Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes of Chrysoperla sinica Related to Flight Capacity by Transcriptome.

The lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) is a common natural enemy of many insect pests in China and is frequently employed for biological control programs. Adults make migratory flights after emergence, which reduces their effectiveness as biological control agents. Previously, we proved that 2-d-old unmated females exhibited significantly stronger flight ability than 3-d-old ones. Meanwhile, 3-d-old unmated adults flew significantly longer distances than mated ones. In this study, Illumina RNA sequencing was performed to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between virgin and mated adults of different ages in a single female strain of C. sinica. In total, 713,563,726 clean reads were obtained and de novo assembled into 109,165 unigenes with an average length of 847 bp (N50 of 1,754 bp), among which 4,382 (4.01%) unigenes matched known proteins. Based on these annotations, many putative transcripts were related to C. sinica's flight capacity and muscle structure, energy supply, growth, development, environmental adaptability, and metabolism of nutritional components and bioactive components. In addition, the differential expression of transcripts between different ages and mating status were analyzed, and DEGs participating in flight capacity and muscles were detected, including glutathione hydrolase, NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase, aminopeptidase, and acidic amino acid decarboxylase. The DEGs with functions associated with flight capacity and muscles exhibited higher transcript levels for younger (2 d--old) virgins. This comprehensive C. sinica transcriptomic data provide a foundation for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the flight capacity to meet the physiological demands of flight muscles in C. sinica.

Interaction of proteins with aluminum(III)-chlorophosphonazo III by resonance Rayleigh scattering method.

In weak acid medium, aluminum(III) can react with chlorophosphonazo III [CPA(III), H(8)L] to form a 1:1 coordination anion [Al(OH)(H(4)L)](2-). At the same time, proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozyme (Lyso) and human serum albumin (HSA) existed as large cations with positive charges, which further combined with [Al(OH)(H(4)L)](2-) to form a 1:4 chelate. This resulted in significant enhancement of resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS), second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency doubling scattering (FDS). In this study, we investigated the interaction between [Al(OH)(H(4)L)](2-) and proteins, optimization of the reaction conditions and the spectral characteristics of RRS, SOS and FDS. The maximum RRS wavelengths of different protein systems were located at 357-370 nm. The maximum SOS and FDS wavelengths were located at 546 and 389 nm, respectively. The scattering intensities (ΔI) of the three methods were proportional to the concentration of the proteins, within certain ranges, and the detection limits of the most sensitive RRS method were 2.6-9.3 ng/mL. Moreover, the chelate reaction mechanism or the reasons for the enhancement of RRS were discussed through absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism (CD) spectra.

Fluorescence quenching method for the determination of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate with aromatic amino acids.

In Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer medium (pH 3.3), carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (CSS) can react with some aromatic amino acids such as tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe) to form a 1:1 complex by electrostatic attraction, aromatic stacking interaction and Van der Waals' force, resulting in fluorescence quenching of these amino acids. Maximum quenching wavelengths were located at 352 nm (CSS-Trp system), 303 nm (CSS-Tyr system) and 284 nm (CSS-Phe system), respectively. The fluorescence quenching value (ΔF) was proportional to the concentration of CSS in a certain range. The fluorescence quenching method for the determination of CSS showed high sensitivity, with detection limits of 31.3 ng/mL (CSS-Trp system), 44.6 ng/mL (CSS-Tyr system) and 315.0 ng/mL (CSS-Phe system), respectively. The optimum conditions of the reaction conditions and the effect of coexisting substances were investigated and results showed that the method had good selectivity. The method was successfully applied for the rapid determination of CSS in blood and urine samples. Based on the bimolecular quenching constant Kq , the effect of temperature and Stern-Volmer plots, this study showed that quenching of fluorescence of amino acids by CSS was a static quenching process.

Study on the resonance Rayleigh scattering and resonance non-linear scattering spectra of ion-association complexes of [PdI4](2-)-protein systems and their analytical applications.

In an acid medium solution, proteins such as bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, ovalbumin, hemoglobin, lysozyme, gamma-globulin, alpha-chymotrypsin and papain could react with [PdI(4)](2-) by virtue of electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic force to form ion-association complexes. As a result, the resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and resonance nonlinear scattering such as second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency doubling scattering (FDS) intensities were enhanced greatly and new scattering spectra appeared. The maximum scattering peaks of RRS, SOS and FDS were at 367, 720 and 370 nm, respectively. The enhanced RRS, SOS and FDS intensities were directly proportional to the concentrations of proteins. The detection limits for the different proteins were 2.4-11.8 ng/mL for RRS method, 9.5-47.9 ng/mL for SOS method and 4.6-18.5 ng/mL for FDS method. In this work, the influences of the interaction of [PdI(4)](2-) with proteins on spectral characteristics of RRS, SOS and FDS were investigated and the optimum conditions were tested. Meanwhile, the effects of coexisting substances were tested and the results showed that the method exhibited a good selectivity. Based on the above research, a highly sensitive, simple and rapid method for the determination of trace amounts of proteins by resonance light scattering technique has been developed. It can be applied to the determination of proteins in tablet, human serum and urine samples.

FimH as a mucosal adjuvant enhances persistent antibody response and protective efficacy of the anti-caries vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the recombinant FimH-S.T protein could modulate immune response to anti-caries vaccine in vitro and in vivo. DESIGN: Recombinant FimH protein derived from Salmonella was constructed and purified. The expression of dendritic cell maturation markers and cytokines release were performed by flow cytometry, Real-time PCR and ELISA. In addition, BALB/c mice were administered with anti-caries PAc vaccine plus FimH-S.T, antibody responses were evaluated by ELISA. Splenocytes of immunized mice were detected for their proliferative ability in response to in vitro retreatment with PAc antigen by flow cytometry. Caries protection against dental caries formation was also investigated. RESULTS: The purified FimH-S.T induced phenotypic maturation of DC2.4 by up-regulating the expression of costimulatory molecules and MHC II, provoked the production and secretion of cytokines via TLR4-dependent signaling pathway in vitro. Furthermore, the mice immunized with the mixture of FimH-S.T and PAc significantly enhanced the PAc-specific antibodies in the serum along with saliva and promoted splenocyte proliferation. Our results also confirmed that PAc+FimH-S.T decreased the caries lesions formation which provided high protective efficacy against dental caries. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that recombinant FimH-S.T could enhance specific IgA responses and protection of anti-caries vaccine, possessing mucosal adjuvant ability by activating DC2.4 via TLR4 signaling pathway.

[Fluorescence quenching reaction of tetracaine hydrochloride with erythrosine and their analytical applications].

In Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer solution at pH 4.0, erythrosine (ET) reacts with tetracaine hydrochloride (TA x HCl) to form an ion association complex that quenches the fluorescence of erythrosine and has a compound ratio of 1 : 1. The measurement wavelength of fluorescence quenching was located at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 525 nm/556 nm. The linear range for TA x HCl is from 0.28 microg x mL(-1) to 4.8 microg x mL(-1), and its detection limit is 0.083 microg x mL(-1). The influence of coexisting substance was also inspected, and the result shows that this method has a better selectivity. Therefore, a new fluorospectrophotometry, being high sensitive, sample and rapid, was developed to determinate TA x HCl at trace amounts. The method has been applied to the determination of TA x HCl in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. In this study, the spectral characteristics and the optimum reaction conditions were discussed with quantum chemistry AM1 method.

HDAC3-mediated silencing of miR-451 decreases chemosensitivity of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by targeting NEDD9.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with docetaxel often fails due to the emergence of chemoresistance. Thus, restoring chemosensitivity to docetaxel-based therapies remains a challenge in mCRPC treatment. METHODS: microRNA (miR)-451 expression was measured in docetaxel-treated prostate cancer cells and tumor tissues by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction . Cell-counting kit 8 assay was performed to determine docetaxel chemoresistance. Neural-precursor-cell-expressed developmentally downregulated protein 9 (NEDD9) was identified as a novel target of miR-451 by dual-luciferase reporter system. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and co-immunoprecipitation assay were performed to confirm that histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3)/Sp1 (a highly evolutionarily conserved transcription factor) interacted with the Sp1 binding sites in miR-451 promoter. RESULTS: miR-451 was found to be silenced in docetaxel-treated prostate cancer cells and mCRPC tissues. Low miR-451 expression was closely associated with a high Gleason score, high Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score, visceral metastasis and poor prognosis. Low expression of miR-451 was significantly correlated with short progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) according to Kaplan-Meier analysis, and miR-451 was determined to be an independent poor prognostic factor for PFS and OS in mCRPC patients by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. NEDD9 was identified as a new and functional target of miR-451. Restoration of NEDD9 partially reversed the effects of miR-451 on enhancing chemosensitivity of prostate cancer cells. HDAC3 was confirmed to be involved in silencing of miR-451 expression in prostate cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current data revealed a new HDAC3/Sp1/miR-451/NEDD9 signaling axis that regulates the chemosensitivity of prostate cancer cells and represents a novel therapeutic target for chemosensitizing mCRPC.

Resonance Rayleigh-scattering method for the determination of sildenafil citrate in a pharmaceutical formulation using Evans blue.

A highly sensitive resonance Rayleigh-scattering (RRS) method for the determination of sildenafil citrate has been developed, based on the fact that sildenafil (Sild) reacted with Evans Blue (EB) to form an ion-association complex in pH 1.1 - 4.6 aqueous solution. This resulted in a significant enhancement of the RRS intensity, and a new spectrum appeared. The wavelength of the maximum RRS was at 365 nm, and other scattering peaks were at 400, 442, 470 and 534 nm, respectively. The intensity of RRS was directly proportional to the concentration of Sild in the range 0 - 11.5 microg ml(-1), and the detection limit for Sild (3 sigma) was 30.3 ng ml(-1). The composition of the ion-association complex was Sild:EB = 1:1, as established by Job's method. The method had good selectivity and could be applied to the determination of Sild in the aqueous phase without using organic solvent extraction. The method was simple and rapid. In addition, the reaction mechanism and the reason for RRS enhancement were considered.

Selective colorimetric and fluorescent quenching determination of uranyl ion via its complexation with curcumin.

Under pH4.0 HAc-NaAc buffer medium, curcumin alone possesses extraordinary weak fluorescence emission. Nevertheless, the introduction of Triton X-100 micelles can largely enhance the fluorescence intensity of curcumin. Uranyl ions can complex with micelles-capped curcumin, along with the slight red shift of curcumin fluorescence (about 1-7 nm), a clear decrement of absorbance (424 nm) and fluorescence (507 nm) intensities, and a distinct color change from bright yellow to orange. The fluorescence decrements (ΔF, 507 nm) are positively correlated to the amount of uranyl ions in the concentration range of 3.7×10(-6)-1.4×10(-5) mol L(-1). The detection limit of this fluorescence quenching methods is 3.7×10(-6) mol L(-1), which is nearly 9000 times lower than the maximum allowable level in drinking water proposed by World Health Organization. Good selectivity is achieved because of a majority of co-existing substances (such as Ce(4+), La(3+), and Th(4+)) do not affect the detection. The content of uranyl ions in tap water samples was determined by the proposed method with satisfactory results.

A study on the sizes and concentrations of gold nanoparticles by spectra of absorption, resonance Rayleigh scattering and resonance non-linear scattering.

Liquid phase gold nanoparticles with different diameters and colors can be prepared using sodium citrate reduction method by controlling the amounts of sodium citrate. The mean diameters of gold nanoparticles are measured by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Gold nanoparticles with different sizes have specific absorption spectra. When the diameters of nanoparticles is between 12 and 41 nm, the maximum absorption peaks locate at 520-530 nm and there are red shifts gradually with the increase of diameters of gold nanoparticles. And when the size of gold nanoparticle is constant, the absorbance is proportional to the concentration of gold. Obvious resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and the resonance non-linear scattering such as second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency-doubling scattering (FDS) appear at the same time as well, and the maximum scattering peaks are located at 286 nm (RRS), 480 nm (SOS) and 310 nm (FDS), respectively. When the concentration of gold is constant, absorbance and the intensities of RRS, SOS and FDS (I(RRS), I(SOS) and I(FDS)) have linear relationships with the diameters of gold nanoparticles. When the diameter of gold nanoparticle is constant, the absorbance and I(RRS), I(SOS), I(FDS) are directly proportional to the concentrations of gold nanoparticles. Therefore, it is very useful for studying the liquid phase gold nanoparticles by investigating the absorption, RRS, SOS and FDS spectra.

Does the onset of sexual maturation terminate the expression of migratory behaviour in moths? A study of the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata.

It is generally accepted that in most insects adults are sexually immature when they initiate migration and that migratory behaviour terminates with the onset of sexual maturation. However, a few studies examining the mating status of field collected moths have suggested that sexually mature individuals may continue migrating, but in these cases it was impossible to completely eliminate the possibility that the mated females captured came from local, non-migrant populations. In this study we examined the ovarian development of Mythimna separata females captured using a vertical pointing searchlight trap on Beihuang Island in the Bohai Gulf, China, a site >40km from land. Moths were collected from May to October from 2003 to 2008 in order to test the hypothesis that the onset of sexual maturation resulted in the termination of migratory behaviour. While females at the end of the summer had little ovarian development and were unmated, a significant proportion of those migrating northward in the early summer had developed ovaries and often had at least one spermatophore. Given that theses insects were captured while flying up to 500m above sea level, at a site with no local populations, the findings would not support the hypothesis and suggest that both ovarian development and mating may occur during migration.

Resonance Rayleigh scattering spectral method for the determination of raloxifene using gold nanoparticle as a probe.

When gold nanoparticles were being prepared by sodium citrate reduction method, citrate anions self-assembled on the surface of gold nanoparticles to form supermolecular complex anions with negative charges, and protonated raloxifene (Ralo) was positively charged and could bind with the complex anions to form larger aggregates through electrostatic force and hydrophobic effects, which could result in the remarkable enhancement of the resonance Rayleigh scattering intensity (RRS), and the appearance of new RRS spectra. At the same time, the second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency-doubling scattering (FDS) intensities were also enhanced. The maximum wavelengths were located near 370 nm for RRS, 520 nm for SOS, and 350 nm for FDS, respectively. Among them, the RRS method had the highest sensitivity and the detection limit was 5.60 ng mL(-1) for Ralo, and its linear range was 0.05-2.37 microg mL(-1). A new RRS method for the determination of trace Ralo using gold nanoparticles probe was developed. The optimum conditions of the reaction and influencing factors were investigated. In addition, the reaction mechanism and the reasons for the enhancement of RRS were discussed.

Fluorescence quenching of serum albumin by rifamycin antibiotics and their analytical application.

In neutral medium, rifamycin antibiotics such as rifapentin (RFPT), rifampicin (RFP), rifandin (RFD) and rifamycin SV (RFSV) can bind with human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form complexes, resulting in the quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence (lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 285/355 nm) of the BSA and HSA. The quenching intensity (DeltaF) is directly proportional to the concentration of the rifamycin antibiotics. Therefore, a new analytical method was established to determine trace rifamycin antibiotics. The method had fairly high sensitivity and the detecting limits (3sigma) for RFPT, RFP, RFD and RFSV were 0.85, 0.98, 1.83, 1.89 ng/mL, respectively, for the HSA system and 0.76, 0.89, 1.55, 1.77 ng/mL, respectively, for the BSA system. All relative standard deviations (RSDs) were <3.8%. In this work, the characteristics of the fluorescence spectra were studied and the optimum reaction conditions and influencing factors were investigated. The influence of coexisting substances was tested and the results showed that the method had good selectivity and could be applied to determine trace rifamycin antibiotics in medicine capsules and urine samples. Taking the RFSV-serum albumin system as an example, the reaction mechanisms, such as binding constants, binding sites, binding distance and the type of fluorescence quenching, were investigated.

Resonance Rayleigh scattering study on the interaction of gold nanoparticles with berberine hydrochloride and its analytical application.

The interaction of gold nanoparticles with berberine hydrochloride has been studied by using resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) spectra. In pH 3.8-5.5 aqueous solution, citrate acid ([H2L2-]) self-assembled on the surface of positively charged gold nanoparticles (average diameter is about 12.0 nm) to form a supermolecular complex with negative charges. By virtue of electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic force and charge transfer, the complex bound with berberine to form complex, which had bigger diameter (35 nm) than gold nanoparticles. The formation of the binding production not only resulted in the red shift of absorption of gold nanoparticles from 518 to 672 nm, but also led to the greatly enhancement of RRS intensity. At the same time, the intensities of second-order scattering (SOS) and frequency-doubling scattering (FDS) were also increased. Under definite condition, the increment of the RRS (DeltaI) were proportional to the concentration of berberine. A sensitive and simple method for the determination of berberine based on the RRS technique has been developed. The detection limit (3sigma) for berberine was 0.40 ng mL(-1) and the quantitative determination range was 1.33-240 ng mL(-1). In this work, the optimum conditions of reaction, the effect of foreign substances and the analytical application had been investigated.