植物的彩妝
我們的研究報告，是對校園中所種植的各種變葉木所做的一個研究，經過一連串的實驗證明後，我們確信花青素對變葉木的光合作用會有所影響。接著，我們測定出未氧化的植物色素與已氧化的植物色素吸光能力有很大的差異，我們假設花青素可以吸收某些特定波長的光以防止植物色素的氧化程度過強，實驗後證明我們的假設是正確的。另一方面，我們預期花青素具有保溫的機制，故設計了一個在低溫下花青素可保溫的實驗以證明之，結果和我們的假設相符合。我們預期花青素可利用保溫的特性降低植物因低溫所造成的傷害，減少農業上的損失。This study is about the Codiaeum variegatum which is grown on campus. After a series of experiments, it was proved that “anthocyanin” has a significant influence on the photosynthesis processing in Codiaeum variegatum. A great difference in the pigment of plant’s light-absorbing ability between the oxidized plants and the non-oxidized ones was also found in the experiments. Therefore, it was supposed that anthocyanin could absorb some special range of wavelength to avoid the pigment of plant to over-oxidize. The result of this experiment is in accordance with our supposition. In addition, we anticipated that anthocyanin has the ability to stay warm. By a designed experiment we successfully found that the result is exactly the same as our assumption. According to the findings of our study, we expect the characteristic -- ”staying warm” of anthocyanin could be applicable to decrease the harm to plants caused by the low temperature, and thereby to reduce the loss in agriculture.
基因突變對線蟲(Caenorhabdits elegans)之神經系統退化變異株的搜尋以及對其性??
This research is mainly in observation with Caenorhabditis elegans ’s genetic mutation caused via nervous system abnormal character. In the study, I the sample have been cultivated purified and add some chemical material EMS to speed up C.elegans mutation. Then based on the character to further analysis what causeof gene deal with mutation and observe the effects in heredity. The research has two stages, on the first stage of study the mainly target is to both search and purify the mutation of C.elegans. The second stage is based on the exploration of mutation’s searching andpurifying. Because the certain mutation bodies aren’t easy to find out, the project is still on progress at the beginning of second stage, and we conclude some heredity special cases in preliminary of study. 這個實驗主要是觀察並針對線蟲因為基因的突變所產生的神經系統異常的變異性狀，在實驗中我先將樣品線蟲培養並純化至一定數量，並加入適當藥劑EMS造成其突變，經篩選並分析此性狀，進而找出造成其突變之基因，以及觀察此性狀對遺傳表現所造成的影響。 該計畫分成兩階段，第一階段的實驗重點是在突變株的搜尋以及純化上，第二階段則是在突變基因的探討上，由於特定突變株的搜尋並非容易，所以目前計畫只進展至第二階段的遺傳實驗初期，對於其遺傳特徵與突變形式上已有了初步的分析，但尚未定位出該基因的位置。
Elucidating the functional diversity of BCH/SE C14 domains
BCH (Bnip-2 and Cdc42GAP homology) domains are a novel class of protein-interacting domains. First identified in BNIP2 and in Cdc42GAP, a GTPaseactivating-protein (GAP), canonical BCH domains play important and varied roles in the control of cell morphology and apoptosis induction, amongst others. However, this domain is currently classified under lipid-interacting sec14 domains due to low sequence identity (~20%). Given this intriguing similarity, the relationship between BCH and sec14 domains is worth further study. As BCH/sec14 domains are closely associated with cell signaling and human disease, characterization of these domains and the elucidation of their functional diversity could better aid our understanding of their cellular functions and disease pathogenesis.
Isolation and Expression of an Eoinephrine-Synfhesizing Enzyme (PNMT) from Entamoeba Parasites
Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite known to cause infectious colitis and amoebic dysentery in humans. Its life cycle consist of two parts: the infectious cyst stage and the multiplying trophozoite stage. Epinephrine, a neurotransmitter in vertebrates, is released by the trophozoites during the process of cyst formation. The addition of epinephrine to in vitro cultures of amoebas causes them to encyst, and addition of compounds that prevent epinephrine’s activity inhibits encystations. Therefore, epinephrine plays a critical role in encystation in vitro. An understanding of the molecular intricacies of epinephrine-induced encystations may allow for pharmacological manipulation of epinephrine metabolism to control cyst formation in vitro. Drugs that either prevent cyst formation or induce it before a large amoebic population is present would result in the release of fewer cyst forms of the parasite, reducing parasite transmission from person to person. Although trophozoites release epinephrine, it is no known if E.histolytica synthesizes epinephrine or extracts it from the growth medium. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase(PNMT) is the enzyme that catalyzes production of epinephrine norepinephrine. This study aims to determine the source of epinephrine by determining if E.histolytica contains a PNMT-type enzyme. PNMT amino acid sequences from several higher organisms were compared to identify conserved regions of the enzyme. These conserved amino acid sequences were then used to search for similar sequences in a database containing the recently sequenced amoeba genome. A PNMT-like gene was found in the E.histolytica database and cloned in bacteria. Yeast cells containing the cloned E.histolytica PNMT gene expressed PMT enzyme activity. This suggests that E.histolytica produces its own epinephrine, and is the most evolutionarily ancient eukaryote shown to do so. The use of inhibitors against PNMT activity is under investigation.
Stimuli-responsive Fullerene Grafted Polymers for Enhanced Drug Delivery Applications
The physiochemical properties of fullerenes have aroused wide interest, such as its ability to accept and lose electrons and relatively high reactivity that permit various modes of structural modifications. However, obstacles to further research include its complete lack of solubility in water and low processability.\r This project investigated the morphology and microstructure of a fullerene-grafted polymer as a potential candidate for better and novel systems for drug delivery. In this research, hydrophilic functionalities were introduced to the C60 fullerene by chemical modifications, through the attachment of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) chain. The objective was to investigate the dynamics and the self-assembly properties of this polymer in aqueous solutions, and the knowledge gained would enhance the development of such system for potential applications in drug delivery and nanotechnology.