Synthesis of CdS hollow spheres coupled with g-C3N4 as efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts

CdS hollow spheres (CdS HS) coupled with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts are synthesized and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The effect of CdS content on CdS HS/g-C3N4 activity is investigated by  the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The sample of 20 wt% CdS content shows the best photocatalytic performance under visible-light irradiation, with the corresponding RhB degradation rate reaching 97.3%. The excellent photoactivity of CdS HS/g-C3N4 is attributed to the synergistic effect of g-C3N4 and CdS HS. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of the CdS HS/g-C3N4 composite is proposed and corroborated by PL.

Anode biofilm communities and the performance of microbial fuel cells with different reactor configurations

The performance of two types of microbial fuel cells was studied, and 454 pyrosequencing was utilized to survey the microbial community of the anode biofilms in different MFC reactors. A variation existed between the communities of the two anodes.

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of porous bismuth oxychloride hexagonal prisms

Porous BiOCl hexagonal prisms have been successfully prepared through a simple solvothermal route.

Synthesis and characterization of Ni doped SnO2 microspheres with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

Nickel-doped tin dioxide (NDT) microspheres were prepared and characterized. All the samples prepared with different Sn/Ni ratios showed higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure SnO₂ and pure NiO under visible light irradiation.

Adipose-specific knockout of SEIPIN/BSCL2 results in progressive lipodystrophy

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (BSCL2) is the most severe form of human lipodystrophy, characterized by an almost complete loss of adipose tissue and severe insulin resistance. BSCL2 is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the BSCL2/SEIPIN gene, which is upregulated during adipogenesis and abundantly expressed in the adipose tissue. The physiological function of SEIPIN in mature adipocytes, however, remains to be elucidated. Here, we generated adipose-specific Seipin knockout (ASKO) mice, which exhibit adipocyte hypertrophy with enlarged lipid droplets, reduced lipolysis, adipose tissue inflammation, progressive loss of white and brown adipose tissue, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis. Lipidomic and microarray analyses revealed accumulation/imbalance of lipid species, including ceramides, in ASKO adipose tissue as well as increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. Interestingly, the ASKO mice almost completely phenocopy the fat-specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Pparγ) knockout (FKO-γ) mice. Rosiglitazone treatment significantly improved a number of metabolic parameters of the ASKO mice, including insulin sensitivity. Our results therefore demonstrate a critical role of SEIPIN in maintaining lipid homeostasis and function of adipocytes and reveal an intimate relationship between SEIPIN and PPAR-γ.

Seipin promotes adipose tissue fat storage through the ER Ca²⁺-ATPase SERCA

Adipose tissue is central to the regulation of lipid metabolism. Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (BSCL2), one of the most severe lipodystrophy diseases, is caused by mutation of the Seipin gene. Seipin plays an important role in adipocyte differentiation and lipid homeostasis, but its exact molecular functions are still unknown. Here, we show that Seipin physically interacts with the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) in both Drosophila and man. SERCA, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium pump, is solely responsible for transporting cytosolic calcium into the ER lumen. Like dSeipin, dSERCA cell-autonomously promotes lipid storage in Drosophila fat cells. dSeipin affects dSERCA activity and modulates intracellular calcium homeostasis. Adipose tissue-specific knockdown of the ER-to-cytosol calcium release channel ryanodine receptor (RyR) partially restores fat storage in dSeipin mutants. Our results reveal that Seipin promotes adipose tissue fat storage by regulating intracellular calcium homeostasis.

Abstract 406: Adipose-Specific Deletion of SEIPIN/BSCL2 Results in Progressive Lipodystrophy

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (BSCL2) is the most severe form of human lipodystrophy, characterized by an almost complete loss of adipose tissue and severe insulin resistance. BSCL2 is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the BSCL2/SEIPIN gene, which is upregulated during adipogenesis and abundantly expressed in the adipose tissue. The physiological function of SEIPIN in mature adipocytes, however, remains to be elucidated. Here, we generated adipose-specific Seipin knock-out mice (ASKO mice), which exhibit adipocyte hypertrophy with enlarged lipid droplets, reduced lipolysis, adipose tissue inflammation, progressive loss of both white and brown adipose tissue, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Lipidomic and microarray analyses revealed accumulation/imbalance of lipid species including ceramides in ASKO adipose tissue, as well as increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. Interestingly, the ASKO mice almost completely phenocopy the fat-specific Pparγ knock-out mice. Rosiglitazone treatment significantly improved a number of metabolic parameters of the ASKO mice, including insulin sensitivity. Our results therefore demonstrate a critical role of SEIPIN in maintaining lipid homeostasis and the health of adipocytes, and reveal an intimate relationship between SEIPIN and PPARγ.

Comparison of Nitrosospira strains isolated from terrestrial environments

Most of our knowledge about the physiology of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria is based on experiments with Nitrosomonas europaea, which appears to be less ubiquitous than Nitrosospira. We have isolated Nitrosospiras from widely different environments and compared their specific growth rate, substrate affinity, urease activity, temperature response, pH tolerance and cell morphology. Two of the strains had a variable morphology: the spirals were less tightly coiled than the classical Nitrosospira type and a fraction of the culture had a vibrioid appearance. These vibrioid strains were also peculiar in having a much higher apparent activation energy for ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) (129 and 151 kJ mol(-1)) than that of the more classical Nitrosospiras (78 and 79 kJ mol(-1)). The differences in morphology and activation energy were congruent with the phylogeny of the genes for 16S rRNA (Utåker et al., System. Appl. Microbiol. 18) and AMO. The response to pH in the medium was investigated for four strains. The oxidation rate at the onset of the pH exposure experiment was found to obey classical steady state enzyme kinetics, assuming that NH(3) (not NH(4)(+)) is the rate-limiting substrate. The calculated half saturation constants (K(s)) for AMO were 6-11 µM NH(3). Growth had a narrower pH range than oxidation activity and appeared to be restricted by pH-dependent factors other than NH(3). All the isolated strains were urease positive, with a specific urease activity ranging from 60 to 158% of their specific AMO activity. The urease activity was unaffected by acetylene inhibition of the energy metabolism. The substrate affinity for one strain was found to be around 670 µM.

Nitrous oxide production and methane oxidation by different ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are thought to contribute significantly to N2O production and methane oxidation in soils. Most of our knowledge derives from experiments with Nitrosomonas europaea, which appears to be of minor importance in most soils compared to Nitrosospira spp. We have conducted a comparative study of levels of aerobic N2O production in six phylogenetically different Nitrosospira strains newly isolated from soils and in two N. europaea and Nitrosospira multiformis type strains. The fraction of oxidized ammonium released as N2O during aerobic growth was remarkably constant (0.07 to 0.1%) for all the Nitrosospira strains, irrespective of the substrate supply (urea versus ammonium), the pH, or substrate limitation. N. europaea and Nitrosospira multiformis released similar fractions of N2O when they were supplied with ample amounts of substrates, but the fractions rose sharply (to 1 to 5%) when they were restricted by a low pH or substrate limitation. Phosphate buffer (versus HEPES) doubled the N2O release for all types of AOB. No detectable oxidation of atmospheric methane was detected. Calculations based on detection limits as well as data in the literature on CH4 oxidation by AOB bacteria prove that none of the tested strains contribute significantly to the oxidation of atmospheric CH4 in soils.