/- s.d.), and IgG synthesis of adult PBMC by 16.3 +/- 5.1-fold (n = 3) at optimal concentrations of 10(-6) M and 10(-11) M, respectively. No augmenting effects could be demonstrated for the other immunoglobulin isotypes. Time-course studies showed that the synthesis of IgM by CBMC was accelerated with detectable immunoglobulin in supernatant fluids starting on day 3. ROH augmented immunoglobulin synthesis of CBMC stimulated by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a T cell-independent polyclonal activator, and of EBV-transformed B cell clones (2.5 +/- 0.2 and 4.1 +/- 1.5-fold increase, respectively), which suggests that ROH can act directly on B cells to enhance immunoglobulin synthesis. In contrast, when ROH was preincubated with cord blood T cells, washed and added to the B cell-enriched fraction with SAC, no increase (0.9-1.8-fold) in IgM synthesis was obtained. Thus, the principal mechanism(s) by which ROH augments immunoglobulin synthesis is by acting on B cells. This is in contrast to the immunoglobulin-enhancing effects of RA which is mediated by T cells, or T cell products, e.g. cytokine. Our studies suggest that RA and ROH may have different pathways of immunoglobulin-enhancing effects, perhaps mediated by different retinoid binding proteins resulting in gene activation and immunoglobulin synthesis.     

含淀粉聚乙烯膜的时控光降解研究

使用复合光降解剂，得到了可光降解的生物降解膜。对膜的光降解进行了考察，并对影响光降解的因素进行了讨论，结果表明，我们所制得的膜是一种较好的时控光降解膜。     

A neural network model for the wire bonding process

A crucial step in manufacturing microcircuits is the wire bonding process in which a very thin gold wire must be formed to connect two surfaces in the microcircuit. The quality of the wire bond can be measured by visual inspection and a pull test—both of which are high-reliability, high-cost approaches to statistical process control. Westinghouse wanted to develop a high-reliability, low-cost quality assurance system. In this paper, we report on a year-long study to construct a neural network model that is capable of predicting the quality of wire bonds. The results of our modeling efforts reveal that neural networks are useful tools for statistical process control problems.     

工业产品的艺术造型与技术美学

本文从技术美学的角度，广义的介绍了工业产品艺术造型的基本方法，着重从美学原则和色彩设计两方面论述产品造型设计的手法，以及技术美学在产品造型设计中的基本应用。     

各种状态的液体通过核孔膜的规律

介绍了液体通过核孔膜规律方面取得的新认识，包括：（１）纯净液体通过核孔膜的规律；（２）核孔膜测定液体粘滞系数的各种方法；（３）各种物质溶液浓度的核孔膜测定；（４）液相混合物快速分离和化学分离；（５）流体中固体微粒对核孔膜的堵塞及其公式；（６）用核孔膜滤除液中各各斩规律。     

电子型／离子型导电高分子共混物

用苯胺在酸性水溶液中的进行化学氧化聚合合成了能溶于Ｎ－甲基吡咯烷酮的高分子量聚苯胺（ＰＡｎ），并用这种ＰＡｎ与一种高分子固态离子导体－－聚乙二醇聚醚氨酯脲（ＰＥＵＵ）和ＬｉＣｌＯ４的复合物（ＰＥＵＵ－ＬｉＣｌＯ４）进行溶液共混制得了具有电子型／离子型两种导电功能的新型高分子共混物。用差示扫描量热法、动态粘弹仪、应力－应变试验、四探针法和交流阻抗谱对这种高分子共混物进行研究。实验结果表明，上述ＰＡｎ