Ultra-fast simultaneous analysis of genetically modified organisms in maize by microchip electrophoresis with LIF detector

This study examined the potential of microchip electrophoresis (ME) with a LIF detector using a programmed field strength gradient (PFSG) in a conventional glass double-T microchip for the ultra-fast detection and simultaneous analysis of genetically modified (GM) maize. The separation efficiency and sensitivity at various sieving gels (poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO, M(r) 8,000,000) and 2-hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) (M(r) 250,000)) and fluorescent dye concentrations were investigated. The PCR products of both the GM and non-GM maize were analyzed within 30 s under the PFSG (470.6 V/cm for 20 s, 117.6 V/cm for 12 s, and 470.6 V/cm for 30 s) with a 2.5% HEC sieving matrix in the running buffer, 1 x Tris-borate EDTA (TBE) (pH 8.30) and 0.5 ppm ethidium bromide. The five transgenic maize varieties (Event176, MON810, Bt11, GA21, and T25) examined in this study were also clearly differentiated by ME-PFSG within 30 s in a single run without any loss of resolution. The ME-PFSG technique is a powerful tool for the ultra-fast detection and simultaneous analysis of GMOs in a variety of foods including maize.     

Lignans from Arctium lappa and their inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production

A new butyrolactone sesquilignan, isolappaol C (1), together with four known lignans, lappaol C (2), lappaol D (3), lappaol F (4), and diarctigenin (5), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the seeds from the Arctium lappa plant. The structure of isolappaol C (1) was determined by spectral analysis including 1D- and 2D-NMR. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the LPS-induced nitric oxide production using murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Lappaol F (4) and diarctigenin (5) strongly inhibited NO production in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with IC(50) values of 9.5 and 9.6 microM, respectively.     

A new 2,3-dimethyl butenolide from the brittle star Ophiomastix mixta

A new butenolide (1) was isolated, along with a known acyclic polyhalogenated monoterpene (2), from the brittle star Ophiomastix mixta. The structures were defined by analysis and comparision of the spectral data with those in the literature. The 2,3-dimethyl butenolide (1) is uncommon and first encountered in a marine organism. The compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against a panel of five human solid tumor cell lines and displayed mild to significant activity.     

Phase behavior of mixed solution of a glycerin-modified cationic surfactant and an anionic surfactant

The phase behavior of mixed solution of newly synthesized monoglycerylcetyldimethylammonium chloride (MGCA) and sodium octyl sulfate (SOS) in water was investigated by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and fluorescence polarizing for evaluation of the microviscosity of bilayers. No precipitate was observed in the mixed solution except at concentrations below 20 mM over all mixing ratios, and stable vesicles were formed in a considerably wide range of mixing ratio, even at the equimolar ratio. Vesicles formed in aqueous 1/1 MGCA/SOS mixture were found to exhibit no phase transition, and fluorescence polarizing measurements showed that the vesicle bilayers have a high fluidity. This flexibility allows the bilayers to have a spontaneous curvature, and thus vesicles rather than flat lamellae can be stabilized in the mixture even at the equimolar ratio. In addition, because the glycerin group of MGCA interacts strongly with water, the hydration repulsion contributes to prevent the bilayers consisting of MGCA and SOS from adhering and flocculating even though the charge neutralization between MGCA and SOS occurs at the equimolar ratio.     

The dramatic acceleration effect of imidazolium ionic liquids on electron transfer reactions

Imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) exhibited a dramatic acceleration effect on the electron transfer from metal complexes such as (C(5)Me(5))(2)Fe(II) and (C(5)Me(5))(2)Co(II) to the oxygen molecule; this acceleration effect can be ascribed to the stabilization of the oxygen radical anions by coordinating with the acidic C2-H of imidazolium ILs.     

Quantitative structure-property relationship in a combinatorial Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (0<or=x<or=1) thin film array obtained with microbeam XRD and Raman spectroscopy

A ferroelectric Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT) thin film library was fabricated from Bi2O3/La2O3/TiO2 multilayers using a multitarget RF-sputtering system equipped with an automated shutter. The polarization-electric field and structure were mapped as a function of the La content from x=0 to 1. Remnant polarization (Pr) increased as the La content decreased, and it reached a maximum 2Pr of 20 microC/cm2 at x=0.28. At x<0.28, 2Pr decreased gradually as the La content decreased. This compositional dependence of the remanent polarization was the result of the degree of TiO6 tilting along the a-b plane changing as a function of the La content. This was quantitatively related to the intensity ratio between the (117) peak and the (008) peak in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and to the intensity of the Raman band at 848 cm-1, arising from stretching mode of TiO6 octahedrons.     

Separation of fluoride from other monovalent anions using multilayer polyelectrolyte nanofiltration membranes

Nanofiltration (NF) is an attractive technique for reducing F- concentrations to acceptable levels in drinking water, but commercial NF membranes such as NF 270 and NF 90 show minimal Cl-/F- selectivity. In contrast, simple layer-by-layer deposition of 4.5-bilayer poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) films on porous alumina supports yields NF membranes that exhibit Cl-/F- and Br-/F- selectivities>3 along with solution fluxes that are >3-fold higher than those of the commercial membranes. Fluoride rejection by (PSS/PDADMAC)4PSS membranes, which is >70%, is independent of pressure over a range of 3.6 to 6.0 bar, suggesting that the primary transport mechanism in these films is convection. Moreover, the fact that Br-/F- selectivity is 12% higher than Cl-/F- selectivity suggests that discrimination among the monovalent ions is based on size (Stokes radius). Chloride/fluoride selectivities are essentially constant over Cl-/F- feed ratios from 1 to 60, so these separations will be viable over a range of conditions. Interestingly, PSS/protonated poly(allylamine) films show little Cl-/F- selectivity, and the selectivity of PSS/PDADMAC membranes is a strong function of the number of deposited layers, indicating that NF properties are very sensitive to film structure.     

Calcium-influx increases SOD1 aggregates via nitric oxide in cultured motor neurons

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) is caused by mutations in Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and SOD1 aggregation and calcium toxicity are involved in neuronal death. However, the effect of altered calcium homeostasis on the SOD1 aggregation is unknown. To investigate whether calcium triggers mutant SOD1 aggregation in vitro, human mutant SOD1 (G93A) was transfected into motor neuronal cell line (VSC 4.1 cells). These cells were then treated with calcium ionophore A23187 or agents that induce intracellular calcium release like cyclic ADP ribose, ryanodine or thapsigargin. A23187 was found to increase mutant SOD1 aggregation and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression. Moreover, the NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) and a NO-dependent cyclic GMP cascade inhibitor (ODQ) reduced SOD1 aggregation, whereas an exogenous NO donor (GSNO) increased mutant SOD1 aggregation, which was also prevented by NOS or cGMP cascade inhibitor. Our data demonstrate that calcium-influx increases SOD1 aggregation by upregulating NO in cultured motor neuronal cells.