Interaction of invertase with polyelectrolytes

In connection with our work on polyelectrolyte complex formation with polyampholytes, the interaction between invertase and several linear polyelectorlytes has been investigated by means of turbidimetry, light scattering measurements, and determination of the enzyme activity. Polyelectrolyte complex formation of invertase was shown to occur with cationic polyelectrolytes only. The light-scattering data yield information on aggregation and desegregation processes in complex formation. As indicated by our results, only a part of the protein molecules is engaged in this Coulombic interaction, and this part shows a rather small enzyme activity only. Thus, a direct interaction between invertase and a cationic polyelectrolyte is no effective approach to enzyme binding, but a complete immobilization of invertase can be achieved via an "inclusion flocculation" with a symplex formed by interaction between an anionic and a cationic linear polyelectrolyte or via immobilization in symplex microcapsules.     

Continuous culture system for production of biopolymer levan using erwinia herbicola

The optimal production of the fructan biopolymer levan by the bacterium Erwinia herbicola was investigated, including variations in nitrogen, carbon and phosphorous sources, pH, incubation time, culture yields up to 19% by weight produced based on conversion of sucrose as the carbon source when grown in a continuous culture system and processed by tangential flow filtration. Product identity was confirmed with gas chromatography (GC) and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and low-angle laser light scattering (LALLS) determination of the molecular weight of the product showed a significant difference in molecular weight values dependent on the method of analysis. Analysis by GPC resulted in molecular weight one order of magnitude lower than LALLS independent of sample, underscoring the unusual nature of this biopolymer.     

Inactivation and stabilization of stabilisins in neat organic solvents

The stability of the serine proteases from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (subtillisin BPN') and Bacillus licheniformis (subtilisin Carlsberg) was investigated in various anhydrous solvents at 45 degrees C. The half-life of subtilisin BPN' in dimethyl-formamide dramatically depends on the pH of the aqueous solutions from which the enzyme was lyophilized, increasing from 48 min to 20 h when the pH is raised from 6.0 to 7.9. Both subtilisins exhibited substantial inactivation during multihour incubations in tert-amyl alcohol and acetonitrile when enzymatic activities were also measured in these solvents; however, when the enzymes were assayed in water instead, hardly any loss of activity was detected. This surprising difference appears to stem from the partitioning of the bound water essential for catalytic activity from the enzymes into the solvents. When assayed in organic solvents, this time-dependent stripping of water results in decay of enzymatic activity; however, when assayed in water, where the dehydrated subtilisins can undergo rehydration thereby recovering catalytic activity, little inactivation is observed. In agreement with this hypothesis, the addition of small quantities of water tert-amyl alcohol stabilized the subtilisins in it even when enzymatic activity was measured in the nonaqueous solvent. Ester substrates (vinyl butyrate and trichloroethyl butyrate) greatly enhanced the stability of both subtilisins in organic solvents possibly because of the formation of the acyl-enzymes.     

Optimization of L-malic acid production by Aspergillus flavus in a stirred fermentor

Effects of various nutritional and environmental factors on the accumulation of organic acids (mainly L-malic acid) by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus were studied in a 16-L stirred fermentor. Improvement of the molar yield (moles acid produced per moles glucose consumed) of L-malic acid was obtained mainly by increasing the agitation rate (to 350 rpm) and the Fe(z+) ion concentration (to 12 mg/L) and by lowering the nitrogen (to 271 mg/L) and phosphate concentrations (to 1.5 mM) in the medium. These changes resulted in molar yields for L-malic acid and total C(4) acids (L-malic, succinic, and fumaric acids) of 128 and 155%, respectively. The high molar yields obtained (above 100%) are additional evidence for the operation of part of the reductive branch of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in L-malic acid accumulation by A. flavus. The fermentation conditions developed using the above mentioned factors and 9% CaCO(3) in the medium resulted in a high concentration (113 g/L L-malic acid from 120 g/L glucose utilized) and a high overall productivity (0.59 g/L h) of L-malic acid. These changes in acid accumulation coincide with increases in the activities of NAD(+)-malate dehydrogenase, fumarase, and citrate synthase.     

A turnstile for initiation of DNA replication

The progress of a cell through its growth cycle is a multifaceted process; so far we have seen only a glimpse of the complex interplay between the macromolecules performing and regulating the different steps involved. In most organisms, control mechanisms ensure that all chromosomal DNA sequences are replicated once, and only once, between two cell divisions. This enables each division to produce two daughter cells with a genetic content identical to that of their mother. Although the biochemical synthetic processes involved in replicating DNA have been described in detail, our knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of DNA replication remains scant. In recent experiments with Escherichia coli, new light has been shed on these elusive control mechanisms, and evidence has emerged that may signal an end to our ignorance about this important biological problem.     

A REVIEW OF THE CLASSIFICATION,DISTRIBUTION AND APPLICATION OF ARTEMISIA L. AND SERIPHIDIUM ( BESS. ) POLJAK. ( COMPOSITAE ) IN CHINA

<正> The paper is a review, in which author showed 1). A view of the classification, including history and taxonomic evidence of the genera, Artemisia L. and Seriphidium (Bess.) Poljak.; 2). the distribution, including migration in geological period, the speciation and present distributional mass center and so-called "3 oblique mass zones" in China, as well as the secondary speciation and developing centers in Hengduang-Himalayan Mts. and 3). the application, mainly in medicine, but also for herbage in steppe and for the windbreaks and assist to sand fixation at the desert and semi-desert areas.     

黄连体细胞胚胎发生及植株再生

黄连(Coptis chinensis F.)是我国著名常用中药,具有清热燥湿,凉血解毒的功用。长期以来由于过量的采挖,造成野生资源亏缺。在人工栽培中,由于黄连种子小,休眠期长,出苗不整齐,生长缓慢,要6—7年才能收获,因而限制了黄连的生产。对黄连的研究,过去主要集中于黄连的有效成份分析及药物学方面。近年来日本T. Furuya等开展了应用黄连细胞大量培     

Fe-Co杂化血红蛋白E11-Val甲基质子~1H NMR谱峰归属及蛋白溶液构象的研究

在500MHz~1H NMR仪上对HbA,CoHb和对称与不对称的Fe-Co杂化血红蛋白在去氧和一氧化碳配位时环形电流效应对蛋白Ell-Val甲基共振峰的影响进行了研究,将-1.0ppm峰归属于β(Co)的二个甲基质子,-1.55ppm和-2.35ppm的峰归属于α(Co)γ_1CH_3和γ_2CH_3,-1.15ppm与-2.05ppm的峰归属为α(Fe-Co)的γ_1CH_3与α_2CH_3共振峰,-1.52ppm与-2.15ppm的峰指定为β(Fe-Co)的γ_1CH_3与γ_2CH_3.根据归属对蛋白在去氧和一氧化碳配位时其溶液构象变化进行了研究,发现CO配位于β(Fe)比配位于α(Fe)使E11-Val甲基质子化学位移发生更大改变.     

作为抗病毒治疗因子的Ribozyme

病毒功能和复制的专一性抑制是医学上的一个主要难题.这种困难主要是基于这种事实即不象细菌一样,病毒是存在于细胞内的,它们遗传信息的复制和表达取决于某些寄主功能.病毒功能抑制因子也经常对寄主有反作用,特别是长时间的使用以后.这是真的,即使当病毒生活史中的一个唯一过程是药物靶子也是如此.适当的例子是逆转录酶(RT),它是所有逆转录病毒复制所需的一种病毒酶.核苷类似物叠氮胸苷(通常称作AZT)是HIV-1 RT的一种有效抑制剂.虽然RT在细胞中没有酶学功能类似物,但AZT抑制DNA聚合物和RNase H活性,尽管它们有很高的浓度.用AZT长时间的治疗最终导致毒性副作用,这就限制了该药物的应用.     

人源性流行性出血热病毒的形态特征

本文报道流行性出血热病毒(汉坦病毒)H-114株的电镜形态。发现形态发生以内质网膜和胞浆膜芽生为主。病毒颗粒为圆形或卵圆形。具有双层膜结构,大小为90～120nm。提出了汉坦病毒形态发生的理论观点。