Novel Methods for Obtaining High Modulus Aliphatic Polyamide Fibers

Super high modulus polyethylene fibers can be created by converting high molecular weight flexible PE chains into highly oriented and extended chain conformations. However, unlike polyethylene, aliphatic polyamides have very high cohesive energy and therefore cannot be easily drawn and highly oriented. This review addresses this fundamental problem by analyzing various novel approaches that can be used to suppress hydrogen bonding in these types of polyamides. Plasticization of such polymers with ammonia, iodine, salts, and Lewis acids, as well as dry spinning, wet spinning, and gel spinning, are discussed. Specialized techniques that involve vibrational zone drawing and annealing as well as laser heating zone drawing and annealing are also reviewed. Some of these methods definitely lead to remarkable improvements in initial modulus and other mechanical properties. The development of recombinant spider silk proteins as well progress in spinning these materials is also reported. The advantages and disadvantages of all of these processes are then summarized.     

Effects of fatty acids on growth and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production in bacteria

The effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (lauric acid, palmitic acid, steric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, soybean oil) on Sphaerotilus natans, 0B17 (Pseudomonas sp.), and recombinant Escherichia coli DH5(/pUC19/CAB were studied. Oleic acid enhances Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production in these three bacterial strains, suggesting that the single double bond of the acid activates the polyhydroxylkanoate accumulation enzymatic reaction. Under the effect of lauric acid and linoleic acid, the growth of S. natans and 0B17 were totally inhibited. However, the enhanced PHB accumulation in recombinant E. coli was observed.     

Structural and Dynamic Characterization of the Molecular Hub Early Region 1A (E1A) from Human Adenovirus

The small‐DNA human adenovirus encodes one of the most versatile molecular hubs, the E1A protein. This protein is essential for productive viral infection in human cells and a vast amount of biologically relevant data are available on its interactions with host proteins. Up to now, however, no high‐resolution structural and dynamic information on E1A is available despite its important biological role. Among the different spliced variants of E1A, two are expressed at high level in the early stage of infection. These are 243 and 289 residues isoforms. Herein, we present their NMR characterization, showing that they are both highly disordered, but also demonstrate a certain heterogeneous behavior in terms of structural and dynamic properties. Furthermore, we present the characterization of the isolated domain of the longer variant, known as CR3. This study opens the way to understanding at the molecular level how E1A functions.     

一种转基因猪血中重组人血清白蛋白分离纯化新方法

基因工程技术已经成为研究和生产重组人血清白蛋白(rHSA)替代人血清白蛋白(HSA)的重点技术,而白蛋白的纯化则是该技术的关键。本文主要介绍了从转基因猪血中纯化rHSA的一种新方法,即热乙醇沉淀与多级色谱分离相结合的rHSA纯化方法。热乙醇沉淀法可从猪血浆中获得rHSA粗提取液,此时rHSA的纯度可达69.5%,回收率达51.3%。进一步采用多级色谱分离法,即阴离子交换色谱和反相色谱法进一步纯化,得到rHSA的最终纯度约为100.0%,总回收率为41.1%。该方法为从转基因猪血浆中大规模纯化用于临床和生化研究的高纯度rHSA提供可能,同时也为rHSA替代HSA奠定了基础。     

Dissolved oxygen concentration affects the accumulation of HIV-1 recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli

A central problem in aerobic growth of any culture is the maintenance of dissolved oxygen concentration (DOC) above growth-limiting levels especially in high-cell density fermentations that are usually of the fed-batch type. Fermentor studies have been conducted to determine the influence of DOC on the production of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli. The results demonstrated that there is a significant degree of product-to-product variation in the response of heterologous protein accumulation to DOC. For translational fusions of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) proteins p24Gag and Env41, the imposition of a dissolved oxygen (DO) limitation resulted in 100 and 15% increases in the respective product yields. On the other hand, the imposition of a DO limitation had no effect on the production of a similar translational fusion of the HIV-1 protein p55Gag, and a large negative effect on the production of an influenza protein (C13). The stimulatory effects of DOC on p24Gag production were investigated further. The results of my studies suggested that the stimulatory effect observed at reduced agitation rates on p24Gag accumulation was owing to an oxygen effect and not a shear effect. Furthermore, the results of my investigations indicated that the effect a DOC had on the production of p24Gag was strongly influenced by the cell density at which the culture was induced.     

An enthalpy balance approach to the study of metabolic activity in mammalian cells

After a formal explanation of Mayer's enthalpy balance method as applied to biological reaction rates, the history of its application is traced from Rubner's dog to accounting for the energy of muscle contraction. The introduction of microcalorimetry allowed the method generally to be used for cells in vitro and now particular emphasis can be paid to the growth of cells for the production of therapeutically-important heterologous proteins. In these systems, enthalpy balance studies contribute to defining catabolic processes, designing media, understanding the mechanisms of growth and controlling cultures using heat flux as an on-line sensor of metabolic activity.Plenary LectureThe authors are grateful to the BBSRC (UK) for a research grant, 2/3680.     

Cytotoxicity of Frutalin on Distinct Cancer Cells Is Independent of Its Glycosylation

Frutalin is a plant lectin with beneficial immunobiological action, although the access to its active form is still restricted. Moreover, there is a knowledge gap on isoform activity and glycosylation impact on its bioactivity, and recombinant production protocols were seen as ineffective. Here, a simpler and faster production and purification protocol was developed, attaining a yield of purified frutalin 3.3-fold higher than that obtained previously. Hemagglutination assays confirmed that this frutalin isoform could not agglutinate rabbit erythrocytes, while maintaining the native tetrameric structure, as indicated by DLS analysis, and strong interaction with methyl-alpha-galactose, in fluorescence spectroscopy studies. The cytotoxicity of the recombinant frutalin isoform was shown in a broad panel of human cancer cells: colon (HCT116), melanoma (A375), triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), and ovarian (IGROV-1). Treatment with 8.5–11.8 μM TrxFTL reduced proliferation of all cancer cells to half in 48 h. This anti-proliferative effect encompasses the p53 pathway since it was significantly reduced in p53-null colon cancer cells (HCT116 p53^−/−; GI₅₀ of 25.0 ± 3.0 μM), when compared to the isogenic p53-positive cells (HCT116 p53^+/+; GI₅₀ of 8.7 ± 1.8 μM; p < 0.002). This recombinantly produced frutalin isoform has relevant cytotoxic effect and its biological activity is not dependent on glycosylation. The developed E. coli production and purification protocol generates high yield of non-glycosylated frutalin isoform with potent cytotoxic activity, enabling the development of novel anticancer p53-targeting therapies.     

5种重要农艺性状基因在水稻重组自交系群体中的定位

通过抗病虫害水稻品系“B5”与籼稻品种“明恢63”为亲本进行杂交，得到一个187个F8代的重组自交系群体。利用重组自交系群体构建的分子连锁图，对水稻抽穗期、株高、穗长、剑叶长和剑叶宽的性状进行了QTL分析，分别检测到影响抽穗期、株高、穗长、剑叶长和剑叶宽的农艺性状2、2、4、4、4个QTLs，并分别解释各表型性状总变异的50．6％、74．9％、34．1％、47．3％和46．2‰．其中，控制抽穗期的Hd-6基因，控制株高的Ph7基因和控制剑叶长的Fll-2b基因分别是效应值较大的主效座位，其余的为微效基因座位。相关性状的QTLs大多聚集在染色体的相近或相同区间，表现出成簇分布的现象。这些重要农艺性状的分析，可以为水稻分子标记辅助选择育种提供有用的遗传信息。     

氧化硫硫杆菌重组质粒pSDT125的构建及其在大肠杆菌之间的转移

对氧化硫硫杆菌(Thiobacillus thiooxidans)隐蔽性质粒pTt12进行了限制性酶切分析,并绘出了限制性酶切图谱,其大小为13.7Kb.将pTt12质粒与pBR325质粒重组,得到了重组质粒pSDT125(Cm',Ap',Tc~s).氧化硫硫杆菌重组质粒pSDT125本身不具有接合转移能力,但它在广泛寄主范围的转移性质粒RP4的带动下以较高的频率在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)之间转移,表明在氧化硫硫杆菌质粒pTt12上存在着与接合转移有关的DNA序列.     

重组SARS冠状病毒S蛋白的原核表达研究

目的克隆表达SARS冠状病毒的主要结构蛋白(S蛋白)。方法合成SARS冠状病毒S蛋白特异性基因片断并克隆入pET32a原核表达载体,转化BL21菌,经IPTG诱导高效表达得到重组S蛋白,并通过W estern印迹对重组蛋白质进行鉴定。结果重组蛋白质经镍柱亲和层析得到了部分纯化,免疫动物后得到SARS病毒的多克隆抗体。结论经E lisa检测,表达的重组S蛋白基本具备检测病人血清中抗SARS病毒IgG和IgM的能力,可进一步用于S蛋白功能研究与SARS诊断试剂盒的研制。