5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine reactivates the CDH1 gene without influencing methylation of the entire CpG island or histone modification in a human cancer cell line

It is well-recognized that DNA methylation and histone modifications play critical roles in epigenetic regulation of gene activity through the alteration of chromatin structure. Recent studies have shown that in a subset of cancer cells, the silencing of the human E-cadherin (CDH1) gene is associated with hypermethylation of the CpG island. However, the associated molecular mechanism remains unclear. To understand the mechanism, we have investigated the alteration of CpG island methylation and histone modifications during the reactivation of the CDH1 gene by treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC). Although the CDH1 gene expression was recovered by treatment with 5-aza-dC in a liver cancer cell line Li21, the methylation status of the entire CpG island and acetylation and methylation status of associated histones were not significantly altered. These results demonstrate that the silenced CDH1 gene can be reactivated without apparent alteration of histone modification or CpG island methylation.     

From restricted towards realistic models of salt solutions: Corrected Debye–Hückel theory and Monte Carlo simulations

The properties of bulk salt solutions over wide concentration ranges are explored by a combination of simple physical theory and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The corrected Debye–Hückel (CDH) theory which incorporates ion size effects in a linear response approximation is extended to yield free energy and other thermodynamic properties by integration of the chemical potential over concentration. Charging integration which is usually used to obtain an electrostatic contribution of total free energy of electrolytes is avoided in this new direct approach. MC simulations are performed with a modified Widom particle insertion method, which also provides directly the ionic activity coefficients. The validity of the CDH theory is tested by comparison with the MC simulation data for 1:1, 2:1, 2:2 and 3:1 restricted primitive model (RPM) electrolytes over a wide concentration range and at various ion sizes. Mean ionic activity and osmotic coefficients calculated by the CDH theory in RPM approximation of electrolyte are fitted to experimental data by adjusting only a mean ionic diameter. Good fits up to 1 molal (m) concentration are obtained for a large number of salt solutions. MC simulations data for unrestricted primitive model (UPM) of 1:1 and 2:1 electrolytes are also fitted to the experimental data by varying the cation radius while keeping the anion radius fixed at a crystallographic value. The success of this approach is found to be salt specific. For example good fits up to 2 and 3.5 m concentrations were obtained for LiCl and LiBr, respectively. However in the case of less dissociated salts such as NaCl and KI the experimental data could only be fitted up to one molal concentration. Possibility of extending the applicability range of the CDH theory to concentrations >2 m is explored by including a concentration dependent dielectric constant as measured in experiments. Mean ionic activity coefficients for a number of salts could successfully be fitted up to 3 m concentration by adjusting only a mean ionic diameter. Difficulties encountered in simultaneously fitting the mean ionic activity and osmotic coefficients at salt concentrations >2 m are discussed.     

Lipid analysis by thin-layer chromatography--a review of the current state

High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is a widely used, fast and relatively inexpensive method of separating complex mixtures. It is particularly useful for smaller, apolar compounds and offers some advantages over HPLC. This review gives an overview about the special features as well as the problems that have to be considered upon the HPTLC analysis of lipids. The term "lipids" is used here in a broad sense and comprises fatty acids and their derivatives as well as substances related biosynthetically or functionally to these compounds. After a short introduction regarding the stationary phases and the methods how lipids can be visualized on an HPTLC plate, the individual lipid classes will be discussed and the most suitable solvent systems for their separation indicated. The focus will be on lipids that are most abundant in biological systems, i.e. cholesterol and its derivates, glycerides, sphingo- and glycolipids as well as phospholipids. Finally, a nowadays very important topic, the combination between HPTLC and mass spectrometric (MS) detection methods will be discussed. It will be shown that this is a very powerful method to investigate the identities of the HPTLC spots in more detail than by the use of common staining methods. Future aspects of HPTLC in the lipid field will be also discussed.     

Improvement of direct bioelectrocatalysis by cellobiose dehydrogenase on screen printed graphite electrodes using polyaniline modification

Modification of graphite based screen printed electrodes (SPEs) by electrosynthesised polyaniline (PANI) has been applied to improve the electron exchange between cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH, EC 1.1.99.18) from the ascomycete Myriococcum thermophilum and the surface of the SPE. The redox intermediate layer of the conducting polymer promotes the bioelectrocatalysis providing a higher current for lactose oxidation at a lower potential compared to CDH immobilised on a plain SPE. The current of the SPE|PANI|CDH electrode was more than 5 times higher as compared to that of a SPE|CDH electrode at a potential of 0 mV vs. Ag|AgCl. When comparing the response obtained through direct electron transfer with that obtained through mediated electron transfer, it was clearly observed that the improved current of the SPE|PANI|CDH electrode is due to the specific role of PANI, rather than caused by a rise of enzyme loading. The operational stability of the enzyme electrode based on PANI modified SPE was 5 times higher compared with that based on plain SPE.     

两个eCK模型下可证安全的密钥交换协议分析

基于eCK(extended Canetti-Krawczyk)模型的定义,针对eCK模型下证明安全的两个密钥交换协议进行了分析.结果显示两个密钥交换协议在eCK模型中都是不安全的,其中SAKA(secure authenticated key agree-ment)协议不能抵抗临时密钥泄露攻击也不能抵抗长期密钥泄露攻击,并且不具有前向安全性.另一个SHY(Shi-Huang-Yang)协议不能抵抗两方临时密钥同时泄露的攻击.