Design,synthesis and characterization of novel 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one and 1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrid derivatives: Potent inhibitors of Dengue and West Nile virus NS2B/NS3 proteases

1,2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-ones and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles individually have recently attracted considerable interest in drug discovery, including as antibacterial and antifungal agents. In this study, a series of functionalized 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one—1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrid derivatives were synthesized and subsequently screened against Dengue and West Nile virus proteases. Ten out of twenty-four compounds showed greater than 50% inhibition against DENV2 and WNV proteases ([I] = 10 μM). The IC₅₀ values of compound 7n against DENV2 and WNV NS2B/NS3 were found to be 3.75 ± 0.06 and 4.22 ± 0.07 μM, respectively. The kinetics data support a competitive mode of inhibition by compound 7n. Molecular modeling studies were performed to delineate the putative binding mode of this series of compounds. This study reveals that the hybrid series arising from the linking of the two scaffolds provides a suitable platform for conducting a hit-to-lead optimization campaign via iterative structure–activity relationship studies, in vitro screening and X-ray crystallography.     

Joint‐linkage mapping and GWAS reveal extensive genetic loci that regulate male inflorescence size in maize

Both insufficient and excessive male inflorescence size leads to a reduction in maize yield. Knowledge of the genetic architecture of male inflorescence is essential to achieve the optimum inflorescence size for maize breeding. In this study, we used approximately eight thousand inbreds, including both linkage populations and association populations, to dissect the genetic architecture of male inflorescence. The linkage populations include 25 families developed in the U.S. and 11 families developed in China. Each family contains approximately 200 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). The association populations include approximately 1000 diverse lines from the U.S. and China. All inbreds were genotyped by either sequencing or microarray. Inflorescence size was measured as the tassel primary branch number (TBN) and tassel length (TL). A total of 125 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified (63 for TBN, 62 for TL) through linkage analyses. In addition, 965 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were identified through genomewide study (GWAS) at a bootstrap posterior probability (BPP) above a 5% threshold. These QTLs/QTNs include 24 known genes that were cloned using mutants, for example Ramosa3 (ra3), Thick tassel dwarf1 (td1), tasselseed2 (ts2), liguleless2 (lg2), ramosa1 (ra1), barren stalk1 (ba1), branch silkless1 (bd1) and tasselseed6 (ts6). The newly identified genes encode a zinc transporter (e.g. GRMZM5G838098 and GRMZM2G047762), the adapt in terminal region protein (e.g. GRMZM5G885628), O‐methyl‐transferase (e.g. GRMZM2G147491), helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) DNA‐binding proteins (e.g. GRMZM2G414252 and GRMZM2G042895) and an SBP‐box protein (e.g. GRMZM2G058588). These results provide extensive genetic information to dissect the genetic architecture of inflorescence size for the improvement of maize yield.     

Isolation and characterization of an antimicrobial peptide from bovine hemoglobin ��-subunit

In this study, a novel 18-residue linear antimicrobial peptide derived from the central part of the bovine hemoglobin ??-subunit was identified. The peptide was purified by a combination of cationic exchange and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The sequence was determined to be VNFKLLSHSLLVTLASHL. The theoretical molecular weight of this peptide was calculated to be 1992.38 Da, which is the same as that determined (1992.401 Da) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Sequence analysis showed that there is a high degree of homology in this peptide among hemoglobin ??-subunits of bovine, sheep, deer, porcine, and human. In a radial-diffusion plate assay, this purified peptide exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.     

Dual function inhibitors of relevance to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The general strategy and rationale underlying the design of COPD therapeutics that possess protease inhibitory activity and are also capable of releasing a species that attenuates inflammation by inhibiting caspase-1, are described. The synthesis and in vitro biochemical evaluation of a dual function molecule that sequentially inhibits HNE and caspase-1 in a time-dependent manner is reported.     

Photosynthetic efficiency and nitrogen distribution under different nitrogen management and relationship with physiological N-use efficiency in three rice genotypes

Nitrogen fertilization strategies were widely adopted to enhance grain production and improve nitrogen utilization in rice all over the world. For fertilization timing strategy, ear fertilization was usually employed in recent years. For fertilization amount strategy, nitrogen fertilization would continually increase to meet the demands of increasing people for food. However, under heavy ear fertilization as well as great nitrogen amount (NA), physiological N-use efficiency (PE, defined as grain production per unit nitrogen uptake by plants) decreased. Under three NA and two ratios of fertilization given during ear development period to total NA (ear fertilization distribution ratio, EFDR), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), Pn to nitrogen content per unit area (photosynthetic N-use efficiency, Pn/N), nitrogen accumulation in plant tissues and PE of three rice (Oryza sativaL.) genotypes, Jinyou 253, Liangyoupeijiu and Baguixiang were screened in the first and second seasons in 2002 so as to understand the fluctuation patterns of Pn/N and nitrogen distribution in leaf blades under great NA & EFDR and relationship with PE in rice. Results showed that under greater NA & EFDR, Pn in flag leaves at heading and plant nitrogen accumulation at maturity always increased and PE & Pn/N always decreased in spite of increased grain production. Rice distributed more nitrogen in leaf blade under greater NA and EFDR. PE indicated significantly (P<0.05) positive relationship with Pn/N and negative relationship with nitrogen distribution ratio in leaf blades at heading and maturity, and no association with Pn in two growing seasons. Results suggested that low PE in rice under great NA and heavy ear fertilization is associated to more nitrogen distribution in leaf blades and decreases in photosynthetic efficiency.     

Dwarfism in Brassica napus L. induced by the over-expression of a gibberellin 2-oxidase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana

Gibberellins (GAs) are endogenous hormones that play an important role in regulating plant stature by increasing cell division and elongation in stem internodes. The GA2-oxidase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtGA2ox8) was introduced into Brassica napus L. by Agrobacterium-mediated floral-dip transformation with the aim of decreasing the amount of bioactive GA and hence reducing plant stature. As anticipated, the transgenic plants exhibited dwarf phenotype. Compared with the wild type, the transgenic plants had increased primary branches (by 14.1?C15.3%) and siliques (by 10.8?C15.2%), which resulted in a significant increase in the seed yield (by 9.6?C12.4%). Moreover, the contents of anthocyanin in leaves of 60-day-old transgenic plants was about 9.4-fold higher in winter and about 6.8-fold higher in summer than the wild type. These excellent agronomic traits of the transgenic plants could not only improve the lodging resistance and seed yields, but also protect them against stress. Therefore, the over-expression of AtGA2ox8 might be used to produce dwarf varieties and increase seed yield in Brassica napus L.     

Efficient Surface Plasmon Polariton Excitation with the Beam Generated by Micro Triangular Prism

The optical beam generated by a micro triangular prism is presented to excite surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on a single silver nano slit. The electromagnetic fields generated by the micro triangular prism and the excited surface plasmon polaritons are simulated with finite-difference time-domain method. Compared with directly normal incident beam, the efficiency of SPPs’ excitation with the beam generated by the micro triangular prism is highly improved.     

基于最大熵模型(MaxEnt)预测暗紫贝母的潜在分布

暗紫贝母(Fritillaria unibracteata)干燥的鳞茎是市场名贵药材"川贝"的主要来源,目前由于人们的过度挖采及环境的恶化,使得其野生资源已近枯竭,被列为国家三级濒危保护药材物种。该研究通过收集暗紫贝母的地理分布点经纬度,结合26项生态因子,运用最大熵模型(MaxEnt)并结合地理信息系统(ArcGIS),对其在中国的潜在分布区域进行了预测。结果表明:暗紫贝母的潜在适生区主要分布在四川西部和北部、青海南部、甘肃南部,其中四川阿坝藏族羌族自治州的理县、茂县、松潘县、红原县、黑水县等地区,青海省果洛藏族自治州的久治县、玛沁县、同德县、兴海县、河南县地区以及甘肃省甘南藏族自治州地区是暗紫贝母最佳适生区。此外,在西藏和云南也有零星的分布。对暗紫贝母的分布贡献率较大的主要生态因子有5个,分别是海拔(40.8%),年均降水量(28%),1月最高温度(7.1%),最干季平均温度(6.6%)和昼夜温差日均值(6.6%)。其中,海拔为2700~4 500m、年均降水量为400~1 400mm,是暗紫贝母最适宜生长的生态位参数。该研究结果为暗紫贝母的野生抚育和人工栽培提供了重要的科学依据。     

利用Ⅲ型聚酮合酶CsyB起始单元的底物多样性体内合成csypyrone类化合物

作为新型Ⅲ型聚酮合酶,米曲霉来源的CsyB能够依次接受一个起始单元为短链脂肪酰辅酶A、一个延伸单元为丙二酰辅酶A和另一个延伸单元为乙酰乙酰辅酶A的3个底物形成短链的csypyrone B1-3。基于CsyB的晶体结构分析,显示它的活性中心存在一个长约16?的能够接受脂肪酰辅酶A结合通道,这个通道很可能能够接受多种底物。为了检测该酶的底物多样性,将CsyB基因导入到存在长链脂肪酰辅酶A前体的大肠杆菌中表达。高效液相结果显示,相比对照菌株,重组菌株产生了一系列长链的csypyrone衍生物。利用紫外可见光特征吸收值和高分辨液相色谱-质谱联用仪对这些新产物作了初步分析。对3个具有羟基的csypyrone产物的结构进行了核磁共振一维谱和二维谱的详细鉴定,确定了其羟基的位置。上述结果显示,CsyB具有广泛的底物特异性,不但可以接受多种长链饱和或不饱和脂肪酰辅酶A,还可以接受具有羟基修饰的长链脂肪酰辅酶A作为底物。