Validation of a Reference Gene (BdFIM) for Quantifying Transgene Copy Numbers in Brachypodium distachyon by Real-Time PCR

Brachypodium distachyon has been proposed as a new model system for gramineous plants with a sequenced genome and an efficient transformation system. Many transgenic B. distachyon plants have been generated in recent years. To develop a reliable fast method for detecting transgenic B. distachyon and quantifying its transgene copy numbers, a species-specific reference gene is of great priority to be validated both in qualitative PCR and quantitative real-time PCR detection. In this study, we first proved that the BdFIM (B. distachyon fimbrin-like protein) gene is a suitable reference gene in qualitative PCR and quantitative real-time PCR for B. distachyon. Fourteen different B. distachyon varieties were tested by both qualitative and quantitative PCRs, and identical amplification products of BdFIM were obtained with all of them, while no amplification products were observed with samples from 14 other plant species, suggesting that BdFIM gene was specific to B. distachyon. The results of Southern blot analysis revealed that the BdFIM gene was low copy number in seven tested B. distachyon varieties. In conclusion, the BdFIM gene can be used as a reference gene, since it had species specificity, low heterogeneity, and low copy number among the tested B. distachyon varieties. Furthermore, the copy number of inserted sequences from transgenic B. distachyon obtained by real-time PCR methods and Southern blot confirmed that the BdFIM gene was an applicable reference gene in B. distachyon.     

Enhanced Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Palm Pressed Fiber Based on the Three Main Components: Cellulose,Hemicellulose, and Lignin

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the native and the pretreated palm pressed fiber (PPF) was deeply investigated by using the enzyme cocktail ACCELLERASE 1500. Together with the spent PPF from the first hydrolysis and the further doubly-treated PPF, the proportions of three main components were determined and analyzed based on a triangle figure. The proportion (cellulose/hemicelluloses/lignin) in the spent PPF was equal to 44:23:33 and the surface morphology of the spent PPF looks very similar to the native PPF surface showing poor hydrolysis efficiency. After further double treatment, the proportion was changed evidently from the original 44:23:33 to 54:21:25 and the surface structure was significantly disrupted showing a potential to be hydrolyzed completely. Additionally, all samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffractogram through considerations of alkaline solution treatment, so as to understand better the nature of biomass hydrolysis, from the aspect of three biomass components.     

Investigations in annealing effects on structure and properties of β-isotactic polypropylene with X-ray synchrotron experiments

The influence of annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of β-form isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was investigated via in situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Transition of β-iPP to α-iPP was investigated via recrystallization at high annealing temperatures (T _a?>?120 °C). And crystallinity, crystal sizes, and long period of ordered structure increased with increasing annealing temperature. Abrupt changes were found in both mechanical properties and structural features at the same T _a range (～120 °C). The in situ synchrotron SAXS and WAXD shows that the destruction of b phase at yielding and after yielding should account for the ductility of β-iPP. The thermodynamics and kinetics of annealing were investigated with DSC and X-ray synchrotron experiments. A characteristic annealing time was investigated, which measures the rate of phase evolution in annealing of β-iPP. Eventually, a hypothesized model can be used to describe the property/structure relations during this process.     

Purification and Characterization of a Chymosin from Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis

Purification and characterization of a chymosin from Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis were investigated in the present study. A newly isolated R. microsporus var. rhizopodiformis F518 produced a high level of milk-clotting activity (1,001 SU/mL). A chymosin from the fungus was purified 3.66-fold with a recovery yield of 33.2 %. The enzyme appeared as a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with a molecular mass of 37.0 kDa. It was optimally active at 60 °C and was stable up to 40 °C. The purified enzyme was an acid protease with an optimum pH of 5.2 and retained 80 % of residual activity within pH 2.0–8.0. The inhibition of 96 and 100 % by pepstatin A at 0.01 and 0.02 mM, respectively, revealed that the enzyme is an aspartic protease. Thus, high milk-clotting activity of the chymosin with good stability will strengthen the potential use of the chymosin as a substitute for calf rennet in cheese manufacturing.     

Apoptosis in BEL-7402 cells induced by ruthenium(II) complexes through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway

Three Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(dmb)₂(HMSPIP)](ClO₄)₂ (1), [Ru(phen)₂(HMSPIP)](ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Ru(dmp)₂(HMSPIP)](ClO₄)₂ (3) were synthesized and characterized. The cytotoxicity in vitro, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential were assayed. The IC₅₀ values of complexes 1, 2 and 3 toward BEL-7402, A549, MG-63 and SK-BR-3 cell lines ranged from 10.9 ± 1.6 to 42.0 ± 3.4 μM. Complexes 1, 2 and 3 can effectively induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of BEL-7402 cells at the G2/M phase. These complexes can enhance the level of reactive oxygen species and induce decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, complex 2 can down-regulate the expression of antiapoptotic protein of Bcl-2 protein and up-regulate the levels of proapoptotic protein Bim in BEL-7402 cells.     

One-pot synthesis–assembly–separation of cucurbit[6]uril via SO3H-functionalized ionic liquids

A novel microwave-assisted route to synthesize cucurbit[n]uril in SO₃H-functionalized ionic liquids was reported, which enabled the automatic separation of cucurbit[6]uril through anion assembly. For the first time, the route has realized synthesis–assembly–separation of cucurbit[6]uril in one pot. The reaction yield and separation efficiency can be tuned by choice of anionic groups in ionic liquids.     

差示扫描量热法测定比沙可啶的纯度

建立差示扫描量热法测定比沙可啶原料药样品纯度的方法。考察了炉体气氛、升温速率、称样量3个因素对差示扫描量热法测定结果的影响,确定差示扫描量热法最佳实验条件:升温速率为2.0 K/min,称样量为2.0~4.0 mg,炉内气体为静态空气。差示扫描量热法测定比沙可啶样品纯度为99.86%,测定结果的相对标准偏差为0.02%(n=6),差示扫描量热法测定比沙可啶样品纯度值与HPLC测定结果具有良好的一致性。该方法可以快速、准确地测定比沙可啶化学纯度,为比沙可啶纯度测定提供了一种新的分析方法。     

9,10-2H-9-氧杂-10-磷杂菲-10-氧化物基1,3-苯并噁嗪树脂的合成与表征

以水杨醛、对甲基苯胺(或对氟苯胺,对甲氧基苯胺)、9,10-2H-9-氧-10-磷杂菲-10-氧化物(DOPO)及甲醛为原料,通过三步反应合成了三个含DOPO基的1,3-苯并噁嗪化合物3a-3c.第一步,水杨醛与对位取代苯胺进行缩合反应生成亚胺(1a-1c);第二步,DOPO对亚胺进行加成反应得到仲胺(2a-2c);第三步,仲胺与甲醛在强酸性离子交换树脂催化下进行关环反应形成含DOPO的1,3-苯并噁嗪树脂.采用红外光谱、核磁共振谱和质谱等表征了化合物3a-3c,同时采用热失重分析技术测定了其热稳定性.结果表明,3a-3c由两对对映体组成,质谱条件下2a-2c和3a-3c均经裂解失去稳定的DOPO基团;3a-3c热降解反应包含两个热失重过程,分别在250和400℃下出现最大热释放速率.     

Fabrication of Pascal-triangle Lattice of Proteins by Inducing Ligand Strategy

A protein Pascal triangle has been constructed as new type of supramolecular architecture by using the inducing ligand strategy that we previously developed for protein assemblies. Although mathematical studies on this famous geometry have a long history, no work on such Pascal triangles fabricated from native proteins has been reported so far due to their structural complexity. In this work, by carefully tuning the specific interactions between the native protein building block WGA and the inducing ligand R-SL , a 2D Pascal-triangle lattice with three types of triangular voids has been assembled. Moreover, a 3D crystal structure was obtained based on the 2D Pascal triangles. The distinctive carbohydrate binding sites of WGA and the intralayer as well as interlayer dimerization of RhB was the key to facilitate nanofabrication in solution. This strategy may be applied to prepare and explore various sophisticated assemblies based on native proteins.