Terpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia and Their Cytotoxic Activities against H1975 Cells

Three previously undescribed diterpenoids, helioscopnoids A–C, and eight known compounds were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectra and data comparison with previous literatures. Among them, compound 4 was identified as 24,24-dimethoxy-25,26,27-trinoreuphan-3β-ol with revised configurations of C-13, C-14, and C-17 (13R*, 14R*, 17R*). Cytotoxicity assays revealed that all compounds exhibited varying levels of cytotoxicity against H1975 cells, with compound 9 displaying the most potent activity, as indicated by cell viability rates of 18.13 % and 20.76 % at concentrations of 20 μM and 5 μM, respectively. This study expands the understanding of E. helioscopia terpenoids’ structural diversity and biological activities, contributing to the exploration of potential therapeutic applications.     

Time-Dependent Effects of Progressive Gamma -Linolenate Feeding on Hyperphagia,Weight Gain,and Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition During Growth of Zucker Obese Rats

Obese Zucker rats (fa/fa) have low levels of arachidonic acid (AA) in liver phospholipids (PL). We have previously shown that a 70% gamma-linolenate concentrate (GLA; an AA intermediate) fed at a fixed dose (0.07 g/day) normalized hepatic PL AA and reduced weight gain selectively in the obese animals. In a follow-up study, 16 obese (fa/fa) and 16 lean (Fa/Fa) 4-week-old male rats were randomized into 4 groups of 8 each and gavaged daily with soybean oil (SOY) containing 55% 18:2ω6 (an AA precursor) or GLA, using a progressive dose (≤ 5% of total calories) based on body weight. A defined diet with 11% of energy as SOY was fed ad libitum for 60 days. GLA obese had lower body weight (p<0.0001) and 60-day cumulative food intake (p<0.05) compared to SOY obese, but neither parameter differed between the lean groups. For the last twenty days cumulative food intake was identical for GLA obese and SOY lean, whereas SOY obese consumed 18% more (p<0.05). Thus the progressive dose of GLA selectively suppressed hyperphagia in obese Zucker rats. Erythrocytes collected at 15-day intervals showed parallel increases in AA in both genotypes over time, suggesting normal AA availability during rapid growth. Thus, the reduced PL AA in the livers from the obese rats probably reflects impaired distribution in selected tissues rather than reduced hepatic production. Due to the potential health risks of enriching tissue lipids with AA, great caution is advised in considering GLA as therapy for human obesity.     

Steel Anti-Corrosion Strategy Enables Long-Cycle Zn Anode

The progress of aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) is limited by the poor cycling life due to Zn anode instability, including dendrite growth, surface corrosion, and passivation. Inspired by the anti-corrosion strategy of steel industry, a compounding corrosion inhibitor (CCI) is employed as the electrolyte additive for Zn metal anode protection. It is shown that CCI can spontaneously generate a uniform and ≈30 nm thick solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on Zn anode with a strong adhesion via Zn O bonding. This SEI layer efficiently prohibits water corrosion and guides homogeneous Zn deposition without obvious dendrite formation. This enables reversible Zn deposition and dissolution for over 1100 h under the condition of 1 mA cm⁻² and 1 mAh cm⁻² in symmetric cells. The Zn-MnO₂ full cells with CCI-modified electrolyte deliver an ultralow capacity decay rate (0.013% per cycle) at 0.5 A g⁻¹ over 1000 cycles. Such an innovative strategy paves a low-cost way to achieve AZBs with long lifespan.     

The Prevention Effect of Bacillus subtilis on Escherichia coli–Induced Mastitis in Mice by Suppressing the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Mastitis, common inflammation of the mammary gland, caused by various factors, is a challenge for the dairy industry. Escherichia coli (E. coli), a...     

The Puccinia striiformis effector Hasp98 facilitates pathogenicity by blocking the kinase activity of wheat TaMAPK4

The obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) employs virulence effectors to disturb host immunity and causes devastating stripe rust disease. However, our understanding of how Pst effectors regulate host defense responses remains limited. In this study, we determined that the Pst effector Hasp98, which is highly expressed in Pst haustoria, inhibits plant immune responses triggered by flg22 or nonpathogenic bacteria. Overexpression of Hasp98 in wheat (Triticum aestivum) suppressed avirulent Pst-triggered immunity, leading to decreased H₂O₂ accumulation and promoting P. striiformis infection, whereas stable silencing of Hasp98 impaired P. striiformis pathogenicity. Hasp98 interacts with the wheat mitogen-activated protein kinase TaMAPK4, a positive regulator of plant resistance to stripe rust. The conserved TEY motif of TaMAPK4 is important for its kinase activity, which is required for the resistance function. We demonstrate that Hasp98 inhibits the kinase activity of TaMAPK4 and that the stable silencing of TaMAPK4 compromises wheat resistance against P. striiformis. These results suggest that Hasp98 acts as a virulence effector to interfere with the MAPK signaling pathway in wheat, thereby promoting P. striiformis infection.     

EFFECTS OF HELPER PROTEINS ENCODED BY p19 AND orf1-orf2 GENES ON Cyt1Aa PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN ACRYSTALLIFEROUS STRAIN OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS

A series of plasmids were constructed to examine the effects of p19 and orf1‐orf2 genes from Bacillus thuringiensis on Cyt1Aa synthesis and inclusion formation. The plasmids expressed the cyt1Aa gene along with either p19 or orf1‐orf2, or each of them coordinatively with p20 in the acrystalliferous strain of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis 4Q7. No effect on the expression of Cyt1Aa protein was found when P19 or Orf1‐Orf2 co‐expressed with Cyt1Aa. However, when including p20 gene, the constructs with p19 or orf1‐orf2 gene produced lower yield of Cyt1Aa proteins than without p19 or orf1‐orf2 gene. Electron microscopy observation and bioassay showed that P19 and Orf1‐Orf2 have no influence on the crystal size and toxicity of Cyt1Aa protein. It is presumed that P19 and Orf1‐Orf2 might have negative effects on Cyt1Aa synthesis in B. thuringiensis.     

Acid-base equilibria of air-water monolayers ofN-hexadecyl-8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxamide

The surface pressure-area (-A) isotherms ofN-hexadecyl-8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxamide (HHQ) monolayers at an air-water interface on subphases with different pH values were investigated. The monolayer of HHQ was expanded and unstable on acidic subphases, while it was condensed and stable on basic subphases. The acid-base equilibrium of HHQ was investigated in an aqueous dioxane solution and at the air-water interface. The association-dissociation of HHQ with H⁺ ions in the interfacial region was very different from that in the aqueous dioxane solution. Some information regarding the packing density, phase transition and degree of ionization of the head group under different experimental conditions has been obtained.     

叶片阶段性白化小麦的叶绿体激发能分配和荧光动力学特征

叶片阶段性白化小麦是一种非常特殊的色素突变体。本文对其白色、白绿相嵌及转绿叶片的叶绿体光化活性分别进行了测定。试验表明：（１）白化和白绿相嵌叶片的叶绿体色素合成处于停滞阶段,转绿叶片则处于色素迅速合成阶段;（２）白化、白绿相嵌和转绿叶片叶绿体的激发能传递呈递增趋势;（３）三者对绿体的ＰＳⅡ活性和原初光能转化效率也呈递增趋势;（４）白化叶片叶绿体缺乏ＰＳⅠ和ＰＳⅡ外周天线色素蛋白,白绿相嵌和转绿叶片的类囊体膜多肽组分与正常叶片相近似。     

炎症介质在内毒素引起大鼠肠系膜血管床降钙素基因相关肽释放中的作用

本研究在离体大鼠肠系膜血管床灌流模型上,采用特异放免法测定灌流液中的降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）,观察几种常见炎症介质在内毒素引起ＣＧＲＰ释放中的作用。结果显示：前列腺素合成酶抑制剂地塞米松、布洛芬与消炎痛,缓激肽受体Ｂ２拮抗剂ＨＯＥ１４０,血小板激活因子拮抗剂ＷＥＢ２０８６,组胺Ｈ１受体拮抗剂苯海拉明以及和组胺Ｈ２受体拮抗剂西咪替丁,均能明显抑剂制内毒素引起的ＣＧＲＰ释放,５羟色胺受体拮抗剂ＩＣＳ２０５９３０却无明显作用。从而提示：内毒素引起ＣＧＲＰ释放是通过炎症介质前列腺素、缓激肽、血小板激活因子和组胺介导的,阻断或减少炎症介质的产生可望减轻内毒素血症时ＣＧＲＰ的过量释放。