CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURES AND MS ANALYSE OF beta-CARBOXYLETHYL (OR alpha-METHYLETHYL) GERMANIUM TRICHLORIDES

This paper reports the results of the crystal and molecular structures, CI-MS and FAB-MS analyse of Cl3GeCH2CH2COOH and Cl3GeCH(CH3)CH2COOH. The characters and active parts of these molecules are also discussed

SYNTHESIS AND X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF A MONOPENTAMETHYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL DERIVATIVE OF GADOLINIUM (NA(MU-2-THF)[(C5ME5)GD(THF)]2(MU-2-CL)3(MU-3-CL)2)2.6THF

The reaction of GdCl3 with 1 equiv of NaC5Me5 generates a neutral complex C5Me5GdCl2(THF)3 and a novel complex {Na(mu-2-THF)[(C5Me5)Gd(THF)]2(mu-2-Cl)3(mu-3-Cl)2}2.6THF whixh recrystallizes from THF in triclinic, the space group P1BAR with unit cell dimentions of a 12.183(4), b 13.638(6), c 17.883(7) angstrom, alpha-110.38(3), beta-94.04(3), gamma-99.44(3)-degrees, V 2721.20 angstrom-3 and D(calc) 1.43 g cm-3 for Z = 1. Least-squares refinement of 2170 observed reflections led to a final R value of 0.047. The title complex consists of two Na(mu-2-THF)[(C5Me5)Gd(THF)]2(mu-3-Cl)3(mu-3-Cl)2 units bridged together via two mu-2-THF to Na coordination. Each Gd ion is surrounded by one C5Me5 ligand, two mu-3-Cl, two mu-2-Cl and one THF in a distorted octahedral arrangement with average Gd-C(ring) 2.686(33), Gd-mu-2-Cl 2.724(7), Gd-mu-3-Cl 2.832(8) and Gd-O 2.407(11) angstrom. The sodium ion coordinates to two bridging THF, two mu-2-Cl and two mu-3-Cl to form a distorted octahedron with average Na-mu-2-O, Na-mu-2-Cl and Na-mu-3-Cl of 2.411(21), 2.807(15) and 2.845(12) angstrom, respectively.

A potent anti-oxidant property: fluorescent recombinant alpha-phycocyanin of Spirulina

To express and product a fluorescent antioxidant holo-alpha-phycocyanin (PC) of Spirulina platensis (Sp) with His-tag (rHHPC; recombinant holo-alpha-phycocyaninof Spirulina platensis with His-tag) in 5-l bench scale. A vector harbouring two cassettes was constructed: cpcA along with cpcE-cpcF in one cassette; ho1-pcyA in the other cassette. Lyases CpcE/F of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (S6) could catalyse the 82 site Cys in apo-alpha-PC of Sp linking with bilin chromophores, and rHHPC was biosynthesized in Escherichia coli BL21. The constant feeding mode was adopted, and transformant reached the biomass of rHHPC up to 0.55 g l(-1) broth in 5-litre bench scale. rHHPC was purified by Ni2+ affinity column conveniently. The absorbance and the fluorescence emission spectra of rHHPC had lambda(max) at 621 and 650 nm, respectively. The IC50 values of rHHPC were 277.5 +/- 25.8 mu g ml(-1) against hydroxyl radicals and 20.8 +/- 2.2 mu g ml(-1) against peroxyl radicals. Combinational biosynthesis of rHHPC was feasible, and the constant feeding mode was adopted to produce good yields of rHHPC. Fluorescent rHHPC with several unique qualitative and quantitative features was effective on scavenging hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. A potent antioxidant rHHPC was co-expressed, produced and characterized for nutritional and pharmacological values, which would help to develop phycobiliproteins' applications in their fluorescent and biological activities.

Regulation of autoinducer 2 production and luxS expression in a pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda strain

Edwardsiella tarda is a bacterial pathogen that can infect both humans and animals. TX1, an Ed. tarda strain isolated from diseased fish, was found to produce autoinducer 2 (Al-2)-like activity that was growth phase dependent and modulated by growth conditions. The gene coding for the Al-2 synthase was cloned from TX1 and designated luxS(Et). LuxS(Et) was able to complement the Al-2 mutant phenotype of Escherichia coli strain DH5 alpha. Expression Of luxS(Et) correlated with Al-2 activity and was increased by glucose and decreased by elevated temperature. The effect of glucose was shown to be mediated through the cAMP-CRP complex, which repressed luxS(Et) expression. Overexpression of luxS(Et) enhanced Al-2 activity in TX1, whereas disruption of luxS(Et) expression by antisense RNA interference (i) reduced the level of Al-2 activity, (ii) impaired bacterial growth under various conditions, (iii) weakened the expression of genes associated with the type III secretion system and biofilm formation, and (iv) attenuated bacterial virulence. Addition of exogenous Al-2 was able to complement the deficiencies in the expression of TTSS genes and biofilm production but failed to rescue the growth defects. Our results (i) demonstrated that the Al-2 activity in TX1 is controlled at least in part at the level of luxS(Et) expression, which in turn is regulated by growth conditions, and that the temporal expression of luxS(Et) is essential for optimal bacterial infection and survival; and (ii) suggested the existence in Ed. tarda of a LuxS/Al-2-mediated signal transduction pathway that regulates the production of virulence-associated elements.

Regulation of autoinducer 2 production and luxS expression in a pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda strain

Edwardsiella tarda is a bacterial pathogen that can infect both humans and animals. TX1, an Ed. tarda strain isolated from diseased fish, was found to produce autoinducer 2 (Al-2)-like activity that was growth phase dependent and modulated by growth conditions. The gene coding for the Al-2 synthase was cloned from TX1 and designated luxS(Et). LuxS(Et) was able to complement the Al-2 mutant phenotype of Escherichia coli strain DH5 alpha. Expression Of luxS(Et) correlated with Al-2 activity and was increased by glucose and decreased by elevated temperature. The effect of glucose was shown to be mediated through the cAMP-CRP complex, which repressed luxS(Et) expression. Overexpression of luxS(Et) enhanced Al-2 activity in TX1, whereas disruption of luxS(Et) expression by antisense RNA interference (i) reduced the level of Al-2 activity, (ii) impaired bacterial growth under various conditions, (iii) weakened the expression of genes associated with the type III secretion system and biofilm formation, and (iv) attenuated bacterial virulence. Addition of exogenous Al-2 was able to complement the deficiencies in the expression of TTSS genes and biofilm production but failed to rescue the growth defects. Our results (i) demonstrated that the Al-2 activity in TX1 is controlled at least in part at the level of luxS(Et) expression, which in turn is regulated by growth conditions, and that the temporal expression of luxS(Et) is essential for optimal bacterial infection and survival; and (ii) suggested the existence in Ed. tarda of a LuxS/Al-2-mediated signal transduction pathway that regulates the production of virulence-associated elements.

Biosynthesis of fluorescent allophycocyanin alpha-subunits by autocatalysis in Escherichia coli

APC (allophycocyanin) is widely used for fluorescence tagging and may be a promising antioxidant agent for use within the food and pharmaceutical industries. Chromophore attachment to apo-ApcA (apo-APC alpha-subunit without chromophore) can be auto-catalysed both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, a plasmid containing genes of apo-ApcA and chromophore synthetases (HOI (ferredoxin-dependent haem oxygenase) and PcyA (phycocyanobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase)] was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The results show that holo-ApcA (APC alpha-subunit with chromophore) can be synthesized by autocatalysis in E. coli. Recombinant holo-ApcA showed the same spectral and fluorescent properties as PC (phycocyanin) and could serve as a good substitute for native PC for fluorescent tagging. Moreover, recombinant ApcA can inhibit hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals more strongly than holo-ApcA and native APC. The EC50 values were 296.4 +/- 22.4 mu g/ml against hydroxyl radicals and 38.5 +/- 2.6 mu g/ml against peroxyl radicals.

Comparison between compsopogon coeruleus and porphyra yezoensis in their O-2 evolution rates and phycobilisome composition

In order to investigate the possible effects of the ecological environment on photosynthetic activity and the major light harvesting complex, the oxygen evolution rates and composition of phycobilisome from marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and freshwater red alga Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis) Montagne, which could grow and reproduce under salinity up to 35 ppt, were studied. The results showed that the oxygen evolution rate of P. yezoensis in seawater was significantly higher than that of C. coeruleus in freshwater, and P. yezoensis tolerated inorganic ions at a relatively higher concentration than C. coeruleus. Moreover, the phycoerythrin (PE) of P yezoensis was R-phycoerythrin containing alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised phycoerythrobilin and phycourobilin. In contrast, the PE from C. coeruleus consisted of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised only phycoerythrobilin but not phycourobilin, suggesting that the PE from C. coeruleus was of a new type.

Identification of archaeon-producing hyperthermophilic alpha-amylase and characterization of the alpha-amylase

The extremely thermophilic anaerobic archaeon strain, HJ21, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, could produce hyperthermophilic alpha-amylase, and later was identified as Thermococcus from morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics and the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. The extracellular thermostable alpha-amylase produced by strain HJ21 exhibited maximal activity at pH 5.0. The enzyme was stable in a broad pH range from pH 5.0 to 9.0. The optimal temperature of alpha-amylase was observed at 95 degrees C. The half-life of the enzyme was 5 h at 90 degrees C. Over 40% and 30% of the enzyme activity remained after incubation at 100 degrees C for 2 and 3 h, respectively. The enzyme did not require Ca2+ for thermostability. This alpha-amylase gene was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence displayed an open reading frame of 1,374 bp, which encodes a protein of 457 amino acids. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that four homologous regions common in amylases were conserved in the HJ21 alpha-amylase. The molecular weight of the mature enzyme was calculated to be 51.4 kDa, which correlated well with the size of the purified enzyme as shown by the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a putative lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) gene homologue from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri

LPS-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) is a novel transcriptional factor that was first discovered in LPS-stimulated human macrophage cell line THP-1. LITAF can bind to TNF-a promoter to regulate its expression. The first scallop LITAF (named as CfLITAF) was cloned from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri by Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. The cDNA of CfLITAF was of 1240 bp and consisted of a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 112 bp, a 3' UTR of 678 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 450 bp encoding a polypeptide of 149 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 16.08 kDa and theoretical isoelectric point of 6.77. A typical conserved LITAF-domain was identified in CfLITAF by SMART analysis. Homology analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of CfLITAF with other known sequences by using the BLAST program revealed that CfLITAF was homologous to the LITAF from human and rat (Identity = 46%), cattle, horse, mouse and chicken (Identity = 48%), western clawed frog (Identity = 42%), and zebrafish (Identity = 50%). The mRNA expression of CfLITAF in different tissues including haemocytes, muscle, mantle, heart, gill and gonad, and the temporal expression in haemocytes challenged by LPS or peptidoglycan (PGN) were measured by Real-time RT-PCR. CfLITAF mRNA transcripts could be detected in all tissues examined and be up-regulated in haemocytes after LPS challenge. No significant changes were observed after PGN stimulation. All these data indicated the existence of LITAF in scallop and also provided clue on the presence of TNF-alpha-like molecules in invertebrates. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The second anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (EsALF-2) with antimicrobial activity from Eriocheir sinensis

The anti-lipopolysaccharide factor CALF) is a small basic protein that can bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mediating degranulation and activation of an intracellular coagulation cascade. In the present study, cDNA of the second Eriocheir sinensis ALF (designated as EsALF-2) was cloned and the full-length cDNA of EsALF-2 was of 724 bp, consisting of an open reading frame (ORF) of 363 bp encoding a polypeptide of 120 amino acids. The deduced amino acid of EsALF-2 shared 82% similarity with EsALF-1 from E. sinensis and about 53-65% similarity with ALFs from other crustaceans. The potential tertiary structures of EsALF-1 and EsALF-2 contained two highly conserved-cysteine residues to define the LPS binding site, but the N-terminal of EsALF-1 formed a single additional alpha-helix compared to EsALF-2, implying that EsALF-1 and EsALF-2 might represent different biological functions in E. sinensis. The mRNA transcript of EsALF-2 was detected in all examined tissues of healthy crabs, including haemocytes, hepatopancreas, gill, muscle, heart and gonad, which suggested that EsALF-2 could be a multifunctional molecule for the host immune defense responses and thereby provided systemic protection against pathogens. The mRNA expression of EsALF-2 was up-regulated after Listonelln anguillarum and Pichia pastoris challenge and the recombinant protein of EsALF-2 showed antimicrobial activity against L. anguillarum and P. pastoris. indicating that EsALF-2 was involved in the immune defense responses in Chinese mitten crab against L. anguillarum and P. pastoris. These results together indicated that there were abundant and diverse ALFs in E. sinensis with various biological functions and these ALFs would provide candidate promising therapeutic or prophylactic agents in health management and diseases control of crab aquaculture. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

海带根中alpha-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂的提取及其酶抑制作用动力学研究

alpha-葡萄糖苷酶是一类能够催化碳水化合物alpha-1,4-糖苷键水解的酶，是动物体内许多代谢途径中的关键酶，具有多方面的靶向药理活性。研究表明，alpha-葡萄糖苷酶与糖尿病，艾滋病，恶性肿瘤、溶酶体贮积症等疾病的发生机制有重要关系，已经成为治疗这些疾病的重要靶点。 海带（Laminaria japonica） 属褐藻门、海带属植物。自二十世纪四十年代从日本引入中国以来，已成为中国沿海重要的海洋经济作物。海带藻体叶片部分大都用来提炼碘、甘露醇和藻酸盐，但其假根部分一直被当作化工工业和食品工业的废料，而未得到有效的利用。在中国的沿海一带，海带根作为一种抗糖尿病的民间药物，有很长的历史。因此从海带根中提取分离降血糖成分并研究其作用机制将具有重要的意义。 本论文第一部分进行了海带根中具有alpha-葡萄糖苷酶抑制作用的活性组分的筛选。首先我们按照海带根中所含成分的极性不同进行了提取分离，即将海带根乙醇提取物依次用石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇萃取。结果乙醇粗体物、石油醚部位、乙酸乙酯部位、正丁醇部位与水部位的酶抑制IC50分别为1589µg/L、970µg/L、 380µg/L、1616µg/L、1106µg/L。乙酸乙酯部位的酶抑制活性最强。 本论文第二部分对海带根乙酸乙酯部位的提取物的体内降糖活性进行了研究，结果表明乙酸乙酯部位可以降低糖尿病大鼠餐后血糖，与阴性对照差异极显著（P<0.01）。小鼠服药后表现出的生命体征与伺服拜糖平后表现出的生命体征类似。 在以上工作基础上我们以alpha-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制活性为导向，用天然产物化学的方法对活性成分进行追踪，通过光谱、波谱与理化性质鉴定出了具有显著alpha-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性的化合物：丁基-异丁基-邻苯酸二甲酯，并对其进行了酶抑制动力学研究。研究表明丁基-异丁基-邻苯酸二甲酯对alpha-葡萄糖苷酶表现为非竞争性抑制类型，IC50达到13.6μg/mL，且Km=2.39 g/L 本研究工作为进一步研究海带根降血糖成分的作用机理提供了研究基础。

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of cluster compound {[Ni(enMe)(2)][SiW12O40]}[Ni(enMe)(2)(H2O)(2)](2) center dot 3H(2)O

the novel One-dimensional chain structure of the title cluster compound was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, TGA and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The title cluster compound crystallized in a monochnic system with space group C2/c, a = 1.2656 nm, b = 2.20656 (4) nm, c =2.26763 (4) nm, beta = 92.078 degrees, V = 6.32852 (16) nm(3), Z = 4, D-c = 3.801 g/cm(3), A = 2.271 mm(-1), F(000) = 6512, R-1= 0.0549, wR(2) = 0.1087. The structure building block of the structure is the polyanion [SiW12O40](6-) with alpha-Keggin structure. The clusters were linked together with one-dimensional infinite chain through [ Ni ( enMe) (2)] (2+) cations. The [ Ni ( enMe) (2) ( H2O) (2)] (2+) cations and water molecules were filled in the structure. The cluster compound was expanded to three-dimensional framework by hydrogen bond interactions among molecules.

Cloning of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha cDNA from a high hypoxia tolerant mammal - plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

Hypoxia-inducible factor I is a transcription factor composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta. It plays an important role in the signal transduction of cell response to hypoxia. Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a high hypoxia-tolerant and cold adaptation species livin only at 3000-5000m above sea level on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this study, HIF-1alpha cDNA of plateau pika was cloned and its expression in various tissues was studied. The results indicated that plateau pika HIF-1alpha cDNA was highly identical to those of the human (82%), bovine (89%), mouse (82%), and Norway rat (77%). The deduced amino acid sequence (822 bp) showed 90%, 92%, 86%, and 86% identities with those of the human, bovine, house mouse, and Norway rat, respectively. Northern blot analyses detected two isoforms named pLHIF-1alpha and pSHIF-1alpha. The HIF-1alpha mRNA was highly expressed in the brain and kidney, and much less in the heart, lung, liver, muscle, and spleen, which was quite different from the expression pattern of mouse mRNA. Meanwhile, a new variant of plateau pika HIF-1alpha mRNA was identified by RT-PCR and characterized. The deduced protein, composed of 536 amino acids, lacks a part of the oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD), both transactivation domains (TADs), and the nuclear localization signal motif (NLS). Our results suggest that HIF-1alpha may play an important role in the pika's adaptation to hypoxia, especially in brain and kidney, and pika HIF-1alpha function pattern may be different from that of mouse HIF-1alpha. Further-more, for the high ratio of HIF-1alpha homology among the animals, the HIF-1alpha gene may be a good phylogenetic performer in recovering the true phylogenetic relationships among taxa. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of heat capacities and thermodynamic properties of 2-(chloromethylthio)benzothiazole by an adiabatic calorimeter

The molar heat capacities of 2-(chloromethylthio)benzothiazole (molecular formula C8H6ClNS2, CA registry no. 28908-00-1) were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range between (80 and 350) K. The construction and procedures of the calorimeter were described in detail. The performance of the calorimetric apparatus was evaluated by heat capacity measurements on alpha-Al2O3. The deviation of experiment heat capacities from the corresponding smoothed values lies within 0.3%, whereas the uncertainty is within +/-0.5%, compared with that of the recommended reference data over the whole experimental temperature range. A fusion transition was found from the C-p-T curve of 2-(chloromethylthio)benzothiazole. The melting temperature and the molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion of the compound were determined to be T-m = (315.11 +/- 0.04) K, Delta(fus)H(m) = (17.02 +/- 0.03) kJ(.)mol(-1), and Delta(fus)S(m) = (54.04 +/- 0.05) J(.)mol(-1.)K(-1), respectively. The thermodynamic functions (H-T - H-298.15) and (S-T - S-298.15) were also derived from the heat capacity data. The molar fraction purity of the 2-(chloromethylthio)benzothiazole sample used in the present calorimetric study was determined to be 99.21 by fraction melting.