Self-assembly of large and small molecules into hierarchically ordered sacs and membranes

We report here the self-assembly of macroscopic sacs and membranes at the interface between two aqueous solutions, one containing a megadalton polymer and the other, small self-assembling molecules bearing opposite charge. The resulting structures have a highly ordered architecture in which nanofiber bundles align and reorient by nearly 90 degrees as the membrane grows. The formation of a diffusion barrier upon contact between the two liquids prevents their chaotic mixing. We hypothesize that growth of the membrane is then driven by a dynamic synergy between osmotic pressure of ions and static self-assembly. These robust, self-sealing macroscopic structures offer opportunities in many areas, including the formation of privileged environments for cells, immune barriers, new biological assays, and self-assembly of ordered thick membranes for diverse applications.     

Microbiology. Action at a distance--bacterial flagellar assembly

The rotating motion of a helical flagellum enables a bacterium to swim toward positive stimuli and away from danger. But how is the flagellum, composed of many different proteins, assembled? In a Perspective, Macnab explains how subunits of the protein flagellin flow down a channel inside the flagellum and are then added to its tip through the action of a rotating pentameric cap complex (Yonekura et al.).     

circRNA研究现状及展望

circRNA(Circular RNAs)是一类不具有5'末端帽子和3'末端poly(A)尾巴并以共价键形成封闭环状结构的内源性非编码RNA(ncRNA)分子,根据circRNA的剪接来源不同,可分为外显子circRNA(Exonic cirRNAs)、内含子circRNA(cirRNAs)和外显子—内含子circRNA(Exon-in-troncircRNA,EIciRNA).文章从分子特征、研究历程、形成过程、作用机制及其数据库及分析工具等方面对circRNA研究现状和生物学功能进行综述,结果显示随着高通量测序技术的进步和生物信息学的快速发展,越来越多的circRNA被挖掘,其具有稳定性、广泛性、保守性及组织特异性等性质,在基因表达调控中发挥重要作用,可作为一种疾病的生物标志物,在临床诊断和治疗方面具有广阔的应用前景.但circRNA还有许多尚未知悉的重要生物学功能,如其在绒毛生长发育中的作用机理,且在疾病诊断和治疗方面研究不够深入.在今后研究中,应深入研究circRNA及其在疾病诊断、治疗方面及绒毛发育的作用机制,充分了解其更多的生物学功能,使其广泛应用于各研究领域.     

Probing the solvent-assisted nucleation pathway in chemical self-assembly

Hierarchical self-assembly offers a powerful strategy for producing molecular nanostructures. Although widely used, the mechanistic details of self-assembly processes are poorly understood. We spectroscopically monitored a nucleation process in the self-assembly of p-conjugated molecules into helical supramolecular fibrillar structures. The data support a nucleation-growth pathway that gives rise to a remarkably high degree of cooperativity. Furthermore, we characterize a helical transition in the nucleating species before growth. The self-assembly process depends strongly on solvent structure, suggesting that an organized shell of solvent molecules plays an explicit role in rigidifying the aggregates and guiding them toward further assembly into bundles and/or gels.     

Nonequilibrium self-assembly of long chains of polar molecules in superfluid helium

It is shown that in the low-temperature (0.37 kelvin) environment of superfluid helium droplets, long-range dipole-dipole forces acting between two polar molecules can result in the self-assembly of noncovalently bonded linear chains. At this temperature the effective range of these forces is on the nanometer scale, making them important in the growth of nanoscale structures. In particular, the self-assembly of exclusively linear hydrogen cyanide chains is observed, even when the folded structures are energetically favored. This suggests a design strategy for the growth of new nanoscale oligomers composed of monomers with defined dipole (or higher order) moment directions.     

牛卵母细胞发育过程的细胞核变化

本实验把牛卵母细胞的整个发育过程分为4个阶段,对每个阶段卵母细胞的细胞核微细结构进行了研究。静止期卵母细胞的核仁是由颗粒性染色丝缠绕形成。卵泡腔形成时,核仁中出现纤维中心。直径2毫米以上卵泡中的卵母细胞核仁变得致密、均质,在一端形成纤维帽。体外培养24小时的卵泡卵母细胞已经成熟,生发泡崩解。在卵母细胞的发育过程中,核孔越来越明显,密度增加,而核周隙则越来越难以分辨。     

Root pruning is effective in alleviating the inhibition of soybean growth caused by anaerobic stress for a short period

Soybean is an important upland crop,but its productivity is often limited by anaerobic stress caused by waterlogging.The ability to adjust root growth under environmental constraints is an important physiological trait for adapting to an everchanging environment,and root pruning is an artificial technique for regenerating the root system.In the present study,we investigated whether root pruning in soybean can effectively alleviate the inhibitory effects of anaerobic stress.Soybean plants were af...     

2004-2010年广西能值生态足迹动态分析

运用能值生态足迹对广西2004-2010年的可持续发展状况进行评价与分析,结果表明:2004-2010年广西人均生态足迹从3.5830 hm2增长到4.2511 hm2,人均生态承载力从2.2715 hm2增长到2.5873 hm2,人均承载力增长的幅度远小于人均生态足迹,导致广西的生态赤字从1.3115 hm2增长到1.8743 hm2,能源消费尤其是煤炭消费的快速增长是其主要原因,同时广西资源利用的效益虽有提高但与国内部分省市相比仍处于较低水平,这说明广西的社会经济发展是不可持续的.最后通过分析生态足迹和生态赤字的影响因素,提出了广西可持续发展的建议.     

Detection of GTP-tubulin conformation in vivo reveals a role for GTP remnants in microtubule rescues

Microtubules display dynamic instability, with alternating phases of growth and shrinkage separated by catastrophe and rescue events. The guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cap at the growing end of microtubules, whose presence is essential to prevent microtubule catastrophes in vitro, has been difficult to observe in vivo. We selected a recombinant antibody that specifically recognizes GTP-bound tubulin in microtubules and found that GTP-tubulin was indeed present at the plus end of growing microtubules. Unexpectedly, GTP-tubulin remnants were also present in older parts of microtubules, which suggests that GTP hydrolysis is sometimes incomplete during polymerization. Observations in living cells suggested that these GTP remnants may be responsible for the rescue events in which microtubules recover from catastrophe.     

金黄色葡萄菌5型荚膜多糖偶联鞭毛蛋白疫苗对小鼠乳腺炎模型的保护作用

[目的]金黄色葡萄菌5型荚膜多糖(CP5)分别与鼠伤寒沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白Flagellin、牛血清白蛋白(BSA)进行了偶联,并在小鼠模型上比较了这2种偶联疫苗所引起的体液免疫和粘膜免疫反应。[方法]以鼠伤寒沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白为载体蛋白,与CP5进行化学偶联,并在小鼠乳腺部位免疫,然后通过检测小鼠乳汁中的抗体分析其对小鼠的免疫保护作用。[结果]乳腺局部免疫后flagellin-CP5组在乳腺部位引起了sIgA为代表的粘膜免疫反应和IgG为主的体液免疫反应。CP5和鞭毛蛋白的偶联物能够诱导更高的体液免疫以及粘膜免疫反应。[结论]鞭毛蛋白具有较强的免疫佐剂作用。     

转燕麦噬酸菌蛋白激发子基因flagellin的链霉工程菌株构建及鉴定

利迪链霉菌A01可以产生大量的抗生素——纳他霉素,其通过结合病原真菌细胞膜上的甾醇分子而起到抑制病原菌生长的作用.燕麦噬酸菌的鞭毛蛋白组分FLAGELLIN可以诱导植物抗性,激发活性氧及水杨酸防御反应途径.本研究将燕麦噬酸菌蛋白激发子基因flagellin克隆,接合转移入利迪链霉菌A01中,使工程菌增加诱导植物抗性的功能.PCR验证表明:成功获得了含flagellin基因的阳性工程菌株,证明通过链霉工程菌构建可实现抗生与诱抗的协同作用,预计会提高防治植物病害的效果.     

普光气田冲沟跨越桁架的安全评价

桁架作为油气管道跨越某些障碍物时的支撑体之一,若发生破坏会威胁油气管道的安全运行,对已发生破坏的桁架设施进行安全评价十分必要。普光气田P201~P301桩某冲沟跨越因实际施工时变更设计方案、场地沉降的原因,桁架西端工字梁腹杆发生变形、管箍发生损坏。以该跨越桁架为研究对象,建立跨越结构在沉降状态下的有限元模型,运用AUTOPIPE软件对桁架变形与受力情况进行分析。结果表明:桁架的3根长弦杆是安全的;最西端横梁的轴向内力、垂直方向剪力、水平方向弯矩均远远大于东端横梁的受力与弯矩,其所受的最大相当应力超过许用应力,处于不安全状态;除最西端横梁外其他横梁均是安全的。针对西侧横梁的不安全性,建议去除桁架西侧盖梁顶与工字钢中间的支撑构件,以减少受力,并需定期对该桁架设施进行检测。     

蜜蜂螺原体南京分离株M10形态的多样性

为进一步了解蜜蜂螺原体的生长、生殖及致病特点,以分离自患"爬蜂病"蜜蜂体内的螺原体菌株M10为研究对象,测定了其生长曲线,利用透射电镜观察其不同生长期的形态.结果表明:在R-2培养基中,不同生长期的蜜蜂螺原体M10形态差异很大,但其形态变化又具有一定的规律性.延滞期的M10以粗短的形态为主;在对数期和稳定期,M10具有丰富的形态多样性,如芽状、分支状、串珠状等;到达衰亡期,M10则变得细长,菌体自身及菌体之间极易缠绕并聚集成团.此外,观察到M10具有尖端结构和纤毛状结构,大多数菌体具有"一尖一圆"结构,纤毛状结构长度差异显著.本研究首次描述了不同生长期蜜蜂螺原体的形态变化,发现螺原体纤毛状结构最长可达1 860.5 nm,并首次在人工培养基中发现螺原体具有类似纤毛接合现象.     

Immune response to cholera toxin epitope inserted in Salmonella flagellin

Bacterial flagella are potent immunogens and aromatic-dependent (aro) Salmonella as live vaccines evoke humoral and cellular immune responses. Such strains expressing epitopes of protective antigens as inserts in flagellin would provide a novel way to vaccinate against diseases caused by unrelated pathogens. A synthetic oligonucleotide specifying an epitope of cholera toxin subunit B was inserted in a Salmonella flagellin gene. The chimeric flagellin functioned normally and the epitope was expressed at the flagellar surface. Parenteral administration to mice of an aro A flagellin-negative strain of S. dublin expressing the chimeric flagellin gene evoked antibody to cholera toxin.     

Self-assembly of phase-segregated liquid crystal structures

Additional functionality can be incorporated into liquid crystalline materials by using phase segregation and self-assembly. Intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions play key roles in the formation of these complex structures. One-, two-, and three-dimensional phase-segregated structures on various scales of length are formed by self-assembly of a variety of partially incompatible molecules. Such structures can enhance anisotropic properties such as ionic conductivity.     

猪圆环病毒1型ORF2基因的克隆与序列分析

【研究目的】提取沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白并鉴定其抗原性;【方法】选用鸭沙门氏菌经半固体培养基诱导鞭毛,经肉汤培养后,用酸裂解、经差速离心、硫酸铵沉淀,分离出粗制鞭毛蛋白。将粗制的鞭毛蛋白用SDS-PAGE和磷钨酸负染投射电镜观察,并包板做ELISA检测其抗原性;【结果】SDS-PAGE显示提取的鞭毛蛋白相对分子质量约为58.0KD,且纯度较高,抗原性较好,每1000ml培养液可获得32.8mg鞭毛蛋白;【结论】酸裂解法可获得高质量的鞭毛蛋白,抗原性较好,为禽副伤寒沙门氏菌病诊断方法的建立奠定了基础。     

Bacterial flagella: polarity of elongation

Newly synthesized regions of Bacillus subtilis flagella were labeled with fluorophenylalanine or [(3)H]leucine. The flagella were then examined for altered gross morphology or by radioautography. Results of both experiments indicate that flagella elongate in vivo by polymerization of flagellin subunits onto the distal end of the filament.     

A plant miRNA contributes to antibacterial resistance by repressing auxin signaling

Plants and animals activate defenses after perceiving pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as bacterial flagellin. In Arabidopsis, perception of flagellin increases resistance to the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae, although the molecular mechanisms involved remain elusive. Here, we show that a flagellin-derived peptide induces a plant microRNA (miRNA) that negatively regulates messenger RNAs for the F-box auxin receptors TIR1, AFB2, and AFB3. Repression of auxin signaling restricts P. syringae growth, implicating auxin in disease susceptibility and miRNA-mediated suppression of auxin signaling in resistance.     

Fluid core size of Mars from detection of the solar tide

The solar tidal deformation of Mars, measured by its k2 potential Love number, has been obtained from an analysis of Mars Global Surveyor radio tracking. The observed k2 of 0.153 +/- 0.017 is large enough to rule out a solid iron core and so indicates that at least the outer part of the core is liquid. The inferred core radius is between 1520 and 1840 kilometers and is independent of many interior properties, although partial melt of the mantle is one factor that could reduce core size. Ice-cap mass changes can be deduced from the seasonal variations in air pressure and the odd gravity harmonic J3, given knowledge of cap mass distribution with latitude. The south cap seasonal mass change is about 30 to 40% larger than that of the north cap.