Effect of vagotomy on dynamics of mesenteric lymphatic vessels in the rat

The functional modulation of lymphatic vessels may be closely associated with intact structures of the vagus nerve. In the present study, the vagotomy was done in Wistar rat to investigate the effect of vagus nerves on dynamic changes of mesenteric lymphatic vessels. After denervation, the mesenteric lymphatics showed significant decreases in contraction rate, diameter in the static state and overall contractile activity under a microscopic observation. The lymphatic contraction rhythm and valve movement became irregular and inconsistent. These findings indicated that the lymphatic innervation might be an important factor for active lymph formation and transportation.     

Nanoparticle-based detection and quantification of DNA with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discrimination selectivity

Sequence-specific DNA detection is important in various biomedical applications such as gene expression profiling, disease diagnosis and treatment, drug discovery and forensic analysis. Here we report a gold nanoparticle-based method that allows DNA detection and quantification and is capable of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discrimination. The precise quantification of single-stranded DNA is due to the formation of defined nanoparticle-DNA conjugate groupings in the presence of target/linker DNA. Conjugate groupings were characterized and quantified by gel electrophoresis. A linear correlation between the amount of target DNA and conjugate groupings was found. For SNP detection, single base mismatch discrimination was achieved for both the end- and center-base mismatch. The method described here may be useful for the development of a simple and quantitative DNA detection assay.     

Immobilization of bovine serum albumin as a sensitive biosensor for the detection of trace lead ion in solution by piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance

A biosensor based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) for the detection of lead (Pb(2+)) ion was developed and characterized. BSA was immobilized onto a colloidal Au-modified piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) as a biosensor for the detection of Pb(2+) ion by piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI). Calibration curves for the quantification of Pb(2+) ion showed excellent linearity throughout the concentration range from 1.0 x 10(-7) to 3.0 x 10(-9)mol/L. The interaction between the Pb(2+) ions and the sensor chip is influenced significantly by the pH of the reaction buffer, and the optimal pH for the experiment was 5.4. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-9)mol/L for Pb(2+) was obtained. Kinetic parameters of the Pb(2+)-BSA interactions were also determined by using this chip. The sensor chip could be regenerated for use by dipping in the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution for approximately 2h, and the chip was used to detect Pb(2+) ion for eight times without obvious signal attenuation.     

Crystal structure of homoserine O-acetyltransferase from Leptospira interrogans

Homoserine O-acetyltransferase (HTA, EC 2.3.1.31) initiates methionine biosynthesis pathway by catalyzing the transfer of acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to homoserine. This study reports the crystal structure of HTA from Leptospira interrogans determined at 2.2 Å resolution using selenomethionyl single-wavelength anomalous diffraction method. HTA is modular and consists of two structurally distinct domains—a core α/β domain containing the catalytic site and a helical bundle called the lid domain. Overall, the structure fold belongs to α/β hydrolase superfamily with the characteristic ‘catalytic triad’ residues in the active site. Detailed structure analysis showed that the catalytic histidine and serine are both present in two conformations, which may be involved in the catalytic mechanism for acetyl transfer.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and photoluminescences of two (4,4) topological coordination networks derived from the flexible bipyridyl ligands

Two new 2D coordination polymers, [Ag₄(μ-4,4′-bpp)₃(1,3-bdc)₂]_n · 2nH₂O (1) and [Ag(μ-4,4′-bpp)₂ClO₄]_n(2) (4,4′-bpp = 2,2′-bis(4-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; 1,3-bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate) have been synthesized using three-layer diffusion methods. Single-crystal X-ray analyses reveal that they are both extended grid networks of the (4,4) topology. In complex 1, a chain built by Ag(I) centers with T-shaped and linear geometries is further connected by the interesting ligand-unsupported Ag?Ag interactions as well as the conjugated π systems to form an interdigitated 2-D coordination network. The corrugated (4,4) sheets of 2 are packed in the ab planes and stacked along the c direction with the anions occupying the gaps in the squares.     

Predicted glycosyl transferase genes located outside the HEP island are required for formation of heterocyst envelope polysaccharide in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

During maturation, heterocysts form an envelope layer of polysaccharide, called heterocyst envelope polysaccharide (HEP), whose synthesis depends on a cluster of genes, the HEP island, and on an additional, distant gene, hepB, or a gene immediately downstream from hepB. We show that HEP formation depends upon the predicted glycosyl transferase genes all4160 at a third locus and alr3699, which is adjacent to hepB and is cotranscribed with it. Mutations in the histidine kinase genes hepN and hepK appear to silence the promoter of hepB and incompletely down-regulate all4160.     

Outer membrane proteins of Fibrobacter succinogenes with potential roles in adhesion to cellulose and in cellulose digestion

Comparative analysis of binding of intact glucose-grown Fibrobacter succinogenes strain S85 cells and adhesion-defective mutants AD1 and AD4 to crystalline and acid-swollen (amorphous) cellulose showed that strain S85 bound efficiently to both forms of cellulose while mutant Ad1 bound to acid-swollen cellulose, but not to crystalline cellulose, and mutant Ad4 did not bind to either. One- and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) of outer membrane cellulose binding proteins and of outer membranes, respectively, of strain S85 and adhesion-defective mutant strains in conjunction with mass spectrometry analysis of tryptic peptides was used to identify proteins with roles in adhesion to and digestion of cellulose. Examination of the binding to cellulose of detergent-solubilized outer membrane proteins from S85 and mutant strains revealed six proteins in S85 that bound to crystalline cellulose that were absent from the mutants and five proteins in Ad1 that bound to acid-swollen cellulose that were absent from Ad4. Twenty-five proteins from the outer membrane fraction of cellulose-grown F. succinogenes were identified by 2-DE, and 16 of these were up-regulated by growth on cellulose compared to results with growth on glucose. A protein identified as a Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase was repressed in S85 cells growing on glucose and further repressed in the mutants, while a cellulose-binding protein identified as pilin was unchanged in S85 grown on glucose but was not produced by the mutants. The candidate differential cellulose binding proteins of S85 and the mutants and the proteins induced by growth of S85 on cellulose provide the basis for dissecting essential components of the cellulase system of F. succinogenes.     

广东鼎湖山自然保护区森林景观的动态模拟研究

在遥感和GIS系统支持下,以1991年和1999年两个时期的Landsat-TM合成影像为基础,利用马尔科夫模型,模拟鼎湖山自然保护区森林景观的动态演变。结果表明:常绿阔叶林面积增加,除水域外,其它面积相应减少,到达稳定期,区域内大多为常绿阔叶林,少量的混交林,其它类型几乎消失。这个趋势是和该地区森林的演替规律相符的,但是这种结果对维持保护区内的景观多样性是不利的。     

Benzimidazol-2-yl or benzimidazol-2-ylthiomethyl benzoylguanidines as novel Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitors, synthesis and protection against ischemic-reperfusion injury

A novel series of benzimidazol-2-yl or benzimidazol-2-ylthiomethyl benzoylguanidines were designed and synthesized as Na(+)/H(+)exchanger inhibitors. Most of them were found to inhibit NHE1-mediated platelet swelling in a concentration-dependent manner, and to have significant cardioprotective effect against myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury, among which compounds 10a and 34 were more potent than cariporide in both in vivo and in vitro tests.