Isolation,Purification and Some Properties of Invertase from Leaves of Mandarin Orange

Highly active acid invertase was found in the young leaf extract of mandarin orange Citrus reticulata Blanco). The invertase was isolated and purified from the young leaf extract of mandarin orange through the procedures of ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. 6.4% of the invertase activity was recovered. Invertase was 179.2-folds purified. The purified invertase preparation was homogeneous as shown in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephacryl S-200 molecular sieve chromatography. The molecular weight of the native invertase determined by gel filtration was 80 kD. The invertase consists of two identical subunits with apparent equal subunit weight of 40 kD as determined on SDS-PAGE. The invertase followed typical Michaelis-Menten Kinetics with apparent Km Of 1. 6 × 10-2 mol/L for sucrose. Vmax of the invertase was 100 mg reducing sugar · mg-1 protein · h-1 The optimum pH was 5.0 (stable from 4.5—5.5). The optimum temperature was 55℃.     

黄鳝碱性磷酸酶的分离纯化及其部分性质研究

经Tris-HCl缓冲液(pH8.6)抽提,正丁醇处理,30%-75%硫酸铵分级沉淀分离,DEAE-Sepharose离子交换柱层析,Sephacryl S-200凝胶过滤纯化,从黄鳝内脏组织中分离纯化出电泳纯的碱性磷酸酶。该酶提纯倍数为564倍,比活力达到3015U/mg。酶学性质和动力学性质研究表明,该酶催化磷酸苯二钠的水解反应,最适pH值为10.2,pH小于7和大于12均不稳定;最适温度为40℃,温度高于50℃不稳定;米氏常数Km值为1.17mmo1/L。金属离子对该酶的催化活力有不同的影响,K+对该酶活力无影响,Mg2+对该酶有激活作用,Zn2+对该酶有抑制作用。       

Investigation of the electronic and dynamic properties of sodium and caesium exchanged zeolite by MO and MD simulations

For the pyrochemical reprocessing of spent metallic fuels in molten salt baths it is of importance to investigate the electronic and dynamic properties of the negative elements like Cs in aluminosilicates framework. The molecular orbital simulation has been performed on three types of clusters and 4A-zeolite frameworks with exchangeable alkali-ions containing as significant fission products in order to estimate the geometry optimization, the vibrational frequency factors and the electric densities, etc. These quantum chemical results enable us to conclude that the most stable structure is consistent with the X-ray results. Moreover, the obtained infrared spectrum was reproduced by the experimental results. Furthermore, the molecular dynamics simulation for Na-A and Cs-A zeolites has been carried out at 673 K in order to investigate the dynamics of Na⁺ and Cs⁺ions in Na-A and Cs-A zeolite frameworks. These results revealed that Na I ion in β-cage was more stable than the other Na ions in Na-A zeolite and Cs I ion in α-cage was maintained stability in Cs-A zeolite in consideration of the self-diffusion coefficients.     

Review Properties and Applications of Urease

Urease is a highly efficient catalyst for the hydrolysis of urea with a rate approximately 10 14 times the rate of the noncatalyzed reaction. It has a long and distinguished history in the development of enzymology. In this work the properties of urease and its applications in biotechnology are reviewed, including urea content analysis in blood, urine, alcoholic beverages, natural water and environmental wastewaters; analysis of heavy metal content in natural waters, wastewaters and soil; determination of creatinine, arginine and IgG; urea removal from artificial kidney dialyzates, alcohol beverages and fertilizer wastewaters; wastewater reclamation for life support systems in space; pH control or shift for multi-enzyme reaction system; and urea hydrolysis as sources of ammonia or carbon dioxide in special cases. Future research trends are also outlined.     

Interactions of Flavonoids with Iron and Copper Ions: A Mechanism for their Antioxidant Activity

The metal chelating properties of flavonoids suggest that they may play a role in metal-overload diseases and in all oxidative stress conditions involving a transition metal ion. A detailed study has been made of the ability of flavonoids to chelate iron (including Fe 3+ ) and copper ions and its dependence of structure and pH. The acid medium may be important in some pathological conditions. In addition, the ability of flavonoids to reduce iron and copper ions and their activity-structure relationships were also investigated. To fulfil these objectives, flavones (apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin and rutin), isoflavones (daidzein and genistein), flavanones (taxifolin, naringenin and naringin) and a flavanol (catechin) were investigated. All flavonoids studied show higher reducing capacity for copper ions than for iron ions. The flavonoids with better Fe 3+ reducing activity are those with a 2,3-double bond and possessing both the catechol group in the B-ring and the 3-hydroxyl group. The copper reducing activity seems to depend largely on the number of hydroxyl groups. The chelation studies were carried out by means of ultraviolet spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Only flavones and the flavanol catechin interact with metal ions. At pH 7.4 and pH 5.5 all flavones studied appear to chelate Cu 2+ at the same site, probably between the 5-hydroxyl and the 4-oxo groups. Myricetin and quercetin, however, at pH 7.4, appear to chelate Cu 2+ additionally at the ortho -catechol group, the chelating site for catechin with Cu 2+ at pH 7.4. Chelation studies of Fe 3+ to flavonoids were investigated only at pH 5.5. Only myricetin and quercetin interact strongly with Fe 3+ , complexation probably occurring again between the 5-hydroxyl and the 4-oxo groups. Their behaviour can be explained by their ability to reduce Fe 3+ at pH 5.5, suggesting that flavonoids reduce Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ before association.     

Production and Purification of the Extracellular Ribonuclease of Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens (Barnase) and its Intracellular Inhibitor (Barstar)

Procedures are presented for the large-scale growth of Bacillus amylo-liquefaciens and the concentration and purification of its extracellular ribo-nuclease (barnase). Improvements over earlier methods include economy, the reduction of labor, and Improved purity of product, especially in the elimination of traces of protease. The bacterial cells obtained as a by-product may be used as a starting point for the isolation of barstar, the intracellular inhibitor of barnase¹. Experiments relating to the purity, amino-acid composition and molecular weight of the product are also reported.     

Effects of Cysteine Proteases on the Structural and Mechanical Properties of Collagen Fibers

Excessive cathepsin K (catK)-mediated turnover of fibrillar type I and II collagens in bone and cartilage leads to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. However, little is known about how catK degrades compact collagen macromolecules. The present study is aimed to explore the structural and mechanical consequences of collagen fiber degradation by catK. Mouse tail type I collagen fibers were incubated with either catK or non-collagenase cathepsins. Methods used include scanning electron microscopy, protein electrophoresis, atomic force microscopy, and tensile strength testing. Our study revealed evidence of proteoglycan network degradation, followed by the progressive disassembly of macroscopic collagen fibers into primary structural elements by catK. Proteolytically released GAGs are involved in the generation of collagenolytically active catK-GAG complexes as shown by AFM. In addition to their structural disintegration, a decrease in the tensile properties of fibers was observed due to the action of catK. The Young''s moduli of untreated collagen fibers versus catK-treated fibers in dehydrated conditions were 3.2 ± 0.68 GPa and 1.9 ± 0.65 GPa, respectively. In contrast, cathepsin L, V, B, and S revealed no collagenase activity, except the disruption of proteoglycan-GAG interfibrillar bridges, which slightly decreased the tensile strength of fibers.     

THE COMBINED USE OF WHOLE CUPHEA SEEDS CONTAINING MEDIUM CHAIN FATTY ACIDS AND AN EXOGENOUS LIPASE IN PIGLET NUTRITION

In search for an alternative for nutritional antimicrobials in piglet feeding, the effects of adding whole Cuphea seeds, as a natural source of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA), with known antimicrobial effects, and an exogenous lipase to a weaner diet were studied. The foregut flora, the gut morphology, some digestive parameters and the zootechnical performance of weaned piglets were investigated. Thirty newly weaned piglets, initial weight 7.0 ± 0.4 kg, were divided according to litter, sex and weight in two groups (control diet; Cuphea+lipase diet). The Cuphea seeds (lanceolata and ignea) (50 g kg^?1) were substituted for soybean oil (15 g kg^?1), Alphacell (25 g kg^?1) and soy protein isolate (10 g kg^?1) in the control diet. Also 500 mg kg^?1 microbial lipase was added to the Cuphea diet. The piglets were weighted individually on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 16. Feed intake was recorded per pen during days 0 to 3, 3 to 7, 7 to 14 and 14 to 16. On day 7 five piglets of each experimental group were euthanized for counting the gastric and small intestinal gut flora and for gut morphology at two sites of the small intestine (proximal, distal). The results indicate a trend towards improved performances parameters by feeding Cuphea + lipase. The enzymic released MCFA (1.7 g kg^?1 fresh gastric contents) tended to decrease the number of Coliforms in the proximal small intestine, but increased the number in the stomach and distal small intestine. With Cuphea, the number of Streptococci was significantly lower in small intestine, but not in the stomach, while the number of Lactobacilli was significantly lower in the distal small intestine and tended to be lower in the stomach and proximal small intestine. No differences between the diets were noted for the total anaerobic microbial load in the stomach or in the gut. Feeding Cuphea+lipase resulted in a significantly greater villus height (distal small intestine) and a lesser crypt depth (proximal and distal small intestine) and greater villus/crypt ratio depth (proximal and distal small intestine). The intra-epithelial lymphocyte (IEL) counts per 100 enterocytes were significantly decreased in the proximal small intestine and tended to decrease in the distal small intestine by feeding the Cuphea+lipase diet. Both phenomena are indicative for a more healthy and better functional state of the mucosa. Present results are in line with foregoing research, showing that manipulation of the gut ecosystem by the enzymic in situ released MCFA in the stomach and foregut can result in improved performances of the piglets, which makes the concept a potential alternative for in-feed nutritional antibiotics.     

Evaluation of Muscle Function of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle Ex vivo and Tibialis Anterior Muscle In situ in Mice

Body movements are mainly provided by mechanical function of skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is composed of numerous bundles of myofibers that are sheathed by intramuscular connective tissues. Each myofiber contains many myofibrils that run longitudinally along the length of the myofiber. Myofibrils are the contractile apparatus of muscle and they are composed of repeated contractile units known as sarcomeres. A sarcomere unit contains actin and myosin filaments that are spaced by the Z discs and titin protein. Mechanical function of skeletal muscle is defined by the contractile and passive properties of muscle. The contractile properties are used to characterize the amount of force generated during muscle contraction, time of force generation and time of muscle relaxation. Any factor that affects muscle contraction (such as interaction between actin and myosin filaments, homeostasis of calcium, ATP/ADP ratio, etc.) influences the contractile properties. The passive properties refer to the elastic and viscous properties (stiffness and viscosity) of the muscle in the absence of contraction. These properties are determined by the extracellular and the intracellular structural components (such as titin) and connective tissues (mainly collagen) ^1-2. The contractile and passive properties are two inseparable aspects of muscle function. For example, elbow flexion is accomplished by contraction of muscles in the anterior compartment of the upper arm and passive stretch of muscles in the posterior compartment of the upper arm. To truly understand muscle function, both contractile and passive properties should be studied.The contractile and/or passive mechanical properties of muscle are often compromised in muscle diseases. A good example is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle wasting disease caused by dystrophin deficiency ³. Dystrophin is a cytoskeletal protein that stabilizes the muscle cell membrane (sarcolemma) during muscle contraction ⁴. In the absence of dystrophin, the sarcolemma is damaged by the shearing force generated during force transmission. This membrane tearing initiates a chain reaction which leads to muscle cell death and loss of contractile machinery. As a consequence, muscle force is reduced and dead myofibers are replaced by fibrotic tissues ⁵. This later change increases muscle stiffness ⁶. Accurate measurement of these changes provides important guide to evaluate disease progression and to determine therapeutic efficacy of novel gene/cell/pharmacological interventions. Here, we present two methods to evaluate both contractile and passive mechanical properties of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle and the contractile properties of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle.