Drug discovery prospect from untapped species: indications from approved natural product drugs

Due to extensive bioprospecting efforts of the past and technology factors, there have been questions about drug discovery prospect from untapped species. We analyzed recent trends of approved drugs derived from previously untapped species, which show no sign of untapped drug-productive species being near extinction and suggest high probability of deriving new drugs from new species in existing drug-productive species families and clusters. Case histories of recently approved drugs reveal useful strategies for deriving new drugs from the scaffolds and pharmacophores of the natural product leads of these untapped species. New technologies such as cryptic gene-cluster exploration may generate novel natural products with highly anticipated potential impact on drug discovery.     

Proteomic Analysis of High Temperature Stress-Responsive Proteins in Chrysanthemum Leaves

Chrysanthemum is one of the most important ornamental flowers in the world, and temperature has a significant influence on its field production. In the present study, differentially expressed proteins were investigated in the leaves of Dendranthema grandiflorum ‘Jinba’ under high temperature stress using label-free quantitative proteomics techniques. The expressed proteins were comparatively identified and analyzed. A total of 1,463 heat-related, differentially expressed proteins were successfully identified by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and 1,463 heat-related, differentially expressed proteins were successfully identified by mass spectrometry after a high temperature treatment. Among these, 701 proteins were upregulated and 762 proteins were downregulated. The in-depth bioinformatics analysis of these differentially expressed proteins revealed that these were involved in energy metabolism pathways, protein metabolism, and heat shock. In the present study, the investigators determined the changes in the levels of some proteins, and their expression at the protein and molecular levels in chrysanthemum to help reveal the mechanism of heat resistance in chrysanthemum. Furthermore, the present study elucidated some of the proteins correlated to heat resistance in chrysanthemum, and their expression changes at the protein and molecular levels to help reveal the mechanism of heat resistance in this flower species. These results provide a theoretical basis for the selection of new heat resistant varieties of chrysanthemum in the field.     

Repression of SIRT1 Promotes the Differentiation of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Neural Stem Cells

The use of transplanting functional neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has increased for the treatment of brain diseases. As such, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms that promote NSCs differentiation of iPSCs for future NSC-based therapies. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a NAD⁺-dependent protein deacetylase, has attracted significant attention over the past decade due to its prominent role in processes including organ development, longevity, and cancer. However, it remains unclear whether SIRT1 plays a role in the differentiation of mouse iPSCs toward NSCs. In this study, we produced NSCs from mouse iPSCs using serum-free medium supplemented with retinoic acid. We then assessed changes in the expression of SIRT1 and microRNA-34a, which regulates SIRT1 expression. Moreover, we used a SIRT1 inhibitor to investigate the role of SIRT1 in NSCs differentiation of iPSCs. Data revealed that the expression of SIRT1 decreased, whereas miRNAs-34a increased, during this process. In addition, the inhibition of SIRT1 enhanced the generation of NSCs and mature neurocytes. This suggests that SIRT1 negatively regulated the differentiation of mouse iPSCs into NSCs, and that this process may be regulated by miRNA-34a.     

A new species of Lysimachia (Myrsinaceae) from Dabieshan Mountain,China

A new species of Myrsinaceae, Lysimachia jinzhaiensis S.B. Zhou & K. Liu, is described and illustrated from Dabieshan mountain, Anhui, China. It is similar to L. christiniae in the prostrate stem, opposite leaves, yellow flowers born singly in leaf axils, but differs by being glabrous throughout or glandular on young parts, and having quadrangular stem, corolla with densely transparent glandular, orange-red corolla base with lobes being significantly overlapping and contorting to left in bud. Moreover, L. jinzhaiensis have a different karyotype, formulated as 2n = 2m + 2sm + 10st (2SAT) + 10t.     

基于CSSL的高密度物理图谱定位水稻分蘖角度QTL

对以籼稻9311为遗传背景携带粳稻日本晴基因组的染色体片段置换系（CSSL）的遗传图谱进行分子标记加密,构建了含250个多态标记的高密度物理图谱。以119个CSSLs为材料,P≤0.001为阈值,筛选到分蘖角度与受体亲本9311差异极显著的10个系。结合物理图谱和代换作图方法,共鉴定出5个分蘖角度QTL,其中qTA11的加性效应表现为增效作用,来源于9311的等位基因;其余4个QTL的加性效应为减效作用,均来源于日本晴的等位基因。qTA6-1和qTA6-2分别被定位于第6染色体RM253–RM527之间的3.55Mb区段和RM3139–RM494的1.65Mb区间;qTA9被定位于第9染色体RM257–RM189之间的3.40Mb区段;qTA10被定位在第10染色体RM222–S10-1之间的2.10Mb区段;qTA11被定位于第11染色体RM1761–RM4504之间的3.30Mb区间。以上研究结果为水稻分蘖角度QTL的精细定位和株型育种提供了依据。     

雄性棉铃虫和烟青虫对雌性信息素的触角电生理反应

利用触角电位图(Electroantennogram,EAG)技术,比较研究了二近缘种棉铃虫、烟青虫对其性信息素主要成分Z—11—16：Ald、Z—9—16：Ald的触角电生理反应。剂量反应曲线表明,对Z—11—16：Ald,棉铃虫和烟青虫均有明显的EAG反应,且随浓度的增加而增强,但棉铃虫比烟青虫的反应较强;对Z—9—16：Ald,烟青虫有很强的EAG反应,棉铃虫的反应则很弱;对Z—11—16：Ald和Z—9—16：Ald以97：3和7：93比例形成的混合物,棉铃虫、烟青虫均有EAG反应,但二者之间没有显著差异[动物学报49(6)：795～799,2003]。     

一种新杨树菇(Agrocybe aegerita)凝集素的纯化及生化特性

用硫酸铵分级沉淀、离子交换和分子筛等方法 ,从食用菌杨树菇子实体中分离纯化了一种凝集素 ,称作为AAVP(Agrocybeaegeritaantiviralprotein) .经SDS PAGE测定其亚基的相对分子质量为15 8kD ,凝胶过滤分析分子量为 32kD .IEF PAGE计算其等电点为 3 8.AAVP不含糖 ,是一种N端焦谷氨酰环化封闭的蛋白质 ,经N端去封闭后测得N端氨基酸序列为QGVNIYNIVAGA ,用胰蛋白酶消化后得到一大片段 ,测定的氨基酸序列为PDGPWLVEK .AAVP可以凝集供试的 12种动物血和3种血型人血的血红细胞 ,但对各种血红细胞凝集滴度不同 .糖抑制实验表明 ,在供试的 18种单糖和 3种糖蛋白中 ,只有猪胃粘蛋白强烈抑制AAVP的凝血活性 .AAVP具有较好的热稳定性 ,能够忍受极端的酸碱条件 .AAVP的凝血活性不受Ca2 + 、Mg2 + 、Zn2 + 等二价阳离子的影响 .抗肿瘤活性检测表明 ,AAVP对胃癌细胞株SGC 790 1,MGC 80 3,BGC82 3及人急性白血病细胞株HL 6 0有明显的抑制作用 .AAVP对小鼠腹腔注射的半致死剂量为 15 85mg kg .     

MNNG对细胞DNA合成及其分布的影响

本文用流式细胞光度术(FCM)等方法研究了MNNG,ENNG和DMS对HeLa细胞DNA含量分布的影响。经MNNG(6.8μmol/L)处理后,细胞分裂减少,DNA合成速率下降,S期细胞的比例随处理时间的延长而增加。DMS显示有类似的现象而ENNG的效应则较小。     

资源型城市土地利用转型及其对生境质量的影响——以乌海市为例

资源型城市前期发展导致了生境丧失或退化,实现高质量转型需要深入理解城市转型与生态环境质量之间的关系,土地利用转型特征及其对生境质量的影响规律研究为此提供依据与支撑。以资源型城市--乌海市为研究区,通过地学信息图谱和InVEST模型探究2005-2018年乌海市土地利用转型特征、生境质量时空变化及土地利用转型对生境质量的影响。结果表明：（1）2005-2018年乌海市土地利用变化趋势发生改变,土地利用转型明显,土地利用变化图谱单元数量逐渐增加78.14%,分布范围逐渐广泛。主要表现为草地与建设用地、采矿用地之间的相互转化,第一阶段（2005-2015年）草地大面积减少,建设用地和采矿用地大面积增加,第二阶段（2015-2018年）趋势相反。（2）乌海市生境质量变化呈现先强退化后弱提升趋势。2005-2015年乌海市18.75%的区域生境质量退化,提升面积较小;2015-2018年生境质量提升面积略大于退化面积。（3）2005-2015年草地向采矿用地、建设用地转化是区域生境质量降低的主要原因,2015-2018年区域生境质量提升的主导因素是采矿用地和建设用地向草地转化。研究结果揭示了资源型城市土地利用转型过程中生境质量的响应规律,可为资源型城市土地利用转型决策提供参考。