Targeting tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3) protein against type 2 diabetes for the identification of potential inhibitors by in silico screening

Tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3) protein is inhibiting the insulin signaling by directly binding to the Akt/PKB leading to insulin resistance in the pancreas causing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hence, TRIB3 protein is considered as a possible drug target for the new lead identification against type 2 diabetes. In the present study, the homology model of TRIB3 protein was generated to explore its biochemical function and molecular interactions in the new lead identification. The energy minimization of TRIB3 protein was carried out and evaluated by validation protocols for structure reliability. The druggable binding site of TRIB3 protein was identified for the virtual screening and molecular docking studies. The Asinex-fragments library of 22634 small molecules was docked at TRIB3 active site using the Glide module to identify new chemical entities. A total of 9 molecules were identified as final hits from virtual screening and their potency was ranked using Glide score, Glide energies, and residues interactions. The 6 prioritized lead molecules were further optimized using AutoDock, Prime MM/GBSA, and percentage of human oral absorption for the identification of potential leads. The molecules L2, L5, and L6 are identified as lead inhibitors and are showing consistent interactions with key residues Glu194 and Lys196 of TRIB3 protein. The identified potential leads were analyzed by ADME properties for their drug likeness and HergIC50 values are predicted for the prevention of preclinical failures. The present work sheds light on the identification of the best lead molecules against TRIB3 protein and offers a route to design as novel potential drug candidates for T2DM.     

Identification of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine formula using HPLC coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap MS from high doses of medicinal materials to equivalent doses of formula: Study on Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules

High‐resolution mass spectrometry has been a powerful tool for the research of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas. However, the chromatographic peaks were difficult to discriminate clearly in data collection or analysis because of the complexity and the greatly different content of the constituents in TCM formula, which increased the difficulty of identification. In this study, a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry based strategy focused on the comprehensive identification of TCM formula constituents was developed. Identification was carried out from a high dose of medicinal materials to equivalent dose of formula. Meanwhile, combined with mass spectrometry data, chromatographic behaviors, reference standards and previous reports, the identification of constituents in Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules was described. 169 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively characterized, mainly including flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenic acids, triterpene saponins, lactones, sesquiterpenoids and some other compounds. Among them, 11 compounds were unambiguously confirmed by comparing with reference standards. These results demonstrated that the method was effective and reliable for comprehensive identification of constituents of Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules extracts and reveal the material basis of its therapeutic effects. This strategy might propose a research idea for the characterization of multi‐constituents in TCM formula.     

石油中间馏分中异构烷烃的分子识别

以石油加氢异构中间馏分及直馏柴油为研究对象,采用气相色谱/质谱联用技术对异构烷烃的分子形态进行了研究。实验表明各碳数异构烷烃组分在毛细管气相色谱柱上表现出明显的按取代基个数簇分离的现象。对异构烷烃的异构程度进行了表征,得到不同取代基个数的异构烷烃的保留指数(RI)定性表;同时根据化合物的质谱断裂规律,参考文献数据并结合碳数及沸点规律,对73种甲基取代的异构烷烃及10种生物标记的化合物单体进行了结构定性,并计算了保留指数。为在分子水平上认识航空煤油及柴油等石油中间馏分中的异构烷烃提供了基础。定性结果表明:在研究的加氢异构中间馏分中,异构烷烃主要由单取代基和二取代基的异构烷烃组成;而在直馏柴油中,单取代基异构烷烃和类异戊二烯类生物标记化合物丰度较高。     

新型除草剂丙酯草醚A环14C均标记合成和鉴定

以U-¹⁴C-对氨基苯甲酸为前体, 通过酯化、缩合、还原和取代四步反应获得了A环¹⁴C均标记的丙酯草醚, 用PHPLC对其进行纯化. 采用HPLC-MS(ESI), MS(EI)和¹H NMR验证了其结构, 通过HPLC(外标法)确定其化学纯度大于98%; HPLC-LSC和TLC-IIA两种方法分析表明, 其放射化学纯度大于98%, 其比活度为1.089±0.011 mCi/mmol. 合成的化学收率和放化收率均为53%.     

大鼠体内复方清开灵代谢物的分析

建立了复方中药清开灵代谢物的液相色谱-质谱/质谱分析方法。采用Phenomenex Luna C18色谱柱,以0.1%甲酸(A)及V(甲醇)∶和V(乙腈)=4∶1混合液(B)作流动相,采用梯度洗脱(0 min,B为0%;33min,B为60%;66 min,B为88%;75 min,B为100%),流速:0.5 mL/min,离子阱质谱负离子模式进行检测。通过差谱方法对可能的代谢物进行快速搜索。对发现的重要的代谢物根据分子量以及多级质谱的碎片离子数据,结合体内代谢反应规律,进行指认和结构鉴定。共鉴定了3个主要的代谢物,其中一个为黄芩苷的代谢物,另两个为绿原酸的代谢物,后两个代谢物未见文献报道。本实验为研究复方中药复杂体系体内的代谢产物提供了一个有效而且快捷的模式。     

Structure-activity relationship of Ca2+ channel blockers: A study using conformational analysis and chemometric methods

Summary A structure-activity relationship study has been done on 8 compounds with the activity known as Ca²⁺ channel blockers. Conformational analysis was carried out using a molecular mechanics method. The 3D-QSAR approach was used and the most polar functional groups present in all the molecules were considered. Eight interatomic distances are necessary to define the relative spatial disposition of these relevant molecular fragments. The structure-activity relationship between interatomic distances and biological activity was performed using statistic and chemometric methods. In particular, with Principal Component Analysis, it was possible to reduce the number of interatomic distances: only six of the eight distances are sufficient to describe the system in a useful way. A classification method was iteratively used to select the most probable conformations linked to the biological activity and to build a model able to classify conformations according to their biological behaviour. Cluster analysis on the active selected conformations subsequently allowed the identification of two different geometrical patterns for the active compounds. Finally the validity of the model was verified by correctly predicting the activity of other molecules not used in the construction of the model but possessing known activity.     

基于线上线下结合的无机定性分析实验教学

针对在实验室开设定性分析实验受到的制约,设计并开设了"无机化合物的性质与鉴定"虚拟实验,以作为常规无机定性分析实验的重要补充和扩展。虚拟实验和传统实验一并开设,构成线上线下结合的教学模式,完善知识体系,全面培养学生的无机定性分析能力。     

An Organoruthenium Anticancer Agent Shows Unexpected Target Selectivity For Plectin

Organometallic metal(arene) anticancer agents require ligand exchange for their anticancer activity and this is generally believed to confer low selectivity for potential cellular targets. However, using an integrated proteomics-based target-response profiling approach as a potent hypothesis-generating procedure, we found an unexpected target selectivity of a ruthenium(arene) pyridinecarbothioamide (plecstatin) for plectin, a scaffold protein and cytolinker, which was validated in a plectin knock-out model in vitro. Plectin targeting shows potential as a strategy to inhibit tumor invasiveness as shown in cultured tumor spheroids while oral administration of plecstatin-1 to mice reduces tumor growth more efficiently in the invasive B16 melanoma than in the CT26 colon tumor model.     

Characterization of nonlinear response in quasi-unidirectional E-glass fabric reinforced polypropylene composites under off-axis tensile loading

The present paper addressed the nonlinear stress-strain response in quasi-unidirectional E-glass fabric reinforced polypropylene composites under off-axis tensile loading. A series of monotonic and cyclic loading-unloading tensile tests were carried out. Both irreversible strains and stiffness degradation were observed in cyclic loading-unloading tests, which indicate that the nonlinear response of composites was induced by a combination of damage and plasticity. A coupled damage-plasticity model was employed to describe the nonlinear off-axis tensile stress-strain relation of materials. In this model, a plastic potential function together with associated plastic flow rule were adopted to assess the evolution of plastic strains. The damage variables in forms of stiffness degradation were expressed as a Weibull function of the effective stress. A full suite of model parameters was experimentally determined from cyclic loading-unloading tensile tests. The stress-strain curves predicted by this model agreed well with experimental results.     

Identification and quantitative analysis of physalin D and its metabolites in rat urine and feces by liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Physalin D is known to show extensive bioactivities. However, no excretion study has elucidated the excretion of physalin D and its metabolites. This study investigates the excretion of physalin D and its metabolites in rats. Metabolites in rat urine and feces were separated and identified by liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Furthermore, a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify physalin D, physalin D glucuronide, and physalin D sulfate in rat feces and urine after the intragastric administration of physalin D. The analyte showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (r  > 0.995), and the lower limit of quantification was 0.0532 μg/mL and 0.226 μg/g for urine and feces, respectively. Nine metabolites, including five phase I and four phase II metabolites, were identified and clarified after dosing in vivo. Only 4.0% of the gavaged dose, including physalin D and its phase II metabolites, was excreted in urine, whereas 10.8% was found in feces in the unchanged form. The results indicate that the extensive and rapid metabolism may be the main factors leading to the short half‐life of physalin D. These results can provide a basis for further studies on the structural modification and pharmacology of physalin D.