Trans-splicing in C. elegans generates the negative RNAi regulator ERI-6/7

Mutations that enhance the response to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) have revealed components of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway or related small RNA pathways. To explore these small RNA pathways, we screened for Caenorhabditis elegans mutants displaying an enhanced response to exogenous dsRNAs. Here we describe the isolation of mutations in two adjacent, divergently transcribed open reading frames (eri-6 and eri-7) that fail to complement. eri-6 and eri-7 produce separate pre-messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) that are trans-spliced to form a functional mRNA, eri-6/7. Trans-splicing of eri-6/7 is mediated by a direct repeat that flanks the eri-6 gene. Adenosine to inosine editing within untranslated regions of eri-6 and eri-7 pre-mRNAs reveals a double-stranded pre-mRNA intermediate, forming in the nucleus before splicing occurs. The ERI-6/7 protein is a superfamily I helicase that both negatively regulates the exogenous RNAi pathway and functions in an endogenous RNAi pathway.     

Pr3+/Tm3+共掺LaF3纳米体系中能量转移效应的光谱学研究

在较低的温度下用水热法制备了分散性良好的Pr³⁺/Tm³⁺共掺的LaF₃纳米颗粒. X射线衍射、原子力显微镜和透射电子显微镜等技术对纳米颗粒进行表征的结果显示, 纳米颗粒呈六方相, 平均粒径为30 nm. 通过激光激发LaF3:Pr³⁺/Tm³⁺共掺纳米体系中的Tm3+离子, 实现了Tm³⁺离子到Pr³⁺离子的能量转移, 观测到了因此而产生的荧光辐射. 运用光谱学方法对共掺纳米体系的荧光辐射性质进行了研究分析, 并对相应的能量转移机理进行了探讨.     

直波导耦合输出AlGaInAs多量子阱环形激光器研究

采用InP基InAlGaAs多量子阱激光器外延材料结构, 利用感应耦合等离子体(ICP)干法刻蚀技术和聚酰亚胺介质平坦化工艺, 研制了多量子阱半导体环形激光器样品. 该器件通过加正偏压的环形结构谐振腔实现光激射, 然后借助紧邻的直线波导耦合将光信号输出. 环形谐振腔直径为700 μm, 波导宽度为3 μm. 用光纤对准直线波导端口耦合测试了环形激光器的光功率-电流特性曲线和激射光谱, 其阈值电流为120 mA, 在注入电流160 mA时从直波导耦合输出得到激射光谱的中心波长为1602 nm, 并结合光功率-电流特性曲线对环形激光器中的工作模式进行了初步分析.