Preparation of chiral 4-benzyloxymethyldihydrofuran-2-one using lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution: synthesis of (-)-virginiae butanolide C (VB C)

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of the N,N-dialkyl-3-benzyloxymethyl-4-hydroxybutanamide 10a,b afforded the acetate 11a,b with (R) configuration, whereas the N-monoalkyl-3-benzyloxymethyl-4-hydroxybutanamide 10c-e gave the acetate 11c-e with (S) configuration. The butanamide 10 smoothly cyclized to give chiral 4-benzyloxymethyldihydrofuran-2-one 9 without racemization, which was effectively transformed into highly stereocontrolled virginiae butanolide C (VB C).     

Proapoptotic p53-interacting protein 53BP2 is induced by UV irradiation but suppressed by p53

p53 is an important mediator of the cellular stress response with roles in cell cycle control, DNA repair, and apoptosis. 53BP2, a p53-interacting protein, enhances p53 transactivation, impedes cell cycle progression, and promotes apoptosis through unknown mechanisms. We now demonstrate that endogenous 53BP2 levels increase following UV irradiation induced DNA damage in a p53-independent manner. In contrast, we found that the presence of a wild-type (but not mutant) p53 gene suppressed 53BP2 steady-state levels in cell lines with defined p53 genotypes. Likewise, expression of a tetracycline-regulated wild-type p53 cDNA in p53-null fibroblasts caused a reduction in 53BP2 protein levels. However, 53BP2 levels were not reduced if the tetracycline-regulated p53 cDNA was expressed after UV damage in these cells. This suggests that UV damage activates cellular factors that can relieve the p53-mediated suppression of 53BP2 protein. To address the physiologic significance of 53BP2 induction, we utilized stable cell lines with a ponasterone A-regulated 53BP2 cDNA. Conditional expression of 53BP2 cDNA lowered the apoptotic threshold and decreased clonogenic survival following UV irradiation. Conversely, attenuation of endogenous 53BP2 induction with an antisense oligonucleotide resulted in enhanced clonogenic survival following UV irradiation. These results demonstrate that 53BP2 is a DNA damage-inducible protein that promotes DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, 53BP2 expression is highly regulated and involves both p53-dependent and p53-independent mechanisms. Our data provide new insight into 53BP2 function and open new avenues for investigation into the cellular response to genotoxic stress.     

Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-45 is a component of muscle thick filaments and colocalizes with myosin heavy chain B, but not myosin heavy chain A

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, animals mutant in the gene encoding the protein product of the unc-45 gene (UNC-45) have disorganized muscle thick filaments in body wall muscles. Although UNC-45 contains tetratricopeptide repeats (TPR) as well as limited similarity to fungal proteins, no biochemical role has yet been found. UNC-45 reporters are expressed exclusively in muscle cells, and a functional reporter fusion is localized in the body wall muscles in a pattern identical to thick filament A-bands. UNC-45 colocalizes with myosin heavy chain (MHC) B in wild-type worms as well as in temperature-sensitive (ts) unc-45 mutants, but not in a mutant in which MHC B is absent. Surprisingly, UNC-45 localization is also not seen in MHC B mutants, in which the level of MHC A is increased, resulting in near-normal muscle thick filament structure. Thus, filament assembly can be independent of UNC-45. UNC-45 shows a localization pattern identical to and dependent on MHC B and a function that appears to be MHC B-dependent. We propose that UNC-45 is a peripheral component of muscle thick filaments due to its localization with MHC B. The role of UNC-45 in thick filament assembly seems restricted to a cofactor for assembly or stabilization of MHC B.     

Ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths of southern flying squirrels in southeast Georgia

Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) from southeastern Georgia were examined for ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths. Ten species of ectoparasites were recovered, including 3 species of sucking lice (Hoplopleura trispinosa, Microphthirus uncinatus, and Neohaematopinus sciuropteri), 1 species of flea (Orchopeas howardi), 2 species of ticks (Amblyomma maculatum and Ixodes scapularis), 3 species of mesostigmatid mites (Androlaelaps casalis, A. fahrenholzi, and Haemogamasus ambulans), and 1 species of chigger (Leptotrombidium peromysci). Only the sucking lice and fleas were common on this host. M. uncinatus is reported for the first time from eastern North America. The 2 most commonly collected ectoparasites, N. sciuropteri (prevalence = 63%) and O. howardi (prevalence = 47%), have previously been shown to be vectors of the rickettsial zoonotic agent that causes sporadic epidemic typhus. Also, 3 nematodes (Citellinema bifurcatum, Strongyloides robusius, and Syphacia thompsoni), 1 unidentified cestode, and 1 acanthocephalan (Moniliformis clarki) were found in flying squirrel gastrointestinal tracts. With the exception of S. thompsoni, which was common and relatively abundant in the cecum (prevalence = 94%, intensity = 51+/-12), both the prevalence and intensity of helminth parasites were low. The nematode S. thompsoni and the acanthocephalan M. clarki are new state records for tree squirrels in Georgia.     

长白落叶松激素含量与生长的关系及在早期选择中的应用

用间接酶联免疫吸附法测定了不同季节不同种源长白落叶松激素含量。结果表明：不同季节长白落叶松的激素含量不同,速生期长白落叶松赤霉素、生长素和细胞分裂素含量高,脱落酸含量低,赤霉素／脱落酸比值大,生长缓慢期测定结果恰好相反。各类激素含量在不同种源长白落叶松间的变异显著,且与生长性状的差异密切相关。生长快的种源赤霉素,细胞分裂素含量高,脱落酸含量低,赤霉素／脱落酸之比大。生长慢的种源则相反。回归分析表明     

水稻(Oryza sativa)原生质体经钝化后诱导融合再生可育体细胞杂种

本研究在初步实现水稻原生质体培养的程序化后,选用普通栽培稻P339和特种稻苏御糯选的原生质体为融合亲本,利用碘乙酸(IA)和罗丹明-6G(R-6G)这两个代谢互补抑制剂钝化处理亲本原生质体,确定了合适的抑制条件。P339用0.25mmol/L IA,苏御糯选用50μg/ml R-6G分别经30min钝化处理,通过PEG和高Ca~(2 )、高pH法诱导融合,异源融合体具有代谢互补效应,经培养得到愈伤组织17块,并进一步分化获得不同形态的再生植株12棵。移栽存活的再生植株成熟后可育,通过对这些植株的形态以及酯酶和过氧化物酶同工酶电泳的分析表明是融合后的体细胞杂种植株。     

新疆蛾类区系初步分析

对新疆蛾类标本鉴定和资料整理,共得到蛾类12科245属549种。其中种类最多的是夜蛾科Noctuidae136属364种,物种数量超过20种的分别有卷蛾科Tortricidae 24属36种,天蛾科Sphingidae 13属30种,灯蛾科Arctiidae 19属25种和木蠹蛾科Cossidae 8属25种;物种数超过10种的有尺蛾科Geometridae 13属18种,螟蛾科Pyralidae 14属17种和舟蛾科Notodontidae 8属17种;其余几个科种类均少于10种。在世界动物地理中,新疆蛾类以古北界为主,种数占到了434种(79.05%),其他动物地理区划组成类型仅115种(20.95%)。属级区系类型与种级基本一致,古北界162种,占总数的66.12%;古北界+东洋界共有58属,占23.67%,两种分布型占总数的89.79%。在中国动物地理中,新疆蛾类与蒙新区关系最为密切,共计245种(44.63%),其次是蒙新与华北共有56种(10.20%),蒙新与青藏共有52种(9.47%),其他动物区系组成较少。属级的区系类型以蒙新区为主,与同处古北界的东北区、华北区和青藏区关系最为密切。     

Molecular characterization and association analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">FBXO40</Emphasis> with partial hematological indexes in pig

F-box proteins are quite significant ubiquitin-proteasome pathway regulators in eukaryotic cells. FBXO40, a member of this large family, alters its expression pattern in muscle atrophy. Here we isolated most of the verified porcine FBXO40 coding sequence (CDS) (2258 bp) and assigned it to the porcine chromosome 13q4.1-4.6 by using the INRA-Minnesota porcine radiation hybrid panel, and we also explored the tissue expression distributions, which is relatively high in longissimus dorsi muscle, heart, low in kidney, small intestine, brain, hypophysis, lymphonode, thymus, spleen, large intestine, ovary, stomach, and undetectable in testis, liver, uterus and thyroid gland. Inferring phylogenetic tree was constructed to study the evolutionary implications. Moreover, a HindII (HincII)-RFLP (A/C) polymorphism in 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of porcine FBXO40 gene was demonstrated by sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Statistical analysis result of this polymorphism showed that the allele A was predominant in all detected indigenous breeds, but C in western introduced commercial breeds. The SNP was further analyzed in our experimental pig population including Tongcheng, Landrace, Large White, and crossbreds of Large White × (Landrace × Tongcheng) and Landrace × (Large White × Tongcheng). The association analysis results indicated that the A/C base substitution was associate with some hematological indexes, the hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.0001), mean corpuscular volume hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.0002) and mean corpuscular volume (P = 0.0138).     

Discovery and synthesis of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-pyrimido-[4,5-d]azepines as novel TRPV1 antagonists

Utilization of a tetrahydro-pyrimdoazepine core as a bioisosteric replacement for a piperazine-urea resulted in the discovery a novel series of potent antagonists of TRPV1. The tetrahydro-pyrimdoazepines have been identified as having good in vitro and in vivo potency and acceptable physical properties.