Isolation and characterization of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus licheniformis</Emphasis> strain capable of degrading zearalenone

The worldwide contamination of cereals, oilseeds, and other crops by mycotoxin-producing moulds is a significant problem. Mycotoxins have adverse effects on humans and animals that result in illnesses and economic losses. Reduction or elimination of mycotoxin contamination in food and feed is an important issue. This study aimed to screen soil bacteria for degradation of zearalenone (ZEN). A pure culture of strain CK1 isolated from soil samples showed most capable of degradation of ZEN. Using physiological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis methods, CK1 was identified as Bacillus licheniformis. Addition of 2 ppm of ZEN in Luria–Bertani (LB) medium, B. licheniformis CK1 decreased 95.8% of ZEN after 36 h of incubation. In ZEN-contaminated corn meal medium, B. licheniformis CK1 decreased more than 98% of ZEN after 36 h of incubation. In addition, B. licheniformis CK1 was non-hemolytic, non-enterotoxin producing, and displayed high levels of extracellular xylanase, cellulase, and protease activities. These findings suggest that B. licheniformis CK1 could be used to reduce the concentrations of ZEN and improve the digestibility of nutrients in feedstuffs simultaneously.     

含有Rubisco小亚基启动子和转运肽序列的通路克隆入门载体的构建和应用

Gateway(通路克隆)技术是最近开发出来的一种分子克隆技术,其特点是操作简单、省时高效,已经成功应用于很多基因表达载体的构建.然而,现有的通路克隆植物表达载体不包含任何将表达蛋白定位到叶绿体中的序列.将通路克隆入门质粒载体pENTR-2B的XmnⅠ位点改造成HindⅢ位点,产生入门载体pENTR*-2B,然后将番茄1,5二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶(Rubisco)小亚基3C的启动子(PrbcS)及其转运肽序列(*T)和绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)报告基因亚克隆到pENTR*-2B中,构建通路克隆入门载体pENTR*-PrbcS-*T-GFP.实验结果证实,用pENTR*-PrbcS-*T-GFP和通路克隆的植物表达载体进行LR反应,构建GFP的光诱导型植物表达载体,可以成功地将表达的GFP定位到转基因植物的叶绿体中.利用β-葡糖苷酸酶(GUS)报告基因替代该入门载体中的GFP基因做试验也得到相似的结果.这说明用目的基因替换该入门载体中的GFP可以构建目的基因的入门载体,然后用通路克隆技术可以快速构建其光诱导型植物表达载体,将表达的目的蛋白定位到转基因植物或组织细胞的叶绿体中.     

固氮施氏假单胞菌亚硝酸盐还原酶基因nirS转录特性及功能鉴定

【目的】研究固氮施氏假单胞菌(Pseudomonas stutzeri)A1501亚硝酸盐还原酶结构基因nir S的转录调控机制及其在反硝化过程中的功能。【方法】构建nir S-lac Z融合载体,利用三亲本结合法将其导入野生型A1501,通过β-半乳糖苷酶活性的测定,分析不同供氧状况、不同浓度的硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐对nir S基因表达的影响;同时将该载体导入rpo N突变株中,研究氮代谢调控因子Rpo N对nir S基因转录影响。通过同源重组方法构建nir S突变株,通过生化表型测定明确nir S在反硝化过程中的功能。【结果】启动子活性测定表明,nir S基因厌氧条件下高水平表达,是好氧条件下表达水平的4倍;nir S的表达受硝酸盐诱导,但不受亚硝酸盐的诱导;Rpo N突变株中,nir S的表达活性为野生型的1/4,nir S启动子未发现Rpo N的保守结合位点,表明nir S的表达受Rpo N间接调控。表型测定显示以硝酸盐为电子受体时Δnir S的反硝化能力降低了约20%;以亚硝酸盐为电子受体时Δnir S仅有微弱的反硝化能力,并且nir S的突变使得菌体在反硝化条件下利用亚硝酸盐的能力显著减弱。nir S突变提高了菌体在亚硝酸为电子受体的反硝化条件下的固氮酶活。【结论】A1501中nir S基因的转录受外界氧及硝酸盐的影响,同时受氮代谢Sigma因子Rpo N的调控。nir S在A1501菌反硝化过程中起关键作用,参与了亚硝酸盐的转化。     

Muscle mass in musculoskeletal models

Most current models of musculoskeletal dynamics lump a muscle's mass with its body segment, and then simulate the dynamics of these body segments connected by joints. As shown here, this popular approach leads to errors in the system's inertia matrix and hence in all aspects of the dynamics. Two simplified mathematical models were created to capture the relevant features of monoarticular and biarticular muscles, and the errors were analyzed. The models were also applied to two physiological examples: the triceps surae muscles that plantar flex the human ankle and the biceps femoris posterior muscle of the rat hind limb. The analysis of errors due to lumping showed that these errors can be large. Although the errors can be reduced in some postures, they cannot be easily eliminated in models that use segment lumping. Some options for addressing these errors are discussed.     

Characterization of the cDNA coding for mouse prothrombin and localization of the gene on mouse chromosome 2

A series of overlapping cDNAs coding for mouse prothrombin (coagulation factor II) have been isolated and the composite DNA sequence has been determined. The complete prothrombin cDNA is 1,987 bp in length [excluding the poly(A) tail] and codes for 18 bp of 5' untranslated sequence, an open reading frame coding for 618 amino acids, a stop codon, and a 3' untranslated region of 112 bp followed by a poly(A) tail. The translated amino acid sequence predicts a molecular weight of 66,087, which includes 10 residues of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid. There are five potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Mouse prothrombin is 81.4% and 77.3% identical to the human and bovine proteins, respectively. Comparison of the cDNA coding for mouse prothrombin to the human and bovine cDNAs indicates 79.9% and 76.5% identity, respectively. Amino acid residues important for the structure and function of human prothrombin are conserved in the mouse and bovine proteins. In the adult mouse and rat, prothrombin is primarily synthesized in the liver, where is constitutes 0.07% of total mRNA as determined by solution hybridization analysis. The genetic locus for mouse prothrombin, Cf-2, has been mapped using an interspecies backcross and DNA fragment differences between the two species. The prothrombin locus lies on mouse chromosome 2, 1.8 +/- 1.3 map units proximal to the catalase locus. The gene order in this region is Cen-Acra-Cf-2-Cas-1-A-Tel. This localization extends the proximal boundary of the known region of homology between mouse chromosome 2 and human chromosome 11p from Cas-1 about 2 map units toward the centromere.     

Deficiency of Macf1 in osterix expressing cells decreases bone formation by Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 pathway

Microtubule actin cross‐linking factor 1 (Macf1) is a spectraplakin family member known to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, cell migration, neuronal growth and cell signal transduction. We previously demonstrated that knockdown of Macf1 inhibited the differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cell line. However, whether Macf1 could regulate bone formation in vivo is unclear. To study the function and mechanism of Macf1 in bone formation and osteogenic differentiation, we established osteoblast‐specific Osterix (Osx) promoter‐driven Macf1 conditional knockout mice (Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre). The Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice displayed delayed ossification and decreased bone mass. Morphological and mechanical studies showed deteriorated trabecular microarchitecture and impaired biomechanical strength of femur in Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. In addition, the differentiation of primary osteoblasts isolated from calvaria was inhibited in Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. Deficiency of Macf1 in primary osteoblasts inhibited the expression of osteogenic marker genes (Col1, Runx2 and Alp) and the number of mineralized nodules. Furthermore, deficiency of Macf1 attenuated Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 signalling in primary osteoblasts of Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. Together, these results indicated that Macf1 plays a significant role in bone formation and osteoblast differentiation by regulating Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 pathway, suggesting that Macf1 might be a therapeutic target for bone disease.     

Association of age with class VI composite restoration

Dental caries is the major oral health problem in most of the countries, affecting 60-90% of school children and a vast majority of adults. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the association of age with Class VI defects restored with composite restorations. We used 102 cases with data regarding Class VI composite restorations in a datasheet of 86,000 records at Saveetha Dental College, India for this study. Data shows that Class VI restorations were commonly seen in upper anterior teeth in the age group of 51 and above. The cavities prepared to receive Class VI restoration followed a conservative design of caries removal and used direct restoration techniques for reconstruction of the lost tooth structure.     

Synthesis of the 2′-,3′-Didehydro-2′-,3′-dideoxy and 2′-,3′-Dideoxy Derivatives of 6-Azauridine and a New Route to 2′-,3′-Didehydro-2′-,3′-dideoxy-5-chlorouridine

Abstract

The 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl) and 5′-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) derivatives of 2′-,3′-O-thiocarbonyl-6-azauridine and 2′,3′-O-thiocarbonyl-5-chlorouridine were synthesized from the parent nucleosides by reaction with 4, 4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride and tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride, respectively, followed by treatment with 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole. Introduction of a 2′-,3′-double bond into the sugar ring by reaction of the 5′-protected 2′-,3′-O-thionocarbonates with 1, 3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1, 3, 2-diazaphospholidiine was unsuccessful, but could be accomplished satisfactorily with trimethyl phosphite. Reactions were generally more successful with the 5′-silylated than with the 5′-tritylated nucleosides. Formation of 2′-,3′-O-thiocarbonyl derivatives proceeded in higher yield with 5′-protected 6-azauridines than with the corresponding 5-chlorouridines because of the propensity of the latter to form 2,2′-anhydro derivatives. In the reaction of 5′-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2′-,3′-O-thiocarbonyl-6-azauridine with trimethyl phosphite, introduction of the double bond was accompanied by N³-methylation. However this side reaction was not a problem with 5′-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2′-, 3′-O-thioarbonyl-5-chlorouridine. Treatment of 5′-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2′-, 3′-didehydro-2′-,3′-dideoxy-6-azauridine with tetrabutylammonium fluoride followed by hydrogenation afforded 2′-,3′-dideoxy-6-azauridine. Deprotection of 5′-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2′-, 3′-didehydro-2′-,3′-dideoxy-5-chlorouridine yielded 2′-,3′-didehydro-2′-,3′-dide-oxy-5-chlorouridine.     

Synthesis,Antitumor, and DNA Binding Behavior of Novel 4-(2-Hydroxyquinolin-3-yl)-6-Phenyl-5, 6 Dihydropyrimidin Derivatives in Aqueous Medium

This article deals with the synthesis of 4-(2-hydroxyquinolin-3-yl)-6-phenyl-5,6-dihydropyrimidin derivatives (2a–f), on condensation with various aromatic aldehydes and ketones in aqueous ethanolic NaOH solution yielding the corresponding chalcones (3). These chalcones were further reacted with thiourea/urea in the presence of a base, which led to the formation of the titled derivatives (2a–f). The newly synthesized heterocyles were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹HNMR, and electronic and mass spectral data. The compounds (2a and 2b) were evulated for in vitro cyctotoxicity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell (MCF-7). In MTT cytotoxicity studies, both quinolinde derivatives were found most effective. The binding interaction behavior of the compound (2a) and (2d) with calf thymus-DNA (CT-DNA) was studied by electronic spectra, viscosity measurements, and thermal denaturation studies. On binding to CT-DNA, the absorption spectrum underwent bathochromic and hypochromic shifts. The binding constant (K_b) observed 4.3 × 10⁵ M^?1 for (2a), and 3.8 × 10⁵ M^?1 for (2d) suggested that compound (2a) binds more strongly with base pairs than (2d).