Highly sensitive and selective uric acid biosensor based on a three-dimensional graphene foam/indium tin oxide glass electrode

A three-dimensional (3D) continuous and interconnected network graphene foam (GF) was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using nickel foam as a template. The morphologies of the GF were observed by scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the structure of GF. The graphene with few layers and defect free was closely coated on the backbone of the 3D nickel foam. After etching nickel, the GF was transferred onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, which acted as an electrode to detect uric acid using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The GF/ITO electrode showed a high sensitivity for the detection of uric acid: approximately 9.44 mA mM⁻¹ in the range of 25 nM–0.1 μM and 1.85 mA mM⁻¹ in the range of 0.1–60 μM. The limit of detection of GF/ITO electrode for uric acid is 3 nM. The GF/ITO electrode also showed a high selectivity for the detection of uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid. This electrode will have a wide range of potential application prospects in electrochemical detection.     

Saline-induced changes of epicuticular waxy layer on the Puccinellia tenuiflora and Oryza sativa leave surfaces

Background

The epicuticular waxy layer of plant leaves enhances the extreme environmental stress tolerance. However, the relationship between waxy layer and saline tolerance was not established well. The epicuticular waxy layer of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was studied under the NaHCO₃ stresses. In addition, strong saline tolerance Puccinellia tenuiflora was chosen for comparative studies.

Results

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that there were significant changes in waxy morphologies of the rice epicuticular surfaces, while no remarkable changes in those of P. tenuiflora epicuticular surfaces. The NaHCO₃-induced morphological changes of the rice epicuticular surfaces appeared as enlarged silica cells, swollen corns-shapes and leaked salt columns under high stress. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopic profiles supported that the changes were caused by significant increment and localization of [Na⁺] and [Cl⁻] in the shoot. Atomic absorption spectra showed that [Na⁺]_shoot/[Na⁺]_root for P. tenuiflora maintained stable as the saline stress increased, but that for rice increased significantly.

Conclusion

In rice, NaHCO₃ stress induced localization and accumulation of [Na⁺] and [Cl⁻] appeared as the enlarged silica cells (MSC), the swollen corns (S-C), and the leaked columns (C), while no significant changes in P. tenuiflora.     

Gymnomyces xerophilus sp. nov. (sequestrate Russulaceae), an ectomycorrhizal associate of Quercus in California

Gymnomyces xerophilus sp. nov., a sequestrate species in the Russulaceae, is characterized and described morphologically as a new species from Quercus-dominated woodlands in California. ITS sequences recovered from healthy, ectomycorrhizal roots of Quercus douglasii and Q. wislizeni matched those of G. xerophilus basidiomata, confirming the ectomycorrhizal status of this fungus. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region places G. xerophilus in a clade with both agaricoid (Russula in the section Polychromae) and sequestrate (Gymnomyces, Cystangium) relatives. We include a dichotomous key to the species of Gymnomyces associated with Quercus.     

Analysis of the variability of the control region and cytochrome b gene of mtDNA of Capreolus pygargus Pall

Analysis the of cytochrome b gene (1140 b.p.) polymorphism and polymorphism of 79 specimens of the control region (934 b.p.) of mtDNA of the Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus from 23 regions of Russia and Kazakhstan has been carried out. The combined alignment of two fragments of mitochondrial DNA revealed 36 haplotypes, which are distributed in three haplogroups. The net distance was 0.8, 1.3, and 1.3%. The specific pattern of haplogroups was described for roe deer of each region (Ural, trans-Ural, Eastern Siberia, Far East, Northeastern China). Unrelated haplogroups were found in populations of the Urals and Siberia. The variation pattern and spatial distribution of mitochondrial lines allowed us to suggest that a haplogroup that initially belongs to C. p. tianschanicus occurs secondarily in C. p. pygargus.     

蛋白质组学关键技术研究进展

蛋白质组学是后基因组时代的一门新兴科学,是对生物体在蛋白质水平上定量、动态、整体性的研究。简要综述了高通量蛋白质分离和鉴定技术,如双向电泳、生物质谱、蛋白质芯片、酵母双杂交、同位素亲和标签及生物信息学的原理、方法、应用及存在的问题与局限,并对蛋白质组学研究的发展前景进行了展望。     

植物DNA甲基化变异对生物和非生物胁迫的响应机制

高等植物具有复杂的机制使其对环境的变化做出响应,这种机制是通过长期进化建立起来的.它们能够对出现的生物和非生物胁迫产生响应.在分子水平上,植物对各种胁迫的响应是受多基因表达变化调控的,包括植物激素水杨酸、脱落酸等信号途径在整合、协调植物胁迫过程中起关键作用.近年来的研究表明,在植物响应胁迫这一过程中还进行着表观遗传调控...     

星星草铁蛋白基因PtFer的克隆及表达分析

目的:从星星草中克隆一个铁蛋白相关基因,分析其序列特征及基因表达模式。方法与结果:构建星星草RACE cDNA文库,根据GenBank中报道的铁蛋白基因EST序列设计引物,利用RACE方法克隆得到星星草铁蛋白基因PtFer的全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号为HM125047);序列分析表明,PtFer的核苷酸序列长度为751 bp,开放读框为336 bp,编码111个氨基酸残基,预测蛋白质相对分子质量为12.8×103。其蛋白质序列具有铁蛋白的特征性保守区域,与水稻属同一进化分支,与其他禾本科植物铁蛋白的序列相似性达80%以上。Northern杂交分析表明,PtFer的表达量随Na2CO3的浓度和时间的增加而升高,并在12～24 h内持续保持较高的表达水平。结论:用分子生物学及生物信息学技术克隆并分析了星星草铁蛋白基因PtFer的全长cDNA序列及编码蛋白的结构,并初步探索了盐碱胁迫下其表达模式,为研究植物耐盐碱机理奠定了基础。     

小鼠过敏性哮喘模型的研究进展及评价

支气管哮喘（简称哮喘）是常见的慢性病,随着过敏患者的增加,小鼠过敏性哮喘模型的研究越来越重要。本文通过对近年来国内外小鼠过敏性哮喘的实验研究文献进行总结,从实验小鼠的选择、制备模型的方法及模型的评价指标等方面进行综合分析,为进一步开展哮喘研究提供帮助。