Tissue variation in hydrocarbon composition in the rabbit

This study, which deals with the distribution of hydrocarbons in seven types of rabbit tissues, was done for the purpose of providing information that might help shed light on the biological relevance of the hydrocarbons in mammalian metabolism. Liver, kidneys, brain, spleen, skeletal muscle, perinephric adipose, and a sample of blood serum were collected from a single animal for analysis of their hydrocarbon composition. The analytical methodology consisted of solvent extraction, saponification (adipose), elution chromatography on hydrated alumina, and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Hydrocarbons were detected in all of the tissues examined at concentrations estimated to range from 0.1 to 0.01% of the total lipid extracted. Three quite distinct distribution modes were recognized. The bulk of the identified components consisted of normal, saturated, nonterpenoid hydrocarbons in the C₁₆ to C₃₃ range. Squalene, phytene, phytadiene, and pristane were the only terpenoids detected. Nonterepenoid branched (iso andanteiso) hydrocarbons were identified unequivocally and in significant amounts in the muscle only. The adipose was the only tissue which was relatively rich in monoalkenes, and its overall hydrocarbon composition closely resembled that of the feed. The results of the study are not consistent with metabolic inertness. The observed qualitative and quantitative differences might reflect function and metabolic activities of the individual organs in a way yet to be elucidated. Presented in part at the AOCS Spring Meeting, New Orleans, April, 1976.     

Ligand-binding domain of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) had the highest sensitivity and activity among FXR variants in a fluorescence-based assay

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) has been recognized as an attractive therapeutic target because it is a nuclear hormone receptor that controls the expression level of cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase, which in turn regulates bile acid production and cholesterol excretion. To compare receptor activity between each domain and the full-length protein, human FXR cDNA was cloned from a human liver cDNA library. Three human FXR cDNA, designated FXR₂₀, FXR₃₃, and FXR₅₃ cDNA, were subcloned and ligated into a pET28a expression vector. Each protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (BL21) and purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid column chromatography. Approximately 5 mg of FXR₃₃ (1–182 amino acids deleted from FXR, 37 kDa) and 2 mg of FXR₅₃ (the full-length protein of FXR, 59 kDa) was purified from 1 L of Luria-Bertani culture, achieving at least 90% purity. The coactivator recruitment assay for FXR activation was carried out with the three variants of the FXR protein by using dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay-europium-N¹-labeled anti-His antibody. From an optimized assay, a saturated hyperbolic fluorescence signal curve was produced when 250 nM of FXR₃₃ and 100 nM of steroid receptor coactivator-1 peptide, a coactivator of FXR consisting of 26 amino acids, were used with a concentration dependence on chenodeoxycholic acid (from 0 to 200 μM). The ligand-binding domain of FXR (FXR₃₃) was the most suitable protein for studying the activation of FXR with a fluorescence-based assay, because it showed better structural stability than either the full length of FXR (FXR₅₃) or the DNA-binding domain of FXR (FXR₂₀).     

Molecular analysis of intact preen waxes of Calidris canutus (Aves: Scolopacidae) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The intact preen wax esters of the red knot Calidris canutus were studied with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC/MS/MS. In this latter technique, transitions from the molecular ion to fragment ions representing the fatty acid moiety of the wax esters were measured, providing additional resolution to the analysis of wax esters. The C₂₁−C₃₂ wax esters are composed of complex mixtures of hundreds of individual isomers. The odd carbon-numbered wax esters are predominantly composed of even carbon-numbered n-alcohols (C₁₄, C₁₆, and C₁₈) esterified predominantly with odd carbon-numbered 2-methyl fatty acids (C₇, C₉, C₁₁, and C₁₃), resulting in relatively simple distributions. The even carbon-numbered wax esters show a far more complex distribution due to a number of factors: (i) Their n-alcohol moieties are not dominated by even carbon-numbered n-alcohol moieties are not dominated by even carbon-numbered n-alcohols esterified with odd carbon-numbered 2-methyl fatty acids, but odd and even carbon-numbered n-alcohols participate in approximately equal amounts; (ii) odd carbon-numbered methyl-branched alcohols participate abundantly in these wax ester clusters; and (iii) with increasing molecular weight, various isomers of the 2,6-, 2,8-, and 2,10-dimethyl branched fatty acids also participate in the even carbon-numbered wax esters. The data demonstrate that there is a clear biosynthetic control on the wax ester composition although the reasons for the complex chemistry of the waxes are not yet understood.     

Alternative technologies for biotechnological fuel ethanol manufacturing

The challenges of implementing biorefineries on a global scale include socioeconomic, financial, and technological constraints. In particular, the development of biorefineries is tightly linked to the continued availability of fermentation raw materials. These constraints can be relaxed by the use of diverse raw materials, while advances that confer higher flexibility would enable biotechnological plant managers to swiftly react to volatile markets. In conventional processes, Saccharomyces cerevisiae grows on a relatively limited range of substrates, and produces only a single product—ethanol. Given the observed maturity of the S. cerevisiae fermentation technology, alternatives to baker's yeast may be needed to tip the economic balance in favour of biotechnological ethanol. These alternative fermentation technologies may allow a greater diversity of substrates to be used to produce an individually tailored mix of ethanol and other chemicals. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

New phospholipid fatty acids from the marine spongeCinachyrella alloclada uliczka

The fatty acid composition of phospholipids from the Senegalese spongeCinachyrella alloclada was examined. Two new fatty acids not hitherto found in nature, namely 10,13-octadecadienoic acid and 16-tricosenoic acid, were identified. 8-Hexadecenoic, 13-nonadecenoic and 5,9,13-trimethyltretradecanoic fatty acids were also found for the first time in sponges. The latter compound (1.4% of the total fatty acid mixture), an isoprenoid fatty acid, accompanies the major fatty acid 4,8,12-trimethyltridecanoic acid (19.7%). The monomethyl branched fatty acids (22%) identified include 23-methylpentacosanoic acid (anteiso-26∶0), not previously observed in sponged. The major long-chain fatty acids encountered were the known 17-tetracosenoic 19-heptacosadienoic and 5,9,23-tricontatrienoic acid. Some sixty fatty acids were identified as methyl esters andN-acyl pyrrolidides by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.     

Structures and morphologies of cast and plastically strained polyamide 6 films as evidenced by confocal Raman microspectroscopy and atomic force microscopy

Both confocal Raman microspectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been undertaken to study the crystalline and the morphological aspects of cast PA 6 films at a sub-microscopic scale. The percentages of the different crystalline structures present within PA 6 cast films, i.e. the monoclinic α, the pseudo-hexagonal β, and the monoclinic γ, have been measured by confocal Raman microspectroscopy. In cast films, the prevailing structure is the β one. AFM has been used to characterize the morphology of the PA 6 films. Simultaneously, the deformed state has been considered as well. Our main interest has been to follow the evolution of the percentage of each crystalline structure as a function of the plastic deformation mechanisms which are responsible of the yielding of PA 6 films: shear banding for temperatures T lower than 160 °C and formation of fibrils for      

Combined Ozone Pretreatment and Anaerobic Digestion for the Reduction of Biological Sludge Production in Wastewater Treatment

The ever-increasing amount of solid waste generated by wastewater treatment plants highlights emerging economic and environmental issues. In order to develop new processes producing less sludge, the use of ozone combined with anaerobic digestion was investigated for waste activated sludge treatment. This paper was aimed at evaluating the impact of ozone pretreatment on anaerobic digestion and particularly the enhancement of biogas production. Sludge solubilization was estimated in terms of modification of chemical oxygen demand, solids and nitrogen. Batch anaerobic digestion highlighted the enhancement of ozonated sludge biodegradability. Ozonation led to an increase in biogas production. The ozone dose of 0.15 g O₃/g total solids resulted in a considerable increase in the soluble COD ratio from 4% to 37%. This ozone dose achieved the highest increase in biogas production: 2.4 times greater than without chemical pretreatment.     

Fractal characterization of the fissures occuring during polymerization of low-profile unsaturated polyester resins

Blends of unsaturated polyester resin and polyvinylacetate (PVAc) were cured between two glass slides. In this case, the low-profile effect arises by fissuring with a fractal geometry. This paper shows how the fractal dimension of the fissures depends on the PVAc amount and on the cure temperature. These results are discussed with the present knowledge about the polyester network morphology in two phases more or less co-continuous.     

Characterization of bimetallic NaY-supported Pt-Pd catalyst by EXAFS,TEM and TPR

NaY-supported bimetallic Pt-Pd catalysts have been studied by TEM, TPR and EXAFS. Small, randomly mixed particles are formed in the zeolite cages. When the Pt content is increased, a Pt core structure appears and the dispersion increases. Particle diameters are about 1–2 nm for bimetallic samples.     

Activities of MFI-Supported Rhenium Catalysts for the Aromatization of Methane: Effect of Cationic Form of the Inorganic Carrier

MFI type inorganic carrier was used in two different cationic forms, hydrogen and calcium respectively. MFI-supported molybdenum and rhenium catalysts were prepared. The activities of the catalysts were compared for the aromatization reaction of methane. Higher activity values were attained with the catalysts supported on HZSM-5. Aromatics were also observed with the catalysts supported on CaZSM-5, despite their deficiency in acid sites. Highly dispersed rhenium is expected to be formed with the use of the inorganic carrier in calcium form. On the other hand, lower reaction rates were observed with rhenium supported on CaZSM-5, in spite of the improved dispersion of the active rhenium species on this catalyst. This was interpreted in terms of the critical role of the acid sites in the conversion of methane to aromatics, compared to the improved dispersion of the active metal.