Aptamer selection for the detection of Escherichia coli K88

In this study, the first group of single-stranded DNA aptamers that are highly specific to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 was obtained from an enriched oligonucleotide pool by the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) procedure, during which the K88 fimbriae protein was used as the target and bovine serum albumin as counter targets. These aptamers were applied successfully in the detection of ETEC K88. They were then grouped under different families based on the similarity of their secondary structure and the homology of their primary sequence. Four sequences from different families were deliberately chosen for further characterization by fluorescence analysis. Having the advantage of high sensitivity, fluorescence photometry was selected as single-stranded DNA quantification method during the SELEX process. Aptamers with the highest specificity and affinity were analyzed to evaluate binding ability with E. coli. Since ETEC K88 is the only type of bacterium that expressed abundant K88 fimbriae, the selected aptamers against the K88 fimbriae protein were able to specifically identify ETEC K88 among other bacteria. This method of detecting ETEC K88 by aptamers can also be applied to bacteria other than ETEC K88.     

ku70 and ku80 null mutants improve the gene targeting frequency in Monascus ruber M7

Normally, gene targeting by homologous recombination occurs rarely during a transformation process since non-homologous recombination is predominant in filamentous fungi. In our previous researches, the average gene replacement frequency (GRF) in Monascus ruber M7 was as low as 15 %. To develop a highly efficient gene targeting system for M. ruber M7, two M. ruber M7 null mutants of ku70 (MrΔku70) and ku80 (MrΔku80) were constructed which had no apparent defects in the development including vegetative growth, colony phenotype, microscopic morphology and spore yield compared with M. ruber M7. In addition, the production of some significant secondary metabolites such as pigments and citrinin had no differences between the two disruptants and the wild-type strain. Further results revealed that the GRFs of triA (encoding a putative acetyltransferase) were 42.2 % and 61.5 % in the MrΔku70 and MrΔku80 strains, respectively, while it was only about 20 % in M. ruber M7. Furthermore, GRFs of these two disruptants at other loci (the pigE, fmdS genes in MrΔku70 and the ku70 gene in MrΔku80) were investigated, and the results indicated that GRFs in the MrΔku70 strain and the MrΔku80 strain were doubled and tripled compared with that in M. ruber M7, respectively. Therefore, the ku70 and ku80 null mutants of M. ruber M7, especially the ku80-deleted strain, will be excellent hosts for efficient gene targeting.     

The influence of dietary lipid composition on liver mitochondria from mice following 1 month of calorie restriction

To investigate the role mitochondrial membrane lipids play in the actions of CR (calorie restriction), C57BL/6 mice were assigned to four groups (control and three 40% CR groups) and the CR groups were fed diets containing soya bean oil (also in the control diet), fish oil or lard. The fatty acid composition of the major mitochondrial phospholipid classes, proton leak and H₂O₂ production were measured in liver mitochondria following 1 month of CR. The results indicate that mitochondrial phospholipid fatty acids reflect the PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) profile of the dietary lipid sources. CR significantly decreased the capacity of ROS (reactive oxygen species) production by Complex III but did not markedly alter proton leak and ETC (electron transport chain) enzyme activities. Within the CR regimens, the CR-fish group had decreased ROS production by both Complexes I and III, and increased proton leak when compared with the other CR groups. The CR-lard group showed the lowest proton leak compared with the other CR groups. The ETC enzyme activity measurements in the CR regimens showed that Complex I activity was decreased in both the CR-fish and CR-lard groups. Moreover, the CR-fish group also had lower Complex II activity compared with the other CR groups. These results indicate that dietary lipid composition does influence liver mitochondrial phospholipid composition, ROS production, proton leak and ETC enzyme activities in CR animals.     

Solid Phase Synthesis of Phosphopeptides Incorporating 2,2-Dimethyloxazolidine Pseudoproline Analogs: Evidence for <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> Leu-Pro Peptide Bonds in Stat3 Inhibitors

To answer the question of whether the conformation of the Leu-Pro bond is cis or trans in Ac-pTyr-Leu-Pro-Gln-Thr-Val-NH₂ when complexed with the SH2 domain of Stat3, we substituted 2,2-dimethyloxazolidines derived from serine (Ser(Ψ^Me,Mepro)) and threonine (Thr(Ψ^Me,Mepro)) for proline. The 2,2-dimethyloxazolidine and 2,2-dimethylthiazolidine pseudoproline (ΨPro) analogs induce predominantly cis Xxx-ΨPro peptide bonds. As these ΨPro analogs are acid-labile, the phosphopeptides were synthesized using Fmoc-based SPPS using unprotected phosphotyrosine and 4-hydroxybenzoate as the linker that allowed release from the support by alkaline ammonolysis, conditions that kept the oxazolidine rings intact. Incorporation of Ser(Ψ^Me,Mepro) resulted in 69% cis Leu-ΨPro bond content in aqueous solution whereas that for Thr(Ψ^Me,Mepro) analog was 63%. Affinities for Stat3 were 3–5 fold lower than the lead compound and were inversely correlated with cis content. Thus we conclude that the Leu-Pro peptide bond is trans when the peptide is bound to Stat3.     

Biodiesel production from high acid value waste frying oil catalyzed by superacid heteropolyacid

Transesterification of waste cooking oil with high acid value and high water contents using heteropolyacid H3PW12O40 x 6H2O (PW12) as catalyst was investigated. The hexahydrate form of PW(12) was found to be the most promising catalyst which exhibited highest ester yield 87% for transesterification of waste cooking oil and ester yield 97% for esterification of long-chain palmitic acid, respectively. The PW12 acid catalyst shows higher activity under the optimized reaction conditions compared with conventional homogeneous catalyst sulfuric acid, and can easily be separated from the products by distillation of the excess methanol and can be reused more times. The most important feature of this catalyst is that the catalytic activity is not affected by the content of free fatty acids (FFAs) and the content of water in the waste cooking oil and the transesterification can occur at a lower temperature (65 degrees C), a lower methanol oil ratio (70:1) and be finished within a shorter time. The results illustrate that PW12 acid is an excellent water-tolerant and environmentally benign acid catalyst for production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil.     

突触囊泡蛋白在ALS转基因鼠海马的表达变化

目的为了为揭示肌萎缩脊髓侧索硬化症（amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,ALS）认知功能障碍的机制提供依据,观察不同年龄ALS转基因小鼠海马中突触囊泡蛋白（synaptophysin,Syp）的表达情况。方法取95d、108d和122dALS转基因鼠海马,应用免疫荧光、Westernblot、RT-PCR技术检测Syp在海马中的表达变化。结果与同窝野生型鼠比较,Syp蛋白和mRNA表达水平在95d龄ALS转基因鼠海马中无明显变化,在108d与122d龄ALS转基因鼠海马中明显降低。结论Syp在ALS转基因鼠海马中表达减少表明,突触可塑性降低是ALS学习记忆能力下降的重要病理学基础。     

一种定量检测人血清高敏C反应蛋白的化学发光免疫方法

旨在建立一种可定量检测人血清高敏CRP的化学发光检测方法 (High-sensitivity C-reactive protein quantifiable chemiluminescent immunoassay,hs-CRP CLIA)。首先利用亲和层析和离子交换层析技术从肝硬化病人腹水中纯化出高纯度的天然CRP作为免疫原制备了22株CRP单克隆抗体 (单抗),其中13株单抗在磷酸胆碱配体捕获ELISA中呈阳性,然后利用方正滴定法筛选出单抗10C5和10C11建立了hs-CRP CLIA。试剂盒评估结果显示：该方法对血清中干扰物质IgG、血红蛋白、甘油三酯等无非特异性反应;该方法检测灵敏度高,在0.04~20.38 mg/L范围内定量检测人血清CRP标准品呈良好线性关系 (R2＞0.993);该方法准确性高、可重复性好,平均回收率为99％,批内差为4.2％~5.8％,批间差为9.0％~11.5％;该方法与进口商品化高敏CRP ELISA试剂盒平行比较检测90份血清标本,结果显示两者有良好的可比性 (r=0.968)。综上,建立的hs-CRP CLIA是一种准确、可靠、可定量的高灵敏C反应蛋白检测方法,该方法的临床应用,有利于改善我国心脏病风险评估及肠炎性疾病预后判断。     

Production and selected fuel properties of biodiesel from promising non-edible oils: Euphorbia lathyris L., Sapium sebiferum L. and Jatropha curcas L

A comparative study on the composition, biodiesel production and fuel properties of non-edible oils from Euphorbia lathyris L. (EL), Sapium sebiferum L. (SS), and Jatropha curcas L. (JC) was conducted. Under optimal conditions, the FAME content and yield of the three oils were greater than 97.5 wt.% and 84.0%, respectively. The best biodiesel was produced from EL due to its high monounsaturation (82.66 wt.%, Cn: 1), low polyunsaturation (6.49 wt.%, Cn: 2, 3) and appropriate proportion of saturated components (8.78 wt.%, Cn: 0). Namely, EL biodiesel possessed a cetane number of 59.6, an oxidation stability of 10.4 h and a cold filter plug point of -11 °C. However, the cetane number (40.2) and oxidative stability (0.8 h) of dewaxed SS kernel oil (DSSK) biodiesel were low due to the high polyunsaturation (72.79 wt.%). In general, the results suggest that E. lathyris L. is a promising species for biodiesel feedstock.