Biogenetic amino acid antagonists

The mode of action of amino acid antagonists of biological origin ist surveyed und the enzymatic reactions with which these antibiotics interfere are described, thus also elucidating the various roles of amino acids in cell physiology. Several organisms, including the antibiotic producer, possess molecular devices for conferring resistance to some of these substances. These antibiotics may be of further value as research tools in molecular biology.     

冬季北京城区PM2.5诱导人肺上皮细胞系A549中多环芳烃受体(AhR)通路的激活

使用冬季北京市城区的细颗粒物（PM_2.5）评估其对人肺上皮细胞系A549中多环芳烃受体（AhR）通路的激活作用.利用CCK-8法检测细胞暴露PM_2.5后的存活率,选取50%抑制浓度（IC₅₀）作为细胞暴露剂量,采用Western blot和免疫荧光检测PM_2.5暴露诱导AhR定位变化,采用荧光定量PCR和Western blot检测AhR的靶基因CYP1A1的转录和翻译水平改变,应用双荧光素酶报告基因法测定AhR与靶基因结合位点（XRE）的活性,利用酶标仪测定CYP1A1的酶活性改变.结果显示,随着暴露时间的增加,AhR逐渐从细胞质易位至细胞核;CYP1A1 mRNA和蛋白质的表达水平也呈时间依赖性显著增加;AhR与XRE结合活性的增加表明了PM_2.5诱导CYP1A1增加的调节机制;最后引起细胞内CYP1A1酶活性显著增加.研究表明,来自冬季北京城区的PM_2.5样品可激活A549细胞的AhR通路,提示AhR介导的信号途径可能与PM_2.5的暴露毒性有关.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin promotes migration ability of primary cultured rat astrocytes via aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Emerging evidence showed that 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) could induce expression of certain reactivation-associated genes in astrocytes, however, the consequent cellular effects and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. During the process of astrocyte reactivation, migration is a critical cellular event. In the present study, we employed wound-healing assay and Transwell® motility assay to explore the effects of TCDD on cell migration in primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes. We found that upon TCDD treatments at relative low concentrations (10^? 10 and/or 10^? 9?mol/L), the ability of primary astrocytes to migrate horizontally and vertically was promoted. In line with this cellular effect, the mRNA expression of two pro-migratory genes, including cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was induced by TCDD treatment. Dioxin exerts its toxic effects mainly through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. So the role of AhR pathway in the pro-migratory effects of TCDD was examined using an AhR antagonist, CH223191. We found that application of CH223191 significantly reversed the pro-migratory effects of TCDD. Interestingly, the basal ability of horizontal migration as well as basal levels of CDC42 and MMP2 expression were dramatically reduced suggesting a possible physiological role of AhR in maintaining the endogenous migration ability of the primary astrocytes. These findings support the notion that dioxin promotes astrocyte reactivation at molecular and cellular levels.     

Gangba sheep in the Tibetan plateau: Validating their unique meat quality and grazing factor analysis

Gangba sheep are known for having typical sensory characteristics attributed to free range conditions and grazing on wild plants. The genuine Gangba mutton was selected as the experimental group, and the commercial Tibetan mutton was selected as the control group, the nutritive composition of basic chemical components, amino acids and fatty acids in mutton were investigated to correlate its unique meat quality and eating satisfaction. The results showed that fatty acids were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Gangba mutton than in commercial mutton, and the higher content of flavoring amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartame) were primarily responsible for the taste attributes umami of meat juices. Moreover, the trace elements analysis in mutton and grazing factors (forage, water source and soil) were conducted, to explain the source of essential trace elements in mutton. The concentrations of essential trace elements show that the Gangba mutton was a valuable source for highly available Cu and Zn in human nutrition, and well managed with few detected of toxicity metal. The concentrations of essential trace elements in mutton are closely related to the trace elements in environmental grazing factors. In conclusion, the congenital grazing conditions (a highly mineralized water resource, natural forages and clean soils) were shown to contribute to the unique meat characteristics of Gangba sheep.     

春季中国南黄海与东海海水中溶解氨基酸的分布和组成

以2011年3月南黄海与东海部分海域为研究对象,对其中48个站位海水样品的总溶解氨基酸(THAA)、溶解结合氨基酸(DCAA)、溶解游离氨基酸(DFAA)的浓度分布和组成进行了研究。结果表明:表层海水中THAA的平均浓度为2.981.72 mol/L(1.27~8.54 mol/L),DCAA的平均浓度为2.761.63 mol/L(0.91~7.70 mol/L),DFAA的平均浓度为0.310.21 mol/L(0.11~1.14 mol/L)。溶解态氨基酸水平分布的趋势大致呈现出近岸高、远岸低的特点,其中,DCAA与THAA分布规律基本一致。溶解态氨基酸的垂直分布特点为次表层与海水底层出现了高值区。春季南黄海与东海表层海水中溶解氨基酸主要由天门冬氨酸、谷氨酸、丝氨酸、甘氨酸及丙氨酸构成。表层海水中个体氨基酸间的相关性矩阵显示DFAA中有5对氨基酸之间存在显著正相关。研究发现海水中溶解氨基酸与Chl a、DOC、DIN等环境因子均无显著相关性。     

Effect of nitrogen/phosphorus concentration on algal organic matter generation of the diatom Nitzschia palea: Total indicators and spectroscopic characterization

Critical algal blooms in great lakes increase the level of algal organic matters(AOMs),significantly altering the composition of natural organic matters(NOMs) in freshwater of lake.This study examined the AOM's characteristics of Nitzschia palea(N.palea),one kind of the predominant diatom and an important biomarker of water quality in the great lakes of China,to investigate the effect of AOMs on the variation of NOMs in lakes and the process of algal energy.Excitation–emission matrix fluorescence(EEM) spectroscopy,synchronous fluorescence(SF) spectroscopy and deconvolution UV–vis(D-UV) spectroscopy were utilized to characterize AOMs to study the effects of nutrient loading on the composition change of AOMs.From results,it was revealed that the phosphorus is the limiting factor for N.palea's growth and the generation of both total organic carbon and amino acids but the nitrogen is more important for the generation of carbohydrates and proteins.EEM spectra revealed differences in the composition of extracellular organic matter and intracellular organic matter.Regardless of the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations,aromatic proteins and soluble microbial products were the main components,but the nitrogen concentration had a significant impact on their composition.The SF spectra were used to study the AOMs for the first time and identified that the protein-like substances were the major component of AOMs,creating as a result of aromatic group condensation.The D-UV spectra showed carboxylic acid and esters were the main functional groups in the EOMs,with –OCH_3,–SO_2NH_2,–CN,–NH_2,–O– and –COCH_3functional groups substituting into benzene rings.     

矿物纤维粉尘的环境健康效应研究

研究者运用表面化学，电化学和细胞培养等生化方法，以及IR，XRF，UV等谱学和电子微束手段，通过对主要6类不同形态矿物粉尘的特征，表面官能团和活性位分析以及电化学，溶解，毒性研究等，提出了表面介体的概念并初步验证了它的存在，从表面官能团，表面综合性状探讨了矿物纤维材料的表面化学活性一生物活性－生物持久性－生物毒性－环境安全性；提出界／膜体系来研究矿物生产生物毒性的过程和所依存的条件；对矿物粉尘在Gamble溶液，血清与生物大分子，人体有机酸，氨基酸，维生素中以及动物体内行为的研究，进一步阐明了在氨基酸／蛋白质／功能膜以及含有外露蛋白质的其它有机体单元中粉尘的溶解，反应，络合与破坏，粉尘中的硅成分在体内的残留，溶解，运移方式，选择性吸附体液中的脂－醇类物质，红细胞及其残片，粉尘与体内物质交换及免疫细胞的相互作用过程，提供了降低粉尘毒性的处理方式。     

Effects of duckweed (Spriodela polyrrhiza) remediation on the composition of dissolved organic matter in effluent of scale pig farms

The swine effluent studied was collected from scale pig farms, located in Yujiang County of Jiangxi Province, China, and duckweed (Spriodela polyrrhiza) was selected to dispose the effluent. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of duckweed growth on the dissolved organic matter composition in swine effluent. Throughout the experiment period, the concentrations of organic matter were determined regularly, and the excitation–emission matrix (3DEEM) spectroscopy was used to characterize the fluorescence component. Compared with no-duckweed treatments (controls), the specific ultra-violet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄) was increased by a final average of 34.4% as the phytoremediation using duckweed, and the removal rate of DOC was increased by a final average of 28.0%. In swine effluent, four fluorescence components were identified, including two protein-like (tryptophan, tyrosine) and two humic-like (fulvic acids, humic acids) components. For all treatments, the concentrations of protein-like components decreased by a final average of 69.0%. As the growth of duckweed, the concentrations of humic-like components were increased by a final average of 123.5% than controls. Significant and positive correlations were observed between SUVA₂₅₄ and humic-like components. Compared with the controls, the humification index (HIX) increased by a final average of 9.0% for duckweed treatments. Meanwhile, the duckweed growth leaded to a lower biological index (BIX) and a higher proportion of microbial-derived fulvic acids than controls. In conclusion, the duckweed remediation not only enhanced the removal rate of organic matter in swine effluent, but also increased the percent of humic substances.     

典型酚类污染物内分泌干扰效应研究——对斑马鱼发育及核受体介导基因调控的分子影响

以斑马鱼为研究对象,观察2,4,6-三氯酚（2,4,6-trichlorophenol）、4-氯-3-甲酚（4-chloro-3-methylphenol）和4-硝基苯酚（4-nitrophenol）3种酚类污染物对斑马鱼胚胎发育早期阶段形态学指标的影响,借助q-RT-PCR方法对斑马鱼胚胎分别暴露于0.1,0.5和2.5mg/L至120hpf幼鱼8个重要受体（雄激素受体（AR）、甲状腺激素受体（TR）、芳香烃受体（AhR）、雌激素受体（ER）、糖皮质激素受体（GR）、孕烷X受体（PXR）、盐皮质激素受体（MR）、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体（PPAR））相关基因的转录水平进行了研究;进一步采用分子对接和分子动力学模拟的方法研究污染物与筛选出的影响受体（ER、AhR、PXR、GR以及MR）之间的相互作用过程.结果表明,在5和10mg/L的浓度下3种酚类污染物都显著影响斑马鱼的发育,造成脊柱弯曲、心包水肿等不良影响;基因结果显示2,4,6-三氯酚暴露导致ER的基因下调,雌激素受体α（er1）基因在2.5mg/L浓度下下调2.1倍.4-氯-3-甲酚显著影响ER、AhR以及PXR的相关基因,表现为在0.5和2.5mg/L暴露er1基因显著下调1.8和2.2倍,ahr2和pxr基因在0.1和2.5mg/L的浓度下分别下调1.7和1.8倍和上调3.5和3.2倍.4-硝基苯酚暴露使GR、MR核心受体基因发生调控变化,糖皮质激素受体基因（gr）在低中浓度下分别显著上调2.0和2.1倍,最高浓度下下调1.9倍.盐皮质激素受体基因（mr）在中高浓度下分别下调1.9和2.1倍,在最低浓度下显著上调1.7倍;分子计算结果显示它们与相关受体通过疏水和氢键等相互作用而稳定结合,且均方根偏差（RMSD）在5ns后稳定.这3个典型酚类污染物主要通过斑马鱼ER、AhR、PXR、GR、MR受体介导产生内分泌干扰效应并影响其早期生长发育.     

被动式采样器与原位鱼体暴露用于监测水体Ah受体效应的比较研究

采用被动式采样器SPMD结合H4ⅡE鼠肝癌细胞离体EROD测试的方法来评价水体中Ah受体效应物质的污染水平.以多环芳烃(PAHs)为目标化合物,在太湖梅梁湾地区选取了5个站点,同时放置SPMD采样器和笼养鲫鱼进行32 d的现场原位暴露实验,然后对SPMD样品提取液进行化学分析和离体EROD测试,对鱼肌肉样进行化学分析和对肝胰脏样进行活体EROD测试.结果表明,随着暴露时间的延长,SPMD样品提取液诱导EROD酶的能力逐渐增强,经过32 d暴露的SPMD样品的提取液其诱导的EROD酶活相当于TCDD的毒性当量值为3.8～6.2 pg/g,而且根据化学分析结果计算的PAHs相当于TCDD的毒性当量值与离体生物测试结果之间相关性很好(R²=0.88),说明PAHs是引起该地区水体EROD效应的一个重要诱导因子;根据化学分析结果而配制的模拟样品的离体EROD测试结果表明,多环芳烃类物质对梅梁湾地区水体Ah受体效应的贡献约为40%～50%.研究还发现,SPMD提取液离体EROD测试结果与同时暴露的鱼体肝胰脏的活体EROD测定结果之间也存在较好的相关性(R²=0.62).因此认为,SPMD结合离体EROD测试的方法能够很好的用于评价水体中Ah受体效应物质的污染水平,并能够用于揭示特定化合物与相应的生物效应之间的定量关系.     

Mepanipyrim induces cardiotoxicity of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae via promoting AhR-regulated COX expression pathway

The wide use of pesticides has seriously threatened human health and the survival of beneficial organisms. The fungicide mepanipyrim is widely used in viticulture practices. Studies of mepanipyrim-induced toxicity in organisms are still scarce, especially studies on cardiotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to investigate mepanipyrim-induced cardiotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. We found that mepanipyrim could induce cardiotoxicity by altering the heart rate and cardiomyocyte diameter of larvae. Meanwhile, RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR data indicated that mepanipyrim exposure could dramatically alter the mRNA expression of calcium signaling pathway-, cardiac muscle contraction-, and oxidative respiratory chain-related genes. Interestingly, by the CALUX cell bioassay, we found that most cytochrome c oxidase (COX) family genes exhibited potential AhR-regulated activity, suggesting that mepanipyrim induced cardiotoxicity via a novel AhR-regulated manner in larvae. Additionally, the AhR antagonist CH223191 could effectively prevent mepanipyrim-induced cardiotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. In conclusion, the AhR agonist mepanipyrim could induce cardiotoxicity in a novel unreported AhR-regulated manner, which could specifically affect the expression of COX family genes involved in the mitochondrial oxidative respiratory chain. Our data will help explain the toxic effects of mepanipyrim on organisms and provide new insight into the AhR agonistic activity pesticide-induced cardiotoxicity.     

秦山核电站运行后对邻近海域生态环境及其水质影响评价

通过对秦山核电站运行前后相隔近７ ａ 的工程区邻近海域四季度月生物与非生物环境生态各要素的两次调查分析，进行了Ⅰ期工程运行以来海域生态环境及水质状况的影响评价。结果认为，秦山海域具典型强潮河口湾生态特征，营养盐丰富，而生产力低下。潮汐、径流和湾外海水入侵是导致海洋环境要素季节和年际变化并直接影响海洋生物结构的主要因子。水体富营养化指数上升是沿岸工业和生活污水大量排放的结果。核电站运行中冷却水的热排放由于杭州湾特殊的海底地形和强潮混合的水体环境对附近水域的热升温效应不明显。秦山Ⅰ期工程运行以来对海域生态环境和水质变化未见明显影响     

Prebiotic polypeptides and the origin of biological information

Recent data on the origin of biological information are reviewed. These data corroborate the view that polyamino acids were the first informational polymers. The source of information is seen in the chemical reactivity of amino acids, their prebiotic abundance and the prebiotic environment. Evidence is presented in favor of Matsuno's protohypercycle that may have preceded Eigen's hypercycle, but that involves a translation of information from polypeptides into that of polynucleotides.     

Peptidchemie heute

Peptide chemistry has reached a plateau on which more work is devoted to the improvement of known basic principles than to the development of really new methods. As a consequence, routine syntheses of peptides concentrate on few protecting groups and coupling procedures only. The recent progress in purification of peptides by liquid chromatography helped to promote this trend. Meanwhile, recombinant technology permits the synthesis of proteins and possibly of some lower peptides, too. It cannot compete, however, with chemical solid-phase synthesis of a newly discovered peptide with up to about 40 amino acids in speed but may take over the synthesis for large-scale production. Peptides containing modified or non-natural structures, which are often superior to the natural compounds as drugs, will remain subject of chemical synthesis, too. Present research focuses on the role of peptide and protein factors in the immune response and on structure and biological activities of neuropeptides.     

Combinatorics of aliphatic amino acids

This study combines biology and mathematics, showing that a relatively simple question from molecular biology can lead to complicated mathematics. The question is how to calculate the number of theoretically possible aliphatic amino acids as a function of the number of carbon atoms in the side chain. The presented calculation is based on earlier results from theoretical chemistry concerning alkyl compounds. Mathematical properties of this number series are highlighted. We discuss which of the theoretically possible structures really occur in living organisms, such as leucine and isoleucine with a chain length of four. This is done both for a strict definition of aliphatic amino acids only involving carbon and hydrogen atoms in their side chain and for a less strict definition allowing sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen atoms. While the main focus is on proteinogenic amino acids, we also give several examples of non-proteinogenic aliphatic amino acids, playing a role, for instance, in signalling. The results are in agreement with a general phenomenon found in biology: Usually, only a small number of molecules are chosen as building blocks to assemble an inconceivable number of different macromolecules as proteins. Thus, natural biological complexity arises from the multifarious combination of building blocks.     

化学物质的Ah受体效应重组基因酵母检测法的优化

接有芳香烃受体(AhR)基因和芳香烃受体核转位子蛋白(ARNT)基因的酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae菌株是测定化学物质的Ah受体效应的方法之一.本实验通过优化各个实验条件,发现用0.2%葡萄糖作前培养液培养菌24 h,用2%半乳糖作化学物质暴露时的培养液,暴露在玻璃管时,暴露时间从原来的18 h缩短到8 h.并用已经优化的方法测定了六氯苯和五氯苯的Ah受体效应,得出六氯苯和五氯苯相对于TCDD的毒性等当量值(TEF)分别为0.018629和0.000294.     

Tetrasphaera聚磷菌研究进展及其除磷能力辨析

强化生物除磷（EBPR）工艺在污水脱氮除磷中扮演着重要角色，其机理研究与工程应用也较为成熟.长期以来，Accumulibacter菌属（A菌）作为EBPR工艺最主要的聚磷菌（PAOs）已被广泛接受.同时，具有聚磷能力的Tetrasphaera菌属（T菌）亦被发现，且在某些特定环境下其丰度甚至远高于A菌，进而引发业内一定的关注.本文通过对T菌发现、研究过程的梳理，总结了关于T菌丰度、代谢途径及影响其活性的因素等方面的研究成果.与A菌不同，T菌代谢途径具有多样性，可依赖发酵代谢进行细胞维持和增殖，其发酵产物甚至可以供给A菌利用.T菌可利用大分子有机物（如葡萄糖、氨基酸等）和VFAs（亲和性较低）进行厌氧释磷，继而完成好氧、甚至缺氧吸磷过程.T菌主要菌株（T.elongata）因缺少合成PHA相关酶基因而不能以PHA作为内聚产物在厌氧环境下储能；糖原和游离氨基酸被检测到可作为T菌的能源/碳源内聚物，但亦有结果相左的研究.借助于拉曼光谱技术，一些污水处理厂中T菌与A菌被证实对磷去除的贡献大小相当.总之，目前对T菌的研究还十分有限，现有研究仍不足以证明它们在EBPR中可稳定发挥除磷贡献.今后应在T菌不同代谢途径控制因素及所需环境条件方面进行深入研究，以确认T菌可否持续、稳定地实现除磷作用.     

Health hazards related to conidia of Cladosporium—biological air pollutants in Poland, central Europe

The spores of Cladosporium Link. are often present in the air in high quantities and produce many allergenic proteins, which may lead to asthma. An aerobiological spore monitoring program can inform patients about the current spore concentration in air and help their physicians determine the spore dose that is harmful for a given individual. This makes it possible to develop optimized responses and propose personalized therapy for a particular sensitive patient. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of the human health hazard posed by the fungal genus Cladosporium. For the first time, we have determined the number of days on which air samples in Poland exceeded the concentrations linked to allergic responses of sensitive patients, according to thresholds established by three different groups(2800/3000/4000 spores per 1 m~3 of the air). The survey was conducted over three consecutive growing seasons(April–September, 2010–2012) in three cities located in different climate zones of Poland(Poznan, Lublin and Rzeszow). The average number of days exceeding 2800 spores per cubic meter(the lowest threshold) ranged from 61(2010) through 76(2011) to 93(2012), though there was significant variation between cities. In each year the highest concentration of spores in the air was detected in either Poznan or Lublin, both located on large plains with intensive agriculture. We have proposed that an effective, science-based software platform to support policy-making on air quality should incorporate biological air pollutant data,such as allergenic fungal spores and pollen grains.     

氨基酸指示海洋中有机物降解行为的研究进展

氨基酸是海洋中重要的生源有机质,它在有机碳和有机氮的生物地球化学循环中起着非常重要的作用。氨基酸作为海洋有机物中的活性组分,在有机物降解过程中会被异养细菌选择性的去除,是指示海洋中有机物降解程度的灵敏指示因子。本论文首先介绍了海水中氨基酸的分类,总结了溶解游离氨基酸（DFAA）、溶解结合氨基酸（DCAA）、颗粒氨基酸（PAA）和细菌标志物D-型氨基酸的来源及生物学活性。同时归纳了有机物降解过程中氨基酸变化可归结为选择性保存、产生或者富集细菌源的物质和细菌的转化三种机理。最后本文综述了基于氨基酸的6种降解因子:溶解态氨基酸（THAA）对有机碳或有机氮贡献率（THAA-C%或THAA-N%）、降解因子（degradation index）、活性因子（reactivity index）、个体氨基酸的D/L比值、天门冬氨酸/β-丙氨酸或谷氨酸/γ-氨基丁酸比值（Asp/β-Ala或Glu/γ-Aba）以及细菌源有机物的贡献率,它们各自的特点、适用的降解阶段以及具体的应用。     

添加动物源氨基酸水解液研制生物有机肥

为改善生物有机肥性质,提高生物有机肥质量,采取在生物有机肥中添加外源氨基酸水解液以提升生物有机肥中功能微生物的数量.以病死猪酸解制得氨基酸水解液为生物有机肥外加原料,研究了氨基酸水解液添加量、有机肥种类（鸡粪、牛粪、中药渣）、发酵时间对功能菌株SQR9数量的影响.结果表明:当氨基酸水解液添加量为20%时固体发酵效果优于其他接种量,预发酵3 d后接种SQR9的功能菌数量明显高于未预发酵直接接菌,预发酵中肥料（以干质量计,下同）的最高功能菌数量可达4×108 CFU/g,而第0天接菌时肥料的最高功能菌数量仅为1.2×108 CFU/g.以腐熟鸡粪、牛粪、中药渣堆肥为载体,添加酸解氨基酸研制生物有机肥的最优接菌量分别为10.0%、7.5%、10.0%;SQR9菌株生长的最佳含水量为40%.此外,氨基酸水解液的添加可提高生物有机肥的w（TN）.研究显示,氨基酸水解液的添加能有效促进固态发酵过程中功能菌株数量的增加.