Novel 4-azasteroidal N-glycoside analogues bearing sugar-like D ring: synthesis and anticancer activities

A series of novel N-glycoside analogues with 4-azasteroid moiety bearing sugar-like D ring were conveniently synthesized by constructing the core dihydropyran ring embedded in 4-azasteroidal skeleton which was prepared from 4-aza-5α-androst-3,17-dione 1 in four steps. The structure of 6b were unambiguously proved by the appropriate X-ray structural analysis. Anticancer activity was found for all of the analogues with purinyl moiety against breast cancer (MCF-7), human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH), cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and prostatic cancer (PC-3), while the analogue 7 containing 1,2,4-triazole heterocycle as the nucleobase was inactive against all of the tested cancer cell lines. The biology results showed the purinyl moiety attached to the pyran ring of 6a-d, substituent at 6'-position of purine base and introduction of a halogen atom at 2'-position of 6'-chloropurine had obviously effect on the evaluated anticancer activity.     

The EAG response and behavior of the Saperda populnea L. to volatiles from poplar branches

In order to investigate the effect of organic volatiles from poplar species on the host plants orientation of Saperda populnea, the essential oil in the 2–3 years old branches from the sapling or mature trees of Populus simonii Carr. and P. simonii Carr. × P. nigra L. were extracted using the steam distillation method. The chemical composition and relative content in essential oil from those branches was analyzed by GC–MS. The main components contained in those volatiles from the four kinds of branches are mainly aromatic compounds such as 1,2-cyclohexanedione, 2-cyclohexene-1-one, p-xylene and 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene and so on. The relative content of aromatic compounds contained in branches from saplings was higher than that contained in branches from old tress. EAG response and behavioral reaction of S. populnea L. to those four kinds of distillated essential oil were tested. The results shown that male and female adults of S. populnea L. shown significant choice behavior and strong olfactory response to those essential oil distillated from branches of P. simonii Carr. and P. simonii Carr. × P. nigra L.. The EAG bioassay of S. populnea L. to 10 kinds of monomers compounds which had relative higher contents was tested. The results shown that the EAG response of female adults of S. populnea L. to 1 mol L^?1 p-xylene was intensest and reached 1.027 mV, the strength of their EAG response to 0.1 mol L^?1 phenol took the second place. The EAG response of male adult of S. populnea L. to 1 mol L^?1 p-xylene was strongest and reached to 0.824 mV, the strength of their EAG response to 1 mol L^?1 salicylaldehyde took the second place. In the choice behavior test of S. populnea L. adult to monomeric compound carried out in ‘Y’ type olfactometer have found that female and male adult of S. populnea L. all appeared obvious positive taxis to 0.1 mol L^?1 p-xylene. The selection rate of female and male adults ware (76.7 ± 4.1)% and (71.7 ± 2.6)%, respectively. The selective reaction to 0.1 mol L^?1 1,2-cyclohexanedione and 2-cyclohexene-1-one were not obviously than that to 0.1 mol L^?1 p-xylene. The male and female adult of S. populnea L. appeared repelling behavior to 0.1 mol L^?1 salicylaldehyde.     

欧洲云杉的扦插基质选择和穗条效应研究

以欧洲云杉6年生母树为采穗母株,系统研究了不同插穗条件对生根和幼苗生长的响应,同时观测了网袋容器基质配比对扦插幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:扦插后20 d愈伤组织开始形成,37 d时根尖开始出现,50～65 d是生根的高峰期和根系发育期,65 d时扦插苗根系基本形成.不同基质对欧洲云杉插穗生根率影响达到极显著水平,1份泥炭...     

杜鹃花属植物扦插繁殖研究进展

我国有着丰富的杜鹃花资源,但有关其繁殖应用的研究还具有一定的局限。种子育苗耗时长,组培育苗成本和技术要求高,都不适于杜鹃花属植物的大面积生产。扦插繁殖快,还可保持母本的优良性状。从插条的选择,准备,插条的生根激素处理,扦插基质的选择,外界环境条件对扦插成活率的影响及扦插后的养护管理等六个方面对杜鹃的扦插繁殖技术的研究进行综述,以期推进杜鹃花属植物,尤其是中国野生杜鹃的引种驯化和大面积的推广应用。     

高质量浓度IBA和插条木质化程度对兔眼蓝浆果扦插生根的影响

采用速蘸法研究了高质量浓度(3 000、5 000、7 000和9 000 mg.L-1)IBA对兔眼蓝浆果(Vaccinium asheiReade)品种‘粉蓝’(‘Powderblue’)、‘梯芙蓝’(‘Tifblue’)和‘芭尔德温’(‘Baldwin’)插条生根率和开始生根时间的影响,并对木质化程度不同的‘顶峰’(‘Climax’)和‘雾达德’(‘Woodard’)插条的生根率和开始生根时间进行了比较。结果表明:经3 000~9 000 mg.L-1IBA溶液速蘸3 s,3个品种插条的生根率均高于或显著高于对照(P<0.05),开始生根时间则较对照明显提前,但不同品种有明显差异;随IBA质量浓度的提高,‘粉蓝’和‘芭尔德温’的生根率逐渐增加,开始生根时间逐渐提早,以9 000 mg.L-1IBA处理组的生根率最高(分别为93.98%和86.46%),开始生根时间最早(分别为15和21 d);品种‘梯芙蓝’插条的生根率则以5 000 mg.L-1IBA处理组最高(88.02%),开始生根时间最早(18 d)。木质化程度不同的插条生根率有显著差异(P<0.05),木质化程度越低,插条的生根率越高且开始生根时间越早;采用木质化程度低的插条,品种‘顶峰’和‘雾达德’插条的生根率分别达到88.54%和77.60%,开始生根时间分别为25和29 d。研究结果显示:高浓度IBA速蘸法是兔眼蓝浆果扦插生根的有效方法,在实际生产中应根据不同品种的特性选择适宜的IBA浓度;从木质化程度及插条可取数量两方面考虑宜选用半木质化枝条作为插条。     

Differential activation of parts of the serratus anterior muscle during push-up variations on stable and unstable bases of support

No studies have examined the effects of an unstable surface on push-up and push-up plus exercises in terms of the two parts of the serratus anterior muscle. We hypothesized that the lower part of the serratus anterior would have greater activity with an unstable surface, which requires stabilizing the scapular position. The present study was performed to investigate the intramuscular differences between parts of the serratus anterior muscle during push-up and push-up plus exercises. Twelve healthy subjects were included in the study. The upper and lower parts of the serratus anterior and upper and lower parts of the trapezius were investigated by surface EMG during four types of exercise. Repeated one-way ANOVA was used for statistical analyses. Maintaining the push-up plus phase caused significant increases in EMG activity of the upper serratus anterior compared with the push-up ascending phase on both of stable and unstable bases (P < 0.05). The lower serratus anterior showed increased activation on an unstable surface, which required more joint stability than did the stable base. Upper trapezius/upper serratus anterior ratio was significantly lower in the PUP than in the PUA phase with both stable and unstable bases of support (P < 0.05).Further studies are required to investigate the intramuscular variation in activation of the serratus anterior during exercises for rehabilitation.     

Performance and fate of tree seedlings on and around nests of the leaf‐cutting ant Atta cephalotes: Ecological filters in a fragmented forest

Habitat fragmentation is currently the most pervasive anthropogenic disturbance in tropical forests and some species of leaf‐cutting ants of the genus Atta (dominant herbivores in the neotropics) have become hyper‐abundant in forest edges where their nests directly impact up to 6% of the forest area. Yet, their impacts on the regeneration dynamics of fragmented forests remain poorly investigated. Here we examine the potential of Atta cephalotes nests to function as ecological filters impacting tree recruitment. Growth, survival and biomass partitioning of experimentally planted seedlings (six tree species) were examined at eight spatially independent A. cephalotes colonies in a large Atlantic Forest fragment. Seedling performance and fate (leaf numbers and damage) were monitored up to 27 months across three habitats (nest centre, nest edge and forest understorey). Plants at illuminated nest centres showed twice the gross leaf gain as understorey individuals. Simultaneously, seedlings of all species lost many more leaves at nests than in the forest understorey, causing a negative net leaf gain. Net leaf gain in the shaded understorey ranged from zero (Licania and Thyrsodium species) to substantial growth for Copaifera and Virola, and intermediate levels little above zero for Protium and Pouteria. Also seedling survival differed across habitats and species, being typically low in the centre and at the edge of nests where seedlings were often completely defoliated by the ants. Lastly, seedling survival increased strongly with seed size at nest edges while there was no such correlation in the forest. Our results suggest that Atta nests operate as ecological filters by creating a specific disturbance regime that differs from other disturbances in tropical forests. Apparently, Atta nests favour large‐seeded tree species with resprouting abilities and the potential to profit from a moderate, nest‐mediated increase in light availability.     

Numerical simulation of selective freezing of target biological tissues following injection of solutions with specific thermal properties

Recently, we proposed a method for controlling the extent of freezing during cryosurgery by percutaneously injecting some solutions with particular thermal properties into the target tissues. In order to better understand the mechanism of the enhancement of freezing by these injections, a new numerical algorithm was developed to simulate the corresponding heat transfer process that is involved. The three-dimensional phase change processes in biological tissues subjected to cryoprobe freezing, with or without injection, were compared numerically. Two specific cases were investigated to illustrate the selective freezing method: the injection of solutions with high thermal conductivity; the injection of solutions with low latent heat. It was found that the localized injection of such solutions could significantly enhance the freezing effect and decrease the lowest temperature in the target tissues. The result also suggests that the injection of these solutions may be a feasible and flexible way to control the size of the ice ball and its direction of growth during cryosurgery, which will help to optimize the treatment process.     

Hansenula polymorpha Vam7p is required for macropexophagy

We have analyzed the functions of two vacuolar t-SNAREs, Vam3p and Vam7p, in peroxisome degradation in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha. A Hp-vam7 mutant was strongly affected in peroxisome degradation by selective macropexophagy as well as non-selective microautophagy. Deletion of Hp-Vam3p function had only a minor effect on peroxisome degradation processes. Both proteins were located at the vacuolar membrane, with Hp-Vam7p also having a partially cytosolic location. Previously, in baker's yeast Vam3p and Vam7p have been demonstrated to be components of a t-SNARE complex essential for vacuole biogenesis. We speculate that the function of this complex in macropexophagy includes a role in membrane fusion processes between the outer membrane layer of sequestered peroxisomes and the vacuolar membrane. Our data suggest that Hp-Vam3p may be functionally redundant in peroxisome degradation. Remarkably, deletion of Hp-VAM7 also significantly affected peroxisome biogenesis and resulted in organelles with multiple, membrane-enclosed compartments. These morphological defects became first visible in cells that were in the mid-exponential growth phase of cultivation on methanol, and were correlated with accumulation of electron-dense extensions that were connected to mitochondria.