基于生物质谱技术的磷酰化修饰策略在多肽测序中的应用

该文建立了一种利用磷酰化修饰结合电喷雾质谱(ESI-Q-TOF)测定多肽氨基酸序列的有效方法。利用Atherton-Todd反应,以二丙基亚磷酰酯(DPP)为磷酰化试剂,应用生物质谱技术,对磷酰化修饰后的5种模型肽的磷酰化反应情况进行了系统研究,考察了磷酰化肽的二级质谱特征,并与未经磷酰化反应的肽的二级质谱特征对比。结果表明,经过磷酰化修饰后,肽的二级质谱中的a1离子信号强度明显增加,可以准确鉴定其N端氨基酸;b系列离子信息完整,信号强度增强,使得多肽C ID测序的谱图简单、清晰,有利于肽的氨基酸序列的测定;赖氨酸(K,128.10 u)和谷氨酰胺(Q,128.13 u)两种氨基酸质荷比相近,由于二者磷酰化修饰后的差异性,使其得到准确区分。经过5种已知氨基酸序列的模型肽的磷酰化后结合质谱技术进行氨基酸序列测定验证,结果表明该方法简单、快速、准确,提高了利用质谱技术进行多肽测序的准确度和灵敏度,可为蛋白质组学研究提供有效的技术手段。     

Atomic‐Level Alloying and De‐alloying in Doped Gold Nanoparticles

Atomically precise alloying and de‐alloying processes for the formation of Ag–Au and Cu–Au nanoparticles of 25‐metal‐atom composition (referred to as Ag_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ and Cu_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈, in which R=CH₂CH₂Ph) are reported. The identities of the particles were determined by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI‐MS). Their structures were probed by fragmentation analysis in MALDI‐MS and comparison with the icosahedral structure of the homogold Au₂₅(SR)₁₈ nanoparticles (an icosahedral Au₁₃ core protected by a shell of Au₁₂(SR)₁₈). The Cu and Ag atoms were found to preferentially occupy the 13‐atom icosahedral sites, instead of the exterior shell. The number of Ag atoms in Ag_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ (x=0–8) was dependent on the molar ratio of Ag^I/Au^III precursors in the synthesis, whereas the number of Cu atoms in Cu_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ (x=0–4) was independent of the molar ratio of Cu^II/Au^III precursors applied. Interestingly, the Cu_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ nanoparticles show a spontaneous de‐alloying process over time, and the initially formed Cu_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ nanoparticles were converted to pure Au₂₅(SR)₁₈. This de‐alloying process was not observed in the case of alloyed Ag_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ nanoparticles. This contrast can be attributed to the stability difference between Cu_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ and Ag_xAu_25?x(SR)₁₈ nanoparticles. These alloyed nanoparticles are promising candidates for applications such as catalysis.     

Invention,development, and status of the blue light-emitting diode,the enabler of solid-state lighting

The realization of the first high-brightness blue-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in 1993 sparked a more than twenty-year period of intensive research to improve their efficiency. Solutions to critical challenges related to material quality, light extraction, and internal quantum efficiency have now enabled highly efficient blue LEDs that are used to generate white light in solid-state lighting systems that surpass the efficiency of conventional incandescent lighting by 15–20×. Here we discuss the initial invention of blue LEDs, historical developments that led to their current state-of-the-art performance, and potential future directions for blue LEDs and solid-state lighting.     

Helical solitons in vector modified Korteweg–de Vries equations

We study existence of helical solitons in the vector modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equations, one of which is integrable, whereas another one is non-integrable. The latter one describes nonlinear waves in various physical systems, including plasma and chains of particles connected by elastic springs. By using the dynamical system methods such as the blow-up near singular points and the construction of invariant manifolds, we construct helical solitons by the efficient shooting method. The helical solitons arise as the result of co-dimension one bifurcation and exist along a curve in the velocity-frequency parameter plane. Examples of helical solitons are constructed numerically for the non-integrable equation and compared with exact solutions in the integrable vector mKdV equation. The stability of helical solitons with respect to small perturbations is confirmed by direct numerical simulations.     

Evidence for special relativity with de Sitter space-time symmetry

I show the formulation of de Sitter Special Relativity (dS-SR) based on Dirac-Lu-Zou-Guo's discussions. dS-SR quantum mechanics is formulated, and the dS-SR Dirac equation for hydrogen is suggested. The equation in the earth-QSO framework reference is solved by means of the adiabatic approach. It's found that the fine-structure "constant" α in dS-SR varies with time. By means of the t-z relation of the ΛCDM model, α's time-dependency becomes redshift z-dependent. The dS-SR's predictions of Δα/α agree with data of spectra of 143 quasar absorption systems, the dS-space-time symmetry is SO(3,2) (i.e., anti-dS group) and the universal parameter R (de Sitter ratio) in dS-SR is estimated to be R≈2.73×10¹² ly. The effects of dS-SR become visible at the cosmic space-time scale (i.e., the distance ≥ 10⁹ ly). At that scale, dS-SR is more reliable than Einstein SR. The α-variation with time is evidence of SR with de Sitter symmetry.     

Majorization in de Branges spaces I. Representability of subspaces

In this series of papers we study subspaces of de Branges spaces of entire functions which are generated by majorization on subsets D of the closed upper half-plane. The present, first, part is addressed to the question which subspaces of a given de Branges space can be represented by means of majorization. Results depend on the set D where majorization is permitted. Significantly different situations are encountered when D is close to the real axis or accumulates to i∞.     

de Haas–van Alphen effect in strongly correlated electron systems

We present the Fermi surface properties in strongly correlated electron systems of rare earth and uranium compounds via de Haas–van Alphen experiments. The conduction electrons with large cyclotron effective masses over 100m₀ (m₀: rest mass of an electron) are detected in CeRu₂Si₂, CeCoIn₅ and UPt₃. These electrons move slowly in the crystal. The topology of the Fermi surface and the cyclotron mass are compared to those of energy band calculations.     

Regular Twists: Replicating Coulomb’s Wire-Torsion Experiments

I discuss our replication of the wire-torsion experiments that Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736–1806) reported in a session of the Paris Académie des Sciences in 1784. I first explain the nature and purpose of the replication method and then apply it to an analysis of Coulomb’s experiments. I conclude by placing Coulomb’s presentation of his memoir into its specific historical contest.     

Absorption and quasinormal modes of classical fields propagating on 3D and 4D de Sitter spacetime

We extensively study the exact solutions of the massless Dirac equation in 3D de Sitter spacetime that we published recently. Using the Newman-Penrose formalism, we find exact solutions of the equations of motion for the massless classical fields of spin s= 12,1,2 and to the massive Dirac equation in 4D de Sitter metric. Employing these solutions, we analyze the absorption by the cosmological horizon and de Sitter quasinormal modes. We also comment on the results given by other authors.     

Dirac Fields in 3D de Sitter Spacetime

We show that the Dirac equation is separable in the circularly symmetric metric in three dimensions and when the background spacetime is de Sitter we find exact solutions to the radial equations. Using these results we show that the de Sitter horizon has a cross section equal to zero for the massless Dirac field, as in the case of the scalar field. Also, using the improved brick wall model we calculate the fermionic entropy associated with the de Sitter horizon and we compare it with some results previously published.