Amphiphilic Pentablock Copolymers Prepared from Pluronic and ε-Caprolactone by Enzymatic Ring Opening Polymerization

Amphiphilic copolymers are appealing materials because of their interesting architecture and tunable properties. In view of their application in the biomedical field, the preparation of these materials should avoid the use of toxic compounds as catalysts. Therefore, enzymatic catalysis is a suitable alternative to common synthetic routes. Pentablock copolymers (CUC) were synthesized with high yields by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) initiated by Pluronic (EPE) and catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B enzyme. The variables to study the structure–property relationship were EPEs’ molecular weight and molar ratios between ε-CL monomer and EPE macro-initiator (M/In). The obtained copolymers were chemically characterized, the molecular weight determined, and morphologies evaluated. The results suggest an interaction between the reaction time and M/In variables. There was a correlation between the differential scanning calorimetry data with those of X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The length of the central block of CUC copolymers may have an important role in the crystal formation. WAXD analyses indicated that a micro-phase separation takes place in all the prepared copolymers. Preliminary cytotoxicity experiments on the extracts of the polymer confirmed that these materials are nontoxic.     

Evaluation of the Impact of Esterases and Lipases from the Circulatory System against Substrates of Different Lipophilicity

Esterases and lipases can process amphiphilic esters used as drugs and prodrugs and impact their pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. These hydrolases can also process ester components of drug delivery systems (DDSs), thus triggering DDSs destabilization with premature cargo release. In this study we tested and optimized assays that allowed us to quantify and compare individual esterase contributions to the degradation of substrates of increased lipophilicity and to establish limitations in terms of substrates that can be processed by a specific esterase/lipase. We have studied the impact of carbonic anhydrase; phospholipases A1, A2, C and D; lipoprotein lipase; and standard lipase on the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate, 4-nitrophenyl palmitate, DGGR and POPC liposomes, drawing structure–property relationships. We found that the enzymatic activity of these proteins was highly dependent on the lipophilicity of the substrate used to assess them, as expected. The activity observed for classical esterases was diminished when lipophilicity of the substrate increased, while activity observed for lipases generally increased, following the interfacial activation model, and was highly dependent on the type of lipase and its structure. The assays developed allowed us to determine the most sensitive methods for quantifying enzymatic activity against substrates of particular types and lipophilicity.     

有机溶剂和混合油脂对脂肪酶活性恢复的影响

本文通过多次催化酯交换方法,研究了最优催化条件下脂肪酶活性和结构的关系,以及低活性脂肪酶的活性再生技术.在催化合成1,3-二油酸-2-棕榈酸甘油三酯的研究中,利用荧光光谱和傅里叶变换红外光谱,分析最优条件下不同使用次数脂肪酶的三级与二级结构,研究脂肪酶活性变化与其二级、三级结构之间的关系.使用异丙醇和混合油脂处理脂肪酶...     

固定化脂肪酶催化菜籽油合成蜡酯

以菜籽油、鲸蜡醇为原料,采用实验室自制的固定化Candidia sp.99-125脂肪酶分别在有机溶剂和无溶剂体系下合成了蜡酯,在两种体系下对影响蜡酯合成的各种因素进行了比较研究,研究表明:以正己烷为反应介质,在40℃条件下反应12h,油醇摩尔比1∶2,酶量15%(质量分数,上同),水含量7.5%,蜡酯产率可达85.87%;无溶剂体系中在50℃条件下反应20h,油醇摩尔比1∶1.5,蜡酯产率可达80.68%。通过流加鲸蜡醇可以提高酶的使用寿命。     

Candida sp.脂肪酶的纯化及其性质

采用简单的两步法-离子交换层析和疏水层析法,对Candida sp. 99-125脂肪酶进行了纯化,比活提高了10.0倍,达到27200 U/mg,回收率为35.5%. SDS-PAGE电泳分析显示该酶的分子量约为38 kDa. 酶学性质研究表明,该酶最适反应温度为40℃,最适反应pH值为8.5,在室温下具有良好的稳定性. 钙离子和Tween80能够促进提高脂肪酶的活性,而铁离子、铜离子和SDS对其有明显的抑制作用.     

生物酶法转化酵母油脂合成生物柴油

以一株高产油脂圆红冬孢酵母菌(Rhodosporidum toruloides Y4#)干菌粉为原料,利用酸热法提取了该酵母油脂,并对所得油脂进行了分析. 进一步利用该酵母油脂为原料分别研究了无溶剂体系中三步甲醇法及在叔丁醇介质体系中脂肪酶催化合成生物柴油,发现脂肪酶可以有效转化该酵母油脂制备生物柴油. 在优化反应条件下,生物柴油得率可达90%左右,略低于相同条件下利用精制大豆油合成生物柴油的得率.     

染料木黄酮抑制3T3-L1细胞成脂分化机制

目的：研究染料木黄酮是否通过雌激素受体介导影响3T3-L1前脂肪细胞成脂分化,并探讨其可能的机制。方法：以不同浓度染料木黄酮处理3T3-L1细胞,四甲基偶氮唑蓝（methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium,MTT）法测定细胞存活率;在3T3-L1前脂肪细胞成脂分化过程中分别加入不同浓度染料木黄酮、染料木黄酮和ICI182780（一种雌激素受体抑制剂）混合物及不同浓度雌二醇,油红染色观察分化结果,测定细胞甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）含量;染料木黄酮、染料木黄酮和ICI182780混合物及不同浓度雌二醇处理诱导成熟后的脂肪细胞,测定培养液甘油含量;分别用染料木黄酮（30 μmol/L）、染料木黄酮（30 μmol/L）和ICI182780混合物干预细胞成脂分化,Western blotting法检测细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK）、p-ERK、腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶（adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase,AMPK）、p-AMPK、激素敏感性脂肪酶（hormone sensitive lipase,HSL）、脂肪酸合成酶（fatty acid synthetase,FAS）蛋白表达量。结果：3T3-L1细胞存活率随染料木黄酮浓度的升高而降低,50～200 μmol/L染料木黄酮能抑制细胞生长（P＜0.01）;染料木黄酮能负向调节成脂分化后细胞胞浆内TG含量,在0～50 μmol/L浓度范围内呈剂量依赖关系,高剂量雌二醇（100 nmol/L）能下调TG含量;染料木黄酮能促进成熟脂肪细胞脂解,提高细胞培养液甘油浓度;染料木黄酮（30 μmol/L）能上调p-AMPK、HSL蛋白表达,下调FAS蛋白表达（P＜0.01）,对ERK、p-ERK、AMPK表达量无明显影响（P＞0.05）。ICI182780（1 μmol/L）能部分阻断染料木黄酮（30 μmol/L）对p-AMPK的调节作用（P＜0.05）。结论：染料木黄酮能抑制3T3-L1细胞成脂分化,其机制可能是染料木黄酮一方面下调FAS蛋白表达,抑制脂肪合成,另一方面激活AMPK-HSL途径促进脂肪分解;染料木黄酮还可能通过非雌激素受体途径抑制3T3-L1细胞成脂分化。     

Characterization of Gram‐Negative Psychrotrophic Bacteria isolated from Italian Bulk Tank Milk

Eighty psychrotrophic bacterial strains, isolated from different northwest Italian bulk tank milks destined for Grana Padano cheese production, were identified by 16S rRNA gene amplification and partial sequence analysis of the rpoB gene. Pseudomonas spp. were the most commonly occurring contaminants, P. fluorescens being the predominant isolated species, along with Enterobacteriaceae, primarily Serratia marcescens. RAPD‐PCR was used to study genetic variability and distinguish closely related strains; a high degree of genetic heterogeneity among the strains was highlighted. All the strains were characterized for their ability to produce proteases, lipases and lecithinases at different temperatures (7, 22, and 30 °C). Forty‐one of the psychrotrophic strains were positive for all the enzymatic activities. The highest number of positive strains for all the incubation temperatures was found for lipolytic activity (59), followed by proteolytic (31) and lecithinase (28) activities, and the enzymatic traits varied among the Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae strains. The proteolytic psychrotrophic strains were screened for the presence of the aprX gene, coding for a heat‐resistant metalloprotease in Pseudomonas spp. The aprX gene was detected in 19 of 63 Pseudomonas strains, and was widespread in the P. fluorescens strains (14/19).     

碱性脂肪酶产生菌的筛选及产酶条件的优化

通过固体平板法从含油脂土样中筛选出一株产碱性脂肪酶活力较高的菌株 ,鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌。此菌最佳产酶条件为 :1%淀粉为碳源 ,2 %黄豆粉和 2 %玉米粉为氮源 ,培养基起始 pH 7.0 ,3 0℃培养 72h。对发酵液性质进行初步研究发现 ,此酶最适反应温度为3 7℃ ,最佳反应 pH为 8.5。 0 .0 1mol/LCa2 + 和K+ 对酶有激活作用 ,而Cu2 + 和Fe3 + 则对该酶有抑制作用。     

油污土壤中脂肪酶产生菌的筛选

为了获得脂肪酶产生菌的菌种,进而获得高酶活菌株.通过添加橄榄油作为唯一碳源进行富集培养,然后以透明圈平板筛选法从富油土样中筛选出能够在溴甲酚紫培养基上形成黄色透明圈的菌落,再在罗丹明B的培养基上得到高活菌种以及水解圈大小,摇瓶复筛得高活菌株,进而测定酶的活力,经筛选有10株脂肪酶产生菌酶活力较高.