Characteristic tryptic peptides and gelling properties of porcine skin gelatin affected by thermal action

Thermal action in extraction process had effects on characteristic tryptic peptides identification and gelling properties of porcine gelatin. SDS-PAGE, HPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry, texture analyser and rheometer were used to evaluate collagen depolymerisation degree, characteristic tryptic peptides and gelling properties of gelatins prepared in various thermal actions. Results showed that with increasing temperature and time, depolymerisation degree enlarged, while gel strength, gelling and melting temperature decreased. Mass spectra showed that 47 and 49 common characteristic tryptic peptides were identified in gelatins extracted at 50 °C and 100 °C with various times, respectively. Moreover, 34 common characteristic tryptic peptides were identified in all gelatin samples. Further comparison between this work and our previous investigations yielded 20 common characteristic tryptic peptides, which stably exist in various thermal actions. These common characteristic tryptic peptides may be very helpful for the accurate authentication of porcine gelatin.     

Structural Aspects and Prediction of Calmodulin-Binding Proteins

Calmodulin (CaM) is an important intracellular protein that binds Ca²⁺ and functions as a critical second messenger involved in numerous biological activities through extensive interactions with proteins and peptides. CaM’s ability to adapt to binding targets with different structures is related to the flexible central helix separating the N- and C-terminal lobes, which allows for conformational changes between extended and collapsed forms of the protein. CaM-binding targets are most often identified using prediction algorithms that utilize sequence and structural data to predict regions of peptides and proteins that can interact with CaM. In this review, we provide an overview of different CaM-binding proteins, the motifs through which they interact with CaM, and shared properties that make them good binding partners for CaM. Additionally, we discuss the historical and current methods for predicting CaM binding, and the similarities and differences between these methods and their relative success at prediction. As new CaM-binding proteins are identified and classified, we will gain a broader understanding of the biological processes regulated through changes in Ca²⁺ concentration through interactions with CaM.     

The control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon by selective breeding

Sea lice threaten the welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon and the sustainability of fish farming across the world. Chemical treatments are the major method of control but drug resistance means that alternatives are urgently needed. Selective breeding can be a cheap and effective alternative. Here, we combine experimental trials and diagnostics to provide a practical protocol for quantifying resistance to sea lice. We then combined quantitative genetics with epidemiological modelling to make the first prediction of the response to selection, quantified in terms of reduced need for chemical treatments. We infected over 1400 young fish with Lepeophtheirus salmonis, the most important species in the Northern Hemisphere. Mechanisms of resistance were expressed early in infection. Consequently, the number of lice per fish and the ranking of families were very similar at 7 and 17 days post infection, providing a stable window for assessing susceptibility to infection. The heritability of lice numbers within this time window was moderately high at 0.3, confirming that selective breeding is viable. We combined an epidemiological model of sea lice infection and control on a salmon farm with genetic variation in susceptibility among individuals. We simulated 10 generations of selective breeding and examined the frequency of treatments needed to control infection. Our model predicted that substantially fewer chemical treatments are needed to control lice outbreaks in selected populations and chemical treatment could be unnecessary after 10 generations of selection. Selective breeding for sea lice resistance should reduce the impact of sea lice on fish health and thus substantially improve the sustainability of Atlantic salmon production.     

Sequence-Dependent Nanofiber Structures of Phenylalanine and Isoleucine Tripeptides

The molecular design of short peptides to achieve a tailor-made functional architecture has attracted attention during the past decade but remains challenging as a result of insufficient understanding of the relationship between peptide sequence and assembled supramolecular structures. We report a hybrid-resolution model to computationally explore the sequence–structure relationship of self-assembly for tripeptides containing only phenylalanine and isoleucine. We found that all these tripeptides have a tendency to assemble into nanofibers composed of laterally associated filaments. Molecular arrangements within the assemblies are diverse and vary depending on the sequences. This structural diversity originates from (1) distinct conformations of peptide building blocks that lead to different surface geometries of the filaments and (2) unique sidechain arrangements at the filament interfaces for each sequence. Many conformations are available for tripeptides in solution, but only an extended β-strand and another resembling a right-handed turn are observed in assemblies. It was found that the sequence dependence of these conformations and the packing of resulting filaments are determined by multiple competing noncovalent forces, with hydrophobic interactions involving Phe being particularly important. The sequence pattern for each type of assembly conformation and packing has been identified. These results highlight the importance of the interplay between conformation, molecular packing, and sequences for determining detailed nanostructures of peptides and provide a detailed insight to support a more precise design of peptide-based nanomaterials.     

北斗三星无源定位技术

介绍了北斗双星定位系统的特点、功能、系统组成和工作原理,说明了北斗有源定位方式在应用方面的局限性。针对北斗有源定位方式不能无线电静默,和人们对具有无线电隐蔽性的卫星定位的需求,详细介绍一种北斗三星无源定位技术:包括工作原理、实现方法、定位精度分析和目前达到的定位精度。阐述了北斗三星无源定位技术的优点和应用形势。     

外源乙烯对黄瓜幼苗根系生长及内源多胺含量的影响

精确控制营养液溶氧浓度和外源乙烯浓度,研究了黄瓜幼苗根系在低氧水培时的生长情况以及PAs含量的变化。结果表明,外源乙烯对根际低氧逆境下黄瓜幼苗根系的生长有抑制作用,虽然根径增粗,含水量增加,但根系的总根数、总表面积、总体积、干重和鲜重都有所减少,随着乙烯浓度的增加,抑制作用增强;外源乙烯对根际低氧逆境下黄瓜幼苗根系PAs含量有着明显的拮抗作用,外源乙烯使根际低氧逆境下黄瓜幼苗根系的伤害症状加重。     

N_2S_2或N_3S型配体的合成、~(99)Tc~m标记及生物分布研究

以MAG3为基本分子骨架，根据构效关系，分别引入合适的天然氨基酸，设计合成了4种N2S2或N3S型小分子多肽新配体，并通过了IR，^1H NMR,^13C NMR,MS谱学鉴定和元素分析表征。采用葡庚糖酸钙（GH）交换法对4个配体进行了^99Tc^m标记，研究了配合物在小鼠体内的生物分布特征。结果表明，^99Tc^m-MVGG肾摄取较高，滞留时间较长，血清除快，且肾与其它组织的活度比值高，具备成为肾功能显像剂的条件；^99Tc^m-MPGG肾初始摄取较高，R（肾／血）活度比值高，但肾清除较快，R（肾／肝）活度比值较低；^99Tc^m-MVTC和^99Tc^m－MPTC心肌初始摄取均较高，但在心肌和血中的清除速度较快。     

基于随机分析和概率预测的固定式海洋平台结构风险评估研究

对极端海况进行了环境荷载的联合概率分析。引入了整体不确定性和敏感性分析理论,利用非正态过程、具有不同相关性的多变量随机模拟技术,求解结构的失效概率。提出结构失效分析的新方法,并利用DNV提供的历史数据,对结构失效的后果做了适当分析。以埕北12-C井组平台为实例,对平台甲板高程(Air Gap)失效分析进行了实例计算。结果表明,使用多维联合极值分布理论及相应的求解方法,是离岸工程结构物风险评估的重要手段。     

BR与S3307复合剂对黄瓜生理指标和产量的影响

油菜素内脂（BR）与烯效唑（S3307）复合剂处理黄瓜幼苗提高了叶片的叶绿素含量。光合速率，SOD酶活性和MDA含量降低，相对电解质渗透显降低，幼苗的根系活力显提高。田间试验结果表明，BS处理比对照增产11.62%，瓜数增加17.72%，因此，BR和SS3307复合剂在生产上有一定的应用推广价值。     

珠江口门海堤堤型的选择

珠江口站地区面临南海、大陆岸线长４５７ｋｍ，遭受洪水。潮汐、台风的影响，河口滩涂 发育迅速，以约１００ｍ／ａ的速度向大海延伸。随着沿海地区的经济发展，滨海－２ｍ高程以上的滩涂的４万ｈｍ＾２正在和将要建堤围垦和开发利用，原有海堤也亟待加固提高，因此，对珠江口门坝有海堤堤型资料进行收集、整理，分析总结，选择经济可行的海堤堤型，具有重要的现实意义。文中收集了珠江口门的几种主要堤型，通过对各种堤基工程地质