APPLICATION OF ULTRAMICROELECTRODES IN STUDIES OF HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTIONS .2. A THEORY OF QUASI-1ST AND 2ND-ORDER HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTIONS

The analytical expressions of quasi-first and second order homogeneous catalytic reactions with different diffusion coefficients at ultramicrodisk electrodes under steady state conditions are obtained by using the reaction layer concept. The method of treatment is simple and its physical meaning is clear. The relationship between the diffusion layer, reaction layer, the electrode dimension and the kinetic rate constant at an ultramicroelectrode is discussed and the factor effect on the reaction order is described. The order of a catalytic reaction at an ultramicroelectrode under steady state conditions is related not only to C(Z)*/C(O)* but also to the kinetic rate constant and the dimension of the ultramicroelectrode; thus the order of reaction can be controlled by the dimension of the ultramicroelectrode. The steady state voltammetry of the ultramicroelectrode is one of the most simple methods available to study the kinetics of fast catalytic reactions.

ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF ISOPOLY-OXOMETALLATE AND HETEROPOLY-OXOMETALLATE FILM MODIFIED MICROELECTRODES .2. ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF ISOPOLYMOLYBDIC ACID MONOLAYER MODIFIED CARBON-FIBER MICROELECTRODES

In this paper the electrochemical properties of isopolymolybdic anion thin film modified carbon fibre (CF) microelectrode prepared by simple dip coating have been described. The modified electrode shows three couples of surface redox waves between + 0.70 and - 0.1 V vs. sce in 2 M H2SO4 solution with good stability and reversibility. The pH of solution has a marked effect on the electrochemical behaviour and stability of the film, the stronger the acidity of electrolyte solution is, the better the stability and reversibility of isopolymolybdic anion film CF microelectrode will be. The scanning potential range strongly influences on the electrochemical behaviour of the film. The isopolymolybdic anion film prepared by the dip coating resulting a monolayer with estimated surface concentration (F) 2.8 x 10(-11) mol cm-2. From the half-peak widths and peak areas of the surface redox waves of the film electrode, the first three surface waves are corresponding to two-electron processes. The electron energy spectra show the products by six electrons reduction are a mixture of Mo(VI) and Mo(V) species. The electrochemical reaction of the isopolymolybdic anion monolayer can be expressed as Mo8O264- + mH+ + 2ne half arrow right over half arrow left [HmMo8-2n(VI)Mo2n(V)O26](4,2n-m)-n = 1, 2, 3; m = 2, 5, 7.

2-COMPONENT EPOXY NETWORK-LICLO4 POLYMER ELECTROLYTE

An epoxy network-LiClO4 electrolyte system was prepared from diglycidyl ether of polyethylene glycol and triglycidyl ether of glycerol, cured in the presence of LiClO4 only. Various techniques were used to characterize the chemical structure of the precursors and the correlation between the viscoelasticity and conductivity of the cured films was examined.

α-K_3H_4[SiW_9Al_3(H_2O)_3O_(37)]·7H_2O的晶体结构

三取代杂多化合物的母体XM_9是由Keggin结构阴离子XM_(12)衍生而来.它有2种异构体:从XM_(12)中移出1个M_3O_(13)基团得B型异构体;从XM_(12)中的3个M_3O_(13)中各移出1个MO_6后得到A型异构体.Hervé等人曾指出α-和β-SiW_9均为B型结构,但Robert等在测定β-Na_9H(SiW_9O_(34))·23H_2O的晶体结构时发现,β-SiW_9为A型结构,α-SiW_9结构类型尚未定论,由于2种构型阴离子的配位能力及聚合能力不同,确定其结构类型及其变化情况是十分必要的,本文由α-SiW_9合成了α-K_3H_4[SiW_9A1_3(H_2O)_3O_(37)],用X射线衍射法测定了其晶体结构。

Haematopoietic lineage cell-specific protein 1 (HS1) promotes actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization

HS1 (haematopoietic lineage cell-specific gene protein 1), a prominent substrate of intracellular protein tyrosine kinases in haematopoietic cells, is implicated in the immune response to extracellular stimuli and in cell differentiation induced by cytokines. Although HS1 contains a 37-amino acid tandem repeat motif and a C-terminal Src homology 3 domain and is closely related to the cortical-actin-associated protein cortactin, it lacks the fourth repeat that has been shown to be essential for cortactin binding to filamentous actin (F-actin). In this study, we examined the possible role of HS1 in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that HS1 co-localizes in the cytoplasm of cells with actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex, the primary component of the cellular machinery responsible for de novo actin assembly. Furthermore, recombinant HS1 binds directly to Arp2/3 complex with an equilibrium dissociation constant (K-d) of 880 nM. Although HS1 is a modest F-actin-binding protein with a Kd of 400 nM, it increases the rate of the actin assembly mediated by Arp2/3 complex, and promotes the formation of branched actin filaments induced by Arp2/3 complex and a constitutively activated peptide of N-WASP (neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein). Our data suggest that HS1, like cortactin, plays an important role in the modulation of actin assembly.

Sea surface temperature reconstruction for the middle Okinawa Trough during the last glacial-interglacial cycle using C-37 unsaturated alkenones

C-37 unsaturated alkenones were analyzed on a core retrieved from the middle Okinawa Trough. The calculated U-37(K') displays a trend generally parallel with those of the oxygen isotopic compositions of two planktonic foraminiferal species, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and Globigerinoides sacculifer, suggesting that in this region, SST has varied in phase with global ice volume change since the last glacial -interglacial cycle. The U-37(K')-derived SST ranged from ca. 24.0 to 27.5 degrees C, with the highest value 27.5 degrees C occurring in marine isotope stage 5 and the lowest similar to 24.0 degrees C in marine isotope stage 2. This trend is consistent with the continental records from the East Asian monsoon domain and the marine records from the Equatorial Pacific. The deglacial increase of the U-37(K')-derived SST is similar to 2.4 degrees C from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

栉孔扇贝C型凝集素-2(CfLec-2)基因的克隆和分析

栉孔扇贝是我国北方一种重要的贝类养殖品种。自1997年以来爆发的栉孔扇贝大规模死亡，给地区经济造成了重大损失并且已经严重威胁着扇贝养殖业的健康发展。然而，到目前为止，对扇贝免疫防御分子机理的了解还很少，深入研究扇贝免疫应答的分子机制是认识和了解病害发生和实现病害控制的重要途径。本研究采用了EST大规模测序和3’RACE的方法，从栉孔扇贝cDNA文库中克隆到一个凝集素基因CfLec-2，并对功能进行了研究。 CfLec-2 cDNA全长708bp，5’非翻译区(Untranslated Region, UTR)含有59bp，3’非翻译区含有163bp，具有典型的多聚腺苷酸加尾信号序列AATAAA和多聚腺苷酸尾巴，开放阅读框(Open Reading Frame, ORF )含有486bp，编码162个氨基酸残基，该多肽的理论分子量为16.8 kDa，等电点为4.54。利用SignalP分析，发现其信号肽的剪切位置在VEA-QSL之间。经BLASTP比对分析可知，CfLec-2基因编码的蛋白与人的Brevican，Anguilla japonica的C-type lectin-1和C-type lectin-2， Rattus norvegicus的CD23有较高的相似性，其中与Brevican的一致性有37%。Clustal W多序列比对发现该多肽具有标准长型C型凝集素所必须的6个保守半胱氨酸和相对保守的糖识别位点。用SMART(Small Modular Architecture Research Tool)软件分析发现其具有一个保守的糖识别结构域(Carbohydrate-recognition Domain, CRD)，氨基酸序列上第49、125、141、149位置上的半胱氨酸参与形成糖识别结构域，而位于N末端的第21和32位上的两个半胱胺酸形成额外的一个二硫键，位于115、116和117上的Glu、Pro、Asp则构成了糖识别位点。 将编码CfLec-2成熟肽段的cDNA序列克隆进pET32a(+)载体中，并在大肠杆菌Rosetta-gami(DE3)中重组表达CfLec-2。重组蛋白利用其具有的His tag纯化并复性后发现CfLec-2可以凝集溶血葡萄球菌，且凝集过程不需要钙离子的参与。并且，CfLec-2对大肠杆菌TOP10F’有微弱的抑菌活性，对溶壁微球菌、溶血葡萄球菌和鳗弧菌则没有抑菌活性。这一结果说明，CfLec-2可能不仅参与对入侵微生物的识别过程，而且可能作为效应分子起到了直接杀灭入侵微生物的作用。 本研究发现CfLec-2具有和以前在栉孔扇贝报道的CFLec-1完全不同的功 能，说明栉孔扇贝利用不同的凝集素来识别不同的病原，同时也暗示栉孔扇贝中可能有更多不同功能的凝集素有待发现。研究结果丰富和发展了海水无脊椎动物免疫学的内容，对进一步了解扇贝固有免疫的机制，实现养殖扇贝疾病防治具有重要参考价值。

软甲纲动物和星虫动物线粒体基因组特征及分子进化研究

在过去的几十年间，利用线粒体基因组序列探讨后生动物深层次的系统发育关系已取得初步进展。这主要得益于，线粒体基因组与其它分子标记相比具备诸多优势。迄今为止，超过1,200个后生动物的线粒体基因组已被测定，然而所获得的数据分布极不均衡。 软甲纲历来是甲壳动物分类学和系统发育学研究的重要类群，在形态学特征和分子生物学各方面取得广泛的发展。尽管软甲纲本身作为单系群已得到大多数甲壳动物学家认可，但是软甲纲内部各个类群之间的系统发育关系迄今仍颇有争议。本文报道了凡纳滨对虾Litopenaeus vannamei、中国明对虾Fenneropenaeus chinensis、脊尾白虾Exopalaemon carinicauda、太平洋磷虾Euphausia pacifica和采自南极普里兹湾南极磷虾Euphausia superba的线粒体基因组，其长度分别为15,989 bp、16,004 bp、15,730 bp、16,898 bp和15,498 bp以上（部分非编码区没有测定）。 本研究发现凡纳滨对虾、中国明对虾、脊尾白虾和太平洋磷虾的线粒体基因组包含后生动物线粒体基因组典型的基因组成（13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA、2个核糖体RNA和一个非编码的AT富含区）；然而，南极磷虾与后生动物线粒体基因组典型的基因组成相比，存在1个trnN基因的重复。与泛甲壳动物线粒体基因组的原始排列相比，凡纳滨对虾和中国明对虾线粒体基因组的基因排列完全一致；脊尾白虾的线粒体基因组发生罕见的trnP和trnH易位，从而说明在真虾下目中线粒体基因组的基因排列并不保守；太平洋磷虾线粒体基因组的基因排列出现3个转运RNA的重排 （trnL1、trnL2和trnW）；南极磷虾线粒体基因组的基因排列除了出现太平洋磷虾具有的这3个转运RNA重排之外，还有1个trnN的重复和1个trnI基因的重排。另外，在太平洋磷虾线粒体基因组最大的非编码区中存在一个154 bp×4.7的串连重复区域，如此大片段的串联重复区域（>150 bp）在软甲纲动物线粒体基因组中是首次报道。 目前所获得的线粒体基因组数据强有力地支持口足目、对虾科、真虾下目和短尾下目为单系群。通过比较基因排列及蛋白质编码基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列的系统发育分析得知真虾类和龙虾类为腹胚亚目的原始类群，并支持“（（Penaeus＋Fenneropenaeus）＋Litopenaeus）＋Marsupenaeus”的系统发育关系。此外，线粒体基因组的数据也强有力地支持磷虾目为单系群。但对于磷虾目在软甲纲中的分类地位及与其它类群的系统发育关系存在一些分歧：基于蛋白质编码基因核苷酸和氨基酸数据的贝叶斯分析强有力地支持磷虾目和十足目近缘，这个结果和传统的分类系统完全一致；然而，基于核苷酸序列的邻接法、氨基酸序列的邻接法和最大似然法均强有力地支持磷虾类和对虾类亲缘关系较近，从而破坏了十足目的单系性，与传统的认识并不一致，但由于自展值的支持率非常高，所以深层次的分析需要进一步加强。 星虫动物属于海洋生物中的一个小门类，自1555年被记载以来，其在后生动物中的分类地位就备受争议。本研究测定了星虫动物门的第一条线粒体基因组：革囊星虫Phascolosoma esculenta的线粒体基因组，全长为15,494 bp，包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA、2个核糖体RNA和1个非编码的AT富含区，所有37个基因在同一条链上编码。与后生动物线粒体基因组的典型组成相比，存在一个trnR基因的缺失和一个trnM基因的重复。比较星虫动物和其它后生动物的线粒体基因组，可以得到以下结论：1）星虫动物和环节动物（包括螠虫动物）的线粒体基因组有相近的基因排列，而且所有基因都在同一链上编码；2）基于蛋白质编码基因的系统发育分析强有力地支持星虫动物和环节动物（包括螠虫动物）组成一个单系群，而将软体动物排除在外。因此，本研究认为以前许多星虫动物和软体动物“共享”的特征，包括发育特征和缺乏分节等，需要重新考虑。

An efficient methodology for cryopreservation of spermatozoa of red seabream, Pagrus major, with 2-mL cryovials

The aim of this study was to optimize the cryopreservation protocols for the sperm of red seabream, Pagrus major. The 2-mL cryovials and programmable freezer were employed for cryopreservation. Six extenders, six cryoprotectants in various concentrations ranging from 6 to 20% (v/v), four cooling rates, and three thawing temperatures were evaluated by postthaw sperm motility and fertility. The ratio of sperm to egg for postthaw sperm fertilization trials was experimentally standardized and was optimal at 500:1. The best motility of postthaw sperm (79.4 +/- 4.7% to 88.6 +/- 8.0%), fertilization rates (89.6 +/- 2.9 to 95.6 +/- 1.9%), and hatching rates (85.3 +/- 5.1% to 91.4 +/- 4.3%) were achieved when Cortland extender, dimethyl sulfoxide (15, 18, and 20%) or ethylene glycol (9, 12%) as cryoprotectants, 20 C/min as the cooling rate, and 40 C as the thawing temperature were employed. Moreover, the results on embryonic development were not significantly different between cryopreserved sperm and fresh sperm during incubation process. In conclusion, these methods of cryopreservation of red seabream sperm are suitable for routine aquaculture application and preservation of genetic resources.

Emodin-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer BCap-37 cells through the mitochondrial signaling pathway

Emodin, a natural anthraquinone compound isolated from the rhizome of rhubarb, is reported to suppress the growth of tumor in many clinical situations. In this study, we focused on the effect of emodin in human breast cancer BCap-37 cells and further understand the underlying molecular mechanism in treating breast cancer. Using MTT assay and flow cytometry, we demonstrated the critical role of emodin in the suppression of the proliferation of BCap-37 cells based on a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The increase of apoptotic rate was also observed after incubation of BCap-37 cells on emodin at 20 mu M and 50 mu M for 48 h. The cells exhibited typical apoptotic features including cellular morphological change, chromatin condensation and membrane blebbing. The results of the study further showed that Bcl-2 level decreased, while Bax and cytosolic cytochrome c levels in sample cells increased after the emodin treatment by using Western blot. The decline in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and the increase of cytosolic cytochrome c concentration were consistent with the increase of the apoptotic ratio. The results strongly suggest that the disruption of the mitochondrial signaling pathway was involved in emodin-induced apoptosis in BCap-37 cells.

Pre-column derivatization of amines with 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-isopropyl chloroformate followed by LC-fluorescence and LC-APCI-MS

A pre-column derivatization method for the sensitive determination of amines using the labeling reagent 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-isopropyl chloroformate (BCIC-Cl) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives is carried out by high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCl-MS-MS). The chromophore of 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) reagent is replaced by 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-isopropyl functional group, which results in a sensitive fluorescence derivatizing reagent BCIC-Cl. BCIC-Cl can easily and quickly label amines. Derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and show an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z [MH](+) under APCl in positive-ion mode. The collision-induced dissociation of protonated molecular ion formed a product at m/z 260 corresponding to the cleavage of CH2-OCO bond. Studies on derivatization demonstrate excellent derivative yields over the pH 9.0-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% are observed with a 3 to 4-fold molar reagent excess. In addition, the detection responses for BCIC derivatives are compared with those obtained using CEOC and FMOC as derivatization reagents. The ratios of l(BCIC)/l(CEOC) and l(BCIC)/l(FMOC) are, respectively, 1.23-3.14 and 1.25-3.08 for fluorescent (FL) responses (here, l is relative fluorescence intensity). Separation of the derivatized amines had been optimized on reversed-phase Eclipse XDB-C-8 column. Detection limits are calculated from 1.0 pmol injection, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, are 10.6-37.8 fmol. The mean interday accuracy ranges from 94 to 105% for fluorescence detection with the largest mean %CV < 7.5. The mean interday precision for all standards is < 6.0% of the expected concentration. Excellent linear responses are observed with coefficients of > 0.9997.