Progress in DNA Aptamers as Recognition Components for Protein Functional Regulation

Proteins play a central role in all domains of life, and precise regulation of their activity is essential for understanding the related biological processes and therapeutic functions. Nucleic acid aptamers, the molecular recognition components derived from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment(SELEX), can specifically identify proteins with antibody-like recognition characteristics and help to regulate their activity. This minireview covers the SELEX-based selection of protein-binding aptamers, membrane protein analytical techniques based on aptamer-mediated target recognition, aptamer-mediated functional regulation of proteins, including membrane receptors and non-membrane proteins(thrombin as a model), as well as the potential challenges and prospects regarding aptamer-mediated protein manipulation, aiming to supply some useful information for researchers in this field.     

An improved method for the analysis of major antioxidants of Hibiscus esculentus Linn

Major antioxidants of aqueous ethanol extract from Lady's Finger (Hibiscus esculentus Linn) were systematically investigated in this study. Firstly, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to identify antioxidant peaks in a sample by spiking the sample extract with 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical, which was prepared from manganese dioxide and ABTS. Secondly, in order to identify the elution period of major antioxidant peaks, the antioxidant capacities of different fractions from solid-phase extraction (SPE) were measured, and the chromatograms of fractions were also recorded. Lastly, multiple mass spectrometry (MS(n)) was used to elucidate the possible chemical structures of antioxidants, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was further applied for structure confirmation. The major antioxidant compounds in lady's finger were identified to be quercetin derivatives and (-)-epigallocatechin using HPLC-MS and HPLC-MS(n) (n = 2-4) techniques. It was found that about 70% of total antioxidant activity was contributed by four quercetin derivatives. The structures of major antioxidants, which were isolated by semi-preparative RP-HPLC with two tandem C18 columns, were further confirmed using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and 13C NMR spectra. Quercetin 3-O-xylosyl (1' --> 2') glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucosyl (1' --> 6') glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside and quercetin 3-O-(6'-O-malonyl)-glucoside were first identified and characterized as major antioxidants in lady's finger.     

Observation of nonlinear acoustic effects at isotropic solid-solid interfaces

The second harmonic generation of SV shear waves at isotropic solid-solid interfaces is experimentally studied. The amplitude of shear waves is measured for the interfaces of glass-air, glass-iron, glass-copper, and glass-aluminum. The measured angular relation of amplitude of the second harmonic wave is compared with theory and the agreement is reasonably good. The influence of the physical state of the interface on second harmonic generation is also observed. It is found that the second harmonic generation is sensitive to the interface state.     

在玻璃转变温度及其以上温区聚苯乙烯/聚氧化乙烯共混物的动力学弛豫行为

用熔融共混法制备了不同组分的聚苯乙烯(PS)与聚氧化乙烯(PEO)共混物(PS/PEO).在玻璃转变温度T_g及其以上温区,利用相对能量耗散技术研究了该共混物的动力学行为.结果发现,在能量耗散-温度曲线上出现了两个弛豫型的耗散峰(α峰和α′峰).分析表明,α峰是与PS玻璃转变有关的特征耗散峰; α′峰则对应于一种“液-液转变”.两者的弛豫时间τ都不满足Arrhenius关系.此外,还研究了组分对这两个弛豫型耗散峰的影响,并给予了定性的解释. 关键词： 相对能量耗散 玻璃转变 力学弛豫     

Thermal conductance in quantum wire with two obstacles

Based on the scattering-matrix method, the influence of obstacles on the thermal conductance in quantum wire was investigated. Three types of obstacles are employed in our calculation. We present a detailed study of the thermal conductance as a function of distance between two obstacles and temperature. The results show that there is qualitative difference in the dependence of the thermal conductance versus width between two obstacles for different temperatures. We also find that the calculated thermal conductance increases with the width W of quantum wire in all cases.     

Ru(II)-Catalyzed rearrangement of 2-aryl-2-(phenylthio)penta-3,4-dienyl 2,2,2-trichloroacetimidates

[RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ efficiently catalyzes the rearrangement of 2-aryl-2-(phenylthio)penta-3,4-dienyl 2,2,2-trichloroacetimidate to afford (Z)-2,2,2-trichloro-N-(4-aryl-1-(phenylthio)penta-2,4-dien-2-yl)acetamide. Ru carbene is assumed as the reactive intermediate in this rearrangement.     

A Synthesis of Thalidomide

A synthesis of racemic thalidomide ( 1 ) was described and the important formal [3+3] cycloaddition strategy was a keystep. The total yield of thalidomide ( 1 ) was 18% in five steps from known 3 .     

Metallocene bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonate)s as air-stable cationic Lewis acids

Zirconocene and titanocene bis(perfluorooctanesulfonate)s were synthesized. In contrast to the corresponding triflates and perchlorates, these compounds are air- and water-stable. They were proved to be ionic on the basis of conductivity measurements and X-ray analysis, allowing these complexes to be stored for months. The strong Lewis acidity of these cationic metallocene species, which was proved by ESR study, enabled catalytic glycosylation.     

LC Separation and Determination of Five Diester-Diterpenoid Alkaloids in the Unprocessed and Processed Aconite Roots

A reliable liquid chromatographic method with photodiode array detector (DAD) was developed and validated for simultaneous separation and determination of five diester-diterpenoid alkaloids in the aconite roots. The separation was successfully performed on a Zorbax Extend-C₁₈ column with a mobile phase gradient prepared from methanol and ammonia solution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Good linearity (r > 0.999) was observed over the concentration ranges investigated, and intra-day and inter-day precision were high. The mean recoveries of five components ranged from 90.45 to 102.63% and relative standard deviations were always <5%. The validated method was successfully used for simultaneous determination of the five diester-diterpenoid alkaloids of unprocessed and processed aconite roots. The quantitative method provided a scientific basis for safety assurance and clinical application of aconite roots.