Photodynamic inhibitory effects of three perylenequinones on human colorectal carcinoma cell line and primate embryonic stem cell line

AIM: To investigate the photodynamic inhibitory effects of Elsinochrome A (EA), Hypocrellin A (HA) and Hypocrellin B (HB) on human colorectal carcinoma Hce-8693 cells and rhesus monkey embryonic stem R366.4 cells, via inducing apoptosis.METHODS: EA, HA and HB were extracted from metabolites of Hypomyces (Fr) Tul.Sp. R366.4 cells or Hce8693 cells were cultured with different concentrations of EA, HA or HB respectively, irradiated and incubated with fresh medium for 2 h. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry (FCM). Data were expressed as means ±SD and analysis of variance and Student' t-test for individual comparisons.RESULTS: The photodynamic bioactivity of EA was first reported in this study. After irradiation for 5 min, 6 min, 10 min or 20 min, photoactivated EA at lower concentrations,which were 10-7 Mol/L, 10-6 Mol/L, 10-5 Mol/L respectively,had no cytotoxic effects on R366.4 ES ceils. Whereas, all of the three perylenequinones could induce apoptosis with a dose-dependent manner when Hce-8693 cells were incubated with photoactivated EA, HA and HB respectively. When Hce-8693 cells were incubated with EA at 10-6 Mol/L and irradiated 5 lin, 6 min, 10 min and 20 min respectively,the rates of EA-induced apoptosis were 0, 0, 13.4 % and 40.5 %. While the rates of HA-induced apoptosis were 29.5 %, 32.0 %, 40.2 % and 22.6 %. And the rates of HBinduced apoptosis were 0, 0, 0 and 13.7 % respectively.Meanwhile, after 10-5 Mol/L treatment, the rates of EA-induced apoptosis were 32.7 %, 19.3 %, 26.4 % and 52.7 %, the rates of HA-induced apoptosis were 47.2 %, 39.1%, 45.2% and 56.6 %, and the rates of HB-induced apoptosis were 0, 0, 20.0 % and 13.9 % respectively.CONCLUSION: EA, HA and HB have significant anti-cancer activity. The order of photodynamic inhibitory effects on tumor cells would be approximately HA＞EA＞HB. The molecular mechanisms of apoptosis may not be induced by reactive oxygen species and are worth further investigation.

Quantitative detection of common deletion of mitochondrial DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatocellular nodular hyperplasia

AIM: To study the deletion of mitochondiral DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatocellular nodular hyperplasia and its significance in the development of cancer. METHODS: Deleted mtDNA (CD-mtDNA) and wild type mtDNA (WT-mtDNA) were quantitatively analyzed by using real-time PCR in 27 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and corresponding noncancerous liver tissues and 27 hepatocellular nodular hyperplasiae (HNH). RESULTS: A novel CD (4 981 bp) was detected in 85% (23/27) and 83%(22/27) of HCC and HNH tumor tissues, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in paired noncancerous liver tissues (57%, 15/27) (P<0.05). The CD/WT-mtDNA ratio in HCC tumors was 0.00092 (median, interquartile range, 0.0001202-0.00105), which was significantly higher than that in paired noncancerous liver tissues (median, 0.000, quartile range, 0-0) (P=0.002, Mann-Whitney Test), and was 25 of times of that in HNH tissues (median, 0.0000374, quartile range, 0-0.0004225) (P=0.002, Mann-Whitney test). CONCLUSION: CD-mtDNA mutation plays an important role in the development and progression of HCC.

Size Dependence of First-order Hyperpolarizability of CdS Nanoparticles Studied by Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering

The second-order optical nonlinearity of CdS nanoparticles with different diameters of 28.0, 30.0, 31.5, 50.0, and 91.0 A was studied by hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique. Results show that the first-order hyperpolarizability P value per CdS partiele decreases as size is reduced to diameter of 31.5 A; however, as CdS size further decreases, this trend is reversed and (J value increases. Substantially, the normalized P value per CdS formula unit, β0, exhibits systematic enhancement with decreasing size. This phenomenon is interpreted in terms of a so-called surfaee contribution mechanism.

Preparation of Silver Nanoshells on Silica Particles by a Simple Two-step Process

A simple two-step method was developed to prepare silver nanoshells coated on silica paticles. The method involves two steps: concentration of reaction precursor (AgNO3) on particle surfaces and subsequent reduction by formaldehyde. The obtained composite particles were characterized by TEM, ED, and SEM-EDS measurements. The results show that the silver nanoshell is coated on silica particle surface in the form of a polycrystalline (cubic structure) layer with average thickness of 20 nm and weight percentage of 19%.

Atomic scale KMC simulation of {100} oriented CVD diamond film growth under low substrate temperature—Part I Simulation of CVD diamond film growth under Joe-Badgwell-Hauge model

The growth of (100} oriented CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) diamond film under Joe-Badgwell-Hauge (J-B-H) model is simulated at atomic scale by using revised KMC (Kinetic Monte Carlo) method. The results show that: (1) under Joe's model, the growth mechanism from single carbon species is suitable for the growth of (100) oriented CVD diamond film in low temperature; (2) the deposition rate and surface roughness (Rq) under Joe's model are influenced intensively by temperature (Ta) and not evident bymass fraction W of atom chlorine; (3)the surface roughness increases with the deposition rate, i.e. the film quality becomes worse with elevated temperature, in agreement with Grujicic's prediction; (4) the simulation results cannot make sure the role of single carbon insertion.

Relationships between the precipitation of α_2 ordered phase and alloying elements/electron concentration in α+α_2 titanium alloys

Some experimental α+α2 alloys were prepared by the addition of tin or aluminum elements into Ti-55 alloy. These alloys were designed with varied electron concentration values and named as Sn-rich alloys and Al-rich alloys, respectively. The precipita- tion and growth of α2 ordered phase in the tested alloys under various heat treatment conditions were investigated. Some compari- sons among the experimental results were performed and discussed in detail. Stronger precipitation and growth of α2 ordered phase were caused in Al-rich alloys but relatively weak change in Sn-rich alloys with increasing the electron concentration. The precipita- tion of α2 ordered phase in Al-rich alloys is stronger than that in Sn-rich alloys when the electron concentration value is the same for the two alloys.

Atomic scale KMC simulation of {100} oriented CVD diamond film growth under low substrate temperature-Part Ⅱ Simulation of CVD diamond film growth in C-H system and in Cl-containing systems

The growth of {100}-oriented CVD diamond film under two modifications ofJ-B-H model at low substrate temperatures was simulated by using a revised KMC method at atomicscale. The results were compared both in Cl-containing systems and in C-H system as follows: (1)Substrate temperature can produce an important effect both on film deposition rate and on surfaceroughness; (2) Aomic Cl takes an active role for the growth of diamond film at low temperatures; (3){100}-oriented diamond film cannot deposit under single carbon insertion mechanism, which disagreeswith the predictions before; (4) The explanation of the exact role of atomic Cl is not provided inthe simulation results.

A Genome Sequence of Novel SARS-CoV Isolates: the Genotype, GD-Ins29, Leads to a Hypothesis of Viral Transmission in South China

We report a complete genomic sequence of rare isolates (minor genotype) of the SARS-CoV from SARS patients in Guangdong, China, where the first few cases emerged. The most striking discovery from the isolate is an extra 29-nucleotide sequence located at the nucleotide positions between 27,863 and 27,864 (referred to the complete sequence of BJ01) within an overlapped region composed of BGI-PUP5 (BGI-postulated uncharacterized protein 5) and BGI-PUP6 upstream of the N (nucleocapsid) protein. The discovery of this minor genotype, GD-Ins29, suggests a significant genetic event and differentiates it from the previously reported genotype, the dominant form among all sequenced SARS-CoV isolates. A 17-nt segment of this extra sequence is identical to a segment of the same size in two human mRNA sequences that may interfere with viral genome replication and transcription in the cytosol of the infected cells. It provides a new avenue for the exploration of the virus-host interaction in viral evolution, host pathogenesis, and vaccine development.

Complete Genome Sequences of the SARS-CoV: the BJ Group (Isolates BJ01-BJ04)

Beijing has been one of the epicenters attacked most severely by the SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus) since the first patient was diagnosed in one of the city's hospitals. We now report complete genome sequences of the BJ Group, including four isolates (Isolates BJ01, BJ02, BJ03, and BJ04) of the SARS-CoV.It is remarkable that all members of the BJ Group share a common haplotype, consisting of seven loci that differentiate the group from other isolates published to date. Among 42 substitutions uniquely identified from the BJ group, 32 are non-synonymous changes at the amino acid level. Rooted phylogenetic trees, proposed on the basis of haplotypes and other sequence variations of SARS-CoV isolates from Canada, USA, Singapore, and China, gave rise to different paradigms but positioned the BJ Group, together with the newly discovered GD01 (GD-Ins29) in the same clade, followed by the H-U Group (from Hong Kong to USA) and the H-T Group (from Hong Kong to Toronto), leaving the SP Group (Singapore) more distant. This result appears to suggest a possible transmission path from Guangdong to Beijing/Hong Kong, then to other countries and regions.

SILARS： An Effective Stable Isotope Labeling with Ammonium Nitrate-15N in Rice Seedlings for Quantitative Proteomic Analysis

Dear Editor, In recent years, the proteomics field has been trans- formed from charting static proteomes to examining their dynamics by simultaneously quantifying multiple proteins from different experimental samples. Accurate quantifica- tion of differences in protein expression levels is essential for comparative proteomics and is becoming an integral and important part of modern experimental biological science （Simicevic et al., 2013）. Advanced mass spectrom- etry （MS） provides a powerful means for achieving quan- titative proteomics data.