Metkephamid, a systemically active analog of methionine enkephalin with potent opioid alpha-receptor activity

Metkephamid is an analog of methionine enkephalin that retains high affinity for the delta receptor and is a systemically active analgesic. Since it is at least 100 times more potent than morphine as an analgesic when placed directly into the lateral ventricles, and is 30 to 100 times more potent on the delta receptor and yet is roughly equipotent on the mu receptor in vitro, it is concluded that it probably produces analgesia by action on delta receptors as well as, or rather than, on mu receptors. It has less tendency to produce respiratory depression, tolerance, and physical dependence than standard analgesics, and it is presently undergoing clinical trial.     

Solution structure of kistrin, a potent platelet aggregation inhibitor and GP IIb-IIIa antagonist.

The structure of kistrin, which is a member of a homologous family of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GP IIb-IIIa) antagonists and potent protein inhibitors of platelet aggregation, has been determined by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The 68-residue protein consists of a series of tightly packed loops held together by six disulfide bonds and has almost no regular secondary structure. Kistrin has an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) adhesion site recognition sequence important for binding to GP IIb-IIIa that is located at the apex of a long loop across the surface of the protein.     

An analog of myristic acid with selective toxicity for African trypanosomes.

Trypanosoma brucei, the protozoan parasite responsible for African sleeping sickness, evades the host immune response through the process of antigenic variation. The variant antigen, known as the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), is anchored to the cell surface by a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) structure that contains myristate (n-tetradecanoate) as its only fatty acid component. The utilization of heteroatom-containing analogs of myristate was studied both in a cell-free system and in vivo. Results indicated that the specificity of fatty acid incorporation depends on chain length rather than on hydrophobicity. One analog, 10-(propoxy)decanoic acid, was highly toxic to trypanosomes in culture although it is nontoxic to mammalian cells.     

A selective inhibitor of eIF2alpha dephosphorylation protects cells from ER stress

Most protein phosphatases have little intrinsic substrate specificity, making selective pharmacological inhibition of specific dephosphorylation reactions a challenging problem. In a screen for small molecules that protect cells from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, we identified salubrinal, a selective inhibitor of cellular complexes that dephosphorylate eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit alpha (eIF2alpha). Salubrinal also blocks eIF2alpha dephosphorylation mediated by a herpes simplex virus protein and inhibits viral replication. These results suggest that selective chemical inhibitors of eIF2alpha dephosphorylation may be useful in diseases involving ER stress or viral infection. More broadly, salubrinal demonstrates the feasibility of selective pharmacological targeting of cellular dephosphorylation events.     

A synthetic HIV-1 protease inhibitor with antiviral activity arrests HIV-like particle maturation

A synthetic peptidemimetic substrate of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) protease with a nonhydrolyzable pseudodipeptidyl insert at the protease cleavage site was prepared. The peptide U-81749 inhibited recombinant HIV-1 protease in vitro (inhibition constant Ki of 70 nanomolar) and HIV-1 replication in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (inhibitory concentration IC50 of 0.1 to 1 micromolar). Moreover, 10 micromolar concentrations of U-81749 significantly inhibited proteolysis of the HIV-1 gag polyprotein (p55) to the mature viral structural proteins p24 and p17 in cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the HIV-1 gag-pol genes. The HIV-1 like particles released from inhibitor-treated cells contained almost exclusively p55 and other gag precursors, but not p24. Incubation of HIV-like particles recovered from drug-treated cultures in drug-free medium indicated that inhibition of p55 proteolysis was at least partially reversible, suggesting that U-81749 was present within the particles.     

复叶槭FtsZ基因cDNA片段的克隆及RNA干扰载体的构建

利用简并引物RT-PCR,首次从复叶槭中克隆到569 bp的FtsZ基因cDNA片段,其与GenBank已经登录的FtsZ基因氨基酸序列的同源性为96.90%,并具有FtsZ蛋白的核心功能序列GGGTGSG。从上述序列中选取300 bp的序列,分别克隆其正、反义基因片段,同时,克隆GUS基因的1个内含子,作为间隔区基因。将正义、间隔区和反义3个基因片段串联,插入到植物表达载体p3300-35ST中,构建复叶槭RNA干扰载体p35ST-AnFtsZi。为接下来遗传转化、培育复叶槭彩叶新品种奠定基础。     

An acylation cycle regulates localization and activity of palmitoylated Ras isoforms

We show that the specific subcellular distribution of H- and Nras guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins is generated by a constitutive de/reacylation cycle that operates on palmitoylated proteins, driving their rapid exchange between the plasma membrane (PM) and the Golgi apparatus. Depalmitoylation redistributes farnesylated Ras in all membranes, followed by repalmitoylation and trapping of Ras at the Golgi, from where it is redirected to the PM via the secretory pathway. This continuous cycle prevents Ras from nonspecific residence on endomembranes, thereby maintaining the specific intracellular compartmentalization. The de/reacylation cycle also initiates Ras activation at the Golgi by transport of PM-localized Ras guanosine triphosphate. Different de/repalmitoylation kinetics account for isoform-specific activation responses to growth factors.     

An approach to quantifying various types of spontaneous activity

The output of an activity-measuring device is fed into low- and high-gain cumulative recorder channels which are reset to zero after different time periods. The records, inscribed at various paper speeds, are easily quantified. The tracing patterns can be identified with specific activities of undisturbed animals. The activities are monitored by means of closed-circuit television.     

Polymers with cavities tuned for fast selective transport of small molecules and ions

Within a polymer film, free-volume elements such as pores and channels typically have a wide range of sizes and topologies. This broad range of free-volume element sizes compromises a polymer's ability to perform molecular separations. We demonstrated free-volume structures in dense vitreous polymers that enable outstanding molecular and ionic transport and separation performance that surpasses the limits of conventional polymers. The unusual microstructure in these materials can be systematically tailored by thermally driven segment rearrangement. Free-volume topologies can be tailored by controlling the degree of rearrangement, flexibility of the original chain, and judicious inclusion of small templating molecules. This rational tailoring of free-volume element architecture provides a route for preparing high-performance polymers for molecular-scale separations.     

扇贝裙边ACE抑制肽的分离鉴定及其降血压活性研究

为研究扇贝裙边ACE抑制肽的结构及其降血压效果,以虾夷扇贝Patinopecten yessoensis裙边酶解液为研究对象,采用凝胶色谱及反相高效液相色谱对ACE抑制肽组分进行分离纯化、ESI MS/MS鉴定和动物试验。结果表明:经Sephadex LH-20分离得到的组分F5和F7具有ACE抑制活性,其半抑制浓度(IC_(50))分别为1.4、1.7 mg/m L;通过两次反相高效液相色谱分离得到F5-3-3,经质谱解析筛选出的肽段Val-Trp(VW)具有ACE抑制活性,其IC_(50)为86.9μmol/L;用扇贝酶解液经超滤获得的相对分子量小于3000的组分灌胃雄性原发性高血压大鼠(SHR)28 d,灌胃第9天时,SHR的心脏收缩压(SBP)达到172 mm Hg,之后心脏收缩压基本保持恒定且极显著低于空白对照组(P<0.01),停止灌胃7 d内,多肽处理组SHR的心脏收缩压与空白对照组相比仍表现出极显著性差异(P<0.01)。研究表明,扇贝裙边酶解产物具有较好的降血压效果,可作为研发降压药物或保健食品的良好原料。     

水杨酸分子印迹掺氮TiO_2粉末的制备及在可见光下的选择性光催化研究

【目的】改善TiO_2在可见光下对污染物的选择性降解能力。【方法】采用改进的分子印迹溶胶-凝胶技术,以尿素、水杨酸分别为氮源和模板分子,制备水杨酸分子印迹掺氮TiO_2粉末。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、紫外-可见光漫反射吸收光谱(UV-Vis DRS)和低温N_2物理吸附-脱附(BET)等技术对制备样品进行表征。【结果】样品均为锐钛矿相,氮掺杂致使TiO_2光吸收带边红移,分子印迹使TiO_2具有了更为发达的孔结构和孔型,掺杂和分子印迹均有效地增大了比表面积。可见光下,与催化降解苯甲酸及甲基橙相比,分子印迹掺氮TiO_2对水杨酸的选择性降解率较高,达96.0%。【结论】水杨酸分子印迹和氮掺杂有效地改善了TiO_2的选择性和可见光活性。     

Design, activity, and 2.8 A crystal structure of a C2 symmetric inhibitor complexed to HIV-1 protease

A two-fold (C2) symmetric inhibitor of the protease of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) has been designed on the basis of the three-dimensional symmetry of the enzyme active site. The symmetric molecule inhibited both protease activity and acute HIV-1 infection in vitro, was at least 10,000-fold more potent against HIV-1 protease than against related enzymes, and appeared to be stable to degradative enzymes. The 2.8 angstrom crystal structure of the inhibitor-enzyme complex demonstrated that the inhibitor binds to the enzyme in a highly symmetric fashion.     

Mitotic apparatus: the selective extraction of protein with mild acid

The treatment of isolated mitotic apparatus with mild (pH 3) hydrochloric acid results in the extraction of less than 10 percent of its protein, accompanied by the selective morphological disappearance of the microtubules. The same extraction can be shown to dissolve outer doublet microtubules from sperm flagella. A protein with points of similarity to the flagellar microtubule protein is the major component of the extract from mitotic apparatus.     

具有杀虫活性放线菌的筛选与初步鉴定

通过卤虫初筛和小菜蛾复筛,从土壤中得到2株具有较高杀虫活性的放线菌菌株,编号为SN23和SN336.根据其形态培养特征和生理生化特性的研究结果,初步鉴定这2株活性菌株均属于链霉菌属.     

钙钛矿催化剂用于氨选择性还原氮氧化物的研究进展

氨选择性催化还原氮氧化物(NO_x)技术是目前应用较为广泛的催化脱硝技术,钙钛矿材料因其独特的结构、良好的稳定性且环保无害的特点成为选择性催化还原NO_x领域的研究热点。本文综述了近年来国内外关于钙钛矿NH_3-SCR催化剂的研究进展,较为全面地对钙钛矿催化剂的主要类型、脱硝活性、构效关系进行了论述,同时介绍了钙钛矿在光辅助SCR技术这一全新领域的研究进展,并总结了钙钛矿催化剂的NH_3-SCR反应机制,对该领域未来可能的发展方向和研究目标进行了展望。     

Glucose and weight control in mice with a designed ghrelin O-acyltransferase inhibitor

Ghrelin is a gastric peptide hormone that stimulates weight gain in vertebrates. The biological activities of ghrelin require octanoylation of the peptide on Ser(3), an unusual posttranslational modification that is catalyzed by the enzyme ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT). Here, we describe the design, synthesis, and characterization of GO-CoA-Tat, a peptide-based bisubstrate analog that antagonizes GOAT. GO-CoA-Tat potently inhibits GOAT in vitro, in cultured cells, and in mice. Intraperitoneal administration of GO-CoA-Tat improves glucose tolerance and reduces weight gain in wild-type mice but not in ghrelin-deficient mice, supporting the concept that its beneficial metabolic effects are due specifically to GOAT inhibition. In addition to serving as a research tool for mapping ghrelin actions, GO-CoA-Tat may help pave the way for clinical targeting of GOAT in metabolic diseases.     

毛竹合理择伐技术

在毛竹培育过程中,合理择伐是毛竹丰产培育的重要环节,对优化毛竹林的组成、调整竹林结构、为毛竹生长创造一个良好的环境等方面发挥着重大的作用。该文总结毛竹合理择伐的具体技术。     

An agonist of toll-like receptor 5 has radioprotective activity in mouse and primate models

The toxicity of ionizing radiation is associated with massive apoptosis in radiosensitive organs. Here, we investigate whether a drug that activates a signaling mechanism used by tumor cells to suppress apoptosis can protect healthy cells from the harmful effects of radiation. We studied CBLB502, a polypeptide drug derived from Salmonella flagellin that binds to Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) and activates nuclear factor-kappaB signaling. A single injection of CBLB502 before lethal total-body irradiation protected mice from both gastrointestinal and hematopoietic acute radiation syndromes and resulted in improved survival. CBLB502 injected after irradiation also enhanced survival, but at lower radiation doses. It is noteworthy that the drug did not decrease tumor radiosensitivity in mouse models. CBLB502 also showed radioprotective activity in lethally irradiated rhesus monkeys. Thus, TLR5 agonists could potentially improve the therapeutic index of cancer radiotherapy and serve as biological protectants in radiation emergencies.