Synthesis and Biological Activities of Nicotinaldehyde Based 1,4-Dihydropyridinedicarboxylates

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - 1,4-Dihydropyridinecarboxylates were prepared by the reaction of nicotinaldehydes with aminocrotonoates in the presence of p-TsOH at room temperature. The...     

Molecular analysis of the bacterial microbiome in the forestomach fluid from the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Rumen microorganisms play an important role in ruminant digestion and absorption of nutrients and have great potential applications in the field of rumen adjusting, food fermentation and biomass utilization etc. In order to investigate the composition of microorganisms in the rumen of camel (Camelus dromedarius), this study delves in the microbial diversity by culture-independent approach. It includes comparison of rumen samples investigated in the present study to other currently available metagenomes to reveal potential differences in rumen microbial systems. Pyrosequencing based metagenomics was applied to analyze phylogenetic and metabolic profiles by MG-RAST, a web based tool. Pyrosequencing of camel rumen sample yielded 8,979,755 nucleotides assembled to 41,905 sequence reads with an average read length of 214 nucleotides. Taxonomic analysis of metagenomic reads indicated Bacteroidetes (55.5 %), Firmicutes (22.7 %) and Proteobacteria (9.2 %) phyla as predominant camel rumen taxa. At a finer phylogenetic resolution, Bacteroides species dominated the camel rumen metagenome. Functional analysis revealed that clustering-based subsystem and carbohydrate metabolism were the most abundant SEED subsystem representing 17 and 13 % of camel metagenome, respectively. A high taxonomic and functional similarity of camel rumen was found with the cow metagenome which is not surprising given the fact that both are mammalian herbivores with similar digestive tract structures and functions. Combined pyrosequencing approach and subsystems-based annotations available in the SEED database allowed us access to understand the metabolic potential of these microbiomes. Altogether, these data suggest that agricultural and animal husbandry practices can impose significant selective pressures on the rumen microbiota regardless of rumen type. The present study provides a baseline for understanding the complexity of camel rumen microbial ecology while also highlighting striking similarities and differences when compared to other animal gastrointestinal environments.     

Bile acid amides derived from chiral amino alcohols: novel antimicrobials and antifungals

Cholic and deoxycholic acid amides 10-17 have been synthesised from (1R,2R)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 2, (1S,2S)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 4, (1R,2R)-1-para-nitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 3, (1S,2S)-1-para-nitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 5. Amide 12 derived from N-succinimidyl ester 9 of deoxycholic acid and (1R,2R)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 2, found to be active against Cryptococcus neoformans and the amide 17 obtained from N-succinimidyl ester 9 of deoxycholic acid and (1S,2S)-1-para-nitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 5, is found to be potent against various gram-positive bacteria.     

Smoking impairs muscle recovery from exercise

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of many adverse health consequences. Chronic nicotine exposure leads to insulin resistance and may increase the risk of developing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in young otherwise healthy smokers. To evaluate smoking-induced effects on carbohydrate metabolism, we studied muscle glycogen recovery from exercise in a young healthy population of smokers. The study used 31P-13C NMR spectroscopy to compare muscle glycogen and glucose 6-phosphate levels during recovery in exercised gastrocnemius muscles of randomized cohorts of healthy male smokers (S) and controls (C). Data for the two groups were as follows: S, > or =20 cigarettes/day (n = 8), 24 +/- 2 yr, 173 +/- 3 cm, 70 +/- 4 kg and age- and weight-matched nonsmoking C (n = 10), 23 +/- 1 yr, 175 +/- 3 cm, 67 +/- 3 kg. Subjects performed single-leg toe raises to deplete glycogen to approximately 20 mmol/l, and glycogen resynthesis was measured during the first 4 h of recovery. Plasma samples were assayed for glucose and insulin at rest and during recovery. Test subjects were recruited from the general community surrounding Yale University. Glycogen was depleted to similar levels in the two groups [23.5 +/- 1.2 (S) and 19.1 +/- 1.3 (C) mmol/l]. During the 1st h of recovery, glycogen synthesis rates were similar [13.8 +/- 1.1 (S) and 15.3 +/- 1.3 (C) mmol x l-1 x h-1]. Between hours 1 and 4, glycogen synthesis was impaired in smokers [0.8 +/- 0.2 (S) and 4.5 +/- 0.5 (C) mmol x l-1 x h-1, P = 0.0002] compared with controls. Glucose 6-phosphate was reduced in smokers during hours 1-4 [0.105 +/- 0.006 (S) and 0.217 +/- 0.019 (C) mmol/l, P = 0.0212]. We conclude that cigarette smoking impairs the insulin-dependent portion of muscle recovery from glycogen-depleting exercise. This impairment likely results from a reduction in glucose uptake.