Synthesis and Activity Evaluation of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Inhibitors Based on 6‐(Pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazole

Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common head and neck malignancy with high incidence in Southeast Asia and Southern China. It is necessary to develop safe, effective and inexpensive anticancer agents to improve the therapeutics of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A series of small molecular compounds based on 6‐(pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazole were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activities against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines SUNE1. Compounds 6b , 6c , 6e and 6l showed potent antiproliferative activities similar to positive control drug cisplatin in vitro with lower nephrotoxicity than it. N‐[4‐(1H‐Indazol‐6‐yl)pyrimidin‐2‐yl]benzene‐1,3‐diamine ( 6l ) was selected for further study. It was found that 6l induced mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis and G₂/M phase arrest in SUNE1 cells. Furthermore, compound 6l at 10 mg/kg can suppress the growth of an implanted SUNE1 xenograft with a TGI% (tumor growth inhibition) value of 50 % and did not cause serious side effects in BALB/c nude mice. This study suggests that 6‐(pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazole derivatives are a series of small molecule compounds with anti‐nasopharyngeal carcinoma activities.     

A global alfalfa diversity panel reveals genomic selection signatures in Chinese varieties and genomic associations with root development

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop worldwide. However, little is known about the effects of breeding status and different geographical populations on alfalfa improvement. Here, we sequenced 220 alfalfa core germplasms and determined that Chinese alfalfa cultivars form an independent group, as evidenced by comparisons of F_ST values between different subgroups, suggesting that geographical origin plays an important role in group differentiation. By tracing the influence of geographical regions on the genetic diversity of alfalfa varieties in China, we identified 350 common candidate genetic regions and 548 genes under selection. We also defined 165 loci associated with 24 important traits from genome-wide association studies. Of those, 17 genomic regions closely associated with a given phenotype were under selection, with the underlying haplotypes showing significant differences between subgroups of distinct geographical origins. Based on results from expression analysis and association mapping, we propose that 6-phosphogluconolactonase (MsPGL) and a gene encoding a protein with NHL domains (MsNHL) are critical candidate genes for root growth. In conclusion, our results provide valuable information for alfalfa improvement via molecular breeding.     

PTEN蛋白磷酸酶活性的作用

PTEN是一个具有磷酸酶活性的肿瘤抑制基因,是编码具有脂质磷酸酶活性和蛋白磷酸酶活性的双重特异性磷酸酶,其缺失或功能异常与人类恶性肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。PTEN的脂质磷酸酶活性和蛋白磷酸酶活性在调控肿瘤细胞的生物学行为、维持细胞正常的生理活动中均发挥了重要作用。但二者的作用重点及机制仍有不同,其蛋白磷酸酶活性主要侧重于调控细胞的黏附迁移及侵袭。为更好地认识PTEN蛋白磷酸酶活性的作用,该文对PTEN蛋白磷酸酶活性的作用及其机制作一简要综述。     

Enhancing xanthine oxidase fermentation with pH-shift strategy based on kinetic analysis by Arthrobacter M3

The effect of initial culture pH and inducer concentration on xanthine oxidase (XOD) fermentation in shake flasks was first carried out. The results showed that the optimum initial culture pH and inducer concentration were 8.6 and 3.6 g/l, respectively. Batch fermentation of XOD by Arthrobacter M3 in a 7.5-l fermentor was then tested under various pH conditions ranging from 7.6 to 8.6. Based on the analysis of the obtained kinetic parameters, a pH-shift strategy in batch fermentation was implemented to enhance the XOD fermentation. In this strategy, the initial culture pH was set at 8.6 without control and was maintained at 7.6 after the biomass reached 2.0 g/l DCW. XOD production (P) and final average yield coefficient for production on biomass (FAY_p/x) in this strategy reached 7,415.3 U/l and 1,229.7 U/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than the results from the other four protocols. In pH-shift batch fermentation, the Luedeking–Piret equation for product accumulation and the Luedeking–Piret-like equation for substrate consumption fit well with the experimental values. The correlation coefficients (R ²) of these two fitting curves were 0.977 and 0.992, respectively.     

Long‐term dynamics of mycorrhizal root tips in a loblolly pine forest grown with free‐air CO2 enrichment and soil N fertilization for 6 years

Large‐scale, long‐term FACE (Free‐Air CO₂ enrichment) experiments indicate that increases in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will influence forest C cycling in unpredictable ways. It has been recently suggested that responses of mycorrhizal fungi could determine whether forest net primary productivity (NPP) is increased by elevated CO₂ over long time periods and if forests soils will function as sources or sinks of C in the future. We studied the dynamic responses of ectomycorrhizae to N fertilization and atmospheric CO₂ enrichment at the Duke FACE experiment using minirhizotrons over a 6 year period (2005–2010). Stimulation of mycorrhizal production by elevated CO₂ was observed during only 1 (2007) of 6 years. This increased the standing crop of mycorrhizal tips during 2007 and 2008; during 2008, significantly higher mortality returned standing crop to ambient levels for the remainder of the experiment. It is therefore unlikely that increased production of mycorrhizal tips can explain the lack of progressive nitrogen limitations and associated increases in N uptake observed in CO₂‐enriched plots at this site. Fertilization generally decreased tree reliance on mycorrhizae as tip production declined with the addition of nitrogen as has been shown in many other studies. Annual NPP of mycorrhizal tips was greatest during years with warm January temperatures and during years with cool spring temperatures. A 2 °C increase in average late spring temperatures (May and June) decreased annual production of mycorrhizal root tip length by 50%. This has important implications for ecosystem function in a warmer world in addition to potential for forest soils to sequester atmospheric C.     

小球藻高附加值生物活性物质“小球藻热水提取物”的研究现状与展望

小球藻是一种食用历史久、营养丰富的微藻功能食品,其中蛋白核小球藻已于2012年被我国批准为新资源食品,并成为国内外正在大力发展与培育的微藻能源及微藻固碳这一战略性新兴产业的主要藻种之一。在积累油脂的同时,小球藻自身还能合成高附加值生物活性物质,其合理利用可平衡微藻能源的高成本。小球藻热水提取物(CE),即商业上宣称的"小球藻生长因子(CGF)",是小球藻有别于其他微藻的主要生物活性物质,在促进生长、调节免疫等方面具有良好功效,且市场售价高。但迄今,有关CE的认识尚不清晰,尚未见CE方面的系统评述。本文对近年来CE的活性研究状况进行了系统的文献调查与梳理,综述了CE在增强免疫、抑制肿瘤、改善代谢综合征、清除自由基、抵御紫外损伤、螯合重金属以及保肝护肠等多个方面的功效,并分析了CE活性研究中存在的问题及CE的发展前景。     

千金子不同极性部位对酪氨酸酶活性的影响

测定千金子醇提物不同极性部位对酪氨酸酶活性的影响。以L-酪氨酸为底物,采用比色法测定千金子不同极性部位对酪氨酸酶的抑制率。得到了千金子醇提物的乙酸乙酯相、正丁醇相和水相的半数抑制率(IC50值)分别为0.150 mg/mL,0.813 mg/mL,7.570 mg/mL,并对乙酸乙酯相进一步分离得到七叶内酯,其IC50值0.103 mg/mL。结果表明千金子中起到酪氨酸酶抑制性的物质为七叶内酯,主要分布在乙酸乙酯相中。为千金子中酪氨酸酶抑制性物质的筛选提供科学依据。     

HILI Inhibits TGF-β Signaling by Interacting with Hsp90 and Promoting TβR Degradation

PIWIL2, called HILI in humans, is a member of the PIWI subfamily. This subfamily has highly conserved PAZ and Piwi domains and is implicated in several critical functions, including embryonic development, stem-cell self-renewal, RNA silencing, and translational control. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a secreted multifunctional protein that controls several developmental processes and the pathogenesis of many diseases. TGF-β signaling is activated by phosphorylation of transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors, TGF-β type II (TβRII), and type I (TβRI), which are stabilized by Hsp90 via specific interactions with this molecular chaperone. Here, we present evidence that HILI suppresses TGF-β signaling by physically associating with Hsp90 in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). Our research shows that HILI mediates the loss of TGF-β-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation. We also demonstrate that HILI interacts with Hsp90 to prevent formation of Hsp90-TβR heteromeric complexes, and improves ubiquitination and degradation of TβRs dependent on the ubiquitin E3 ligase Smurf2. This work reveals a critical negative regulation level of TGF-β signaling mediated by HILI (human PIWIL2) by its ability to interact with Hsp90 and promote TβR degradation.