A pyoverdin from Pseudomonas sp. CFML 95-275

From Pseudomonas sp. CFML 95-275 a pyoverdin was isolated with a cyclopeptidic substructure. It could be shown that this pyoverdin is identical with one obtained from Pseudomonas fluorescens BTP 7 for which a lactone structure had been deduced from the interpretation of a FAB spectrum. The elucidation of the correct structure of the pyoverdin is described.     

Adenosine deaminase prefers a distinct sugar ring conformation for binding and catalysis: kinetic and structural studies

Several recent X-ray crystal structures of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in complex with various adenosine surrogates have illustrated the preferred mode of substrate binding for this enzyme. To define more specific structural details of substrate preferences for binding and catalysis, we have studied the ADA binding efficiencies and deamination kinetics of several synthetic adenosine analogues in which the furanosyl ring is biased toward a particular conformation. NMR solution studies and pseudorotational analyses were used to ascertain the preferred furanose ring puckers (P, nu(MAX)) and rotamer distributions (chi and gamma) of the nucleoside analogues. It was shown that derivatives which are biased toward a "Northern" (3'-endo, N) sugar ring pucker were deaminated up to 65-fold faster and bound more tightly to the enzyme than those that preferred a "Southern" (2'-endo, S) conformation. This behavior, however, could be modulated by other structural factors. Similarly, purine riboside inhibitors of ADA that prefer the N hemisphere were more potent inhibitors than S analogues. These binding propensities were corroborated by detailed molecular modeling studies. Docking of both N- and S-type analogues into the ADA crystal structure coordinates showed that N-type substrates formed a stable complex with ADA, whereas for S-type substrates, it was necessary for the sugar pucker to adjust to a 3'-endo (N-type) conformation to remain in the ADA substrate binding site. These data outline the intricate structural details for optimum binding in the catalytic cleft of ADA.     

Two simple and rapid methods for the detection of polymer-degrading enzymes on high-resolution, alkaline, cold, in situ-native (HiRACIN)-PAGE and high-resolution, in situ-inhibited native (HiRISIN)-PAGE

Two sensitive, high-resolution and exceedingly versatile methods for the detection of isoenzymes of polymer-degrading enzymes on high-resolution, alkaline, cold, in situ-native (HiRACIN)-PAGE and high-resolution in situ-inhibited, native (HiRISIN)-PAGE are described. Extracellular crude extracts containing xylanases and carboxymethylcellulases from Scopulariopsis sp. and glucoamylases from Aspergillus niger were subjected to non-denaturing PAGE containing substrates in the resolving gel. In case of HiRACIN-PAGE, the enzymes were prevented from degrading their respective substrates during run by carrying out electrophoresis at 4°C and the pH of running and resolving gel buffer systems were increased from 8.5 to 10.6. In case of HiRISIN-PAGE, adding competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, cellobiose, in the resolving gel prevents the degradation of polymer during the run. These techniques were successfully applied, for the first time, to visualize four, three and four sharp and distinct bands of xylanases, glucoamylases and CMCases, respectively.     

水稻(Oryza sativa)原生质体经钝化后诱导融合再生可育体细胞杂种

本研究在初步实现水稻原生质体培养的程序化后,选用普通栽培稻P339和特种稻苏御糯选的原生质体为融合亲本,利用碘乙酸(IA)和罗丹明-6G(R-6G)这两个代谢互补抑制剂钝化处理亲本原生质体,确定了合适的抑制条件。P339用0.25mmol/L IA,苏御糯选用50μg/ml R-6G分别经30min钝化处理,通过PEG和高Ca~(2 )、高pH法诱导融合,异源融合体具有代谢互补效应,经培养得到愈伤组织17块,并进一步分化获得不同形态的再生植株12棵。移栽存活的再生植株成熟后可育,通过对这些植株的形态以及酯酶和过氧化物酶同工酶电泳的分析表明是融合后的体细胞杂种植株。     

模拟氮沉降对北京东灵山辽东栎林树木生长的影响

传统的元素限制模型认为氮是温带森林生长的限制元素, 不过该结论更多是从地上生物量以及群落水平进行阐述, 忽视了不同物种以及不同径级树木对外源氮的响应差异。辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)林是华北地区常见的森林类型, 该研究以北京东灵山辽东栎林为研究对象, 通过设置3个氮添加水平的实验, 即对照CK (0 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1), N50 (50 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1)和N100 (100 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1), 模拟氮沉降对群落和物种水平以及不同径级树木生长的影响。经过7年氮添加, 实验结果显示: 物种水平上, 氮添加明显促进了优势树种辽东栎的生长; 群落水平上, 树木生长随氮浓度增加有不断上升趋势, 但统计学差异不显著; 氮添加显著抑制了辽东栎以及群落内小径级(3-10 cm)树木生长, 中(10-20 cm)、大径级(>20 cm)树木生长随氮沉降水平增加呈上升趋势, 但统计学差异不显著。表明氮是辽东栎以及温带森林树木生长的限制元素; 不同径级的辽东栎和群落内其他植物对氮添加响应不一致, 氮添加抑制了小径级树木生长, 中、大径级树木生长对氮添加响应不明显。     

Characterization of the mitochondrial association of hepatitis B virus X protein, HBx

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is strongly associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBx, a protein encoded by HBV is believed to contribute to the development of HCC. HBx was recently shown to associate with mitochondria. In this study, we mapped region(s) of HBx necessary for mitochondrial targeting and showed that a putative transmembrane region (aa 54-70) is required for mitochondrial association. In addition, amino acids in the putative alpha helical regions (aa 75-88 and aa 109-131) seem to aid in the mitochondrial targeting of this protein. We further show that the majority of HBx localizes to the outer mitochondrial membrane based on its sensitivity to trypsin and resistance to alkaline treatment. These studies suggest that the association of HBx with the outer mitochondrial membrane is its intrinsic property. These characterizations define transmembrane and alpha-helical regions of this viral protein as domains of mitochondrial targeting. These studies are further useful in the investigations concerning the physiological significance of the HBx's association with mitochondria and its impact on liver disease pathogenesis.     

Genotoxic potential of copper oxide nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are increasingly used in various applications. Recent studies suggest that oxidative stress may be the cause of the cytotoxicity of CuO NPs in mammalian cells. However, little is known about the genotoxicity of CuO NPs following exposure to human cells. This study was undertaken to investigate CuO NPs induced genotoxic response through p53 pathway in human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549). In addition, cytotoxicity and oxidative stress markers were also assessed. Results showed that cell viability was reduced by CuO NPs and degree of reduction was dose dependent. CuO NPs were also found to induce oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner indicated by depletion of glutathione and induction of lipid peroxidation, catalase and superoxide dismutase. The expression of Hsp70, the first tier biomarker of cellular damage was induced by CuO NPs. Further, CuO NPs up-regulated the cell cycle checkpoint protein p53 and DNA damage repair proteins Rad51 and MSH2 expression. These results demonstrate that CuO NPs possess a genotoxic potential in A549 cells which may be mediated through oxidative stress. Our short-term exposure study of high level induction of genotoxic response of CuO NPs will need to be further investigated to determine whether long-term exposure consequences may exist for CuO NPs application.     

补料工艺对两株法夫酵母菌株产虾青素的影响

【目的】考察不同补料工艺对法夫酵母菌株生长和虾青素合成的影响。【方法】对法夫酵母JMU-VDL668和JMU-MVP14菌株在7 L罐中进行分批及分批补料培养; 同时, 测定发酵过程中生物量、虾青素和葡萄糖含量的变化。【结果】采用恒DO补料, 法夫酵母JMU-VDL668菌株获得的生物量最大(64.6 g/L), 是分批培养的2.2倍; 采用恒pH补料发酵, 虾青素的产量最高(20.6 mg/L), 是分批培养的1.5倍。与JMU-VDL668菌株不同, 虾青素高产菌株JMU-MVP14菌株采用恒pH补料, 获得生物量最大(48.5 g/L), 但虾青素产量大大降低(仅17.5 mg/L); 采用脉冲补料, 虾青素产量最高, 达到414.1 mg/L, 与分批发酵相比提高了200.2%; 采用恒DO补料, 生物量(38.5 g/L)和虾青素产量(403.2?mg/L)增加显著, 与分批发酵相比分别提高了133.1%和192.3%。【结论】不同补料工艺对法夫酵母菌株生产虾青素影响很大。其中, 采用恒pH补料工艺, 法夫酵母JMU-VDL668菌株可以获得最高的虾青素产量, 而采用脉冲补料工艺, 最适于法夫酵母JMU-MVP14菌株发酵生产虾青素。     

巫山高山移民迁出区不同弃耕年限对植物物种多样性的影响

以典型高山移民迁出区耕地(A1)、弃耕1a(A2)、弃耕5a(A3)、弃耕8a(A4)、弃耕5a生长大量白花银背藤(R1)为研究对象,采用空间序列代替时间序列的方法,比较不同弃耕年限植物重要值(P)、Margalef丰富度指数(R)、Shannon多样性指数(H′)、Pielou均匀度指数(J_w)、Simpson优势度指数(D)、Jaccard相似性指数(C_j)、Sorenson相似性指数(C_s)及多样性阈值(D_v),旨在探究不同退耕年限对植物物种多样性和群落结构的影响。结果显示,随弃耕年限增加,群落结构从草本+灌木转变为草本+灌木+乔木,群落优势物种由喜阳的一年生或多年生草本转变为耐阴的多年生草本;草本层和灌木层植物物种多样性随着演替年限的延长而增长,在演替的中后期达到最大值;A2与A3间群落的相似性指数最大;对不同弃耕年限样地植被群落多样性进行评定,都未达到"较好Ⅲ"级别,还需长期的恢复。恢复过程中注意对白花银背藤的监测,防止植物入侵。     

棘孢曲霉固态发酵柚皮产柚苷酶的条件优化

【目的】以柚皮为原料,优化棘孢曲霉利用柑橘加工副产物固态发酵柚苷酶的条件。【方法】采用高效液相色谱法检测酶活力,通过单因素试验考察固水比、装样量、接种量、温度对柚苷酶发酵的影响,用正交试验优化发酵条件。【结果】单因素试验结果的显著性分析表明培养基的固水比、装样量和培养温度对柚苷酶产量有显著性影响,而接种量影响不显著;经正交试验确定的优化条件是：固水比1:1 (质量体积比),装样量5 g/250 mL三角瓶,温度为30 °C,接种1 mL孢子悬浮液,发酵8 d。在此优化条件下,柚苷酶酶活力为8.19 IU/g干物质,比初始培养基产柚苷酶活力提高7.38倍。【结论】通过对固水比、装样量和发酵温度进行优化,大幅度提高了棘孢曲霉固态发酵柑橘加工副产物的柚苷酶产量,为柚苷酶的生产提供了一种高产发酵工艺。