Hepatitis A Virus: State of the Art

Hepatitis A is the most common among all hepatitis worldwide in spite of an efficient vaccine and improved hygiene. Shellfish-borne outbreaks are still of major concern causing hundreds of cases and huge economical losses in the present context of global food trade. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a unique picornavirus with many differences in its molecular biology including both its incapacity to induce the inhibition of the cellular protein synthesis and a highly biased and deoptimized codon usage with respect the cell. The final goal of this intriguing strategy seems to be the need for a fine-tuning control of the translation kinetics, particularly at the capsid coding region, and the underlying mechanism is the use of a right combination of common and rare codons to allow a regulated ribosome traffic rate thus ensuring the proper protein folding. Capsid folding is critical to warrant a high environmental stability for a virus transmitted through the fecal–oral route with long extracorporeal periods.     

Folding and association of oligomeric enzymes

The spontaneous structure formation of oligomeric enzymes consists of the consecutive ‘folding’ and association of the constituent polypeptide chains. Whether catalytic function is an intrinsic property of the folded monomers may be determined using kinetic reconstitution experiments. It is shown that full activity requires association; the correct assembly of subunits depends on their proper folding. The native structure is determined as the kinetically accessible state of lowest free energy.     

基于iTraq技术的加拿大一枝黄花提取物作用下铜绿微囊藻细胞差异表达蛋白

为研究加拿大一枝黄花提取物对藻类生长抑制作用的分子机理,应用iTraq技术结合LC-MS-MS,分析了铜绿微囊藻细胞蛋白质的差异表达.共鉴定出261种差异蛋白(变化倍数31.5),其中表达上调的220种,表达下调的41种. GO功能分类显示,加拿大一枝黄花提取物通过影响细胞代谢过程、蛋白质催化和结合功能等方式抑制藻细胞生长.KEGG通路分析表明,通路大类中富集程度位于前3位的均是代谢通路,包括能量代谢、碳水化合物代谢和氨基酸代谢,通路中富集程度最高的是糖酵解/糖异生通路.本研究发现了加拿大一枝黄花提取物对藻细胞生长抑制作用的分子靶点,为从分子层面阐明其抑藻作用提供参考,也为研究植物化感物质的抑藻机理提供了新方法.     

Efficiency of muscle contraction. The chemimechanic equilibrium

Although muscle contraction is one of the principal themes of biological research, the exact mechanism whereby the chemical free energy of ATP hydrolysis is converted into mechanical work remains elusive. The high thermodynamic efficiency of the process, above all, is difficult to explain on the basis of present theories. A model of the elementary effect in muscle contraction is proposed which aims at high thermodynamic efficiency based on an approximate equilibrium between chemical and mechanical forces throughout the transfer of free energy. The experimental results described in the literature support the assumption that chemimechanic equilibrium is approximated by a free energy transfer system based on the binding of divalent metal ions to the myosin light chains. Muscle contraction demonstrated without light chains is expected to proceed with a considerably lower efficiency. Free energy transfer systems based on the binding of ions to proteins seem to be widespread in the cell. By establishing an approximate chemimechanic equilibrium, they could facilitate biological reactions considerably and save large amounts of free energy. The concept of chemimechanic equilibrium is seen as a supplementation to the concept of chemiosmotic equilibrium introduced for the membrane transport by P. Mitchell.     

基于iTRAQ技术荧蒽降解菌的比较蛋白质组学分析

提取荧蒽不同诱导时间的红球菌BAP-1蛋白,应用iTRAQ技术结合LC-MS/MS对差异蛋白进行聚类以及生物信息学分析,以研究荧蒽高效降解菌的蛋白功能调控机理.结果表明：共鉴定到796个差异蛋白（差异倍数为2）,其中表达上调的有613个,表达下调的有183个.3个比对组（3d/1d、6d/1d和8d/1d）共同差异表达蛋白为111个（上调56个,下调55个）.通过COG、GO富集和pathway富集分析后发现绝大部分差异蛋白参与代谢和能量产生过程.在荧蒽诱导下上调关键蛋白有细胞色素C、三磷酸腺苷合成酶、二磷酸核苷等激酶,还有一些结合蛋白、脱氢酶、核糖体蛋白和趋化性蛋白等;下调显著的是5-甲基四氢蝶酰三谷氨酸-同型半胱氨酸甲基转移酶.这些蛋白共同组成蛋白互作网络调控荧蒽降解菌的一系列生命活动.     

西安市冬季霾污染过程PM2.5上蛋白质的浓度变化与来源分析

利用2019年12月至2020年1月在西安市3次灰霾污染过程中采集的PM_2.5样品,采用BCA试剂法、离子色谱和气相色谱-质谱检测法分别对样品中的蛋白质含量及无机有机化学成分进行了分析测定,结合相关性分析和气团后向轨迹模型分析探讨了PM_2.5上蛋白质对灰霾污染的响应及其在污染过程中可能的作用.结果表明,冬季灰霾污染期间,西安市PM_2.5中蛋白质组分的平均浓度为(5.587±2.421)μg/m³,处于较高水平;蛋白质浓度变化呈现出显著的短期连续变化特征,夜晚略高于白天.蛋白质的浓度与Cl^-和K⁺呈显著的正相关,说明气溶胶中蛋白质的来源与燃煤和生物质燃烧有关;与NO₃^-与SO₄^2-的浓度呈现显著的正相关,表明蛋白质可能参与NO₃^-与SO₄^2-的氧化转化;蛋白质具有良好的吸湿性,在湿度较大时,以其为核心吸附空气中的水蒸气及易溶于水的气态污染物(O₃、SO₂、NO_X以及挥发性有机物等)形成的气溶胶易于发生吸湿增长及非均相反应,可能利于二次气溶胶的生成.     

低温等离子体与催化剂联用降解空气中低浓度的苯

采用介质阻挡放电(DBD)与催化剂(MnO2,TiO2)联用降解空气中低浓度的苯(C6H6)。考察了苯的转化率、产物选择性、能量效率随能量密度的变化关系。研究发现,苯的转化率随能量密度的增加而增加,当注入DBD反应器的能量密度为1200J/L时,等离子体协同催化剂MnO2氧化苯的转化率达到了92%。苯的氧化产物为一氧化碳(CO)和二氧化碳(CO2),进而阐述了其氧化机理。当能量密度为430J/L时,在催化剂MnO2,TiO2存在的条件下,能量效率分别达到了0.062与0.043mol/kWh。     

中国旅游业绿色发展效率时空演变特征及影响机理

绿色发展是旅游业可持续发展理念的重要组成部分,是旅游业奉行以人为本、生态至上和全面发展的新价值观。在梳理旅游业绿色发展概念及内涵基础上,构建旅游业绿色发展效率评价体系,运用SBM-Undersirable模型、核密度估计、空间马尔科夫链等方法,探讨2008—2018年中国31个省（市、自治区）旅游业绿色发展效率（TGDE）时空演化特征及影响机理。研究发现：（1）时间和空间变化方面,TGDE总体处于中等偏下水平,时间上呈“W”型变化形态,“下降—上升—调整”阶段特征显著;空间呈“东—中—西”递减分布,内部差异为西部地区>东部地区>中部地区,低、中、高效率由“金字塔”向“菱形”结构转变,高效率地区集中于东部沿海,中等效率多分布于中西部地区,低效率位于胡焕庸线两侧。（2）动态演进方面,TGDE始终存在两极分化现象,但区域协调性逐步增强,具有较强平稳性,难以实现跨越式发展,空间向上转移省份比较集中,以中西部为主,向下调整省份较少,且存在明显的空间溢出效应,溢出影响具有不对称性。（3）影响机理方面,总体上,经济水平、产业结构、政府规制、教育水平和旅游资源影响因子与TGDE间存在显著的正向关系,对外开放程度的作用不显著,但各因子的影响程度、作用机理及条件具有较强地域性。     

Isolation of marine benzo[a]pyrene-degrading Ochrobactrum sp. BAP5 and proteins characterization

A bacterial strain BAP5 with a relatively high degradation ability of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was isolated from marine sediments of Xiamen Western Sea, China and identified as Ochrobactrum sp. according to 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as Biolog microbial identification system. Strain BAP5 could grow in mineral salt medium with 50 mg/L of BaP and degrade about 20% BaP after 30 d of incubation. Ochrobactrum sp. BAP5 was able to utilize other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (such as phenanthrene, pyrene and fluoranthene) as the sole carbon source and energy source, suggesting its potential application in PAHs bioremediation. The profile of total soluble protein from Ochrobactrum sp. BAP5 was also investigated. Some over- and special-expressed proteins of strain BAP5 when incubated with the presence of BaP were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and found to be related with PAHs metabolism, DNA translation, and energy production based on peptide fingerprint analysis through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.     

“十一五”约束性污染控制的企业减排效应

依托2006年“十一五”约束性污染控制政策的实施,基于中国工业企业数据与企业污染排放数据的匹配数据库,探究总量控制与约束性的环境规制政策实施对企业减排的影响效果及其作用机制。研究发现:约束性污染控制政策实施后,受规制强度较高的企业SO₂和COD的污染排放量分别下降了12.8%、12.1%,该效应经过一系列稳健性检验依然显著;机制分析发现,约束性污染控制实施后,SO₂组样本的洁净能源消费量上升0.12%、技术效率提升53.56%,COD组样本洁净能源消费量上升0.14%、技术效率提升56.60%,企业通过能源消费结构的转变和技术效率的提升实现减排。异质性分析发现,国有企业和非国有企业、大规模企业和小规模企业、重污染行业企业和非重污染行业企业以及东西部地区企业在减排效果上均存在显著差异。企业到地理边界的距离与企业污染排放量存在着局部负相关关系。     

Mutations and the conformational stability of globular proteins

The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of now over 100 proteins provides the basis for describing the nature of interactions stabilizing native protein structure. To understand the forces responsible for maintaining the native structure, it is necessary to analyze the contributions of the specific forces like a hydrogen bond, a salt bridge or a hydrophobic interaction to the overall stability of a protein. Using mutant proteins carrying a single amino acid substitution, specific interactions in a protein can be altered and the effect can be studied. In this paper the results of such studies on stability variants of human haemoglobin and of T4 phage lysozyme are described.     

再论含金硫化物矿物中能否存在负价金问题──答李九玲等同志

本文从讨论金属结合能何以具有表面化学位移的原因开始,从金属团簇的一般性质出发,论证了金属结合能自尺寸大于1nm的团簇到金属微粒再到块体金属具有连续过渡性;金属结合能与粒径R呈正相关;与1／R具线性负相关关系,认为金微粒或团簇具有1．1eV以上的结合能负位移是可能的。并指出李九玲等同志在“评<含金硫化物矿物中不可能存在负价金>”一文中引用的某些衬底材料上的金团簇呈现结合能正位移的数据是由于这些金困簇已与其衬底材料发生了键合作用造成的,它们不能作为否定金属结合能位移与粒径呈正相关的依据。同时,笔者从“化学结合金”在氰化过程中并未被氧化成正离子金判断,它不应是负价金。并由同质并能位移与粒径可具负相关关系推论,“化学结合金”应是合企硫化物矿物中可存在的少量微粒碲金矿、碲金银矿等中的正离子金。笔者强调在讨论企的价态问题时应采用Allred－Rochow电负性数据而非常用的Pauling电负性数据,并再次指出含金硫化物矿物中不可能有负价金存在。     

Application of proteomics in environmental science

Proteomics involves the separation of proteins, identification of the amino acid sequence of the interested or target proteins, study of the function of the proteins, modification, structure and ultimate assignments to functional pathways in the cell. The proteomic investigations have contributed greatly to human diseases studies, new drugs discovery researches, and environmental science in recent years. This article provides a review on the development of the main proteomic technologies, including both the gel based and non-gel based technologies, and their applications in environmental science. Proteomic technologies have been utilized in the environmental stresses studies to analyze the induction or reduction of proteins at expression level and identify the target proteins to investigate their function in response to environmental stresses, such as high or low pH, oxidation stress, and toxic chemicals. Such protein responses are also helpful to understand the mechanisms of some cellular activities and the functions of some proteins.     

Transportkatalyse in Biomembranen

A basic issue of biomembranes is their ability to facilitate specific transport of selected molecules. This transport is catalyzed by carriers which are membrane proteins and form, analogous to enzymes, carrier-substrate complexes. The ADP,ATP carrier of mitochondria is highly suitable for elucidating the mechanism of this catalysis due to its unique qualities such as great abundance in higher cells, easy isolation in native state by detergents, existence of inhibitors specific for either the in- or outward looking binding site and direct observation of a carrier-substrate complex. As central catalytic steps, the reorientation of the substrate-binding site at the carrier during translocation across the membrane could be demonstrated at the intact membrane and the isolated protein. The results are interpreted by the gated-pore mechanism where two subunits form a gate with a central binding site which radically change conformation and specificity on transition from one to the other side of the membrane.     

从油气资源状况论我国未来能源发展战略

我国油气可采资源量分别为140×10⁸t和9.3×10¹²m³,但与世界平均水平相比,我国油气资源却相对贫乏。目前,我国石油资源勘探程度较高,储量、产量增长的潜力有限,石油在未来一次能源消费中的比例只能略有上升,保持在25%～26%;而天然气资源勘探程度却很低,正处在高速发展阶段。天然气在未来一次能源消费中的比例有望较快增长,预计从2000年的2.5%上升到2015年的9.4%;与之对应,煤炭消费比例会有所下降,但不会改变煤炭在一次能源消费中的首要地位。为此,根据我国油气资源、能源消费和能源需求变化等特点,对未来能源发展战略提出5条建议:节能降耗,提高能源利用率,实施可持续发展战略;大力发展洁净煤技术;依靠科技进步,加大油气勘探开发力度,优化能源结构;实施“走出去”战略,积极参与国际油气市场;积极开发新能源,实现能源供应多元化。     

HERA: a Supermicroscope for Investigating the Structure of the Proton

   HERA, a high energy particle collider at the Deutsches Elektronensychrotron DESY in Hamburg, allows investigation of the structure of the proton with a spatial resolution of 10 cm, corresponding to about 1/1000 of its diameter. This view deep into the inner properties of matter is obtained from the scattering of high-energy electrons or positrons from high-energy protons. With its 6.3 km circumference, HERA can be regarded as a gigantic electron microscope. The high energies available at HERA allow a wealth of further studies on the properties of elementary particles and their interactions. After a brief review of earlier experiments, the article describes the concept of HERA and the detectors H1 and ZEUS, with which the scattering events are analyzed, as well as some of the physics results.     

Isolation of marine benzo[a]pyrene-degrading Ochrobactrum sp. BAP5 and proteins characterization

A bacterial strain BAP5 with a relatively high degradation ability of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was isolated from marine sediments of Xiamen Western Sea, China and identified as Ochrobactrum sp. according to 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as Biolog microbial identification system. Strain BAP5 could grow in mineral salt medium with 50 mg/L of BaP and degrade about 20% BaP after 30 d of incubation. Ochrobactrum sp. BAP5 was able to utilize other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (such as phenanthrene, pyrene and fluoranthene) as the sole carbon source and energy source, suggesting its potential application in PAHs bioremediation. The profile of total soluble protein from Ochrobactrum sp. BAP5 was also investigated. Some over- and special-expressed proteins of strain BAP5 when incubated with the presence of BaP were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and found to be related with PAHs metabolism, DNA translation, and energy production based on peptide fingerprint analysis through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.     

碳交易政策如何影响工业碳生产率:来自中国省级数据的准自然实验

当前,在中国奋力实现"碳达峰"碳中和"目标的背景下,不仅给碳排放量相对较高的工业企业带来较大环境治理压力,同时也给其在经济增长方面带来较大冲击.对其随着碳交易政策的提出,是否能够产生"减碳促经"效果展开深入研究.基于2005~2019年30个省市数据,通过双重差分等方法和多重中介效应模型对碳交易政策与工业碳生产率的影响效果和作用路径展开深入分析.结果表明,碳交易政策能够明显提升工业碳生产率水平;同时该种作用效果会随着试点区域的不同存在明显差异;该政策能够产生显著的环境规制、结构优化、技术和能源结构优化效应.建议通过加速完善环境规制层面法律制度、加快构建环保产业发展新体系、加强绿色技术创新研发力度和加速优化能源结构方面促进中国工业经济向低碳化发展转型.     

In vitro fluorescence displacement investigation of thyroxine transport disruption by bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical with high production volume and wide applications in many industries. Although BPA is known as an endocrine disruptor, its toxic mechanisms have not been fully characterized. Due to its structural similarity to thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), one possible mechanism of BPA toxicity is disruption of hormone transport by competitive binding with the transport proteins. In this study, the binding interactions of BPA, T4, and T3 with three thyroid hormone transport proteins, human serum albumin (HSA), transthyretin (TTR), and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were investigated by fluorescence measurement. Using two site-specific fluorescence probes dansylamide and dansyl-L-proline, the binding constants of BPA with HSA at drug site I and site II were determined as 2.90 104 and 3.14 104 L/mol, respectively. By monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan, a binding constant of 4.70 103 L/mol was obtained. Similarly, by employing 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid as fluorescence probe, the binding a nity of BPA with TTR and TBG was measured to be 3.10 105 and 5.90 105 L/mol, respectively. In general, BPA showed lower binding a nity with the proteins than T3 did, and even lower a nity than T4. Using these binding constants, the amount of BPA which would bind to the transport proteins in human plasma was estimated. These results suggest that the concentrations of BPA commonly found in human plasma are probably not high enough to interfere with T4 transport.