Anti-HIV-1 Activities of Hemslecins A and B

目的:研究从药用植物金佛山雪胆分离的雪胆素A和雪胆素B两个三萜类化合物的体外抗HIV活性.方法:应用合胞体抑制实验、p24抗原产生的抑制实验、慢性感染细胞和正常细胞间的细胞融合抑制实验等技术检测化合物的体外抗HIV-l活性;利用HIV-l逆转录酶、蛋白酶抑制实验,NCp7锌离子逐出实验探讨化合物的作用机制.结果:雪胆素A和雪胆素B在体外有较好的抑制HIV-l活性,其活性主要表现为:(1)抑制HIV-l诱导合胞体形成,EC50值分别为3.09 μg·mL-1和2.53μg·mL-1;(2)抑制HIV- 急性感染的C8106细胞p24抗原产生,EC50值分别为3.97μg·mL-1和18.90μg·mL-1;(3)抑制HIV-1 慢性感染H9与正常C8166细胞间融合,EC50分别为1.76μg·mL-1和11.95μg·mL-1.雪胆素A和雪胆素B对HIV-l逆转录酶、蛋白酶、NCp7锌离子逐出均没有抑制作用.雪胆素A对HIV-1整合酶有微弱的结合活性,而雪胆素B对HIV-1整合酶没有结合活性.在共培养实验中,雪胆素A和雪胆素B预处理C8166细胞组比未经预处理细胞组能够更有效的抑制HIV-l活性.结论:化合物雪胆素A和雪胆素B体外有较好的抗HIV-1活性,可能主要作用于HIV-1病毒进入细胞阶段.

The Genomes of Oryza sativa: A history of duplications

We report improved whole-genome shotgun sequences for the genomes of indica and japonica rice, both with multimegabase contiguity, or almost 1,000-fold improvement over the drafts of 2002. Tested against a nonredundant collection of 19,079 full-length cDNAs, 97.7% of the genes are aligned, without fragmentation, to the mapped superscaffolds of one or the other genome. We introduce a gene identification procedure for plants that does not rely on similarity to known genes to remove erroneous predictions resulting from transposable elements. Using the available EST data to adjust for residual errors in the predictions, the estimated gene count is at least 38,000 - 40,000. Only 2% - 3% of the genes are unique to any one subspecies, comparable to the amount of sequence that might still be missing. Despite this lack of variation in gene content, there is enormous variation in the intergenic regions. At least a quarter of the two sequences could not be aligned, and where they could be aligned, single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rates varied from as little as 3.0 SNP/kb in the coding regions to 27.6 SNP/kb in the transposable elements. A more inclusive new approach for analyzing duplication history is introduced here. It reveals an ancient whole-genome duplication, a recent segmental duplication on Chromosomes 11 and 12, and massive ongoing individual gene duplications. We find 18 distinct pairs of duplicated segments that cover 65.7% of the genome; 17 of these pairs date back to a common time before the divergence of the grasses. More important, ongoing individual gene duplications provide a never-ending source of raw material for gene genesis and are major contributors to the differences between members of the grass family.

The sequence and de novo assembly of the giant panda genome

Using next-generation sequencing technology alone, we have successfully generated and assembled a draft sequence of the giant panda genome. The assembled contigs (2.25 gigabases (Gb)) cover approximately 94% of the whole genome, and the remaining gaps (0.05 Gb) seem to contain carnivore-specific repeats and tandem repeats. Comparisons with the dog and human showed that the panda genome has a lower divergence rate. The assessment of panda genes potentially underlying some of its unique traits indicated that its bamboo diet might be more dependent on its gut microbiome than its own genetic composition. We also identified more than 2.7 million heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the diploid genome. Our data and analyses provide a foundation for promoting mammalian genetic research, and demonstrate the feasibility for using next-generation sequencing technologies for accurate, cost-effective and rapid de novo assembly of large eukaryotic genomes.

Structure Elucidation and Theoretical Investigation of Key Steps in the Biogenetic Pathway of Schisanartane Nortriterpenoids by Using DFT Methods

Rubrifloradilactone C (4), a novel bioactive nortriterpenoid, along with four other nortriterpenoids (1-3, 5) were isolated from Schisandra rubriflora. The structure of 4 was determined by extensive NMR spectral analysis, computational evidence by using t

Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Lignans from the Fruits of Schisandra rubriflora

This study investigated the 70% aqueous acetone extract of the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora which led to the isolation of eight lignans, including a new isolate, rubrisandrin C (1), and seven known lignans (2-8). The structure of 1 was established by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and its absolute stereochemistry was determined by CD spectrum. Compounds 1-5 and 7-8 were evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 activity that showed inhibitory activity on HIV-1(IIIB) induced syncytium formation with EC50 values in the range of 2.26 similar to 20.4 mu g/mL. Compounds 1 and 7 exerted their obvious protection of HIV-1(IIIB) inducted MT-4 host cells lytic effects with a selectivity index of 15.4 and 24.6, respectively.

Physiological Responses of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 to Nonanoic Acid Stress

A recent study has shown that nonanoic acid (NA) is one of the strongest allelochemicals to a cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, but the physiological responses of M. aeruginosa to NA stress remain unknown. In this study, physiological characters such as the growth rate, photosynthetic processes, phosphorus and nitrogen uptake kinetics, and the contents of intracellular microcystin of M. aeruginosa PCC7806 were studied under the NA stress. The results showed that the growth rates of M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 were significantly inhibited in all NA stress treatments during first 3 days after exposure, and the growth rate was recovered after 5-day exposure. After 2-day exposure, the contents of both phycocyanin and allophycocyanin per cell decreased at NA concentration of 4 mg L-1, and oxygen evolution was inhibited even at the concentration of 0.5 mg L-1, but carotenoid content per cell was slightly boosted in NA stress. Physiological recovery of M. aeruginosa PCC7806 was observed after 7-day exposure to NA. It was shown that NA stress had no effect on uptake of nitrogen, but could stimulate the uptake of phosphorus. The contents of intracellular microcystin have not been affected in all NA treatments in contrast with the control. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 24: 610-617, 2009.

Isolation of a novel cyanophage infectious to the filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii (Cyanophyceae) from Lake Donghu, China

A previously unknown cyanophage, PaV-LD (Planktothrix agardhii Virus isolated from Lake Donghu), which causes lysis of the bloom-forming filamentous cyanobacterium P. agardhii, was isolated from Lake Donghu, Wuhan, China. PaV-LD only lysed P. agardhii strains isolated from Lake Donghu and not those isolated from other lakes. The PaV-LD particle has an icosahedral, non-tailed structure, ca. 70 to 85 nm (mean +/- SD = 76 +/- 6 nm) in diameter. PaV-LD was stable at freezing temperature, but lost its infectivity at temperatures >50 degrees C. Lysis of host cells was delayed about 3 d after the PaV-LD treatment with chloroform, and the virus was inactivated by exposure to low pH (<= 4). The latent period and burst size of the PaV-LD were estimated to be 48 to 72 h and about 340 infectious units per cell, respectively. The regrowth cultures of surviving host filaments were not lysed by the PaV-LD suspension. To our knowledge, this is the first isolation and cultivation of a virus infectious to the filamentous bloom-forming cyanobacterium Planktothrix from a freshwater lake.

Taxonomic notes on water bloom forming Microcystis species (Cyanophyta) from China - An example from samples of the Dianchi Lake

Ten common species of Microcystis, based on the examination of water samples from the Dianchi Lake, Yunnan, China, were morphologically described, and their taxonomy was also discussed. They are Microcystis aeruginosa, M botrys, M firma, M flos-aquae, M ichthyoblabe, M novacekii, M pseudofilamentosa, M smithii, M viridis and M wesenbergii. Taxonomic status of other Microcystis species reported in China was also evaluated.

Three newly recorded species of Microcystis (Cyanophyta) from China

About 50 species of Microcystis so far have been reported in the world, and 19 species were described in China. During our recent investigations for water-bloom forming blue-green algae in China, a diverse group of Microcystis species occurring in some waters can be easily observed. Among these species, some have never been described in China. The present paper reported three newly recorded species of Microcystis: M novacekii (Komdrek) Compere 1974, M smithii Komdrek & Anagnostidis 1995, and M botrys Teiling 1942.

The recombinant beta subunit of C-phycocyanin inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) from blue-green algae has been reported to have various pharmacological characteristics, including antiinflammatory and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we expressed the beta-subunit of C-PC (ref to as C-POP) in Escherichia coli. We found that the recombinant C-PC/beta has anti-cancer properties. Under the treatment of 5 mu M of the recombinant C-PC/beta, four different cancer cell lines accrued high proliferation inhibition and apoptotic induction. Substantially, a lower response occurred in non-cancer cells. We investigated the mechanism by which C-PC/beta inhibits cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. We found that the C-PC/beta interacts with membrane-associated beta-tubulin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Under the treatment of the C-PC/beta, depolymerization of microtubules and actin-filaments were observed. The cells underwent apoptosis with an increase in caspase-3, and caspase-8 activities. The cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 phase under the treatment of C-PC/beta. In addition, the nuclear level of GAPDH decreased significantly. Decrease in the nuclear level of GAPDH prevents the cell cycle from entering into the S phase. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis may potentate the C-POP as a promising cancer prevention or therapy agent. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of cadmium on chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, and photosynthetic intensity of Canna indica Linn.

The effects of cadmium (Cd2+) on growth status, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photochemical efficiency, and photosynthetic intensity were studied on Canna indica Linn. Plant specimens that were produced from a constructed wetland and precultivated hydroponically in 20 L of 1/10 Hoagland solution under greenhouse conditions for I week were exposed to cadmium in concentrations of 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mg L- Cd2+, respectively. The results show that leaves were injured in the Cd2+ solution by the third day of exposure and the injury became more serious with an increase in the applied heavy metal. Under 3.2 mg L-1 Cd2+ treatment, growth retardation, the decrease of chlorophyll content from 0.70 to 0.43 mg g(-1) FW, and a decrease in Chl a/b ratio from 2.0 to 1.2 were observed. Chl a was more sensitive than Chl b to Cd2+ stress. The decrease was the same with photochemical efficiency. Photosynthetic intensity decreased by 13.3% from 1.5X10(4) mumol m(-2)s(-1) CO2 in control to 1.3x10(4) mumol m(2)s(-1) CO2 in the treatment of 3.2 mg L-1. Because Canna species are used in heavy metal phytoremediation, these results show that C. indica can tolerate 0.4 to 0.8 mg L-1 Cd2+. Therefore, it is a potential species for phytoremediation of cadmium with some limitations only at higher concentrations.

Food habits and feeding rhythm of the early juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in experimental tanks

Gastric mills were examined from 98 early juvenile Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) from experimental tanks. Recognizable food items were macrophytes, algae, oligochaetes, and detritus; their percent frequencies of occurrence were 94.6%, 86.5%, 10.7%, and 18.3%, respectively. The crabs had a diet feeding rhythm.

Purification and characterization of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) produced in an alternate host: crayfish, Cambarus clarkii

Penaeid shrimp is the natural host of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) that can cause high mortality in the infected hosts. Attempts to obtain sufficient amounts of purified intact WSSV for characterization have been unsuccessful. Using crayfish, Cambarus clarkii as a proliferation system, a large amount of infectious WSSV was reproduced and intact WSSV viral particles were purified with a new isolation medium by ultra-centrifugation. Purified WSSV particles were very sensitive to organic solvents and the detergent, Triton X-100. The size of the rod-shape, somewhat elliptical, intact WSSV was 110-130 x 260-350 mm with a long, tail-like envelope extension. The naked viral nucleocapsid was about 80 x 350 nm, and it possessed 15 spiral and cylindrical helices composed of 14 globular capsomers along its long axis, and a 'ring' structure at one terminus. Distinct WSSV genome DNA patterns were obtained when the purified genomic dsDNA of WSSV was digested with five different restriction enzymes (HindIII, XhoI, B(BamHI, SalI, and SacI). In addition, at least 13 major and distinct protein bands could be observed when purified intact WSSV viruses were separated by SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie Brilliant R-250 staining. The estimated molecular weights of these proteins were 190, 84, 75, 69, 68, 58, 52, 44, 28, 27.5, 23, 19, and 16 kD, respectively. Both the 44 and 190 kD proteins were easily removed if the hemolymph from the: WSSV infected crayfish was transiently treated with 1%, Triton X-100 before it was subjected to gradient centrifugation, indicating that both of them are located on the surface of the viral envelope. These characteristics are consistent with WSSV isolated from the penaeid shrimp. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrically controllable RKKY interaction in semiconductor quantum wires

We demonstrate in theory that it is possible to all-electrically manipulate the RKKY interaction in a quasi-one-dimensional electron gas embedded in a semiconductor heterostructure, in the presence of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction. In an undoped semiconductor quantum wire where intermediate excitations are gapped, the interaction becomes the short-ranged Bloembergen-Rowland superexchange interaction. Owing to the interplay of different types of spin-orbit interaction, the interaction can be controlled to realize various spin models, e.g., isotropic and anisotropic Heisenberg-like models, Ising-like models with additional Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya terms, by tuning the external electric field and designing the crystallographic directions. Such controllable interaction forms a basis for quantum computing with localized spins and quantum matters in spin lattices.