Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Synthetic Lethality Partners in DNA Damage Response

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are pivotal mediators and effectors of the DNA damage response (DDR) that regulate both the pathway components and proteins involved in repair processes. Synthetic lethality (SL) describes a situation in which two genes are linked in such a way that the lack of functioning of just one maintains cell viability, while depletion of both triggers cell death. Synthetic lethal interactions involving CDKs are now emerging, and this can be used to selectively target tumor cells with DNA repair defects. In this review, SL interactions of CDKs with protooncogene products MYC, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), and cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53) are discussed. The individual roles of each of the SL partners in DDR are described.     

Mathematical Model for Isothermal Wire-Coating From a Bath of Giesekus Viscoelastic Fluid

A mathematical model of wire-coating based on Giesekus constitutive equation is analyzed under isothermal conditions. It is desired to see the functional dependence of Giesekus model parameters on the important operating variables in the wire-coating process, which include volumetric flow rate (later referred to as flow rate), shear stress at the wire surface (later referred to as shear stress), force required for pulling the wire (later referred to as force), and radius of the coated wire (later referred to as coated wire thickness). To this end, the equation governing the laminar, incompressible, and rectilinear flow is first derived and then solved analytically for the case of vanishing axial pressure gradient. A numerical procedure is described to obtain the solution for the case of nonvanishing pressure gradient. Our results indicate that the magnitude of shear stress and force follow a decreasing trend with increasing Giesekus model parameters in both cases. The flow rate and coated wire thickness decrease on increasing the Giesekus model parameters when there is no imposed pressure gradient. However, in the presence of pressure gradient these variables first decrease with increasing Giesekus model parameters and then follow an increasing trend.     

固定化微生物技术处理废水研究进展

对固定化微生物技术及其所用载体进行了介绍。综述了固定化微生物技术在国内外处理氨氮废水、含酚废水、降解芳香族类化合物以及其他有机废水处理中的研究与应用现状。指出了固定化微生物技术存在的问题，并提出了今后的研究方向。     

Hexokinase 2 Inhibition and Biological Effects of BNBZ and Its Derivatives: The Influence of the Number and Arrangement of Hydroxyl Groups

Hexokinase 2 (HK2), an enzyme of the sugar kinase family, plays a dual role in glucose metabolism and mediating cancer cell apoptosis, making it an attractive target for cancer therapy. While positive HK2 expression usually promotes cancer cells survival, silencing or inhibiting this enzyme has been found to improve the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs and even result in cancer cell death. Previously, benitrobenrazide (BNBZ) was characterized as a potent HK2 inhibitor with good anti-cancer activity in mice, but the effect of its trihydroxy moiety (pyrogallol-like) on inhibitory activity and some cellular functions has not been fully understood. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to obtain the parent BNBZ (2a) and its three dihydroxy derivatives 2b–2d and to conduct additional physicochemical and biological investigations. The research hypothesis assumed that the HK2 inhibitory activity of the tested compounds depends on the number and location of hydroxyl groups in their chemical structure. Among many studies, the binding affinity to HK2 was determined and two human liver cancer cell lines, HepG2 and HUH7, were used and exposed to chemicals at various times: 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. The study showed that the modifications to the structures of the new BNBZ derivatives led to significant changes in their activities. It was also found that these compounds tend to aggregate and exhibit toxic effects. They were found to contribute to: (a) DNA damage, (b) increased ROS production, and (c) disruption of cell cycle progression. It was observed that, HepG2, occurred much more sensitive to the tested chemicals than the HUH7 cells; However, regardless of the used cell line it seems that the increase in the expression of HK2 in cancer cells compared to normal cells which have HK2 at a very low level, is a serious obstacle in anti-cancer therapy and efforts to find the effective inhibitors of this enzyme should be intensified.     

Insect Gut Bacteria Promoting the Growth of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Simple SummaryA new sources of plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria are needed to increase the agricultural crops without increasing the usage of chemicals. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that insect-gut bacteria promote tomato plant growth. The insect gut bacteria were screened for the presence of PGP traits. The plants treated with bacterial consortium showed a significant increase in fruit yield, in both number of fruits (+41%) and weight of fruits (+44%). Our results showed that: (i) D. virgifera gut’s bacteria significantly promote the growth of tomato plants, and (ii) bacteria other than plant-related can be considered as PGP. It must be underlined that even though the insect gut bacteria were proven to stimulate the plant’s growth, their practical usage must be preceded by an examination of their influence on ecological and biological safety.AbstractWe investigated gut bacteria from three insect species for the presence of plant growth properties (PGP). Out of 146 bacterial strains obtained from 20 adult specimens of Scolytidae sp., 50 specimens of Oulema melanopus, and 150 specimens of Diabrotica virgifera, we selected 11 strains displaying the following: PGP, phosphate solubility, production of cellulase, siderophore, lipase, protease, and hydrogen cyanide. The strains were tested for growth promotion ability on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants. Each strain was tested individually, and all strains were tested together as a bacterial consortium. Tomato fruit yield was compared with the negative control. The plants treated with bacterial consortium showed a significant increase in fruit yield, in both number of fruits (+41%) and weight of fruits (+44%). The second highest yield was obtained for treatment with Serratia liquefaciens Dv032 strain, where the number and weight of yielded fruits increased by 35% and 30%, respectively. All selected 11 strains were obtained from Western Corn Rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera. The consortium comprised: Ewingella americana, Lactococcus garvieae, L. lactis, Pseudomonas putida, Serratia liquefaciens, and S. plymuthica. To our knowledge, this is the first successful application of D. virgifera gut bacteria for tomato plant growth stimulation that has been described.     

C／T iO 2复合材料的制备及光催化性能的研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法制得了C/TiO2复合光催化剂,并采用X射线衍射（XRD）﹑扫描电子显微镜（ SEM ）﹑紫外光谱等方法对复合材料进行了表征。以1-萘胺-4-偶氮对苯磺酸为模型化合物评价了C/TiO2复合材料的光催化性能,考察了降解时间、初始浓度和催化剂投加量等因素对降解率的影响。研究表明,在1-萘胺-4-偶氮对苯磺酸初始浓度为2×10-5 mol/L,催化剂投加量为1．0 g/L时,光催化反应5 h后,1-萘胺-4-偶氮对苯磺酸的降解率达到85．41％。     

Replacement of dietary fish oil with increasing levels of linseed oil: Modification of flesh fatty acid compositions in Atlantic salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis>) using a fish oil finishing diet

Five groups of salmon, of initial mean weight 127±3 g, were fed increasing levels of dietary linseed oil (LO) in a regression design. The control diet contained capelin oil (FO) only, and the same oil was blended with LO to provide the experimental diets. After an initial period of 40 wk, all groups were switched to a finishing diet containing only FO for a further 24 wk. Growth and flesh lipid contents were not affected by dietary treatment. The FA compositions of flesh total lipids were linearly correlated with dietary FA compositions (r ²=0.88–1.00, P<0.0001). LO included at 50% of added dietary lipids reduced flesh DHA and EPA (20∶5n−3) concentrations to 65 and 58%, respectively, of the concentrations in fish fed FO. Feeding 100% LO reduced flesh DHA and EPA concentrations to 38 and 30%, respectively, of the values in fish fed FO. Differences between diet and flesh FA concentrations showed that 16∶0, 18∶1n−9, and especially DHA were preferentially retained in flesh, whereas 18∶2n−6, 18∶3n−3, and 22∶1n−11 were selected against and presumably utilized for energy. In fish previously fed 50 and 100% LO, feeding a finishing diet containing FO for 16 wk restored flesh DHA and EPA concentrations, to ≈80% of the values in fish fed FO throughout. Flesh DHA and EPA concentrations in fish fed up to 50% LO were above recommended intake values for humans for these EFA. This study suggests that LO can be used as a substitute for FO in seawater salmon feeds and that any reductions in DHA and EPA can be largely overcome with a finishing diethigh in FO before harvest.     

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis on monolithic catalysts with oil circulation

Monolithic catalysts made of cordierite and γ-Al₂O₃ have been prepared and tested for the Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis. When operated without oil circulation, washcoated cordierite monoliths have previously been shown to be as active and selective as the corresponding powder catalyst provided that the monoliths have low washcoat loadings. Two-phase operation, i.e. with oil/product circulation during reaction, resulted in improved heat removal and temperature control, in lower apparent activity and faster deactivation, but the C₅₊ selectivity was equal to or even better than without oil circulation. The lower apparent activities obtained with oil circulation seem to be a combination of catalyst deactivation and flow-related problems in the present experimental set-up.     

Identification of a Sex Pheromone From Male Yellow MealWorm Beetles, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tenebrio molitor</Emphasis>

The sex pheromone released by the adult female Tenebrio molitor, 4-methyl-1-nonanol, is well known. In addition, there is evidence that adult males release a pheromone that attracts females. The purpose of the present study was to isolate and identify male-released pheromone(s). Emissions from virgin adult males and females were collected on filter paper and extracted with pentane. Extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. One male-specific compound was detected and identified as (Z)-3-dodecenyl acetate (Z3-12:Ac). In arena bioassays, E3-12:Ac was attractive to females only, at 1 and 10 μg doses. E3-12:Ac was also attractive to females at a 10-μg dose. The presence of both male and female pheromones, each attracting the opposite sex, may contribute to maintaining a high-density population of both sexes.