Furostanol saponins from Paris polyphylla: Structures of polyphyllin G and H

The structure of two new saponins, polyphyllins G and H, isolated from the tubers of Paris polyphylla have been elucidated as 3-O-{α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→3) [α-l-arabinofuranosyl (1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-26-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl] (25R)-22α-hydroxy-furost-5-en-3β, 26-diol and its 22-methoxy derivative respectively.     

秦艽香叶醇-10羟化酶（G 10H）基因的克隆及序列分析

香叶醇-10羟化酶(geraniol 10-hydroxylase, G10H)是中药秦艽中龙胆苦苷等环烯醚萜苷类成分合成途径的限速酶。本研究克隆了秦艽G 10H基因,并对其基因及编码蛋白序列的特征进行了生物信息学分析,结果显示：秦艽G 10H基因包含一个完整的长1491 bp的ORF框,编码496个氨基酸;GmG10H与长春花、川西樟牙菜等植物G10H蛋白具有很高的同源性(逸69%),无跨膜结构域、信号肽等结构,可能定位于细胞质中。定量PCR结果显示,GmG10H主要在秦艽的花和根中进行表达。     

Rhodamine 6G, inhibitor of both H-ejections from mitochondria energized with ATP and with respiratory substrates

Rhodamine 6G inhibited ATP hydrolysis by oligomycin-sensitive ATPase, purified from rat liver mitochondria, in good accord with the dose-response curve for its inhibition of energy transduction of ATP synthesis in mitochondria, but it did not inhibit ATP hydrolysis by purified F₁. Rhodamine 6G also inhibited both H⁺-ejections from mitochondria energized with respiratory substrates and with ATP.

The present findings show that the inhibitory effect of rhodamine 6G on energy transduction is not due to a modification of the transport system for adenine nucleotides, P_i, and respiratory substrates, and that the inhibition sites of rhodamine 6G are on components related with H⁺-ejection by redox components and also on F₀.     

Physalins E and H,new physalins from Physalis angulata and P. lancifolia

From the stems and leaves of Physalis angulata and P. lancifolia, the isolation of five new physalins E, F, G, H and I is reported. The structures of physalins E and H are established respectively as 5,6-dihydro-5α,7α-dihydroxy and 7β-hydroxy derivatives of physalin B.     

Popolohuanones G – I,Dimeric Sesquiterpene Quinones with IL‐6 Inhibitory Activity from the Marine Sponge Dactylospongia elegans

Chemical investigation of the marine sponge Dactylospongia elegans, collected from the South China Sea, afforded three new dimeric sesquiterpene quinones, popolohuanones G – I ( 1 – 3 ), together with two known analogs, popolohuanones B ( 4 ) and C ( 5 ). The new structures were determined by HR‐ESI‐MS and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses. All the five compounds showed no cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines, while popolohuanone H ( 2 ) showed potent inhibitory activity against IL‐6, an inflammatory cytokine, at the concentration of 10 μm .     

Ceriopsins F and G,diterpenoids from Ceriops decandra

Chemical examination of the ethyl acetate solubles of the CH(3)OH:CH(2)Cl(2) (1:1) extract of the roots of Ceriops decandra collected from Kauvery estuary resulted in the isolation of two more diterpenoids, ceriopsins F and G (1-2) and five known compounds, ent-13-hydroxy-16-kauren-19-oic acid (steviol, 3), methyl ent-16beta,17-dihydroxy-9(11)-kauren-19-oate (4), ent-16beta,17-dihydroxy-9(11)-kauren-19-oic acid (5), ent-16-oxobeyeran-19-oic acid (isosteviol, 6), 8,15R-epoxypimaran-16-ol (7). The structures of the new diterpenoids were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectral data as methyl ent-13,17-epoxy-16-hydroxykauran-19-oate (1) and ent-16-oxobeyeran-19-al (2).     

一株阿尔泰虫草内生菌的分离及抑菌活性

目的:从采自阿尔泰山脉的虫[ Ophiocordyceps gracilis( Grev.)G.H Sung,J.M.Sung,Hywel- Jones&Spatafora]体内分离出1株出现频率较高的真菌(命名为SFY00C3)进行了研究.方法:经形态学和ITS序列分析鉴定,对SFY00C3菌株及其发酵液采用滤纸片法,同时对6种供试菌株不同程度进行了抑制作用的研究.结果:SFY00C3菌株为青霉属(Penicillium)真菌变灰青霉(Penicillium canescens);对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑制作用较强,抑菌圈均大于10 mm.结论:虫草内生菌变灰青霉的抑菌活性成分值得进一步研究,为研究新的天然产物抑菌药物提供思路.     

中国重楼属特有种卷瓣重楼的地理分布特征及濒危状况

卷瓣重楼Paris undulatis H.Li et V.G.Soukup为中国重楼属植物特有种,然而该种从发表至今,关于其是否为峨眉山原产、是否为峨眉山特有、野生种群是否已灭绝等问题仍无定论。本文通过资源调查、分类学鉴定,并结合IUCN的濒危物种分类标准对卷瓣重楼进行了评价,澄清了上述问题。     

Fasciculols H and I, two lanostane derivatives from Chinese mushroom Naematoloma fasciculare

Two new highly oxygenated fasciculol-type lanostane derivatives, fasciculols H and I (1 and 2, resp.), together with five known compounds, 3-7, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the Chinese toxic mushroom Naematoloma fasciculare. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 2D-NMR (HMBC, HSQC, NOESY, (1)H,(1)H-COSY). Compounds 5-7 were identified for the first time in this mushroom. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 5 were evaluated for inhibitory activity against human glioma cell line U87 and nuclear factor-κB.     

Eryvarins F and G,two 3-phenoxychromones from the roots of Erythrina variegata

Two 3-phenoxychromones, eryvarins F and G, were isolated from the roots of Erythrina variegata. Their structures were established to be 3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenoxy)-7-hydroxy-6,8-di(3,3-dimethylallyl)chromen-4-one and 3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenoxy)-8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-2,2-dimethylpyrano[5,6:6,7]chromen-4-one on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Eryvarins F and G are unusual 3-phenoxychromone derivatives with two isoprenoid groups.     

New physalins from Physalis angulata and Physalis lancifolia. Structure and reactions of physalins D,I, G and K

The structures of physalins I, G and K are established respectively as 5,6-dihydro-5α-methoxy-6β-hydroxy, 4,5-dehydro-5,6-dihydro-4β-hydroxy and 5,6-dihydro-4α,5α-epoxy-6α-hydroxy derivatives of physalin B. The chemistry of physalin D, and the synthesis of physalins D and I from physalin F and physalin K from physalin G are described.     

Analysis of most common mutations R778G, R778L, R778W, I1102T and H1069Q in Indian Wilson disease patients: Correlation between genotype/phenotype/copper ATPase activity

The present study was intented to estimate the frequencies of the most common mutations (R778L, R778W, R778G, I1102T and H1069Q) of ATP7B in Indian Wilson disease (WD) population and to explore the correlation between genotype/phenotype and copper ATPase activity. A total of 33 WD patients and their family members from North West states of India were examined. The H1069Q, R778W and R778L mutations were absent in these WD patients. R778W and I1102T mutations were present in 36% of WD patients. Family analysis for these mutations using PCR-RFLP documented 5 carriers and 2 asymptomatic WD patients. The copper ATPase activity in WD patients was significantly reduced (50%) than that of control individuals. No significant difference was observed in copper stimulated ATPase activity between homozygous (R778W/R778W, I1102T/I1102T) and compound heterozygous (R778W/unknown mutation, I1102T/unknown mutation) WD patients. Serum ceruloplasmin, serum copper levels were significantly lower in homozygous WD patients than that of compound heterozygous. However, no significant difference was observed in liver copper contents between heterozygous and homozygous patients. In conclusion, the data suggest that R778W and I1102T are most common mutations and provide the basis of genetic (PCR-RFLP) diagnostic tool for Indian WD patients as well as in siblings/parents where biochemical parameters are ambiguous.     

Prevalence and potential link between E. coli O157:H7 isolated from drinking water, meat and vegetables and stools of diarrhoeic confirmed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients in the Amathole District - South Africa

Aim:  The current study investigated the prevalence and molecular relatedness between Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from water, meat and meat products and vegetables and from stools of confirmed and non-confirmed Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients with diarrhoea.
Methods and Results:  Culture-based and polymerase chain reaction techniques were used to identify E . coli O157:H7. Thirty-five per cent of meat products, 25·5% of water, 21·7% of vegetables as well as 56·5% and 43·5% of stools of confirmed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients, respectively, were presumptively positive with E . coli O157. Molecular results indicated that 10·3%, 8·6% and 7·8% of the vegetables, water and meat products examined carried E . coli O157:H7, which had homologous fliC _H7 , rfbE _O157 and eaeA genetic loci to the genes of some E . coli O157:H7 isolated from 12·2% and 8·8% of the stools of confirmed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients, respectively.
Conclusions:  Water, meat and meat products and vegetables are potential sources of E . coli O157:H7 that are potentially capable of causing diarrhoea in humans especially HIV/AIDS patients.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Great care should be exercised to ensure that water and foods consumed by HIV/AIDS patients are safe, as contaminated water and foods can cause secondary infections in these patients.     

Structural,biochemical and biophysical characterization of four oxygen-evolving Photosystem II preparations from spinach

Four procedures utilizing different detergent and salt conditions were used to isolate oxygen-evolving Photosystem II (PS II) preparations from spinach thylakoid membranes. These PS II preparations have been characterized by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, steady-state and pulsed oxygen evolution, 77 K fluorescence, and room-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance. All of the O₂-evolving PS II samples were found to be highly purified grana membrane fractions composed of paired, appressed membrane fragments. The lumenal surfaces of the membranes and thus the O₂-evolving enzyme complex, are directly exposed to the external environment. Biochemical and biophysical analyses indicated that all four preparations are enriched in the chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b-}\text{light-harvesting}$ complex and Photosystem II, and depleted to varying degrees in the stroma-associated components, Photosystem I and the CF₁-ATPase. The four PS II samples also varied in their cytochrome f content. All preparations showed enhanced stability of oxygen production and oxygen-rate electrode activity compared to control thylakoids, apparently promoted by low concentrations of residual detergent in the PS II preparations. A model is presented which summarizes the effects of the salt and detergent treatments on thylakoid structure and, consequently, on the configuration and composition of the oxygen-evolving PS II samples.     

Hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome: a new MVK mutation (p.R277G) associated with a severe phenotype

Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS; MIM# 260920) is a rare recessively-inherited autoinflammatory condition caused by mutations in the MVK gene, which encodes for mevalonate kinase, an essential enzyme in the isoprenoid pathway. HIDS is clinically characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation. Here we report on the case of a 2 year-old Portuguese boy with recurrent episodes of fever, malaise, massive cervical lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly since the age of 12 months. Rash, arthralgia, abdominal pain and diarrhea were also seen occasionally. During attacks a vigorous acute-phase response was detected, including elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and leukocytosis. Clinical and laboratory improvement was seen between attacks. Despite normal serum IgD level, HIDS was clinically suspected. Mutational MVK analysis revealed the homozygous genotype with the novel p.Arg277Gly (p.R277G) mutation, while the healthy non-consanguineous parents were heterozygous. Short nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid courses were given during attacks with poor benefits, whereas anakinra showed positive responses only at high doses. The p.R277G mutation here described is a novel missense MVK mutation, and it has been detected in this case with a severe HIDS phenotype. Further studies are needed to evaluate a co-relation genotype, enzyme activity and phenotype, and to define the best therapeutic strategies.