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In this study, novel spinel-NiFe 2 O 4 /natural mineral (sepiolite, diatomite and kaolinite) composites were developed using microwave (MW) hydrothermal method, and applied in MW-induced catalytic degradation (NiFe 2 O 4 /natural mineral/MW) of organic pollutants such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), azo fuchsine (AF), methyl parathion (MP), and crystal violet (CVL) in solution. Catalytic activities of three NiFe 2 O 4 /natural mineral composites were compared. The effects of material synthesis process parameters such as molar ratios of NiFe 2 O 4 and natural mineral, and pH of precursor solutions for synthesizing catalysts, and degradation parameters such as MW irradiation time and catalyst reuse cycles were also investigated. The principle on NiFe 2 O 4 /natural mineral/MW degradation was provided. The results reveal that organic pollutants in wastewater can be removed completely using NiFe 2 O 4 /natural mineral/MW within minutes. NiFe 2 O 4 /sepiolite shows higher catalytic activity than the others. The calculated degradation rate constants are 1.865, 0.672, 0.472, and 0.329 min −1 for SDBS, AF, MP, and CVL, respectively, using NiFe 2 O 4 /sepiolite/MW system. The performance of NiFe 2 O 4 /natural mineral can be maintained for three reuse cycles. Active species OH, O 2 − , and h + play main roles in NiFe 2 O 4 /sepiolite/MW degradation. Hence, NiFe 2 O 4 /sepiolite/MW technology with rapid and cost-effective degradation, magnetic separation, and no secondary pollution, demonstrates to be promising in treating organic contaminants in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are members of humoral immunity and particpate in resisting microbial invasion. In this study, an AMP gene hepcidin was obtained from the oriental loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and named Ma-Hep. This Ma-Hep encodes a peptide of 90 amino acids, with a predicted active peptide segment (Ma-sHep) of 25 amino acids at C terminus. Stimulation by a bacterial pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila resulted in significant up-regulation of Ma-Hep transcripts in loach midgut, head kidney, and gill. Ma-Hep and Ma-sHep proteins were expressed in Pichia pastoris and their antibacterial activity was examined. Results showed that Ma-sHep possessed stronger antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, compared to Ma-Hep. Scanning electron microscopy showed that Ma-sHep might kill bacteria by destroying bacterial cell membranes. Moreover, we found that Ma-sHep had an inhibitory effect on blood cell apoptosis induced by A. hydrophila and facilitated the bacterial phagocytosis and clearance in loach. Histopathological analysis indicated Ma-sHep could protect liver and gut of loach from bacterial infection. Ma-sHep has high thermal stability and PH stability, which is conducive to further feed addition. Feed supplemented with Ma-sHep expressing yeast improved the intestinal flora of loach by increasing the dominant bacteria and decreasing the harmful bacteria. Feed supplemented with Ma-sHep expressing yeast also regulated the expression of inflammatory related factors in various tissues of loach and reduced the mortality of loach upon bacterial infection. These findings show that the antibacterial peptide Ma-sHep is involved in the antibacterial defense of loach and can be used as a candidate for new antimicrobial agents in aquaculture. • The Hepcidin from Misgurnus anguillicaudatus was cloned and identified. • Ma-sHep possessed strong antibacterial activity against various bacteria. • Ma-sHep had an inhibitory effect on blood cell apoptosis induced by A. hydrophila. • Ma-sHep could protect loach tissues from bacterial infection. • Feed supplemented with Ma-sHep expressing yeast enhance immune capacity of loach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of two gene clusters encoding small nucleolar RNAs, SNORD115 and SNORD116 contribute to Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), the most common syndromic form of obesity in humans. SNORD115 and SNORD116 are considered to be orphan C/D box snoRNAs (SNORDs) as they do not target rRNAs or snRNAs. SNORD115 exhibits sequence complementarity towards the serotonin receptor 2C , but SNORD116 shows no extended complementarities to known RNAs. To identify molecular targets, we performed genome-wide array analysis after overexpressing SNORD115 and SNORD116 in HEK 293T cells, either alone or together. We found that SNORD116 changes the expression of over 200 genes. SNORD116 mainly changed mRNA expression levels. Surprisingly, we found that SNORD115 changes SNORD116's influence on gene expression. In similar experiments, we compared gene expression in post-mortem hypothalamus between individuals with PWS and aged-matched controls. The synopsis of these experiments resulted in 23 genes whose expression levels were influenced by SNORD116 . Together our results indicate that SNORD115 and SNORD116 influence expression levels of multiple genes and modify each other activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The modification of activated carbon powder (ACP) with ferreous sulfate and the degradation of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) under microwave irradiation combined with the modified ACP were studied in this work. The research results showed that the catalytic activity of the modified ACP depended on the concentration and acidity of ferreous sulfate solution as well as immersing time. Also, the influences of irradiation time, initial concentration and acidity of SDBS solution and addition amount of modified ACP on the degradation were assessed. UV–vis spectra, FT-IR spectra, ionic chromatography, HPLC and TOC technologies were brought to bear in assessing the modification and the degradation processes. For modified ACP, under given conditions such as 100mg/L SDBS solution, 1.20g/L catalyst dose and pH=6.0, a high degradation ratio (75.5%) was obtained for 25mL solution within 90s microwave irradiation, while it was only 59.59% for unmodified ACP. Furthermore, the degradation ratios could reach 100% by the appropriate increase of addition dose (e.g. 2.80g/L) of modified ACP or the extension of irradiation time (e.g. 230s). Whereas, for unmodified ACP, the corresponding degradation ratios were only 88.71% or 83.54%, respectively. Hence, it can be concluded that the method adopting microwave irradiation combined with the modified ACP reveals many advantages of rapid degradation rate, low cost, no residual intermediates and no secondary pollution in actual application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, the interaction between cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths, such as hexyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB), dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and DNA was investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and viscosity techniques. The results showed that these three cationic surfactants with different hydrocarbon chain lengths could all interact with DNA. Their binding modes were estimated and their interaction strength was compared. In addition, the effects of the surfactant, NaCl and phosphate ion concentrations on the interaction were reviewed. It is wished that this work would provide some valuable references to investigate the influence of cationic surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths on DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Almost all polymerase II transcripts undergo alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Here, we review the functions of alternative splicing events that have been experimentally determined. The overall function of alternative splicing is to increase the diversity of mRNAs expressed from the genome. Alternative splicing changes proteins encoded by mRNAs, which has profound functional effects. Experimental analysis of these protein isoforms showed that alternative splicing regulates binding between proteins, between proteins and nucleic acids as well as between proteins and membranes. Alternative splicing regulates the localization of proteins, their enzymatic properties and their interaction with ligands. In most cases, changes caused by individual splicing isoforms are small. However, cells typically coordinate numerous changes in ‘splicing programs’, which can have strong effects on cell proliferation, cell survival and properties of the nervous system. Due to its widespread usage and molecular versatility, alternative splicing emerges as a central element in gene regulation that interferes with almost every biological function analyzed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]