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Understanding the mechanisms of controlling vapor condensation on surfaces is of significant importance in many fields. Despite many efforts made in the investigation of vapor condensation, few studies concern the condensation on flexible substrates, especially in microscale. In this paper, the condensation of high temperature water vapor on substrate with various flexibilities and wettabilities is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The results indicate that when substrates with the same flexibility vary from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, the condensation rate increases and the condensation mode changes from no-condensation to dropwise condensation, incomplete filmwise condensation and filmwise condensation, and meanwhile, the heat exchange between the water vapor and the substrate becomes more efficient; when substrates with the same wettability vary from rigid to flexible, the nucleation density, the condensation rate and the heat exchange efficiency increase significantly. In particular, the condensation modes on rigid and flexible substrates with the same wettability are generally the same except for the substrates with εwater-Cu = 0.4 kcal mol-1; and the critical values of substrate spring constant for the condensation mode transition are about 80-100 kcal mol-1 Å-2 when εwater-Cu = 0.4 kcal mol-1. Therefore, changing the flexibility of the substrate is proposed as a new way to control the condensation mode at the initial stage of water vapor condensation to meet design requirements.

Ralstonia solanacearum, one of the most destructive plant bacterial pathogens, delivers an array of effector proteins via its type III secretion system for pathogenesis. However, the biochemical functions of most of these proteins remain unclear. RipN is a type III effector with unknown function(s) from the pathogen R. solanacearum. Here, we demonstrate that RipN is a conserved type III effector found within the R. solanacearum species complex that contains a putative Nudix hydrolase domain and has ADP-ribose/NADH pyrophosphorylase activity in vitro. Further analysis shows that RipN localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nucleus in Nicotiana tabacum leaf cells and Arabidopsis protoplasts, and truncation of the C-terminus of RipN results in a loss of nuclear and ER targeting. Furthermore, the expression of RipN in Arabidopsis suppresses callose deposition and the transcription of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) marker genes under flg22 treatment, and promotes bacterial growth in planta. In addition, the expression of RipN in plant cells alters NADH/NAD + , but not GSH/GSSG, ratios, and its Nudix hydrolase activity is indispensable for such biochemical function. These results suggest that RipN acts as a Nudix hydrolase, alters the NADH/NAD + ratio of the plant and contributes to R. solanacearum virulence by suppression of PTI of the host., (© 2018 The Authors. Molecular Plant Pathology Published by BSPP and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The satiety effects and metabolic actions of cholecystokinin (CCK) have been recognized as potential therapeutic targets in obesity for decades. We identified a potentially novel Ca2+-activated chloride (Cl-) current (CaCC) that is induced by CCK in intestinal vagal afferents of nodose neurons. The CaCC subunit Anoctamin 2 (Ano2/TMEM16B) is the dominant contributor to this current. Its expression is reduced, as is CCK current activity in obese mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). Reduced expression of TMEM16B in the heterozygote KO of the channel in sensory neurons results in an obese phenotype with a loss of CCK sensitivity in intestinal nodose neurons, a loss of CCK-induced satiety, and metabolic changes, including decreased energy expenditure. The effect on energy expenditure is further supported by evidence in rats showing that CCK enhances sympathetic nerve activity and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, and these effects are abrogated by a HFD and vagotomy. Our findings reveal that Ano2/TMEM16B is a Ca2+-activated chloride channel in vagal afferents of nodose neurons and a major determinant of CCK-induced satiety, body weight control, and energy expenditure, making it a potential therapeutic target in obesity.

The gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila invades human's lung and causes Legionnaires' disease. To benefit its survival and replication in cellular milieu, L. pneumophila secrets at least 330 effector proteins into host cells. We found that the effector WipA has the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity but does not depend on the classical CX5R motif for activity, suggesting that WipA is an unconventional PTP. Meanwhile, the presence of three other highly conserved motifs typically seen in protein serine/threonine phosphatases and the poor inhibition of WipA activity by okadaic acid led us to propose that WipA is a bacterial protein phosphatase. In addition, the determination of the 2.55-Å crystal structure of WipA revealed that WipA resembles cold-active protein tyrosine phosphatase (CAPTPase), and therefore very likely shares the same catalytic mechanism.

A pair of novel enantiomeric polyketide dimers, (+)- and (-)-ascomlactone A (1a and 1b), were obtained from a mangrove endophytic fungus Ascomycota sp. SK2YWS-L. The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations were determined by X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Ascomlactone A possessed an unprecedented polymerization system, which constructed an unusual nine-membered lactone ring between the monomers. A possible biogenetic pathway was proposed. Both 1a and 1b exhibited significant inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase with IC 50 values of 63.7 and 27.9 μM, respectively. A further docking study provided an inside perspective of the action in α-glucosidase.

Diaporisoindoles A (1) and B (2), two novel isoprenylisoindole alkaloids, and an unusual diisoprenylisoindole dimer diaporisoindole C (3), together with a precursor tenellone C (4) were all isolated from the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. SYSU-HQ3. The absolute configurations of 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations. Diaporisoindole A (1) and tenellone C (4) exhibited inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B with IC 50 values of 4.2 and 5.2 μM.

Objectives: To establish genetically modified cell lines that can produce functional α1-antitrypsin (AAT), by CRISPR/Cas9-assisted homologous recombination., Results: α1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a monogenic heritable disease that often results in lungs and liver damage. Current augmentation therapy is expensive and in short of supply. To develop a safer and more effective therapeutic strategy for AATD, we integrated the AAT gene (SERPINA1, NG_008290.1) into the AAVS1 locus of human cell line HEK293T and assessed the safety and efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9 on producing potential therapeutic cell lines. Cell clones obtained had the AAT gene integrated at the AAVS1 locus and secreted approx. 0.04 g/l recombinant AAT into the medium. Moreover, the secreted AAT showed an inhibitory activity that is comparable to plasma AAT., Conclusions: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated engineering of human cells is a promising alternative for generating isogenic cell lines with consistent AAT production. This work sheds new light on the generation of therapeutic liver stem cells for AATD.

Lasiodiplactone A (1), an unprecedented lactone, was obtained from the mangrove endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae ZJ-HQ1. The structure of 1 was established by analysis of NMR spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Lasiodiplactone A (1) was the first example of lactone that possesses a unique tetracyclic system (12/6/6/5) of RAL 12 (12-membered β-resorcylic acid lactone) with a pyran ring and a furan ring. A possible biogenetic pathway for 1 was proposed. Compound 1 showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide activated in RAW264.7 cells with IC 50 value of 23.5 μM and exhibited potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC 50 values of 29.4 μM.

The leucine rich repeat containing protein 8A (LRRC8A), or SWELL1, is an essential component of the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) that is activated by cell swelling and ionic strength. We report here for the first time to our knowledge its expression in a primary cell culture of nodose ganglia neurons and its localization in the soma, neurites, and neuronal membrane. We show that this neuronal VRAC/SWELL1 senses low external pH (pH o ) in addition to hypoosmolarity. A robust sustained chloride current is seen in 77% of isolated nodose neurons following brief exposures to extracellular acid pH. Its activation involves proton efflux, intracellular alkalinity, and an increase in NOX-derived H 2 O 2. The molecular identity of both the hypoosmolarity-induced and acid pH o -conditioned VRAC as LRRC8A (SWELL1) was confirmed by Cre-flox-mediated KO, shRNA-mediated knockdown, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated LRRC8A deletion in HEK cells and in primary nodose neuronal cultures. Activation of VRAC by low pH o reduces neuronal injury during simulated ischemia and N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced (NMDA-induced) apoptosis. These results identify the VRAC (LRRC8A) as a dual sensor of hypoosmolarity and low pH o in vagal afferent neurons and define the mechanisms of its activation and its neuroprotective potential., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

As a eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr protein kinase, Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulent effector protein kinase G (PknG) mediates mycobacterial survival by regulating bacterial cell metabolic processes and preventing phagosome-lysosome fusion in host macrophages. Targeting PknG is an effective strategy for development of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs. In the study, we found that sclerotiorin, derived from marine fungi from the South China Sea, exhibited moderately strong inhibitory effects on recombinant PknG, with an IC 50 value of 76.5 μM, and acted as a non-competitive inhibitor. The dissociation constant (K D ) of sclerotiorin determined by MST was 11.4 μM, demonstrating a moderate binding strength between them. Sclerotiorin could substantially impair the mycobacterial survival in infected macrophages while the macrophage viability remained unaffected, though it did not inhibit the mycobacterial growth in culture. When sclerotiorin was used in combination with rifampicin, intracellular mycobacterial growth decreased as sclerotiorin concentration increased. Docking analysis suggested a binding mechanism of inhibition with performing interactions with the P-loop and catalytic loop of PknG. In summary, we reported that sclerotiorin had moderately strong PknG inhibitory activity, but no cytotoxicity, and it could substantially decrease the mycobacterial growth inside macrophages, suggesting that sclerotiorin has potential to supplement antibiotic therapy for TB., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two new chlorinated preussomerins, chloropreussomerins A and B (1 and 2), together with nine known preussomerin analogues, 3-11, were obtained from the endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae ZJ-HQ1. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were both determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction using Cu Kα radiation. Chloropreussomerins A and B (1 and 2) are the first chlorinated compounds in the preussomerin family, and preussomerin M (3) is reported for the first time as a natural product. Compounds 1 and 2 showed potent in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 5.9 to 8.9 μM, and compounds 4-7 exhibited significant bioactivity against A549, HepG2, and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 2.5-9.4 μM. In the antibacterial assay, compounds 1, 2, 5-7, and 11 exhibited significant activities against Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values between 1.6 and 13 μg/mL.

Four new polyketides: nectriacids A-C (1-3) and 12-epicitreoisocoumarinol (4), together with three known compounds: citreoisocoumarinol (5), citreoisocoumarin (6), and macrocarpon C (7) were isolated from the culture of the endophytic fungus Nectria sp. HN001, which was isolated from a fresh branch of the mangrove plant Sonneratia ovata collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were determined by the detailed analysis of NMR and mass spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of the stereogenic carbons for compound 4 was further assigned by Mosher's ester method. All of the isolated compounds were tested for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity by UV absorbance at 405 nm, and new compounds 2 and 3 exhibited potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 23.5 and 42.3 μM, respectively, which were more potent than positive control (acarbose, IC50, 815.3 μM).

Two new sesterterpenoids, aspterpenacids A (1) and B (2), with an unusual carbon skeleton of a 5/3/7/6/5 ring system were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus H010. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. A biogenetic pathway for 1 and 2 is proposed. Both 1 and 2 showed no significant antibacterial activity or cytotoxicity at 50 μM.

Five new compounds, pinazaphilones A and B (1, 2), two phenolic compounds (4, 5), and penicidone D (6), together with the known Sch 1385568 (3), (±)-penifupyrone (7), 3-O-methylfunicone (8), 5-methylbenzene-1,3-diol (9), and 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid (10) were obtained from the culture of the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. HN29-3B1, which was isolated from a fresh branch of the mangrove plant Cerbera manghas collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were determined by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic data. Structures of compounds 4 and 7 were further confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment using Cu Kα radiation. The absolute configurations of compounds 1-3 were assigned by quantum chemical calculations of the electronic circular dichroic spectra. Compounds 2, 3, 5, and 7 inhibited α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 28.0, 16.6, 2.2, and 14.4 μM, respectively, and are thus more potent than the positive control, acarbose.

Three new depsidones, botryorhodines E-G (1-3), and two new isoindolinones, meyeroguillines A and B (7 and 9), along with five known compounds were isolated from an endophytic fungus Meyerozyma guilliermondii, derived from the mangrove plant Kandelia obovata. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry (HREIMS). Compounds 1-6 exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 2.1 to 13.3 μM. Moreover, kinetic studies of compounds 2 and 6 showed that both of them were noncompetitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase.

Objective: This study was aimed to obtain a quorum quenching N-acylhomoserine lactonase gene from Bacillus subtilis SS6 and to characterize the enzyme., Methods: We amplified N-acylhomoserine lactonase gene from B. subtilis SS6 by PCR methods. Gene aiiA(SS6) was cloned into the expression vector of pET28 (a) and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21. The activity of AiiA(SS6) on signal N-(3-Oxooctanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone was characterized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)., Results: We successfully cloned an N-acylhomoserine lactonase gene from B. subtilis SS6 strain, namely aiiA(SS6) (GenBank: KP125494). The sequencing result showed that the length of aiiA(SS6) was 891 bp and the gene contained an Open Reading Frame encoding 297 amino acids. HPLC results showed that AiiA(SS6) was very active between 50 and 90 degrees C and the optimal pH was 7.6. Lineweaver-Burk treatment of the data yielded apparent K(m) and the V(max) was 0.998 mmol/L and 22.3 U/mg, respectively. Moreover, the relative activity of the enzyme remained 86% after storing at 4 degrees C for 3 months., Conclusion: Our findings will be helpful for further studies.

Chemical investigation of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. 16-5B cultured on Czapek's medium led to the isolation of four new metabolites, aspergifuranone (1), isocoumarin derivatives (±) 2 and (±) 3, and (R)-3-demethylpurpurester A (4), together with the known purpurester B (5) and pestaphthalides A (6). Their structures were determined by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of Compound 1 was determined by comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, and that of Compound 4 was revealed by comparing its optical rotation data and CD with those of the literature. The structure of Compound 6 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment using CuKα radiation. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and Compound 1 showed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 9.05 ± 0.60 μM. Kinetic analysis showed that Compound 1 was a noncompetitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase. Compounds 2 and 6 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities.

Racemic dinaphthalenone derivatives, (±)-asperlone A (1) and (±)-asperlone B (2), and two new azaphilones, 6'-hydroxy-(R)-mitorubrinic acid (3) and purpurquinone D (4), along with four known compounds, (-)-mitorubrinic acid (5), (-)-mitorubrin (6), purpurquinone A (7) and orsellinic acid (8), were isolated from the cultures of Aspergillus sp. 16-5C. The structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra and the structures of 1 further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, while the absolute configuration of 3 and 4 were determined by comparing their optical rotation and CD with those of the literature, respectively. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 exhibited potent inhibitory effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB) with IC50 values of 4.24 ± 0.41, 4.32 ± 0.60 and 3.99 ± 0.34 μM, respectively.

Three new metabolites (compounds 1-2 and 6), one azaphilone, and two meroterpenes, together with eleven known compounds have been isolated from a mangrove endophytic fungus, Penicillium 303#. Structure elucidation was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Cytotoxic activities of new compounds 1-2 and 6 and compound 7were evaluated in vitro against human cancer lines MDA-MB-435, HepG2, HCT-116, and A549. Those compounds showed weak to moderate cytotoxic activities., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three new vermistatin derivatives, 6-demethylpenisimplicissin (1), 5'-hydroxypenisimplicissin (2), and 2''-epihydroxydihydrovermistatin (3), along with five known vermistatin analogues, methoxyvermistatin (4), vermistatin (5), 6-demethylvermistatin (6), hydroxyvermistatin (7), and penisimplicissin (8), were isolated from the culture of the mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. HN29-3B1 from Cerbera manghas. Their structures were elucidated mainly by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were deduced on the basis of circular dichroism data. The absolute structures of compounds 3 and 5 were confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment using Cu Kα radiation. In the bioactivity assay, compounds 1 and 3 exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 9.5 ± 1.2 and 8.0 ± 1.5 µM, respectively. The plausible biosynthetic pathways for all compounds are discussed., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

A new alterporriol-type anthranoid dimer, alterporriol S (1), along with seven known anthraquinone derivatives, (+)-aS-alterporriol C (2), hydroxybostrycin (3), halorosellinia A (4), tetrahydrobostrycin (5), 9α-hydroxydihydrodesoxybostrycin (6), austrocortinin (7) and 6-methylquinizarin (8), were isolated from the culture broth of the mangrove fungus, Alternaria sp. (SK11), from the South China Sea. Their structures and the relative configurations were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The absolute configurations of 1 and the axial configuration of 2 were defined by experimental and theoretical ECD spectroscopy. 1 was identified as the first member of alterporriols consisting of a unique C-10-C-2' linkage. Atropisomer 2 exhibited strong inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB) with an IC₅₀ value 8.70 μM.

A pair of unusual benzannulated 6,6-spiroketal enantiomers [(-)-1 and (+)-1] and three new biogenetically related compounds (2-4), together with two known related analogues (5 and 6), have been isolated from a mangrove fungus, Penicillium dipodomyicola HN4-3A. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR data) and X-ray crystallography. The absolute configurations of enantiomers (-)-1 and (+)-1 were determined using quantum chemical calculations of the electronic circular dichroic (ECD) spectra. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited strong inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB) with IC50 values of 0.16±0.02 and 1.37±0.05 μM, respectively.

Objective: To study biochemical functions of the Legionella pneumophila eukaryotic-like effector protein LegK3, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as an alternative host in which growth defect induced by the ectopic expression of LegK3 was assessed., Methods: Using genomic DNA of the L. pneumophila strain Lp02 as template, we respectively amplified and inserted the ORF sequences of legK3, ralF or lidA into the plasmid pESC-HK to yield the ectopic-expression plasmids. Then, the recombination plasmids were transformed into the yeast strain W301-1A. With 2% -galactose induction, growth defect and carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) delay were determined simultaneously. In parallel, total yeast proteins before or after induction were extracted and subjected to Immunoblot assay. For detecting the expression of effector proteins or determining CPY delay, anti-c-myc or anti-PGK/anti-CPY antibodies were utilized respectively., Results: The expression of LegK3 resulted in visible growth defect in yeast cells, together with obvious retard in CPY processing., Conclusion: L. pneumophila eukaryotic-like effector LegK3 might target and interfere with the vesicle-trafficking pathways, thereby to inhibit the growth and division of host cells.

D-limonene in water nanoemulsion is prepared from an optimum formulation by low energy process at room temperature. The phase behavior of d-limonene/isotridecanol ethoxylate-6/ isopropyl alcohol /water system is systematically investigated to identify the optimum formulation. The microstructure of intermediate phases has been characterized by optical microscope and small angle X-ray diffraction. The microstructure of formulation concentrate has been further determined by means of electrical conductivity. The droplet size of nanoemulsion has been determined by light scattering and correlated with their microstructure. The results show that d-limonene nanoemulsion with droplet size of ca. 40 nm is obtained via the addition of the optimum formulation, which is a microemulsion, directly into water. This process involves composition change from a bicontinuous structure.

Three new phomoxanthone compounds, phomolactonexanthones A (1), B (2) and deacetylphomoxanthone C (3), along with five known phomoxanthones, including dicerandrol A (4), dicerandrol B (5), dicerandrol (6), deacetylphomoxanthone B (7) and penexanthone A (8), were isolated in the metabolites of the fungus Phomopsis sp. HNY29-2B, which was isolated from the mangrove plants. The structures of compounds 1-3 were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated against four human cancer cell lines including human breast MDA-MB-435, human colon HCT-116, human lung Calu-3 and human liver Huh7 by MTT assay. The compounds 4, 5, 7 and 8 showed cytotoxic activities against tested cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ < 10 μM).

Carotid body glomus cells are the primary sites of chemotransduction of hypoxaemia and acidosis in peripheral arterial chemoreceptors. They exhibit pronounced morphological heterogeneity. A quantitative assessment of their functional capacity to differentiate between these two major chemical signals has remained undefined. We tested the hypothesis that there is a differential sensory transduction of hypoxia and acidosis at the level of glomus cells. We measured cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration in individual glomus cells, isolated in clusters from rat carotid bodies, in response to hypoxia ( mmHg) and to acidosis at pH 6.8. More than two-thirds (68%) were sensitive to both hypoxia and acidosis, 19% were exclusively sensitive to hypoxia and 13% exclusively sensitive to acidosis. Those sensitive to both revealed significant preferential sensitivity to either hypoxia or to acidosis. This uncoupling and reciprocity was recapitulated in a mouse model by altering the expression of the acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) which we had identified earlier in glomus cells. Increased expression of ASIC3 in transgenic mice increased pH sensitivity while reducing cyanide sensitivity. Conversely, deletion of ASIC3 in the knockout mouse reduced pH sensitivity while the relative sensitivity to cyanide or to hypoxia was increased. In this work, we quantify functional differences among glomus cells and show reciprocal sensitivity to acidosis and hypoxia in most glomus cells. We speculate that this selective chemotransduction of glomus cells by either stimulus may result in the activation of different afferents that are preferentially more sensitive to either hypoxia or acidosis, and thus may evoke different and more specific autonomic adjustments to either stimulus.

The objective of this study was to screen for novel quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs) from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) that inhibit bacterial biofilm formation. Six of 46 active components found in TCMs were identified as putative QSIs based on molecular docking studies. Of these, three compounds inhibited biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia at a concentration of 200 µM. A fourth compound (emodin) significantly inhibited biofilm formation at 20 µM and induced proteolysis of the quorum-sensing signal receptor TraR in Escherichia coli at a concentration of 3-30 mM. Emodin also increased the activity of ampicillin against P. aeruginosa. Therefore, emodin might be suitable for development into an antivirulence and antibacterial agent., (© 2011 SGM)

This study was conducted to characterize the diversity of microbial communities in marine sediments of the South China Sea by means of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. The results revealed that the sediment samples collected in summer harboured a more diverse microbial community than that collected in winter, Deltaproteobacteria dominated 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from both seasons, followed by Gammaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, Firmicutes. Archaea phylotypes were also found. The majority of clone sequences shared greatest similarity to uncultured organisms, mainly from hydrothermal sediments and cold seep sediments. In addition, the sedimentary microbial communities in the coastal sea appears to be much more diverse than that of the open sea. A spatial pattern in the sediment samples was observed that the sediment samples collected from the coastal sea and the open sea clustered separately, a novel microbial community dominated the open sea. The data indicate that changes in environmental conditions are accompanied by significant variations in diversity of microbial communities at the South China Sea.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the microbial diversity in the sediment of Jingshan hot spring., Method: We extracted environment DNA from the sediment and then amplified the 16S rRNA genes of prokarotype and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) DNA of eukarotype by PCR with specific conservative primers. The PCR products were ligated to the T vectors and transformed into Escherichia coli to construct libraries. The libraries were analyzed by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) approach. The clones of dominant ARDRA patterns were selected to sequence. The sequence similarities were analyzed by using the BLAST programs for searching the GenBank DNA databases., Results: We identified 14 dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from prokarotype G. group. The Phylogenetic tree shows that 7 of them (JS-GU20, JS-GU1, JS-G37, JS-G29, JS-GM2, JS-G42, JS-G41) belong to Bdellovibrio. They had the highest similarity to Bacteriovorax sp. NE1 (EF092445) and Bdellovibrio sp. JS5 (AF084859), 96% and 99% respectively. Four major OTUs of prokarotype X group belong to Cyanobacterium. One of them, named JS-X2, has a similarity of 95% with an uncultured Cyanobacterium (L35331) which was gained from a hot spring of the Yellowstone National Park and has a similarity of 89% with Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 (47118315). Most OTUs of eukaryotic group have 90% sequences similarity to that of Penicillium sp.., Conclusion: The results showed that the microbial diversity in the sediment of Jinshan hot spring is rich. And the result of several clones' similarity to Bacteriovorax sp. showed that there might be a new group of thermophilicBacteriovorax sp. in the hot spring sediment.

Baroreceptors (BRs) are mechanosensitive nerve endings in carotid sinuses and aortic arch that function as arterial blood pressure (BP) sensors. Changes in BR activity evoke reflex circulatory adjustments that reduce BP variability and its adverse consequences. BR activation during increases in BP involves three processes: (1) vascular distension and deformation of BR nerve endings, (2) depolarization of the nerve terminals consequent to the opening of mechanosensitive ion channels (mechanoelectrical transduction), and (3) translation of mechanically induced depolarization into action potential discharge mediated by voltage-dependent Na(+) and K(+) channels. This chapter discusses the mechanism of mechanoelectrical transduction. A variety of physiological, pharmacological, and molecular approaches to this problem, including studies in animals and isolated BR neurons in culture is presented. The chapter provides an overview of the molecular basis of BR mechanoelectrical transduction. Emerging evidence points to the members of three evolutionarily conserved ion channel families in mediating BR activation: epithelial Na channels (ENaCs), acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels., (© 2007, Elsevier Inc. All right reserved.)

The electrophoretic mobilities and diffusion coefficients of single- and double-stranded DNA molecules up to 50,000 bases or base pairs in size have been analyzed, using mobilities and diffusion coefficients either measured by capillary electrophoresis or taken from the literature. The Einstein equation suggests that the electrophoretic mobilities (mu) and diffusion coefficients (D) should be related by the expression mu/D = Q/k(B)T, where Q is the charge of the polyion (Q = ze(o), where z is the number of charged residues and e(o) is the fundamental electronic charge), k(B) is Boltzmann's constant, and T is the absolute temperature. If this equation were true, the ratio mu/zD should be a constant equal to e(o)/k(B)T (39.6 V(-1)) at 20 degrees C. However, the ratio mu/zD decreases with an increase in molecular weight for both single- and double-stranded DNAs. The mobilities and diffusion coefficients are better described by the modified Einstein equation mu/N(m)D = e(o)/k(B)T, where N is the number of repeat units (bases or base pairs) in the DNA and m is a constant equal to the power law dependence of the diffusion coefficients on molecular weight. The average value of the ratio mu/N(m)D is 40 +/- 4 V(-1) for 36 single- and double-stranded DNA molecules of different sizes, close to the theoretically expected value. The generality of the modified Einstein equation is demonstrated by analyzing literature values for sodium polystyrenesulfonate (PSS). The average value of the ratio mu/N(m)D is 35 +/- 6 V(-1) for 14 PSS samples containing up to 855 monomers.