Identity of the 19S 'prosome' particle with the large multifunctional protease complex of mammalian cells (the proteasome)

There have been many reports that eukaryotic cells contain ring-shaped 19S or 20S particles which are composed of numerous polypeptide subunits ranging in size between 25 and 35 kilodaltons. Because these particles seemed to copurify with inactive mRNA, they were assumed to function in regulating mRNA translation and hence were named 'prosomes' (for 'programmed-o-some'). A number of properties have been reported for these structures, including an association with specific RNA species or with certain heat-shock proteins and involvement in tRNA processing or aminoacyl tRNA synthesis. However, these proposed activities have not been supported by definitive evidence. During studies of the proteolytic systems in mammalian tissues, we noted many similarities between these 19S particles and the high molecular weight protease complexes that are present in most or all eukaryotic cells. This (700 kilodalton) enzyme complex, designated here as LAMP for 'large alkaline multi-functional protease', contains three distinct endoproteolytic sites which function at neutral or alkaline pH and are specific for hydrolysis of proteins, hydrophobic peptides, or basic peptides. This protease also exists in a latent form which can be activated by polylysine, fatty acids, or ATP. In this report, we show that the prosomes and these protease complexes are very similar or identical with respect to their size, polypeptide composition, immunological cross-reactivity, appearance in the electron microscope, radial symmetry of subunits, subcellular localization, and proteolytic activities. Therefore, the 'prosome' probably plays a critical role in intracellular protein breakdown, and we propose that it be renamed 'proteasome'.     

Arctic dipole anomaly and summer rainfall in Northeast China

A dipole structure anomaly in summer Arctic atmospheric variability is identified in this study, which is characterized by the second mode of empirical orthogonal function （EOF） analysis of summer monthly mean sea level pressure （SLP） north of 70°N, accounting for 12.94% of the variance. The dipole anomaly shows a quasi-barotropic structure with opposite anomalous centers over the Canadian Arctic and the Beaufort Sea and between the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea. The dipole anomaly reflects alternating variations in location of the polar vortex between the western and eastern Arctic regions. The positive phase of the dipole anomaly corresponds to the center of the polar vortex over the western Arctic, leading to an increase in summer mean rainfall in Northeast China. The dipole anomaly has a predominant 6-year periodicity, and shows interdecadal variations in recent decades.     

Temperature and precipitation in Mongolia based on dendroclimatic investigations

Recent tree-ring studies in Mongolia provide evidence of unusual warming that is in agreement with large-scal reconstructed and recorded temperaturec for the Northern Hemisphere and the Arctic.One Mongolian proxy record for temperature extends back over 1000 years and several others are over 350 years in length.Precipitation reconstructions based on thee rings reflect recent increases but also indicate that the increases are within the long-term range of varlations.Spectral analyses of recorded preciplta-tion data and the reconstructions support the hypotheses of quasi-solar periodicity in precipitation variation,previously suggested by others.     

Rapid and early export of Phaeocystis antarctica blooms in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

The Southern Ocean is very important for the potential sequestration of carbon dioxide in the oceans and is expected to be vulnerable to changes in carbon export forced by anthropogenic climate warming. Annual phytoplankton blooms in seasonal ice zones are highly productive and are thought to contribute significantly to pCO2 drawdown in the Southern Ocean. Diatoms are assumed to be the most important phytoplankton class with respect to export production in the Southern Ocean; however, the colonial prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis antarctica regularly forms huge blooms in seasonal ice zones and coastal Antarctic waters. There is little evidence regarding the fate of carbon produced by P. antarctica in the Southern Ocean, although remineralization in the upper water column has been proposed to be the main pathway in polar waters. Here we present evidence for early and rapid carbon export from P. antarctica blooms to deep water and sediments in the Ross Sea. Carbon sequestration from P. antarctica blooms may influence the carbon cycle in the Southern Ocean, especially if projected climatic changes lead to an alteration in the structure of the phytoplankton community.     

铑催化剂上CO的吸附态及其加氢反应

用红外光谱法测定表明：各种硅胶负载仲进型铑催化剂上，线ＣＯ／桥ＣＯ红外吸收强度比值与金属助剂（Ｍ）的关系变化顺序为（５０：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｍｎ）〉（２２：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｌｉ）〉（９．１：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｍｎ－Ｆｅ－Ｌｉ）〉（３．５：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｆｅ）〉２．８：１）（Ｒｈ）。在各种Ｒｈ－Ｍ／ＳｉＯ２催化剂上，线、桥ＣＯ吸附态的加氢原位ＦＴＩＲ跟踪实验表明：随着加氢的进行，线ＣＯ／桥ＣＯ吸收强度比值均逐渐减少…     

Heat shock response inDrosophila

Major alterations in genetic activity have been observed in every organism after exposure to abnormally high temperatures. This phenomenon, called the heat shock response, was discovered in the fruit flyDrosophila. Studies with this organism led to the discovery of the heat shock proteins, whose genes were among the first eukaryotic genes to be cloned. Several of the most important aspects of the regulation of the heat shock response and of the functions of the heat shock proteins have been unraveled inDrosophila.     

Marine microorganisms and global nutrient cycles

The way that nutrients cycle through atmospheric, terrestrial, oceanic and associated biotic reservoirs can constrain rates of biological production and help structure ecosystems on land and in the sea. On a global scale, cycling of nutrients also affects the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Because of their capacity for rapid growth, marine microorganisms are a major component of global nutrient cycles. Understanding what controls their distributions and their diverse suite of nutrient transformations is a major challenge facing contemporary biological oceanographers. What is emerging is an appreciation of the previously unknown degree of complexity within the marine microbial community.     

Agricultural runoff fuels large phytoplankton blooms in vulnerable areas of the ocean

Biological productivity in most of the world's oceans is controlled by the supply of nutrients to surface waters. The relative balance between supply and removal of nutrients--including nitrogen, iron and phosphorus--determines which nutrient limits phytoplankton growth. Although nitrogen limits productivity in much of the ocean, large portions of the tropics and subtropics are defined by extreme nitrogen depletion. In these regions, microbial denitrification removes biologically available forms of nitrogen from the water column, producing substantial deficits relative to other nutrients. Here we demonstrate that nitrogen-deficient areas of the tropical and subtropical oceans are acutely vulnerable to nitrogen pollution. Despite naturally high nutrient concentrations and productivity, nitrogen-rich agricultural runoff fuels large (54-577 km2) phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of California. Runoff exerts a strong and consistent influence on biological processes, in 80% of cases stimulating blooms within days of fertilization and irrigation of agricultural fields. We project that by the year 2050, 27-59% of all nitrogen fertilizer will be applied in developing regions located upstream of nitrogen-deficient marine ecosystems. Our findings highlight the present and future vulnerability of these ecosystems to agricultural runoff.