Synthesis of folate-functionalized RAFT polymers for targeted siRNA delivery

Receptor-mediated, cell-specific delivery of siRNA enables silencing of target genes in specific tissues, opening the door to powerful therapeutic options for a multitude of diseases. However, the development of delivery systems capable of targeted and effective siRNA delivery typically requires multiple steps and the use of sophisticated, orthogonal chemistries. Previously, we developed diblock copolymers consisting of dimethaminoethyl methacrylate-b-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate-co-propylacrylic acid as potent siRNA delivery systems that protect siRNA from enzymatic degradation and enable its cytosolic delivery through pH-responsive, endosomolytic behavior. (1, 2) These architectures were polymerized using a living radical polymerization method, specifically reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, which employs a chain transfer agent (CTA) to modulate the rate of reaction, resulting in polymers with low polydispersity and telechelic chain ends reflecting the chemistry of the CTA. Here we describe the straightforward, facile synthesis of a folate receptor-targeted diblock copolymer siRNA delivery system because the folate receptor is an attractive target for tumor-selective therapies as a result of its overexpression in a number of cancers. Specifically, we detail the de novo synthesis of a folate-functionalized CTA, use the folate-CTA for controlled polymerizations of diblock copolymers, and demonstrate efficient, specific cellular folate receptor interaction and in vitro gene knockdown using the folate-functionalized polymer.     

辣椒CaWRKY8基因克隆及胁迫下的表达分析

为了揭示辣椒WRKY基因功能,以辣椒PI201234为实验材料,克隆得到WRKY基因全长1 647bp的cDNA序列,命名为CaWRKY8。生物信息学分析表明,该基因含有一个1 647bp完整开放阅读框(ORF),编码548个氨基酸残基。氨基酸序列分析显示,CaWRKY8编码的蛋白含有2个WRKY结构域,属于Group I。氨基酸序列比对结果表明,CaWRKY8与辣椒WRKY25、马铃薯WRKY、番茄基因组中预测的WRKY26、烟草基因组中预测的WRKY33和猕猴桃WRKY的氨基酸序列之间均具有高度的保守性。实时荧光定量分析表明,CaWRKY8受盐、高温、干旱和辣椒疫霉菌诱导表达;其中CaWRKY8的表达量在盐和干旱处理下3h达到峰值,分别是对照的2.38倍和121.10倍,在高温和疫霉菌处理下12h达到峰值,分别是对照的6.12和6.81倍。以上研究结果表明,CaWRKY8基因在辣椒响应胁迫进程中发挥着重要作用。     

PHOSIDA (phosphorylation site database): management,structural and evolutionary investigation,and prediction of phosphosites

PHOSIDA , a phosphorylation site database, integrates thousands of high-confidence in vivo phosphosites identified by mass spectrometry-based proteomics in various species. For each phosphosite, PHOSIDA lists matching kinase motifs, predicted secondary structures, conservation patterns, and its dynamic regulation upon stimulus. Using support vector machines, PHOSIDA also predicts phosphosites.     

Steady-state and transient polarized absorption spectroscopy of photosytem I complexes from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis and Thermosynechococcus elongatus

Core antenna and reaction centre of photosytem I (PS I) complexes from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis and Thermosynechococcus elongatus have been characterized by steady-state polarized absorption spectroscopy, including linear dichroism (LD) and circular dichroism (CD). CD spectra and the second derivatives of measured 77 K CD spectra reveal the spectral components found in the polarized absorption spectra indicating the excitonic origin of the spectral forms of chlorophyll in the PS I complexes. The CD bands at 669-670(+), 673(+), 680(−), 683-685(−), 696-697(−), and 711(−) nm are a common feature of used PSI complexes. The 77 K CD spectra of the trimeric PS I complexes exhibit also low amplitude components around 736 nm for A. platensis and 720 nm for T. elongatus attributed to red-most chlorophylls. The LD measurements indicate that the transition dipole moments of the red-most states are oriented parallel to the membrane plane. The formation of P700⁺A₁⁻ or ³P700 was monitored by time-resolved difference absorbance and LD spectroscopy to elucidate the spectral properties of the PS I reaction centre. The difference spectra give strong evidence for the delocalization of the excited singlet states in the reaction centre. Therefore, P700 cannot be considered as a dimer but should be regarded as a multimer of the six nearly equally coupled reaction centre chlorophylls in accordance with structure-based calculations. On the basis of the results presented in this work and earlier work in the literature it is concluded that the triplet state is localized most likely on P_A, whereas the cation is localized most likely on P_B.     

Two rice phosphate transporters, OsPht1;2 and OsPht1;6, have different functions and kinetic properties in uptake and translocation

Plant phosphate (Pi) transporters mediate the uptake and translocation of this nutrient within plants. A total of 13 sequences in the rice ( Oryza sativa ) genome can be identified as belonging to the Pi transporter (Pht1) family. Here, we report on the expression patterns, biological properties and the physiological roles of two members of the family: OsPht1;2 ( OsPT2 ) and OsPht1;6 ( OsPT6 ). Expression of both genes increased significantly under Pi deprivation in roots and shoots. By using transgenic rice plants expressing the GUS reporter gene, driven by their promoters, we detected that OsPT2 was localized exclusively in the stele of primary and lateral roots, whereas OsPT6 was expressed in both epidermal and cortical cells of the younger primary and lateral roots. OsPT6, but not OsPT2, was able to complement a yeast Pi uptake mutant in the high-affinity concentration range. Xenopus oocytes injected with OsPT2 mRNA showed increased Pi accumulation and a Pi-elicited depolarization of the cell membrane electrical potential, when supplied with mM external concentrations. Both results show that OsPT2 mediated the uptake of Pi in oocytes. In transgenic rice, the knock-down of either OsPT2 or OsPT6 expression by RNA interference significantly decreased both the uptake and the long-distance transport of Pi from roots to shoots. Taken together, these data suggest OsPT6 plays a broad role in Pi uptake and translocation throughout the plant, whereas OsPT2 is a low-affinity Pi transporter, and functions in translocation of the stored Pi in the plant.     

利用毛发水解提取胱氨酸后的废液研制氨基酸复合肥料

利用胱氨酸废液中游离氨基酸为主要成份研制氨基酸肥料,既解决了废液排放问题,又开辟了新的肥料来源。本文详尽叙述这一研制的工艺原则流程,强调添加剂在这一流程中的作用,并对氨基酸肥料的肥效进行了试验研究。     

氨基酸混合液脱色条件的比较选择

以四种粉末状活性炭作为脱色剂,对猪血粉水解液进行脱色比较,结果表明：江西产的４号粉末状活性炭脱色效果最佳。本文还对４号脱色炭的脱色条件进行了摸索研究。     

Structural-functional characteristics of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis plasmid pVM82

The restriction map of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis plasmid pVM82 was established using the "chromosome walking" method. According to transpositional mutagenesis, the plasmid pVM82 appeared to be conjugative and was able to be transmitted from Y. pseudotuberculosis to the E. coli K-12 cells.     

Alternative localization of the determinant of pathogenicity coded by the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pVM82 plasmid]

The chromosomal DNA regions in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains occur that are homologous to 25 Md DNA segment of the plasmid pVM82 encoding the bacterial capability of immunosuppression. The character of the chromosomal DNA regions dispersion reacting with the 25 Md segment probes is different in epidemiologically hazardous and nonvirulent strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The specific DNA regions occur as well as identical ones. The suppression of antibody formation to a number of main Yersinia pseudotuberculosis antigens by epidemiologically hazardous strain is demonstrated. The suppression is analogous to the one previously described for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains harbouring the plasmid pVM82.