3,5-Diaryl-1H-pyrazole as a molecular scaffold for the synthesis of apoptosis-inducing agents

The scaffold of 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazole was selected as a molecular template to synthesize novel growth-inhibitory agents in the present study. Our findings suggested that analogs bearing electron-withdrawing groups on one ring while electron-donating groups on another reveal significant activities. In particular, 26 bearing a 1,1′-biphenyl moiety displayed the most potent activity against OVCA, SW620, H460 and AGS cells with GI₅₀ values of 0.67, 0.89, 0.73 and 0.79 μM, respectively. The mechanistic study revealed that 26-mediated apoptosis-inducing effect on OVCA cells was, in part, attributed to the inhibition of protein kinase B/Akt activity, accompanied by the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through the activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, as well as the cleavage of protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DNA fragmentation. Further structure–activity relationship study employed by Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) was carried out with q² and R² values of 0.671 and 0.846, respectively.     

次氯酸钠离析法观测甘蓝叶片脉序的处理条件优化筛选

次氯酸钠（NaClO）离析法主要用于植物叶片表皮的观测,在研究过程中发现该法也可用于叶片脉序的观测。以甘蓝（Brassica oleracea var.capitata）为实验材料,采用二次正交设计方法对水煮时间、NaOH浓度、NaOH处理时间、NaClO浓度、NaClO处理温度和处理时间等各种处理条件进行优化筛选,以期得到适合于甘蓝叶片脉序观测的最佳处理条件组合。实验结果表明,新鲜甘蓝叶片水煮3分钟,10%的NaOH溶液60°C水浴处理2.5小时,3%的NaClO溶液40°C水浴离析2小时,叶片脉序的观测效果最佳。     

尼罗蓝在筛选PHB高产菌株中的应用研究

建立一种简便、高效、可靠的初筛方法是PHB高产菌株筛选的关键。以芽孢杆菌(BacillusP-9)为试验材料,对各种PHB产生菌筛选方法进行了比较,最终确定尼罗蓝染色法为一种最佳方法。并且对试验程序进行了优化,确定尼罗蓝染液的最佳浓度为0.225mg/L,菌株的最佳染色时间为培养后96h。进一步证实了尼罗蓝染色法为一种值得推广的PHB产生菌初筛方法。     

脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型eNOS和nNOS的变化

目的通过对缺血再灌注早期eNOS与nNOS表达情况的观察,探讨NO在脑缺血再灌注损伤中发挥神经毒性作用时是否出现一氧化氮合酶(NOS)不同亚型的变化。方法采用线栓法制作大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型,激光多普勒灌流监测仪测血流来判断模型是否成功,Western blot方法检测eNOS与nNOS变化。结果血管内皮细胞内eNOS表达在缺血1h内升高,之后到再灌注2h内持续降低;而nNOS的表达在缺血到再灌注2h内持续上升。结论大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型中eNOS与nNOS的变化趋势不同。表明NO在缺血性脑损伤的病理过程的发挥作用与NOS亚型的变化有关。     

根瘤菌选育研究进展

生物固氮是一个全球性的战略课题,其中豆科植物与根瘤菌共生固氮一直是生物固氮研究的焦点。该文从菌株选育的角度,通过对比总结国内外根瘤菌选育方法的研究进展,详细阐述了各种育种方法在根瘤菌选育过程中的应用和优缺点,指出筛选周期过长和筛选技术低效是当前研究中的限制问题,并进一步对选育工作的前景进行了展望。     

Accounting for mating pair formation in plasmid population dynamics

Plasmids are important vehicles for horizontal gene transfer and rapid adaptation in bacteria, including the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Conjugative transfer of a plasmid from a plasmid-bearing to a plasmid-free bacterial cell requires contact and attachment of the cells followed by plasmid DNA transfer prior to detachment. We introduce a system of differential equations for plasmid transfer in well-mixed populations that accounts for attachment, DNA transfer, and detachment dynamics. These equations offer advantages over classical mass-action models that combine these three processes into a single “bulk” conjugation rate. By decomposing the process of plasmid transfer into its constituent parts, this new model provides a framework that facilitates meaningful comparisons of plasmid transfer rates in surface and liquid environments. The model also allows one to account for experimental and environmental effects such as mixing intensity. To test the adequacy of the model and further explore the effects of mixing on plasmid transfer, we performed batch culture experiments using three different plasmids and a range of different mixing intensities. The results show that plasmid transfer is optimized at low to moderate shaking speeds and that vigorous shaking negatively affects plasmid transfer. Using reasonable assumptions on attachment and detachment rates, the mathematical model predicts the same behavior.     

Identification and Characterization of Bmi-1-responding Element within the Human p16 Promoter

Bmi-1, the first functionally identified polycomb gene family member, plays critical roles in cell cycle regulation, cell immortalization, and cell senescence. Bmi-1 is involved in the development and progression of carcinomas and is a potent target for cancer therapy. One important pathway regulated by Bmi-1 is that involving two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16^Ink4a and p19^Arf, as Bmi-1 represses the INK4a locus on which they are encoded. A close correlation between the up-regulation of Bmi-1 and down-regulation of p16 has been demonstrated in various tumors; however, how Bmi-1 regulates p16 expression is not clear. In this study, we revealed that Bmi-1 regulates the expression of p16 by binding directly to the Bmi-1-responding element (BRE) within the p16 promoter. The BRE resided at bp −821 to −732 upstream of the p16 ATG codon. BRE alone was sufficient to allow Bmi-1-mediated regulation of the CMV promoter. Bmi-1 typically functions by forming a complex with Ring2; however, regulation of p16 was independent of Ring2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing of Bmi-1-precipitated chromatin DNA revealed that 1536 genes were targeted by Bmi-1, including genes involved in tissue-specific differentiation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. By analyzing the binding sequences of these genes, we found two highly conserved Bmi-1-binding motifs, which were required for Bmi-1-mediated p16 promoter regulation. Taken together, our results revealed the molecular mechanism of Bmi-1-mediated regulation of the p16 gene, thus providing further insights into the functions of Bmi-1 as well as a sensitive high-throughput platform with which to screen Bmi-1-targeted small molecules for cancer therapy.     

Crystal Structure and Computational Analyses Provide Insights into the Catalytic Mechanism of 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol Hydrolase PhlG from Pseudomonas fluorescens

2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol hydrolase PhlG from Pseudomonas fluorescens catalyzes hydrolytic carbon-carbon (C–C) bond cleavage of the antibiotic 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol to form monoacetylphloroglucinol, a rare class of reactions in chemistry and biochemistry. To investigate the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme, we determined the three-dimensional structure of PhlG at 2.0 Å resolution using x-ray crystallography and MAD methods. The overall structure includes a small N-terminal domain mainly involved in dimerization and a C-terminal domain of Bet v1-like fold, which distinguishes PhlG from the classical α/β-fold hydrolases. A dumbbell-shaped substrate access tunnel was identified to connect a narrow interior amphiphilic pocket to the exterior solvent. The tunnel is likely to undergo a significant conformational change upon substrate binding to the active site. Structural analysis coupled with computational docking studies, site-directed mutagenesis, and enzyme activity analysis revealed that cleavage of the 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol C–C bond proceeds via nucleophilic attack by a water molecule, which is coordinated by a zinc ion. In addition, residues Tyr¹²¹, Tyr²²⁹, and Asn¹³², which are predicted to be hydrogen-bonded to the hydroxyl groups and unhydrolyzed acetyl group, can finely tune and position the bound substrate in a reactive orientation. Taken together, these results revealed the active sites and zinc-dependent hydrolytic mechanism of PhlG and explained its substrate specificity as well.