Modelling toxin effects on protein biosynthesis in eukaryotic cells

We present a rather generic model for toxin (ricin) inhibition of protein biosynthesis in eukaryotic cells. We also study reduction of the ricin toxic effects with application of antibodies against the RTB subunit of ricin molecules. Both species initially are delivered extracellularly. The model accounts for the pinocytotic and receptor-mediated toxin endocytosis and the intact toxin exocytotic removal out of the cell. The model also includes the lysosomal toxin destruction, the intact toxin motion to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for separation of its molecules into the RTA and RTB subunits, and the RTA chain translocation into the cytosol. In the cytosol, one portion of the RTA undergoes degradation via the ERAD. The other its portion can inactivate ribosomes at a large rate. The model is based on a system of deterministic ODEs. The influence of the kinetic parameters on the protein concentration and antibody protection factor is studied in detail.     

A viologen-urea-based anion receptor： Colorimetric sensing of dicarboxylate anions

Compound 1 bearing urea and viologen groups has been designed and synthesized.It could be used as a colorimetric receptor for dicarboxylate anions due to the significant color changes of the solution upon the addition of dicarboxylates.More importantly,the color changes were related to the chain lengths of the dicarboxylates tested.UV-vis,’H NMR and HRMS studies demonstrated that receptor 1 utilized hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions to form 1:1 stoichiometry complexes with these anions.In addition,the generation of cation radical 1’ during the complexation process was also detected by EPR.     

Screening and identification of Caulis Sinomenii bioactive ingredients with dual‐target NF‐κB inhibition and β2‐AR agonizing activities

Caulis Sinomenii (CS) is a valuable traditional medicine in China. Its extract can act as an anti‐inflammatory agent and a vascular smooth muscle relaxant. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we developed a simple dual‐target method based on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry combined with a dual‐target bioactive screening assay for anti‐inflammatory and antispasmodic activities to characterize the chemical structure of various bioactive compounds of CS rapidly. Seven potential NF‐κB inhibitors were identified, including laudanosoline‐1‐O‐xylopyranose, 6‐O‐methyl‐laudanosoline‐1‐O‐glucopyranoside, menisperine, sinomenine, laurifoline, magnoflorine and norsinoacutin. Furthermore, IL‐6 and IL‐8 assays confirmed the anti‐inflammatory effects of these potential NF‐κB inhibitors, in which laudanosoline‐1‐O‐d ‐xylopyranose and menisperine were revealed as novel NF‐κB inhibitors. Among the seven identified alkaloids, three potential β₂‐adrenergic receptor agonists, including sinomenine, magnoflorine and laurifoline, were characterized using a luciferase reporter system to measure for the activity of β₂‐adrenergic receptor agonists. Finally, sinomenine, magnoflorine and laurifoline were identified not only as potential NF‐κB inhibitors but also as potential β₂‐adrenegic receptor agonists, which is the first time this has been reported. Molecular dynamic simulation and docking results suggest that the three dual‐bioactive constituents could not only inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK strain‐induced inflammatory responses via a negative regulation of the Braf protein that participates in MAPK signaling pathway but also activate the β₂‐adrenegic receptor. These results suggest that CS extract has dual signaling activities with potential clinical application as a novel drug for asthma.     

Screening potential antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor from Marsdenia tenacissima via cell membrane chromatography model assisted by HPLC–ESI–IT–TOF–MS

Marsdenia tenacissima, or Tongguanteng in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese herb and has a broad application in clinical practice for its pharmacological effects of treating asthma, pneumonia, tonsillitis, pharyngitis tumors, etc. However, few studies have reported the screening of the active components of this medicine for tumor therapy. In this work, a two‐dimensional analytical system was developed to screen antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from M. tenacissima. A fraction was retained on the EGFR cell membrane chromatography (CMC) column, separated and identified as tenacissoside G (TG), tenacissoside H (TH) and tenacissoside I (TI) by two‐dimensional HPLC–IT–TOF–MS. Molecular docking and 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were carried out to assess the activity of TS (including TG, TH and TI). Molecular docking results showed that the binding mode of TS on EGFR is similar to that of gefitinib. The MTT assay demonstrated that gefitinib and TS (especially TI) could inhibit the growth of EGFR highly expressed cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner in the range of 5–50 μmol/L. In conclusion, the two‐dimensional EGFR/CMC–HPLC–IT–TOF–MS system could be a useful approach in drug discovery from traditional Chinese medicines for searching for potential antitumor candidates.     

New nanomolar negative modulators of AMPA receptors

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Perimidine-based synthetic receptors for determination of copper(II) in water solution

Perimidine-based chelators 1 and 2 were prepared, and their structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MS spectroscopy and elemental analysis. These compounds were studied as specific synthetic receptors for the recognition of transition metal ions. They exhibited high affinity and selectivity towards Cu(II) ions. The conditional binding constants, linear dynamic range and detection limit were determined by UV–vis spectroscopy. These parameters demonstrated high potential of the prepared synthetic receptors for the recognition and determination of Cu(II) ions. The minimum detectable concentrations of Cu(II) ions for the synthetic receptors 1 and 2 were 270 and 75 nM (R ² = 0.9915 and 0.9964) in aqueous medium (water/DMSO; 99:1 (v/v)), respectively.     

UV–vis and fluorescence detection by receptors based on an isophthalamide bearing a phenylethynyl group

We have successfully prepared 5-(2-phenylethynyl)isophathalilc acid as a signaling unit and the corresponding derivatives for an anion receptor 2 and a barbiturate receptor 4. Receptor 2 showed characteristic UV–vis changes and dramatic fluorescence quenching upon the addition of anions and receptor 4 showed UV–vis and an OFF-ON fluorescence changes upon the addition of dibutylbarbituric acid based on the diphenylethyne moiety.