Iron-rich particles in embryos of seeds from the family Pinaceae

Summary Iron-rich particles, previously reported in seeds of members of the genus Pinus, were found in radicle-hypocotyl tissues of dry embryos from eight other genera in the family Pinaceae. Thus, these Fe-rich particles are of common occurrence in seeds of this conifer family. These particles were most difficult to locate inPseudolarix amabilis, which has green embryos. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis was used to determine the elements present in conifer Fe-rich particles and phytoferritin deposits in pea embryo axes. Ferich particles from all species studied contained mainly Fe and P but also contained considerable K and Mg. Abietoideae group I (genera Cedrus andAbies) had lower Fe P ratios compared to all the other combined subfamilies within the Pinaceae. Pea phytoferritin deposits contained markedly lower amounts of P relative to Fe based on peakto-background ratios and quantitative values calculated by using a ferric phosphate standard. We also found, for the first time, that pea phytoferritin contained considerable K. A strong similarity was found between the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis spectra from Ferich particles and portions of a laboratory-synthesized Fe, K, Mg phytate salt. Phytate is a common mineral-nutrient storage compound in seeds. The possibility of these Fe-rich particles being phytoferritin cannot be ruled out, but if they are phytoferritin, they have lower Fe P ratios than almost all other ferritins reported to date.Abbreviations EDX energy-dispersive X-ray     

Ultrastructural changes in maturing pollen grains ofApium nodiflorum L. (Apiaceae), with special reference to the endoplasmic reticulum

Summary The ultrastructural events in 3-cellular pollen grains ofApium nodiflorum L. are investigated during pollen maturation. Three distinct developmental stages are distinguished from the formation of sperm cells up to anthesis, whereby the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is mainly involved. The most conspicious form is the highly dilated RER in the vegetative cytoplasm of the youngest pollen grains, which changes to vesicular RER in the following stage. In mature pollen grains the RER has a narrow cisternal configuration and often forms stacks. Pollen activation is preceded by the accumulation of polysaccharide particles.     

PEI-CS/siRNA复合颗粒对肝癌耐药细胞BEL7402/5-FU中MRE11表达的影响

目的:探讨聚乙烯亚胺-壳聚糖(PEI-CS)/si RNA复合颗粒对肝癌耐药细胞BEL7402/5-FU中MRE11表达的影响。方法:采用复凝聚法将PEI-CS(100μg/m L)与不同浓度的MRE11 si RNA-FAM形成PEI-CS/si RNA复合颗粒,并转染BEL7402/5-FU细胞,用荧光显微镜和Real-time PCR检测转染效率和沉默效率。结果:荧光显微镜观察结果显示:转染细胞48 h后,3.125、6.25、12.5、25、50μg/m L的si RNA与PEI-CS形成的复合颗粒的转染率分别为62.31%、76.09%、79.99%、86.49%、96.59%。转染细胞48、72、96 h后,12.5μg/m L的si RNA与PEI-CS形成的复合颗粒的转染率分别为78.22%、55.76%、42.85%,25μg/m L的si RNA与PEI-CS形成的复合颗粒的转染率分别为83.67%、74.23%、67.45%。Real-time PCR检测结果显示:25μg/m L的si RNA与PEI-CS形成的复合颗粒转染48小时后,对BEL7402/5-FU细胞中MRE11基因的沉默效率为35.4%。结论:聚乙烯亚胺-壳聚糖/si RAN复合颗粒能有效转染肝癌耐药细胞Bel7402/5-FU,并对BEL7402/5-FU细胞中MRE11基因表达有一定抑制作用。     

Evidence supporting the identity of beef heart mitochondrial chloroform-released adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) with coupling factor I

Highly purified mitochondrial chloroform-released beef heart ATPase had molecular weight 330 000, five bands (α, β, γ, δ, ε) in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and could restore the oxidative-phosphorylation function of A particles. Maximal inhibition (90%) of the enzyme by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was achieved at a molar ratio of inhibitor to protein of 30 : 1. Chloroform introduced into an aqueous solution of beef heart coupling factor I protected it from cold inactivation.     

Optimization of norovirus virus‐like particle production in Pichia pastoris using a real‐time near‐infrared bioprocess monitor

The production of norovirus virus‐like particles (NoV VLPs) displaying NY‐ESO‐1 cancer testis antigen in Pichia pastoris BG11 Mut⁺ has been enhanced through feed‐strategy optimization using a near‐infrared bioprocess monitor (RTBio^® Bioprocess Monitor, ASL Analytical, Inc.), capable of monitoring and controlling the concentrations of glycerol and methanol in real‐time. The production of NoV VLPs displaying NY‐ESO‐1 in P. pastoris has potential as a novel cancer vaccine platform. Optimization of the growth conditions resulted in an almost two‐fold increase in the expression levels in the fermentation supernatant of P. pastoris as compared to the starting conditions. We investigated the effect of methanol concentration, batch phase time, and batch to induction transition on NoV VLP‐NY‐ESO‐1 production. The optimized process included a glycerol transition phase during the first 2 h of induction and a methanol concentration set point of 4 g L^?1 during induction. Utilizing the bioprocess monitor to control the glycerol and methanol concentrations during induction resulted in a maximum NoV VP1‐NY‐ESO‐1 yield of 0.85 g L^?1. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:518–526, 2016     

不同粒径口蹄疫病毒样颗粒-ZIF-8复合物诱导小鼠的体液免疫效果分析

为进一步提高口蹄疫(foot-and-mouthdisease,FMD)病毒样颗粒(virus-likeparticles,VLPs)疫苗的免疫效果,本研究采用仿生矿化方法,将Zn2+和2-甲基咪唑按照不同浓度配比制备了不同粒径的FMDV VLPs-沸石咪唑骨架-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8, ZIF-8)复合物,以探究尺寸效应对免疫效果的影响。结果显示,成功制备出3种不同粒径的FMDV VLPs-ZIF-8,粒径分别约为70、100、1 000 nm。细胞毒性和组织病理学试验表明,3种复合物均具有良好的生物安全性。小鼠免疫试验表明,3种复合物均能明显提高中和抗体和特异性抗体水平,并且随着复合物体积的减小,其免疫效果也随之增强。本研究表明,ZIF-8包封FMDV VLPs可显著增强其免疫效果,且具有尺寸依赖性。     

Freeze-Fracture Study of Malaria Sporozoites: Antibody-Induced Changes of the Pellicular Membrane*

Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium knowlesi, and Plasmodium berghei sporozoites, before and after incubation with immune serum, were studied after freeze-fracture by electron microscopy. There were evenly distributed numerous intramembranous particles (IMP) on the P face of the outer membrane. The E face of the plasma membrane had fewer IMP than its P face. The E face of the intermediate membrane had few IMP and also linear arrays of slightly raised ridges running the length of the parasite. The P face of the intermediate membrane had many IMP aligned along the long axis of the sporozoite. On the P face of the inner membrane. IMP were arranged in very distinct rows conforming to the long axis of the parasite; the E face of this membrane had a few randomly distributed IMP. A prominent change in the sporozoite incubated in immune serum was the appearance of a layer of aggregated particles around the parasite. The P face of the plasma membrane had several clear areas devoid of IMP and IMP aggregates. No changes were seen in the other fractured faces of the pellicle. These observations suggest that immune serum acts only on the P face of the plasma membrane.     

Ultrafine Metal Nanoparticles/N‐Doped Porous Carbon Hybrids Coated on Carbon Fibers as Flexible and Binder‐Free Water Splitting Catalysts

By employing in situ reduction of metal precursor and metal‐assisted carbon etching process, this study achieves a series of ultrafine transition metal‐based nanoparticles (Ni–Fe, Ni–Mo) embedded in N‐doped carbon, which are found efficient catalysts for electrolytic water splitting. The as‐prepared hybrid materials demonstrate outstanding catalytic activities as non‐noble metal electrodes rendered by the synergistic effect of bimetal elements and N‐dopants, the improved electrical conductivity, and hydrophilism. Ni/Mo₂C@N‐doped porous carbon (NiMo‐polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)) and NiFe@N‐doped carbon (NiFe‐PVP) produce low overpotentials of 130 and 297 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 as catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, respectively. In addition, these binder‐free electrodes show long‐term stability. Overall water splitting is also demonstrated based on the couple of NiMo‐PVP||NiFe‐PVP catalyzer. This represents a simple and effective synthesis method toward a new type of nanometal–carbon hybrid electrodes.