A hetero-core structured fiber optic pH sensor.

Novel spectroscopic sensor based on a hetero-core structured fiber optic is described in this paper. The hetero-core structured fiber optic consists of multi mode fibers and a short piece of single mode fiber which was inserted in the multi mode fibers. Phenol red and/or cresol red as pH sensitive dyes were immobilized on the surface of the hetero-core portion by using sol-gel method, and the pH change detection was performed by immersing the hetero-core portion into the solution. In the case that the cresol-red immobilized fiber was immersed in the alkaline and/or acidic solution, the peak wavelength of the propagating loss spectra were about 575 and 545 nm, respectively. These propagating loss spectra were similar to that of the absorbance spectra of the dye solution. In the propagating loss spectra of phenol-red immobilized fiber, these spectra were similar to that of the dye solution. The colorimetric change of the dye in the support matrix was reversible, and the response time of the sensor was within 30 s.

Effects of nonylphenol and triclosan on production of plasma vitellogenin and testosterone in male South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis).

We investigated the effects of nonylphenol (NP) and triclosan (TCS) on production of vitellogenin (Vg), testosterone (T), and hepatic cytochrome P450 1A and 2B activities in male South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). In a 14-d waterborne exposure test, no significant differences in the level of plasma Vg synthesis in male frogs were observed among the control, 10, 50, and 100 microg/l NP and 20, 100, and 200 microg/l TCS treatment groups. Intraperitoneal injection of male frogs with 2, 20, and 200 microg/g body weight NP resulted in no significant differences in plasma Vg levels among the control and all treatment groups. However, the levels of plasma Vg in all TCS treatment groups (intraperitoneal injection of 4, 40, and 400 microg/g body weight) were lower than that in the solvent control group, and male frogs injected with high doses of NP or TCS had lower T levels than the control group. No significant differences in hepatic cytochrome P450 1A and 2B activities were observed among the all treatment groups. Male frogs injected with 20 microg/g body weight of estradiol-17beta had significantly higher plasma Vg levels than the control group. These results suggest that profiles of plasma Vg and T production in male Xenopus laevis could be useful biomarkers for detecting hormonally active agents.

An oxidized nucleotide affects DNA replication through activation of protein kinases in Xenopus egg lysates.

To elucidate the response to oxidative stress in eukaryotic cells, the effect of an oxidized nucleotide, 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP), generated from dGTP with an active oxygen, on DNA synthesis was studied using a cell-free DNA replication system derived from Xenopus egg lysates with a single-stranded DNA template. Amounts of newly synthesized DNA were reduced according to the increasing concentration of 8-oxo-dGTP. Pulse labeling analysis revealed that 8-oxo-dGTP could delay DNA synthesis by reducing the rate of chain elongation. This delay was recovered by addition of a protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine or bisindolylmaleimide I. These results indicate that a staurosporine- or bisindolylmaleimide I-sensitive protein kinase, such as a protein kinase C family member, may contribute to the delay of DNA synthesis by 8-oxo-dGTP. UV-irradiated single-stranded DNA also caused a delay of DNA synthesis on the undamaged template in the lysates. However, this delay was not recovered by staurosporine or bisindolylmaleimide I. Therefore, the mechanism of delay of DNA synthesis by 8-oxo-dGTP may be different from that by UV lesions. This is the first report that demonstrates an effect of an oxidized nucleotide on DNA replication in eukaryotes.