Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide,Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion

The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.     

水稻苗期根系铵钾离子吸收的交互作用研究

【目的】为探讨水稻幼苗根系NH_4~+、K~+吸收的交互作用,深化水稻养分吸收理论,【方法】采用溶液培养的方法,对低钾及高钾浓度下水稻在有铵和无铵时的K~+吸收动力学特征进行了研究,对不同钾浓度下水稻根系NH_4~+的吸收速率进行了比较。【结果】1)当K~+0.2 mmol/L时,水稻根系通过高亲和转运系统吸收K~+服从Michaelich-Menten动力学方程;NH_4~+的存在显著降低K~+的最大吸收速率(Vmax),且降幅随着NH_4~+浓度的增加而增大;NH_4~+对水稻根表载体与K~+的亲和力(Km)影响较小,在1.62 mmol/L NH_4~+浓度下,水稻品种齐粒丝苗和沪科3号的Km分别下降了12.33%和16.46%,远低于Vmax 47.30%和39.21%的降幅。2)当K~+0.5 mmol/L时,水稻根系K~+低亲和转运系统发挥作用,K~+吸收速率随浓度的增加而不断增加,呈不饱和特征;但在相同K~+浓度下,水稻根系的K~+吸收速率随NH_4~+浓度的增加而下降。3)水稻根系对NH_4~+的吸收速率随着NH_4~+浓度的增加而增加;在相同NH_4~+浓度下,水稻根系对NH_4~+的吸收速率受K~+浓度的影响很小。【结论】NH_4~+抑制水稻苗期根系K~+的高亲和转运和低亲和转运,NH_4~+对K~+高亲和吸收的影响主要是由于铵竞争细胞膜上的钾载体所致;外界K~+浓度的变化对水稻幼苗的NH_4~+吸收速率影响很小。水稻铵钾的交互作用主要表现在NH_4~+对K~+吸收的抑制作用。     

Verrucosamide,a Cytotoxic 1,4-Thiazepane-Containing Thiodepsipeptide from a Marine-Derived Actinomycete

A new cytotoxic thiodepsipeptide, verrucosamide (1), was isolated along with the known, related cyclic peptide thiocoraline, from the extract of a marine-derived actinomycete, a Verrucosispora sp., our strain CNX-026. The new peptide, which is composed of two rare seven-membered 1,4-thiazepane rings, was elucidated by a combination of spectral methods and the absolute configuration was determined by a single X-ray diffraction study. Verrucosamide (1) showed moderate cytotoxicity and selectivity in the NCI 60 cell line bioassay. The most susceptible cell lines were MDA-MB-468 breast carcinoma with an LD₅₀ of 1.26 µM, and COLO 205 colon adenocarcinoma with an LD₅₀ of 1.4 µM. Also isolated along with verrucosamide were three small 3-hydroxy(alkoxy)-quinaldic acid derivatives that appear to be products of the same biosynthetic pathway.     

NO对大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区DA神经元的调节

实验观察了微量注射 NOS抑制剂 L -NAME及微量联合注射 NO的前体 L-精氨酸( L-Arg) L-NAME于大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区( VTA)对该部位多巴胺神经元的调节。发现VTA注射 L -NAME( 1 mg/ 5μL )后 ,伏隔核( Acb)多巴胺 ( DA )代谢产物—双羟苯乙酸( DOPAC)水平升高到注射前的 1 2 2 .5% ( P <0 .0 0 1 ) ,小剂量注射 L-NAME( 0 .2 mg/ 5μL)对伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显影响 ;同样方法联合注射 L-Arg( 3 0 0 μg/ 5μL) L-NAME( 1 mg/5μL)后 ,伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显变化。结论 :VTA微量注射 L-NAME兴奋了该部位的DA神经元 ,而 L -Arg L -NAME联合注射 ,却不能影响 DA神经元的活动 ,说明 NO可以通过L-Arg-NOS-NO途径参与 VTA多巴胺神经元的调节     

茶多酚(TP)对家禽免疫功能的研究

选用14日龄健康的海佩科内用仔鸡48羽,随机分成试验(24羽)和对照(24羽)两组.试验组在饲粮中添加0.25％的茶多酚(TP),研究TP对鸡免疫功能的作用.试验结果表明,TP对自然感染法氏囊病鸡,有明显提高(p<0.05)鸡血液中红细胞C_(3b)受体和免疫复合物的含量及保护鸡脾脏正常的免疫功能,同时也发现TP对公母鸡法氏囊的重量有不同影响.本试验表明,TP具有提高家禽免疫功能的作用.     

女性身体·五四话语·革命救赎

在革命意识形态成为主流话语左右着文学创作时,丁玲试图通过对女性身体的革命救赎寓言化书写将女性书写融入主流话语体系之中。女性主体意识在这一过程中被深度扼制。然而,女身书写的自身逻辑却在另一层面干扰着文本意义的生成,不自觉地流露出作者未被泯灭的女性意识。     

鸡源株与人源株H9N2流感病毒血凝素受体结合位点氨基酸比较与分析

H19N2病毒可以感染多种禽类和哺乳动物，包括人类。流感病毒血凝素受体结合位点的氨基酸可以影响受体结合特性。为了解鸡源株与人源株H19N2病毒受体结合部氨基酸的差异，作者对二者进行了比较与分析，结果表明，鸡源株与人源株血凝素受体结合部位氨基酸的第137、183、190、226位点存在差异，鸡源株在这些位点分别为K、N、AorVorT、LorQ而人源株则分别为R、H、E、L。虽然尚不清楚这些位点的改变对病毒与细胞亲和力及宿主范围的影响，但由于H9N2在我国养鸡业的普遍存在，加强H9N2病毒的分子流行病学监测有重要意义。     

盐胁迫对4种禾本科牧草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

通过NaCl溶液(0、1.5、3.0、6.0、9.0g/L)处理4种禾本科牧草种子,测定了种子萌发和幼苗生长有关指标。结果表明:美洲狼尾草较耐盐,在9.0g/L盐溶液处理下比其它品种维持了高的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数,并且其相对值高,以及较高的相对苗长和根长,盐处理显著提高几种牧草幼苗质膜相对透性,总体上降低胚乳的利用速度和利用效率。