Cultural conditions of arylsulfatase activity in Escherichia coli

Arylsulfatase activity and growth were estimated in Escherichia coli, isolated from marine sediment. Maximum activity was observed at pH 6.6 whereas the maximum growth was at pH 5.6. 2x10ˉ³ M is the optimum substrate concentration for the highest level of enzyme activity/synthesis as well as for its growth. In general higher substrate concentration tended to inhibit enzyme activity and also the growth of the bacterium. Maximum growth and highest enzyme activity occurred at 29°C and above this temperature decreased both of them. Besides these, glucose, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium acetate and ammonium chloride at higher concentrations were inhibiting the enzyme activity and growth. Above 0.2% of glucose, 3% of sodium chloride, 10x10ˉ³ M concentrations of sodium sulfate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium acetate and ammonium chloride inhibited the activity and growth also. These observations indicate that, to generalize a compound as inhibitor or activator it is difficult since this depends not only on its concentration but also on the source of the enzyme when more than one type is encountered in nature.

法落海的化学成分及抗HIV活性

下载PDF阅读器利用多种柱层析方法,从法落海(Angelica apaensis)95%乙醇提取物中分离得到8个化合物.经IR、MS、NMR等波谱数据鉴定为氧化前胡素(oxypeucedanin,1)、氧化前胡素水合物(oxypeucedanin hydrate,2)、异欧芹属乙素(isoimperatorin,3)、白当归脑(byakangelicin,4)、白当归素(byakangelicol,5)、3'-O-acetylhamaudol (6)、(+)-9(Z),17-octadecadiene-12,14-diyne-1,11,16-triol(7)和9,17-octadecadiene-12,14-diyne-1,11,16-triol,1-acetate(8),其中,化合物6-8是首次从该植物中分离得到.我们对所有得到的8个化合物进行抗HIV活性分析,化合物1具有明显的抗HIV活性,其抑制合胞体形成的半数有效浓度(EC50)为1.6 ms/L,治疗指数(TI)为17.59.

Anti-HIV-1 activities of extracts from the medicinal plant Rhus chinensis

Rhus chinensis, a species used in folk medicine by Chinese native people, the anti-HIV-1 activities of the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous extract of Rhus chinensis, named as RC-1, RC-2, RC-3 and RC-4, respectively, was evaluated. The

Genetic diversity study of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877) population in five rivers in the southern part of Caspian Sea, Iran

For study the genetic diversity of Caspian brown trout population in five rivers in the southern part of Caspian Sea in Iran 182 number generators in the fall and winter of 1390 were collected in Chalus, Sardab Rud, Cheshmeh Kileh, Kargan Rud and Astara rivers. Then about 3-5 g of soft and fresh tissue from the bottom fin fish removed and were fixed in ethanol 96°. Genomic DNA was extracted by using ammonium acetate, then quantity and quality of the extracted DNA were determined by using spectrophotometry and horizontal electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel. The polymerase chain reaction was performed by using 16 SSR primers and sequencing primers (D-Loop) and the quality of PCR products amplified by SSR method were performed by using horizontal electrophoresis in 2% agarose gel. Alleles and their sizes were determined by using vertical electrophoresis in 6% polyacrylamide gel and silver nitrate staining method. Gel images were recorded by gel documentarian, the bands were scored by using Photo- Capt software and statistical analysis was performed by using Gene Alex and Pop Gene software. Also the PCR sequencing products after quality assessment by usinghorizontal electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gel were purified and sent to South Korea Bioneer Corporation for sequencing. Sequencing was performed by chain termination method and the statistical analysis was performed by using Bio- Edit, Mega, Arlequin and DNA SP software. The SSR method, 5 pairs of primers produced polymorphic bands and the average real and effective number of alleles were calculated 5.60±1.83 and 3.87±1.46 in the Cheshmeh Kileh river and 7.60±1.75 and 5.48±1.32 in the Karganrud river and the mean observed and expected heterozygosity were calculated 0.44 ±0.15 and 0.52 ±0.16 in the Cheshmeh Kileh river and 0.50 ±0.11 and 0.70±0.13 in the Karganrud river. Analysis of Molecular Variance results showed that significant differences in genetic diversity between and within populations and between and within individuals in the studied rivers (P<0.01). The sequencing method identified 35 different haplotype, the highest number of polymorphic position (251) and haplotype (14) were observed in the Chalus river. The highest mean observed number of alleles (2.24±0.48) was calculated in the Sardabrud river, the highest mean observed heterozygosity (1.00±0.03) was calculated in the Chalus river and the highest mean nucleotide diversity (0.13±0.07) was observed in the Sardabrud river and mean haplotype diversity was obtained (1) in three studied rivers. The overall results show that there are no same population of this fish in the studied rivers and Karganrud and Chalus rivers in the SSR and sequencing methods had the highest levels of genetic diversity.

The genetic structure and phylogenetics of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) Anzali and Amirkolaye wetlands and perch (Perca fluviatilis) populations in Aras Dam and south-west of the Caspian Sea

The genetic structure of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) populations was studied using microsatellite technique. A total of 207 specimens of adult pikeperch were collected from Aras dam (57 specimens), Anzali wetland (50 specimens), Talesh (50 specimens) and Chaboksar (50 specimens) coasts. Also a total of 158 specimens of adult perch were collected from Anzali (Abkenar (50 specimens)and Hendekhale(48 specimens)) and Amirkolaye(60 specimens) wetlands. About 2 g of each specimen's dorsal fin was removed, stored in 96% ethyl alcohol and transferred to the genetic laboratory of the International Sturgeon Research Institute. Genomic DNA was extracted using ammonium-acetate method. The quality and quantity of DNA was assessed using 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was conducted on the target DNA using 15 pairs of microsatellite primers. PCR products were electrophoresed on poly acryl amide gels (6%) that were stained that were stained using silver nitrate. DNA bands were analyzed with BioCapt software. Allele count and frequency, genetic diversity, expected and observed heterozygosity , allele number and the effective allele number, genetic similarity and genetic distance, Fst, Rst, Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium based on X2 and Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) at 10% confidence level was calculated using the Gene Alex software. Dendogram for genetic distances and identities were calculated using TFPGA program for any level of hierarchy. The results for P. fluviatilis showed that from 15 pair of primers that were examined 6 polymorphic and 7 monomorphic loci were produced, while 2 loci didn't produce any DNA bands. Mean allele number was 4.1±1.1 and mean observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.56±0.12 and 0.58±0.14 respectively. It was also seen that specimens from all regions were not in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium in some of loci (P<0.001). Highest Fst (0.095) with Nm=2.37 was observed between Hendekhale and Amirkolaye and the lowest Fst (0.004) with Nm=59.31 was observed between Abkenar and Hendekhale. According to AMOVA Significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between recorded Rst in the studied regions in Anzali and Amirkolaye lagoons. In another words there are two distinct populations of this species in Anzali and Amirkolaye lagoons. The highest genetic distance (0.181) and lowest genetic resemblance (0.834) were observed between specimens from Hendekhale and Amirkolaye and the lowest genetic distance (0.099) and highest genetic 176 resemblance (0.981) were observed between specimens from Abkenar and Hendekhale. Based on the genetic dendogram tree derived by applying UPGMA algorithm, specimens from Anzali and Amirkolaye wetlands have the same ancestor. On the other hand there is no noticeable genetic distance between the specimens of these two regions. Also the results for S. lucioperca showed that from 15 pair of primers that were examined 6 polymorphic and 7 monomorphic loci were produced, while 2 loci didn't produce any DNA bands. Mean allele number was 3.0±0.6 and mean observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.52±0.21 and 0.50±0.14 respectively. It was also seen that specimens from all regions were not in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium in some of loci (P<0.001). Highest Fst (0.093) with Nm=2.43 was observed between Aras dam and Anzali wetland and the lowest Fst (0.022) with Nm=11.27 was observed between Talesh and Chaboksar coasts. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between recorded Rst in the studied regions exept for Talesh and Chaboksar Coasts. In another words there are three distinct populations of this species in Caspian sea, Anzali wetland and Aras dam. Highest genetic distance (0.110) and lowest genetic resemblance (0.896) were observed between specimens from Aras dam and Anzali wetland and the lowest genetic distance (0.034) and highest genetic resemblance (0.966) were observed between specimens from Talesh and Chaboksar coasts. Based on the genetic dendogram tree derived by applying UPGMA algorithm, specimens from Talesh and Chaboksar coasts have the lowest genetic distance. On the other hand the main population of this species belongs to Anzali wetland. Phylogenetic relationship of these two species was inferred using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing. For this purpose 2 specimens of P. fluviatilis from Anzali wetland, 2 specimens of S. lucioperca from Aras dam and 2 specimens of S. lucioperca from Anzali wetland were sequenced and submitted in Gene Bank. These sequences were aligned with Clustal W. The phylogenic relationships were assessed with Mega 4. The results of evolutionary history studies of these species using Neighbor-Joining and Maximum Parsimony methods showed that the evolutionary origin of pikeperch in Aras Dam and Anzali wetland is common. On the other hand these two species had common ancestor in about 4 million years ago. Also different sequences of any region specimens are supposed as different haplotypes. 177 As a conclusion the results of this study showed that microsatellite and mtDNA sequencing methods respectively are effective in genetic structure and phylogenic studies of P. fluviatilis and S. lucioperca.

Isolatin [sic] the bacteria produced biactive [sic] metabolits [sic] cytotoxic compound in order to prduction [sic] anticancer substance in the coral regin [sic] the Persian Gulf (Larak Island)

In the present investigation the marine bacteria isolated from corals, sponges sea water and sediments of coral regions in the larak Island located in the Persian Gulf and were examined for ability to produce cytotoxic metabolits in order to use as an anticancer compounds. Cytotoxic effect were isolated bacteria from different samples and were examined by Artemia Cytotoxic Bioassay test, in which 4.5 percent of sea waters, 12 percent of sediments and 28 percent of marine invertebrat showed cytotoxic activity, using Brine Shrimp Bioassay test. Streptomyces S-2004 isolated from soft coral specified as Sinularia erecta had LC50=0.5mg/m1 in Brine Shrimp Bioaassay test. The streptomyces S-2004 produced cytotoxic metabolits in low nutrient condition and sea water medium after 7 days on 250 rpm shaken in vitro condition. The extract partially were semipurified. Then ethyl acetate extraction from aceton extracted of bacterial plate had cytotoxic effect (LC50=4.19ktg/m1) in Human epidermoid carcinoma of mouth cells (KB) by using neutral red assay. Morphological effects of this extract on KB cells showed turgescence, cellular blebs and apoptosis which was a proof for anticancer compounds of the extract. It is seems that streptomyces S-2004 is a new strain and could be introduced as a talented bacteria, which produced cytotoxic metabolits.

Lead exposure through gestation-only caused long-term learning/memory deficits in young adult offspring

Numerous observations in clinical and preclinical studies indicate that the developing brain is particular sensitive to lead (Pb)'s pernicious effects. However, the effect of gestation-only Pb exposure on cognitive functions at maturation has not been studied. We investigated the potential effects of three levels of Pb exposure (low, middle, and high Pb: 0.03%, 0.09%, and 0.27% of lead acetate-containing diets) at the gestational period on the spatial memory of young adult offspring by Morris water maze spatial learning and fixed location/visible platform tasks. Our results revealed that three levels of Pb exposure significantly impaired memory retrieval in male offspring, but only female offspring at low levels of Pb exposure showed impairment of memory retrieval. These impairments were not due to the gross disturbances in motor performance and in vision because these animals performed the fixed location/visible platform task as well as controls, indicating that the specific aspects of spatial learning/memory were impaired. These results suggest that exposure to Pb during the gestational period is sufficient to cause long-term learning/memory deficits in young adult offspring. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pneumonia in cats caused by Pneumocystis carinii purified from mouse lungs

Fourteen mice trapped in or near houses were infected with Pneumocystis carinii and the establishment of pneumonia was helped by injecting with cortisone acetate for 6 weeks. Then 16 cats were infected with P. carinii by injection of lung homogenate from the mice which contained from 1.3 X 10(5) to 2.6 X 10(5) P. carinii cysts. The infection resulted in severe cough and tachypnea in Cats 1-8 injected with cortisone acetate, and a subclinical infection in Cats 9-16. In Cats 1-8, the main pathological finding was typical P. carinii pneumonia, but there only was slight swelling of the lungs in Cats 9-16.

Enhanced protection against oxidative stress in an astaxanthin-overproduction Haematococcus mutant (Chlorophyceae)

Many unicellular green algae can become yellow or red in various natural habitats due to mass accumulation of a secondary carotenoid, such as lutein, or astaxanthin. The accumulation of secondary carotenoids is generally thought to be a survival strategy of the algae under photo-oxidative stress or other adverse environmental conditions. The physiological role of the carotenoids in stress response is less well understood at the subcellular or molecular level. In this study, a stable astaxanthin overproduction mutant (MT 2877) was isolated by chemical mutagenesis of a wild type (WT) of the green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow NIES-144. MT 2877 was identical to the WT with respect to morphology, pigment composition, and growth kinetics during the early vegetative stage of the life cycle. However, it had the ability to synthesize and accumulate about twice the astaxanthin content of the WT under high light, or under high light in the presence of excess amounts of ferrous sulphate and sodium acetate. Under stress, the mutant exhibited higher photosynthetic activities than the WT, based on considerably higher chlorophyll fluorescence induction, chlorophyll autofluorescence intensities, and oxygen evolution rates. Cell mortality caused by stress was reduced by half in the mutant culture compared with the WT. Enhanced protection of the mutant against stress is attributed to its accelerated carotenogenesis and accumulation of astaxanthin. Our results suggest that MT 2877, or other astaxanthin overproduction Haematococcus mutants, may offer dual benefits, as compared with the wild type, by increasing cellular astaxanthin content while reducing cell mortality during stress-induced carotenogenesis.

Rapid patterning of 1-D collagenous topography as an ECM protein fibril platform for image cytometry.

Cellular behavior is strongly influenced by the architecture and pattern of its interfacing extracellular matrix (ECM). For an artificial culture system which could eventually benefit the translation of scientific findings into therapeutic development, the system should capture the key characteristics of a physiological microenvironment. At the same time, it should also enable standardized, high throughput data acquisition. Since an ECM is composed of different fibrous proteins, studying cellular interaction with individual fibrils will be of physiological relevance. In this study, we employ near-field electrospinning to create ordered patterns of collagenous fibrils of gelatin, based on an acetic acid and ethyl acetate aqueous co-solvent system. Tunable conformations of micro-fibrils were directly deposited onto soft polymeric substrates in a single step. We observe that global topographical features of straight lines, beads-on-strings, and curls are dictated by solution conductivity; whereas the finer details such as the fiber cross-sectional profile are tuned by solution viscosity. Using these fibril constructs as cellular assays, we study EA.hy926 endothelial cells' response to ROCK inhibition, because of ROCK's key role in the regulation of cell shape. The fibril array was shown to modulate the cellular morphology towards a pre-capillary cord-like phenotype, which was otherwise not observed on a flat 2-D substrate. Further facilitated by quantitative analysis of morphological parameters, the fibril platform also provides better dissection in the cells' response to a H1152 ROCK inhibitor. In conclusion, the near-field electrospun fibril constructs provide a more physiologically-relevant platform compared to a featureless 2-D surface, and simultaneously permit statistical single-cell image cytometry using conventional microscopy systems. The patterning approach described here is also expected to form the basics for depositing other protein fibrils, seen among potential applications as culture platforms for drug screening.

Optimization of growth and fatty acid composition of a unicellular marine picoplankton, Nannochloropsis sp., with enriched carbon sources

A unicellular marine picoplankton, Nannochloropsis sp., was grown under CO2-enriched photoautotrophic or/and acetate-added mixotrophic conditions. Photoautotrophic conditions with enriched CO2 of 2800 mul CO2 l(-1) and aeration gave the highest biomass yield (634 mg dry wt l(-1)), the highest total lipid content (9% of dry wt), total fatty acids (64 mg g(-1) dry wt), polyunsaturated fatty acids (35% total fatty acids) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5omega3) (16 mg g(-1) dry wt or 25% of total fatty acids). Mixotrophic cultures gave a greater protein content but less carbohydrates. Adding sodium acetate (2 mM) decreased the amounts of the total fatty acids and EPA. Elevation of CO2 in photoautotrophic culture thus enhances growth and raises the production of EPA in Nannochloropsis sp.

Photoluminescence of ZnO : Tb nanoparticles

Terbium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by hydrolyzing zinc acetate and terbium acetate. Nanoparticle-matrix-facilitated photoluminescence which is related to Tb3+ ions has been observed for ZnO:Tb nanoparticles. The dependence of emission intensity on doping concentration of Tb3+ ions has been investigated. An energy transfer from excited states of ZnO hosts to dopants is disclosed by the fact that the emission intensity of Tb3+ centers increases with increasing Tb content at the expense of emission from defect states in ZnO matrix.

Surface states induced photoluminescence from Mn2+ doped CdS nanoparticles

Manganese doped CdS nanoparticles were synthesized in basic aqueous solution by using mercapto acetate as capping reagents. The nanoparticles were characterized by HRTEM, EPR, photoluminescence and optical absorption measurements. Out of our expectation, doping of Mn2+ ions altered the recombination paths in CdS nanoparticles markedly. The surface stares facilitated PL from Mn2+ doped CdS nanoparticles is reported. A complete suppression of the emission from surface states at room temperature when doping with Mn2+ ions has been observed for the first time. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Correlated structural and optical investigation of terbium-doped zinc oxide nanocrystals

Tb3+-doped zinc oxide nanocrystals with a hexagonal wurzite structure were successfully prepared by reaction between Zn-O-Tb precursors and LiOH in ethanol. Good incorporation of Tb3+ in ZnO nanocrystals is proved by XRD, FTIR, PL and PLE measurements. The presence of acetate complexes to zinc atoms on particle surfaces is disclosed by FTIR results. Emission from both Tb3+ ions and surface states in ZnO matrix, as well as their correlation were observed. The luminescence mechanism is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

MoNi/gamma-Al2O3 Catalyst: Preparation and Catalytic Activity for Acetic Acid Hydrotreating

MoNi/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. The catalyst samples were characterized by XRD and TPR. The effects of Mo promoter content and the catalyst reducing temperature Oil hydrotreatment activity of the catalyst were studied under 200 degrees C and 3 MPa hydrogen pressure using acetic acid as the model compound. The XRD results indicate that the addition of Mo promoter is beneficial to the uniformity of nickel species on the catalyst and decreases the Interaction between nickel species and the support Which results in the decrease the of NiAl2O4 spinel formation. The addition of Mo promoter also decreases the reducing temperature of the catalyst. After the catalyst of 0.06 MoNi/gamma-Al2O3 being reduced Under the atmosphere of H-2/N-2(5/95, V/V), nickel oxide was reduced to Ni-0. The reaction was promoted obviously upon the addition of the MoNi/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst reduced at 600 degrees C. The Mo-modified Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst reduced at 600 degrees C displayed the highest activity during the reaction, the conversion of acetic acid reached the highest point of 33.2%. The products included ethyl acetate and water.