Circular RNA SLTM as a miR-421-competing endogenous RNA to mediate HMGB2 expression stimulates apoptosis and inflammation in arthritic chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related joint disease characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive articular cartilage destruction, and subchondral sclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in OA, but the function of circSLTM in OA remains greatly unknown. Therefore, this study focused on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated primary human chondrocytes as well as a rat model to investigate the expression pattern and functional role of circSLTM in OA in vitro and in vivo. CircSLTM and high mobility group protein B2 (HMGB2) were upregulated in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, whereas miR-421 was downregulated. Knockdown of circSLTM or overexpression of miR-421 ameliorated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and inflammation. The regulatory relationship between circSLTM and miR-421, as well as that between miR-421 and HMGB2, was predicted by bioinformatics and then verified by the RNA immunoprecipitation experiment and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Furthermore, silencing of circSLTM increased cartilage destruction and decreased cartilage tissue apoptosis rate and inflammation in a rat model of OA. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the fundamental role of circSLTM in OA progression and provide a potential molecular target for OA therapy.     

Xanthan fermentations in water/oil dispersions

Summary Xanthan fermentations in W/O dispersions performed better than the control in both small flasks and a 6.6-L fermentor. The better bulk mixing and oxygen transfer achieved in the dispersion resulted in a still rising xanthan concentration of 65 g/L, compared with 26 g/L in the control. A phase inversion phenomenon was observed when n-hexadecane recovered from previous runs was used as the oil.     

汉族ABO血型的皮纹特征分析

作者对芜湖地区３８２例（男２２０人;女１６２人）汉族ＡＢＯ血型的皮纹特征进行了分析,其中Ｏ型１３０人,Ａ型１１３人,Ｂ型１０１人,ＡＢ型３８人。分析比较了指纹类型、指纹组合格局、指嵴纹计数、掌嵴纹计数、ａｔｄ角,掌部真实花纹,掌褶纹和拇趾球纹等项参数,结果表明,ＡＢＯ各血型的皮纹参数间有若干统计学差异。     

越南槐根的抗HIV活性成分研究

为研究越南槐(Sophora tonkinensis)根的抗HIV蛋白酶活性成分及其分子对接机制,采用硅胶、MCI、Sephadex LH-20等多种色谱分离方法,对越南槐根的化学成分进行分离,采用HIV蛋白酶对化合物进行体外抗HIV活性筛选,运用分子对接手段初步探究活性化合物与HIV-1蛋白酶的结合机制。结果表明,从越南槐中共分离得到8个化合物,根据波谱数据分别鉴定为三叶豆紫檀苷(1)、苦参碱(2)、N-acetylnicotinamide (3)、2′-O-甲基腺苷(4)、毛蕊异黄酮苷(5)、玫瑰花苷(6)、环广豆根素(7)、芒柄花苷(8),此外还分离得到塑化剂衍生物邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基)己酯(9)和邻苯二甲酸二异丁酯(10)。抗HIV蛋白酶活性测试显示化合物1和2的IC50分别为13.2和38.6μg/m L,分子对接表明其与HIV蛋白酶有一定的结合作用。化合物3～5为首次从该植物中分离得到,化合物1和2显示中等的抗HIV蛋白酶活性。     

Study of the Biological Activity and Phenolic Content of the Ethanol Extract of Phyllogonium viride Brid. (Phyllogoniaceae,Bryophyta)

The present study aimed to examine the phenolic content and evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts from the moss species Phyllogonium viride Brid. on the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, and the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The antimicrobial activity was determined from Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC). Antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH method. Folin-Denis reagent was used for the content of total phenolics and flavonoids and HPLC-DAD for identification of phenolic compounds. The results showed that bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities occurred at concentrations ranging from 9.76 μg/mL–78.13 μg/mL among all evaluated microorganisms. These values, considering the criteria used, suggest the P. viride extract as a potent antimicrobial. For antioxidant activity, P. viride extract was considered weak. Analysis of the phenolic content showed a wide range of compounds, with Kaempferol (0.41 mg/g) being the major compound, followed by t-cinnamic acid and caffeic acid (0.17 mg/g). Although P. viride is a species of moss not yet referenced in scientific publications of biotechnological interest, it has shown promising potential for further studies and possible application as an antimicrobial of natural origin.     

栽培稻杂种不育性的遗传研究——Ⅲ.不同类型品种F_1花粉不育性的等位基因分化

以台中65等基因F_1不育系为遗传测验种,测定了栽培稻(O.sativa)45个品种在3个F_1不育基因座的基因型和等位基因的分化度。在S-E3基因座上,除Dular带有S_i/S_i基因型外,其余被测品种均带有S_i/S_i基因型。在S-E2和S-E5基因座上,籼型品种带有高频率的S_i基因,而粳型品种带有高频率的S_i基因。S_i和S_i均具有不同的分化度。籼型品种携带的S_i基因和粳型品种携带的S_i基因具有较高的分化度。中间型品种和广亲和品种的等位基因分化在S-E2基因座上与粳型品种相似,而在S-E5基因座上与籼型品种相似。此外,分析了各类型品种相互杂交F_1杂种在S-E2和S-E5基因座的杂合率、杂合度和杂合性。与籼/粳杂种相比,中间型品种(包括广亲和品种)与籼型和粳型品种杂交,F_1杂种均具有较低的平均杂合性,从而表现出较高的亲和性。因此,无论是杂种不育性还是杂种亲和性均由花粉不育基因控制。花粉不育基因也称为特异亲和基因。     

ent-Pimarane Diterpenes from the Aerial Parts of Siegesbeckia pubescens

Five new ent-pimarane diterpenes ( 1 – 5 ) and five known analogs ( 6 – 10 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia pubescens. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods especially 1D and 2D NMR and quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculations. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human BT549, A549 and H157 cancer cell lines. Among them, compounds 1 and 2 showed mild cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell lines H157 with IC₅₀ values of 16.35±2.59 and 18.86±4.83 μM, respectively.     

蝮蛇毒碱性磷脂酶A_2基因的克隆

从蝮蛇毒腺中抽提总ＲＮＡ．利用人工合成寡核苷酸引物作逆转录,以ｃＤＮＡ为模板进行体外扩增,获得磷脂酶Ａ２（简称ＰＬＡ２）基因,克隆至ｐＢＳ－ｋｓ载体中。通过对３个碱性ＰＬＡ２（简称ＢＰＬＡ２）基因单独克隆分别作ＤＮＡ全序列分析,推导ｐｒｏ－ＢＰＬＡ２由１３８个氨基酸残基构成,与已测定的部分氨基酸序列比较,基本相符。该基因成功的克隆,不仅推导出ＢＰＬＡ２的蛋白质全序列,也为进一步开展蛇毒功能肽蛋白质工程的研究工作打下了良好的基础。