Cytotoxic Alangium alkaloids from Alangium longiflorum

Seven alkaloids (1-7) were isolated from the stem bark of Alangium longiflorum. Compound 1, (-)-10-O-demethylisocephaeline, was isolated for the first time as a naturally occurring product from a plant source. All structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Biological evaluation showed that 2, 10-O-demethylcephaeline, exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against human lung carcinoma (A549) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) with ED(50) values of 0.013 and 0.062 microM, respectively. The stereoisomer 1 was less potent than 2, and related compounds with different hydroxy/methoxy substitution patterns were also less potent or inactive. Thus, compound 2 merits attention as a cytotoxic lead for further study.     

南昌市空气PM2.5和PM10的时空动态及其影响因素

PM_2.5和PM₁₀已成为我国大部分城市空气的首要污染物.本文通过分析南昌市2013—2015年的空气PM_2.5和PM₁₀质量浓度、气象因素、交通流量的监测数据,探讨了空气颗粒物污染的时空动态规律以及气象、交通对颗粒物浓度变化的影响.结果表明: 2013、2014、2015年,南昌市PM_2.5浓度(70.92 μg·m^-3＞53.70 μg·m^-3＞43.65 μg·m^-3)、PM₁₀浓度(119.72 μg·m^-3＞86.11 μg·m^-3＞73.32 μg·m^-3)逐年降低,并呈现出夏季低(PM_2.5和PM₁₀平均浓度分别为36.74、69.20 μg·m^-3)、冬季高(PM_2.5和PM₁₀平均浓度分别为74.29、111.64 μg·m^-3)的季节动态和由城市中心向郊区递减的城乡梯度变化; PM_2.5/PM₁₀值(0.595＞0.584＞0.557)逐年降低,并且表现出城市中心高、城市边缘低的空间分布格局;PM_2.5、PM₁₀浓度受到多种气象因素的影响,与气压、温度、相对湿度、风速、降水量、日照时数显著相关,各种气象因子对PM_2.5、PM₁₀浓度的影响存在差异;车流量会显著提高周边PM_2.5浓度,但对PM₁₀浓度影响不明显.     

Radioprotective effects of ATP in human blood ex vivo

Damage to healthy tissue is a major limitation of radiotherapy treatment of cancer patients, leading to several side effects and complications. Radiation-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is thought to be partially responsible for the radiation-associated complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of extracellular ATP on markers of oxidative stress, radiation-induced inflammation and DNA damage in irradiated blood ex vivo. ATP inhibited radiation-induced TNF-α release and increased IL-10 release. The inhibitory effect of ATP on TNF- α release was completely reversed by adenosine 5′-O-thiomonophosphate, indicating a P2Y₁₁ mediated effect. Furthermore, ATP attenuated radiation-induced DNA damage immediate, 3 and 6 h after irradiation. Our study indicates that ATP administration alleviates radiation-toxicity to blood cells, mainly by inhibiting radiation-induced inflammation and DNA damage.     

脱氧核酶的研究进展

具有RNA裂解活性的DNA分子称为脱氧核酶。它是经过体外选择技术经多次筛选获得的。脱氧核酶在切割与其互补的RNA底物分子时具有极高的特异性和切割效率,有望成为新的RNA灭活工具。     

Cytotoxic effector cell function in organized gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

Lymphocytes from the organized gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) of adult guinea pigs were examined for surface markers characteristic of T and B lymphocytes and for their capacity to function as effector cells in mitogen-induced cellular cytotoxicity (MICC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) reactions. GALT lymphocytes formed rosettes with rabbit erythrocytes, a T-cell marker, and underwent proliferative responses in vitro in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). GALT lymphocytes were cytotoxic in vitro for erythrocyte and DBA mastocytoma targets in the presence of PHA. A population of GALT lymphocytes bound aggregated γ-globulin; however, they functioned poorly in ADCC reactions. Thus, organized GALT in the guinea pig contains lymphocytes capable of functioning in T-cell-dependent MICC reactions but either lacks the effector cell population which mediates ADCC or contains an effector cell which functions poorly in ADCC.     

Activation of human B lymphocytes. XVII. Synergy between nonspecific and specific signals in the antigen-specific responses of human B cells

The incubation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with the natural killer (NK)-sensitive MOLT-4 cell line results in PBL-target cell conjugate formation by certain lymphocyte subpopulations. Following velocity sedimentation, the PBL depleted of these conjugate-forming subpopulations are markedly diminished in the ability to mediate either antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or NK activity. The immediate testing of highly pure PBL subpopulations isolated from the NK target conjugates does not reveal the expected recovery of augmented ADCC or NK levels. Following in vitro incubation, however, the PBL NK target-binding subpopulations do manifest augmented levels of both NK and ADCC, whereas the depleted PBL continue to display diminished NK and ADCC levels. In addition, the degree of augmented NK and ADCC levels recovered by the NK target-binding PBL subpopulations appears dependent on both the time and the temperature of in vitro incubation. Moreover, the ADCC recovery patterns are identical to those observed for NK activity regardless of the time and temperature of in vitro incubation. These results directly demonstrate that the PBL subpopulations isolated from certain NK target cells are functionally enriched in the ability to mediate from ADCC and NK activity.     

产紫杉醇内生真菌枝状枝孢霉MD2的发酵条件优化

[目的]通过优化内生真菌枝状枝孢霉MD2的发酵条件,提高10-去乙酰巴卡亭Ⅲ (10-DAB)和紫杉醇(Taxol)的产量.[方法]采用单因素试验分析不同的培养基初始pH值、培养温度、摇床转速和培养时间对10-DAB和紫杉醇产量的影响,优化枝状枝孢霉MD2的培养条件;以YES为基本培养基,采用单因素试验和正交试验分析添加苯甲酸钠、苯丙氨酸、丝氨酸和甘氨酸4种前体物对10-DAB和紫杉醇产量的影响,优化枝状枝孢霉MD2的培养基组分.[结果]优化后发酵条件为:在初始pH为5.0的300 mL YES培养基中,添加15 mg/L苯甲酸钠、25 mg/L苯丙氨酸、5 mg/L丝氨酸、15 mg/L甘氨酸,接种1 mL枝状枝孢霉MD2的孢子悬液(107-10s个孢子/mL),28.0℃、220 r/min发酵培养12d.在此条件下,枝状枝孢霉MD2的生物量、10-DAB和紫杉醇的产量分别为15.5 g/L、471.5 μg/L和569.5 μg/L,与初始发酵条件相比,分别提高了1.3、3.6和3.4倍.[结论]首次获得了枝状枝孢霉MD2生产10-DAB和紫杉醇的较适摇瓶发酵条件,可为进一步放大发酵培养提供参考.     

Tracing the transition of methicillin resistance in sub-populations of Staphylococcus aureus, using SELDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Artificial Neural Network Analysis

Strains (n = 99) of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a large number of clinical sources and tested for methicillin sensitivity were analysed by MALDI-TOF-MS using the Weak Cation Exchange (CM10) ProteinChip Array (designated SELDI-TOF-MS). The profile data generated was analysed using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Analysis modelling techniques. Seven key ions identified by the ANNs that were predictive of MRSA and MSSA were validated by incorporation into a model. This model exhibited an area under the ROC curve value of 0.9147 indicating the potential application of this approach for rapidly characterising MRSA and MSSA isolates. Nearly all strains (n = 97) were correctly assigned to the correct group, with only two aberrant MSSA strains being misclassified. However, approximately 21% of the strains appeared to be in a process of transition as resistance to methicillin was being acquired.     

Association between dwarfing genes ‘Rht1’ and ‘Rht2’ and resistance toSeptoria tritici Blotch in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell)

Summary Differences in levels of resistance toSeptoria tritici blotch were observed in plants with a specific height-reducing gene. When the gene Rht ₂ was present either as an isoline or in the progeny, a higher degree of resistance was found. The most susceptible plants were observed in populations carrying the Rht ₁ gene. Associations, as determined by phenotypic correlations, were detected betweenSeptoria tritici blotch and tall stature, late heading, and maturity. Plants having short stature, early heading, early maturity, and acceptable levels of resistance were identified in the F₂ population whenRht ₂ was present. Results of this study indicated that wheat breeders must select the appropriate dwarfing source that may confer resistance and grow large F₂ populations, in order to increase the probability of obtaining desired genotypes.     

Synthesis and characterization of three group 10 complexes containing nido-carborane diphosphine: [MCl(PPh3){7,8-(PPh2)2-7,8-C2B9H10}] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt)

Three group 10 complexes containing nido-carborane diphosphine, [NiCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] (1), [PdCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] · 1.25CH₂Cl₂ (2) and [PtCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] · 2.5CH₂Cl₂ (3) have been synthesized by the reactions of [M(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) with closo carborane diphosphine 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ in ethanol. For complex 3, it could also be obtained under solvothermal condition. All three complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination. Single crystal structures show that their structures are similar to each other. In each complex, the nido [7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻, which resulted from the degradation of the initial closo ligand 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ during the reaction process, was coordinated bidentately through the P atoms to M(II) ion, and this resulted in a stable five-membered chelating ring between the bis-diphosphine ligand and the metal. The coordination mode of the metal can be described as a slightly distorted square-planar, in which the remaining two positions were occupied by one Cl⁻ and one PPh₃ group.