Inhibitory Effects of Myriocin on Non-Enzymatic Glycation of Bovine Serum Albumin

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are the compounds produced by non-enzymatic glycation of proteins, which are involved in diabetic-related complications. To investigate the potential anti-glycation activity of Myriocin (Myr), a fungal metabolite of Cordyceps, the effect of Myr on the formation of AGEs resulted from the glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the interaction between Myr and BSA were studied by multiple spectroscopic techniques and computational simulations. We found that Myr inhibited the formation of AGEs at the end stage of glycation reaction and exhibited strong anti-fibrillation activity. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that Myr quenched the fluorescence of BSA in a static process, with the possible formation of a complex (approximate molar ratio of 1:1). The binding between BSA and Myr mainly depended on van der Waals interaction, hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bond. The synchronous fluorescence and UV-visible (UV-vis) spectra results indicated that the conformation of BSA altered in the presence of Myr. The fluorescent probe displacement experiments and molecular docking suggested that Myr primarily bound to binding site 1 (subdomain IIA) of BSA. These findings demonstrate that Myr is a potential anti-glycation agent and provide a theoretical basis for the further functional research of Myr in the prevention and treatment of AGEs-related diseases.     

Alkaloid Derivative (Z)-3β-Ethylamino-Pregn-17(20)-en Inhibits Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Metastasis and Angiogenesis by Targeting HSP90α

Metastasis is an important cause of cancer-related death. Previous studies in our laboratory found that pregnane alkaloids from Pachysandra terminalis had antimetastatic activity against breast cancer cells. In the current study, we demonstrated that treatment with one of the alkaloid derivatives, (Z)-3β-ethylamino-pregn-17(20)-en (1), led to the downregulation of the HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway, suppressed the phosphorylation of downstream molecules Akt, mTOR, FAK, and inhibited breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the antimetastasis and antiangiogenesis effects of 1 treatment (40 mg/kg) were more effective than that of Sorafenib (50 mg/kg). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was performed and the result suggested that HSP90α was a direct target of 1. Taken together, our results suggested that compound 1 might represent a candidate antitumor agent for metastatic breast cancer.     

Mitochondrial citrate accumulation drives alveolar epithelial cell necroptosis in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

Necroptosis is the major cause of death in alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) during acute lung injury (ALI). Here, we report a previously unrecognized mechanism for necroptosis. We found an accumulation of mitochondrial citrate (citrate^mt) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated AECs because of the downregulation of Idh3α and citrate carrier (CIC, also known as Slc25a1). shRNA- or inhibitor–mediated inhibition of Idh3α and Slc25a1 induced citrate^mt accumulation and necroptosis in vitro. Mice with AEC-specific Idh3α and Slc25a1 deficiency exhibited exacerbated lung injury and AEC necroptosis. Interestingly, the overexpression of Idh3α and Slc25a1 decreased citrate^mt levels and rescued AECs from necroptosis. Mechanistically, citrate^mt accumulation induced mitochondrial fission and excessive mitophagy in AECs. Furthermore, citrate^mt directly interacted with FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1) and promoted the interaction of FUNDC1 with dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), leading to excessive mitophagy-mediated necroptosis and thereby initiating and promoting ALI. Importantly, necroptosis induced by citrate^mt accumulation was inhibited in FUNDC1-knockout AECs. We show that citrate^mt accumulation is a novel target for protection against ALI involving necroptosis.Subject terms: Infection, Respiratory tract diseases     

Design,Synthesis and Bioactivity of Novel Low Bee-Toxicity Compounds Based on Flupyrimin

Neonicotinoids are important insecticides for controlling aphids in agriculture. Growing research suggested that neonicotinoid insecticides are a key factor causing the decline of global pollinator insects, such as bees. Flupyrimin (FLP) is a novel nicotinic insecticide with unique biological properties and no cross-resistance, and is safe for pollinators. Using FLP as the lead compound, a series of novel compounds were designed and synthesized by replacing the amide fragment with a sulfonamideone. Their structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS spectra. Bioassay results showed that compound 2j had good insecticidal activity against Aphis glycines with an LC₅₀ value of 20.93 mg/L. Meanwhile, compound 2j showed significantly lower acute oral and contact toxicity to Apis mellifera. In addition, compound 2j interacted well with the protein in insect acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP). The molecular docking on honeybee nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) indicated that the sulfonamide group of compound 2j did not form a hydrogen bond with Arg173 of the β subunit, which conforms to the reported low bee-toxicity conformation. In general, target compound 2j can be regarded as a bee-friendly insecticide candidate.     

实践十号卫星项目——热毛细对流振荡特征的地面研究

上部开口环形液池在水平径向温度梯度作用下会出现内部温度和自由面的振荡,本文研究了二者发生的临界条件.环形液池内柱加热外壁制冷,以0.5℃/min的速率线性升温得到水平径向温差,T型热电偶测量液层内部单点温度,高精度激光位移传感器测量液层自由面某点形变.随两端温差增加,当超过某一临界温度ΔTct时,开始出现振荡.实验结果表明,对同一种硅油,两种振荡的临界条件随液层厚度具有相同的变化趋势.对不同普朗特(Prandtl)数(Pr)的硅油,振荡临界条件临界马兰哥尼数(Macr)随着邦德数(Bo)的增加而变大.本文工作是中国科学院科学先导专项SJ-10返回式科学实验卫星项目-热毛细对流表面波空间实验研究的地面研究结果,该工作为空间实验提供前期的基础科学研究数据和实验保障.     

基于Visco-SCRAM模型的侵彻装药点火研究

针对弹体侵彻过程中装药的安全性,基于黏弹性统计裂纹力学(visco-statistical crack mechanics, Visco-SCRAM)模型计算装药整体温升、装药裂纹摩擦生热以及弹体装药与壳体摩擦生热,考察这3种机制对装药温升的贡献以及侵彻装药的点火机制,得到了装药点火对应的弹体侵彻临界初始速度。结果表明：(1)装药与弹体内壁摩擦生热对装药温升有一定贡献,随着弹体初始撞击速度的提高,摩擦生热对温升的贡献逐渐增大;(2)黏性、损伤和绝热体积变化导致的装药整体温升对装药点火的作用有限; (3)裂纹摩擦形成热点是侵彻装药点火的物理机制;(4)采用Visco-SCRAM模型可预测低强度、长脉冲载荷作用下的装药点火响应。

     

原子尺度摩擦行为的分子动力学模拟

应用大规模分子动力学方法,模拟了具有原子级光滑和原子级粗糙形貌的刚性球形探头与弹性平面基体的干摩擦行为,研究了无/有粘附条件下的载荷与摩擦力、载荷与真实接触面积,以及摩擦力与真实接触面积之间的关系,对纳米尺度下的摩擦行为规律进行了分析.几种系统的真实接触面积-载荷关系都与相应的连续力学接触模型定性的一致,它们分别是Hertz光滑表面接触模型、Greenwood-Williamson粗糙表面接触模型和Mau-gis Dugdale粘着接触模型.无论是由光滑表面还是粗糙表面构成的摩擦系统,在无粘附条件下摩擦力与载荷成正比,而摩擦力与真实接触面积之间没有一个简单的关系;在粘附条件下摩擦力与真实接触面积成正比,而摩擦力与载荷之间表现为Maugis Dugdale模型预测的亚线性关系.研究表明,当表面作用从无粘附到粘附时,控制摩擦力的决定因素从载荷转变为接触面积,摩擦行为从载荷控制摩擦转变为粘着控制摩擦.     

CCD相机对14 MeV和2.5 MeV中子瞬态响应特性

从理论上分析了中子在CCD相机拍摄图像中引起的瞬态干扰噪声的机理,并针对两种不同类型的CCD相机,在能量为14 MeV和2.5 MeV的低强度稳态中子源上开展了实验研究,分析了噪声特征与入射中子能量、入射角度、注量及CCD相机结构的关系。实验结果表明中子瞬态干扰噪声主要表现为脉冲噪声,且出现斑点现象,与理论分析结果相吻合。研究得出了噪声特征随入射中子注量变化的规律,比较了不同能量及不同入射角条件下的噪声特性,并分析了两种不同结构的CCD相机响应特性的差别。     

基于工业CT图像重构的网格模型的保特征简化方法

对基于工业CT图像重构的网格模型进行网格简化时,大多数现有网格模型简化算法会丢失特征,出现网格质量不好的问题。因此提出一种网格模型保特征简化方法,该方法用三角形折叠法对原始模型进行简化,当简化后模型的平均二面角角度误差达到允许误差后,再使用边折叠法对模型进行简化。在三角形折叠法中提出了利用被折叠三角形的法向量、各个顶点的高斯曲率及其在周边三角形上的投影确定该三角形的折叠点,利用局部体积误差与二面角角度误差的无因次化和确定折叠代价的方法;在边折叠法中提出了将二面角角度误差引入到二次误差测度（QEM）法的折叠代价中的改进QEM法。实验结果表明：与其他算法相比,该方法能够生成保特征、高质量、低几何误差的网格模型。