Principles of selective inactivation of a viral genome. Comparative kinetic study of modification of the viral RNA and model protein with oligoaziridines

Comparative kinetic analysis of inactivation of bacteriophage MS2 infectivity and aminoalkylation of a model protein (trypsin inhibitor) with oligoaziridines was performed in order to evaluate the selectivity of viral RNA modification with oligocationic reagents. The transition from ethyleneimine monomer to di-, tri-, and tetramer leads to a sharp increase in the rate constant of infectivity inactivation, whereas the rate constant of protein modification changes insignificantly. The selectivity coefficient of the phage RNA aminoalkylation relative to trypsin inhibitor modification increases in this series by more than an order of magnitude. This effect is probably associated with the strengthening of the reagent binding to the nucleic acid, which implies a reaction mechanism that involves the formation of a reactive intermediate. The latter might be an electrostatic complex of the oligocationic reagent and RNA, the only polyanion in the virion. A pronounced decrease in the rate constant of infectivity inactivation in the presence of multiply charged anions (in phosphate buffer) and a biogenic polyamine (spermine) favors this hypothesis. Increasing the reaction temperature increases the rate constant of infectivity inactivation and decreases selectivity of the viral RNA modification.     

Production and effects of volatile organic compounds during interspecific interactions

Competition between mycelia of saprotrophic cord-forming basidiomycetes occurs both within dead woody resources and in the soil-litter interface, and involves a variety of antagonistic mechanisms including the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The antagonistic potential of VOC profiles from interactions in wood blocks and in soil microcosms was assessed using shared headspace experiments, and the profile of VOCs emitted over the course of interactions elucidated using solid phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Quantitative and qualitative changes in VOC production occurred in interactions compared to self-pairing controls, with different VOC profiles from fungi growing in wood blocks compared to soil trays. There were both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of VOCs on target mycelial extension rate, hyphal coverage and fractal dimension. VOC-mediated effects were greater in self-pairing controls compared to interactions, and differed depending on the substratum in which the VOC-producing fungi were growing.     

糜蛋白酶提高膜蛋白质谱分析序列覆盖率的胶内消化方法

近年来,质谱技术在膜蛋白结构与功能研究中被广泛应用。由于膜蛋白的跨膜结构域含有大量疏水性氨基酸,常常导致液质串联质谱检测的序列覆盖率较低,从而限制了质谱技术在膜蛋白结构与功能研究中的应用。文中利用人的整合膜蛋白维生素K环氧化物还原酶为模型,优化胶内消化条件,建立了一种稳定提高膜蛋白质谱序列覆盖率的糜蛋白酶胶内消化方法。通过探索钙离子浓度、pH值和缓冲体系对序列覆盖率、检测特异肽段的总数和类型以及特异肽段大小的影响,发现在5–10 mmol/L钙离子浓度、pH 8.0–8.5的Tris-HCl缓冲液中,可以兼顾序列覆盖率和肽段的多样性。该方法可以使膜蛋白的质谱覆盖率达到80%以上,将在膜蛋白结构与功能、膜蛋白相互作用位点的鉴定以及膜蛋白与小分子药物结合位点的鉴定等研究中具有广泛的应用价值。     

LC-MS/MS测定小鼠血浆中多靶点抗AD bis-MEP-乙二酰胺杂合物ZLA浓度及药动学研究

目的:建立检测小鼠血浆内新型多靶点抗阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)药物双美普他酚-乙二酰胺杂合物(ZLA)浓度的高效液相色谱-质谱联用法(LC-MS/MS),并研究其在小鼠体内的药代动力学。方法:样品经甲醇沉淀去蛋白,应用Waters Xbridge C18色谱柱(2.1×100 mm,3.5μm),以甲醇-水(含5 m M甲酸铵,p H 9.8)(85:15,v/v)为流动相,流速0.25 m L/min;采用电喷雾(ESI)离子源,选择正离子模式多反应监测,待测物分别为m/z 304.3→107.0(ZLA)和m/z 621.7→232.1(内标)。分别给予KM小鼠腹腔和尾静脉注射ZLA 5mg/kg,不同时间点采集血浆用于ZLA定量分析。结果:ZLA和内标保留时间分别为3.2 min和2.5 min。血浆中ZLA线性范围为1-1000 ng/m L。血浆中提取回收率超过91%,日内和日间精密度RSD均小于6%。药动学研究结果显示,腹腔注射时ZLA可快速分布到血浆中,在10.2 min达到峰值,且能达到良好的生物利用度(47.6%)。结论:本研究建立的ZLA血药浓度测定方法快速、灵敏,特异性好,并成功应用于小鼠血浆中ZLA的药代动力学研究。本研究资料将为ZLA在AD治疗中的进一步临床前评估提供依据。     

Antiobesity and emetic effects of a short-length peptide YY analog and its PEGylated and alkylated derivatives

Neuropeptide Y2 receptor (Y2R) agonism is an important anorectic signal and a target of antiobesity drug discovery. Recently, we synthesized a short-length Y2R agonist, PYY-1119 (4-imidazolecarbonyl-[d-Hyp²⁴,Iva²⁵,Pya(4)²⁶,Cha^27,36,γMeLeu²⁸,Lys³⁰,Aib³¹]PYY(23–36), 1) as an antiobesity drug candidate. Compound 1 induced marked body weight loss in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice; however, 1 also induced severe vomiting in dogs at a lower dose than the minimum effective dose administered to DIO mice. The rapid absorption of 1 after subcutaneous administration caused the severe vomiting. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)- and alkyl-modified derivatives of 1 were synthesized to develop Y2R agonists with improved pharmacokinetic profiles, i.e., lower maximum plasma concentration (C_max) and longer time at maximum concentration (T_max). Compounds 5 and 10, modified with 20?kDa PEG at the N-terminus and eicosanedioic acid at the Lys³⁰ side chain of 1, respectively, showed high Y2R binding affinity and induced significant body weight reduction upon once-daily administration to DIO mice. Compounds 5 and 10, with their relatively low C_max and long T_max, partially attenuated emesis in dogs compared with 1. These results indicate that optimization of pharmacokinetic properties of Y2R agonists is an effective strategy to alleviate emesis induced by Y2R agonism.     

An improved micropropagation protocol for teak

An improved micropropagation protocol has been developed for teak (Tectona grandis). Nodal explants placed on MS medium supplemented with 22.2 M benzylaminopurine and then serially transferred to fresh medium after 12, 24, 48 and 72 h gave maximum culture establishment (76.8%). Establishment was reduced when explants were retained in the initial culture medium longer than 12 h. Explants collected in May showed maximum (76.8%) response. Placement of the explants on MS medium supplemented with 22.2 M benzylaminopurine and 0.57 M indole-3-acetic acid resulted in the maximum average number of shoots. In vitro raised micro shoots were rooted ex vitro by dipping in indole-3-butyric acid (9.8 mM) for 2 min followed by planting in polyethylene pots containing a soil:vermiculite (1:1 v/v) mixture. This treatment resulted in 77.9% survival of the plantlets. They were weaned in a glasshouse and finally moved to an agro-net shade house.     

LC-ESI/MS determination of xanthone and secoiridoid glycosides from in vitro regenerated and in vivo Swertia chirayita

A rapid analytical method has been developed to determine xanthone and secoiridoid glycoside in in vitro and in vivo Swertia chirayita extracts. Ultra performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) was applied and validated for the analysis of xanthone and secoiridoid glycoside a potential active component isolated from methanolic extracts of in vitro and in vivo Swertia chirayita plantlets. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a RP-C18 column using gradient elution. Mangiferin (Xanthone), Amarogentin and Swertiamarin (Secoiridoid glycosides) were identified in both the extracts. In the LC/ESI-MS spectra, major [M + H] ⁺ and [M + Na] ⁺ ions were observed in positive ion mode and provided molecular mass information. An ultra-performance liquid-chromatography in combination with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry involving metal cationisation was successfully utilized for the rapid identification of xanthone and secoiridoid glycosides. This method is suitable for the routine analysis, as well as for the separation and identification of known and novel secoiridoid glycoside and xanthone.     

Selective ϖ-1 oxidation of fatty acids by CYP147G1 from Mycobacterium marinum

Background

Cyp147G1 is one of 47 cytochrome P450 encoding genes in Mycobacterium marinum M, a pathogenic bacterium with a high degree of sequence similarity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium ulcerans. Cyp147G1 is one of only two of these cyp genes which are closely associated with a complete electron transfer system.

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography optimized for the analysis of extracellular phosphorylation

Phosphorylation is the most widely studied posttranslational modification. Its role within the cell has been the focus of numerous large‐scale studies. Recently there is growing evidence on the biological significance of extracellular phosphorylation. The analysis of these phosphopeptides is complicated by the abundance of glycosylation in the extracellular space, since glycopeptides are also enriched by the methods used for phosphopeptide isolation. Thus, we optimized IMAC for phosphorylation analysis of secreted proteins, specifically in human serum. Selectivity and efficiency of different enrichment conditions used in earlier large‐scale phosphoproteomic studies were evaluated. We found that minimizing hydrophilic interactions in the enrichment allowed selective phosphopeptide isolation. Using a two‐step IMAC enrichment protocol under these conditions led to the identification of ～100 phosphorylation sites from the tryptic digest of as little as 40 μL human serum.     

贮藏保鲜中SO2伤害对红提葡萄香气组分的影响

采用固相微萃取技术及气相-质谱联用技术对不同SO2漂白伤害程度的红提果实进行香气成分的提取与鉴定,以探讨SO2漂白伤害对贮藏葡萄果实中香气组分的影响.结果表明,果实经漂白伤害后其具有芳香气味的气体所占比重明显下降,主要成分醇类化合物下降最多,而具有刺激难闻气味的酸类化合物所占比重明显上升;此外,4-萜烯醇、正己醇、月桂醇、松油醇、芳樟醇、橙花醇、乙酸萜烯酯及青叶醛等具有葡萄特征性香味的化合物在香气中所占比例明显下降或消失,而异辛醇、1-辛烯-3-醇、壬酸、辛酸、正癸酸、乙酸、己酸、2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚及2-丁基-5-(2-甲基丙基)-噻吩等具有臭味或刺激性气味的化合物出现或所占比重上升.说明,SO2伤害对红提果实香气的影响主要表现为香味化合物所占比重的减少或消失及异味化合物的产生.