Resonance Rayleigh-scattering method for the determination of proteins with gold nanoparticle probe

Gold nanoparticles with a 12-nm diameter were used as probes for the determination of proteins by resonance Rayleigh-scattering techniques. In weak acidic solution, large amounts of citrate anions will self-assemble on the surface of positively charged gold nanoparticles to form supermolecular compounds with negative charges. Below the isoelectric point, proteins with positive charges such as human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and ovalbumin (Ova) can bind gold nanoparticles to form larger volume products (the diameter of the binding product of gold nanoparticles with HSA is 23 nm.) through electrostatic force, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic effects, which can result in a red shift of the maximum absorption wavelength, the remarkable enhancement of the resonance Rayleigh-scattering intensity (RRS), and the appearance of the RRS spectra. At the same time, the second-order-scattering (SOS) and frequency-doubling-scattering (FDS) intensities are also enhanced. The binding products of gold nanoparticles with different proteins have similar spectral characteristics and the maximum wavelengths are located near 303 nm for RRS, 540 nm for SOS, and 390 for FDS, respectively. The scattering enhancement (DeltaI) is directly proportional to the concentration of proteins. Among them, the RRS method has the highest sensitivity and the detection limits are 0.38 ng/ml for HSA, 0.45 ng/ml for BSA, and 0.56 ng/ml for Ova, separately. The methods have good selectivity. A new RRS method for the determination of trace proteins using a gold nanoparticle probe has been developed. Because gold nanoparticle probes do not need to be modified chemically in advance, the method is very simple and fast.     

Research on the feeding behavior of Neospastis simaona larvae

本文对思茅新木蛾Neospastis simaona Wang幼虫的取食行为、取食偏好性以及明暗条件对其取食量的影响进行了观察研究,为该昆虫的防治提供了理论依据.研究结果表明:思茅新木蛾幼虫随着龄期的增加,取食次数增多,取食总时间增加,但一次取食时间无明显变化;思茅新木蛾幼虫对木荷(Schima superba)有强烈嗜食性,4龄幼虫喜食木荷幼叶,5、6龄幼虫对木荷幼叶、成熟叶无明显偏好性;明暗条件对思茅新木蛾4至6龄幼虫的取食量没有显著影响(P＞0.05).     

黄曲条跳甲危害对不同寄主植物可溶性蛋白质含量的影响

采用考马斯亮蓝G-250染色法对6种十字花科蔬菜不同危害程度叶片的可溶性蛋白质含量进行了测定。结果表明黄曲条跳甲Phyllotreta striolata(F.)对6种十字花科蔬菜叶片的可溶性蛋白质含量存在不同程度的影响。萝卜(Raphanus sativus(L.))、白菜(Brassica chinensis(L.))和菜心(B.parachinensis Bailey)叶片在黄曲条跳甲危害胁迫8、10 d时,甘蓝(B.oleracea(L.))在胁迫10、12 d时,芥菜(B.juncea(L.))和芥蓝(B.alboglabra Bailey)在胁迫12 d时,可溶性蛋白质含量显著高于对照(P<0.05)。芥菜在黄曲条跳甲危害2 d时,可溶性蛋白质含量与对照没有显著差异(P>0.05),可能是因为其承受黄曲条跳甲危害的抗虫性能力较强。随着叶片危害程度的加重,叶片可溶性蛋白质含量下降。这可能是寄主植物本身的保护行为,也是对害虫为害胁迫的一种响应。     

Morphological observation on adult Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) with scanning electron microscope

[目的]利用扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscopy,SEM)观察屋尘螨Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 颚体、躯体、外生殖器及足等的形态结构.[方法]从床尘、枕尘中采集屋尘螨,分离出雌雄成螨,在体视显微镜下清洗处理活螨后,用SEM观察其外部形态特征.[结果]SEM照片显示,屋尘螨整肢钳状,须肢扁平;体表具细密皮纹,似指纹状,纹间距小于2 μm.外生殖器位于腹面正中,雌螨为产卵孔,雄螨生殖孔具1对叶状生殖盖.肛 门呈纵行裂孔,雄螨具2个肛吸盘.雌螨足跗节末端各具爪垫1个,雄螨跗节Ⅳ具2个吸盘.[结论]本研究观察结果为尘螨鉴定提供了更多依据.     

Effects of AM Inoculation and Organic Amendment, Alone or in Combination, on Growth, P Nutrition, and Heavy-Metal Uptake of Tobacco in Pb-Cd-Contaminated Soil

As toxic pollutants commonly found in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) products, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) can enter the human body via smoking and thus pose a potential health risk to smokers. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to study the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation with Glomus intraradices BEG 141 and organic amendment with cattle manure, alone or in combination, on the growth, P nutrition, and heavy-metal uptake by tobacco plants grown in soil to which was added Pb-Cd at 0/0, 350/1, 500/10, and 1,000/100?mg?kg^?1, respectively. In general, AM colonization and plant growth were greatly reduced by Pb-Cd contamination, whereas organic amendment alleviated Pb-Cd stress and showed some beneficial effects on AM symbiosis and some soil parameters. AM inoculation, alone or in combination with organic amendment, increased plant dry weights and improved P nutrition significantly at all Pb-Cd addition levels, and, in most cases, it decreased Pb and Cd concentrations in tobacco plants and DTPA-extractable concentrations in soil. AM inoculation increased total glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) concentrations in soil to which Pb-Cd was added. The higher soil pH and GRSP contents and the lower DTPA-extractable Pb and Cd concentrations contributed by AM inoculation and/or organic amendment may be contributing factors that lead to higher growth promotion and lower metal toxicity and uptake by plants. Our findings suggest that AM inoculation in combination with organic manure may be a potential method for not only tobacco production but phytostabilization of Pb-Cd-contaminated soil.     

The emerging role of Arf/Arl small GTPases in cilia and ciliopathies

Once overlooked as an evolutionary vestige, the primary cilium has recently been the focus of intensive studies. Mounting data show that this organelle is a hub for various signaling pathways during vertebrate embryonic development and pattern formation. However, how cilia form and how cilia execute the sensory function still remain poorly understood. Cilia dysfunction is correlated with a wide spectrum of human diseases, now termed ciliopathies. Various small GTPases, including the members in Arf/Arl, Rab, and Ran subfamilies, have been implicated in cilia formation and/or function. Here we review and discuss the role of one particular group of small GTPase, Arf/Arl, in the context of cilia and ciliopathy.     

MiR-17-92 cluster regulates cell proliferation and collagen synthesis by targeting TGFB pathway in mouse palatal mesenchymal cells

Elongation and elevation of palatal shelves, mainly caused by proliferation and extra-cellular matrix synthesis of palatal mesenchymal cells (PMCs), are essential for normal palatal development. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) pathway could induce proliferation inhibition and collagen synthesis in PMCs. Recent studies found that miRNA-17-92 (miR-17-92) cluster, including miR-17, miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-19b, and miR-92a, expressed in the 1st bronchial arch of mouse embryos during the period of palatal shelf elongation and elevation, and directly targeted TGFB pathway in cancer cell lines. Whether miR-17-92 cluster expresses and targets TGFB pathway in PMCs has not yet been studied. Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we found that miR-17-92 expressed in PMCs and decreased from embryonic day (E) 12 to E14 in palatal shelves. MTT assay and Western blot showed that miR-17-92 inhibited TGFB1 induced proliferation inhibition and collagen synthesis in PMCs by decreasing TGFBR2, SMAD2, and SMAD4 protein level. Further luciferase assay showed that miR-17 and miR-20a directly targeted 3′UTR of TGFBR2, and that miR-18a directly targeted 3′UTR of SMAD2 and SMAD4. We thus conclude that miR-17-92 cluster could inhibit TGFB pathway induced proliferation inhibition and collagen synthesis in PMCs by directly targeting TGFBR2, SMAD2, and SMAD4.