Synthesis of two isomeric pentasaccharides,the possible repeating unit of the beta-glucan from the micro fungus Epicoccum nigrum Ehrenb. ex Schlecht

Two isomeric pentasaccharides, beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp (I) and beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->6)]-beta-D-Glcp (II), the possible repeating unit of the beta-glucan from the micro fungus Epicoccum nigrum Ehrenb. ex Schlecht, were synthesized as their 4-methoxyphenyl glycosides in a regio- and stereoselective manner. The pentasaccharide I was obtained from 3-O-selective glycosylation of 4-methoxyphenyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12) with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-2,4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (6) followed by acetylation, debenzylidenation, and 6-O-selective glucosylation with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1), and then by deprotection. The pentasaccharide II was obtained from 3-O-selective coupling of 12 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-2,4-di-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (10) followed by acetylation, debenzylidenation, and 6-O-selective glycosylation with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (11), and finally by deprotection.     

Amperometric glucose biosensor based on multilayer films via layer-by-layer self-assembly of multi-wall carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and glucose oxidase on the Pt electrode

A novel amperometric glucose biosensor based on the nine layers of multilayer films composed of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), gold nanoparticles (GNp) and glucose oxidase (GOD) was developed for the specific detection of glucose. MWCNTs were chemically modified with the H₂SO₄–HNO₃ pretreatment to introduce carboxyl groups which were used to interact with the amino groups of poly(allylamine) (PAA) and cysteamine via 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide cross-linking reaction, respectively. A cleaned Pt electrode was immersed in PAA, MWCNTs, cysteamine and GNp, respectively, followed by the adsorption of GOD, assembling the one layer of multilayer films on the surface of Pt electrode (GOD/GNp/MWCNTs/Pt electrode). Repeating the above process could assemble different layers of multilayer films on the Pt electrode. PBS washing was applied at the end of each assembly deposition for dissociating the weak adsorption. Film assembling and characterization were studied by transmission electron microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance, and properties of the resulting glucose biosensors were measured by electrochemical measurements. The marked electrocatalytic activity of Pt electrode based on multilayer films toward H₂O₂ produced during GOD enzymatic reactions with glucose permitted effective low-potential amperometric measurement of glucose. Taking the sensitivity and selectivity into consideration, the applied potential of 0.35 V versus Ag/AgCl was chosen for the oxidation detection of H₂O₂ in this work. Among the resulting glucose biosensors, the biosensor based on nine layers of multilayer films was best. It showed a wide linear range of 0.1–10 mM glucose, with a remarkable sensitivity of 2.527 μA/mM, a detection limit of 6.7 μM estimated at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 and fast response time (within 7 s). Moreover, it exhibited good reproducibility, long-term stability and the negligible interferences of ascorbic acid, uric acid and acetaminophen. The study can provide a feasible approach on developing new kinds of oxidase-based amperometric biosensors, and can be used as an illustration for constructing various hybrid structures.     

从干预SIRT1表达探究急性应激影响糖尿病小鼠葡萄糖代谢和脂肪代谢的机制

摘要 目的：从干预组蛋白去乙酰化酶（Sirtuin1, SIRT1）表达探究急性应激影响糖尿病小鼠葡萄糖代谢和脂肪代谢的机制。方法：以30只C57BL/6小鼠为研究对象,通过高脂饮食和链脲佐菌素腹腔注射诱导的T2DM 模型小鼠,然后随机分为对照组（正常小鼠+柠檬酸盐缓冲液灌胃）、糖尿病组（糖尿病小鼠+柠檬酸盐缓冲液注射）和SIRT1干预组（糖尿病小鼠+SRT1720的载体缓冲液灌胃）。通过血糖仪和胰岛素ELISA试剂盒分别检测小鼠空腹血糖、胰岛素水平。使用血液化学自动分析仪检测小鼠血清甘油三酯、总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）-胆固醇和高密度脂蛋白（HDL）-胆固醇水平。收集小鼠白色脂肪组织冲洗并称重比较。通过RT-PCR分析脂肪生成转录因子PPARγ和SREBP-1c、脂肪酸合成因子Fas和Ap2、脂肪酸分解因子Hsl的mRNA表达。通过蛋白印迹分析AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1通路蛋白的表达。结果：糖尿病组较对照组空腹血糖、胰岛素水平升高（P<0.05）,SIRT1干预组较糖尿病组空腹血糖、胰岛素水平降低（P<0.05）。糖尿病组较对照组血清甘油三酯、总胆固醇、HDL-胆固醇和LDL-胆固醇升高（P<0.05）。糖尿病组较对照组附睾、腹膜后、肠系膜和腹股沟脂肪的重量升高（P<0.05）,SIRT1干预组较糖尿病组的白色脂肪重量降低（P<0.05）。SIRT1干预组较糖尿病组降低（P<0.05）。糖尿病组较对照组的血糖水平在30、60和120分钟时升高（P<0.05）,SIRT1干预组较糖尿病组各时间点血糖水平降低（P<0.05）。糖尿病组较对照组PPARγ、SREBP-1c、Fas、Ap2的mRNA表达升高（P<0.05）,HslmRNA降低（P<0.05）,SIRT1干预组较糖尿病PPARγ、SREBP-1c、Fas、Ap2的mRNA表达升高,HslmRNA降低（P<0.05）。糖尿病组较对照磷酸化AMPK、SIRT1和PGC-1的表达降低（P<0.05）,SIRT1干预组较糖尿病组磷酸化AMPK、SIRT1和PGC-1的表达升高（P<0.05）。结论：调控SIRT1高表达可激活糖尿病小鼠AMPK/PGC-1α 信号通路,同时促进脂肪分解和抑制脂肪合成而表现出抗肥胖作用。     

AMP-activated Protein Kinase α2 Protects against Liver Injury from Metastasized Tumors via Reduced Glucose Deprivation-induced Oxidative Stress

It is well known that tumors damage affected tissues; however, the specific mechanism underlying such damage remains elusive. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) senses energetic changes and regulates glucose metabolism. In this study, we examined the mechanisms by which AMPK promotes metabolic adaptation in the tumor-bearing liver using a murine model of colon cancer liver metastasis. Knock-out of AMPK α2 significantly enhanced tumor-induced glucose deprivation in the liver and increased the extent of liver injury and hepatocyte death. Mechanistically, we observed that AMPK α2 deficiency resulted in elevated reactive oxygen species, reduced mitophagy, and increased cell death in response to tumors or glucose deprivation in vitro. These results imply that AMPK α2 is essential for attenuation of liver injury during tumor metastasis via hepatic glucose deprivation and mitophagy-mediated inhibition of reactive oxygen species production. Therefore, AMPK α2 might represent an important therapeutic target for colon cancer metastasis-induced liver injury.     

微量元素对糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢的影响

目的观察微量元素铬对糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢的影响。方法选糖尿病大鼠经灌胃给予有机铬水溶液治疗12周后,分别观察口服有机铬200μg/d及400μg/d的糖尿病大鼠空腹血糖及血脂水平(血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白和高密度脂蛋白)。实验分为4组:1组为正常对照组;2组为铬200μg/d组;3组为铬400μg/d组;4组为糖尿病对照组。结果有机铬具有明显降低血糖、血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白和甘油三酯及升高高密度脂蛋白的作用(P0.05~P0.01)。结论有机铬能明显改善糖尿病大鼠的糖脂代谢。     

GAS6 / AXL 信号通路失活对小鼠能量代谢的影响简

目的 研究小鼠生长停滞特异蛋白6（growth arrest-specific gene 6,GAS6）信号通路的失活对维持机体能量代谢稳态的影响.方法 以GAS6主要受体Axl基因敲除（Axl-/-）小鼠及其野生型（Axl＋/＋）小鼠为研究对象,比较两组动物基础血糖值、血脂四项指标、脂肪系数及骨骼肌中糖代谢信号蛋白PI3K、AKT与葡萄糖转运蛋白4（glucose transporter 4,GLUT4）基因表达水平及其蛋白磷酸化水平间的差异;同时检测人工诱发2型糖尿病（type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM）造模前后小鼠血清GAS6蛋白水平与T2DM模型成模率的改变之间是否存在相关性.结果 Axl-/-小鼠血脂出现异常波动,且脂肪沉积率显著高于野生型小鼠（P＆lt;0.01）.Axl-/-小鼠血糖调节能力受损,其空腹血糖值显著高于野生型,骨骼肌Glut4的mRNA水平升高,而PI3K、AKT和GLUT4蛋白的磷酸化水平均略有下降.经人工诱发T2DM后,Axl＋/＋和Axl-/-小鼠血浆中GAS6浓度均显著低于各自对照组,且Axl-/-小鼠T2DM模型的成模率是Axl＋/＋小鼠的2倍（P＆lt;0.01）.结论 GAS6/AXL信号通路的激活在一定程度上降低血糖和抑制脂肪沉积.     

Nrg1 functions as a global transcriptional repressor of glucose-repressed genes through its direct binding to the specific promoter regions

Nrg1 is a zinc finger protein involved in the glucose repression of several glucose-repressed genes such as STA1, SUC2, and GAL1. Although the molecular details of the Nrg1-mediated repression of STA1 have been partly characterized, it still remains largely unknown how Nrg1 regulates these multiple target genes. In this study, we show that Nrg1 mediates the glucose repression of SUC2 and HXT2 through its direct binding to the specific promoter regions; it binds to the −404 to −360 region of the SUC2 promoter and the −957 to −810 region of the HXT2 promoter. Nrg1 also interacts with the −380 to −250 region of the PCK1 promoter, suggesting that it might also contribute to the PCK1 repression. In addition, ChIP assays confirmed that Nrg1 associated with specific promoter regions of these glucose-repressed genes in vivo. Analysis of the DNA fragments to which it binds indicates that Nrg1 may recognize T/ACCCC sequence within the promoters of these glucose-repressed genes as well as in its own promoter. Collectively, our findings indicate that Nrg1 mediates the glucose repression of multiple genes through its direct binding to the specific promoter regions.     

CO2 fixation for succinic acid production by engineered Escherichia coli co-expressing pyruvate carboxylase and nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase

In wild-type Escherichia coli, 1 mol of CO₂ was fixated in 1 mol of succinic acid generation anaerobically. The key reaction in this sequence, catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PPC), is carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate to oxaloacetate. Although inactivation of pyruvate formate-lyase and lactate dehydrogenase is found to enhance the PPC pathway for succinic acid production, it results in excessive pyruvic acid accumulation and limits regeneration of NAD⁺ from NADH formed in glycolysis. In other organisms, oxaloacetate is synthesized by carboxylation of pyruvic acid by pyruvate carboxylase (PYC) during glucose metabolism, and in E. coli, nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (NAPRTase) is a rate-limiting enzyme of the NAD(H) synthesis system. To achieve the NADH/NAD⁺ ratio decrease as well as carbon flux redistribution, co-expression of NAPRTase and PYC in a pflB, ldhA, and ppc deletion strain resulted in a significant increase in cell mass and succinic acid production under anaerobic conditions. After 72 h, 14.5 g L⁻¹ of glucose was consumed to generate 12.08 g L⁻¹ of succinic acid. Furthermore, under optimized condition of CO₂ supply, the succinic acid productivity and the CO₂ fixation rate reached 223.88 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 83.48 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively.     

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) regulates body fat and glucose homeostasis by modulating nutrient sensing pathways and mitochondrial energy expenditure

Body fat, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes are often linked together, but the molecular mechanisms that unify their association are poorly understood. Wnt signaling regulates adipogenesis, and its altered activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. LRP6(+/-) mice on a high fat diet were protected against diet-induced obesity and hepatic and adipose tissue insulin resistance compared with their wild-type (WT) littermates. Brown adipose tissue insulin sensitivity and reduced adiposity of LRP6(+/-) mice were accounted for by diminished Wnt-dependent mTORC1 activity and enhanced expression of brown adipose tissue PGC1-α and UCP1. LRP6(+/-) mice also exhibited reduced endogenous hepatic glucose output, which was due to diminished FoxO1-dependent expression of the key gluconeogenic enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase (G6pase). In addition, in vivo and in vitro studies showed that loss of LRP6 allele is associated with increased leptin receptor expression, which is a likely cause of hepatic insulin sensitivity in LRP6(+/-) mice. Our study identifies LRP6 as a nutrient-sensitive regulator of body weight and glucose metabolism and as a potential target for pharmacological interventions in obesity and diabetes.