Texture formation in DNA films with alkali metal chlorides

The formation of textures in DNA films with LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl, and CsCl salts has been studied. The films are prepared by evaporation of water solution with highly polymerized calf thymus DNA and excess salt of specific type. For DNA solution with 10 mM concentration of NaCl, KCl, and RbCl the films with dendritic textures have been obtained, whereas in case of CsCl the textures in the films appear only at 30 mM concentration of excess salt in the initial solution. In the solution with LiCl, the textures in DNA films have not been observed within the whole range of concentration of excess salt under consideration. The analysis of parameters of DNA films with different salts has showed that evaporation of solution leads to crystallization of salt ions on DNA macromolecule and formation of DNA‐salt complexes. Electrostatic energy of the system of crystalline ordered ions and charges of DNA chains has been estimated to study the stability of DNA‐salt complexes. The results obtained for different salts have been showed that the presence of DNA macromolecule enhances crystallization as compared with solution without DNA. The property of excess salt to form the crystalline structures has been found to decrease in the following order: KCl > NaCl > RbCl > CsCl > LiCl. The results of estimation are in good agreement with the experimentally observed dependence of texture formation on excess salt type. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 99: 508–516, 2013.     

Relevance of signaling molecules for apoptosis induction on influenza A virus replication

Apoptosis is an important mechanism to maintain homeostasis in mammals, and disruption of the apoptosis regulation mechanism triggers a range of diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and developmental disorders. The severity of influenza A virus (IAV) infection is also closely related to dysfunction of apoptosis regulation. In the virus infected cells, the functions of various host cellular molecules involved in regulation of induction of apoptosis are modulated by IAV proteins to enable effective virus replication. The modulation of the intracellular signaling pathway inducing apoptosis by the IAV infection also affects extracellular mechanisms controlling apoptosis, and triggers abnormal host responses related to the disease severity of IAV infections. This review focuses on apoptosis related molecules involved in IAV replication and pathogenicity, the strategy of the virus propagation through the regulation of apoptosis is also discussed.     

Computational Investigation of Pkcβ Inhibitors for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the attenuating complications of diabetes mellitus. The key gene responsible for causing diabetic retinopathy is protein kinase C beta (PKCβ). Protein kinase C is a family of protein kinase enzymes which are involved in controlling the function of other proteins through phosphorylation mechanism and plays a crucial role in signal transduction mechanisms. Among all the PKC isoenzymes, PKCβ could be a significant isoenzyme involved in vascular dysfunction during hyperglycemia. Studies show that oral administration of PKCβ inhibitor Ruboxistaurin ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY333531","term_id":"1257370768","term_text":"LY333531"}}LY333531), decreases vessel permeability and improves retinal condition. Thus compounds that decrease the PKCβ activation would be helpful in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The compounds similar to Ruboxistaurin are taken from Super Target database and docking analysis was performed. Maleimide derivative 3 showed highest binding affinities compared to Ruboxistaurin and so we advise that compound may be utilized in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.     

Upregulation of c-FLIP-short in response to TRAIL promotes survival of NSCLC cells,which could be suppressed by inhibition of Ca2+/calmodulin signaling

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising cytokine for killing tumor cells. However, a number of studies have demonstrated that different cancer cells resist TRAIL treatment and, moreover, TRAIL can promote invasion and metastasis in resistant cells. Here we report that TRAIL rapidly activates caspase-8 in a panel of non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). Adenocarcinomas derived from the lung in addition to high caspase-8 expression are characterized by increased expression of DR4 compared with adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. Blocking DR4 or lowering caspase-8 expression significantly reduced apoptosis in NSCLC cell lines, indicating the importance of DR4 and signifying that higher levels of caspase-8 in lung adenocarcinomas make them more susceptible to TRAIL treatment. Despite rapid and robust initial responsiveness to TRAIL, surviving cells quickly acquired resistance to the additional TRAIL treatment. The expression of cellular-FLIP-short (c-FLIP_S) was significantly increased in surviving cells. Such upregulation of c-FLIP_S was rapidly reduced and TRAIL sensitivity was restored by treatment with cycloheximide. Silencing of c-FLIP_S, but not c-FLIP-long (c-FLIP_L), resulted in a remarkable increase in apoptosis and significant reduction of clonogenic survival. Furthermore, chelation of intracellular Ca²⁺ or inhibition of calmodulin caused a rapid proteasomal degradation of c-FLIP_S, a significant increase of the two-step processing of procaspase-8, and reduced clonogenicity in response to TRAIL. Thus, our results revealed that the upregulation of DR4 and caspase-8 expression in NSCLC cells make them more susceptible to TRAIL. However, these cells could survive TRAIL treatment via upregulation of c-FLIP_S, and it is suggested that blocking c-FLIP_S expression by inhibition of Ca²⁺/calmodulin signaling significantly overcomes the acquired resistance of NSCLC cells to TRAIL.     

Bacterial epibionts and endolichenic actinobacteria and fungi in the Lower Devonian lichen Chlorolichenomycites salopensis

The charcoalified fragment of the dorsiventrally organized, internally stratified presumed green algal lichen Chlorolichenomycites salopensis from the Lower Devonian Lochkovian strata in the Welsh Borderland carries bacterial colonies on the upper surface, i.e. the cortex, and actinobacterial filaments in the medulla underneath the photobiont layer. Moreover relatively thin hyphae of presumed endolichenic fungi were found. As in extant lichens, which are best regarded as consortia with an unknown number of participants, this internally stratified, fossil thallus fragment of a presumed green algal lichen harbours a diverse microbial community.     

土壤中聚乙烯降解菌的筛选、鉴定及降解特性

[目的] 农用地膜主要成分为聚乙烯（polyethylene,PE）,因其难以被降解,其废弃物常造成“白色污染”,本研究从常年覆盖农用地膜的土壤中筛选PE降解菌,并探究其对PE制品的降解效能。[方法] 采集的土壤样品用PE为唯一碳源的无机盐培养基进行富集,筛选、纯化PE降解菌,分离菌通过形态染色、生理生化特征、16S rRNA基因序列分析进行鉴定,检测其在不同PE浓度（0%、0.05%、0.10%、0.25%、0.50%、1.00%、2.00%、3.00%）的无机盐培养基中的生长曲线,最后通过扫描电镜、光镜观察,检测分离菌对农用地膜的降解效能。[结果] 从土壤中筛选获得一株能够降解PE的分离菌株（命名为SW1）,初步鉴定其为放线菌的诺卡氏菌属Nocardia sp.。SW1的生长对PE具有明显浓度依赖,在含2% PE的无机盐培养基中生长最快,在培养的第48 h菌液浓度开始明显增加,第60 h达到最大,而在不含PE的无机盐培养基中未见生长。形态生理学观察表明,35℃培养15 d后,扫描电镜观察可见有大量菌嵌入膜内或附于膜表面生长,膜表面粗糙,并开始出现破损;培养60 d后,光镜观察可见膜大面积破损,并出现空洞。[结论] 从土壤中筛选获得了一株能够有效降解PE制品的放线菌菌株Nocardia sp. SW1。该研究丰富了PE制品降解微生物的菌种资源,为PE塑料废弃物的生物降解提供了科学数据与参考。     

液体植物保护膜防治瓜实蝇的效果评价

【背景】瓜实蝇是一种重要的世界性检疫害虫,广泛分布在我国的热带、亚热带地区。在室内和田间测定了液体植物保护膜对瓜实蝇的控制效能,并初步探索了该保护膜的作用方式,以期为瓜实蝇的绿色防控提供一定的技术支撑。【方法】测定了应用保护膜后瓜实蝇的产卵、存活以及对苦瓜的为害率。【结果】保护膜显著影响了瓜实蝇产卵、存活以及选择性。随着保护膜浓度的升高,瓜实蝇的存活率和在供试苦瓜段上的产卵量逐渐下降,但300和400倍保护膜之间的差异不显著。当浓度达到400倍时产卵量最低,为0.33粒,死亡率最高,约为50%;室内研究发现保护膜可持续影响瓜实蝇产卵5 d;此外,通过将保护膜应用在损伤的苦瓜上,发现保护膜并没有抑制瓜实蝇产卵。在田间,研究发现苦瓜的果长影响了保护膜的应用效能,2种果长的苦瓜应用保护膜后12~14 cm苦瓜的被害率显著低于6~8 cm苦瓜的被害率。【结论与意义】400倍的植物液体保护膜是防治瓜实蝇的最佳浓度,应用时间建议每4 d一次。保护膜最合适的应用时期为果长发育至12~14 cm时,即生长后期。施用保护膜时一定均匀,且在寄主果实受到损伤时不宜喷施保护膜。     

Race and place at the city limits: imaginative geographies of South Central Los Angeles

In the early 1990s, a new cycle of films emerged that depicted complex portrayals of the lives of African-Americans in the neighbourhoods in which they lived. This so-called ‘hood genre was quite radical in its foregrounding of structural racism and police violence. But Hollywood's marketing of these films muted this radical content by directly contradicting explicit signifiers in the films’ story worlds. While many of the ‘hood films take place on the urban fringe and in suburbs, their promotional materials worked to confine the action, to a mythic ‘inner city'.

This essay studies the two most popular films of the genre, Boyz n the Hood and Menace II Society, to illustrate how ‘paratexts' redistricted 'hood films. Through a comparative analysis of the films and their promotional materials, this essay argues Hollywood marketed a racialized ‘imaginative geography' for this important genre of African-American cinema.     

水质微生物学检验实验模块的教学探索与实践

我校采用模块化教学形式开展水质微生物学检验实验教学。该模块由菌落总数测定、总大肠菌群测定及生理生化反应测试以及大肠菌群的血清学测试3个单元实验组成。实验内容以国家标准《生活饮用水标准检验方法——微生物指标(GB/T 5750.12-2006)》规定的程序进行编排。在教学过程中,注重模块实验的标准化操作,让学生树立标准化意识;通过连贯的模块化实验将卫生学检验实验转换为带有基础性的细菌分类学实验,在培养学生微生物学检验操作能力的同时,让学生系统地学习大肠杆菌的各种分类学鉴定方法。该模块的考核形式是学生参照专业机构的检验报告出具校园湖水的水质检验报告以及提交研究论文。水质微生物学检验实验模块的教学改革提高了学生的微生物数量研究能力和细菌分类研究能力,有利于学生开展创新型研究。