AIM: To set up a method of inducing mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) to differentiate into cardiomyocyte after treatment with 5-azacytidine. METHODS: Cytotoxicity of 5-azacytidine was measured by MTT assay. Treatment of mESC with conditioned culture mediums, which were composed of 5-azacytidine alone or combined with retinoic acid, induced the cell differentiation to cardiomyocytes. The cells induced were identified by detecting the expression of cardiac proteins (myosin, desmin, ?-actin and ?-actinin). Gene MLC-2v, a specific gene of ventricular-like cardiomyocyte, was also detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The non-cytotoxic dose of 5-azacytidine was 8 ?mol/L, which was able to induce mESC to differentiate into cardiac syncytiums. Cells induced expressed many cardiac proteins and MLC-2v mRNA. However, combined with retinoic acid inhibited mESC differentiation into cardiomyocyte. CONCLUSION: 5-azacytidine is able to promote mESC differentiation into cardiomyocytes. A method of inducing mESC to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro has been established.

A bioprocess intensification strategy that combines both elicitation and in situ absorption was developed to improve the production of taxuyunnanine c (Tc) in cell suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis. When 100 micromol/L methyl jasmonate was added as an elicitor on Day 7, the Tc content and yield increased 3.6 and 3.3 times respectively, however the cell growth was reduced by 10%-30%. Significant improvement in Tc yield was observed when an absorbent XAD-7 was added on different time of the culture period. The optimum Tc yield was achieved when 100 g/L XAD-7 was added simultaneously with 100 micromol/L methyl jasmonate on Day 7. The maximum Tc yield of 477.4 mg/L was obtained on Day 21 of the culture, being 6.3-fold of the control and 1.9-fold of the 100 micromol/L methyl jasmonate treatment alone. In the combined treatment, 94% of the Tc produced was secreted outside of the cells and absorbed on XAD-7 absorbents. The results demonstrated that the process strategy combining elicitation and in situ absorption was effective to intensify the Tc biosynthesis via elicitation with the removal of product feedback inhibition via absorption, presenting a great potential in commercial applications.
Absorption ; Acetates ; pharmacology ; Acrylic Resins ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Polystyrenes ; pharmacology ; Taxoids ; metabolism ; Taxus ; cytology

The instability of secondary metabolite production is a ubiquitous problem in plant cell culture. In order to understand the instability in plant cell culture, we investigated anthocyanin accumulation in suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera, as a model system, in our laboratory. Not only the anthocyanin contents but also its composition exhibited instability along with the long-term subculture. New methods were developed to indicate the instability of plant cell culture. Both the definition of instability coefficient (delta) and the application of factor scores were the first time in this field. To examine the effects of culture conditions on instability of anthocyanin biosynthesis, different subculture cycles and inoculum sizes had been investigated. Subculture cycle and inoculum size were both environmental cues driving the instability. Compared with subculture cycle, inoculum size was more effective in working on the instability of anthocyanin accumulation. Among all the conditions investigated in our study, (6.5 d, 2.00 g), (7 d, 2.00 g), (7.5 d, 2.00 g), (7 d, 1.60 g) and (7 d, 2.40 g), the condition of 7 d-subculture cycle together with 1.60 g-inoculum size was the best one to keep the stable production of anthocyanins.
Anthocyanins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Time Factors ; Vitis ; growth & development ; metabolism

A bromoperoxidase from Gracilaria lemaneiformis was purified to homogeneity using a multi-step process of ammonium sulfate precipitation (AS), dialysis, and DEAE-cellulose 52 anion exchange chromatography. The bromoperoxidase activity was unstable or undetectable in crude extract solution. However, it became stable with electrophoretic purity after this multiple purification process. The anion exchange chromatography purification was a critical step in the purification process, which effectively eliminated the phycobiliprotein and smucilaginous polysaccharides. The purified bromoperoxidase was a monomeric enzyme with the relative molecular masses of 66 kD as determined by denaturing and native gradient gel electrophoresis. The optimal pH for bromoination was 6.0 and bromoperoxidase activity was stable as stored at a broad pH range of 3.0-9.0. Of a range of compounds tested, only vanadium enhanced bromoperoxidase activity. Kinetic studies for the bromination of monochlorodimedone (MCD) showed that the Km values of Br- and H2O2 are 53.5 micromol/L, 38 micromol/L respectively.
Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; methods ; Enzyme Stability ; Gracilaria ; enzymology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics ; Peroxidases ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

Sponges (Porifera) are the oldest living metazoan in the world, among which most of them (Demospongia) can produce silicic skeleton from orthosilicic acid in the seawater under the natural enVironmental conditions. These biosilicic materials exhibit good mechanical and optical properties as well as good biocompatibility. During the biosilicification process of sponges, a protein, named as silicatein, plays an important role and has attracted great attention from biologist, chemists and material scientists. This mini review highlights the discovery of silicateins and its function as both an enzymatic catalyst and an organic template for biosilicification. The studies since 1999 were briefly introduced on the application of silicatein as a biocatalyst and template for synthesis of silica-based and other inorganic materials. It is expected to stimulate the interests in the related researches in China.
Animals ; Biocatalysis ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cathepsins ; chemistry ; Porifera ; enzymology ; Silicon Dioxide ; metabolism