Electrochemical DNA biosensor based on silver nanoparticles/poly(3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid)/carbon nanotubes modified electrode

In this work, we present an electrochemical DNA sensor based on silver nanoparticles/poly(trans-3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid) (PPAA)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes with carboxyl groups (MWCNTs-COOH) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The polymer film was electropolymerized onto MWCNTs-COOH modified electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and then silver nanoparticles were electrodeposited on the surface of PPAA/MWCNTs-COOH composite film. Thiol group end single-stranded DNA (HS-ssDNA) probe was easily covalently linked onto the surface of silver nanoparticles through a 5′ thiol linker. The DNA hybridization events were monitored based on the signal of the intercalated adriamycin by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Based on the response of adriamycin, only the complementary oligonucleotides gave an obvious current signal compared with the three-base mismatched and noncomplementary oligonucleotides. Under the optimal conditions, the increase of reduction peak current of adriamycin was linear with the logarithm of the concentration of the complementary oligonucleotides from 9.0 × 10⁻¹² to 9.0 × 10⁻⁹ M with a detection limit of 3.2 × 10⁻¹² M. In addition, this DNA sensor exhibited an excellent reproducibility and stability during DNA hybridization assay.     

Control of light-induced bean leaf expansion: Role of osmotic potential,wall yield stress,and hydraulic conductivity

The role of three-turgor-related cellular parameters, the osmotic potential ( _s), the wall yield stress (Y) and the apparent hydraulic conductivity (L'p), in the initiation of ligh-induced expansion of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves has been determined. Although light causes an increase in the total solute content of leaf cells, the water uptake accompanying growth results in a slight increase in _s. Y is about 4 bar; and is unaffected by light. L'p, as calculated from growth rates and isopiestic measurements of leaf water potential, is only slightly greater in rapidly-growing leaves. The turgor pressure of growing cells is lower than that of the controls by about 35%. We conclude that light does not induce cell enlargement in the leaf by altering any of the above parameters, but does so primarily by increasing wall extensibility.Abbreviations and symbols RL red light - WL white light - L'p apparent hydraulic conductivity - OC osmotic concentration - Y wall yield stress - _s osmotic potential     

纳米银在水-沉积物中的迁移机制研究

为研究纳米银(Ag NPs)在水体中的迁移、水-沉积物中的分配及转化机制,采用武汉东湖湖水及沉积物开展模拟实验,以硝酸银(Ag NO3)为参照,研究了Ag NPs和聚乙烯吡咯烷酮包裹纳米银[Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-coated silver nanoparticles(PVP-Ag NPs)]在上覆水中的沉降、在沉积物中的迁移和形态分布、以及扰动释放过程。结果表明,上覆水银初始浓度均为75 mg/L的Ag NO3、Ag NPs及PVP-Ag NPs在120h后分别为0.086、0.957和2.770 mg/L,显示纳米银和硝酸银进入水体后120h内大部分沉入沉积物中,且经过包裹的纳米银比未包裹的纳米银在水中停留时间稍长;60d后三种银均主要分布在表层沉积物中,Ag NO3体系银含量随深度的增加而逐渐降低,Ag NPs和PVP-Ag NPs体系银在2 cm以上随深度的增加而增高,随后逐渐降低,表明纳米银比硝酸银具有更强的迁移能力。此外,PVP-Ag NPs在2—3 cm层中的银含量占总量的24.6%,而Ag NPs在同一层中含量仅为2.6%,说明前者的迁移能力更强。在沉积物中,硫化物和有机物是银的主要结合相。释放实验结果表明,沉积物中纳米银的释放量远小于硝酸银的释放量,表明纳米银一旦与沉积物结合就难以再次释放。以上实验结果为评价纳米银的生态安全提供了科学依据。     

Osmotic control of luminescence and growth in Photobacterium leiognathi from ponyfish light organs

Osmolarity was found to control the luminescence and growth of Photobacterium leiognathi strain LN-1a isolated from the light organ of the ponyfish Leiognathus nuchalis (family Leiognathidae). Low osmolarity (ca. 400 mOsm) stimulated luminescence per cell 80 to 100-fold to a level (ca. 2.0×10⁴ quanta·s^-1·cell^-1) equal to that of bacteria taken directly from the light organ and increased the level of luciferase per cell 8 to 10-fold compared to high osmolarity (ca. 800 mOsm). Conversely, high osmolarity stimulated oxygen uptake and growth rate 2 to 4-fold compared to low osmolarity. Of 21 additional tested strains of P. leiognathi from light organs of 9 other ponyfish species, all responded similarly. Low osmolarity may be a host control factor that functions to stimulate the luminescence and restrict the growth of ponyfish light organ bacteria in situ.     

光强梯度对羊草无性系分化与生长的影响

在温室内用透光率分别为 60 %、45%、30 %的遮阴网盖在花盆上遮阴 ,研究不同光照强度对羊草无性系分化与生长的影响 .结果表明 ,低光强影响羊草基株的生物量积累 ,抑制羊草无性系的分化和生长 .减少羊草地下根茎的数目 ( A=61 4个 ,D=2 31个 )和无性系分株数 ( A=70 4个 ,D=1 52个 ) .羊草根茎长度和节数、无性系分株干重等性状在不同的光强梯度之间存在显著差异 ( P<0 .0 1 ) ,这种差别在春季尤其显著 .     

Differences in black pigmentation in lepidopteran cuticles as revealed by light and electron microscopy

Summary Black cuticles of larvae and pupae from various Lepidoptera were studied by light and electron microscopy. There are striking differences in the representation of black pigmentation, especially at the ultrastructural level. Two types may be described: 1. With the light microscope black melanin-like grana, electron-dense electron microscopically, are found in the distal parts of the exocuticle. This type is demonstrated in larvae of Celerio euphorbiae, Papilio machaon, and Phalera bucephala. 2. With the light microscope a dark homogeneous layer in the distal exocuticle can be recognized, however, electron microscopically no structures correlated with this dark pigment layer. This type of pigmentation was present in pupae of Pieris brassicae and Aglais urticae; in Pieris larvae the dark pigmented layer appeared to be limited to the epicuticle. In Celerio processes of the epidermal cells are involved in transporting precursors to the exocuticle. The conclusion was reached that black pigmentation in cuticles is based on different mechanisms as proposed by structural features. The two likely mechanisms are melanization and sclerotization.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 87, project A1, granted to Prof. Bückmann)     

Light dependence of sexual agglutinability in Chlamydomonas eugametos

The mating activity of mating-type plus gametes of Chlamydomonas eugametos depends on light. Cells lost their ability to agglutinate with mating-type minus gametes after a dark period of 30 min. They regained their agglutinability after 10 min exposure to light. Other mating reactions, such as tipping and flagellar tip activation, were not dependent upon light. Since cycloheximide and tunicamycin did not affect the light-induced activation of flagellar agglutinability, no protein synthesis or glycosylation is involved in this process. Equal amounts of biologically active agglutination factor could be extracted from cells placed either in light or in darkness. A minor portion of the active material was found to be located on the flagellar surface of illuminated cells. No active material was found on the flagellar surface of dark-exposed cells, whereas their cell bodies contained the same amount of active material as the cell bodies of illuminated cells. Since a light-induced flow of agglutination factors from the cell body to the flagella could not be detected and dark-exposed cells could be slightly activated by amputation or fixation by glutaraldehyde, we propose that light affects flagellar agglutinability by an in-situ modification of the agglutination factor on the flagella. When mt ⁺ and mt ^- strains were crossed and the progeny examined for light-sensitivity, it was apparent that this phenomenon is not mating type-linked.Abbreviations and symbols FTA flagellar tip activation - mt ^+/- mating type plus or minus - WGA wheat-germ agglutinin     

Enucleation: a possible mechanism of cancer cell death

There are few major morphologies of cell death that have been described so far: apoptosis (type I), cell death associated with autophagy (type II), necrosis (type III) and anchorage‐dependent mechanisms—anoikis. Here, we show for the first time a possibly novel mechanism inducing tumour cell death under in vitro conditions—enucleation. We pursued the influence of colloidal suspensions of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on tumour cell lines (SK‐BR‐3 and MCF‐7 breast cancer cell lines) grown according to standard cell culture protocols. Magnetite nanoparticles were prepared by combustion synthesis and double layer coated with oleic acid. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that tumour cells developed a network of intracytoplasmic stress fibres, which induce extrusion of nuclei, and enucleated cells die. Normal adult mesenchymal stem cells, used as control, did not exhibit the same behaviour. Intact nuclei were found in culture supernatant of tumour cells, and were visualized by immunofluorescence. Enucleation as a potential mechanism of tumour cell death might open new horizons in cancer biology research and development of therapeutic agents capable of exploiting this behaviour.     

Direct competitive chemiluminescence immunoassays based on gold‐coated magnetic particles for detection of chloramphenicol

Direct competitive chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) based on gold‐coated magnetic nanospheres (Au‐MNPs) were developed for rapid analysis of chloramphenicol (CAP). The Au‐MNPs were modified with carboxyl groups and amino groups by 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and cysteamine respectively, and then were respectively conjugated with CAP base and CAP succinate via an activating reaction using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). NSP‐DMAE‐NHS, a new and effective luminescence reagent, was employed to label anti‐CAP antibody (mAb) as a tracer in direct CLIA for CAP detection using a ‘homemade’ luminescent measurement system that was set up with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a photon counting unit linked to a computer. The sensitivities and limits of detection (LODs) of the two methods were obtained and compared according to the inhibition curves. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values of the two methods were about 0.044 ng/mL and 0.072 ng/mL respectively and LODs were approximately 0.001 ng/mL and 0.006 ng/mL respectively. To our knowledge, they were much more sensitive than any traditional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ever reported. Moreover, the new luminescence reagent NSP‐DMAE‐NHS is much more sensitive and stable than luminol and its derivatives, contributing to the sensitivity enhancement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dim light at night prior to adolescence increases adult anxiety-like behaviors

Dim light at night (dLAN) disrupts circadian organization and influences adult behavior. We examined early dLAN exposure on adult affective responses. Beginning 3 (juvenile) or 5 weeks (adolescent) of age, mice were maintained in standard light–dark cycles or exposed to nightly dLAN (5 lx) for 5 weeks, then anxiety-like and fear responses were assessed. Hypothalami were collected around the clock to assess core clock genes. Exposure to dLAN at either age increased anxiety-like responses in adults. Clock and Rev-ERB expression were altered by exposure to dLAN. In contrast to adults, dLAN exposure during early life increases anxiety and fear behavior.