Variation of Epimedins A – C and Icariin in Ten Representative Populations of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., and Implications for Utilization

The concentration variations of main flavonoids, epimedins A–C and icariin, among ten representative populations of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim . were assessed by HPLC. The populations were collected during the flowering stage and included 419 individual samples. Remarkable variations within and among populations were detected. SXXA Population (see Fig. 1) was an outlier due to its significant low concentrations (<1.00–4.46 mg/g). But even without SXXA, significant concentration differences among populations were still observed in epimedin A (2.31–8.42 mg/g), epimedin B (6.67–55.7 mg/g), epimedin C (5.39–23.0 mg/g), icariin (8.50–39.9 mg/g), and their total (29.1–123 mg/g). All populations except SXXA showed much higher concentrations than the recommended standards (i.e. 5 mg/g for icariin and 13 mg/g for the total). A high‐concentration‐population structure, estimated both by principal component analysis (PCA) and unweighted pair group method with averaging (UPGMA) cluster analysis, based on Euclidean distances, was observed. Both methods allowed separation of the populations in four groups defined by the concentrations of four main flavonoids. The populations (SXLC and SXQS) located in north of Yellow River were clustered together and characterized by highest concentrations of epimedin B, icariin, and their total. Considering of the high concentrations of main flavonoids and abundant resources, E. brevicornu could be exploited as a good medical resource for Herba Epimedii and would offer a tremendous potential for commercial development, but SXXA population should be paid special attention, and further study is needed.     

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase moonlighting activity as a DNA chelating agent

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) is a mitochondrial enzyme that comprises an essential component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Lines of evidence have shown that many dehydrogenases possess unrelated actions known as moonlightings in addition to their oxidoreductase activity. As part of these activities, we have demonstrated that DLDH binds TiO₂ as well as produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). This ROS production capability was harnessed for cancer therapy via integrin‐mediated drug‐delivery of RGD‐modified DLDH (DLDH^RGD), leading to apoptotic cell death. In these experiments, DLDH^RGD not only accumulated in the cytosol but also migrated to the cell nuclei, suggesting a potential DNA‐binding capability of this enzyme. To explore this interaction under cell‐free conditions, we have analyzed DLDH binding to phage lambda (λ) DNA by gel‐shift assays and analytic ultracentrifugation, showing complex formation between the two, which led to full coverage of the DNA molecule with DLDH molecules. DNA binding did not affect DLDH enzymatic activity, indicating that there are neither conformational changes nor active site hindering in DLDH upon DNA‐binding. A Docking algorithm for prediction of protein‐DNA complexes, Paradoc, identified a putative DNA binding site at the C‐terminus of DLDH. Our finding that TiO₂‐bound DLDH failed to form a complex with DNA suggests partial overlapping between the two sites. To conclude, DLDH binding to DNA presents a novel moonlight activity which may be used for DNA alkylating in cancer treatment.     

珠三角河网链状硅藻物种组成及生态特征

珠三角河网水域是珠江之水流入南海的必经之地,于2012年和2015年对该水域的链状硅藻的时空特征及其影响因素进行了分析。共发现链状硅藻18种(包括变种和变型),颗粒沟链藻是该水域的绝对优势种,也是该区域水体富营养化的重要指示物种。总生物量的时间变化模式呈现枯水期差异较大,丰水期差异较小的特点,主要是受到径流量、透明度和水温差异的影响;空间特征主要表现为广州市周边站位的生物量明显偏高,主要受水体富营养化的影响。不同链状硅藻的相对百分组成显示,颗粒沟链藻是绝对优势种,变异直链藻易在枯水期与其形成竞争优势。沟链藻属的链长一般大于直链藻属,这主要得益于其形态结构较稳固的优势;此外,透明度、营养盐和pH值等也是影响链长的重要因素。     

输入病毒导致的十起本土疫情首例病例新冠病毒基因特征分析

2020年4月中国阻断湖北省武汉市新冠肺炎疫情传播后,中国国内报道了多起由境外输入导致的本土聚集性新冠肺炎疫情。为分析引起聚集性疫情的输入性新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)的基因组特征,本研究对2020年4-11月份十起输入相关本土疫情首例病例的SARS-CoV-2全基因组基因特征进行分析,系统阐述了相关SARS-CoV-2的全基因组和氨基酸变异特征。结果显示,与武汉参考株相比,十起本土聚集性疫情首例病例的SARS-CoV-2核苷酸突变中位数为10个(8个-26个),氨基酸突变的中位数为6个(4个-16个),且刺突(spike,S)蛋白只有D614G一个氨基酸发生突变。除分支位点外,10条SARS-CoV-2全基因组序列的65个核苷酸突变位点以及35个氨基酸突变仅出现1-2次,呈现随机性。全基因组分析表明,这十起本土疫情的首例病例基因组按照中国分型法可划分为4个型,按照Pangolin分型法可划分为7个型,与我国2020年1-3月份武汉流行的毒株属于不同基因型,不是本土SARS-CoV-2的持续传播。与2020年9-12月英国和南非变异株属于不同基因型,无相关性。本文系统分析了2020年由输入病毒导致的十起本土疫情首例病例的SARS-CoV-2核苷酸与氨基酸变异特征,为我国新冠防控策略的制定以及后续新冠疫情的溯源提供了参考依据。     

Direct interaction of mitochondrial targeting presequences with purified components of the TIM23 protein complex

Precursor proteins that are imported from the cytosol into the matrix of mitochondria carry positively charged amphipathic presequences and cross the inner membrane with the help of vital components of the TIM23 complex. It is currently unclear which subunits of the TIM23 complex recognize and directly bind to presequences. Here we analyzed the binding of presequence peptides to purified components of the TIM23 complex. The interaction of three different presequences with purified soluble domains of yeast Tim50 (Tim50IMS), Tim23 (Tim23IMS), and full-length Tim44 was examined. Using chemical cross-linking and surface plasmon resonance we demonstrate, for the first time, the ability of purified Tim50IMS and Tim44 to interact directly with the yeast Hsp60 presequence. We also analyzed their interaction with presequences derived from precursors of yeast mitochondrial 70-kDa heat shock protein (mHsp70) and of bovine cytochrome P450SCC. Moreover, we characterized the nature of the interactions and determined their KDs. On the basis of our results, we suggest a mechanism of translocation where stronger interactions of the presequences on the trans side of the channel support the import of precursor proteins through TIM23 into the matrix.