Coumarin-dithiocarbamate hybrids as novel multitarget AChE and MAO-B inhibitors against Alzheimer’s disease: Design,synthesis and biological evaluation

A series of new coumarin-dithiocarbamate hybrids were designed and synthesized as multitarget agents for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Most of them showed potent and clearly selective inhibition towards AChE and MAO-B. Among these compounds, compound 8f demonstrated the most potent inhibition to AChE with IC₅₀ values of 0.0068 μM and 0.0089 μM for eeAChE and hAChE, respectively. Compound 8g was identified as the most potent inhibitor to hMAO-B, and it is also a good and balanced inhibitor to both hAChE and hMAO-B (0.114 µM for hAChE; 0.101 µM for hMAO-B). Kinetic and molecular modeling studies revealed that 8g was a dual binding site inhibitor for AChE and a competitive inhibitor for MAO-B. Further studies indicated that 8g could penetrate the BBB and exhibit no toxicity on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. More importantly, 8g did not display any acute toxicity in mice at doses up to 2500 mg/kg and could reverse the cognitive dysfunction of scopolamine-induced AD mice. Overall, these results highlighted 8g as a potential multitarget agent for AD treatment and offered a starting point for design of new multitarget AChE/MAO-B inhibitors based on dithiocarbamate scaffold.     

Genetic variation and clonal diversity in populations of Nelumbo nucifera (Nelumbonaceae) in central China detected by ISSR markers

To obtain accurate estimates of population structure for purposes of conservation planning for wild lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) in central China, genetic diversity among and within six populations, and clonal diversity within another two populations of the species were analyzed. The genetic diversity was high (percentage of polymorphic bands, PPB = 90.0%; Shannon's information index, I = 0.383 ± 0.234) at the species level, but low within individual study populations (PPB = 35.8%; Shannon's information index I = 0.165 ± 0.241). The mean coefficient of gene differentiation (G_st) was 0.570, indicating that 43.0% of the genetic diversity resided within the population. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 50.47% of the genetic diversity among the study populations was attributed to geographical location while 12.3% was attributed to differences in their habitats. An overall value of mean estimated number of gene flow (N_m = 0.377) indicated that there was limited gene flow among the sampled populations. The level of clonal diversity found within the populations was considerably high (Simpson's diversity index, D = 0.985) indicating that clonal diversity contributes to a major extent to the overall genetic variation in the genetic structure of N. nucifera. On the basis of the high G_st and D values detected in this study we recommend that any future conservation plans for this species should be specifically designed to include those representative populations with the highest genetic variation for both in situ conservation and germplasm collection expeditions.     

Synthesis and antitumor activities of novel rhein α-aminophosphonates conjugates

Several rhein α-aminophosphonates conjugates (5a–5q) were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against HepG-2, CNE, Spca-2, Hela and Hct-116 cell lines. Some compounds showed relatively high cytotoxicity. Especially, compound 5i exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against Hct-116 cells (IC₅₀ was 5.32 μM). All the synthesized compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity against HUVEC cells. The mechanism of compound 5i was preliminarily investigated by Hoechst 33258 staining, JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential staining and flow cytometry, which indicated that the compound 5i induced apoptosis in Hct-116 cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that these compound 5i mainly arrested Hct-116 cells in G1 stage. The effects of 5i on the activation of caspases expression indicated that 5i might induce apoptosis via the membrane death receptor pathways. In addition, the binding properties of a model analog 5i to DNA were investigated by methods (UV–vis, fluorescence, CD spectroscopy and FRET-melting) in compare with that of rhein. Results indicated that 5i showed moderate ability to interact ct-DNA.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of compounds isolated from the leaves of Symphonia globulifera (Clusiaceae) and their chemophenetic significance

The phytochemical study was done on the methanol extract from of the leaves of Symphonia globulifera. This plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat of different ailments such as malaria, diseases of the skin, diabetes, cough, intestinal worms, pre-hepatic jaundice and fever. Chromatographic fractionation and purification of this extract led to the isolation and characterization of twelve compounds (1–12) including pristriol (1), robustaflavone (2), polycarpol (3), 7''-O-methylrobustaflavone (4), amentoflavone (5), stigmasterol glucoside (6), epicatechin (7), apigenin (8), luteolin (9), 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone (10), β-sitosterol 3-β-D-glucopyranoside (11) and a mixture of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol (12). The structures of compounds 1–12 were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometric and the spectroscopic data as well as comparison with the literature. All these compounds were isolated for the first time from Symphonia genus. The NMR spectra and structure elucidation of compound 1 were reported for the first in the literature. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of three of these compounds were evaluated. The chemophenetic significance of these compounds is also discussed.     

A novel aggregation-induced emission fluorescent probe for nucleic acid detection and its applications in cell imaging

A new kind of aggregation-induced emission compound was synthesized and used as the probe of nucleic acid. The characterization of this compound was studied. Both the RNA and DNA were detected by using this probe. And the detection scope of DNA and RNA was different. We researched the selectivity of our probe in double and single strand DNA sequences. The visualization of gel electrophoresis and the cell nucleus imaging were researched as well. Compared with the traditional nucleus dye Hoechst 33258, our probe also has the potential to be nucleus dye. And the cell toxicity was well performed by MTT assays.     

Natural neuroprotective alkaloids from Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers

Modulating inflammatory responses after stroke can prevent brain injury and, therefore, improve neurological outcome. Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers is a Chinese folk medicine with the function of dispelling the “wind and blockage” in the human body according to the Chinese medicine theory, in which the symptoms of stroke are caused by the “wind and blockage” in the body. In this paper, we for the first time linked S. japonica to stroke by clarifying fifteen alkaloidal constituents including five undescribed (1–5) ones and screening out six hasubanan type alkaloids (1–4, 7, 15) that elicited stronger anti-neuroinflammatory activities than the positive drug. Moreover, the total alkaloid fraction (ASJ) with previously undescribed 3 as the main component was subject to the in vivo evaluation of the protective effect in the MCAO-induced brain injury. The results showed that ASJ exhibited potent protective effect against brain injury in the MCAO rat model. The results reported in this paper suggested that the hasubanan alkaloids from S. japonica would be an important molecular source for discovering novel therapeutic agents for neuroinflammation-related diseases, such as stroke diseases.     

基于景观格局和连接度评价的生态网络方法优化与应用

景观生态学中常凭借最小累积阻力模型构建目标种生态网络,以提升破碎栖息地间的景观连接度,缓解生境破碎化负面影响.但传统最小累积阻力生态网络方法缺乏对生态网络的效用验证,对研究地的景观结构变化与生态过程的影响认识不足.本研究运用景观格局指数与连接度概率指数,定量评价生态网络构建前后的研究地景观结构与连接度特征,并以崇左白头叶猴栖息地生态网络为例,详尽叙述此生态网络方法的优化与应用过程.通过对白头叶猴栖息地斑块进行辨认、踏脚石斑块识别,对研究地用地类型进行划分并进行阻力赋值,运用最小累积阻力模型生成了20条白头叶猴栖息地生态网络廊道;然后利用景观结构指数与连接度概率指数结合的方法,对生成的生态网络结构和功能连接度进行评价.结果表明: 凭借最小累积阻力模型构建的目标种生态网络,能有效提升栖息地生境的完整性和连续性,降低总体破碎化水平,并改善生境质量.同时,该生态网络构建能提升生境景观的结构连接度与功能连接度,且两方面的连接度变化在结果上具有极显著的一致性(R²=98.3%,P<0.01).生态网络带来的景观结构方面变化与功能连接度的关联性不强,两种指数间的相互关系不如结构与功能的内在关系显著.     

广西恩城保护区黑叶猴种群数量和保护现状

黑叶猴是栖息于喀斯特石山地区的珍稀濒危灵长类动物,由于非法捕杀和栖息地丧失,种群数量急剧减少。2017年10-12月,我们采用样方法调查恩城国家级自然保护区及其周边地区黑叶猴的种群分布、数量及保护现状,分析其致危因素,为制定有效管理行动计划提供理论依据。本次调查共记录到黑叶猴夜宿地89处,其中有43处夜宿地下方有新鲜排泄物。结合本次调查和访问,确定黑叶猴的种群数量为18群100~105只,包括1只全白化黑叶猴成年雌性个体;其中11群分布在保护区内,7群分布在保护区外。猴群由3~12只个体组成。栖息地破碎化和退化是威胁恩城保护区黑叶猴种群生存的主要因素。     

高原鼠兔瘦素蛋白乳腺特异表达载体的构建及细胞表达

瘦素(Leptin)蛋白是调节机体能量代谢的关键因子之一。前期研究显示高原鼠兔Leptin蛋白发生了适应性进化。功能实验表明,在温暖或寒冷条件下高原鼠兔Leptin通过减少食物摄取和增加能量消耗调节能量平衡,显示了其调节适应性产热过程的潜力。本研究以高原鼠兔Leptin cDNA为模板扩增高原鼠兔obese (ob)基因编码区序列504 bp,改造并构建哺乳动物真核细胞乳腺特异表达载体pBC1-lep,同时通过组织块法原代培养建立奶山羊乳腺上皮细胞系,并通过pBC1-lep质粒脂质体法转染及转基因细胞的筛选,成功获得转染Leptin的阳性细胞。本研究为利用转基因动物实现奶山羊乳腺中特异表达高原鼠兔Leptin提供了一条可能的途径,完成了乳腺特异真核表达载体的构建。