Enzymatic desymmetrization of 3-(4-fluorophenyl)glutaric anhydride through enantioselective alcoholysis in organic solvents

The enzymatic desymmetrization of 3-(4-fluorophenyl)glutaric anhydride (3-FGA) was investigated through lipase-catalyzed enantioselective alcoholysis in organic solvents. An immobilized Lipase B from Candida Antarctica (Novozym 435) was found to be an efficient biocatalyst for the enantioselective alcoholysis of 3-FGA. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and methanol were chosen as the suitable reaction medium and acyl acceptor, respectively. The optimum reaction temperature, molar ratio of methanol to 3-FGA and 3-FGA concentration were 25°C, 2:1 and 100 mM, respectively. Under these conditions, complete conversion was achieved and methyl (S)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)glutarate ((S)-MFG) was obtained in a moderate ee value of 80%. Furthermore, the reaction was performed on a gram scale and the ee value of (S)-MFG was enriched to 96% after treatment with a toluene/hexane (2/1, v/v) mixture.     

The genus Scaphidium Olivier in East China (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Scaphidiinae)

A review of 21 species of Scaphidium Olivier from East China is presented, including 6 new species: S. jinmingi sp. n. (Zhejiang, Anhui, Chongqing), S. crypticum sp. n. (Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi), S. varifasciatum sp. n. (Zhejiang, An’hui), S. robustum sp. n. (Fujian, Guizhou, Chongqing, Guangxi, Yunnan), S. connexum sp. n. (Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi), and S. bayibini sp. n. (An’hui). New province records for S. comes Löbl, S. grande Gestro, S. sauteri Miwa & Mitono, S. formosanum Pic, S. carinense Achard, S. sinense Pic, S. delatouchei Achard, S. biwenxuani He, Tang & Li, S. klapperichi Pic, S. stigmatinotum Löbl, S. wuyongxiangi He, Tang & Li, and S. direptum Tang & Li as well as some biological notes are reported. Habitus and diagnostic characters of all species are photographed and a key to Scaphidium species of East China is provided.     

Cyclin D1 G870A Polymorphism and Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis

Background

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) plays a key role in cell cycle regulation. It is a well-established human oncogene which is frequently amplified or overexpressed in cancers. The association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and cancer risk has been widely assessed. However, a definitive conclusion between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains elusive.

Methods

We firstly performed a hospital-based case-control study involving 165 NPC cases and 191 cancer-free controls in central-south China, and then conducted a meta-analysis with six case-control studies to evaluate the association between NPC risk and CCND1 G870A polymorphism.

Results

The case-control study found a significant association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and NPC risk in various comparison models (AA vs. GG: OR = 2.300, 95% CI 1.089–4.857, p = 0.029; AG vs. GG: OR = 2.832, 95% CI 1.367–5.867, p = 0.005; AA/AG vs. GG: OR = 2.597, 95% CI 1.288–5.237, p = 0.008; AA vs. AG/GG: OR = 0.984, 95% CI 0.638–1.518, p = 0.944). Further meta-analysis showed that there was no significant association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and NPC risk in overall analysis. In the stratified analysis by race, however, significant associations were only found in Caucasians (for the allele model A vs. G: OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.59–0.97, p = 0.03; for the co-dominant model AA vs. GG: OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.86, p = 0.01; for the dominant model AA/AG vs. GG: OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.32–0.74, p<0.01; for the recessive model AA vs. AG/GG: OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.61–1.34, p = 0.60).

Conclusions

A significant association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and NPC risk was found in the central-southern Chinese population. The meta-analysis indicated that CCND1 G870A polymorphism may contribute to the development of NPC in Caucasians.     

Activation of Nuclear Factor Kappa B in the Hepatic Stellate Cells of Mice with Schistosomiasis Japonica

Schistosomiasis japonica is a serious tropical parasitic disease in humans, which causes inflammation and fibrosis of the liver. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are known to play an important role in schistosome-induced fibrosis, but their role in schistosome-induced inflammation is still largely unknown. Here, we use a murine model of schistosomiasis japonica to investigate the role that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a critical mediator of inflammatory responses, plays in schistosome-induced inflammation. We revealed that NF-κB was significantly activated in HSCs at the early stage of infection, but not at later stages. We also show that the expression levels of several chemokines regulated by NF-κB signaling (Ccl2, Ccl3 and Ccl5) were similarly elevated at early infection. TLR4 signaling, one of the strongest known inducers of NF-κB activation, seemed not activated in HSCs post-infection. Importantly, we found that levels of miR-146 (a known negative regulator of NF-κB signaling) in HSCs opposed those of NF-κB signaling, elevating at later stage of infection. These results indicate that HSCs might play an important role in the progression of hepatic schistosomiasis japonica by linking liver inflammation to fibrosis via NF-κB signaling. Moreover, our work suggests that miR-146 appeared to regulate this process. These findings are significant and imply that manipulating the function of HSCs by targeting either NF-κB signaling or miR-146 expression may provide a novel method of treating hepatic schistosomiasis japonica.     

Association of CVD Candidate Gene Polymorphisms with Ischemic Stroke and Cerebral Hemorrhage in Chinese Individuals

Background

Contribution of cardiovascular disease related genetic risk factors for stroke are not clearly defined. We performed a genetic association study to assess the association of 56 previously characterized gene variants in 34 candidate genes from cardiovascular disease related biological pathways with ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage in a Chinese population.

Methods

There were 1280 stroke patients (1101 with ischemic stroke and 179 with cerebral hemorrhage) and 1380 controls in the study. The genotypes for 56 polymorphisms of 34 candidate genes were determined by the immobilized probe approach and the associations of gene polymorphisms with ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage were performed by logistic regression under an allelic model.

Results

After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and hypertension status by logistic regression analysis, we found that NPPA rs5063 was significantly associated with both ischemic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 0.90; P = 0.006) and cerebral hemorrhage(OR = 0.39; 95%CI, 0.19 to 0.78; P = 0.007). In addition, MTHFR rs1801133 also was associated with cerebral hemorrhage (OR = 1.48; 95%CI, 1.16 to1.89; P = 0.001) but not with ischemic stroke (OR = 1.08; 95%CI, 0.96 to1.22; P = 0.210). After false discovery rate (FDR) correction, the association of NPPA rs5063 and MTHFR rs1801133 with cerebral hemorrhage remained significant.

Conclusions

The NPPA rs5063 is associated with reduced risk for cerebral hemorrhage and MTHFR rs1801133 is associated with increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage in a Chinese population.     

设施菜田不同碳氮管理对反硝化菌结构和功能的影响

【目的】通过6年长期定位试验,比较设施菜田不同碳氮管理下反硝化菌结构和功能的差异。【方法】采用末端限制性片段多态性(T-RFLP)和变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)方法分别分析nir K/nir S和nos Z型反硝化菌群结构特征,利用自动连续在线培养监测体系(Robot系统)测定分析NO/(NO3-+NO2-)和N2O/(N2O+N2)产物比,并通过乙炔抑制法测定反硝化酶活性。【结果】传统施肥处理(CN)显著改变了nir K和nos Z型反硝化菌的结构,增加了NO/(NO3-+NO2-)和N2O/(N2O+N2)产物比。nir S型菌受碳氮管理影响较小。减氮(RN)和添加秸秆处理(RN+S)的nir K和nos Z型反硝化菌结构与CN处理的差异性显著,且会显著降低NO/(NO3-+NO2-)和N2O/(N2O+N2)产物比;与CN和RN相比,RN+S显著增加反硝化酶活性。【结论】设施菜田长期传统施肥措施改变了反硝化菌的结构和功能,增加土壤自身的NO产生能力并减弱了N2O还原N2的能力。减氮和添加秸秆管理能形成自身的反硝化菌群结构,并降低NO和N2O排放风险;秸秆的添加会促进反硝化潜在速率,降低菜田NO3-淋洗风险。     

亚成体大熊猫肠道真菌多样性

【目的】分析5只亚成体大熊猫肠道真菌的多样性。【方法】采用基于ITS基因的RFLP(Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)方法,对肠道真菌总DNA进行ITS-RFLP分析,构建ITS克隆文库,然后用HhaI、HaeIII进行酶切指纹图谱分析,测序并绘制系统进化树。【结果】研究表明,5只亚成体大熊猫肠道真菌主要由Ascomycota(平均占46.24%)、Basidiomycota(平均占15.79%)2个门和一些未分类(平均占29.14%)、未培养(平均占8.83%)的真菌。其中,Ascomycota主要以Saccharomycetes(平均占63.74%)和Dothideomycetes(平均占35.91%)2个纲为主;Basidiomycota主要以Tremellomycetes(平均占65.80%)和Microbotryomycetes(平均占33.15%)2个纲为主。而这4个纲分别则主要以Candida、Debaryomyces;Pleosporales、Myriangium;Cystofilobasidium、Trichosporon;Leucosporidium、Leucosporidiella八个菌属为主,各样品中所占比例不等。【结论】亚成体大熊猫肠道内存在一定比例的真菌菌群,且ITS-RFLP技术能够很好地对其多样性进行分析。真菌的发现扩大了我们对大熊猫肠道微生物结构的了解,同时也有助于我们进一步研究真菌能否帮助大熊猫消化高纤维素食物。     

Msb1 Interacts with Cdc42, Boi1, and Boi2 and May Coordinate Cdc42 and Rho1 Functions during Early Stage of Bud Development in Budding Yeast

Msb1 is not essential for growth in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae since msb1Δ cells do not display obvious phenotypes. Genetic studies suggest that Msb1 positively regulates Cdc42 function during bud development, since high-copy MSB1 suppressed the growth defect of temperature-sensitive cdc24 and cdc42 mutants at restrictive temperature, while deletion of MSB1 showed synthetic lethality with cdc24, bem1, and bem2 mutations. However, the mechanism of how Msb1 regulates Cdc42 function remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Msb1 localizes to sites of polarized growth during bud development and interacts with Cdc42 in the cells. In addition, Msb1 interacts with Boi1 and Boi2, two scaffold proteins that also interact with Cdc42 and Bem1. These findings suggest that Msb1 may positively regulate Cdc42 function by interacting with Cdc42, Boi1, and Boi2, which may promote the efficient assembly of Cdc42, Cdc24, and other proteins into a functional complex. We also show that Msb1 interacts with Rho1 in the cells and Msb1 overproduction inhibits the growth of rho1-104 and rho1-3 but not rho1-2 cells. The growth inhibition appears to result from the down-regulation of Rho1 function in glucan synthesis, specifically during early stage of bud development. These results suggest that Msb1 may coordinate Cdc42 and Rho1 functions during early stage of bud development by promoting Cdc42 function and inhibiting Rho1 function. Msb1 overproduction also affects cell morphology, septin organization, and causes increased, aberrant deposition of 1,3-β-glucan and chitin at the mother-bud neck. However, the stimulation of glucan synthesis mainly occurs during late, but not early, stage of bud development.