Green-synthesized gold nanoparticles decorated graphene sheets for label-free electrochemical impedance DNA hybridization biosensing

Sensitive electrochemical impedance assay of DNA hybridization by using a novel graphene sheets platform was achieved. The graphene sheets were firstly functionalized with 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA). PTCA molecules separated graphene sheets efficiently and introduced more negatively-charged -COOH sites, both of which were beneficial to the decoration of graphene with gold nanoparticles. Then amine-terminated ionic liquid (NH?-IL) was applied to the reduction of HAuCl? to gold nanoparticles. The green-synthesized gold nanoparticles, with the mean diameter of 3 nm, dispersed uniformly on graphene sheets and its outer layer was positively charged imidazole termini. Due to the presence of large graphene sheets and NH?-IL protected gold nanoparticles, DNA probes could be immobilized via electrostatic interaction and adsorption effect. Electrochemical impedance value increased after DNA probes immobilization and hybridization, which was adopted as the signal for label-free DNA hybridization detection. Unlike previously anchoring DNA to gold nanoparticles, this label-free method was simple and noninvasive. The conserved sequence of the pol gene of human immunodeficiency virus 1 was satisfactorily detected via this strategy.     

The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the subtropical forest of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), East-Central China

The world heritage of Huangshan is located in the east-central China. In order to obtain a better overview of biodiversity in Huangshan, we investigated the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil of Huangshan. Forty-two rhizosphere soil samples were collected and 989 arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore samples were obtained using the wet-sieving method. Twenty-five species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were identified from the collections. The species were of the genera Acaulospora (6 species), Entrophospora (1 species), Glomus (16 species) and Scutellospora (2 species). Acaulospora and Glomus were dominant at the study site. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spore density ranged from 45 to 3,250 per 100 g soil (average 839), and the species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ranged from 1 to 9 (average 4.2) per soil sample. Shannon–Wiener index and Simpson’s index were calculated to evaluate the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity. The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in the subtropical forest of Huangshan may be the result of mutual selection between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the ecological environment.     

Production of (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol and (3S)-acetoin from glucose using resting cells of Klebsiella pneumonia and Bacillus subtilis

Production of highly pure (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol ((2S,3S)-2,3-BD) and (3S)-acetoin ((3S)-AC) in high concentrations is desirable but difficult to achieve. In the present study, glucose was first transformed to a mixture of (2S,3S)-2,3-BD and meso-2,3-BD by resting cells of Klebsiella pneumoniae CICC 10011, followed by biocatalytic resolution of the mixture by resting cells of Bacillus subtilis 168. meso-2,3-BD was transformed to (3S)-AC, leaving (2S,3S)-2,3-BD in the reaction medium. Using this approach, 12.5 g l(-1) (2S,3S)-2,3-BD and 56.7 g l(-1) (3S)-AC were produced. Stereoisomeric purity of (2S,3S)-2,3-BD and enantiomeric excess of (3S)-AC was 96.9 and 96.2%, respectively.     

Neuropeptide exocytosis involving synaptotagmin-4 and oxytocin in hypothalamic programming of body weight and energy balance

Hypothalamic neuropeptides play essential roles in regulating energy and body weight balance. Energy imbalance and obesity have been linked to hypothalamic signaling defects in regulating neuropeptide genes; however, it is unknown whether dysregulation of neuropeptide exocytosis could be critically involved. This study discovered that synaptotagmin-4, an atypical modulator of synaptic exocytosis, is expressed most abundantly in oxytocin neurons of the hypothalamus. Synaptotagmin-4 negatively regulates oxytocin exocytosis, and dietary obesity is associated with increased vesicle binding of synaptotagmin-4 and thus enhanced negative regulation of oxytocin release. Overexpressing synaptotagmin-4 in hypothalamic oxytocin neurons and centrally antagonizing oxytocin in mice are similarly obesogenic. Synaptotagmin-4 inhibition prevents against dietary obesity by normalizing oxytocin release and energy balance under chronic nutritional excess. In conclusion, the negative regulation of synaptotagmin-4 on oxytocin release represents a hypothalamic basis of neuropeptide exocytosis in controlling obesity and related diseases.     

Simulation study on water quality based on sediment release flume experiment in Lake Taihu, China

Sediments have a significant influence on the overlying water, and nutrient release from sediments is an important source for lake eutrophication, particularly in shallow lakes. Sediment resuspension is primarily driven by wind-induced currents. In this research, the correlation between release rate of suspended sediment and flow velocity was studied, and an experiment on hydrodynamic forces was conducted in a rectangle flume using water and sediments collected from three sites in Lake Taihu, a eutrophic lake in China. It was shown that the starting velocities of sediment in Lake Taihu at three different incipient standards gained from the experiment were 15, 30, and 40 cm s⁻¹ and the release rate of suspended sediment could reach up to 643.4, 5377.1, and 13980.5 g m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively. Based on the experiment, a water quantity and quality numerical model of wind-induced current with sediment pollution for Lake Taihu was developed. The model was calibrated and validated by applying it to the study of the water quality of Lake Taihu. The calculated values were generally in good agreement with field observations, which indicated that the developed model could represent the dynamics of sediment resuspension to a certain extent. This study provides a new approach and a practical tool for planning and management policy and operations to protect the water quality and ecosystems of shallow lakes.     

Polymorphism in exon 3 of follicle stimulating hormone beta (FSHB) subunit gene and its association with litter traits and superovulation in the goat

The polymorphism in follicle stimulating hormone beta (FSHB) subunit gene was detected by PCR-SSCP and PCR-RFLP methods in 780 does from four goat breeds including Boer, Matou, Black and Boer-Matou crossbred (BM). The associations of FSHB genotypes with litter size (LS), litter weight at birth (LWB) and gestation length (GL) as well as superovulation performances were analyzed in relatively lower-prolific Boer and higher-prolific Matou breeds. A 1514 bp linear DNA sequence of goat FSHB gene covering the complete 3 exons was cloned by four pairs of primer. A new mutation (A2645G, GenBank Accession no: S64745) locating in exon 3 causing an amino acid change from glutamine (Gln) to arginine (Arg) at residue 115 was identified, which resulted in three genotypes named AA, AB and BB. The three genotypes were detected in the four studied goat breeds. The higher-prolific Matou breed had the highest frequency of genotype AA. Association analysis showed that Boer and Matou does with AA genotype have the largest LS both in average and in parities from first to fourth (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Boer does with AA genotype had the heaviest LWB compared to other two genotypes (P < 0.05). Matou does with AA genotype have more numbers of ova harvested, large follicles and corpus lutea on ovaries after superovulation than those with BB genotype (P < 0.05). Therefore, these results suggest that the FSHB gene is a candidate gene that affects reproduction traits in goats.     

Isolation of a wild Morchella spp. strain and the effects of its extract on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats

A Morchella spp. strain was isolated from a wild morel mushroom, and the effects of its mycelia extract on the ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions of rats were investigated in vivo. Sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer suggested that this Morchella spp. strain (strain No. M1) was clustered together with M. conica in the phylogenetic tree. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly compared to the control. However, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly compared to the control. These results indicated that M1 is one member of M. conica and the protective effects of M1 extract against the ethanol-induced gastric lesions may be related to the increased SOD activity and decreased MDA level and MPO activity in rats.     

Design and synthesis of pyridin-2-yloxymethylpiperidin-1-ylbutyl amide CCR5 antagonists that are potent inhibitors of M-tropic (R5) HIV-1 replication

A novel series of CCR5 antagonists were identified based on the redesign of Schering C. An SAR was established based on inhibition of CCR5 (RANTES) binding and these compounds exhibited potent inhibition of R5 HIV-1 replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel dihydro-aryl/alkylsulfanyl-cyclohexylmethyl-oxopyrimidines (S-DACOs) as high active anti-HIV agents

A novel dihydro-aryl/alkylsulfanyl-cyclohexylmethyl-oxopyrimidines (S-DACOs) combinatory library was synthesized and evaluated with C8166 cells infected by the HIV-1_IIIB in vitro, using Nevirapine (NVP) and Zidovudine (AZT) as positive control. The anti-HIV screening results revealed that C-6-cyclohexylmethyl substituted pyrimidinones possessed higher selective index than its 6-arylmethyl counterparts. Compounds 1g, 1c, 1e and 1b showed potent anti-HIV activities with EC₅₀ values of 0.012, 0.025, 0.088 and 0.162 nM, respectively.     

Influence of pKa on the biotransformation of indene H1-antihistamines by CYP2D6

Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted to reduce CYP2D6-mediated metabolism in a series of indene H₁-antihistamines. Reductions in pK_a via incorporation of a β-fluoro substituent or a heteroaryl moiety were shown to reduce contributions to metabolism through this pathway. Several compounds, including 8l, 8o, and 12f were identified with promising primary in vitro profiles and reduced biotransformation via CYP2D6.