Selection and optimization of a suitable pretreatment method for miscanthus and poplar raw material

Miscanthus and poplar are very promising second‐generation feedstocks due to the high growth rates and low nutrient demand. The aim of the study was to develop a systematic approach for choosing suitable pretreatment methods evaluated with the modified severity factor (log ). Optimal pretreatment results in a high delignification grade, low cellulose solubilization and increased accessibility for enzymatic hydrolysis while revealing minimal log values. In order to do so, several reaction approaches were compared. Acid‐catalyzed organosolv processing carried out for miscanthus and poplar revealed the highest delignification grade leading to a relatively high glucose yield after enzymatic saccharification. In both cases, a design of experiments approach was used to study the influence of relevant parameters. Modeling the data resulted in the identification of optimum pretreatment conditions for miscanthus with concentrations of 0.16% H₂SO₄ and 50% EtOH at 185°C for a retention time of 60 min. Experimental validation of these conditions revealed an even higher delignification degree (88%) and glucose yield (85%) than predicted. 0.19% H₂SO₄ and 50% EtOH were determined as optimum concentrations, 182°C and 48 min identified as optimum pretreatment conditions for poplar; the delignification degree was 84% and the resulting glucose yield 70%.     

转mCry1Ac基因玉米BT799对斑马鱼的生态毒理学效应

转基因作物的饲用安全性问题一直是人们关注的焦点之一.为评估转mCry1Ac基因玉米BT799对鱼类的生态毒理效应,本研究以斑马鱼为受试动物,设置5个处理:含20%转基因玉米膨化饲料组(GMF)、含20%亲本玉米膨化饲料组(PF)、转基因玉米粉(GMM)、亲本玉米粉(PMM)以及商业饲料对照组(CF),通过98 d的喂养试验,调查斑马鱼的生长表现、组织病理、繁殖、肝脏中抗氧化酶活性及敏感蛋白mRNA的表达水平.结果表明:转mCry1Ac基因玉米对斑马鱼的各项生长指标、肝脏、脑和肠道的组织病理、产卵量、受精卵孵化率、肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,以及SOD、CAT、热激蛋白70(HSP70)和卵黄蛋白原(VTG)mRNA表达量均无显著影响.但在试验后期,饲料组(GMF和PF)和玉米粉组(GMM和PMM)斑马鱼的体重、体长和特定生长率显著低于商业饲料组;饲料组斑马鱼的孵化率显著低于玉米粉组和商业饲料组;饲料组(3.85±0.76)雄鱼肝脏中的VTG mRNA表达量显著高于玉米粉组(1.60±0.56).研究表明,转mCry1Ac基因玉米对斑马鱼没有明显生态毒理效应,但由于配制的膨化饲料与商业饲料在营养成分和适口性上的差异,可能导致个别指标与商业饲料组相比有显著差异.     

转基因抗虫作物对捕食性瓢虫的安全性研究进展

转基因抗虫作物的商业化种植带来了显著的经济、生态和社会效益,对转基因抗虫作物的安全性评价也一直是国内外学者研究的热点。对生物非靶标效应的研究是转基因抗虫作物安全性评价的重要组成部分,农田天敌类生物是其中的重点内容之一。瓢虫是农田生态系统重要的捕食性天敌,评价其在转基因抗虫作物田间是否能通过捕食猎物或取食花粉而接触到杀虫蛋白并富集于体内,进而对自身产生一定的非靶标效应,这对捕食性瓢虫的安全性研究具有重要的意义。本文从捕食性天敌瓢虫的生命表参数、行为功能参数、田间群落参数及体内微环境指标等方面综述了转基因抗虫作物对瓢虫的安全性研究进展,并对后期转基因抗虫作物对田间捕食性天敌的研究方向提出了建议,以期为转基因抗虫作物的环境安全性研究提供理论指导和为进一步完善转基因抗虫作物对瓢虫安全性评价的技术体系提供系统的数据资料。     

Osteoactivin fragments produced by ectodomain shedding induce MMP-3 expression via ERK pathway in mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts

Intact osteoactivin, a novel type I membrane glycoprotein, were shed at a dibasic motif in the juxtamembrane region in C2C12 myoblasts. Extracellular fragments were secreted into the culture media by a putative metalloprotease. Extracellular fragments of osteoactivin, but not control protein, induced matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3) expression in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. Epidermal growth factor (ERK) kinase inhibitors inhibited the osteoactivin-mediated MMP-3 expression, whereas the extracellular fragment of osteoactivin activated ERK1/2 and p38 in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Our results suggest that the extracellular fragments of osteoactivin produced by shedding act as a growth factor to induce MMP-3 expression via the ERK pathway in fibroblasts.     

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) inhibits myogenic differentiation

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC), an anti-apoptotic protein, is highly expressed in differentiated heart and skeletal muscle. Apoptosis and differentiation share numerous common pathways; therefore, we examined the impact of ARC on H9c2-myoblast differentiation. We demonstrate that ARC expression levels increase and stabilize upon differentiation. ARC-overexpression in pre-differentiated H9c2-cells suppresses differentiation; indicated by increased myotube formation, nuclear fusion and expression of the differentiation markers myogenin and troponin-T. ARC-overexpression inhibited myoblast differentiation associated caspase-3 activation, suggesting ARC inhibits myogenic differentiation through caspase inhibition. In summary, we show a novel role for ARC in the regulation of muscle differentiation.     

Intellectual property, genetically modified crops and bioethics

The implementation of a new technology is almost always surrounded by a debate on the moral and social implications that may arise. The debate with regard to genetically modified (GM) crops has been one of the longest and most controversial. However, one area of the debate that receives less attention is the role that intellectual property can play. The introduction of an effective and yet appropriate intellectual property system addressing society's particular needs can eliminate some of these issues. This paper looks at whether the situation in Europe is meeting our current needs and also addresses the role intellectual property can play in the debate over the introduction of GM crops in developing countries.     

A modified resonant recognition model to predict protein-protein interaction

Proteins are fundamental components of all living cells and the protein-protein interaction plays an important role in vital movement. This paper briefly introduced the original Resonant Recognition Model (RRM), and then modified it by using the wavelet transform to acquire the Modified Resonant Recognition Model (MRRM). The key characteristic of the new model is that it can predict directly the protein-protein interaction from the primary sequence, and the MRRM is more suitable than the RRM for this prediction. The results of numerical experiments show that the MRRM is effective for predicting the protein-protein interaction. Translated from Journal of Shanghai University (Natural Science), 2006, 12(1): 69–73 [译自: 上海大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Bioactive Sulforaphane from in vitro Propagated Brassica Seedlings

Sulforaphane is a biologically active phytochemical found abundantly in Brassica species. Sulforaphane from eighteen samples of three‐day‐old in vitro seedlings from Brassicas, the Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa varieties were analyzed by HPLC. San Martino, cavolfiore Alverda, cavolo verza riccio d'Asti and cavolfiore Minaret (4.57; 4.54; 4.53 and 4.53 [mg/g d.w], respectively) seedlings showed the highest level of sulforaphane. The presented data may be applicable to choose sulforaphane‐rich Brassica varieties for functional foods. A higher sulforaphane content in functional foods might offer health benefits or desirable physiological effects.     

Functional relevance and health benefits of soymilk fermented by lactic acid bacteria

The growing interest of consumers towards nutritionally enriched, and health promoting foods, provoke interest in the eventual development of fermented functional foods. Soymilk is a growing trend that can serve as a low-cost non-dairy alternative with improved functional and nutritional properties. Soymilk acts as a good nutrition media for the growth and proliferation of the micro-organism as well as for their bioactivities. The bioactive compounds produced by fermentation of soymilk with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exhibit enhanced nutritional values, and several improved health benefits including antihypertensive, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer and hypocholesterolaemic effects. The fermented soymilk is acquiring a significant position in the functional food industry due to its increased techno-functional qualities as well as ensuring the survivability of probiotic bacteria producing diverse metabolites. This review covers the important benefits conferred by the consumption of soymilk fermented by LAB producing bioactive compounds. It provides a holistic approach to obtain existing knowledge on the biofunctional attributes of fermented soymilk, with a focus on the functionality of soymilk fermented by LAB.