线粒体功能相关的抗衰老天然产物活性分子

近年来,衰老分子生物学及衰老药物学的研究取得了长足进展,寻找能延缓衰老的活性小分子物质正成为衰老研究领域的重点及热点。一方面,多种天然产物特别是传统中药对疾病防治及人体健康有重大益处,天然产物活性小分子在延缓衰老方面的作用引起了业内的极大关注。另一方面,线粒体功能在衰老调控中的重要性正被广泛重视和认可。本文综述了近年被报道的靶向线粒体功能的主要抗衰老天然产物(包括单一组分和提取物),可为进一步开发利用天然产物提供理论基础和研发方向。     

土壤可溶性有机氮研究进展

可溶性有机氮(SON)和无机氮是陆地生态系统氮循环过程中重要的氮素形态,互为“源”和“汇”。陆地生态系统中氮素和其他营养元素的矿化、固持、淋溶和植物吸收均与SON有密切的联系。SON在土壤物质循环和养分流动等动态过程中的作用越来越受到关注,已成为生态学、环境学、土壤学、水文学等研究领域的热点之一。本文综述了国内外对土壤SON的研究进展,包括SON的定义和测定、SON库容大小和组成、植物和微生物对SON的吸收利用、SON来源及其影响因素、SON在土壤中的转化运移和淋失等。综合国内外研究结果发现,土壤SON是一个复杂的多组分可溶性有机物的混合物,主要为难降解的物质(惰性成分),能快速矿化分解的物质(活性成分)占比较低。由于惰性成分和活性成分在周转速率上的差异,SON在生态系统氮循环中的地位不能完全通过SON的容量特征来反映。因此,为了更准确地反映SON在氮周转、氮吸收和氮流失中的作用,未来需要创新研究方法并对SON组分加以区分:研究SON在氮转化和氮吸收中的作用时,重点关注SON中的活性成分;研究SON在氮淋溶径流损失中的贡献时,则重点关注SON中的惰性成分。     

防御素在免疫中的作用

哺乳动物的防御素是在体内形成的一种小分子杭菌性阳离子肽,是天然免疫中的一种类似抗生素的效应物质。防御素利用树突细胞和T细胞上的趋化因子受体,在微生物侵入后的获得性免疫调节上超重要作用。它也有一定的免疫佐剂活性。本文叙述了各种具有抗菌活性的防御素或抗菌肽的各项免疫活性。     

天然小分子诱生机体抗病毒细胞因子研究

天然小分子是中药、药用植物和天然药物的重要活性成分,是重要的药物资源研究方向和内容。大多数抗病毒药用植物,如夏枯草、黄芪和黄芩等,其活性成分均为天然小分子。抗病毒细胞因子为一类生物体中具有联系机体固有免疫和特异性免疫应答,捕杀或抑制体内病毒的小分子功能蛋白。近年来研究表明,植物中的多酚类、苷类以及寡糖等小分子化合物可调控机体内源抗病毒细胞因子的表达水平,继而作用于各类DNA或RNA病毒:一方面刺激机体产生抗病毒蛋白,直接捕杀病毒;另一方面联动机体固有免疫和获得性免疫应答,抑制病毒复制,抗病毒感染,清除被病毒感染的细胞。本文综述了近几十年药用植物天然小分子诱生机体细胞因子抗病毒的作用及机制研究,并由此提出这类活性天然小分子将可能成为新一类的抗病毒药物。     

药用真菌抗肿瘤活性成分研究进展

通过查阅、分析和整理国内外药用真菌抗肿瘤作用的相关文献,并对近年来药用真菌中的多糖、蛋白质和一些小分子活性物质的抗肿瘤作用及其机制进行了综述。药用真菌的抗肿瘤活性成分种类繁多,结构各异,研究开发具有高效低毒且资源充分的抗肿瘤菌物药有着良好的药用前景。     

基于金属配合物的生物小分子发光探针研究进展

生物体内存在各种内源性活性物质,帮助生物进行信号传递与代谢调控。正常条件下,细胞环境不断变化,内源性小分子的时 空分布在生物体内保持动态平衡。但当它们的种类和浓度超过生理过程所需的限定范围时,就会影响细胞活性,进而导致疾病,甚至 是肿瘤和癌症的发生。因此,这些活性物质在体内活动的实时追踪及可视化对人们理解生命现象、研究疾病发生机制十分重要。与传 统有机染料相比,金属配合物发光(荧光/磷光)探针因光稳定性好、生理功能易调控等优势,已成为生物体系小分子活性物质示踪和 成像的研究热点。依照不同的作用靶点,对应用于生物体系的金属配合物探针的最新进展进行分类和总结,并展望金属配合物在生物 成像中的未来应用,以期可以为人们继续设计出新的具有良好示踪成像性能金属配合物探针提供参考,并从分子水平理解探针作用及 癌症治疗的机制。     

新古尼异虫草石油醚提取物的成分分析

【背景】新古尼异虫草具有多种药理作用,是一种具有开发潜力的新资源。但该虫草仍有很多活性物质值得探寻,目前对该虫草活性物质的研究多集中于大分子或极性物质,对小分子或弱极性物质的研究关注甚少。【目的】研究新古尼异虫草石油醚提取物中非极性/弱极性小分子化合物,以期完善该虫草中活性物质的化学指纹图谱库。【方法】利用石油醚对新古尼异虫草进行索氏提取,借助傅里叶变换红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,FTIR)和气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用技术鉴定分析石油醚萃取物中的物质组成。【结果】FTIR表明该虫草石油醚萃取物中含有C-H、C=O、C-O和C=C等官能团,经GC-MS进一步分析鉴定出109种化合物,主要包括烷烃、芳烃、烯烃、酸、酯、醇、胺等化合物,且首次检出甾类、芳烃类、烷烃类、酰胺类、烯烃类和酚类非极性/弱极性的小分子化合物,其中亚油酸及其同分异构体的相对含量最高(38.33%)。【结论】从新古尼异虫草中提取得到多种小分子活性成分,补充了该虫草中的物质组成,为其高附加值利用提供数据支撑。     

小分子RNA在植物叶发育中的调控作用

叶发育是叶原基细胞有序的分裂、生长和分化的过程,受到植物激素和多个转录因子的严格调控.近年的研究表明,在叶片发育的过程中,小分子RNA是基因调控网络的重要组分.小分子RNA通过对其中一些转录因子的抑制作用,影响其表达水平和空间分布,维持叶的正常发育.本综述介绍了小分子RNA及其靶基因调控模块在叶片发生、 叶片形状、叶子极性发育和叶子衰老等过程中的调控作用,并展望了未来研究中新方向.     

活性氮自由基:脑缺血再灌注损伤过程中引起血脑屏障破坏及调节神经修复的双刃剑(英文)

在脑缺血再灌注损伤中,自由基发挥着重要作用。脑缺血及再灌注可产生大量的自由基,随着这些自由基的聚集,会引发一系列的分子级联反应,从而增加血脑屏障的通透性,诱发脑水肿、出血、炎症反应及细胞死亡。以一氧化氮(NO)及过氧亚硝基阴离子(ONOO-)为代表的活性氮(reactive nitrogen species,RNS),是自由基的重要组成部分,它们在脑缺血再灌注损伤中作用显著。一方面,活性氮能激活基质金属蛋白酶(MMPs),破坏血脑屏障。MMPs作为一大类含2价锌离子的水解酶,其激活可以降解脑血管及神经元细胞外基质。脑缺血再灌注损伤产生NO和ONOO-,它们均可以通过激活MMPs,降解紧密连接蛋白,从而破坏血脑屏障。另一方面,近期研究发现,活性氮也参与了脑缺血后神经再生及修复的调节过程。因此,了解这些活性小分子在血脑屏障破坏及神经再生中的复杂生物活性将很有意义。小窝蛋白1(Caveolin-1)就是活性氮自由基的重要靶分子,它是一种细胞表面的穴样内陷(caveolae)中的膜蛋白,可以通过抑制MMPs的激活保护血脑屏障的完整性。下调Caveolin-1的表达将引起血脑屏障的破坏。脑缺血所产生的NO能下调Caveolin-1的表达,而Caveolin-1的下调,能引起NO合酶的增加,促进生成更多的NO。活性氮与Caveolin-1互相作用,形成了一个反馈回路,通过激活MMPs而造成血脑屏障的不断破坏。此外,Caveolin-1通过调节不同的信号通路,抑制神经干细胞的增长及向神经元分化。因此,活性氮也很可能通过调节Caveolin-1及其他信号通路调控神经再生。在这篇文章中,我们对活性氮在血脑屏障及神经再生中的近期研究进展进行了综述。我们认为,活性氮可能在脑缺血再灌注中起双重作用,既是细胞毒性分子,亦可能是神经再生中的重要信号分子,其作用与其在神经元、内皮细胞及其微环境中产生的量有重要的关系。     

生物活性多糖的神经保护及对阿尔茨海默病的防治作用研究进展

阿尔茨海默病(AD)是一种中枢神经系统的退行性疾病,其发病机制复杂,目前临床尚未有能彻底治愈的有效药物。近年来研究发现,多糖具有广泛的生物活性,其中,多糖展现出的神经保护作用对AD的防治也显示出了一定积极的作用。本文综述了目前正在研究的不同来源的多糖类活性物质的神经保护作用机制及其在AD防治中的研究基础和应用,为筛选对AD防治有积极意义的活性物质提供有效信息。     

Bordetella bronchiseptica responses to physiological reactive nitrogen and oxygen stresses

Bordetella bronchiseptica can establish prolonged airway infection consistent with a highly developed ability to evade mammalian host immune responses. Upon initial interaction with the host upper respiratory tract mucosa, B. bronchiseptica are subjected to antimicrobial reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), effector molecules of the innate immune system. However, the responses of B. bronchiseptica to redox species at physiologically relevant concentrations (nM-microM) have not been investigated. Using predicted physiological concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on low numbers of CFU of B. bronchiseptica, all redox active species displayed dose-dependent antimicrobial activity. Susceptibility to individual redox active species was significantly increased upon introduction of a second species at subantimicrobial concentrations. An increased bacteriostatic activity of NO was observed relative to H2O2. The understanding of Bordetella responses to physiologically relevant levels of exogenous RNS and ROS will aid in defining the role of endogenous production of these molecules in host innate immunity against Bordetella and other respiratory pathogens.     

Determination of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in rat aorta using the dichlorofluorescein assay

A method for the determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in macroscopic sections of vessels has been developed on the basis of the dichlorofluorescein (DCF) assay. DCF was measured by fluorescence in extracts of vessels. The main artifact of the method is the oxidation of dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH₂) which is released from vessels together with DCF during the extraction procedure. This problem was resolved by decreasing pH during the extraction. The optimal conditions and the time for aorta incubation with DCFH₂-DA and for the extraction of DCF from aorta have been determined. The ROS/RNS production in different aorta segments and the dependence of ROS/RNS production on rat age have been studied. It was shown that thoracic aorta sections produced the same amounts of ROS/RNS and the intermediate between the thoracic and the abdominal aorta part produced ROS and RNS by 14% more than the thoracic aorta. It was found that ROS/RNS production in aorta increases with rat age: the doubling time of ROS/RNS production rate is 113 days from birth.     

活性氮、活性氧及植物激素在种子休眠解除中的作用及相互关系研究进展

休眠是植物种子对环境变化的适应机制,其机理至今未完全清楚阐明。前期对种子休眠机制的研究主要集中在激素调节上,近期的研究结果表明,一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）参与打破种子的休眠,并与其所引起的种子中活性氧的变化有关。本文简要综述活性氮（reactive nitrogen species,RNS）、活性氧（reactive oxygen species,R0s）和植物激素在种子休眠解除中的作用及相互关系研究进展。     

Unravelling how plants benefit from ROS and NO reactions,while resisting oxidative stress

Background and Aims Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO), play crucial roles in the signal transduction pathways that regulate plant growth, development and defence responses, providing a nexus of reduction/oxidation (redox) control that impacts on nearly every aspect of plant biology. Here we summarize current knowledge and concepts that lay the foundations of a new vision for ROS/RNS functions – particularly through signalling hubs – for the next decade.Scope Plants have mastered the art of redox control using ROS and RNS as secondary messengers to regulate a diverse range of protein functions through redox-based, post-translational modifications that act as regulators of molecular master-switches. Much current focus concerns the impact of this regulation on local and systemic signalling pathways, as well as understanding how such reactive molecules can be effectively used in the control of plant growth and stress responses.Conclusions The spectre of oxidative stress still overshadows much of our current philosophy and understanding of ROS and RNS functions. While many questions remain to be addressed – for example regarding inter-organellar regulation and communication, the control of hypoxia and how ROS/RNS signalling is used in plant cells, not only to trigger acclimation responses but also to create molecular memories of stress – it is clear that ROS and RNS function as vital signals of living cells.     

Hypothesis: the role of reactive sulfur species in oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance in the metabolism of redox-active species promoting the formation of oxidizing agents. At present, these species are thought to include reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen, and reactive nitrogen oxygen species (ROS, RNS, and RNOS, respectively). Reactive species have their origin in enzymatic synthesis, environmental induction, or by the further chemical reaction of an active species with other endogenous molecules to generate a second-generation reactive species. These second-generation species possess a different spectrum of activity to the parent species, with different redox reactions and biological targets. We now propose that an additional group of redox active molecules termed "reactive sulfur species" (RSS) are formed in vivo under conditions of oxidative stress. RSS are likely to include disulfide-S-oxides, sulfenic acids, and thiyl radicals, and are predicted to modulate the redox status of biological thiols and disulfides.     

Measurements in vivo of parameters pertinent to ROS/RNS using EPR spectroscopy

The technique of in vivo EPR spectroscopy can provide useful and even unique information pertinent to the study of oxygen/nitrogen radicals and related processes. The parameters that can be measured include: (a) Oxygen centered radicals (by spin trapping); (b) carbon centered radicals (by spin trapping and sometimes by direct observation); (c) sulfur centered radicals (by spin trapping and sometimes by direct observation); (d) nitric oxide (by spin trapping); (e) oxygen (using oxygen sensitive paramagnetic materials); (f) redox state (using metabolism of nitroxides); (g) thiol groups (using special nitroxides); (h) pH (using special nitroxides); (h) perfusion (using washout of paramagnetic tracers); (i) some redox active metal ions (chromium, manganese). The current state of the art for these and other measurements is discussed, especially in relationship to experiments that are likely to be useful for studies of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or reactive nitrogen species (RNS).     

Redox active calcium ion channels and cell death

Calcium plays a key role in both apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Emptying of intracellular calcium stores and/or alteration in intracellular calcium levels can modulate cell death in almost all cell types. These calcium fluxes are determined by the activity of membrane channels normally under tight control. The channels may be ligand activated or voltage dependent as well as being under the control of affector molecules such as calmodulin. It has become increasingly apparent that many calcium channels are affected by reactive oxygen or reactive nitrogen species; ROS/RNS. This may be part of the normal signaling pathways in the cell or by the action of exogenously generated ROS or RNS often by toxins. This review covers the recent literature on the activity of these redox active channels as related to cell death.     

Redox signaling

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) have recently been shown to be involved in a multiplicity of physiological responses through modulation of signaling pathways. Some of the specific signaling components altered by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) have begun to be identified. We will discuss RONS signaling by detailing the chemistry of signaling, the roles of antioxidant enzymes as signaling components, thiol chemistry in the specificity of RONS signaling, NO-heme interactions, and some do's and don'ts of redox signal research. The principal points raised are that: (1) as with classic signaling pathways, signaling by RONS is regulated; (2) antioxidant enzymes are essential 'turn-off' components in signaling; (3) spatial relationships are probably more important in RONS signaling than the overall 'redox state' of the cell; (4) deprotonation of cysteines to form the thiolate, which can react with RONS, occurs in specific protein sites providing specificity in signaling; (5) although multiple chemical mechanisms exist for producing nitrosothiols, their formation in vivo remains unclear; and (6) caution should be taken in the use of 'antioxidants' in signal transduction.     

Peroxisomes sense and respond to environmental cues by regulating ROS and RNS signalling networks

Background Peroxisomes are highly dynamic, metabolically active organelles that used to be regarded as a sink for H₂O₂ generated in different organelles. However, peroxisomes are now considered to have a more complex function, containing different metabolic pathways, and they are an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Over-accumulation of ROS and RNS can give rise oxidative and nitrosative stress, but when produced at low concentrations they can act as signalling molecules.Scope This review focuses on the production of ROS and RNS in peroxisomes and their regulation by antioxidants. ROS production is associated with metabolic pathways such as photorespiration and fatty acid β-oxidation, and disturbances in any of these processes can be perceived by the cell as an alarm that triggers defence responses. Genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that photorespiratory H₂O₂ can affect nuclear gene expression, regulating the response to pathogen infection and light intensity. Proteomic studies have shown that peroxisomal proteins are targets for oxidative modification, S-nitrosylation and nitration and have highlighted the importance of these modifications in regulating peroxisomal metabolism and signalling networks. The morphology, size, number and speed of movement of peroxisomes can also change in response to oxidative stress, meaning that an ROS/redox receptor is required. Information available on the production and detection of NO/RNS in peroxisomes is more limited. Peroxisomal homeostasis is critical for maintaining the cellular redox balance and is regulated by ROS, peroxisomal proteases and autophagic processes.Conclusions Peroxisomes play a key role in many aspects of plant development and acclimation to stress conditions. These organelles can sense ROS/redox changes in the cell and thus trigger rapid and specific responses to environmental cues involving changes in peroxisomal dynamics as well as ROS- and NO-dependent signalling networks, although the mechanisms involved have not yet been established. Peroxisomes can therefore be regarded as a highly important decision-making platform in the cell, where ROS and RNS play a determining role.