拟南芥血红蛋白1(AtGLB1)与过氧化氢的相互作用

拟南芥的血红蛋白1(AtGLB1)属于非共生的血红蛋白。在低氧胁迫中对植物细胞中过氧化氢(H2O2)内稳态的维持起了很重要的作用。为了检测AtGLB1与H2O2能否直接相互作用,我们扩增了拟南芥的AtGLB1基因,并将其克隆到原核表达质粒pET32a中,测序鉴定正确后转化大肠杆菌BL21。IPTG诱导目的蛋白表达后,镍离子亲和层析柱(Ni2+-NTA)纯化了靶蛋白。体外表达的氧合的AtGLB1能与H2O2直接相互作用。因此,与H2O2反应可能是AtGLB1清除低氧胁迫下产生的H2O2的一种方式。     

Indole-2-carboxamidines as novel NR2B selective NMDA receptor antagonists

A novel series of indole-2-carboxamidine derivatives was prepared and identified as NR2B selective NMDA receptor antagonists. The influence of the substituents on the indole skeleton as well as the substitution of the benzyl moiety on the biological activity of the compounds was studied. Compound 5a was po active in the formalin test in mouse.     

FHL2通过相互作用抑制Id2的功能活性

分化抑制蛋白2（Id2）通过抑制碱性螺旋-环-螺旋（bHLH）类转录因子的功能活性调控多种组织细胞的分化发育,并参与人类多种肿瘤的发生与进展.Id2相互作用蛋白可能调控其翻译后的功能活性．本研究以HLH结构域缺失的Id2作为诱饵蛋白,采用酵母双杂交方法对MCF-7 cDNA文库进行筛选,识别了1个新的Id2相互作用蛋白FHL2 (属于LIM蛋白家族的一员),哺乳动物双杂交实验系统验证了Id2与FHL2之间的相互作用,同时证实,该作用不依赖于Id2中的HLH结构域;GST-pulldown、免疫共沉淀方法,进一步证实FHL2/Id2之间的相互作用;免疫荧光共定位实验结果证实,FHL2/Id2相互作用主要发生在细胞核内;共转染实验结果发现,FHL2通过相互作用阻抑了Id2对bHLH类转录因子E47的功能抑制活性．总之,本研究识别了1个新的Id2相互作用蛋白FHL2,通过直接的相互作用,FHL2抑制了Id2的功能活性,FHL2可能参与调控Id2介导的细胞分化与发育过程,并可能参与肿瘤的发生与进展．     

Isolation and identification of urinary metabolites of AF-2 (3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylamide) in rabbits

After oral administration of AF-2 (3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylamide) to rabbits, the two unique metabolites, M-I and M-II, were isolated from the urine. M-I, yellow needles of mp 117°, was identified as a new type metabolite of nitrofuran derivative, 2-(β-carboxypropionyl)-3-(5-methylthio-2-furyl) acrylamide by its mass, ir and nmr spectrometries. M-II, yellow solid, appears to be cis-trans isomer of M-I considering from its uv and mass spectral data, and the behavior on tlc.     

Synthesis of 2-deoxyglucitol from 2-deoxy-D-glucose by the fungus Puccinia graminis

After incubation of glucose-grown mycelium of Puccinia graminis with 2-deoxy-D-[U-¹⁴C]glucose, all cellular ¹⁴C was present in compounds soluble in 80% (v/v) ethanol. Metabolites identified included 2-deoxyglucitol, and free and phosphorylated forms of 2-deoxyglucose and 2-deoxygluconate. This is the first report of 2-deoxyglucitol as a metabolite of 2-deoxyglucose in any organism, and in P. graminis, this confirms previous proposals that the free D-glucose is directly reduced to D-glucitol in vivo.     

Discovery of 1,8-naphthyridin-2-one derivative as a potent and selective sphingomyelin synthase 2 inhibitor

Sphingomyelin synthase 2 (SMS2) has attracted attention as a drug target for the treatment of various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The modification of a high throughput screening hit, 2-quinolone 10, enhanced SMS2 inhibition at nanomolar concentrations with good selectivity against SMS1. To improve the pharmaceutical properties such as passive membrane permeability and aqueous solubility, adjustment of lipophilicity was attempted and 1,8-naphthyridin-2-one 37 was identified as a potent and selective SMS2 inhibitor. A significant reduction in hepatic sphingomyelin levels following repeated treatment in mice suggested that compound 37 could be an effective in vivo tool for clarifying the role of SMS2 enzyme and developing the treatment for SMS2-related diseases.     

A genetic screen identifies BRCA2 and PALB2 as key regulators of G2 checkpoint maintenance

To identify key connections between DNA-damage repair and checkpoint pathways, we performed RNA interference screens for regulators of the ionizing radiation-induced G2 checkpoint, and we identified the breast cancer gene BRCA2. The checkpoint was also abrogated following depletion of PALB2, an interaction partner of BRCA2. BRCA2 and PALB2 depletion led to premature checkpoint abrogation and earlier activation of the AURORA A-PLK1 checkpoint-recovery pathway. These results indicate that the breast cancer tumour suppressors and homologous recombination repair proteins BRCA2 and PALB2 are main regulators of G2 checkpoint maintenance following DNA-damage.     

Predicting the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) utilizing capability as the receptor of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2, the newly identified human coronavirus causing severe pneumonia pandemic, was probably originated from Chinese horseshoe bats. However, direct transmission of the virus from bats to humans is unlikely due to lack of direct contact, implying the existence of unknown intermediate hosts. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of SARS-CoV-2, but only ACE2s of certain species can be utilized by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we evaluated and ranked the receptor-utilizing capability of ACE2s from various species by phylogenetic clustering and sequence alignment with the currently known ACE2s utilized by SARS-CoV-2. As a result, we predicted that SARS-CoV-2 tends to utilize ACE2s of various mammals, except murines, and some birds, such as pigeon. This prediction may help to screen the intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2.     

New indole amide derivatives as potent CRTH2 receptor antagonists

A new series of indole amide acting as hCRTH2 receptor ligands had been explored and are described herein. Several amide derivatives displaying low nanomolar activity in hCRTH2 binding and whole blood assays were identified. They were found to behave as a full antagonists, exhibiting good selectivity over related prostaglandin receptors. Also, prototypical compounds in this novel series which displayed acceptable CYP profiles and were orally bioavailable in rats were identified.     

The design and SAR of a novel series of 2-aminopyridine based LRRK2 inhibitors

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has attracted considerable interest as a therapeutic target for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Compounds derived from a 2-aminopyridine screening hit were optimised using a LRRK2 homology model based on mixed lineage kinase 1 (MLK1), such that a 2-aminopyridine-based lead molecule 45, with in vivo activity, was identified.     

2-Methoxycinnamaldehyde inhibits tumor angiogenesis by suppressing Tie2 activation

Blood vessels are mainly composed of intraluminal endothelial cells (ECs) and mural cells adhering to the ECs on their basal side. Immature blood vessels lacking mural cells are leaky; thus, the process of mural cell adhesion to ECs is indispensable for stability of the vessels during physiological angiogenesis. However, in the tumor microenvironment, although some blood vessels are well-matured, the majority is immature. Because mural cell adhesion to ECs also has a marked anti-apoptotic effect, angiogenesis inhibitors that destroy immature blood vessels may not affect mature vessels showing more resistance to apoptosis. Activation of Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in ECs mediates pro-angiogenic effects via the induction of EC migration but also facilitates vessel maturation via the promotion of cell adhesion between mural cells and ECs. Therefore, inhibition of Tie2 has the advantage of completely inhibiting angiogenesis. Here, we isolated a novel small molecule Tie2 kinase inhibitor, identified as 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde (2-MCA). We found that 2-MCA inhibits both sprouting angiogenesis and maturation of blood vessels, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Our results suggest a potent clinical benefit of disrupting these two using Tie2 inhibitors.     

穿心莲内酯衍生物抗H2O2诱导胰岛RIN-mβ细胞凋亡的蛋白组学研究

采用蛋白组学方法筛选穿心莲内酯衍生物(AL-1)抗过氧化氢诱导胰岛RIN-mβ细胞凋亡的差异蛋白质分子并探讨其作用分子机制.结果显示:AL-1浓度依赖性地提高H₂O₂处理的胰岛RIN-mβ细胞的存活率.经蛋白组学研究分析,成功地鉴定了18个与凋亡、应激等相关的蛋白,包括Prohibitin、Shmt2、RhoGDP-dissociationinhibitor-1、Galectin-1、Cyt b5、Hsps等;与对照组(H₂O₂)相比,处理组(AL-1+H₂O₂)中,有9个表达上调的蛋白和9个表达下调的蛋白.AL-1通过调控与细胞凋亡、应激等相关的蛋白发挥其抗H₂O₂诱导的凋亡作用.     

The promotion of neurite formation in Neuro2A cells by mouse Mob2 protein

The molecular mechanism of neuritogenesis has been extensively studied but remains unclear. In this study, we identified Mob2 protein which plays a significant role in promoting neurite formation in Neuro2A (N2A) cells. Our results showed that Mob2 was expressed in developing N2A cells. To study whether Mob2 was involved in neurite formation, we downregulated Mob2 expression using RNA interference and found that neurite formation decreased in low serum induced N2A cells. In addition, we found that overexpression of Mob2 promoted neurite formation in N2A cells. Furthermore, downregulation of Mob2 expression altered the rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and decreased the expression of phosphorylated Moesin. Together, these results provide information on the role of Mob2 in mediating neurite formation.     

Species differences in cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2 gene): identification of novel human and rodent CB2 isoforms, differential tissue expression and regulation by cannabinoid receptor ligands

Cannabinoids, endocannabinoids and marijuana activate two well-characterized cannabinoid receptors (CB-Rs), CB1-Rs and CB2-Rs. The expression of CB1-Rs in the brain and periphery has been well studied, but neuronal CB2-Rs have received much less attention than CB1-Rs. Many studies have now identified and characterized functional glial and neuronal CB2-Rs in the central nervous system. However, many features of CB2-R gene structure, regulation and variation remain poorly characterized in comparison with the CB1-R. In this study, we report on the discovery of a novel human CB2 gene promoter transcribing testis (CB2A) isoform with starting exon located ca 45 kb upstream from the previously identified promoter transcribing the spleen isoform (CB2B). The 5' exons of both CB2 isoforms are untranslated 5'UTRs and alternatively spliced to the major protein coding exon of the CB2 gene. CB2A is expressed higher in testis and brain than CB2B that is expressed higher in other peripheral tissues than CB2A. Species comparison found that the CB2 gene of human, rat and mouse genomes deviated in their gene structures and isoform expression patterns. mCB2A expression was increased significantly in the cerebellum of mice treated with the CB-R mixed agonist, WIN55212-2. These results provide much improved information about CB2 gene structure and its human and rodent variants that should be considered in developing CB2-R-based therapeutic agents.