青杨组(Section Tacamahaca Spach)杨树不同种群对土壤干旱和重金属锰污染的生态生理响应

土壤是人类赖以生存的自然环境和农业生产的重要资源，世界面临的粮食、资源和环境问题与土壤密切相关，目前危害土壤的主要因素是干旱和重金属污染。杨树具有适应性强、生长快和丰产等特性，本论文以青杨组杨树为模式植物，采用植物生态、生理及生物化学等方法，研究杨树对土壤干旱和锰胁迫的生态生理反应以及种群间差异，研究成果可为我国干旱半干旱地区营造人工林、防止沙漠化提供理论依据，也为恢复与重建重金属污染地区退化生态系统提供科学指导。主要研究结果如下： 1. 青海杨不同种群对干旱胁迫的响应差异 干旱胁迫显著降低了两个青海杨种群（干旱种群和湿润种群）生物量积累，包括株高、基径、干物质积累等，通过植物结构的调整，有更多的生物量向根部分配。干旱胁迫还显著降低了叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量，增加了游离脯氨酸和总氨基酸含量。另一方面，干旱胁迫诱导了活性氧的积累，作为第二信使，激活了抗氧化系统，包括抗坏血酸（ASA）含量和酶系统如超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），愈创木酚过氧化物酶（GPX），抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）。这样，杨树既有避旱机制又有耐旱机制，使其在干旱胁迫下有相当程度的可塑性。与湿润种群相比，干旱种群杨树有更多的生物量分配到根部，积累了更多的游离脯氨酸和总氨基酸来进行渗透调节，并且有更有效的抗氧化系统，包括更高含量的ASA 和更高活性的APX 和GR，这些使得干旱种群杨树比湿润种群杨树对干旱有更好的耐性。 2. 喷施硝普钠（SNP）对青海杨阿坝种群干旱胁迫耐性的影响 干旱胁迫显著的降低了青海杨阿坝种群的生长和生物量积累以及叶片相对含水量，还诱导了脯氨酸的合成以进行渗透调节。干旱胁迫下过氧化氢（H2O2）显著累积从而造成对膜脂和蛋白的伤害，使得丙二醛和蛋白羰基含量升高。干旱胁迫下喷施SNP可以减轻干旱胁迫造成的伤害，包括增加叶片的相对含水量，增加脯氨酸和总氨基酸的积累，并激活抗氧化酶系统如SOD，GPX和APX，从而减少丙二醛（MDA）和蛋白羰基（C＝O）的积累，但是在水分良好情况下SNP的效果不显著。 3. 青杨不同种群对锰胁迫的生长与形态响应差异 在同一锰浓度下，干旱种群的耐性指数都要高于湿润种群，这表明青杨对干旱和高锰胁迫具有交叉耐性。两个种群的株高，生物量和叶绿素含量都随锰浓度的升高而逐渐下降。就累积浓度而言，0 和0.1 mM 锰胁迫下，干旱种群积累的锰浓度要高于湿润种群，而在高浓度锰胁迫下(0.5 和1 mM)，湿润种群要高于干旱种群。在0，0.1 和0.5 mM下，锰大多积累在根中，叶片次之，茎中最少。而在1 mM，锰更多的积累在叶片中。就累积总量而言，在各个锰浓度胁迫下，根，茎和叶相比，两个种群青杨都是叶片累积的锰总量要高于根和茎。两个种群间比较，对照中没有显著区别，0.1 mM 锰胁迫下，湿润种群根中累积的锰要高于干旱种群，而在地上部中，干旱种群要高于湿润种群。而0.5 和1 mM 锰胁迫下，根、叶、茎+叶、根+茎+叶中，锰累积总量都是湿润种群高于干旱种群。锰胁迫下，青杨叶片数和叶面积包括总叶面积和平均叶面积都显著降低。叶片横切面的光学显微观察结果表明未经锰胁迫的栅栏组织的细胞饱满，海绵组织发达、清晰；胁迫后杨树叶片栅栏组织细胞出现不同程度的皱缩，海绵组织几乎不可见，此外还发现输导组织在胁迫下密度变小和分生组织严重割裂等现象。 4. 青杨不同种群对锰胁迫的生理与生化响应差异 青杨两个种群脱落酸（ABA）含量在锰胁迫下都显著增加，干旱种群的增幅更大。三种多胺含量在锰胁迫下显示了不同的响应趋势：腐胺在两个种群的各个锰处理下都增加，亚精胺只在干旱种群中显著增加，而精胺除了干旱种群在1 mM 下有所增加外，在锰胁迫下变化很小。谷胱甘肽含量随锰浓度升高而增加，在0.5 mM 锰时达到最高值，1mM 时有所下降。植物络合素（PCs）含量与非蛋白巯基（NP-SH）趋势相似，随锰浓度的升高而增加，且干旱种群中含量要高于湿润种群。锰处理还引起氧化胁迫，表现为过氧化氢和丙二醛含量增加。SOD 活性在湿润种群中，在0 到0.5 mM 锰胁迫下活性升高，但在1 mM 锰胁迫时，其活性有所下降。而在干旱种群中，SOD 活性变化较小，并始终维持在一个较高的水平。APX 活性在两个种群中都随锰浓度的升高而增加，干旱种群活性要高于湿润种群。锰胁迫还显著增加了酚类物质的含量，同时GPX 和多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性也随锰浓度的升高而增加。干旱种群的酚类含量和GPX 与PPO 活性都要高于湿润种群。锰胁迫还改变了氨基酸的含量和构成，根据锰胁迫下浓度变化的不同，可以将游离氨基酸分为三组：第一组包括，谷氨酸，丙氨酸和天门冬氨酸，这一组氨基酸含量在锰胁迫下有所下降。第二组包括缬氨酸，亮氨酸和苏氨酸含量在锰胁迫下基本不变化或变化很小。剩下的氨基酸为第三组，这组氨基酸含量在锰胁迫下显著增加，而根据增加的幅度又可以将它们分为两个亚组，丝氨酸，酪氨酸，苯丙氨酸，组氨酸和脯氨酸，在1 mM 下的含量是对照的4 倍以上。异亮氨酸，赖氨酸，精氨酸和甘氨酸含量在1 mM 下是对照含量的2 倍以下。同时，同一锰浓度下，干旱种群比湿润种群积累的氨基酸含量要高。 Soil is the indispensable environment for human survival and important resource foragriculture development. Food and environmental problems facing the world are all closelyrelated to soil and nowadays it is threatened by many factors, among which drought stress andheavy metal pollution are the most serious ones. Poplars (Populus spp.) are importantcomponents of ecosystem and suitable as a source of fuel, fiber and lumber due to their fastgrowth. In this study, different populations of Section Tacamahaca spach were used as modelplants to investigate the adaptability to drought stress and manganese toxicity and differencesbetween populations from dry and wet climate regions. Our results can provide theoreticalevidence for the afforestation and prevention of desertification in the arid and semi-arid areas,and also can supply scientific direction for the reconstruction and rehalibitation of ecosystemscontaminated by heavy metals. The results are as follows: 1. Differences in ecophysiological responses to drought stress in two contrastingpopulations of Populus przewalskii Drought stress not only significantly affected dry mass accumulation and allocation, butalso significantly decreased chlorophyll pigment contents and accumulated free proline andtotal amino acids. On the other hand, drought also significantly increased the levels ofabscisic acid and reactive oxygen species, as secondary messengers, to induce the entire set ofantioxidative systems including the increase of reduced ascorbic acid content and the activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathioneredutase. Thus the combination of drought avoidance and tolerance mechanisms conferredpoplar a high degree of plasticity in response to drought stress. Compared with the wetclimate population, the dry climate population showed lower dry matter accumulation andallocated more biomass to root systems, and accumulated more free proline and total aminoacids for osmotic adjustment. The dry climate population also showed more efficientantioxidant systems with higher content of ascorbic acid and higher activities of ascorbateperoxidase and glutathione redutase than the wet climate population. All these made the dryclimate population superior in adaptation to drought stress than the wet climate population. 2. Effect of exogenous applied SNP on drought tolerance in Populus przewalskii Drought stress significantly increased hydrogen peroxide content and caused oxidativestress to lipids and proteins assessed by the increase in malondialdehyde and total carbonylcontents, respectively. The cuttings of P. przewalskii accumulated proline and other aminoacids for osmotic adjustment to lower water potential, and activated the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase to maintain thebalance of generation and quenching of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, exogenous SNPapplication significantly heightened the growth performance of P. przewalskii cuttings underdrought treatment by promotion of proline accumulation and activation of antioxidant enzymeactivities, while under well-watered treatment the effect of SNP application was very little. 3. Morphological responses to manganese toxicity in the two contrasting populations ofPopulus cathayana High concentration of manganese caused significant decrease in shoot height andbiomass accumulation. The tolerance index of the dry climate population was significantlyhigher than that of the wet climate population, suggesting the superior Mn tolerance in theformer and the existence of cross-tolerance of drought stress and high Mn toxicity. Injuries tothe leaf anatomical features were also found as the reduced thickness in palisade and spongyparenchyma, the decreased density in the conducting tissue and the collapse and split in themeristematic tissue in the central vein. As for the Mn concentrations in the plant tissues, under0, 0.1 and 0.5 mM, most of the Mn accumulated in the roots, then leaves, and stem the least, while under 1 mM, most of the Mn accumulated in the leaves. As far as the total amounts ofMn extraction are concerned, the leaf extracted more Mn than the root and stem in the twopopulations under various Mn concentrations. There is no difference between the twopopulations under control. Under 0.1 mM, the wet climate population extracted higher Mn inthe root than the dry climate population, while in the shoot, the dry climate populationextracted much more Mn. Under 0.5 and 1 mM, the wet climate population translocated moreMn both in the root and the shoot than the dry climate population. 4. Physiological and biochemical responses to manganese toxicity in the two contrastingpopulations of Populus cathayana Mn treatment resulted in oxidative stress indicated by the oxidation to lipids, proteinsand DNA. A regulated network of defence strategies was employed for the chelation,detoxification and tolerance of Mn including the enhanced synthesis of ABA and polyamines,the accumulation of free amino acids, especially His and Pro, and the activation of theenzymes superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase. Contents of non-protein thiol,reduced glutathione, phytochelatins and phenolics compounds and activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase also increased significantly forantioxidant or chelation functions. The wet climate population not only accumulated lessabscisic acid, free amino acids, phytochelatins and phenolics compounds, but also exhibitedlower activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase thusresulting in more serious oxidative damage and more curtained growth.

Enhancement of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for the determination of free and glycine-conjugated bile acids in human serum

A highly sensitive and accurate method based on the precolumn derivatization of bile acids (BA) with a high ionization efficiency labeling reagent 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl-benzenesulfonate (BDEBS) coupled with LC/MS has been developed. After derivatization, BA molecules introduced a weak basic nitrogen atom into the molecular core structure that was readily ionized in commonly used acidic HPLC mobile phases. Derivatives were sufficiently stable to be efficiently analyzed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-MS/MS in positive-ion mode. The MS/MS spectra of BA derivatives showed an intense protonated molecular ion at m/z [M + H](+). The collision-induced dissociation of the molecular ion produced fragment ions at [MH - H2O](+), [MH - 2H(2)O](+), [MH - 3H(2)O](+). The characteristic fragment ions were at m/z 320.8, 262.8, and 243.7 corresponding to a cleavage of N - CO, O - CO, and C - OCC, respectively, and bonds of derivatized molecules. The selected reaction monitoring, based on the m/z [M + H]+ -> [MH - H2O](+), [MH - H2O](+), [MH - 2H(2)O](+), [MH-3H(2)O](+), 320.8, 262.8, and 243.7 transitions, was highly specific for the BA derivatives. The LODs for APCI in a positive-ion mode, at an S/N of 5, were 44.36-153.6 fmol. The validation results showed high accuracy in the range of 93-107% and the mean interday precision for all standards was < 15% at broad linear dynamic ranges (0.0244-25nmol/mL). Good linear responses were observed with coefficients of > 0.9935 in APCI/MS detection. Therefore, the facile BDEBS derivatization coupled with mass spectrometric analysis allowed the development of a highly sensitive and specific method for the quantitation of trace levels of the free and glycine-conjugated BA from human serum samples.

A consistent model of isolated force-free magnetic arches

The magnetic flux tube concentrating strong magnetic field is the basic configuration of magneticfield in the solar atmosphere. In the present paper, the equilibrium of isolated magnetic flux tube inthe solar atmosphere is discussed. In the viewpoint of mathematics, the boundary condition is nonlinearand the position of boundary needs to be determined by the physical condition although the equation ofmagnetic potential is linear for the linear force-free field. Analytical solutions to the arches of bothuniform circular cross-section and non-uniform cross section have been obtained. The results show thatthe nonlinear problem may have or not have any solution according to different azimuthal components of the magnetic field; the number of solutions to the nonlinear problem is four at most, and two in some cases. In the present paper, the analytical solutions to the approximations of both fat and slender arches are given in detail, and the general features of magnetic arch structure are shown.

自养氨氧化混合种群特性和共存机理初步研究

组特殊自养氨氧化混合种群，表现：无机环境种群生长迅速、生物量高；在一个完全无机的自养生长环境中，不仅保持高氨氧化速率，并出现丰富的异养微生物种群；该种群置于异养、厌氧环境中，迅速表现出产氢特征。对于这样一个特殊的生态体系，研究其共生机理，以及联接这些种群之间的碳源和能源问题，将具有非常重要意义。我们拟从种群特征、细胞表面分泌产物、游离体系产物多糖、蛋白和脂肪酸方面开展研究。 第一部分，自养氨氧化混合种群的基本特征。采用氨氧化培养基，进行种群氨氧化特征研究；采用扫描电镜观察自养混合种群的微观特征；沉降、离心去除微生物种群，分析水相中的总有机碳、糖类等物质；利用LB培养基进行种群的分离、纯化，并采用DGGE手段对微生物种群结构进行分析。结果表明，接入菌种后（2/5000（V/V）），培养液中氨（200mg/L）在3－5天内快速降解；亚硝酸盐与氨氮变化呈负相关趋势，仅有少量硝酸盐含量（< 30mg/L）。氨氧化种群的生物量增长与氨氧化趋势一致，初始生物量7.75 mg/L(蛋白含量)，3-5天后生物量快速增长，并达到最高63.06 mg/L（蛋白含量）。电镜图片显示，种群外包裹一层粘液。离心除去菌体后，检测培养液总有机碳和糖的含量，同样表现出与生物量增长相似的特征，分别由初始的3.73、2.35 mg/L，3－5内天迅速增加，并分别达到最大值35.19、27.45 mg/L。经初步分离、纯化并对纯化菌株进行测序，获得了10株异养微生物分别为布鲁氏菌科苍白杆菌属、纤维单孢菌、类芽孢菌属、黄杆菌属、无色杆菌、鞘脂单胞菌、嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌、噬氢菌属、硫红球菌、假单胞菌；DGGE显示，约有20分条离带，我们对其中的两条优势条带进行切割回收测序，鉴定为欧洲亚硝化单胞菌（Nitrosomonas eur）。 第二部分：混合种群自养-异养菌共生的可能机制。在对微生物种群特征初步分析基础上，针对胞外糖类组分可能被微生物代谢分解，我们重点对微生物细胞蛋白质与糖类进行分析。采用超声结合RIPA裂解液裂解，SDS-PAGE电泳分析混合种群总蛋白种类，并通过氨基酸分析仪及红外光谱法分析氨基酸组成及蛋白红外特征。采用超声破碎结合反复冻融对细胞样品进行处理，提取液采用醇沉、Sevage脱氮白，凝胶过滤方法脱盐和分级分离。对提取物的糖分析包括：紫外扫描，红外光谱，核磁共振，单糖组成分析；扫描电镜观察菌群破裂现象。SDS-PAGE分析结果表明：氨氧化种群不同生长阶段都显示出42kD蛋白表达量很高，d4时42kD蛋白表达已经很强，4-7d内一直持续这种过量表达，直到d8后表达开始减弱。说明42kD蛋白可能与氨氧化密切相关。红外光谱分析显示：细胞提取物的特征峰分布在3427.42cm-1、1718.18 cm-1和1681.72 cm-1、1160.07和1086.74 cm-1，分别对应为OH、 C=O、C－O－C基团，表明具有蛋白的典型特征；氨基酸分析显示蛋白中的Gly,Asp,Ala,Glu含量相对较高。 提取物中胞外多糖分离谱图得到不均一组分，共得到6个收集峰；紫外扫描在201－213 nm处有多糖吸收峰，同样表明多糖成分不均一性；多糖红外光谱特征峰主要分别在3400.49 cm-1、2920.28 cm-1、1154.54和1087.52 cm-1，对应OH、－CH2－ or CH 、C－O－H or C－O－C等多糖特征基团；多糖提取物核磁共振1H d4.3～5.9之间出现强吸收峰，这是1H中，多糖存在的明显证据，1H NMR中，其中O-乙酰基的甲基上的氢信号为d1.1～1.3之间。糖肟全苯甲酸酯衍生物的HPLC测定中，得到单一的单糖峰，由于时间问题，还未进行更深入的试验；电镜图片显示，种群中的细胞有大量的破裂现象。 实验表明，自养氨氧化混合种群显示出快速的氨氧化速率，氨氧化过程生物量和有机质的增加明显。微生物种群包裹粘液层，并分离纯化出大量的异养菌；去除菌体后的游离培养液中存在有机质（包括多糖）说明无机自养生长体系中存在异养菌生长、繁殖的二次碳源；细胞提取物中蛋白条带数目多、种类丰富；细胞多糖提取物具有明显的多糖特征，以及单糖的存在。结合种群的显微特征和游离体系中的有机质的检测结果，我们认为，无机自养生长体系中，种群细胞生长过程中发生的破裂现象可能是导致大量的蛋白、多糖释放到游离胞外，并成为其他异养菌生长的碳源和氮源。这可能是自养体系中，大量异养菌共生的可能机制，至于是什么原因引起种群生长过程中产生的破裂现象，还有待下一步深入研究。 A group of mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations, having much biological characteristic tested by concerned personnel for pilot test: Performed rapid population growth and obtained high biomass in inorganic environment; Not only maintained a high rate of ammoxidation, promoted a wealth of heterotrophic microbial populations growth in a totally inorganic and autotrophic growth environment; Placed in heterotrophic and anaerobic environment,had the performance characteristics that could rapidly produce hydrogen.For such a special ecological system, Study its symbiotic mechanism and the connection between these populations of carbon and energy issues, will have a very important significance. We intended from the characteristics of the population, the secretion product of cell surface, free substance in the liquid medium like polysaccharide, protein and fatty acids carrying out research. Part I: The basic features of mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations . Use inorganic liquid medium, processed study for ammonia oxidation characteristics of the population; we used scanning electron microscopy to get micro-features of autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations .The medium was carried out settlement and centrifugal then removed the microbial populations, after all of that we analysis the water phase for total organic carbon(TOC), carbohydrate and other substances; Solid ammonia oxidizing medium was adopted to separation and purification of population, DGGE means was for structure analysis of microbial population. The results showed that after the inoculum of bacteria (2 / 5000 (V / V)), ammonia in the culture medium (200 mg / L) was rapid degradation in 3-5 days; ammonia and nitrite have the negative correlation between changes in the trend, then only a small amount of nitrate content (<30mg / L). The biomass growth of ammoxidation population in line with the trend of ammonia oxidation, the initial volume of it was 7.75 mg / L (protein content), in 3-5 days upto 63.06 mg / L (protein content). Electron microscope image showed, the populations were wrapped in a layer of mucus, including the a large number ruptted micorbe , Centrifuge to remove bacteria, then detected the medium for total organic carbon and sugar content, result took on the same characteristics with biomass growth, that were from the initial 3.73、2.35 mg / L respectively, in 3-6 days achieved rapid increase in the maximum to 35.19、27.45 mg / L respectively. After initial separation、 purification ,then processed sequencing to strains purified and got the result that there were 10 heterotrophic microorganisms : Brucella Branch pale bacillus, Cellu lomonas, Bacillus species category, a Flavobacterium, colorless Bacteria, Aeromonas sheath fat, little support maltophilia Aeromonas, macrophages species hydrogen, sulphur-MI, Pseudomonas bacteria spores; DGGE display, there were 20 separation bands approximately. Part II: Mixed populations that autotrophic - heterotrophic bacteria symbiotic mechanism. On the basis of preliminary analysis of microbial population characteristics, aiming at extracellular carbohydrate components might be decomposition by microbial, we focused on microbial cell protein and carbohydrate analysis. Using ultrasound combined with RIPA lysis cracking the cells, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis analysis the total protein species of the population, and through the amino acid analyzer studied the compositions of amino acid and infrared spectroscopy analysis of a protein infrared characteristics. Using ultrasound combined with repeatedly freezing and thawing to treated the cell sample, then took the means that alcohol precipitation, deproteinization by Sevage, gel filtration aimed at desalination and grade separation to deal with the lysates . The extraction of sugar analysis included: UV scanning, IR, NMR, single-sugar composition analysis. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that: 42 kD protein expression was very high at different growth stages of mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations , on the fourth day, 42 kD protein expression had been very strong, 4-7d, it had continued this excessive expression, then started to weaken after 7 days. 42 kD protein that might be closely associated with ammonia oxidation. Infrared spectral analysis showed that: cell extracts with the characteristic that the peak distribution in 3427.42 cm-1、1718.18 cm-1 and 1681.72 cm-1、1160.07 cm-1 and 1086.74 cm-1 corresponding to OH、C = O、C-O-C Groups which had the typical characteristics of protein; and analysis showed that amino acids including Gly, Asp, Ala, Glu ,the content in the protein is relatively high. Exopolysaccharide in the extracts had the separation map that it was uneven, received a total of six collection peaks by the detection mode of phenol-sulphruic acid method ; ultraviolet scan in the 201-213 nm department had polysaccharide absorbing peak, the same ingredients that polysaccharide heterogeneity; infrared polysaccharide spectral characteristics of the main peak at 3400.49 cm-1, 2920.28 cm-1, 1154.54 and 1087.52 cm-1, corresponding OH,-CH2-or CH, C-O-H or C-O-C;and other characteristics of polysaccharide group; 1H NMR of polysaccharide extract appeared absorption peak between d4.3 ~5.9, which is the apparent evidence of polysaccharide, In 1H NMR, the hydrogen signal of one of O-acetyl was between 1.1 to 1.3. The determination of Sugar oxime whole benzoate derivatives by HPLC, there was a single-sugar peak, as a matter of time, yet more in-depth test. Summary: Mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations show us that it had the ability in ammonia oxidizing and it was great, organic matter and biomass increased significantly in the process of ammonia oxidation. Microbial populations was wrapped up slime layer, the phenomenon of cell breakdown obviously, and there were a lot of separation and purification of the heterotrophic bacteria; a lot of organic matter (including polysaccharides)remined in the medium that removal of cell indicated the inorganic system existed secondary carbon sources that could be used by the heterotrophic bacteria ; there were a large number proteins bands of cell extract, rich variety; cell extracts of polysaccharide had obvious characteristics of polysaccharide, and the existence evidence of single-sugar. Combined population of microscopic characteristics and free of organic matter in the test results, we believe that the health of inorganic system, population growth occurred in the course of the breakdown of the phenomenon is likely to lead to a lot of protein and polysaccharide released into the extracellular free, And other heterotrophic bacteria use them to the growth as carbon and nitrogen. This may be autotrophic system, the large number of heterotrophic bacteria symbiotic mechanism.

Adaptive recognition of small molecules by nucleic acid aptamers through a label-free approach

We report a novel label-free method for the investigation of the adaptive recognition of small molecules by nucleic acid aptamers using capillary electrophoresis analysis. Cocaine and argininamide were chosen as model molecules, and the two corresponding DNA aptamers were used. These single-strand DNAs folded into their specific secondary structures, which were mainly responsible for the binding of the target molecules with high affinity and specificity. For molecular recognition, the nucleic acid structures then underwent additional conformational changes, while keeping the target molecules stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The intrinsic chemical and physical properties of the target molecules enabled them to act as indicators for adaptive binding. Thus any labeling or modification of the aptamers or target molecules were made obsolete. This label-free method for aptamer-based molecular recognition was also successfully applied to biological fluids and therefore indicates that this approach is a promising tool for bioanalysis.

Effect of graded levels of rapeseed oil in isonitrogenous diets on the development of the gastrointestinal tract, and utilisation of protein, fat and energy in broiler chickens

The effect of feeding 0, 4, 8 and 16% rapeseed oil from 12-42 days of age was studied in broiler chickens on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and development of gastrointestinal tract, protein and energy metabolism. Thirty six female chickens (Ross 208) with initial body weight average 246 g were allocated to the four groups and kept pair-wise in metabolism cages. The chickens were fed similar amounts of metabolisable energy (ME) per day and similar amounts of essential amino acids relative to ME by adjusting with crystalline amino acids. The chickens were subjected to four balance periods each of five days with two 24 h measurements of gas exchange in two open-air-circuit respiration chambers inserted on the second and third day of each period. The addition of rapeseed oil increased the amount of gutfill indicating a reduced rate of passage and causing a hypertrophy of the gastrointestinal tract. There was a positive effect on feed utilisation as well as on digestibility especially of dietary fat together with higher utilisation of protein with addition of rapeseed oil. The partial fat digestibility of rapeseed oil estimated by regression was 91.1% and the partial metabolisability (ME/GE) of the rapeseed oil was estimated to 85% yielding an apparent metabolisable energy value of 34.30 MJ/kg.

Determination of long-chain fatty acids in bryophyte plants extracts by HPLC with fluorescence detection and identification with MS

A sensitive method for the determination of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) (>C20) using 1-[2-(p-toluenesulfonate)-ethyl]-2-phenylimidazole-[4.5-f]-9,10-phenanthrene (TSPP) as tagging reagent with fluorescence detection and identification with post-column APCI/MS has been developed. The LCFAs in bryophyte plant samples were obtained based on distillation extraction with 1: 1 (v/v) chloroform/methanol as extracting solvent. TSPP could easily and quickly label LCFAs at 90 degrees C in the presence of K2CO3 catalyst in DMF. Eleven free LCFAs from the extracts of bryophyte plants were sensitively determined. Maximal labeling yields close to 100% were observed with a five-fold excess of molar reagent. Separation of the derivatized fatty acids exhibited a good baseline resolution in combination with a gradient elution on a reversed-phase Eclipse XDB-C-8 column. Calculated detection limits from 1.0 pmol injection, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, were 26.19-76.67 fmol. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of >0.9996. Good compositional data were obtained from the analysis of the extracted LCFAs containing as little as 0.2 g of bryophyte plant samples. Therefore, the facile TSPP derivatization coupled with HPLC/APCI/MS analysis allowed the development of a highly sensitive method for the quantitation of trace levels of LCFAs from biological and natural environmental samples. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.