Revolving parts with complex surface structures are widely used in machinery and mechanical equipment. The ECM process provides its adequacy to cut hard materials with different shapes, and its applications are widely...Revolving parts with complex surface structures are widely used in machinery and mechanical equipment. The ECM process provides its adequacy to cut hard materials with different shapes, and its applications are widely increased, due to its outstanding advantages. In this paper, a new method for machining a convex strips structure on a cylinder by using site directed power interruption（SDPI） in the ECM process is presented. A variable correction value of the power-off time was defined and optimized to obtain the ideal interval for better machining accuracy and stability.The electric field distribution and the simulated convex profiles show that the stray current density can be reduced effectively by using the proposed method. The correction value has an important influence on the machining accuracy. A suitable correction value in the range of 0.6–1.2 s can effectively improve the machining accuracy of the convex strips structure. Experiments were also conducted to verify the proposed method. Results have confirmed that the stray corrosion on the convex strips surface is significantly reduced and the machining accuracy of convex strips structure is remarkably improved by using the proposed method with a suitable correction value in the ECM process. Finally, a convex strip with a height of 2 mm on a thin-wall revolving part was also produced successfully using a correction value of 0.9.展开更多
Modular polyketide synthases(PKSs)are a multidomain megasynthase class of biosynthetic enzymes that have great promise for the development of new compounds,from new pharmaceuticals to high value commodity and specialt...Modular polyketide synthases(PKSs)are a multidomain megasynthase class of biosynthetic enzymes that have great promise for the development of new compounds,from new pharmaceuticals to high value commodity and specialty chemicals.Their colinear biosynthetic logic has been viewed as a promising platform for synthetic biology for decades.Due to this colinearity,domain swapping has long been used as a strategy to introduce molecular diversity.However,domain swapping often fails because it perturbs critical protein-protein interactions within the PKS.With our increased level of structural elucidation of PKSs,using judicious targeted mutations of individual residues is a more precise way to introduce molecular diversity with less potential for global disruption of the protein architecture.Here we review examples of targeted point mutagenesis to one or a few residues harbored within the PKS that alter domain specificity or selectivity,affect protein stability and interdomain communication,and promote more complex catalytic reactivity.展开更多
Objective In Corynebacterium crenatum,the adjacent D311 and D312 of N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase(NAGK),as a key rate-limiting enzyme of L-arginine biosynthesis under substrate regulatory control by arginine,were initia...Objective In Corynebacterium crenatum,the adjacent D311 and D312 of N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase(NAGK),as a key rate-limiting enzyme of L-arginine biosynthesis under substrate regulatory control by arginine,were initially replaced with two arginine residues to investigate the L-arginine feedback inhibition for NAGK.Methods NAGK enzyme expression was evaluated using a plasmid-based method.Homologous recombination was employed to eliminate the pro B.Results The IC50 and enzyme activity of NAGK M4,in which the D311 R and D312 R amino acid substitutions were combined with the previously reported E19 R and H26 E substitutions,were 3.7-fold and 14.6% higher,respectively,than those of the wild-type NAGK.NAGK M4 was successfully introduced into the C.crenatum MT genome without any genetic markers;the L-arginine yield of C.crenatum MT-M4 was 26.2% higher than that of C.crenatum MT.To further improve upon the L-arginine yield,we constructed the mutant C.crenatum MT-M4 ?pro B.The optimum concentration of L-proline was also investigated in order to determine its contribution to L-arginine yield.After L-proline was added to the medium at 10 mmol/L,the L-arginine yield reached 16.5 g/L after 108 h of shake-flask fermentation,approximately 70.1% higher than the yield attained using C.crenatum MT.Conclusion Feedback inhibition of L-arginine on NAGK in C.crenatum is clearly alleviated by the M4 mutation of NAGK,and deletion of the pro B in C.crenatum from MT to M4 results in a significant increase in arginine production.展开更多
Near-fault ground motions, potentially with large amplitude and typical velocity pulses, may significantly impact the performance of a wide range of structures. The current study is aimed at evaluating the safety impl...Near-fault ground motions, potentially with large amplitude and typical velocity pulses, may significantly impact the performance of a wide range of structures. The current study is aimed at evaluating the safety implications of the near-fault effect on nuclear power plant facilities designed according to the Chinese code. To this end, a set of near- fault ground motions at rock sites with typical forward-directivity effect is examined with special emphasis on several key parameters and response spectra. Spectral comparison of the selected records with the Chinese and other code design spectra was conducted. The bi-normalized response spectra in terms of different comer periods are utilized to derive nuclear design spectra. It is concluded that nuclear design spectra on rock sites derived from typical rupture directivity records are significantly influenced both by the earthquake magnitude and the rupture distance. The nuclear design spectra specified in the code needs to be adjusted to reflect the near-fault directivity effect of large earthquakes.展开更多
Objective: To determine exon/intron organization of the Toxocara canis(T. canis) AK(TCAK) and to test green and black tea and several other chemicals against the activity of recombinant TCAK in the guanidino-specific ...Objective: To determine exon/intron organization of the Toxocara canis(T. canis) AK(TCAK) and to test green and black tea and several other chemicals against the activity of recombinant TCAK in the guanidino-specific region by site-directed mutants. Methods: Amplification of genomic DNA fragments containing introns was carried out by PCRs. The open-reading frame(1 200 bp) of TCAK(wild type) was cloned into the BamH 1/SalI site of pM AL-c2X. The maltose-binding protein-TCAK fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli TB1 cells. The purity of the expressed enzyme was verified by SDS-PAGE. Mutations were introduced into the guanidino-specific region and other areas of pM AL/TCAK by PCR. Enzyme activity was measured with an NADH-linked assay at 25℃ for the forward reaction(phosphagen synthesis). Results: Arginine kinase in T. canis has a seven-exon/six-intron gene structure. The lengths of the introns ranged from 542 bp to 2 500 bp. All introns begin with gt and end with ag. Furthermore, we measured the enzyme activity of site-directed mutants of the recombinant TCAK. The K_m value of the mutant(Alanine to Serine) decreased indicating a higher affinity for substrate arginine than the wild-type. The K_m value of the mutant(Serine to Glycine) increased to 0.19 mM. The Km value(0.19 mM) of the double mutant(Alanine-Serine to Serine-Glycine) was slightly greater than in the wild-type(0.12 mM). In addition, several other chemicals were tested; including plant extract Azadiracta indica(A. indica), an aminoglycoside antibiotic(aminosidine), a citrus flavonoid glycoside(rutin) and a commercially available catechin mixture against TCAK. Green and black tea(1:10 dilution) produced 15% and 25% inhibition of TCAK, respectively. The extract of A. indica produced 5% inhibition of TCAK. Moreover, green and black tea produced a non-competitive type of inhibition and A. indica produced a mixed-type of inhibition on TCAK. Conclusions: Arginine kinase in T. canis has a seven-exon/six-intron gene structure. However, further studies are needed to identify a specific compound within the extract causing the inhibitory effect and also to determine the molecular mechanisms behind inhibition of arginine kinase in T. canis.展开更多
The lincosamide class of antibacterials is widely used for the treatment of a broad spectrum of infections, and one prevalent route of resistance to lincosamides in pathogenic gram-positive cocco is antibiotic modific...The lincosamide class of antibacterials is widely used for the treatment of a broad spectrum of infections, and one prevalent route of resistance to lincosamides in pathogenic gram-positive cocco is antibiotic modification. Enzymes encoded by lin genes, belonging to nucleotidyltransferase superfamily, catalyze adenylylation to inactivate lincosamides. LinA can adenylylate lincosamides at either 3?-or 4?-OH of the methylthiolincosamide sugar. The crystal structure of LinA/lincomycin has confirmed its active site. However, the residue interacting with nucleotidyl donors remains elusive. Here, we modeled the complex structure of LinA/lincomycin/Mg^(2+)/AMPCPP to reveal a putative pocket for nucleotidyl donors and suggested the residue R45 in this pocket involved in the recognition of donor substrates NTP and catalysis. ITC and enzyme activity assays show that the mutation of residue R45 impairs LinA nucleotidyltransferase activity in vitro. This work provides insights into the molecular mechanism of the nucleotide binding and transferring activity of antibiotic NTases.展开更多
Internal solvation of protein was studied by site-directed mutagenesis, with which an intrinsically fluorescent probe,tryptophan, is inserted into the desired position inside a protein molecule for ultrafast spectrosc...Internal solvation of protein was studied by site-directed mutagenesis, with which an intrinsically fluorescent probe,tryptophan, is inserted into the desired position inside a protein molecule for ultrafast spectroscopic study. Here we review this unique method for protein dynamics research. We first introduce the frontiers of protein solvation, site-directed mutagenesis, protein stability and characteristics, and the spectroscopic methods. Then we present time-resolved spectroscopic dynamics of solvation dynamics inside cavities of active sites. The studies are carried out on a globular protein, staphylococcal nuclease. The solvation at sites inside the protein molecule＇s cavities clearly reveals characteristics of the local environment. These solvation behaviors are directly correlated to enzyme activity.展开更多
Site-directed spin-labeling with continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor autoproteolysis of HIV-1 protease, an enzyme essential for viral maturation. Two protein constructs wer...Site-directed spin-labeling with continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor autoproteolysis of HIV-1 protease, an enzyme essential for viral maturation. Two protein constructs were examined, namely subtype F and the circulating recombinant form CRF01_A/E. As the protease undergoes self-cleavage, protein unfolds and small peptide fragments containing the spin label are generated, which collectively give rise to a sharp spectral component that is easily discernable in the high-field resonance line in the EPR spectrum. By monitoring the intensity of this spectral component over time, the autoproteolytic stability of each construct was characterized under various conditions. Data were collected for samples stored at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C, and on a subtype F HIV-1 protease sample stored at 25 °C and containing the FDA-approved protease inhibitor Tipranavir. As expected, the rate of autoproteolysis decreased as the storage temperature was lowered. Minimal autoproteolysis was seen for the sample that contained Tipranavir, providing direction for future spectroscopic studies of active protease samples. When compared to standard methods of monitoring protein degradation such as gel electrophoresis or chromatographic analyses, spin-labeling with CW EPR offers a facile, real-time, non-consuming way to monitor autoproteolysis or protein degradation. Additionally, mass spectrometry studies revealed that the N-termini of both constructs are sensitive to degradation and that the sites of specific autoproteolysis vary.展开更多
由禾谷镰刀菌Fusarium graminearum引起的小麦赤霉病(Fusarium head blight,FHB)是小麦、大麦、燕麦、黑麦等禾谷类作物的毁灭性病害。目前,生产上防治小麦赤霉病主要依靠化学药剂防治,多菌灵等苯并咪唑类杀菌剂使用较为广泛,其作用靶...由禾谷镰刀菌Fusarium graminearum引起的小麦赤霉病(Fusarium head blight,FHB)是小麦、大麦、燕麦、黑麦等禾谷类作物的毁灭性病害。目前,生产上防治小麦赤霉病主要依靠化学药剂防治,多菌灵等苯并咪唑类杀菌剂使用较为广泛,其作用靶标为β微管蛋白。禾谷镰刀菌有2个β微管蛋白,通过分子对接结果发现β2微管蛋白第138位氨基酸位点可能为多菌灵结合位点。本研究对β2第138位丝氨酸位点进行突变研究,以明晰其生物学功能。结果表明Fgβ2S138A突变后禾谷镰刀菌对多菌灵的敏感性显著增加,EC50值由0.617 mg/L降至0.290 mg/L,但不影响对噻菌灵的敏感性,EC50值为0.950 mg/L左右,并且该突变不影响禾谷镰刀菌菌丝营养生长、无性繁殖、有性生殖和致病性。本研究结果可为多菌灵对小麦赤霉病的化学防治提供理论基础,在生产上具有一定指导意义。展开更多
基金supports provided by the State Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51535006)Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Precision and Micro-Manufacturing Technology of China
文摘Revolving parts with complex surface structures are widely used in machinery and mechanical equipment. The ECM process provides its adequacy to cut hard materials with different shapes, and its applications are widely increased, due to its outstanding advantages. In this paper, a new method for machining a convex strips structure on a cylinder by using site directed power interruption（SDPI） in the ECM process is presented. A variable correction value of the power-off time was defined and optimized to obtain the ideal interval for better machining accuracy and stability.The electric field distribution and the simulated convex profiles show that the stray current density can be reduced effectively by using the proposed method. The correction value has an important influence on the machining accuracy. A suitable correction value in the range of 0.6–1.2 s can effectively improve the machining accuracy of the convex strips structure. Experiments were also conducted to verify the proposed method. Results have confirmed that the stray corrosion on the convex strips surface is significantly reduced and the machining accuracy of convex strips structure is remarkably improved by using the proposed method with a suitable correction value in the ECM process. Finally, a convex strip with a height of 2 mm on a thin-wall revolving part was also produced successfully using a correction value of 0.9.
基金This work was supported by funding provided by the University of Tennessee,Knoxville.
文摘Modular polyketide synthases(PKSs)are a multidomain megasynthase class of biosynthetic enzymes that have great promise for the development of new compounds,from new pharmaceuticals to high value commodity and specialty chemicals.Their colinear biosynthetic logic has been viewed as a promising platform for synthetic biology for decades.Due to this colinearity,domain swapping has long been used as a strategy to introduce molecular diversity.However,domain swapping often fails because it perturbs critical protein-protein interactions within the PKS.With our increased level of structural elucidation of PKSs,using judicious targeted mutations of individual residues is a more precise way to introduce molecular diversity with less potential for global disruption of the protein architecture.Here we review examples of targeted point mutagenesis to one or a few residues harbored within the PKS that alter domain specificity or selectivity,affect protein stability and interdomain communication,and promote more complex catalytic reactivity.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31360219 and No.30960012the Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecule,Ministry of Education,Jiangxi Normal University(No.KLFS-KF-201414)
文摘Objective In Corynebacterium crenatum,the adjacent D311 and D312 of N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase(NAGK),as a key rate-limiting enzyme of L-arginine biosynthesis under substrate regulatory control by arginine,were initially replaced with two arginine residues to investigate the L-arginine feedback inhibition for NAGK.Methods NAGK enzyme expression was evaluated using a plasmid-based method.Homologous recombination was employed to eliminate the pro B.Results The IC50 and enzyme activity of NAGK M4,in which the D311 R and D312 R amino acid substitutions were combined with the previously reported E19 R and H26 E substitutions,were 3.7-fold and 14.6% higher,respectively,than those of the wild-type NAGK.NAGK M4 was successfully introduced into the C.crenatum MT genome without any genetic markers;the L-arginine yield of C.crenatum MT-M4 was 26.2% higher than that of C.crenatum MT.To further improve upon the L-arginine yield,we constructed the mutant C.crenatum MT-M4 ?pro B.The optimum concentration of L-proline was also investigated in order to determine its contribution to L-arginine yield.After L-proline was added to the medium at 10 mmol/L,the L-arginine yield reached 16.5 g/L after 108 h of shake-flask fermentation,approximately 70.1% higher than the yield attained using C.crenatum MT.Conclusion Feedback inhibition of L-arginine on NAGK in C.crenatum is clearly alleviated by the M4 mutation of NAGK,and deletion of the pro B in C.crenatum from MT to M4 results in a significant increase in arginine production.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant No.50808168Ministry of Science and Technology of Weihai Under Grant No.2008087Beijing Natural Science Foundation Under Grant No.8092029
文摘Near-fault ground motions, potentially with large amplitude and typical velocity pulses, may significantly impact the performance of a wide range of structures. The current study is aimed at evaluating the safety implications of the near-fault effect on nuclear power plant facilities designed according to the Chinese code. To this end, a set of near- fault ground motions at rock sites with typical forward-directivity effect is examined with special emphasis on several key parameters and response spectra. Spectral comparison of the selected records with the Chinese and other code design spectra was conducted. The bi-normalized response spectra in terms of different comer periods are utilized to derive nuclear design spectra. It is concluded that nuclear design spectra on rock sites derived from typical rupture directivity records are significantly influenced both by the earthquake magnitude and the rupture distance. The nuclear design spectra specified in the code needs to be adjusted to reflect the near-fault directivity effect of large earthquakes.
文摘Objective: To determine exon/intron organization of the Toxocara canis(T. canis) AK(TCAK) and to test green and black tea and several other chemicals against the activity of recombinant TCAK in the guanidino-specific region by site-directed mutants. Methods: Amplification of genomic DNA fragments containing introns was carried out by PCRs. The open-reading frame(1 200 bp) of TCAK(wild type) was cloned into the BamH 1/SalI site of pM AL-c2X. The maltose-binding protein-TCAK fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli TB1 cells. The purity of the expressed enzyme was verified by SDS-PAGE. Mutations were introduced into the guanidino-specific region and other areas of pM AL/TCAK by PCR. Enzyme activity was measured with an NADH-linked assay at 25℃ for the forward reaction(phosphagen synthesis). Results: Arginine kinase in T. canis has a seven-exon/six-intron gene structure. The lengths of the introns ranged from 542 bp to 2 500 bp. All introns begin with gt and end with ag. Furthermore, we measured the enzyme activity of site-directed mutants of the recombinant TCAK. The K_m value of the mutant(Alanine to Serine) decreased indicating a higher affinity for substrate arginine than the wild-type. The K_m value of the mutant(Serine to Glycine) increased to 0.19 mM. The Km value(0.19 mM) of the double mutant(Alanine-Serine to Serine-Glycine) was slightly greater than in the wild-type(0.12 mM). In addition, several other chemicals were tested; including plant extract Azadiracta indica(A. indica), an aminoglycoside antibiotic(aminosidine), a citrus flavonoid glycoside(rutin) and a commercially available catechin mixture against TCAK. Green and black tea(1:10 dilution) produced 15% and 25% inhibition of TCAK, respectively. The extract of A. indica produced 5% inhibition of TCAK. Moreover, green and black tea produced a non-competitive type of inhibition and A. indica produced a mixed-type of inhibition on TCAK. Conclusions: Arginine kinase in T. canis has a seven-exon/six-intron gene structure. However, further studies are needed to identify a specific compound within the extract causing the inhibitory effect and also to determine the molecular mechanisms behind inhibition of arginine kinase in T. canis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31470741)Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(2016J01173)+3 种基金the Key Project of Fujian Province(2017N0031)the STS project of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fujian Province(2016T3041)the medical talent training project of Fujian provincial health and family planning commission(2016-ZQN-19)National Thousand Talents Program of China
文摘The lincosamide class of antibacterials is widely used for the treatment of a broad spectrum of infections, and one prevalent route of resistance to lincosamides in pathogenic gram-positive cocco is antibiotic modification. Enzymes encoded by lin genes, belonging to nucleotidyltransferase superfamily, catalyze adenylylation to inactivate lincosamides. LinA can adenylylate lincosamides at either 3?-or 4?-OH of the methylthiolincosamide sugar. The crystal structure of LinA/lincomycin has confirmed its active site. However, the residue interacting with nucleotidyl donors remains elusive. Here, we modeled the complex structure of LinA/lincomycin/Mg^(2+)/AMPCPP to reveal a putative pocket for nucleotidyl donors and suggested the residue R45 in this pocket involved in the recognition of donor substrates NTP and catalysis. ITC and enzyme activity assays show that the mutation of residue R45 impairs LinA nucleotidyltransferase activity in vitro. This work provides insights into the molecular mechanism of the nucleotide binding and transferring activity of antibiotic NTases.
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant Nos.2013CB921904,2009CB930504,and 2013CB328700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11074016,11121091,10934001,61177020,11134001,and 10828407)
文摘Internal solvation of protein was studied by site-directed mutagenesis, with which an intrinsically fluorescent probe,tryptophan, is inserted into the desired position inside a protein molecule for ultrafast spectroscopic study. Here we review this unique method for protein dynamics research. We first introduce the frontiers of protein solvation, site-directed mutagenesis, protein stability and characteristics, and the spectroscopic methods. Then we present time-resolved spectroscopic dynamics of solvation dynamics inside cavities of active sites. The studies are carried out on a globular protein, staphylococcal nuclease. The solvation at sites inside the protein molecule＇s cavities clearly reveals characteristics of the local environment. These solvation behaviors are directly correlated to enzyme activity.
文摘Site-directed spin-labeling with continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor autoproteolysis of HIV-1 protease, an enzyme essential for viral maturation. Two protein constructs were examined, namely subtype F and the circulating recombinant form CRF01_A/E. As the protease undergoes self-cleavage, protein unfolds and small peptide fragments containing the spin label are generated, which collectively give rise to a sharp spectral component that is easily discernable in the high-field resonance line in the EPR spectrum. By monitoring the intensity of this spectral component over time, the autoproteolytic stability of each construct was characterized under various conditions. Data were collected for samples stored at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C, and on a subtype F HIV-1 protease sample stored at 25 °C and containing the FDA-approved protease inhibitor Tipranavir. As expected, the rate of autoproteolysis decreased as the storage temperature was lowered. Minimal autoproteolysis was seen for the sample that contained Tipranavir, providing direction for future spectroscopic studies of active protease samples. When compared to standard methods of monitoring protein degradation such as gel electrophoresis or chromatographic analyses, spin-labeling with CW EPR offers a facile, real-time, non-consuming way to monitor autoproteolysis or protein degradation. Additionally, mass spectrometry studies revealed that the N-termini of both constructs are sensitive to degradation and that the sites of specific autoproteolysis vary.
