Synthesis and evaluation of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives as sunscreens useful to prevent skin cancer

The incidence of skin cancers such as non-melanoma skin cancer and malignant melanoma has increased in the last few years mainly because of chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunscreens protect the skin against harmful UV radiations; however, some limitations of these products justify the discovery of new UV filters. Novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives (12a-h) obtained by the optimization of prototype resveratrol were synthesized and characterized. All compounds exhibited sun protection factor (SPF) and UVA protection factor (UVAPF) in the range of 3–17 and 3–13, respectively. These values were superior to resveratrol and the UV filter ethylhexyl triazone (EHT) currently available on the market. In addition, all compounds demonstrated in vitro antioxidant activity and thermal stability with the decomposition at temperatures above 236 °C. In conclusion, the novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives have emerged as new UV filters with antioxidant effect useful to prevent skin cancer.     

Identification and immunological evaluation of novel TLR2 agonists through structure optimization of Pam3CSK4

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a bridge between innate immunity and adaptive immunity. TLR2 agonists have been exploited as potential vaccine adjuvants and antitumor agents. However, no TLR2 agonists have been approved by FDA up to now. To discover drug-like TLR2 selective agonists, a novel series of Pam₃CSK₄ derivatives were designed based on the crystal structure of hTLR2-hTLR1-Pam₃CSK₄ complex, synthesized and evaluated for their immune-stimulatory activities. Among them, 35c was identified as a murine-specific TLR2 agonist, while 35f was a human-specific TLR2 agonist. Besides, 35d (human and murine TLR2 agonist) showed TLR2 agonistic activity comparable to Pam₃CSK₄, which included: elevated IL-6 expression level (EC₅₀ = 83.08 ± 5.94 nM), up-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression and promoted maturation of DCs through activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. TLRs antibodies test showed that 35a and 35d were TLR2/1 agonists, while 35f was a TLR2/6 agonist.     

Production of recombinant beta-amylase of Bacillus aryabhattai

In this study, the effects of carbon source, nitrogen source, and metal ions on cell growth and Bacillus aryabhattai β-amylase production in recombinant Brevibacillus choshinensis were investigated. The optimal medium for β-amylase production, containing glucose (7.5?g·L^?1), pig bone peptone (40.0?g·L^?1), Mg²⁺ (0.05?mol·L^?1), and trace metal elements, was determined through single-factor experiments in shake flasks. When cultured in the optimized medium, the β-amylase yield reached 925.4?U mL^?1, which was 7.2-fold higher than that obtained in the initial medium. Besides, a modified feeding strategy was proposed and applied in a 3-L fermentor fed with glucose, which achieved a dry cell weight of 15.4?g L^?1. Through this cultivation approached 30?°C with 0?g·L^?1 initial glucose concentration, the maximum β-amylase activity reached 5371.8?U mL^?1, which was 41.7-fold higher than that obtained with the initial medium in shake flask.     

Predicting shifts in the functional composition of tropical forests under increased drought and CO2 from trade‐offs among plant hydraulic traits

Tropical forest responses are an important feedback on global change, but changes in forest composition with projected increases in CO₂ and drought are highly uncertain. Here we determine shifts in the most competitive plant hydraulic strategy (the evolutionary stable strategy or ESS) from changes in CO₂ and drought frequency and intensity. Hydraulic strategies were defined along a spectrum from drought avoidance to tolerance by physiology traits. Drought impacted competition more than CO₂, with elevated CO₂ reducing but not reversing drought‐induced shifts in the ESS towards more tolerant strategies. Trait plasticity and/or adaptation intensified these shifts by increasing the competitive ability of the drought tolerant relative to the avoidant strategies. These findings predict losses of drought avoidant evergreens from tropical forests under global change, and point to the importance of changes in precipitation during the dry season and constraints on plasticity and adaptation in xylem traits to forest responses.     

中国自然保护地空间重叠分析与保护地体系优化整合对策

自然保护地体系的构建是国际社会高度重视的生物多样性保护策略。近年来, 中国已关注到自然保护地空间重叠交叉的问题, 并出台了《关于建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系的指导意见》。为落实这一战略, 需要对现有保护地的彼此关系与空间分布进行系统研究。为此, 本研究收集了8,572个不同类型和级别自然保护地的坐标、生态系统类型、行政区域及边界等信息, 筛选出1,532个具有空间重叠、管理部门交叉的自然保护地, 计算地理集中指数并采用ArcGIS软件进行了核密度分析, 得出空间重叠保护地分布的生态地理区、生态系统类型、交叉管理部门、所在省份等空间分布特点。研究结果显示: (1)鲁中山区、太行山、大别山、天目山-怀玉山、皖江等生态功能区的自然保护地重叠最为严重(核密度Mean > 6, Max > 8), 其中太行山区、大别山区、天目山-怀玉山区为重叠保护地密度高的生物多样性优先保护区, 目前10个国家公园试点区域中仅大熊猫国家公园体制试点区、湖南南山国家公园体制试点区、钱江源国家公园体制试点区三处位于保护地重叠高密度区; (2)原主管部门中, 原国家林业局与住房和城乡建设部的交叉管理保护地数量最多, 为294个; (3)黑龙江、安徽、山东、河南、湖北、湖南等省范围内的自然保护地空间重叠状况明显高于其他省区, 而晋冀豫与皖鄂赣这两处三省交界处重叠程度更高, 其他多处三省交界区域也存在保护地的中度重叠。故上述生态地理区、原主管部门与行政区应作为中国自然保护地体系优先普查区域与优化整合重点对象。基于重叠保护地核密度热点区、生物多样性保护优先区与生态系统文化服务的分析框架, 本研究按照国家公园、自然保护区、自然公园三类, 对不同生态功能区自然保护地优化整合优先性与类型提出了初步建议, 以期为当前中国自然保护地体系改革的紧迫需求提供参考。     

面向工业生物技术的系统生物学

工业生物技术是以微生物细胞工厂利用可再生的生物原料来生产能源、材料与化学品等的生物技术,在解决资源、能源与环境等问题方面起着越来越重要的作用。系统生物学是全面解析微生物细胞工厂及其发酵过程从"黑箱"到"白箱"的重要研究方法。系统生物学借助基因组、转录组、蛋白质组、代谢组以及代谢流组等多组学数据,可解析微生物细胞工厂在RNA、蛋白与代谢物等不同水平上的变化规律与调控机制。目前,系统生物学在微生物细胞工厂的设计创建与发酵工艺优化中起着越来越重要的指导作用,许多成功应用实例不断涌现,推动着工业生物技术的快速发展。文中重点综述基因组、转录组、蛋白质组、代谢组与代谢流组以及基因组规模的网络模型等各组学技术的最新发展及其在工业生物技术尤其是菌株改造与发酵优化中的应用,并就工业生物技术中系统生物学的未来发展方向进行展望。     

Performance criteria for generating predictive optimal control simulations of bicycle pedaling

The purpose of this study was to identify one or more performance-based criteria that may be used to generate predictive optimal control simulations of submaximal pedaling. Two-legged pedaling simulations were generated based on minimizing muscle activation, muscle stress, metabolic energy, time derivative of muscle force, and minimizing metabolic energy while pedaling smoothly. The simulations based on minimizing muscle activation and muscle stress most closely matched experimental pedaling data, with the activation criterion better matching experimental muscle activation timing. We conclude that predictive simulations of submaximal pedaling may be generated using a cost function based on minimizing muscle activation.     

大肠杆菌角鲨烯合成途径的构建与调控

角鲨烯因其具有良好的抗氧化功能而被广泛应用于食品、医药、化妆品、工业应用等领域。本实验在大肠杆菌中构建角鲨烯合成途径,通过对其合成途径中关键限速酶(1-脱氧-D-木酮糖-5-磷酸合酶和异戊烯基二磷酸异构酶)过表达的方法进行初步调控,使角鲨烯的产量提升了近三倍。之后采用单因素试验对其发酵培养基和培养条件进行优化,以此来提高角鲨烯的产量。优化发酵条件后,使用最优发酵培养基——TB培养基,在最佳发酵条件:37℃,220r/min培养至OD600约为1.2时加入终浓度为0.1mmol/L的IPTG诱导剂,25℃条件下诱导48h,角鲨烯产量可达73.88mg/L。