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W Q Sun

Publications and source records attributed to W Q Sun.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Biological denitration of propylene glycol dinitrate by Bacillus sp. ATCC 51912.

In previous studies, bacterial cultures were isolated that had the ability to degrade the nitrate ester glyceryl trinitrate (i.e., nitroglycerin). The goal of the present study was to examine the ability of resting cells and cell-free extracts of the isolate Bacillus sp. ATCC 51912 to degrade the more recalcitrant nitrate ester propylene glycol dinitrate (PGDN). It was observed that the PGDN-denitrating activity was expressed during growth even when cells were cultured in the absence of nitrate esters. This indicates that nitrate esters are not required for expression of denitration activity. Using cell-free extracts, PGDN was observed to be sequentially denitrated to propylene glycol mononitrate (PGMN) and propylene glycol with the second denitration step proceeding more slowly than the first. Also it was observed that dialysis of the cell-free extracts did not affect denitration activity indicating that regenerable cofactors [e.g., NAD(P)H or ATP] are not required for denitration.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1996

Stability of dry liposomes in sugar glasses.

Sugars, particularly trehalose and sucrose, are used to stabilize liposomes during hydration (freeze-drying and air-drying). As a result, dry liposomes are trapped in a sugar glass, a supersaturated and thermodynamically unstable solid solution. We investigated the effects of the glassy state on liposome fusion and solute retention in the dry state. Solute leakage from dry liposomes was extremely slow at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (Tg); however, it increased exponentially as temperature increased to near or above the Tg, indicating that the glassy state had to be maintained for dry liposomes to retain trapped solutes. The leakage of solutes from dry liposomes followed the law of first-order kinetics and was correlated linearly with liposome fusion. The kinetics of solute leakage showed an excellent fit with the Arrhenius equation at temperatures both above and below the Tg, with a transitional break near the Tg. The activation energy of solute leakage was 1320 kJ/mol at temperatures above the Tg, but increased to 1991 kJ/mol at temperatures below the Tg. The stabilization effect of sugar glass on dry liposomes may be associated with the elevated energy barrier for liposome fusion and the physical separation of dry liposomes in the glassy state. The half-life of solute retention in dry liposomes may be prolonged by storing dry liposomes at temperatures below the Tg and by increasing the Tg of the dry liposome preparation.

Biophysical Phenomena↗
PubMed1995

Denitration of glycerol trinitrate by resting cells and cell extracts of Bacillus thuringiensis/cereus and Enterobacter agglomerans.

A number of microorganisms were selected from soil and sediment samples which were known to have been previously exposed to nitrate ester contaminants. The two most effective bacteria for transforming glycerol trinitrate (GTN) were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis/cereus and Enterobacter agglomerans. For both isolates, denitration activities were expressed constitutively and GTN was not required for induction. Dialysis of cell extracts from both isolates did not affect denitration, which indicates that dissociable and depletable cofactors are not required for denitration. With thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, the denitration pathway for both isolates was shown to be a sequential denitration of GTN to glycerol dinitrate isomers, glycerol mononitrate isomers, and ultimately to glycerol. GTN was observed to be completely converted to glycerol during a long-term incubation of cell extracts.

Bacillus cereus↗
PubMed1990

Studies of the genotoxicity of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA).

The following experiments were conducted to evaluate the genotoxic effects of GMA (glycidyl methacrylate) on mammalian and human cells. (1) Using the absorption spectrum shift method in vitro, we observed that the maximums of calf thymus DNA and GMA were shifted toward longer wavelengths (a change of more than 15 nm) and the absorbance decreased after incubation at room temperature for 15 min or more. The result indicates that binding of DNA and GMA had occurred. The binding force is strong, not affected by the addition of concentrated sodium chloride solution, and only slightly decreased by the addition of 8 M urea solution. Therefore the bond between DNA and GMA might be covalent. (2) In cell cultures, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in human and/or rat lymphocyte was induced and DNA semiconservative replication was inhibited by GMA at concentrations of less than 5.2 mM. (3) Sperm abnormality tests and assays of UDS in germ cells of male mice were conducted to study the in vivo genotoxicity of GMA. The results revealed that GMA could damage DNA, increase sperm abnormality frequency, and reduce the number of sperm cells.

Animals↗