红外光谱和拉曼光谱法分析玉米种子的成分

采用傅立叶红外光谱法(FTIR)及拉曼光谱分析了玉米种子不同部位的成分。实验表明,不同部位蛋白质、脂类和碳水化合物的特征吸收峰的相对强弱是不同的。玉米种子的胚中这3种物质的特征吸收峰强度较为均匀,差别不大。胚乳中脂类特征吸收峰最强,显示胚乳中脂类占据主导。白色的糊粉层则以碳水化合物为主。而外层黄色部位蛋白质和碳水化合物的吸收峰较强,脂类的吸收峰很小。拉曼光谱分析可以看到玉米种子的类胡萝卜素含量从黄色的外层到胚逐渐降低。     

生物液晶

液晶是一种介于液相和固相之间的中间相，具有流动性和有序性，其性质表明它是一种极适于生命特征的状态。生命体中的蛋白质、核酸、多糖、脂类等都能够通过自组装而呈现液晶态，其液晶行为与细胞和组织功能的表达有关。本文介绍了液晶的分类、表征方法及生命体内的蛋白质、脱氧核糖核酸、多糖、脂类的液晶特性以及液晶态的生物材料与细胞的相互作用。     

基于蛋白顺序提取法分析斯达氏油脂酵母的蛋白质组

斯达氏油脂酵母能在细胞内合成大量的油脂,其细胞内的脂类物质影响着蛋白质提取和后续的蛋白质组学分析。常见的一步蛋白质提取法很难从含有大量油脂的斯达氏酵母细胞中提取蛋白质,因此其蛋白质组学分析的结果较差。本文发展了顺序提取法提取斯达氏酵母中的蛋白质,并采用在线多维微柱反相液相色谱-串联质谱联用技术分析其蛋白质组;共鉴定到227个高可信度的蛋白质,其数目是一步提取法的两倍;此外,所鉴定到的参与基础代谢的蛋白质数目比一步提取法也显著增加。此方法可以有效提取含大量油脂的物种中的蛋白质,为油脂积累的分子机制研究提供重要的信息     

树脂填充聚醚砜纤维吸附剂对牛血清蛋白吸附性能的研究

重点研究树脂填充聚醚砜(PES)纤维吸附剂与模型蛋白质牛血清蛋白(BSA)之间的吸附与脱附行为.结果表明,蛋白质BSA在树脂填充PES纤维吸附剂中的平衡吸附过程较好地符合朗格缪尔吸附模型,树脂Lewatit CNP80ws填充PES吸附剂的最大吸附容量约为139mg BSA/g吸附剂.表面具有开孔结构的树脂填充PES纤维吸附剂的吸附速率较快,在不同结构纤维吸附剂中BSA的扩散系数在1·82×10-14~8·7×10-14m2/s范围内变化.另外,考察了BSA溶液的pH与洗脱剂等因素对吸附剂吸附与脱附性能的影响,研究结果对蛋白质的实际分离纯化具有重要的参考价值.     

色谱技术在蛋白质组学研究中的应用引言

蛋白质组是指一个有机体的基因组所表达的全部蛋白质。蛋白质组学是研究有机体蛋白质的组成及其变化规律的科学。蛋白质组成的高度复杂性和随时间、空间变化的特点,对蛋白质组的研究技术和方法提出了巨大挑战。色谱作为现代分离科学的核心技术之一,在蛋白质组研究中发挥了重要作用。我们可以通过对组织、细胞或体液中成千上万种蛋白质/多肽的色谱预分离,降低样本的复杂程度,提高蛋白质的鉴定率;我们可以通过亲和色谱对翻译后修饰的蛋白质/多肽进行特异性富集分离,去除非修饰的蛋白质/多肽,实现修饰蛋白的成功鉴定;我们还可以通过色谱 质谱联用技术,获得蛋白质/多肽在色谱分离中的保留时间或峰面积,实现蛋白质的规模化定量与鉴定等。 为了集中展示我国科学家在色谱技术及其在蛋白质组学研究中的应用方面所取得的成果,《色谱》杂志特此在2010年第2期编辑出版了“色谱技术在蛋白质组学研究中的应用”专栏。我们邀请了在该领域具有突出成绩或学术造诣的部分专家、学者撰写了相关的学术论文和综述。希望通过这些文章所介绍的工作,为进一步提高色谱技术在蛋白质组学研究中的应用水平,推动我国蛋白质组学的发展和取得创新性的研究成果作出贡献。     

聚糖联乙炔类脂仿生膜与大肠杆菌的识别作用研究

生物膜是生物进化的产物.生物膜中的脂类(糖脂、磷脂、胆固醇)的组成极为复杂,种类敏多,分子结构也各不相同,但全部属于极性分子,即在分子中都含有一个亲水头部基团和一个疏水尾部基团.     

基于芯片的直接进样质谱法和气相色谱-质谱测定莱茵衣藻中的极性脂类

目前微藻的脂类分析主要侧重于脂肪酸酯、甘油三酯以及细胞内总脂的分析, 忽视了极性脂类的分析. 本研究建立了一个基于芯片的全自动电喷雾进样系统联用线性离子阱质谱的技术, 用于分析莱茵衣藻中的极性脂类. 通过数据库Lipidblast鉴定出了35种不同种类的极性脂类, 并首次鉴定出20种甜菜碱脂类. 同时利用了GC/TOF-MS来检测莱茵衣藻中的游离脂肪酸, 发现亚油酸、亚麻酸和棕榈酸是莱茵衣藻中含量最丰富的三种脂肪酸. 建立的脂类分析方法为微藻脂类种类全面综合的分析提供了方法上的参考.     

全α蛋白质体系能量转变的分子动力学模拟

采用简化的NHP模型并考虑蛋白质链的二级结构信息,对全α型蛋白质链进行构建.利用分子动力学模拟研究全α蛋白质体系势能的变化情况,得出键伸缩和弯曲能量随蛋白质的链长线性增加;单键的伸缩能和弯曲能随着温度的升高而线性增加,且伸缩能比弯曲能随温度的增加更为明显的结论.键扭转能随二级结构α螺旋数目的增加而线性降低,随温度的上升,扭转能变化呈现先增加后减少的趋势.非键能的大小随疏水残基在蛋白质组分中的比例增加而降低,但线性关系不明显.键扭转能和非键能都存在转变温度.蛋白质链的结构是由多种势能协同作用的结果,键能和非键能的相互竞争以及组成蛋白质链的氨基酸亲疏水性和二级结构组分都会影响蛋白质体系的能量,这些结果对深入理解蛋白质的结构提供理论依据.     

胃和结直肠癌的傅里叶变换红外光谱研究

利用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪及带ATR探头的中红外光纤系统测定了手术切除的胃癌、结直肠癌及相应的正常组织共31对标本粘膜面的反射红外光谱. 结果表明, 与正常组织相比, 癌组织的红外光谱发生明显变化: (1) 与脂类相关的谱带2955, 2920, 2870, 2850和1740 cm-1出现几率明显低于正常组织(P<0.001), I1460/I1400(I为峰强度)明显降低(P<0.001), 表明癌组织的脂类相对含量降低; (2) 与蛋白质相关谱带N—H和O—H明显红移(P=0.025), 表明N—H和O—H的氢键化程度增加, 癌组织的I3375/I1460, I1640/I1460和I1550/I1460明显升高(P<0.01), 表明癌组织的蛋白质相对于脂类的含量增加, 癌组织的HW1550/I1550(HW为半高宽)明显升高(P=0.036), HW1550则明显降低(P=0.05), 表明癌组织中蛋白质的二级结构发生显著变化; (3) 与醣类相关谱带中癌组织的I1160/I1460降低(P=0.002), 结合组织化学染色, 推测可能是癌组织表面的糖蛋白明显减少造成的, 而I1120/I1460升高(P=0.019)则可能是癌组织表面的糖原颗粒增加所致. (4) 与核酸相关谱带中癌组织的PO的反对称伸缩振动蓝移(P=0.033), 表明癌组织中磷酸基团的氢键化程度降低. 研究结果表明, 红外光谱有望成为诊断恶性肿瘤的有力工具.     

静电纺丝法制备PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜及其性能研究

以辛酸亚锡为催化剂,利用HNTs表面的羟基引发L-LA开环聚合,合成了表面接枝聚(L-乳酸)(PLLA)链段的埃洛石纳米管(g-HNTs),通过红外、热失重和透射电镜对改性前后HNTs的组成与形貌进行了观察;然后采用静电纺丝技术制备了PLLA纳米纤维膜以及不同组成的PLLA/HNTs和PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜,探讨了纺丝条件对纳米纤维膜形貌的影响,并对复合膜的组成、形貌、力学性能和细胞相容性进行了研究.结果表明,当HNTs与L-LA的摩尔投料比为1∶10时,g-HNTs表面PLLA链段的接枝率为14.22％,HNTs纳米管的形态在接枝后变化不大,易于在无水乙醇中分散.电压强度和进样速率对纤维膜的形貌有一定影响,当电压强度为15 kV、进样速率为1 mL/h时,电纺纤维的直径较为均匀.复合纤维膜中g-HNTs在基体PLLA中的分散性以及与基体的界面相容性要优于相应的HNTs,当g-HNTs含量高达40％时,复合纳米纤维膜中的纤维形态仍然保持较好,可以得到连续、粗细较均匀的纤维;随着HNTs和g-HNTs含量增加,复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度和模量先增大后下降,当HNTs和g-HNTs的含量为5％时,两种复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度和模量均达到最大值,但PLLA/g-HNTs组复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度始终大于相应的PLLA/HNTs组.体外3T3细胞培养结果显示,PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜具有良好的细胞相容性,且优于相应的PLLA和PLLA/HNTs纳米纤维膜.     

Nonionic surfactants and the wool fibre surface

Nonionic surfactants are found in many wool processing operations. This study shows that X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are useful tools in the investigation of the interaction of nonionic surfactants and the wool fibre surface. Results confirm that nonionic surfactants such as TN450 and Teric N4 will adsorb onto the fibre surface with the bound lipid intact. Even after extensive rinsing, surfactant molecules are present suggesting that these molecules bind strongly to the fibre surface. In addition, the nature of the fibre surface is shown to influence the adsorption of nonionic surfactant. The removal of the bound lipid from the fibre surface facilitates the adsorption process and the subsequent surfactant treatment enhances the fibre’s wettability. These results have important practical implications. Also it is shown that the surfactant is not removed by extensive rinsing.     

Interrogating Membrane Protein Conformational Dynamics within Native Lipid Compositions

The interplay between membrane proteins and the lipids of the membrane is important for cellular function, however, tools enabling the interrogation of protein dynamics within native lipid environments are scarce and often invasive. We show that the styrene–maleic acid lipid particle (SMALP) technology can be coupled with hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX‐MS) to investigate membrane protein conformational dynamics within native lipid bilayers. We demonstrate changes in accessibility and dynamics of the rhomboid protease GlpG, captured within three different native lipid compositions, and identify protein regions sensitive to changes in the native lipid environment. Our results illuminate the value of this approach for distinguishing the putative role(s) of the native lipid composition in modulating membrane protein conformational dynamics.     

Properties of mixed lipid monolayers assembled on hydrophobic surfaces through vesicle adsorption

Supported lipid films are becoming increasingly important tools for the study of membrane protein function because of the availability of high-sensitivity surface analytical and patterning techniques. In this study, we have characterized the physical chemical properties of lipid films assembled on hydrophobic surfaces through the spontaneous adsorption of large unilamellar lipid vesicles composed of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). The density of the lipid films was measured with surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy as the lipid composition of the vesicles and ionic concentration were varied. As expected, monolayer films were formed, but the density of the monolayers was found to be weakly dependent on the lipid composition of the vesicles and strongly dependent on the ionic concentration of the solution in contact with the monolayer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the lipid films indicate that they are composed of a homogeneous monolayer. Surface force measurements were used to determine the surface charge and DOPG density of the monolayers. The DOPG content of the films was found to be weakly dependent on the DOPG composition of the vesicles and strongly dependent on the salt concentration of the environment. A model has been developed to describe the behavior of the lipid composition of the films in terms of the hydrophobic, electrostatic, and steric forces acting on the lipid monolayer on the hydrophobic surface.     

Major differences in the behaviour of carbon paste and carbon fibre electrodes in a protein-lipid matrix: implications for voltammetry in vivo.

The widely documented differences in behaviour of carbon fibre electrodes (CFEs) and carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) used for neurochemical analysis in vivo were investigated. Differential staircase voltammetry was used to study the electrooxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at CFEs and CPEs in the presence of major constituents of brain tissue, viz., protein, lipid or a mixture of both. Both electrode types were poisoned by protein, reflected in positive shifts in the AA voltammetric peak potential, and also peak broadening, following exposure of the electrodes to protein solution. In contrast, CFEs and CPEs responded very differently to exposure to lipid suspension: CFEs exhibited poisoning whereas CPEs showed enhanced electron transfer kinetics for AA. This significant difference in the response of the two carbon materials to lipid was further demonstrated by showing that lipid could reverse the poisoning caused by protein for CPEs but not CFEs. It appears, therefore, that proteins adsorb on both CPEs and CFEs, hindering electron transfer from AA to the electrode surface. Surfactant lipid molecules, in contrast, have a cleaning effect on CPEs, removing pasting oil and adsorbed proteins from the CPE surface. These results provide an explanation for the stability of CPEs in brain tissue and for the contrasting instability of CFEs in the same environment. The data also suggest that a lipid-protein matrix represents a valuable in vitro chemical model of brain tissue that should allow a truer characterisation in vitro of new and existing in vivo sensors, reducing the need for animal experiments in these studies.     

Application of Pomegranate by-Products in Muscle Foods: Oxidative Indices,Colour Stability,Shelf Life and Health Benefits

In recent years, considerable importance is given to the use of agrifood wastes as they contain several groups of substances that are useful for development of functional foods. As muscle foods are prone to lipid and protein oxidation and perishable in nature, the industry is in constant search of synthetic free additives that help in retarding the oxidation process, leading to the development of healthier and shelf stable products. The by-products or residues of pomegranate fruit (seeds, pomace, and peel) are reported to contain bioactive compounds, including phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, dietary fibre, complex polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, etc. Such compounds extracted from the by-products of pomegranate can be used as functional ingredients or food additives to harness the antioxidant, antimicrobial potential, or as substitutes for fat, and protein in various muscle food products. Besides, these natural additives are reported to improve the quality, safety, and extend the shelf life of different types of food products, including meat and fish. Although studies on application of pomegranate by-products on various foods are available, their effect on the physicochemical, oxidative changes, microbial, colour stabilizing, sensory acceptability, and shelf life of muscle foods are not comprehensively discussed previously. In this review, we vividly discuss these issues, and highlight the benefits of pomegranate by-products and their phenolic composition on human health.     

Bilayer hydrophobic thickness and integral membrane protein function

The influence of the lipid environment on the function of membrane proteins is increasingly recognized as crucial. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying protein-lipid interactions remain obscure. Membrane lipid composition has a regulatory effect on membrane protein activity, and for a number of membrane proteins a clear correlation was found between protein activity and properties of the membrane bilayer such as fluidity. Membrane thickness is an important property of a lipid bilayer. It is expected that hydrophobic thickness match the hydrophobic thickness of transmembrane segments of integral membrane proteins. Any mismatch between the hydrophobic thicknesses of the lipid bilayer and the protein would lead to some modification in either the structure of the protein or the structure of the bilayer, or both. Consequent rearrangements may result in changes in protein activity. Here we review the behavior of several transmembrane proteins whose activity is altered by hydrophobic core thickness.     

Directed self-assembly of monodisperse phospholipid bilayer Nanodiscs with controlled size

Using a recently described self-assembly process (Bayburt, T. H.; Grinkova, Y. V.; Sligar, S. G. Nano Letters 2002, 2, 853-856), we prepared soluble monodisperse discoidal lipid/protein particles with controlled size and composition, termed Nanodiscs, in which the fragment of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer is surrounded by a helical protein belt. We have customized the size of these particles by changing the length of the amphipathic helical part of this belt, termed membrane scaffold protein (MSP). Herein we describe the design of extended and truncated MSPs, the optimization of self-assembly for each of these proteins, and the structure and composition of the resulting Nanodiscs. We show that the length of the protein helix surrounding the lipid part of a Nanodisc determines the particle diameter, as measured by HPLC and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Using different scaffold proteins, we obtained Nanodiscs with the average size from 9.5 to 12.8 nm with a very narrow size distribution (+/-3%). Functionalization of the N-terminus of the scaffold protein does not perturb their ability to form homogeneous discoidal structures. Detailed analysis of the solution scattering confirms the presence of a lipid bilayer of 5.5 nm thickness in Nanodiscs of different sizes. The results of this study provide an important structural characterization of self-assembled phospholipid bilayers and establish a framework for the design of soluble amphiphilic nanoparticles of controlled size.     

Quantitative application of DRIFT Spectroscopy: Determination of composition of special acrylic fibers

A fast, direct and nondestructive method involving no sample preparation has been developed for recording a well resolved and reproducible spectrum of special acrylic fibre, (SAF), a precursor for carbon fibre using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. A novel method has been developed for determining the composition of SAF containing both acrylate and carboxylic acid comonomers. The special feature is that no standard samples (of known composition) are required.     

GC-MS characterization of proteinaceous and lipid binders in UV aged polychrome artifacts

This paper presents the most significant results obtained from the characterization of protein and lipid binders in a broad range of reference paint materials prepared and stored at Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence (Italian Ministry of the Cultural Heritage, Italy). The amino acid distribution for protein binders and the fatty acid distribution for lipid binders were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry before and after being artificially aged through exposure to UV light at 254 nm or 366 nm for different time periods in a climatic chamber (20°C and 80% RH). The results were compared with those relevant to old paintings of different ages, and showed that UV light aging does not significantly affect the amino acid profile of protein binders. Consequently, protein binders in old paintings can be reliably identified by comparing the amino acid composition with that of reference paint materials which have not been aged. However, the composition of lipid binders is substantially affected by UV irradiation, leading to a lowering of oleic acid and the formation of azelaic acid and other dicarboxylic acids including oxalic acid. An oleic to stearic acid ratio of less than 0.5 was observed in all the samples of works of art, and this parameter can be used to evaluate the extent of the artificial aging process. The formation of oxalic acid was also observed starting with pure unsaturated fatty acids, thus supporting the chemical origin of oxalate patina.     

SIMS Profiling and TEM of CVD Films on Multi-Filament Samples

 A suitable fibre coating is essential to obtain optimal fibre-matrix interaction in fibre-strengthened composite materials. Thin films (∼100 nm) of silicon carbide, turbostratic carbon, and boron nitride were deposited by CVD as single or double layers on commercial multi-filament fibres in a continuous process. The fibre material itself may be carbon, alumina, silicon carbide, or a quaternary ceramic of SiCBN. The application of MCs⁺-SIMS enables one to determine the composition (including impurities of H and O) of various fibre coating materials with an accuracy of at least 20% relative. Due to the special geometry of the multi-filament samples the depth resolution of the SIMS depth profiles is limited, nevertheless, layered structures and some details of the interface between coating and fibre can be studied. The depth calibration of the SIMS depth profiles is derived from sputter rates established on flat samples with a composition similar to that of the fibre coating material. However, the obtained film thicknesses are not extremely different from the values derived from TEM on cross sections of coated fibres.