Down-regulation of αGal epitopes by co-transfection of α1,3-galactosidase gene and α1,2–fucosyltransferase gene

The polycarbohydrate structure of Galα1- 3Ga1β1-4GluNAc-R （known as αGal epitopes of xenoantigen）, produced by α1-3-galactosyltransferase （α1,3-GT） in the course of animal development, is the major xenoantigen on the cell surface of porcine which causes hyperacute rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Alpha-1,3-galactosidase （AGL）, a hydrolytic enzyme, can remove the terminal α1,3-galactosyi from the Galα1-3Galβ1-4GluNAc-R structure resulting in cleaning αGai epitopes from the porcine cells. Aipha-1,2-fucosyitransferase （HT） can modify the surface carbohydrate phenotype of porcine cells, bringing about reduction of αGai epitopes expression. In this study, human AGL and HT gene were co-transfected to porcine fetal fibroblast （PFFb） in equimolar concentration to reduce the xenoantigen. Gene and protein of hAGL and HT were both detected to express at high level by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. There was an 84% reduction in αGai xenoantigen and an 82% increase in H antigen as assayed by flow cytometry in the AGL and HT gene co-transfected PFFb. The number and morphology of transgenic PFFb chromosome were normal. Findings indicate that Galα1-3Gal epitopes of PFFb could be down regulated by AGL and HT co-transfection without deleterious effects on the chromosomal profile of the transgenic ceil.     

Rudimentary study on humanization of porcine red blood cells:Enzymatic removal of galactose-α1,3-galactose antigen from porcine red blood cell

The serological and biochemical characterization of porcine red blood cells (pRBCs) are similar to human red blood cells,Porcine erythrocytes are considered as an alternative source for human blood transfusion.But there exist galactose-α1,3-galactose antigens (Galα1,3Galβ1,4galNAc-R,abbreviated αGal antigen ) on pRBCs,which can induce anti-αGai antibodies in human serum ,The αGal epitopes are the major antigen responsible for hyperacute rejection in exnotransfusion .In this study ,recombined soybean α-galactosidase (rSα-GalE) was used to remove the αGal antigens from pPRCs for humanization .The results showed that αGal antigen was eleared by rSα-GalE and the structure and function of rSα-GalE treated pRBC were normal.     

Comparative study on the effect of integrin αvβ3 on secretion of matrix metalloproteinases in human normal and carcinoma trophoblasts

The invasion of cytotrophoblast cells into the maternal endometrium during embryonic implantation is very similar to the metastasis of carcinoma cells. However, the significant difference is that the former is a highly controlled process. In this report, the effects of integrin αvβ3 on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) were compared between normal cytotrophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cells by RT-PCR, gelatin zymography and immunocytochemistry. The results reveal that both normal cytotrophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cells can express integrin αvβ3. The secretion of MMPs in normal cytotrophoblast cells is up-regulated by anti-αvβ3 antibody, whereas, decreased in choriocarcinoma cells. It was suggested that αvβ3 can modulate the expression of MMPs in trophoblasts, and this action is carried out through distinct mechanisms in normal and carcinoma cytotrophoblast cells.     

Some Properties of α-Subsets

In this paper, the concept of α - subsets is introduced in a lattice implication algebra and some properties are discussed. Then we prove that an α- subset is a lattice ideal of L. In the end, we discuss the properties of annihilator.     

Molecular mechanism of abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein

The abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) is thought to be closely associated with Parkinson's disease, but the pathogenesis is still unclear. In this review, we survey the latest development in the molecular mechanism of abnormal α-Syn aggregation, especially in the aspects of the core sequences, aggregation inhibitors, structural transformation and filament morphologies. By exploring the mecha-nism of α-Syn aggregation, we will have a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis, and de-velop strategies for preventing and treating this severe disease.     

Molecular mechanism of abnormal aggresation of α-synuclein

The abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein （α-Syn） is thought to be closely associated with Parkinson＇s disease, but the pathogenesis is still unclear. In this review, we survey the latest development in the molecular mechanism of abnormal α-Syn aggregation, especially in the aspects of the core sequences, aggregation inhibitors, structural transformation and filament morphologies. By exploring the mechanism of α-Syn aggregation, we will have a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis, and develop strategies for preventing and treating this severe disease.     

Synthesis of Nanocrystalline α-Mo_2C from Peroxomolybdenum Compounds

1 Introduction Considerable attentions have been focused on transition metal carbide because of their numerous valuable properties, particularly of excellent catalysis similar to noble metal[1]. There are many routes[2]to synthesize molybdenum carbide. Among them, the temperature programmed reduction of MoO3 using the mixture of hydrocarbon and hydrogen is the most promising procedure to prepare carbide catalyst. Traditionally, CH4/H2 and C2H6/H2 are the most widely used to be the carburizing resource. Herein, this work reported a facile chemical route to the synthesis of α-Mo2C at 1053 K by reacting peroxopolymolybdic acid as precursor with the surfactants (PVP, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, K30; DDAC, dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride) as the carburizing resources by flowing in a current of hydrogen.     

Comparative study on the effect of integrin αvβ3 on secretion of matrix metalloproteinases in human normal and carcinoma trophoblasts

The invasion of cytotrophoblast cells into the maternal endometrium during embryonic implantation is very similar to the metastasis of carcinoma cells. However, the significant difference is that the former is a highly controlled process. In this report, the effects of integrin αvβ3 on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) were compared between normal cytotrophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cells by RT-PCR, gelatin zymography and immunocytochemistry. The results reveal that both normal cytotrophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cells can express integrin αvβ3. The secretion of MMPs in normal cytotrophoblast ceils is up-regulated by anti-αvβ3 antibody, whereas, decreased in choriocarcinoma cells. It was suggested that αvβ3 can modulate the expression of MMPs in trophoblasts, and this action is carried out through distinct mechanisms in normal and carcinoma cytotrophoblast cells.     

Mechanism of α-Cr precipitation and crystallographic relationships between α-Cr and δ phases in Inconel 718 alloy after long-time thermal exposure

To study the precipitation mechanism of α-Cr phase in Inconel 718 alloy, the samples after long-time aging at 650 and 677℃ were examined by microstructural observations and chemical phase analysis methods. Combining the thermodynamics and kinetics calculation results, α-Cr always precipitates in the vicinity of δ phase, because δ phase rejects Cr into the γ-matrix when growing. The selected area diffraction patterns confirm that the crystallographic relationships of α-Cr with δ phase are (010)_δ//(1 10)_α-Cr and [100]_δ//[111]_α-Cr. A graphic model is also presented to show the crystallographic relation between α-Cr and δ phases.     

Stepwise prediction and statistical screening:B-cell epitopes on neuraminidase of human avian H_5N_1 virus

The B-cell epitopes of virus are associated with the antiviral drug and the vaccine screening. As the nucleotide sequences of neuraminidase (NA) of stain GD-01-06 were sequenced, we predicted the α-helix and β-fold structure and the indexes of the flexible regions of secondary structure of NA with methods of the Hydrophilicity plot by Kyte-Doolittle, the Surface probability plot by Emini and the Antigenic index by Jameson-Wolf, and then screened statistically the parameters to predict B-cell epitopes by the Hierarchical cluster and the Bivariate correlation and the quartiles with SPSS 13.0. The impact of variation of amino acids in NA on its epitopes was analyzed. The predictive results were evaluated by Wu’s Antigenic Index and SWISS-MODEL. We found that the most possible epitopes on NA were located within or nearby its N-terminal Nos. 120―137, 81―84, 408―415, 273―282, 429―432, 356―368, 46―55, 146―155, 341―350 and 198―209, which were the dominant regions of NA epitopes. Peptide 120―137 including the glycoprotein domain (NGT126―128) was first chosen as the B-cell epitopes on NA. NA in H5N1 strain isolated after 2003 lacked in No. 53 amino acid (I), resulting in an increase in the surface flexible region of NA in GD-01-06 and an enlargement to their epitope regions (VEP46―48→ VEPISNTNFL46―55). Conclusively, prediction of the B-cell epitopes on the NA based on multiple parameters is useful for researches on the molecular immunology and drug screening and immuno-prophylaxis. A deletion of No. 53 amino acid (I) in NA in strain GD-01-06 might increase its antigenicity.     

An α-expansin, VfEXPA1, is involved in regulation of stomatal movement in Vicia faba L.

The wall loosening of guard cells differs from other types of plant cells. However, the regulation of wall loosening during stomatal movement is poorly understood. VfEXPA1 is an α-expansin gene cloned from Vicia faba epidermal strips. Expression of VfEXPA1 is regulated by darkness and submergence, and is not affected by light and abscisic acid (ABA). In situ hybridization showed that VfEXPA1 is expressed primarily in the guard cells. Overexpression of VfEXPA1 in transgenic tobacco accelerated light-induced ...     

Distribution of α-MSH -like immunoreactive cells in the nervous system, Hatschek’s pit and other tissues of amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri

Immunohistochemical localization of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in the nervous system, Hatschek’s pit and other tissues of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) was performed using the antibody against synthetic α-MSH. The results revealed that α-MSH-like immunoreactive cells were distributed at the dorsal side and ventral side of the brain vesicle, the dorsal side and the surrounding of central tube in the nerve tube, the epithelial cells of Hatschek’s pit, and zones 1, 3 and 6 in endostyle and hindgut. The immunoreactive substance was also found in the primary oocytes of the small and large growth stage of ovary and early stage spermatogenic cells in testis. These findings indicate that α-MSH is an ancient and highly conserved hormone and it is extensively distributed in amphioxus. Although Hatschek’s pit in amphioxus do not have a structure of the intermediate lobe of vertebrate adenohypophysis, it has already hosted α-MSH-like endocrine cells, implying that the functional differentiation of α-MSH-like cells occurred earlier than the differentiation of the tissue structure. The results of present study provided new evidence for the endocrinology of Hatschek’s pit and the origin and evolution of vertebrate adenphypophysis.     

Inhibitory effect of a modified adenovirus type 5 E1A gene on the NF-kB activity in porcine aortic endothelial cells induced by TNF-α

During the DXR process of xenotransplantation, the endothelial cells (EC) are activated, and the expression of NF-kB is immediately up-regulated[1]. NF-kB consisting of p65/p50 heterodimers or homodimers are retained in the cytoplasm by association with IkB (inhibitor of NF-kB) proteins. After stimulation, IkB is degraded, re-leasing NF-kB from these trimeric complexes, and allow-ing NF-kB translocation to the nucleus to play its biology function[2,5]. The promoter and enhancer region…     

A Convenient Method for the Oxidation of Alcohols with KMnO_4 to Their Corresponding Carbonyl Compounds in Ionic Liquid Media

1 Results Carbonyl compounds constitute an important group of molecules in organic chemistry,which appears in pharmaceuticals,dyes and industrially important chemicals[1-2].The oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl groups is a fundamental transformation in organic chemistry and industrially important[3].There is considerable interest in the use of room temperature ionic liquids as promising substitutes for volatile organic solvents.The ambient-temperature ionic liquids,especially those based on 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cations,have been emerged as promising green solvents in recent decades[4].Some of the advantages of using ionic liquids in catalytic reactions are connected with the lack of a measurable vapor pressure.Products can be easily distilled out of the reaction mixture and the impact on the environment and operating personnel is dramatically reduced.In addition,due to the great choice of different ionic liquids,the solvent properties may be tuned to suit a particular application.In order to investigate such oxidation reactions in ionic liquids; the selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes was selected as a model reaction.     

Alkylation of toluene with 1,3-pentadiene over silica supported aluminum chloride catalyst in an extracting-distilling reactor

The alkylation of toluene with 1,3-pentadiene to produce pentyltoluene is designed to obtain 2,6-dimethylnaphalene for the monomer production of 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid. The possibility of the reaction is examined by the thermodynamics of the alkylation reaction using Thinh’s group contributions method, and tested over silica supported aluminum chloride catalyst in a newly developed extracting?distilling reactor. The thermodynamics calculation results show that the alkylation reaction is exothermic and can proceed at 298?350 K under normal pressure with an equilibrium constant higher than 106. Based on the thermodynamic calculation and the properties of the reactants and product, the extracting-distilling reactor was designed to allow 1,3-pentadiene to react with toluene at much lower temperature than the boiling point of toluene at the catalyst site. The alkylation product, which has a higher boiling point than that of toluene, is transferred from the catalytic site into the toluene bath and collected. The experimental results show that the reactor functions as designed and promotes the selectivity of the alkylation reaction close to 100%. The effect of raw material ratio of toluene to 1,3-pentadiene and reaction time are discussed in this paper. The suitable catalytic reaction conditions are as follows: at reaction temperature of 338 K and ambient pressure, the reactant ratio of toluene to 1,3-pentadiene is 5:1 for a six-hour reaction.     

Magnetic records of Core MD77-181 in the Bay of Bengal and their paleoenvironmental implications

Located in the low latitude region of the northeastern Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal represents one of the largest marginal seas in the world. The Bengal Fan hosts erosional products mostly from Himalayas and is under the influence of the Indian monsoon system. The Bengal Fan has thus been one of the ideal places for studying the uplift of the Tibet Plateau and the history of the Indian monsoon[1―8]. The intensity of the Indian monsoon is controlled by secular variations in insola- ti…     

Tautomerizations and intramolecular hydrogen bondings of the chiral α-nitroester, α-nitrosoester and α-ketoester

Interesting and diverse tautomerizations and intramolecular hydrogen bondings of the chiral α-nitroester, α-nitrosoester and α-ketoester are described and rationally interpreted.     

JWA protein binds to α-tubulin in PC12 cells

Our previous study elucidated that JWA protein was a newly identified microtubule-associated protein (MAP), which combined to and co-localized with α-tubulin. In the present study, we designed a series of experiments to explore if any interactions between JWA protein and α-tubulin existed and how JWA protein would functionally link to α-tubulin, especially in cell mitosis. Results of coimmnnoprecipitation, gene transfection and immnnoflnores-cence microscopy from PC12 and HEK293 cells provided strong evidence for a linkage between JWA protein and α-tubulin. Our data showed that JWA protein bound to α-tubulin stably no matter whether α-tubulin was polymerized or not. In addition, by using antisense oligonncleotides, cell cycle blocking agents and hypothermia disposal techniques, we also found the interaction between JWA protein and α-tubulin. The further analysis using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed that both proteins co-existed in PC12 cells and were independent on the cell cycle. In conclusion, JWA protein is a newly identified microtnbnle-associated protein, binds to α-tubulin, and probably plays an important role in regulation of microtnbnlar stability.