Synthesis of AlN: Eu2+ green phosphors by a simple direct nitridation method

Eu‐doped aluminum nitride phosphors were successfully prepared using simple direct nitridation of a metallic aluminum and Eu₂O₃ powder mixture in flowing ammonia. AlN formed at reaction temperatures >900°C, and Eu³⁺ transformed into the secondary oxide phase EuAl₂O₄ in the nitridation condition. Phase pure AlN was obtained by post‐heat treatment of the nitridated product at 1600°C for 3 h in a nitrogen atmosphere, with an Eu²⁺ doping concentration < 0.5%. The phosphors exhibited broad green emission centered at 521 nm under 363 nm excitation. The luminescence of the phosphor was significantly influenced by the post‐heat treatment temperature, which affected the dissolution of Eu²⁺, phase purity, crystallinity, and particle size of the AlN host.     

Yeast Cells Expressing the Human Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase Reveal Correlations between Polymerase Fidelity and Human Disease Progression

Mutations in the human mitochondrial polymerase (polymerase-γ (Pol-γ)) are associated with various mitochondrial disorders, including mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndrome, Alpers syndrome, and progressive external opthamalplegia. To correlate biochemically quantifiable defects resulting from point mutations in Pol-γ with their physiological consequences, we created “humanized” yeast, replacing the yeast mtDNA polymerase (MIP1) with human Pol-γ. Despite differences in the replication and repair mechanism, we show that the human polymerase efficiently complements the yeast mip1 knockouts, suggesting common fundamental mechanisms of replication and conserved interactions between the human polymerase and other components of the replisome. We also examined the effects of four disease-related point mutations (S305R, H932Y, Y951N, and Y955C) and an exonuclease-deficient mutant (D198A/E200A). In haploid cells, each mutant results in rapid mtDNA depletion, increased mutation frequency, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutation frequencies measured in vivo equal those measured with purified enzyme in vitro. In heterozygous diploid cells, wild-type Pol-γ suppresses mutation-associated growth defects, but continuous growth eventually leads to aerobic respiration defects, reduced mtDNA content, and depolarized mitochondrial membranes. The severity of the Pol-γ mutant phenotype in heterozygous diploid humanized yeast correlates with the approximate age of disease onset and the severity of symptoms observed in humans.     

Nitrosothiol Formation and Protection against Fenton Chemistry by Nitric Oxide-induced Dinitrosyliron Complex Formation from Anoxia-initiated Cellular Chelatable Iron Increase

Dinitrosyliron complexes (DNIC) have been found in a variety of pathological settings associated with ^•NO. However, the iron source of cellular DNIC is unknown. Previous studies on this question using prolonged ^•NO exposure could be misleading due to the movement of intracellular iron among different sources. We here report that brief ^•NO exposure results in only barely detectable DNIC, but levels increase dramatically after 1–2 h of anoxia. This increase is similar quantitatively and temporally with increases in the chelatable iron, and brief ^•NO treatment prevents detection of this anoxia-induced increased chelatable iron by deferoxamine. DNIC formation is so rapid that it is limited by the availability of ^•NO and chelatable iron. We utilize this ability to selectively manipulate cellular chelatable iron levels and provide evidence for two cellular functions of endogenous DNIC formation, protection against anoxia-induced reactive oxygen chemistry from the Fenton reaction and formation by transnitrosation of protein nitrosothiols (RSNO). The levels of RSNO under these high chelatable iron levels are comparable with DNIC levels and suggest that under these conditions, both DNIC and RSNO are the most abundant cellular adducts of ^•NO.     

Binding of fluphenazine with human serum albumin in the presence of rutin and quercetin: An evaluation of food‐drug interaction by spectroscopic techniques

The interactions between human serum albumin (HSA) and fluphenazine (FPZ) in the presence or absence of rutin or quercetin were studied by fluorescence, absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The results showed that the fluorescence quenching mechanism was static quenching by the formation of an HSA–FPZ complex. Entropy change (ΔS ⁰) and enthalpy change (ΔH ⁰) values were 68.42 J/(mol? K) and ?4.637 kJ/mol, respectively, which indicated that hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds played major roles in the acting forces. The interaction process was spontaneous because the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG ⁰) values were negative. The results of competitive experiments demonstrated that FPZ was mainly located within HSA site I (sub‐domain IIA). Molecular docking results were in agreement with the experimental conclusions of the thermodynamic parameters and competition experiments. Competitive binding to HSA between flavonoids and FPZ decreased the association constants and increased the binding distances of FPZ binding to HSA. The results of absorption, synchronous fluorescence, three‐dimensional fluorescence, and CD spectra showed that the binding of FPZ to HSA caused conformational changes in HSA and simultaneous effects of FPZ and flavonoids induced further HSA conformational changes.     

The apolipoprotein A‐I mimetic peptide,D‐4F,restrains neointimal formation through heme oxygenase‐1 up‐regulation

D‐4F, an apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I) mimetic peptide, possesses distinctly anti‐atherogenic effects. However, the biological functions and mechanisms of D‐4F on the hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remain unclear. This study aimed to determine its roles in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. In vitro, D‐4F inhibited VSMC proliferation and migration induced by ox‐LDL in a dose‐dependent manner. D‐4F up‐regulated heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) expression in VSMCs, and the PI3K/Akt/AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway was involved in these processes. HO‐1 down‐regulation with siRNA or inhibition with zinc protoporphyrin (Znpp) impaired the protective effects of D‐4F on the oxidative stress and the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Moreover, down‐regulation of ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) abolished the activation of Akt and AMPK, the up‐regulation of HO‐1 and the anti‐oxidative effects of D‐4F. In vivo, D‐4F restrained neointimal formation and oxidative stress of carotid arteries in balloon‐injured Sprague Dawley rats. And inhibition of HO‐1 with Znpp decreased the inhibitory effects of D‐4F on neointimal formation and ROS production in arteries. In conclusion, D‐4F inhibited VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro and neointimal formation in vivo through HO‐1 up‐regulation, which provided a novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategy for anti‐restenosis of arteries.     

Focal adhesion kinase maintains,but not increases the adhesion of dental pulp cells

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) functions as a key enzyme in the integrin-mediated adhesion-signalling pathway. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of FAK on adhesion of human dental pulp (HDP) cells. We transfected lentiviral vectors to silence or overexpress FAK in HDP cells ex vivo. Early cell adhesion, cell survival and focal contacts (FCs)-related proteins (FAK and paxillin) were examined. By using immunofluorescence, the formation of FCs and cytoskeleton was detected, respectively. We found that both adhesion and survival of HDP cells were suppressed by FAK inhibition. However, FAK overexpression slightly inhibited cell adhesion and exhibited no change in cell survival compared with the control. A thick rim of cytoskeleton accumulated and smaller dot-shaped FCs appeared in FAK knockdown cells. Phosphorylation of paxillin (p-paxillin) was inhibited in FAK knockdown cells, verifying that the adhesion was inhibited. Less cytoskeleton and elongated FCs were observed in FAK-overexpressed cells. However, p-paxillin had no significant difference compared with the control. In conclusion, the data suggest that FAK maintains cell adhesion, survival and cytoskeleton formation, but excessive FAK has no positive effects on these aspects.     

A salt-bridge switch in the molecular recognition between RS receptor and RGD ligand from the ABEEM σπ molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract

How the receptor and ligand recognise each other is a challenging subject in explaining the mechanism of recognition at the molecular level. As a starting point, here, a synthesised RS receptor and its RGD ligand were investigated as a proper model to simulate their recognition process in terms of ABEEMσπ/MM polarisable force field. It is found that a switch of forming up a salt bridge in the ligand triggers the recognition of the receptor and ligand. Through the salt-bridge switch that undergoes several cycles from on-state with parallel hydrogen bonds to off-state with bifurcated hydrogen bonds, the active site of ligand can flex easily to interact with the active site of the receptor. In addition, the water molecules form a decisive bridge connecting the active sites of the bound system. The salt-bridge switch and water-mediated movement are cooperative as the important factors for the receptor-ligand recognition. In addition, the properties, such as binding free energy, conformational flexibility and solvent accessible surface area have been calculated to provide adequate evidence for the whole recognition process. According to the simulation, a detailed mechanism was derived involving diffusion, a switch triggered cooperative water-mediated movement, and conformational folding, for the flexible recognition.     

EPA,not DHA,prevents fibrosis in pressure overload-induced heart failure: potential role of free fatty acid receptor 4

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is half of all HF, but standard HF therapies are ineffective. Diastolic dysfunction, often secondary to interstitial fibrosis, is common in HFpEF. Previously, we found that supra-physiologic levels of ω3-PUFAs produced by 12 weeks of ω3-dietary supplementation prevented fibrosis and contractile dysfunction following pressure overload [transverse aortic constriction (TAC)], a model that resembles aspects of remodeling in HFpEF. This raised several questions regarding ω3-concentration-dependent cardioprotection, the specific role of EPA and DHA, and the relationship between prevention of fibrosis and contractile dysfunction. To achieve more clinically relevant ω3-levels and test individual ω3-PUFAs, we shortened the ω3-diet regimen and used EPA- and DHA-specific diets to examine remodeling following TAC. The shorter diet regimen produced ω3-PUFA levels closer to Western clinics. Further, EPA, but not DHA, prevented fibrosis following TAC. However, neither ω3-PUFA prevented contractile dysfunction, perhaps due to reduced uptake of ω3-PUFA. Interestingly, EPA did not accumulate in cardiac fibroblasts. However, FFA receptor 4, a G protein-coupled receptor for ω3-PUFAs, was sufficient and required to block transforming growth factor β1-fibrotic signaling in cultured cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a novel mechanism for EPA. In summary, EPA-mediated prevention of fibrosis could represent a novel therapy for HFpEF.