Nardoguaianone L Isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi Improved the Effect of Gemcitabine Chemotherapy via Regulating AGE Signaling Pathway in SW1990 Cells

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is known as “the king of cancers”. Currently, gemcitabine (GEM) as the clinical drug of choice for chemotherapy of advanced pancreatic cancer has poor drug sensitivity and ineffective chemotherapy. Nardoguaianone L (G-6) is a novel guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi DC., and it exhibits anti-tumor activity. Based on the newly discovered G-6 with anti-pancreatic cancer activity in our laboratory, this paper aimed to evaluate the potential value of the combination of G-6 and GEM in SW1990 cells, including cell viability, cell apoptosis, colony assay and tandem mass tags (TMT) marker-based proteomic technology. These results showed that G-6 combined with GEM significantly inhibited cell viability, and the effect was more obvious than that with single drug. In addition, the use of TMT marker-based proteomic technology demonstrated that the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway was activated after medication-combination. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assays were used to validate the proteomic results. Finally, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. In conclusion, G-6 combined with GEM induced an increase in ROS level and a decrease in MMP in SW1990 cells through the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, ultimately leading to apoptosis. G-6 improved the effect of GEM chemotherapy and may be used as a potential combination therapy for pancreatic cancer.     

A microconductometric biosensor based on lipase extracted from Candida rugosa for direct and rapid detection of organophosphate pesticides

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) have been intensively used as insecticides in agriculture; after entering the aquatic environment, they may affect a wide range of organisms. A conductometric enzymatic biosensor based on lipase extracted from Candida rugosa (CRL) has therefore been developed for the direct and rapid quantitative detection of organophosphate pesticides: diazinon, methyl parathion and methyl paraoxon in water. The biosensor signal and response time were obtained under optimum conditions, the enzyme being immobilised in the presence of gold nanoparticles. Under these conditions, the enzymatic biosensor was able to measure concentrations as low as 60 µg/L of diazinon, 26 µg/L of methyl parathion and 25 µg/L of methyl paraoxon very rapidly (response time: 3 min). Moreover, this CRL biosensor was not sensitive to interferences such as carbamates. It presented good storage stability for 21 days when kept at 4°C and it was successfully applied to real samples.     

Wood cellulignin as an alternative matrix for enzyme immobilization

The objective of this work was to select an efficient methodology for preparing active samples of Candida rugosa lipase immobilized in wood cellulignin, to be applied in hydrolysis and ester reactions. For this purpose, lipase was immobilized in the matrix by physical adsorption (pure cellulignin) and covalent binding (activated cellulignin with glutaraldeyde or carbonyldiimidazole [CDI]) in the presence or absence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) (Molecular mass of 1500 Daltons) as stabilizing agent. The activating agent and the presence of PEG-1500 in the immobilization procedure showed a strong influence on enzyme retention in the support. The values for enzyme retention ranged from 20 to 68%, and the highest yield was obtained when the enzyme was immobilized in cellulignin activated with CDI in the presence of PEG-1500. This immobilized derivative presented high hydrolytic (193.27 μM/[mg·min]) and synthetic (522.92 μM/[g·min]) activities when compared with those obtained by other techniques. The superiority of this immobilized system was confirmed by additional analyses, such as infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis, which demonstrated an appropriate enzyme fixation and the highest level of protein incorporation in the support. Further information on the immobilized derivative was obtained by assessing the recycle potential in both aqueous and nonaqueous media.     

Biocatalysis for C–S bond formation: Porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) catalysed thiolysis/hydrothiolation reactions in sole water

In this paper, a biocatalytic route is described wherein PPL, lipase from porcine pancreas, in conjunction with water on reaction with different thiophenols and styrene oxides undergo thiolysis with C-S bond formation without the use of any metal catalysts, oxidants, bases, additives or organic solvents towards formation of β-hydroxysulfides in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity at room temperature. Furthermore, PPL also facilitates thiophenols to undergo hydrothiolation with styrenes or phenylacetylenes in sole water and thus forming linear thioethers or vinylsulfides respectively via C–S bond formation. In addition to the straightforward and atom-efficient protocol, a gram-scale synthesis of β-hydroxysulfide and recyclability for three consecutive cycles without decrease in efficiency of PPL make our biocatalytic protocol for constructing C–S bond highly valuable from both environmental and economic viewpoints than traditional chemical practices.     

Enzymatic degradations of copolymers of L-lactide with cyclic carbonates

Syntheses and biodegradation of random copolymers of L -lactide (L -LA) with trimethylene carbonate (TMC), 1,1-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (1,1-DTMC) and 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (2,2-DTMC) were investigated at various monomer ratios using SmMe(C₅Me₅)₂THF as an initiator at 80 °C for 24 h in toluene. Enzymatic degradation of these polymers were performed using cholesterol esterase, lipoprotein lipase, and proteinase K. Poly(TMC) was effectively biodegraded by cholesterol esterase and lipoprotein lipase, while poly(2,2-DTMC) and all the copolymers were hardly degraded using these enzymes. Biodegradations of poly(L -LA-co-TMC) (97:3) and poly(L -LA-co-2,2,DTMC) (95:5) show rapid degradations using TES buffer, a compost and proteinase K. The physical properties of these copolymers were also examined.

Enzymatic degradation of L -LA/2,2-DTMC copolymers by proteinase K in Tricine buffer (pH 8.0) at 37 °C: a 98:2, b 82:18, c 100:0, d 66:34, e 34:66, f 0:100.     

Improving Catalytic Performance of Burkholderiacepacia Lipase by Chemical Modification with Functional Ionic Liquids

Various imidazolium and choline-based functional ionic liquids(ILs) comprising different cations and anions were grafted onto Burkholderiacepacia lipase(BCL) through surface amino acids coupling. The catalytic activity, thermostability, organic solvent tolerance and adaptability to temperature and pH changes of the modified BCL were then evaluated in olive oil hydrolysis reaction. The results showed that different combinations of cations and anions in ILs had important influence on the catalytic performance of the modified lipases. BCL modified with IL[Choline] [H₂PO₄] was the most improved lipase, in which increases by 1.2 folds in relative activity, 2.5 folds in typical proton solvent(10% methanol, volume fraction), and 1.4 folds in thermostability(after incubation at 70℃ for 2 h) were achieved in relative toits native form. BCL modified with[HOOCEPEG₃₅₀IM] [BF₄] had higher optimal tempe-rature and pH, and better thermosability compared with the native and other modified BCLs. The conformational changes of BCLs were also confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Happy experience of a medical doctor curing from pancreatic cancer —A 60-day diary—

Pancreatic cancer was found by an abdominal CT scan in a medical doctor, the author of this article, before the appearance of any symptoms. After considering all the imaging findings including the CT, MRI, and PET, a diagnosis was made. He was admitted in the University of Tokyo Hospital on the 14th day after the CT finding. On the 18th day, the operation was successfully performed, and no tumor invading to adjacent tissue was seen. On the 29th day, 11th day after the operation, he left the hospital with a drain still in place to excrete abdominal exudation. The remaining drain was finally removed on the 60th day, and the treatment by the surgeon was completed. The chronological events that occurred during these 60 days are described in diary form. There is nothing superior to early detection and early treatment in the fight against cancer. He recommends everybody to receive periodical medical examinations before praying for good luck.     

Comparative Analysis of the Antitumor Activity of Cis- and Trans-Resveratrol in Human Cancer Cells with Different p53 Status

Resveratrol, a natural plant phytoalexin, is produced in response to fungal infection or− UV irradiation. It exists as an isomeric pair with cis- and trans-conformation. Whereas multiple physiological effects of the trans-form, including a pronounced anti-tumoral activity, are nowadays elucidated, much less knowledge exists concerning the cis-isomer. In our work, we analyzed the antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties of cis-resveratrol in four different human tumor entities in direct comparison to trans-resveratrol. We used human cell lines as tumor models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; HepG2, Hep3B), colon carcinoma (HCT-116, HCT-116/p53^(−/−)), pancreatic carcinoma (Capan-2, MiaPaCa-2), and renal cell carcinoma (A498, SN12C). Increased cytotoxicity in all investigated tumor cells was observed for the trans-isomer. To verify possible effects of the tumor suppressor p53 on resveratrol-induced cell death, we used wild type and p53-deleted or -mutated cell lines for every tested tumor entity. Applying viability and cytotoxicity assays, we demonstrated a differential, dose-dependent sensitivity towards cis- or trans-resveratrol among the respective tumor types.     

脂肪酶仿生固定化及性质

将仿生钛化过程用于脂肪酶固定化,研究了该过程中工艺条件对脂肪酶固定化的影响及固定化脂肪酶的性质.结果表明：0.5 mL浓度8 mg/mL精蛋白诱导剂、0.5 mL浓度6 mg/mL脂肪酶与1 mL,0.25 mol/L钛前驱体（Ti-BALDH）在pH 7.5,0.05 mol/L磷酸盐缓冲液为反应介质的条件下,脂肪酶...     

假丝酵母和白地霉的原生质体融合研究

对影响假丝酵母和白地霉原生质体制备与再生的因素:菌龄、破壁酶的种类和浓度、酶解时间、脱壁促进剂、渗透压稳定剂进行了研究。在综合比较原生质体制备率和再生率基础上,确定了制备原生质体的优化条件为:选用对数生长中期的菌体,用0.05%EDTA进行预处理,以0.7 mol/L NaCl为渗