ABSTRACT
RNA interference (RNAi) that is triggered by small or short RNAs has shown enormous potential in the development of pest control strategies. Two microRNAs (miRNAs), Csu-novel-260 and Csu-miR-14, were used in insect-resistant genetically engineered (IRGE) rice lines to confer resistance to Chilo suppressalis. However, a risk assessment of RNAi-based products is essential to determine the safety of a biopesticide or IRGE crop for commercialization. The non-target organism Folsomia candida, which plays an important ecological role as a soil decomposer in agricultural ecosystems, was used to assess the risk of miRNAs Csu-novel-260 and Csu-miR-14. In this study, a dietary miRNA toxicity assay system was established in F. candida. The expression levels of target genes, survival rate, fecundity and body size were investigated to evaluate the effects of the miRNAs on F. candida under the worst-case scenario. The results showed that the dietary miRNA toxicity assay system could be used for risk assessment of miRNA in F. candida. The target genes of miRNAs were influenced by miRNA at some time points. However, no significant differences were observed in the life-table parameters in F. candida fed with a diet containing miRNAs. The dietary effects of two miRNAs on F. candida are neutral.
ABSTRACT
Recently, 1,3-DAGs (1,3-diacylglycerols) have attracted considerable attention as healthy components of food, oil and pharmaceutical intermediates. Generally, 1,3-DAG is prepared by lipase-mediated catalysis in a solvent free system. However, the system's high reaction temperature (required to reach the reactants' melting point), high substrate concentration and high viscosity severely reduce the lipase's activity, selectivity and recycling efficiency. In this report, MjL (Mucor javanicus lipase) was found to have the best performance in the solvent-free synthesis of 1,3-DAGs of several common commercial lipases. By covalent binding to amino-group-activated NSM (nano-sized magnetite) particles and cross-linking to form an enzyme aggregate coat, MjL's specific activity increased 10-fold, and was able to be reused for 10 cycles with 90% residual activity at 55°C. 1,3-DAGs of lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid were prepared using the resulting immobilised enzyme, all with yields greater than 90%, and the reaction time was also greatly reduced.
