Isolation and purification of a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-associated antigen identified by autologous antibody

We have previously shown that detection of autologous antibody activity to squamous cell carninoma of the head and neck many be augmented by dissociation in immune complexes. Western blot analysis with autologous antibody has identified a 60 kDa squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-associated antigen in spent media and immune complex-dissociated serum ultrafiltrate not recognized by normal human area. Antigen-containing fractions of spent media were eluted from anion exchange columns immediately after serum albumin indicating that the antigen has an acidic PI < 4. Preparative purification of the squamous cell carcinoma antigen was accomplished by anion exchange of concentrated spent media (protein concentration 300 mg/ml) followed by lectin affinity chromotography with a Triticum vulgaris column. A single 60 kDa band was detected by silver stain and Western blot in antigen-containing fractions eluted following lectin affinity chromotography and SDS-PAGE. Final concentration of the antigen was determined to be 1 μm/ml of protein with relative activity increased 1600 × over unfractionated spent media. We conclude that a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-associated antigen, detected by autologous antibody, is an acidic kDa glycoprotein.     

Recovery in the survival capacity of ultraviolet-irradiated 3T3 mouse cells at G0 cannot be solely dependent on the excision of pyrimidine dimers

Mouse cells (3T3 line) excised at most 20% of the pyrimidine dimers introduced into their DNA by a dose of short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation that allows a significant fraction of the cells to survive. When irradiation was delivered at the pre-replicative stage, a significant repair of lethal events was observed, as the cells progressed toward S phase. The recovery in survival cannot be accounted for solely by excision of pyrimidine dimers. Therefore, either another lesion produced by ultraviolet radiation is critical in terms of lethality, or the dimer, which may trigger the lethal event, becomes no longer an obstacle for the replication system after a certain period of time.     

Mass balance on water column trace metals in a free-surface-flow-constructed wetlands in Sacramento, California

A mass balance has been performed on trace metals concentrations and hydrology observed between 1994 and 1996 at the Sacramento Demonstration Constructed Wetlands using a first-order areal plug flow model. Water losses to infiltration and evapotranspiration from a typical cell are estimated to average 35 and 7% of influent flow, respectively. The wetlands effluent metals concentrations consistently meet proposed discharge criteria. Annual total mass loadings for all trace metals average 14.0 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 88% of which consists of zinc, copper, and nickel. Effluent metals leaving the wetland average 3.1 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 79% of which consists of the same three metals. Annual vegetation harvest events do not appear to account for more than 5% of annual trace metals mass removal, although harvest does appear to represent a significant loss pathway for some metals like mercury, lead, nickel, and chromium. Metals mass removals resulting from first-order removal interactions within the wetland range from 27 to 81%, with the exception of arsenic and nickel which display poor mass removals in part due to their high dissolved concentrations. An average of 7.6 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, or 54% of influent metals loadings, is sequestered within the internal wetland compartments.     

A high molecular arabinogalactan from Ribes nigrum L.: influence on cell physiology of human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes and internalization into cells via endosomal transport

An arabinogalactan protein (F2) was isolated in 1.5% yield from the seeds of Ribes nigrum L. (Grossulariaceae) by aqueous extraction and a one-step anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel with 24% galactose, 43% arabinose, and 20% xylose as main carbohydrate residues. Methylation analysis revealed the presence of a 1,3-/1,3,6-galactose backbone, side chains from arabinose in different linkages, and terminal xylose residues. The polysaccharide which turned out to be an arabinogalactan protein had a molecular weight of >10⁶ Da and deaggregated under chaotropic conditions. The cellular dehydrogenase activities (MTT and WST-1 tests) of human skin cells (fibroblasts, keratinocytes) as well as the proliferation rate of keratinocytes (BrdU incorporation ELISA) were significantly stimulated by the polymer at 10 and 100 μg/mL. F2 had no influence on differentiation status of keratinocytes and did not exhibit any cytotoxic potential (LDH test). The biological activity of F2 was not dependent on the high molecular weight. Influence of the polysaccharide on the gene expression of specific growth factors, growth factor receptors, signal proteins and marker proteins for skin cell proliferation, and differentiation by RT-PCR could not be shown. Gene array investigations indicated an increased expression of various genes encoding for catabolic enzymes, DNA repair, extracellular matrix proteins, and signal transduction factors. Removal of terminal arabinose residues by α-l-arabinofuranosidase did not influence the activity toward skin cells, while the treatment with β-d-galactosidase yielded an inactive polysaccharide. The FITC-labeled polysaccharide was incorporated in a time-dependent manner into human fibroblasts (laser scanning microscopy) via endosomal transport. This internalization of the polysaccharide was inhibited by Cytochalasin B.     

Exploring the binding mode of donepezil with calf thymus DNA using spectroscopic and molecular docking methods

Donepezil (DNP) is one of approved drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the potential effect of DNP on DNA is still unclear. Therefore, the interaction of DNP with calf thymus DNA (DNA) was studied in vitro using spectroscopic and molecular docking methods. Steady‐state and transient fluorescence experiments showed that there was a clear binding interaction between DNP and DNA, resulting from DNP fluorescence being quenched using DNA. DNP and DNA have one binding site between them, and the binding constant (K_b) was 0.78 × 10⁴ L·mol^?1 at 298 K. In this binding process, hydrophobic force was the main interaction force, because enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) of DNP–DNA were 67.92 kJ·mol^?1 and 302.96 J·mol^?1·K^?1, respectively. DNP bound to DNA in a groove‐binding mode, which was verified using a competition displacement study and other typical spectroscopic methods. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum results showed that DNP interacted with guanine (G) and cytosine (C) bases of DNA. The molecular docking results further supported the results of spectroscopic experiments, and suggested that both Pi‐Sigma force and Pi‐Alkyl force were the major hydrophobic force functioning between DNP and DNA.     

SOME ASPECTS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS IN LAKE McILWAINE,RHODESIA: PHOSPHORUS LOADING AND ABIOTIC RESPONSES

SUMMARY

This study was designed to investigate the apparent loss from the water column in Lake McIlwaine This study of significant quantities of reactive phosphorus. The Total Reactive Phosphorus mass-balance for the lake for 1977/78 was calculated, and both in situ and laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the effect of the lake sediments on the phosphorus loading of the lake. The experimental results showed that both uptake and release of phosphorus occurs in the lake, but that uptake of phosphorus by the sediments was by far the dominant process, thus accounting for the observed loss of phosphorus from the water column. The availability of the bound phosphorus for algal growth was also studied and it is suggested that algal uptake of bound phosphorus is possible. Various factors affecting phosphorus uptake by the sediments are discussed.     

Phosphorus removal in a closed recirculating aquaculture system using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strain lacking the SphU regulator of the Pho regulon

Phosphorus (P) accumulation in a closed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) was studied using a goldfish tank as a model. It was found that the accumulated P in this system was soluble inorganic phosphates (Pi) and the highest concentration was up to 8 mg P/L after 40 days of fish cultivation. Phosphorus in the water was increased linearly with the rate of 0.19 mg P/L/day. A mutant strain of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (ΔSphU) that lacks the SphU regulator of the Pho regulon could decrease Pi in the wastewater of RAS to the concentration below the P detection limit of 0.01 mg P/L at the rate of 2.07 ± 0.33 mg P/h g DW. This was corroborated by the increase of cellular polyphosphate and P content in the ΔSphU strain as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. After the first cycle of P removal, the cyanobacterial cells were recovered from wastewater by cell flocculation using chitosan. The flocculated cells could be reused for efficient P removal for the next 3 cycles.     

交通绿化带植物配置对空气颗粒物的净化效益

交通绿化带有显著的净化街道空气的环境效益。通过对上海浦东某交通干道旁侧绿化带不同季节大气中总悬浮颗粒物(TSP)的测定,定量研究了绿化带对TSP的净化效益;同时对研究区域内植物的配置情况用郁闭度和疏透度进行了表征,并研究了其与TSP的净化效益之间的相关性。研究结果表明:交通绿化带对由机动车引起的TSP污染有明显的净化作用,其中夏、秋季净化百分率较高,春、冬季较低;为达到较高的TSP净化效益,交通绿化带宽度应不小于5m,最佳为10m,采用先灌后乔的配置方式,并更多的选用常绿树种;绿地对TSP的净化百分率同植物群落的郁闭度成正相关,同疏透度成负相关关系;绿地内植物郁闭度的最佳范围为0.70～0.85,疏透度的最佳范围为0.25～0.33。研究结果可为评价现有交通绿化带植物配置情况和日后的城市绿地规划和建设提供技术依据。     

川西亚高山针叶林土壤动物群落对模拟林下植物丧失的响应

受研究手段的限制,有关森林物种组成对土壤动物群落影响的研究少有报道。采用人工除灌和除草的林地控制实验方法,研究了亚高山人工林灌草层关键物种丧失对土壤动物群落结构的影响。结果表明:(1)灌木层去除后土壤动物密度极显著低于对照(P0.01);线虫纲(Nematoda)优势度持续增加,处理15个月时极显著高于对照(P0.01);土壤动物群落多样性指数极显著低于对照(P0.01);腐食性功能团类群数及个体数百分比有所下降。(2)草本层去除后土壤动物密度显著低于对照(P0.05);线虫纲优势度持续增加,处理15个月时显著高于对照(P0.05);土壤动物群落多样性指数极显著低于对照(P0.01);腐食性功能团类群数略低于对照,个体数百分比无显著差异。综上所述,林下灌草层去除,尤其是灌木层去除,导致土壤动物群落个体数量、多样性指数降低,优势类群格局、腐食性功能团构成发生变化,从而在一定程度上影响到森林生态系统的物质循环功能。     

Relationships of respiratory quotient to microbial biomass and hydrocarbon contaminant degradation during soil bioremediation

This work focused on monitoring respiratory quotient, RQ (defined as a ratio of CO₂ production to O₂ uptake rates), microbial growth and residual hydrocarbon concentration during bioremediation experiments performed on laboratory soil microcosms. The aim of the study was to determine if the time course biodegradation profile of the contaminant can be related to the RQ evolution and to investigate the effect of the water content on RQ measurements. A natural soil was artificially contaminated with hexadecane and adjusted with inorganic nutrients to stimulate biodegradation. Microbial growth, CO₂ production, O₂ uptake and residual hexadecane were periodically monitored at different soil water contents ranging from 0.15 to 0.35 g water g⁻¹ of dry soil. Results showed that microbial activity and contaminant degradation were strongly dependent on soil water content. Maximal growth and hexadecane depletion were obtained at a water content of 0.20 g water g⁻¹ of dry soil, which corresponded to 46.6% of the water holding capacity. Hexadecane degradation was considerably reduced with increasing soil water content. RQ values fluctuated as a function of the hexadecane biodegradation phases. The lowest RQs corresponded to the highest hexadecane depletion and microbial growth. The water content variation did not significantly affect the shape of the RQ evolution curves as a function of time. It only modified the magnitude of RQ values. This study indicates that additional biological and chemical analyses are needed to support RQ data when monitoring contaminant degradation to have an accurate understanding of all the biotic processes, which may occur simultaneously.