MYB-1 regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in Magnolia wufengensis.

Anthocyanin is an essential pigment in all major horticultural crops especially in ornamental trees. Magnolia wufengensis (new species of Magnolia) with red color flower was recently found as a popular species for ornamental use, but anthocyanin synthesis and regulation in M. wufengensis are poorly understood.

Studies on the interaction between promethazine and human serum albumin in the presence of flavonoids by spectroscopic and molecular modeling techniques.

Fluorescence, absorption, time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic techniques as well as molecular modeling methods were used to study the binding characterization of promethazine (PMT) to human serum albumin (HSA) and the influence of flavonoids, rutin and baicalin, on their affinity. The results indicated that the fluorescence quenching mechanism of HSA by PMT is a static quenching due to the formation of complex. The reaction was spontaneous and mainly mediated by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions.

Sonochemical degradation of methyl orange in the presence of Bi2WO6: Effect of operating parameters and the generated reactive oxygen species.

The Bi2WO6 was prepared by the hydrothermal method and its sonocatalytic activity was studied in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) solutions. The effects of catalytic activity of Bi2WO6 on dye were inspected by the change in absorbance of dye with UV-vis spectrometer. The influences of operational parameters such as the addition amount of Bi2WO6, pH, the initial concentration of dyes, ultrasonic power and irradiation time on the degradation ratio were investigated.

Enhancement of the binding affinity of methylene blue to site I in human serum albumin by cupric and ferric ions.

In this work, the binding characteristics of methylene blue (MB) to human serum albumin (HSA) and the influence of Cu(2+) and Fe(3+) on the binding affinity of MB to HSA were investigated using fluorescence, absorption, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular modelling. The results of competitive binding experiments using the site probes ketoprofen and ibuprofen as specific markers suggested that MB was located in site I within sub-domain IIA of HSA. The molecular modelling results agreed with the results of competitive site marker experiments and the results of CD spectra indicated that the interaction between MB and HSA caused the conformational changes in HSA.

Spectroscopic investigation on the sonodynamic damage to protein in the presence of eosine B.

In this work, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and eosine B (EB) were selected as a model protein and sonosensitizer, respectively. The sonodynamic damage to protein in the presence of EB and its mechanism were studied by means of absorption and fluorescence spectra. The results indicated that the synergistic effects of ultrasound and EB can efficiently damage the BSA molecules, and the damage of protein could be mainly due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Anti-tumor activity of N-trimethyl chitosan-encapsulated camptothecin in a mouse melanoma model.

Background: Camptothecin (CPT) has recently attracted increasing attention as a promising anticancer agent for a variety of tumors. But the clinical application is largely hampered by its extreme water insolubility and unpredictable side effect. It is essential to establish an efficient and safe protocol for the administration of CPT versus melanoma.

[Determination of chromphoric dissolved organic matter in water from different sources].

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) represents the fraction of the dissolved organic pool which absorbs light in the visible as well as UV ranges. It could affect the color of the waters. It is necessary to study it during in research on ecosystem, remote sensing of the water color and the cycle of carbon in waters.