基于自动磁珠转运的转基因蛋白Cry1Ab检测

基于自动磁珠转运,建立了转基因蛋白Cry1Ab免疫检测的新方法.利用水热法制备了粒径约400 nm的纳米磁球,并进行电镜表征,通过溶胶法对磁球表面进行氨基修饰,采用戊二醛偶联对磁珠实现抗体包被,在核酸提取仪中进行酶联免疫反应,采用分光光度法进行检测.本方法对转基因蛋白Cry1Ab的检出限低于1 μg/L,与商品化酶联免...     

无机纳米粒子的生物合成

无机纳米粒子的生物合成是指利用自然界中细菌、放线菌和真菌等微生物或一些高等植物在常温、常压下合成无机纳米粒子,不需使用有毒化学原料或不产生有毒副产品。该方法不仅是一种绿色的、环境友好的新型纳米材料合成策略,而且对深入了解生物矿化机理以及从理论上指导先进功能材料的设计和合成具有重要意义,因此近年来受到了化学、材料、生物科学等领域研究者的广泛关注。本文根据纳米粒子组成,分别综述了国内外利用生物体合成金属、硫化物和氧化物等无机纳米粒子的研究进展,重点讨论了生物合成的机理。结果表明:生物合成的无机纳米粒子具有尺寸分布窄、稳定性高、生物相容性好、产率高和成本低等优点; 为了适应高金属离子浓度的外界环境,生物体往往通过吸附、还原或沉淀、累积或排出等一系列生化过程改变金属离子的溶解性和毒性,从而导致无机纳米粒子的形成; 合成无机纳米粒子后,微生物通常仍具有繁殖能力,表明这些微生物可以被用于生产无机纳米粒子的生物工厂。然而,生物合成无机纳米粒子涉及到的生理过程非常复杂,微生物种类繁多,不同种类之间的差异也非常大。因此,在阐释生物合成机理、拓展纳米材料的种类和形貌、纳米粒子的后处理和应用等问题上仍需进一步深入研究。     

Allometric scaling laws of metabolism

One of the most pervasive laws in biology is the allometric scaling, whereby a biological variable Y is related to the mass M of the organism by a power law, Y=Y₀M^b, where b is the so-called allometric exponent. The origin of these power laws is still a matter of dispute mainly because biological laws, in general, do not follow from physical ones in a simple manner. In this work, we review the interspecific allometry of metabolic rates, where recent progress in the understanding of the interplay between geometrical, physical and biological constraints has been achieved.

For many years, it was a universal belief that the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of all organisms is described by Kleiber's law (allometric exponent b=3/4). A few years ago, a theoretical basis for this law was proposed, based on a resource distribution network common to all organisms. Nevertheless, the 3/4-law has been questioned recently. First, there is an ongoing debate as to whether the empirical value of b is 3/4 or 2/3, or even nonuniversal. Second, some mathematical and conceptual errors were found these network models, weakening the proposed theoretical arguments. Another pertinent observation is that the maximal aerobically sustained metabolic rate of endotherms scales with an exponent larger than that of BMR. Here we present a critical discussion of the theoretical models proposed to explain the scaling of metabolic rates, and compare the predicted exponents with a review of the experimental literature. Our main conclusion is that although there is not a universal exponent, it should be possible to develop a unified theory for the common origin of the allometric scaling laws of metabolism.     

Treatment of Red Tide in Ocean Using Non-Thermal Plasma Based Advanced Oxidation Technology*

A Pilot-scale experiment for the treatment of red tide in the enclosure was done in sea area of Shandong Province, P.R. China on Aug. 25, 2002. With the method of micro-gap discharge, O₂ in air and H₂O in seawater are ionized and dissociated into large numbers of OH^• radicals, and then dissolved into a part of seawater to form OH^• solution of high concentration. With OH^• concentration of 0.68 mg/L, the kill efficiencies of 29 kinds of red tide organisms such as Chaetoceros lorenzianus and so on reached 99.89%, in which bacterium and vibrio were reduced below the detection limit, also Gonyaulax cysts and Prei. Cysts with the crust were done the lowest limit of test. At the same time, the content of chlorophyll-a was decreased below the detection limit. DO (dissolved oxygen) saturation of seawater was greatly increased to 100% because the residual OH^• radical was decomposed into H₂O and O₂ after 20 min. Therefore the treatment of red tide using OH^• radicals is a kind of advanced oxidation technology, which realizes zero pollution, zero emission and zero residual in the process of the production of OH^• radicals and the treatment of red tide.*Key project of National Foundation Research from Science and Technology Ministry of China, (2002CCC00900); key project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC; 60031001).     

The chemical form and acute toxicity of arsenic compounds in marine organisms

A method for the separation and identification of inorganic and methylated arsenic compounds in marine organisms was constructed by using a hydride generation/cold trap/gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HG/CT/GC MS) measurement system. The chemical form of arsenic compounds in marine organisms was examined by the HG/CT/GC MS system after alkaline digestion. It was observed that trimethylarsenic compounds were distributed mainly in the water-soluble fraction of muscle of carnivorous gastropods, crustaceans and fish. Also, dimethylated arsenic compounds were distributed in the water-soluble fraction of Phaeophyceae. It is thought that most of the trimethylated arsenic is likely to be arsenobetaine since this compound released trimethylarsine by alkaline digestion and subsequent reduction with sodium borohydride. The major arsenic compound isolated from the water-soluble fraction in the muscle and liver of sharks was identified as arsenobetaine from IR, FAB Ms data, NMR spectra and TLC behaviour. The acute toxicity of arsenobetaine was studied in male mice. The LD₅₀ value was higher than 10 g kg⁻¹. This compound was found in urine in the non-metabolized form. No particular toxic symptoms were observed following administration. These results suggest that arsenobetaine has low toxicity and is not metabolized in mice. The LD₅₀ values of other minor arsenicals in marine organisms, trimethylarsine oxide, arsenocholine and tetramethylarsonium salt, were also examined in mice.     

Dissipative solitons with energy and matter flows: Fundamental building blocks for the world of living organisms

We consider a combined model of dissipative solitons that are generated due to the balance between gain and loss of energy as well as to the balance between input and output of matter. The system is governed by the generic complex Ginzburg–Landau equation, which is coupled to a common reaction–diffusion (RD) system. Such a composite dynamical system may describe nerve pulses with a significant part of electromagnetic energy involved. We present examples of such composite dissipative solitons and analyse their internal balances between energy and matter generation and dissipation.     

Secondary Metabolites from Marine Sources with Potential Use as Leads for Anticancer Applications

The development of novel anticancer agents is essential to finding new ways to treat this disease, one of the deadliest diseases. Some marine organisms have proved to be important producers of chemically active compounds with valuable bioactive properties, including anticancer. Thus, the ocean has proved to be a huge source of bioactive compounds, making the discovery and study of these compounds a growing area. In the last few years, several compounds of marine origin, which include algae, corals, and sea urchins, have been isolated, studied, and demonstrated to possess anticancer properties. These compounds, mainly from securamines and sterols families, have been tested for cytotoxic/antiproliferative activity in different cell lines. Bioactive compounds isolated from marine organisms in the past 5 years that have shown anticancer activity, emphasizing the ones that showed the highest cytotoxic activity, such as securamines H and I, cholest-3β,5α,6β-triol, (E)-24-methylcholest-22-ene-3β,5α,6β-triol, 24-methylenecholesta-3β,5α,6β-triol, and 24-methylcholesta-3β,5α,6β-triol, will be discussed in this review. These studies reveal the possibility of new compounds of marine origin being used as new therapeutic agents or as a source of inspiration to develop new therapeutic agents.     

Mg-LDH Nanoclays Intercalated Fennel and Green Tea Active Ingredient: Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Insecticidal Activities against Culex pipiens and Their Non-Target Organisms

(1) Background: Mosquito control with essential oils is a growing demand. This work evaluated the novel larvicidal and adulticidal activity of fennel and green tea oils and their Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanohybrid against Culex pipiens (Cx. pipiens) in both laboratory and field conditions and evaluated their effect against non-target organisms; (2) Methods: Two types of nanoclays, MgAl-LDH and NiAl-LDH were synthesized and characterized using PXRD, TEM and SEM, whereas their elemental analysis was accomplished by SEM-EDX; (3) Results: Mg and Ni LDHs were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The adsorption and desorption of active ingredients were conducted using LC MS/MS, with reference to the SEM-EXD analysis. The desorption process of MgAl-LDH intercalated green tea oil was conducted using ethanol, and reveled significant peaks related to polyphenols and flavonoids like Vanillin, Catechin, Daidzein, Ellagic acid, Naringenin, Myricetin and Syringic acid with concentrations of 0.76, 0.73, 0.67, 0.59, 0.52, 0.44 and 0.42 μg/g, respectively. The larvicidal LC₅₀ values of fennel oil, Mg-LDH-F, and Ni-LDH-F were 843.88, 451.95, 550.12 ppm, respectively, whereas the corresponding values of green tea were 938.93, 530.46, and 769.94 ppm. The larval reduction percentage of fennel oil and Mg-LDH-F reached 90.1 and 96.2%, 24 h PT and their persistence reached five and seven days PT, respectively. The reduction percentage of green tea oil and Mg-LDH-GT reached 88.00 and 92.01%, 24 h PT and their persistence reached five and six days PT, respectively. Against adults, Mg-LDH-GT and Ni-LDH-GT were less effective than green tea oil as their LC₉₅ values were 5.45, 25.90, and 35.39%, respectively. The reduction in adult density PT with fennel oil, Mg-LDH-F, green tea oil, and Mg-LDH-GT reached 83.1, 100, 77.0, and 99.0%, respectively, 24 h PT and were effective for three days. Mg-LDH-GT and Mg-LDH-F increased the predation Cybister tripunctatus (71% and 69%), respectively; (4) Conclusions: For the first time, Mg-LDH-GT and Mg-LDH-F was the best system loaded with relatively good desorption release to its active ingredients and significantly affected Cx. pipiens larvae and adults in both laboratory and field circumstances, and it could be included in mosquito control.     

In vivo comprehensive multiphase NMR

Traditionally, due to different hardware requirements, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has developed as two separate fields: one dealing with solids, and one with solutions. Comprehensive multiphase (CMP) NMR combines all electronics and hardware (magic angle spinning [MAS], gradients, high power Radio Frequency (RF) handling, lock, susceptibility matching) into a universal probe that permits a comprehensive study of all phases (i.e., liquid, gel-like, semisolid, and solid), in intact samples. When applied in vivo, it provides unique insight into the wide array of bonds in a living system from the most mobile liquids (blood, fluids) through gels (muscle, tissues) to the most rigid (exoskeleton, shell). In this tutorial, the practical aspects of in vivo CMP NMR are discussed including: handling the organisms, rotor preparation, sample spinning, water suppression, editing experiments, and finishes with a brief look at the potential of other heteronuclei (²H, ¹⁵N, ¹⁹F, ³¹P) for in vivo research. The tutorial is aimed as a general resource for researchers interested in developing and applying MAS-based approaches to living organisms. Although the focus here is CMP NMR, many of the approaches can be adapted (or directly applied) using conventional high-resolution magic angle spinning, and in some cases, even standard solid-state NMR probes.     

Controlling the bugs

In late 1984, the Reagan administration proposed a Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology. Its proposed regulatory approach appears less constraining than the deep concerns of the 1970s concerning the risk of biotechnology would have suggested. Several distinctive characteristics of the early period of biotechnology, particularly the role of the research community in developing the initial regulatory system and the extent of federal funding, explain this development. The administration’s proposal may attract substantial support. However, implementation may lead to conflicts and problems, especially concerning human germ-line gene therapy and environmental release of viable genetically engineered organisms.