Synthesis and structure of : A new member of anion encapsulating metallamacrocyles

The reaction of copper(II) perchlorate with di-2-pyridyl ketone oxime yields the first 18-MC-6 complex with M–N–O connectivity, [Cu₆(pko)₆ClO₄(CH₃CN)₆] [Cu₆(pko)₆(ClO₄)₃(CH₃CN)₄] · 8ClO₄ · 14CH₃CN · H₂O 1. In the solid state the cationic complex encapsulates a perchlorate anion within the central cavity. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that the complex is diamagnetic. EPR measurements indicate that the complex dissociates in DMF.     

Depth profile analyses of nc-TiC/a-C:H coating prepared by balanced magnetron sputtering

Nanocrystalline titanium carbide embedded in an hydrogenated amorphous carbon matrix (nc-TiC/a-C:H) shows high hardness and Young's modulus together with low wear and low friction coefficient. In this paper, we report on the preparation of well adherent nc-TiC/a-C:H coatings ~ 5 μm thick on stainless steel substrates using a well balanced magnetic field configuration and only very low power RF bias on the substrate. Hardness and Young's modulus of these coatings are 43 GPa and 380 GPa, respectively. The mechanical properties – hardness and Young's modulus – measured from the coating's top reach the values obtained at optimized experiments where the unbalanced magnetic field configuration was used. A simple method of depth profiling suitable for evaluation of mechanical properties of several micrometers thick coatings is developed and employed. The paper reports on the depth profile analyses of the coating hardness, Young's modulus, composition and morphology.     

Evaluation of a Novel Oncolytic Adenovirus Silencing SYVN1

Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising new anticancer agents. To realize their full anticancer potential, they are being engineered to express therapeutic payloads. Tumor suppressor p53 function contributes to oncolytic adenovirus activity. Many cancer cells carry an intact TP53 gene but express p53 inhibitors that compromise p53 function. Therefore, we hypothesized that oncolytic adenoviruses could be made more effective by suppressing p53 inhibitors in selected cancer cells. To investigate this concept, we attenuated the expression of the established p53 inhibitor synoviolin (SYVN1) in A549 lung cancer cells by RNA interference. Silencing SYVN1 inhibited p53 degradation, thereby increasing p53 activity, and promoted adenovirus-induced A549 cell death. Based on these observations, we constructed a new oncolytic adenovirus that expresses a short hairpin RNA against SYVN1. This virus killed A549 cells more effectively in vitro and inhibited A549 xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Surprisingly, increased susceptibility to adenovirus-mediated cell killing by SYVN1 silencing was also observed in A549 TP53 knockout cells. Hence, while the mechanism of SYVN1-mediated inhibition of adenovirus replication is not fully understood, our results clearly show that RNA interference technology can be exploited to design more potent oncolytic adenoviruses.     

Radical in the Peroxide-Produced F-Type Ferryl Form of Bovine Cytochrome c Oxidase

The reduction of O₂ in respiratory cytochrome c oxidases (CcO) is associated with the generation of the transmembrane proton gradient by two mechanisms. In one of them, the proton pumping, two different types of the ferryl intermediates of the catalytic heme a₃-Cu_B center P and F forms, participate. Equivalent ferryl states can be also formed by the reaction of the oxidized CcO (O) with H₂O₂. Interestingly, in acidic solutions a single molecule of H₂O₂ can generate from the O an additional F-type ferryl form (F^•) that should contain, in contrast to the catalytic F intermediate, a free radical at the heme a₃-Cu_B center. In this work, the formation and the endogenous decay of both the ferryl iron of heme a₃ and the radical in F^• intermediate were examined by the combination of four experimental approaches, isothermal titration calorimetry, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electronic absorption spectroscopy together with the reduction of this form by the defined number of electrons. The results are consistent with the generation of radicals in F^• form. However, the radical at the catalytic center is more rapidly quenched than the accompanying ferryl state of heme a₃, very likely by the intrinsic oxidation of the enzyme itself.     

Auxin Metabolite Profiling in Isolated and Intact Plant Nuclei

The plant nucleus plays an irreplaceable role in cellular control and regulation by auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) mainly because canonical auxin signaling takes place here. Auxin can enter the nucleus from either the endoplasmic reticulum or cytosol. Therefore, new information about the auxin metabolome (auxinome) in the nucleus can illuminate our understanding of subcellular auxin homeostasis. Different methods of nuclear isolation from various plant tissues have been described previously, but information about auxin metabolite levels in nuclei is still fragmented and insufficient. Herein, we tested several published nucleus isolation protocols based on differential centrifugation or flow cytometry. The optimized sorting protocol leading to promising yield, intactness, and purity was then combined with an ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry analysis. Using this approach, we can present the first complex report on the auxinome of isolated nuclei from cell cultures of Arabidopsis and tobacco. Moreover, our results show dynamic changes in auxin homeostasis at the intranuclear level after treatment of protoplasts with free IAA, or indole as a precursor of auxin biosynthesis. Finally, we can conclude that the methodological procedure combining flow cytometry and mass spectrometry offers new horizons for the study of auxin homeostasis at the subcellular level.     

后铬媒介染料替代品的最新进展

这篇文章阐述了反应性染料作为后铬媒染料替代物的应用技术要点,对加工过程中染色各要素如温度、染浴pH值、匀染剂以及后处理条件对化学固色和羊毛质量的影响进行了讨论,这种讨论有助于更深入了解染色过程。文中还详细介绍了在羊毛工业以及更进一步的加工如纺纱过程中所获得的经验。     

Comparison of the adhesion ability of different Salmonella enteritidis serotypes to materials used in kitchens

Contamination of kitchen surfaces due to bacteria present in foodstuffs is one of the main causes of foodborne outbreaks. Salmonella infections are an important cause of foodborne disease, and Salmonella Enteritidis is the most common isolate in the past few years. In this study, the adhesion ability of four Salmonella Enteritidis isolates to different materials (polyethylene, polypropylene, and granite) used in kitchens was compared. The results indicated that the two plastic materials were generally less prone to colonization than was the granite. As surface properties of both bacteria and materials are a determinant in the adhesion process, surface hydrophobicity was determined through contact angle measurement, and the roughness of the materials was evaluated through the R(a) and R(z) values by a noncontact laser stylus tracing. The four Salmonella strains showed similar degrees of hydrophilicity, while the materials were hydrophobic, with granite having a very low degree of hydrophobicity (deltaG(lwl) = -4.7 mJ/m2). However, the different extents of adhesion could not be explained in terms of surface hydrophobicity and roughness of the materials tested. The main conclusion to be drawn is that Salmonella adhesion is strongly strain dependent, despite the similar degree of hydrophobicity displayed by all the strains assayed, and this can constitute a factor of virulence among the different serotypes.