Construction of recombinant Bacillus subtilis for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates synthesized by numerous bacteria as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds and accumulated as granules in the cytoplasm of cells. In this work, we constructed two recombinant plasmids, pBE2C1, and pBE2C1AB, containing one or two PHA synthse, genes, respectively. The two plasmids were inserted into Bacillus subtilis DB104 to generate modified strains, B. subtilis/pBE2C1 and B. subtilis/pBE2C1AB. The two recombinants strains were subjected to fermentation and showed PHA accumulation, the first reported example of mcl-PHA production in B. subtilis. Gas Chromatography analysis identified the compound produced by B. subtilis/pBE2C1 to be a hydroxydecanoate-co-hydroxydodecanoate (HD-co-HDD) polymer whereas that produced by B. subtilis/pBE2C1AB was a hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyde-canoate-co-hydroxydodecanoate (HB-HD-HDD) polymer.     

5，10，15，20-四 [4-(4''-乙基哌嗪基)苯基]卟啉的合成及其与DNA的相互作用

基于卟啉对癌细胞的特殊亲和作用和哌嗪化合物的抗肿瘤、抗病毒作用，设计并合成了具有哌嗪结构的新型卟啉化合物5，10，15，20-四[4-(4'-乙基哌嗪基)苯基]卟啉（TEPPPH₂），其结构经UV-Vis, 元素分析，¹H NMR等手段证明。采用UV-Vis光谱和荧光光谱研究了TEPPPH₂和小牛胸腺DNA 的相互作用模式和结合机理。实验发现，TEPPPH₂能嵌入到DNA的碱基对中，1个小牛胸腺DNA分子对TEPPPH₂分子的最大结合数n约为88，结合常数为8.4×10⁶mol•L^-1 。TEPPPH₂与DNA的结合数和结合常数大于已知的四（4-N-甲基吡啶基）卟啉和Ca/sal-his、Ni/sal–aln型席夫碱抗癌药物。     

Studies on Thermodynamics Features of the Interaction between Imidacloprid and Bovine Serum Albumin

At different temperatures, the interactions between imidacloprid （IMI） and bovine serum albumin （BSA） were investigated with a fluorescence quenching spectrum, a synchronous fluorescence spectrum, a three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum and an ultraviolet-visible spectrum. The average values of bonding constants （KLB： 3.424 × 10^4 L,mol^-1）, thermodynamic parameters （△H： 5.188 kJ,mol^-1, △G^（○—）：-26.36 kJ,mol^-1, △S： 103.9 J,K^-1,mol^-1） and the numbers of bonding sites （n： 1.156） could be obtained through Stern-Volmer, Lineweaver-Burk and ther- modynamic equations. It was shown that the fluorescence of BSA could be quenched for its reactions with IMI to form a certain kind of new compound. The quenching belonged to a static fluorescence quenching, with a non-radiation energy transfer happening within a single molecule. The thermodynamic parameters agree with △H〉 0, △S〉0 and△G^（○-）〈0, suggesting that the binding power between IMI and BSA should be mainly a hydrophobic interaction.     

Identification and quantification of 13 components in Angelica sinensis (Danggui) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with pressurized liquid extraction

Angelica sinensis (Danggui in Chinese), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is also used as a health food product for women's care in Europe and America. Therefore, the demand for Danggui is enormous throughout the world. Due to the shortage of Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas are commonly used as the substitutes of Danggui in the market of southeast Asia. However, the three common Angelica roots showed variation in their genetic and chemical composition. Up to date, it is thought that ferulic acid, ligustilide and other phthalides such as butylidenephthalide are the biologically active components of Danggui. In this paper, the contents of 13 compounds including ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, E-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, E-butylidenephthalide, 3-butylphthalide, 3-butylidene-4-hydroxyphthalide, senkyunolide A, 6,7-epoxyligustilide, senkyunolide F, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide I, and 6,7-dihydroxyligustilide were determined or estimated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The results showed that GC-MS coupled with PLE offered a simple, rapid and high sensitive method to analysis of components in Angelica root. And the contents of investigated compounds in Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas, which are used as Danggui in China, Japan and Korea, respectively, were highly variant. It is thought that interaction of multiple chemical compounds contributes to the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicines. However, the overall clinical efficacy of these different Danggui has not been determined. Therefore, comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activities of different Angelica root is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of therapeutic effects of Danggui.     

New tetradentate Schiff-base polymers: preparation of poly[2,5-(didodecyloxy)phenylene-1,4-diyl-alt-N,N-(o-phenylene)-bis(salicylideneiminato-4,4-diyl)] and poly[2,5-(didodecyloxy)phenylene-1,4-diyl-alt-N,N-(alkylidene)-bis(salicylideneiminato-4,4-diyl)]s

New tetradentate Schiff-base polymers, in which phenylene units alternate with salicylideneiminato units, have been prepared by condensation of 2,5-(didodecyloxy)-1,4-bis(3-formyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (DFHB) with appropriate diamines in a mixed solution of CHCl₃/toluene/acetic acid with 31-79% yields. DFHB as the key building block was prepared by the Suzuki reaction of 2,5-(didodecyloxy)benzene-1,4-diboronic acid with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde in a two-phase solution of tetrahydrofuran/water in the presence of NaHCO₃/Pd(PPh₃)₄ in 45% yield. The molecular structures of the prepared compounds were identified by spectroscopy. Their absorption spectroscopic profiles have been analyzed.     

Atom transfer radical homo‐ and block copolymerization of methyl 1‐bicyclobutanecarboxylate

A non‐olefinic monomer, methyl 1‐bicyclobutanecarboxylate (MBC), was successfully polymerized by the controlled/“living” atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique, resulting in a well‐defined homopolymer, PMBC, with only cyclobutane ring units in the polymer chain. An AB block copolymer poly(methyl 1‐bicyclobutanecarboxylate)‐b‐polystyrene (PMBC‐b‐PS), having an all‐ring unit segment, was also synthesized with narrow polydispersity and designed number‐average molecular weight in addition to precise end groups. The ¹H NMR spectra, glass‐transition temperature, and thermal stability of PMBC, PMBC‐b‐PS, and PS‐b‐PMBC were investigated. The experimental results showed that the cyclobutane rings in the two block polymers improved their thermal stability. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1929–1936, 2002     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Two One—dimensional Chain Copper Complexes [Cu（TTA）2（4,4‘’—azpy）] and [Cu（TTA）2（3,3‘’—azpy）

Two copper complexes [Cu(TTA)₂(4,4′‐azpy)] (1) and [Cu‐(TTA)₂(3,3′‐azpy)] (2) (HTTA = 1,1,1‐trifluoro‐3‐(2‐thenoyl)‐acetone, 4,4′‐azpy = 4,4′‐azobispyridine, 3,3′‐azpy = 3,3′‐azobispyridine) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The crystal 1 belongs to triclinic with space group P1 , a = 0.8515(2) nm, b = 0.9259(2) nm, c = 0.9468(2) nm, a = 66.126(9)°, β = 79.667(9)°, γ = 90.13(1)°, Z = 1, V = 0.6692(2) nm³, D_c = 3.425 g/cm³, γ = 2.113 mm^?1, F(000) = 694, R₁ = 0.0594, wR₂ = 0.1499. The crystal 2 belongs to monoclinic with space group P2₁/c, a = 1.0661(2) nm, b = 1.4296(3) ran, c = 1.0041(3) nm, β = 114.50(3)°, V = 1.3926(5) nm³, Z = 2, D_c = 1.646 g/ cm³, μ = 1.015 mm^?1, F(000) = 694, R₁, = 0.0535, wR₂ = 0.1113. In the crystals of complexes 1 and 2, the copper atoms have distorted octahedral symmetry. The two compounds possess very similar one‐dimensional linear chains linked through the rodlike 4,4′‐azpy ligands or 3,3′‐azpy ligands.     

Electrostatic recognition and induced fit in the kappa-PVIIA toxin binding to Shaker potassium channel

Brownian dynamics (BD) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and electrostatic calculations were performed to study the binding process of kappa-PVIIA to the Shaker potassium channel and the structure of the resulting complex. BD simulations, guided by electrostatic interactions, led to an initial alignment between the toxin and the channel protein. MD simulations were then carried out to allow for rearrangements from this initial structure. After approximately 4 ns, a critical "induced fit" process was observed to last for approximately 2 ns. In this process, the interface was reorganized, and side chains were moved so that favorable atomic contacts were formed or strengthened, while unfavorable contacts were eliminated. The final complex structure was stabilized through electrostatic interactions with the positively charged side chain of Lys7 of kappa-PVIIA deeply inserted into the channel pore and other hydrogen bonds and by hydrophobic interactions involving Phe9 and Phe23 of the toxin. The validity of the predicted structure for the complex was assessed by calculating the effects of mutating charged and polar residues of both the toxin and the channel protein, with the calculated effects correlating reasonably well with experimental data. The present study suggests a general binding mechanism, whereby proteins are pre-aligned in their diffusional encounter by long-range electrostatic attraction, and nanosecond-scale rearrangements within the initial complex then lead to a specifically bound complex.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG DICLOFENAC

Irradiation with UVA light of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac [2-(2,6-dichloroanilino)phenylacetic acid] in aqueous buffer or methanol solution leads to sequential loss of both chlorine substituents and ring closure to carbazole-1-acetic acid as the major product. Minor products result from substitution by the solvent. The photosensitizing properties of diclofenac and its major photoproduct were tested with singlet oxygen substrates and in the free radical polymerization of acrylamide. Although the major carbazole product is a weakly phototoxic agent, able to generate singlet oxygen more efficiently than diclofenac, the free radical photodechlorination process is postulated as the probable initiation step of in vivo photosensitivity responses.     

应用扫描电化学显微镜研究电子在室温离子液体与1,2-二氯乙烷混合溶液/水相界面上的转移反应

应用扫描电化学显微镜研究了室温离子液体(Omim·Tf2N)与1,2-二氯乙烷(DCE)混合溶液/水界面上的电子转移反应. 在保持共同离子(Tf2N-)的浓度比恒定及异相电子转移反应由界面电势差所决定的条件下, 研究了离子液体和DCE混合溶液中二茂铁(Fc)与水相中亚铁氰化钾[K4Fe(CN)6]之间异相电子转移反应. 探讨了混合溶液中离子液体的体积分数(xRTIL)的变化对混合溶液/水界面上电子转移反应的影响. 结果表明, 随着xRTIL的减小(从1减小到0.1), Fc在混合溶液中的扩散系数单调递增(从2.730×10-7 cm2·s-1增加到9.131×10-6 cm2·s-1); 而异相电子转移反应速率常数(k)则先逐渐减小(从8.0 mol-1·cm·s-1减小到0.32 mol-1·cm·s-1), 之后又略有增大(从0.32 mol-1·cm·s-1增大到0.48 mol-1·cm·s-1). 对这种现象可能的原因进行了较详细探讨.