Effects of tau phosphorylation on proteasome activity

Dysfunction of proteasome contributes to the accumulation of the abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau in Alzheimer's disease. However, whether tau hyperphosphorylation and accumulation affect the activity of proteasome is elusive. Here we found that a moderate tau phosphorylation activated the trypsin-like activity of proteasome, whereas further phosphorylation of tau inhibited the activity of the protease in HEK293 cells stably expressing tau441. Furthermore, tau hyperphosphorylation could partially reverse lactacystin-induced inhibition of proteasome. These results suggest that phosphorylation of tau plays a dual role in modulating the activity of proteasome.     

Relations between carbon dioxide fluxes and environmental factors of Kobresia humilis meadows and Potentilla fruticosa meadows

Carbon dioxide fluxes of Kobresia humilis and Potentillafruticosa shrub meadows,two typical ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,were measured by eddy covariance technology and the data collected in August 2003 were employed to analyze the relations between carbon dioxide fluxes and environmental factors of the ecosystems.August is the time when the two ecosystems reach their peak leaf area indexes and stay stable,and also the period when the net carbon absorptions of Kobresia humilis and Potentilla photo flux densities (PPFD),the carbon dioxide-uptake rate of the Kobresia humilis meadow is higher than that of the Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadow;where the PPFD are rates of the two ecosystems declined as air temperature increased,but the carbon dioxide uptake rate of the Kobresia humilis meadow decreased more quickly (-0.086) than that of the Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadow (-0.016).Soil moistures exert influence on the soil respirations and this varies with the vegetation type.The daily carbon dioxide absorptions of the ecosystems increase with increased diurnal temperature differences and higher diurnal temperature differences result in higher carbon dioxide exchanges.There exists a negative correlation between the vegetation albedos and the carbon dioxide fluxes.     

An alternative Alcian Blue dye variant for the evaluation of fetal cartilage

BACKGROUND: The most comprehensive evaluation of vertebrate skeletal development involves the use of Alizarin Red S dye to stain ossified bone and various other dyes to stain cartilage. The dye used most widely to stain fetal cartilage in rodents and rabbits is Alcian Blue 8GX. However, the global supply of this specific dye has been exhausted. Several forms of the dye marketed as Alcian Blue 8GX are now available, although they are not synthesized via the original 8GX manufacturing process. METHODS: One new Alcian Blue 8GX form and two Alcian Blue dye variants were evaluated in rats and rabbits using standard staining procedures. The staining quality of these dyes were evaluated relative to the original form of Alcian Blue 8GX based on cartilage uptake of the dye, clarity of the cartilaginous components, staining intensity of the dye, and overall readability of the specimens under stereomicroscopic evaluation. RESULTS: Staining with the newer form of Alcian Blue 8GX resulted in poor staining quality. The Alcian Blue-Pyridine variant performed well, although staining intensity was less than optimal. The Alcian Blue-Tetrakis variant provided staining characteristics that were most similar to the original form of Alcian Blue 8GX. CONCLUSIONS: Alcian Blue-Tetrakis was markedly better in its ability to stain fetal cartilage than the newer form of Alcian Blue 8GX.     

Sensor heavy metal from natural resources for a green environment: A review relation between synthesis method and luminescence properties of carbon dots

Carbon dots (CDs) are 10-nm nanomaterial classes as excellent candidates in various applications: physics, biology, chemistry, and food science due to high stable biocompatibility and high surface expansive. CDs produced from natural materials have received wide attention due to their unique benefits, easy availabilities, sufficient costs, and harmless to the ecosystem. The various properties of CDs can be obtained from various synthesis methods: hydrothermal, microwave-assisted, and pyrolysis. The CDs have shown enormous potential in metal particle detection, colorimetric sensors, electrochemical sensors, and pesticide sensors. This review provides systematic information on a synthesis method based on natural resources and the application to the environmental sensors for supporting the clean environment. We hope this review will be useful as a reference source in providing the guidance or roadmap for new researchers to develop new strategies in increasing luminescence properties CDs for multi detection of heavy metals in the environment.     

A facile fluorescence turn-on biosensor customized for monitoring of protein kinase activity based on carboxylic carbon nanoparticle–peptide complexes

In this study, we present a facile and low-cost approach for detecting protein kinase A (PKA) by assembling a purpose-designed carboxyfluorescein (FAM)-labelled peptide with carboxylic carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). Fluorescence of the FAM-labelled peptide gradually decreases to a low background signal as a result of the electron transfer from CNPs to FAM-labelled peptide via the peptide, which acts as a bridge. The reaction in the sensor in the presence of adenosine 5′-triphosphate and PKA phosphorylates the substrate peptide and disrupts the electrostatic repulsive force between the CNPs and the peptide, therefore altering the spectroscopic signal of the system. The change in fluorescence signal was directly proportional to the PKA concentration in the range 0–1.8 U/ml with a detection limit of 0.04 U/ml. These results suggest that PKA activity can be effectively measured using the developed PKA biosensor. Moreover, the fluorescence biosensor was successfully used in the investigation of PKA in spiked human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells lysates, indicating its potential applications in protein kinase-related biochemical fundamental research.     

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a fluorescent probe for the highly sensitive detection of bilirubin and cell imaging

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) with bright blue fluorescence were constructed by a hydrothermal method using sucrose and l- proline as raw materials. The NCDs were characterized by transmitted electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the morphology, elemental composition, and optical properties. The NCDs had good water solubility, high dispersibility with an average diameter of only 1.7 nm, and satisfactory optical properties with a fluorescence quantum yield of 23.4%. The NCDs were employed for the detection of bilirubin. A good linear response of the NCDs in the range 0.35–9.78 μM was obtained for bilirubin with a detection limit of 33 nM. The NCDs were also applied to the analysis of real samples, serum and urine, with a recovery of 95.34% to 104.66%. The low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility of the NCDs were indicated by an MTT assay and cell imaging of HeLa cells. Compared with other detection systems, using NCDs for bilirubin detection was a facile and efficient method with good selectivity and sensitivity.     

Utilization of N,S-doped carbon dots as a fluorescent nanosensor for determination of cromolyn based on inner filter effect: application to aqueous humour

A simple and eco-friendly hydrothermal technique is used to prepare water soluble N- and S-co-doped carbon quantum dots probes (N,S-CQDs) from thiosemicarbazide and citric acid. Several characterization techniques were performed to ensure the successful synthesis of highly luminescent N,S-CQDs. The prepared probe exhibited analytical potential as an optical nanosensor for the spectrofluorimetric determination of cromolyn sodium (CRO) in its pharmaceutical dosage forms and aqueous humour. The emission intensity of the synthesized N,S-CQDs was measured at 411 nm after excitation at 345 nm. Addition of increasing concentrations of CRO to N,S-CQDs led to quenching of its fluorescence intensity. CRO was investigated within a wide concentration range 10.0–150.0 μM with a limit of detection of 2.0 μM and a limit of quantification of 6.0 μM. The quenching of fluorescent N,S-CQDs occurred through the inner filter effect (IFE). The developed spectrofluorimetric method was successfully optimized and validated according to the International Council of Harmonisation guidelines (ICH). The method greenness is proved through using both Eco-Scale and AGREE approaches.     

组织工程支架制备中超临界CO2技术的应用*

作为组织工程研究中三大要素之一,组织工程支架可为细胞的附着、迁移和增殖提供理想的环境。传统的组织工程支架制备方法,如粒子沥滤法、相分离法及静电纺丝法等在理论和技术上已较为成熟,但由于大多需要有机溶剂的参与,在制备过程中仍存在有机溶剂难以去除,以及支架孔洞难以控制、连通性较差等问题。超临界二氧化碳(supercritical carbon dioxide,SC-CO₂)密度近似液体,黏度和扩散系数近似气体,具有流动性强、溶解能力大、传热效率高等特殊的理化性质,与传统工艺相结合,可在绿色温和的反应体系中有效规避上述问题,在组织工程支架制备及药物负载方面具有广阔前景。     

三角梅苞叶色彩参数和色素含量分析及蓝色转基因受体的筛选北大核心CSCD

三角梅作为重要的观赏植物颜色繁多,但缺乏稀有的蓝色。为筛选适合的蓝色转基因受体,明确不同品种三角梅苞片吸收利用DHM(二氢杨梅素)合成甜菜色素途径竞争产物(类黄酮色素)的潜在能力,该研究对红色、白色、黄色和紫色4大花色6个品种的三角梅苞片进行离体诱导培养,测定诱导培养后苞片色彩参数及色素含量变化,并进行相关性分析。结果显示:(1)三角梅苞片红绿色相值(a*)是决定苞片呈色的主要色彩参数,其色彩主要由甜菜色素和黄酮类色素决定,并以甜菜红素的影响最大。(2)除白色品种三角梅苞片中黄酮类色素含量大于甜菜色素含量外,其余品种苞片发育中甜菜色素含量均呈上升趋势,黄酮类色素呈下降趋势。(3)甜菜色苷含量与苞片a*值呈显著正相关关系,同时与苞片黄蓝色相值(b*)呈显著负相关关系;总黄酮含量与苞片b*值呈显著正相关关系,与苞片a*值呈极显著负相关关系。(4)经DHM体外诱导培养后,苞片总黄酮含量及占比在4个品种三角梅(‘新加坡大白’、‘宝老橙’、‘中国丽人’、‘黄蝶’)中明显升高,但各品种苞片总甜菜色素含量及占比均下降,并以‘新加坡大白’苞片中总黄酮含量上升幅度最大(65.77%),含量占比变化(增加26.91%)也为6个品种中最大。(5)灰色关联度综合分析显示,白色品种‘新加坡大白’与灰色关联度分析拟定的参考品种关联度最高(0.7444),表明三角梅品种中‘新加坡大白’可考虑作为蓝色转基因三角梅的受体品种。