Synthesis and biological evaluation of a folate-targeted rhaponticin conjugate

To improve the therapeutic effect of rhaponticin (RHA), a folate receptor (FR) targeted RHA conjugate was synthesized by utilizing a hydrophilic peptide spacer linked to folic acid (FA) via a releasable disulfide linker. This water-soluble conjugate was found to retain high affinity for FR-positive cells, and it produced specific, dose-responsive activity in vitro. Treatment of FRHA with a reducing agent indicated that the amino-reactive derivative of RHA would be released spontaneously following disulfide bond reduction within the endosomes. FRHA also proved to be active predominantly specific against FR-positive syngeneic and xenograft models in vivo, and possible curative activity resulted with minimal to moderate toxicity. The FRHA conjugate greatly enhanced the therapeutic effects and reduced the toxicity of RHA. In conclusion, FRHA represents a folate-targeted chemotherapeutic that can produce potent activity against established sc tumors. Hence, this report has a great significance in pharmacology and clinical medicine as well as methodology.     

Exploring pyrimidine-substituted curcumin analogues: Design,synthesis and effects on EGFR signaling

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an effective molecular target of anti-cancer therapies. Curcumin inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro by suppressing gene expression of EGFR and reduces tumor growth in various animal models. To overcome instable and insoluble properties of curcumin as therapeutics, we designed and synthesized six novel pyrimidine-substituted curcumin analogues with or without a hydroxyl group originally present in curcumin. The cell viability tests indicated that IC₅₀ of the analogues containing hydroxyl group were 3 to 8-fold lower than those of the analogues without hydroxyl group in two colon cancer cell lines tested. Western blot analysis indicates the analogues containing hydroxyl group inhibited expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR. Further protein analyses showed that the analogues had anti-cellular proliferation, pro-apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest properties associated with suppressed EGFR expression. These results indicate that the hydroxyl groups in curcumin and the analogues were critical for observed biological activities.     

Structural Mechanism of CCM3 Heterodimerization with GCKIII Kinases

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Highlights? Crystal structure of CCM3-MST4 heterodimeric complex ? Structural mechanism driving CCM3-GCKIII heterodimerization ? Conformational changes required for CCM3-GCKIII heterodimerization ? Synergistic effects of CCM3-MST4 complex on cell proliferation and migration     

DNA组装新方法的研究进展

2010年,蕈状支原体Mycoplasma mycoides的人工合成,迎来了合成生物学的崭新时代.这种突破性的进展主要得益于酵母自身强大的DNA体内重组能力.近几年来,除了利用体内重组的DNA大片段拼接技术,基于连接或聚合思想的不同尺度的DNA体外组装方法也相继出现,如Biobrick\Bglbrick、SLIC与Gibson等温一步法等,这些方法的应用加快了合成生物学功能元件库、生物合成途径乃至微生物染色体的人工构建.事实上,目前所建立的各种DNA组装方法,均是由DNA分子拼接理念(包括两分子衔接思想与多片段组装模式)衍生而来.文中将在介绍DNA组装基本理念的基础上,对体内、体外主要的DNA组装方法进行简要梳理,希望为不同类型的合成生物学功能器件及生物合成途径的构造提供参考与借鉴.     

阿魏蘑液体发酵过程菌体形态变化对产漆酶的影响

本文旨在研究阿魏蘑菌体形态与漆酶产量之间的关系。结果显示,玻璃珠的添加可改变发酵过程中菌体形态,漆酶产量在球状菌体条件下高于丝状、絮状菌丝：直径分布在0.2~0.4 mm范围的菌球对漆酶的合成具有明显的促进作用;适合的葡萄糖、玉米粉和麸皮添加量,对直径在0.2~0.4 mm范围的菌球形成具有重要影响。此外,添加惰性载体同样可以控制菌球的直径分布,但对漆酶的合成无促进作用。     

桥弯藻科和异极藻科（硅藻门）植物中国7种新记录

对采自黑龙江省东南部兴凯湖湿地的100余号硅藻标本进行分类研究,共发现桥弯藻科、异极藻科（硅藻门）中国新记录植物5种2变种,分别为亚粗糙桥弯藻（Cymbella peraspera Krammer）、尖头弯肋藻［Cymbopleura cuspidata (Kützing) Krammer］、不显内丝藻高山变种（Encyonema obscurum var.alpina Krammer）、西里西亚内丝藻翼形变种（Encyonema silesiacum var.lata Krammer）、耳状异极藻（Gomphonema auritum Braun & Kützing）、棍棒异极藻（Gomphonema clava Reichardt）、极细异极藻［Gomphonema exilissimum (Grunow) Lange-Bertalot & Reichardt］。对其分类学特征进行了详细的描述,与同属中相似的种类进行了比较与讨论,为今后该区域的藻类研究提供了基础的资料。     

不同水分处理对甘蒙柽柳幼苗根系生长特性的影响

以1年生甘蒙柽柳幼苗为对象,采用人工壕沟挖掘法,对柽柳幼苗在不同水分处理条件下(干旱处理、适度灌溉、充分灌溉)根系生态学特征的季节变化进行了研究.结果表明,不同水分处理对柽柳幼苗根系生长影响显著,垂直根扎根深度和生长速率随着灌溉量的减小而增加.地面灌溉量的增加会导致根系分布的浅表化和根系消弱系数的减小,根系生物量与土壤深度呈显著负对数关系.不同水分处理条件下,7-10月的根/冠比平均值分别为0.43、0.60、0.90、1.12,其根、冠间存在典型的异速生长关系.根/冠比随土壤水分的减小而增加,且生长季后期大于初期.     

自发性高血压大鼠和Wistar大鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞膜电流的比较

目的:探讨自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)和Wistar大鼠脑动脉(BA)平滑肌细胞膜电流的异同。方法:应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究SHR和Wistar大鼠BA平滑肌细胞在电流密度、电流组成以及自发性瞬时外向K+电流(STOCs)特性的异同。结果:①当指令电压为0、+20、+40和+60mV时,SHR与Wistar大鼠BA平滑肌细胞间电流密度存在统计学差异(P<0.01)。②SHR与Wistar大鼠BA平滑肌细胞膜电流都对1 mmol/L电压依赖的K+通道(Kv)阻断剂4AP和1 mmol/L大电导Ca2+激活K+通道(BKCa)阻断剂TEA敏感。③SHR的STOCs发放频率和电流幅度都远大于Wistar大鼠。1 mmol/LTEA基本完全阻断STOCs通道电流,而4-AP对STOCs没有影响。结论:SHR和Wistar大鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞的电流密度存在差异,两种平滑肌细胞外向电流都由BKCa和Kv通道组成。SHR大鼠平滑肌细胞更易诱发由BKCa通道介导的STOCs。     

HO/CO在甲醛炎性痛大鼠脊髓痛传导及痛觉过敏产生中的作用

目的:探讨血红素氧合酶/一氧化碳(HO/CO)在甲醛诱导的大鼠自发痛和痛觉过敏形成中的作用。方法:采用鞘内注射的方法,在甲醛炎性痛大鼠和正常大鼠分别给予HO抑制剂Znpp和HO激动剂Hemin;采用加权积分法对痛反应进行评分以代表痛反应程度;采用观察热辐射缩足潜伏期和机械刺激缩足反射阈值表示热和机械性痛觉过敏的程度。结果:Znpp各剂量组与单纯甲醛组相比,大鼠痛反应评分明显降低,且Znpp剂量越大,对大鼠痛反应的抑制作用越明显;与单纯甲醛组相比,Znpp各剂量组大鼠注射足热辐射缩足潜伏期和机械刺激缩足反射阈值均无明显变化,而非注射足热辐射缩足潜伏期和机械刺激缩足反射阈值均明显升高,且Znpp的剂量越大,这种改变越明显。正常大鼠鞘内注射HO的激动剂Hemin后,双侧足热辐射缩足潜伏期和机械刺激缩足反射阈值均明显降低。结论:鞘内给予HO抑制剂可明显抑制甲醛诱导的自发痛反应及热和机械性痛觉过敏程度;正常大鼠鞘内给予HO激动剂可诱发热和机械性痛觉过敏的产生,提示HO/CO系统参与脊髓伤害性信息的传导和痛觉过敏的形成过程。