Estrogenic Activity of Mycoestrogen (3β,5α,22E)-Ergost-22-en-3-ol via Estrogen Receptor α-Dependent Signaling Pathways in MCF-7 Cells

Armillariella tabescens (Scop.) Sing., a mushroom of the family Tricholomataceae, has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat cholecystitis, improve bile secretion, and regulate bile-duct pressure. The present study evaluated the estrogen-like effects of A. tabescens using a cell-proliferation assay in an estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). We found that the methanol extract of A. tabescens fruiting bodies promoted cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells. Using bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanol extract and chemical investigation, we isolated and identified four steroids and four fatty acids from the active fraction. All eight compounds were evaluated by E-screen assay for their estrogen-like effects in MCF-7 cells. Among the tested isolates, only (3β,5α,22E)-ergost-22-en-3-ol promoted cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells; this effect was mitigated by the ER antagonist, ICI 182,780. The mechanism underlying the estrogen-like effect of (3β,5α,22E)-ergost-22-en-3-ol was evaluated using Western blot analysis to detect the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and estrogen receptor α (ERα). We found that (3β,5α,22E)-ergost-22-en-3-ol induced an increase in phosphorylation of ERK, PI3K, Akt, and ERα. Together, these experimental results suggest that (3β,5α,22E)-ergost-22-en-3-ol is responsible for the estrogen-like effects of A. tabescens and may potentially aid control of estrogenic activity in menopause.     

Capacity factors and peak widths in the gradient elution reversed phase separation of high molar mass polystyrenes

Summary A simplex method for determining the constantsS andk _o from the equation lnk’=lnk _o−S ϕ (was developed and applied to the reversed phase separation of high molar mass polystyrenes using gradients of any curvature. Experimental retention times described using the equation had a standard deviation of 1.1%. The inclusion of a quadratic term in the equation was found to be unwarranted. BothS and lnk _o varied linearly with ln molar mass. The logarithm of peak width of an eluting polystyrene peak was found to be a linear function of the mobile phase composition at elution. The slope was equal toS.     

Sigma-1 Receptor Agonist TS-157 Improves Motor Functional Recovery by Promoting Neurite Outgrowth and pERK in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Sigma-1 (σ-1) receptor agonists are considered as potential treatment for stroke. TS-157 is an alkoxyisoxazole-based σ-1 receptor agonist previously discovered in our group. The present study describes TS-157 profile in a battery of tests for cerebral ischemia. Initial evaluation demonstrated the compound’s safety profile and blood–brain barrier permeability, as well as its ability to induce neurite outgrowth in vitro. The neurite outgrowth was shown to be mediated via σ-1 receptor agonism and involves upregulation of ERK phosphorylation (pERK). In particular, TS-157 also significantly accelerated the recovery of motor function in rats with transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Overall, the results herein support the notion that σ-1 receptor agonists are potential therapeutics for stroke and further animal efficacy studies are warranted.     

Li2O·nB2O3-20%LiCl-H2O体系20℃过饱和溶液结晶动力学研究

用动力学方法对Li₂O·nB₂O₃-20%LiCl-H₂O体系(n=1,2,3)20℃过饱和溶液结晶过程进行研究，结果表明每一种溶液只析出一种固相，Li₂O∶B₂O₃=1∶1、1∶2和1∶3的氯化锂溶液分别结晶出Li₂O·B₂O₃·4H₂O, Li₂O·2B₂O₃·3H₂O和Li₂O·5B₂O₃·10H₂O，拟合并给出结晶动力学方程，同时对这三种固相的结晶反应机理进行了探讨。     

原子吸收法测定水样中的Cu,Zn,Cd,Pb——离子交换树脂预浓缩法

原子吸收法测定水样中的Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｄ、Ｐｂ——离子交换树脂预浓缩法庞文生（平顶山环保学校河南平顶山４６７０００）韩富贵燕青枝（平顶山师范专科学校化学系）关键词原子吸收分光光度法离子交换树脂预浓缩Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｄ、Ｐｂ测定中图分类号Ｏ６５７．３９当水...     

Impact of prefractionation using Gradiflow on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Prefractionation of protein samples prior to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) has the potential to increase the dynamic detection range for proteomic analysis. We evaluated a membrane-based electrophoretic separation technique (Gradiflow) for its ability to fractionate an exoproteome sample from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. The sample was separated on the basis of size and charge. Buffer optimization was found to be necessary for successful size fractionation. Fractionation by charge was used to resolve the sample into four fractions that were subjected to analysis by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Enhanced detection of low-abundance proteins with selective removal of high-abundance species was achieved. Fractionated and unfractionated samples were examined for differences in the ability to identify proteins following 2-DE using trypsin in-gel digestion followed by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Fractionated samples showed marked improvement in protein identification ability and sequence coverage. This study demonstrates the utility of the Gradiflow for fractionation, resulting in an enhancement of resolution and characterization of a moderately complex proteome.     

Effect of promoters on the behavior and properties of VPO catalysts for the selective oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride

A series of vanadyl pyrophosphate (VPO) modified by several additives has been investigated with the aim to reveal the promotion mechanism of the additives for selective conversion of n-butane to maleic anhydride (MA). Catalyst performance and various physicochemical characterization including XPS, XRD, FT-IR, DTA and BET indicated that the properties of additives, such as electronegativity and ion radius, contributed much to the effect of the additives on the structure and surface characteristics of VPO catalysts, and then influenced the catalytic behavior. The remarkable effects of additives on the surface vanadium and oxygen species were discussed. It was shown that maximum MA selectivity could be found with a moderate V⁵⁺ /V⁴⁺ ratio, and the catalytic activity and selectivity were improved, respectively, with the increase of surface active oxygen species, as well as as their amount and stability.