Synthesis of cytotoxic novel 9,11-secosterol analogs: Structure/activity studies

In an effort to determine the pharmaceutical utility and the structural requirements for activity against tumor cell lines, 30 novel 9,11-secosterol analogues with different side chains and degrees of oxidation at C-9 were synthesized starting from hecogenin. Evaluation of the synthesized compounds for cytotoxicity against KB, HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines revealed that some important structural features are required for activity. The presence of a cholesterol-type side chain, which appears to play a major role in determining the biological activity, the existence of a ketone functional at C-9 is also crucial for anticancer activity whereas hydroxyl/ketone function at C-22 on the side chain did not increase cytotoxicity.     

Bioactive 9,11‐Secosteroids from Gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa Collected from the South China Sea

Five new 9,11‐secosteroids 1, 2 , and 4 – 6 , and seven known analogs, 3 and 7 – 12 , with the same steroid skeleton, (5αH)‐3β,6α,11‐trihydroxy‐9,11‐secocholest‐7‐en‐9‐one, were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa. Among them, 2 / 3 and 4 / 5 are C(24)‐epimeric mixtures, and 6 / 7 is an (E)/(Z) mixture of (C(24)?C(28)). Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by using comprehensive spectroscopic methods including NOESY spectra. The absolute configuration of the steroidal nucleus was established by the modified Mosher method applied to 10 and on the basis of a common biogenesis for all of these compounds. All isolated compounds, 1 – 12 , and five synthetic acetylated derivatives, 12a – 12e , were evaluated for their cytotoxicities in vitro. Compounds 4 / 5, 11, 12 , and 12b – 12d showed cytotoxic activities against K562 cell line with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.09 to 8.12 μM .     

栎壮短指软珊瑚的化学成分研究

从南中国海采集的栎壮短指软珊瑚Sinularia robusta macfadyen中分离到神经酰胺苷(4E,8E)-N-D-2'-hydroxydocosanoyl-1-O-β-D-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine(1)和开环甾醇3β,11-dihydroxy-9,11-secogorgost-5-en-9-one(2).首次利用X-单晶衍射技术研究了化合物2的晶体结构.     

Identification of a diene conjugated component of human lipid as octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid

The predominant diene conjugated acyl residue in triacylglycerols, cholesteryl esters and phospholipids in human serum was identified by high performance liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It is an octadeca -9,11-dienoic acid.     

Aplidiasterols A and B, two new cytotoxic 9,11-secosterols from the Mediterranean ascidian Aplidium conicum

Two novel 9,11-secosterols, aplidiasterols A (3β,6β,11-trihydroxy-9,11-seco-5α-cholest-7-en-9-one, 1) and B (3β,5α,6β,11-tetrahydroxy-9,11-secocholest-7-en-9-one, 2), along with the known secosterols 3 and 4, were isolated from the Mediterranean ascidian Aplidium conicum and their structures were determined by spectroscopic data. Aplidiasterols A and B were found to be cytotoxic against rat glioma (C6) and murine monocyte/macrophage (J774) tumor cells in vitro. Compounds 1-4 represent the first example of secosterols isolated from tunicates.     

Stimulating action of methyl 12, 12, 12-trifluorofarnesoate on in vitro juvenile hormone III biosynthesis in blattella germanica

Methyl 12, 12, 12-trifluorofarnesoate (MTFF) at a dose of 10 μM, stimulated in vitro juvenile hormone (JH) release in corpora allata (CA) from 6-day-old, freshly ecdysed, and 8-day-old (period of ootheca transport) adult virgin females of Blattella germanica. In addition, MTFF also induced intraglandular accumulation of JH and MF in treated CA. Trifluorofarnesoic acid (TFFA) and trifluorofarnesol (TFF) exhibited the same properties, although to a lesser extent than MTFF. The detection of MTFF in TFFA-treated CA suggested that TFFA and TFF were biotransformed into MTFF by the CA enzymatic system and that this ester might be responsible for the activity observed. Equivalent experiments carried out with farnesoic acid (FA) resulted in a more significant stimulation of JH production. This is not surprising, because exogenous FA is readily epoxidized at C10-C11 double bond and methylated to afford JH. Conversely, analytical data have shown that the C6-C7 double bond of MTFF is epoxidized by the CA enzymatic system, whereas that at C10-C11 remains practically unaltered.     

Micronutrient deficiency and the prevalence of mothers' overweight/obesity in Egypt.

I examine the relationship between micronutrient deficiency and the prevalence of mothers' overweight/obesity in Egypt using the 1997 Egyptian Integrated Household Survey. The ordered logit results show an overlap between micronutrient deficiency and the prevalence of mothers' overweight/obesity in Egypt. The odds of being overweight/obese are 80.8% higher for micronutrient deficient mothers than for non-deficient mothers, keeping all other variables constant. These results have at least two interesting policy implications. First, as the potential impact of the interaction between micronutrient deficiency and chronic diseases is not well known, the coexistence of micronutrient deficient and overweight/obese women can raise new and serious public health problems in the country. Second, the Egyptian food subsidy program, which lowers the relative prices of energy-dense, nutrient-poor food items, can be one of the major factors for the emergence of overweight/obese and micronutrient deficient mothers in the country. Changing the orientation of the food subsidy program may help to simultaneously address this double burden of mothers' malnutrition.     

Molecular mechanism of metal-independent decomposition of lipid hydroperoxide 13-HPODE by halogenated quinoid carcinogens

Halogenated quinones are a class of carcinogenic intermediates and newly identified chlorination disinfection by-products in drinking water. 13-Hydroperoxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HPODE) is the most extensively studied endogenous lipid hydroperoxide. Although it is well known that the decomposition of 13-HPODE can be catalyzed by transition metal ions, it is not clear whether halogenated quinones could enhance its decomposition independent of metal ions and, if so, what the unique characteristics and similarities are. Here we show that 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ) could markedly enhance the decomposition of 13-HPODE and formation of reactive lipid alkyl radicals such as pentyl and 7-carboxyheptyl radicals, and the genotoxic 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), through the complementary application of ESR spin trapping, HPLC–MS, and GC–MS methods. Interestingly, two chloroquinone–lipid alkoxyl conjugates were also detected and identified from the reaction between DCBQ and 13-HPODE. Analogous results were observed with other halogenated quinones. This represents the first report that halogenated quinoid carcinogens can enhance the decomposition of the endogenous lipid hydroperoxide 13-HPODE and formation of reactive lipid alkyl radicals and genotoxic HNE via a novel metal-independent nucleophilic substitution coupled with homolytic decomposition mechanism, which may partly explain their potential genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.     

On the mechanism of the oxygenation of arachidonic acid by human platelet lipoxygenase

Formation of 12L-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid from [10L-³H; 3-¹⁴C]arachidonic acid in suspensions of human platelets occurred with extensive loss of tritium and was accompanied by an isotope effect. These experiments showed that there is an antarafacial relation between the elimination of hydrogen from C-10 and insertion of oxygen at C-12 by human platelet lipoxygenase, and that the hydrogen elimination probably occurs as the initial step of the conversion. (Endo) peroxide intermediates formed by the fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase pathway activated platelet lipoxygenase.     

Twin differences in birth weight: the effects of genotype and prenatal environment on neonatal and post-neonatal mortality.

There is much evidence to suggest that both genes and prenatal environment influence life chances. However, recent within-twin estimates also raise questions about how the influence of genes and prenatal environment may vary across different subgroups of a population and over time. This paper explores such potential variation within the 1st year of life. Using data on twin births from the 1995-1997 Matched Multiple Birth Database and an analytic strategy based on the Weinberg assumption, this paper considers how associations between birth weight and infant mortality vary across identical and fraternal twins, gestational age, and time. Results suggest that the influence of genes and prenatal environment vary most significantly by gestational age. In pregnancies that lasted less than 37 weeks, within-twin variation in prenatal environment is able to account for negative associations between birth weight and infant mortality. However, in pregnancies that lasted 37 weeks or longer, underlying genetic variation across fraternal twins appears to be largely responsible for birth weight-mortality associations. Such distinct findings by gestation suggest that genes and prenatal environment may play varying roles in birth weight-mortality associations across different situations.     

p38L12 TAT融合肽对山梨糖醇引起的 ECV304细胞ATF2磷酸化的抑制作用

构建p38 Loop-12(L12)的TAT融合表达载体,纯化原核表达的p38L12融合蛋白并鉴定其在真核细胞内的功能.利用PCR方法分别扩增出p38L12及其“T-X-Y”双磷酸化位点的AF突变体p38L12（AF）片段,克隆入His标记的TAT-EGFP融合蛋白原核表达载体pHTE（pET14b-His-TAT-EGFP）,经酶切、测序鉴定正确后,将重组质粒转化原核表达菌,诱导表达纯化融合蛋白;将融合蛋白加入ECV304细胞后于荧光显微镜下观察并行Western印迹分析,检测融合蛋白的细胞内转导活性;通过检测内源性ATF2磷酸化水平,鉴定高渗刺激下p38L12对内源性p38活性的影响.成功构建了p38L12和p38L12(AF)片段与TAT的融合表达载体,并获得相应的融合蛋白.在ECV304细胞中可见导入的HTE-p38L12和THE-p38L12(AF)融合蛋白具有较高的细胞内转导活性和转导效率,并可竞争性抑制高渗刺激对内源性p38的活化.基于HIV-1 TAT细胞转导系统证实p38L12可竞争性抑制高渗刺激诱导的内源性p38对ATF2的活化,从而发挥对p38激活特异性抑制的功能.     

腺苷钴胺素合成酶基因cobs的克隆及其在产1,3-丙二醇菌中的应用

甘油脱水酶是催化由甘油到1,3-丙二醇过程中的关键酶,它需要在辅酶B_(12)存在的情况下才能有效的进行催化;而在此催化过程中甘油脱水酶会出现失活现象,研究表明辅酶B_(12)可以有效的促使甘油脱水酶复活。因此,辅酶B_(12)在由甘油生物催化生产1,3-丙二醇过程中起到非常重要的作用。本研究利用PCR扩增技术,从Escherichia K-12菌株中扩增出产VB_(12)关键酶—腺苷钴胺素合成酶基因cobs,其序列与NCBI上已经公布的序列比对,同源性为99.6%,将基因cobs与产1,3-丙二醇关键酶基因dhaB、yqhD在Klebsiella pneumoniae中共表达,发酵结果显示重组菌所需额外添加的VB_(12)由原始菌株的0.01 g/L下降到0.004 g/L。     

重组人受体蛋白FKBP12与新型神经生长促进剂非共价键复合物的电喷雾质谱

系统地用电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)研究了重组人受体蛋白FKBP12(rhFKBP12)和其小分子神经生长促进剂配体的非共价键相互作用, 从52个化合物中筛选出3个有非共价键结合的化合物000107, 000308和A2B12, 并通过竞争实验测定了它们与rhFKBP12的结合位点和相对结合强度. 清华大学对其中的两个000107, 000308做出了复合物X射线晶体衍射的三维结构, 与ESI-MS的结果相同, 其中000308有较好的促神经生长的活性.     

Alcohol abuse and suicide attempts among youth.

This study uses the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) to explore the causal relationship between alcohol abuse (binge drinking and clinically defined alcohol use disorders) and suicide attempts among youth. We use an empirical approach that allows one to assess the possible existence and strength of a causal relationship without relying on identifying assumptions. Our results suggest that a causal relationship between binge drinking and suicide attempts is very unlikely. The findings, however, support a causal relationship between clinically defined alcohol use disorders and suicide attempts among girls.     

蝰科(Viperidae)蝮亚科(Crotalinae)线粒体12S rRNA基因序列分析及其系统发育

对蝮亚科(蛇岛蝮Gloydius shedaoensis Zhao、黑眉蝮Gloydius saxatilis Emelianov、乌苏里蝮Gloydius ussurriensis Emelianov、竹叶青Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt 和分别来自不同地区的尖吻蝮Deinagkistrodon acutus Guenther、短尾蝮Gloydius brevicaudus Stejneger各两条)6种蛇共8个个体测定、分析了约370bp线粒体12S rRNA基因序列,以游蛇科链蛇属半棱鳞链蛇Dinodon semicarinatus 序列为外群构建分子系统树.分子数据结果支持尖吻蝮形态学的属级分类地位;提示蛇岛蝮位于黑眉蝮的蛇岛亚种分类地位,同时探讨了蛇岛蝮的起源问题;并提示短尾蝮和乌苏里蝮同位于种级分类地位.     

由12S rDNA序列探讨中国狼蛛科主要类群的分子系统发育关系

将自测的我国蜘蛛目狼蛛科4属6个种和从互联网GenBank中检索到相关物种的线粒体基因组12SrDNA的序列进行同源性比较,计算核苷酸使用频率。然后据此进行分子分析,利用2个外群(漏斗蛛科的机敏漏斗蛛Agelena difficilis和缘漏斗蛛Agelena limbat)和2种建树方法(邻近法Neighbour Joining,NJ和最大简约法Maximum Parsimony,MP)分析我国狼蛛科内的亲缘关系。获得平均为291.6 bp的序列中,A T平均含量为78.13%,而G C含量只要21.87%,颠换取代(tranversion)的速度多数大于或接近转换取代(transition)的速度,其中161个核苷酸位点存在变异。研究结果表明:在蜘蛛目狼蛛科有差异的161 bp中,属内种间仅为1.08%,狼蛛科属间为6.85%~14.80%。所构建的分子系统树表明:科内的属和属内的种均优先聚在一起;狼蛛科现行分类系统中各亚科的演化关系顺序为:马蛛亚科→狼蛛亚科→豹蛛亚科;狼蛛科各属的演化关系顺序为:水狼蛛属→马蛛属(或水狼蛛属和马蛛属)→獾蛛属→狼蛛属→豹蛛属;水狼蛛属为最早分出的一支或者水狼蛛属和马蛛属...     

基于线粒体12S rRNA基因鉴别混合牛肉及制品的牛种来源

线粒体基因组具有种内高度保守性。它的12S rRNA基因同时具有抗腐蚀、耐高温的特点, 而被用于饲料、鲜肉及肉制品的来源追踪和物种成分鉴别等研究。利用牦牛、普通牛、水牛作为研究材料, 在牛线粒体12S rRNA基因通用引物扩增片段区域发现3种特异的酶切位点, 可用于混合鲜牛肉及制品的牛种来源的鉴别。结果显示: 牦牛12S rRNA扩增片段被酶切为203 bp和250 bp, 普通牛为134 bp和318 bp, 水牛为86 bp和367 bp, 通过测序验证了特异性位点和酶切的正确性; 对样品经过不同温度(100℃、120℃、140℃、160℃和180℃)处理均能扩增到目的条带, 但条带从120℃开始变淡。该方法在鲜牛肉及制品的牛种来源鉴别上具有简单、快速、廉价等优点。     

根据12S rRNA和Cyt b基因部分序列鉴定药用猴骨样品

利用线粒体12S rRNA基因和cyt b基因部分序列,通过DNA序列比对的方法,对毫州市药品监督管理局送检的三件猴骨样品（BZ01、BZ02和BZ03）进行了分子鉴定。结果表明,BZ01号样品为藏酋猴（Macaca thibetana）,BZ02和BZ03号样品为猕猴（Macaca mulatta）,通过本文的研究,作者还提出,在利用DNA序列比对法进行近缘物种的鉴定时,不同种群间的DNA序列变异,可能对结果造成一定的影响。