Cell interaction study of amyloid by using luminescent conjugated polythiophene: implication that amyloid cytotoxicity is correlated with prolonged cellular binding

Needles and noodles: Studying amyloid toxicity is important for understanding protein misfolding diseases. Using a luminescent conjugated polythiophene, we found that cell binding of nontoxic filamentous amyloids of insulin and β2-microglobulin was less efficient than that of toxic fibrillar amyloids; this suggests a correlation between amyloid toxicity and cell binding.     

固溶处理对β钛合金微弧氧化膜生长过程的影响

目的 在不同固溶热处理工艺的β钛合金上制备微弧氧化膜,研究其在微弧氧化初期的生长特性。方法 对比铸态、750 ℃固溶、850 ℃固溶β钛合金表面微弧氧化初期（0~120 s）氧化膜的厚度、表面形貌、相组成及电化学腐蚀性能变化,研究热处理与膜层特性之间的关系,并分析热处理对氧化膜表面裂纹的产生及膜层生长的影响规律。结果 固溶处理改变了基体合金的相组成,元素分布随之改变,热处理后试样表面更容易起弧。较未热处理试样,氧化时间为120 s时,固溶处理后所获膜层的厚度更薄且致密。微弧氧化膜微观形貌显示,经750 ℃固溶热处理后的试样,在微弧氧化后,其膜层表面裂纹最少。极化曲线显示,750 ℃热处理试样氧化膜的耐蚀性优于850 ℃热处理试样。结论 经过750 ℃固溶处理后的合金试样,由于其元素分布均匀,使得微弧氧化初期放电均匀,更易获得致密的微弧氧化膜,膜层的综合性能较好。     

Generation of H2O2 from H2 and O2 over zeolite beta containing Pd and heterogenized organic compounds

The catalytic generation of H₂O₂ from H₂ and O₂ has been studied over zeolite beta-supported Pd and zeolite beta-adsorbed organic compounds such as 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), hydroquinone (HQ), azobenzene (AB) and hydrazobenzene (HAB). According to catalytic results, zeolite beta-supported Pd catalysts display effective performance relative to those prepared from other types of zeolites reported and Pd-loaded zeolite beta-adsorbed HQ catalysts show enhanced activity compared to zeolite beta-supported Pd catalysts. In situ UV–Vis spectroscopic study indicates that HQ can readily be converted to BQ reversibly under H₂ and air inside zeolite beta only in the presence of Pd. The results suggest that HQ acts as a strong hydrogen transfer agent to promote the production of H₂O₂ from H₂ and O₂ in cooperation with a Pd catalyst. By contrast, adsorption of BQ, AB and HAB induces suppression of the catalytic properties of Pd/zeolite beta.     

Hydroformylation of functional alkenes with heterodonor phosphine rhodium catalysts: substrate or ligand directed regioselectivity?

The catalytic activity and selectivity of heterodonor phosphine rhodium catalysts prepared in situ were tested in the hydroformylation of functional alkenes (ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, styrene, 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene, dicyclopentadiene and cis-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride). Systematic variation of the heterodonor atom in the ortho position of the ligand showed that the heterodonor atom has a significant influence on the activities and selectivities of the reaction. However, the activity seems to depend mainly on the modifying ligand, and the regioselectivity mainly on the substrate (i.e., the structure and functionality of the alkene). Nevertheless, regioselective control is only obtained through synergy between the substrate and the catalyst. Clear regiocontrol was observed in the hydroformylation of ,beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-unsaturated esters and styrene with an in situ formed o-(thiomethylphenyl)diphenylphosphine rhodium catalyst.     

“Click Peptide“: pH‐Triggered in Situ Production and Aggregation of Monomer Aβ1–42

Into neutral : We demonstrate the unique features of a pH click peptide based on an O‐acyl isopeptide method. Under acidic conditions, the click peptide remains in a monomeric form. Upon increase of the pH to 7.4, the click peptide is quickly able to convert into Aβ1–42 through an O‐to‐N intramolecular acyl migration. Further study using this pH click peptide would elucidate the pathological role of Aβ1–42 in Alzheimer's disease.

     

A Highly Potent and Cellularly Active β‐Peptidic Inhibitor of the p53/hDM2 Interaction

New and improved : The incorporation of a 6‐chlorotryptophan (6‐Cl‐Trp) into a β‐peptide (M)‐3₁₄ helix leads to a high‐affinity hDM2 inhibitor, as demonstrated by fluorescence fluctuation analysis at single molecule resolution. When conjugated to penetratin, the newly derived hDM2 binder specifically inhibits tumour cell growth in vitro.

     

ATP合酶β亚基功能与疾病

ATP合酶,又称F1F0-ATP合成酶,是位于线粒体内膜、叶绿体类囊体膜和光合菌质膜上的参与呼吸链氧化磷酸化的最后环节。其结构包含F1和F0两个亚单位,共同作用于ATP的分解和合成。ATP合酶β亚基是F1F0-ATP合成酶F1亚单位的重要组件,该亚基包含ATP合成和水解所需的催化位点,其功能好坏与疾病发生直接相关。本文就ATP合酶β亚基功能与糖尿病、肿瘤、肥胖症等疾病的关系作一综述。     

Chitosan membranes filled by GPTMS-modified zeolite beta particles with low methanol permeability for DMFC

Uniform zeolite beta particles about 800 nm in diameter were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and functionalized by γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Subsequently, chitosan (CS) membranes filled by GPTMS-modified zeolite beta particles were prepared, and characterized by SEM, FT-IR, XRD and TGA. Compared with the pure CS and Nafion^®117 membrane, these CS/zeolite beta hybrid membranes show apparently the lower methanol permeability, which could be assigned to the better interfacial morphology and compatibility between the GPTMS-modified zeolite beta particles and chitosan matrix. In all the prepared CS/zeolite beta hybrid membranes, the CS membrane filled by 10 wt.% GPTMS-modified zeolite beta particles exhibits the lowest methanol permeability, which is 4.4 × 10⁻⁷ and 2.2 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹ at 2 and 12 M methanol concentration, respectively. The proton conductivity of this hybrid membrane is 1.31 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹, which is slightly lower than that of the pure CS membrane. The selectivity of CS/GPTMS-zeolite beta membranes is comparable with Nafion^® 117 at 2 M methanol concentration, and much higher at 12 M methanol concentration.     

Direct and Indirect Effect of TGFβ on Treg Transendothelial Recruitment in HCC Tissue Microenvironment

The balance between anti-tumor and tumor-promoting immune cells, such as CD4+ Th1 and regulatory T cells (Tregs), respectively, is assumed to dictate the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) markedly shapes the HCC microenvironment, regulating the activation state of multiple leukocyte subsets and driving the differentiation of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The fibrotic (desmoplastic) reaction in HCC tissue strongly depends on CAFs activity. In this study, we attempted to assess the role of TGFβ on transendothelial migration of Th1-oriented and Treg-oriented CD4+ T cells via a direct or indirect, CAF-mediated mechanisms, respectively. We found that the blockage of TGFβ receptor I-dependent signaling in Tregs resulted in impaired transendothelial migration (TEM) of these cells. Interestingly, the secretome of TGFβ-treated CAFs inhibited the TEM of Tregs but not Th1 cells, in comparison to the secretome of untreated CAFs. In addition, we found a significant inverse correlation between alpha-SMA and FoxP3 (marker of Tregs) mRNA expression in a microarray analysis involving 78 HCCs, thus suggesting that TGFβ-activated stromal cells may counteract the trafficking of Tregs into the tumor. The apparent dual behavior of TGFβ as both pro- and anti-tumorigenic cytokines may add a further level of complexity to the mechanisms that regulate the interactions among cancerous, stromal, and immune cells within HCC, as well as other solid tumors, and contribute to better manipulation of the TGFβ signaling as a therapeutic target in HCC patients.     

Effect of NiAl Microcrystalline Coating on the High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior of NiAl–28Cr–5Mo–1Hf

The effect of an NiAl microcrystalline coating prepared by magnetron sputtering on the high-temperature oxidation behavior of NiAl–28Cr–5Mo–1Hf was investigated in static air at 1000–1150°C. The additions of Cr, Mo, and Hf changed the single beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-phase structure into a multiphase structure [beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-NiAl, -Cr(Mo), and Heusler phase]. The NiAl–28Cr–5Mo–1Hf alloy formed a nonprotective mixed scale of Al₂O₃+Cr₂O₃+HfO₂ and exhibited relatively large weight gains. The large weight gains were attributed to extensive internal oxidation. The sputtered NiAl microcrystalline coating remarkably improved the oxidation resistance of NiAl–28Cr–5Mo–1Hf due to the formation of a compact and adherent Al₂O₃ scale at all test temperatures. It was found that the --Al₂O₃ transformation caused the anomalous behavior of the oxidation–kinetics curves of the NiAl microcrystalline coating in the temperature range 1000–1150°C. A change in the morphology of scales occurred with the transformation.