Characterisation and computational analysis of a novel lipase nanobio-based reagent for visualising latent fingerprints on water-immersed glass slides

Considering the significant evidential values of fingerprints in underwater criminal investigations and the need to visualise them using a user- and environmentally-friendly reagent, development of a novel, rapid and relatively greener nanobio-based reagent (NBR) is deemed beneficial. Lipase from the commercial Candida rugosa immobilised onto acid-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NBR) was used as the safer and cheap lipid-sensing reagent to visualise groomed whole/split fingerprints on non-porous objects immersed in stagnant tap water for up to 30 days under a laboratory-controlled setting. Attenuated Total Reflectance – Fourier Transform Spectrometry, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and bioinformatics (molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations) were employed to characterise and confirm the attachment of NBR onto the lipid constituents of wet fingerprints. Chromatographic results further confirmed the presence of n-hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acids on fingerprints up to 30 days of immersion. Thus, NBR may potentially be useful as the future state-of-the-art fingerprint visualisation technology.     

DNA fingerprinting with oligonucleotides can differentiate cell lines derived from the same tumor

Summary Oligonucleotide fingerprinting was applied to investigate the relatedness of several cell lines that were established between 1973 and 1977 from a teratocarcinoma. We were able to distinguish cell lines derived at different times. In addition, sublines from one cell line (PYS-2) could be discriminated by using a combination of different probes. Therefore multilocus fingerprinting with oligonucleotides is a useful method for monitoring changes in cell lines kept in culture for many generations. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (OB 66/2-1) and by the VW-Stiftung.     

Considerations for measuring genetic variation and population structure with multilocus fingerprinting

Multilocus DNA fingerprinting provides a cost-effective means to rapidly assay genetic variation at many loci. While this makes the technique particularly attractive for studies of evolution and conservation biology, fingerprint data can be difficult to interpret. Measurement errors inherent with the technique force investigators to group similar-sized alleles (bands) into discrete bins before estimating genetic parameters. If too little error is accounted for in this process homologous alleles will not be grouped in a common bin, whereas overestimated error can produce bins with homoplasic alleles. We used simulations and empirical data for two frog species ( Rana luteiventris and Hyla regilla ) to demonstrate that mean band-sharing ( S¯_xy ) and heterozygosity ( H ¯_E) are a function of both bin width and band profile complexity (i.e. number and distribution of bands). These estimators are also sensitive to the number of lanes included in the analysis when bin width is wide and a floating bin algorithm is employed. Multilocus estimates of H ¯_E were highly correlated with S¯_xy and thus provide no additional information about genetic variation. Estimates of population subdivision ( F ^ and Φ^_ST) appeared robust to changes in bin size. We also examined the issue of statistical independence for band-sharing data when comparisons are made among all samples. This analysis indicated that the covariance between band-sharing statistics was very small and not statistically different from zero. We recommend that sensitivity analyses for bin size be used to improve confidence in the biological interpretation of multilocus fingerprints, and that the covariance structure for band-sharing statistics be examined.     

DNA Fingerprinting of Paecilomyces Strains of Potential use for the Biological Control of Pests

Summary Telomeric fingerprinting was found to be highly differentiating for Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Paecilomyces lilacinus isolates in comparison to intron splice site PCR and is therefore a good method for quality control of future products based on these fungi. Although the telomeric restriction length polymorphisms correctly divided the isolates into their appropriate species, further correlation with host range or geographical origin of the isolates was not found. In this respect, intron splice site PCR was more informative taxonomically. The chromosome numbers inferred from telomeric fingerprints were seven chromosomes for P. lilacinus and between six and nine chromosomes for P. fumosoroseus.     

大白菜杂交种''冠春''杂交率的RAPD分析

从春大白菜品种‘冠春’及其亲本中提取基因组DNA,用320个随机引物进行RAPD扩增,从中筛选出5 个可将亲本和子代区分的引物S4、S47、S73、S134和S194。S4产生父本特征带S4-370;S47和S134产生母本特征带S47-700 和S134-1200;S73和S494产生亲本互补的特征带S73-660、S73-730和S494-400、S494-1770,上述谱带均在子代中出现。以这5个引物产生的特征谱带建立杂交种‘冠春’及其亲本的RAPD特异指纹。通过对134个‘冠春’的种子进行纯度鉴定,结果表明2个父本和4个母本与大田检测结果完全一致。进一步验证了4种鉴定大白菜杂交种方法的可行性。     

四川GAP基地虎杖药材HPLC指纹图谱研究

为了建立虎杖GAP基地药材HPLC指纹图谱,采用梯度洗脱法,对虎杖野生与种植药材进行了HPLC代测定。流动相为乙腈-0．1％磷酸水溶液线性梯度洗脱,检测波长为230nm;记录时间：70min;采用中南大学出版的指纹图谱相似度比较软件进行比较。通过软件的比较,虎杖野生与种植药材的指纹图谱相似度均大于0．90。说明运用梯度洗脱能很好分离虎杖的各类成分,本文所建立的方法可作为虎杖药材质量标准制定的参考依据。     

药用植物蓬子菜的有效部位、活性成分及指纹图谱研究

从药用植物蓬子菜的有效部位,分离得到3个有机酸化合物和6个黄酮类化合物,分别为绿原酸、咖啡酸、水杨酸、芸香苷,喇叭茶苷,香叶木苷,香叶木素（2→1）葡萄阿拉伯糖苷,异槲皮苷,香叶木素7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷。并对十个不同产地的蓬子菜进行了指纹图谱研究,确定了19个共有峰,分离所得到的大部分活性化合物出现在指纹图谱中。     

Visualization of Gluten and Starch Distributions in Dough by Fluorescence Fingerprint Imaging

A novel method combining imaging techniques and fluorescence fingerprint (FF) data measurement was developed to visualize the distributions of gluten and starch in dough without any preprocessing. Fluorescence images of thin sections of gluten, starch, and dough were acquired under 63 different combinations of excitation and emission wavelengths, resulting in a set of data consisting of the FF data for each pixel. Cosine similarity values between the FF of each pixel in the dough and those of gluten and starch were calculated. Each pixel was colored according to the cosine similarity value to obtain a pseudo-color image showing the distributions of gluten and starch. The dough sample was then fluorescently stained for gluten and starch. The stained image showed patterns similar to the pseudo-color FF image, validating the effectiveness of the FF imaging method. The method proved to be a powerful visualization tool, applicable in fields other than food technology.     

Development of a pharmacophore model for the catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin: Virtual screening and functional testing identify novel small molecule therapeutics of hypertension

The endogenous catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin (CST) regulates events leading to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Earlier we studied the structure of CST by NMR, molecular modeling, and amino acid scanning mutagenesis. That structure has now been exploited for elucidation of interface pharmacophores that mediate binding of CST to its target, with consequent secretory inhibition. Designed pharmacophore models allowed screening of 3D structural domains. Selected compounds were tested on both cultured catecholaminergic cells and an in vivo model of hypertension; in each case, the candidates showed substantial mimicry of native CST actions, with preserved or enhanced potency and specificity. The approach and compounds have thus enabled rational design of novel drug candidates for treatment of hypertension or autonomic dysfunction.