Frog albumin is expressed in skin and characterized as a novel potent trypsin inhibitor

A novel potent trypsin inhibitor was purified and characterized from frog Bombina maxima skin. A full-length cDNA encoding the protein was obtained from a cDNA library constructed from the skin. Sequence analysis established that the protein actually comprises three conserved albumin domains. B. maxima serum albumin was subsequently purified, and its coding cDNA was further obtained by PCR-based cloning from the frog liver. Only two amino acid variations were found in the albumin sequences from the skin and the serum. However, the skin protein is distinct from the serum protein by binding of a haem b (0.95 mol/mol protein). Different from bovine serum albumin, B. maxima albumin potently inhibited trypsin. It bound tightly with trypsin in a 1: 1 molar ratio. The equilibrium dissociation constants (K-D) obtained for the skin and the serum proteins were 1.92 x 10(-9) M and 1.55 x 10(-9) M, respectively. B. maxima albumin formed a noncovalent complex with trypsin through an exposed loop formed by a disulfide bond (Cys(53)-Cys(62)), which comprises the scissile bond Arg(58)(P-1)-His(59)(P-1'). No inhibitory effects on thrombin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and subtilisin were observed under the assay conditions. Immunohistochemical study showed that B. maxima albumin is widely distributed around the membranes of epithelial layer cells and within the stratum spongiosum of dermis in the skin, suggesting that it plays important roles in skin physiological functions, such as water economy, metabolite exchange, and osmoregulation.

A novel antimicrobial peptide from amphibian skin secretions of Odorrana grahami

A novel antimicrobial peptide named odorranain-NR was identified from skin secretions of the diskless odorous frog, Odorrana grahami. It is composed of 23 amino acids with an amino acid sequence of GLLSGILGAGKHIVCGLTGCAKA. Odorranain-NR was classified into a novel family of antimicrobial peptide although it shared similarity with amphibian antimicrobial peptide family of nigrocin. Odorranain-NR has an unusual intramolecular disulfide-bridged hexapeptide segment that is different from the intramolecular disulfide-bridged heptapeptide segment at the C-terminal end of nigrocins. Furthermore, the -AKA fragment at the C-terminal of odorranain-NR is also different from nigrocins. Three different cDNAs encoding two odorranain-NR precursors and only one mature odorranain-NR was cloned from the cDNA library of the skin of O. grahami. This peptide showed antimicrobial activities against tested microorganisms except Escherichia coli (ATCC25922). Its antimicrobial mechanisms were investigated by transmission electron microcopy. odorranain-NR exerted its antimicrobial functions by various means depending on different microorganisms. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Two serine protease inhibitors from the skin secretions of the toad, Bombina microdeladigitora

Two serine protease inhibitors (named BMSI 1 and BMSI 2, respectively) were identified from the skin secretions of the toad, Bombina microdeladigitora. The cDNAs encoding BMSIs were cloned from a cDNA library prepared from the toad skin. The deduced complete amino acid sequences of BMSIs indicate that mature BMSI1 and BMSI2 are composed of 60 amino acids including 10 half-cystines to form 5 disulfide bridges. A FASTA search in the databanks revealed that BMSIs exhibit sequence similarity with other serine protease inhibitors from amphibians of the genus Bombina. BMSI1 potently inhibited trypsin and thrombin with a K(i) value of 0.02 mu M and 0.15 mu M, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that all serine protease inhibitors from five amphibians of the genus Bombina share highly conserved primary structures. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Purification and cloning of a novel C-type lectin-like protein with platelet aggregation activity from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom

TMVA, a novel C-type lectin-like protein that induces platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, was purified from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus. It consists of two subunits, alpha (15,536 Da) and beta (14,873 Da). The mature amino acid sequences of the a (135 amino acids) and beta subunits (123 amino acids) were deduced from cloned cDNAs. Both of the sequences show great similarity to C-type lectin-like venom proteins, including a carbohydrate recognition domain. The cysteine residues of TMVA are conserved at positions corresponding to those of flavocetin-A and convulxin, including the additional Cys135 in the alpha subunit and Cys3 in the beta subunit. SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry analysis and amino acid sequence showed that native TMVA exists as two convertible multimers Of (alphabeta)(2) and (alphabeta)(4) with molecular weights of 63,680 and 128,518 Da, respectively. The (alphabeta)(2) complex is stabilized by an interchain disulfide bridge between the two alphabeta-heterodimers, whereas the stabilization of the (alphabeta)(4) complex seems to involve non-covalent interactions between the (alphabeta)(2) complexes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new protein structure of P-II class snake venom metalloproteinases: it comprises metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains

A new metalloproteinase-disintegrin, named Jerdonitin, was purified from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom with a molecular weight of 36 kDa on SDS-PAGE. It dose-dependently inhibited ADP-induced human platelet aggregation with IC50 of 120 nM. cDNA cloning and sequencing revealed that Jerdonitin belonged to the class II of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) (P-II class). Different from other P-II class SVMPs, metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains of its natural protein were not separated, confirmed by internal peptide sequencing. Compared to other P-II class SVMPs, Jerdonitin has two additional cysteines (Cys219 and Cys238) located in the spacer domain and disintegrin domain, respectively. They probably form a disulfide bond and therefore the metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains cannot be separated by posttranslationally processing. In summary, comparison of the amino acid sequences of Jerdonitin with those of other P-II class SVMPs by sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, in conjunction with natural protein structure data, suggested that it was a new type of P-II class SVMPs. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interaction between human interleukin-16 and CD4 receptor of HIV-1

AIM: To study the interaction between human interleukin-16 (IL-16) and the receptor CD4 (T-lymphocyte differentiation antigen) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). METHODS: Two structurally con served regions (SCRs) of human IL-16 were built by the SYBYL/Biopolymer module using the corresponding transmembrane (TM) domain of human interleukin-1 (HIL-4) and HIL-2 as the templates. The coordinates for amino-terminal residue sequence, carboxyl-terminal residue sequences, and cytoplasm loops were generated using Biopolymer's LOOP SEARCH algorithm. RESULTS: HIL-16 first formed a homodimer, then contacted with CD4 dimer further forming a dimeric complex. Subsequently, the dimeric complex constructed the tetrameric complex by two disulfide bridges between the cysteines of HIL-16 (Cys31-Cys31). CONCLUSION: The interaction model is useful to propose the action mechanism of HIL-16 and is beneficial for rational designing of novel anti-HIV drugs.

Characterize dynamic conformational space of human CCR5 extracellular domain by molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation

The chemokine receptor CCR5 is the receptor for several chemokines and major coreceptor for R5 human immunodeficiency virus type-1 strains entry into cell. Three-dimensional models of CCR5 were built by using homology modeling approach and 1 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, because studies of site-directed mutagenesis and chimeric receptors have indicated that the N-terminus (Nt) and extracellular loops (ECLs) of CCR5 are important for ligands binding and viral fusion and entry, special attention was focused on disulfide bond function, conformational flexibility, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and solvent-accessible surface area of Nt and ECLs of this protein part. We found that the extracellular segments of CCR5 formed a well-packet globular domain with complex interactions occurred between them in a majority of time of MID simulation, but Nt region could protrude from this domain sometimes. The disulfide bond Cys20-Cys269 is essential in controlling specific orientation of Nt region and maintaining conformational integrity of extracellular domain. RMS comparison analysis between conformers revealed the ECL1 of CCR5 stays relative rigid, whereas the ECL2 and Nt are rather flexible. Solvent-accessible surface area calculations indicated that the charged residues within Nt and ECL2 are often exposed to solvent. Integrating these results with available experimental data, a two-step gp120-CCR5 binding mechanism was proposed. The dynamic interaction of CCR5 extracellular domain with gp120 was emphasized. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of hexachlorobenzene on antioxidant status of liver and brain of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)-induced oxidative damages have been published in rats while the effects have not yet been reported in fishes. Juvenile common carps (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to waterborne HCB from 2 to 200 mu g l(-1) for 5, 10 or 20 days. Liver and brain were analyzed for various parameters of oxidative stress. There were no significant changes of glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver after 5 or 10 days exposure, whereas obvious drops were observed at higher concentrations after 20 days exposure. Significant decreases of GSH content and SOD activity in brain were found during all the exposure days. In brain, HCB also significantly elevated the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation products), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and activities of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR), and inhibited activities of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). The results clearly demonstrated that environmentally possible level of HCB could result in oxidative stress in fish and brain was a sensitive target organ of HCB toxicity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oligonucleotide ligation assay-based DNA chip for multiplex detection of single nucleotide polymorphism

An oligonucleotide ligation assay-based DNA chip has been developed to detect single nucleotide polymorphism. Synthesized nonamers, complementary to the flanking sequences of the mutation sites in target DNA, were immobilized onto glass slides through disulfide bonds on their 5' terminus. Allele-specific pentamers annealed adjacent to the nonamers on the complementary target DNA, containing 5'-phosphate groups and biotin labeled 3'-ends, were mixed with the target DNA in tube. Ligation reactions between nonamers and pentamers were carried out on chips in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. Ligation products were directly visualized on chips through enzyme-linked assay. The effect of G:T mismatch at different positions of pentamers on the ligation were evaluated. The results showed that any mismatch between pentamer and the target DNA could lead to the decrease of ligation, which can be detected easily. The established approach was further used for multiplex detection of mutations in rpoB gene of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

端基官能化共轭齐聚物的设计与合成

和共轭聚合物相比，单分散共轭齐聚物具有结构确定、易提纯等优点，不仅是建立共轭体系结构与性能关系的最佳模型，而且是一类高纯度光电子材料，还是构造具有规整结构嵌段共聚物和超分子体系的理想构造单元。鉴于基于芴单元的共轭齐聚物与聚合物具有优异的光电性能，引入不同端基能够有效调节共轭齐聚物的性能，本论文以端基官能化齐聚芴为研究对象，设计与合成了具有不同端基结构的系列单分散齐聚芴，研究了它们基本的物理化学性质，主要成果与创新点如下： 1、利用Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons反应、Wittig反应和Heck偶联反应，交替引入极性、非极性反应端基，成功解决了发散法合成较长单分散共轭齐聚物过程中产物难以提纯的技术问题，合成了系列芴撑乙烯撑共轭齐聚物。其中，最长的齐聚物含11个芴单元，光谱外推得到的有效共轭长度可达19个重复单元。DSC和偏光显微镜研究表明，芴单元数大于5的齐聚物可形成向列型液晶相。含7个芴单元以上的齐聚物可用于制备有机发光二极管，含11个芴单元的齐聚物电致发光效率是相应聚合物的5倍。 2、通过Hagigara-Sonogashira偶联、Diels-Alder环加成等反应合成了一系列端基为刚性的苯乙炔基和五苯基苯的单分散齐聚芴。但典型Scholl反应条件不能实现完全氧化脱氢，获得六苯并晕苯封端的齐聚芴。光谱研究表明苯乙炔基的引入导致吸收光谱和荧光光谱有1-2 nm的红移。五苯基苯结构的引入能显著提高齐聚芴的Tg，从而提高齐聚物的形态稳定性。 3、利用Yamamoto反应，采用端基溴代的齐聚芴大分子单体聚合结合制备色谱分离，成功地制备了分子量超过20000 Da的单分散共轭聚合物，说明大分子单体聚合结合制备色谱分离制备单分散共轭聚合物是可行的。 4、通过Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons反应合成一系列端基为三苯胺乙烯撑的单分散齐聚芴，其中，最长的齐聚物含9个芴单元。光谱研究表明，随芴单元数的增加，两个三苯胺乙烯撑端基间共轭作用显著减弱，最大吸收波长蓝移；当芴的单元数≥3时，最大发射波长均位于450 nm，和聚芴和齐聚芴相比，这类共轭齐聚物的蓝光发光峰位更佳。电化学研究表明三苯胺乙烯撑单元的氧化还原过程不受齐聚芴单元长度的影响，该封端齐聚芴的HOMO能级主要是由三苯胺乙烯撑单元决定。 关键词：端基官能化，齐聚芴，单分散共轭聚合物

Friedel-crafts反应合成芳香环状齐聚物与开环聚合

芳香环状低聚物的合成是二十世纪八十年代末发展起来的研究领域，其特有的环状结构和可进行可控的开环聚合决定了芳香环状低聚物具有广阔的应用前景。本文从研究单体结构与成环反应的关系出发，开拓了一种合成芳香环状聚醚酮的新方法—改进的Friedel-Crafte反应法，采用该方法成功地合成了一系列新型结构的大环化合物，并首次利用流变仪对开环聚合过程中的流变行为进行了较为系统的观测。根据acoson-Stockmayer环化理论，应用基质辅助激光解吸离子化飞行时间质谱（MAIDL-TOF MS），对一系列芳香环状低聚物组分分布进行分析，研究了芳香环状低聚物的产率、组分分布与单体结构的关系。结果表明：芳香聚醋、聚麟酸醋及芳香聚醚环状低聚物系列中，InCn与1nn呈良好的线性关系，符合J-S理论分布。环状齐聚物的产率与组分分布受单体的中心键角影响，单体的中心键角在100°～120°范围内，其中心键角愈小，γ值愈大。γ值愈大，反应产物中小环化合物的含量越高，而小环化合物的含量的增加是高产率地合成环状齐聚物的前提之一。在此理论的指导下，通过对单体结构的模拟，高选择性地合成了一种新型结构的芳香环状聚硫醋二聚体，对其结构进行了精确的表征，在不同溶剂中得到了该环状二聚体的单晶，单晶X闪ray衍射表明该二聚体为环张力极小的大环化合物。基于上述理论，以有利于成环的邻苯二酞氯为酞基化试剂，对Friedel-Crafts酞基化反应在合成芳香环状齐聚物中的应用进行了系统研究，开拓了一种合成芳香环状预聚体的新方法—改进的Friedel-Crafts酞基化反应法。发现反应体系中Lewis碱的存在有利于选择性地形成环状产物。并进一步确定反应最佳条件为： Lewis碱和催化剂Alcl3与富电单体的摩尔比分别为1.2和3.4; 1,2-二氯乙烷为本反应的最佳溶剂；等当量的反应单体要求缓慢滴加到形成“假高稀”的溶剂体系中；Lewis碱NMP，DMF等都适用于本反应体系。在此优化条件下，以邻苯二酞氯和间苯二酞氯为酞基化试剂，室温下，合成了一系列芳香环状聚醚酮酮、聚醚酮、聚醚矾酮等新型结构的环状齐聚物，利用MALDI-TOF-MS，NMR，GPC，FTIR，DSC，元素分析等手段对环状结构进行了精确的表征；DSC分析表明含邻苯二拨基结构的环状齐聚物为无定型材料；部分产物的产率高达90％。在阴离子引发剂联苯双酚钾存在下，制备的环状齐聚物成功进行了熔融开环聚合，得到了相应结构的高分子量的线性开环聚合产物。其中，含邻苯二拨基结构的环状聚醚酮酮、环状聚醚酮矾的开环聚合产物的比浓粘度分别达到0.42dL／g，0.36 dL／g（0.5％的DMF溶液，25士0.1℃）；四种含间苯二锁基结构的环状齐聚物的开环聚合产物的Tg与常规亲电沉淀反应合成的线性高聚物的Tg相同。含侧甲基的开环聚合产物的Tg比对应的开环聚合的产物的Tg高约5℃。研究结果表明用亲电缩聚方法制备芳香环状聚醚酮与亲核缩聚法相比较，具有成本低廉、反应条件温和丫产率高、易于大规模制备等优势，开拓了一种制备环状化合物的方法。自从美国G.E.公司利用环状聚碳酸酷的开环聚合制备线性聚碳酸醋以来，对芳香环状低聚物的开环聚合过程的研究仅局限在由GPC监测反应某一时刻的产物的分子量，而缺乏对与应用更为接近的开环聚合中的粘度的变化的研究。本文以界面缩聚反应高产率地合成芳香环状双酚A聚酷二聚体为对象，研究了流变仪在开环聚合中的应用。利用流变仪对环状二聚体开环聚合过程进行了较为系统的观测，研究了不同条件下的开环聚合中的流变行为，结果表明，开环聚合存在引发期，而且在引发期，熔融体的粘度低于10Pa·S，超过引发期，粘度呈指数级增长。引发期的长短可以通过引发剂的种类、浓度、开环聚合的温度等条件进行有效地控制。芳香环状聚酷二聚体与环状聚碳酸醋的开环共聚合的流变行为的研究结果表明：开环共聚合可以降低开环聚合的温度，调整引发期，是提高聚合产物的分子量的有效途径。用流变仪对以改进的Friedel-Crafts反应合成的芳香环酮齐聚物的开环聚合中的流变行为进行了监控。在330℃，剪切速率为0.05S-l下，熔融的环状齐聚物的粘度为2.0Pa·S。通过对开环聚合的反应条件的控制，同样实现了开环聚合的可控，通过改变其开环聚合的引发期的长短及粘度的变化规律，可、适应不。条一定为加工设计与成型加工提供理论指导和模型设计，必将进一步推进开环聚合工 艺向应用方向的发展。

Decay dynamics of excited CS2 and NH3 investigated by femtosecond laser

By using the home-made femtosecond laser system and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, the decay dynamics of excited carbon disulfide (CS2) and ammonia (NH3) are investigated in real time by pump-probe multiphoton ionization detection. The estimated lifetime constant of the NH3 (A) over tilde (1)A(2)' state (51+/-4 fs) agreed quite well with the literature report. For the first time, the decay lifetime constants of the NH3 (E) over tilde'(1)A(1)' state (937+/-93 fs), the CS2 (a) over tilde (3)A(2) state (153+/-10 fs), and the CS2 Rydberg state [(3)/(2)]6ssigma(g) ((3)Pi(g)) (948+/-23 fs) are obtained.

Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Highly Substituted Thiophene Library from 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

A faccile and efficient one-pot synthesis of highly substituted thiophenes has been developed and employed for the preparation of a small focused library. Treatment of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds 1 with CS2 in the presence of K2CO3 in DMF at room temperature, followed by stepwise addition of alkyl bromides 2 and methylene active bromides 3, provided via intramolecular cyclization 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted thiophenes 4 in yields of 77-94%. This protocol, combining construction and modification of the thiophene ring, increases the structural diversity of final products from readily available materials. A mechanism for the one-pot synthesis of thiophenes of type 4 has been proposed. A small focused library of thiophenes is prepared using the sequential addition of reagents to achieve unique substitution in the 2 and 5 position of the thiophene ring

Preparation and characterization of Gd2O3:Eu3+ luminescence nanotubes

The size controllable Gd2O3:Eu3+ luminescence nanotubes were successfully prepared using a simple method by coating gadolinium compounds on the carbon nanotubes and then firing the carbon nanotubes. The morphology of the obtained Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanotubes was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the obtained nanotubes have the outer diameters of similar to 100 nm, the inner diameters of similar to 50 nm, and the lengths of several tens of microns. The sizes of Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanotubes can be easily controlled by changing the reaction times and the concentration of reactants.