Cytotoxic Spliceostatin Analogs from Pseudomonas sp.

Two new spliceostatin analogs, designed as spliceostatins J and K ( 1 and 2 ), were isolated and identified from the culture of Pseudomonas sp., along with two known ones, FR901464 ( 3 ) and spliceostatin E ( 4 ). Their structures were elucidated by detailed interpretation of their spectroscopic data, especially 2D‐NMR and HR‐ESI‐MS. Spliceostatin J ( 1 ) represented the first example of spliceostatins bearing an unusual hexahydrofuro[3,4‐b]furan moiety. Biological assay showed all the isolated compounds except 1 displayed potent cytotoxic activities against two cancer cell lines (MDA‐MB‐231 and A‐549). Structure‐activity‐relationship studies revealed that the tetrahydropyran ring in spliceostatin analogs was necessary for their bioactive retention.     

A Desolvated Solid–Solid Interface for a High‐Capacitance Electric Double Layer

Understanding the electric double layer is essential for achieving efficient electrochemical energy storage technologies. A conventional solid–liquid electrode interface suffers from serious self‐discharge and a narrow voltage window, which makes the development of a solid–solid interface imperative. However, an in‐depth understanding of the electric double layer with a solid–solid interface is lacking. Here, a solid–solid interfacial electric double layer is proposed with excellent electrochemical performance. The solid layer is constructed by the electrochemical decomposition of lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate, which provides a desolvated environment for the establishment of a electric double layer. This makes a stronger interaction between the electrode surface and the ions. Based on this unique property, it is found that the solid–solid interfacial electric double layer has an increased capacitance, which suggests a way to develop high‐energy electrochemical capacitors.     

New Immunomodulating Polyhydroxypregnane Glycosides from the Roots of Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid.

Seven new polyhydroxypregnane glycosides, named cynotophyllosides P–V, together with three known analogs were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid . Their structures were elucidated by a variety of spectroscopic techniques, as well as acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis. All isolates were tested for their immunological activities in vitro against Con A‐ and LPS‐induced proliferation of mice splenocytes. Immunoenhancing (for 1 , 9 ) and immunosuppressive (for 2 ) activities were observed. Furthermore, cynotophylloside R ( 3 ) showed immunomodulatory as it enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in low concentration and suppressed immune cells in concentration more than 1.0 μg/ml.     

Biphenyl Derivatives from the Aerial Parts of Oenanthe javanica and Their COX‐2 Inhibitory Activities

Four new biphenyl derivatives ( 1 – 4 ), along with six known biphenyl derivatives ( 5 – 10 ) were isolated and elucidated by their detailed analyses of spectroscopic data and references from the aerial parts of Oenanthe javanica for the first time. Compounds ( 1 – 10 ) were assayed for their activities about the inhibition of COX‐2 enzyme in vitro for the first time. Compounds 1 , 2 , 4 , and 6 showed inhibitory activities against COX‐2 with IC₅₀ values ranging from 22.18±0.29 to 108.54±0.42 μm .     

Cardiac‐specific overexpression of metallothionein attenuates L‐NAME‐induced myocardial contractile anomalies and apoptosis

Hypertension contributes to the high cardiac morbidity and mortality. Although oxidative stress plays an essential role in hypertensive heart diseases, the mechanism remains elusive. Transgenic mice with cardiac overexpression of metallothionein, a heavy metal‐binding scavenger, were challenged with N^G‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) for 14 days prior to measurement of myocardial contractile and intracellular Ca²⁺ anomalies as well as cell signalling mechanisms using Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. L‐NAME challenge elicited hypertension, macrophage infiltration, oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiac dysfunction manifested as increased proinflammatory macrophage marker F4/80, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), intracellular production, LV end systolic and diastolic diameters as well as depressed fractional shortening. L‐NAME treatment reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), impaired cardiomyocyte contractile and intracellular Ca²⁺ properties as evidenced by suppressed peak shortening, maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening, rise in intracellular Ca²⁺, along with elevated baseline and peak intracellular Ca²⁺. These unfavourable mechanical changes and decreased MMP (except blood pressure and macrophage infiltration) were alleviated by overexpression of metallothionein. Furthermore, the apoptosis markers including BAD, Bax, Caspase 9, Caspase 12 and cleaved Caspase 3 were up‐regulated while the anti‐apoptotic marker Bcl‐2 was decreased by L‐NAME treatment. Metallothionein transgene reversed L‐NAME‐induced changes in Bax, Bcl‐2, BAD phosphorylation, Caspase 9, Caspase 12 and cleaved Caspase 3. Our results suggest that metallothionein protects against L‐NAME‐induced myocardial contractile anomalies in part through inhibition of apoptosis.     

Application of an efficient indole oxygenase system from Cupriavidus sp. SHE for indigo production

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Indigo, one of the most widely used dyes, is mainly produced by chemical processes, which generate amounts of pollutants and need high energy consumption....     

SAA-Cas9: A tunable genome editing system with increased bio-safety and reduced off-target effects

The site-specific nature and ease of handling of clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat(CRISPR)/Cas9 has fulfilled the decades-long goal of genome engineering,and thus has pushed the biological sciences into a new era in which site-directed manipulation of DNA is no longer a short slab(Doudna and Charpentier,2014).The incomparable power of this system also enabled unprecedented new opportunities for practical applications in agriculture,ecosystem and human health(Liu,2017).However,with the extremely rapid development and application of CRISPR system,concerns about its bio-safety have been increasing(Caplan et al.,2015;Taning et al.,2017).While multiple studies have addressed this issue,alternative options for regulating Cas9 are of great interest.As has been proved by increasing evidences,another well?known concern is the off-target effects,which could not only confound research experiments or breeding,but also cause unwanted side effects in the forthcoming therapeutic uses(Fu et aL,2013;Taning et al.,2017;Zhang et al.,2018).     

水稻细菌性穗枯病的病原特性和抗性研究进展

水稻(Oryza sativa)细菌性穗枯病是世界性的重要病害之一, 严重威胁全球范围水稻的高产稳产。虽然该病目前仍被列为我国的检疫性病害, 但近几年的研究表明, 穗枯病随时有在内地蔓延的潜在危险, 因此除了加强检疫工作, 开展针对性的防控技术研发也十分必要。水稻细菌性穗枯病菌在侵染过程中涉及多种毒力因子, 同时, 水稻在与病原菌的长期互作过程中演化出了多种防卫机制, 抗性基因是主要的防卫机制之一。挖掘水稻基因组中抗细菌性穗枯病遗传位点并培育抗病品种是最安全且经济有效的防治途径。该文综述了水稻细菌性穗枯病的病原菌特性、发病特征、发病机制、病害循环和对水稻细菌性穗枯病的抗性研究现状, 以期为挖掘和分离水稻穗枯病抗性位点提供参考。