编者按：纪念青蒿素立体结构首报40周年

中国科学家屠呦呦因青蒿素的发现和抗疟新药的创制荣获了2015年度诺贝尔生理或医学奖,这是我国科学家首次获此殊荣,既是对屠呦呦本人以及整个青蒿素研究团队学术贡献的肯定,也是对我国科学事业发展成就的认可。近日,屠呦呦教授因青蒿素研究及其对国家科学发展的重大贡献荣获2016年度国家最高科学技术奖,在此我们表示诚挚的祝贺！ 在青蒿素发现到开发成药的过程中,其三维结构的测定是不可或缺的重要环节。1970年代,中国科学院生物物理研究所(下简称生物物理所)承接了523办公室下达的青蒿素分子结构测定任务,经过数年的艰苦努力,克服了科学、技术及设备的重重困难,于1975年11月30日,在全国523北京会议上首次展示了青蒿素的三维分子图像,随后起草了题为《一种新型倍半萜内酯——青蒿素》的论文。该论文于1977年以青蒿素结构研究协作组的名义发表于《科学通报》1977年第(3)期。这是关于青蒿素结构的首篇科学报道,也是青蒿素结构测定工作取得突破性进展的重要标志。此后,生物物理所青蒿素结构研究组又通过创新技术,引进新算法,进一步得到了青蒿素分子的精细结构和绝对构型,为青蒿素成药及后期的分子改进和新药创制奠定了重要的科学基础,开创了我国快速解析不含重原子晶体结构的方法。在当年既无高精度设备支撑,又无前人实践经验可循的困难情况下,能取得这样的成果,实属不易。其间展现的知难而进的勇气,善于创新的智慧,无私奉献的精神,值得我们铭记、学习和发扬。 值此青蒿素立体结构测定重要学术成果报道40周年之际,本刊特邀有关工作的亲历者梁丽教授和熟悉这一时期历史的结构生物学专家华庆新教授撰写了关于青蒿素结构测定工作的回顾性评述文章,集萃成辑,以飨读者。梁丽教授作为当年青蒿素结构研究组的主要成员,从亲历者的角度回顾了这项具有重要历史意义的工作的发端、展开、最终圆满完成的全过程。华庆新教授从学术角度阐述了青蒿素三维结构测定的重大意义以及测定方法的科学性。我们希望通过本专辑帮助广大读者了解青蒿素结构测定这一重要科学成果取得的历史,感悟其中蕴含的科学与人文精神,并藉此专辑的出版向青蒿素结构测定这一历史成就的取得致以贺忱,向当年参与这项工作的人员致敬,也向在那个相对艰苦的年代为国家科学技术发展默默奉献的全体科技工作者致敬！     

Effects of Overexpression of the Endogenous Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase on the Artemisinin Content in Artemisia annua L.

Artemisinin is a novel effective antimalarial drug extracted from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. Owing to the tight market and low yield of artemisinin, there is great interest in enhancing the production of artemisinin. In the present study, farnesyi diphosphate synthase （FPS） was overexpressed in high-yield A. annua to Increase the artemisinin content. The FPS activity in transgenic A. ennue was twoto threefold greater than that In non-transgenic A. annua. The highest artemisinin content in transgenic A. annua was approximately 0.9% （dry weight）, which was 34.4% higher than that in non-transgenic A. annua. The results demonstrate the regulatory role of FPS in artemisinin biosynthesis.     

UPLC-UV法测定不同产地青蒿中青蒿素的含量

目的:建立快速简便检测青蒿素的超高效液相-紫外(UPLC-UV)法,并对不同产地青蒿中青蒿素的含量进行检测。方法:色谱柱Agilent Eclipse Plus C18(2.1 mm×50 mm,1.8μm),流动相乙腈/水(45/55),流速1.0mL/min,柱温28℃,波长200 nm。结果:该方法对青蒿素的分离度较好,保留时间缩短为1.5 min。并且,整个分析过程可以在2 min内完成。线性范围0.101 17～10.117μg,进样量与峰面积线性相关,A=109.4C+6.7026,R2=0.9 993(n=9),加样回收率为99.3%(RSD=2.6%,n=6)。结论:UPLC-UV法分析时间短、样品前处理简单、精密度、稳定性、加样回收率等符合分析检测要求,对于青蒿中青蒿素的含量能进行快速准确的分析。     

多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球的溶出、生物利用度和组织分布研究

探讨多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球(ART-PS)在体外溶出实验中,相比于青蒿素原药的溶出效果以及在大鼠体内的生物利用度和组织分布规律。在体外溶出实验中,分别在水、人工胃液和人工肠液三种溶出介质中,与青蒿素原药的溶出效果进行比较分析。在体内生物利用度实验中,通过对18只大鼠分别灌胃青蒿素原药与多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球后,检测不同时间点的血药浓度,考察药物在大鼠体内的吸收和代谢差异。在组织分布规律的研究中,对98只大鼠分别灌胃多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球和青蒿素原药,在不同时间点检测大鼠心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑,共6个组织器官中的药物浓度。多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球的体外溶出率在水、人工胃液、人工肠液中分别是青蒿素原药的4.04、3.59和3.82倍。多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球在大鼠体内的血药浓度明显高于青蒿素原药,生物利用度提高为青蒿素原药的2.90倍。在组织分布的结果中,多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球和青蒿素原药都主要分布在心脏和肝脏中,其中多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球在不同时间各个组织中的相应含量都比原药高。多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球相比于青蒿素原药,在体外的溶出效果更好,在体内的吸收释放效果更佳,在各组织器官中的药物含量明显高于原药,为解决青蒿素因难溶于水而在实际应用中受限提供了重要的理论依据。     

不同产地与类型及采收方法对黄花蒿中青蒿素含量的影响

以来源于重庆、广西、湖南、广东、江苏、陕西等省区的72分种质资源为试验材料,研究不同产地与类型及采收方法对黄花蒿中青蒿素含量的影响,为良种的选育和药材的采收提供科学的依据。结果表明:(1)早熟型与中、晚熟型青蒿素含量的差异显著,其顺序为:中熟型>晚熟型>早熟型;(2)在同一管理条件下不同茎秆颜色的青蒿素含量之间差异显著,其顺序为:白杆型>黄绿秆型>紫秆型>绿秆型;(3)不同产地的黄花蒿青蒿素含量动态变化规律一致,青蒿素含量最高时期为孕蕾期,是最佳采收期;(4)不同部位之间青蒿素含量差异显著,以叶片的青蒿素含量最高。     

青蒿素对外生菌根真菌化感效应

青蒿素是治疗疟疾的首选药物,主要从黄花蒿(Artemisia annua L.)中提取,然而黄花蒿在生长过程中会向周围环境分泌青蒿素。为正确评估青蒿素对森林生态系统中的重要成分""外生菌根真菌的影响,试验以重庆地区有代表性的两株外生菌根真菌——褐环乳牛肝菌(Suillus luteus)Sl 8和松乳菇(Lactarius delicious)Ld 3为材料,研究了青蒿素对菌丝生长,H+和有机酸分泌,以及养分吸收的影响。结果表明,在液体培养基中加入青蒿素,外生菌根真菌的生长受到明显抑制,菌丝生物量降幅高达26.89%(Ld 3)和89.13%(Sl 8);Ld 3分泌H+和草酸的能力增强,而Sl 8分泌量下降。随着青蒿素浓度的增加,菌丝的N、P、K含量及吸收量显著减少。当培养基中青蒿素达到80 mg/L时,Ld 3的N、P、K吸收量比不加青蒿素的处理分别降低了50.55%、46.30%和42.28%;Sl 8几乎丧失对N、P、K的吸收能力。说明青蒿素不同程度地抑制了外生菌根真菌的生长和养分吸收,但对H+和草酸的分泌作用因菌株不同而异。     

多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球的抗肿瘤活性研究

探讨多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球(ART-PS)与青蒿素原药(ART)在不同浓度下的抗肿瘤活性,以及分别联合全铁转铁蛋白后对肿瘤细胞的生长抑制作用。在体外实验中,取对数生长期的人肝癌细胞和正常肝细胞接种于96孔板中,不同浓度(0、50、100、150、200μmol·L^-1)给药处理24h后,用MTT法分别检测多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球与青蒿素原药对细胞的生长抑制作用。MTT结果显示,同等处理浓度下,多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球对肿瘤细胞Hep G2和SMMC-7721的抑制效果都高于青蒿素原药,但与盐酸阿霉素相比,都具有较低的细胞毒性,对正常细胞HL7702的毒副作用非常低,结果与分别联合全铁转铁蛋白后对肿瘤细胞的生长抑制作用一致。多孔淀粉负载青蒿素微球对人肝癌细胞的增殖有明显的抑制作用,效果优于青蒿素原药,并对正常肝细胞的毒副作用非常低,为青蒿素在治疗癌症的应用与研究提供了重要的参考依据。     

青蒿素类药物的作用机制:一个长久未决的基础研究挑战

青蒿素是中国自主研制的抗疟良药,高效、低毒,许多基于青蒿素研发的衍生物具有良好的抗疟效果,近年来已成为抗疟的一线药物,受到世界医疗卫生界的充分肯定.虽然青蒿素结构奇特,抑疟效果显著,但40年来其生物作用机制之谜一直未被彻底破解.针对青蒿素类药物的作用机制,提出了不同的假说,如血红素参与青蒿素的激活并被烷基化从而起到抑疟作用,线粒体参与青蒿素的激活和作用过程,某些特定的蛋白是青蒿素作用靶点等.除抑疟外,青蒿素类药物在杀灭其他种类寄生虫、抑制某些癌症细胞以及抗病毒、治疗类风湿等方面也有一定作用.本文将对青蒿素类药物作用机制的研究进行综述及展望,包括抗疟疾过程中的药物激活、作用靶点以及简要的青蒿素抑制肿瘤细胞作用机制,以期为今后的研究提供帮助.     

Artemisinin inhibits breast cancer-induced osteolysis by inhibiting osteoclast formation and breast cancer cell proliferation

In addition to being used to treat malaria, artemisinin (Art) can be used as an anti-inflammatory and antitumor agent. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Art on osteoclast formation and activation and on the development of breast cancer cells in bone. To evaluate the effect of Art on osteoclast differentiation in vitro, we treated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) with various concentrations of Art and evaluated the expression of genes and proteins involved in osteoclast formation. We also performed cell counting kit-8 assays to evaluate the toxicity of Art in BMMs and MDA-MB-231 cells. We also performed Transwell assays, wound-healing assays, colony formation assays, and cell apoptosis assays to evaluate the effect of Art in MDA-MB-231 cells. We also evaluated the effect of Art in an in vivo osteoclast bone resorption assay using a nude mouse model. We demonstrated that Art inhibits the differentiation and establishment of osteoclasts even though Art is not toxic to osteoclasts. In addition, Art reduced expression of genes involved in osteoclast formation and inhibited osteoclast bone resorption in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on our data, we believe that Art can inhibit proliferation of breast cancer cells by activating apoptosis pathways, and inhibit osteoclast formation and differentiation by inhibiting activation of cathepsin K, ATPase H+ transporting V0 subunit D2, nuclear factor of activated T cells 1, calcitonin receptor, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB activation.     

The production of artemisinin precursors in tobacco

Artemisinin, in the form of artemisinin‐based combination therapies (ACTs), is currently the most important compound in the treatment of malaria. The current commercial source of artemisinin is Artemisia annua, but this represents a relatively expensive source for supplying the developing world. In this study, the possibility of producing artemisinin in genetically modified plants is investigated, using tobacco as a model. Heterologous expression of A. annua amorphadiene synthase and CYP71AV1 in tobacco led to the accumulation of amorphadiene and artemisinic alcohol, but not artemisinic acid. Additional expression of artemisinic aldehyde Δ11(13) double‐bond reductase (DBR2) with or without aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) led to the additional accumulation dihydroartemisinic alcohol. The above‐mentioned results and in vivo metabolic experiments suggest that amorphane sesquiterpenoid aldehydes are formed, but conditions in the transgenic tobacco cells favour reduction to alcohols rather than oxidation to acids. The biochemical and biotechnological significance of these results are discussed.     

Quantification of artemisinin in Artemisia annua extracts by 1H-NMR

Artemisinin is a polycyclic sesquiterpene lactone that is highly effective against multidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the etiological agent of the most severe form of malaria. Determination of artemisinin in the source plant, Artemisia annua, is a challenging problem since the compound is present in very low concentrations, is thermolabile and unstable, and lacks chromophoric or fluorophoric groups. The ain of this study was to develop a simple protocol for the quantification of artemisinin in a plant extract using an (1)H-NMR method. Samples were prepared by extraction of leaf material with acetone, treatment with activated charcoal to remove chlorophylls and removal of solvent. (1)H-NMR spectra were measured on samples dissolved in deuterochloroform with tert-butanol as internal standard. Quantification was carried out using the using the delta 5.864 signal of artemisinin and the delta 1.276 signal of tert-butanol. The method was optimised and fully validated against a reference standard of artemisinin. The results were compared with those obtained from the same samples quantified using an HPLC-refractive index (RI) method. The (1)H-NMR method gave a linear response for artemisinin within the range 9.85-97.99 mm (r(2) = 0.9968). Using the described method, yields of artemisinin in the range 0.77-1.06% were obtained from leaves of the A. annua hybrid CPQBA x POP, and these values were in agreement with those obtained using an HPLC-RI.     

State of the art of the production of the antimalarial compound artemisinin in plants

For more than three centuries we have relied on the extracts of the bark of Cinchona species to treat malaria. Now, it seems we may be changing to the leaves of a Chinese weed, Artemisia annua, and its active compound artemisinin. Artemisinin-derived drugs have been proved particularly effective treatments for severe malaria, even for multi-drug-resistant malaria. However, this promising antimalarial compound remains expensive and is hardly available on a global scale. Therefore, many research groups have directed their investigations toward the enhancement of artemisinin production in A. annua cell cultures or whole plants in order to overproduce artemisinin or one of its precursors. This article provides a brief review of the state of art of the different aspects in A. annua research.     

青蒿倍半萜合酶(环化酶)研究进展

青蒿素是从中药青蒿中分离得到的抗疟有效单体,是含有过氧基团的新型倍半萜内酯化合物,是目前世界上最有效的疟疾治疗药物。青蒿素的生物合成途径属于类异戊二烯代谢途径中的倍半萜类分支途径,倍半萜合酶是该途径的关键酶之一,目前已从青蒿中克隆了多个倍半萜合酶基因。综述了青蒿中已克隆的几种倍半萜合酶基因的研究进展。     

青蒿过氧化物酶的克隆及其在体外对青蒿素生物合成的影响

用RACE方法从青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)高产株系001中克隆了一个过氧化物酶.将此基因在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLysS细胞中进行原核表达得到重组蛋白(APOD1),表达的蛋白分别以抗坏血酸、愈创木酚为底物进行过氧化反应,结果显示,APOD1催化愈创木酚的活力是抗坏血酸的1.8倍左右,由此表明,克隆的APOD1类属于植物经典过氧化物酶(第三大类过氧化物酶).经与其他植物过氧化物酶同源性比较分析,推测APOD1的氨基酸序列与白羽扇豆(Lupinus albus)、辣根菜(Armoracia rusticana)、小麦(Triticum aestivum)、烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)和蕃茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)的一致性分别为42.0%、36.2%、38.9%、33.6%和32.8%.Northern杂交分析表明,此基因在青蒿的根、茎和叶中均有表达.加入APOD1至青蒿细胞提取液有利于青蒿酸向青蒿素的生物转化,但APOD1并不能直接以青蒿酸作为氧化底物.     

Metabolic engineering of plants for artemisinin synthesis

Artemisinin, a natural compound from Artemisia annua, is highly effective in treating drug-resistant malaria. Because chemical synthesis of this natural terpenoid is not economically feasible, its only source remains as the native plant which produces only small quantities of it, resulting in a supply that is far short of demand. Extensive efforts have been invested in metabolic engineering for the biosynthesis of artemisinin precursors in microbes. However, the production of artemisinin itself has only been achieved in plants. Since, A. annua possesses only poorly developed genetic resources for traditional breeders, molecular breeding is the best alternative. In this review, we describe the efforts taken to enhance artemisinin production in A. annua via transgenesis and advocate metabolic engineering of the complete functional artemisinin metabolic pathway in heterologous plants. In both cases, we emphasize the need to apply state-of-the-art synthetic biology approaches to ensure successful biosynthesis of the drug.     

Biotransformation of 10-deoxoartemisinin to its 7β-hydroxy derivative by Mucor ramannianus

10-Deoxoartemisinin at 0.2 mg ml^–1 medium was transformed to 7-hydroxy deoxoartemisinin by Mucor ramannianus growing on sucrose, 20 g l^–1, and peptone, 10 g l^–1, at pH 4 and 26 °C. The yield of product was increased from 16% to 45% by selecting optimal culture conditions using a 2^5–2 factorial design.     

青蒿素类化合物与肥胖诱导的代谢性炎症

青蒿素类化合物是治疗疟疾的首选药物,具有高效、速效、低毒和安全的特点。近三十年来,大量研究结果证明青蒿素类化合物具有抗炎和免疫调节功能;这些研究主要集中于自身免疫性疾病,如类风湿性关节炎、全身性红斑狼疮、哮喘病和过敏反应等。最新研究表明,青蒿素类化合物可通过促进白色脂肪棕色化和增强棕色脂肪功能,起到预防肥胖的作用。作为肥胖过程中免疫细胞和炎症状况变化显著的脂肪组织,青蒿素类化合物是否参与其中的免疫炎症调节以及在该过程中发挥的潜在作用有待进一步实验的验证。本文对已有的青蒿素类化合物在抗炎和免疫调节方面的报道进行总结,并对青蒿素类化合物在改善肥胖诱导代谢性炎症方面的潜在应用进行展望。     

综述: X射线晶体衍射是解析出青蒿素三维结构的唯一方法

X射线晶体衍射是解析出青蒿素三维结构的唯一方法     

青蒿素对蔬菜种子发芽和幼苗生长的化感效应

试验以菜豆、豇豆、大白菜和小白菜为对象,用不同浓度的青蒿素浸种,研究了黄花蒿产生的化感物质??青蒿素对蔬菜种子发芽及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,青蒿素对蔬菜种子发芽和幼苗生长的化感作用表现出浓度效应和品种差异,即浓度越高,抑制作用愈强,尤以豇豆种子发芽率和小白菜生长的表现最为明显,前者的发芽率可降低75.00%,后者的苗高降幅高达88.37%,且胚根停止生长。青蒿素抑制同季和后季作物的种子发芽和幼苗生长,有利于扩大黄花蒿的生存空间,增强生存竞争优势。在黄花蒿?蔬菜种植体系中,选择抗化感作用较强的大白菜和菜豆可提高土地利用率和整体生产水平。用青蒿素浸种后,蔬菜幼苗的根系活力降低,菜豆和豇豆叶绿素含量提高,而大、小白菜降低,均可视为妨碍生长的生理原因。此外,青蒿素浸种还提高蔬菜种子可溶性糖和游离氨基酸含量,推测青蒿素对种子水解酶活性的影响较小,但抑制合成酶催化的生化反应,导致代谢紊乱,抑制幼苗生长。     

青蒿毛状根生长、青蒿素合成以及 营养物消耗的动力学

诱导产生的青蒿毛状根培养物置于MS培养基(含30 g/L蔗糖)进行悬浮培养,并对悬浮培养过程中毛状根生长、青蒿素合成、蔗糖、磷酸盐和不同氮源的消耗、pH和电导率的动力学过程进行分析。经30 d培养,生物量干重和青蒿素产量分别达到13.7 g/L和0.23 g/L,碳源和氮源在培养过程中被逐渐利用,而磷酸盐的利用速率最快,培养至15 d所有的磷酸盐均被吸收,pH在培养初期降低,后又逐渐上升,电导率由于毛状根生长对无机离子的吸收而逐渐减低。