Macromolecular recognition by cyclodextrins. Interaction of cyclodextrins with polymethacrylamides bearing hydrophobic amino acid residues

The interaction of cyclodextrins (CDs) with poly(N-methacryloyltryptophan) (pMTrp) and with poly(N-methacryloylphenylalanine) (pMPhe) was investigated as a simple model system of macromolecular recognition of proteins. The association constants (K) for the model compounds, sodium salts of tryptophan and phenylalanine, are not so different (i.e. 43 and 16 M⁻¹ for α-CD, 59 and 69 M⁻¹ for β-CD, and 12 and 3 M⁻¹ for γ-CD, respectively). On the other hand, there is a significant difference in the apparent K values for pMTrp and pMPhe (i.e. the K values for pMPhe are considerably smaller than ca. 10 M⁻¹, whereas those for pMTrp are 30, 83, and 11 M⁻¹ for α-, β-, and γ-CDs, respectively). These observations indicate that a subtle difference in polymer side chains can be critical in macromolecular recognition.     

A highly regioselective synthesis of δ-lactones from meadowfoam fatty acids

Meadowfoam fatty acids, when treated with mineral acid catalysts in the presence of polar nonparticipating solvents, undergo a facile ring closure to form δ-lactones. Perchloric and sulfuric acids catalyze the cyclization at concentrations of 0.6–13 mole equivalents, both neat and in the presence of solvent. Under constant acid concentrations, methylene chloride was found to increase the rate of reaction, the regioselectivity for the formation of δ-lactone, and the overall yield. In the absence of solvent, increased acid concentration improved the yield of lactone but reduced regioselectivity for the δ-isomer. Solvent polarity plays a significant role in the regioselectivity of the cyclization for δ-lactone, with solvents of higher dielectric strength providing larger δ/γ ratios (38:1) and higher yields up to 92%.     

Separation of crude palm oil components by semipreparative supercritical fluid chromatography

Successful separation of triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids, carotenes, tocopherol, and tocotrienols from crude palm oil has been achieved by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with a combination of a C18 and a silica gel column. The separation was carried out by the programmed extraction elution method. Free fatty acids were separated into five components by gas-liquid chromatography; tocopherol and tocotrienols were also separated into four components by SFC analysis, and the pure fractionated carotenes were obtained by preparative SFC. Thus, by using supercritical fluid chromatography, crude palm oil components can be separated and fractionated, based on differences in their functional groups.     

Broadband terahertz spectroscopy of amino acids

Broadband spectra of 20 L-amino acids were obtained at room temperature by terahertz time-domain and infrared spectroscopy. The intensity of terahertz absorption peaks varied with the concentrations of amino acids, and the optimum proportion for each amino acid was obtained. An absorption spectral database of 20 L-amino acids was established from 0 to 6 THz. The associations between terahertz absorption peaks and molecular structures of amino acids were analyzed. The terahertz spectra for L-alanine were compared with the calculated results based on density functional theory using two basis sets that were reliably consistent.     

腐殖活性污泥生化特征及处理效能

为探讨腐殖活性污泥的生物化学特征及其作用机理,对腐殖生物填料进行扫描电镜和能谱(SEM-EDAX)测定,表明填料中主要组成元素为C、O、Si,同时含有少量Al、S、Fe. 腐殖活性污泥与普通活性污泥中若干特征菌群的对比分析表明,腐殖活性污泥中的一般细菌总量、硝酸菌、亚硝酸菌、脱氮菌及放线菌含量明显高于普通活性污泥;腐殖活性污泥中有机质的质量分数比普通活性污泥低,但腐殖酸及富里酸和胡敏酸质量分数明显高于普通活性污泥;腐殖活性污泥法运行的SBR反应器对CODCr、TP和TN的去除效果优于普通SBR反应器,分别高出4％、14％和10％．     

大鼠灌胃中国蜂胶醇提物后血浆中5种酚酸类成分的HPLC测定及其药代动力学

对大鼠灌胃蜂胶乙醇提取物（EEP）后,血浆中5种酚酸类成分的药代动力学特性进行研究.用HPLC-UV法测定血浆中咖啡酸、香豆酸、阿魏酸、异阿魏酸和3,4-二甲氧基肉桂酸的浓度.应用WinNonlin非典型房室模型计算软件计算相应的药代动力学参数.血浆中内源性物质和内标对酚酸类成分测定无干扰,回收率、准确度及日内、日间精密度均符合生物样品测定要求.结果表明,该方法简便、快速、重复性好,适用于咖啡酸等5种蜂胶中酚酸类成分的大鼠血药质量浓度测定及体内药动学研究.     

CO2 process intensification of algae oil extraction to biodiesel

Algae-to-biodiesel processes are hindered by high costs and low energy return on investment.^1,2. Herein, three foci in research improve algae-to-biodiesel processes by: (1) reducing high installation and energy costs in the CO₂ sequestration, cultivation, and harvesting stages; (2) improving oil extraction and biodiesel generation; and (3) increasing utilization of the proteins in lipid-extracted biomass (e.g., for animal feed), as well as the omega-3 fatty acids for nutraceuticals and food supplements. A process is introduced that uses carbon dioxide to aid in all three of these foci. CO₂ is used first in the form of microbubbles to lyse algae cell walls, releasing triglyceride oils. CO₂ also aids with transesterification of these triglycerides using methanol. At low temperatures (353.15–368.15 K) and intermediate pressures (5–10 MMPa), carbon dioxide causes methanol to dissolve partially in the triglyceride phase and triglyceride to dissolve partially in the methanol phase, increasing the transesterification reaction rate. Due to the nondestructive nature of these processes, other metabolites can also be harvested providing improvements in both mass and economic efficiency with an overall sharp reduction in the modeled price of biodiesel.     

Isoform-specific expression and characterization of 14-3-3 proteins in human glioma tissues discovered by stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture-based proteomic analysis

Human 14-3-3 proteins have isoform-specific expression and functions in different kinds of normal or tumor cells and tissues. However, the expression profiling of 14-3-3 proteins and isoform-specific biological functions are unclear in human glioma so far. In our study, the expression levels and characterization of 14-3-3 isoforms in human glioma tissues were investigated by a sensitive, accurate stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture-based quantitative proteomic strategy. As a result, except unexpressed 14-3-3σ, the other six isoforms, with different expression levels, were existed in glioma tissues and para-cancerous brain tissues (PBTs). 14-3-3β and η were upregulated, whereas 14-3-3ζ was downregulated in glioma tissues compared with that in PBTs. And the other three isoforms 14-3-3ε, θ, and γ had similar expression levels in human glioma tissues and PBTs. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were both consistent with the quantitative proteomic data. The loss of expression of 14-3-3σ was further discovered due to DNA high methylation in its coding region in glioma by methylation-specific PCR analysis. These results indicated that the four isoforms, including 14-3-3β, η, ζ, and σ, may play important roles in tumorigenesis of human glioma, which is probably used as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targets for treatment of human gliomas in future.     

江河源区高寒嵩草草甸土壤氨基酸成分和含量特征分析

通过高效液相色谱技术分析了青海省果洛州达日县窝赛乡原生嵩草草甸、严重退化草地及人工草地三类植被土壤中各种氨基酸成分及含量。结果表明:(1)三种类型土壤中都检测出19种常见氨基酸:精氨酸、天冬氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、苏氨酸、丙氨酸、甘氨酸、氨基丁酸、脯氨酸、蛋氨酸、缬氨酸、苯丙氨酸、异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、胱氨酸、组氨酸、鸟氨酸、赖氨酸、酪氨酸;(2)测定结果表明原生嵩草草甸土壤的氨基酸总量显著高于人工恢复重建草地和严重退化土壤氨基酸,而后两者之间差异不显著。原生高寒草地的土壤(6316.28μgg-1)严重退化草地土壤(2977.10μgg-1)人工恢复重建草地土壤(2975.90μgg-1)。(3)原生高寒草地土壤氨基酸总体呈现下降趋势:5月氨基酸含量最高,随后6月7月的显著下降,8月稍微有所回升,9月氨基酸含量到达最低;严重退化草地土壤与人工恢复重建草地土壤氨基酸含量季节变化相似,氨基酸总量在6月份到达最高点,随后7月8月显著下降,9月份稍微有所回升。