Crystallization and Preliminary Crystallographic Analysis of Cytochrome c553 Peroxidase fromNitrosomonas europaea

The di-heme peroxidase (cytochrome c553 peroxidase) fromNitrosomonas europaeahas been crystallized in a form suitable for high-resolution X-ray structure determination. A complete data set was obtained to 2.5 Å and the data were indexed in space group P2₁witha= 88.79 Å,b= 55.93 Å,c= 144.37 Å, β = 103.87°. The self-rotation function indicates one homodimer per asymmetric unit.     

Joint analysis of WES and RNA-Seq identify signature genes related to metastasis in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) has a certain degree of heritability, and metastasis occurs as cancer progresses. However, its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. We sequenced four cases of cancer without metastasis, four metastatic cancer, and four benign hyperplasia tissues as controls. A total of 1839 damaging mutations were identified. Pathway analysis, gene clustering, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were employed to find characteristics associated with metastasis. Chr19 had the most mutation density and 1p36 had the highest mutation frequency across the genome. These mutations occurred in 1630 genes, including the most frequently mutated genes TTN and PLEC, and dozens of metastasis-related genes, such as FOXA1, NCOA1, CD34, and BRCA2. Ras signalling and arachidonic acid metabolism were uniquely enriched in metastatic cancer. Gene programmes 10 and 11 showed the signatures indicating the occurrence of metastasis better. A module (135 genes) was specifically associated with metastasis. Of them, 67.41% reoccurred in program 10, with 26 genes further retained as the signature genes related to PCa metastasis, including AGR3, RAPH1, SOX14, DPEP1, and UBL4A. Our study provides new molecular perspectives on PCa metastasis. The signature genes and pathways could be served as potential therapeutic targets for metastasis or cancer progression.     

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

LCEs are shape-responsive materials with fully reversible shape change and potential applications in medicine, tissue engineering, artificial muscles, and as soft robots. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of shape-responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and LCE nanocomposites along with characterization of their shape-responsiveness, mechanical properties, and microstructure. Two types of LCEs — polysiloxane-based and epoxy-based — are synthesized, aligned, and characterized. Polysiloxane-based LCEs are prepared through two crosslinking steps, the second under an applied load, resulting in monodomain LCEs. Polysiloxane LCE nanocomposites are prepared through the addition of conductive carbon black nanoparticles, both throughout the bulk of the LCE and to the LCE surface. Epoxy-based LCEs are prepared through a reversible esterification reaction. Epoxy-based LCEs are aligned through the application of a uniaxial load at elevated (160 °C) temperatures. Aligned LCEs and LCE nanocomposites are characterized with respect to reversible strain, mechanical stiffness, and liquid crystal ordering using a combination of imaging, two-dimensional X-ray diffraction measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. LCEs and LCE nanocomposites can be stimulated with heat and/or electrical potential to controllably generate strains in cell culture media, and we demonstrate the application of LCEs as shape-responsive substrates for cell culture using a custom-made apparatus.     

鬼臼素衍生物Vp—16和Vm—26合成副产物之结构和机理研究

本文报导了以4′-去甲表鬼臼素-4-β-D-葡萄糖甙分别与二甲醇缩乙醛和噻吩甲醛反应合成抗肿瘤药物依托泊甙(Vp-16)和替尼泊甙(Vm-26)中得到的两个主要副产物Vp-x和Vm-x的结构鉴定,并对其反应机理进行了探讨。     

Development of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as a high-level recombinant protein expression system

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Bacillus amyloliquefaciens K11 is a hyperproducer of extracellular neutral protease, which can produce recombinant homologous protein...