清洁级SD大鼠血液生理生化指标的测定

目的建立清洁级SD大鼠血液生理生化正常值。方法应用动物芯片血球计数仪测试常规血细胞计数;采用全自动生化测定仪对清洁级SD大鼠的血液28项生化指标进行测定,并进行统计分析雌雄差异显著性检验。结果建立了清洁级SD大鼠血液生理和28项血液生化参考值,ALB、AST/ALT、AG雌雄之间差异显著;血液血球计数雌雄差异不显著。结论比较详细的建立了清洁级SD大鼠的血液生理生化指标参考值,为其应用提供基础数据。     

宁乡花猪原代和第一代血液生理生化指标比较

目的比较原代宁乡花猪与其第一代仔猪血液生理生化指标的变化。方法常规方法测定宁乡花猪F0代16头,F1代16头血液18项生理指标和13项生化指标。结果F0代与F1代部分血液生理指标如白细胞（WBC）、红细胞（RBC）、血红蛋白（HGB）、红细胞积压（HCT）等13项有显著性差异（P〈0．05）;部分血液生化指标如总胆红素（TBIL）,尿素氮（BUN）,总蛋白（TP）,白／球蛋白（ALB／GLB）,葡萄糖（GLU）,有显著性差异（P〈0．05）;其他指标均无统计学差异。结论2代宁乡花猪之间部分血液生理生化指标有显著性差异。得到的数据可以为实验动物化研究提供相应的基础生理参考数据。     

Assessment of artificial substrates for evaluating groundwater microbial quality

Protection of groundwater resources requires the development of reliable ecological indicators. Microorganisms involved in ecological services or being associated with particular hosts or habitats could be used for this purpose. Nevertheless, their tracking remains limited because of sampling issues, and a lack of devices for their long term monitoring. In the present study, three artificial substrates (glass and clay beads, and gravel particles) were tested in terms of efficacy at favoring bacterial growth, and at capturing bacterial diversity of waters (i.e., groundwater, surface water and wastewater). Total proteins, total carbohydrates, dehydrogenase and hydrolytic activities were used to monitor biofilm development on these artificial substrates. Fingerprinting analyses based on rrs (16S rRNA) − rrl (23S rRNA) spacer analyses (ARISA) and next generation sequencing (NGS) of partial rrs DNA segments (V5-V6) were used to compare operating taxonomic units (OTUs), and infer bacterial genera trapped on these substrates. Glass beads were found less efficient than the other two artificial substrates at increasing protein contents and microbial activities (hydrolytic and dehydrogenase activities). ARISA showed a discrimination of bacterial communities developing on artificial substrates that was matching water types. An incubation period of 7 days allowed a reliable assessment of bacterial diversity. From this incubation period, around 75% of water genera with more than four V5-V6 rrs DNA sequences detected in a water type were recovered from biofilms growing on artificial substrates. Based on relative abundances of genera, clay beads and gravel particles were more efficient than glass beads to capture and obtain bacterial communities matching those of the initial waters. Between 45–67% of similarities were found for these artificial substrates while it was between 36 and 43% for glass beads. This study demonstrated clay beads and gravel particles as being efficient tools for capturing bacterial diversity and monitoring bacterial growth. Overall, clay beads appeared the best choice for field monitoring because of the ease of their size standardization in comparison with gravel particles.     

Fatty acid composition indicating diverse habitat use in coral reef fishes in the Malaysian South China Sea

Background

In order to understand feeding ecology and habitat use of coral reef fish, fatty acid composition was examined in five coral reef fishes, Thalassoma lunare, Lutjanus lutjanus, Abudefduf bengalensis, Scarus rivulatus and Scolopsis affinis collected in the Bidong Island of Malaysian South China Sea.

Results

Proportions of saturated fatty acids (SAFA) ranged 57.2% 74.2%, with the highest proportions in fatty acids, the second highest was monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) ranged from 21.4% to 39.0% and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was the lowest ranged from 2.8% to 14.1%. Each fatty acid composition differed among fishes, suggesting diverse feeding ecology, habitat use and migration during the fishes’ life history in the coral reef habitats.

Conclusions

Diets of the coral fish species might vary among species in spite of that each species are living sympatrically. Differences in fatty acid profiles might not just be considered with respect to the diets, but might be based on the habitat and migration.     

Characterization of soluble and putative membrane-bound UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (OsUXS) isoforms in rice

Arabinoxylans in crop plants are the major sugar components of the cell walls, and UDP-xylose is a key substrate in the biosynthesis of xylans. In this study, the six putative UDP-D-glucuronic acid decarboxylase genes from rice (Oryza sativa UDP-xylose synthase; OsUXS) were cloned. Except for the soluble form of OsUXS3 (GenBank Accession No. \AB079064), the remaining five OsUXS enzymes contain a putative membrane-bound region. The six OsUXS genes were classified into three types by phylogenetic analysis and were expressed during the development of rice seeds. The HPLC retention times of the enzyme products and NMR data, indicate that the recombinant OsUXS2 enzyme catalyzes the conversion of UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-D-xylose. Interestingly, the reactions catalyzed by the recombinant OsUXS2 and OsUXS3 enzymes were inhibited by NADP+, and accelerated by NADPH. The catalytic activities of the recombinant OsUXS2 and OsUXS3 enzymes were strongly inhibited by UDP, UTP, TDP, and TTP. The expression levels of OsUXS genes changed in different manners during the development of rice seeds, suggesting that each corresponding OsUXS enzyme plays a significant role in rice seed development at a certain stage. In the present study, we report that the UXS2-type enzyme of rice is not only characterized for the first time but also show significant findings involved in the gene expression of OsUXSs.     

Biochemical aromatization of 2-methyleneandrostenedione: stereochemistry of hydrogen removal at the C-1 position

To explore a stereochemistry of hydrogen removal at C-1 of the powerful aromatase inhibitor 2-methyleneandrostenedione (1), of which the A-ring conformation is markedly different from that of the natural substrate androstenedione (AD), in the course of the aromatase-catalyzed A-ring aromatization producing 2-methylestrone (2), we synthesized [1-²H]labeled steroid 1 and its [1β-²H]stereoisomer, and the metabolic fate of the C-1 deuterium in aromatization was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in each. Parallel experiments with the natural substrates [1-²H] and [1β-²H]ADs were also carried out. The GC–MS analysis indicated that 2-methyl estrogen 2 produced from [1-²H]labeled substrate 1 retained completely the 1-deuterium (1β-H elimination), while product 2 obtained from [1β-²H]isomer 1 lost completely the 1β-deuterium. Stereospecific 1β-hydrogen elimination was also observed in the parallel experiments with the labeled ADs as established previously. The results indicate that biochemical aromatization of the 2-methylene steroid 1 proceeds through the 1β-hydrogen removal concomitant with cleavage of the C₁₀–C₁₉ bond, yielding 1(10),4-dienone 9, in a similar manner to that involved in AD aromatization. This would give additional evidence for the stereomechanisms for the last step of aromatization of AD, requiring the stereospecific 1β-hydrogen abstraction and cleavage of the C₁₀–C₁₉ bond, and for the enolization of a carbonyl group at C-3 in the A-ring aromatization.     

Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genus prototheca

Five physiological and biochemical characters, which had proved to be valuable for the taxonomy of the genus Chlorella, were studied in the genus Prototheca. There is no hydrogenase activity and no liquefaction of gelatin. Most strains are very acidtolerant (limit of growth at pH 2.0 or 2.5) and very salt-tolerant (limit of growth at 4 or 5% NaCl). Two strains grow well at 38°C. The 16 strains, which were previously assigned to seven taxa, fall into four different groups. Our results tend to support the assumption that Prototheca might be related to Chlorella protothecoides.     

Hydroxynitrile lyases: Functions and properties

Plant hydroxynitrile lyases (Hnl) have attracted the attention of bioorganic scientists for more than 90 years. However, the most important increase in knowledge of this class of enzymes has only arisen in the recent decade. The industrial application of these enzymes as biocatalysts for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure α-cyanohydrins may be responsible for the growing interest in this area.
The Hnls are involved in the catabolic degradation of cyanogenic glycosides, releasing HCN which serves as defense agent against herbivores and microbial attack, or as a nitrogen source. Hydroxynitrile lyases from various plant families appear to represent a new example of enzymes that originated from the convergent evolution of different precursor proteins. The enzymes have been classified into non-FAD- and FAD-containing proteins. FAD-containing enzymes have been isolated exclusively from the Rosaceae, whereas the FAD-independent Hnls, which are more heterogenous in structure, have been characterized from various plant families (Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Linaceae, Olacaceae. Filitaceae). The aim of this review is to present a general survey of the natural function and localization of this class of enzymes and a comprehensive summary of the biochemical and genetic data of the isolated proteins.     

Strain,biochemistry, and cultivation-dependent measurement variability of algal biomass composition

Accurate compositional analysis in biofuel feedstocks is imperative; the yields of individual components can define the economics of an entire process. In the nascent industry of algal biofuels and bioproducts, analytical methods that have been deemed acceptable for decades are suddenly critical for commercialization. We tackled the question of how the strain and biochemical makeup of algal cells affect chemical measurements. We selected a set of six procedures (two each for lipids, protein, and carbohydrates): three rapid fingerprinting methods and three advanced chromatography-based methods. All methods were used to measure the composition of 100 samples from three strains: Scenedesmus sp., Chlorella sp., and Nannochloropsis sp. The data presented point not only to species-specific discrepancies but also to cell biochemistry-related discrepancies. There are cases where two respective methods agree but the differences are often significant with over- or underestimation of up to 90%, likely due to chemical interferences with the rapid spectrophotometric measurements. We provide background on the chemistry of interfering reactions for the fingerprinting methods and conclude that for accurate compositional analysis of algae and process and mass balance closure, emphasis should be placed on unambiguous characterization using methods where individual components are measured independently.     

Effect of electroacupuncture on mice model of permenopausal depressive disorder

ObjectiveStudy the effect of electroacupuncture on permenopausal depressive disorder (PDD) model through the peri-menopausal depression model mice.MethodsKM female mice were selected. Except for the blank group (BG), the other groups of mice were removed by castration method. The mice of PDD was prepared by combining chronic unpredictable stimulation. Mice in the model group (MG) were not treated and fed normally. The western medicine group (WG) was given the corresponding drug for treatment. The electroacupuncture group (EAG) was given the electroacupuncture for treatment, and consecutive for 28 days. The levels of T, E₂, FSH and LH in serum of mice were measured, and the brain tissue of 5-HT, DA and NE level were measured. Through the HE staining observed the morphological changes of mice hypothalamus.ResultsCompared with MG, EAG could increase the number of spontaneous activities of PDD model mice, the level of T, E₂ in serum and the level of 5-HT, DA, NE in brain tissue was improved, and the level of FSH, LH in serum was reduced, and the hypothalamic lesions was improved.ConclusionElectroacupuncture could improve the activity and memory of PDD mice, adjust the disorder of sex hormone, and increased the levels of monoamine transmitters (5-HT, NE, DA), and it could effectively improve the behavior and related biochemical indexes of PDD, and thus play an important therapeutic role.