The 70 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of nascent secretory proteins are protected from proteolysis by the ribosome and the protein translocation apparatus of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane

We have used proteolysis to examine the environment through which nascent secretory proteins are translocated across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. After solubilization of rough microsomes with detergent, fragments comprised of the approximately 70 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of translocating nascent chains initiated and targeted in vivo were protected from digestion by added proteases. About 40 amino acids of nascent chains were protected from proteolysis by the ribosome; thus, membrane-derived components protect an additional 30 amino acids. Under conditions in which those 30 additional amino acids are protected, only a small set of integral membrane proteins remained associated with the ribosome. These proteins include the Sec61 complex previously identified as the core component of the membrane-bound protein translocation apparatus. These results support the concept of a translocation pore that makes intimate contact with the ribosome and thereby protects nascent chains from proteolytic digestion for an additional, constant length.     

Cytoskeletal changes during neurogenesis in cultures of avain neural crest cells

Neural crest cells are motile and mitotic, whereas their neuronal derivatives are terminally post-mitotic and consist of stationary cell body from which processes grow. The present study documents changes in the cytoskeleton that occur during neurogenesis in cultures of avain neural crest cells. The undifferentiated neural crest cells contain dense bundles of actin filaments throughout their cytoplasm, and a splayed array of microtubules attached to the centrosome. In newly differentiating neurons, the actin bundles are disrupted and most of the remaining actin filaments are reorganized into a cortical layer underlying the plasma membrane of the cell body and processes. Microtubules are more abundant in newly-differentiating neurons than in the undifferentiated cells, and individual microtubules can be seen dissociated from the centrosome. Neuron-specific beta-III tubulin appears in some crest cells prior to cessation of motility and cell division, and expression increases with total microtubule levels during neurogenesis. To investigate how these early cytoskeletal changes might contribute to alterations in morphology during neurogenesis, we have disrupted the cytoskeleton with pharmacologic agents. Microfilament disruption by cytochalasin immediately arrests the movement of neural crest cells and causes them to round-up, but does not significantly change the morphology of the immature neurons. Microtubule depolymerization by nocodazole slows the movement of undifferentiated cells and causes retraction of processes extended by the immature neurons. These results suggest that changes in the actin and microtubule arrays within neural crest cells govern distinct aspects of their morphogenesis into neurons.     

Efficacy of monensin for the prevention of subclinical ketosis in lactating dairy cows

A total of 1010 dry cows and pregnant heifers was randomly selected from 25 dairy farms near Guelph, Ontario, Canada to receive either a controlled-release capsule of monensin or a placebo at 3 wk prior to expected calving. Serum samples were obtained at the time of treatment administration, and both serum and milk samples were collected at wk 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 postcalving. The threshold used to define subclinical ketosis was selected a priori at a concentration of > or = 1200 mumol/L of beta-hydroxybutyrate. Using this threshold, the prevalence and incidence of subclinical ketosis were significantly reduced (50%) by monensin treatment. The duration of subclinical ketosis for cows that had been treated with monensin was also shorter than that for cows treated with the placebo. Monensin treatment significantly reduced the incidence of subclinical ketosis when the threshold was defined using higher concentrations of serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (1400 and 2000 mumol/L). In addition, monensin significantly reduced the prevalence of positive milk ketone tests.     

10MeV中子引起的~（238）U，~（209）Bi，Fe和~9Be的次级中子

１０ＭｅＶ中子引起的￣（２３８）Ｕ，￣（２０９）Ｂｉ，Ｆｅ和￣９Ｂｅ的次级中子双微分截面测量祁步嘉，唐洪庆，周祖英，周陈维，沈冠仁，柯尊建，孙振强，夏海鸿（中国原子能科学研究院核物理所，北京２７５－４６信箱，１０２４１３）次级中子双微分截面是核工程设...     

用含Pb、As、Sn地方生铁砂型铸造生产D型石墨铸铁的研究

基于Ph、As、Sn等元素有增大铁液过冷倾向的作用，利用含Ph、As、Sn的地方生铁，采用合金化和砂型铸造可以获得D型石墨铸铁，对其工艺方案进行了研究。用正交试验法设计试验方案，得到最佳工艺方案为：在亚共晶成分（WB％：3．2C，2．1si）的铁液中加入适量的铝（0．6％）和钛（0．8％），可以得到含有100％D型石墨的铸铁，其抗拉强度最高可达276MPa。