The extract contains both proteins and cellulose and after processing is spun with linen, cotton, wool and other fibers, leading to high-grade fabrics. China Industrial Biotechnology Network, February 28, 2013
Group at CAS Kunming Institute of Botany solves biosynthetic pathway of vibralactone, a fused bicyclic beta-lactone and a pancreatic lipase inhibitor
The antibiotic is produced by Boreostereum vibrans, a patch fungus. The biosynthetic pathway was resolved using 13C-NMR tracer methods. CAS press release, February 28, 2013; Peiji Zhao et al., 2013, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201208182
No evidence for risk on eating genetically modified food: Director of Biotechnology Research Institute, CAAS
In a public statement, Professor LIN Min, Director of the institute at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Institute, endorsed safety evaluation of genetically modified food on grounds of management and communication needs (“Rumors spread faster than facts”) but rejected all claims on health risks. Science and Technology Daily, February 27, 2013
QIBEBT will construct „Qingdao Biomass Engineering Research Center“
CAS has already approved the construction, providing more opportunities for the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology to develop into a national hub. China Industrial Biotechnology Network, Feburary 27, 2013
Wuhan Huali Environmental Technology Co. will start production of 60.000 t/y of biocompostable resin by mid-2014
The products are termed PSM (Plastarch Material) and derived from a mixture of corn starch and propylene, with other additives. It is primarily a bio-based thermoplastic resin that, like conventional plastic, is water-and oil-proof. It has a high endurance for cold and heat. China Industrial Biotechnology Network, February 27, 2013
Team around Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, presents draft genome of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla)
Moso bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. Its shoots can grow 100 cm in a period of just 24 hours if conditions are favorable. The 2.05-Gb assembly covers 95% of the genomic region. Gene prediction modeling identified 31,987 genes. Bamboo can be used to make paper, as well as to build […]
In 2012, China spent 1,97 % of its GDP on R&D and had 24 million students in higher education.
According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, R&D expenditure was 1.024 trillion RMB, 18 % increase over 2011. Technology trade was 644 billion Yuan. And 486.000 students graduated from universities. Science and Technology Daily, February 24, 2013
Group at Shanghai Jiaotong University improves production of amphotericin, an antitumor antibiotic
The group of Prof LIN Shuangjun at the State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism of Jiaotong University in Shanghai reports that the biosynthetic gene cluster for amphotericin was cloned and partially characterized using a Streptomyces vili strain. Using genetic engineering techniques, yields were improved to 200 mg/L but goals are for 1 g/L within 2 […]
CAS Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology develops new genome-wide energy network model for E. coli
Professor SUN Xiao and colleagues constructed an E. coli weighted metabolic network by using the rates of free energy consumption within metabolic reactions as the network weights. Among their findings is that the distribution of the weight values is uneven. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0055137#s3
CAS Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precicion Mechanics develops new structural light microscope
The system is based on a digital mirror device and uses LED lighting SIM technology. Compared to laser interference SIM techniques, spatial resolution is higher (90 nm lateral resolution), imaging is faster and costs are lower, allowing for mouse neuron and plant pollen 3D light imaging. The system was developed in collaboration with Konstanz University. […]