The Tetracycline Repressor-A Paradigm for a Biological Switch

The excessive use of antibiotics has enabled bacteria to develop resistance through a variety of mechanisms. The most common bacteriostatic action of the broad-spectrum antibiotic tetracycline (Tc) is by the inactivation of the bacterial ribosome so that the protein biosynthesis is interrupted and the bacteria die. The most common mechanism of resistance in gram-negative bacteria against Tc is associated with the membrane-intrinsic protein TetA, which exports invaded Tc out of the bacterial cell before it can attack its target, the ribosome. The expression of TetA is tightly regulated by the homodimeric Tet repressor (TetR)(2), which binds specifically with two helix-turn-helix motifs of operator DNA (tetO; K(ass) approximately 10(11) M(-1)) located upstream from the tetA gene on a plasmid or transposon. When Tc diffuses into the cell it chelates Mg(2+) and the complex [MgTc](+) binds to (TetR)(2) to form the induced complex (TetR small middle dot[MgTc](+))(2). This process is associated with conformational changes, which sharply reduce the affinity of (TetR)(2) to tetO, so that expression of TetA can take place, thus conferring resistance to the bacteria cells against Tc. Crystallographic studies show sequence-specific protein-nucleic acid interactions in the (TetR)(2) small middle dottetO complex and how the binding of two [MgTc](+) to (TetR)(2) enforces conformational changes that are stabilized by cooperative binding of two chains of eight water molecules each so that the formed (TetR small middle dot[MgTc](+))(2) is no longer able to recognize and bind to tetO. Since the switching mechanisms of the TetR/[MgTc](+) system is so tight, it has proven very useful in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression and may also be applicable in gene therapy.     

Hofmeister效应对生物和化学体系的影响

Hofmeister效应涉及到的问题范围十分广泛,对很多化学、生物体系都有影响。总的说来,Hofmeister效应会影响到溶液的冰点、沸点、黏度、偏摩尔体积、饱和蒸汽压、传导率、pH、表面张力。文章主要介绍了Hofmeister效应的主要影响因素,以及相关理论的建立与完善,并对不同体系中Hofmeister效应的影响进行了描述。     

Chemical Species of Iodine in Some Seaweeds II. Iodine-Bound Biological Macromolecules

The distribution of iodine in various biological macromolecules in Sargassum kjellmanianum was studied using neutron activation analysis combined with chemical and biochemical separation techniques. The results indicate that iodine is mainly bound with protein, part of iodine with pigment and polyphenol, and little with polysaccharides, such as algin, fucoidan and cellulose. This result is significant for the mechanism of enriching iodine of algae and utilization of alga iodine.     

生物界面上的化学过程——关于化学生物学研究前沿的讨论

在细胞和固体表面建立的生物界面上发生的化学-生物学过程是一个医学、环境、农业和生物技术共同面对的问题.以破骨细胞介导的骨再吸收过程为例阐述过程中的生物事件顺序,提出有待解决的化学问题.     

Exploding Chemical Gardens: A Phase‐Change Clock Reaction

Chemical gardens and clock reactions are two of the best‐known demonstration reactions in chemistry. Until now these have been separate categories. We have discovered that a chemical garden confined to two dimensions is a clock reaction involving a phase change, so that after a reproducible and controllable induction period it explodes.     

化学振荡与生物自组织过程

本文介绍了H2O2、CH2(COOH)2、KIO3、HClO4与MnSO4体系的振荡反应,测定了封闭系统和开放系统的振荡曲线,化学振荡可应用于生物自组织现象的研究。     

微悬臂梁生化传感器在液体环境中的应用

微悬臂梁由于其体积小、响应速度快、灵敏度高和易于集成等特点,已迅速发展成为一门新兴的传感器技术.本文简要介绍了微悬臂梁传感器的工作原理和信号读出方法,概括了近年来它在液体环境中的研究现状,并对其性能特点和局限性进行了讨论,展望了该类型传感器今后的研究趋势.     

开拓新思路,加速生命体系中的化学过程的研究

根据国家自然科学基金委员会优先资助领域战略研究工作的部署,政策局会同化学科学部、生命科学部、工程与材料科学部、数理科学部、信息科学部于１９９９年６月８—１０日在京郊九华山庄举办以“生命体系中的化学过程”为主题的科学论坛。论坛按照优先资助领域遴选要面向...     

Deciphering the Biological Activities of Antifungal Agents with Chemical Probes

The growing number of fungal infections caused by pathogens resistant to one or more classes of antifungal drugs emphasizes the threat that these microorganisms pose to animal and human health and global food security. Open questions remain regarding the mechanisms of action of the limited repertoire of antifungal agents, making it challenging to rationally develop more efficacious therapeutics. In recent years, the use of chemical biology approaches has resolved some of these questions and has provided new promising concepts to guide the design of antifungal agents. By focusing on examples from studies carried out in recent years, this minireview describes the key roles that probes based on antifungal agents and their derivatives have played in uncovering details about their activities, in detecting resistance, and in characterizing the interactions between these agents and their targets.     

Targeting Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents at the Molecular Level

After the September 11 tragedies of 2001, scientists and law‐enforcement agencies have shown increasing concern that terrorist organizations and their “rogue” foreign government‐backers may resort to the use of chemical and/or biological agents against U.S. military or civilian targets. In addition to the right mix of policies, including security measures, intelligence gathering and training for medical personnel on how to recognize symptoms of biochemical warfare agents, the major success in combating terrorism lies in how best to respond to an attack using reliable analytical sensors. The public and regulatory agencies expect sensing methodologies and devices for homeland security to be very reliable. Quality data can only be generated by using analytical sensors that are validated and proven to be under strict design criteria, development and manufacturing controls. Electrochemical devices are ideally suited for obtaining the desired analytical information in a faster, simpler, and cheaper manner compared to traditional (lab‐based) assays and hence for meeting the requirements of decentralized biodefense applications. This articler presents a review of the major trends in monitoring technologies for chemical and biological warfare (CBW) agents. It focuses on research and development of sensors (particularly electrochemical ones), discusses how advances in molecular recognition might be used to design new multimission networked sensors (MULNETS) for homeland security. Decision flow‐charts for choosing particular analytical techniques for CBW agents are presented. Finally, the paths to designing sensors to meet the needs of today's measurement criteria are analyzed.     

Relationship between the Chemical Composition and the Biological Functions of Coffee

Coffee is a Rubiaceae coffee plant ranked as the first of the three most important beverages in the world, with effects including lowering blood sugar, protecting the liver, and protecting the nerves. Coffee contains many chemical components, including alkaloids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and so on. Chemical components in coffee are the basis of its biological function and taste. The chemical components are the basis of biological activities and form the characteristic aroma of coffee. The main chemical components and biological activities of coffee have been extensively studied, which would provide a relevant basis and theoretical support for the further development of the coffee industry.     

Chemical Investigations of the Molecular Origin of Biological Radiation Damage

The radiation damage observed when UV and ionizing radiations react on biological objects is caused in many cases by changes in the nucleic acids. Exposure of these compounds to UV radiation in vitro and in vivo leads, inter alia, to dimerization of the pyrimidine bases with formation of cyclobutane derivatives, and to addition of water to the 5,6-double bond of the pyrimidine bases to form derivatives of the 6-hydroxyhydropyrimidine system. The structure of the irradiation products has been established. The dimerization prevents the reduplication of the DNA, and the addition of water appears to be the cause of UV mutations. Ionizing radiation in aqueous solution results e.g. in addition of H and/or HO radicals to the 5,6-double bond of the pyrimidine bases and cleavage of the imidazole ring of the purine bases. The mutations caused by ionizing radiation are probably also due, in part, to the formation of 6-hydroxydihydropyrimidine derivatives.     

固氮酶与化学模拟生物固氮

我们都知道,由H2和N2合成氨需要高温、高压和催化剂。可是自然界进化出一种完全不同的不需高温、高压的更加精巧的合成路线,这就是通过固氮酶的生物固氮过程。该过程的特征,也是最诱人的地方是该合成反应可以在常温、常压的温和条件下进行。固氮酶只有在无氧条件下才能催化这种氧化一还原反应。     

Chemical Structure and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Salicornia europaea L.

Salicornia europaea L. is a halophyte that grows in salt marshes and muddy seashores, which is widely used both as traditional medicine and as an edible vegetable. This salt-tolerant plant is a source of diverse secondary metabolites with several therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. Therefore, this review summarizes the chemical structure and biological activities of secondary metabolites isolated from Salicornia europaea L.