Meta-analysis of the NAD(P)H: quinine oxidoreductase 1 gene 609 C>T polymorphism with esophageal cancer risk

Association between the NAD(P)H: quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) gene 609 C>T polymorphism and esophageal cancer (EC) has been widely evaluated; however, the results are often irreproducible. We thus aimed to comprehensively evaluate this association through a meta-analysis. Data were extracted from 10 study populations involving 1390 EC patients and 1812 controls, and were analyzed using STATA software. Random-effects model was applied irrespective of between-study heterogeneity, which was assessed by the inconsistency index (I(2)) statistic. Publication bias was weighted by the funnel plot and Egger's test. Genotype distributions of the NQO1 gene 609 C>T polymorphism met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls for all studies. Allelic comparison indicated that NQO1 609 T allele conferred an increased risk (odds ratio [OR]=1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.49; p=0.035), accompanying significant heterogeneity (I(2)=63.4%, p=0.003) and no publication bias (p(Egger)=0.391). This association was potentially enhanced in homozygous comparison (OR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.03-2.41; p=0.035; I(2)= 55.4%, p(heterogeneity)=0.017 and p(Egger)=0.461). Under dominant and recessive models, similar associations were obtained with an increased, although marginally significant risk. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity supported the risk profiles of the NQO1 gene 609 T allele and 609 TT genotype with EC in Eastern Asians, not in Europeans. Meta-regression analysis indicated that association between the NQO1 gene 609 C>T polymorphism and EC risk was significantly decreased with aging in case-patients (R(2)=-0.57; p=0.042). We expand previous studies by showing that the NQO1 gene 609 C>T polymorphism might contribute to EC occurrence, especially in Eastern Asians.     

Docking studies of nickel-peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitors: exploring the new binding pockets

The binding modes of a series of known activity inhibitors docking to Peptide deformylase (PDF) have been studied using molecular docking software AutoDock3.0.5. In this study, good correlation (R(2)=0.894) between calculated binding energies and experimental inhibitory activities is obtained. We find that some shallow pockets near the known active pocket are very important which can accommodate the side-chains of the inhibitor. Moreover, a new binding pocket is also explored. All these may provide something useful for designing the potent inhibitors.     

Ubiquitin-specific protease 47 regulates intestinal inflammation through deubiquitination of TRAF6 in epithelial cells

Science China Life Sciences - Deubiquitinates (DUBs) alter the stabilities, localizations or activities of substrates by removing their ubiquitin conjugates, which are closely related to the...     

一株酸枣内生菌的鉴定及其抗菌活性物质的初步分离

为了从酸枣中筛选出内生菌并分析其代谢产物中的活性成分,用于开发和生产药物,该研究通过组织块分离法和划线分离法,从陕北野生酸枣植株体内分离得到内生菌,采用平板对峙法测定其对7株供试指示菌的抗菌活性,以心神宁片提取液为对照,对各拮抗菌株的发酵液进行薄层层析和高效液相色谱分析。结果表明:从野生酸枣中共分离得到121株内生菌,其中内生细菌49株,内生放线菌6株,内生真菌66株;通过抗菌试验,发现54株内生菌(细菌33株,真菌21株)对1～7种指示菌具有抗菌活性,占分离菌株总菌数的44.63%,其中A-04、A-05、B-03、C-03、C-06和D-04共6株菌株的抗菌谱较广,对7种供试指示菌均具有抑菌活性;薄层层析检测结果显示菌株B-03发酵产物在R_f值为0.46处有与酸枣提取液层析带迁移率相同的显色带,液相色谱分析结果显示其属于黄酮类物质;通过16S rRNA基因序列分析结果显示菌株B-03与Bacillus axarquiensis的相似性为99%。菌株B-03能发酵产生黄酮类或产生与黄酮类类似的化合物,表明酸枣内生菌具有合成黄酮类药物的潜力。     

Theoretical investigations of the H···π and X (X = F,Cl, Br,I)···π complexes between hypohalous acids and benzene

The H···π and X (X = F, Cl, Br, I)···π interactions between hypohalous acids and benzene are investigated at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. Four hydrogen-bonded and three halogen-bonded complexes were obtained. Ab initio calculations indicate that the X···π interaction between HOX and C₆H₆ is mainly electrostatically driven, and there is nearly an equal contribution from both electrostatic and dispersive energies in the case of XOH–C₆H₆ complexes. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis reveals that there exists charge transfer from benzene to hypohalous acids. Atom in molecules (AIM) analysis locates bond critical points (BCP) linking the hydrogen or halogen atom and carbon atom in benzene.