Theoretical calculation of the binding free energies for pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 binding with ligands

We have tested a computational protocol based on molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) free-energy calculations to examine the detailed microscopic structures and binding free energies for the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHc) E1 binding with its ligands (cofactor and inhibitors). The calculated binding free energies are all in good agreement with available experimental data, with an average absolute deviation of approximately 0.7 kcal/mol, suggesting that the computational protocol tested may be valuable in future rational design of new, more potent inhibitors of PDHc E1.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 16-modified analogs of 2-methoxyestradiol

A series of 16-modified 2-methoxyestradiol analogs were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity toward HUVEC and MDA-MB-231 cells, and for susceptibility to conjugation. In addition, the estrogenicity of these analogs was accessed by measuring cell proliferation of the estrogen-dependent cell line MCF7 in response to compound treatment. It was observed that antiproliferative activity dropped as the size of the 16 substituent increased. Selected analogs tested in glucuronidation assays had similar rates of clearance to 2-methoxyestradiol, but had enhanced clearance in sulfonate conjugation assays.     

恒河猴皮肤干细胞的体外培养纯化与鉴定

探索恒河猴皮肤干细胞的体外培养及纯化条件,为进一步的研究奠定基础. 通过组织块培养法和消化培养法 在体外培养恒河猴表皮细胞,然后用Ⅳ型胶原吸附法吸附20 min,获得快吸附细胞. 对快吸附细胞进行克隆培养,并进行免疫细胞化学双标染色、RT PCR鉴定 β1 整合素和角蛋白15的表达,用流式细胞仪鉴定纯化前后的细胞中 β1 整合素和角蛋白15的阳性细胞比例,并通过透射电镜观察细胞的超微结构. 组织块培养法和消化培养法均可获得表皮细胞,Ⅳ型胶原纯化后的细胞胞体较小,饱满,核/浆比例大,细胞镶嵌状排列. 细胞克隆分析显示,细胞全克隆生长率高. 细胞免疫荧光显示,分选后的细胞显示 β1 整合素和角蛋白15阳性. RT PCR检查呈现 β1 整合素和角蛋白15的特异性片段. 流式细胞仪检查显示,纯化前的细胞中角蛋白15阳性细胞占总细胞中的比例为8％, β1 整合素阳性细胞的比例为10.7％;纯化后,角蛋白15阳性细胞的比例为89.4％, β1 整合素阳性细胞的比例为88.5％. 通过组织块培养法和消化培养法均可培养获得活性良好的表皮细胞,Ⅳ型胶原吸附法是一种简便、有效的皮肤干细胞分离方法,可以为进一步的眼表上皮替代重建眼表提供足量的高纯度的干细胞建立可靠的物质基础.     

Concordant evolution of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in the wheat pathogen Phaeosphaeria nodorum

We compared patterns of mitochondrial restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) diversity with patterns of nuclear RFLP diversity to investigate the effects of selection, gene flow, and sexual reproduction on the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of the wheat pathogen Phaeosphaeria nodorum. A total of 315 fungal isolates from Texas, Oregon, and Switzerland were analyzed using seven nuclear RFLP probes that hybridized to discrete loci and purified mitochondrial DNA that hybridized to the entire mtDNA genome. Forty-two different mitochondrial haplotypes and 298 different nuclear haplotypes were detected. The two most frequent mtDNA haplotypes were present in every population and represented 32% of all isolates. High levels of gene flow, low levels of population subdivision, no evidence for either host specificity or cyto-nuclear disequilibrium were inferred from the analysis of both genomes. The concordance in estimates of these population genetic parameters from both genomes suggests that the two genomes experienced similar degrees of migration, genetic drift and selection.     

Effect of metabolic structures and energy requirements on curdlan production by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alcaligenes faecalis</Emphasis>

A comprehensive metabolic network was proposed forAlcaligenes faecalis and employed in a stoichiometrically based flux balance model for curdlan production optimization. The maximal yield of curdlan was evaluated for curdlan batch production. Various metabolic structures and metabolic pathway distributions related with the curdlan maximal yield was evaluated. The results showed that the energy efficiency rather than the substrate supply was the major constraint for the enhancement of curdlan production. The increase in specific rate of glucose uptake could enhance curdlan production yield due to the decrease of the ratio of metabolic maintenance to substrate consumption. However, some of the energy loss and nutrient limitation associated with the increase of metabolic maintenance would adversely affect the conversion efficiency of the substrate.     

Carbohydrate analysis and serological classification of typical and atypical isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida: a rationale for the lipopolysaccharide-based classification of A. salmonicida

The cell envelope of Aeromonas salmonicida contains a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) essential for the physical integrity and functioning of bacterial cell membrane. Using a recently developed in-source fragmentation technique, we screened 39 typical and atypical isolates of A. salmonicida and established their O-chain polysaccharide structure by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS), compositional and linkage analyses and comparison to the previously determined O-chain polysaccharide structure of A. salmonicida strain A449. These studies have demonstrated that A. salmonicida isolates fall into three distinct structural types, types A-C, based on chemical structures of their respective O-chain polysaccharide components. Subsequent immunoblotting and serological studies with salmon polyclonal antisera produced to formalin-fixed cells of A. salmonicida strains A449, N4705 and 33659 representing three structural types A-C revealed that variations in the O-chain polysaccharide structure have led to significant serological differences between strains belonging to type A and non-type A, where non-type A species include chemically separated structural types B and C. Due to the presence of common antigenic determinants shared by their respective O-chain polysaccharide components, serological cross-reactions were observed between A. salmonicida strains belonging to structural types B and C. These findings suggest the possibility of developing LPS-based classification system of A. salmonicida sub-species consisting of two serologically distinct types, type A and non-type A.