HSP70 induction by bleomycin metal core analogs

Induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is known to be effective against various diseases. We are interested in HSP70 induction capability of an antitumor antibiotic bleomycin which produces oxidative stress by iron chelate formation and oxygen activation in a cell. The HSP70 induction activity of bleomycin and its six metal core analogs was examined, and a compound HPH-1Trt of 10 μM was found to induce this protein in a pheochromocytoma cell line and some T cell and monocytic cell lines. Its mechanism is increase of HSP70 mRNA, but higher concentration of this compound showed toxicity. Two new derivatives were then synthesized, and one of them named DHPH-1Trt was shown to have less toxicity and higher HSP70 induction activity. This study would lead to a clue for new HSP70 inducer clinically used in near future.     

没食子酸对美国白蛾幼虫营养效应及解毒酶活性的影响

美国白蛾是我国重大外来入侵害虫,寄主范围十分广泛。酚类物质是最广泛的植物次生代谢物之一,在植物抵御昆虫取食的化学防御中具有重要作用。本研究通过人工饲料添加没食子酸的方法,探究不同浓度的没食子酸对美国白蛾幼虫的营养效应及解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的影响。结果表明,各浓度(1.0%、1.5%、2.0%、2.5%、3.0%)没食子酸对美国白蛾4龄幼虫的近似消化率、食物利用率、相对取食量和相对生长率均具有显著影响(P<0.05),近似消化率和相对取食量不同程度下降,食物利用率和相对生长率则不同程度上升。不同浓度的没食子酸处理对美国白蛾幼虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和细胞色素P450的活性均具有显著影响(P<0.05)。1.0%没食子酸作用时间不同,美国白蛾4龄幼虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和细胞色素P450的活性差异显著(P<0.05)。没食子酸能够始终诱导细胞色素P450的活性,而羧酸酯酶的活性却受到抑制。不同浓度的没食子酸对乙酰胆碱酯酶作用总体上不明显,但较低浓度时(1.0%)对乙酰胆碱酯酶活性却随处理时间延长而抑制作用加强。较低浓度(1.0%~1.5%)的没食子酸对谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性有一定诱导作用,但随着没食子酸浓度提高谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性却受到一定程度的抑制。没食子酸能抑制美国白蛾幼虫的取食,并且对解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性表现出一定的时间效应和剂量效应,表明美国白蛾幼虫可能通过调节食物利用和解毒代谢等多种途径降低没食子酸的毒害作用,从而对含没食子酸的寄主植物产生适应。     

Chromosome‐level genome assembly of an important pine defoliator,Dendrolimus punctatus (Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae)

Dendrolimus spp. are important destructive pests of conifer forests, and Dendrolimus punctatus Walker (Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae) is the most widely distributed Dendrolimus species. During periodic outbreaks, this species is said to make “fire without smoke” because large areas of pine forest can be quickly and heavily damaged. Yet, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the unique ecological characteristics of this forest insect. Here, we combined Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RSII single‐molecule long reads and high‐throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) genomics‐linked reads to produce a high‐quality, chromosome‐level reference genome for D. punctatus. The final assembly was 614 Mb with contig and scaffold N50 values of 1.39 and 22.15 Mb, respectively, and 96.96% of the contigs anchored onto 30 chromosomes. Based on the prediction, this genome contained 17,593 protein‐coding genes and 56.16% repetitive sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that D. punctatus diverged from the common ancestor of Hyphantria cunea, Spodoptera litura and Thaumetopoea pityocampa ~ 108.91 million years ago. Many gene families that were expanded in the D. punctatus genome were significantly enriched for the xenobiotic biodegradation system, especially the cytochrome P450 gene family. This high‐quality, chromosome‐level reference genome will be a valuable resource for understanding mechanisms of D. punctatus outbreak and host resistance adaption. Because this is the first Lasiocampidae insect genome to be sequenced, it also will serve as a reference for further comparative genomics.     

How metals directly affect the antioxidant status in the liver and kidney of Oreochromis niloticus? An in vitro study

BackgroundMetals can disturb the integrity of physiological and biochemical mechanisms in fish. Thus components of defense as an antioxidant system are significant biomarkers due to their vital role in coping with metal stress. The aim of the current study is to investigate the direct effects of Cd, Cu, and Zn sublethal exposures (in vitro) on the antioxidant system parameters in the liver and kidney of Nile tilapia.MethodsThe antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels were analyzed after in vitro sublethal metal (200 and 400 μg/L Cd, Cu, and Zn) treatments of Oreochromis niloticus liver and kidney supernatants.ResultsMetals even at lower levels caused significant changes in the levels of antioxidant system parameters due to concentration, metal, and tissue type. GSH metabolism parameters were more responsive to the metal effect. TBARS levels and GPX activity were mostly increased while CAT, SOD, rGSH, and GSH/GSSG levels decreased. The kidney was more affected than the liver in vitro conditions. Cu was more effective in the liver whereas it was Zn for the kidney. Cd caused negative correlations among the antioxidant enzymes. Significant correlations were found between enzymes and GSH levels upon Zn and Cu exposures.ConclusionsDirect metal effects may trigger different response trends due to their nature and tissue differences. The current data provide a knowledge about which antioxidant biomarkers can define better the oxidative stress caused by direct metal effect for further studies including in vivo experiments.     

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus intraradices and other microbial groups affect plant species in a copper-contaminated post-mining soil

Background and aimArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have an important role in plant-microbe interactions. But, there are few studies in which the combined effect of AMF with a stress factor, such as the presence of a metal, on plant species were assessed. This study investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus intraradices and other soil microbial groups in the presence of copper on three plant species in a microcosm experiment.MethodsTwo grass species Poa compressa and Festuca rubra and one herb species Centaurea jacea were selected as model plants in a pot-design test in which soils were artificially contaminated with copper. Treatments were bacteria (control), saprophytic fungi, protists, and a combined treatment of saprophytic fungi and protists, all in the presence or absence of the AM fungal species. After sixty days, plants were harvested and the biomass of grass and herb species and microbial respiration were measured.ResultsThe results showed almost equal above- and belowground plant biomass and microbial respiration in the treatments in the presence or absence of R. intraradices. The herb species C. jecea responded significantly to the soil inoculation with AM fungus, while grass species showed inconsistent patterns. Significant effect of AMF and copper and their interactions was observed on plant biomass when comparing contaminated vs. non-contaminated soils.ConclusionStrong effect of AMF on the biomass of herb species and slight changes in plant growth with the presence of this fungal species in copper-spiked test soils indicates the importance of mycorrhizal fungi compared to other soil microorganisms in our experimental microcosms.     

微生物修复返溶铬污染场地的研究进展

目前,我国历史遗留铬渣堆场多数采用湿法解毒工艺进行处理,但大量化学药剂的添加不仅增加了成本,引入了污染物,而且随时间的延长铬渣中的Cr(Ⅵ) 源源不断的返溶,场地出现返黄现象,形成二次污染。为了持久稳定的修复铬渣,研究人员提出用微生物修复技术处理湿法解毒后铬渣中Cr(Ⅵ) 的返溶。文中综述了国内外微生物修复铬渣污染场地的研究进展,首先简述了铬渣的危害、处理现状及传统的铬污染修复技术,并以湿法解毒铬污染为例,重点揭示了处理后铬渣中Cr(Ⅵ) 的返溶机理,由此可知湿法解毒后的二次污染不可避免。随后详述了微生物修复Cr(Ⅵ) 过程中生物还原、生物吸附和生物矿化三大作用机理,并阐述了铬污染场地修复过程中微生物物种的响应及群落结构的演替,最后,总结了微生物修复铬渣的研究进展并展望了未来的研究方向。     

The plant antifungal isoflavone genistein is metabolized by Armillaria mellea Vahl to give non-fungitoxic products

Abstract

Armillaria mellea, the causal agent of root rot, is a fungal pathogen which proved able to convert the leguminous plant antifungal compound 4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone (genistein) into intermediate metabolites. After suitable periods of incubation, the metabolites were extracted and concentrated from liquid culture media, containing both the isoflavone and the fungus. After purification by column chromatography, the molecular structure of the metabolites was determined by means of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Five different compounds were identified: 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (homogentisic acid), its lactone 5-hydroxy-2(3H)-benzofuranone, and 1,4-benzoquinone. In vitro experiments showed that while the starting compound, i.e. genistein, has some activity in inhibiting the growth of the fungal pathogen, the degradation products are devoid of any appreciable fungitoxic activity. Moreover, results show that the isoflavone metabolites can be, at least partially, utilized by A. mellea as a carbon source.     

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: Schiff's Bases of Aromatic and Heterocyclic Sulfonamides and their Metal Complexes

Schiff's bases were obtained from aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides and amino-sulfonamide derivatives, such as sulfanilamide, homosulfanilamide, 4-aminoethyl-benzenesulfonamide and 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamide. Metal complexes of some of these Schiff's bases, incorporating Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, were also prepared and tested as inhibitors of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), and more specifically the red blood cell isozymes I and II. The Schiff's bases behaved as medium potency CA I and CA II inhibitors, whereas their metal complexes showed a highly enhanced potency, with several low nanomolar CA II inhibitors detected.     

Metal-based sulfonamides: Their preparation,characterization and in-vitro antibacterial,antifungal & cytotoxic properties. X-ray structure of 4-[(2-hydroxybenzylidene) amino] benzenesulfonamide

Synthesis, characterization and biological studies of Schiff base-derived sulfonamides and their Co (II), Cu (II), Ni (II) and Zn (II) complexes have been reported and screened for in-vitro antibacterial activity against six Gram-negative; E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis, S. typhi and S. dysenteriae and four Gram-positive; B. cereus, C. diphtheriae, S. aureus and S. pyogenes bacterial strains and for in-vitro antifungal activity against T. longifusus, C. albicans, A. flavus, M. canis, F. solani, and C. glaberata. All compounds showed moderate to significant antibacterial activity, however, the zinc (II) complexes were found to be more active. Some of the compounds also showed significant antifungal activity against various fungal strains. Only compounds (6) and (10) displayed potent cytotoxic activity with LD₅₀ = 4.644 × 10^{? 4} and 4.106 × 10^{? 4} moles/mL respectively, against Artemia salina. The X-ray structure of 4-[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]benzenesulfonamide is also reported.     

Toward the Development of Metal‐Free Synthetic Nucleases: Cleavage of a Model Substrates by 1,4‐Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]Octane Derivatives

Artificial ribonucleases of A_nBCL series were synthesized by solid‐phase method. They consist of a hydrophobic alkyl radical A (n = 3–12 carbon atoms), an “RNA‐binding domain” B (bisquaternary salt of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), a “catalytic domain” C (histidine residue) and a “linker” L that joins the domains B and C. The effect of the alkyl radical on the catalytic properties of the chemical catalyst was studied using three activated phosphate ester substrates: p‐nitrophenyl phosphate, bis‐p‐nitrophenyl phosphate, and thymidine‐3′‐p‐nitrophenyl phosphate.