Study of the genus Torreya (Taxaceae) based on chloroplast genomes.

BACKGROUND: Species of the genus Torreya are similar in morphology, and their morphological taxonomic characteristics are not stable because of environmentally induced changes. Therefore, morphology is insufficient for understanding their relationships. Chloroplast genome sequencing technology provides a powerful tool for molecular analysis to get more infomation for classification and identification of Torreya genus. METHODS: A total of 4 chloroplast genome of Torreya, including T. Parvifolia, T. nucifera, T. fargesii var. Yunnanensis and T. grandis var. jiulongshanensis, were sequenced and annotated. Campartive genome and phylogenetic tree were provided for variation analysis. RESULTS: The chloroplast genome size of the four samples is about 137 kb, the inverted repeat (IR) regions are identified in the genus Torreya. Genome comparison using mVISTA showed high sequence similarity among different species. Regions with divergence in exon regions include accD, ndhB, ndhF, psbA, psbJ, rpl2, rps3, rps16, rps18, ycf1, and ycf2. The phylogenetic tree based on 73 single-copy genes showed a clearer relationships among different species of Torreya. CONCLUSIONS: All genomes of the four Torreya species consist of two short IR regions, and results of the phylogenetic analysis concluded that T. parvifolia should be considered as T. fargesii var. yunnanensis or treated as a sister species. T. grandis var. jiulongshanensis should be treated as a variety of T. grandis according to molecular evidence, supporting the originally published proposal.

Atranones from Stachybotrys chartarum and their antitumor activities in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells.

Two new atranones T and U (1 and 2), and three known analogues atranone B (3), atranone Q (4), and stachatranone C (5) were isolated from the toxigenic fungus Stachybotrys chartarum. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and calculated ECD analyses. The cytotoxicities of all the atranones (1-5) were evaluated against MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell lines. Compound 4 exhibited significant cytotoxic effect against MG-63 with IC50 value of 8.6 µM, being more active than the positive control, 5-FU (IC50 10.4 µM). Morphological features of apoptosis activities were evaluated in 4-treated MG-63 cells. Compound 4 effectively induced apoptosis of MG-63, which was associated with G0/G1-phase cell cycle arrest. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the treatment by 4 significantly induced MG-63 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Differentiation between wild and artificial cultivated Stephaniae tetrandrae radix using chromatographic and flow-injection mass spectrometric fingerprints with the aid of principal component analysis.

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and flow-injection mass spectrometric (FIMS) fingerprinting profiles were used to differentiate between wild and artificial cultivated Stephaniae tetrandrae Radix samples. HPLC and FIMS fingerprints of 15 wild S. tetrandrae Radix samples and 12 artificial cultivated S. tetrandrae Radix samples were obtained and analyzed with the aid of principal component analysis (PCA). PCA of the fingerprints showed that the chemical differences between wild and artificial cultivated S. tetrandrae Radix samples could be differentiated by either HPLC or FIMS fingerprints. The HPLC fingerprints provided more chemical information but required longer analytical time compared with FIMS fingerprints. This study indicated that the wild samples contained higher concentrations of almost all of the major compounds than the cultivated samples. Three characteristic compounds which were responsible for the differences between the samples were tentatively identified with the aid of MS data. Furthermore, these three compounds, tetrandrine (TET), fangchinoline (FAN), and cyclanoline (CYC), were quantified. The HPLC and FIMS fingerprints combined with PCA could be used for quality assessment of wild and artificial cultivated S. tetrandrae Radix samples.

A scale-down model of 4000-L cell culture process for inactivated foot-and-mouth disease vaccine production.

The anticipated increasing demand for inactivated foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease vaccine calls for its larger production capacity, while development of a large-scale process typically requires high running cost and has very limited experimental throughput at manufacturing scale. Thus, an economic scale-down model of representing a large-scale process becomes necessary and essential. In this study, we used a systematic approach to establish a scale-down model representing a 4000-L culture process for FMD vaccine production by suspension BHK-21 cells. In detail, we firstly compared hydrodynamic properties of three bioreactors (14-L, 800-L and 4000-L) under three different conditions (equivalent mixing time, equivalent shear stress and equivalent volumetric power). We figured out equivalent volumetric power (P/V) potentially as an appropriate scale-down strategy, since it resulted in comparable calculated hydrodynamic parameters among three bioreactors. Next, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to provide more details about hydrodynamic environments inside the bioreactors, which supports the reliability of this scale-down strategy. Finally, we compared cell growth, metabolites, vaccine productivity and product quality attributes during FMD vaccine production by BHK-21 cells and observed very close performances among three bioreactors, which once again demonstrates the robustness of this scale-down model. This scale-down strategy can be applied to study variations and critical quality attributes (CQAs) in the resultant production process based on quality by design (QbD) principles, aiming at further more efficient optimization of vaccine production.

Clematisguniuensis (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Eastern China.

Clematisguniuensis sp. nov., a new narrowly endemic species of Clematis, is described and illustrated from the Huangshan Mountains of Eastern China. A description of C.guniuensis is presented along with illustrations, photographs and diagnostic differences between the new species and its putative close allies.

Pentacene on Au(1 1 1), Ag(1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1): From physisorption to chemisorption.

We measured the electronic and the molecular surface structure of pentacene deposited on the (1 1 1)-surfaces of coinage metals by means of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Pentacene is almost flat-lying in monolayers on all three substrates and highly ordered on Au(1 1 1) and on Cu(1 1 1). On Ag(1 1 1), however, weak chemisorption leads to almost disordered monolayers, both, at room temperature and at 78 K. On Cu(1 1 1) pentacene is strongly chemisorbed and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital becomes observable in UPS by a charge transfer from the substrate. On Ag(1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1) multilayers adopt a tilted orientation and a high degree of crystallinity. On Au(1 1 1), most likely, also in multilayers the molecular short and long axes are parallel to the substrate, leading to a distinctively different electronic structure than on Ag(1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1). Overall, it could be demonstrated that the substrate not only determines the geometric and electronic characteristics of molecular monolayer films but also plays a crucial role for multilayer film growth.

[Analysis of Monosaccharide Compositions in Paeoniae Radix Alba Polysaccharide].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the monosaccharide composition and the molar ratio of Paeoniae Radix Alba polysaccharide(PYPS). METHODS: Pre-column derivation HPLC method was developed to determine the monosaccharide composition and the molar ratio of PYPS from Paeonia lactiflora root of different growth years and obtained by graded alcohol precipitation. RESULTS: The results of HPLC analysis showed that PYPS consisted of Man, Rha, Glc, Ara, Gal and Xyl with the molar ratio of 156.26 : 0.73 : 0.85 : 1.03 : 1.17 : 0.79. Glc molar ratio increased gradually with the increasing of growth years, while the other five monosaccharides decreased. CONCLUSION: Precolumn derivation HPLC method can be used to determine the monosaccharides in PYPS, molar ratio are differently in the different growth years and molecular weight of the PYPS, Glc is the main monosaccharide of PYPS.

[Quality assessment on schisandrae fructus from different habitats].

OBJECTIVE: To assay five lignans in Schisandrae Fructus collected from different habitats. METHODS: HPLC method was developed to assay Schizandrol A, Schizandrol B, Schisantherain A, deoxyschizandrin and gamma-schizandrin in Schisandrae Fructus. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were performed to evaluate and classify 30 batches of samples based on the contents of the five lignans using SOLO and SPSS 19.0 software. RESULTS: 30 batches of samples were divided into three groups, which reflecting their quality characteristics. CONCLUSION: PCA and HCA provide the basis for the classification and quality evaluation of Schisandrae Fructus. The content analysis provides reference for resources saving and rational using of Schisandrae Fructus.

HATCN-based charge recombination layers as effective interconnectors for tandem organic solar cells.

A comprehensive understanding of the energy-level alignment at the organic heterojunction interfaces is of paramount importance to optimize the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, the detailed electronic structures of organic interconnectors, consisting of cesium fluoride-doped 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile (HATCN), have been investigated via in situ photoemission spectroscopy, and their impact on the charge recombination process in tandem OSCs has been identified. The experimental determination shows that the HATCN interlayer plays a significant role in the interface energetics with a dramatic decrease in the reverse built-in potential for electrons and holes from stacked subcells, which is beneficial to the charge recombination between HATCN and the adjacent layer. In accordance with the energy-level alignments, the open-circuit voltage of tandem OSC incorporating a HATCN-based interconnector is almost 2 times that of a single-cell OSC, revealing the effectiveness of the HATCN-based interconnectors in tandem organic devices.

[Study on seed morphology of the section Cruciata Gaudin].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a scientific evidence for the identification of the section Cruciata Gaudin. METHODS: Seed morphology of the section Cruciata Gaudin in different regions from Gansu were studied by means of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The seeds of section Cruciata Gaudin had relative conformability in terms of shape,size and ornamentation. But the reticulate cell of Gentiana dahurica was obviously wider than those of other species. CONCLUSION: This study provides some useful information for classification and identification of section Cruciata Gaudin.

[Textual research and surveying on officinal varieties of rhizoma arisaematis].

Through textual research and surveying on officinal varieties of Rhizoma Arisaematis, we considered the following results. The name of Rhizoma Arisaematis is in ceaseless change and its original is in confusion in the development of bencaology history. The original plants as Rhizoma Arisaematis are from many species and have wide distribution. This review can provide important reference for exploitation and utilization of resources and further development of Rhizoma Arisaematis through the discussion of the state of its original plant, distribution and mainstream varieties in the current market.

[Determination of trace elements of Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea by microwave digestion-FAAS].

An acid-assisted microwave digestion procedure is optimized for the determination of trace elements in traditional Chinese medicine by the use of flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) techniques. Microwave-assisted digestion has the advantages of reduced time for sample dissolution, fewer possibilities for technical errors caused by spilling of hot digestion solutions, use of less chemicals, and lower losses of volatile metals. In addition, modern microwave ovens are safer and simpler and provide more controlled and reproducible conditions than hot plate or block digesters. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is more commonly applied techniques in the de termination of trace elements. The accurate measurement of trace elements concentrations in samples of traditional Chinese medicine is an important goal in research for medical effects of traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine the contents of the trace elements in Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea. In order to identify the accuracy of the procedure, the operating conditions was selected before the determination of trace elements. In order to gauge the effectiveness of digestion, the selection of digestion conditions of the technique was undertaken. The results showed HNO3-H2O2 (5 : 1) as a microwave digestion agent with suitable temperature and time was optimum choice in the digestion procedure. Analysis limits were also selected according to the low detection limits and the good precision. They were Fe(248.3 nm), Mn (279.5 nm), Ni (232.0 nm), Cu(324. 8 nm), Zn (2.139 nm), Ca (422.7 nm), Mg (285.2 nm) and Cr (357.9 nm), respectively. The working curves were obtained by using multi-elemental standard solutions and line relation was good. Under the selected conditions, the contents of trace elements Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg and Cr in Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea were directly determined using working curve methods. The relative standard deviations (RSD) and recovery of the method have been undertaken to obtain reliable results for trace element determinations. The recovery rates obtained by standard addition method were between 88.1%-114.5%, and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were lower than 3.12% after optimization of the operating conditions. These figures showed that the method gave good recoveries and accuracy. The analytical results indicated that there were comparatively rich elements in Gentiana macrophila and Gentiana straminea, such as Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn, especially the concentration of Ca and Mg. However, concentrations of Ni and Cr in Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea were very low, especially the concentration of Ni. The worse value obtained for Ni was probably due to its inhomogeneous distribution and very low concentration in Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea. In addition, a comparison of the contents of trace elements between Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea indicated that Gentiana macrophlla was rich in the trace elements such as Fe, Mn, Ni and Mg, and Gentiana straminea was rich in the trace elements such as Zn, Cu, Ca and Cr. The result will provide scientific datas for discussing the relationship between the contents of these elements in Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea and the medical effects. Furthermore, our study provides new scientific foundation for further study and general application of Gentiana macrophlla and Gentiana straminea.