A unique group of inactive serine protease homologues from snake venom

A number of inactive serine protease homologues (SPHs), which have poorly understood functions, have been identified in invertebrates and vertebrates. Recently, several SPH transcripts have been reported from snake venom glands, which provide potential ne

N49 phospholipase A(2), a unique subgroup of snake venom group II phospholipase A(2)

A novel phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) with Asn at its site 49 was purified from the snake venom of Protobothrops mucrosquamatus by using SP-Sephadex C25, Superdex 75, Heparin-Sepharose (FF) and HPLC reverse-phage C-18 chromatography and designated as TM-N49

Structure and anti-HIV activity of micrandilactones B and C, new nortriterpenoids possessing a unique skeleton from Schisandra micrantha

Two new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids with a unique norcycloartane skeleton, micrandilactones B and C (1-2), were isolated from Schisandra micrantha; micrandilactone C ( 2) exhibited an EC50 value of 7.71 mu g/mL (SI > 25.94) against HIV-1 replication with minimal cytotoxicity, and the potent anti-HIV-1 activity and unique structural features of 2 make it a promising lead for therapeutic development of a new generation of anti-HIV drug.

Lancifodilactone G: A unique nortriterpenoid isolated from Schisandra lancifolia and its anti-HIV activity

Lancifodilactone G (1), a novel, highly oxygenated nortriterpenoid featuring a partial enol structure and a spirocyclic moiety, was isolated from the medicinal plant Schisandra lancifolia. Its structure and stereochemistry were determined from extensive one- and two-dimensional NMR and mass spectral data, coupled with single-crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 exerted minimal cytotoxicity against C8166 cells (CC50 > 200 mu g/mL) and showed anti-HIV activity with EC50 = 95.47 +/- 14.19 mu g/mL and a selectivity index in the range of 1.82-2.46.

Lancifodilactone F: A novel nortriterpenoid possessing a unique skeleton from Schisandra lancifolia and its anti-HIV activity

Lancifodilactone F (1), possessing an unprecedented rearranged pentanortriterpenoid backbone derived from cycloartane, was isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra lancifolia (Rehd. et Wils) A. C. Smith. Its structure was established by comprehensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis, coupled with single-crystal X-ray experiment. Compound 1 exerted minimal cytotoxicity against C8166 cells (CC50 > 200 mu g/mL) and showed anti-HIV activity with EC50 = 20.69 +/- 3.31 mu g/mL and a selectivity index > 6.62.

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.

Mandibular morphometric variation among Chinese cercopithecoids and the unique structure of the snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus) mandible

In order to understand how mandibular structure differs among the Chinese cercopithecoids (Rhinopithecus, Trachypithecus and Macaca), particularly the uniqueness of the snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus), we analysed ten mandibular measurements by principal components analysis (PCA), and examined scaling patterns. The results provided by the PCA illustrated differences due to size among the cercopithecoids and the relationship between colobines (Trachypithecus and Rhinopithecus) and cercopithecines, in which macaques (Macaca) are included. Allometric analysis indicated that, biomechanically, there is not a marked difference between macaques and leaf-eating monkeys. This may be associated with the fact that both share some similar ecology and niches in south and southwest China. The snub-nosed monkeys exhibit a significantly more robust mandible, evident in the symphysis, corpus, condyle, and masticatory momentum arm. This supports the hypothesis, based on the study of dental structure, that Rhinopithecus is a unique group in Asian Old World monkeys (OWMs) and has developed some unique characteristics in order to adapt to the tough food available in the severe cold climate of the Plateaux of Qinghai-Tibet, Yun-Gui and Qingling in China.

Cytological Mechanism on the Integration of Heterologous Genome or Chromosomes in the Unique Gynogenetic Carassius auratus gibelio

银鲫（ＣａｒａｓｉｕｓａｕｒａｔｕｓｇｉｂｅｌｉｏＢｌｏｃｈ）是行天然雌核发育生殖的两性型三倍体鱼类，与普通两性融合生殖鱼类相比，具有独特的育种优势。八十年代以来，异育银鲫、复合四倍体异育银鲫的发现表明，雌核发育卵子不但具有保持自身全部染色体的能力，还能整合异源精子的部分遗传物质或整个基因组，影响雌核发育后代的性状。因此，搞清楚异源基因组的整合机制对于进一步弄清其发育模式以及诱导复合多倍体银鲫均具有十分重要的作用。两性融合发育鱼类的精子入卵后，精核在促精核活化因子的诱导下，可以逐渐解凝并形成雄性原核；而在

Rapid quantification of total microcystins in cyanobacterial samples by periodate-permanganate oxidation and reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Microcystins (MCs) comprise a family of more than 80 related cyclic hepatotoxic heptapeptides. Oxidation of MCs causes cleavage of the chemically unique C-20 beta-amino acid (2S, 3S, 8S, 9S)-3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4,6-dienoic acid (Adda) amino to form 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (MMPB), which has been exploited to enable analysis of the entire family. In the present study, the reaction conditions (e.g. concentration of the reactants. temperature and pH) used in the production of MMPB by oxidation of cyanobacterial samples with permanganate-periodate were optimized through a series of well-controlled batch experiments. The oxidation product (MMPB) was then directly analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The results of this study provided insight into the influence of reaction conditions on the yield of MMPB. Specifically, the optimal conditions, including a high dose of permanganate (>= 50 mM) in saturated periodate solution at ambient temperature under alkaline conditions (pH similar to 9) over 1-4 h were proposed, as indicated by a MMPB yield of greater than 85%. The technique developed here was applied to determine the total concentration of MCs in cyanobacterial bloom samples, and indicated that the MMPB technique was a highly sensitive and accurate method of quantifying total MCs. Additionally, these results will aid in development of a highly effective analytical method for detection of MMPB as an oxidation product for evaluation of total MCs in a wide range of environmental sample matrices, including natural waters, soils (sediments) and animal tissues. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CaS:M (M=Ce~(3+), Dy~(3+), Eu~(2+), Cu)和Cas:Ce~(3+), M (M=Dy~(3+), Cu)的合成及其光致发光和热释发光性质研究

本文研究了Ce~(3+), Dy~(3+), Eu~(3+), Cu离子以及它们的共掺杂在硫化钙基质中的光致发光和热释发光性质，并用顺磁共振方法研究了磷光体中缺陷的性质及其对磷光体光致发光的影响。在CaS:Ce~(3＋)磷光体的稳定性影响因素，并经包膜后稳定性有所提高。计算了新的热释发光峰的陷阱参数。确定了热释发光的动力学级数。在Cas: Dy~(3+)磷光体中，研究了合成条件对磷光体发光性质的影响，讨论了新的热释发光峰的陷阱参数，确定了热释发光的动力学级数。在CaS:Dy~(3+)磷光体中，发现基质对Dy~(3+)离子具有敏化作用，讨论了黄兰比随Dy~(3+)离子浓度变化出现最大值的原因。计算了热释发光峰的陷阱参数，确定了热释发光的动力学级数。在CaS:Ce~(3+)，Dy~(3+)磷光体中，研究了Ce~(3+)离子的发光随Dy~(3+)离子浓度的变化，可能具有Dy~(3+) → Ce~(3+)的能量传递。计算了热释发光峰的陷阱参数，确定了热释发光的动力学级数。在CaS:Cu磷光体中，确定了不同Cu~+离子格位所产生的发射峰。根据磷光体中缺陷的转化过程解释了光致发光和热释发光性质随Cu离子浓度增加所呈现的规律性变化。通过实验证明磷光体有可能用作紫外剂量材料。本文还首次研究了CaS:Cu磷光体在UV（3bb nm)辐照下，发生Cu~+→Cu~(2+)的光氧化反应，通过EPR实验证明在Cu'_(Ca)→Cu_i~+处发生光氧化反应。在CaS:Ce~(3+),Cu磷光体中，观察到了Cu离子对Ce~(3+)离子的能量传递现象。在CaS:Eu~(2+)光体中，发光强度随Eu~(2+)离子浓度变化，显示浓度猝灭特性。本文还研究了CaS:Ce~(3+), CaS:Dy~(3+), CaS:Cu以及CaS:Ce~(3+), Cu磷光体中缺陷的性质，在CaS:Ce~(3+)中存在V_S~(2+)空位，并根据这一空位的性质，解释了发光光谱，并且选择适当的助熔剂使发光效率提高。在CaS:Dy~(3+)磷光体中，存在V_S~(2+)-V_(Ca)~(2-)空位对；在CaS:Cu和CaS:Ce~(3+), Cu磷光体中，存在V_S~(2+)空位和Cu'_(Ca)缺陷。