Acyclonucleoside Iron Chelators of 1‐(2‐Hydroxyethoxy)methyl‐2‐alkyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4‐pyridinones: Potential Oral Iron Chelation Therapeutics

The method of synthesizing acyclonucleoside iron chelators is both convenient and cost effective compared to that of synthesizing ribonucleoside iron chelators. The X‐ray crystal structural analysis shows that the 2‐hydroxyethoxymethyl group does not affect the geometry of the iron chelating sites. Therefore, the iron binding and removal properties of the acyclonucleoside iron chelators should remain similar to the ribonucleoside iron chelators, which is confirmed by the titration and competition reaction of the acyclonucleoside chelators with iron and ferritin, respectively. The acyclonucleoside iron chelators are more lipophilic with measured n‐octanol and Tris buffer distribution coefficients than ribonucleoside iron chelators.     

Synthesis of Oligoribonucleotides Containing 4‐Thiouridine Using the Convertible Nucleoside Approach and the 1‐(2‐Fluorophenyl)‐4‐Methoxypiperidin‐4‐yl Group

Oligoribonucleotides containing 4‐thiouridine were prepared using the Fpmp group for protection of the 2′‐OH. Two uridine derivatives with the 1,2,4‐triazolyl and the 2‐nitrophenyl groups at position 4 were used to obtain 4‐thiouridine by postsynthetic substitution with sodium hydrogen sulfide. Both uridine derivatives allow the preparation of the desired oligonucleotides in good yields.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Indazole N 1‐ and N 2‐(β‐d‐Ribonucleosides)

The regioselective synthesis of 4‐nitroindazole N ¹‐ and N ²‐(β‐d‐ribonucleosides) (8, 9, 1b and 2b) is described. The N ¹‐regioisomers are formed under thermodynamic control of the glycosylation reaction [fusion reaction or Silyl Hilbert‐Johnson glycosylation for 48 h (66%)], while the kinetic control (Silyl Hilbert‐Johnson glycosylation for 5 h) afforded only the N ²‐isomer (64%). The structures of the nucleosides 1b and 2b were assigned by single crystal X‐ray analyses. The 4‐amino‐N ¹‐(β‐d‐ribofuranosyl)‐1H‐indazole (3b) was obtained from the nitro nucleoside 1b by catalytic hydrogenation. Compound 3b shows fluorescence while the 4‐nitroindazole nucleosides 1b and 2b do not possess this property.     

Design and synthesis of 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,2‐diazepin‐7‐one derivatives as a new series of Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors have attractive therapeutic potential in respiratory, inflammatory, metabolic and CNS disorders. The present work details the design, chemical exploration and biological profile of a novel PDE4 inhibitor chemotype. A diazepinone ring was identified as an under-represented heterocyclic system fulfilling a set of PDE4 structure-based design hypotheses. Rapid exploration of the structure activity relationships for the series was enabled by robust and scalable two/three-steps parallel chemistry protocols. The resulting compounds demonstrated PDE4 inhibitory activity in cell free and cell-based assays comparable to the Zardaverine control used, suggesting potential avenues for their further development.     

The Expression of Urotensin II Receptor (U2R) is Up‐regulated by Interferon‐γ

Abstract

Urotensin‐II (U‐II) was identified as the natural ligand of the G protein‐coupled receptor GPR14, which has been correspondingly renamed Urotensin‐II receptor (U2R). The tissue distribution of U2R and the pharmacological effects of U‐II suggest a novel neurohormonal system with potent cardiovascular effects. We here report the human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line TE‐671 as the first natural and endogenous source of functional U2R in an immortalized cell line. In TE‐671 cells, U‐II stimulated extracellular signal regulated kinase phosphorylation and increased c‐fos mRNA expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the expression of U2R mRNA and functional U‐II high affinity binding sites are serum‐responsive and that they are specifically up‐regulated by interferon γ (IFNγ). We propose that IFNγ contributes to the previously observed increase of U2R density in the heart tissue of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients and we suggest that U2R up‐regulation, as a consequence of an inflammatory response, could lead to a clinical worsening of this disease.     

3个猪品种黑素皮质素受体1(MC1R)基因变异研究

利用测序、PCR-RFLP和PCR-SSCP等技术对杜洛克、长白、大白猪MC1R基因进行研究发现了5个多态位点。其中,668位点G→C突变发生在5′UTR,其余4个多态位点nt894insCC(894位点CC插入),1318C→T,1554G→A和1197G→A发生在编码区。nt894insCC导致编码蛋白过早终止。1318C→T,1554G→A和1197G→A突变分别导致a164Val,Ala243Thr和Asp124Asn氨基酸的改变。所有长白、大白猪个体在894位点均存在CC插入,其余多态位点基因型分别为668GG,1197AA,1318CC,1554GG。所有杜洛克个体在894位点均不存在CC插入,其余多态位点基因型分别为668CC,1197GG,1318TT,1554AA。所有突变位点无杂合子出现。由此可以推测,668G→C,1318C→T和1554G→A可能与杜洛克的红毛色存在相关,导致1197G→A突变无意义的894位点CC插入可能与长白、大白猪白毛色存在相关。     

肌腱蛋白R(Tenascin-R)研究进展

肌腱蛋白R(tenascin-R, TN-R)是一种重要的细胞外基质糖蛋白(extracellular matrix,ECM).分布于中枢神经系统, 主要在髓鞘形成早期的少突胶质细胞中表达,成熟的胶质细胞及某些神经元(如脊髓,视网膜, 小脑和海马的中间神经元)也有表达.TN-R具有复杂的结构,由三种不同的结构域组成,从氨基端到羧基端依次为:类似于表皮生长因子的重复片段, 类似于Ⅲ型纤连蛋白重复片段,类似(血)纤维蛋白原片段组成.TN-R具有多种复杂的功能, 对神经元具有排斥作用,促进或抑制神经元突起的生长, 诱导神经元形态的极性化, 并和髓鞘的形成有关,TN-R结构的复杂性和功能的多样性提示,TN-R有多个受体存在,已经发现的受体有F3/F11,MAG,XL1,Xprocan等.     

Highly selective biotransformation of (+)-(1S)- and (−)-(1R)-camphorquinone by Aspergillus wentii

Abstract

To clarify the structures of biotransformation products and metabolic pathways, the biotransformation of monoterpenoids, (+)- and (?)-camphorquinone (1a and b), has been investigated using Aspergillus wentii as a biocatalyst. Compound 1a was converted to (?)-(2S)-exo-hydroxycamphor (2a), (?)-(2S)-endo-hydroxycamphor (3a), (?)-(3S)-exo-hydroxycamphor (4a), (?)-(3S)-endo-hydroxycamphor (5a), and (+)-camphoric acid (6a). Compound 1b was converted to (+)-(2R)-exo-hydroxycamphor (2b), (+)-(2R)-endo-hydroxycamphor (3b), (+)-(3R)-exo-hydroxycamphor (4b), (+)-(3R)-endo-hydroxycamphor (5b), and (?)-camphoric acid (6b). Compound 1a mainly produced 2a (65.0%) with stereoselectivity, whereas 1b afforded 3b (84.3%) with high stereoselectivity. These structures were confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, infrared, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and ¹³C NMR spectral data. The products illustrate the marked ability of A. wentii for enzymatic oxidation and ketone reduction.     

牛黑素皮质素受体1(MC1R)基因与毛色表形的研究

牛MC1R基因不仅与毛色有关, 而且与牛乳中乳蛋白的含量有关。利用PCR-RFLP和DNA测序技术分析了中国荷斯坦黑白花牛, 中国荷斯坦红白花牛, 鲁西黄牛和渤海黑牛共4个品种的MC1R基因。共检测出3种等位基因(E^D, E⁺, e)。中国荷斯坦黑白花牛主要是E^D和E⁺等位基因(E^D=0.12、E⁴=0.80); 渤海黑牛也主要是E^D和E⁺等位基因(E^D=0.52、E⁺=0.47); 中国荷斯坦红白花牛和鲁西黄牛大多为e等位基因(e=0.95)。中国荷斯坦红白花牛和鲁西黄牛还存在E⁺/e基因型。由此推测E^D和E⁺等位基因导致黑色素合成。另外发现牛MC1R基因编码区725处存在一重要的SNP(单核苷酸多态性)。     

猪黑素皮质素受体1(MC1R)基因与毛色表型的研究

猪的毛色表型虽然与经济性状没有直接相关,但它却对经济效益产生重要影响,在猪育种实践、商品猪生产等方面都有应用。结合PCR—AccⅡ—RFIP、PCR—BspH I—RFLP及PCR-SSCP技术,分析了16个全同胞家系和金华猪、嘉兴黑猪、玉山黑猪、乐平花猪、上高两头乌猪及嵊县花猪等6个地方猪种随机采样个体的黑素皮质素受体1(MCIR)基因型。结果显示,地方猪种在MCIR位点携带高频率的显性黑等位基因E^DI,表明我国地方猪种的黑毛色可能主要由显性黑等位基因E^DI调控。通过对嵊县花猪MCIR位点的分析,首次发现PCR-SSCP证据的新序列,与已知的其他5个等位基因带型不同。家系个体的分析结果进一步验证了E^DI对E^p、e为完全显性,E^p对e为不完全显性。     

An Efficient Route to Novel 4,5‐Di‐ and 2,4,5‐Tri Substituted Imidazoles from Imidazo[1,5‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazine (5,8‐Diaza‐7,9‐dideazapurine) Derivatives

Two new types of imidazole derivatives: N‐(2‐R¹‐5‐R²‐1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl) thioureas 7a–g and N‐(2‐R¹‐5‐R²‐1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl) formamides 8b,c,g were obtained in high yields by the hydrolytic degradation of 6‐R¹‐8‐R²‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,5‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazin‐4(1H)‐ones 5a–g and 6‐R¹‐8‐R²‐imidazo[1,5‐a]‐1,3,5‐triazin‐4(3H)‐ones 6b,c,d, respectively. The tautomeric preferences of the new imidazoles were determined.     

Aberrant intracellular IGF-1R β-subunit makes receptor knockout cells (IGF1R) susceptible to oncogenic transformation

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) is important for transformation of cells with cellular and viral oncogenes. This knowledge is mainly based on experiments on IGF-1R knockout mouse fibroblasts, which mostly are unable to transform after introduction of various oncogenes. Recently, we observed two variants of R- cells, one of which (R-s) surprisingly expresses the β-subunit of IGF-1R whereas the other one (R-r) does not. Here we show that the β-subunit is localized intracellularly and forms perinuclear aggregates. It expresses tyrosine kinase activity and appears to be crucial for cell survival since knockdown of it kills the R-s cells. H-RasV12 and/or polyoma middle T-antigen fail to transform R-r, whereas R- cells expressing the β-subunit were transformed as assessed by formation of colonies in soft agar. The oncogenic transformation of R-s cells was, however, abrogated when the aberrant β-subunit was knockdown by siRNA. The occurrence of intracellular IGF-1R, especially in tumor cells, has been widely reported but its function has not been understood. Our study provides evidence that it may be important for cell survival and transformation.     

Pfeilgift aus Südwest‐Afrika (Damaraland)

Much current anti-consumerist and anti-globalisation discourseidentifies boycotting as an immensely powerful force. Religious and secular activists alike promote consumer boycotts as a type of practised resistance that promises to break US economic, military and culturalhegemony. Obviously, consumers' supportis essential for the success of such boycotts, and I argue that insufficient anthropological attention has been paid to the micro-sociallogics of modern forms of boycotting. This article examines the political and cultural effects of the Islamic opposition's call to boycott US goods in Malaysia in the wake of 9/11. I shall show how this issue evokes a wide range of contestations and paradoxesin the everydaylives of suburban Malay Muslim middle-class families. Most of all, the boycott confronts divergent Malay middle-class groups with the problem of how to translate intentionality into practice.     

问题解答(1)

问:绿色植物在有阳光时行光合作用吸二氧化碳放出氧气,在晚上没阳光时只有呼吸作用吸氧气放二氧化碳,为什么总说早晨到树林中散步空气好呢? 答:因为空气流动得很厉害,所以在一般树林中白天夜晚O_2及CO_2含量的改变是极小的.说早晨空气好,并不是植物起了什么作用,而是因为夜间人们的活动停止了,车马不在路上奔驰了,工厂的烟囱不冒烟了.加上树林中的湿度较大,尘土都降落在地上,空气就更为清洁了.我们夜间睡在屋中,屋中温度较高,不好气味的有机物(器物中发出或人呼出)空气中也很多,所以一到树林中,凉爽而清洁的空气,眼界的开朗就使我们心神为之一振.(吴相钰、董愚得答)     

Isolation and characteristics of the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) in the Chinese yakow (Bos grunniens×Bos taurus)

The Chinese yakow is the offspring of yak (Bos grunniens) and Yellow cattle (Bos taurus). The melanocortin 1receptor gene (MC1R) plays a crucial role in determining coat colour of mammals. To investigate the relationship of polymorphism of the MC1R with coat colour in the Chinese yakow, the coding sequence (CDS) and the flanking region of MC1R were sequenced from 84 Chinese yakow samples and compared with the sequences of the MC1R from other bovid species. A fragment of 1134 base pair (bp) sequences including the full CDS (954bp) and parts of the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions (162 and 18bp, respectively) of the Chineseyakow MC1R were obtained. A total of 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including 4 SNPs (T-129C, A-127C, C-106T, G-1A) in the 5'-untranslated region and 9 SNPs (C201T, T206C, C340A, C375T, T663C, G714C, C870T, G871A and T890C) in the CDS were identified, revealing high genetic variability. Four novel SNPs including T206C, G714C, C870T and T890C, which have not been reported previously in bovid species, were retrieved. Within 9 coding SNPs, C201T, C375T, T663C and C870T were silent mutations, while T206C, C340A, G714C, G871A and T890C were mis-sense mutations, corresponding to amino acid changes p.L69P, p.Q114K, p.K238N, p.A291N and p.I297T, respectively. Amino acid sequences alignment showed a more than 96% similarity with other ruminates. However, three classical bovine MC1R loci the E(D), E(+) and e were not retrieved in the Chinese yakow, indicating other genes or factors could be involved in affecting coat colour in this species.     

Synthesis of Some Novel 6‐Benzyl(or Substituted Benzyl)‐2‐β‐d‐Glucopyranosyl‐1,2,4‐Triazolo[4,3‐b][1,2,4]Triazines as Potential Antimicrobial Chemotherapeutics

Glucosidation of the new 8‐amino‐6‐benzyl(or substituted benzyl)‐2,8‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐triazolo[4,3‐b][1,2,4]triazin‐7(3H)‐ones (3a–d) with 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d‐glucopyranosyl bromide 4 gave the corresponding N‐glucosides 5a–d. Chemical transformations leading to new functionalities have also been achieved to give compounds 7–12. Antimicrobial activity of compounds 5a–c against Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium italicum, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli is described.     

随机-半理性组合突变改造ω-转氨酶催化合成(R)-1-(1-萘基)乙胺

(R)-1-(1-萘基)乙胺是合成拟钙剂药物盐酸西那卡塞的关键手性中间体,利用ω-转氨酶不对称还原1-萘乙酮合成(R)-1-(1-萘基)乙胺具有较好的应用前景。文中针对节杆菌属Arthrobacter sp.来源的ω-转氨酶,采用随机突变和半理性设计相结合的策略,获得了催化效率和热稳定性提高的突变酶F225M、C281I和F225M/C281I。与WT相比,双突变体F225M/C281I的kcat提高85%,Km下降56%,催化效率kcat/Km提高3.42倍。此外,F225M/C281I催化10mmol/L1-萘乙酮反应24h的转化率提高了22%。分子对接和分子动力学模拟结果表明,F225M/C281I相比于WT增加了与底物1-萘乙酮之间的Pi-Pi相互作用力,导致其催化效率的提高;而且突变酶F225M/C281I的134–139位点残基的均方根波动(RMSF)相比WT明显降低,与半衰期的略微提高相关。     

The Authentic (In)Authentic: Bushman Anthro‐Tourism

Focusing on tourism ventures that market contact with so‐called bushmen, this paper examines some of the current dynamics and consequences of cultural tourism in Namibia, where the Government has instituted a series of progressive policies to promote local control over tourism development. While notions of primitive cultural otherness continue to feature centrally in tourist demand for contact with “bushmen,” the community‐based and collaborative tourism’ ventures currently being developed in Namibia teach tourists to see their “bushman” hosts as modernizing producers of tourism in their own right, and not just as objects of touristic commodification. Drawing from the anthropological literature on tourism and authenticity, and on the work of Slavoj Zizek on the workings of modern ideology, we argue that such ventures encourage tourists to practise a sort of “meta‐tourism,” in which the authenticity of “traditional bushmen” is replaced by the meta‐authenticity of a tourism experience that thematizes its own effects on the lives of those being visited. For the “bushman” participants in such ventures, we contend, the financial and political benefits of tourism, substantial as they can sometimes be, are ultimately offset by the developmentalist underpinnings of meta‐tourist discourse, which casts “bushmen” as forever not‐quite‐yet fully modern, in perpetual contrast to the tourists who visit them.