Discovery of (S)-6-methoxy-chroman-3-carboxylic acid (4-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)-amide as potent and isoform selective ROCK2 inhibitors

ROCK1 and ROCK2 are highly homologous isoforms. Accumulated studies indicate that they have distinct different functions, and the development of isoform selective ROCK inhibitors will pave new roads for the treatment of various diseases. In this work, a series of amide-chroman derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated in order to develop potent and isoform selective ROCK2 inhibitors. Remarkably, (S)-6-methoxy-chroman-3-carboxylic acid (4-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)-amide ((S)-7c) possessed ROCK2 inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 3?nM and 22.7-fold isoform selectivity (vs. ROCK1). Molecular docking indicated that hydrophobic interactions were the key element for the high potency and isoform selectivity of (S)-7c. The binding free energies predicted by MM/GBSA were in good agreement with the experimental bioactivities, and the analysis of individual energy terms suggested that residue Lys105 in ROCK1 or Lys121 in ROCK2 was the key residue for the isoform selectivity of (S)-7c.     

TGD1, -2, and -3 proteins involved in lipid trafficking form ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter with multiple substrate-binding proteins

Members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family are essential proteins in species as diverse as archaea and humans. Their domain architecture has remained relatively fixed across these species, with rare exceptions. Here, we show one exception to be the trigalactosyldiacylglycerol 1, 2, and 3 (TGD1, -2, and -3) putative lipid transporter located at the chloroplast inner envelope membrane. TGD2 was previously shown to be in a complex of >500 kDa. We demonstrate that this complex also contains TGD1 and -3 and is very stable because it cannot be broken down by gentle denaturants to form a "core" complex similar in size to standard ABC transporters. The complex was purified from Pisum sativum (pea) chloroplast envelopes by native gel electrophoresis and examined by mass spectrometry. Identified proteins besides TGD1, -2, or -3 included a potassium efflux antiporter and a TIM17/22/23 family protein, but these were shown to be in separate high molecular mass complexes. Quantification of the complex components explained the size of the complex because 8-12 copies of the substrate-binding protein (TGD2) were found per functional transporter.     

南海西沙海槽111PC孔的硅藻与古环境记录

对南海西沙海槽111PC孔沉积物中的硅藻化石研究表明,硅藻以热带、亚热带浮游性种类和近岸性种类为主,可划分出6个硅藻组合带,大体对应于浮游有孔虫氧同位素6个期次。结合有地层对比意义的属种及组合,建立了里斯冰期以来本孔的硅藻生物地层框架。硅藻丰度、属种组合变化指示海区气候经历了冰期-间冰期气候旋回及不稳定性波动。晚玉木冰期硅藻丰度高,冰后期、中玉木冰期次之,里斯冰期至早玉木冰期丰度较低,这与南海西南部不同,与南海东北相似但也不尽相同。里斯冰期至里斯玉木间冰期转换阶段,硅藻属种对气候变暖的反应较快。硅藻属种特征显示中玉木冰期气候为弱暖期,且有早晚两个暖湿阶段。硅藻属种的不连续分布也表明沉积环境在部分时段极不稳定。     

青岛沿岸水体原生生物群落与水质状况的关系

于2007年9—10月间利用改良的PFU(polyurethane foam unit)法——BPFU(bottled PFU)法对青岛沿岸水体中原生生物群落的结构和功能参数进行了快速观测,进而分析了原生生物群落与水质状况间的相互关系,并结合理化指标对水体的水质状况进行了评价。期间共观测到原生生物263种:其中硅藻83种,鞭毛虫59种,肉足虫31种,纤毛虫90种。结果表明:用BPFU法测定和计算的原生生物群落的结构参数(种类数、丰度、多样性指数)和功能参数(Seq、G、T90%)所反映的水质状况和理化指标所反映的基本一致,证明BPFU法适用于海洋近岸水体的快速监测。同时将通过原生生物群落所得的结构参数和功能参数与通过原生动物群落所得的进行了比较,发现由原生生物群落计算的结构参数和功能参数能更有效、更准确地反映水质的状况。     

New potential biologically active compounds: design and an efficient synthesis of N-substituted 4-aryl-4,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline-2,5(1H,3H)-diones under microwave irradiation

A series of N-substituted 4-aryl-4,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline-2,5(1H,3H)-diones were synthesized through a rapid one-pot four-component reaction under microwave irradiation. The method has the advantages of excellent yields (82-96%) and short reaction time (4-9 min). We provide new series of potential biologically active compounds for biomedical screening.     

New potential inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4: design and synthesis of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives under microwave irradiation

A simple and efficient synthesis of 2-amino pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives was accomplished via a three-component reaction under microwave irradiation without catalyst. This method had many dramatic advantages such as the short reaction time, high yield, and broad substrate scope, as well as convenient operation. We provide new series of potential biologically active compounds as inhibitors of Cdk4.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Gelling Gelrite/Alginate Formulations as Vehicles for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery

The objective of this study was to develop an ion-activated in situ gelling vehicle for ophthalmic delivery of matrine. The rheological properties of polymer solutions, including Gelrite, alginate, and Gelrite/alginate solution, were evaluated. In addition, the effect of formulation characteristics on in vitro release and in vivo precorneal drug kinetic of matrine was investigated. It was found that the optimum concentration of Gelrite solution for the in situ gel-forming delivery systems was 0.3% (w/w) and that for alginate solution was 1.4% (w/w). The mixture of 0.2% Gelrite and 0.6% alginate solutions showed a significant enhancement in gel strength at physiological condition. On the basis of the in vitro results, the Gelrite formulations of matrine-containing alginate released the drug most slowly. For each tested polymer solution, the concentration of matrine in the precorneal area was higher than that of matrine-containing simulated tear fluid (STF) almost at each time point (p < 0.05). The area under the curve of formulation 16 (0.2%Gelrite/0.6%alginate) was 4.65 times greater than that of containing matrine STF. Both the in vitro release and in vivo pharmacological studies indicated that the Gelrite/alginate solution had the better ability to retain drug than the Gelrite or alginate solutions alone. The tested formulation was found to be almost non-irritant in the ocular irritancy test. The overall results of this study revealed that the Gelrite/alginate mixture can be used as an in situ gelling vehicle to enhance ocular retention.     

长叶红砂叶际细菌和真菌群落对季节变化的响应特征

【背景】植物叶际(phyllosphere)定殖着丰富多样的微生物,叶际微生物通过发挥特定功能在逆境下生存,影响寄主植物的生理生态特性并受环境异质性的影响。【目的】植物叶际微生物群落是动态的,认识季节更替对植物叶际微生物群落结构的影响,对于加深对植物-微生物-环境相互作用的理解具有积极意义。【方法】以鄂尔多斯荒漠草原泌盐盐生植物长叶红砂为研究对象,分别测定春季、秋季植物叶片表面理化特性,并结合叶际细菌、真菌高通量测序结果进行综合分析。【结果】长叶红砂冠下土壤含水率、pH、电导率等指标在季节更替下存在显著差异,叶片表面Na+、K+和电导率值存在显著差异;进一步分析发现,叶际细菌分类操作单元(operational taxonomic unit,OTU)、Shannon、Chao1和ACE (abundance-based coverage estimator)指数与土壤和叶片表面盐分含量呈正相关;春季叶际蓝细菌门和拟杆菌门保持了较高的相对丰度,而秋季叶际变形菌门、放线菌门、子囊菌门的相对丰度则高于春季;其中,叶际Bradyrhizobium、Novosphingobium和Edaphob...     

黑曲霉（Aspergillus niger）和运动发酵单胞菌（Zymomonas mobilis）共固定化细胞酒精发酵的研究

本研究将生产上常用的糖化菌（Ａｓｐ．ｎｉｇｅｒ３．４３０９）与酒精产生菌（Ｚ．ｍｏｂｉｌｉｓ）共同固定在海藻酸钙凝胶中,以淀粉为原料进行固定化细胞酒精发酵实验,并就ｐＨ、温度、通气量。淀粉浓度等对发酵的影响进行了探讨,认为当ＰＨ为５．０～５．５,温度为３０℃～３３℃时乙醇产率最高（Ｙｐ／ｓ可达０．３９）。而淀粉浓度、通气量对共固定化细胞酒精发酵有显著影响,二者存在着较强的交互作用,在发酵过程中根据淀粉粘度情况调节通气量将有助于提高乙醇产率。     

Metformin attenuates post-epidural fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 and HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathways

Excessive post-epidural fibrosis is a common cause of recurrent back pain after spinal surgery. Though various treatment methods have been conducted, the safe and effective drug for alleviating post-epidural fibrosis remains largely unknown. Metformin, a medicine used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been noted to relieve fibrosis in various organs. In the present study, we aimed to explore the roles and mechanisms of metformin in scar formation in a mouse model of laminectomy. Post-epidural fibrosis developed in a mouse model of laminectomy by spinous process and the T12-L2 vertebral plate with a rongeur. With the administration of metformin, post-epidural fibrosis was reduced, accompanied with decreased collagen and fibronectin in the scar tissues. Mechanistically, metformin decreased fibronectin and collagen deposition in fibroblast cells, and this effect was dependent on the HMGB1/TLR4 and TGF-β1/Smad3 signalling pathways. In addition, metformin influenced the metabolomics of the fibroblast cells. Taken together, our study suggests that metformin may be a potential option to mitigate epidural fibrosis after laminectomy.