Analysis of 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance for Ru(2,2 '-bipyridine)(2)(4,4 '-dimethyl-2,2 '-bipyridine) (PF6)(2)

The H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra are reported for Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)(2)(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(PF6)(2) that may be used as elechochemiluminescent species. Because of the effect of Ru atom on ligands and complex steric configuration, it is, difficult to attribute the spectra of the title molecular. By using 2D H-1-H-1 COSY and H-1-C-13 COSY methods, the proton and carbon-13 spectra are assigned completely. This also provides a basis for NMR characterization of the-similar new compounds.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectral assignments of 2,2 '-bis(p-aminobenzoic ester)-1,1 '-binaphthyl

H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of 2, 2'-bis(p-aminobenzoic ester)-1,1'-binaphthyl were assigned and confirmed using 2D H-1-H-1 COSY, C-13-H-1 HETCOR and C-13-H-1 long-range HETCOR methods. This provided a basis for NMR characterization of the similar compounds.

Study on the modified electrode of conducting polymers .3. Electron spin resonance characteristic of polypyrrole film electrode doped with heteropolyanions

The ESR of PPy films doped with Co (W2O7)(6)(10-) and CuW12O406- ions were reported and discussed. Results show that heteropolyanions not only play the role of neutralizing electricity in the PPy film, but also interact with the PPy molecular chain to form some adducts. The adducts affect the electronic structure of the PPy film and are unstable at more positive or more negative potentials. Dysonian ESR lineshape was recorded for the dry PPy film with CuW12O406- for the first time.

MAGNETIC-RESONANCE EXPERIMENTS ON UNDOPED AND DOPED POLY(PARA-PHENYLENE)

We investigated the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of undoped, FeCl3- and iodine-doped poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) prepared by the method of Kovacic. EPR measurements are used to characterize electronic states relevant for carrier transport in doped PPP. We found a novel dependence of room temperature linewidth (DELTAH(pp)) and spin density (N(spin)) on the dopant concentrations for iodine-doped PPP, namely, DELTAH(pp) first decreased and increased, and then decreased and increased again with increasing iodine concentration in the iodine-doped PPP. The corresponding value of N(spin) first increased and decreased, and then increased and decreased again with increasing iodine concentration in PPP. However, the changes in DELTAH(pp) and N(spin) with FeCl3 concentration in FeCl3-doped PPP differ from those of iodine-doped PPP. We explain the different EPR properties in FeCl3-doped and iodine-doped PPP.

INVESTIGATION OF PHASE SEPARATION BEHAVIOR IN POLY (METHYL METHACRYLATE)/POLY (STYRENE-CO-ACRYLONITRILE) MIXTURES WITH PULSED NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE

Thermally induced phase separation in the mixture of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with poly(styrene-co-acrylonitite (SAN) has intern studied with pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) in single spin-lattice retaxation time T-1 of the eornpatibl. mixture two T-1 corresponding to those of PM MA-rich and SAN-rich comairis. Meanwhile, both T-1 gradually changing with annealing time provides the direct evidence that the phase separation takes place with a decomposition mechanism. Diffusion coeffieient was to lac negative, indicating an uphal diffusion characteristics, The basic parameters governing its kinetics were estimated using NMR date which were in good agreement with those evaluated from time-resolved light scattering experiments for a 60/40(PMMA/SAN) mixture annealed at 180.0 degrees C.

A potent anti-oxidant property: fluorescent recombinant alpha-phycocyanin of Spirulina

To express and product a fluorescent antioxidant holo-alpha-phycocyanin (PC) of Spirulina platensis (Sp) with His-tag (rHHPC; recombinant holo-alpha-phycocyaninof Spirulina platensis with His-tag) in 5-l bench scale. A vector harbouring two cassettes was constructed: cpcA along with cpcE-cpcF in one cassette; ho1-pcyA in the other cassette. Lyases CpcE/F of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (S6) could catalyse the 82 site Cys in apo-alpha-PC of Sp linking with bilin chromophores, and rHHPC was biosynthesized in Escherichia coli BL21. The constant feeding mode was adopted, and transformant reached the biomass of rHHPC up to 0.55 g l(-1) broth in 5-litre bench scale. rHHPC was purified by Ni2+ affinity column conveniently. The absorbance and the fluorescence emission spectra of rHHPC had lambda(max) at 621 and 650 nm, respectively. The IC50 values of rHHPC were 277.5 +/- 25.8 mu g ml(-1) against hydroxyl radicals and 20.8 +/- 2.2 mu g ml(-1) against peroxyl radicals. Combinational biosynthesis of rHHPC was feasible, and the constant feeding mode was adopted to produce good yields of rHHPC. Fluorescent rHHPC with several unique qualitative and quantitative features was effective on scavenging hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. A potent antioxidant rHHPC was co-expressed, produced and characterized for nutritional and pharmacological values, which would help to develop phycobiliproteins' applications in their fluorescent and biological activities.

A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization

Discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals from marine organisms are attracting increasing interest. Several agents derived from marine organisms are under preclinical and clinical evaluation as potential anticancer drugs. We extracted and purified a novel anti-tumor protein from the coelomic fluid of Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The molecular weight of the highly purified protein, designated MML, was 40 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. MML exhibited significant cytotoxicity to several cancer cell types, including human hepatoma BEL-7402, human breast cancer MCF-7 and human colon cancer HCT116 cells. However, no inhibitory effect was found when treating murine normal fibroblasts NIH3T3 and benign human breast MCF-10A cells with MML. The cell death induced by MML was characterized by cell morphological changes. The induction of apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells by MML was weak by DNA ladder assay. The possible mechanisms of its anti-tumor effect might be the changes in cell membrane permeability and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. MML may be developed as a novel, highly selective and effective anti-cancer drug.

Molecular cloning, genomic organization and functional analysis of an anti-lipopolysaccharide factor from Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) represents one kind of basic proteins, which binds and neutralizes LPS and exhibits strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative R-type bacteria. The ALF gene of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis (Milne Edwards, 1853) (denoted as EsALF) was identified from haemocytes by expressed sequence tag (EST) and PCR approaches. The full-length cDNA of EsALF consisted of 700 nucleotides with a canonical polyadenylation signal-sequence AATAAA, a polyA tail, and an open-reading frame of 363 bp encoding 120 amino acids. The high similarity of EsALF-deduced amino acid sequence shared with the ALFs from other species indicated that EsALF should be a member of ALF family. The mRNA expression of EsALF in the tissues of heart, gonad, gill, haemocytes, eyestalk and muscle was examined by Northern blot analysis and mRNA transcripts of EsALF were mainly detected in haemocytes, heart and gonad. The temporal expression of EsALF in haemocytes after Vibrio anguillarum challenge was recorded by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The relative expression level of EsALF was up-regulated rapidly at 2 h post-injection and reached 3-fold to that in blank group. After a drastic decrease to the original level from 4 to 8h, the expression level increased again and reached 4-fold to that in the blank group at 12 h post-injection. The genomic DNA sequence of EsALF gene consists of 1174bp containing three exons and two introns. The coding sequence of the EsALF mature peptide was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)-pLysS to further elucidate its biological functions. The purified recombinant product showed bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive (G(+)) and Gram-negative (G(-)) bacteria, which demonstrated that the rEsALF was a broad-spectrum antibacterial peptide. All these results indicated that EsALF was an acute-phase protein involved in the immune responses of Chinese mitten crab, and provided a potential therapeutic agent for disease control in aquaculture. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel polypeptide from shark cartilage with potent anti-angiogenic activity

Using guanidine-HCl extraction, acetone precipitation, ultra-filtration and chromatography, a novel polypeptide with potent anti-angiogenic activity was purified from cartilage of the shark, Prionace glauca. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and SDS-PAGE revealed that the substance is a novel polypeptide with MW 15500 (PG155). The anti-angiogenic effects of PG155 were evaluated using zebrafish embryos model in vivo. Treatment of the embryos with 20 mu g/ml PG155 resulted in a significant reduction in the growth of subintestinal vessels (SIVs). A higher dose resulted in almost complete inhibition of SIV growth, as observed by endogenous alkaline phosphatase (EAP) staining assay. An in vitro transwell experiment revealed that the polypeptide inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced migration and tubulogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Exposure of HUVECs in 20 mu g/ml PG155 significantly decreased the density of migrated cells. Almost complete inhibition of cell migration was found when HUVECs were treated with 40-80 mu g/ml PG155. PG155 (20 mu g/ml) markedly inhibited the tube formation of HUVECs and a dose-dependent effect was also found when treatment of HUVECs with PG155 at the concentration from 20 to 160 mu g/ml.

The second anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (EsALF-2) with antimicrobial activity from Eriocheir sinensis

The anti-lipopolysaccharide factor CALF) is a small basic protein that can bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mediating degranulation and activation of an intracellular coagulation cascade. In the present study, cDNA of the second Eriocheir sinensis ALF (designated as EsALF-2) was cloned and the full-length cDNA of EsALF-2 was of 724 bp, consisting of an open reading frame (ORF) of 363 bp encoding a polypeptide of 120 amino acids. The deduced amino acid of EsALF-2 shared 82% similarity with EsALF-1 from E. sinensis and about 53-65% similarity with ALFs from other crustaceans. The potential tertiary structures of EsALF-1 and EsALF-2 contained two highly conserved-cysteine residues to define the LPS binding site, but the N-terminal of EsALF-1 formed a single additional alpha-helix compared to EsALF-2, implying that EsALF-1 and EsALF-2 might represent different biological functions in E. sinensis. The mRNA transcript of EsALF-2 was detected in all examined tissues of healthy crabs, including haemocytes, hepatopancreas, gill, muscle, heart and gonad, which suggested that EsALF-2 could be a multifunctional molecule for the host immune defense responses and thereby provided systemic protection against pathogens. The mRNA expression of EsALF-2 was up-regulated after Listonelln anguillarum and Pichia pastoris challenge and the recombinant protein of EsALF-2 showed antimicrobial activity against L. anguillarum and P. pastoris. indicating that EsALF-2 was involved in the immune defense responses in Chinese mitten crab against L. anguillarum and P. pastoris. These results together indicated that there were abundant and diverse ALFs in E. sinensis with various biological functions and these ALFs would provide candidate promising therapeutic or prophylactic agents in health management and diseases control of crab aquaculture. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anti-cyclonic eddies northwest of Luzon in summer-fall observed by satellite altimeters

Anti-cyclonic eddies northwest of Luzon of the Philippines in summer-fall are identified in the merged data products of satellite altimeters of Topex/Poseidon, Jason-1 and European Research Satellites. The generation and propagation of the anti-cyclonic eddies, which are confirmed by satellite ocean color data, are found to be a seasonal phenomenon that is phase-locked to the onset of the southwesterly monsoon and the relaxation of the cyclonic wind curl in the northeastern South China Sea. The eddies originate from northwest of Luzon in summer, move across the northeastern South China Sea to reach the China continental slope in fall, and propagate southwestward along the continental slope in fall-winter, inducing shelfbreak current variations in the western South China Sea in fall-winter. The anti-cyclonic eddy discovered by Li et al. (1998) in the northern South China Sea is found to originate from northwest of Luzon and carry primarily the South China Sea waters. It does not appear to be an eddy shed from the Kuroshio in the Luzon Strait area as alluded by Li et al. (1998) and others.