虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-X的化学合成及其鉴定

应用芴甲氧羰基（Fmoc）固相方法化学合成了虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-X（huwentoxin-X，HWTX-X），并在含5mmol／LGSH和0．5mmol／LGSSG的0．1mol／L Tris-HCl溶液（pH8．0）中氧化复性：复性产物与天然多肽具有相同的分子质量，在反相HPLC上共洗脱，其一维核磁共振谱规则分散，表明合成多肽形成了3对二硫键和稳定的空间结构，并与天然多肽相同：此合成的多肽能专一性抑制大鼠背根神经节细胞上N-型电压敏感钙离子通道．其IC50约40nmol／L. HWTX-X的成功合成和鉴定为进一步研究HWTX-X的结构与功能关系、药理学性质以及新型镇痛药物研发奠定了基础．     

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-III及其天然突变体的纯化与鉴定(英文)

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III及其天然突变体是从虎纹捕鸟蛛粗毒中分离得到的两个毒素多肽。虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III含 33个氨基酸残基 ,其中包含 6个半胱氨酸残基 ;而其天然突变体只比虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III少了C端的色氨酸残基。MALDI TOF质谱测得虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III及其天然突变体的分子量分别为 385 3.35和 36 6 7.4 0。通过比较其理论分子量和质谱测定的分子量表明两个多肽的 6个半胱氨酸残基分别形成了三对二硫键。虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III与从同一种蜘蛛分离得到的凝集素 I具有 70 .5 %的序列相似性。生物学活性实验表明 ,虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III具有使美洲蜚蠊可逆的致瘫作用 ,其半有效剂量 (ED50 )为 (1 92 .95±1 2 0 .84 ) μg/g (P =0 .95 ) ,而且能加强由电刺激引起的大鼠输精管收缩 ;而其天然突变体却不具有上述生物学活性 ,表明C端色氨酸残基为虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III生物学活性相关残基 ;同时虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III及其天然突变体都不具有类似于凝集素 I对红细胞的凝集活性 ,表明虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III和凝集素 I两者氨基酸序列中不同氨基酸残基对于决定两者的生物学活性有着重要的作用     

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-Ⅰ-(HWTX-Ⅰ)28肽类似物的化学合成与活性鉴定

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-(huwentoxin-,HWTX-)是从我国虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素中分离纯化得到的一种多肽类神经毒素.该多肽分子由33个氨基酸残基组成,含三对二硫键.其一级结构和三级结构均已测定.弄清该毒素的活性部位,是研究其结构功能关系的基础.用固相Fmoc化学合成的方法,合成了虎纹捕鸟蛛-的28肽类似物.该突变体去掉了天然毒素分子N端的Alal和C端的Lys30-Trp31-Lys32-Leu33共5个残基.用氧化还原型谷胱甘肽法完成二硫键配对,并用HPLC进行纯化,所得突变体与天然HWTX-的紫外光谱相似.质谱鉴定确认合成产物正确,分子量为3124,浓度为1×10-5g/ml的突变体能可逆阻断小白鼠膈神经-膈肌的接头传递,阻断时间为60～70min.与天然毒素比较,活性有所下降.结果说明HWTX-的N端、C端残基对其生物活性有一定影响,但不是位于活性中心的重要残基.由结果推测,虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-的活性中心位于该分子中连接β-折叠的回环区     

两种虎纹捕鸟蛛昆虫毒素的分离纯化及生物学活性鉴定

结合离子交换和反相高效液相色谱从虎纹捕鸟蛛粗毒分离纯化到 2种虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 ,命名为虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅶ和虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅷ .经质谱测定这 2种毒素的分子量分别为 3981 0 2和 4 171 12 .氨基酸序列分析发现 ,这 2种虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素同源性非常高 ,只有 6个残基位点的不同 .虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅶ和虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅷ的生物学功能相似 ,都能对蝗虫起到麻痹作用 ;对小鼠的中枢神经作用高剂量能使小鼠产生致死 ,但低剂量虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅷ能使小鼠产生惊厥反应 ,而低剂量虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅶ不能使小鼠产生惊厥反应 ;这 2种毒素都能阻断小鼠离体膈神经膈肌的神经肌肉传递 ,且与虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 I混合后都具协同作用     

海南捕鸟蛛毒素-IV对大鼠背根神经节细胞钠通道的抑制影响(英文)

海南捕鸟蛛毒素 IV(HNTX IV)是从中国捕鸟蛛Seleconosmiahainana粗毒中分离得到的一种肽类神经毒素 ,在成年大鼠背根神经节 (DRG)细胞上观察了该毒素对电压门控钠通道的影响。在全细胞膜片钳条件下 ,HNTX IV能明显抑制哺乳动物神经性河豚毒敏感型 (TTX S)钠电流 ,但不影响河豚毒不敏感型 (TTX R)钠电流。HNTX IV对DRG细胞TTX S钠电流的抑制作用具有浓度依从性 ,其有效半抑制浓度 (IC50 )为 44 .6nmol/L。该毒素不影响DRG钠电流的激活与失活时间特征 ,但能导致钠通道的半数稳态失活电压向超极化方向漂移约 10 .1mV。结果表明HNTX IV是一种新型的蜘蛛毒素 ,其影响电压门控钠通道的机制可能有别于那些结合于通道位点 3来延缓钠电流失活时间特征的蜘蛛毒素如δ 澳洲漏斗网蛛毒素、μ 美洲漏斗网蛛毒素I VI等。     

Arg26和Lys27突变对海南捕鸟蛛毒素-Ⅳ生物活性影响

海南捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅳ(hainantoxin-Ⅳ,HNTX-Ⅳ)是一种新型的从海南捕鸟蛛粗毒中分离纯化的作用于河豚毒素敏感型(tetrodotoxinsensitive,TTXS)钠通道阻断剂.采用2D1HNMR技术解析HNTXⅣ的空间结构为胱氨酸抑制剂结模体,为进一步阐述HNTX-Ⅳ结构与功能的关系,应用固相Fmoc方法化学合成了用丙氨酸代替海南捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅳ第26位精氨酸的单残基突变体R26AHNTXⅣ和第27位赖氨酸的单残基突变体K27AHNTXⅣ.合成的突变体用谷胱甘肽法氧化复性并通过反相高效液相色谱(RPHPLC)纯化.通过MALDITOF质谱测定突变体的分子量.通过核磁共振谱仪测定突变体的空间结构.通过全细胞膜片钳实验比较天然HNTX-Ⅳ(nHNTX-Ⅳ)和两个突变体分子的生物学活性.结果发现,nHNTX-Ⅳ的R26或K27被突变后的空间结构没有发生明显变化.R26AHNTX-Ⅳ能明显抑制TTXS钠电流,K27AHNTX-Ⅳ对TTXS钠电流无明显影响.说明第26位的精氨酸与HNTX-Ⅳ的生物学活性无关,而第27位赖氨酸则是HNTX-Ⅳ的关键残基.     

海南捕鸟蛛毒素-Ⅵ的分离纯化及鉴定

从分布于我国海南省的海南捕鸟蛛（Selenocosmia hainana)粗毒中,应用阳离子交换色谱和反相高效液相色谱分离得到1种多肽神经毒素,命名为海南捕鸟蛛毒素－Ⅵ（Hainantoxin-Ⅵ,HNTX-Ⅵ)。MALDI－TOF南谱分析及氨基酸序列分析表明该多肽毒素分子量为3.998 49kDa,序列为NH2－ECKYLWGTCEKDE－HCCEHLGCNKKHGWCGWDGTF－COOH,其中的6个Cys形成3对二硫键。HNTX－Ⅵ能阻断小鼠膈神经膈肌标本神经肌肉接头传递,脑室及硬膜外注射毒能使小鼠瘫软。同源性搜索表明该毒素与蜘蛛Grammostola spatulata毒素HaTx和蜘蛛Scodra griseipes中的SGTx1毒素有很高的同源性,而后两种毒素均为K^ 通道阻断剂。     

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅴ的二硫键定位分析

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅴ是从虎纹捕鸟蛛毒液中分离得到的一种昆虫毒素.它含有35个氨基酸残基,其中6个半胱氨酸形成三对二硫键.首先采用多酶将天然的肽链裂解后,通过MALDI-TOF质谱分析酶解肽段,推断出1对二硫键位于Cys9-Cys21,然后利用改进的部分还原分步测序法,确定虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅴ的另外2对二硫键的配对方式为Cys2-Cys16和Cys15-Cys28.因此,虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅴ的3对二硫键分别以Cys2-Cys16,Cys9-Cys21,Cys15-Cys28（即1-4、2-5和3-6）的方式配对.     

重组虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅰ用pET_(31)b载体的表达和纯化

化学全合成虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 Ⅰ (HWTX Ⅰ )基因在大肠杆菌中被表达 ,采用pET31b载体 ,表达产物N端为大肠杆菌酮基立体异构酶的融合蛋白 ,经亲和连续 6个组氨酸的亲和柱层析后 ,溴化氰切割融合蛋白 ,再经高效液相色谱反相柱纯化 ,得到了重组虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素Ⅰ .质谱分析及N端测序表明 ,rHWTX Ⅰ系正确表达产物 .还原复性的rHWTX Ⅰ表现出与天然HWTX Ⅰ一致的生物学活性     

海南捕鸟蛛毒素-Ⅵ，一种新型的抑制昆虫电压门控钠通道失活的狼蛛神经毒素

通过阳离子交换和反相HPLC柱层析从海南捕鸟蛛（Ornithoconus hainana）粗毒中分离到一种新型的神经毒素，海南捕鸟蛛毒素-Ⅵ(HNTX-Ⅵ), 由34个氨基酸残基组成，含有6个保守的半胱氨酸残基. 运用全细胞膜片钳技术，研究了HNTX-Ⅵ对电压门控钠通道的影响.先前从海南捕鸟蛛粗毒中分离到的几种毒素，具有抑制哺乳动物钠通道激活的特性.本文研究结果表明,HNTX-Ⅵ能以类似于δ-atractoxins作用方式延缓蜚蠊背侧不成对中间(dorsal unpaired median,DUM）神经细胞的钠通道的失活，且导致钠通道稳态失活变得不完全，在预钳制电压大于-55 mV时形成不完全失活结构. HNTX-Ⅵ的这种新的功能不仅为探索钠通道的门控机制提供了有用的工具，也为开发新的安全的杀虫剂提供理论基础.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.