Synthesis and SAR of novel quinazolines as potent and brain-penetrant c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors

Quinazoline 3 was discovered as a novel c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor with good brain penetration and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. A number of analogs which were potent both in the biochemical and cellular assays were discovered. Quinazoline 13a was found to be a potent JNK3 inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 40 nM), with >500-fold selectivity over p38, and had good PK and brain penetration properties. With these properties, 13a is considered a potential candidate for in vivo evaluation.     

基于转录终点序列特征预测大肠杆菌sRNA

细菌sRNA是一类长度在40～500nt的调控RNA,在细菌与环境相互作用中发挥重要功能,因此,细菌sRNA识别研究具有重要意义。然而,与蛋白编码基因具有易于识别的特征不同,目前细菌sRNA识别仍是一件比较困难的事。此方法介绍了一个基于已知细菌sRNA转录终点的碱基频率矩阵来识别sRNA的预测策略,并在大肠杆菌K-12 MG1655中进行了sRNA的预测。结果表明,该模型在独立测试集中具有较高的特异性和阳性检出率,因此,这一方法将为实验发现细菌sRNA提供较好的生物信息学支持。     

应用微卫星标记研究Dunkin Hartley豚鼠封闭群的遗传背景

目的检测我国现有Dunkin Hartley豚鼠封闭的遗传背景,分析评估其遗传多样性水平和遗传分离情况,为建立标准化的豚鼠封闭群监测方法提供基础资料。方法应用筛选获得的8个微卫星位点,从一个数量为1000的豚鼠封闭群中随机选择72个个体,通过PCR扩增和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的方法,进行等位基因检测。并根据检测结果分析评估了该豚鼠封闭群的遗传现状。结果共检测到28个等位基因,每个座位的等位基因数为2～5个,有效等位基因数为1.5191～3.4422,平均2.3093。平均期望杂合度为0.5294。各位点多态信息含量在0.3154～0.6545之间,平均值为0.4687。有5个位点显著偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡。结论豚鼠封闭群的遗传多态性处于中等水平,遗传平衡检测结果提示种群的繁殖过程未能实现完全随机交配,近交现象一定程度上存在。本研究的结果将为豚鼠封闭群遗传监测方法和标准的建立提供基础。     

An HPLC method for the pharmacokinetic study of daidzein-loaded nanoparticle formulations after injection to rats

This study was aimed at developing a simple HPLC method for the detection of daidzein in rat plasma. Daidzein was extracted from rat plasma with ethylparaben as internal standards (IS). Chromatographic separation of daidzein and IS was achieved by a Dikma Dimonsil C18 column (200 mm × 4.6mm) with the mobile phase consisting of methanol-water (55:45, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The injection volume was 20 μL and the detecting wavelength was 249 nm. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range from 0.05 to 5 μg/mL, and the accuracy was within a range of 93.4-126.2%. This HPLC method was applied successfully to the pharmacokinetic study of two kinds of daidzein-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (D-NPs) and daidzein suspension after intravenous injection in rats. Significant differences in main pharmacokinetic parameters of daidzein suspension and D-NPs were observed.     

Transthyretin and the brain re-visited: Is neuronal synthesis of transthyretin protective in Alzheimer's disease?

Background

Previously we reported 1 μM synthetic human amyloid beta_1-42 oligomers induced cofilin dephosphorylation (activation) and formation of cofilin-actin rods within rat hippocampal neurons primarily localized to the dentate gyrus.

Results

Here we demonstrate that a gel filtration fraction of 7PA2 cell-secreted SDS-stable human Aβ dimers and trimers (Aβd/t) induces maximal neuronal rod response at ~250 pM. This is 4,000-fold more active than traditionally prepared human Aβ oligomers, which contain SDS-stable trimers and tetramers, but are devoid of dimers. When incubated under tyrosine oxidizing conditions, synthetic human but not rodent Aβ_1-42, the latter lacking tyrosine, acquires a marked increase (620 fold for EC₅₀) in rod-inducing activity. Gel filtration of this preparation yielded two fractions containing SDS-stable dimers, trimers and tetramers. One, eluting at a similar volume to 7PA2 Aβd/t, had maximum activity at ~5 nM, whereas the other, eluting at the void volume (high-n state), lacked rod inducing activity at the same concentration. Fractions from 7PA2 medium containing Aβ monomers are not active, suggesting oxidized SDS-stable Aβ_1-42 dimers in a low-n state are the most active rod-inducing species. Aβd/t-induced rods are predominantly localized to the dentate gyrus and mossy fiber tract, reach significance over controls within 2 h of treatment, and are reversible, disappearing by 24 h after Aβd/t washout. Overexpression of cofilin phosphatases increase rod formation when expressed alone and exacerbate rod formation when coupled with Aβd/t, whereas overexpression of a cofilin kinase inhibits Aβd/t-induced rod formation.

Conclusions

Together these data support a mechanism by which Aβd/t alters the actin cytoskeleton via effects on cofilin in neurons critical to learning and memory.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic studies of two-dimensional network of Cu(II) polymer using malonate and 4,4′-azobispyridine ligands

The malonato-bridged copper(II) complex [Cu(mal)(H₂O)(azpy)_1/2] · H₂O (1) (mal = malonate, azpy = 4,4′-azobispyridine) has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 consists of malonato-bridged uniform copper(II) chains which are covalent connected through azpy to form two-dimensional wavelike network. The magnetic pathway of complex 1 is through a single syn-anti carboxylate bridge connecting equatorial and equatorial positions of adjacent copper(II) atoms, and have the value of the intrachain ferromagnetic coupling (J = 8.73(3) cm⁻¹) and interchain antiferromagnetic coupling (zJ′ = − 1.31(1) cm⁻¹) through a numerical expression for a ferromagnetic uniform chain.     

枯草芽孢杆菌ccpA基因敲除及对其核黄素产量的影响

CcpA蛋白是介导枯草芽孢杆菌碳分解代谢物阻遏(CCR)的全局调控因子,由ccpA基因编码。CCR效应的存在影响B.subtilis对葡萄糖的利用,降低B.subtilis生产发酵产品的效率。采用基因重组技术敲除了核黄素发酵菌株B.subtilis24/pMX45的ccpA基因,构建了CcpA缺陷株B.subtilis24A1/pMX45。发酵结果显示:B.subtilis24A1/pMX45能够在70h内基本耗尽10%的葡萄糖,生物量达到1.5×109个细胞/mL,溢流代谢产物积累量减少,在8%和10%葡萄糖浓度下,B.subtilis24A1/pMX45核黄素产量分别比B.subtilis24/pMX45提高了62%和95%。CcpA的缺陷,可以缓解葡萄糖引起的CCR效应,显著提高菌株的核黄素产量。     

创伤弧菌vvhA基因的克隆、原核表达系统的构建及鉴定

目的 克隆创伤弧菌（Vibrio vulnificus,Vv）溶细胞素基因（υυhA）,构建原核表达系统并鉴定其表达产物的免疫性.方法 采用PCR技术从Vv GTC333和WZ01株DNA中扩增全长υυhA基因,T-A克隆后测定其核苷酸序列.采用pET32a质粒构建vvhA基因原核表达载体,在E coli BL21（DE3）宿主菌中用不同浓度的IPTG诱导目的重组蛋白rVvhA表达,采用Ni-NTA亲和层析法提纯rVvhA,SDS-PAGE检测表达和提纯效果.采用兔抗Vv全菌抗体的Western Blot和兔抗rVvhA血清的免疫扩散试验鉴定其免疫反应性和免疫原性.结果 所克隆的vvhA基因核苷酸序列与GeneBank公布的同源性分别为96.09%和98.26%.在0.5 mmol/L IPTG诱导下,rVvhA产量可占细菌总蛋白的18%.提纯的rVvhA经SDS-PAGE后仅显示单一的蛋白条带.重组蛋白rVvhA能与兔抗Vv全菌抗体发生特异性结合,免疫家兔可获得高效价抗体.结论 该研究成功地构建了创伤弧菌υυhA基因高效原核表达系统,所表达的rVvhA具有良好的免疫原性和免疫反应性,可作为Vv免疫检测试剂盒及疫苗的抗原.     

河鲈胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼发育

为探究河鲈(Perca fluviatilis)早期生活史和发育生物学,采用体视解剖镜、显微镜仔细观察、测量、描述、绘图的方法,连续观察了6个批次河鲈胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼发育状况,进行比较分析。结果显示:(1)在水温8~13℃时,胚胎期约需265h,有效积温2540~2880℃.h;水温11~13℃时,卵黄囊期约需6d,有效积温1750~2120℃.h;(2)辐射状次级卵膜将受精卵连成长带形单层网片状,每个胚胎周围有6个胚胎,排列很有规则。胚胎卵黄囊表面有一个大圆形油球。出膜前期可见眼球色素、胸鳍突起;(3)胚胎出膜的不同步主要是由于出膜前期长短不一和孵化水温较低所致。     

Characterization of microsatellite markers in the endangered Sinojackia xylocarpa (Styracaceae) and cross‐species amplification in closely related taxa

Twenty‐four polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from an AAG‐enriched genomic library of Sinojackia xylocarpa. The average allele number of these microsatellites was 3.3 per locus, ranging from two to seven. The observed and expected heterozygosities at population level were 0.10–0.83 and 0.10–1.00, respectively. In addition, successful cross‐species amplification of this set of microsatellites in three other species of Sinojackia and a closely related taxon, Changiostyrax dolichocarpa, suggested that this set of microsatellite markers should provide a useful tool for genetic and conservation studies of Sinojackia species and other closely related taxa in the Styracaceae.