The fungal community and its interaction with the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the faeces of Chenghua,Yorkshire and Tibetan pigs

Despite their important roles in host nutrition and metabolism, and potential to cause disease, our knowledge of the fungal community in the mammalian gut is quite limited. To date, diversity and composition of fungi in swine gut still remains unknown. Therefore, the first internal transcribed spacer of fungi in faecal samples from three breeds of pigs (10 pigs for each breed) was sequenced based on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform, and the relationship between the fungal community and the concentrations of main short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was also analysed. Results indicated that Chenghua (local, higher body fat rate), Yorkshire (foreign, higher lean meat and growth rate) and Tibetan (plateau, stronger disease resistance) pigs harboured distinct fungal community. The Basidiomycota and Ascomycota presented as the two predominant phyla, with Loreleia, Russula and Candida as the top three genera in all samples. Network analysis revealed a total of 35 correlations among different fungal genera, with 27 (77.14%) positive and 8 (22.86%) negative pairwise interactions. Canonical correspondence analysis suggested that fungi in the faeces of pigs were more correlated to the concentration of acetate and butyrate rather than propionate. Spearman’s correlation further showed that Tomentella was positively correlated to both acetate and butyrate, and Loreleia was positively correlated to propionate (P < 0.05), while Nephroma and Taiwanofungus were negatively correlated to acetate and propionate (P < 0.05). These findings expanded our knowledge on the intestinal fungi in pigs with different genotypes and phenotypes, indicating that fungi may play an indispensable role during the metabolism of host and the maintenance of intestinal health. The cross-feeding between fungi and other microorganisms may be crucial during the digestion of dietary carbohydrates and the associated physiological processes, which is worthy to be further studied.     

Triple mutated antibody scFv2F3 with high GPx activity: insights from MD, docking, MDFE, and MM-PBSA simulation

By combining computational design and site-directed mutagenesis, we have engineered a new catalytic ability into the antibody scFv2F3 by installing a catalytic triad (Trp²⁹–Sec⁵²–Gln⁷²). The resulting abzyme, Se-scFv2F3, exhibits a high glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, approaching the native enzyme activity. Activity assays and a systematic computational study were performed to investigate the effect of successive replacement of residues at positions 29, 52, and 72. The results revealed that an active site Ser⁵²/Sec substitution is critical for the GPx activity of Se-scFv2F3. In addition, Phe²⁹/Trp–Val⁷²/Gln mutations enhance the reaction rate via functional cooperation with Sec⁵². Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the designed catalytic triad is very stable and the conformational flexibility caused by Tyr¹⁰¹ occurs mainly in the loop of complementarity determining region 3. The docking studies illustrated the importance of this loop that favors the conformational shift of Tyr⁵⁴, Asn⁵⁵, and Gly⁵⁶ to stabilize substrate binding. Molecular dynamics free energy and molecular mechanics-Poisson Boltzmann surface area calculations estimated the pK _a shifts of the catalytic residue and the binding free energies of docked complexes, suggesting that dipole–dipole interactions among Trp²⁹–Sec⁵²–Gln⁷² lead to the change of free energy that promotes the residual catalytic activity and the substrate-binding capacity. The calculated results agree well with the experimental data, which should help to clarify why Se-scFv2F3 exhibits high catalytic efficiency.     

Anti-adhesive Property of Maize Leaf Surface Related with Temperature and Humidity

The anti-adhesive surfaces have always aroused great interest of worldwide scientists and engineers.But in practical applications,it often faces the threat and impact of temperature and humidity.In this work,the excellent anti-adhesive performance of maize leaf under high temperature and humidity were investigated in detail.Firstly,the adhesion forces of the maize leaf surface under different temperature and humidity were measured by using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).The temperature of the substrate was varied between 23 ℃ to 100 ℃,and the ambient relative humidity is from 18％ to 100％.It was found that the adhesion force of maize leaf decreased with the increase of temperature and humidity.The mechanism of its excellent anti-adhesive performance of maize leaf under high temperature and relative humidity was revealed.The transverse and longitudinal ridges on maize leaf surface interlace with each other,forming small air pockets,which reduces the actual contact area between the object and the maize leaf.With the increase of humidity,the liquid film will be formed in the air pockets gradually and so much water vapor is produced with increase of temperature.Then the air flow rate increases though the wavy top of transverse ridges,inducing the dramatic decrease of adhesion force.Inspired by this mechanism,four samples with this bionic structure were made.This functional "biomimetic structure" would have potential value in the wide medical equipments such as high frequency electric knife with anti-adhesion surface under high temperature and high humidity.     

樟科濒危植物思茅木姜子遗传多样性的ISSR分析

本文采用ISSR标记对中国特有且仅在云南南部狭域分布的樟科濒危植物思茅木姜子(Litseaszemaois)现存8个居群的遗传多样性进行了研究。从96条引物中筛选出了10条,对103个个体进行了扩增,共扩增出77条条带,其中多态性条带为67条。分析结果表明:(1)思茅木姜子的遗传多样性水平很高。在物种水平上,多态位点百分率PPB=87.01%,平均每个位点的有效等位基因数Ne=1.4006,Nei’s基因多样度指数H=0.2466,Shannon多样性信息指数Hsp=0.3826;在居群水平上,PPB=37.99%,Ne=1.2500,H=0.1418,Shannon多样性信息指数Hpop=0.2088。(2)居群间的遗传分化较低。基于Nei’s遗传多样性分析得出的居群间遗传分化系数Gst=0.3700;Shannon’s居群分化系数((Hsp–Hpop)/Hsp)为0.45。AMOVA分析显示:思茅木姜子的遗传变异主要存在于居群内,占总变异的72.99%,居群间的遗传变异占27.01%,表明思茅木姜子属于异交种。(3)两两居群间的Nei’s遗传一致度(I)的范围为0.8233–0.9761。经Mantel检测,居群间的遗传距离和地理距离之间不存在显著的正相关关系(r=0.0925,P=0.6931)。我们推断人类活动的干扰和生境的片断化是导致思茅木姜子濒危现状的主要因素。考虑到目前其遗传多样性水平虽然很高,但各居群个体数量很少,因此应该对思茅木姜子各居群的所有个体实施及时的就地保护;而遗传变异大部分存在于居群内的个体间,所以在迁地保护时应在各居群内大量采样。     

Site-selective lateral multilayer assembly of bienzyme with polyelectrolyte on ITO electrode based on electric field-induced directly layer-by-layer deposition

We describe here a new approach to construct a multilayer enzyme/polyelectrolyte film on a structured transparent indium-tin oxide (ITO) covered glass electrode surface as micropattern, on which two different types of enzyme distributed laterally on one common substrate without interference. The multilayer film was prepared by alternate electric field directed layer-by-layer assembly deposition and alternate deposition of different redox enzymes and polyelectrolyte poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) onto the site-selective ITO glass electrode surface. The cyclic voltammogram, obtained from the ITO glass electrode modified with the glucose oxidase (GO(X))/PDDA and catalase (CA(T))/PDDA multilayers, revealed that the bioelectrocatalytic response is directly correlated to the number of deposition bilayers. From the analysis of cyclic voltammetric characterization, the coverage of catalytically active enzymes per enzyme/PDDA bilayer during the multilayer formation was homogeneous, which demonstrates that the multilayer is constructed in a spatially ordered manner. Also, from the atomic force microscopy and Brewster angle microscopy measurements, more information of the multilayer constructed by different methods on the modified electrode surface is obtained and compared. This fabrication technique is simple and would be applicable to the construction of a thickness- and area-controlled biopattern composed of multi-enzymes as well as multiple biomaterials.     

Optimum Anti-erosion Structures and Anti-erosion Mechanism for Rotatory Samples Inspired by Scorpion Armor of Parabuthus transvaalicus

Solid particle erosion on the material surfaces is a very common phenomenon in the industrial field,which greatly affects the efficiency,service life,and even poses a great threat to life safety.However,current research on erosion resistance is not only inefficient,but also limited to the improvement of hardness and toughness of materials.Inspired by typical scorpion(Parabuthus transvaalicus),biomimetic functional samples with exquisite anti-rosion structures were manufactured.Macroscopic morphology and structure of the biological prototype were analyzed and measured.According to above analysis,combined with response surface methodology,a set of biomimetic samples with different structural parameters were fabricated by using 3D printing technology.The anti-crosion performance of these biomimetic samples was investigated using a blasting jet machine.Based on the results of blasting jet test,as well as regression analysis and fiting,the optimal structural parameters were obtained.In addition to the static test conditions,the optimal biomimetic sample was also eroded in rotating condition and showed excellent erosion resistance property.The presence of bump and groove structures,on the one hand,reduced the croded area of biominetic sample surface.On the other hand,they made the airlow turbulent and consequently reduced the impact cnergy of solid particles,which significantly improved the erosion resistance of biomimetic materials.This study provides a new strategy to improvethe service life of components easily affected by erosion in the aviation,energy and military fields.     

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The protocol presented here is designed to study the activation of the large conductance, voltage- and Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK) channels. The protocol may also be used to study the structure-function relationship for other ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors¹. BK channels are widely expressed in different tissues and have been implicated in many physiological functions, including regulation of smooth muscle contraction, frequency tuning of inner hair cells and regulation of neurotransmitter release^2-6. BK channels are activated by membrane depolarization and by intracellular Ca²⁺ and Mg^2+6-9. Therefore, the protocol is designed to control both the membrane voltage and the intracellular solution. In this protocol, messenger RNA of BK channels is injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes (stage V-VI) followed by 2-5 days of incubation at 18°C^10-13. Membrane patches that contain single or multiple BK channels are excised with the inside-out configuration using patch clamp techniques^10-13. The intracellular side of the patch is perfused with desired solutions during recording so that the channel activation under different conditions can be examined. To summarize, the mRNA of BK channels is injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes to express channel proteins on the oocyte membrane; patch clamp techniques are used to record currents flowing through the channels under controlled voltage and intracellular solutions.Download video file.^{(62M, mov)}     

Synthesis and kinetic evaluation of a trifunctional enzyme mimic with a dimanganese active centre

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) play crucial roles in the metabolism and homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living organisms. From examination of the steady state and pre-steady state kinetic behavior of natural GPX it was found that, in contrast to accepted theories, the affinity of the enzyme for H₂O₂ rather than reduced glutathione (GSH) most significantly affects its kinetic behavior. Consequently, an enzyme mimic was produced with a similar affinity for the substrate H₂O₂. A salicylaldehyde Schiff base containing a dimanganese centre was selected as a precursor, because it has high H₂O₂-binding affinity for such a relatively small molecule and similar catalytic activity to that of SOD and CAT. Selenium was also incorporated into the catalytic center to provide activity similar to that of GPX, and thus trifunctional enzymatic activity. The K_mH2O2 of the mimic (7.32 × 10^-2 mM) was found quite close to that of natural enzyme (1.0 × 10^-2 mM), indicating that the affinity of the mimic to H₂O₂ was successfully increased to approach natural GPX. The steady state kinetic performance of the enzyme mimic showed that the ratio between k_cat/K_mGSH and k_cat/ K_mH2O2 was quite similar to that of native GPX, indicating that the Mn(III)₂(L-Se-SO₃Na) had the same selectivity for both substrates GSH and H₂O₂ as native GPX, which put it among the best existing GPX mimics. Moreover, the new mimic was confirmed to strongly inhibit lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial swelling, probably due to the synergism between the three antioxidant enzymatic activities.     

Expression,Purification and Characterization of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide: Gloverin A2 from Bombyx mori

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Worldwide, antibacterial resistance has increased dramatically in the past years. Antimicrobial peptides are a group of immune-related...