AN ACTIVATOR OF BLOOD-COAGULATION FACTOR-X FROM THE VENOM OF BUNGARUS-FASCIATUS

A specific activator of blood coagulation factor X was purified from the venom of Bungarus fasciatus by gel filtration and by ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column (FPLC). It consisted of a single polypeptide chain, with a mel. wt of 70,000 in reducing and non-reducing conditions. The enzyme had an amidolytic activity towards the chromogenic substrates S-2266 and S-2302 but it did not hydrolyse S-2238, S2251 or S-2222, which are specific substrates for thrombin, plasmin and factor Xa, respectively. The enzyme activated factor X in vitro and the effect was Ca2+ dependent with a Hill coefficient of 7.9. As with physiological activators, the venom activator cleaves the heavy chain of factor X, producing the activated factor Xa alpha. The purified factor X activator from B. fasciatus venom did not activate prothrombin, nor did it cleave or clot purified fibrinogen. The amidolytic activity and the factor X activation activity of the factor X activator from B. fasciatus venom were readily inhibited by serine protease inhibitors such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), benzamidine and by soybean trypsin inhibitor but not by EDTA. These observations suggest that the factor X activator from B. fasciatus venom is a serine protease. It therefore differs from those of activators obtained from Vipera russelli and Bothrops atrox venoms, which are metalloproteinases.

A NOVEL PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR FROM SNAKE-VENOM - PURIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND MOLECULAR-CLONING

A novel plasminogen activator from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom (TSV-PA) has been identified and purified to homogeneity. It is a single chain glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 33,000 and an isoelectric point of pH 5.2. It specifically activates plasminogen through an enzymatic reaction. The activation of human native GIu-plasminogen by TSV-PA is due to a single cleavage of the molecule at the peptide bond Arg(561)-Val-(562). Purified TSV-PA, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of several tripeptide p-nitroanilide substrates, does not activate nor degrade prothrombin, factor X, or protein C and does not clot fibrinogen nor show fibrino(geno)lytic activity in the absence of plasminogen. The activity of TSV-PA was readily inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and by p-nitrophenyl-p-guanidinobenzoate. Oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of the N-terminal and the internal peptide sequences of TSV-PA were used for the amplification of cDNA fragments by polymerase chain reaction. This allowed the cloning of a full-length cDNA encoding TSV-PA from a cDNA library prepared from the venom glands. The deduced complete amino acid sequence of TSV-PA indicates that the mature TSV-PA protein is composed of 234 amino acids and contains a single potential N-gIycosylation site at Asn(1G1). The sequence of TSV-PA exhibits a high degree of sequence identity with other snake venom proteases: 66% with the protein C activator from Aghistrodon contortrix contortrix venom, 63% with batroxobin, and 60% with the factor V activator from Russell's viper venom. On the other hand, TSV-PA shows only 21-23% sequence similarity with the catalytic domains of u-PA and t-PA. Furthermore, TSV-PA lacks the sequence site that has been demonstrated to be responsible for the interaction of t-PA (KHRR) and u-PA (RRHR) with plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1.

Characterization of three fibrinogenolytic enzymes from Chinese green tree viper (Trimeresurus stejnegeri) venom

Rong Gao, Yun Zhang, Qing-Xiong Meng, Wen-Hui Lee, Dong-Sheng Li, Yu-liang Xiong and Wan-Yu Wang. Characterization of three fibrinogenolytic enzymes from Chinese green tree viper (Trimeresurus stejneger ) venom. Toxicon 36, 457-467, 1998.-From the venom of Chinese green tree viper (Trimeresurus stejnegeri), three distinct fibrinogenolytic enzymes: stejnefibrase-l, stejnefibrase-2 and stejnefibrase-3, were purified by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance chromatograghy (HPLC). SDS-PAGE analysis of those three enzymes showed that they consisted of a single polypeptide chain with mel. wt of -50 000, 31 000 and 32 000, respectively. Like TSV-PA (a specific plasminogen activator) and stejnobin (a fibrinogen-clotting enzyme) purified from the same venom, stejnfibrase-1, -2 and -3 were able to hydrolyze several chromogenic substrate. On the other hand, different from TSV-PA. and stejnobin, stejnefibrase-l, -2 and -3 did not activate plasminogen and did not possess fibrinogen-clotting activity. The three purified enzymes directly degraded fibrinogen to small fragments and rendered it unclottable by thrombin. Stejnefibrase-2 degraded preferentially BE-chain while stejnefibrase-l and -3 cleaved concomitantly Ax and B beta-chains of fibrinogen. None of these proteases degraded the gamma-chain of fibrinogen. When correlated with the loss of clottability of fibrinogen, the most active enzyme was stejnefibrase-l. The activities of the three enzymes were inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and p-nitrophenyl-p-guanidinobenzoate (NPGB), indicating that like TSV-PA and stejnobin, they are venom serine proteases. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of a fibrinogen-clotting enzyme from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom, and comparative study with other venom proteases

Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom, which contains TSV-PA (a specific plasminogen activator sharing 60-70% sequence homology with venom fibrinogen-clotting enzymes), also possesses fibrinogen-clotting activity in vitro. A fibrinogen-clotting enzyme (stejnobin) has been purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column. It is a single-chain glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 44,000. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of stejnobin shows great homology with venom fibrinogen-clotting enzymes and TSV-PA. Like TSV-PA, stejnobin was able to hydrolyse several chromogenic substrates. Comparative study of substrate specificities of stejnobin and other venom proteases purified in our laboratory was carried out on five chromogenic substrates. Stejnobin clotted human fibrinogen with a specific activity of 122 NIH thrombin-equivalent units/mg protein. However, stejnobin did not act on other blood coagulation factors, such as factor X, prothrombin and plasminogen. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride inhibited its activity, whereas ethylenediamine tetracetic acid had no effect on it, indicating that it is a serine protease. Although stejnobin showed strong immunological cross-reaction with polyclonal antibodies raised against TSV-PA, it was interesting to observe that, unlike the case of TSV-PA, these antibodies did not inhibit the amidolytic and fibrinogen-clotting activities of stejnobin. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Pallas' viper (Agkistrodon halys pallas) venom on blood coagulation and characterization of a prothrombin activator

The action of Pallas' viper (Agkistrodon halys pallas) venom on blood coagulation was examined in vitro and a strong anticoagulant effect was observed. This action was abolished after treatment with a specific inhibitor of phospholipase A(2) activity (p-bromophenacyl bromide), revealing a procoagulant action in low concentrations of treated venom (around 1 mu g/ml). The effect of the venom an haemostasis was further characterized by measuring its ability to activate purified blood coagulation factors. It is concluded that A. halys pallas venom contains prothrombin activation activity. A prothrombin activator (aharin) was purified from the venom by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column. It consisted of a single polypeptide chain, with a mol. wt of 63,000. Purified aharin possessed no amidolytic activity on chromogenic substrates. It did not act on other blood coagulation factors, such as factor X and plasminogen, nor did it cleave or clot purified fibrinogen. The prothrombin activation activity of aharin was readily inhibited by ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (a metal chelator), but specific serine protease inhibitors such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride had no effect on it. These observations suggest that, like those prothrombin activators from Echis carinatus and Bothrops atrox venoms, the prothrombin activator from A. halys pallas venom is a metalloproteinase. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of a thrombin-like enzyme from the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii

From the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii, a distinct thrombin-like enzyme, called jerdonobin. was purified by DEAF A-25 ion-exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). SDS-PAGE analysis of this enzyme shows that it consists of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 38,000. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of jerdonobin has great homology with venom thrombin-like enzymes documented. Jerdonobin is able to hydrolyze several chromogenic substrates. The enzyme directly clots fibrinogen with an activity of 217 NIH units/mg, The fibrinopeptides released, identified by HPLC consisted of fibrinopeptide A and a small amount of fibrinopepide B. The activities of the enzyme were inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and p-nitrophenyl-p-guanidinobenzoate (NPGB). However, metal chelator (EDTA) had no effect on it. indicating it is venom serine protease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Jerdonase, a novel serine protease with kinin-releasing and fibrinogenolytic activity from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom

A novel kinin-releasing and fibrin (ogen)olytic enzyme termed jerdonase was purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii by DEAE Sephadex A-50 anion exchange, Sephadex G-100 (superfine) gel filtration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Jerdonase migrated as a single band with an approximate molecular weight of 55 kD under the reduced conditions and 53 kD under the non-reduced conditions. The enzyme was a glycoprotein containing 35.8% neutral carbohydrate. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of jerdonase was determined to be IIGGDECNINEHPFLVALYDA, which showed high sequence identity to other snake venom serine proteases. Jerdonase catalyzed the hydrolysis of BAEE, S-2238 and S-2302, which was inhibited by phenymethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), but not affected by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Jerdonase preferentially cleaved the Aalpha-chain of human fibrinogen with lower activity towards Bbeta-chain. Moreover, the enzyme hydrolyzed bovine low-molecular-mass kininogen and releasing bradykinin. In conclusion, all results indicated that jerdonase was a multifunctional venom serine protease.

Raman scattering efficiency of graphene

We determine the Raman scattering efficiency of the G and 2D peaks in graphene. Three substrates are used: silicon covered with 300 or 90 nm oxide, and calcium fluoride (CaF2). On Si/SiOx, the areas of the G and 2D peak show a strong dependence on the substrate due to interference effects, while on CaF2 no significant dependence is detected. Unintentional doping is reduced by placing graphene on CaF2. We determine the Raman scattering efficiency by comparison with the 322 cm -1 peak area of CaF2. At 2.41 eV, the Raman efficiency of the G peak is ∼200×10-5 m-1Sr-1, and changes with the excitation energy to the power of 4. The 2D Raman efficiency is at least one order of magnitude higher than that of the G peak, with a different excitation energy dependence. © 2013 American Physical Society.

An improved method for the extraction of low molecular weight organic acids in variable charge soils

Due to specific adsorption to variable charge soils, low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) have not been sufficiently extracted, even if common extractants, such as water and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), were employed. In this work, the method for extracting LMWOAs in soils with 0.1 M NaOH was improved for variable charge soils; e.g. 1.0 M potassium fluoride (KF) with pH 4.0 was applied as an extractant jointed with 0.1 M NaOH based on its stronger ability to change the electrochemical properties of variable charge soils by specific adsorption. With the proposed method, the recoveries of oxalic, tartaric, malic, citric and fumaric acids were increased from 83 4, 93 1, 22 2, 63 +/- 5 and 84 +/- 3% to 98 +/- 2, 100 +/- 2, 85 +/- 2, 90 +/- 2 and 89 +/- 2%, respectively, compared with NaOH alone. Simultaneously, the LMWOAs in Agri-Udic Ferrosol with field moisture were measured with a satisfactory result.

Increased carbon nanotube area density after catalyst generation from cobalt disilicide using a cyclic reactive ion etching approach

We used a cyclic reactive ion etching (RIE) process to increase the Co catalyst density on a cobalt disilicide (CoSi2) substrate for carbon nanotube (CNT) growth. Each cycle of catalyst formation consists of a room temperature RIE step and an annealing step at 450 °C. The RIE step transfers the top-surface of CoSi2 into cobalt fluoride; while the annealing reduces the fluoride into metallic Co nanoparticles. We have optimized this cyclic RIE process and determined that the catalyst density can be doubled in three cycles, resulting in a final CNT shell density of 6.6 × 10 11 walls·cm-2. This work demonstrates a very effective approach to increase the CNT density grown directly on silicides. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Color center conversion by femtosecond pulse laser irradiation in LiF : F-2 crystals

We report the observation of intense spontaneous emission of green light from LiF:F-2:F-3(+) centers in active channel waveguides generated in lithium fluoride crystals by near-infrared femtosecond laser radiation. While irradiating the crystal at room temperature with 405 nm light from a laser diode, yellow and green emission was seen by the naked eye. Stripe waveguides were fabricated by translating the crystal along the irradiated laser pulse, and their guiding properties and fluorescence spectra at 540 nm demonstrated. This single-step process inducing a waveguide structure offers a good prospect for the development of a waveguide laser in bulk LiF crystals.

氟化物无机纳米粒子的制备及其稀土掺杂体系的光谱性质

对于纳米复合材料来说，首要解决的问题就是光散射。光散射现象主要是粒子尺寸以及粒子与基质材料折射率的差异引起的。对于小粒子（＜25nm），纳米粒子与基质材料之间的折射率差异不会造成明显的光散射现象，但对于较大粒子来说，为避免明显的光散射现象的发生，二者之间的折射必须吻合。由瑞利散射公式计算得知，当粒子直径大到100nm时，粒子与基质之间的折射率差值必须在0.02之内。因此，解决复合材料光散射问题有两种途径：尽量减小纳米粒子尺寸；选择折射率匹配良好的氟化物和聚合物分别作光学活性组分的基质和材料的基底材料。由于微乳液法合成纳米粒子条件温和、设备简单，所合成纳米粒子尺寸可控。本文首先研究了微乳液结构和性质，采用微乳液法合成氟化物纳米粒子，并研究了其稀土掺杂体系的光学性质。对于微乳液结构和性质的研究，本文绘制了十六烷基三甲基嗅化钱（CTAB）／正丁醇（n-C_4H_9OH）／正辛烷（n-C_8H_(18)）／水（或NH4F溶液、或Ba(NO_3)_2溶液、或KNO_3-Mg(NO_3)_2混合溶液）四组分微乳体系的三元相图，观察了电导率随水（或豁溶液）含量变化的规律，很好地印证了微乳液体系的相行为。实验发现，在这四个四元体系的相图中，Ba(NO_3)_2溶液体系的油包水区域面积最大，纯水体系水包油微乳区面积最小，我们分析认为水包油微乳区面积的变化是由于体系中加入离子后对表面活性剂阳离子的静电作用所引起的。采用十六烷基三甲基澳化按（CTAB）／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系合成了KMgF_3以及KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子。XRD分析表明所合成纳米粒子为立方KMgF_3单相；环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM）分析得到所合成KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子粒径约为20nm。KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子光谱研究发现其发射峰位于360nm附近，其激发峰位于250nm附近，较KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)单晶的激发峰峰蓝移了约80nm。对KMgF_3:Eu~(2+)纳米粒子激发峰蓝移的机理进行了初步探讨。采用CTAB/2-丁醇／水微乳体系合成出球形BaF_2纳米粒子，XRD和ICP数据显示样品为纯BaF_2相；FTIR谱图证明体系中没有有机物质的存在。将由纳米粒子分散到水中所形成的胶体滴到铜网上，干燥后发现所合成粒子有自组装的特性摘要且粒子自组装形状因粒子尺寸以及样品制备过程而异。粒子的自组装完全是自发的，没有任何的化学试剂对粒子进行包覆，也没对粒子施加除超声分散之外的任何外力。当将一滴胶体溶液直接滴到铜网上，干燥后我们得到粒子的圆形自组装，较大粒子分布在外围形成一个圆，较小粒子分布在圆的内部形成环；我们将一滴BaF_2纳米粒子胶体溶液滴加到铜网上，待干燥后滴加第二滴，重复此操作两次，这样铜网上共滴加的胶体溶液为3滴，此时我们得到粒子的双平行线型组装；直接滴加3滴BaF_2纳米粒子胶体溶液到铜网上，干燥后得粒子的桶状自组装。采用CTAB／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系于35℃下合成带有枝晶的BaF_2纳米立方。这些枝晶生长在纳米立方的两个相邻面之间呈片状弧形。粉末XRD分析表明，体系为BaF_2单相且结晶良好；用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对粒子进行分析发现，所得纳米立方边长为400-450nm；FTIR分析表明，经处理后样品中没有有机物质残存；对枝晶的能谱分析（EDS）分析表明，枝晶中只有Ba和F两种元素而未发现C元素存在。这说明，立方上所生长的枝晶为纯BaF_2产物而非有机物质所形成的。试验发现，所合成粒子的尺寸和形状依赖于反应温度和反应时间。采用士一述体系，于25℃下反应，可得到横截面边长40nm，长200nm的立方柱状纳米粒子，并且未见枝晶。从不同反应时间所合成粒子的形状上我们可以估计纳米立方以及枝晶的住：长过程。采用CTAB／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系首次合成了BaF_2:Er纳米粒子，并研究了掺杂浓度对粒子红外发光的影响，XRD分析表明所合成BaF_2:Er纳米粒子为BaF_2立方相，物相纯净，结晶良好；TEM分析表明在掺杂浓度为6mol％时，粒子尺寸为15-20nm，士曾大粒子的掺杂浓度（8，10和12mol％）下，其尺寸和形状无明显改变，但粒子团聚现象严重。粒子在氢离子激光器488nm激发下的荧光（PL）光谱显示，随粒子掺杂浓度的增大，其发光强度增强，半峰宽加宽。研究了BoF_2:Er纳米粒子尺寸对其发光强度的影响，通过调节体系中水含量以达到控制粒子尺寸的目的。在体系中水含量。分别为5，8，15的条件「分别合成出平均粒径约为8，10和20.5nm的粒子。从粒子的激光粒度分布图中我们可得到粒子的平均尺寸。从粒子的XRD图中我们可以发现，随粒子粒径的减小，粉末的衍射峰出现偏移的情况。对于不同种纳米粒子，粒子粒径越小，衍射峰偏移越严重；对于相同的粒子，衍射角度越大，衍射峰偏移的越严重。从三种粒子的红峰的半峰宽和有效半峰宽越宽，对于8nm粒径的粒子，我们得到其最大半峰宽为145nm或有效半峰宽173nm。而且随粒子粒径的减小，其发射峰出现红移的现象。采用CTAB／正丁醇／正辛烷／水体系首次合成了CeF_3以及掺杂浓度为17，25，30，42和50mol％的CeF_3:Lu纳米粒子。XRD分析表明，所合成纳米粒子为CeF_3六角相，物相纯净，结晶良好，即使在高的掺杂浓度下（50mol％）体系中一也无其他杂质相的存在。环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM-FEG）分析表明，所合成CeF_3纳米粒子粒径为巧一20nm，Lu的掺入对粒子的形状和尺寸影响不明显，但在较高的掺杂浓度下粒子团聚现象严重。粒子的荧光光谱表明，CeF_3以及Lu：CeF_3纳米粒子在254nm的激发波长下的发射光谱从290nm到400nm的宽带发射，发射峰位于325nm，较单晶体的发射峰红移约30nm；Lu的掺入有利于提高CeF_3纳米粒子的发光强度，随Lu掺入量的增大，粒子的发光强度出现先增后减的情况，在掺杂浓度为30mol％时，我们得到CeF_3纳米粒子的最大发射，但在50mol％的掺杂浓度下的粒子的发射强度仍要比未掺杂体系的发光强度要强。325nln监测粒子的激发光谱是从200nm到350nm的宽带吸收，激发峰峰位于260nm左右。比CeF_3单晶体的280nm激发峰蓝移了20nm左右。而且粒子的激发光谱中未见长波方向上的肩峰，说明粒子中CeF_3纳米粒子结晶良好，且体系中氧含量低。采用自创建一步原位聚合的方法合成了聚合物包覆的纳米粒子，并采用本体聚合的方法合成复合材料。综上所述，本文采用微乳液法合成了不同的氟化物纳米粒子，并研究了其稀土掺杂体系的光学特性，为聚合物基复合材料的制备以及应用奠定了可靠的实验基础。

Micro Insert: A Prototype Full-Ring PET Device for Improving the Image Resolution of a Small-Animal PET Scanner

A full-ring PET insert device should be able to enhance the image resolution of existing small-animal PET scanners. Methods: The device consists of 18 high-resolution PET detectors in a cylindric enclosure. Each detector contains a cerium-doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate array (12 x 12 crystals, 0.72 x 1.51 x 3.75 mm each) coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube via an optical fiber bundle made of 8 x 16 square multiclad fibers. Signals from the insert detectors are connected to the scanner through the electronics of the disabled first ring of detectors, which permits coincidence detection between the 2 systems. Energy resolution of a detector was measured using a Ge-68 point source, and a calibrated 68Ge point source stepped across the axial field of view (FOV) provided the sensitivity profile of the system. A Na-22 point source imaged at different offsets from the center characterized the in-plane resolution of the insert system. Imaging was then performed with a Derenzo phantom filled with 19.5 MBq of F-18-fluoride and imaged for 2 h; a 24.3-g mouse injected with 129.5 MBq of F-18-fluoride and imaged in 5 bed positions at 3.5 h after injection; and a 22.8-g mouse injected with 14.3 MBq of F-18-FDG and imaged for 2 h with electrocardiogram gating. Results: The energy resolution of a typical detector module at 511 keV is 19.0% +/- 3.1 %. The peak sensitivity of the system is approximately 2.67%. The image resolution of the system ranges from 1.0- to 1.8-mm full width at half maximum near the center of the FOV, depending on the type of coincidence events used for image reconstruction. Derenzo phantom and mouse bone images showed significant improvement in transaxial image resolution using the insert device. Mouse heart images demonstrated the gated imaging capability of the device. Conclusion: We have built a prototype full-ring insert device for a small-animal PET scanner to provide higher-resolution PET images within a reduced imaging FOV. Development of additional correction techniques are needed to achieve quantitative imaging with such an insert.

Liquid-liquid extraction of protactinium(V) using tri-iso-octylamine

Solvent extraction of protactinium with tri-iso-octyl-amine (TIOA) in xylene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform from HCl, HF, HNO3, HClO4 and H2SO4 media was studied using Pa-233 as a radiotracer. The extraction efficiencies of protactinium were determined as a function of shaking time, concentrations of mineral acids in aqueous phase, extractant concentrations and diluents in organic phase. The extraction mechanism was discussed. The results show that the extracted species in the organic phase is [(R3N-H)(n)Pa(OH)(x)Cl-y(5-x-y)].

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of microporous crystals of trivalent metal-containing zirconium phosphates

Two organically templated trivalent metal-containing crystalline zirconium phosphate materials FeZrPO-8 and AlZrPO-8 have been prepared hydrothermally by using fluoride as a mineralizer, and 1,6-diaminohexane (DAH) as templates. The powder XRD patterns indicate that the as-synthesized products are new materials. Substitutions of Al3+ or Fe3+ into Zr4+ sites were confirmed by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. The thermal behavior of the title compounds have been investigated using TG-DTA and X-ray thermodiffractometry, which indicated that the inorganic framework of the compounds are thermally stable up to similar to400 degreesC. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.