Effect of Axial Ligand Length on Biological and Anticancer Properties of Axially Disubstituted Silicon Phthalocyanines

In this study, three new axially disubstituted silicon phthalocyanines ( SiPc1–3 ) and their quaternized phthalocyanine derivatives ( QSiPc1–3 ) were prepared and characterized. The biological properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and microbial cell viability activities) of the water-soluble silicon phthalocyanines were examined, as well. A 1 % DMSO diluted with pure water was used as a solvent in biological activity studies. All the compounds exhibited high antioxidant activity. They displayed efficient antimicrobial and antimicrobial photodynamic therapeutic properties against various microorganisms, especially Gram (+) bacteria. Additionally, they demonstrated high antibiofilm activities against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In addition, 100 % bacterial reduction was obtained for all the studied phthalocyanines against E. coli viable cells. Besides, the DNA cleavage and binding features of compounds ( QSiPc1–3 ) were studied using pBR322 DNA and CT-DNA, respectively. Furthermore, the human topoisomerase I enzyme inhibition activities of compounds QSiPc1 – 3 were studied. Anticancer properties of the water-soluble compounds were investigated using cell proliferation MTT assay. They exhibited anticarcinogenic activity against the human colon cancer cell line (DLD-1). Compounds QSiPc1 and QSiPc3 displayed a high anticarcinogenic effect on the DLD-1 cell line. The obtained results indicated that all the studied compounds may be effective biological agents and anticancer drugs after further investigations.     

Comparative transmission of, and varietal reaction to, three isolates of rice tungro virus disease

Comparative transmission by leafhoppers of three tungro isolates obtained from the Philippines, India and Malaysia, and of an infectious clone of the Philippine isolate of rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) by agroinoculation, was conducted on 12 rice cultivars. The symptoms, including height of inoculated plants were recorded and the efficiency of RTBV and rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) transmission was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In most cases, the reduction of height and leaf symptoms of plants infected with RTBV and/or RTSV by the three isolates were similar in any given cultivar. On cultivar ASD 7 , the Malaysian isolate showed more severe yellow orange leaf discolouration symptoms than the Indian isolate which in turn had more severe leaf discolouration than the Philippine isolate. On the other hand, cultivars ASD 7 and Ptb 18 produced the most severe yellow orange leaf discolouration when agroinoculated with an infectious RTBV clone of the Philippine isolate. There was some variation in the transmission profile of the two tungro viruses among the three isolates. However, there was no one clear set of characteristics by which one could use cultivars to distinguish isolates. The amount of viral DNA in agroinfected plants of cultivars Utri merah, Balimau putih, Utri Rajapan and ARC 11554 was low, while the amount was high in cultivars TN1, ASD7, Ptb 18 and TKM 6. There was high correlation between the amount of viral coat protein by ELISA and viral nucleic acid by DNA hybridisation on 10 agroinoculated rice cultivars; this might indicate that similar proportions of the total RTBV DNA are encapsidated in each cultivar.     

Abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin changes in buds of Pseudotsuga menziesii during bud quiescence release

Bud quiescence release, considered as the ultimate dormancy breaking phase, was achieved in Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco by a 9-week cold (5°C) treatment, under short daylength (9 h) followed by a transfer to mild temperature (22°C) under long daylength (16 h). Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), zeatin-type (Z) and isopentenyladenine-type (iPA) cytokinin (CK) levels were measured by means of an ELISA technique performed on HPLC-fractionated extracts of terminal and axillary buds. During the cold period, all hormones except IP-type CK levels decreased, whereas the opposite observation was made after transfer to mild temperature and long daylength, when buds started to grow. Some other immunoreactive compounds were also detected and quantified. The ABA-glucosyl ester (ABA-GE) level pattern was similar to that of ABA, but no accumulation occurred at mild temperatures. A putative IAA conjugate, more polar than IAA, was also detected. Its level increased transiently like IAA in terminal buds and, to a lesser extent, in axillary buds during the 10th week of the experiment. In terminal buds, isopentenyladenosine ([9R]-iP) was released by alkaline hydrolysis of a polar immunoreactive compound detected with anti-[9R]iP antibodies. This compound accumulated during the cold period and quickly dropped at 22°C. Relationships between environmental conditions and endogenous hormones are discussed.     

Aerobic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by Alcaligenes sp. JB1: metabolites and enzymes

In contrast to the degradation of penta-and hexachlorobiphenyls in chemostat cultures, the metabolism of PCBs by Alcaligenes sp. JB1 was shown to be restricted to PCBs with up to four chlorine substituents in resting-cell assays. Among these, the PCB congeners containing ortho chlorine substituents on both phenyl rings were found to be least degraded. Monochloro-benzoates and dichlorobenzoates were detected as metabolites. Resting cell assays with chlorobenzoates showed that JB1 could metabolize all three monochlorobenzoates and dichlorobenzoates containing only meta and para chlorine substituents, but not dichlorobenzoates possessing an ortho chlorine substituent. In enzyme activity assays, meta cleaving 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activities were constitutive, whereas benzoate dioxygenase and ortho cleaving catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activities were induced by their substrates. No activity was found for pyrocatechase II, the enzyme that is specific for chlorocatechols. The data suggest that complete mineralization of PCBs with three or more chlorine substituents by Alcaligenes sp. JB1 is unlikely.Abbreviations PCB polychlorinated biphenyls - CBA chlorobenzoate - D di - Tr tri - Te tetra - Pe penta- - H hexa     

Affinity immunosensor for milk progesterone: identification of critical parameters

The effects of several experimental parameters on the performance characteristics of a competitive-type immunochromatographic assay of milk progesterone were studied. Increasing the size of the colloidal gold particles used as a label increased both maximal signal obtained and sensitivity of the assay measured as slope of the progesterone standard curve. The concentration of the antibody used to prepare the detection zone was found to be a critical factor, in that low concentrations of antibody resulted in a poor sensitivity. The compatibilities of various buffer systems with the assay were studied. The assay worked well with buffers having a broad pH range of 4·5–8·5.     

不同蔬菜防癌抗促活性的比较研究

本研究采用EBV-EA诱导抑制实验的方法,对40种蔬菜,60个品种,共150个样品的防癌抗促作用效果进行了筛选与比较,其中具有中等以上抑制活性的样品117个,占样品总数的78％,尤其以非洲野苋菜、辣椒、羽衣甘蓝、山药芋头、苦瓜及紫苏、罗勒等一些芳香莱的效果较好。不同品种、不同植株部位、不同提取方法以及不同产地,对蔬菜的抗促活性也有影响,值得进一步研究。     

A sensitive RNase protection assay using33P labeled antisense riboprobes

This article presents for the first time a modified protocol for RNase protection analysis that allows the substitution of³²P with³³P without loss of the high sensitivity of this method achieved with³²P. With this protocol, we were able to detect at least 1 pg of specific mRNA. In the RNase protection analysis³³P labeled riboprobes are more advantageous with regard to an easier handling and better resolution.     

在吲哚乙酸不同位点偶联载体蛋白对其抗体特异性的影响

分别选择吲哚乙醇分子上的Ｃ１位羧基和吲哚环上的Ｎ位作为偶联载体蛋白的位点,用混合酸酐法和甲醛搭桥法分别合成了两种免疫原ＩＡＡ—ＣＯ—ＮＨ一ＨＳＡ和ＩＡＡ－Ｎ－ＢＳＡ,并进而制得了对吲哚乙酸侧链识别能力不同的两种多克隆抗体,分别可特异识别甲酯化ＩＡＡ和游离态ＩＡＡ;用碳化二亚胺法和甲醛搭桥法分别合成ＩＡＡ—ＣＯ—ＮＨ－ＢＳＡｂＩＡＡ—Ｎ—ＯＶＡ两种复合物,以之为包被物,建立了两种ＩＡＡＥＬＩＳＡ。其灵敏度分别为０．３５ｐｍｏｌ和１．８０ｐｐｍｏｌ;检测范围分别为０．７８～８００ｐｍｏｌ和１．９５～２０００ｐｍｏｌ;批内变异系数分别为４．４５％和４．７９％;批间变异系数分别为１．１５％和１．５０％。笔者用这两种ＥＬＩＳＡ检测了兰花气生根和桑树苗样品中ＩＡＡ的含量,发现两种检测结果相当一致。     

Differential Effects of Hypoxia on Ligand Binding Properties of Nicotinic and Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors on Cultured Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Abstract: Hypoxia is known to disturb neuronal signal transmission at the synapse. Presynaptically, hypoxia is reported to suppress the release of neurotransmitters, but its postsynaptic effects, especially on the function of neurotransmitter receptors, have not yet been elucidated. To clarify the postsynaptic effects, we used cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells as a model of postsynaptic neurons and examined specific binding of l -[³H]nicotine (an agonist for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: nAChRs) and ²²Na⁺ flux under control and hypoxic conditions. Experiments were performed in media preequilibrated with a gas mixture of either 21% O₂/79% N₂ (control) or 100% N₂ (hypoxia). Scatchard analysis of the specific binding to the cells revealed that the K_D under hypoxic conditions was twice as large as that under control conditions, whereas the B _max was unchanged. When the specific [³H]nicotine binding was kinetically analyzed, the association constant ( k ₁) but not the dissociation constant ( k ₋₁) was decreased to 40% of the control value by hypoxia. When the binding assay was performed using the membrane fraction, these changes were not observed. Nicotine-evoked ²²Na⁺ flux into the cells was suppressed by hypoxia. In contrast, specific [³H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to the intact cells was unaffected by hypoxia. These results demonstrate that hypoxia specifically suppresses the function of nAChRs (and hence, neuronal signal transmission through nAChRs), primarily by acting intracellularly.