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ningkeqing

木虫 (正式写手)

[交流] Nature Contents 11 May 2006 (Vol. 441 pp.127-254)

[自然要览]

(选自英国Nature杂志,2006年5月11日出版)


封面故事:“海卫一”是怎么成为“海王星”卫星的?
Neptune's capture of its moon Triton in a binary–planet gravitational
encounter
在太阳系较大的卫星中,“海卫一”是比较独特的,它绕“海王星”运行的方向与该行
星自转方向相反。“海卫一”的圆型轨道也与“海王星”的赤道有较大倾角。这些事实
表明,“海卫一”在被“海王星”俘获之前曾经绕太阳运行,但以前关于“海卫一”俘
获的模型需要不可能发生的事件来支持。Craig Agnor 和 Douglas Hamilton为“海卫
一”的俘获提出了一种更自然的解释。在他们的模型中,“海卫一”曾经是一个双星体
系的一员,这个双星体系可能更像“冥王星”及其最大卫星“冥卫一”。这个双星体系
过于偏离其运行轨道,太靠近“海王星”,并被分开了,其中的一个逃掉了,而“海卫
一”却留了下来。(Letter p. 192 News and Views)本期Nature封面描绘了这一事
件。绕“海王星”运行的是一些原始卫星,它们可能在那次事件中消失了。(封面图片
根据由 Steve Alber、Jerry Gardner、James Hastings-Trew、Constantine Thomas
以及美国国家海洋与大气局(NOAA)的“Science on a Sphere”项目提供的行星与卫
星图件绘制。)


仰泳虫为什么能呆在水中央?(BUBBLE RAP)
Diving insects boost their buoyancy bubbles
仰泳虫是全世界普遍存在的潜水昆虫,其独特之处是,它们是惟一作为成虫在水中间的
环境中生存的昆虫,也是惟一在整个生命周期中都有红血球的昆虫。 现在,对澳大利
亚的仰泳虫所做的实验证实,红血球在浮力控制中发挥一定作用,其实这个发现并不像
我们所想的那样是巧合。这些昆虫之所以能在水中长时间停留,既不下沉,又不上浮,
是因为它们能利用储存在其红血球中的氧气来稳定它们在潜水前在水体表面上所收集的
气泡的体积。(Brief Communication p. 171)


用系统生物学方法研究免疫响应(You can't beat the systems)
Systems biology approaches identify ATF3 as a negative regulator of
Toll-like receptor 4
系统生物学是利用由基因组学、蛋白组学和其他所有“组学”获得的数据来在一个比传
统生物学更高的层次上分析活的生物体的一门学科,它被认为是解剖复杂系统的一个强
大工具。但是此前,该方法在识别哺乳动物的基本机制方面并不是特别有效。免疫响应
非常适合系统分析;小鼠模型也是非常成熟的模型,循环细胞也可以被纯化和培养。
Gilchrist等人将系统生物学方法用于对由TLR4刺激的巨噬细胞进行动态模拟研究,并
根据研究结果做出这样一个预测:转录因子ATF3在先天免疫响应中是一个负调控因子。
所以,系统生物学工具很可能第一次揭示了免疫响应中一个新颖的调控机制和一个可能
的药物作用新目标。(Article p. 173)


CRAC通道的一个蛋白目标(The CRAC channel and immunity)
A mutation in Orai1 causes immune deficiency by abrogating CRAC channel
function
免疫响应依赖于钙离子通过T细胞中特定CRAC通道的运动,在患有一种形式的“严重综
合免疫缺陷”(SCID)综合症的患者身上,这些通道是有缺陷的。Feske等人利用两种
没有偏见的、整个基因组范围的研究方法,来识别SCID患者身上致病的基因缺陷:其中
的一种方法是对果蝇进行RNAi甄别;另一种方法是在一个人类家族中进行关联分析。
SCID患者对于为蛋白Orai1编码的基因中的一个突变来说是纯合子的,当野生型Orai1在
来自SCID患者的T细胞中表达时,CRAC通道被恢复。Orai1似乎是CRAC通道的一个主要构
成部分或调控因子。该通道的性质已通过电生理方法研究了很多年,但其分子身份尚不
知道。现在,有了一个蛋白目标,这个疏漏不久将会被弥补。(Article p. 179; News
and Views)


消减带与稀有气体的循环(GOING DOWN)
Seawater subduction controls the heavy noble gas composition of the mantle
消减带(海洋板块俯冲进地球深层的地方)通常被认为是稀有气体向地球深层循环的过
程的有效的缓冲带。但现在,对来自美国新墨西哥州Bravo Dome天然气田的地幔气体的
氙同位素组成所做的一项研究表明,重稀有气体在消减带被重新送进地幔中,地球上重
稀有气体的主要来源是循环的海水。这一发现将为今后关于地球上的对流过程的模型提
供一个重要的限制条件。(Article p. 186; News and Views;
www.nature.com/podcast


导光硅材料曙光初现(Straining at the leash)
Strained silicon as a new electro-optic material
硅迄今为止是制造电子元件现有最好的材料,为了让这种导光性能不佳的材料也能传导
光,研究人员做了很多努力。如果这个目标能够实现,对光子学和光电子学领域都将是
一个很大的促进。现在,来自丹麦的一组科学家发现,通过打破晶体的对称性,可以在
硅材料中诱导产生一个明显的电-光效应。这种对称性是通过在一个硅波导的顶端沉积
一个应变层来打破的。如果应变的硅是这个所谓的“硅问题”的答案,那么就有可能通
过用速度要快得多的光学元件来代替电子元件而消除现代计算机所存在的瓶颈。
(Letter p. 199)


南非发现保存完好的陨石(Meteorites after the fall)
Discovery of a 25-cm asteroid clast in the giant Morokweng impact crater,
South Africa
当一块大陨石掉到地球上时,所剩下的残留物并不是很多。人们认为,一般情况下它会
被完全熔化或气化,所以对陨石碎片的识别依赖于间接的化学示踪物的使用。但随着在
南非Morokweng撞击坑中一个保存得相当完好、顽石大小的陨石的发现,我们关于陨石
残留程度的观点将不得不改变。研究人员在巨大的Morokweng陨石坑的撞击熔融物内发
现了一块25厘米的陨石和几个较小的碎片。所发现的陨石是有相当大小的最古老的(距
今1.45亿年)未改变的陨石,其组成也是异乎寻常的,金属出人意料地被硫化物取代
了,很可能发生在产生该陨石的小行星的内部。这说明,Morokweng撞击事件涉及一种
类型的小行星,它们与最近到达地球的已知小行星是不同的。(Letter p.
203;www.nature.com/podcast


更新世-全新世过渡时期动物灭绝与人类无关(Humans cleared of overkill)
New carbon dates link climatic change with human colonization and
Pleistocene extinctions
在距今13,000 年至10,000年前从更新世向全新世的过渡时期,很多大型哺乳动物迅速
灭绝。这一事件与人类有多大关系,始终是一个激烈争论的问题。Dale Guthrie通过以
前所未有的细致程度对那个时期阿拉斯加和加拿大育空地区的动物群落进行分析的方法
研究了这一问题,其中包括对各种不同动物的骨头进行600次以上的放射性碳年代测
定。虽然猛犸和马灭绝了,但麋鹿、野牛和驼鹿等动物却存活并繁衍了下来,说明动物
群落变化是生态和植被变化的一个函数,而不是人类诱导的“过度捕杀”。(Letter
p.207)


帮助他人的代价(The cost of home help)
Future fitness and helping in social queues
社会性的演化(即一些个体放弃自己的繁殖机会来帮助其他个体的现象)是主要演化过
渡形式之一。通过帮助它们有遗传关系的亲戚,帮助者能够间接传播它们自己的基因,
而遗传相关性的变化却未能解释动物社会的一个普遍特征,即不同个体之间在帮助努力
方面的巨大差异。Field等人通过用实验手段操纵野生的热带盘旋黄蜂的蜂群,发现一
些个体工作不太努力,这不是因为它们与其所帮助的个体遗传关系不是很近,而是因为
它们通过工作会失去更多未来的繁殖机会。提供帮助的代价是关键。(Letter p. 214;
www.nature.com/podcast


大脑中与价值判断有关的区域(A choice part of the brain)
Neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex encode economic value
在关于动物行为的研究中,一种“经济选择”(economic choice)涉及一个动物个体
在基于对利益的一种主观估计的很多选项之间所做出的选择。人们早就知道,大脑不同
部分中的神经元对如数量、颜色和味道等不同属性做出反应。现在,研究人员发现,大
脑中一个被称为“前额脑区底部皮层”(OFC)的区域与经济选择中价值的判断有关。
这个结论是在对选择是饮水还是饮用各种不同类型的果汁的短尾猴所做的试验中得出
的。OFC区域的神经元以一种能够反映短尾猴对饮用物价值判断的方式来改变它们的发
射频率。在人类中,OFC区域的病灶已知能够导致饮食失调、强迫性嗜赌和其他涉及
“选择缺陷”的症状,也与滥用药物有联系,后者可能是“选择缺陷”的另一个方面。
(Letter p. 223)


克服Ad5病毒临床应用障碍的一种方法(A tailor-made viral vector)
Hexon-chimaeric adenovirus serotype 5 vectors circumvent pre-existing
anti-vector immunity
腺病毒-5(Ad5)能使人呼吸道发生轻微感染,但其主要作用是用作艾滋病病毒和疟疾
等关键疾病的一种潜在的疫苗载体。然而,该病毒的潜在临床作用却因这样一个事实而
无法发挥:发达国家中大约一半人口和非洲90%的人口以前曾接触过Ad5病毒,并且产生
了免疫力。一个来自哈佛大学医学院和荷兰生物技术公司Crucell的研究小组设计出了
一个绕开这一问题的方法,即用一种相关病毒的某些部分来取代一个Ad5病毒衣壳蛋白
的相同部分,这种相关蛋白就是要比Ad5病毒罕见得多的Ad48腺病毒。这种方法在用小
鼠和猴子所做的试验中是有效的。如果该试验能在人类身上重复,那么经过修饰的Ad5
病毒将是用作疫苗载体的一个很有优势的候选物质,也是用来进行基因疗法的一个很有
优势的候选物质。(Letter p. 239; News and Views)
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ningkeqing

木虫 (正式写手)

----------------------
NEWS AND VIEWS
----------------------
Vaccines: Engineering immune evasion
One obstacle to realizing the promise of viral vectors for vaccine delivery
is pre-existing immunity to such vectors. An adroit application of
structure-based design points to a way around that problem.
John R. Mascola
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441161a.html

Solar system: Interplanetary kidnap
Triton, Neptune's largest moon, was probably part of a two-body object
similar to the Pluto–Charon system. This tandem might have been ripped
apart when it strayed too close to the planet that Triton is now orbiting.
Alessandro Morbidelli
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441162a.html

Cell biology: Cracking the calcium entry code A sharp increase in the
concentration of calcium ions in a cell is a key biological signal. Now a
vital component of a major route by which calcium ions flow into cells has
been identified.
Anant B. Parekh
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441163a.html

Chemistry: A catalytic knight's move
The reactivity of inert hydrocarbons can be transformed by a catalytic
double act. With the ability to manipulate the lengths of the resulting
carbon chains, this development opens up fresh vistas.
Robert H. Crabtree
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441165a.html

Immunology: What does it mean to be just 17?
For a long time it was thought that there are only two types of T helper
cell. But it is becoming clear that there may be other lineages that
influence inflammatory responses in certain circumstances.
Cristina M. Tato and John J. O'Shea
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441166a.html

50 & 100 years ago
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441167a.html

Thermodynamics: When a phase is born
Phase changes in matter generally occur by building up from small nuclei of
the new phase. Scattering experiments and computer simulations reveal the
characteristic size of the smallest of these nuclei.
Pablo G. Debenedetti
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441168a.html

Analytical chemistry: Cause for a llama
Richard Webb
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441169a.html

Geochemistry: The noble art of recycling Xenon trapped beneath Earth's crust
provides clues to how our planet evolved, but quantifying atmospheric
contamination has been impossible. The latest analysis surmounts a barrier
to our understanding.
Takuya Matsumoto
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441169b.html

----------------------
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
----------------------
Diving insects boost their buoyancy bubbles Underwater backswimmers use
their haemoglobin to help them stay stationary while waiting for prey.
Philip G. D. Matthews and Roger S. Seymour
Abstract: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/abs/441171a.html
Article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7090/full/441171a.html

COMMUNICATIONS ARISING
Corrigendum: Sporting contests: Seeing red? Putting sportswear into context
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04848.html

----------------------
ARTICLES
----------------------
Systems biology approaches identify ATF3 as a negative regulator of
Toll-like receptor 4 A three-body gravitational encounter between a binary
system -- with properties like that of the Pluto-Charon -- and Neptune is
the most likely explanation for the capture of Triton.
Mark Gilchrist, Vesteinn Thorsson, Bin Li, Alistair G. Rust, Martin Korb,
Kathleen Kennedy, Tsonwin Hai, Hamid Bolouri and Alan Aderem
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04768.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04768.html

A mutation in Orai1 causes immune deficiency by abrogating CRAC channel
function Stefan Feske, Yousang Gwack, Murali Prakriya, Sonal Srikanth,
Sven-Holger Puppel, Bogdan Tanasa, Patrick G. Hogan, Richard S. Lewis, Mark
Daly and Anjana Rao
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04702.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04702.html

Seawater subduction controls the heavy noble gas composition of the mantle
The xenon isotopic composition of mantle gases from a natural gas field
indicates that heavy noble gases are reintroduced into the mantle at
subduction zones -- providing an important constraint for future models of
convection in the Earth.
Greg Holland and Chris J. Ballentine
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04761.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04761.html

----------------------
LETTERS
----------------------
Neptune's capture of its moon Triton in a binary–planet gravitational
encounter Craig B. Agnor and Douglas P. Hamilton
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04792.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04792.html

Local switching of two-dimensional superconductivity using the ferroelectric
field effect A model oxide system based on high-quality heterostructures
allows the ferroelectric field effect approach to be studied -- including a
switch between superconducting and normal modes.
K. S. Takahashi, M. Gabay, D. Jaccard, K. Shibuya, T. Ohnishi, M. Lippmaa
and J.-M. Triscone
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04731.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04731.html

Strained silicon as a new electro-optic material Depositing a straining
layer on top of a silicon waveguide breaks the crystal symmetry of silicon
and induces a significant electro-optical effect
-- which could replace electronic components in modern computers with much
faster optical alternatives.
Rune S. Jacobsen, Karin N. Andersen, Peter I. Borel, Jacob Fage-Pedersen,
Lars H. Frandsen, Ole Hansen, Martin Kristensen, Andrei V. Lavrinenko, Gaid
Moulin, Haiyan Ou, Christophe Peucheret, Beata Zsigri and Anders Bjarklev
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04706.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04706.html

Discovery of a 25-cm asteroid clast in the giant Morokweng impact crater,
South Africa The discovery of a large 25-cm fossil meteorite and several
smaller fragments allows for an unambiguous characterization of an impactor
at a large crater.
W. D. Maier, M. A. G. Andreoli, I. McDonald, M. D. Higgins, A. J. Boyce, A.
Shukolyukov, G. W. Lugmair, L. D. Ashwal, P. Greser, E. M. Ripley and R. J.
Hart
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04751.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04751.html

New carbon dates link climatic change with human colonization and
Pleistocene extinctions Radiocarbon data from bones suggests that the faunal
change from the transition between Pleistocene and Holocene was a function
of ecological and vegetational change rather than human-induced 'overkill'.
R. Dale Guthrie
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04604.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04604.html

Sympatric speciation in palms on an oceanic island Two species of Howea palm
endemic to the remote Lord Howe Island are sister taxa and diverged from
each other well after the island was formed 6.9 million years ago --
providing clear support for sympatric speciation.
Vincent Savolainen, Marie-Charlotte Anstett, Christian Lexer, Ian Hutton,
James J. Clarkson, Maria V. Norup, Martyn P. Powell, David Springate,
Nicolas Salamin and William J. Baker
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04566.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04566.html

Future fitness and helping in social queues In hover wasps, helpers forfeit
or delay their own reproduction to rear the offspring of a dominant female
-- but individuals work less hard when they stand to lose more future
fitness through working.
Jeremy Field, Adam Cronin and Catherine Bridge
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04560.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04560.html

Specification of the neural crest occurs during gastrulation and requires
Pax7
In chicks, the neural crest originates before gastrulation -- at a much
earlier stage than previously thought -- and the transcription factor Pax7,
one of the earliest markers for neural crest, is required for its
initiation.
Martín L. Basch, Marianne Bronner-Fraser and Martín I. Garcia-Castro
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04684.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04684.html

Neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex encode economic value Camillo
Padoa-Schioppa and John A. Assad
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04676.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04676.html

A trehalose metabolic enzyme controls inflorescence architecture in maize
The simple disaccharide trehalose may act as a developmental signal to
regulate inflorescence architecture, which is critical for maize crop yields
-- this role also seems to be conserved in crops of other cereals.
Namiko Satoh-Nagasawa, Nobuhiro Nagasawa, Simon Malcomber, Hajime Sakai and
David Jackson
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04725.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04725.html

Transforming growth factor-β induces development of the TH17 lineage Paul
R. Mangan, Laurie E. Harrington, Darrell B. O'Quinn, Whitney S. Helms,
Daniel C. Bullard, Charles O. Elson, Robin D. Hatton, Sharon M. Wahl,
Trenton R. Schoeb and Casey T. Weaver
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04754.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04754.html

Reciprocal developmental pathways for the generation of pathogenic effector
TH17 and regulatory T cells
Estelle Bettelli, Yijun Carrier, Wenda Gao, Thomas Korn, Terry B. Strom,
Mohamed Oukka, Howard L. Weiner and Vijay K. Kuchroo
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04753.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04753.html

Hexon-chimaeric adenovirus serotype 5 vectors circumvent pre-existing
anti-vector immunity Replacing parts of a viral capsid protein with those
from a related virus can circumvent pre-existing antibody immunity --
without compromising its intrinsic imunogenicity.
Diane M. Roberts, Anjali Nanda, Menzo J. E. Havenga, Peter Abbink, Diana M.
Lynch, Bonnie A. Ewald, Jinyan Liu, Anna R. Thorner, Patricia E. Swanson,
Darci A. Gorgone, Michelle A. Lifton, Angelique A. C. Lemckert, Lennart
Holterman, Bing Chen, Athmanundh Dilraj, Angela Carville, Keith G.
Mansfield, Jaap Goudsmit and Dan H. Barouch
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04721.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04721.html

A mechanical explanation of RNA pseudoknot function in programmed ribosomal
frameshifting Cryoelectron microscopic imaging is used to visualize a
translating ribosome stalled during frameshifting.
Olivier Namy, Stephen J. Moran, David I. Stuart, Robert J. C. Gilbert and
Ian Brierley
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04735.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04735.html

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