Identifications of SUMO-1 cDNA and Its Expression Patterns in Pacific White Shrimp Litopeanaeus vannamei

Small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO) work in a similar way as ubiquitin to alter the biological properties of a target protein by conjugation. A shrimp SUMO cDNA named LvSUMO-1 was identified in Litopenaeus vannamei. LvSUMO-1 cDNA contains a coding sequence of 282 nucleotides with untranslated regions of 37 bp at 5'-end and 347 bp at 3'-end, respectively. The deduced 93 amino acids exhibit 83% identity with the Western Honeybee SUMO-1, and more than 65% homologies with human and mouse SUMO-1. LvSUMO-1 mRNA is expressed in most L. vannamei tissues with the highest level in hepatopancrease. The mRNA expression of LvSUMO-1 over development stages in L. Vammamei is distinguished by a low level in nauplius stage and relatively high level in postlarva stage with continuous expression until juvenile stage. The LvSUMO-1 protein and its conjugated proteins are detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus in several tissues. Interestingly, LvSUMO-1 mRNA levels are high in abdominal muscle during the premolt stage, wherein it has significant activities of protein degradation, suggesting its possible role in the regulation of shrimp muscle protein degradation.     

Identification of spirobisnaphthalene derivatives with anti-tumor activities from the endophytic fungus Rhytidhysteron rufulum AS21B

The cultivation of the mangrove-derived fungus Rhytidhysteron rufulum AS21B in acidic condition changed its secondary metabolite profile. Investigation of the culture broth extract led to the isolation and identification of two new spirobisnaphthalenes (1 and 2) together with eleven known compounds (3–13) from the crude extract of the fungus grown under an acidic condition as well as six known compounds (4, 10, 14–17) were isolated from the crude extract of the fungus grown under a neutral condition. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines, Ramos lymphoma and drug resistant NSCLC H1975. Compounds 2 and 10 displayed the most promising anti-tumor activity against both cancer cell lines.     

Cytotoxic cardenolide glycoside from the seeds of Cerbera odollam

A cardenolide glycoside, 3 beta-O-(2'-O-acetyl-l- thevetosyl)-15(14-->8)-abeo-5 beta-(8R)-14-oxo-card-20(22)-enolide (2'-O-acetyl cerleaside A), was isolated from a methylene chloride extract of the seeds of Cerbera odollam, together with four known compounds: cerleaside A, 17 alpha-neriifolin, 17 beta- neriifolin and cerberin. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. All compounds except cerleaside A exhibited cytotoxic activities against oral human epidermoid carcinoma (KB), human breast cancer cell (BC) and human small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187).