PXR agonism decreases plasma HDL levels in ApoE⁎3-Leiden.CETP mice

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) agonism has been shown to affect multiple steps in both the synthesis and catabolism of HDL, but its integrated effect on HDL metabolism in vivo remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the net effect of PXR agonism on HDL metabolism in ApoE?3-Leiden (E3L) and E3L.CETP mice, well-established models for human-like lipoprotein metabolism. Female mice were fed a diet with increasing amounts of the potent PXR agonist 5-pregnen-3β-ol-20-one-16α-carbonitrile (PCN). In E3L and E3L.CETP mice, PCN increased liver lipids as well as plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. However, whereas PCN increased cholesterol contained in large HDL-1 particles in E3L mice, it dose-dependently decreased HDL-cholesterol in E3L.CETP mice, indicating that CETP expression dominates the effect of PCN on HDL metabolism. Analysis of the hepatic expression of genes involved in HDL metabolism showed that PCN decreased expression of genes involved in HDL synthesis (Abca1, Apoa1), maturation (Lcat, Pltp) and clearance (Sr-b1). The HDL-increasing effect of PCN, observed in E3L mice, is likely caused by a marked decrease in hepatic SR-BI protein expression, and completely reversed by CETP expression. We conclude that chronic PXR agonism dose-dependently reduces plasma HDL-cholesterol in the presence of CETP.     

改良法建立妊娠期高血压疾病大鼠模型

目的寻找理想的妊娠期高血压疾病动物模型。方法60只雌性Wistar大鼠分为六组,分别为正常妊娠组（A组）、左旋亚硝酸精氨酸甲酯（L-NAME）腹腔注射组（B组）、生理盐水注射组（C组）、假手术组（D组）、双侧子宫动脉结扎术组（E组）以及L-NAME腹腔注射联合腹主动脉缩窄术组（F组）,对大鼠血压、尿蛋白值以及胎鼠、胎盘、胎鼠头的重量进行监测并观察肾脏、胎盘的病理改变。结果F组孕鼠于孕13d即出现了蛋白尿、血压升高,较B组及E组出现时间早（P〈0.05）,其胎鼠体重、胎头重量下降较各组更明显（P〈0.05）,肾小球小动脉管壁增厚、管腔狭窄;胎盘出现血管间膜增厚、纤维蛋白沉积等妊娠高血压疾病的典型病理改变。结论L-NAME腹腔注射联合腹主动脉缩窄术是更为理想的建立妊娠高血压疾病动物模型的方法。     

ROS-Ca is associated with mitochondria permeability transition pore involved in surfactin-induced MCF-7 cells apoptosis

The surfactin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, surfactin can induce cell death in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through mitochondrial pathway. However, the molecular mechanism involved in this pathway remains to be elucidated. Here, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca²⁺ on mitochondria permeability transition pore (MPTP) activity, and MCF-7 cell apoptosis which induced by surfactin were investigated. It is found that surfactin evoked mitochondrial ROS generation, and the surfactin-induced cell death was prevented by N-acetylcysteine (NAC, an inhibitor of ROS). An increasing cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration was detected in surfactin-induced MCF-7 apoptosis, which was inhibited by 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA-AM, a chelator of calcium). In addition, the relationship between ROS generation and the increase of cytoplasm Ca²⁺ was determined. The results showed that surfactin initially induced the ROS formation, leading to the MPTP opening accompanied with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m). Then the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration increased in virtue of the changes of mitochondrial permeability, which was prevented by BAPTA-AM. Besides, cytochrome c (cyt c) was released from mitochondria to cytoplasm through the MPTP and activated caspase-9, eventually induced apoptosis. In summary, surfactin has notable anti-tumor effect on MCF-7 cells, however, there was no obvious cytotoxicity on normal cells.     

糖脂修饰的脂肪酶在有机溶剂中催化酯化反应

本文研究了不同糖脂化合物修饰的脂肪酶在有机溶剂中催化长碳链脂肪酸和脂肪醇的酯化反应,不同的脂肪酶经糖脂修饰后,催化活性均有不同程度的提高。在４种糖脂和６种脂肪酶中,以蔗糖酯ＳＥ－７修饰脂肪酶ＣＥＳ活性最高,本文还对ｐＨ、溶剂和温度等对修饰脂肪酶生的影响进行了研究。     

Identification of a novel bifunctional delta12/delta15 fatty acid desaturase from a basidiomycete, Coprinus cinereus TD#822-2

A new gene encoding a delta12 fatty acid desaturase-related protein was cloned from a multicellular basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus TD#822-2. The 1326 bp full-length gene, designated as Cop-odeA, codes for a putative protein of 442 amino acids with a MW of 49224. The Cop-odeA yeast transformant accumulated four new fatty acids identified as 9,12-hexadecadienoic acid, 9,12,15-hexadecatrienoic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid, which comprised 8.8%, 1.0%, 29.0%, and 0.6% of the total fatty acids, respectively. The Cop-odeA protein was confirmed to be a novel bifunctional fatty acid desaturase with both high delta12 desaturase activity and unusual delta15 desaturase activity.     

The 4‐pyridylmethyl ester as a protecting group for glutamic and aspartic acids: ‘flipping’ peptide charge states for characterization by positive ion mode ESI‐MS

Use of the 4‐pyridylmethyl ester group for side‐chain protection of glutamic acid residues in solid‐phase peptide synthesis enables switching of the charge state of a peptide from negative to positive, thus making detection by positive ion mode ESI‐MS possible. The pyridylmethyl ester moiety is readily removed from peptides in high yield by hydrogenation. Combining the 4‐pyridylmethyl ester protecting group with benzyl ester protection reduces the number of the former needed to produce a net positive charge and allows for purification by RP HPLC. This protecting group is useful in the synthesis of highly acidic peptide sequences, which are often beset by problems with purification by standard RP HPLC and characterization by ESI‐MS. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antibacterial Flavonoids and Other Compounds from the Aerial Parts of Vernonia guineensis Benth. (Asteraceae)

An extensive phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Vernonia guineensis Benth. (Asteraceae) led to the isolation of a new flavone, vernoguinoflavone and a naturally isolated glycerol ester, eicosanoic acid 2‐hydroxy‐1,3‐propanediyl ester, together with eighteen known secondary metabolites including quercetin, luteolin, vernopicrin, vernomelitensin, β‐amyrin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, betulinic acid, β‐carotene, a mixture of stigmasterol and β‐sitosterol, β‐sitosterol‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside, 2,3‐dihydroxypropyl heptacosanoate, pentacosanoic acid, docosan‐1‐ol, tritriacontan‐1‐ol, and heptatriacontan‐1‐ol. Eleven compounds are reported herein for the first time from this species. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, particularly 1D and 2D NMR, and HR‐ESI‐MS and by comparison of their data with those reported in the literature. The crude extract, fractions and some isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Shigella flexineri (NR 518), Salmonella muenchen, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 19430). All the tested compounds demonstrated inhibitory activities against the tested enteric bacteria with MIC values ranging from 3.12 to 100 μg/ml. Three flavonoids isolated from the most active fraction demonstrated the best bioactivities against Escherichia coli, Salmonella muenchen and Salmonella typhimurium with MIC values ranging from 3.12 to 25 μg/mL.     

盐生植物星星草叶表皮具有泌盐功能的蜡质层

利用扫描电镜和 X射线电子探针研究了星星草 (Puccinellia tenuiflora)的叶表皮及其与生境高盐的关系。结果表明 ,叶表皮由表皮细胞和气孔器组成 ,下表皮气孔器多于上表皮 ,且常下陷 ,表皮具表皮毛。表皮细胞外存在丰富的蜡质纹饰和蜡质颗粒 ,这些蜡质包含盐离子 ,具有泌盐的功能。这些特征表明星星草受外界生态因素的影响 ,而演化出具有泌盐功能的蜡质层来适应所生长的高盐生境     

不同产地白蜡虫(Ericerus pela Chavannes)产卵期天敌的种类及其群落结构研究

白蜡虫雌虫产卵期是白蜡种虫生产的关键时期,在我国白蜡主产地区,选择有代表性的4个种虫产地,2个白蜡产地和4个虫蜡混产地,调查群落中白蜡虫天敌的物种组成和数量变化,并进行聚类分析和排序,在10个白蜡主产地内,共收集到各种天敌15种,分属于6科11属,各群落的物种组成变化较小,优势种为白蜡虫花翅跳小蜂Microterys ericeri Ishii、中华花翅跳小蜂M.sinicus Jiang、白蜡虫啮小蜂Tetrastichus kodaikanalensis Saraswat、白蜡蚧长角象Anthribus la-jievorus Chao和黑缘红瓢虫Chilocorus rubidus Hope。群落的优势集中指数较小,多样性指数和均匀性指数较高,群落相似性系数最高达97.46%,最低为75.92%。影响群落相似性的主要因子为白蜡产区不同、生态环境差异和优势种天敌的数量变化,根据聚类分析和排序,将10个不同产地白蜡虫天敌群落分为3类;第1类为种虫产地,优势种天敌发生和危害较轻;第2类为白蜡产地,白蜡虫天敌发生和危害极为严重,其种群数量为第1类的3.36倍,第3类虫蜡皆产,其天敌数量介于第1、2类之间,中华花翅跳小蜂种群数量在第1、3类群落中大致相等,第2类发生较较重,白蜡虫天敌的严重危害是造成蜡区不产种虫的主要原因之一。