Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling of cinnamic acyl sulfonamide derivatives as novel antitubulin agents

A series of novel cinnamic acyl sulfonamide derivatives (9a-16e) have been designed and synthesized and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Among all the compounds, 10c showed the most potent growth inhibitory activity against B16-F10 cancer cell line in vitro, with an IC(50) value of 0.8μg/mL. Docking simulation was performed to insert compound 10c into the crystal structure of tubulin at colchicine binding site to determine the probable binding model. Based on the preliminary results, compound 10c with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth may be a potential anticancer agent.     

2002～2004年浙江省无菌性脑膜炎暴发疫情的病原学研究

2002～2004年浙江省发生了无菌性脑膜炎暴发疫情,为了及时查明病因,分析病原的分子特征并进行病原溯源,我们采集患者脑脊液和粪便样本271份,用RD和Hep-2细胞同时分离病毒,对分离株VP1和VP4/VP2基因测序,进行同源性与进化分析。结果从271份样本中分离到埃柯病毒30型(E30)78株;对31株分离株VP1区核苷酸(nt)序列测定,其长度均为876nt,推导编码292个氨基酸(aa)。浙江E30株与原型株Bastianni在VP1区的nt和aa同源性分别为84.7%～86.3%和92.1%～94.2%;浙江E30株之间nt和aa的同源性分别为87.1%～99.4%和96.2%～100%。在VP1基因进化树上浙江E30株分别位于G和H基因亚型分支上,与浙江E30G亚型株亲缘关系最近的国内外毒株分别为2003年江苏、山东株和1999年乌克兰株;与浙江E30H亚型株亲缘关系最近的毒株为2008年韩国株。VP4/VP2区同源性与进化分析结果与VP1相似。结果表明2002～2004年浙江省无菌性脑膜炎暴发疫情由E30G和H二类不同基因亚型流行株引起;H基因亚型株推测为新的E30变异株,首先分离于2002年浙江省。     

杨树试管苗嫩茎生根过程中内源IAA的免疫金银定位

生长素类物质在木本植物生根过程中发挥重要作用。杨树生根与生长素的关系及生根过程中内源激素的变化已有大量报道,而生根过程中生长素的组织定位分析则尚未见报道。该文应用免疫化学分析方法对741杨（Populus alba×（P.davidiana×P.simonii）×P.tomentosa）嫩茎生根过程中内源IAA在组织中的分布进行了研究。结果显示,741杨的嫩茎在无外源激素的1/2MS培养基上诱导10天后可生根,14天后生根率达100%。诱导前,嫩茎基部组织中几乎没有IAA信号;诱导8天后,嫩茎基部维管组织中有大量的IAA积累,而且中部的维管组织中也有明显的IAA信号（主要分布在韧皮部和维管形成层）;10天后,形成不定根原基,此时IAA主要分布在根原基;12天后,根原基分化成不定根并突破表皮,IAA在不定根中的分布主要集中在根尖和中柱。该文对741杨的嫩茎生根过程中IAA的组织分布特点及运输途径进行了讨论。     

高质量浓度IBA和插条木质化程度对兔眼蓝浆果扦插生根的影响

采用速蘸法研究了高质量浓度(3 000、5 000、7 000和9 000 mg.L-1)IBA对兔眼蓝浆果(Vaccinium asheiReade)品种‘粉蓝’(‘Powderblue’)、‘梯芙蓝’(‘Tifblue’)和‘芭尔德温’(‘Baldwin’)插条生根率和开始生根时间的影响,并对木质化程度不同的‘顶峰’(‘Climax’)和‘雾达德’(‘Woodard’)插条的生根率和开始生根时间进行了比较。结果表明:经3 000~9 000 mg.L-1IBA溶液速蘸3 s,3个品种插条的生根率均高于或显著高于对照(P<0.05),开始生根时间则较对照明显提前,但不同品种有明显差异;随IBA质量浓度的提高,‘粉蓝’和‘芭尔德温’的生根率逐渐增加,开始生根时间逐渐提早,以9 000 mg.L-1IBA处理组的生根率最高(分别为93.98%和86.46%),开始生根时间最早(分别为15和21 d);品种‘梯芙蓝’插条的生根率则以5 000 mg.L-1IBA处理组最高(88.02%),开始生根时间最早(18 d)。木质化程度不同的插条生根率有显著差异(P<0.05),木质化程度越低,插条的生根率越高且开始生根时间越早;采用木质化程度低的插条,品种‘顶峰’和‘雾达德’插条的生根率分别达到88.54%和77.60%,开始生根时间分别为25和29 d。研究结果显示:高浓度IBA速蘸法是兔眼蓝浆果扦插生根的有效方法,在实际生产中应根据不同品种的特性选择适宜的IBA浓度;从木质化程度及插条可取数量两方面考虑宜选用半木质化枝条作为插条。     

Predicting disease-associated substitution of a single amino acid by analyzing residue interactions

Background  

The rapid accumulation of data on non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs, also called SAPs) should allow us to further our understanding of the underlying disease-associated mechanisms. Here, we use complex networks to study the role of an amino acid in both local and global structures and determine the extent to which disease-associated and polymorphic SAPs differ in terms of their interactions to other residues.     

Total phosphorus removal from domestic wastewater with Cyperus alternifolius in vertical-flow constructed wetlands at the microcosm level

Vertical-flow constructed wetland (VFCW) is an effective alternative for removal of nutrients, heavy metals, and organic pollutants from wastewaters. This study investigated the uptake and removal of total phosphorus (TP) by Cyperus alternifolius from domestic wastewaters in the simulated VFCWs, The total of eight simulated VFCW treatments, including two different substrates, two different wet-to-dry ratios, and with and without C. alternifolius species (2 x 2 x 2 = 8), were utilized for an operation period of two years in this study. Results show that about 1.1 to 1.4 times more TP was removed from the influent with the presence of C. alternifolius as compared to without this plant species. A linear correlation existed between the aboveground biomass and its TP content. An increase in total biomass by 1000 g would result in an increase in TP accumulation in the aboveground biomass by 4.9 g. Large amounts of TP were removed by the substrate adsorption as compared to those by the aboveground biomass. Results suggest that, although substrate adsorption played a major role in TP removal, C. alternifolius uptake was an alternative pathway for further removal of TP from wastewaters in the VFCWs.     

The configuration,solvatochromism and metallo‐responses of two novel cyano‐containing oligo(phenylene‐vinylene) derivatives

Two novel cyano‐containing oligo(phenylenevinylene) (OPV) derivatives have been designed and synthesized. Photophysical and sensing properties of the two compounds were studied. Such studies reveal the intramolecular charge transfer process between cyano groups and OPV core. The results showed that the alkyl difference of substituted OPV leads to the changes of molecular configuration and metallo‐response of two compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Apoptosis is the essential target of selective pressure against p53, whereas loss of additional p53 functions facilitates carcinoma progression

The high frequency of p53 mutation in human cancers indicates the important role of p53 in suppressing tumorigenesis. It is well established that the p53 regulates multiple, distinct cellular functions such as cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Despite intensive studies, little is known about which function is essential, or if multiple pathways are required, for p53-dependent tumor suppression in vivo. Using a mouse brain carcinoma model that shows high selective pressure for p53 inactivation, we found that even partially abolishing p53-dependent apoptosis by Bax inactivation was sufficient to significantly reduce the selective pressure for p53 loss. This finding is consistent with previous reports that apoptosis is the primary p53 function selected against during Eμ-myc-induced mouse lymphoma progression. However, unlike observed in the Eμ-myc-induced lymphoma model, attenuation of apoptosis is not sufficient to phenocopy the aggressive tumor progression associated with complete loss of p53 activity. We conclude that apoptosis is the primary tumor suppressive p53 function and the ablation of additional p53 pleiotropic effects further exacerbates tumor progression.     

Chikungunya virus neutralization antigens and direct cell-to-cell transmission are revealed by human antibody-escape mutants

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus responsible for numerous epidemics throughout Africa and Asia, causing infectious arthritis and reportedly linked with fatal infections in newborns and elderly. Previous studies in animal models indicate that humoral immunity can protect against CHIKV infection, but despite the potential efficacy of B-cell-driven intervention strategies, there are no virus-specific vaccines or therapies currently available. In addition, CHIKV has been reported to elicit long-lasting virus-specific IgM in humans, and to establish long-term persistence in non-human primates, suggesting that the virus might evade immune defenses to establish chronic infections in man. However, the mechanisms of immune evasion potentially employed by CHIKV remain uncharacterized. We previously described two human monoclonal antibodies that potently neutralize CHIKV infection. In the current report, we have characterized CHIKV mutants that escape antibody-dependent neutralization to identify the CHIKV E2 domain B and fusion loop "groove" as the primary determinants of CHIKV interaction with these antibodies. Furthermore, for the first time, we have also demonstrated direct CHIKV cell-to-cell transmission, as a mechanism that involves the E2 domain A and that is associated with viral resistance to antibody-dependent neutralization. Identification of CHIKV sub-domains that are associated with human protective immunity, will pave the way for the development of CHIKV-specific sub-domain vaccination strategies. Moreover, the clear demonstration of CHIKV cell-to-cell transmission and its possible role in the establishment of CHIKV persistence, will also inform the development of future anti-viral interventions. These data shed new light on CHIKV-host interactions that will help to combat human CHIKV infection and inform future studies of CHIKV pathogenesis.