Preparation of Porous Activated Carbons for High Performance Supercapacitors from Taixi Anthracite by Multi-Stage Activation.

Coal-based porous materials for supercapacitors were successfully prepared using Taixi anthracite (TXA) by multi-stage activation. The characterization and electrochemical tests of activated carbons (ACs) prepared in different stages demonstrated that the AC from the third-stage activation (ACIII) shows good porous structures and excellent electrochemical performances. ACIII exhibited a fine specific capacitance of 199 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 in the three-electrode system, with 6 mol L-1 KOH as the electrolyte. The specific capacitance of ACIII remained 190 F g-1 even despite increasing the current density to 5 A g-1, indicating a good rate of electrochemical performance. Moreover, its specific capacitance remained at 98.1% of the initial value after 5000 galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) cycle tests at a current density of 1 A g-1, suggesting that the ACIII has excellent cycle performance as electrode materials for supercapacitors. This study provides a promising approach for fabricating high performance electrode materials from high-rank coals, which could facilitate efficient and clean utilization of high-rank coals.

Molecular Cloning, Recombinant Expression, and Funtional Characterization of APRIL (TNFSF13) in Cat (felis catus).

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) is a critical member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, which is involved in immune regulation. In the present study, the cDNA of cat APRIL (cAPRIL) was successfully amplified. Sequence analysis showed that the open reading frame (ORF) of cAPRIL contains a putative furin protease cleavage site (R-R-K-R), a conserved putative N-glycosylation site (Asn(124)), and two conservative cysteine residues (Cys(196) and Cys(211)). Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that cAPRIL could be detected in various tissues. The phylogenetic analysis and predicted three dimensional (3D) structure revealed that it is similar to its counterparts. The extracellular soluble domain of the cAPRIL (csAPRIL) fragment was cloned into the expression vector pET43.1a. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis indicated a high-level expression of csAPRIL protein in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). MTT assays revealed that purified recombinant csAPRIL protein was able to stimulate proliferation of mouse B-cells. These findings indicate that cAPRIL plays an important role in proliferation of B-cells and provide the basis for investigation on the roles of APRIL in this important domestic species.

[Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the N-acetyltransferase 2 gene not correlated with male infertility].

Objective: To investigate the correlation of the single nucleotide polymorphisms（SNPs） rs1799930 and rs1799931 of the N-acetyltransferase 2 gene（ NAT2） with the risk of male infertility in Nanjing area. Methods: We made a case-control study of 636 cases of male idiopathic infertility and 442 normal fertile men as controls. We genotyped the two SNPs by Sequenom Mass Array, analyzed the correlation of different genotypes with male infertility using the logistic regression model, and determined the association of the linkage effect of the two SNPs with male infertility by haplotype analysis. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the case and control groups in sperm concentration（[32. 32 ± 45. 49] vs [72. 77 ± 45. 21] × 106/ ml, P < 0. 01）,the percentage of progressively motile sperm（[15. 29 ± 5. 06] vs [42. 02 ± 9. 04]%,P < 0. 01）,and the level of follicle-stimulating hormone（[14. 69 ± 12. 37] vs [4. 72 ± 2. 51] U / L,P < 0. 01), but not in other parameters. No correlation was observed between the frequencies of the two SNPs or alleles in different models and male infertility. Haplotype analysis suggested a linkage effect within rs1799930 and rs1799931（D' = 0. 998,r2= 0. 05） but no evident correlation between male infertility and genotype combination. Conclusion: The SNPs rs1799930 and rs1799931 of the NAT2 gene were not found to be correlated with the risk of idiopathic infertility in men.

Identification of interferon-γ-inducible-lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) gene in goldfish (Carassius auratus) and its immune response to LPS challenge.

The interferon-γ-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) has been demonstrated to play an important role in the processing and presentation of MHC class II restricted antigen (Ag) by catalyzing disulfide bond reduction. In this study, we cloned a GILT gene homolog from goldfish (designated gGILT), a kind of precious freshwater fish with high market value. The open reading frame of gGILT consists of 756 bases encoding a protein of 251 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 27.8 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.24. The deduced protein possesses the typical structural features of known GILT proteins, including an active-site motif, a GILT signature sequence, and 10 conserved cysteines. RT-PCR results showed that gGILT and gIFN-γ (goldfish IFN-γ) mRNA were expressed in a tissue-specific manner and obviously up-regulated in splenocytes and the cells from head kidney after induction with LPS. Recombinant gGILT fused with His6 tag was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Further study revealed that gGILT was capable of catalyzing the reduction of the interchain disulfide bonds from intact IgG. This study shows that gGILT may be involved in the immune response to bacteria challenge and maintain first line of innate immune defense at basal level in goldfish. It also provides the basis for investigating on the role of GILT using goldfish as an animal model.

Expression and purification of soluble human APRIL in Escherichia coli using ELP-SUMO tag.

APRIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of ligands that mediate tumor cells proliferation as well as survival, depending on the cellular context. In this report, we present a novel method to obtain soluble human APRIL in Escherichia coli using the elastin-like polypeptide and SUMO (ELP-SUMO) tags. The fusion protein with ELP-SUMO tag was expressed in a soluble form at 15°C. After purification based on inverse transition cycling (ITC) method, the purified ELP-SUMO-hAPRIL fusion protein was subsequently cleaved by SUMO protease to release mature hAPRIL. Following affinity chromatography, the target protein was re-purified with high purity. Finally, about 4.8mg recombinant hAPRIL was obtained from 1l bacterial culture with no less than 85% purity. The molecular mass (Mr) of the recombinant hAPRIL was confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS as Mr 16,314. The purified hAPRIL exhibits biological activity on Jurkat cells. It is the first report on soluble production of hAPRIL in E. coli using ELP-SUMO tag.

The antibacterial peptide ABP-CM4: the current state of its production and applications.

The increasing resistance of bacteria and fungi to currently available antibiotics is a major concern worldwide, leading to enormous efforts to develop new antibiotics with new modes of actions. Antibacterial peptide CM4 (ABP-CM4) is a small cationic peptide with broad-spectrum activities against bacteria, fungi, and tumor cells, which may possibly be used as a promising candidate for a new antibiotic. For pharmaceutical applications, a large quantity of antimicrobial peptides needs to be produced economically. In this communication, the progress in the structural characteristics, heterologous production, and biological evaluation of ABP-CM4 are reviewed.

Molecular and biological characterization of interferon-γ-inducible-lysosomal thiol reductase gene in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

In mammals, interferon-γ-inducible-lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) has been demonstrated to play a key role in the processing and presentation of MHC class II-restricted antigen (Ag) by catalyzing disulfide bond reduction, thus unfolding native protein Ag and facilitating subsequent cleavage by proteases. Here, we reported the cloning of a GILT gene homologue from zebrafish (zGILT), a tropical freshwater fish. The full-length cDNA of zGILT gene is 768 nucleotides (nt) encoding a protein of 255 amino acids (aa), with a putative molecular weight of 28.33 kDa. The deduced protein is highly homologous to that of fish and mammalian GILTs and shares 57.1% sequence identity to that of Atlantic salmon and 55.7-21.6% sequence identity to that of various mammals. The deduced protein possesses all the main features characteristic of known GILT proteins including the signature sequence CQHGX2ECX2NX4C spanning residues 117-132, CXXC motif at residues 72-75, one potential sites for N-linked glycosylation at residual positions 54. The zGILT expression is obviously up-regulated in spleen and kidney after immunization with LPS although it also is constitutively expressed in heart, liver, muscle and intestine, suggesting that zGILT may be involved in the immune response to bacterial challenge. The soluble recombinant protein was successfully purified using Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid resin. Recombinant His-zsGILT appeared on SDS-PAGE in the ranges of their estimated size of 18.94-kDa. After purification, further study revealed that zsGILT was capable of catalyzing the reduction of the interchain disulfide bonds intact IgG. These results will allow for further investigation to unravel the role of this key enzyme in class II MHC-restricted antigen processing and to use zebrafish as an in vivo model for related studies.

Gene cloning, expression and functional characterization of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) from hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).

Here we describe the identification of the hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus homologue of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) of the TNF family (designated heAPRIL). Hedgehog APRIL contains two cysteine residues (Cys(196) and Cys(211)), a furin protease cleavage site and a conserved putative N-glycosylation site (Asn(124)). Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that heAPRIL could be detected in various tissues. MTT assays and flow cytometric analysis revealed that Nus-hesAPRIL and hesAPRIL could promote the survival/proliferation of splenic B cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy analysis showed GFP-hesAPRIL could successfully bind to the APRIL receptors of lymphocytes.

[Characterization of human anti-BAFF scFv-Fc that inhibits the activity of BAFF in vivo].

To investigate the effects of human anti-BAFF scFv-Fc against the hsBAFF, ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (2 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (1 mg x kg(-1)) and hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (2 mg x kg(-1)) groups. The effects of scFv-Fc administration on the proliferation of B lymphocytes were evaluated using an MTT assay. The titres of antibody in the serum and B lymphocytes differentiation were assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that administration of scFv-Fc to mice injected with hsBAFF significantly prevented human BAFF-induced increases in splenic B cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, this fully human antibody would avoid inducing the human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response when used in humans. These findings suggest that the compact antibody may be useful in therapeutic or diagnostic application of the BAFF-associated autoimmune diseases in human.

hsBAFF regulates proliferation and response in cultured CD4(+) T lymphocytes by upregulation of intracellular free Ca(2+) homeostasis.

B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF, also called BLyS, TALL-1, THANK, or zTNF4) is an important survival factor for B cells, and is able to regulate T-cell activation. Recently, we have demonstrated that treatment of mice with human soluble BAFF (hsBAFF) causes a significant increase of percentages of splenic CD4(+) T lymphocytes dose-dependently, but the CD8(+) T lymphocyte percentages maintained unchanged. Here, we show that hsBAFF significantly enhanced CD4(+) T lymphocyte response of cultured mouse splenic cells, and hsBAFF induced the proliferation and IL-2/IFN-γ secretion of purified CD4(+) T lymphocytes suboptimally stimulated through anti-CD3. Of importance, we observed that IL-2 or IFN-γ cytokine has additive effect on the proliferation and activity of hsBAFF-stimulated CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Using Flow cytometry with fluorescent probe, Fluo-3/AM, we found that hsBAFF elicited [Ca(2+)](i) elevation contributing to CD4(+) T cell proliferation. This is evidenced by our finding that pretreatment with BAPTA/AM, an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator, significantly attenuated the proliferation of hsBAFF-stimulated CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Subsequently, we revealed that hsBAFF-stimulated CD4(+) T cell proliferation was markedly suppressed after pretreatment with EGTA, an extracellular Ca(2+) chelator, or with 2-APB, an inhibitor of Ca(2+) influx through CRAC channels, respectively, suggesting that extracellular Ca(2+) influx due to hsBAFF is closely associated with [Ca(2+)](i) elevation contributing to CD4(+) T cell proliferation. In addition, we noticed that hsBAFF-treated cells conferred partial resistance to decrease of cellular viability induced by thapsigargin (Tg), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor. Taken together, our data indicate that hsBAFF may promote CD4(+) T cell proliferation and response by upregulation of [Ca(2+)](i) homeostasis.

SUMO mediating fusion expression of antimicrobial peptide CM4 from two joined genes in Escherichia coli.

Antibacterial peptide CM4 (ABP-CM4) is a small cationic peptide with broad-spectrum activities against bacteria, fungi, and tumor cells, which may possibly be used as an antimicrobial agent. To improve the expression level of CM4 in Escherichia coli, two tandem repeats of CM4 genes were cloned into the vector pSUMO to construct an expression vector pSUMO-2CM4. The fusion protein SUMO-2CM4, purified by Ni(2+)-chelating chromatography, was cleaved by hydroxylamine hydrochloride to release recombinant CM4. After the cleaved sample was re-applied to a Ni-IDA column, finally, about 48 mg recombinant CM4 was obtained from 1 L bacterial culture with no less than 96% purity, which was the highest yield of CM4 reported so far.

Biopolymer-modified graphite oxide nanocomposite films based on benzalkonium chloride-heparin intercalated in graphite oxide.

Heparin is a potent anticoagulant agent that interacts strongly with antithrombin III to prevent the formation of fibrin clots. In the present work, poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS)/graphite oxide-benzalkonium chloride-heparin (PDMS/modified graphite oxide) nanocomposite films were obtained by the solution intercalation technique as a possible drug delivery system. The heparin-benzalkonium chloride (BAC-HEP) was intercalated into graphite oxide (GO) layers to form GO-BAC-HEP (modified graphite oxide). Nanocomposite films were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, ATR-FTIR and TGA. The modified graphite oxide was observed to be homogeneously dispersed throughout the PDMS matrix. The effect of modified graphite oxide on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite film was investigated. When the modified graphite oxide content was lower than 0.2 wt%, the nanocomposites showed excellent mechanical properties. Furthermore, nanocomposite films become delivery systems that release heparin slowly to make the nanocomposite films blood compatible. The in vitro studies included hemocompatibility testing for effects on platelet adhesion, platelet activation, plasma recalcification profiles, and hemolysis. Results from these studies showed that the anticoagulation properties of PDMS/GO-BCA-HEP nanocomposite films were greatly superior to those for no treated PDMS. Cell culture assay indicated that PDMS/GO-BCA-HEP nanocomposite films showed enhanced cell adhesion.

Production of bioactive human hemangiopoietin in Escherichia coli.

To devise an efficient approach for production of human hemangiopoietin (hHAPO), the gene of hHAPO was synthesized and subcloned into the pSUMO vector with a SUMO tag at the N-terminus. The expression construct was then transformed into the expression strain E. coli BL21(DE3). The fusion protein was expressed in soluble form and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The fusion protein was purified to 90% purity by metal chelate chromatography with a yield of 45 mg per liter fermentation culture. The SUMO tag was removed by cleavage with SUMO protease at room temperature for 1 h, and the hHAPO was then re-purified by the metal chelate chromatography. Finally, about 21 mg hHAPO was obtained from 1 liter of fermentation culture with no less than 95% purity. The recombinant hHAPO significantly stimulated the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Molecular cloning, in vitro expression and bioactivity of dog A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL).

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) is a novel member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, which is involved in immune regulation. In this study, the cDNA of dog APRIL (dAPRIL) was amplified from dog spleen by RT-PCR. The open reading frame (ORF) of dAPRIL encodes a protein of 250-amino acid, containing a predicted transmembrane domain and a putative furin protease cleavage site like other mammalian APRILs. The amino acid identities between biologically soluble dAPRIL and its pig, human, rabbit and mouse counterparts are 91%, 86%, 88% and 86%, respectively, dramatically higher than most other known cytokines. The result of real-time PCR revealed that dAPRIL is expressed in various tissues and is elevated in thymus and spleen. Recombinant soluble dAPRIL (dsAPRIL) fused with NusA.tag was efficiently produced in Origami B (DE3) pLysS expression host strain. In vitro, purified dsAPRIL was able to co-stimulate the proliferation of dog splenic B cells in response to anti-IgM. These findings indicate that dAPRIL plays an important role in survival/proliferation of dog B cells and provide the basis for investigation on the roles of APRIL in this important domestic species.

Production of a cytotoxic cationic antibacterial peptide in Escherichia coli using SUMO fusion partner.

Antibacterial peptide CM4 (ABP-CM4) is a small cationic peptide with broad-spectrum activities against bacteria, fungi, and tumor cells, which may possibly be used as an antimicrobial agent. We report here the application of small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) fusion technology to the expression and purification of cationic antibacterial peptide ABP-CM4. The fusion protein expressed in a soluble form was purified to a purity of 90% by Ni-IDA chromatography and 112 mg protein of interest was obtained per liter of fermentation culture. After the SUMO-CM4 fusion protein was cleaved by the SUMO protease at 30 degrees C for 1 h, the cleaved sample was re-applied to a Ni-IDA. Finally, about 24 mg recombinant CM4 was obtained from 1 l fermentation culture with no less than 96% purity and the recombinant CM4 had similar antimicrobial properties to the synthetic CM4. Thus, the SUMO-mediated peptide expression and purification system potentially could be employed for the production of recombinant cytotoxic peptides.

Molecular cloning, genomic organization and expression analysis of the gene encoding bovine (Bos taurus) B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF).

A novel bovine cDNA has been isolated by EST assembly and subsequently confirmed by using RT-PCR and designated bovine B-cell activating factor belonging to TNF family (bBAFF). The open reading frame (ORF) of this cDNA covers 843 bp, encoding 280 amino acids. The functional soluble part of bBAFF (bsBAFF) shows 96% and 91% identity with its pig and human counterparts, respectively, at the level of the primary protein structure. The bBAFF genomic sequence consists of six exons and five introns, is approximately 30 kb in size, and maps to bovine chromosome 12q. Southern blotting analysis indicated that the bBAFF gene is a single copy gene. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that bBAFF is predominantly expressed in bovine lymphoid tissues PBLs and spleen. The predicted three dimensional (3D) structure of the bsBAFF monomer analyzed by "comparative protein modeling" revealed that it is very similar to its human counterpart. In western blotting analysis, His6-tagged bsBAFF protein expressed in E. coli could be recognized not only by an anti-His6.tag mAb but also by an anti-human sBAFF mAb, indicating immunological cross-reactivity occurs between bovine and human sBAFF protein.

Lipopolysaccharide neutralization by the antibacterial peptide CM4.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Binding of LPS to the CD14+ murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 results in pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. In extreme cases, it leads to septic shock in vivo. Therefore, the pursuit for molecules with antiendotoxin properties is urgent. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of antibacterial peptide CM4 in binding Escherichia coli LPS in vitro. CM4 avidly bound to E. coli LPS, as proven by the limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. Furthermore, the killing activity of CM4 against E. coli was progressively inhibited by increasing concentrations of LPS added to the medium, further confirming the peptide's affinity for endotoxin. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CM4 inhibited the binding of FITC-conjugated LPS to RAW264.7 cells. Likewise, the inhibition of peptide to LPS-dependent cytokine induction was analyzed. CM4 suppressed LPS-induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA expression and blocked release of TNF-alpha and NO following LPS challenge in RAW264.7 cells. Together these observations indicate that antibacterial peptide CM4 probably exerts protective actions against endotoxin shock by blocking the binding of LPS to CD14+ cells.

Molecular characterization of cytokine TWEAK and its receptor Fn14 in pig (Sus scrofa).

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF). The interaction of TWEAK with its receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) regulates multiple cellular responses, including stimulation of proliferation, migration, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and induction of proinflammatory cytokines. This paper reports for the first time the molecular cloning of porcine TWEAK and Fn14 by EST and RACE strategies. The full-length cDNA of porcine TWEAK is 1327bp, including an open reading frame (ORF) of 747bp. Its genomic DNA consists of seven exons and six introns and is approximately 10kb in size by computer-assisted analysis. Sequence similarity at the amino acid level between porcine TWEAK and human or mouse was 95 and 92%, respectively. The full-length cDNA of porcine Fn14 contains 691bp, of which 390bp are the ORF. Sequence similarity at the amino acid level between porcine Fn14 and human, or mouse, or frog was 95, 93 and 64%, respectively. Real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) analysis revealed that both TWEAK and Fn14 are constitutively expressed in various tissues in pig. Our results suggest that the TWEAK-Fn14 pathway is evolutionarily highly conserved. It will be helpful for investigation on the biological role of the TWEAK/Fn14 system in this important animal model. Furthermore, it provides insight into the molecular evolution of the emerging TWEAK and Fn14 families.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of porcine gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT).

A porcine interferon-gamma-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) cDNA, designated pGILT, was cloned by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) strategies. The full-length cDNA of pGILT consists of 1,062 bp with a 741 bp open reading frame, encoding 246 amino acids, with a putative molecular weight of 29.5 kDa. The deduced pGILT possesses the typical structural feature of mammalian GILT, including an active-site CXXC motif, a GILT signature sequence CQHGX(2)ECX(2)NX(4)C, and 10 conserved cysteines. The genomic DNA sequence of pGILT contains seven exons and six introns, which is similar to vertebrate GILT exon-intron organization. The result of real-time PCR showed that GILT is expressed in many tissues in the pig, including spleen, liver, lung, heart, intestine, blood and kidney. And the pGILT expression is obviously up-regulated in spleen and blood after induction with LPS. These results suggesting that pGILT is highly likely to play a role in the innate immune responses in porcine. It also provided the basis for investigations on the role of GILT in this important domestic species and an animal model for human diseases.

cDNA cloning, genomic structure, expression analysis and biological activity of porcine A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL).

A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) is a novel member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. In this study, a novel cDNA has been isolated from pig spleen by homology cloning and 3'- and 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) strategies and designates porcine APRIL (pAPRIL). The open reading frame (ORF) of this cDNA covers 756 bases, encoding 251 amino acids. The soluble part of pAPRIL shows 89% identity with its human counterpart at the level of the primary protein structure. The pAPRIL gene is approximately 2.1kb in size and comprises six exons and five introns. Southern blotting analysis indicated that the pAPRIL gene is a single copy gene. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that pAPRIL is constitutively expressed in various tissues. Recombinant His(6)-tagged psAPRIL protein was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and its expression was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis. In vitro, purified recombinant psAPRIL protein co-stimulated the proliferation of porcine splenic B-cells in response to formalin-fixed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 (SAC).