Proteomic and metabolomic analysis of earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to different concentrations of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether.

Unlabelled: As a class of brominated flame-retardants (BFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used in industrial products. PBDEs have been detected in local terrestrial biota from the Laizhou Bay in China. They can induce various toxicities, such as hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and endocrine disrupting effects in animals.

NMR-based metabolomic investigations on the differential responses in adductor muscles from two pedigrees of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum to Cadmium and Zinc.

Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is one of the most important economic species in shellfishery in China due to its wide geographic distribution and high tolerance to environmental changes (e.g., salinity, temperature).

Slit-Robo signaling mediates lymphangiogenesis and promotes tumor lymphatic metastasis.

The Slit family of guidance cues binds to Roundabout (Robo) receptors to modulate neuronal, leukocytic, and endothelial migration. Slit-Robo signaling had been reported to function as chemoattractive signal for vascular endothelial cells during angiogenesis. In this study, we found that Robo1 was expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells to mediate the migration and tube formation of these cells upon Slit2 stimulation, which were specifically inhibited by the function-blocking antibody R5 to Slit2/Robo1 interaction.

Cross-species amplification of 92 microsatellites of Medicago truncatula.

Medicago species are important genetic sources for forage crops and nitrogen sources for various ecosystems. The ongoing genome sequencing of the model legume, Medicago truncatula, provides a wealth of genetic markers potentially useful for characterizing the population genetic structure and evolutionary history, and the potential of the wild Medicago species. Here we tested the PCR amplification of 92 microsatellites developed from M.

Ten1p promotes the telomeric DNA-binding activity of Cdc13p: implication for its function in telomere length regulation.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the essential gene CDC13 encodes a telomeric single-stranded DNA-binding protein that interacts with Stn1p and Ten1p genetically and physically, and is required for telomere end protection and telomere length control. The molecular mechanism by which Ten1 participates in telomere length regulation and chromosome end protection remains elusive. In this work, we observed a weak interaction of Cdc13p and Ten1p in a gel-filtration analysis using purified recombinant Cdc13p and Ten1p.

NF-kappaB transcription factor p50 critically regulates tissue factor in deep vein thrombosis.

NF-kappaB transcription factors regulate the expression of tissue factor (TF), a principal initiator of the coagulation cascade. Dominant among them is the p50/p65 heterodimer. Here we report that Andrographolide (Andro; a p50 inhibitor) and genetic deletion of p50 attenuated TF activity in stimulated endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages.

Apigenin inhibited migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer A2780 cells through focal adhesion kinase.

Apigenin, a common dietary flavonoid, has been found to have antitumor properties and therefore poses special interest for the development of chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent for cancers. Here, we demonstrate that apigenin inhibits expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer A2780 cells. FAK is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase downstream of integrins and growth factors.

Aligned ultra-long single-crystalline α-Si(3)N(4) nanowires.

We report the synthesis of aligned ultra-long single-crystalline α-Si(3)N(4) nanowires by pyrolysis of a polymeric precursor without any template. The length of the wires is up to several centimeters, which is significantly longer than that of any Si(3)N(4) wires reported previously. Microscopy characterization reveals that the wires are single crystals, with a uniform diameter of ∼200 nm.

P-selectin primes leukocyte integrin activation during inflammation.

Selectins mediate leukocyte rolling and prime leukocytes for integrin-mediated leukocyte adhesion. However, neither the in vivo importance of nor the signaling pathway by which selectin-mediated integrin activation occurs has been determined. We report here that P-selectin-deficient mice manifested impaired leukocyte adhesion, which was 'rescued' by soluble P-selectin.

P-selectin cross-links PSGL-1 and enhances neutrophil adhesion to fibrinogen and ICAM-1 in a Src kinase-dependent, but GPCR-independent mechanism.

Endothelial and platelet P-selectin (CD62P) and leukocyte integrin alpha(M)beta(2) (CD11bCD18, Mac-1) are cell adhesion molecules essential for host defense and innate immunity. Upon inflammatory challenges, P-selectin binds to PSGL-1 (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1, CD162) to mediate neutrophil rolling, during which integrins become activated by extracellular stimuli for their firm adhesion in a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-dependent mechanism. Here we show that cross-linking of PSGL-1 by dimeric or multimeric forms of platelet P-selectin, P-selectin receptor-globulin, anti-PSGL-1 mAb and its F(ab')2 induced adhesion of human neutrophils to fibrinogen (Fg) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) and triggered a moderate clustering of alpha(M)beta(2), but monomeric forms of soluble P-selectin and anti-PSGL-1 Fab did not.

Manipulation of the morphology of semiconductor-based nanostructures from core-shell nanoparticles to nanocables: the case of CdSe/SiO(2).

The morphology of CdSe/SiO(2) was manipulated from core-shell-structured nanoparticles to nanocables by using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The growth of nanocables, with cores no more than 20 nm in diameter, is initiated by the formation of core-shell nanoparticles with SiO(2) as matrix and CdSe clusters dispersed inside. After the subsequent vaporization of the SiO(2) matrix, the follow-up CdSe vapor crystallizes with the remaining CdSe clusters as nuclei to form CdSe nanowires as the furnace was cooled to 1200 degrees C.

Iminodiacetic acid derivatized porous silicon as a matrix support for sample pretreatment and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis.

Iminodiacetic acid (IDA)-1,2-epoxy-9-decene has been synthesized and covalently linked to the surface of porous silicon wafer through a photochemical reaction. The negatively charged carboxylic acid groups on the porous silicon wafer are capable of binding oppositely charged species from sample solutions through electrostatic interactions. This allows the removal of contaminants prior to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) by simply washing the porous silicon surface.

Optimization of crystals of an inhibitory antibody of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) with hydrogen peroxide and low protein concentration.

Optimization of protein crystal formation is often a necessary step leading to diffraction-quality crystals to enable collection of a full X-ray data set. Typical protein crystal optimization involves screening different components, e.g.

Single-crystal CdSe nanowires prepared via vapor-phase growth assisted with silicon.

Hexagonal cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanowires, with diameter around 20 nm, were synthesized using a simple vapor-phase growth. Silicon (Si) powder acts as a source material assisting the synthesis, which is very important to the formation of the CdSe nanowires. We also suggest that self-catalysis at the Cd-terminated (0001) surface, together with the assistance action of Si, leads to the formation of wire-like structures to be formed.

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of tetrahydropalmatine and tetrahydroberberine, isolated from Corydalis yanhusuo.

HPLC methods have been developed for chiral resolution of the enantiomers of dl-tetrahydropalmatine (THP) and dl-tetrahydroberberine (THB), two active constituents of Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang.

Novel corrugated In9 anionic layer in Li2Y5In9: square pyramidal In5 clusters interconnected by unusual butterfly In4 clusters.

The new ternary polar intermetallic phase, Li2Y5In9, was obtained by high-temperature solid-state reactions of the corresponding elements inwelded Ta tubes. Its crystal structure was established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Li2Y5In9 crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/nmm (No.

Syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of six new lanthanide(III) transition metal tellurium(IV) oxyhalides with three types of structures.

Solid-state reactions of lanthanide(III) oxide (and lanthanide(III) oxyhalide), transition metal halide (and transition metal oxide), and TeO(2) at high temperature lead to six new lanthanide transition metal tellurium(IV) oxyhalides with three different types of structures, namely, DyCuTe(2)O(6)Cl, ErCuTe(2)O(6)Cl, ErCuTe(2)O(6)Br, Sm(2)Mn(Te(5)O(13))Cl(2), Dy(2)Cu(Te(5)O(13))Br(2), and Nd(4)Cu(TeO(3))(5)Cl(3). Compounds DyCuTe(2)O(6)Cl, ErCuTe(2)O(6)Cl, and ErCuTe(2)O(6)Br are isostructural. The lanthanide(III) ion is eight-coordinated by eight oxygen atoms, and the copper(II) ion is five-coordinated by four oxygens and a halide anion in a distorted square pyramidal geometry.

Application of preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography for separation of methyl gallate from Acer truncatum Bunge.

Preparative separation of methyl gallate in leaves extract of Acer truncatum Bunge was conducted using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-ethanol-water at volume ratios of 5:1:5 (v/v/v). In a single operation, 57.5 mg of methyl gallate was obtained from 120 mg of the extract.

Weight reduction by Chinese medicinal herbs may be related to inhibition of fatty acid synthase.

Fatty acid synthase (EC 2. 3. 1.