Alkaloids from stems of Ervatamia yunnanensis

Six indole alkaloids were isolated from the stems of Ervatamia yunnanensis. Among them, yunnanensine (I) is new. The other five are known alkaloids, namely: 19,20-E-vallesamine (II), 19s-heyneanine (HI), ibogaine (IV), ibogamine (V), coronaridine (VI). The structural elucidation of the alkaloids was based on spectral means.     

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     

A new approach to phosphoserine and phosphothreonine analysis in peptides and proteins: chemical modification,enrichment via solid-phase reversible binding,and analysis by mass spectrometry

beta-Elimination of the phosphate group on phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues and addition of an alkyldithiol is a useful tool for analysis of the phosphorylation states of proteins and peptides. We have explored the influence of several conditions on the efficiency of this PO(4)(3-) elimination reaction upon addition of propanedithiol. In addition to the described influence of different bases, the solvent composition was also found to have a major effect on the yield of the reaction. In particular, an increase in the percentage of DMSO enhances the conversion rate, whereas a higher amount of protic polar solvents, such as water or isopropanol, induces the opposite effect. We have also developed a protocol for enrichment of the modified peptides, which is based on solid-phase covalent capture/release with a dithiopyridino-resin. The procedure for beta-elimination and isolation of phosphorylated peptides by solid-phase capture/release was developed with commercially available alpha-casein. Enriched peptide fragments were characterized by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis before and after alkylation with iodoacetamide, which allowed rapid confirmation of the purposely introduced thiol moiety. Sensitivity studies, carried out in order to determine the detection limit, demonstrated that samples could be detected even in the low picomolar range by mass spectrometry. The developed solid-phase enrichment procedure based on reversible covalent binding of the modified peptides is more effective and significantly simpler than methods based on the interaction between biotin and avidin, which require additional steps such as tagging the modified peptides and work-up of the samples prior to the affinity capture step.     

Multifunctional peptide-assembled micelles for simultaneously reducing amyloid-β and reactive oxygen species

The excessive production and deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) is one of the most important etiologies of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). The interaction between Aβ and metal ions produces aberrant reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce oxidative stress and accelerate the progression of AD. To reduce Aβ plaques and ROS to maintain their homeostasis is an emerging and ingenious strategy for effective treatment of AD. Herein, we report the rational design of multifunctional micelles (MPGLT) based on a polymer-grafted peptide to simultaneously clear Aβ and ROS for AD therapy. The MPGLT integrating three functional peptides as a ROS scavenger (tk-GSH), β-sheet breaker (LP) and an autophagy activator (TK) respectively, could capture and degrade Aβ. Meanwhile, the tk-GSH on the surface of MPGLT effectively scavenges the intracellular ROS. Consequently, MPGLT reduced the cytotoxicity of Aβ and ROS. In vivo animal studies using an AD mouse model further showed that MPGLT could transport across the blood–brain barrier for decreasing the Aβ plaque and eliminating ROS in vivo. This peptide micelle-based synergistic strategy may provide novel insight for AD therapy.

Multifunctional micelles based on a peptide–polymer for simultaneously targeting Aβ degradation and ROS scavenging for AD therapy.     

Hydrogen peroxide-generating nanomedicine for enhanced chemodynamic therapy

Chemodynamic therapy(CDT) is an emerging endogenous stimulation activated tumor treatment approach that exploiting iron-containing nanomedicine as catalyst to convert hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2)into toxic hydroxyl radical(·OH) through Fenton reaction.Due to the unique characteristics(weak acidity and the high H_2O_2 level) of the tumor microenvironment,CDT has advantages of high selectivity and low side effect.However,as an important substrate of Fenton reaction,the endogenous H_2O_2 in tumor is still insufficient,which may be an important factor limiting the efficacy of CDT.In order to optimize CDT,various H_2O_2-generating nanomedicines that can promote the production of H_2O_2 in tumor have been designed and developed for enhanced CDT.In this review,we summarize recently developed nanomedicines based on catalytic enzymes,nanozymes,drugs,metal peroxides and bacteria.Finally,the challenges and possible development directions for further enhancing CDT are prospected.     

纳米TiO2膜用于光催化氧化测定化学需氧量的研究

A photocatalytic oxidation method for determination of chemical oxygen demand （COD） using nano-TiO2 film, based on the use of a nano-TiO2-Ce（SO4）2 system and electrochemical detection, was proposed. The technique was originated from the direct determination of the Ce（Ⅲ） concentration change resulting from photocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds. Ce（Ⅲ）, which was produced by photocatalytic reduction of Ce（SO4）2, could be measured at a multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWNT） chemically modified electrode （CME）. The COD values by this method were calculated from the differential pulse voltammetry （DPV） current of Ce（Ⅲ） at the CME. Under the optimal operation conditions, the detection limit of 0.5 mg·L^-1 COD with the linear range of 1-600 mg·L^-1 was achieved. This method was also applied to determination of various COD of ground water and wastewater samples. The resuits were in good agreement with those from the conventional COD methods, i.e., permanganate and dichromate ones.     

含两种不同介晶基团的半刚性共聚酯液晶态的结构研究

用Ｘ－光衍射，偏光显微镜及ＤＳＣ对含两种不同长度介晶基团４，４’－联苯二酚（Ⅰ）和对苯二甲酸二（对羟苯基）酯（Ⅱ）的系列共聚酯的液晶态进行了表征，据其液晶态中两种介晶单元的堆砌方式提出了可能的模型，这种模型很好地解释了液晶态的Ｘ－光衍射分布．     

N-茄呢基胺类糖酯化合物的合成及生理活性

在氢氧化钠和四丁基溴化铵存在下,将化合物2-N-茄呢基胺基苯甲酸(3)和N-茄呢基己二酰胺酸(6)分别与O-乙酰基溴代葡萄糖、O-乙酰基溴代半乳糖、O-乙酰基溴代乳糖和O-乙酰基溴代麦芽糖反应制得对应的糖酯4a～4d和7a～7d,由元素分析,IR,1H NMR和MS确证了8个新化合物的结构,并对其中6个化合物(4a,4d和7a～7d)在三种癌细胞模型上进行了一些初步体外生理活性的测试.     

Thermal activation of molecularly-wired gold nanoparticles on a substrate as catalyst

The ability to prepare nanostructured metal catalysts requires the ability to control size and interparticle spatial and surface access properties. In this work, we report novel findings of an atomic force microscopic investigation of a controlled thermal activation strategy of gold catalysts nanostructured via molecular wiring or linking on a substrate surface. Gold nanocrystals of approximately 2 nm diameter capped by decanethiolate and wired by 1,9-nonanedithiolate on mica substrates were studied as a model system. By manipulating the activation temperature (200-250 degrees C), the capping/wiring molecules can be removed to produce controllable particle size and interparticle spatial morphology. The electrocatalytic activity of the activated nanostructures toward methanol oxidation, which is of fundamental importance to fuel cell catalysis, has been demonstrated. The novelty of the findings is the viability of a thermal activation strategy of core-shell nanostructured catalysts based on molecularly predefined interparticle spatial properties on a substrate, which upon further investigation may form the basis for spatially controllable nanostructured catalysts.