A virtual instrumentation based protocol for the automated implementation of the inner field compensation method

One influential parameter which mediates interactions between many types of molecules and biological membranes stems from the lumped contributions of the transmembrane potential, dipole potential and the difference in the surface potentials on both sides of a membrane. With relevance to cell physiology, such electrical features of a biomembrane are prone to undergoing changes as a result of interactions with the aqueous surrounding. Among the most useful tools devoted to exploring changes of electrical parameters of a lipid membrane induced by certain extracellular ions, lipid composition, and embedded membrane peptides and proteins, are spectroscopic imaging and the inner field compensation (IFC) method. In this work we layout the principles of a fully computerized version of the IFC method, which makes it more readily available to users. As a direct application, we deployed this improved version of the IFC method to time-resolve changes induced by alamethicin monomers upon membrane dipole potential, following their aggregation within an artificial lipid membrane. Intriguingly, even prior crossing the membrane core, the membrane-bound alamethicin monomers are shown to significantly increase the dipole potential of the monolayer they reside in. Such data further emphasize the yet less-explored interplay between membrane-based protein and peptides, and the membrane dipole potential.     

Determination of the rate of rapid lipid transfer induced by poly(ethylene glycol) using the SLM Fourier transform phase and modulation spectrofluorometer

Rate constants were determined for the transfer of the fluorescent lipid probe 1-palmitoyl-2-[[2-[4-(6-phenyl-trans-1,3,5-hexatrienyl)phenyl]ethyl] oxy]carbonyl]-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (DPHpPC) between large, unilamellar extrusion vesicles composed either of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or of DPPC mixed with a small amount (0.5 mol%) of lyso phosphatidylcholine (Lyso PC). Transfer of the lipid probe in the presence of varying concentrations of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was monitored using the SLM 48000-MHF Multi-Harmonic Fourier Transform phase and modulation spectrofluorometer to collect multifrequency phase and modulation fluorescence data sets on a subsecond time scale. The unique ability of this instrument to yield accurate fluorescence lifetime data on this time scale allowed transfer to be detected in terms of a time-dependent change in the fluorescent lifetime distribution associated with the lipid-like DPHpPC probe. This probe demonstrates two short fluoresence decay times (ca. 1.1–1.4 and 4.3–4.8 ns) in a probe-rich environment but a single long lifetime (ca. 7 ns) in a probe-poor environment. A simple two-state model for initial lipid transfer was used to analyze the multifrequency data sets collected over a 4-s time frame to obtain the time rate of change of the concentrations of donor and acceptor probe populations following rapid mixing of vesicles with PEG. The ability to measure fluorescence lifetimes on this time scale has allowed us to show that the of rate of lipid transfer increased dramatically at 35% PEG in both fusing and nonfusing vesicle systems. These results are interpreted in terms of a distinct interbilayer structure associated with intimate bilayer contact induced by high and potentially fusogenic concentrations of PEG.     

Influence of thermal and thermo-mechanical treatment

Two lipids with similar melting ranges but of different composition were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The lipids were processed via extrusion or were tempered at different temperatures; they were analyzed directly after extrusion and after storage at 40°C. Precirol ATO 5® showed high sensitivity to storage time and varied temperature exposure. Extrusion showed only marginal influences on the solid state. Melting peaks were narrower and shifted to higher temperatures in comparison to the untreated powder. Dynasan 114® was more robust, changes in the solid state could only be shown for samples treated above the melting range. Thus, Dynasan 114® is more appropriate for solid lipid extrusion of pharmaceutical products.     

试剂加入次序不同造成镉对肝脂质过氧化的诱导或拮抗作用

采用TBA检测方法，体外观察了CaCl2对大鼠线粒体脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)生成的毒性作用和对半胱氨酸-Fe^2 诱导的线粒体脂质过氧化的影响。结果表明，1 μmol／L～1mol／L CdCl2均能诱导肝线粒体的脂质过氧化，使MDA含量增加，但只有CdCl2浓度高于1 mmol／L时，诱导作用才与对照组有显著性差异。在Fe^2 -Cd^2 半胱氨酸共同对肝线粒体作用时，由于试剂加入顺序的不同，100～1000 mmol／L CdCl2对线粒体脂质过氧化可产生诱导或拮抗作用。结果提示，CdCl2可直接诱导线粒体脂质过氧化，在做几种金属离子体外协同对肝脂质过氧化影响的实验时，应考虑试剂加入顺序所产生的不同影响。     

Antioxidant flavonol glycosides from Dorycnium hirsutum

Seven flavonol glycosides were isolated and identified from the aerial parts of Dorycnium hirsutum, together with catechin, D-pinitol, β-sitosterol, and stearic acid. The extracts and the isolated flavonol glycosides were evaluated for their antioxidant activity, using the DPPH test (radical scavenging) and the lipoxygenase assay (lipid peroxidation). Dedicated to the memory of Prof. I. Morelli. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 233–235, May–June, 2006.     

X-ray diffraction/Calorimetry coupling

Polymorphism of trilaurin mixed with 4% of cholesterol was studied with a setup coupling calorimetry and phase characterisation by in-situ X-ray diffraction (Microcalix). Four polymorphic forms were identified. Monotropic and enantiotropic transitions were identified from the reconstruction of Gibbs free energy diagram which allows the control of trilaurin polymorphism. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Aluminium(III) as a promoter of cellular oxidation

Aluminium has been known as a neurotoxic agent to experimental animals since the last century (Arch. Exp. Pharmacol. 40 (1897) 98). However, great interest arose in it bioinorganic chemistry as well biology when it was demonstrated to be the causative agent in pathologies related to the long-term dialysis treatment of uremic subjects with renal failure (Life Chem. 11 (1994) 197), and as a potential etiopathogenic cofactor for several neurodegenerative diseases. The inorganic biochemistry of aluminium is still largely to be discovered. In this review the pro-oxidative property of aluminium toward biological membrane will be presented and its implications in involvement in human pathology will be discussed in an interdisciplinary frame from the bioinorganic point of view.     

Metabolomic-based investigation of Yinlan alleviating hyperlipidemia by inhibiting blood stasis and phlegm turbidity through the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR pathway

Yinlan lipid regulatory capsule (YL) is a composite traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) new drug to alleviate hyperlipidemia, while its therapeutic mechanism in vivo was not clarified with nontargeted metabolomics investigation. An animal model was established in rats fed a high-fat diet, and their body weights, body mass index (BMI) and blood cholesterol levels were measured. Serum, liver and kidney tissue samples were also extracted for PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1-FXR signaling pathway research using PCR and UHPLC–MS. The obtained plasma samples were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomic investigation, which revealed PXR-CYP3A4-related metabolites and changes induced by YL. Finally, the key metabolites were chosen as index components, and their levels in the serum, liver, small intestine and bile were used for simultaneous UHPLC–MS-MS determination. The results indicated that YL was effective in rebalancing blood TG and TC levels (compared to controls). With respect to the PXR-CYP3A4-ABCB1 pathway, as a result of YL’s effect, gene expression or activity of the two targets decreased significantly in both the liver and kidney. The same trend was observed in the serum samples mentioned above. Metabolomics screening and data revealed that 44 metabolites can be regarded as biomarkers related to hyperlipidemia, fatty acids synthesis, and body energy consumption, as well as synthesis, transportation and exertion of cholesterol. YL’s treatment focused on 26 of them, primarily bile acids, indicating that the antihyperlipidemic effect of this drug lies in its inhibitory activity of cholesterol metabolism. Subsequent analysis of those in vivo components revealed that significant increases (compared to the model group) occurred in the blood, liver, small intestine and bile in groups that received medium and high doses of YL (while the low dose was relatively unchanged). Those target components exhibit a close relationship with PXR and/or CYP3A4. The use of YL repressed PXR expression and subsequently decreased CYP3A4 activity. As a result, synthesis of related bile acids increased, while cholesterol levels decreased, consequently leading to the attenuation of hyperlipidemia. This study comprehensively investigated the antihyperlipidemia mechanism of YL based on its repression of PXR-CYP3A4 activity and related metabolite yield, establishing an accurate method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of YL.     

苯并异硒唑酮氨基酸衍生物的合成及抗脂质过氧化作用

在已知具有氧化作用的2-苯基-1,2-苯并异硒唑-3(2H)-酮(Ebselen)的基础上, 将其2-位苯环更换成氨基酸乙酯, 设计并合成了9个苯并异硒酮的氨基酸衍生物3～11. 这类化合物的抗氧化作用药理研究表明,它们对Fe^2^+/半胱氨酸及维生素C诱发的大鼠肝微粒体脂质过氧化有抑制活性, 部分化合物活性比母体化合物Ebselen更优.     

双头基两亲分子研究进展

本文介绍了双头基两亲分子的结构特征与性质, 概述了由双头基两亲分子在气液界面形成的单分子膜以及在体相中形成的囊泡的特征, 并介绍了这类两亲分子在催化、生物矿化、药物缓释、膜破解以及纳米材料等方面的应用研究。对其研究前景进行了展望。