Astaxanthin and its Effects in Inflammatory Responses and Inflammation-Associated Diseases: Recent Advances and Future Directions

Astaxanthin is a natural lipid-soluble and red-orange carotenoid. Due to its strong antioxidant property, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and immune modulation, astaxanthin has gained growing interest as a multi-target pharmacological agent against various diseases. In the current review, the anti-inflammation mechanisms of astaxanthin involved in targeting for inflammatory biomarkers and multiple signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, Nrf2, NF-κB, ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, and JAK-2/STAT-3, have been described. Furthermore, the applications of anti-inflammatory effects of astaxanthin in neurological diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, hepatic and renal diseases, eye and skin disorders, are highlighted. In addition to the protective effects of astaxanthin in various chronic and acute diseases, we also summarize recent advances for the inconsistent roles of astaxanthin in infectious diseases, and give our view that the exact function of astaxanthin in response to different pathogen infection and the potential protective effects of astaxanthin in viral infectious diseases should be important research directions in the future.     

Pathway from N‐Alkylglycine to Alkylisonitrile Catalyzed by Iron(II) and 2‐Oxoglutarate‐Dependent Oxygenases

N‐alkylisonitrile, a precursor to isonitrile‐containing lipopeptides, is biosynthesized by decarboxylation‐assisted ‐N≡C group (isonitrile) formation by using N‐alkylglycine as the substrate. This reaction is catalyzed by iron(II) and 2‐oxoglutarate (Fe/2OG) dependent enzymes. Distinct from typical oxygenation or halogenation reactions catalyzed by this class of enzymes, installation of the isonitrile group represents a novel reaction type for Fe/2OG enzymes that involves a four‐electron oxidative process. Reported here is a plausible mechanism of three Fe/2OG enzymes, Sav607, ScoE and SfaA, which catalyze isonitrile formation. The X‐ray structures of iron‐loaded ScoE in complex with its substrate and the intermediate, along with biochemical and biophysical data reveal that ‐N≡C bond formation involves two cycles of Fe/2OG enzyme catalysis. The reaction starts with an Fe^IV‐oxo‐catalyzed hydroxylation. It is likely followed by decarboxylation‐assisted desaturation to complete isonitrile installation.     

Effects of nonlinearity of restoring springs on propulsion performance of wave glider

Nonlinear Dynamics - Wave glider is an unmanned surface vehicle that can directly convert wave energy into forward propulsion and fulfill long-term marine monitoring. A previous study suggested...     

Characterizing Plasma-exposed In0.52Al0.48As Surface Using Photoreflectance-, Raman-, and Photoluminescence Spectra Method

We have performed Photoreflectance (PR), Raman Scattering (RS), and Photoluminescence (PL) experiments to characterize the In_0.52Al_0.48As surface exposed to plasma by a gas mixture of CH₄/H₂/Ar, PR spectra indicate that RIE (plasma) causes defects such as nonradiative recombination centers, scattering centers, and defects leading to the decrease of signal intensity, broaden line width and red shift of the transitions by increasing the rf power. In the Raman scattering study, RIE causes defects against InAs-like and AlAs-like LO modes vibration. As the rf power increased, the maximum of two LO modes shifts towards lower frequency and the line shape becomes increasingly asymmetric. Also, the intensity degrades gradually by disorder and point defects with increasing rf power. The PL transition energies show a red-shift with increasing the rf power. In addition, the spectral feature broadens, and the intensity decreases with rf power higher than 200 w. The consistence of the PL, PR, and RS results indicate that these three methods can be used as sensitive probes to evaluate the near surface damage of the epilayer.     

Synthesis and tautomerism of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroaryl derivatives of benzimidazole

Benzimidazoles containing furyl and thienyl substituents at C-2 were prepared by condensation of o-phenylenediamine and corresponding carboxylic acids in the presence of polyphosphoric acid. The 2-heteroarylbenzimidazoles showed tautomerism in dimethyl sulfoxide solution while 2-phenylbenzimidazole did not. The tautomerism appeared to be taking place by intermolecular relay of protons between stacked molecules.     

Applications of esr techniques to the study of free radical processes and kinetics in acrylic polymerizations

Electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques have been applied to a detailed study of batch and semicontinuous emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate; butyl acrylate and styrene have been briefly studied. Quenching of samples from the polymerization reactor followed by ESR analysis are useful, but we have developed continuous flow techniques which are preferable in many cases. ESR techniques can provide valuable information relating to the nature of free radical reactions, the concentration of propagating free radicals, and the kinetic processes in these reactions. Direct ESR analysis is most valuable but is not applicable to all systems. Spin trapping techniques can be useful for systems not accessible by direct analysis.     

Coordinated pair chain folding model for solution-grown polyethylene single crystal

A new regular chain folding model, namely the “coordinated pair chain folding model” (CPCFM) is proposed to revive the consideration that a polymer chain should fold regularly rather than randomly in solution-grown polyethylene single crystals.     

AQP4 Attenuated TRAF6/NFκB Activation in Acrylamide-Induced Neurotoxicity

Acrylamide (ACR) is present in high-temperature-processed high-carbohydrate foods, cigarette smoke, and industrial pollution. Chronic exposure to ACR may induce neurotoxicity from reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, the mechanisms underlying ACR-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. We studied 28-day subacute ACR toxicity by repeatedly feeding ACR (0, 15, or 30 mg/kg) to rats. We conducted RNA sequencing and Western blot analyses to identify differences in mRNA expression in the blood and in protein expression in the brain tissues, respectively, of the rats. AQP4 transient transfection was performed to identify potential associations with protein regulation. The rats treated with 30 mg/kg ACR exhibited hind-limb muscle weakness. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) expression was higher in the ACR-treated group than in the control group. ACR induced MMP-9 and AQP4 protein expression in the brain tissues of the rats, which subsequently presented with neurotoxicity. In the in vitro study, Neuro-2a cells were transiently transfected with AQP4, which inhibited MMP-9 and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) expression, and inhibited ACR induced expression of TRAF6, IκBα, and nuclear factor κB (NFκB). Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments, this study revealed that depressive symptoms associated with ACR-induced neurotoxicity are associated with downregulation of AQP4 and induction of the TRAF6 pathway.     

Antifungal Sesquiterpenoids from Michelia formosana Leaf Essential Oil against Wood-Rotting Fungi

Michelia formosana (Kanehira) Masamune is a broad-leaved species widespread in East Asia; the wood extract and its constituents possess antifungal activity against wood-decay fungi. Antifungal activities of leaf essential oil and its constituents from M. formosana were investigated in the present study. Bioassay-guided isolation was applied to isolate the phytochemicals from leaf essential oil. 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, and MS spectroscopic analyses were applied to elucidate the chemical structures of isolated compounds. Leaf essential oil displayed antifungal activity against wood decay fungi and was further separated into 11 fractions by column chromatography. Four sesquiterpenoids were isolated and identified from the active fractions of leaf essential oil through bioassay-guided isolation. Among these sesquiterpenoids, guaiol, bulnesol, and β-elemol have higher antifungal activity against brown-rot fungus Laetiporus sulphureus and white-rot fungus Lenzites betulina. Leaf essential oil and active compounds showed better antifungal activity against L. sulphureus than against L. betulina. The molecular structure of active sesquiterpenoids all contain the hydroxyisopropyl group. Antifungal sesquiterpenoids from M. formosana leaf essential oil show potential as natural fungicides for decay control of lignocellulosic materials.