Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

X J Yang

Publications and source records attributed to X J Yang.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Determination of metoprolol in plasma by gas chromatography and electron-capture detection].

A method is described to determine metoprolol in plasma by GC-ECD. Metoprolol and alprenolol (internal standard) reacted rapidly with heptafluorobutyric anhydride under the catalysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) after being extracted from plasma with cyclohexane. The derivatives produced quantitatively were identified by GC-MSD to be diheptafluorobutyl metoprolol and dihepatafluorobutyl alpredolol which were then separated and detected by 3% SE-30 packed glass column (2m x 3 mm) equipped with ECD. The detection limit was 1 ng/ml and the linear range was 10-1500 ng/ml (r = 0.9993). Average recovery from spiked plasma was 97.30%. The coefficient of variation of day-to-day and within-day were less than 8% and 7%, respectively. The method has been applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of metoprolol and also applied to clinical monitoring of metoprolol levels in patients.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1989

Specificity and mechanism of antitermination by Q proteins of bacteriophages lambda and 82.

Lambdoid phage late gene operons are positively regulated by genome-specific antiterminator proteins encoded by the Q gene of each phage. In this paper, we compare the activity of phage lambda and phage 82 Q proteins. Q82-mediated antitermination, like that of Q lambda, involves a transcription pause during which the regulator can modify RNA polymerase. We show that the activities of both Q82 and Q lambda are genome-specific in chasing RNA polymerase out of the early pause sites and in mediating antitermination. Finally, we show that the length of the RNA in the paused complex, or the exact position of the pause, affects the efficiency with which Q82 chases RNA polymerase out of the pause.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Early transcribed sequences affect termination efficiency of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

We have constructed novel transcription templates in which we have fused the late gene promoters of Escherichia coli phages lambda and 82 upstream from three different rho-independent transcription terminators. Using an in vitro transcription assay and an in vivo galactokinase expression assay, we find that the initial portion of the transcribed region significantly affects the efficiency of some downstream terminators. We have identified, by deletion, substitution and point mutation analysis, sequences responsible for these increased levels of factor-independent readthrough. Since these important sequences occur within about 30 nucleotides of the RNA start site, we suggest that the initial portion of the transcript can affect termination efficiency.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMed1989

Gene Q antiterminator proteins of Escherichia coli phages 82 and lambda suppress pausing by RNA polymerase at a rho-dependent terminator and at other sites.

The Q genes of phages lambda and 82 encode transcription antiterminators that are active in vitro in a purified transcription system. Transcription termination is thought to involve two distinct steps: pausing of the transcription complex at the terminator and release of enzyme and RNA; either or both steps might be inhibited by Q protein. We show that Q-modified RNA polymerase pauses much less efficiently than does unmodified enzyme at the natural pause sites of a rho-dependent terminator as well as at other pause sites. This changed behavior can account for the termination properties of Q-modified RNA polymerase and reflects a fundamental alteration of the elongation properties of the enzyme.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1989

[Influence of zinc deprivation on thymus, spleen development and adenosine deaminase activity in young rats].

This study on the thymus and spleen development and ADA activity was done in young rats with zinc deprivation and supplementation. The serum zinc level, body weight, absolute and relative weight, and ADA activity of the thymus and spleen were compared between the experimental rats and the control group. Above indications were all decreased; especially both the thymus weight and the thymus ADA activity were markedly decreased in the zinc deficient group. The averages of thymic absolute weight, relative weight and ADA activity were dropped by 61.32%, 54.54% and 47.59%, respectively. After zinc supplementation for one month, all the body weight, weight of the thymus and spleen, and ADA activity of the spleen were recovered to the control group's level, while ADA activity of the thymus was 33.03% higher than that of the control group. Our data suggested that zinc was not only an important trace element in maintaining the growth of the body, the development of the thymus and spleen, but it may be an important agent to activate the ADA or to prompt synthesis of ADA.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1987

Transcription antitermination by phage lambda gene Q protein requires a DNA segment spanning the RNA start site.

The gene Q protein of phage lambda is a transcription antiterminator that modifies RNA polymerase near the phage late gene promoter and thereby causes antitermination at distant sites. To define the site of action of Q protein, we have reconstructed the regulatory system on plasmids that allow the intracellular concentration of Q protein to be regulated, and that allow the effect of Q protein on transcription from variant promoter segments to be measured in vivo and in vitro. We show that DNA sequences essential for Q protein-mediated antitermination span the RNA start site, but do not extend beyond nucleotide 18 of the late RNA coding region. We also show that the modification that permits antitermination persists while RNA polymerase passes at least two terminators in vivo and in vitro.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1986

Census and survey of wild black-crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor concolor) in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.

Black-crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor concolor) inhabit the subtropical forests of Southern China and Northern Vietnam, and have never previously been the subject of any systematic behavioral or ecological study. This report presents the findings of a three-month census and survey of black-crested gibbons in the Wuliang and Ailao Mountain Game Reserves in Yunnan province, China. The censusing methods used here were similar to those techniques used during other census studies of gibbons. The sites visited were subtropical broadleaf evergreen forests, with trees belonging to the families Fagaceae, Theaceae, Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae and Elaeocarpaceae. A total of 23-25 groups of black-crested gibbons were documented from 4 sites visited, and a group density estimate from all sites averaged 0.82 groups/km2. These gibbons were found to be polygynous with an average family group size of 7-8 animals, comprising 1 adult male, 1-4 adult females and numerous offspring of various ages. Some of the ecological and evolutionary implications of these findings are also presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Phage lambda gene Q antiterminator recognizes RNA polymerase near the promoter and accelerates it through a pause site.

The positive regulator encoded by phage lambda gene Q is a transcription antiterminator that affects RNA polymerase initiating at the phage late gene promoter, but not at other promoters. We show that this nucleotide-sequence-specific interaction of Q protein and RNA polymerase can occur while the enzyme is pausing after 16 nucleotides of the late gene transcript have been made. Furthermore, Q protein chases RNA polymerase from this early pause site, so that it both recognizes the enzyme and changes its transcription properties at this site. We suggest that the ability of Q-modified RNA polymerase to escape this pause reflects the change that allows it to go through terminators. We also show that NusA protein is required for efficient Q protein activity in vitro.

Bacterial Proteins↗