Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Xylanase from Massilia sp. RBM26 Isolated from the Feces of Rhinopithecus bieti

( Bo Xu ),( Li Ming Dai ),( Jun Jun Li ),( Meng Deng ),( Hua Biao Miao ),( Jun Pei Zhou ),( Yue Lin Mu ),( Qian Wu ),( Xiang Hua Tang ),( Yun Juan Yang ),( Jun Mei Ding ),( Nan Yu Han ),( Zun Xi Huang 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.1

Xylanases sourced from different bacteria have significantly different enzymatic properties. Therefore, studying xylanases from different bacteria is important to their applications in different fields. A potential xylanase degradation gene in Massilia was recently discovered through genomic sequencing. However, its xylanase activity remains unexplored. This paper is the first to report a xylanase (XynRBM26) belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family (GH10) from the genus Massilia. The gene encodes a 383-residue polypeptide (XynRBM26) with the highest identity of 62% with the endoxylanase from uncultured bacterium BLR13. The XynRBM26 expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 is a monomer with a molecular mass of 45.0 kDa. According to enzymatic characteristic analysis, pH 5.5 is the most appropriate for XynRBM26, which could maintain more than 90% activity between pH 5.0 and 8.0. Moreover, XynRBM26 is stable at 37°C and could maintain at least 96% activity after being placed at 37°C for 1 h. This paper is the first to report that GH10 xylanase in an animal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has salt tolerance, which could maintain 86% activity in 5 M NaCl. Under the optimum conditions, Km, Vmax, and kcat of XynRBM26 to beechwood xylan are 9.49 mg/ml, 65.79 μmol/min/mg, and 47.34 /sec, respectively. Considering that XynRBM26 comes from an animal GIT, this xylanase has potential application in feedstuff. Moreover, XynRBM26 is applicable to high-salt food and seafood processing, as well as other high-salt environmental biotechnological fields, because of its high catalytic activity in high-concentration NaCl.

Numerical investigations on cavitating flows with thermodynamic effects in a diffuser-type centrifugal pump

Tang Xue-lin,Bian Li-yuan,Wang Fu-jun,Li Xiao-qin,Hao Man 대한기계학회 2013 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.27 No.6

A cavitation model with thermodynamic effects for cavitating flows in a diffuser-type centrifugal pump is developed based on the bubble two-phase flow model. The proposed cavitation model includes mass, momentum, and energy transportations according to the thermodynamic mechanism of cavitation. Numerical simulations are conducted inside the entire passage of the centrifugal pump by using the proposed cavitation model and the renormalization group-based k −ε turbulent model coupled with the energy transportation equation. By using the commercial computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT 6.3, we have shown that the predicted performance characteristics of the pump, as well as the pressure, vapor, and density distributions in the impeller, agree well with that calculated by the full cavitation model. Simulation results show that cavitation initially occurs slightly behind the inlet of the blade suction surface, i.e., the area with maximum vapor concentration and minimum pressure. The predicted temperature field shows that the reduction in temperature restrains the growth of cavitating bubbles. Therefore, the thermodynamic effect should be treated as a necessary factor in cavitation models. Comparison results validate the efficiency and accuracy of the numerical technique in simulating cavitation flows in centrifugal pumps.

Effects of stiffening rings on the dynamic properties of hyperboloidal cooling towers

Jun-Feng Zhang,Huai Chen,Yao-Jun Ge,Lin Zhao,Shi-Tang Ke 국제구조공학회 2014 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.49 No.5

As hyperboloidal cooling towers (HCTs) growing larger and slender, they become more sensitive to gust wind. To improve the dynamic properties of HCTs and to improve the wind resistance capability, stiffening rings have been studied and applied. Although there have been some findings, the influence mechanism of stiffening rings on the dynamic properties is still not fully understood. Based on some fundamental perceptions on the dynamic properties of HCTs and free ring structures, a concept named “participation degree” of stiffening rings was proposed and the influence mechanism on the dynamic properties was illustrated. The “participation degree” is determined by the modal deform amplitude and latitude wave number of stiffening rings. Larger modal deform amplitude and more latitude waves can both result in higher participation degree and more improvement to eigenfrequencies. Also, this concept can explain and associate the pre-existing independent findings.

Synthesis of pore-expanded mesoporous materials using waste quartz sand and the adsorption effects of methylene blue

Jun-Ming Hong,Bing Lin,Jie-Shan Jiang,Bor-Yann Chen,Chang-Tang Chang 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.5

Mesoporous material Q-MCM and EX-Q-MCM were synthesized using waste quartz (99.9% SiO2) sand as a silicon source via the sol–gel method. The silicon source was extracted from the waste quartz sand using the hydrothermal method. This study selected methylene blue as a target dye to investigate the dye adsorption performance onto the EX-Q-MCM. The effects on adsorption performance under different initial dye concentrations and different pH values were also studied. The results show that the maximum adsorption capacity was 96.9 mg g 1 and a high pH is favorable for adsorption. Further, equilibrium isotherms of the adsorption of methylene blue on EX-Q-MCM are well described by the Freundlich model. It reveals that the adsorption of methylene blue onto the Q-MCM is a multilayer adsorption.

Five miRNAs as Novel Diagnostic Biomarker Candidates for Primary Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Tang, Jin-Feng,Yu, Zhong-Hua,Liu, Tie,Lin, Zi-Ying,Wang, Ya-Hong,Yang, La-Wei,He, Hui-Juan,Cao, Jun,Huang, Hai-Li,Liu, Gang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.18

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC). Despite advances in the field of cancer molecular biology and biomarker discovery, the development of clinically validated biomarkers for primary NPC has remained elusive. In this study, we investigated the expression and clinical significance of miRNAs as novel primary NPC diagnostic biomarkers. We used an array containing 2, 500 miRNAs to identify 22 significant miRNAs, and these candidate miRNAs were validated using 67 fresh NPC and 25 normal control tissues via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Expression and correlation analyses were performed with various statistical approaches, in addition to logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to evaluate diagnostic efficacy. qRT-PCR revealed five differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-93-5p, miR-135b-5p, miR-205-5p and miR-183-5p) in NPC tissue samples relative to control samples (p<0.05), with miR-135b-5p and miR-205-5p being of significant diagnostic value (p<0.01). Moreover, comparison of NPC patient clinicopathologic data revealed a negative correlation between miR-93-5p and miR-183-5p expression levels and lymph node status (p<0.05). These findings display an altered expression of many miRNAs in NPC tissues, thus providing information pertinent to pathophysiological and diagnostic research. Ultimately, miR-135b-5p and miR-205-5p may be implicated as novel NPC candidate biomarkers, while miR-93-5p, miR-650 and miR-183-5p may find application as relevant clinical pathology and diagnostic candidate biomarkers.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Prediction of Esophageal Cancer Mortality in China from 1991 to 2012

Tang, Wen-Rui,Fang, Jia-Ying,Wu, Ku-Sheng,Shi, Xiao-Jun,Luo, Jia-Yi,Lin, Kun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.16

Background: To analyze the mortality distribution of esophageal cancer in China from 1991 to 2012, to forecast the mortality in the future five years, and to provide evidence for prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: Mortality data for esophageal cancer in China from 1991 to 2012 were used to describe its epidemiological characteristics, such as the change of the standardized mortality rate, urban-rural differences, sex and age differences. Trend-surface analysis was used to study the geographical distribution of the mortality. Curve estimation, time series, gray modeling, and joinpoint regression were used to predict the mortality for the next five years in the future. Results: In China, the incidence rate of esophageal cancer from 2007 and the mortality rate of esophageal cancer from 2008 increased yearly, with males at $8.72/10^5$ being higher than females, and the countryside at $15.5/10^5$ being higher than in the city. The mortality rate increased from age 45. Geographical analysis showed the mortality rate increased from southern to eastern China, and from northeast to central China. Conclusions: The incidence rate and the standardized mortality rate of esophageal cancer are rising. The regional disease control for esophageal cancer should be focused on eastern, central and northern regions China, and the key targets for prevention and treatment are rural men more than 45 years old. The mortality of esophageal cancer will rise in the next five years.

Curcumol Induces Apoptosis in SPC-A-1 Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells and Displays Anti-neoplastic Effects in Tumor Bearing Mice

Tang, Qi-Ling,Guo, Ji-Quan,Wang, Qi-You,Lin, Hai-Shu,Yang, Zhou-Ping,Peng, Tong,Pan, Xue-Diao,Liu, Bing,Wang, Su-Jun,Zang, Lin-Quan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Curcumol is a sesquiterpene originally isolated from curcuma rhizomes, a component of herbal remedies commonly used in oriental medicine. Its beneficial pharmacological activities have attract significant interest recently. In this study, anti-cancer activity of curcumol was examined with both in vitro and in vivo models. It was found that curcumol exhibited time- and concentration-dependent anti-proliferative effects in SPC-A-1 human lung adenocarcinoma cells with cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase while apoptosis-induction was also confirmed with flow cytometry and morphological analyses. Interestingly, curcumol did not display growth inhibition in MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblasts, suggesting the anti-proliferative effects of curcumol were specific to cancer cells. Anti-neoplastic effects of curcumol were also confirmed in tumor bearing mice. Curcumol (60 mg/ kg daily) significantly reduced tumor size without causing notable toxicity. In conclusion, curcumol appears a favorable anti-cancer candidate for further development.

Kocuria halotolerans sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a saline soil in China.

Tang, Shu-Kun,Wang, Yun,Lou, Kai,Mao, Pei-Hong,Xu, Li-Hua,Jiang, Cheng-Lin,Kim, Chang-Jin,Li, Wen-Jun Society for General Microbiology 2009 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.59 No.6

<P>A Gram-positive actinobacterium, designated strain YIM 90716(T), was isolated from a saline soil sample collected from Ganjiahu Suosuo Forest National Nature Reserve in Xinjiang Province, north-west China. The new isolate contained lysine, glutamic acid and alanine with peptidoglycan type Lys-Ala(3) (variation A3alpha). The major phospholipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant menaqinone was MK-7(H(2)). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(16 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0). The DNA G+C content of strain YIM 90716(T) was 68.0 mol%. Chemotaxonomic properties supported the affiliation of strain YIM 90716(T) to the genus Kocuria. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the organism was related most closely to Kocuria kristinae DSM 20032(T) (96.8 % similarity) and showed lower levels of 16S rRNA gene similarity (<96.5 %) with the type strains of other species of the genus Kocuria. The results of fatty acid analysis and physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain YIM 90716(T) from its closest relatives. On the basis of data from the present polyphasic study, strain YIM 90716(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Kocuria, for which the name Kocuria halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 90716(T) (=DSM 18442(T)=KCTC 19172(T)=CCTCC AB 206069(T)).</P>

Effects of stiffening rings on the dynamic properties of hyperboloidal cooling towers

Zhang, Jun-Feng,Chen, Huai,Ge, Yao-Jun,Zhao, Lin,Ke, Shi-Tang Techno-Press 2014 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.49 No.5

As hyperboloidal cooling towers (HCTs) growing larger and slender, they become more sensitive to gust wind. To improve the dynamic properties of HCTs and to improve the wind resistance capability, stiffening rings have been studied and applied. Although there have been some findings, the influence mechanism of stiffening rings on the dynamic properties is still not fully understood. Based on some fundamental perceptions on the dynamic properties of HCTs and free ring structures, a concept named "participation degree" of stiffening rings was proposed and the influence mechanism on the dynamic properties was illustrated. The "participation degree" is determined by the modal deform amplitude and latitude wave number of stiffening rings. Larger modal deform amplitude and more latitude waves can both result in higher participation degree and more improvement to eigenfrequencies. Also, this concept can explain and associate the pre-existing independent findings.

Down-regulation of EZH2 by RNA Interference Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion of ACHN Cells via the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway

Yuan, Jun-Bin,Yang, Luo-Yan,Tang, Zheng-Yan,Zu, Xiong-Bing,Qi, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Although enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been reported as an independent prognostic factor in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), little is known about the exact mechanism of EZH2 in promoting the genesis of RCC. However, several studies have shown that dysregulation of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial role. Therefore, we determined whether EZH2 could affect ACHN human RCC cell proliferation and invasion via the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin pathway. In the present study, we investigated the effects of short interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated EZH2 gene silencing on Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling in ACHN cells. EZH2-siRNA markedly inhibited the proliferation and invasion capabilities of ACHN, while also reducing the expression of EZH2, Wnt3a and ${\beta}$-catenin. In contrast, cellular expression of GSK-$3{\beta}$ (glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$), an inhibitor of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin pathway, was conspicuously higher after transfection of EZH2 siRNA. These preliminary findings suggest EZH2 may promote proliferation and invasion of ACHN cells via action on the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway.