α-Galactose based neoglycopeptides. Inhibition of verotoxin binding to globotriosylceramide

Solution and solid phase strategies for the synthesis of α-galactose based neoglycopeptide derivatives Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 3, Scheme 3 and Scheme 4 were developed. Neoglycopeptides generated were tested for the inhibition of verotoxin binding to globotriosylceramide (Gb3) using ELISA. Among all of the compounds tested, only the lipid derivatives of neoglycopeptides, Figure 3 and Scheme 4 and Figure 3 and Scheme 4 were found to be inhibitors, IC₅₀=2.0 mM (Figure 3 and Scheme 4) and 0.2 mM (Figure 3 and Scheme 4). All of the inhibitors ( Figure 3 and Scheme 4) have a similar branching of the two α-galactosyl units at the N-terminal glycine residue of a short peptide and a lipid moiety attached at the C-terminal site. Both of these factors seem to be crucial for the inhibition. It is interesting to note that the inhibitors have only a portion of the natural trisaccharide ligand. The secondary groups either may contribute in sub-site oriented interactions with the protein receptors or may mimic the internal sugar units of the cell-surface ligand, Gb3.     

Combination of D-dimer and carcinoembryonic antigen levels as a predictive and prognostic biomarker in advanced colorectal cancer patients

In view of the controversial findings on the utility of D-dimer and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as biomarkers in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), we evaluated the predictive and prognostic value of the D-dimer and CEA levels in unresectable advanced CRC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. A total of 57 previously untreated patients with advanced CRC were enrolled. We assessed both plasma D-dimer and CEA levels at the start (D1 and CEA1) and after two cycles (D2 and CEA2) of chemotherapy. Based on the respective optimal cut-off values of 0.8 and 5.0 ng/mL for D1 and CEA1, respectively, patients were divided into low and high D-dimer or CEA groups. The results show that D1 and CEA1 levels were correlated (r = 0.392, P = 0.003). Mean CEA2 was reduced by 26.24 ng/mL in patients with partial response and stable disease and increased by 165.95 ng/mL in patients with progressive disease relative to the CEA1 level (P < 0.001). However, no correlation was evident between changes in the D-dimer levels and chemotherapy response (P = 0.441). The overall survival (OS) of patients with high D1 was shorter than that of patients with low D1 (median OS, 16 vs 29 months, P = 0.009). Multivariate analyses further demonstrated that D1 (P = 0.042) and chemotherapy response (P = 0.016), but not CEA, were independent prognostic factors for OS in advanced CRC. Taken together, our result found that changes in CEA levels may serve as a predictive biomarker of the chemotherapy response and baseline D-dimer levels as a prognostic biomarker of OS in patients with advanced CRC.     

The Structural Characterization of a Novel Water-Soluble Polysaccharide from Edible Mushroom Leucopaxillus giganteus and Its Antitumor Activity on H22 Tumor-Bearing Mice

In the present study, a novel cold water-soluble polysaccharide fraction (LGP) with the average molecular weight of 1.78×10⁶ Da was extracted and purified from Leucopaxillus giganteus and its primary structure as well as in vivo antitumor activity was evaluated. The monosaccharide composition of LGP was determined by ion chromatography to be galactose, xylose, glucose and fucose in a molar ratio of 2.568 : 1.209 : 1 : 0.853. Its backbone was composed of α-D-Glu, α-D-Xyl, α-D-Gal and α-L-Fuc. The results of in vivo antitumor experiment demonstrated that LGP could effectively protect immune organs, has excellent antitumor activity, and inhibit the proliferation of H22 solid tumors in a dose-dependent manner. By analyzing Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential detection assay, we concluded that LGP induced apoptosis of H22 cells via S phase arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. Our results could provide valuable information for the potential application of LGP as an anti-hepatoma agent.     

Analysis and identification of essential genes in humans using topological properties and biological information

Genes that are indispensable for survival are termed essential genes. The analysis and identification of essential genes are very important for understanding the minimal requirements of cellular survival and for practical purposes. Proteins do not exert their function in isolation of one another but rather interact together in PPI networks. A global analysis of protein interaction networks provides an effective way to elucidate the relationships between proteins. With the recent large-scale identifications of essential genes and the production of large amounts of PPIs in humans, we are able to investigate the topological properties and biological properties of essential genes. However, until recently, no one has ever investigated human essential genes using topological and biological properties. In this study, for the first time, 28 topological properties and 22 biological properties were used to investigate the characteristics of essential and non-essential genes in humans. Most of the properties were statistically discriminative between essential and non-essential genes. The F-score was used to estimate the essentiality of each property. The GO-enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the functions of the essential and non-essential genes. Finally, based on the topological features and the biological characteristics, a machine-learning classifier was constructed to predict the essential genes. The results of the jackknife test and 10-fold cross validation test are encouraging, indicating that our classifier is an effective human essential gene discovery method.     

外源钙离子对南方菟丝子寄生入侵植物喜旱莲子草效果的影响

外源钙离子可以有效地缓解植物在胁迫下受到的毒害,提高植物组织或细胞抗胁迫的能力。以喜旱莲子草为研究对象,采用完全随机区组的实验设计,研究不同钙离子浓度与南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草茎生物量的影响,探讨外源钙离子是否可以减少南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草的损伤。研究表明南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草的根、茎和叶的生物量具有显著影响,且南方菟丝子寄生与外源钙离子对喜旱莲子草茎和叶的生长具有显著的交互作用。不同浓度的钙离子与南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草茎生物量存在拮抗的交互作用;而仅8 mmol/L Ca2+与南方菟丝子寄生对喜旱莲子草叶生物量存在拮抗的交互作用。不同浓度钙离子均可以缓减南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草茎的有害效应,仅8 mmol/L Ca2+可以缓减南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草根和叶的有害效应。2—6 mmol/L的外源钙离子对南方菟丝子寄生下的喜旱莲子草的丙二醛(MDA)含量无显著影响,但可以显著地降低过氧化物酶(POD)活性,表明低浓度的外源钙离子的添加可以缓减南方菟丝子对喜旱莲子草的寄生胁迫,并体现在生理指标上。     

广西典型红壤旱地施用钙镁磷肥对玉米产量及其镉累积的影响

在广西典型类型红壤旱地布置玉米磷肥施用量的田间试验,研究不同钙镁磷肥施用量(磷肥Cd含量为0.0651 mg/kg)对玉米产量及地上部Cd累积的影响。结果表明,与不施磷肥处理(CK)相比,施磷肥可分别显著提高春、秋玉米籽粒产量8.2%—13.1%和13.7%—20.0%。高磷(600 kg P2O5/hm2)处理的春玉米秸秆产量比CK显著提高11.4%;施磷处理春、秋玉米秸秆Cd含量分别下降2.7%—45.8%和11.0%—43.6%;而籽粒Cd含量分别下降13.0%—40.6%和9.9%—31.5%,且秸秆和籽粒的Cd含量及累积量均随施磷量的增加而逐渐降低,其中以高磷处理最为显著。玉米秸秆及籽粒Cd累积量在高磷处理下(600 kg P2O5/hm2)分别比低磷处理(75—300 kg P2O5/hm2)降低13.6%—41.5%和8.8%—29.3%。相关分析表明,玉米Cd含量与土壤pH呈显著负相关,与土壤有效Cd含量呈显著正相关。施磷提高土壤pH,而降低土壤有效Cd含量。高量磷肥施用降低土壤Cd的有效性进而降低玉米对Cd的吸收累积。     

中国30个陆地棉主栽品种的SSR指纹图谱

利用SSR分子标记技术,对中国不同生态棉区曾经或正在种植的主要来源于岱字棉、斯字棉、福字棉、乌干达棉的30个陆地棉主栽品种进行了DNA指纹分析。从1 803对SSR引物中筛选到重复性好、多态性丰富的20对核心引物。这些引物分属棉花15条染色体,共检测到116个等位基因,平均每对引物5.8个;PIC值范围为0.384~0.900,平均为0.716;MI值范围为1.152~9.000,平均为4.374。30个品种中有4个品种具有各自的特异引物,可将其与其它26个品种区分开,其它26个品种可利用至少2对引物组合进行区分。为更方便、准确地鉴定各品种,构建了30个品种20对核心引物的十进制数字指纹代码。该研究为陆地棉的品种鉴定和纯度检测、新品种权益保护以及标准DNA指纹库构建提供了重要依据。     

用于海洋原位浮游生物探测的同轴数字全息显微技术研究

本文将数字全息与显微成像技术相结合,设计搭建了一套数字全息显微系统,用于对浮游生物进行光场获取。基于该系统获取的光场信息,通过在不同景深对图像进行再现,既可以获到单一浮游生物的清晰图像,也可以获得一定水体内浮游生物微粒在海水中的三维分布情况。通过实验测得系统分辨率可以达到7．8微米,景深可以达到10毫米,优于一般光学显微镜的技术指标。研究结果表明优势明显的数字全息显微系统是一种适合海洋原位探测的浮游生物研究的有效方法。基于数字同轴显微系统的水下仪器开发将是下一步工作的努力方向。