Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Reveals Stability of mitoNEET and its [2Fe2Se] Cluster in Weakly Acidic and Basic Solutions.

The outer mitochondrial membrane protein mitoNEET (mNT) is a recently identified iron-sulfur protein containing a unique Fe2 S2 (His)1 (Cys)3 metal cluster with a single Fe-N(His87) coordinating bond. This labile Fe-N bond led to multiple unfolding/rupture pathways of mNT and its cluster by atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS), one of most common tools for characterizing the molecular mechanics. Although previous ensemble studies showed that this labile Fe-N(His) bond is essential for protein function, they also indicated that the protein and its [2Fe2S] cluster are stable under acidic conditions. Thus, we applied AFM-SMFS to measure the stability of mNT and its cluster at pH values of 6, 7, and 8. Indeed, all previous multiple unfolding pathways of mNT were still observed. Moreover, single-molecule measurements revealed that the stabilities of the protein and the [2Fe2S] cluster are consistent at these pH values with only ≈20 pN force differences. Thus, we found that the behavior of the protein is consistent in both weakly acidic and basic solutions despite a labile Fe-N bond.

Thermodynamically stable whilst kinetically labile coordination bonds lead to strong and tough self-healing polymers.

There is often a trade-off between mechanical properties (modulus and toughness) and dynamic self-healing. Here we report the design and synthesis of a polymer containing thermodynamically stable whilst kinetically labile coordination complex to address this conundrum. The Zn-Hbimcp (Hbimcp = 2,6-bis((imino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol) coordination bond used in this work has a relatively large association constant (2.2 × 1011) but also undergoes fast and reversible intra- and inter-molecular ligand exchange processes. The as-prepared Zn(Hbimcp)2-PDMS polymer is highly stretchable (up to 2400% strain) with a high toughness of 29.3 MJ m-3, and can autonomously self-heal at room temperature. Control experiments showed that the optimal combination of its bond strength and bond dynamics is responsible for the material's mechanical toughness and self-healing property. This molecular design concept points out a promising direction for the preparation of self-healing polymers with excellent mechanical properties. We further show this type of polymer can be potentially used as energy absorbing material.

Simultaneous nutrient removal and biomass/lipid production by Chlorella sp. in seafood processing wastewater.

Microalgae cultivation in wastewater has received increasing attention in recent years due to its many advantages. In this work, microalgae were cultured in seafood processing wastewater (SPW) for algal biomass and lipid production as well as nutrient removal. The biomass yield of Chlorella sp. achieved in the batch cultivation was 896 mg L-1, indicating that SPW contains a certain amount of nutrients which can be used for the growth of microalgae. However, the maximum specific growth rate of Chlorella sp. cultured in SPW throughout the whole cultivation period was only 0.040 d-1, suggesting that the growth of algal cells was inhibited during the culture process. High concentration of unionized ammonia in the SPW was found to be a factor inhibiting the growth of Chlorella sp. Aerated SPW (ASPW) and diluted SPW (DSPW) proved to be better culture media than SPW without pretreatment. The maximum specific growth rates of Chlorella sp. cultured in ASPW and DSPW during the culture interval were 0.156 and 0.091 d-1, respectively. Aeration pretreatment of SPW reduced the amount of toxic unionized ammonia, while most of the nutrients were retained in the wastewater. Therefore, higher biomass productivity (77.7 mg L-1 d-1) and higher lipid productivity (20.4 mg L-1 d-1) of microalgae were achieved in ASPW. Additionally, improved nutrient removal rates from ASPW were also achieved due to the faster growth of microalgae. The average nutrient removal rates in ASPW during the whole cultivation period were 4.98 and 1.91 mg L-1 d-1 for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively.

Concentrated microalgae cultivation in treated sewage by membrane photobioreactor operated in batch flow mode.

This study investigated the microalgae biomass production and nutrients removal efficiency from treated sewage by newly developed membrane photobioreactor in which Chlorella vulgaris was cultured in batch flow mode. Its performance was compared with conventional photobioreactor. The results show that the volumetric microalgae productivity was 39.93 and 10.36 mg L(-1)d(-1) in membrane photobioreactor and conventional photobioreactor, respectively. The nutrients removal rate in membrane photobioreactor was 4.13 mg N L(-1)d(-1) and 0.43 mg P L(-1)d(-1), which was obviously higher than that in conventional photobioreactor (0.59 mg N L(-1)d(-1) and 0.08 mg P L(-1)d(-1)). The better performance of membrane photobioreactor was due to the submerged membrane module in the reactor which acted as a solid-liquid separator and thereby enabled the reactor to operate with higher supply flow rate of cultivation medium. Moreover, in the outflow stage of the membrane photobioreactor, the microalgae culture liquor in the reactor could be further concentrated.

[Treatment characteristics of saline domestic wastewater by constructed wetland].

A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using constructed wetland (CW) to remove pollutants from saline domestic sewage. The experimental results indicated that the effects of salinity on the contaminant removal were insignificant when the influent salinities of the CWs were less than or equal to 1.5%. For the influent salinity of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%, the average removal rates of the CWs were found to be above 68.3% for COD and above 66.1% for NH4(+) -N. When the influent salinity was increased to 2.0%, the individual numbers of microorganisms in the CW reduced obviously. It was similar to the change of the soil enzyme activity in the CW. Then the removal efficiency of the CW also dropped significantly. The average removal rate of COD and NH4(+) -N dropped to 52.9% and 50.3%, respectively. The effects of HRT on the treatment performance of CW under the saline condition of 1.5% were also investigated in this study. And the results showed that nitrogen removal was more greatly affected by HRT than organic matter removal. The NH4(+) -N removal efficiency in CW decreased from 65.1% -78.2% to 47.1% when the HRT of the CW varied from 3-5 d to 2 d.

[Study on the effect of electric field on the secondary structure of SOD by FTIR spectroscopy].

After the SOD (superoxide dismutase) was treated with different strength of electric field, the effect of electric field on the secondary structure of SOD was studied by FTIR (Fourier-transformation infrared spectroscopy). The results have shown that different electric field strength has different effects on the secondary structure contents of the SOD. As compared with the contrast, the relative contents of alpha-helix and beta-sheet were decreased, while beta-turn content increased. The random coil contents were increased except for the 1.0 kV x cm(-1). The electric treatment tends to transform the alpha-helix and beta-sheet into beta-turn and random coil, and different strength of electric field has a different effect on the transformation. The changes in SOD activity have a direct relationship to the contents of beta-sheet.

[An experimental study of the effect of structure sealing of infrared CO2 sensor on its accuracy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of structure sealing of infrared CO2 sensor on its accuracy. METHOD: Two experiments were designed. The IR CO2 sensor based on infrared principle and no comparing lighting path with only one beam of light were calibrated in one experiment, and in the other experiment the sensors were placed in an environment simulating the practical condition. The temperature, pressure and standard gas were kept same in the two experiments while CO2 concentrations in the dead volume were varied. RESULT: Readings from the sensors varied with the variation of the CO2 concentration in the dead volume of the sensors. CONCLUSION: The structure sealing of the IR CO2 sensor has great influence on its accuracy. A sealed dead volume in the IR CO2 sensor can decrease or eliminate the effect.

[Environmental control and life support system of spacecraft].

Environment control and life support system is a very complicated and important subsystem of manned spacecraft. It is a key technology must be broken through for the realization of manned space flight. Its functions, technical requirements and main technology were reviewed in this paper. Its test verification was also discussed.