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ningkeqing

木虫 (正式写手)

[交流] Nature Contents 1 June 2006 (Vol. 441 pp.549-666)

[自然要览]

(选自英国Nature杂志,2006年6月1日出版)


封面故事:北极地区的古气候
The Cenozoic palaeoenvironment of the Arctic Ocean
在2004年的ACEX海洋钻探探险活动之前,几乎没有证据来确定北冰洋的环境历史。现
在,研究人员已经获取并分析了一个430米深的海床沉积芯。本期Nature上三篇论文所
报告的该项研究的结果,是过去5600万年(这个时间包括了全球从一种温暖的“温室”
状态向一种较冷的“冰室”状态的过渡阶段)气候情况的一个记录,让我们直接看到了
北冰洋的“新生代”历史。根据这个沉积芯,研究人员识别出几个关键事件:在古新世
/始新世最热期(距今5500万年前),海洋表面水温远远高于以前的估计;表面海水的
淡化证实了大约4900万年前的一个强化的水文周期;第一批冰筏碎屑物(ice-rafted
debris)出现在大约4500万年前,比以前所认为的早3500万年。经过修正的北极最早变
冷事件的时间与南极最早变冷事件的时间一致,这个结果支持认为全球气候变化在两极
之间是对称的观点。(Article p. 601; Letters pp. 606, 610; News and Views)封
面图片:由Martin Jakobsson根据北冰洋数据库中的“国际海洋测量图” 绘制。


新奥尔良地面早就在下沉(COUNTDOWN TO DISASTER)
Space geodesy: Subsidence and flooding in New Orleans
当卡特里纳飓风去年夏季来袭之前,人们早就知道新奥尔良容易发生沉陷。现在,由太
空中的合成孔径雷达测量结果所生成的一幅新的沉陷图显示,在本次飓风灾难之前的三
年里,曾出现过特别快的沉陷。地面下沉明显的一个区域位于波尔恩湖西南的运河附
近,在本次飓风袭击期间,当防洪堤几处决堤时,这个区域受到严重影响。(Brief
Communications p. 587)


控制REM睡眠状态切换的脑干区域被发现(In-and-out of sleep)
A putative flip–flop switch for control of REM sleep
眼睛快速活动的睡眠状态(被称为REM睡眠),是一种大脑高度活跃的做梦状态。我们
对REM睡眠与非REM睡眠(也被称为慢波睡眠,因为在这个时候大脑皮层活动较慢)之间
的切换机制很不了解。现在,基于详细解剖和损伤实验,研究人员识别出了控制由REM
睡眠向非REM睡眠过渡的脑干区域。REM关闭和REM打开区域是相互抑制的。这似乎形成
了一种触发开关关系,它有可能解释如在失眠症等睡眠失调症中所看到的在REM睡眠与
非REM睡眠之间突然切换的很多现象。(Article p. 589)


唐氏综合症(Down’s syndrome)
A genome-wide Drosophila RNAi screen identifies DYRK-family kinases as
regulators of NFAT
唐氏综合症是由一个额外的染色体引起的,然而21号染色体上的一个或多个基因的剂量
增加1.5倍,可引起与该症状相关的广泛效应。现在,用基因剔出小鼠所做的一项研
究,识别出两个很可能与该症状有关的基因。DSCR1和DYRK1a剂量增加1.5倍,可使涉及
NFAT转录因子的信号通道的调控失去稳定性。该发现是在另一项令人吃惊的发现之后取
得的,后者是说NFATc1-4 和 calcineurin突变的小鼠会表现出唐氏综合症的几乎全部
特点。(Article p. 595; News and Views)在另一篇与该论文没有关系的论文中,一
次在整个基因组范围内进行的RNAi扫描,显示出了果蝇身上在演化过程中保留下来的
NFAT调控因子。NFAT是一个纯粹为脊椎动物所有的转录因子,但该研究工作通过用果蝇
细胞研究用人工方法从一种哺乳动物导入的一种蛋白的功能,做出了新的突破。调控
NFAT蛋白亚细胞定位的通道,在不同物种之间被很好保留下来,这种新方法能识别正常
情况下在脊椎动物身上表达的一种转录因子的新的调控因子。(Letter p. 646)


土星卫星Enceladus所存在的问题及其解释(Way down south)
Diapir-induced reorientation of Saturn's moon Enceladus
最近发现,土星的冰质卫星Enceladus的表面有喷水现象。该发现引起一阵骚动,因为
它表明该天体地表下可能有液态水。从地质上讲,Enceladus存在问题。其中的一个问
题,即为什么地质活动热点正好在该天体南极上,已经被Francis Nimmo 和 Robert T.
Pappalardo解决。他们发现Enceladus的转动轴的方向调整是可能的原因,而低密度材
料上涌至地表的一个事件是这种方向调整的原因。对“前”半球和“后”半球上碰撞坑
的分布进行对比,将是对这一理论中方向调整部分的一个很好的验证。(Letter p.
614; News and Views)


生物分子为什么大多只以一种手性形式存在?(Chirality: Taking turns)
Thermodynamic control of asymmetric amplification in amino acid catalysis
手性现象(相当于分子中的左撇子和右撇子现象)自从巴斯德发现酒石酸晶体有两种镜
-像不重叠形式以来一直让化学家感到着迷。以一种手性形式为主的分子的合成,通常
是通过从一开始就利用一种手性分子(比如说将其用作催化剂)来引导反应过程而实现
的。但在有些反应中,一种手性产物的形成似乎会被进一步放大。当前的大多数解释都
认为这种放大的分子不对称性是由自催化造成的。本期Nature上报告了对造成这个现象
的另一种解释:根据溶液中的氨基酸的平衡固-液相的行为,这种方法是从最初的一个
小小的不平衡导致反应产物严重偏向一种手性形式的。这种现象是在水溶液中发生的,
使得这一过程可以解释假设中的生命起源前的“外消旋”世界(在那个世界中左手性和
右手性分子数量是相同的)何以变成了有生命的世界,在其中生物分子往往只以一种手
性形式存在。(Letter p. 621)


“弗洛瑞斯人”是否具有制造工具的能力(Human evolution: Tools of the trade)
Early stone technology on Flores and its implications for Homo floresiensis
“弗洛瑞斯人”(身材矮小的原始人,俗称“哈比人”)的大脑非常之小,以至于人们
对他们使用石器的能力都产生了怀疑。实际上,有人认为,在印尼弗洛瑞斯岛西部的
Liang Bua洞穴中发现的与“弗洛瑞斯人”有关的石器是现代人制造的。现在,对来自
弗洛瑞斯岛中部的Mata Menge的距今84万年的石器所做的一项新的研究表明,早在直立
人存在之前,工具制造者就向该地区迁移了。这些工具与在Liang Bua发现的时间要晚
得多的石器相似,说明石器的制造在时间上具有连续性,而且“弗洛瑞斯人”是有可能
具有制造工具的能力的。(Letter p. 624)


生物多样性越大的确能增加生态系统稳定性(Biodiversity: Where the grass is
greener)
Biodiversity and ecosystem stability in a decade-long grassland experiment
对生物多样性越大、生态系统越稳定的认识已经有大约50年了,而在这50年时间里关于
这个观点一直存在激烈争论。以前,一直缺乏严格的长期野外实验来验证这个理论,但
在明尼苏达大学的Cedar Creek实验生态保护区进行的一项为期10年的草地生物多样性
实验将填补这项空白。现在,该实验的结果出来了,它们表明,较多的植物物种数量既
能增加稳定性,又能增加生产力。(Letter p. 629)


“频率依赖型选择”机制获得实验结果支持(Genetic diversity: Where the fish
are greener?)
Frequency-dependent survival in natural guppy populations
演化生物学上最棘手的问题之一是,如何解释自然种群何以能具有遗传多样性。在人们
所提出的所有机制中,理论认为频率依赖型选择机制最有说服力,但只有间接证据证明
它在自然种群中的重要性。现在,对孔雀鱼(guppies)的自然种群所做的一项实验操
纵研究表明,稀有基因型(雄性个体的奇异颜色)在孔雀鱼的自然种群中有明显生存优
势。这也许是迄今为止证明频率依赖型选择可以是维持自然种群遗传多样性的一个有效
机制的最好的实验证据。(Letter p. 633)


阻断HIV感染的一种可能性(AIDS virus: Blocking HIV)
The inner-nuclear-envelope protein emerin regulates HIV-1 infectivity
当艾滋病病毒HIV-1感染一个巨噬细胞、从而降低该细胞在免疫响应中的有效性时,它
将病毒性cDNA融合进了染色质中。这说明,该细胞的核膜对于感染过程可能是至关重要
的。这个推断已经被关于HIV难以感染缺少emerin(内核膜的一个成分)的巨噬细胞的
发现所证实。抑制emerin与病毒性cDNA之间相互作用的小分子因此也许能帮助阻断HIV
感染。(Letter p. 641; News and Views)


用计算方法重新设计酶(DNA binding: Design for living)
Computational redesign of endonuclease DNA binding and cleavage specificity
改变一种DNA解理酶的特异性,在很多医学或生物技术应用中可能会派上用场,但从计
算蛋白设计的角度来讲,它却是一个很大的挑战。Ashwell等人用一种计算方法来重新
设计“I-MsoI自引导核酸内切酶”,使其显示被改变的目标点的特异性,同时保持野生
型的结合亲和力。重新设计的这种酶与其野生型相比,结合和解理新的DNA识别点的效
果要好大约1万倍,而目标识别能力却与原始的核酸内切酶不相上下。这些结果说明,
计算蛋白设计方法可用来为基因疗法和其他应用生成新颖的、高特异性的核酸内切酶。
(Letter p. 656)
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ningkeqing

木虫 (正式写手)

----------------------
NEWS AND VIEWS
----------------------
Climate Change: The Arctic tells its story
The Arctic is one of the sensitive pressure points for Earth's climate. A
new sediment core reveals much more about the region's role in a long-term
transition from ‘greenhouse’ to ‘icehouse’ conditions.
Heather M. Stoll
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441579a.html

50 & 100 years ago
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441580a.html

Virology: HIV goes nuclear
HIV-1 replicates itself by integrating into its host cell's DNA. Studies in
cell culture reveal that nuclear-membrane proteins aid engagement of the
viral DNA with that of its host before integration.
Min Li and Robert Craigie
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441581a.html

Down's syndrome: Critical genes in a critical region
The NFAT transcription factors activate the expression of many genes
involved in the immune response and the development of a variety of tissues.
They have now been implicated in Down's syndrome.
Charles J. Epstein
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441582a.html

Climate change: All in the game
It is in the public interest to keep Earth's climate on an even keel -- the
public, in this case, being all the world's population. Are you prepared to
stake your own reputation on helping to improve matters?
Thomas Pfeiffer and Martin A. Nowak
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441583a.html

Physical chemistry: Gas in a straitjacket
Given a holding material with sufficiently small and uniform pores, gaseous
oxygen can be made to form regular one-dimensional chains. That gives
unprecedented insight into the properties of confined gases.
Susumu Kitagawa
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441584a.html

Planetary science: Polar roller
Paul Hanlon
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441585a.html

----------------------
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
----------------------
Space geodesy: Subsidence and flooding in New Orleans
A subsidence map of the city offers insight into the failure of the levees
during Hurricane Katrina.
Timothy H. Dixon, Falk Amelung, Alessandro Ferretti, Fabrizio Novali, Fabio
Rocca, Roy Dokka, Giovanni Sella, Sang-Wan Kim, Shimon Wdowinski and Dean
Whitman
Abstract: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/abs/441587a.html
Article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441587a.html

SUPERFLUID HELIUM: Visualization of quantized vortices
Gregory P. Bewley, Daniel P. Lathrop and Katepalli R. Sreenivasan
Abstract: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/abs/441588a.html
Article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v441/n7093/full/441588a.html

BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS ARISING
Palaeoceanography: Methane release in the Early Jurassic period
Paul B. Wignall, John M. McArthur, Crispin T. S. Little and Anthony Hallam
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04905.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04905.html

Palaeoceanography: Methane release in the Early Jurassic period (Reply)
D. B. Kemp, A. L. Coe, A. S. Cohen and L. Schwark
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04906.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04906.html

----------------------
ARTICLES
----------------------
A putative flip–flop switch for control of REM sleep
Jun Lu, David Sherman, Marshall Devor and Clifford B. Saper
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04767.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04767.html

NFAT dysregulation by increased dosage of DSCR1 and DYRK1A on chromosome 21
Joseph R. Arron, Monte M. Winslow, Alberto Polleri, Ching-Pin Chang, Hai Wu,
Xin Gao, Joel R. Neilson, Lei Chen, Jeremy J. Heit, Seung K. Kim, Nobuyuki
Yamasaki, Tsuyoshi Miyakawa, Uta Francke, Isabella A. Graef and Gerald R.
Crabtree
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04678.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04678.html

The Cenozoic palaeoenvironment of the Arctic Ocean
Analysis of Arctic Ocean sediment core spanning more than 50 million years
identifies several key features of Arctic climate history -- the revised
timing of the earliest Arctic cooling events implied by this record
coincides with those from Antarctica, supporting arguments that climate
change is symmetric about the Earth's polar regions.
Kathryn Moran et al.
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04800.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04800.html

----------------------
LETTERS
----------------------
Episodic fresh surface waters in the Eocene Arctic Ocean
A core of sediments taken from underneath the Arctic Ocean provides evidence
that ocean conditions could support a free-floating fern, Azolla, during the
middle Eocene epoch, roughly 50 million years ago.
Henk Brinkhuis et al.
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04692.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04692.html

Subtropical Arctic Ocean temperatures during the Palaeocene/Eocene thermal
maximum
Identification of the Palaeocene/Eocene thermal maximum in a marine
sedimentary sequence shows that sea surface temperatures near the North Pole
increased from roughly 18 degrees Celsius to over 23 degrees Celsius -- such
warm values imply the absence of ice and thus exclude the influence of
ice-albedo feedbacks on this Arctic warming.
Appy Sluijs et al.
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04668.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04668.html

Diapir-induced reorientation of Saturn's moon Enceladus
Francis Nimmo and Robert T. Pappalardo
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04821.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04821.html

Dimensional reduction at a quantum critical point
Uncovering the existence of a two-dimensional quantum critical point in a
material that is in other respects electronically three-dimensional
elucidates the subtle collective behaviours responsible for this reduction
in dimensionality.
S. E. Sebastian, N. Harrison, C. D. Batista, L. Balicas, M. Jaime, P. A.
Sharma, N. Kawashima and I. R. Fisher
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04732.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04732.html

Thermodynamic control of asymmetric amplification in amino acid catalysis
Martin Klussmann, Hiroshi Iwamura, Suju P. Mathew, David H. Wells, Jr,
Urvish Pandya, Alan Armstrong and Donna G. Blackmond
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04780.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04780.html

Early stone technology on Flores and its implications for Homo floresiensis
Stylistic similarities of stone tools recovered from 800,000-year-old
deposits in Flores with stone tools associated with the much later Homo
floresiensis suggest continuity -- calling into question claims that the
brain of Homo floresiensis was too small to have accommodated technology.
Adam Brumm, Fachroel Aziz, Gert D. van den Bergh, Michael J. Morwood, Mark
W. Moore, Iwan Kurniawan, Douglas R. Hobbs and Richard Fullagar
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04618.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04618.html

Biodiversity and ecosystem stability in a decade-long grassland experiment
David Tilman, Peter B. Reich and Johannes M. H. Knops
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04742.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04742.html

Frequency-dependent survival in natural guppy populations
Results from an experimental manipulation showed a significant survival
advantage for rare genotypes in natural populations of guppies, confirming
that frequency-dependent selection can act as a potent mechanism in
maintaining genetic variation in natural populations.
Robert Olendorf, F. Helen Rodd, David Punzalan, Anne E. Houde, Carla Hurt,
David N. Reznick and Kimberly A. Hughes
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04646.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04646.html

Assembly of the inner rod determines needle length in the type III secretion
injectisome
Thomas C. Marlovits, Tomoko Kubori, María Lara-Tejero, Dennis Thomas,
Vinzenz M. Unger and Jorge E. Galán
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04822.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04822.html

The inner-nuclear-envelope protein emerin regulates HIV-1 infectivity
Jean-Marc Jacque and Mario Stevenson
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04682.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04682.html

A genome-wide Drosophila RNAi screen identifies DYRK-family kinases as
regulators of NFAT
Yousang Gwack, Sonia Sharma, Julie Nardone, Bogdan Tanasa, Alina Iuga, Sonal
Srikanth, Heidi Okamura, Diana Bolton, Stefan Feske, Patrick G. Hogan and
Anjana Rao
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04631.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04631.html

Hrr25-dependent phosphorylation state regulates organization of the pre-40S
subunit
A newly identified step in maturation of the small ribosomal particle
regulated by the kinase Hrr25 is critical, for without Hrr25, immature 40S
subunits accumulate.
Thorsten Schafer, Bohumil Maco, Elisabeth Petfalski, David Tollervey,
Bettina B?ttcher, Ueli Aebi and Ed Hurt
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04840.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04840.html

Computational redesign of endonuclease DNA binding and cleavage specificity
Redesign of the I-MsoI endonuclease binds and cleaves the new recognition
site ~10,000-fold more effectively than does the wild-type enzyme, with a
level of target discrimination comparable to the original endonuclease.
Justin Ashworth, James J. Havranek, Carlos M. Duarte, Django Sussman,
Raymond J. Monnat, Jr, Barry L. Stoddard and David Baker
Abstract:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... bs/nature04818.html
Article:
http://www.nature.com/nature/jou ... ll/nature04818.html
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