M@C78 (M = U, Th): Inherent Topological Connectivity Existed in Thermodynamically Stable Isomers and the Possibility of an Endohedral Fullerene Containing One Heptagon Ring.

The density functional theory combined with statistical thermodynamic analyses of M@C78 (M = U and Th) demonstrated that four isomers, M@D3h(24109)-C78, M@C2v(24107)-C78, M@C1(22595)-C78, and M@C1(23349)-C78, and a nonclassical isomer, M@C1(id7)-C78, containing one heptagon ring possess outstanding thermodynamic stabilities in the two M@C78 series. Especially, the M@C1(id7)-C78 isomer is the first nonclassical C78 fullerene that can exist stably. Importantly, these five fullerene cages are found to be related in the form of Stone-Wales (SW) transformations. Geometric analyses disclosed that, unlike lanthanide metals, actinide metals are more likely to bond with sumanene-type hexagonal rings when they are encapsulated in IPR C78 cages. Frontier molecular orbital analysis showed that both U and Th atoms donate four electrons to the C78 carbon cages.

Physicochemical, functional and structural properties of the major protein fractions extracted from Cordyceps militaris fruit body.

The physicochemical and functional as well as structural properties of major protein fractions (albumin, globulin, glutelin) sequentially extracted in water, salt, alkaline solution respectively from Cordyceps militaris Minfu20 fruit body were investigated. The glutelin (43.11%, w/w) was the predominant protein component of C. militaris fruit body followed by albumin (36.47%) and globulin (17.94%). The three proteins extracted from different solvents showed different characteristics, which were related to the alternation of amino acid composition, surface hydrophobicity, and structural feature. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the albumin and globulin mainly consisted of polypeptides with size < 20 kDa. The glutelin showed serious staining on the lane which may have a relatively bigger molecular weight. Intrinsic fluorescence intensity (FI) suggested glutelin contained more unfolding conformations (highest FI) which were probably resulted in a better foaming capacity of 151% and emulsion formation with the smallest size oil droplets (10.410 µm). The protein fractions showed great nutritional quality since they satisfied all recommended essential amino acid allowances for adults of Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, Cordyceps militaris Minfu20 fruit body proteins have potential alternative renewable edible fungi (mushroom) protein and could be used effectively as a food ingredient to improve food nutrition and product diversification compared with plant proteins.

[Effect of diubiquitin gene silencing by small interfering RNA on proliferation and invasion of tongue carcinoma Tca8113 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of diubiquitin (FAT10) down-regulation by small interfering RNA-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) on the biological features of tongue carcinoma cell line Tca8113. METHODS: Tca8113 cells were transfected with synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting FAT10. Expression of FAT10 mRNA and protein were respectively measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, transfection efficiencies were monitored. The distribution of cell cycle phases was determined using flow cytometry. The proliferative and invasive ability of Tca8113 cells in vitro was evaluated by the colony-forming unit assay and Transwell migration assay respectively. RESULTS: Both FAT10 mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased in the experimental group (pU-FAT10-siRNA: mRAN 0.36 ± 0.03, Protein 0.39 ± 0.04) compared with controls ( CONTROL: mRNA 0.95 ± 0.05, Protein 0.69 ± 0.05; pU-siRNA: mRNA 0.92 ± 0.07, Protein 0.64 ± 0.05) (P < 0.05). The cell cycle was arrested in the G(1) phase [pU-FAT10-siRNA: (72.45 ± 5.81)%, CONTROL: (45.95 ± 3.80)%, pU-siRNA: (45.95 ± 3.80)%]. The proliferation and invasiveness of treated Tca8113 cells were inhibited in vitro (pU-FAT10-siRNA: 41.83 ± 8.19, CONTROL: 317.21 ± 69.48, pU-siRNA: 339.36 ± 73.84). CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of siRNA targeting FAT10 seems efficient in down-regulating FAT10 expression and diminishing the growth, proliferation and invasiveness of Tca8113 cells, suggesting that siRNA-based strategy targeting FAT10 may lay a foundation for the clinical management of tongue carcinoma.