miR-96-5p attenuates malathion-induced apoptosis of human kidney cells by targeting the ER stress marker DDIT3.

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are major players in cellular responses to xenobiotic compounds and toxins. However, their functions in organophosphate-induced cytotoxicity remain unclear. This study investigated the involvement of miR-96-5p in the non-cholinergic toxicity of malathion in normal human kidney cells (HK-2 cells).

How Valinomycin Ionophores Enter and Transport K across Model Lipid Bilayer Membranes.

Valinomycin, a cyclic peptide, was incorporated into a biomimetic lipid membrane tethered to the surface of a gold (111) electrode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to study the ionophore properties of the peptide, and polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy was employed to determine the conformation and orientation of valinomycin in the membrane. The combination of these two techniques provided unique information about the ionophore mechanism where valinomycin transports ions across the membrane by creating a complex with potassium ions and forming an ion pair with a counter anion.

Analysis of alternative splicing events by RNA sequencing in the ovaries of Xiang pig at estrous and diestrous.

Alternative splicing (AS) is an important mechanism for controlling gene expression, which regulates multiple biological processes in higher organisms. Chinese indigenous Xiang pig has distinctive biological characteristics, such as small size, early sexual maturity, lower litter size and not very clear exhibition of estrous behaviors. To further understand how AS responds to estrous cycles in Xiang pig, the genome-wide analysis of AS events was performed by RNA-seq method in Xiang pig ovaries at diestrous and estrous.

Copy number variations of MTHFSD gene across pig breeds and its association with litter size traits in Chinese indigenous Xiang pig.

Copy number variation (CNV) is a major proportion of genetic variation, which changes the gene structure and dosage and affects gene expression and function. To validate the presence and the function of CNV in pig, we used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method to validate a 496 kb CNV region comprising MTHFSD gene on chromosome 6 of Xiang pig detected by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Then we investigated the distribution of the MTHFSD CNV in a total of 545 pigs in four breeds.

Identification and profile of microRNAs in Xiang pig testes in four different ages detected by Solexa sequencing.

To further understand the role of microRNA (miRNA) during testicular development, we constructed four small RNA libraries from the testes of the Chinese indigenous Xiang pig at four different ages, which were sequenced using high-throughput Solexa deep sequencing methods. It yielded over 23 million high-quality reads and 1,342,579 unique sequences. At two and three months of age, the proportion which represented miRNAs was the most abundant class of small RNAs, but it was gradually replaced by the category that represented piRNAs in adult testes.

The spectral-structural relationship of a series of oxyluciferin derivatives.

The absorption and emission spectra of a series of oxyluciferin derivatives with different substituents, as well as 6'-amino oxyluciferins in different enol and keto forms, with or without an active-site model of luciferase, were systematically investigated using density functional theory. The effects of substituents, microenvironment, and the luciferase on the structures, absorption spectra, and fluorescent emission were all taken into account. It was found that a wide range of emission colors can be obtained from various oxyluciferin derivatives with the inclusion of active site residues modeling the luciferase active site.

[Determination of sucralose in foods and beverages by ultraviolet derivatization-high performance liquid chromatography].

Objective: To establish a method for determination of sucralose in foods and beverages using high performance liquid chromatography.

Methods: Sucralose was extracted with water and centrifuged, and then derivatized with benzoyl chloride in alkaline medium. The ultraviolet absorbing derivatives were separated on a Hydro-RP 80 angstroms C18 column (250 mm x 4.

[Simultaneous determination of sugar alcohols and sugars in functional foods by precolumn ultraviolet derivatization--high performance liquid chromatography].

Objective: To establish a method using precolumn ultraviolet derivatization coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for simultaneous determination of erythritol, xylitol, galactitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, glucose and sucrose in functional foods.

Methods: Target sugar alcohols and sugars in food samples were extracted in water by ultrasonic method and then reacted with benzoyl chloride to form violet-absorbing products, which were separated on a C18 column with gradient elution using methanol and water as mobile phase. The experiment was performed using a flow rate of 1.

microRNA and mRNA expression profiling analysis of dichlorvos cytotoxicity in porcine kidney epithelial PK15 cells.

Dichlorvos (DIC) is an organophosphate compound with cholinergic and noncholinergic neurotoxicity as well as non-neuronal cytotoxicity. Little is known about the mechanisms of DIC cytotoxicity in non-neuronal cells. In this study, we established a porcine kidney epithelial cell line (PK15) as a model to explore the mechanisms underlying DIC cytotoxicity based on miRNA and mRNA expression profiling analysis.

Theoretical study on photophysical properties of ambipolar spirobifluorene derivatives as efficient blue-light-emitting materials.

The aim of this work is to provide an in-depth interpretation of the optical and electronic properties of a series of spirobifluorene derivatives. These materials show great potential for application in organic light-emitting diodes as efficient blue-light-emitting materials due to the tuning of the optical and electronic properties by the use of different electron donors (D) and electron acceptors (A). The geometric and electronic structures of the molecules in the ground state are studied with density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio HF, whereas the lowest singlet excited states are optimized by ab initio CIS.

Theoretical study on photophysical properties of multifunctional electroluminescent molecules with different pi-conjugated bridges.

The photophysics of a series of molecular organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has been studied by theoretical calculation. These molecular OLEDs have been integrated by an electron- and hole-transporting components as well as an emitting components into the donor-pi-acceptor (D-pi-A) structures: 2-carbazolyl-7-dimesitylboryl-9,9-diethylfluorene (1), trans-4'-N-carbazolyl-4-dimesitylborylstilbene (2), and trans-2-[(4'-N-carbazolyl)styryl]-5-dimesitylborylthiophene (3). To reveal the relationship between the structures and properties of these multifunctional electroluminescent materials, the ground- and excited-state geometries were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d), HF/6-31G(d), and CIS/6-31G(d) levels, respectively.

Theoretical study on structural, electronic, and optical properties of ambipolar diphenylamino end-capped oligofluorenylthiophenes and fluoroarene-thiophene as light-emitting materials.

Ambipolar diphenylamino end-capped oligofluorenylthiophenes and fluoroarene-thiophene show great potential for application in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Here, we provide an in-depth investigation on the optical and electronic properties of OF(2)TP-NPh ( 1a), OF(2)DTP-NPh ( 2a), OF(2)TTP-NPh ( 3a), OF(2)QTP-NPh ( 4a), and 2,5-bis-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2,2':5',2'':5'',2'''-quaterthiophene ( 5a). The geometric and electronic structures of the oligomers in the ground-state are studied with density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio Hartree-Fock, whereas the lowest singlet excited states are optimized by ab initio CIS.

Polymorphism in the first intron of follicle stimulating hormone beta gene in three Chinese pig breeds and two European pig breeds.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary gonadotropin that plays a key role in the regulation of gonadal function in mammal. The gonadotropic hormones are composed of two subunits, the common alpha subunit and the hormone-specific beta subunit, which determine the binding to specific receptors and induction of biological response. The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of the first intron of FSH-beta gene present in different pig breeds and its influence on the expression of FSH-beta gene.

The immunogenicity of fusion protein linking the carboxyl terminus of the B subunit of Shiga toxin 2 to the B subunit of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin.

To augment the immunogenicity of the subunit B of Shiga toxin (Stx2e B) produced by Escherichia coli and protect piglets from edema disease in china, a fusion gene was constructed consisting of Stx2e B genetically linked at the N-terminus of the B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) in a translational fusion. After being induced with IPTG, the expressed fusion protein of Stx2e B-LTB was about 8.8% of total proteins, approximately 13 microg/ml of the bacteria culture.

Identification and function of the growth hormone gene in Rongjiang pig of China.

Growth of animal is largely regulated by growth hormone (GH). In this study, the GH gene was isolated and cloned from the genomic DNA library from Rongjiang pig, a Chinese local swine, using polymerase chain reaction technique. The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.

Stimulatory effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and dopamine on growth hormone release and growth hormone mRNA expression in Epinephelus coioides.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and dopamine (DA) can stimulate growth hormone (GH) release, but their effects on GH mRNA synthesis are controversial and deficient in fish. Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) is a hermaphroditic marine fish with sex reversal. Few data are available concerning the regulation of GH in grouper.