A single site on the epsilon subunit is responsible for the change in ACh receptor channel conductance during skeletal muscle development.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y C Zheng.
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In this study, microcomputer image processing and pattern recognition technology, and the knowledge of morphology and optical characteristics of Cryptococcus neoformans were used for identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. Four groups of mice were lethally infected with standard strain, Wuhan strain, American B-2643 strain and Var. Shanghainesis of the Cryptococcus neoformans. The samples collected included mice brain, lung, kidney, liver, small intestine tissue and were observed under a light microscope. More than 600 images of the fungus were input into a microcomputer. A system of computer for automatic identification of the Cryptococcus neoformans was developed. The technique involved image preprocessing, image segmenting, coding of line-length on the edge, curve fitting, extracting of image feature, building of image library and feature data bank etc.. And then, 768 images of the clinical samples and other fungus samples whose morphological features tend to be confused with Cryptococcus neoformans were input into microcomputer and subjected to automatic identification. The Cryptococcus neoformans was accurately identified within 15 min, and the consistency rate with results of routine culture was 98%.
Four critically positioned amino acids on each of the alpha, beta, delta, and gamma subunits of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are determinants of channel conductance. Our results show that the gamma and epsilon subunits of Xenopus muscle receptors are identical at all four positions, despite the fact that alpha 2 beta delta epsilon receptors have a 50% greater conductance than alpha 2 beta delta gamma receptors. Instead, the functional difference is conferred by a single charged residue that lies extracellular to all four positions, corresponding to a location in the Torpedo receptor previously shown to have no influence on conductance. Substitution of a positively charged lysine residue in gamma by the neutral methionine in epsilon at this extra-cellular position is responsible for the increased conductance during maturation of the amphibian neuromuscular junction.
A cDNA encoding the beta subunit of the Xenopus muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) was cloned from an embryonic Xenopus cDNA library. The predicted mature polypeptide has 469 amino acids and four membrane spanning regions corresponding to the M1-M4 regions identified in other AChR subunit clones. The polypeptide bears greater homology to beta subunits of Torpedo and mouse than to alpha, gamma or delta subunits of Xenopus. The earliest beta subunit transcripts were detected by RNase protection assays at the neural plate stage of development (stage 14) and the level of transcripts, as a fraction of total RNA, continued to increase through the age of hatching (stages 34-36). Co-injection of Xenopus alpha, beta, gamma and delta cRNAs into Xenopus oocytes led to expression of functional AChRs. Micromolar concentrations of ACh activated depolarizing AChR currents which reversed at -5 mV and were blocked by alpha bungarotoxin. Injection of alpha, gamma and delta subunits alone did not yield detectable ACh responses. With the cloning of the Xenopus beta subunit, structure/function relations of AChRs can now be studied using receptors composed entirely of Xenopus subunits.
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The ultrastructure of 5 griseofulvin-resistant fungi of favus was studied by image processing with microcomputer. It was found that the cell walls of the fungi consisted of 8 layers, and the inner layer containing cytoplasm was loose. It was also found that all structures within the cytoplasm possessed a 1-3 layers integral envelope with chromatins in the nucleus. These might be contributing factors in the development of resistance to griseofulvin. This multiple-layered, thick cell wall might act as a barrier responsible for the impermeability of the cell to griseofulvin.
Clinical, experimental and electronmicroscopic observations, and computer-enhanced images were made on 5 patients with tinea favosa resistant to griseofulvin. The pathologic fungus was identified as the Mongolian variant of Trichophyton schoenleini. The results of physical examinations, routine tests of blood, urine and stool, liver and immunologic function examinations were normal in all of the 5 patients. Under scanning electron microscopy, the surface of the spore showed pineapple-like form, the cluster of the acrogenous spores presented flower shape, and the antler-like hyphae appeared twisted in the culture. They were observed by transmission electron microscope and the images were processed by microcomputer. It was found that the cell walls of the fungi consisted of 8 layers, among which the inner layer was loose and contained cytoplasm. It was also found that all structures within the cytoplasm possessed a 1-3 layer intact envelope and there was chromatin in the nucleus. These may be contributing factors in the development of resistance to griseofulvin. This multiple-layered thick cell wall may act as a barrier responsible for the impermeability of the cell of fungi to griseofulvin.
This paper analysed 102 strains of adenovirus types 3(Ad3) and 7(Ad7) causing infant pneumonia from 1976 to 1988 in northern China. Two genotypes of Ad7, 7b and 7d, were identified by using restriction endonucleases, BamHI, BcLI, BgLI, SmaI, XbaI and HindIII. 3 genotypes of Ad3, 3I, 3II and 3III, were identified by using BgLII and BamHI. Of 56 Ad7 strains, 34 were 7b (76.8%) spread over last 10 years; 13 7d(23.2%) occurred from 1982, together with 7b. Of 46 Ad3 strains, 42 3I(91.3%) spread over the past 12 years. 3II and 3III scattered all over these years. Ad3I and Ad7b were the dominant genotypes. The results indicated that Ad7d tended to increase with time from 1982. It is possible that Ad7d will become dominant genotype and replace Ad7b.
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