A Pauson-Khand-type reaction between alkynes and olefinic aldehydes catalyzed by rhodium/cobalt heterobimetallic nanoparticles: an olefinic aldehyde as an olefin and CO source

Co/Rh (Co:Rh = 2:2) heterobimetallic nanoparticles derived from Co(2)Rh(2)(CO)(12) react with alkynes and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes such as acrolein, crotonaldehyde, and cinnamic aldehyde and release products resulting from [2 + 2 + 1]cycloaddition of alkyne, carbon monoxide, and alkene. alpha,beta-Unsaturated aldehydes act as a CO and alkene source. These reactions produce 2-substituted cyclopentenones.     

Loniceroside C,an antiinflammatory saponin from Lonicera japonica

A new triterpenoid saponin, loniceroside C was isolated from the aerial parts of Lonicera japonica. Its structure was established to be 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester by spectroscopic techniques and chemical transformations. Loniceroside C showed in vivo antiinflammatory activity against mouse ear edema provoked by croton oil.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ofloxacin from orally treated-chicken breast muscles

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ofloxacin from chicken breast muscles was examined. A liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was used for the determination of the fluoroquinolones. Extraction conditions of the SFE were optimized by determining the extraction parameters to achieve a sufficiently high recovery of each fluoroquinolone in fortified-muscle samples. Recovery values for the extraction of the fluoroquinolones using the SFE ranged from 70 to 87%. Chickens were treated orally with each fluoroquinolone and their muscles were extracted at set time intervals for time-course determination of the fluoroquinolones in chickens. The SFE combined with liquid chromatographic analysis showed that the concentrations of the fluoroquinolones decreased gradually with time in the chicken muscles after oral treatment, giving a concentration less than 5 ng/ml in 120 h. No further sample cleanup procedures were required after the SFE. These results suggest that SFE method is an extraction method for the determination of norfloxacin and ofloxacin in chicken muscle.     

Zeb1 for RCP-induced oral cancer cell invasion and its suppression by resveratrol

Rab coupling protein (RCP) is upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and is correlated with the progression and survival of patients. However, the role of RCP in one of the aggressive types of HNSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), remains elusive. In the present study, we identified the important role of Zeb1 in RCP-induced OSCC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. RCP induces Zeb1 expression, and silencing Zeb1 expression significantly inhibits RCP-induced OSCC invasion. In addition, Zeb1 upregulates MT1-MMP expression to promote OSCC EMT and invasion. Furthermore, we observed that the β1 integrin/EGFR/β-catenin signaling cascade mediates RCP-induced Zeb1 expression to promote OSCC invasion. Notably, we provide evidence that resveratrol (REV) strongly inhibits RCP-induced Zeb1 expression through blocking β1 integrin endosome recycling and EGFR activation, leading to suppression of RCP-induced OSCC invasion, demonstrating the important role of RCP in OSCC invasion and its reversion by REV. Collectively, the present study provides evidence for the first time that RCP aggravates OSCC invasion through increasing Zeb1 expression and subsequently upregulating MT1-MMP expression and that this process is reversed by REV, providing novel biomarkers and indicating the therapeutic potential of REV in OSCC.Subject terms: Oral cancer, Cell invasion     

乙酰化淀粉的塑化和性能研究

以乙酰化改性淀粉为基体,甘油为增塑剂,利用哈克旋转流变仪密炼制备热塑性乙酰化淀粉.实验结果表明制备热塑性乙酰化淀粉的甘油/乙酰化淀粉配比应大于30/100(W/W),且随甘油含量增加,热塑性乙酰化淀粉的脆性降低.动态机械热分析(DMTA)显示热塑性乙酰化淀粉包含富甘油和富淀粉两相,乙酰化淀粉和甘油为部分互溶.流变学分析显示淀粉分子间作用力非常强,表现为类固态行为.同时本文对材料的热稳定性进行了初步研究.     

An azo dye for photodynamic therapy that is activated selectively by two-photon excitation

Two-photon photodynamic therapy (TP-PDT) is a promising approach for the treatment of cancer because of its better penetration depth and superior spatial selectivity. Here, we describe an azo group containing cyclized-cyanine derivatives (ACC1 and ACC2) as a two-photon activated, type I based photosensitizer (PS). These small-molecule and heavy atom-free organic dyes showed marked reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating ability under physiological conditions, as well as fast loading ability into the cells and negligible dark toxicity. Live cell analyses with one- and two-photon microscopy revealed that these dyes showed higher ROS generation ability upon two-photon excitation than upon one-photon excitation via the type I process. The PSs have superior PDT properties compared to conventional Visudyne and 5-ALA under mild conditions. These characteristics allowed for precise PDT at the target region in mimic tumor spheroids, demonstrating that the developed TP PS could be useful in efficient PDT applications and in designing various PSs.

Azo containing dyes as a two-photon selective and type I based photosensitizers (PSs) were developed that exhibit excellent photodynamic therapy properties under mild condition.     

CHIP-mediated hyperubiquitylation of tau promotes its self-assembly into the insoluble tau filaments

The tau protein is a highly soluble and natively unfolded protein. Under pathological conditions, tau undergoes multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs) and conformational changes to form insoluble filaments, which are the proteinaceous signatures of tauopathies. To dissect the crosstalk among tau PTMs during the aggregation process, we phosphorylated and ubiquitylated recombinant tau in vitro using GSK3β and CHIP, respectively. The resulting phospho–ub-tau contained conventional polyubiquitin chains with lysine 48 linkages, sufficient for proteasomal degradation, whereas unphosphorylated ub-tau species retained only one–three ubiquitin moieties. Mass-spectrometric analysis of in vitro reconstituted phospho–ub-tau revealed seven additional ubiquitylation sites, some of which are known to stabilize tau protofilament stacking in the human brain with tauopathy. When the ubiquitylation reaction was prolonged, phospho–ub-tau transformed into insoluble hyperubiquitylated tau species featuring fibrillar morphology and in vitro seeding activity. We developed a small-molecule inhibitor of CHIP through biophysical screening; this effectively suppressed tau ubiquitylation in vitro and delayed its aggregation in cultured cells including primary cultured neurons. Our biochemical findings point to a “multiple-hit model,” where sequential events of tau phosphorylation and hyperubiquitylation function as a key driver of the fibrillization process, thus indicating that targeting tau ubiquitylation may be an effective strategy to alleviate the course of tauopathies.

Multiple-hit model for tau aggregation, where sequential events of tau phosphorylation and hyperubiquitylation function as a key driver of the fibrillization process.     

Morphology control of soap-free seeded P(St-EA-AA) latex particles

Soap-free poly(styrene-ethyl acrylate-acrylic acid) latex particles with narrow size distribution and with surface carboxyl groups were synthesized by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization, and the particles with homogeneous multihollow structure were obtained after alkali posttreatment. Effects of treatment conditions and crosslinking agents on particle morphology were investigated. Results showed that the multihollow structure can be formed inside the uncrosslinked particles only when the treatment temperature exceeded 50 °C, the pH was higher than 10.0, the amount of 2-butanone was more than 3.0 ml and the treatment time was longer than 30 min. Furthermore, the volume expansion of the particles increased with the temperature increased to 90 °C, the pH to 12.5 or the amount of 2-butanone to 7.0 ml, and this value increased first and then decreased with the treatment time prolonged. Fine pores can be generated in the shell of particles crosslinked by 0.2 g of ethyl glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA), while no hollow structure formed inside particles when 0.4 g of EGDMA or 0.2 g of divinyl benzene was used.     

Osteoprotegerin is present on the membrane of osteoclasts isolated from mouse long bones

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is known to inhibit osteoclastogenesis by acting as a soluble decoy receptor for the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL). We report the presence of OPG on the membrane of osteoclasts and the possibility of the direct action of OPG on them. Highly pure osteoclast precursors were isolated from mouse long bones and induced to differentiate into mature osteoclasts by M-CSF and soluble RANKL (sRANKL). The presence of OPG on the membrane of these cells was confirmed by western blotting and immunostaining. Furthermore, sRANKL was found to be bound to the OPG on the osteoclast precursors. These results suggest that OPG might have a new role during the differentiation of osteoclasts beyond its role as a soluble decoy receptor. The mechanism of the existence of OPG on osteoclast precursors remains to be found.     

Intriguing self-assembly of large granules of F-actin facilitated by gelsolin and alpha-actinin

We report microscopic observations and a structural determination of actin granules self-assembled in concentrated solutions of actin filaments (F-actin). Optical microscopy shows reproducible formation of numerous and stable granules of densely packed F-actin of variable sizes on the order of 10 microm. These granules coexist with a uniform network of F-actin of a lower concentration. The microscopic segregation of F-actin into two distinct states is assisted by an actin cross-linking protein, alpha-actinin. The rapid on and off rates and temperature sensitivity of the alpha-actinin/F-actin interaction facilitate the formation of multi-micrometer-sized granules of well-defined shapes. Additional physical factors such as the excluded volume effect and the minimization of surface energy act in concert with the specific molecular interactions to define the intriguing granular formation. Both the biochemical specificity of alpha-actinin and the thermodynamics of phase transitions are required for understanding such large scale self-assembly.