Enhanced Lovastatin Production by Solid State Fermentation of Monascus ruber

Xu Bao-Jun,Wang Qi-Jun,Jia Xiao-Qin,Sung Chang-Keun The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengine 2005 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.10 No.1

The purpose of this study was to optimize the solid state cultivation of Monascus ruber on sterile rice. A single-level-multiple-factor and a single-factor-multiple-level experimental design were employed to determine the optimal medium constituents and to optimize carbon and nitrogen source concentrations for lovastatin production. Simultaneous quantitative analyses of the ${\beta}$-hydroxyacid form and ${\beta}$-hydroxylactone for of lovastatin were performed by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with a UV photodiode-array (PDA) detector. The total lovastatin yield ($4{\sim}6\;mg/g$, average of five repeats) was achieved by adding soybean powder, glycerol, sodium nitrate, and acetic acid at optimized levels after 14 days of fermentation. The maximal yield of lovastatin under the optimal composition of the medium increased by almost 2 times the yield observed prior to optimization. The experimental results also indicated that the ${\beta}$-hydroxylactone form of lovastatin (LFL) and the ${\beta}$-hydroxyacid form of lovastatin (AFL) simultaneously existed in solid state cultures of Monascus ruber. while the latter was the dominant form in the middle-late stage of continued fermentation. These results indicate that optimized culture conditions can be used for industrial production of lovastatin to obtain high yields.

Reliability Analysis for Serviceability Limit State of Pile Groups Foundation

Xiao-ya Bian,Jun-jie Zheng,Rong-Jun Zhang,Zhi-jun Xu 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.1

The aim of this paper is to present an approach for the assessment of the Serviceability Limit State (SLS) reliability of pile groups foundation combining the Ultimate Limit State (ULS) reliability method of pile groups. To this end, the linear relationship between the ULS and SLS reliability indices is presented using the formulas for calculating the ULS and SLS reliability indices of single piles. Meanwhile, the influence of system effects, correlation coefficient between pile group efficiency and system effects (ρζ,χ), and limiting tolerable settlement (Slt) on the SLS reliability analysis of pile groups foundation is studied using pile load test data compiled for illustration. The results indicate that both the ULS reliability index (βG-uls) and the SLS reliability index (βG-sls) of pile groups foundation decrease with ρζ,χ, that powerful system effects can enhance the ULS and SLS reliability of pile groups foundation, and that βG-sls increases with Slt. the reliability level estimated by pile load test data is equivalent to that incorporating the SLS requirements with a certain value of Slt between 15 mm and 25 mm. For Slt larger than this value, Reliability-based Design (RBD) of pile groups foundation will depend on the ULS requirements, but, conversely, RBD will depend on the SLS requirements.

RNAi suppression of nuclear receptor genes results in increased susceptibility to sulfoxaflor in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

Lu Xu,Chun-Qing Zhao,De-Jin Xu,Guang-Chun Xu,Xiao-Long Xu,Zhao-Jun Han,Ya-Nan Zhang,Zhong-Yan Gu 한국응용곤충학회 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.20 No.2

Nuclear receptors (NRs), which belong to a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors, play essential roles in gene regulation to affect numerous physiological pathways. Twenty NR genes were identified in Nilaparvata lugens by using genomic, transcriptomic and GenBank databases, and categorized into NR0-NR6 subfamilies according to standard nomenclature. Among them, three NR geneswere classed into NR0, four into NR1, eight into NR2, one into NR3, one into NR4, two into NR5, and one into NR6, respectively. A phylogenetic tree of NRs from N. lugens and other representative species was constructed, which provided evolutionary insight into genetic distance. In order to investigate the NRs,whichwere induced by sulfoxaflor, time- and tissue-specific expression profiles of NR genes in fourth-instar nymphs were determined following LD50 sulfoxaflor treatment (0.28 ng/insect) and compared with control samples. NlUSP, NlE78, NlTLL, NlHR51, NlHR83, NlPNR and NlFTZ-F1 were highly expressed following 12–48 h of sulfoxaflor treatment. NlHR39 and NlDSF transcripts were detected in the head and the thorax, respectively. High-level and constitutive expression of NlHR3, NlTLL, NlHR83, NlFTZF1 and NlHR4 were found in the abdomen. Feeding of dsRNAs reduced the expression of NlHR3, NlUSP, NlTLL, NlHR83, NlPNR, NlFTZ-F1 and NlHR4 (35.48–49.77%) and caused significant nymph mortality (69.21–81.45%). These NRs, considered as insecticide targets, may play important function in sulfoxaflor detoxification.

Genomic, evolutionary and expression profile analysis of Hsp70 superfamily in A and D genome of cotton (Gossypium spp.) under the challenge of Verticillium dahliae

Songhua Xiao,Jianwen Xu;Jun Zhao;Jianguang Liu,Jianwen Xu;Jun Zhao;Jianguang Liu,Qiaojuan Wu,Jingzhong Yu,Deyue Yu 한국식물학회 2017 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.60 No.1

In this study, we comparatively analyzed the 115 Hsp70 genes identified in Gossypium raimondii, Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium arboreum genomes. Those Hsp70 genes unequally distributed among chromosomes in A and D genome of cotton (Gossypium spp.), and were classified into 29 groups according to the homology of them. Based on the localization information of the orthologs in Arabidopsis, the Hsp70 proteins were predicted to locate in cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion or chloroplast. Homologous analysis indicated the evolutionary conservation of Hsp70 in cotton. In addition, those Hsp70 genes were differently expressed in Suyuan-045, Hai-7124 and TM-1, which were highly resistant, resistant, and sensitive to Verticillium dahliae respectively. The expressions of 26 Hsp70 genes were induced by Verticillium dahliae except for Hsp70-07/16/25/26, and the result suggested the potential involvement of them in responding to Verticillium wilt. Hsp70-08/30/31 was highly expressed in both Suyuan-045 and Hai-7124, and it was hypothesized that they might be involved in the resistance to the invasion of Verticillium dahliae. 144h after inoculation with Verticillium dahliae, the expression of Hsp70-13/14/15 was only up-regulated in Suyuan-045, and it was assumed that they might be involved in resistance to the extension of Verticillium dahliae. Further study on those Hsp70 genes would be valuable to reveal the role of them in Verticillium wilt resistance.

Pu-erh Tea Powder Preventive Effects on Cisplatin-Induced Liver Oxidative Damage in Wistar Rats

Zheng, Xiao-Nan,Wang, Xiao-Wen,Li, Li-Ya,Xu, Zi-Wei,Huang, Hsin-Yi,Zhao, Jin-Sheng,Zhang, Duo,Yin, Xu,Sheng, Jun,Tang, Jin-Tian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.17

Background: Chemotherapy is one of the major means for control of malignancies, with cisplatin (CDDP) as one of the main agents, widely used for the treatment of various malignant solid tumors. However, prevention of hepatotoxicity from cisplatin is one of the urgent issues in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of pu-erh tea on hepatotoxicity through body weight and tissue antioxidant parameters like, liver coefficient, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, and light microscopic evaluation by histological findings. Materials and Methods: The rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control (n=10), cisplatin (3 mg/kg p.i., n=10), cisplatin+pu-erh (0.32 g/kg/day i.g., n=10), cisplatin+pu-erh (0.8 g/kg/day i.g., n=10) and cisplatin+pu-erh (1.6 g/kg/day i.g., n=10). Pu-erh tea powder was administrated for 31 consecutive days. The rats were sacrificed at the end on the second day after a single dose of cisplatin treatment for measuring indices. Results: Pu-erh tea powder exhibited a protective effect by decreasing MDA and GSH and increasing the SOD and GSH-PX levels and GSH-PX/MDA ratio in camparison with the control group. Besides, pu-erh tea was also able to alleviate the pathological damage to some extent. Conclusion: Pu-erh tea powder is protective against cisplatin-induced liver oxidative damages, especially at the medium dosage (0.8 g/kg/d).

ODV-Associated Proteins of the <i>Pieris rapae</i> Granulovirus

Wang, Xiao-Feng,Zhang, Bao-Qin,Xu, Hai-Jun,Cui, Ying-Jun,Xu, Yi-Peng,Zhang, Min-Juan,Han, Yeon Soo,Lee, Yong Seok,Bao, Yan-Yuan,Zhang, Chuan-Xi American Chemical Society 2011 JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH Vol.10 No.6

<P><I>Alphabaculovirus</I> (lepidopteran-specific nucleopolyhedroviruses, NPV) and <I>Betabaculovirus</I> (granuloviruses, GV) are two main genera of the family Baculoviridae. The virion proteomes of <I>Alphabaculovirus</I> have been well studied; however, the <I>Betabaculovirus</I> virion compositions remain unclear. <I>Pieris rapae</I> granulovirus (PrGV) can kill larvae of <I>P. rapae</I>, a worldwide and important pest of mustard family crops. In this study, the occlusion-derived virus (ODV)-associated proteins of PrGV were identified using three mass spectrometry (MS) approaches. The MS analyses demonstrated that 47 proteins were present in PrGV-ODV. Of the 47 PrGV-ODV proteins, 33 have homologues identified previously in other baculovirus ODV/BVs, whereas 14 (P10, Pr21, Pr29, Pr35, Pr42, Pr54, P45/48, Pr83, Pr84, Pr89, Pr92, Pr111, Pr114 and FGF3) were newly identified ODV proteins. Seven of the 14 newly identified ODV proteins are specific to <I>Betabaculovirus</I>, including Pr35, Pr42, Pr54, Pr83, Pr84, Pr111 and Pr114. Furthermore, the data derived from these MS approaches were validated by immunoblotting analysis using antisera prepared from 11 randomly selected recombinant PrGV-ODV proteins (including 5 <I>Betabaculovirus</I>-unique proteins). Comparison analyses revealed the similar and different compositions between <I>Betabaculovirus</I> and <I>Alphabaculovirus</I> virions, which deepen our understanding of the baculovirus virion structure and provide helpful information on <I>Betabaculovirus</I>–host interaction studies.</P><P>We used three mass spectrometry (MS) approaches to identify the occlusion-derived virus (ODV)-associated proteins of the <I>Pieris rapae</I> Granulovirus. A total of 47 proteins were identified; 14 of them were first identified in the ODV, and 7 are specific to Granulovirus.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jprobs/2011/jprobs.2011.10.issue-6/pr2000804/production/images/medium/pr-2011-000804_0002.gif'></P>

HPLC Analysis of Citrinin in Red Yeast Rice

Bao-jun Xu,Qi-jun Wang,Jeong-hyun Lee,Xiao-qin Jia,Chang-keun Sung 한국식품과학회 2003 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.12 No.4

Novel DNAH1 Mutation Loci Lead to Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of the Sperm Flagella and Literature Review

Zhuang Bao-Jun,Xu Su-Yun,Dong Liang,Zhang Pei-Hai,Zhuang Bao-Lin,Huang Xiao-Peng,Li Guang-Sen,You Yao-Dong,Chen Di'Ang,Yu Xu-Jun,Chang De-Gui 대한남성과학회 2022 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.40 No.4

The protein encoded by dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 (DNAH1) is a part of dynein, which regulates the function of cilia and sperm flagella. The mutant of DNAH1 causes the deletion of inner dynein arm 3 in the flagellum, leading to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and severe asthenozoospermia. However, instead of asthenozoospermia and MMAF, the result caused by the mutation of DNAH1 remains unknown. Here we report a male infertility patient with severe asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. We found two heterozygous mutations in DNAH1 (c.6912C>A and c.7076G>T) and which were reported to be associated with MMAF for the first time. We next collected and analyzed 65 cases of DNAH1 mutation and found that the proportion of short flagella is the largest, while the bent flagella account for the smallest, and the incidence of head deformity is not high in the sperm of these patients. Finally, we also analyzed 31 DNAH1 mutation patients who were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and achieved beneficial outcomes. We hope our research will be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility caused by DNAH1 mutation.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Contemporary Chinese College Students’ ‘Empty Heart Disease’: Based on the Theory and Practice of Philosophical Counseling and Therapy

Xiao-Jun Ding,Feng Yu,Liying Xu 강원대학교 인문과학연구소 2019 Journal of Humanities Therapy Vol.10 No.1

In their daily lives, with varying degrees, many Chinese college students are stuck in the predicaments of lacking life meanings and values. They have a strong sense of loneliness and meaninglessness, not knowing what they are living for. If such ethical predicaments are not solved efficiently and timely, then they 1may result in very serious psychological, mental or even physical problems. In fact, the so-called ‘empty heart disease’ (空心病) is not a kind of psychological or mental disease, but rather a ‘perplexity’ in mind which is very commonly seen during the growth of the youth. Based on the philosophical theories and methods, the trained philosophical workers can provide suggestions and guidances towards people’s concrete problems and situations, so that people can obtain larger space and also better capacity of thinking; by doing so, the perplexities that trouble the people will thus be hopefully solved, achieving the purpose of ‘disambiguation’. In the philosophical counselors’ opinions, it is the human beings themselves that give meanings to their lives. Therefore, to solve the ‘empty heart disease’ problem, we can not depend on just preaching or inculcating externally; rather, we should encourage and inspire the college students to reflect on the purposes of their lives and their self-identities, so that they can afterwards recreate and develop their values and senses of meanings. Finally, the differences of ‘empty heart disease’, ‘noogenic neurosis’ and ‘existential neurosis’ are discussed in this paper, while an analysis of the boundaries between the need for psychotherapy and the need for philosophical counseling in relation to the three ‘diseases’ is also made.

Effect of SiCp size on wear behavior of SiCp/Cu matrix composite

Xiao-Jing Xu,Seock-Sam Kim,Young-Jun Jang,Dong-Woo Shin 한국트라이볼로지학회 2004 한국트라이볼로지학회 학술대회 Vol.38 No.-

SiC particulate reinforced copper (SiCp/Cu) matrix composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy, using SiCp of various grit sizes (a nominal diameter of 30㎚, 130㎚ and 14㎛, respectively) and micron Cu as the raw materials. The resulting composites specimens were hot extruded to get rid of the possible void and increase compactness. The friction and wear behaviors of various SiCp reinforced SiCp/Cu matrix composites sliding against a AISI5140 steel under the lubrication of 20<SUP>#</SUP> machinery oil were investigated on an MM-200 friction and wear tester in a block-on-ring configuration, using a pure copper fabricated by the above same manufacture method and a commercial bronze alloy (6.5-0.4 bronze) as a control. The microstructures and worn surface morphologies of the SiCp/Cu composites and the counterpart AISI5140 steel was observed on a scanning electron microscopy, while the elemental compositions on the worn surfaces of various SiCp/Cu matrix composites were determined by means of energy dispersive spectroscopy. As the results, the incorporation of the SiCp of various grit sizes contributed to increase the wear-resistance of the Cu-matrix materials considerably. The SiCp/Cu matrix composite reinforced with the SiCp of larger grit size showed better wear-resistance than that reinforced with the SiCp of smaller grit sizes. However, the SiCp/Cu matrix composite reinforced with larger SiCp lead to a more severe scuffing to the counterpart steel surface, which was characterized by more severe transfer and adhesion of the counterpart steel wear debris onto the SiCp/Cu matrix composites worn surface. Therefore, in terms of the comprehensive wear-resistance of the frictional pair, it was suggested to select the SiCp/Cu matrix composite reinforced with the SiCp size of 130㎚ to mate the AISI5140 steel.