红树林植物瓶花木中的细胞毒活性成分(Ⅱ)

从红树林树植物瓶花木(Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea Gaertn. f.)的乙醇提取物中分离得到5个化合物,通过波谱分析,鉴定其结构分别为:shanzhigenin methyl ester (1)、1-epishanzhigenin methyl ester (2)、山柰酚 (3)、芹菜素 (4)和 5,7,2'-trihydroxy-3,6,8,4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (5)。以上化合物均为首次从瓶花木中分离得到。细胞毒活性测试结果表明,化合物1和2的混合物对人肝癌细胞(SMMC-7721)的增殖有较强的生长抑制活性。     

腺苷酸激酶与AMP信号在感知及维持机体能量中的作用

腺苷酸激酶（AK）是催化各种腺嘌呤核苷酸相互转化的一种磷酸转移酶,其在维持细胞能量平衡中起着重要的作用。AK有七种亚型,在线粒体、胞浆、细胞核之间的能量转移和分布中起着至关重要的作用。细胞内、细胞外和血液中的AMP水平是机体能量感知、睡眠、冬眠和食物摄取的代谢信号。高于或低于正常水平的AMP信号与人类疾病相关。AK及其下游的AMP信号组成了一个完整的代谢监测系统,通过检测细胞能量状态变化,从而调整对代谢感受器传递的信号。详细阐述了AK和AMP在感知及维持机体能量中的作用。     

鞘内联合给予米诺环素和IL-6的中和抗体对脊神经结扎模型所引起的热痛敏的镇痛作用

目的:研究鞘内联合给予米诺环素和IL-6的中和抗体在大鼠脊神经结扎(spinal nerve ligation,SNL)模型所引起的神经病理性痛中的镇痛作用.方法:建立大鼠SNL模型,分别在手术前和手术后鞘内给予米诺环素100 μg、在手术后鞘内给予IL-6的中和抗体0.03 μg、手术后鞘内联合给予两种药物,观察给药3天各组大鼠热刺激的缩足反应潜伏期(paw withdrawal latencies,PWL).结果:①SNL手术前后给予米诺环素都可以提高大鼠的PWL(P＜0.05),但SNL手术前给药对大鼠PWL的提升明显高于手术后给药(P＜0.05).②手术后给予IL-6的中和抗体可以有效提升SNL组的PWL(P＜0.05),但是还是比给予生理盐水的假手术组大鼠的PWL明显减少(P＜0.05).③手术后联合给予两种药物可以明显逆转SNL组的PWL(P＜0.05).④联合给药对大鼠PWL的提高明显高于SNL手术后给予米诺环素组和给予IL-6的中和抗体组(P＜0.05),但与手术前给予米诺环素组的PWL相比无明显差异(P＞0.05).结论:鞘内联合给予米诺环素和IL-6的中和抗体对SNL引起的神经病理性痛有明显的镇痛作用.     

重金属累积对泽兰实蝇幼虫生长发育和保护酶的影响

为了弄清重金属通过寄主植物紫茎泽兰累积后对专性寄生天敌泽兰实蝇的生理影响,采用模拟Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)或Zn~(2+)污染的土壤培养法胁迫紫茎泽兰,让泽兰实蝇低龄幼虫寄生取食,利用原子吸收分光光度法测定泽兰实蝇老熟幼虫中Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)或Zn~(2+)的含量,同时测定分析泽兰实蝇老熟幼虫的体长、鲜重、能量物质和保护酶的变化。结果表明,实验处理的Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)或Zn~(2+)均可通过紫茎泽兰传递并累积到泽兰实蝇老熟幼虫体内,引起老熟幼虫一系列生理变化:长度和鲜重降低;总糖、总蛋白和总脂的含量降低,相应的热量值也降低;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)等保护酶的活性降低。本研究为进一步阐明重金属污染对食物链各环节的影响提供了重要的理论依据。     

Effect of substrate stiffness on proliferation and differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells

Objectives

The aim of this study was to understand the effect of substrate stiffness (a mechanical factor of the extracellular matrix) on periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and its underlying mechanism.

Materials and methods

Elastic substrates were fabricated by mixing 2 components, a base and curing agent in proportions of 10:1, 20:1, 30:1 or 40:1. PDLSC morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cell proliferation and differentiation were assessed after PDLSCs was cultured on various elastic substrates. Data were analysed using one‐way ANOVA.

Results

SEM revealed variations in the morphology of PDLSCs cultured on elastic substrates. PDLSC proliferation increased with substrate stiffness (P < .05). Osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs was higher on stiff substrates. Notch pathway markers were up‐regulated in PDLSCs cultured on stiff substrates.

Conclusions

Results suggested that the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs might be promoted by culturing them in a stiffness‐dependent manner, which regulates the Notch pathway. This might provide a new method of enhancing osteogenesis in PDLSCs.

     

Cutoff variation induces different topological properties: A new discovery of amino acid network within protein

An increasing attention has been dedicated to the characterization of complex networks within the protein world. Before now most investigations about protein structures were only considered where the interactive cutoff distance R_c=5 or 7 Å. It is noteworthy that the length of peptide bond is about 1.5 Å, the length of hydrogen bond is about 3 Å, the range of London-van der Waals force is about 5 Å and the range of hydrophobic effect can reach to 12 Å in protein molecule. Present work reports a study on the topological properties of the amino acid network constructed by different interactions above. The results indicate that the small-world property of amino acid network constructed by the peptide and hydrogen bond, London-van der Waals force and the hydrophobic effect is strong, very strong and relatively weak, respectively. Besides, there exists a precise exponential relation C∝k^−0.5 at R_c=12 Å. It means that the amino acid network constructed by the hydrophobic effect tend to be hierarchical. Functional modules could be the cause for hierarchical modularity architecture in protein structures. This study on amino acid interactive network for different interactions facilitates the identification of binding sites which is strongly linked with protein function, and furthermore provides reasonable understanding of the underlying laws of evolution in genomics and proteomics.