Heterologous expression of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ammopiptanthus mongolicus</Emphasis> late embryogenesis abundant protein gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">AmLEA</Emphasis>) enhances <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> viability under cold and heat stress

A late embryogenesis abundant protein gene, AmLEA from Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, was introduced into Escherichia coli using the IMPACT™-TWIN system to analyze the possible function of AmLEA under heat and cold stresses. A fusion protein about 38 kD was expressed in E.coli cells harboring pTWIN-LEA after the induction of IPTG by SDS–PAGE analysis and the accumulation of the fusion protein peaked 3 h after IPTG addition when cultured at 37°C. Compared with control cells, the E. coli cells expressing AmLEA fusion protein showed improved chilling and heat resistence, illuminating the protein may play a protective role in cells under stress conditions. These results suggested the natively unstructured protein, similar to other members of LEA proteins, has high capacity for binding water and potential protective function against dehydration or action similar to the cold shock chaperones.     

Preparation of poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(trimethylene carbonate) blend nanofibers by electrospinning

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) blend nanofibers have been prepared for the first time using an electrospinning process. The mixed dichloromethane (DCM) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (75/25, v/v) was found to be the most suitable solvent for electrospinning. Various blends of PCL/PTMC solutions were investigated for the formation of nano-scale fibers and it was found that the average diameter of the fibers was reduced and the morphology became finer when PTMC content was increased. FT-IR and DSC analysis indicated that the molecular interactions between PCL and PTMC were weak and they were phase-separated in the fibers. Due to the biocompatible properties of PCL and PTMC, the spun nanofibers developed here could have applications in the biomedical field.     

Echolocation behaviours of the Japanese pipistrelle batPipistrellus abramus during foraging flight

The acoustic structure of echolocation pulses emitted by Japanese pipistrellePipistrellus abramus (Temminck, 1840) bats during different phases of aerial hawking is described here for the first time. Behavioural observations of the foraging flight in conjunction with acoustical analysis of echolocation pulses indicated a flight path consisting of four distinct phases following the reconnaissance or search phase. Short (∼4.68 ms) and relatively broadband frequencymodulated (FM) pulses (∼23.55 kHz bandwidth) were emitted at a repetition rate of 15 Hz during presumed target approach. Presumed insect capture consisted of an early and a late buzz phase. Both buzz types were emitted at high repetition rates (111 Hz in early to 222 Hz in late) and consisted of very short, broadband FM pulses (1.26 ms in early to 0.3 ms in late). There was also a characteristically sharp drop in both the peak and terminal frequencies of each echolocation pulse during the transition from early to late buzz. No pulses were recorded during the final phase of foraging referred to as a “post-buzz pause”. Thus the foraging behaviour of this species consisted of five sequential phases involving four broad types of echolocation pulses.     

Mutations in VEGFA are associated with congenital left ventricular outflow tract obstruction

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) comprises a spectrum of stenotic lesions. Previous studies have shown that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling system plays a critical role in cardiac cushion formation, vasculogenesis, and angiogenesis. We hypothesize that VEGFA may be a potential candidate gene associated with the spectrum of LVOTO lesions. However, it remains unclear whether the VEGFA gene is responsible for the development of LVOTO malformations. In this study, we identified three exon mutations in the VEGFA gene in three of 192 nonsyndromic LVOTO patients, and the overall mutation frequency was 1.6% (3/192). The c.454C>T (p.Arg152X) nonsense mutation and c.19_22dupGACA (p.Thr8ArgfsX78) internal tandem duplication mutation each introduced a premature stop codon and are predicted to produce a truncated VEGFA protein. The c.998G>A missense mutation changes a highly conserved arginine to a glutamine at residue 333 (p.Arg333Gln). These mutations were carried by some family members, and average penetrance was 33.3%. The present study suggests, for the first time to our knowledge, that VEGFA mutations may be associated with congenital LVOTO malformations. We provide evidence that LVOTO is likely oligogenic.     

FoF1-ATPase activity regulated by external links on β subunits

F_oF₁-ATPase activity is regulated by external links on β subunits with different molecular weight. It is inhibited when anti-β subunit antibody, streptavidin and H9 antibody link on the β subunits successively, but is activated when virus was binded. Western blotting indicated that the employed anti-β antibody target was on the non-catalytic site of the β subunit. Furthermore, an ESR study of spin-labeled ATP (SL-ATP) showed that the affinity of ATP to the holoenzyme increases with increasing external links on the β subunits. This simple regulation method may have great potential in the design of rapid, free labeled, sensitive and selective biosensors.     

Decreased expression of klotho gene in uremic atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Chronic renal failure (CRF) markedly accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, but the pathogenesis of uremic atherosclerosis remains to be elucidated. The klotho gene, predominantly expressed in the kidney, plays a key role in regulating aging and the development of age-related diseases in mammals. A loss of klotho results in multiple aging-like phenotypes including atherosclerosis. This study examines the relationship between the klotho expression and the development of accelerated atherosclerosis in uremic state.Eight-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient (apo-E^−/−) male mice underwent 5/6 partial kidney ablation to induce CRF or sham-operation. At 6 wk after nephrectomy, CRF mice showed significantly increased aortic plaque area fraction, aortic root plaque area and aortic cholesterol content as compared with non-CRF mice. Serum urea, total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in CRF apo-E^−/− mice compared with non-CRF controls. Moreover, the expression of renal klotho gene and the serum levels of klotho protein were markedly decreased in CRF mice compared with controls.These results suggested that CRF favored atherosclerosis in apo-E^−/− mice and uremic atherosclerosis was accompanied by down-regulation of klotho expression.     

对Bt蛋白敏感敏感和敏感的棉铃虫中肠细菌群落的比较

摘要：【目的】通过比较Cry1Ac蛋白抗性及敏感棉铃虫中肠细菌群落的结构组成,研究中肠微生物是否与棉铃虫Bt抗性产生有关。【方法】首先提取了棉铃虫中肠微生物基因组DNA,通过PCR扩增获得了16S rDNA全长片段及V3区。采用基于16S rDNA 的免培养技术—16S rDNA文库建立和变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）研究了国内特有的Bt抗性和敏感品系棉铃虫中肠细菌群落组成,并对其进行分析和比较。【结果】16S rDNA文库测序结果表明,抗性品系与敏感品系棉铃虫中肠细菌群落特别是优势菌群非常相似,但在部分劣势菌群上存在差异。抗性品系中主要优势菌有：不可培养微生物（Uncultured bacterium）占56.4%,鹑鸡肠球菌（Enterococcus gallinarum）占17.0%,铅黄肠球菌（Enterococcus casseliflavus）占17.0%;敏感品系中主要优势菌为不可培养微生物（Uncultured bacterium）60.2%,鹑鸡肠球菌（Enterococcus gallinarum）占19.3%,铅黄肠球菌（Enterococcus casseliflavus）占14.7%。随后进行的PCR验证表明,部分有差异的劣势菌在两种品系虫体都存在。DGGE图谱分析表明,这两个品系棉铃虫中肠菌群相似性达到92.3%。【结论】敏感品系与抗性品系棉铃虫肠道菌群组成极其相似,推测抗性的产生与肠道微生物无直接关系。     

Foraging areas of Rousettus leschenaulti on the Hainan Island of China

We investigated the foraging area of three individuals (1 female and 2 males) of Rousettus leschenaulti (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) in suburban Haikou City, Hainan Province, South China from November 2005 to January 2006 using radio telemetry. These animals left the daytime roosting sites about 90 min after sunset with no significant difference in departure time between the male and female bats. The average active times were 391.8 min for males and 533.7 min for the female, respectively. By reconstructing 93...     

Trace detection of picloram using an electrochemical immunosensor based on three-dimensional gold nanoclusters

Picloram, a herbicide widely used for broadleaf weed control, is persistent and mobile in soil and water with adverse health and environmental effects. It is important to develop a sensitive method for accurate detection of trace picloram in the environment. In this article, a type of ordered three-dimensional (3D) gold (Au) nanoclusters obtained by two-step electrodeposition using the spatial obstruction/direction of the polycarbonate membrane is reported. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-picloram was immobilized on the 3D Au nanoclusters by self-assembly, and then competitive immunoreaction with picloram antibody and target picloram was executed. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled secondary antibody was applied for enzyme-amplified amperometric measurement. The electrodeposited Au nanoclusters built direct electrical contact and immobilization interface with protein molecules without postmodification and positioning. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range for picloram determination was 0.001-10 μg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. The detection and quantification limits were 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ and 0.0021 μg/ml, respectively. Picloram concentrations in peach and excess sludge supernatant extracts were tested by the proposed immunosensor, which exhibited good precision, sensitivity, selectivity, and storage stability.     

家族性高胆固醇血症低密度脂蛋白受体第13外显子突变分析

目的:探讨本课题组收集家族性高胆固醇血症(FH)患者中存在低密度脂蛋白受体(LDLR)第13外显子(E13)基因突变患者临床生化和心血管系统损害特点.方法:对9例临床诊断为FH、基因检测到LDLR基因E13突变的患者进行回顾性分析.结果:(1)临床诊断FH纯合子患者7名,其总胆固醇(TC)水平15.12～26.14 mmol/L,杂合子患者2名,TC水平11.30～11.75 mrnol/L.(2)均可见不同程度黄色瘤;(3)FH纯合子3例心电图出现ST-T改变;4例儿童和1例青年患者出现瓣膜损害,冠脉血流储备(CVFR)减低;杂合子心电图检查均正常,1例出现瓣膜损害,CVFR均正常.(4)核苷酸序列分析证实:9例E13突变患者中,A606T纯舍突变3名;D601Y纯合突变2名;A606T+、W462X和A606T+D601Y复合杂合突变各1名;A606T和D601Y杂合突变各1名.结论:FH严重损害患儿心血管系统和皮肤,LDLR基因E13出现的A606T和D601Y突变可能成为中国FH人群的高频突变位点.