Fine Mapping and Functional Analysis of Major Regulatory Genes of Soluble Solids Content in Wax Gourd (Benincasa hispida)

Soluble solids content (SSC) is an important quality trait of wax gourd, but reports about its regulatory genes are scarce. In this study, the SSC regulatory gene BhSSC2.1 in wax gourd was mined via quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping based on high-density genetic mapping containing 12 linkage groups (LG) and bulked segregant analysis (BSA)-seq. QTL mapping and BSA-seq revealed for the first time that the SSC QTL (107.658–108.176 cM) of wax gourd was on Chr2 (LG2). The interpretable phenotypic variation rate and maximum LOD were 16.033% and 6.454, respectively. The QTL interval contained 13 genes. Real-time fluorescence quantitative expression analysis, functional annotation, and sequence analysis suggested that Bch02G016960, named BhSSC2.1, was a candidate regulatory gene of the SSC in wax gourd. Functional annotation of this gene showed that it codes for a NADP-dependent malic enzyme. According to BhSSC2.1 sequence variation, an InDel marker was developed for molecular marker-assisted breeding of wax gourd. This study will lay the foundation for future studies regarding breeding and understanding genetic mechanisms of wax gourd.     

Establishing In-House Cutoffs of CSF Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers for the AT(N) Stratification of the Alzheimer Center Barcelona Cohort

Background: Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increasingly incorporates CSF biomarkers. However, due to the intrinsic variability of the immunodetection techniques used to measure these biomarkers, establishing in-house cutoffs defining the positivity/negativity of CSF biomarkers is recommended. However, the cutoffs currently published are usually reported by using cross-sectional datasets, not providing evidence about its intrinsic prognostic value when applied to real-world memory clinic cases. Methods: We quantified CSF Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40, t-Tau, and p181Tau with standard INNOTEST^® ELISA and Lumipulse G^® chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) performed on the automated Lumipulse G600II. Determination of cutoffs included patients clinically diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD, n = 37) and subjective cognitive decline subjects (SCD, n = 45), cognitively stable for 3 years and with no evidence of brain amyloidosis in 18F-Florbetaben-labeled positron emission tomography (FBB-PET). To compare both methods, a subset of samples for Aβ1-42 (n = 519), t-Tau (n = 399), p181Tau (n = 77), and Aβ1-40 (n = 44) was analyzed. Kappa agreement of single biomarkers and Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 was evaluated in an independent group of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia patients (n = 68). Next, established cutoffs were applied to a large real-world cohort of MCI subjects with follow-up data available (n = 647). Results: Cutoff values of Aβ1-42 and t-Tau were higher for CLEIA than for ELISA and similar for p181Tau. Spearman coefficients ranged between 0.81 for Aβ1-40 and 0.96 for p181TAU. Passing–Bablok analysis showed a systematic and proportional difference for all biomarkers but only systematic for Aβ1-40. Bland–Altman analysis showed an average difference between methods in favor of CLEIA. Kappa agreement for single biomarkers was good but lower for the Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio. Using the calculated cutoffs, we were able to stratify MCI subjects into four AT(N) categories. Kaplan–Meier analyses of AT(N) categories demonstrated gradual and differential dementia conversion rates (p = 9.815⁻²⁷). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models corroborated these findings, demonstrating that the proposed AT(N) classifier has prognostic value. AT(N) categories are only modestly influenced by other known factors associated with disease progression. Conclusions: We established CLEIA and ELISA internal cutoffs to discriminate AD patients from amyloid-negative SCD individuals. The results obtained by both methods are not interchangeable but show good agreement. CLEIA is a good and faster alternative to manual ELISA for providing AT(N) classification of our patients. AT(N) categories have an impact on disease progression. AT(N) classifiers increase the certainty of the MCI prognosis, which can be instrumental in managing real-world MCI subjects.     

Directed Evolution of Phi Class Glutathione Transferases Involved in Multiple-Herbicide Resistance of Grass Weeds and Crops

The extensive application of herbicides in crop cultivation has indisputably led to the emergence of weed populations characterized by multiple herbicide resistance (MHR). This phenomenon is associated with the enhanced metabolism and detoxifying ability of endogenous enzymes, such as phi class glutathione transferases (GSTFs). In the present work, a library of mutant GSTFs was created by in vitro directed evolution via DNA shuffling. Selected gstf genes from the weeds Alopecurus myosuroides and Lolium rigidum, and the cereal crops Triticum durum and Hordeum vulgare were recombined to forge a library of novel chimeric GSTFs. The library was activity screened and the best-performing enzyme variants were purified and characterized. The work allowed the identification of enzyme variants that exhibit an eight-fold improvement in their catalytic efficiency, higher thermal stability (8.3 °C) and three-times higher inhibition sensitivity towards the herbicide butachlor. The crystal structures of the best-performing enzyme variants were determined by X-ray crystallography. Structural analysis allowed the identification of specific structural elements that are responsible for k_cat regulation, thermal stability and inhibition potency. These improved novel enzymes hold the potential for utilization in biocatalysis and green biotechnology applications. The results of the present work contribute significantly to our knowledge of the structure and function of phi class plant GSTs and shed light on their involvement in the mechanisms of MHR.     

新型有机-无机杂化物(TB0.5Zr0.5H0.5PW)催化合成苯甲醛乙二醇缩醛反应

通过离子交换法制备了系列季铵盐锆盐共掺杂磷钨酸催化剂,利用SEM、FT-IR、XRD、XPS、TGA-DTG以及正丁胺电位法等技术手段对催化剂结构、酸度进行表征,并对其催化缩醛反应性能进行研究。考察了催化剂用量、醇醛摩尔比、带水剂量和反应时间对苯甲醛乙二醇缩醛产率的影响。研究表明,TB_0.5Zr_0.5H_0.5PW(TB为四丁基溴化铵)固体酸催化剂具有优异的催化性能,催化剂强的Bronsted酸性、Bronsted与Lewis酸中心间的协同效应及“假液相”特性是该催化剂具有高活性的原因。以TB_0.5Zr_0.5H_0.5PW为催化剂,经响应面优化所得苯甲醛乙二醇缩醛最佳制备工艺条件为：乙二醇与苯甲醛摩尔比1.5:1,TB_0.5Zr_0.5H_0.5PW用量为苯甲醛质量的1.9%,反应时间3 h,带水剂环己烷量12.6 mL,该条件下苯甲醛乙二醇缩醛产率为94.6%。TB_0.5Zr_0.5H_0.5PW固体酸催化剂在重复使用6次后仍然表现出优异的催化性能,表明该催化剂具有较好的工业应用前景。关键词：磷钨酸;季铵盐;缩醛反应;苯甲醛乙二醇缩醛;催化技术 中图分类号：TQ655 文献标识码： A 文章编号：1003-5214 (2020) 01-0000-00     

非过渡金属催化芳香二炔和二硅烷基苯制备聚(硅苯-芳炔)树脂

以芳香基双炔和1,4-二(二甲基硅烷基)苯为原料,乙二醇二甲醚(DME)为溶剂,NaO H为催化剂,空气氛围下,一步反应制备得到含硅芳炔树脂(SPAR).并进一步探讨了催化剂、反应溶剂、温度、时间对聚合反应的影响.通过凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)、红外光谱、核磁分析确定产物的分子量和化学结构.实验结果表明:使用20 mol％...     

一种验证SPR传感器金膜表面固定蛋白质分子有效性的简易途径

利用表面等离子共振传感器进行免疫检测的实验中,需要在化学性质稳定的金膜表面固定蛋白质分子探针。如何验证一种方法是否能够成功固定蛋白质分子具有非常重要的现实意义。提出的验证方法采用酶反应作为标志,如果某种方法确实能有效固定蛋白质分子,那么它也能固定酶。将固定好酶的金膜浸入相应的底物溶液中发生变色反应,测量底物溶液的吸收光谱,即可根据结果判断是否有效固定了酶,同时达到判断这种方法是否可固定蛋白质的目的。具有快速、方便、低成本等优点。采用经过验证的方法固定抗IgG后通入IgG,实验响应良好。     

THE MEASUREMENT OF DIMETHYL SULPHOXIDE IN BARLEY AND MALT AND ITS REDUCTION TO DIMETHYL SULPHIDE BY YEAST

Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) is a normal component of malt and barley. A method is described for its extraction and estimation. DMSO is produced by the oxidation of dimethyl sulphide (DMS), particularly during kilning of malt, and higher levels are found in malts subjected to ale kilning schedules. DMS may also be oxidized during wort preparation. DMSO can be reduced to DMS by yeast in glucose/salts medium, by yeast cell suspensions and by a cell-free extract. Reduction of DMSO is inhibited by methionine sulphoxide. The results suggest that reduction of DMSO may account for the DMS produced during fermentation of ale and lager worts.     

Recent Advances in Porphyrin-Based Systems for Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a pivotal role in the development of renewable energy methods, such as water-splitting devices and the use of Zn–air batteries. First-row transition metal complexes are promising catalyst candidates due to their excellent electrocatalytic performance, rich abundance, and cheap price. Metalloporphyrins are a class of representative high-efficiency complex catalysts owing to their structural and functional characteristics. However, OER based on porphyrin systems previously have been paid little attention in comparison to the well-described oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hydrogen evolution reaction, and CO₂ reduction reaction. Recently, porphyrin-based systems, including both small molecules and porous polymers for electrochemical OER, are emerging. Accordingly, this review summarizes the recent advances of porphyrin-based systems for electrochemical OER. Firstly, the electrochemical OER for water oxidation is discussed, which shows various methodologies to achieve catalysis from homogeneous to heterogeneous processes. Subsequently, the porphyrin-based catalytic systems for bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis including both OER and ORR are demonstrated. Finally, the future development of porphyrin-based catalytic systems for electrochemical OER is briefly prospected.     

Immobilization of Lathyrus cicera Amine Oxidase on Magnetic Microparticles for Biocatalytic Applications

Amine oxidases are enzymes belonging to the class of oxidoreductases that are widespread, from bacteria to humans. The amine oxidase from Lathyrus cicera has recently appeared in the landscape of biocatalysis, showing good potential in the green synthesis of aldehydes. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidative deamination of a wide range of primary amines into the corresponding aldehydes but its use as a biocatalyst is challenging due to the possible inactivation that might occur at high product concentrations. Here, we show that the enzyme’s performance can be greatly improved by immobilization on solid supports. The best results are achieved using amino-functionalized magnetic microparticles: the immobilized enzyme retains its activity, greatly improves its thermostability (4 h at 75 °C), and can be recycled up to 8 times with a set of aromatic ethylamines. After the last reaction cycle, the overall conversion is about 90% for all tested substrates, with an aldehyde production ranging between 100 and 270 mg depending on the substrate used. As a proof concept, one of the aldehydes thus produced was successfully used for the biomimetic synthesis of a non-natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloid.