MISCIBILITY OF POLY(EPICHLOROHYDRIN) WITH POLY(VINYL ACETATE) AND POLY(STYRENE-CO-ACRYLONITRILE)

The phase behaviours of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile)s (SAN) with poly(epichlorohydrin) (PECH) were examined using differential scanning calorimetry and an optical method using a hot plate. The PECH/PVAc blends showed LCST behaviour. The observed miscibility is thought to be a result of hydrogen-bonding interactions between the alpha-hydrogen atoms of PECH and the carbonyl groups of PVAc. Two SAN copolymers with an acrylonitrile (AN) content of 18 wt% (SAN18) and 25 wt% (SAN25), respectively, were also found to exhibit miscibility with PECH. No phase separation occurred by heating up to about 280-degrees-C, and the individual blend has a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature. The formation of miscible PECH/SAN blends can be considered as a result of the intramolecular repulsion between styrene and AN units in SAN.

[n-C_nH_(2n+1)NH_3]_2ZnCl_4配合物相变研究

采用差示扫描量热法(DSC)和热重法(TG),研究了〔n-C_nH_(2n+1)NH_3〕_2ZnCl_4(n=9～12)配合物的热稳定性和固-固相变。该系列配合物的分解反应活化能和热稳定性基本上不随烷基链长而变化。配合物在280～370K存在固-固相变。相变数目表现出奇偶效应。相变热焓ΔH和熵ΔS随着烷基链长的增加而线性增大。主转变的峰值温度随烷基链的增长而升高,相应的相变被归属为烷基铵链的结构相变。

稀土-蛋氨酸配合物的热力学

在25℃和μ=0.15mol·L~(-1)[NaCl]条件下,用pH电位法测定了L-蛋氨酸的质子化常数、15个稀土元素与该配体生成配合物的稳定常数。表明稀土与L-蛋氨酸可生成1:1配合物。讨论了“四分组效应”及钇的位置。用量热滴定法直接测定了稀土与L-蛋氨酸生成1:1配合物的△H_(101)值,计算了△S_(101)和△G_(101)值。

Ca-Sr-Cu-O系中若干化合物的组成和结构的研究

研究了Ca-Sr-Cu-O三元金属复合氧化物体系,发现了两个新化合物Sr_3Cu_5O_(8+x)和CaSrCu_3·O_(5+x),两者都属正交晶系,前者a=3.950,b=11479,c=13.420 A.后者a=6.489,b=11.280,c=12.240A.文中给出了这两个化合物和SrCuO_2、Sr_2CuO_3的XRD谱.用碘量法测定了化合物中的氧含量.此外还发现了结构与SrCuO_2相似的固溶体Sr_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)CuO_2,也测定了它的XRD谱.

立规聚甲基丙烯酸热表征研究

本文对不同立构的聚甲基丙烯酸(PMAA)进行了热表征。实验结果表明,在30℃～200℃内未出现玻璃化转变。间同PMAA分别在-245℃和-280℃发生脱水反应和脱羧,而全同PMAA只在-185℃观察到脱水反应。这种热稳定性的明显差别与不同立构PMAA链上相邻羧酸距离有关。实验数据证实PMAA脱水反应为无规反应,服从一级动力学反应方程。脱水温度和间同立构含量成正比,脱水反应活化能间同PMAA比全同PMAA高～7Kcal/mol。

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 plays an important role in regulating pharyngeal skeleton and inner ear formation and differentiation

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 is the major insulin-like growth factor (IGF) carrier protein in the bloodstream. IGFBP-3 prolongs the half-life of circulating IGFs and prevents their potential hypo-glycemic effect. IGFBP-3 is also expressed in many peripheral tissues in fetal and adult stages. In vitro, IGFBP-3 can inhibit or potentiate IGF actions and even possesses IGF-independent activities, suggesting that local IGFBP-3 may also have paracrine/autocrine function(s). The in vivo function of IGFBP-3, however, is unclear. In this study, we elucidate the developmental role of IGFBP-3 using the zebrafish model. IGFBP-3 mRNA expression is first detected in the migrating cranial neural crest cells and subsequently in pharyngeal arches in zebrafish embryos. IGFBP-3 mRNA is also persistently expressed in the developing inner ears. To determine the role of IGFBP-3 in these tissues, we ablated the IGFBP-3 gene product using morpholino-modified antisense oligonucleotides (MOs). The IGFBP-3 knocked down embryos had delayed pharyngeal skeleton morphogenesis and greatly reduced pharyngeal cartilage differentiation. Knockdown of IGFBP-3 also significantly decreased inner ear size and disrupted hair cell differentiation and semicircular canal formation. Furthermore, reintroduction of a MO-resistant form of IGFBP-3 "rescued" the MO-induced defects. These findings suggest that IGFBP-3 plays an important role in regulating pharyngeal cartilage and inner car development and growth in zebrafish.

Responses of vegetative gametophytes of Undaria pinnatifida to high irradiance in the process of gametogenesis

The population of Undaria pinnatifida in its ecologic niche sustains itself in high temperature summer in the form of vegetative gametophytes, the haploid stage in its heteromorphic life cycle. Gametogenesis initiates when seawater temperature drops below the threshold levels in autumn in the northern hemisphere. Given that the temperature may fall into the appropriate range for gametogenesis, the level of irradiance determines the final destiny of a gametophytic cell, either undergoing vegetative cell division or initiating gametogenesis. In elucidating how vegetatively propagated gametophytes cope with changes of irradiance in gametogenesis, we carried out a series of culture experiments and found that a direct exposure to irradiance as high as 270 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1) was lethal to dim-light (7-10 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)) adapted male and female gametophytes. This lethal effect was linearly corelated with the exposure time. However, dim-light adapted vegetative gametophytes were shown to be able tolerate as high as 420 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1) if the irradiance was steadily increased from dim light levels (7-10 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)) to 90, 180 and finally 420 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1), respectively, at a minimum of 1-3 h intervals. Percentage of female gametophytic cells that turned into oogonia and were eventually fertilized was significantly higher if cultured at higher but not lethal irradiances. Findings of this investigation help to understand the dynamic changes of population size of sporophytic plants under different light climates at different site-specific ecologic niches. It may help to establish specific technical details of manipulation of light during mass production of seedlings by use of vegetatively propagated gametophytes.

Improved RNA isolation from Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae, Phaeophyta)

RNA isolation is difficult in some plants and algae because phenolics, polysaccharides, or other compounds can bind or co-precipitate with RNA, and because the success of RNA isolation can be strain-specific and species-specific. To create an improved RNA isolation protocol for Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae, Phaeophyta), four methods for extracting RNA were tested. A cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-based RNA extraction protocol was developed that clearly showed 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA bands and produced RNA with high yield (68 mu g g(-1) fresh weight) and high quality (A (260/280) ratio 1.96 +/- 0.05). The isolated RNA was intact, and RT-PCR analysis confirmed that further molecular application is feasible.

One-step chromatography method for efficient separation and purification of R-phycoerythrin from Polysiphonia urceolata

Phycoerythrins have been widely used in food, cosmetics., immunodiagnostics and analytical reagents. An efficient one-step chromatography method for purification of R-phycoerythrins from Polysiphonia urceolata was described in this paper. Pure R-phycoerythrin was obtained with an absorbance ratio A(565)/A(280) of 5.6 and a high recovery yield of 67-33%, using a DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow chromatography with a gradient elution of pH, alternative to common gradient elution of ionic strength. The absorption spectrum of R-phycoerythrin was characterized with three absorbance maxima at 565, 539 and 498 mum, respectively and the fluorescence emission spectrum at room temperature was measured to be 580nm. The results of native-PAGE. and SDS-PAGE showed no contamination by other proteins in the phycoerythrin solution. which suggests an efficient method for the separation and purification of R-phycoerythrins from Polysiphonia urceolata. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A simple method for DNA extraction from sporophyte in the brown alga Laminaria japonica

A simple method was developed for extracting DNA from brown algae Laminaria japonica, which possess large amounts of acidic polysaccharides. Firstly, the sporophyte were washed by eliminating polysaccaride buffer to remove the polysaccharides and then ground in liquid nitrogen. Secondly, the powders were treated with lysing buffer. Thirdly, KAc was used to eliminate the remaining acidic polysaccharides. The extracted DNA was purified using a chloroform-isoamyl alcohol ( 24: 1 v/v), and precipitated in cold isopropanol. The yield was from 18.7 to 37.5 mu g g(-1) (wet weight) and the purity of total DNA was determined spectrophotometrically as the ratio of A(260)/A(280), which was about 1.7 - 1.9. The extracted DNA was of high quality and suitable for molecular analyses, such as PCR, restriction enzyme digestion. This method is a reproducible, simple, and rapid technique for routine DNA extraction from sporophyte in Laminaria japonica. Furthermore, the low cost of this method makes it attractive for large-scale studies.

An efficient method for DNA isolation from red algae

A simple, inexpensive and efficient method was developed for rapid isolation of total genomic DNA from 15 red algal species. It resulted in 0.1 mug high quality DNA from 1 mg fresh algal material, with an A(260)/A(280) ratio of 1.68 - 1.90. Using this rapidly isolated DNA, the 18S ribosomal RNA genes ( rDNA) and the nuclear ribosomal DNA of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified. The tested DNA was suitable for restriction endonuclease digestion, genetic marker analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and may be valid for other genetic manipulation.

Large-scale recovery of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis using expanded bed adsorption chromatography

C-phycocyanin was purified on a large scale by a combination of expanded bed adsorption, anion-exchange chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography from inferior Spirulina platensis that cannot be used for human consumption. First, phycobiliproteins were extracted by a simple, scaleable method and then were recovered by Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography in an expanded bed column. The purity (the A(620)/A(280) ratio) of C-phycocyanin isolated with STREAMLINE (TM) Column was up to 2.87, and the yield was as high as 31 mg/g of dried S. platensis. After the first step, we used conventional anion-exchange chromatography for the purification steps, with a yield of 7.7 mg/g of dried S. platensis at a purity greater than 3.2 and with an A(620)/A(650) index higher than 5.0. The fractions from anion-exchange chromatography with a level of purity that did not conform to the above standard were subjected to hydroxyapatite chromatography, with a C-PC yield of 4.45 mg/g of dried S. platensis with a purity greater than 3.2. The protein from both purification methods showed one absolute absorption peak at 620 nm and a fluorescence maximum at 650 nm, which is consistent with the typical spectrum of C-phycocyanin. SDS-PAGE gave two bands corresponding to 21 and 18 kDa. In-gel digestion and LC-ESI-MS showed that the protein is C-phycocyanin. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Axial growth of hexactinellid spicules: Formation of cone-like structural units in the giant basal spicules of the hexactinellid Monorhaphis

The glass sponge Monorhaphis chuni (Porifera: Hexactinellida) forms the largest bio-silica structures on Earth; their giant basal spicules reach sizes of up to 3 m and diameters of 8.5 mm. Previously, it had been shown that the thickness growth proceeds by appositional layering of individual lamellae; however, the mechanism for the longitudinal growth remained unstudied. Now we show, that the surface of the spicules have towards the tip serrated relief structures that are consistent in size and form with the protrusions on the surface of the spicules. These protrusions fit into the collagen net that surrounds the spicules. The widths of the individual lamellae do not show a pronounced size tendency. The apical elongation of the spicule proceeds by piling up cone-like structural units formed from silica. As a support of the assumption that in the extracellular space silicatein(-like) molecules exist that associate with the external surface of the respective spicule immunogold electron microscopic analyses were performed. With the primmorph system from Suberites domuncula we show that silicatein(-like) molecules assemble as string- and net-like arrangements around the spicules. At their tips the silicatein(-like) molecules are initially stacked and at a later stay also organized into net-like structures. Silicatein(-like) molecules have been extracted from the giant basal spicule of Monorhaphis. Applying the SDS-PAGE technique it could be shown that silicatein molecules associate to dimers and trimers. Higher complexes (filaments) are formed from silicatein(-like) molecules, as can be visualized by electron microscopy (SEM). In the presence of ortho-silicate these filaments become covered with 30-60 nm long small rod-like/cuboid particles of silica. From these data we conclude that the apical elongation of the spicules of Monorhaphis proceeds by piling up cone-like silica structural units, whose synthesis is mediated by silicatein(-like) molecules. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fine sediment resuspension dynamics in Moreton Bay

A comprehensive field study has been undertaken to investigate sediment resuspension dynamics in the Moreton Bay, a large semi-enclosed bay situated in South East Queensland, Australia. An instrumented tripod, which housed three current meters, three OBS sensors and one underwater video camera, was used to collect the field data on tides, currents, waves and suspended sediment concentrations at four sites (Sites 1, 2, 4, and 5) in the bay. Site I was located at the main entrance, Site 2 at the central bay in deep water, and Sites 4 and 5 at two small bays in shallow water. The bed sediment was fine sand (d(50) = 0. 2 mm) at Site 1, and cohesive sediment at the other three sites. Based on the collected field data, it is found that the dominant driving forces for sediment resuspension are a combination of ocean swell and tidal currents at Site 1, tidal currents at Site 2, and wind-waves at Sites 4 and 5. The critical bed shear stress for cohesive sediment resuspension is determined as 0. 079 Pa in unidirectional flow at Site 2, and 0. 076 Pa in wave-induced oscillatory flow at Site 5.

蓝藻信号转导系统的比较基因组学分析及重要基因功能的验证

蓝藻经过漫长的进化，在地球上具有极其广范的分布，而且对环境胁迫具有极强的耐受性，这其中信号转导系统起了至关重要的作用。蓝藻信号转导系统主要包括二元信号转导系统和丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶。蓝藻全基因组测序工作的完成为蓝藻信号转导系统的研究奠定了基础。目前国外对蓝藻信号转导系统的研究主要集中在对单个蓝藻的单个信号系统的功能研究。本论文首先采用比较基因组学的方法对蓝藻中的两大信号转导系统从分布、结构及进化等角度进行了系统的分析，进而对其中重要信号转导基因的功能进行了验证。 通过比较基因组学分析发现蓝藻中的信号转导系统的分布、结构特征与物种的生理、生态特征之间关系密切；蓝藻中丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶具有与真核型激酶类似的催化方式；在信号转导系统的进化过程中存在着基因复制、缺失、附属功能域的获得及随机重排等复杂的进化现象；且二元信号转导系统中相互作用的组氨酸激酶与反应调控蛋白之间并不是完全同步的进化关系，可能有着不同的进化历程。该研究建立了蓝藻信号转导系统中的基因-结构-功能的框架结构，为其功能的研究奠定了基础。 聚球藻PCC7942和集胞藻PCC6803是单细胞的淡水蓝藻，具有天然的外源DNA转化系统，是蓝藻分子遗传学研究的模式生物。通过基因突变的方法对这两株蓝藻中二元信号转导系统的部分重要反应调控蛋白同源基因rre28和syn7942_0095的功能进行了验证，发现高度保守的同源序列在这两株蓝藻中起着不同的作用，且一个组氨酸激酶可能与不同的反应调控蛋白相互作用，说明同源序列的功能在进化的过程中已经发生了分化。 目前对蓝藻信号转导系统中丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶的功能研究较少。通过基因突变及表达差异分析发现集胞藻PCC6803中的丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶SpkG参与高盐胁迫的信号传递。通过高盐胁迫条件下SpkG对整个转录图谱影响的研究，发现了60个差异表达基因，涉及转运、能量传递、蛋白加工修饰和信号转导等多个生理过程。该研究首次通过实验验证了蓝藻中的丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶对环境胁迫的响应，并首次发现由二元信号转导系统和丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶共同参与的对逆境胁迫的调控网络。 蓝藻兼具细菌和植物的特点，蓝藻成熟的转化体系也为真核生物基因功能的研究提供了新的模式宿主。蓝藻信号转导系统中激酶功能的研究为我们进一步研究真核生物激酶的功能提供借鉴，且对蓝藻信号转导的研究将对植物的抗逆胁迫研究提供重要的理论依据。