Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Protein 3 Enhances the Solubilization of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion technology is widely used in the production of heterologous proteins from prokaryotic system to aid in protein solubilization and refolding. Due to an extensive clinical application of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) in bone augmentation, total RNA was isolated from human gingival tissue and mature gene was amplified through RT-PCR, cloned (pET21a), sequence analyzed, and submitted to GenBank (Accession no. KF250425). To obtain soluble expression, SUMO3 was tagged at the N-terminus of hBMP2 gene (pET21a/SUMO3-hBMP2), transferred in BL21 codon+, and ~?40% soluble expression was obtained on induction with IPTG. The dimerized hBMP2 was confirmed with Western blot, native PAGE analysis, and purified by fast protein liquid chromatography with 0.5 M NaCl elution. The cleavage of SUMO3 tag from hBMP2 converted it to an insoluble form. Computational 3D structural analysis of the SUMO3-hBMP2 was performed and optimized by molecular dynamic simulation. Protein-protein interaction of SUMO3-hBMP2 with BMP2 receptor was carried out using HADDOCK and inferred stable interaction. The alkaline phosphatase assay of SUMO3-hBMP2 on C2C12 cells showed maximum 200-ng/ml dose-dependent activity. We conclude that SUMO3-tagged hBMP2 is more suited for generation of soluble form of the protein and addition of SUMO3 tag does not affect the functional activity of hBMP2.     

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterisation of 2,3‐Epoxy/ 3‐Chloro‐2‐hydroxy Propyl Derivatives of Quaternary Ammonium Salts:Useful Cationic Fixing Agents

Eight mono-reactive and four bis-reactive 2,3-epoxy/3-chloro-2-hydroxy propyl derivatives of quaternary ammonium salts have been synthesised by reacting epichlorohydrin with suitable tertiary amines and diamines. Mono-reactive derivatives also contain cyano and carboxylic groups in addition to 2,3-epoxy/3-chloro-2-hydroxy propyl groups. The structures of these quaternary ammonium salts have been characterised using IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic techniques. These quaternary ammonium chlorides have been applied to the cotton fabrics as pretreatments and aftertreatments and promising results have been obtained.     

New terpenoids from Stachys parviflora Benth

Two new triterpenoidal saponins were isolated from the n-butanolic extract of Stachys parviflora (Lamiaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data as stachyssaponin A; 3beta, 15alpha, 19alpha, 21beta, 22alpha-pentahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid 3-O-{alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside}-22-O-{alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside} (1) and stachyssaponin B; 2beta, 3beta, 15alpha, 21beta-tetrahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid 2-O-[alpha-L-arabinofuranoside]-3, 21-bis-O-[beta-D-glucopyranoside] (2).     

Two new rare-class tetracyclic diterpenoids from Otostegia limbata

Two new tetracyclic diterpenoids trivially named as limbatenolide D (1) and limbatenolide E (2) have been isolated from Otostegia limbata. The structure elucidation of the compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques and on comparison with the literature data.     

Can be Azo Dyes Obtained by Grinding under Solvent‐Free Conditions?

The solid‐solid reactions of some electron‐donors with sulfanilic acid in the presence of solid sodium nitrite afford azo dyes by self‐catalyzed diazotization of sulfanilic acid (2) under solvent‐free conditions with moderate yields. Also the reactions of some electron‐donors with diazotization of o‐nitroaniline (5), m‐nitroaniline (6) and p‐nitroaniline (7) in the presence of solid sodium nitrite catalyzed by p‐toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) afford azo dyes under solvent‐free conditions in good yields. This new method totally avoids the use of acids, alkalies, and toxic and/or expensive solvents in diazotization and diazo coupling reactions.     

On some classes of p-valent functions involving Carlson-Shaffer operator

Let , be a class of functions analytic in the open unit disc E. We use Carlson-Shaffer operator for p-valent functions to define and study certain classes of analytic functions. Inclusion results, a radius problem and some other interesting properties are discussed.     

用纳米压痕法分析溶剂对聚醚醚酮(PEEK)力学性能的影响

Poly (ether ether ketone)(PEEK) is a high-performance semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer.Exposure of the polymeric surface to solvents can have a strong effect like softening/swelling of polymeric network or dissolution.In this study,nano-indentation analysis was performed to study the effect of acetone on the surface mechanical properties of PEEK using different exposure time.The experiments were performed with a constant loading rate (10 nm/s) to a maximum indentation displacement (1000 nm).A 30-second hold segment was included at the maximum load to account for any creep effects followed by an unloading segment to 80% unloading.The indentation hardness and the elastic modulus were computed as a continuous function of the penetration displacement in the continuous stiffness mode (CSM) indentation.The experimental data showed that the peak load decreased from ~5.2 mN to ~1.7 mN as exposure time in solvent environment increased from 0 to 18 days.The elastic modulus and the hardness of PEEK samples also displayed a decreasing trend as a function of exposure time in the solvent environment.Two empirical models were used to fit the experimental data of hardness as a function of exposure time which showed a good agreement with the experimental values.     

Appraisal of radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in sand samples of four rivers of Punjab province, Pakistan

Natural and anthropogenic radioactivity of sand and water samples collected from the four big rivers of Punjab province, Pakistan, was measured using a high-purity germanium detector coupled with a high resolution multichannel analyser. The average concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclides (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in all the sand samples from the rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Indus was found to be 22±0.6, 36±1 and 287±10 Bq kg (-1), respectively, while the concentration of the anthropogenic radionuclide (137)Cs was found to be below the minimum detectable activity, i.e. ~1.2 Bq?kg (-1). All the sand samples have Ra(eq) concentrations lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg (-1). Indoor (H (in)) and outdoor (H (out)) radiation hazard indices were calculated for the samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of this sand in construction, and were found to be less than unity in the study area. Calculated values of the absorbed dose rate were less than the typical world average value of 59 nGy h (-1), and the annual effective dose rate was also less than the typical world value of 70 μSv, except in the Indus river, in which it is slightly higher then the world average. Results show that the measured values are comparable with other global radioactivity measurements. None of the studied riverbeds was considered a radiological hazard, and their sand can be safely used in construction.     

Immobilization of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium with graphene oxide for electrochemiluminescent analysis

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of ruthenium complexes has broad applications and the immobilization of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ has received extensive attention. In comparison with Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, Ru(phen)₃²⁺ can be immobilized more easily because of its better adsorbability. In this study, immobilization of Ru(phen)₃²⁺ for ECL analysis has been demonstrated for the first time by using graphene oxide (GO) as an immobilization matrix. The immobilization of Ru(phen)₃²⁺ is achieved easily by mixing Ru(phen)₃²⁺ with GO without using any ion exchange polymer or covalent method. The strong binding of Ru(phen)₃²⁺ with GO is attributed to both the π–π stacking interaction and the electrostatic interaction. The Ru(phen)₃²⁺/GO modified electrode was characterized by using tripropylamine (TPA) as the coreactant. The linear range of TPA is from 3 × 10⁻⁷ to 3 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ with the detection limit of 3 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The ECL sensor demonstrates outstanding long-term stability. After the storage in the ambient environment for 90 days, the ECL response remains comparable with its original signal.     

Well-Defined,Versatile and Recyclable Half-Sandwich Nickelacarborane Catalyst for Selective Carbene-Transfer Reactions

Catalytic carbene-transfer reactions constitute a class of highly useful transformations in organic synthesis. Although catalysts based on a range of transition-metals have been reported, the readily accessible nickel(II)-based complexes have been rarely used. Herein, an air-stable nickel(II)-carborane complex is reported as a well-defined, versatile and recyclable catalyst for selective carbene transfer reactions with low catalyst loading under mild conditions. This catalyst is effective for several types of reactions including diastereoselective cyclopropanation, epoxidation, selective X−H insertions (X = C, N, O, S, Si), particularly for the unprotected substrates. This represents a rare example of carborane ligands in base metal catalysis.