Growth, mechanical, thermal and spectral properties of Cr3+:MgMoO4 crystal

This paper reports the growth, mechanical, thermal and spectral properties of Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystals. The Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystals with dimensions up to 30 mm×18 mm×14 mm were obtained by TSSG method. The absorption cross-sections of (4)A(2)→(4)T(1) and (4)A(2)→(4)T(2) transitions are 12.94×10(-20) cm(2) at 493 nm and 7.89×10(-20) cm(2) at 705 nm for E//N(g), respectively. The Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystal shows broad band emission extending from 750 nm to 1300 nm with peak at about 705 nm. The emission cross-section with FWHM of 188 nm is 119.88×10(-20) cm(2) at 963 nm for E//N(g). The investigated results showed that the Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystal may be regarded as a potential tunable laser gain medium.     

Leucine-rich Repeat 11 of Toll-like Receptor 9 Can Tightly Bind to CpG-containing Oligodeoxynucleotides, and the Positively Charged Residues Are Critical for the High Affinity

TLR9 is a receptor for sensing bacterial DNA/CpG-containing oligonucleotides (CpG ODN). The extracellular domain (ECD) of human TLR9 (hTLR9) is composed of 25 leucine-rich repeats (LRR) contributing to the binding of CpG ODN. Herein, we showed that among LRR2, -5, -8, and -11, LRR11 of hTLR9 had the highest affinity for CpG ODN followed by LRR2 and -5, whereas LRR8 had almost no affinity. In vitro, preincubation with LRR11 more significantly decreased CpG ODN internalization, subsequent NF-κB activation, and cytokine release than with LRR2 and -5 in mouse peritoneal macrophages treated with CpG ODN. The LRR11 deletion mutant of hTLR9 conferred decreased cellular responses to CpG ODN. Single- or multiple-site mutants at five positively charged residues of LRR11 (LRR11m1-9), especially Arg-337 and Lys-367, were shown to contribute to hTLR9 binding of CpG ODN. LRR11m1-9 showed reduced inhibition of CpG ODN internalization and CpG ODN/TLR9 signaling, supporting the above findings. Prediction of whole hTLR9 ECD-CpG ODN interactions revealed that Arg-337 and Lys-338 directly contact CpG ODN through hydrogen bonding, whereas Lys-347, Arg-348, and His-353 contribute to stabilizing the shape of the ligand binding region. These findings suggested that although all five positively charged residues within LRR11 contributed to its high affinity, only Arg-337 and Lys-338 directly interacted with CpG ODN. In conclusion, the results suggested that LRR11 could strongly bind to CpG ODN, whereas mutations at the five positively charge residues reduced this high affinity. LRR11 may be further investigated as an antagonist of hTLR9.     

Plant chromatin: development and gene control

It is increasingly clear that chromatin is not just a device for packing DNA within the nucleus but also a dynamic material that changes as cellular environments alter. The precise control of chromatin modification in response to developmental and environmental cues determines the correct spatial and temporal expression of genes. Here, we review exciting discoveries that reveal chromatin participation in many facets of plant development. These include: chromatin modification from embryonic and meristematic development to flowering and seed formation, the involvement of DNA methylation and chromatin in controlling invasive DNA and in maintenance of epigenetic states, and the function of chromatin modifying and remodeling complexes such as SWI/SNF and histone acetylases and deacetylases in gene control. Given the role chromatin structure plays in every facet of plant development, chromatin research will undoubtedly be integral in both basic and applied plant biology.     

2-D reference map of Bacillus anthracis vaccine strain A16R proteins

Bacillus anthracis has always been an important pathogen because it can cause lethal inhalational anthrax, and may be used as a bioweapon or by bioterrorists. In this study, a 2-DE reference map and database of B. anthracis A16R was constructed. In total, 534 spots were processed, and 406 spots representing 299 proteins were identified. Gel-estimated pIs and molecular masses mostly matched well with their theoretical predictions, but some discrepancies also existed. Spot and protein corresponding analysis revealed that post-translational modifications might be common in B. anthracis. Through the MASCOT search, the similarity of B. anthracis, B. cereus and B. thuringiensis was further verified by protein level and a possible annotation error in B. anthracis strain Ames 0581 genome was found. Proteins of energy metabolism, fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism, protein synthesis, and cellular processes represented a large part of the most abundant proteins. At the same time, 27 hypothetical proteins were experimentally proved. There were 28 proteins also identified as spore composition in recently spore-related research, which indicated that they might play some roles in different phases such as growth, sporulation and outgrowth. Maps and information about all identified proteins are available on the Internet at http://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/2D-PAGE and http://www.proteomics.com.cn.     

中华白花丹参与其近缘种的形态分类鉴定

该研究采用光学显微镜和扫描电镜相结合的方法,对中华白花丹参(Salvia sinealba)与其近缘种丹参(S.miltiorrhiza)及山东丹参(S.shandongensis)根的解剖学、叶表皮、花及花粉粒进行了系统地比较研究。结果表明:中华白花丹参(S.sinealba)根的中央部位有多数薄壁细胞,在根横切面射线薄壁细胞间及韧皮部外侧与次生皮层部位有多数裂隙;叶片上表皮细胞外平周壁具有细密平行丝状褶皱(SEM);花冠白色;花粉粒椭圆形,外壁具网状雕纹,网眼较大,多角形,少为单穿孔。上述这些显著的特征,不仅为中华白花丹参在植物分类学上的地位提供了形态解剖学依据,而且为近缘种丹参及山东丹参的分类鉴定提供了佐证,同时也为中华白花丹参这一特有新资源的保护和开发利用提供了资料。     

Construction of a recombinant human GM-CSF/MCAF fusion protein and study on itsin vitro andin vivo antitumor effects

A novel cytokine fusion protein was constructed by fusing granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) with monocyte chemotactic activating factor (MCAF), which acts as a factor directing effector cells (monocytes) to a target site. The recombinant human GM-CSF/MCAF fusion protein could sustain the growth of GMCSF-dependent cell line TF1 and was chemotactic for monocytes. Thein vitro antitumor effect showed that rhGM-CSF/MCAF could activate monocytes to inhibit the growth of several human tumor cell lines, including a promyelocyte leukemia cell line HL-60, a lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, a hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 and a melanoma cell line Bowes. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of monocytes activated by rhGM-CSF/MCAF against HL-60 and A549 was greater than that activated by GM-CSF or MCAF alone, even greater than that activated by a combination of GM-CSF and MCAF, suggesting that the fusion protein has synergistic or enhanced effects. Thein vivo antitumor effect indicated that rhGM-CSF/MCAF had marked antitumor effect against A549 tumor in nude mice and even completely suppressed tumor formation. rhGM-CSF/MCAF was significantly more effective in inhibiting tumor growth than rhGM-CSF. Histological analysis showed that tumor site injected with rhGM-CSF/MCAF was infiltrated by a large number of monocytes while a sparse infiltration of monocytes was observed at the tumor site injected with rhGM-CSF or normal saline, suggesting that the antitumor effect of rhGM-CSF/MCAF was mediated by the recruitment of a large number of monocytes to the tumor site.     

影响稻褐飞虱声诱集的若干因素(同翅目：飞虱科)

稻褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(stal)雌、雄成虫均能发出由固体介质(寄主植株)传递的鸣声(振动)信号,用于交尾前的个体间通讯。雄虫对雌虫鸣声或重放鸣声录音具有强趋性。由此研制的声诱集器有可能首先用于改进褐飞虱测报的田间采样技术。 声诱集效果受若干因素的影响。实验室试验结果表明,声诱集具有种的选择性;诱集率随雄虫虫龄变化,对羽化后4一5日龄雄虫的诱集率最高;异性干扰对诱集效果有明显影响;一天中,中午前后诱集率最高,9：00-18：00的诱集量占总诱集量的54.0%±10.8%;诱集率随气温变化,26℃-28℃诱集效果最好;而室外晴、阴、雨等天气差异对诱集串无显著影响;另外,随诱集信号播放时间的延续,诱集率下降;间断信号的诱集效果高于连续信号。     

塔里木河下游河岸柽柳林冠层导度变化特征及模拟

冠层导度(G_c)对植被的蒸腾和光合作用具有重要影响。利用涡度相关仪器实测了塔里木河下游河岸柽柳林地的蒸散发,以及气象因子(温度、湿度、总辐射、光和有效辐射),并利用Penman-Monteith公式计算了柽柳林在2013年生长季的冠层导度。结果显示:柽柳林冠层导度日变化过程在8:00左右迅速增大,于10:30左右达到最大值,之后缓慢下降,18:00左右快速降低;柽柳林冠层导度季节变化过程总体显示,展叶期缓慢上升,落叶期迅速下降,生长盛期缓慢波动下降;研究区,叶面积指数(LAI)是影响柽柳冠层导度季节变化的主要因素,其次为温度(T)、光合有效辐射(PAR)、总辐射(S)、空气饱和差(VPD);四元线性回归方程可以较好地拟合冠层导度与各因子的关系,利用2013年奇数天数据建立回归方程,对偶数天冠层导度值进行模拟和验证,RMSE值为0.169 mm/s,NSE值为0.814,达到了较高的模拟精度。     

PCR检测牛β—乳球蛋白—tPA转基因鼠

转基因鼠的检测是小鼠乳腺生物反应器制备中的关键一步。针对牛β－乳球蛋白（ＢＬＧ）－ｔＰＡ转基因鼠系,设计成功一对引物扩增牛ＢＬＧ上第三内含子与第四外显子之间３００ｂｐ片段,成功建立了转基因鼠的快速筛选方法,ＰＣＲ检测快速灵敏,结果准确可靠。共筛选出９个转基因鼠系。