Sedimentation field flow fractionation of DNA's

Sedimentation field flow fractionation (SFFF) is a method for purifying and providing mass or size distribution information on samples containing particulates or soluble macromolecules. Since SFFF separations are based on simple physical phenomena related to first principles, molecular weight (or particle sizes) can be determined without calibration standards. SFFF is a gentle technique suited for fractionating biomolecules. Studies with the fragile lambda DNA (molecular weight, 33 X 10(6] and smaller supercoiled plasmids have shown that these materials are not altered during SFFF separation; molecular weights and conformation remain unchanged, and biological activity is not reduced. Recoveries of nucleic acids approach 100 percent. Typically, components with about 20 percent difference in mass can be separated essentially to baseline if required. Fractionation time is usually independent of molecular weight, and separations often can be carried out within an hour.     

Multiblock polymers: panacea or Pandora's box?

Advances in synthetic polymer chemistry have unleashed seemingly unlimited strategies for producing block polymers with arbitrary numbers (n) and types (k) of unique sequences of repeating units. Increasing (k,n) leads to a geometric expansion of possible molecular architectures, beyond conventional ABA-type triblock copolymers (k = 2, n = 3), offering alluring opportunities to generate exquisitely tailored materials with unparalleled control over nanoscale-domain geometry, packing symmetry, and chemical composition. Transforming this potential into targeted structures endowed with useful properties hinges on imaginative molecular designs guided by predictive theory and computer simulation. Here, we review recent developments in the field of block polymers.     

Selective bond dissociation and rearrangement with optimally tailored, strong-field laser pulses

We used strong-field laser pulses that were tailored with closed-loop optimal control to govern specified chemical dissociation and reactivity channels in a series of organic molecules. Selective cleavage and rearrangement of chemical bonds having dissociation energies up to approximately 100 kilocalories per mole (about 4 electron volts) are reported for polyatomic molecules, including (CH3)2CO (acetone), CH3COCF3 (trifluoroacetone), and C6H5COCH3 (acetophenone). Control over the formation of CH(3)CO from (CH3)2CO, CF3 (or CH3) from CH3COCF3, and C6H5CH3 (toluene) from C6H5COCH3 was observed with high selectivity. Strong-field control appears to have generic applicability for manipulating molecular reactivity because the tailored intense laser fields (about 10(13) watts per square centimeter) can dynamically Stark shift many excited states into resonance, and consequently, the method is not confined by resonant spectral restrictions found in the perturbative (weak-field) regime.     

Reticulated nanoporous polymers by controlled polymerization-induced microphase separation

Materials with percolating mesopores are attractive for applications such as catalysis, nanotemplating, and separations. Polymeric frameworks are particularly appealing because the chemical composition and the surface chemistry are readily tunable. We report on the preparation of robust nanoporous polymers with percolating pores in the 4- to 8-nanometer range from a microphase-separated bicontinuous precursor. We combined polymerization-induced phase separation with in situ block polymer formation from a mixture of multifunctional monomers and a chemically etchable polymer containing a terminal chain transfer agent. This marriage results in microphase separation of the mixture into continuous domains of the etchable polymer and the emergent cross-linked polymer. Precise control over pore size distribution and mechanical integrity renders these materials particularly suited for various advanced applications.     

柞蚕核蛋白CREB的初步分离鉴定

从柞蚕蛹血淋巴细胞中提取总核蛋白,利用SDS-PAGE法对它进行分离,并采用免疫印迹法对核蛋白CREB进行初步鉴定.核蛋白经电泳分析出现了7条主要的蛋白质谱带,其分子量分别为118,90,55,50,41,20和13 ku.Western blotting结果显示核蛋白与CREB抗体发生了较强的结合反应,在41 ku位置附近出现了清晰的反应条带,推测其可能为柞蚕的CREB蛋白.     

Synthesis of two-dimensional polymers

A synthetic pathway is described to construct "in bulk" two-dimensional (2D) polymers shaped as molecular sheets. A chiral oligomeric precursor is used that contains two reactive sites, a polymerizable group at one terminus and a reactive stereogenic center near the middle of the molecule. The bulk reaction yields bilayer 2D polymers of molecular weight in the order of millions and a monodisperse thickness of 50.2 angstroms. The 2D molecular objects form through molecular recognition by the oligomers, which self-organize into layers that place the reactive groups within specific planes. The oligomers become catenated by two different stitching reactions involving the reactive sites. At room temperature, stacks of these molecular objects can organize as single crystals and at higher temperatures melt into smectic liquid crystals. Nonlinear optical experiments reveal that solid films containing the 2D polymers form structures that are thermally and temporally more stable than those containing analogous 1D polymers. This observation suggests that the transformation of common polymers from a 1D to a 2D architecture may produce generations of organic materials with improved properties.     

Biosensors developments and potential applications in the agricultural diagnosis sector

There has been a phenomenal growth in the field of biosensor development in recent years with emerging applications in a wide range of disciplines, including medical analysis, food and the environment. The increase in the number of analytes requiring monitoring and others that require control, and the need for high sensitivity, speed, and accuracy of analytical measurements have stimulated considerable interest in developing sensors as diagnostics tools. A range of molecules with biorecognition powers are available naturally such as antibodies, enzymes, cell receptors and nucleic acids and are used as the sensing receptors in biosensors. The combined approaches of computer (molecular) modelling and combinatorial synthesis or molecularly imprinted polymers are undertaken today as a new method to produce synthetic receptors that can be used in sensor development. A wide range of transducers is also feasible to fulfil the rapid monitoring needs of the diagnostic market. Biosensors can also be incorporated into simple-to-use instruments as an on-line monitoring device or a one-shot sensor. This paper deals with recent developments in biosensors and their potential use in the agricultural diagnostic market.     

Model studies in molecular recognition

Recognition at the molecular level is a fundamental characteristic of biochemical systems. Recent models developed in bioorganic chemistry have revealed the importance of complementarity in size, shape, and functional groups in molecular recognition. Structures that feature a cleft are particularly effective in regard to complementarity since functional groups attached to the interior of the cleft converge on substrates held inside. The molecular clefts offer the advantage of efficient construction; their surfaces can be tailored for specific applications. This article describes their use for recognition of acids, bases, amino acids, metal ions, and neutral substrates. Their ability to provide microenvironments complementary to asymmetric molecules and their future promise are discussed.     

A dielectric polymer with high electric energy density and fast discharge speed

Dielectric polymers with high dipole density have the potential to achieve very high energy density, which is required in many modern electronics and electric systems. We demonstrate that a very high energy density with fast discharge speed and low loss can be obtained in defect-modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymers. This is achieved by combining nonpolar and polar molecular structural changes of the polymer with the proper dielectric constants, to avoid the electric displacement saturation at electric fields well below the breakdown field. The results indicate that a very high dielectric constant may not be desirable to reach a very high energy density.     

Guest transport in a nonporous organic solid via dynamic van der Waals cooperativity

A well-known organic host compound undergoes single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transitions upon guest uptake and release. Despite a lack of porosity of the material, guest transport through the solid occurs readily until a thermodynamically stable structure is achieved. In order to actively facilitate this dynamic process, the host molecules undergo significant positional and/or orientational rearrangement. This transformation of the host lattice is triggered by weak van der Waals interactions between the molecular components. In order for the material to maintain its macroscopic integrity, extensive cooperativity must exist between the molecules throughout the crystal, such that rearrangement can occur in a well-orchestrated fashion. We demonstrate here that even weak dispersive forces can exert a profound influence over solid-state dynamics.     

Polymer-polymer phase behavior

Different polymers can be combined into a single material in many ways, which can lead to a wide range of phase behaviors that directly influence the associated physical properties and ultimate applications. Four factors control polymer-polymer phase behavior: choice of monomers, molecular architecture, composition, and molecular size. Current theories and experiments that deal with the equilibrium thermodynamics and non-equilibrium dynamics of polymer mixtures are described in terms of these experimentally accessible parameters. Two representative molecular architectures, binary linear homopolymer mixtures and diblock copolymers, exhibiting macrophase separation and microphase segregation, respectively, are examined in some detail. Although these model systems are fairly well understood, a myriad of mixing scenarios, with both existing and unrealized materials applications, remain unexplored at a fundamental level.     

Functional supramolecular polymers

Supramolecular polymers can be random and entangled coils with the mechanical properties of plastics and elastomers, but with great capacity for processability, recycling, and self-healing due to their reversible monomer-to-polymer transitions. At the other extreme, supramolecular polymers can be formed by self-assembly among designed subunits to yield shape-persistent and highly ordered filaments. The use of strong and directional interactions among molecular subunits can achieve not only rich dynamic behavior but also high degrees of internal order that are not known in ordinary polymers. They can resemble, for example, the ordered and dynamic one-dimensional supramolecular assemblies of the cell cytoskeleton and possess useful biological and electronic functions.     

植物染色体重排在作物遗传改良中的应用研究进展

染色体重排是一种可能导致DNA片段丢失、重复、易位和倒位的机制,从而改变基因组结构,为创造新的变异性状提供可能。植物染色体重排事件的准确鉴定有助于更深入地理解植物基因组的结构、功能及它们在植物演化和作物育种中的作用。该文深入探讨了植物染色体重排的基本概念,介绍了植物染色体重排的自然发生和人工诱导的技术方法,阐述了植物染色体重排的细胞生物学、分子遗传学和高通量测序鉴定方法。同时,系统总结了植物染色体重排技术在作物遗传育种中的应用,结合具体实践,着重强调了染色体重排技术在提高农作物的遗传多样性、改良农作物的重要性状、增强农作物的环境适应性等方面极具优越性。然而,目前染色体重排的发生概率较低,技术上仍存在挑战,需要更多精准的工具和策略来实现染色体片段的精准定位和重排。通过全面了解染色体重排及其相关技术,研究人员和育种家可以更好地利用植物基因组,为全球粮食安全和环境可持续发展提供创新解决方案。相关研究不仅为深入认识植物基因组提供新途径,也为未来创新作物育种奠定坚实基础。通过挖掘植物基因组的多样性和可塑性,染色体重排技术有望为培育高产、优质、多抗的农作物新品种提供更多可能性,对解决全球日益严峻的...     

Focal points in mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has advanced with the renaissance of time-of-flight mass analysis, the use of ion traps as analyzers and reactors, the application of tandem mass spectrometers to problems in ionic reaction mechanisms and chemical analysis, and the development of new desorption ionization techniques. These developments have allowed determination of the molecular weight distributions for polymers through the 10,000-dalton range, as well as the molecular weight and partial sequence of biopolymers of similar size. Surfaces can be characterized by use of the mass, energy, and angle distributions of particles ejected by sputtering or by laser-induced desorption. Mass spectrometry has yielded new information on the kinetics of catalytic surface reactions and on the reactivity of metal clusters.     

Genome rearrangement and nitrogen fixation in Anabaena blocked by inactivation of xisA gene

Two genome rearrangements involving 11- and 55-kilobase DNA elements occur during the terminal differentiation of an Anabaena photosynthetic vegetative cell into a nitrogen-fixing heterocyst. The xisA gene, located on the nifD 11-kilobase DNA element, was inactivated by recombination between the chromosome and a copy of the xisA gene that was mutated by inserting an antibiotic gene cassette. Site-directed inactivation of the Anabaena xisA gene blocked rearrangement of the 11-kilobase element and nitrogen fixation, but did not affect rearrangement of the 55-kilobase element, heterocyst differentiation, or heterocyst pattern formation.     

Mesostructure design with gemini surfactants: supercage formation in a three-dimensional hexagonal array

At low temperatures, liquid crystal-like arrays made up of inorganic-cluster and organic molecular units readily undergo reversible lyotropic transformations. Gemini surfactants, with two quaternary ammonium head groups separated by a methylene chain of variable length and with each head group attached to a hydrophobic tail, can be used to control organic charge sitting relative to the bivariable hydrophobic tail configurations. This approach has led to the synthesis of a mesophase (SBA-2) that has three-dimensional hexagonal (P6(3)/mmc) symmetry, regular supercages that can be dimensionally tailored, and a large inner surface area. This mesostructure analog of a zeolite cage structure does not appear to have a lyotropic surfactant or lipid liquid crystal mesophase counterpart. Through the modification of gemini charge separation and each of the two organic tails, these syntheses can be used to optimize templating effects, including the synthesis of MCM-48 at room temperature.     

Unusual immunoglobulin gene rearrangement leads to replacement of recombinational signal sequences

An unexpected immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, signal sequence replacement, was observed in which the recombinational signal sequences of a VH gene segment are fused intact to the 5' end of a DJH element. Nucleotides are not lost from the signal sequences, but they may be lost from the DJH coding sequence. Signal sequence replacement may result from the alternative resolution of an intermediate in VH-to-DJH recombination. This type of rearrangement provides a means to alter the targeting of immunoglobulin gene segments and suggests a mechanism for the occurrence of VH-JH junctions in vivo. Signal sequence replacement may represent an additional pathway for the generation of antibody diversity.     

Mussel-inspired surface chemistry for multifunctional coatings

We report a method to form multifunctional polymer coatings through simple dip-coating of objects in an aqueous solution of dopamine. Inspired by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels, we used dopamine self-polymerization to form thin, surface-adherent polydopamine films onto a wide range of inorganic and organic materials, including noble metals, oxides, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics. Secondary reactions can be used to create a variety of ad-layers, including self-assembled monolayers through deposition of long-chain molecular building blocks, metal films by electroless metallization, and bioinert and bioactive surfaces via grafting of macromolecules.     

Angular momentum conservation in dipolar energy transfer

Conservation of angular momentum is a familiar tenet in science but has seldom been invoked to understand (or predict) chemical processes. We have developed a general formalism based on Wigner's original ideas concerning angular momentum conservation to interpret the photo-induced reactivity of two molecular donor-acceptor assemblies with physical properties synthetically tailored to facilitate intramolecular energy transfer. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic data establishing excited-state energy transfer from a rhenium(I)-based charge-transfer state to a chromium(III) acceptor can be fully accounted for by F?rster theory, whereas the corresponding cobalt(III) adduct does not undergo an analogous reaction despite having a larger cross-section for dipolar coupling. Because this pronounced difference in reactivity is easily explained within the context of the angular momentum conservation model, this relatively simple construct may provide a means for systematizing a broad range of chemical reactions.     

鸡肉中头孢类抗生素的MISPE-HPCE检测

以7-氨基头孢烷酸为模板分子,4-乙烯基吡啶为功能单体,乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯为交联剂,制备了7-氨基头孢烷酸分子印迹聚合物。以该分子印迹聚合物为固相萃取材料,以高效毛细管电泳为检测手段,进行头孢氨苄、头孢拉定、头孢哌酮、头孢唑啉等4种头孢类药物的色谱分析。结果表明,该方法能有效萃取和检测鸡肉中的药物。在试验条件下,4种头孢类药物的回收率为78.00%～83.04%,RSD为2.18%～3.79%。