Preparation and Hepatoprotective Activities of Peptides Derived from Mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Clams (Ruditapes philippinarum)

Low molecular weight (<5 kDa) peptides from mussels (Mytilus edulis) (MPs) and the peptides from clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) (CPs) were prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis by proteases (dispase, pepsin, trypsin, alcalase and papain). Both the MPs and the CPs showed excellent in vitro scavenging ability of free radicals including OH, DPPH and ABTS in the concentration range of 0.625–10.000 mg/mL. By contrast, the MPs hydrolyzed by alcalase (MPs-A) and the CPs hydrolyzed by dispase (CPs-D) had the highest antioxidant activities. Furthermore, MPs-A and CPs-D exhibited protective capabilities against oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂ in HepG2 cells in the concentration range of 25–800 μg/mL. Meanwhile, compared with the corresponding indicators of the negative control (alcohol-fed) mice, lower contents of hepatic MDA and serums ALT and AST, as well as higher activities of hepatic SOD and GSH-PX were observed in experiment mice treated with MPs-A and CPs-D. The present results clearly indicated that Mytilus edulis and Ruditapes philippinarum are good sources of hepatoprotective peptides.     

低温条件下小麦返白系叶片中H2O2累积的原因初探

为了研究低温处理下小麦叶色阶段性白化品种返白系与对照品种矮变1号叶片的H_2O_2含量是否存在差异,并初步分析导致差异的原因,采用DAB组织染色法检测返白系和矮变1号在4℃低温处理90 d、25℃下恢复培养10 d时叶片H_2O_2含量的动态变化,测定4℃低温处理下返白系和矮变1号中表征光合电子传递效率的荧光参数F_v/F_m和qP,并采用qRT-PCR方法分析返白系和矮变1号中几个光合电子传递体基因及质体H_2O_2清除相关基因的表达模式。结果显示,低温处理下,矮变1号叶片中H_2O_2含量变化不大,返白系叶片中H_2O_2会大量累积;低温处理下,返白系叶片的叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m、qP都明显低于矮变1号。同时,低温下返白系光合电子传递链中部分电子传递体亚基基因petD、petN、ndhB和ndhK,以及质体H_2O_2清除相关基因 APX4和 HO1的表达量低于矮变1号。这些结果表明,低温处理下,相较于矮变1号,返白系叶片中会累积大量的H_2O_2。返白系质体中光合电子传递受阻引起电子泄露,同时质体中清除活性氧的能力下降,可能是导致返白系叶片中积累大量H_2O_2的原因。     

碱胁迫下燕麦幼苗对外源过氧化氢的生理响应

为探讨过氧化氢(H_2O_2)对碱胁迫下植物的生理调节作用,以燕麦品种定莜6号的幼苗为材料,采用沙培方法,设置0、50和150μmol·L~(-1)三个H_2O_2浓度水平,研究了外源H_2O_2对100mmol·L~(-1) NaHCO_3胁迫下燕麦叶片活性氧代谢、渗透溶质积累和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,NaHCO_3胁迫下,与不添加H_2O_2处理(0μmol·L~(-1))相比,50和150μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2处理均不同程度降低了燕麦叶片超氧阴离子、H_2O_2、丙二醛、可溶性糖含量和细胞质膜的相对透性,明显提高可溶性蛋白质、脯氨酸和类胡萝卜素含量及叶绿素a/b值。NaHCO_3胁迫下,50μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2处理的燕麦叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量下降,过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及抗坏血酸(AsA)含量提高;150μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2处理则提高了SOD、POD、APX活性和AsA含量,降低了CAT活性,对GSH含量无明显影响。50μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2显著缓解了NaHCO_3胁迫对燕麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,150μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2的缓解效应不明显。     

Design,Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Bromophenol Derivatives Incorporating Indolin-2-One Moiety as Potential Anticancer Agents

A series of bromophenol derivatives containing indolin-2-one moiety were designed and evaluated that for their anticancer activities against A549, Bel7402, HepG2, HeLa and HCT116 cancer cell lines using MTT assay in vitro. Among them, seven compounds (4g–4i, 5h, 6d, 7a, 7b) showed potent activity against the tested five human cancer cell lines. Wound-healing assay demonstrated that compound 4g can be used as a potent compound for inactivating invasion and metastasis by inhibiting the migration of cancer cells. The structure–activity relationships (SARs) of bromophenol derivatives had been discussed, which were useful for exploring and developing bromophenol derivatives as novel anticancer drugs.     

Removal of static electricity on polyimide film surface by O2 or Ar cold plasma etching

Cold plasma of O₂ or Ar was irradiated on hydrophobic Kapton surface to attenuate or remove the electrostatic potential. A measurement on charge dissipation speed clarifies the obscure effect of plasma. These consequences reveal that O₂ plasma etching is more effective than Ar plasma. After 30 days, the dissipation speed of accumulated charge on initially etched sample has not changed under summar season.     

Ecklonia cava Polyphenol Has a Protective Effect against Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in a Cyclic AMP-Dependent Manner

Previously, we showed that Ecklonia cava polyphenol (ECP) treatment suppressed ethanol-induced increases in hepatocyte death by scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintaining intracellular glutathione levels. Here, we examined the effects of ECP on the activities of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and their regulating mechanisms in ethanol-treated hepatocytes. Isolated hepatocytes were incubated with or without 100 mM ethanol. ECP was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide. ECP was added to cultured cells that had been incubated with or without ethanol. The cells were incubated for 0–24 h. In cultured hepatocytes, the ECP treatment with ethanol inhibited cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) expression and activity, which is related to the production of ROS when large quantities of ethanol are oxidized. On the other hand, ECP treatment with ethanol increased the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase. These changes in activities of CYP2E1 and ADH were suppressed by treatment with H89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A. ECP treatment with ethanol enhanced cyclic AMP concentrations compared with those of control cells. ECP may be a candidate for preventing ethanol-induced liver injury via regulating alcohol metabolic enzymes in a cyclic AMP-dependent manner.     

重铬酸钾对黑麦的细胞遗传毒性及硅的缓解作用

为了解K2Cr2O7的细胞遗传毒性及硅对铬毒害的缓解作用,采用常规染色体压片技术,观察不同浓度的K2Cr2O7(20、40、60、80、100、120mg.L-1)对黑麦根尖细胞有丝分裂的影响以及硅对铬胁迫缓解效应。结果表明,细胞有丝分裂指数、微核率和染色体畸变率均随K2Cr2O7浓度的升高呈先升后降趋势,在K2Cr2O7浓度为40.0mg.L-1时均达到最大值。与蒸馏水对照相比,6个不同浓度K2Cr2O7胁迫处理的微核率和染色体畸变率均有显著升高。对40mg.L-1 K2Cr2O7胁迫的黑麦根尖分别进行60、120和180mg.L-1的Na2SiO3处理,细胞有丝分裂指数、微核率和染色体畸变率均显著降低,且随硅浓度的增加呈下降趋势。说明K2Cr2O7对黑麦根尖细胞有丝分裂在低浓度时促进,高浓度时抑制,高低浓度处理均对染色体具有明显的致畸效应。外源硅可有效缓解K2Cr2O7对黑麦根尖细胞有丝分裂的不利影响。     

Ocean Warming and CO2-Induced Acidification Impact the Lipid Content of a Marine Predatory Gastropod

Ocean warming and acidification are current global environmental challenges impacting aquatic organisms. A shift in conditions outside the optimal environmental range for marine species is likely to generate stress that could impact metabolic activity, with consequences for the biosynthesis of marine lipids. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the lipid content of Dicathais orbita exposed to current and predicted future climate change scenarios. The whelks were exposed to a combination of temperature and CO₂-induced acidification treatments in controlled flowthrough seawater mesocosms for 35 days. Under current conditions, D. orbita foot tissue has an average of 6 mg lipid/g tissue, but at predicted future ocean temperatures, the total lipid content dropped significantly, to almost half. The fatty acid composition is dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA 52%) with an n-3:6 fatty acid ratio of almost 2, which remains unchanged under future ocean conditions. However, we detected an interactive effect of temperature and pCO₂ on the % PUFAs and n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were significantly reduced by elevated water temperature, while both the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were significantly reduced under increased pCO₂ acidifying conditions. The present study indicates the potential for relatively small predicted changes in ocean conditions to reduce lipid reserves and alter the fatty acid composition of a predatory marine mollusc. This has potential implications for the growth and survivorship of whelks under future conditions, but only minimal implications for human consumption of D. orbita as nutritional seafood are predicted.     

New and Rare Carotenoids Isolated from Marine Bacteria and Their Antioxidant Activities

Marine bacteria have not been examined as extensively as land bacteria. We screened carotenoids from orange or red pigments-producing marine bacteria belonging to rare or novel species. The new acyclic carotenoids with a C₃₀ aglycone, diapolycopenedioc acid xylosylesters A–C and methyl 5-glucosyl-5,6-dihydro-apo-4,4′-lycopenoate, were isolated from the novel Gram-negative bacterium Rubritalea squalenifaciens, which belongs to phylum Verrucomicrobia, as well as the low-GC Gram-positive bacterium Planococcus maritimus strain iso-3 belonging to the class Bacilli, phylum Firmicutes, respectively. The rare monocyclic C₄₀ carotenoids, (3R)-saproxanthin and (3R,2′S)-myxol, were isolated from novel species of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes. In this review, we report the structures and antioxidant activities of these carotenoids, and consider relationships between bacterial phyla and carotenoid structures.     

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant/Antimicrobial Activities in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Fluid Extract of Gloiopeltis tenax

Gloiopeltis tenax (G. tenax) is widely distributed along the Chinese coastal areas and is commonly used in the treatment of diarrhea and colitis. This study aimed at investigating the bioactivities of the volatile constituents in G. tenax. We extracted the essential constituents of G. tenax by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (CO₂-SFE), then identified and analyzed the constituents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 30 components were identified in the G. tenax extract. The components showed remarkable antioxidant activity (radical scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)), lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity (in a β-carotene/linoleic acid-coupled oxidation reaction), and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity (by deoxyribose degradation by iron-dependent hydroxyl radical), compared to butylated hydroxytoluene. In microdilution assays, G. tenax extracts showed a moderate inhibitory effects on Staphyloccocus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 3.9 mg/mL), Enterococcus faecalis (7.8 mg/mL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.6 mg/mL), and Escherichia coli (3.9 mg/mL). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of G. tenax were related to the active chemical composition. These results suggest that the CO₂-SFE extract from G. tenax has potential to be used as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in food processing.     

沉香叶黄酮稳定性及对H2O2诱导HepG2细胞氧化损伤的保护作用

研究沉香叶黄酮稳定性及对H2O2诱导HepG2细胞氧化损伤的保护作用.通过测定溶液吸光值,探讨温度、光照、金属离子、pH值对沉香叶黄酮稳定性的影响.建立H2O2诱导HepG2细胞氧化损伤模型,将细胞分为正常组、模型组以及沉香叶黄酮低、中、高剂量组,采用水溶性四唑盐法检测细胞增殖率,2′,7′-二氢二氯荧光黄双乙酸钠法(...     

Isolation and Structural Determination of Two Novel Phlorotannins from the Brown Alga Ecklonia kurome Okamura,and Their Radical Scavenging Activities

Two novel phlorotannins with a molecular weight of 974, temporarily named 974-A and 974-B, were isolated from the polyphenol powder prepared from the edible marine brown alga Ecklonia kurome Okamura, and their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic method. The isolated yield of the total of 974-A and 974-B was approximately 4% (w/w) from the polyphenol powder. In 974-A, the carbon at the C2′ position in the A ring of phlorofucofuroeckol-A forms a C–C bond with the carbon at the C2″ position of the C ring of triphloretol-B, while in 974-B, phlorofucofuroeckol-B and triphloretol-B form a C–C bond in the same manner as in 974-A. These structures were supported by high resolution-MS/MS data. To evaluate the antioxidant activities, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and intracellular radical scavenging assay, using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), were performed for 974-A, 974-B, and four known phlorotannins. The results of the DPPH assay showed that the IC₅₀ values of 974-A, 974-B, phlorofucofuroeckol-A, and dieckol were significantly smaller than those of phlorofucofuroeckol-B, phloroglucinol, α-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the DCFH-DA assay suggested that 974-A, 974-B, and dieckol reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species most strongly among the tested compounds.     

Evaluation of Pseudopteroxazole and Pseudopterosin Derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Other Pathogens

Pseudopterosins and pseudopteroxazole are intriguing marine natural products that possess notable antimicrobial activity with a commensurate lack of cytotoxicity. New semi-synthetic pseudopteroxazoles, pseudopteroquinoxalines and pseudopterosin congeners along with simple synthetic mimics of the terpene skeleton were synthesized. In order to build structure-activity relationships, a set of 29 new and previously reported compounds was assessed for in vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. A number of congeners exhibited antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram-positive bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv, with four displaying notable antitubercular activity against both replicating and non-replicating persistent forms of M. tuberculosis. One new semi-synthetic compound, 21-((1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl)-pseudopteroxazole (7a), was more potent than the natural products pseudopterosin and pseudopteroxazole and exhibited equipotent activity against both replicating and non-replicating persistent forms of M. tuberculosis with a near absence of in vitro cytotoxicity. Pseudopteroxazole also exhibited activity against strains of M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv resistant to six clinically used antibiotics.     

Micrococcin P1 and P2 from Epibiotic Bacteria Associated with Isolates of Moorea producens from Kenya

Epibiotic bacteria associated with the filamentous marine cyanobacterium Moorea producens were explored as a novel source of antibiotics and to establish whether they can produce cyclodepsipeptides on their own. Here, we report the isolation of micrococcin P1 (1) (C₄₈H₄₉N₁₃O₉S₆; obs. m/z 1144.21930/572.60381) and micrococcin P2 (2) (C₄₈H₄₇N₁₃O₉S₆; obs. m/z 1142.20446/571.60370) from a strain of Bacillus marisflavi isolated from M. producens’ filaments. Interestingly, most bacteria isolated from M. producens’ filaments were found to be human pathogens. Stalked diatoms on the filaments suggested a possible terrestrial origin of some epibionts. CuSO₄·5H₂O assisted differential genomic DNA isolation and phylogenetic analysis showed that a Kenyan strain of M. producens differed from L. majuscula strain CCAP 1446/4 and L. majuscula clones. Organic extracts of the epibiotic bacteria Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora and Ochrobactrum anthropi did not produce cyclodepsipeptides. Further characterization of 24 Firmicutes strains from M. producens identified extracts of B. marisflavi as most active. Our results showed that the genetic basis for synthesizing micrococcin P1 (1), discovered in Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, is species/strain-dependent and this reinforces the need for molecular identification of M. producens species worldwide and their epibionts. These findings indicate that M. producens-associated bacteria are an overlooked source of antimicrobial compounds.     

Discovery of Novel Pimprinine and Streptochlorin Derivatives as Potential Antifungal Agents

Pimprinine and streptochlorin are indole alkaloids derived from marine or soil microorganisms. In our previous study, they were promising lead compounds due to their potent bioactivity in preventing many phytopathogens, but further structural modifications are required to improve their antifungal activity. In this study, pimprinine and streptochlorin were used as parent structures with the combination strategy of their structural features. Three series of target compounds were designed and synthesized. Subsequent evaluation for antifungal activity against six common phytopathogenic fungi showed that some of thee compounds possessed excellent effects, and this is highlighted by compounds 4a and 5a, displaying 99.9% growth inhibition against Gibberella zeae and Alternaria Leaf Spot under 50 μg/mL, respectively. EC₅₀ values indicated that compounds 4a, 5a, 8c, and 8d were even more active than Azoxystrobin and Boscalid. SAR analysis revealed the relationship between 5-(3′-indolyl)oxazole scaffold and antifungal activity, which provides useful insight into the development of new target molecules. Molecular docking models indicate that compound 4a binds with leucyl-tRNA synthetase in a similar mode as AN2690, offering a perspective on the mode of action for the study of its antifungal activity. These results suggest that compounds 4a and 5a could be regarded as novel and promising antifungal agents against phytopathogens due to their valuable potency.     

Mechanisms for coping with submergence and waterlogging in rice

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), unlike other cereals, can grow well in paddy fields and is highly tolerant of excess water stress, from either submergence (in which part or all of the plant is under water) or waterlogging (in which excess water in soil limits gas diffusion). Rice handles submergence stress by internal aeration and growth controls. A quiescence strategy based on Submergence-1A (SUB1A) or an escape strategy based on SNORKEL1 (SK1) and SNORKEL2 (SK2) is used for the growth controls. On the other hand, rice handles waterlogging stress by forming lysigenous aerenchyma and a barrier to radial O₂ loss (ROL) in roots in order to supply O₂ to the root tip. In this article, we summarize recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of responding to excess water stresses (i.e., submergence and waterlogging) in rice and other gramineous plants.     

NaCl和Na2SO4胁迫对玉米幼苗渗透调节物质含量的影响

研究了NaCl和Na₂SO₄胁迫对玉米幼苗电解质渗漏、根系活力及脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白等渗透调节物质含量的影响。结果表明，玉米在NaCl作用下其电解质渗漏、根系活力及渗透调节物质含量的变化和Na₂SO₄胁迫相似，电解质渗漏、根系活力及渗透调节物质含量均随着盐浓度的增加而加剧。NaCl胁迫下增幅大于Na₂SO₄胁迫，表明NaCl胁迫对玉米幼苗的伤害大于Na₂SO₄胁迫。     

QTL identification of kernel composition traits with popcorn using both F2:3 and BC2F2 populations developed from the same cross

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing three main kernel composition traits, starch, protein and oil concentrations, in unselected F_2:3 and selected BC₂F₂ maize populations derived from the same cross of a dent corn inbred Dan232 × an elite popcorn inbred N04 under the same conditions were detected. Four and two QTL for starch, four and three QTL for protein, and four and one QTL for oil were detected in the two populations, respectively, with three QTL jointly detected. The proportion of phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL was 5.2–10.6%, 5.0–14.3%, and 6.2–8.5% for the three traits. Ten QTL had favorable alleles contributed by Dan232. Several QTL detected in this study had identical or similar chromosome regions to those previously identified with other maize germplasms. No QTL with opposite effects for kernel composition traits and popping characteristics were detected in the same or near marker intervals. This reflected that some QTL detected in this study seemed to contribute to trait variation in a diverse array of maize populations and environments, and the opportunity existed for improving popcorn's nutritional quality while maintaining acceptable popping characteristics. Inconsistent broad sense heritability and trait correlation estimates were also observed in the two populations.     

Production of activated carbon from organic by-products from the alcoholic beverage industry: Surface area and hardness optimization by using the response surface methodology

The ability of activated carbon to remove pollutants from water in packed column systems is dependent on granular material with mechanical strength sufficient to avoid attrition caused by stream flow. Therefore, an appropriate balance between surface area and hardness is essential when using activated carbon in real systems. The purpose of this research is to determine the optimal production conditions that generate activated carbon with adequate physical properties to be used in packed systems from agave bagasse, a waste product from the mezcal industries in Mexico. Activated carbons were produced by chemical activation (ZnCl₂ or H₃PO₄). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effect of the activation temperature (250-550 °C), activation time (0-50 min), and the concentration of activating agent (0.2-1.4; g activating agent/g bagasse) on both surface area and hardness. The production conditions that generated optimal characteristics in the activated carbon were 392 °C, 1.02 g activating agent/g bagasse and 23.8 min for H₃PO₄ activated samples and 456 °C, 1.08 g activating agent/g bagasse and 23.8 min for ZnCl₂ activated samples. The surface area and hardness of the activated carbon produced from bagasse under these conditions were similar to activated commercial carbons (surface area > 800 m²/g and hardness > 85%).