Design,synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of N-(4-mono and 4,5-disubstituted thiazol-2-yl)-2-aryl-3-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)propanamides as glucokinase activators

A series of N-thiazole substituted arylacetamides were designed on the basis of metabolic mechanism of the aminothiazole fragment as glucokinase (GK) activators for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Instead of introducing a substituent to block the metabolic sensitive C-5 position on the thiazole core directly, a wide variety of C-4 or both C-4 and C-5 substitutions were explored. Compound R-9k bearing an iso-propyl group as the C-4 substituent was found possessing the highest GK activation potency with an EC₅₀ of 0.026 μM. This compound significantly increased both glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in rat primary cultured hepatocytes. Moreover, single oral administration of compound R-9k exerted significant reduction of blood glucose levels in both ICR and ob/ob mice. These promising results indicated that compound R-9k is a potent orally active GK activator, and is warranted for further investigation as a new anti-diabetic treatment.     

A Bipartite Network-based Method for Prediction of Long Non-coding RNA–protein Interactions

As one large class of non-coding RNAs(nc RNAs), long nc RNAs(lncRNAs) have gained considerable attention in recent years. Mutations and dysfunction of lnc RNAs have been implicated in human disorders. Many lnc RNAs exert their effects through interactions with the corresponding RNA-binding proteins. Several computational approaches have been developed, but only few are able to perform the prediction of these interactions from a network-based point of view. Here,we introduce a computational method named lnc RNA–protein bipartite network inference(LPBNI). LPBNI aims to identify potential lnc RNA–interacting proteins, by making full use of the known lnc RNA–protein interactions. Leave-one-out cross validation(LOOCV) test shows that LPBNI significantly outperforms other network-based methods, including random walk(RWR)and protein-based collaborative filtering(Pro CF). Furthermore, a case study was performed to demonstrate the performance of LPBNI using real data in predicting potential lnc RNA–interacting proteins.     

The first chromosome‐level genome for a marine mammal as a resource to study ecology and evolution

Marine mammals are important models for studying convergent evolution and aquatic adaption, and thus reference genomes of marine mammals can provide evolutionary insights. Here, we present the first chromosome‐level marine mammal genome assembly based on the data generated by the BGISEQ‐500 platform, for a stranded female sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Using this reference genome, we performed chromosome evolution analysis of the sperm whale, including constructing ancestral chromosomes, identifying chromosome rearrangement events and comparing with cattle chromosomes, which provides a resource for exploring marine mammal adaptation and speciation. We detected a high proportion of long interspersed nuclear elements and expanded gene families, and contraction of major histocompatibility complex region genes which were specific to sperm whale. Using comparisons with sheep and cattle, we analysed positively selected genes to identify gene pathways that may be related to adaptation to the marine environment. Further, we identified possible convergent evolution in aquatic mammals by testing for positively selected genes across three orders of marine mammals. In addition, we used publicly available resequencing data to confirm a rapid decline in global population size in the Pliocene to Pleistocene transition. This study sheds light on the chromosome evolution and genetic mechanisms underpinning sperm whale adaptations, providing valuable resources for future comparative genomics.     

Cyclase‐associated protein 1 is a key negative regulator of milk synthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells

Adenylyl cyclase‐associated protein (CAP) is a highly conserved protein. Previous reports have suggested that CAP1 may be a negative regulator of cellular proliferation, migration, and adhesion and the development of cell carcinomas. The molecular mechanism of CAP1 regulation of downstream pathways, as well as how CAP1 is regulated by environmental stimuli and upstream signalling, is not well understood. In this present study, we assessed the role of CAP1 in milk synthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells. Using gene overexpression and silencing methods, CAP1 was found to negatively regulate milk synthesis and proliferation of cells via the PI3K‐mTOR/SREBP‐1c/Cyclin D1 signalling pathway. Hormones, such as prolactin and oestrogen, and amino acids, such as methionine and leucine, stimulate MMP9 expression and trigger CAP1 degradation, and thus, abrogate its inhibition of synthesis of milk protein, fat, and lactose by and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells. The results of our study help deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying milk synthesis and aid in characterizing the molecular mechanisms of CAP1. Previous reports have suggested that CAP1 is a negative regulator of cellular proliferation and anabolism, but the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In this present study, we identified CAP1 as a negative regulator of milk synthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells. Our results will deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying milk synthesis and aid in exploring the molecular mechanisms of CAP1.     

Pre-zygotic embryological characters ofPlatycrater arguta, a rare and endangered species endemic to East Asia

Platycrater arguta Sieb. et Zucc. is a rare and endangered species endemic to East Asia. It produces two floral morphs viz. bisexual and male flowers. For bisexual flowers, simultaneous cytokinesis in the microsporocyte meiosis leads to a tetrahedral tetrad. The mature pollen grain is shed at 2-cell stage. The young anther wall is composed of epidermis, endothecium that develops fibrous thickenings at maturity, 1–2 middle layers and tapetum. The tapetum with uninucleate to binucleate cells, disintegrates in situ (glandular tapetum), yet in a small percentage of the anthers (about 37.6%), the tapetum does not disintegrate, causing complete male sterility. The ovules are anatropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellar and the formation of the embryo sac follows the monosporic, Polygonum type. Antipodal cells are lacking in the mature embryo sacs. Before fertilization, two polar nuclei fuse into a secondary nucleus. The formation of microsporangial wall, microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis in male flowers are analogous to those in the bisexual. Prezygotic embryological characters ofP. arguta were reported for the first time, revealing that its endangerment is correlated with the abortion of pollen of a part but not to the female development that is normal.     

OsCESA9 conserved‐site mutation leads to largely enhanced plant lodging resistance and biomass enzymatic saccharification by reducing cellulose DP and crystallinity in rice

Genetic modification of plant cell walls has been posed to reduce lignocellulose recalcitrance for enhancing biomass saccharification. Since cellulose synthase (CESA) gene was first identified, several dozen CESA mutants have been reported, but almost all mutants exhibit the defective phenotypes in plant growth and development. In this study, the rice (Oryza sativa) Osfc16 mutant with substitutions (W481C, P482S) at P‐CR conserved site in CESA9 shows a slightly affected plant growth and higher biomass yield by 25%–41% compared with wild type (Nipponbare, a japonica variety). Chemical and ultrastructural analyses indicate that Osfc16 has a significantly reduced cellulose crystallinity (CrI) and thinner secondary cell walls compared with wild type. CESA co‐IP detection, together with implementations of a proteasome inhibitor (MG132) and two distinct cellulose inhibitors (Calcofluor, CGA), shows that CESA9 mutation could affect integrity of CESA4/7/9 complexes, which may lead to rapid CESA proteasome degradation for low‐DP cellulose biosynthesis. These may reduce cellulose CrI, which improves plant lodging resistance, a major and integrated agronomic trait on plant growth and grain production, and enhances biomass enzymatic saccharification by up to 2.3‐fold and ethanol productivity by 34%–42%. This study has for the first time reported a direct modification for the low‐DP cellulose production that has broad applications in biomass industries.     

Synthesis and structure–activity relationship study of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines as tyrosine kinase RET inhibitors

Three series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as RET kinase inhibitors. Compounds 23a and 23c were identified to show significant activity both in the biochemical and the BaF3/CCDC6-RET cell assays. Compound 23c was found to significantly inhibit RET phosphorylation and down-stream signaling in BaF3/CCDC6-RET cells, confirming its potent cellular RET-targeting profile. Different from other RET inhibitors with equal potency against KDR that associated with severe toxicity, 23c did not show significant KDR-inhibition even at the concentration of 1 μM. These results demonstrated that 23c is a potent and selective RET inhibitor.     

牛生长激素基因在马铃薯中的表达

将牛生长激素基因ｃＤＮＡ 与Ｐａｔａｔｉｎ ＣｌａｓｓＩ启动子及ＮＯＳ３终止子连接,构建了表达载体ｐＰＢＧＴ． 用直接法将表达载体转入农杆菌（Ａｇｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ ｔｕｍ ｅｆａｃｉｅｎｓ） ＬＢＡ４４０４（ｐＲＡＬ４４０４）菌株, 用此菌株转化马铃薯（Ｓｏｌａｎｕｍ ｔｕｂｅｒｏｓｕｍ ）得到再生植株． 经ＮＰＴⅡ活性检测,总ＤＮＡ ＰＣＲ和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ证明目的基因已整合到马铃薯基因组中．ＲＮＡ 点杂交和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ表明牛生长激素基因已在转基因马铃薯块茎中转录和表达     

A systematic investigation of leaf epidermis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia</Emphasis> using light microscopy

The characters of mature leaf epidermis of 58 species and 3 varieties belonging to 19 sections, representing all the 4 subgenera: Protocamellia, Camellia, Thea and Metacamellia were investigated under light microscope. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) The shape of the epidermal cells is elliptical, polygonal or irregular and the anticlinal walls are arched, straight or sinuolate, sinuous to sinuate. 2) The stomatal apparatus, consisting of a stoma (a pore plus a pair of guard cells) and 3–4 subsidiary cells, restricted to the abaxial surface of the leaves, were assigned to anisocytic, anisotricytic, isotricytic or tetracytic type. 3) Special structures in leaf epidermis, such as stomatal clusters, aborted stomata, secretory cells, cuticular intrusions and their taxonomic implications were also elucidated.