Effects of buffer layer properties and annealing process on bulk heterojunction morphology and organic solar cell performance

The performance of polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells is strongly dependent on the vertical distribution of the donor and acceptor regions within the BHJ layer. In this work, we investigate in detail the effect of the hole transport layer (HTL) physical properties and the thermal annealing on the BHJ morphology and the solar cell performance. For this purpose, we have prepared solar cells with four distinct formulations of poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) buffer layers. The samples were subjected to thermal annealing, applied either before (pre-annealing) or after (post-annealing) the cathode metal deposition. The effect of the HTL and the annealing process on the BHJ ingredient distribution - namely, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) - has been studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. The results revealed P3HT segregation at the top region of the films, which had a detrimental effect on all pre-annealed devices, whereas PCBM was found to accumulate at the bottom interface. This demixing process depends on the PEDOT:PSS surface energy; the more hydrophilic the surface the more profound is the vertical phase separation within the BHJ. At the same time those samples suffer from high recombination losses as evident from the analysis of the J-V measurements obtained in the dark. Our results underline the significant effect of the HTL-active and active-ETL (electron transport layer) interfacial composition that should be taken into account during the optimization of all polymer-fullerene solar cells. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Non-destructive optical characterization of phase separation in bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells

The dithiophene donor-acceptor copolymers that are bridged either with carbon (C-PCPDTBT) or silicon atoms (Si-PCPDTBT) belong to a promising family of materials for use in photoactive layers for organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). In this work, we implement the non-destructive Spectroscopic Ellipsometry technique in the near infrared to the far ultraviolet spectral region in combination with advanced theoretical modeling to investigate the vertical distribution of the C-PCPDTBT and Si-PCPDTBT polymer and fullerene ([6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester - PC70BM) phases in the blend, as well as the effect of the polymer-to-fullerene ratio on the distribution mechanism. It was found that the C-PCPDTBT:PC70BM blends have donor-enriched top regions and acceptor-enriched bottom regions, whereas the donor and acceptor phases are more homogeneously intermixed in the Si-PCPDTBT:PC70BM blends. We suggest that the chemical incompatibility of the two phases as expressed by the difference in their surface energy, may be a key element in promoting the segregation of the lower surface phase to the top region of the photoactive layer. We found that the increase of the photoactive layer thickness reduces the polymer enrichment at the cathode, producing a more homogeneous phase distribution of donor and acceptor in the bulk that leads to the increase of the OPV efficiency. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

生物柴油转化效果测定方法的研究

生物柴油的生产原料、催化剂、工艺流程等存在多样化特点，为比较各种方法的优劣，需要建立一种适宜、通用的测定方法。通过分析国内外相关测定方法，提出以气相色谱测定反应产物，十七碳脂肪酸甲酯为标准物，内标法计算反应转化率和产率的方法。

Synthesis of biodiesel from waste cooking oil using immobilized lipase in fixed bed reactor

Waste cooking oil (WCO) is the residue from the kitchen, restaurants, food factories and even human and animal waste which not only harm people's health but also causes environmental pollution. The production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil to partially substitute petroleum diesel is one of the measures for solving the twin problems of environment pollution and energy shortage. In this project, synthesis of biodiesel was catalyzed by immobilized Candida lipase in a three-step fixed bed reactor. The reaction solution was a mixture of WCO, water, methanol and solvent (hexane). The main product was biodiesel consisted of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), of which methyl oleate was the main component. Effects of lipase, solvent, water, and temperature and flow of the reaction mixture on the synthesis of biodiesel were analyzed. The results indicate that a 91.08% of FAME can be achieved in the end product under optimal conditions. Most of the chemical and physical characters of the biodiesel were superior to the standards for 0(#)diesel (GB/T 19147) and biodiesel (DIN V51606 and ASTM D-6751).

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of biodiesel from acid oil in fixed bed reactor

Acid oil, which is a by-product in vegetable oil refining, mainly contains free fatty acids (FFAs) and acylglycerols and is a feedstock for production of biodiesel fuel now. The transesterification of acid oil and methanol to biodiesel was catalyzed by immobilized Candida lipase in fixed bed reactors. The reactant solution was a mixture of acid oil, water, methanol and solvent (hexane) and the main product was biodiesel composed of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) of which the main component was methyl oleate. The effects of lipase content, solvent content, water content temperature and flow velocity of the reactant on the reaction were analyzed. The experimental results indicate that a maximum FAME content of 90.18% can be obtained in the end product under optimum conditions. Most of the chemical and physical properties of the biodiesel were superior to the standards for 0(#) diesel (GB/T 19147) and biodiesel (DIN V51606 and ASTM D6751).

西藏胡黄连和鸡矢藤的化学成分及黄芪多糖的提取工艺研究

本论文由四部分组成，前三部分为实验论文，第四部分为文献综述。第一、二部分分别报道了中药西藏胡黄连和鸡矢藤的化学成分研究结果。从两种药用植物中共分离和鉴定了32个化学成分，其中3个为新化合物。第三部分为黄芪多糖的提取工艺研究。第四部分概述了近年来植物多糖的研究进展。 第一章为西藏胡黄连化学成分研究。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离方法从药用植物西藏胡黄连（Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell）的根茎中共分离纯化出7个化合物。运用MS、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、HSQC和HMBC等现代谱学方法，结合理化分析对这些化合物的结构进行了分析鉴定。7个化合物中有两个是酚性的葡萄糖苷类成分：西藏胡黄连酚苷D (1)、4-O-β-D-(6-O-vanilloyl glucopyranosyl) vanillic acid (6)；四个苯乙基苷类化合物：plantamajoside (2)、plantainoside D (3)、西藏胡黄连苷A (4) 和西藏胡黄连苷F (5)；一个苯基小分子化合物：香豆酸甲酯 (7)。其中化合物1和5未见文献报道，确定为新化合物；化合物3为首次从该种植物中分到。 第二章为鸡矢藤化学成分研究。从鸡矢藤（Paederia scandense (Lour) Merrill）全草中分离出25个化合物，通过理化常数和波谱数据鉴定了它们的结构。25个化合物中包括一个蒽醌类成分：茜根定-1-甲醚 (1)；两个香豆素：异东莨菪香豆素 (2)和5-羟基-8-甲氧基吡喃香豆素 (3)；两个香豆素-木脂素化合物：臭矢菜素 B (4)和臭矢菜素 D (5)；一个木脂素：异落叶松树脂醇 (6)；两个黄酮：diadzein (7)和蒙花苷 (8)；三个三萜类化合物：齐墩果酸 (9)、乌苏酸 (10)和 3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基乌苏烷 (11)；三个甾体及其糖苷：b-谷甾醇 (12)、胡萝卜苷 (13)和(24R)-豆甾-4-烯-3-酮 (14)；六个小分子化合物：对羟基苯甲酸 (15)，咖啡酸 (16)，香豆酸 (17)，丁烯二酸 (18)，3,5-二甲氧基-4-羟基苯甲酸(19)，咖啡酸-4-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(20)；五个环烯醚萜类化合物：鸡矢藤苷 (21)，鸡矢藤酸 (22)，鸡矢藤酸甲酯 (23)，saprosmoside E (24)和paederoside B (25)。其中化合物25未见文献报道，为新化合物。化合物1～8、11、14、15～20为首次从该化合物中分离得到。同时对鸡矢藤中环烯醚萜类化合物做了高效液相-串联质谱(HPLC-MSn)分析，探讨了这类化合物的质谱裂解规律。 第三章为黄芪多糖的提取工艺研究。首先确定了黄芪多糖含量的测定方法，并进行了方法学验证；其次探讨了黄芪中黄芪多糖的提取工艺，确定以酶法-Sevag法联用来去除黄芪多糖中的蛋白质，可使其提取物中黄芪多糖总含量达到70％以上。 第四章为近年来植物多糖的研究进展。主要包括植物多糖的提取纯化、多糖的定性定量检测方法、多糖的结构分析和多糖的药理活性。 This dissertation consists of four parts. The first and second parts reports the studies on the chemical constituents of medicinal plants of Picrorhiza Scrophulariiflora and Paederia scandens. The third part is about the extract technique of Astragalan Polysaccharide (APS). The last part reviews the progress of the studies on plant polysaccharides. 　 The first chapter is about the chemical constituents of P. Scrophulariiflora which is widely used as an important medicine to treat various immune-related diseases. A new phenyl glycoside, scrophenoside D (1) and a new phenylethyl glycoside, scroside F (5), together with five known compounds, plantamajoside (2), plantainoside D (3), scroside A (4), 4-O-β-D-(6-O-vanilloylglucopyranosyl) vanillic acid (6); and methyl-p-coumarate (7) were isolated from the stems of P. scrophulariiflora. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The second chapter is about the chemical constituents of medicinal herb of P. scandens. Twenty-five compounds were isolated and purified by normal and reversed phase silica gel column chromatography. By physicochemical properties and spectral analysis, their structures were identified as rubiadin-1-methylether (1), isoscopoletin (2), 5-hydroxyl-8-methoxyl-coumarin (3), cleomiscosin B (4), cleomiscosin D (5), isolariciresinol (6), diadzein (7), linarin (8), oleanolic acid (9), ursolic acid (10), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyl-ursane (11), b-sitosterol (12), b-daucosterol (13), (24R)-stigmast-4-ene-3-one (14), p-hydroxyl-benzoic acid (15), caffic acid (16), coumaric acid (17), trans-butenedioic acid (18), 3,5-dimethoxyl-4-hydroxylbenzoic acid (19), caffeic acid 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (20), paederoside (21), paederosidic acid (22), paederosidic acid methyl ester (23), saprosmoside E (24), paederoside B (25). Among them, compound 25 is a new compound. Compounds 1～8、11、14、15～20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Futhermore, we studied the HPLC-MSn analysis and investigation of fragmentation behavior of the sulfur-containing iridoid glucosides. The third chapter is about the extracting process of Astragalan Polysaccharide (APS). The method of the content determination is built. The optimum condition of extraction of polysaccharides from Radix Astragali is defined and the more effective way to remove protein is combined enzyme method with Sevag method, by which the content of polysaccharides extract can be up to 70%. The last part is a review of the research progress of the plant polysaccharides, which includes its extraction, isolation, purification, determination, structure analysis, and pharmacology.

尼泊尔水东哥、水麻、木姜冬青和青荚叶的化学成分研究

活性筛选中发现尼泊尔水东哥 (Saurauia napaulensis DC.) 树皮95%乙醇提取物具有α-淀粉酶抑制活性、水麻(Debregeasia orientalis) 枝叶95%乙醇提取物显示血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)抑制活性、青荚叶(Helwingia japonica (Thunb.) Dieter.) 95%乙醇提取物的中小极性部分显示蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶(PTP)1B抑制活性。为全面了解它们的成分及相关活性成份，主要运用硅胶柱层析方法从这三个植物分离得到39个化合物，通过波谱分析或与已知品对照的方法对其进行了鉴定。对木姜冬青(Ilex litseaefolia Hu et Tang)的成分做了进一步的研究，取得了如下结果。 1. 从尼泊尔水东哥树皮的95%乙醇提取物分离并鉴定12个化合物： auranamide、aurantiamide benzoate、齐墩果酸、β-谷甾醇、β-胡萝卜甙、乌苏酸、2α,3α-二羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸、2α,3β,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸、(2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2'R)-2' -hydroxytetracosanoylamino] -10-octadecene -1,3,4-triol、 2α,3α,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-齐墩果酸、2α,3β-二羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸和2α,3α,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸。 2. 从水麻枝叶的95%乙醇提取物分离并鉴定了18个化合物：棕榈酸、二十烷酸、二十烷酸甲酯、β-谷甾醇、Monogynol A、桦木酸、Hederagenin、β-胡萝卜甙、18αH-19(29)-烯-3-酮-乌苏烷、3，4-开环-20(30)-烯-乌苏烷-3-酸、Pomolic acid，表儿茶素、儿茶素、槲皮素、槲皮素-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷、紫丁香苷、紫丁香酚苷和山萘酚-3-O-芸香糖。儿茶素、槲皮素和槲皮素-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷为具有ACE抑制活性的成分。 3. 从木姜冬青95%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯部分分离并鉴定了5个化合物： 2-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖-6,2´-二羟基-4,4´-二香草酰氧甲基-1,1´-二苯醚（冬青苷）和四个已知化合物：七叶内酯、香草酸、3,4-二甲氧基苯乙酸和vanilloylcalleryanin。冬青苷为新化合物。 4. 从青荚叶95%乙醇提取物的中小极性部分分离并鉴定了9个化合物：β-谷甾醇、β-胡萝卜苷、羽扇豆醇、桦木醇、桦木酸、棕榈酸甘油酯、桂皮酸、6αH-4-烯-3-酮-豆甾醇和6βH-4-烯-3-酮-豆甾醇。 5. 对1985-2006年间天然二苯醚类化合物及活性研究进展进行综述. The in vitro test indicated that the 95% ethanolic extract of the barks of Saurauia napaulensis DC showed α-amylase inhibitory activity, the 95% ethanolic extract of the whole plants of Debregeasia. orientalis showed angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and some fractions of the 95% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Helwingia japonica showed protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)1B inhibitory activity. In order to investigate components and active compounds of the three plants, they were chemically studied mainly using. Thirty-nine compounds were isolated predominantly by column chromatography identified by spectral methods or comparing them with authentic samples. Further investigation of Ilex litseaefolia Hu et Tang was carried out. Major results are as follows: 1. Twelve compounds were isolation from the 95% ethanolic extract of the barks of S. napaulensis DC. They were identified as auranamide, aurantiamide benzoate, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol, β-daucosterol, ursolic acid, 2α,3α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, 2α,3β,24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, (2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxytetracosanoyl amino]-10-octadecene-1,3,4-triol, 2α,3α,24 -trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, 2α,3β-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, and 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyurs-12-ene-28-oic acid, respectively, by spectral methods or comparing them with authentic samples. 2. Eighteen compounds were isolation from the 95% ethanolic extract of the whole plants of D. orientalis. They were identified as palmitic acid, henicosanoic acid, henicosanoic acid methyl ester, β-sitosterol, monogynol, betulinic acid, hederagenin, β-daucosterol, 18αH-urs-20(30)-en-3-one, 3,4-seco-urs-20(30)-en-3-oic acid, pomolic acid, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, syringin, syringiaresinol digloside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinose. (+)-Catechin, quercetin and quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were the ACE inhibitory active components. 3. Further phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate parts of 95% ethanolic extract of the whole plant of I. litseaefolia afforded 2-O-β-D-glucopyranose-4,4´-di-vanilloyloxymethyl-2,6´-dihydroxy-1,1´-diphenyl ether (ilexiside), esculetin, vanillic acid, 3,4-dimethoxybenzylacetic acid and vanilloylcalleryanin. Ilexiside was new compound. 4. Nine compounds were isolation from the 95% ethanolic extract of the whole plant of H. japonica: β-sitosterol, β-daucosterol, lupeol, betulin, betulinic acid, glycerol monopalmitate, cinnamic acid, stignast-4-en-6β-3-one and stignast-4-en-6α-3-one 5.Diphenyl ether compounds from nature between 1985-2006 were summarized.

Ginsenoside R-e increases fertile and asthenozoospermic infertile human sperm motility by induction of nitric oxide synthase

We investigated the effects of Ginsenoside R-e on human sperm motility in fertile and asthenozoospermic infertile individuals in vitro and the mechanism by which the Ginsenosides play their roles. The semen samples were obtained from 10 fertile volunteers and 10 asthenozoospermic infertile patients. Spermatozoa were separated by Percoll and incubated with 0, 1, 10 or 100 mu M of Ginsenoside R-e. Total sperm motility and progressive motility were measured by computer-aided sperm analyzer (CASA). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was determined by the H-3-arginine to H-3-citrulline conversion assay, and the NOS protein was examined by the Western blot analysis. The production of sperm nitric oxide (NO) was detected using the Griess reaction. The results showed that Ginsenoside R-e significantly enhanced both fertile and infertile sperm motility, NOS activity and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 100 nM), a NO donor, mimicked the effects of Ginsenoside R-e. And pretreatment with a NOS inhibitor N-omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mu M) or a NO scavenger N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (LNAC, 1 mM) completely blocked the effects of Ginsenoside R-e. Data suggested that Ginsenoside R-e is beneficial to sperm motility, and that induction of NOS to increase NO production may be involved in this benefit.

Effects of thermal annealing on polymer photovoltaic cells with buffer layers and in situ formation of interfacial layer for enhancing power conversion efficiency

We have investigated the effects of thermal annealing before and after cathode deposition on poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend photovoltaic cells with different cathode buffer layers. The introduction of cathode buffer layer such as lithium fluoride (LiF) and calcium oxide (CaO) in pre-annealing cells can increase the open-circuit voltage (V-oc) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). Post thermal annealing after cathode deposition further enhanced the PCE of the cells with LiF/Al cathode.

Effects of fullerene solubility on the crystallization of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and performance of photovoltaic devices

The substantial crystallization suppression of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in the untreated P3HT:C60 composite film prepared from o-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) solution has been revealed. Besides, the effective conjugation length of P3HT in this composite has been nearly maintained to that in the solution. The different crystallization behaviors of P3HT in its composites with C60 and [6,6]-phenyl C-61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) are mainly attributed to the relative solubility of C60 and PCBM with respect to P3HT in ODCB. The solution to overcome this disadvantage of chain conformation and crystallinity of P3HT in the composite with C60 is thus proposed and finalized by resorting to the addition of low volatile solvent with much higher solubility of C60 than P3HT into the main solvent used, so as P3HT can crystallize before C60 forms crystallites in the solution. The feasibility of this approach has been proven by the improved efficiency of devices based on composites of P3HT and the low cost C60 without resorting to post-treatments.

Enhanced charge collection in polymer photovoltaic cells by using an ethanol-soluble conjugated polyfluorene as cathode buffer layer

We report enhanced polymer photovoltaic (PV) cells by utilizing ethanol-soluble conjugated poly (9, 9-bis (6'-diethoxylphosphorylhexyl) fluorene) (PF-EP) as a buffer layer between the active layer consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester blend and the Al cathode. Compared to the control PV cell with Al cathode, the introduction of PF-EP effectively increases the shunt resistance and improves the photo-generated charge collection since the slightly thicker semi-conducting PF-EP layer may restrain the penetration of Al atoms into the active layer that may result in increased leakage current and quench photo-generated excitons. The power conversion efficiency is increased ca. 8% compared to the post-annealed cell with Al cathode.

Effect of Poly (3-hexylthiophene) Nanofibrils on Charge Separation and Transport in Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells

Crystalline poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibrils are introduced into the P3HT: [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) composite films via P3HT preaggregation in solution by adding a small amount of acetone, and the correlation of P3HT nanofibrils and the optoelectronic properties of P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells is investigated. It is found that the optical absorption and the hole transport or the resulted P3HT:PCBM composite films increase with the increase of the amount of P3HT nanofibrils due to the increased P3HT crystallinity and highly interconnected nanofibrillar P3HT networks. However, it is also found that high contents of crystalline P3HT nanofibrils may restrain PCBM molecules from demixing with the P3HT component that forms electron traps in the active layer. and hence reduce the charge collection efficiency. Small contents of P3HT nanofibrils not only improve the demixing between P3HT and PCBM components, but also enhance the hole transport via crystalline P3HT nanofibrillar networks, resulting in efficient charge collection.

Chemical Constituents of a Marine-Derived Endophytic Fungus Penicillium commune G2M

Cultivation of the endophytic fungus Penicillium commune, which was isolated from the semi-mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus, afforded one new compound 1-O-(2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoyl)-glycerol (1) along with thirteen known products, including 1-O-acetylglycerol (2), N-acetyltryptophan (3), 3-indolylacetic acid methyl ester (4), 1-(2,4-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)ethanone (5), 2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid (6), (4R,5S)-5-hydroxyhexan-4-olide (7), thymidine (8), uracil (9), thymine (10), ergosterol (11), beta-sitosterol (12), beta-daucosterol (13), and ergosta-7,22-dien-3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta-triol (14). The structures of these compounds were established by detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data or with authentic samples.

Hymeniacidon perleve associated bioactive bacterium Pseudomonas sp NJ6-3-1

Among marine bacteria isolated from the cytotoxic sponge Hymeniacidon perleve, one strain NJ6-3-1 classified as Pseudomonas sp. showed both cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Fatty acid analysis indicated that the bacterial strain consists mainly of C16:1, C16:0, C18:1, C18:0, C15:0, C14:0. One unusual 9,10-cyclopropane-C17:0 fatty acid and C26:0 also constitute major components, as well as the existence of squalene, the precursor of triterpenoids. The major metabolites in the culture broth were identified as alkaloids, including diketopiperazines and indole compounds, namely 3,6-diisopropylpiperazine-2,5-dione, 3-benzyl-3-isopropylpiperazine-2,5-dione, 3,6-bis-(2-methylpropyl)-piperazine-2,5-dione, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester, indole-3-ethanol, and quinazoline-2,4-dione.

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of cathepsin B in nutrient metabolism during larval development in Meretrix meretrix

Seed rearing is an important part in large scale clam culture industry. Since the nutritional history affects early development in bivalve, the condition of larval nutrition plays a key role in successful seed rearing. So far, the molecular mechanism of nutrient uptake in bivalve larvae is unclear. As one of the important proteolytic enzymes, cathepsin B of several organisms has been reported to be involved in digestion. We intended to analyze whether cathepsin B is involved in larval nutrient metabolism in the economic bivalve, clam Meretrix meretrix. The full length of M. meretrix cathepsin B (MmeCB) cDNA was cloned, which is 1647 bp with an open reading frame of 1014 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded a preproenzyme of 337 residues with Cys-114, His-282 and Asn-302 composing cathepsin B activity center. The temporal and spatial expressions of MmeCB mRNA were examined from trochophore to post larva stages by whole mount in situ hybridization. In trochophore stage, no detectable signal was found. In the later three stages, MmeCB mRNA was detected in the digestive gland, suggesting a possible role of MmeCB in digestion. Moreover, MmeCB mRNA was also observed in the epidermal cells in D-veligers. Cathepsin B specific inhibitor (CA074 methyl ester) was applied to block the activity of cathepsin B in unfed larvae. The average shell lengths of treated larvae were smaller than that in control groups. The results of mRNA epidermal distribution and inhibitor treatment in D-veligers indicated that MmeCB may be also associated with other pathway of nutrient metabolism in larval epidermis. The overall results in this paper revealed that MmeCB might play a role in larval nutrient metabolism. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.