Deep-lipidotyping by mass spectrometry: recent technical advances and applications

In-depth structural characterization of lipids is an essential component of lipidomics. There has been a rapid expansion of mass spectrometry methods that are capable of resolving lipid isomers at various structural levels over the past decade. These developments finally make deep-lipidotyping possible, which provides new means to study lipid metabolism and discover new lipid biomarkers. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) methods for identification of complex lipids beyond the species (known headgroup information) and molecular species (known chain composition) levels. These include identification at the levels of carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) location and sn-position, as well as characterization of acyl chain modifications. We also discuss the integration of isomer-resolving MS/MS methods with different lipid analysis workflows and their applications in lipidomics. The results showcase the distinct capabilities of deep-lipidotyping in untangling the metabolism of individual isomers and sensitive phenotyping by using relative fractional quantitation of the isomers.     

Dual effects of histone deacetylase inhibition by trichostatin A on endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in endothelial cells

Inhibition of histone deacetylases by trichostatin A (TSA) has pleiotropic effects on gene expression. We demonstrated that at low dose (0.1 microg) TSA increased the eNOS mRNA levels, which was followed by a time- and dose-dependent down-regulation. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, completely abolished TSA-induced decrease in eNOS expression, indicating that new protein synthesis is required for the inhibiting effect. Mevastatin--an inhibitor HMG-CoA reductase and geranylgeranylation reaction dose-dependently antagonized TSA-induced reduction. This mevastatin-mediated antagonism was completely abolished by geranylgeranylpyrophosphate, suggesting that geranylgeranyl modification is needed to activate the eNOS mRNA destabilizing factor--a mechanism responsible for statin-mediated eNOS upregulation.     

抗鹅免疫球蛋白轻链单克隆抗体的鉴定及其应用

免疫球蛋白是机体固有免疫系统的组成部分,是机体防御的第一道防线。本研究对抗鹅免疫球蛋白轻链单克隆抗体进行了特征分析并将其应用到不同免疫试验中用以检测鹅免疫球蛋白。用此单克隆抗体制备的免疫亲和层析柱用以分离血清中的鹅免疫球蛋白;偶联辣根过氧化物酶 (Horseradish peroxidase,HRP) 后的单克隆抗体用作第二抗体来检测鹅特异性抗体。此外,该单克隆抗体可以识别和定位外周血淋巴细胞中的SIg+淋巴细胞。研究表明,该单克隆抗体可在多种条件下检测或分离鹅免疫球蛋白并作为研究鹅体液免疫的有力工具。     

侧金盏胚和胚乳发育的细胞胚胎学研究

利用石蜡切片技术对毛茛科植物侧金盏胚及胚乳发育进行了研究,以明确其胚胎发育的特征,为毛茛科植物的系统研究提供资料。结果表明:(1)侧金盏胚的发育属于柳叶菜型,胚乳发育为核型;初生胚乳核的分裂早于合子的第一次分裂。(2)种子成熟时,种胚尚未分化完全,尚处于球形胚后期或心形胚早期阶段,整个胚发育大约需要50~60d。(3)侧金盏种子存在明显的形态生理休眠现象,经后熟作用逐渐完成种胚的分化与生长,形成子叶形胚;侧金盏种子在相同处理条件下胚分化和发育的速度存在差异。     

稻属三种植物叶片下表皮的形态比较

稻属有20多种,其中3种和其他物种明显不同.Oryza eichingeri被认为在亚洲和非洲间断分布;O. officinalis和O punctata被证明同时含有二倍体和四倍体.为了识别种内微形态差异,利用光镜和扫描电镜,对这3个物种的成熟叶片下表皮进行了观察.结果表明,O. eichingeri的叶脉长细胞乳突形状在种内是不一致的,除了斯里兰卡地理宗具有的瘤状乳突外,乌千达地理宗还具有长条状的乳突;同样,种内多样性也存在于O. officinalis和O.punctata内,特别存在于它们不同倍性的细胞型间.在D officinalis中,四倍体有粒状气孔器外围乳突和脉带表皮毛较少,二倍体细胞型具有三角形拱状排列的气孔器外围乳突和较密集的脉带表皮毛;而在O. punctata中,和四倍体相比,二倍体具有小的长细胞表面乳突和低密度分布的气孔.这些稳定的差异为3种植物的种内鉴定和分类修订提供了新的证据.     

地上部植食者褐飞虱对不同水稻品种土壤线虫群落的影响

地上和地下部生物群落的交互作用对于调控陆地生态过程具有重要作用。在盆栽条件下利用2×2析因设计研究了褐飞虱(Nilaparvata lugens)取食不同水稻品种后对土壤线虫群落的影响。结果表明, 褐飞虱侵害水稻9 d后, 感虫品种(广四和汕优63)的土壤线虫总数、属数及自生线虫(食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫和捕食性线虫)数量增加, 并且一般达到显著水平(P<0.05); 而上述指标在抗虫品种(汕优559和IR36)土壤中则呈现相反的趋势。植食性线虫数量在强感虫品种广四上显著增加(P<0.05), 而在强抗虫品种IR36上显著减少(P<0.05)。褐飞虱和水稻品种对土壤线虫的生态指数(线虫通道指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、成熟度指数、富集指数和结构指数)没有明显影响, 可能与供试土壤线虫群落组成单一及褐飞虱作用时间较短有关。总之, 褐飞虱强烈影响土壤线虫数量、群落组成和营养结构, 并且作用的方向(促进或抑制)和程度依赖于水稻的品种特性, 揭示出地上部植食者的短期侵害将对稻田土壤生态系统的结构和功能产生深远影响。     

电子废物污染地区水生生物体内多氯联苯的异构体分布特征和毒性

电子废物已被证实是众多污染物的释放源,其引起的环境问题正日益受到人们的关注.利用同位素稀释GC/MS法测定了电子废物污染区的田螺、泥鳅和鲫鱼三种水生生物体内的PCBs含量和异构体组成特征.研究结果表明,田螺、泥鳅和鲫鱼体内PCBs平均浓度分别高达1303.53、3845.00和5645.34 ng/g脂重;毒性当量(TEQs)分别为1.35、8.44和29.18 pg WHO-TEQ/g湿重.其中,泥鳅和鲫鱼体内PCBs的TEQs都高于2006年欧盟规定的鱼类可食用部分最大TEQs允许值.此外,PCB 118是PCBs的主要异构体,分别占样品中PCBs总浓度和TEQs的57.73%-61.22%和44.27%-50.61%.而且,PCB 118与PCBs的总浓度和TEQs都具有良好的线性关系,相关系数(R2)分别为0.9988(P＜0.01)和0.9873(P＜0.01).这些研究结果表明,该地区的水生生物已经受到PCBs的严重污染,其体内的PCBs可能主要来自于电子废物拆解中释放的商业产品Aroelor 1254.     

Genetic diversity and origin of weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) populations found in North-eastern China revealed by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) is one of the most notorious weeds occurring in rice-planting areas worldwide. The objectives of this study are to determine the genetic diversity and differentiation of weedy rice populations from Liaoning Province in North-eastern China and to explore the possible origin of these weedy populations by comparing their genetic relationships with rice varieties (O. sativa) and wild rice (O. rufipogon) from different sources. METHODS: Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to estimate the genetic diversity of 30 weedy rice populations from Liaoning, each containing about 30 individuals, selected rice varieties and wild O. rufipogon. Genetic differentiation and the relationships of weedy rice populations were analysed using cluster analysis (UPGMA) and principle component analysis (PCA). KEY RESULTS: The overall genetic diversity of weedy rice populations from Liaoning was relatively high (H(e) = 0.313, I = 0.572), with about 35 % of the genetic variation found among regions. The Liaoning weedy rice populations were closely related to rice varieties from Liaoning and japonica varieties from other regions but distantly related to indica rice varieties and wild O. rufipogon. CONCLUSIONS: Weedy rice populations from Liaoning are considerably variable genetically and most probably originated from Liaoning rice varieties by mutation and intervarietal hybrids. Recent changes in farming practices and cultivation methods along with less weed management may have promoted the re-emergence and divergence of weedy rice in North-eastern China.     

Asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts alkylations of indoles with dialkyl 3‐oxoprop‐1‐enylphosphonates: Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of α‐indolyl phosphonates

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of α‐indolyl phosphonates has been successfully carried out via asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts alkylation of substituted indoles with (E)‐dialkyl 3‐oxoprop‐1‐enylphosphonates in 48–82% yield and 73–96% ee. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

竹红菌素光敏剂与微血管病变光动力治疗

光动力疗法已被用于临床治疗除实体肿瘤以外的一些微血管类疾病,包括鲜红斑痣(portwine stains,PWS)和老年视网膜黄斑变性(age-related macular degeneration,AMD)等。竹红菌素是一种苝醌类光敏剂,因为在光疗窗口(600～900 nm)的吸收较少,它不适用于实体肿瘤的光动力治疗,但对于治疗微血管类疾病却有其独特的优势。本文根据竹红菌素光物理特性提出其主要适应症范围,并根据其临床实用化问题提出应对策略。通过构造竹红菌素水溶性纳米制剂或具有优化脂水双亲性的衍生物,实现脂溶性光敏剂既可以安全给药又最大程度保持生物利用度和光动力活性。生物学实验证明竹红菌素类光敏剂对生物靶体具有超强的光动力活性。由此推测:竹红菌素类光敏剂在光动力治疗微血管疾病(如鲜红斑痣和老年黄斑变性)及其它浅表型疾病方面具有广阔的应用前景。