Optimization of fermentation medium for xylanase-producing strain Xw2

To improve the fermentation yield of xylanase by optimizing the fermentation conditions for strain Xw2, a Plackett-Burman design was used to evaluate the effects of eight variables on xylanase production by strain Xw2. The steepest ascent （descent） method was used to approach the optimal response surface experimental area. The optimal fermentation conditions were obtained by central composite design and response surface analysis. The results showed that the composition of the optimal fermentation medium was corn cob ＋ 1.5% wheat bran （1：1）, 0.04% MnSO4, 0.04% K2HPO4. 3H2O, and an inoculum size of 6% in 50 mL liquid volume （pH = 6.0）. The optimal culture conditions were 28oc at 150 r/min for 54.23 h. The results of this study can serve as the basis for the industrial production and application of xylanase.     

探讨穿心莲内酯对HIV-1感染辅助受体CXCR4启动子作用机制的研究

穿心莲内酯具有明显的抗病毒作用,对HIV-1(Human immunodeficiency virus type 1)具有明显的抑制作用,本研究探讨了穿心莲内酯影响CXCR4启动子活性的作用机制。首先构建双荧光素酶报告基因载体pFireRlucCXCR4(C-X-C chemokine receptor 4),并转染入人HEK293T细胞;利用CCK8法检测穿心莲内酯对人HEK293T细胞细胞毒性作用;双荧光素酶报告基因技术检测穿心莲内酯对CXCR4启动子活性的影响;MTT法检测穿心莲内酯对人T淋巴细胞Jurkat细胞活性影响;实时荧光定量PCR检测穿心莲内酯对人T淋巴细胞Jurkat细胞表面CXCR4 mRNA和蛋白表达的影响。PCR分别扩增了CXCR4启动子（777 bp）和Rluc(1 997 bp)表达单元,通过测序和酶切鉴定双荧光素酶报告基因载体插入正确;穿心莲内酯作用于转染pFireRluc-CXCR4HEK293T细胞,双荧光素酶结果显示：穿心莲内酯能够下调CXCR4启动子活性,差异具有显著性（P<0.05）。穿心莲内酯作用于人T淋巴细胞Jurkat细胞后,qPCR...     

蜡状芽孢杆菌S458-1对水产养殖系统中水质调节的作用

【目的】水产养殖过程中蜡状芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)作为益生菌被广泛应用。本研究旨在深入了解分离于养殖水体中的一株蜡状芽孢杆菌S458-1对养殖水体以及养殖对象的影响,以期为菌株S458-1在水产养殖生产上的应用提供理论依据。【方法】根据控制变量法,各试验组鲫鱼养殖模式设置相同温度、盐度、溶氧和pH,利用分光光度法测定水体的水化学指标;利用试剂盒法测定鲫鱼的血清生理生化指标。【结果】添加菌株S458-1处理组(终浓度分别为10~6、10~7、10~8CFU/mL)与对照组(未加S458-1菌)相比:水体活性磷浓度显著性增加(P0.05);同时具有把NH_4~+-N和NO_2~–-N转化为NO_3~–-N的趋势,但无显著性差异(P0.05);养殖鲫鱼血清检测结果显示谷草转氨酶(GOT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)以及丙二醛(MDA)含量均显著降低(P0.05)。【结论】蜡状芽孢杆菌S458-1具有脱氮解磷、调节水质的作用,并可增强养殖对象的生理健康状态,可作为益生菌应用于水产养殖中,具有较高的应用价值。     

Brefeldin A,a cytotoxin produced by Paecilomyces sp. and Aspergillus clavatus isolated from Taxus mairei and Torreya grandis

Paecilomyces sp. and Aspergillus clavatus, which were isolated from Taxus mairei and Torreya grandis from southeast China, produced toxic metabolites when grown in liquid culture. Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, infrared spectrometry, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and X-ray analysis identified brefeldin A, a bioactive metabolite produced by a number of fungal species belonging to the genera Alternaria, Ascochyta, Penicillium, Curvularia, Cercospora and Phyllosticta. This is the first report of the isolation of the cytotoxin from Paecilomyces sp. and A. clavatus. The relevance of brefeldin A to the association between these fungi and their host plants is discussed.     

PKCα translocation from mitochondria to nucleus is closely related to induction of apoptosis in gastric cancer cells

PKCs have been implicated in the regulation of cellular differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and signal transduction. It was demonstrated in this study that PKCα was located both at mitochondria and in cytosol in gastric cancer cell line BGC-823. Treatment of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) resulted in the translocation of PKCα from both mitochondria and cytosol to nucleus as clearly shown by laserscanningconfocal microscopy, while the protein level of PKCα was not changed by TPA treatment as detected by Western blot. The results also revealed that TPA-induced translocation of PKCα was in close association with apoptosis induction, and such association was further affirmed by other experiments where various apoptotic stimuli and specific inhibitors of PKC were used. Taken together, these findings indicate that translocation of PKCα from both mitochondria and cytosol to nucleus in gastric cancer cell is accompanied by induction of apoptosis, and may imply a new mechanism of the potential linking between cell apoptosis and PKCα translocation.     

Predator perception of detritus and eggsac decorations spun by orb-web spiders Cyclosa octotuberculata:Do they function to camouflage the spiders?

Camouflage is one of the most widespread and powerful strategies that animals use to make detection/recognition more difficult. Many orb-web spiders of the genus Cyclosa add prey remains, plant debris, moults, and/or eggsacs to their webs called web decorations. Web decorations resembling spider body colour pattern have been considered to camouflage the spider from predators. While this camouflage is obvious from a human's perspective, it has rarely been investigated from a predator's perspective. In this s...