Estimation of Symmetry-Constrained Gaussian Graphical Models: Application to Clustered Dense Networks

We propose a model selection algorithm for high-dimensional clustered data. Our algorithm combines a classical penalized likelihood method with a composite likelihood approach in the framework of colored graphical Gaussian models. Our method is designed to identify high-dimensional dense networks with a large number of edges but sparse edge classes. Its empirical performance is demonstrated through simulation studies and a network analysis of a gene expression dataset.     

O-羧甲基壳聚糖的制备及应用研究进展

O_羧甲基壳聚糖是壳聚糖的一种衍生物 ,具有比壳聚糖更优良的特性 ,有着更广阔的应用前景。本文对它的制备、性质、应用 ,特别是其在药物释放及基因治疗方面应用的研究进展进行了综述。     

用于基因传递系统控制释放的可生物降解高分子材料

综述了用于基因传递系统控制释放的各类高分子材料包括天然高分子及其衍生物、合成高分子,并介绍了它们在基因治疗和组织工程领域中的应用.     

DNA Vector Polyethyleneimine Affects Cell pH and Membrane Potential: A Time-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy Study

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is one of the very efficient nonviral vectors being developed and tested for artificial gene transfer into target cells. One of its serious limitations is the significant cytotoxicity of the large amounts of free PEI in the mixtures of DNA and PEI used for transfection. To further investigate the cellular effects of free PEI, we have analyzed the PEI-induced alterations of various cell parameters such as membrane heterogeneity and fluidity, cytoplasmic pH, and plasma membrane potential in a variety of cells such as Swiss 3T3 fibroblast, Chinese hamster ovary, insect cells SF9, plant cell line BY2, and Saccharomyces cerevisae. Fluorescence probes such as Nile red, SNARF-1, and cyanine dye DiSC₂(3), coupled with the technique of picosecond time-resolved fluorescence microscopy, were used in estimating the above-mentioned cell parameters. It was found that the cell membranes were largely unperturbed by PEI. However, the cytoplasmic pH showed an increase of 0.1–0.4 units when the cells were treated with PEI. The plasma membrane potential was found to be depolarized in S. cerevisae and Swiss 3T3 cells. These results suggest that the cytotoxic effects of PEI may partly originate from inhibition of regulation of cytoplasmic pH and plasma membrane potential. Further, it is proposed that the resultant cell alterations favors the transfection process.     

液滴微流控系统在数字聚合酶链式反应中的应用研究进展

数字聚合酶链式反应( PCR)技术近年来发展迅速。与以实时荧光定量PCR为代表的传统PCR技术相比,数字PCR技术显著提高了定量分析的精确度和灵敏度。数字PCR的快速发展与近年来微流控技术在数字PCR技术中的广泛应用有着密切的联系。早期的研究和商业化产品使用的是大规模集成流路微流控芯片,加工过程复杂且价格高昂。近年来,液滴微流控芯片被应用到数字PCR技术中,它可以在短时间内产生102~107个微液滴,每一个微液滴都是最多只含有一个目的基因片段的PCR反应器。 PCR扩增后,通过对单个微液滴的观察计数,就可以获得绝对定量的分析数据。本文综述了不同种类的液滴微流控系统在数字PCR技术中的应用,以及液滴数字PCR微流控芯片在生物、医药、环境等领域的应用。     

胆固醇修饰的低分子量聚乙烯亚胺接枝化聚[L-天冬酰胺-co-L-赖氨酸]作为基因载体的性能研究

通过将低分子量的聚乙烯亚胺(PEI600)及其胆固醇衍生物与聚(L-天冬酰胺-co-L-赖氨酸)(PSL)进行开环反应, 合成了一类新型的肿瘤靶向基因载体, 研究了这类载体与DNA形成复合物的性质以及介导绿色荧光蛋白质粒pEGFP-C1转染不同细胞的性能. 结果表明, 在复合质量比大于5∶1时, 各载体均能与DNA形成结构稳定的复合物. 同时转染实验结果证明, 通过在侧链引入一定数目的胆固醇, 可以明显提高载体对于癌细胞HepG2和Hela的转染效率. 这类新型的载体具有良好的细胞相容性、较高的转染效率以及易于进行靶向修饰等特点, 在基因治疗研究领域中将具有较好的潜在应用价值.     

Effects of Gene Orientation and Use of Multiple Promoters on the Expression of XYL1 and XYL2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The gene encoding a glycoside hydrolase family 39 xylosidase (BH1068) from the alkaliphile Bacillus halodurans strain C-125 was cloned with a C-terminal His-tag, and the recombinant gene product termed BH1068(His)₆ was expressed in Escherichia coli. Of the artificial substrates tested, BH1068(His)₆ hydrolyzed nitrophenyl derivatives of β-d-xylopyranose, α-l-arabinofuranose, and α-l-arabinopyranose. Deviation from Michaelis−Menten kinetics at higher substrate concentrations indicative of transglycosylation was observed, and k _cat and K _m values were measured at both low and high substrate concentrations to illuminate the relative propensities to proceed along this alternate reaction pathway. The pH maximum was 6.5, and under the conditions tested, maximal activity was at 47°C, and thermal instability occurred above 45°C. BH1068(His)₆ was inactive on arabinan, hydrolyzed xylooligosaccharides, and released only xylose from oat, wheat, rye, beech, and birch arabinoxylan, and thus, can be classified as a xylosidase with respect to natural substrate specificity. The enzyme was not inhibited by up to 200 mM xylose. The oligomerization state was tetrameric under the size-exclusion chromatography conditions employed.     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological evaluation of doxorubicin containing silk fibroin micro- and nanoparticles

The aim of this study was biological evaluation of doxorubicin containing silk fibroin micro- and nanoparticles (Dox-MF and Dox-NF). Dox-MF and Dox-NF were synthesized. Cell toxicity on MCF-7, Saos2, and HFF cells was assessed using MTT assay. Induced apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry and staining with PI/annexin V. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured. Gene expression of p53 was evaluated by real-time PCR. FTIR, SEM, and DLS confirmed the accurate synthesis. Cytotoxicity of Dox-MF and Dox-NF showed significant inhibition of cell growth compared with the controls. Regarding Dox-NF, a significant increase was seen in mRNA level of P53 in MCF-7 and SAOS-2 ​cells and a significant decrease in HFF cells compared to the controls. There was a significantly higher expression of P53 gene in MCF-7 and HFF cells treated by Dox-MF. However, a significant decrease in P53 gene expression was detected in SAOS-2 ​cells. Significant apoptotic induction of cell lines by Dox-MF and Dox-NF was observed in both early and late stages. Dox-MF and Dox-NF acted in the direction of cell death through the apoptotic pathway and changing p53 gene expression. So, Dox-MF and Dox-NF can be considered as a candidate for new anticancer agents.     

基于混合Taguchi-GA算法的MIMO-OFDM信号检测

为了避免传统MIMO-OFDM信号检测方法具有的计算量过大而导致的算法复杂度高的问题,设计了一种基于混合Taguchi方法和GA算法的MIMO-OFDM信号检测方法,首先建立了MIMO-OFDM信号检测的模型,然后依据信号检测模型建立目标函数,将目标函数作为混合Taguchi-GA算法的适应度函数,通过个体在信号检测问题的解空间中进行不断地选择、交叉和变异等操作来求解全局最优解,为了进一步增加算法的全局寻优能力,通过Taguchi方法进一步在交叉和变异之间产生新个体;最后,定义和描述了基于混合Taguchi和GA算法的MIMO-OFDM信号检测算法,仿真实验表明,文中方法能有效进行信号检测,与其他方法相比,在BPSK调制和16QAM调制情况下,均具有较小的BER均方误差。     

Molecular evolution and structural variations in nuclear encoded chloroplast localized heat shock protein 26 (sHSP26) from genetically diverse wheat species

Heat shock proteins are an important class of molecular chaperones known to impart tolerance under high temperature stress. sHSP26, a member of small heat shock protein subfamily is specifically involved in protecting plant’s photosynthetic machinery. The present study aimed at identifying and characterizing sequence and structural variations in sHSP26 from genetically diverse progenitor and non-progenitor species of wheat. In silico analysis identified three paralogous copies of TaHSP26 to reside on short arm of chromosome 4A while one homeologue each was localized on long arm of chromosome 4B and 4D of cultivated bread wheat. Wild DD-genome donor Aegilops tauschii carried an additional sHSP26 gene (AET4Gv20569400) which was absent in the cultivated DD genome of bread wheat. In vitro amplification of this novel gene in wild accessions of Ae. tauschii and synthetic hexaploid wheat but not in cultivated bread wheat validated this finding. Further, significant length polymorphism could be identified in exon1 from diverse sHSP26 sequences. Multiple sequence alignment of procured sequences revealed numerous sSNPs and nsSNPs. D3A, P125 L, Q242 K were designated as homeolog specific- while A49 G as non-progenitor specific amino acid replacements. A 9-bp indel in TmHSP26-1(GA) translated into a deletion of SPM amino acid segment in chloroplast specific conserved consensus region III. High degree of divergence in nucleotide sequence between cultivated and wild species appeared in the form of higher ω values (Ka/Ks >1) indicating positive selection during the course of evolution. Phylogenetic analysis elucidated ancestral relationships between wheat sHSP26 proteins and orthologous proteins across plant kingdom. Overall, data mining approach may be employed as an effective pre-breeding strategy to identify and mobilize novel stress responsive genes and distinct allelic variants from wider germplasm collections of wheat to enhance climate resilience of present day elite wheat cultivars.