Three new taxanes with the 10-alkoxy group from the heartwood of Taxus cuspidata

Three novel taxanes with the 10-alkoxy group were isolated from heartwood of Taxus cuspidata. The structures were identified as 2alpha,14beta-diacetoxy-10beta-ethoxytaxa-11,4(20)-dien-5alpha-ol (1), 2alpha,14beta-diacetoxy-10beta-methoxytaxa-11,4(20)-dien-5alpha-ol (2), and 2alpha-acetoxy-10beta-ethoxytaxa-11,4(20)-diene-5alpha,14beta-diol (3) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. These are the first taxanes with an alkoxy moiety on the skeleton.     

土壤水分含量的理论分析及预测模型

本文应用物理学中的电介质和电磁理论,分析和研究土壤的组成成分,得到了反映土壤水分含量的理论表达式,并在自行研制的测试仪器上,对相关变量进行测量,由此建立了土壤水分含量的预测模型,统计检验和国代结果显示了理论模型和预测模型的合理性．     

siRNA在治疗学中的应用

小干扰RNA（small interfering RNA,siRNA）是外源性双链RNA（double strand RNA,dsRNA）的加工产物,在细胞内能介导RNA干扰（RNA interference,RNAi）效应,识别特异性mRNA,沉默同源基因表达。其特异性和高效性显示出很高的实用价值,siRNA已成为许多疾病潜在的治疗手段。对于siRNA的应用,尽管还需要在减少非特异反应,发掘高效递药载体,应对新的基因变异等方面进行深入研究,但其可望在抗病毒、神经系统疾病和肿瘤治疗等许多领域发挥治疗作用。     

Ribosomal proteins S13 and L23 promote multidrug resistance in gastric cancer cells by suppressing drug-induced apoptosis

Ribosomal proteins (RP) S13 and RPL23 were previously identified as two upregulated genes in a multidrug-resistant gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/VCR compared to its parental cell SGC7901 by differential display PCR. The aim of this study was to explore the roles of RPS13 and RPL23 in multidrug resistance (MDR) in gastric cancer cells. RPS13 and RPL23 were genetically overexpressed in SGC7901 cells, respectively. Either RPS13 or RPL23 enhanced resistance of SGC7901 cells to vincristine, adriamycin, and 5-fludrouracil. RPL23 also enhanced resistance of SGC7901 cells to cisplatin. Overexpression of either RPS13 or RPL23 did not alter the population doubling time, [³H]leucine incorporation, and intracellular adriamycin accumulation of SGC7901 cells. However, either RPS13 or RPL23 could protect SGC7901 cells from undergoing vincristine-induced apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that both RPS13 and RPL23 significantly increased the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in SGC7901 cells. In addition, overexpression of RPL23 enhanced glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and intracellular glutathione content in SGC7901 cells. Together, this work demonstrates that either RPS13 or RPL23 can promote MDR in gastric cancer cells by suppressing drug-induced apoptosis, and that RPL23 may also promote MDR in gastric cancer cells through regulation of glutathione S-transferase-mediated drug-detoxifying system.     

TAB2 and TAB3 activate the NF-kappaB pathway through binding to polyubiquitin chains

The activation of NF-kappaB and IKK requires an upstream kinase complex consisting of TAK1 and adaptor proteins such as TAB1, TAB2, or TAB3. TAK1 is in turn activated by TRAF6, a RING domain ubiquitin ligase that facilitates the synthesis of lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin chains. Here we present evidence that TAB2 and TAB3 are receptors that bind preferentially to lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin chains through a highly conserved zinc finger (ZnF) domain. Mutations of the ZnF domain abolish the ability of TAB2 and TAB3 to bind polyubiquitin chains, as well as their ability to activate TAK1 and IKK. Significantly, replacement of the ZnF domain with a heterologous ubiquitin binding domain restored the ability of TAB2 and TAB3 to activate TAK1 and IKK. We also show that TAB2 binds to polyubiquitinated RIP following TNFalpha stimulation. These results indicate that polyubiquitin binding domains represent a new class of signaling domains that regulate protein kinase activity through a nonproteolytic mechanism.     

中国兰科独蒜兰属植物增补

报道了中国兰科独蒜兰属2个未详知种:藏南独蒜兰(Pleione arunachalensis Hareesh, P.Kumar M.Sabu)和矮小独蒜兰[P.humilis (Sm.) D.Don],并提供了详细的形态描述和照片。凭证标本保存于云南省林业和草原科学院植物标本馆(YAF)。     

Clinical analysis of the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia and multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type with umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells

Background aimsThe aims of this study were to observe the safety and effectiveness of umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSC) in the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type (MSA-C).MethodsFrom October 2009 to September 2010, 14 cases of SCA and 10 cases of MSA-C were given UC-MSC by weekly intrathecal injection, at a dose of 1 × 10⁶/kg four times as one course. All the patients received one course of treatment, except three patients who received two courses. The movement ability and quality of daily life were evaluated with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) and the scores compared with those before cell therapy. A follow-up of 6–15 months was carried out for all of the patients.ResultsThe results showed that the ICARS and ADL scores were significantly decreased 1 month after treatment (P < 0.01). The symptoms, including unstable walking and standing, slow movement, fine motor disorders of the upper limbs, writing difficulties and dysarthria, were greatly improved except for one patient, who had no response. The observed side-effects included dizziness (four patients), back pain (two cases) and headache (one case), which disappeared within 1–3 days. During the follow-up, 10 cases remained stable for half a year or longer, while 14 cases had regressed to the status prior to the treatment within 1–14 months (an average of 3 months).ConclusionsIntrathecal injection of UC-MSC is safe and can delay the progression of neurologic deficits for SCA and MSA-C patients.     

Manganese-binding proteins of the oxygen-evolving complex

The extrinsic 33-kDa protein (P33) was cross-linked covalently to the binding site on P33-depleted PSII preparations which is responsible for reconstitution of photosynthetic water oxidation after PSII preparations have been washed with 1 M CaCl2. Conditions were found in which more than half of the cross-linked protein complexes formed in the PSII preparations retained the ability to catalyze the oxidation of water. The complex is composed of the P33 cross-linked to the D1 and D2 proteins and a 34-kDa protein, which is present in lower abundance than the other three proteins. After solubilization of the membranes with SDS and purification by preparative SDS-PAGE, the complex retains bound manganese and can catalyze the conversion of H2O2 to O2. Calcium and chloride increased the catalase activity of the purified cross-linked complex while lanthanum or hydroxylamine abolished the activity. By use of the specific activity of the H2O2-dependent reaction to follow the extent of purification of the cross-linked complex, the most highly purified complex was determined to contain 0.34 microgram of manganese/180 micrograms of protein. The mole ratio of Mn/protein was calculated to range from 3.6 to 4.5 depending on the assumed stoichiometry of the protein subunits. The results presented here provide direct evidence that one or more of the three proteins that have cross-linked to the P33 are responsible for binding the manganese of the oxygen-evolving complex.     

两种石楠叶绿素荧光参数日变化的比较研究

以红叶石楠和光叶石楠为试验材料,研究了两种石楠叶绿素荧光参数的日变化。结果表明：随着日间光照强度的不断变化,即时最大荧光产量（Fm＇）、光系统Ⅱ实际量子产量（Yield）和光化学淬灭（qP）呈现出“V”型曲线;非光化学淬灭（qN）呈现出单峰曲线;表观光合电子传递速率（ETR）则呈现出双峰曲线;到黄昏时各参数基本恢复至早晨的水平,表明两种石楠均未发生光合机构的破坏。红叶石楠的Fm’、Yield、ETR、qP均高于光叶石楠,说明红叶石楠对光能的利用效率高于光叶石楠,表现出对当地环境更高的适应性。