Preparation of porous chitosan/agarose microsphere and its R-phycoerythrin release properties

The chitosan microspheres (CS-CL) were prepared by suspension crosslinking method and used as carriers of R-phycoerythrin (R-PE). In this study, R-PE was loaded in the microspheres and released in vitro. The effects of pH value, temperature, ionic strength, and R-PE concentration on loading efficiency and release behavior were discussed. A novel microsphere that contained agarose (CS-AR MP) was prepared and the basic loading and releasing behavior for R-PE of this kind of new micro-spheres were also investigated. The results showed that all these chitosan microspheres have the ability to control-release R-PE. The addition of agarose may somewhat accelerate the release rate of R-PE from microspheres and reduce the capacity of adsorption for R-PE. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

NaCl对液-液扩散法生长溶菌酶晶体的影响

用动态光散射法研究了不同浓度NaCl对液—液扩散法生长溶菌酶晶体的影响，并测量了晶体生长前后体系的Zeta电势．结果表明，NaCl浓度较高时，在溶菌酶溶液—凝胶界面处会发生液液分层现象，溶液中一直存在较大的聚集体，生长出的晶体质量较差．而在合适的NaCl浓度下，随着溶液Zeta电势降低，溶液中溶菌酶的大的聚集体发生解聚集，生长出的晶体质量较高．

烟草FtsZ基因的表达特征分析及其对质体发生的影响

FtsZ (filamentation temperature-sensitive，fts)是广泛存在于原核生物和高等植物中的一种功能蛋白。它控制着原核细胞和质体的分裂过程。研究该基因的表达调控特征，为我们进一步认识原核细胞和质体分裂的分子机制及真核细胞的起源和进化等重要问题提供了新的思路。从烟草克隆FtsZ cDNA，构建了谷胱甘肽转移酶（GST, glutathione S-transferase，EC 2.5.1.18）与FtsZ融合蛋白的表达质粒，并将其导入到在异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导下能高效表达的JM109大肠杆菌中。高表达的融合蛋白通过谷胱甘肽一琼脂糖(glutathione-agarose)亲和层析和SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳纯化后，用以免疫兔子制备抗血清。免疫印迹法表明烟草FtsZ基因表达具有明显的组织器官特征，在质体（叶绿体）分裂活跃部位表达强：幼嫩花瓣>幼叶>幼根>老叶>茎。黑暗处理l天对FtsZ表达似乎无影响，随黑暗培养时间延长，FtsZ蛋白表达逐渐降低，叶绿体转化成为数目众多（增加2-3倍）体积小的淡黄色或白色质体。该实验结果显示，光对植物FtsZ基因表达很可能无直接影响，FtsZ基因表达强弱是决定质体（叶绿体）分裂和细胞中质体（叶绿体）数目多少的主要原因之一。

Detection of usual and atypical aldehyde dehydrogenase alleles by mismatch amplification mutation assay

The genotypes of liver mitochondrial high-affinity aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) are strongly associated with the drinking behavior and the alcohol liver diseases, since the individuals with atypical ALDH(2)(2) allele have higher levels of acetaldehyde in their plasma. The atypical ALDH(2)(2) allele has a nucleotide base transition (G-->A) in its exon 12. Based on this point mutation, we developed a rapid, reliable and inexpensive method, mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA), for the determination of human ALDH2 usual and atypical alleles. Two pairs of primers were designed for the amplification of the usual ALDH(2)(1) allele and the atypical ALDH(2)(2) allele, respectively. If the sample for the detection was heterozygous, it could be amplified by both of the primers. The product of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of ALDH2 exon 12 could be easily screened by electrophoresis on a 2% agarose gel. The results of the MAMA method were further confirmed by sequencing. In the total of fifty samples from unrelated healthy Chinese Han people from Wuhan, China, the frequency of atypical ALDH(2)(2) allele was found to be 12%.

Toxicity of microcystins in the isolated hepatocytes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The toxicity of hepatotoxic microcystins produced mainly by Microcystis aeruginosa in mammals and fishes was well studied in recent years. However, there were scarcely reports in toxic effects of microcystins on isolated hepatocytes of fishes, especially investigation of microcystin-induced apoptosis and/or necrosis in carp hepatocytes. In the present study, the isolated hepatocytes of common carp were exposed to various concentrations of microcystins (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 mu g L-1) for 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h, respectively, and cytotoxicity of microcystins in the toxin-treated cells was determined. Results of this study showed that cytotoxicity of microcystins on carp hepatocytes was time and dose-dependent, and the approximate LC50 of microcystins in carp hepatocytes was 169.2 mu g L-1. The morphological changes typical of apoptosis, such as blebbing of cell membrane, condensation and fragmentation of cell nucleus were observed in the hepatocytes exposed to microcystins (1, 10 and 100 mu g L-1) using fluorescence and differential interference contrast microscopy. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA demonstrated a typical apoptotic "ladder pattern" in microcystin-treated hepatocytes after 16 h of exposure. Results of the present study indicated that the form of cell death in microcystin-treated hepatocytes depend on the exposure dose of toxin. When lower concentration of microcystins (10 and 100 mu g L-1) was used for exposure, carp hepatocytes died in apoptosis while, when higher one used (1000 mu g L-1), they died in the form of necrosis. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis by PFOS and PFOA in primary cultured hepatocytes of freshwater tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Perfluorinated organic compounds (PFOCs) are emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs) widely present in the environment, wildlife and human. We studied the cellular toxicology of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on oxidative stress and induction of apoptosis in primary cultured hepatocytes of freshwater tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Cultured hepatocytes were exposed to PFOS or PFOA (0, 1, 5, 15 and 30 mg L-1) for 24 h, and a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was determined using trypan blue exclusion method. Significant induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accompanied by increases in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were found, while activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were decreased. Glutathione (GSH) content was reduced following treatment of PFOA and PFOS. A dose-dependent increase in the lipid peroxidation (LPO) level (measured as maleic dialdehyde, MDA) was observed only in the PFOA exposure groups, whereas LPO remained unchanged in the PFOS exposure groups. Furthermore, a significant activation of caspase-3, -8, -9 activities was evident in both PFOS and PFOA exposure groups. Typical DNA fragmentation (DNA laddering) was further characterized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The overall results demonstrated that PFOS and PFOA are able to produce oxidative stress and induce apoptosis with involvement of caspases in primary cultured tilapia hepatocytes. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Induction of apoptosis in a carp leucocyte cell line infected with turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) rhabdovirus

A rhabdovirus was observed from the diseased turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) with lethal syndrome. In this study, a carp leucocyte (CLC) cell line was used to investigate the infection process and cell death mechanism occurring during the virus infection. Strong cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and the morphological changes, such as extreme chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentation, and apoptotic body formation, were observed under fluorescence microscopy after DAPI staining in the infected CLC cells. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed cell shrinkage, plasma membrane blebbing, cytoplasm vacuolization, chromatin condensation, nuclear breakdown and formation of discrete apoptotic bodies. The bullet-shaped nucleocapsids were measured and ranged in size from 110 to 150 nm in length and 40 to 60 nm in diameter. And therefore the virus is called Scophthalmus maximus rhabdovirus (SMRV). Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis of the DNA extracted from infected cells showed typical DNA ladder in the course of SMRV infection. Flow cytometry analysis of SMRV infected CLC cells detected apoptotic peak in the virus infected CLC cells. Virus titre analysis and electron microscopic observation revealed that the virus replication fastigium was earlier than that of the apoptosis occurrence. No apoptosis was observed in the CLC infected with UV-inactivated SMRV. All these supported that SMRV infected CLC cells undergo apoptosis and the virus replication is necessary for apoptosis induction of CLC cells. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

A detection method for grass carp hemorrhagic virus (GCHV) based on a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

A rapid, sensitive and highly specific detection method for grass carp hemorrhagic virus (GCHV) based on a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been developed. Two pairs of PCR primers were synthesized according to the cloned cDNA sequences of the GCHV-861 strain. For each primer combination, only one specific major product was obtained when amplification was performed by using the genomic dsRNA of GCHV-861 strain. The lengths of their expected products were 320 and 223 bp, respectively. No products were obtained when nucleic acids other than GCHV-861 genomic RNA were used as RT-PCR templates. To assess the sensitivity of the method, dilutions of purified GCHV-861 dsRNA total genome (0.01 pg up to 1000 pg) were amplified and quantities of as little as 0.1 pg of purified dsRNA were detectable when the amplification product was analyzed by 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis. This technique could detect GCHV-861 not only in infected cell culture fluids, but also in infected grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus and rare minnow Gobiocypris rarus with or without hemorrhagic symptoms. The results show that the RT-PCR amplification method is useful for the direct detection of GCHV.

不同小麦品种（系）中主要矿质元素的含量比较及与品质的关系

采用微波消解、电感耦合高频等离子体原子发射光谱（ICP-AES）的方法,对62份不同小麦品种（系）中锌、铁、铜、钙、钠和钾的含量进行了测定。同时利用红外线品质测定仪对主要品质指标粗蛋白、湿面筋、沉降值进行了测定。结果表明，不同小麦品种（系）中各种矿质元素的含量存在差异，2006年小麦品种中铁含量变幅为18.55-58.19 ug/g，平均为30.83ug/g ，最高与最低的相差39.64ug/g；锌含量变幅为5.70-25.80 ug/g，平均为15.13ug/g ，最高与最低相差20.10ug/g。2008年小麦品种（系）中铁含量变幅为16.68-52.25 ug/g，平均为30.10ug/g，最高与最低相差35.58ug/g；锌含量变幅为12.29-33.47 ug/g，平均为21.11ug/g，最高与最低相差21.18ug/g；钙含量变幅为167.53-348.80ug/g，平均为248.59ug/g，最高与最低相差192.59ug/g；铜含量变幅为2.32-5.83 ug/g，平均为2.98ug/g，最高与最低的相差3.61ug/g；钾含量变幅为1822.71-4414.91 ug/g，平均为2617.87ug/g，最高与最低的相差2634.72ug/g；钠含量变幅为10.25-39.82 ug/g，平均为23.05ug/g，最高与最低的相差29.57ug/g。 两年不同小麦品种（系）中矿质元素的含量分析结果表明：铁、铜、钙、钠和钾含量年际变化不明显,说明小麦对铁、铜、钙、钠和钾的吸收较稳定；锌含量变化较大，可能受环境的影响比较大。分析各矿质元素含量与粗蛋白、湿面筋、沉降值及元素之间的相关关系，结果表明，锌含量与粗蛋白含量呈极显著正相关关系，相关系数为0.317，与湿面筋含量之间呈显著正相关，相关系数达到0.246；铁含量与粗蛋白含量呈显著的正相关关系，相关系数是0.262；铜、钙、钠和钾含量与粗蛋白含量、湿面筋和沉降值之间存在正相关，但不显著，其中钠与沉降值之间为负相关。表明施锌或铁对提高小麦粗蛋白和湿面筋有显著效应，其余矿质元素有促进作用但不明显。 利用RAPD分子标记技术对川育23、41058、川育20及其父母本进行分析，力图从分子水平找到小麦矿质元素含量之间的差异性，琼脂糖电泳结果表明不同的小麦品种（系）间扩增出了差异条带。 以上研究结果，将对筛选“微量营养强化型”小麦新材料，选育“微量营养强化型”小麦新品种奠定基础。 62 different wheat cultivars was digested with HNO3 in a tightly closed vessel heated under micro-wave,then contents of zinc，iron,copper，calcium，sodium and potassium were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy(ICP-AES)．The main indexes of wheat quality such as total protein、wet glu and sedimentation volume were detected by Infratec 1255 Food & Feed Analyzer at the same time.The obtained results showed that variation for all of the mineral elements concentrations among different cultivars were observed .In 2006, the amplitude variation of the iron content was 18.55-58.19 ug/g,the average value was 30.83ug/g,and 39.64ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one; the amplitude variation of the zinc content was 5.70-25.8 ug/g,the average value was 15.13ug/g,and 20.10ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one.In 2008, the amplitude variation of the iron content was 16.68-52.25 ug/g,the average value was 30.10ug/g,and 35.58ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one; the amplitude variation of the zinc content was 12.29-33.47 ug/g,the average value was 21.11ug/g,and 21.18ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one; the amplitude variation of the calcium content was 167.53-348.80ug/g,the average value was 248.59ug/g,and 192.59ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one; the amplitude variation of the copper content was 2.32-5.83 ug/g,the average value was 2.98ug/g,and 3.61ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one; the amplitude variation of the potassium content was 1822.71-4414.91 ug/g,the average value was 2617.87ug/g,and 2634.72ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one; the amplitude variation of the sodium content was 10.25-39.82 ug/g,the average value was 23.05ug/g,and 29.57ug/g between the highest-content cultivar and the lowest one. Analysis was made on the annual variation of mineral elements content in different Wheat cultivars ,the result shows:there is no obvious difference of iron ,copper ,sodium、calcium and potassium concentrations in wheat cultivars, suggesting the absorption of the iron, copper, sodium、calcium and potassium by wheat are relatively steady ,but zinc concentrations change obviously ,maybe influenced heavily by environment . The correlation between mineral elements 、mineral elements and total protein、mineral elements and sedimentation volume as well as mineral elements and wet glut were analysed in this paper, the result showed that there was significant positive correlation between zinc content and total protein (the correlation coefficient is 0.317), positive correlation between zinc content and wet glu (the correlation coefficient is 0.246), positive correlation between iron content and total protein (the correlation coefficient is 0.262). there was positive but not obvious correlation between the contents of copper, calcium, sodium or potassium and total protein, wet glut or sedimentation volume,among which was negative correlation between sodium and sedimentation volume.It was indicated zinc or iron fertilization has prominent effects in improving the total protein in wheat, the rest mineral elements have Non- obvious facilitation. The study then forecasted the genetic difference of different wheat by the molecular marker of RAPD in order to find differences in molecular level. Chuanyu23、41058、chuanyu20 as well as their male and female parents were analysed by RAPD markers,Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA revealed the appearance of differential bands . The above-mentioned results of this study establish the foundation to screening the new materials of wheat of " strengthening type of micro- nutrition ", and to breeding the new wheat cultivars of" strengthening type of micro- nutrition ".

Determination of SARS-coronavirus by a microfluidic chip system

We have developed a new experimental system based on a microfluidic chip to determine severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-Cov). The system includes a laser-induced fluorescence microfluidic chip analyzer, a glass microchip for both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis, a chip thermal cycler based on dual Peltier thermoelectric elements, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS diagnostic kit, and a DNA electrophoretic sizing kit. The system allows efficient cDNA amplification of SARS-CoV followed by electrophoretic sizing and detection on the same chip. To enhance the reliability of RT-PCR on SARS-CoV detection, duplex PCR was developed on the microchip. The assay was carried out on a home-made microfluidic chip system. The positive and the negative control were cDNA fragments of SARS-CoV and parainfluenza virus, respectively. The test results showed that 17 positive samples were obtained among 18 samples of nasopharyngeal swabs from clinically diagnosed SARS patients. However, 12 positive results from the same 18 samples were obtained by the conventional RT-PCR with agarose gel electrophoresis detection. The SARS virus species can be analyzed with high positive rate and rapidity on the microfluidic chip system.

Cationic Lipid Bilayer Coated Gold Nanoparticles-mediated Transfection of Mammalian Cells

Here, we demonstrated dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODAB), a cationic lipid, bilayer coated Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) could efficiently deliver two types of plasmid DNA into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293) in the presence of serum. The transfection efficiency of AuNPs was about five times higher than that of DODAB. The interaction of AuNPs with DNA was characterized with dye intercalation assay and agarose gel electrophoresis. The morphology of the complex of AuNPs with DNA was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The intracellular trafficking of the complex was monitored with transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Coating Didodecyldimethylammonium Bromide onto Au Nanoparticles Increases the Stability of Its Complex with DNA

The stability of the complex of cationic lipid with nucleic acid, especially when facing serum, is crucial for the efficiency of gene delivery. Here, we demonstrated that the stability of the complex of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB, a cationic lipid) with DNA in the presence of serum dramatically increased after coating DDAB onto the surface of the gold nanoparticles. The stability of the complex was demonstrated with dye intercalation assay, and agarose gel electrophoresis.

Influence of Polyelectrolyte on DNA-RecA Nucleoprotein Filaments: Poly-L-Lysine Used as a Model

RecA of Escherichia coli and its active nucleoprotein filaments with DNA are important for the genomic integrity and the genetic diversity. The formation of the DNA-RecA nucleoprotein filaments is a complex multiple-step process and can be affected by many factors. In this work, the effects of poly-L-lysine (PLL) on the DNA-RecA nucleoprotein filaments are investigated in vitro by agarose gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The observed morphologies vary with the concentration, the length, and the addition order of PLL. These distinctions provide information for the conformation change of DNA and the binding sites of RecA protein in the formation process of nucleoprotein filaments.

Characterization of linear epitope of the beta(2)-microglobulin via combination of MALDI-TOF-MS with immunoaffinity

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS), in combination with immunoaffinity provided a powerful tool for determining epitope (antigenic determinant) in protein. The linear epitope of the beta(2)-microglobulin was characterized in the paper. The method as follows: at first beta(2)-microglobulin was digested by a proteolytic enzyme to produce an appropriate set of peptide fragments, then peptide fragments containing the linear epitope were selected and separated from the pool of peptide fragments by immunoprecipitation with the monoclonal antibody. The agarose beads were collected carefully after the reaction. Unbound peptides would be washed away, while the peptides containing the epitope would remain bound to the immobilized antibody after. the beads were washed several times with appropriate buffer. At last the masses of the bound peptides were identified directly by MALDI-TOF MS. Using Endoproteinase Glu-C Endoproteinase Lys-C and Trypsin in the experiment, the linear epitope of beta(2)-microglobulin was located within peptide fragment 59-69, that is, DWSFYLLYYTE.

Glucose-lowering activity of amino acid-N-phosphonic acid oxovanadium complexes and its interaction with DNA

Vanadium has well-documented lowering glucose properties both in vitro and in vivo. The design of new oxovanadium(IV) coordination compounds, intended for use as insulin-enhancing agents in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, can potentially benefit from a synergistic approach, in which the whole complex has more than an additive effect from its component parts. Biological testing with oxovanadium(IV) organic phosphonic acid, for insulin-enhancing potential included acute administration, by oral gavage in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. The complexes of oxovanadium(IV) amino acid-N-phosphonic acid exhibit higher lowering glucose activity in vivo. The interaction of the complexes of oxovanadium(IV) amino acid-N-phosphonic acid with DNA was investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results indicated that these complexes have strong interaction with DNA.