How a membrane agent buys goods in a membrane store

In this paper we consider a specific model of membrane systems, i. e. membrane systems with attributes. In these systems, the information is placed at the membranes in form of attributes, no objects are considered inside the membranes except for other membranes. The membrane system with attributes evolves according to rules that compute new values for the attributes from the attributes assigned to the membranes involved in the rule. The model of membrane systems with attributes allows us to specify business transactions in a precise way and to simulate different models for such transactions with a suitable tool for membrane systems with attributes.     

Dissection of COPI and Arf1 dynamics in vivo and role in Golgi membrane transport

Cytosolic coat proteins that bind reversibly to membranes have a central function in membrane transport within the secretory pathway. One well-studied example is COPI or coatomer, a heptameric protein complex that is recruited to membranes by the GTP-binding protein Arf1. Assembly into an electron-dense coat then helps in budding off membrane to be transported between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. Here we propose and corroborate a simple model for coatomer and Arf1 activity based on results analysing the distribution and lifetime of fluorescently labelled coatomer and Arf1 on Golgi membranes of living cells. We find that activated Arf1 brings coatomer to membranes. However, once associated with membranes, Arf1 and coatomer have different residence times: coatomer remains on membranes after Arf1-GTP has been hydrolysed and dissociated. Rapid membrane binding and dissociation of coatomer and Arf1 occur stochastically, even without vesicle budding. We propose that this continuous activity of coatomer and Arf1 generates kinetically stable membrane domains that are connected to the formation of COPI-containing transport intermediates. This role for Arf1/coatomer might provide a model for investigating the behaviour of other coat protein systems within cells.     

膜污染与清洗

各种膜分离已在分离过程中成为最新的技术之一。膜体系的发展有很大的前景 ,但膜的污染问题仍是一个难题 ,它限制了膜的广泛应用。文章概述了膜污染的机理、预防措施及其清洗方法。并根据这些原则对微滤啤酒废水引起的膜污染的清洗方法进行了研究 ,通过比较试验 ,选择了恰当的清洗剂和清洗工艺 ,快速恢复了膜通量     

Compositional asynchronous membrane systems

This paper presents an algorithmic way of building complex membrane systems by coupling elementary membranes. Its application seems particularly valuable in the case of asynchronous membrane systems, since the resulting membrane system remains asynchronous. The composition method is based on a handshake mechanism implemented by using antiport rules and promoters.     

Compositional asynchronous membrane systems

This paper presents an algorithmic way of building complex membrane systems by coupling elementary membranes. Its application seems particularly valuable in the case of asynchronous membrane systems, since the resulting membrane system remains asynchronous. The composition method is based on a handshake mechanism implemented by using antiport rules and promoters.     

Trans-SNARE pairing can precede a hemifusion intermediate in intracellular membrane fusion

The question concerning whether all membranes fuse according to the same mechanism has yet to be answered satisfactorily. During fusion of model membranes or viruses, membranes dock, the outer membrane leaflets mix (termed hemifusion), and finally the fusion pore opens and the contents mix. Viral fusion proteins consist of a membrane-disturbing 'fusion peptide' and a helical bundle that pin the membranes together. Although SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complexes form helical bundles with similar topology, it is unknown whether SNARE-dependent fusion events on intracellular membranes proceed through a hemifusion state. Here we identify the first hemifusion state for SNARE-dependent fusion of native membranes, and place it into a sequence of molecular events: formation of helical bundles by SNAREs precedes hemifusion; further progression to pore opening requires additional peptides. Thus, SNARE-dependent fusion may proceed along the same pathway as viral fusion: both use a docking mechanism via helical bundles and additional peptides to destabilize the membrane and efficiently induce lipid mixing. Our results suggest that a common lipidic intermediate may underlie all fusion reactions of lipid bilayers.     

均质硅橡胶膜萃取含酚水溶液传质特性研究

构造了卷绕式及管束式两种膜组件,采用均质硅橡胶膜材料,以氢氧化钠溶液为萃取液,研究了含酚水溶液的膜萃取过程.基于液-膜-液的串联传质阻力模型,通过实验测定了体系的总传质系数.分析讨论了苯酚溶液浓度、流动状态和温度因素对膜萃取传质过程的影响,得出了总传质系数与料液流动状态及温度之间关系的数学模型.实验值与理论值的相对偏差在10%以内,表明所得的关联式可信、有效.     

链式膜系统及直接(间接)膜算法与聚类分析研究进展

当前关于膜计算的研究有很多,但是大部分都停留在理论研究层面,关于膜计算的应用研究依然比较少.现有膜系统主要包括细胞型膜系统、组织型膜系统和神经型膜系统.现有膜系统及其变形都是基于图结构的设计,为了进一步扩展膜系统的应用能力,将现有的基本膜系统结合离散Morse理论,创建了新型的单纯形P系统.同时将细胞的多维框架思想加入膜系统研究中,从形式化的角度,创建了膜系统的链式结构.将膜系统的极大并行性和聚类分析模型进行结合,不仅可以用于处理高复杂度、数量庞大的数据集,而且还可以提高聚类算法的性能,具有广泛的应用价值.针对两种新型膜系统进行了详细介绍,同时将膜系统与聚类问题进行结合的研究进行了概述.     

海水淡化膜蒸馏膜的研究现状与展望

海水淡化技术(热法和膜法)是一项有望使人类摆脱淡水资源短缺困境的有效方法，其中，膜蒸馏技术是一种能源消耗低、脱盐能力强且有望实现淡水经济可持续生产的新型膜分离技术，但是膜蒸馏性能在很大程度上受膜污染与温度极化的制约，严重阻碍了其规模化应用，为此，研究人员围绕膜改性做了系列研究，以提高膜抗污染性并最大限度地降低温度极化。从阻碍膜蒸馏发展的问题入手，简要介绍了膜污染与温度极化及其对膜蒸馏造成的不利影响，综合分析了当前通过构造特殊润湿性表面抵抗膜污染以及利用限域加热降低/消除温度极化的研究现状，并指出当今膜蒸馏膜面临的问题，认为未来对于膜蒸馏膜的研究应从以下几方面开展：1)选用高导热/高光吸收的材料制造有限域加热功能并具有特殊润湿性表面的膜；2)设计能够适应多元污染物进料液的膜蒸馏膜；3)构筑一体化的具有高导热/光吸收性亲水层的Janus膜。     

Evidence for a charge-shift electrochromic mechanism in a probe of membrane potential.

Extrinsic optical probes have become important tools for monitoring membrane potential, with probes now available for many tissue or cell suspension systems. In each case that has been studied in detail, it seems that the mechanism involves a shift in the equilibrium population of the probe from one chemical environment to another in response to the transmembrane potential; the environments perturb the probe's spectrum differently. As this indirect mechanism involves a redistribution of dye between chemical environments that are likely to vary if a given probe is transferred from one membrane to another, a potential probe that is effective and calibrated for all membrane systems has not been realised. We present here evidence for a direct response of a probe chromophore to the electric field across membrane systems. The results suggest it might be possible to develop a universal set of membrane probes.     

Vesicular restriction of synaptobrevin suggests a role for calcium in membrane fusion

Release of neurotransmitter occurs when synaptic vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane. This neuronal exocytosis is triggered by calcium and requires three SNARE (soluble-N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) proteins: synaptobrevin (also known as VAMP) on the synaptic vesicle, and syntaxin and SNAP-25 on the plasma membrane. Neuronal SNARE proteins form a parallel four-helix bundle that is thought to drive the fusion of opposing membranes. As formation of this SNARE complex in solution does not require calcium, it is not clear what function calcium has in triggering SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. We now demonstrate that whereas syntaxin and SNAP-25 in target membranes are freely available for SNARE complex formation, availability of synaptobrevin on synaptic vesicles is very limited. Calcium at micromolar concentrations triggers SNARE complex formation and fusion between synaptic vesicles and reconstituted target membranes. Although calcium does promote interaction of SNARE proteins between opposing membranes, it does not act by releasing synaptobrevin from synaptic vesicle restriction. Rather, our data suggest a mechanism in which calcium-triggered membrane apposition enables syntaxin and SNAP-25 to engage synaptobrevin, leading to membrane fusion.     

陶瓷超滤膜过滤含超细颗粒的乳化悬浮液的数学模型及二次成膜操作条件研究

建立了陶瓷膜超滤含超细颗粒的乳化悬浮液的数学模型，模型计算结果与超滤运行结果能很好地相符合，并由此模型提出了陶瓷膜超滤过程的稳定运行的关键条件，考察并确定了二次成膜的工艺条件。     

粉末活性炭（PAC）改性聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）超滤膜的制备及性能研究

以粉末活性炭（PAC）为改性剂,通过共混杂化的方法加入聚偏氟乙烯的铸膜液中,采用相分离法制得一系列含有不同PAC比例的聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）超滤膜。通过电子扫描显微镜、原子力显微镜、接触角测量、红外光谱等表征手段对改性膜和空白膜的结构和性能进行对比和分析,并以腐殖酸溶液和市政二沉池出水为处理对象进行过滤实验,研究PAC的添加对超滤膜的抗污染性能影响。结果表明：PAC的添加可以提升超滤膜的孔隙率,改善亲水性,增强纯水通量和污染物阻截率。并且,以纯水通量最高的活性炭杂化超滤膜和空白膜作为对照组进行腐殖酸（HA）溶液和市政二沉池出水的过滤实验,发现PAC的添加可以增强超滤膜的抗污染性能。     

The asymmetric membrane structure of erythrocytes from Crucian carp studied by atomic force microscopy

Cell membranes play a key role in cellular activities. Fish erythrocytes, prototype of the nucleated erythrocytes of lower vertebrates, are predominantly oval, biconvex discs with elliptical nucleus and much larger in size than human erythrocytes. In attempts to disclose the correlation of membrane structure between fish and human erythrocytes, we used in situ atomic force microscope （AFM） combined with single-molecule force spectroscopy to study the membrane structure of Crucian carp erythrocytes under quasi-native conditions. Our results revealed the asymmetric distribution of proteins in Crucian carp erythrocyte membrane： the outer leaflet of membrane is rather smooth without any proteins, whereas the inner leaflet of membrane is very rough with dense proteins. The asymmetry of fish erythrocyte membrane structure fits well with the semi-mosaic model of human erythrocyte membrane structure. This similarity of membrane structure between human and fish erythrocytes extends the semimosaic model of erythrocytes membrane structure to a wider range of species.     

Shiga toxin induces tubular membrane invaginations for its uptake into cells

Clathrin seems to be dispensable for some endocytic processes and, in several instances, no cytosolic coat protein complexes could be detected at sites of membrane invagination. Hence, new principles must in these cases be invoked to account for the mechanical force driving membrane shape changes. Here we show that the Gb3 (glycolipid)-binding B-subunit of bacterial Shiga toxin induces narrow tubular membrane invaginations in human and mouse cells and model membranes. In cells, tubule occurrence increases on energy depletion and inhibition of dynamin or actin functions. Our data thus demonstrate that active cellular processes are needed for tubule scission rather than tubule formation. We conclude that the B-subunit induces lipid reorganization that favours negative membrane curvature, which drives the formation of inward membrane tubules. Our findings support a model in which the lateral growth of B-subunit-Gb3 microdomains is limited by the invagination process, which itself is regulated by membrane tension. The physical principles underlying this basic cargo-induced membrane uptake may also be relevant to other internalization processes, creating a rationale for conceptualizing the perplexing diversity of endocytic routes.     

一种求得纳滤膜截留分子量的方法

利用回归方法,建立表征纳滤膜分离性能常用的有机分子的Stokes半径(rs)与分子量(Ms)之间定量关系方程.根据提出的纳滤膜截留分子量(Mp)所对应的分子Stokes半径与膜的等效细孔半径(rp)相等的假设,得到Mp与rp之间的关系方程,即只要知道纳滤膜细孔半径就能求得Mp.通过NF270纳滤膜对葡萄糖和蔗糖的透过实验,采用细孔模型(SHP模型)和S-K模型对NF270纳滤膜的rp进行了估算,进而计算出NF270膜的截留分子量为540左右,与供应商提供的截留分子量基本相符.利用文献数据计算了几种纳滤膜的Mp,与文献报道的结果基本一致.因此,为膜截留分子量的估算提供了一种更加方便、实用的新方法.     

用中空纤维膜分散技术制备纳米颗粒

采用中空纤维膜为分散介质,以制备纳米BaSO₄为例,探索膜分散制备纳米颗粒技术。实验以Na₂SO₄溶液为连续相,将BaCl₂溶液通过中空纤维膜均匀分散到Na₂SO₄溶液中,在透过膜的微小液滴形成的微环境中实现两种溶液的微观混合,并反应生成BaSO₄颗粒。实验研究了膜组件构型、反应物浓度、分散剂、膜孔孔径大小等因素对BaSO₄颗粒形貌、大小和粒度分布的影响。结果表明：采用膜截留分子量为10000的中空纤维膜制成的浸没式膜组件,反应物Na₂SO₄和BaCl₂溶液浓度均为0.02mol/L,加入分散剂聚乙二醇(PEG)制得了平均粒径在10～30nm、球形度好、单分散性好的纳米BaSO₄颗粒.     

An equivalent 1D nanochannel model to describe ion transport in multilayered graphene membranes

Multilayered graphene-based membranes are promising for a variety of applications related to ion or molecule transport, such as energy storage and water treatment. However, the complex three-dimensional cascading nanoslit-like structure embedded in the membrane makes it difficult to interpret and rationalize experimental results, quantitatively compare with the traditional membrane systems, and quantitatively design new membrane structures. In this paper, systematic numerical simulations were performed to establish an equivalent onedimensional(1 D) nanochannel model to represent the structure of multilayered graphene membranes. We have established a quantitative relationship between effective diffusion length Leffand cross-section area Aeffof the1 D model and our recently developed two dimensional(2 D) representative microstructure for graphene membranes. We find that only in the cases of a relatively large lateral size L( ~100 nm) and a small slit size h( 2 nm), the effective diffusion length Leffand Aeffcan be calculated by an over-simplified but often used model. Otherwise, they show complex dependence on all three structural parameters of the 2 D structural model.Our equivalent 1 D nano-channel model can reproduce experimental results very well except for h 0.5 nm. The discrepancy could be attributed to the anomalous behaviour of molecules under nano-confinement that is not considered in our simulations. This model can also be extended to multilayered membranes assembled by other2 D materials.     

Evolutionary conservation of biogenesis of beta-barrel membrane proteins

The outer membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts are distinguished by the presence of beta-barrel membrane proteins. The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria also harbours beta-barrel proteins. In mitochondria these proteins fulfil a variety of functions such as transport of small molecules (porin/VDAC), translocation of proteins (Tom40) and regulation of mitochondrial morphology (Mdm10). These proteins are encoded by the nucleus, synthesized in the cytosol, targeted to mitochondria as chaperone-bound species, recognized by the translocase of the outer membrane, and then inserted into the outer membrane where they assemble into functional oligomers. Whereas some knowledge has been accumulated on the pathways of insertion of proteins that span cellular membranes with alpha-helical segments, very little is known about how beta-barrel proteins are integrated into lipid bilayers and assembled into oligomeric structures. Here we describe a protein complex that is essential for the topogenesis of mitochondrial outer membrane beta-barrel proteins (TOB). We present evidence that important elements of the topogenesis of beta-barrel membrane proteins have been conserved during the evolution of mitochondria from endosymbiotic bacterial ancestors.     

Synchronised transmembrane insertion and glycosylation of a nascent membrane protein.

Studies of the synthesis and incorporation of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein into membranes in a synchronised cell-free system demonstrate a tight coupling between polypeptide synthesis and membrane insertion, as a result of which the nascent chain crosses the membrane. The studies reveal a surprisingly precise sequence by which the nascent chain of this membrane glycoprotein is glycosylated in two steps. These findings have important implications for the mechanisms of membrane assembly.