Design,synthesis and evaluation of novel dehydroabietic acid-dithiocarbamate hybrids as potential multi-targeted compounds for tumor cytotoxicity

In the present study, novel representatives of the important group of biologically-active, dehydroabietic acid-bearing dithiocarbamate moiety, were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HR-MS. The in vitro antiproliferative activity evaluation (MTT) indicated that these compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activities in various cancer cell lines (HepG-2, MCF-7, HeLa, T-24, MGC-803). Particularly, compound III-b possessed extraordinary cytotoxicity with low micromolar IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.07 to 38.84 µM against tested cancer cell lines, while displayed weak cytotoxicity on two normal cell lines (LO-2 and HEK 293 T). Subsequently, the potential mechanisms of representative compound III-b were elementarily investigated by Transwell experiment, which showed III-b can inhibit cancer cells migration. Annexin-V/PI dual staining showed that the compound can induce HepG-2 cells apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile this apoptosis may be related to the upregulated protein expression of cleaved-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 9, Bax and downregulated of Bcl-2 indicated by Western Blot. Later study further confirmed that ROS levels in HepG-2 cells increased significantly with the rise of concentrations. In addition, through the network pharmacology data analyzing, the core targets and signaling pathways of compound III-b for treatment of liver neoplasms were forecasted. Molecular docking model showed that compound III-b had high affinity with hub targets (CASP3, EGFR, HSP90AA1, MAPK1, ERBB2, MDM2), suggesting that compound III-b might target the hub protein to modulate signaling activity. Taken together, these data indicated that dehydroabietic acid structural modification following the “Molecular hybridization” principle is a feasible way to discover the potential multi-targeted antitumor compounds.     

Metabolomics techniques applied in the investigation of phenolic acids from the agro-industrial by-product of Carapa guianensis Aubl

Processing of Carapa guianensis seeds to obtain oil on an industrial scale generates a significant amount of by-product, approximately 66% w/w, which is called cake and is a potential source of biomolecules, including simple phenolic structures. For this reason, studies were carried out on the chemical profiles of hydrolyzed extract from this agro-industrial by-product through High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). These techniques were used to detect metabolic classes and/or groups, and to identify, for the first time, thirteen simple phenolic acids in this by-product. The sample antioxidant capacity was determined by methods of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS⁺) radicals direct sequestration. The hydrolyzed fraction showed a total of 63.47% in the relative abundance of the total of compounds, standing out: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (39.19%) and protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) (5.62%), both from hydroxybenzoic acids and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, (7.76%) hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives. In these results, the fraction rich in simple phenolic acids was obtained, attributing the prominent behavior of this matrix antioxidant activity, expressed by (IC₅₀: of 16.42 µg/mL and 6.52 µg/mL for DPPH and ABTS⁺ radicals, respectively). The research demonstrated an alternative to applicability that involves sustainability from agro-industrial. These techniques were used to detect metabolic classes and/or groups, and to identify, for the first time, thirteen simple phenolic acids in this by-product, generating a process capable of converting biomass into a bioproduct, consisting of bioactive compounds, in addition to adding value to the industrial chain.     

UPLC-Q/TOF-MS coupled with multivariate analysis for comparative analysis of metabolomic in Dendrobium nobile from different growth altitudes

Dendrobium nobile alkaloids (DNLA) and glycosides are the main active components extracted from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (D. nobile) used for thousands of years in China. The pharmacological effects of the above chemical components are significantly different. D. nobile is mainly grown at an altitude ranging from 230 to 800 m in Chishui City, Northwest Guizhou Province. However, it is unclear whether the metabolite in D. nobile is influenced by the planting altitude. Hence, to reveal the different metabolite in D. nobile cultivated at the altitude of 336 m, 528 m, and 692 m, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with Q/TOF-MS couple with multivariate analysis were developed. Using the orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis, 19 different metabolites were discovered and then tentatively assigned their structures as alkaloids and glycosides by comparing mass spectrometry data with in-house database and literature. Moreover, the result of semiquantitative analysis showed the content of dendrobine that was belonged to alkaloids significantly increased at the altitude of 692 m, whereas the content of glycosides demonstrated an accumulation trend at the altitude of 528 m. The results could provide valuable information for the optimal clinical drug therapeutics and provide a reference for quality control.     

MALDI Imaging Assisted Discovery of a Di-O-glycosyltransferase from Platycodon grandiflorum Root

A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) assisted genome mining strategy was developed for the discovery of glycosyltransferase (GT) from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum. A di-O-glycosyltransferase PgGT1 was discovered and characterized that is capable of catalyzing platycoside E (PE) synthesis through the attachment of two β-1,6-linked glucosyl residues sequentially to the glucosyl residue at the C3 position of platycodin D (PD). Although UDP-glucose is the preferred sugar donor for PgGT1, it could also utilize UDP-xylose and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine as weak donors. Residues S273, E274, and H350 played important roles in stabilizing the glucose donor and positioning the glucose in the optimal orientation for the glycosylation reaction. This study clarified two key steps involved in the biosynthetic pathway of PE and could greatly contribute to improving its industrial biotransformation.     

Digital Microfluidics and Magnetic Bead-Based Intact Proteoform Elution for Quantitative Top-down Nanoproteomics of Single C. elegans Nematodes

While most nanoproteomics approaches for the analysis of low-input samples are based on bottom-up proteomics workflows, top-down approaches enabling proteoform characterization are still underrepresented. Using mammalian cell proteomes, we established a facile one-pot sample preparation protocol based on protein aggregation on magnetic beads and intact proteoform elution using 40 % formic acid. Performed on a digital microfluidics device, the workflow enabled sensitive analyses of single Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, thereby increasing the number of proteoform identifications compared to in-tube sample preparation by 46 %. Label-free quantification of single nematodes grown under different conditions allowed to identify changes in the abundance of proteoforms not distinguishable by bottom-up proteomics. The presented workflow will facilitate proteoform-directed analysis on samples of limited availability.     

催化裂解-金汞齐富集-冷原子吸收光谱仪测定土壤样品中总汞含量

为建立采用催化裂解-金汞齐富集-冷原子吸收光谱仪即直接测汞仪测定土壤样品中汞含量的方法,本研究配制汞总量为0~2 ng、0~15 ng和25~1023 ng的三种不同汞浓度系列的标准工作曲线,选取9个土壤样品,3种国家土壤有证标准物质,同一样品分别进行6组平行测定,并抽取3个土壤样品进行3种不同浓度加标回收试验,以对其方法精密度和准确度进行论证。 结果显示：仪器信号值与Hg总量之间均呈良好的线性关系。根据仪器多次测定空白数据结果,按照称样量0.1 g计算,方法最小检出量为0.09 ng/g;平行测定结果相对标准偏差均小于10%,土壤标准物质测定值与标准物质标准参考值均相符,不同浓度的加标回收率范围为78.4%～92.7%。结果表明催化裂解-金汞齐富集-冷原子吸收光谱仪,可用于批量土壤样品中汞含量的快速测定分析,方法的精密度和准确度可满足测定分析要求,且实验过程中无需前处理消煮,操作方便、快速高效。     

Mobility-Modulated Sequential Dissociation Analysis Enables Structural Lipidomics in Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Spatial lipidomics based on mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for fundamental biology studies and biomarker discovery. But the structure-resolving capability of MSI is limited because of the lack of multiplexed tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method, primarily due to the small sample amount available from each pixel and the poor ion usage in MS/MS analysis. Here, we report a mobility-modulated sequential dissociation (MMSD) strategy for multiplex MS/MS imaging of distinct lipids from biological tissues. With ion mobility-enabled data-independent acquisition and automated spectrum deconvolution, MS/MS spectra of a large number of lipid species from each tissue pixel are acquired, at no expense of imaging speed. MMSD imaging is highlighted by MS/MS imaging of 24 structurally distinct lipids in the mouse brain and the revealing of the correlation of a structurally distinct phosphatidylethanolamine isomer (PE 18 : 1_18 : 1) from a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue. Mapping of structurally distinct lipid isomers is now enabled and spatial lipidomics becomes feasible for MSI.     

Two-dimensional correlation analysis of continuous online in situ ATR-FTIR on the adsorption of butyl xanthate at the surface of a-PbO

The adsorption behavior of butyl xanthate on the surface of lead oxide was investigated using continuous online in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared（ATR-FTIR） spectroscopy technique and two dimensional（2D） correlation analysis.The adsorbed layer studied was prepared by coating α-PbO particles onto the surfaces of the ZnSe crystal.The appearance of spectral peaks at 1203 cm^-1,1033 cm^-1 and their red shift indicated the formation and aggregation of xanthate at the surface of α-PbO.According to 1R intensity changes after rinsing with deionized water and a NaOH solution,the adsorption was proved to be a chemisorption type.The competition between xanthate and OH for the surfaces leads to desorption of xanthate at higher pH.The technique of 2D correlation ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to evaluate the changing order of spectral intensities in the adsorption process,and the results indicated that xanthate micelles were formed at the surfaces.The adsorption kinetics of butyl xanthate was found to be a pseudo-second-order reaction model and the adsorption capacity of butyl xanthate at α-PbO was as high as 281 mg g^-1 after 150 min.     

Measurement of Phenols in Automobile Exhaust

Abstract

Methods were investigated to measure exhaust emission rates of individual low-molecular-weight phenols from gasoline and diesel vehicles driven on a chassis dynamometer using the FTP driving cycle. An extraction procedure to isolate the phenols from exhaust scrubs was evaluated. Separation of individual phenols was done by gas chromatography, with detection by a flame ionization detector. Phenol identifications were confirmed by mass spectroscopy. Results of a limited survey of gasoline and diesel vehicles are reported.     

Isolation and Characterization of Badge Hydrolysis Products

Heating a suspension of Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) in 20 : 80 tetrahydrofuran/water at 70°C and subsequent passage of the resulting solution through C18 columns allowed isolation and purification to > 97% of each of the two hydrolysis products 2-[4-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy) phenyl]-2-[4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)phenyl]propane (1HP) and 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)phenyl] propane (2HP), which were characterized by UV, IR, ₁H and _I3C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.