Discovery of tetralin ureas as potent melanin concentrating hormone 1 receptor antagonists

Melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and energy balance in mammals. MCH-1 receptor (MCH1R) deficient mice are lean and resistant to diet-induced obesity. As such, MCH1R antagonists are believed to have potential as possible treatments for obesity. The discovery of a novel class of tetralin ureas as potent MCH1R antagonists is described herein.     

Biological evaluation of de-O-sulfonated analogs of salacinol, the role of sulfate anion in the side chain on the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity

De-O-sulfonated analogs (10a, Y(-)=CH(3)OSO(3) and 10b, Y(-)=Cl) of salacinol, a naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, and its diastereomer (12a, Y(-)=CH(3)OSO(3)) with L-thiosugar moiety (1,4-dideoxy-1,4-epithio-L-arabinitol) were prepared. Their inhibitory activities against intestinal maltase and sucrase were examined and compared with those of the parent alpha-glycosidase inhibitor, salacinol (1a). Compounds 10a and 10b showed a potent inhibitory activity equal to that of 1a against both enzymes, although 12a was a weak inhibitor against sucrase and maltase. These results indicated that the O-sulfonate anion moiety of 1a is not essential for the inhibitory activity.     

Identification of secondary structure elements in intermediate-resolution density maps

An increasing number of structural studies of large macromolecular complexes, both in X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, have resulted in intermediate-resolution (5-10 A) density maps. Despite being limited in resolution, significant structural and functional information may be extractable from these maps. To aid in the analysis and annotation of these complexes, we have developed SSEhunter, a tool for the quantitative detection of alpha helices and beta sheets. Based on density skeletonization, local geometry calculations, and a template-based search, SSEhunter has been tested and validated on a variety of simulated and authentic subnanometer-resolution density maps. The result is a robust, user-friendly approach that allows users to quickly visualize, assess, and annotate intermediate-resolution density maps. Beyond secondary structure element identification, the skeletonization algorithm in SSEhunter provides secondary structure topology, which is potentially useful in leading to structural models of individual molecular components directly from the density.     

1,4-Dihydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazoles as potent checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitors: extended exploration on phenyl ring substitutions and preliminary ADME/PK studies

A study on substitutions at the four open positions on the phenyl ring of the 1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazoles as potent CHK-1 inhibitors is described. Bis-substitution at both the 6- and 7-positions led to inhibitors with IC(50) values below 0.3nM. The compound with the best overall activities (36) was able to potentiate the anti-proliferative effect of doxorubicin in HeLa cells by at least 47-fold. Physicochemical, metabolic, and pharmacokinetic properties of selected inhibitors are also disclosed.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of novel fatty acid-nucleoside conjugates

N(3)-Hydroxyethyltegafur (3) was synthesized in 91.0% yield under a new condition. A series of novel fatty acid esters of 3 were synthesized. These fatty acid-nucleoside conjugates have shown cytotoxicities against Ec9706 cells and A549 cells, and the structure activity relationship was discussed.     

Dumbbell-shaped circular oligonucleotides as inhibitors of human topoisomerase I

A dumbbell-shaped circular oligonucleotide containing topoisomerase I-binding sites and two mismatched base pairs in its sequence has been designed and synthesized. Our further studies demonstrate that this particularly designed oligonucleotide displays an IC(50) value of 9 nM in its inhibition on the activity of human topoisomerase I, a magnitude smaller than that of camptothecin, an anticancer drug currently in clinical use.     

Size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity in the Chukchi Sea and its northern Chukchi Plateau

Investigations on chlorophyll a and primary productivity were carried out in the Chukchi Sea and its northern Chukchi Plateau during the 2^nd Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2003. The results showed that chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.009–30.390 μg/dm³ at the surveyed waters; the surface chlorophyll a concentrations were 0.050–4.644 μg/dm³ and the average value was (0.875±0.981) μg/dm³ in the surveyed area. In the Chukchi Sea Shelf, chlorophyll a concentrations at the depth from 10 m to bottom were higher than that in the surface water, and the concentrations were lower at the depth below 75 m in the Chukchi Plateau. Chlorophyll a concentrations descended in 3 sequential samplings on Transect R, with average values of (2.564±1.496) μg/dm³, (1.329±0.882) μg/dm³ and (0.965±0.623) μg/dm³, respectively. The potential primary productivity ((2.305± 1.493) mgC/(m³·h)) in the Chukchi Sea was higher than that ((0.527±0.374) mgC/(m³·h)) in the Chukchi Plateau. The results of the size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity showed that microplankton accounted for the majority of the total chlorophyll a (63.13%) and primary productivity (65.16%) at the survey stations. The contributions of the nanoplankton and picoplankton to the total chlorophyll a and primary productivity were roughly the same.     

学习经历在平腹小蜂寄主选择过程中的作用

研究了已经交配与未经交配的平腹小蜂在羽化后不同时间对中间寄主柞蚕卵信息记忆的持效性,比较了经学习训练与未经学习训练的平腹小蜂在不同时间对其自然寄主荔枝蝽卵和中间寄主柞蚕卵的选择性。结果表明：交配过的平腹小蜂在大量羽化后96h检验柞蚕卵的时间和数量都显著增多,而未经交配的平腹小蜂在此时搜索寄主的时间也显著延长,说明平腹小蜂在此时对柞蚕卵信息的记忆开始明显减弱。经学习训练的和未经学习训练的平腹小蜂在大量羽化后96h对荔枝蝽卵的第一选择数和刺卵数都明显提高,并且前者较后者在各个时段对荔枝蝽卵的第一选择数、检验卵数以及刺卵数都多,说明经学习训练的平腹小蜂对荔枝蝽卵的趋性较高,并且随着时间的延长受柞蚕卵信息的干扰逐渐减小,对荔枝蝽卵的学习效果不断增强。     

大黄酚和大黄素甲醚的制备性分离

经系统分离得到大黄酚和大黄素甲醚的混合物后,取该混合物约1g,用少量的氯仿溶解,加入少量的层析用硅胶（100～200目）拌匀,减压使氯仿蒸干。将吸附有大黄酚和大黄素甲醚的硅胶装在已装好的硅胶层析柱的上端,然后进行洗脱。通过实验,得到了最佳分离大黄酚和大黄素甲醚的条件：硅胶与混合物的质量比=150：1;层析柱长与直径的比=23：1;洗脱剂比例：石油醚（60～90℃）：乙酸乙酯（V/V）=17：1;减压淋洗。     

一种改良的二甲基亚硝胺肝纤维化模型诱导方法及其病理特点

目的探讨旨在降低死亡率的二甲基亚硝胺(DMN)肝纤维化改良造模方法及其病理特点。方法大鼠分为常规方法造模组(常规组)与改良方法造模组(改良组),每组再分为模型组与正常对照组,均设染毒后4周和8周共2个时间观察点。常规组造模以DMN10μL/kg大鼠体重的剂量,腹腔注射,每周连续3d,连续4周,共12次;改良组同上剂量的DMN腹腔注射,每2d一次,连续4周,共14次。观察大鼠体重、肝体比与脾体比,试剂盒测定血清肝功能,HE染色与天狼猩红染色分别观察肝组织炎症与胶原沉积,盐酸水解法测定肝组织羟脯氨酸含量。结果2种造模方法均在造模4周时形成典型的肝纤维化,模型大鼠的体重、肝体比、脾体比、血清肝功能等均有相应的变化趋势。与常规组比较,改良组模型大鼠造模8周后死亡率显著降低,肝细胞炎症坏死稍轻,而肝窦毛细血管化明显。结论隔日1次腹腔注射较之连续3d腹腔注射DMN是一种较为稳定的肝纤维化改良造模方法,具有肝窦毛细血管化与小叶内纤维化的肝纤维化病理特征。