Dysfunction of Shh signaling activates autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility in recurrent miscarriage

In early pregnancy, the placenta anchors the conceptus and supports embryonic development and survival. This study aimed to investigate the underlying functions of Shh signaling in recurrent miscarriage (RM), a serious disorder of pregnancy. In the present study, Shh and Gli2 were mainly observed in cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), Ptch was mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and Smo and Gli3 were expressed in both CTBs and STBs. Shh signaling was significantly impaired in human placenta tissue from recurrent miscarriage patients compared to that of gestational age-matched normal controls. VEGF-A and CD31 protein levels were also significantly decreased in recurrent miscarriage patients. Furthermore, inhibition of Shh signaling impaired the motility of JAR cells by regulating the expression of Gli2 and Gli3. Intriguingly, inhibition of Shh signaling also triggered autophagy and autolysosome accumulation. Additionally, knockdown of BECN1 reversed Gant61-induced motility inhibition. In conclusion, our results showed that dysfunction of Shh signaling activated autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility, which suggests the Shh pathway and autophagy as potential targets for RM therapy.Subject terms: Embryology, Endocrine reproductive disorders, Autophagosomes     

Elucidation of stabilizing pickering emulsion with jackfruit filum pectin-soy protein nanoparticles obtained by photocatalysis

There is still the dearth of reports of jackfruit filum pectin-based nanoparticles as the Pickering emulsifiers with respect to the applications in foods, cosmetics and medicines. So we fabricated soy protein-jackfruit filum pectin nanoparticles (SPP) by photocatalysis as Pickering emulsifier. Jackfruit filum pectin exhibited lower yield (17.31%), degree of methoxylation (15.53%), but higher galacuronic acid content (74.22%). A strong linkage between pectin and soy protein was formed by photocatalysis. The conjugated polymer could self-assemble into compact near globular nanoparticle. The mean size of SPP was larger than that of soy protein nanoparticles but smaller than that of soy protein-pectin complex without photocatalysis. Besides, the zeta potential of SPP was ?33.8?mV, significantly lower than that of soy protein nanoparticles but higher than that of control sample, further confirming that SPP surfaces were completely covered with pectin molecules. Compared with control sample, the three-phase contact angle increased from 42.7 to 90.6°, indicated that SPP could be developed as effective Pickering emulsifiers. The emulsions stabilized by SPP exhibited high thermal stability and excellent salt tolerance as well as good freeze-thaw stability in comparison with emulsions covered with control sample. These findings would provide a potential way of producing effective Pickering emulsifier.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

L-脯氨酸催化下甲基酮和1-芳基-2,2,2-三氟乙酮的不对称Aldol反应

Direct asymmetric aldol addition of methyl ketones to 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethanone and its ring-substituted derivatives was achieved using L-proline as a chiral promoter. Various optically active β-trifluoromethyl-β-hydroxy ketones were obtained in almost quantitative yields with moderate enantioselectivities up to 64 % ee.     

The first coordination polymers and hydrogen bonded networks containing octahedral Nb6 clusters and alkaline earth metal complexes

Three novel coordination polymers built of octahedral niobium cyanochloride clusters [Nb6Cl12(CN)6] and alkaline earth metal complexes have been prepared by reaction of aqueous solutions of (Me4N)4Nb6Cl18 and KCN with solutions of alkaline earth metal salts and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (1:2 molar ratio) in H2O/EtOH. The structures of [Ca(phen)2(H2O)3]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] x (phen)(EtOH)1.6 (1), [Ca(phen)2(H2O)2]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] x (phen)2 x 4H2O (2), and [Ba(phen)2(H2O)]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] (3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The three compounds were found to crystallize in the monoclinic system (space group Pn) with a = 11.5499(6) A, b = 17.5305(8) A, c = 21.784(1) A, beta = 100.877(1) degrees for 1; triclinic system (P1) with a = 12.609(4) A, b = 13.262(4) A, c = 16.645(5) A, alpha = 69.933(6) degrees, beta = 68.607(6) degrees, gamma = 63.522(5) degrees for 2; and a = 16.057(1) A, b = 16.063(1) A, c = 16.061(1) A, alpha = 86.830(1) degrees, beta = 64.380(1) degrees, gamma = 67.803(1) degrees for 3. Compounds 1 and 2 are built of cluster anions [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- trans-coordinated by two Ca2+ complexes via CN ligands to form neutral macromolecular units [Ca(phen)2(H2O)3]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] in 1 and [Ca(phen)2(H2O)2]2[Nb6Cl12(CN)6] in 2. Water of coordination and cyanide ligands form hydrogen bonded 3D and 2D frameworks for 1 and 2, respectively. The structure of 3 consists of [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- cluster anions and [Ba(phen)2(H2O)]2+ complexes linked through bridging cyanide ligands to form a neutral three-dimensional framework in which each barium complex is bound to three neighboring Nb6 clusters and each Nb6 cluster is linked to six Ba complexes.     

Real-time membrane fusion of giant polymer vesicles

Membrane fusion is very important for the formation of many complex organs in metazoans throughout evolution, such as muscles, bones, and placentae. Lipid vesicles (liposomes) are frequently used as model membranes to study the fusion process. This work demonstrates for the first time the real-time membrane fusion of giant polymer vesicles by directly displaying a series of high-resolution and real-time transformation images of individual vesicles. The fusion process includes the sequential steps of membrane contact, forming the center wall, symmetric expansion of fusion pore and complete fusion, undergoing the intermediates of "8" shape with a protruding rim at the contact site, peanut (pear) shape, and oblate sphere. The vesicle swells during fusion, and the fusing vesicle only deforms in the neck domain around the fusion pore in the lateral direction, which verifies the importance of the lateral tension on the fusion pore at the vesicle deformation level. The successful fusion of the synthetic and protein-free polymer vesicles reported here also supports that vesicle proximity combined with membrane perturbation suffices to induce membrane fusion, and that the protein is not necessary for the fusion process.     

Electrostatic layer-by-layer assembled carbon nanotube multilayer film and its electrocatalytic activity for O2 reduction

Multilayer films of shortened multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are homogeneously and stably assembled on glassy carbon electrodes with the layer-by-layer (LBL) method, based on electrostatic interaction of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and negatively charged and shortened MWNTs. The film assembly and electrochemical property as well as the electrocatalytic activity toward O2 reduction of the MWNT multilayer film are studied. Scanning electron microscopy, the quartz crystal microbalance technique, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry are used for characterization of film assembly. Experimental results revealed that film growth is uniform, almost with the same coverage of the MWNTs in each layer, and that the assembled MWNTs are mainly in the form of small bundles or single tubes on the electrodes. Electrochemical studies indicate that the LBL assembled MWNT films possess a remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward O2 reduction in alkaline media. This property, combined with the well-dispersed, porous and conductive features of the MWNT film illustrated with the LBL method, suggests the potential application of the MWNT film for constructing an efficient alkaline air electrode for energy conversions.     

Microenvironment Effect on the Location Distribution of Phenothiazine in Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide/<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Pentanol/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O W/O and Bi-continuous Microemulsions

In cetyltrimethylammonium/n-pentanol/H₂O W/O (W/O = water in oil microemulsion) mixtures and bi-continuous microemulsions, phenothiazine (PTZ) molecules exist in the membrane phase of the dispersion either with the N atom or with the S atom pointed toward the polar head of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTAB). Cyclic voltammetry has been used to investigate the effects of the compositions and structures of the microemulsions, pH, and the salt on the location distribution of PTZ in the membrane phase of the dispersion in CTAB/n-C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O W/O and bi-continuous microemulsions. The results show that the location distribution of PTZ in the membrane phase of the dispersion in microemulsions is mainly dependent on the hydrogen bond between PTZ and n-C₅H₁₁OH (or the counterion), and on the electrostatic attractive interaction between the N atom in PTZ and the polar head of CTAB.     

Determination of Volatile Carbonyl Compounds in Cigarette Smoke by LC-DAD

An effective and rapid method, use of a 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-treated Cambridge filter and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD), has been used for determination of low-molecular-mass carbonyl compounds in cigarette smoke. Different chromatographic mobile phases were investigated and the optimized mobile phase was a gradient prepared from water–acetonitrile–tetrahydrofuran (THF)–iso-propanol, 59:30:10:1 (v/v) (mixture A) and acetonitrile–water, 65:35 (v/v) (mixture B). Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, propionaldehyde, 2-butanone, and iso-butyraldehyde were separated completely in an 18 min chromatographic run. The concentration of acid, which has large effect on carbonyl-DNPH derivatization, was investigated by adding different volumes of perchloric acid. The DNPH-treated Cambridge filter was convenient and effective compared with conventional methods used to collect and derivatize the carbonyl compounds present in cigarette smoke. Validation of the method showed it to be effective, precise, accurate, and linear over the range of concentrations of analyzed.     

笃斯茎中六种无机元素含量分析

应用原子吸收光谱法测定了内蒙古地产的笃斯茎、叶中的Cu,Fe,Zn,Mn,Ca,Mg等六种人体必需微量元素及宏量元素的含量。从而为评价笃斯的品质及其药理、药效提供了具有一定价值的数据。