"Schizophrenic" micellization associated with coil-to-helix transitions based on polypeptide hybrid double hydrophilic rod-coil diblock copolymer

A polypeptide hybrid double hydrophilic diblock copolymer (DHBC), poly( N-isopropylacrylamide)- b-poly( l-glutamic acid) (PNIPAM- b-PLGA), was synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of gamma-benzyl- l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA) using monoamino-terminated PNIPAM as the macroinitiator, followed by deprotection of benzyl groups under alkaline conditions. Containing a thermoresponsive PNIPAM block and a pH-responsive PLGA block, the obtained polypeptide hybrid diblock copolymer molecularly dissolves in aqueous solution at alkaline pH and room temperature but supramolecularly self-assembles into PNIPAM-core micelles at alkaline pH and elevated temperatures and PLGA-core micelles at acidic pH and room temperature accompanied with coil-to-helix transition of the PLGA sequence. The pH- and thermoresponsive "schizophrenic" micellization behavior of PNIPAM- b-PLGA diblock copolymer has been investigated by (1)H NMR, optical transmittance, fluorescence probe measurement, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic and static laser light scattering (LLS), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Moreover, the micellization process was investigated employing stopped-flow light scattering technique. The pH-induced micelle growth of PNIPAM- b-PLGA in aqueous solution exhibits drastically different kinetics compared to that of conventional pH-responsive DHBCs, probably due to the stabilization effects exerted by the formed alpha-helix secondary structures within the PLGA core at low pH. Exhibiting "schizophrenic" micellization, the polypeptide sequence of PNIPAM- b-PLGA can either locate within micelle cores or stabilizing coronas. The incorporation of polypeptide block into DHBCs can endow them with structural versatility, tunable spatial arrangement of chain segments within self-assembled nanostructures, and broader applications in the field of biomedicines.     

Triterpenoids from <i>Uncaria rhynchophylla</i> and Their PTP1B Inhibitory Activity

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gouteng) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine used for psychiatric and hypotensive purposes in China. In this study, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) part of U. rhynchophylla was revealed with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity. Subsequent investigation on the EtOAc part yielded one new triterpenoid, 3β-formyloxy-6β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (1) and four known ones, 3β,6β,19α-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), 2-oxopomolic acid (3), 3β,19α-dihydroxy-6-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (4) and sumaresinolic acid (5). The structure of compound 1 was determined by extensive HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. Two ursane-type triterpenoids (2 and 3) showed selective inhibition on PTP1B with IC₅₀ values of 48.2 and 178.7 μM. The enzyme kinetic study suggested that compounds 2 and 3 were mix-type inhibitors on PTP1B with K_i values of 15.6 and 132.5 μM. This investigation manifests the antidiabetic potency of U. rhynchophylla with triterpenoids as the active constituents.     

Hydrogen sulfide plays a potential alternative for the treatment of metabolic disorders of diabetic cardiomyopathy

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiovascular complication that tends to occur in patients with diabetes, obesity, or insulin resistance, with a higher...     

Effect of autophagy on ferroptosis in foam cells via Nrf2

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - The progression of atherosclerotic plaque is accelerated by death of foam cells during the development of the plaque. There are several forms of foam cell...     

Fallopian tubal infertility: the result of Chlamydia trachomatis-induced fallopian tubal fibrosis

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases, and its incidence in genital tract infections is now 4.7% in south...     

全基因组重测序揭示青藏高原东缘及东南缘东方蜜蜂遗传多样性与适应性进化

【目的】对青藏高原东缘和东南缘及邻近地区东方蜜蜂Apis cerana样本进行群体遗传多样性与适应性进化研究,为进一步解析青藏高原东方蜜蜂的遗传资源多样性、种群扩散规律以及适应高原生境的分子进化机制提供参考。【方法】对青藏高原东缘和东南缘及邻近地区77群东方蜜蜂样本进行全基因组重测序;运用群体遗传学方法,基于群体结构、主成分分析、系统进化树、遗传分化指数、线粒体基因组单倍型以及选择信号分析对东方蜜蜂这77群及GenBank数据库下载的90群的全基因组重测序原始数据进行分析。【结果】这167群东方蜜蜂区分出来自川西高原、藏南高原、滇北高原和川北高原的4个高原型群,分属于两个进化支,平均遗传分化指数(Fst=0.1178)高于非高原型群的(Fst=0.0411)。基于种群间最小遗传距离分析,东南缘的藏南高原群、滇北高原群与滇南群具有更近的遗传关系;东缘的川西高原群、川北高原群分别与川西山地和秦巴群具有更近的遗传关系。结合线粒体基因组单倍型分析,初步推断出青藏高原东缘及东南缘高原型群体祖先单倍型及来源。选择性分析鉴定到了潜在的参与脂肪酸代谢、光转导、温度适应、卵巢发育等信号通路相关的潜在受选基因。在藏南高原和滇北高原群体中发现两个共同受选择基因ISL-1和FOXO,主要参与胰岛素分泌以应对细胞压力,暗示它们在东方蜜蜂适应青藏高原东南缘生境中发挥着重要作用。【结论】青藏高原东方蜜蜂遗传多样性丰富,东南缘的藏南高原和滇北高原群体以及东缘的川西高原和川北高原群体在遗传分化上明显区分,这4个高原群是由邻近地区非高原群扩散后的地理隔离形成了种群分化;初步筛选获得东方蜜蜂高原环境适应性潜在基因。本研究为进一步探析青藏高原东方蜜蜂适应高原生境下的分子进化机制奠定了基础。