Molecular identification and expression analysis of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) is a crucial component of almost the entire tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily signaling pathway. In the present study, a TRAF2 gene has been cloned from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The full-length cDNA is 3162 bp, including a 60 bp 5' untranslated region (UTR), a 1611 bp open reading frame, and a 1491 bp 3' UTR. The polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) and the mRNA instability motifs (ATTTTA, ATTTA) were followed by a poly(A) tail in the 3' UTR. No signal peptide or transmembrane region has been found in the putative amino acids of grass carp TRAF2 (gcTRAF2). Phylogenetic tree analysis clearly showed that gcTRAF2 is nearest to the TRAF2 gene of goldfish. The identity of gcTRAF2 with its homologs in other vertebrates ranges from 56% to 97%. It is characterized by one RING-type signature at the N-terminus, one zinc finger in the middle part, and one conserved TRAF domain consisting of a C-proximal (TRAF-C) subdomain and a N-proximal (TRAF-N) subdomain. The identity of TRAF-C among all TRAF2 homologs in vertebrates varies from 78% to 97%, whereas the identity of TRAF-N ranges from 56% to 100%. The recombinant gcTRAF2 has been expressed in Escherichia coli using pET-32a expression vector. The rabbit anti-gcTRAF2 polyclonal antibody was obtained. The expression of gcTRAF2 in different organs was examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. It was widely distributed in heart, head kidney, thymus, brain, gill, liver, spleen, and trunk kidney. This is the first report of a TRAF2 homolog molecule in fish.

Cloning and expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) cDNA from red seabream Pagrus major

A fragment of TNFalpha cDNA sequence from red seabream was cloned by homology cloning approach with two degenerated primers which were designed based on the conserved regions of other animals' TNF sequences. The sequence was elongated by 3' and 5' RACE to get the full length CDS sequence. This sequence contained 1264 nucleotides that included a 5' UTR of 85 bp, a 3' UTR of 514 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 666 bp which could encode 222 amino acids propeptide. In 3' UTR, there were several mRNA instability motifs and three endotoxin-responsive sequences, but the sequence lacked the polyadenylation signal. The deduced peptide had a clear transmembrane domain, a TNFalpha family signature and a TNF2 family profile. The cell attachment sequence and the glycosaminoglycan attachment sites were also found in the sequence. The red seabream TNF sequence shared relatively high similarity with both mammalian TNFalpha and TNFbeta by multiple sequence alignments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the piscine TNFalpha were located independently in a different branch compared with mammalian TNFalpha and TNFbeta. Based on the primary and secondary structure analysis and gene expression study, we could concluded that the red seabream TNF should be a TNFalpha, not TNFbeta. RT-PCR was used to study TNFa transcript expression. 24 h after the red seabream was challenged by Vibrio anguillarum, the RS TNFalpha transcript expression were detected in blood, brain, gill, heart, head kidney, kidney, Ever, muscle and spleen. Results showed that TNFalpha mRNA was constitutively expressed in parts of the tissues both in stimulated and unstimulated fish and the expression could be enhanced after the pathogen infection.

Construction of shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-alpha) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The construction of the shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-alpha) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 was reported. The 700-bp hTNF cDNA fragments have been recovered from plasmid pRL-rhTNF, then inserted downstream of the promoter PpsbA in the plasmid pRL439. The resultant intermediary plasmid pRL-TC has further been combined with the shuttle vector pDC-8 to get the shuttle, expression vector pDC-TNF. The expression of the rhTNF gene in Escherichia coil has been analyzed by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer scanning, and the results show that the expressed TNF protein with these two vectors is 16.9 percent (pRL-TC) and 15.0 percent (pDC-TNF) of the total proteins in the cells, respectively, while the expression level of TNF gene in plasmid pRL-rhTNF is only 11.8 percent. Combined with the participation of the conjugal and helper plasmids, pDC-TNF has been introduced into Anabaena sg PCC 7120 by triparental conjugative transfer, and the stable transgenic strains have been obtained. The existence of the introduced plasmid pDC-TNF in recombinant cyanobacterial cells has been demonstrated by the results of the agarose electrophoresis with the extracted plasmid samples and Southern blotting with alpha-(32)p labeled hTNF cDNA probes, while the expression of the hTNF gene in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 has been confirmed by the results of Western blotting with extracted protein samples and human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies. The cytotoxicity assays using the mouse cancer cell line L929 proved the cytotoxicity of the TNF in the crude extracts from the transgenic cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120.

A novel tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member (CsTL) from Ciona savignyi: Molecular identification and expression analysis

A novel invertebrate TNF ligand was identified and characterized in Ciona savignyi. The CsTL cDNA consisted of 995 nucleotides and encoded 281 amino acids. A conserved TNF family signature and several motifs of TNF ligand superfamily were identified in deduced amino acid sequence of CsTL. Phylogenetic analysis grouped CsTL, CiTNF (predicted TNF ligand superfamily homolog in Ciona intestinalis) and urchin TL1A with their own cluster apart from mammalian TNF alpha, LTA, TNFSF15 and fish TNFa proteins. Expression studies demonstrated that CsTL mRNA is present in all tested tissues from unchallenged ascidians and its expression was significantly upregulated in hemocytes following LIPS injection. The recombinant CsTL protein expressed using a baculovirus expression system showed potential cytotoxic activity in L929 cells. Present results indicated that TNF ligand superfamity molecules are present in marine invertebrates. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification and expression of TRAF6 (TNF receptor-associated factor 6) gene in Zhikong Scallop Chlamys farreri

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), a key signaling adaptor molecule common to the TNFR superfamily and IL-IR/TLR family, is important not only for a diverse array of physiological processes functions of the TNFR superfamily, but also is involved in adaptive immunity and innate immunity. In this report, the first bivalve TRAF6 (named as CfTRAF6) gene is identified and characterized from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri. The full-length cDNA of CfTRAF6 is of 2510 bp, consisting of a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 337 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 208 bp with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly (A) tail, and an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 655 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of CfTRAF6 comprises characteristic motifs of the TRAF proteins, including a Zinc finger of RING-type, two Zinc fingers of TRAF-type, a coiled-coil region, and a MATH (the meprin and TRAF homology) domain. The overall amino acid sequence identity between CfTRAF6 and other TRAF6s is 28-68%. Phylogenetic analyses of CfTRAF6 sequence with TRAF sequences from other organisms indicate that CfTRAF6 is a true TRAF6 orthologue. The mRNA expression of CfTRAF6 in various tissues is measured by Real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA transcripts are constitutively expressed in tissues of haemocyte, muscle, mantle, heart, gonad and gill, but the highest expression is observed in the gonad. The temporal expressions of CfTRAF6 mRNA in the mixed primary cultured haemocytes are recorded after treatment with 20 mu g mL(-1) and 0.5 mu g mL(-1) peptido-glycan (PGN). The expression level of CfTRAF mRNA is down-regulated from 1.5 h to 3 h after the treatment with 0.5 mu g mL(-1) PGN, and then recovers to the original level. While the expression of CfTRAF6 is obviously decreased after treatment with 20 mu g mL(-1) PGN, and reach the lowest point (only about 1/9 times to control) at 3 h. The result Suggests that CfTRAF6 can be greatly regulated by PGN and it may be involved in signal transduction and immune response of scallop. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Molecular cloning of TRAF2 binding protein gene and its promoter region from the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus

A tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 binding protein (T2BP) gene was isolated from the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) by utilizing suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The grass carp T2BP (GT2BP) gene contains an open reading frame of 579 nucleotide(s) (nt), encoding 193 amino acids, with 23 nt 5'-untranslated region and a long 3'-untranslated region of 434 nt including poly (A), 1 AUUUA motif and 4 AUUUUA motifs. No signal peptide has been detected in the predicted GT2BP, but a characteristic forkhead associated domain is present. The GT2BP mRNA shares 83% identity with the zebrafish DNA sequence, and they both have no introns in the genomic DNA. The putative transcription factor binding sites of GT2BP include two C/EBP alpha binding sites, and one c-Jun binding, one AP-1 binding, and one nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) binding sites. Southern blot analysis revealed that the GT2BP was a single-copy gene. Individual difference was observed in GT2BP expression in examined organs of healthy grass carp. However, the expression of GT2BP in all examined organs in a fish with the highest copepod infection level and the significantly higher expression level in spleen and liver in infected fish may indicate its up-regulation with the parasite infection. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning and stress-induced expression of paralichthys olivaceus heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase

The heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase (HRI) is acknowledged to play an important role in translational shutoff in reticulocytes in response to various cellular stresses. In this study, we report its homologous cDNA cloning and characterization from cultured flounder embryonic cells (FEC) after treatment with UV-inactivated grass carp haemorrhagic virus (GCHV). The full-length cDNA of Paralichthys olivaceus HRI homologue (PoHRI) has 2391 bp and encodes a protein of 651 amino acids. The putative PoHRI protein exhibits high identity with all members of eIF2 alpha kinase family. It contains 12 catalytic subdomains located within the C-terminus of all Ser/Thr protein kinases, a unique kinase insertion of 136 amino acids between subdomains IV and V, and a relatively conserved N-terminal domain (NTD). Upon heat shock, virus infection or Poly PC treatment, PoHRI mRNA and protein are significantly upregulated in FEC cells but show different expression patterns in response to different stresses. In healthy flounders, PoHRI displays a wide tissue distribution at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results indicate that PoHRI is a ubiquitous eIF2a kinase and might play an important role in translational control over nonheme producing FEC cells under different stresses. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

TNFa在鱼腥藻7120中的高效表达和对宿主光合作用的影响

蓝藻分子生物学的飞速发展已使其成为生物学的前沿。近几年来，以蓝藻为宿主的基因工程发展迅速，使转基因蓝藻已有希望制备药物或处理环境问题。但迄今为止，国内外用蓝藻表达外源基因的表达效率都不高。为了使转基因蓝藻在应用上产生较好的社会效益和经济效益，必须进一步提高外源基因在蓝藻中的表速效率，以及提高光合效率、加速生长。 本研究用人肿瘤坏死因子a（Human Tumor Necrosis Factora简称hTNFa）作为外源目的基因。它是由巨噬细胞和单核细胞受到刺激后产生的一种多功能蛋白质细胞因子。hTNFcc多种生物学效应并作为信号传导体，其中最引人注目的是它对肿瘤组织和肿瘤细胞直接地、特异性和广谱性地杀伤作用，极有希望制成抗癌剩的天然因子之一。但是用大肠杆菌得到的重组产物需要严格纯化，通常用于静脉注射，但由于毒副作用大，十几年来国内外一直停留在临床实验阶段，我们研究组建议用蓝藻为宿主表达hTNFa制备口服剂，来减缓毒副作用，已经得到了转基因鱼腥藻，并测得产物具有抑瘤的生物学活性。但是表达效率一直不高，并且它的表达对蓝藻生长有些抑制。 由于蓝藻是原核生物，基因的表达调控主要是在转录水平和翻译水平。因此，寻找在蓝藻中高效的启动子，改变SD序列的结构是提高外源基因在蓝藻中表达效率的有效手段。本研究将连有不同SD序列的TNFa cDNA克隆到穿梭表达载体pRL-489的启动子（PpsbA）下游，构建2个鱼腥藻7120的穿梭表达载体（pMD-489-TNF1，2），通过三亲接合转移法分别导八鱼腥藻7120细胞。用放射免疫法定量分析TNFa在转基因蓝藻中的表达效率。结果表明，有效地提高了TNFa在鱼腥藻7120中的表达。TNFa的表达量占总可溶性蛋白的2.1 - 2.9%和0.15%，表达效率分别提高到原来的21 - 29倍和1.5倍。 在培养转基因鱼腥藻中，观测到它们在形态和生理上都发生了变化，这反应了TNFcc基因的转入和表达对宿主光合作用的影响。 光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜的观察发现：转基因鱼腥藻比野生型异形胞数目减少约30%。转入空质粒的营养细胞比野生型略大，转TNFa基因的鱼腥藻异形胞体积明显增加，而营养细胞比正对照和野生型小。到了生长后期，转TNFa因的鱼腥藻营养细胞体积明里增大，多与异形胞相当，有的甚至比异形胞大。转pMD-489-TNFI的鱼腥藻细胞内出现明显的空腔。通过透射电子显微镜的观察发现：转基因藻中的类囊体膜片屡结构更加明显。转基因藻和野生藻的生长曲线的比较表明，转入空质粒pRL-489对宿主的生长几乎没有影响，甚至还略快于野生型;TNFa的表达对细胞的生长有一定副作用，胞内TNFa的含量高时，细胞数增长缓慢，并且平台期时细胞数有一定下降。 从光合作用光强曲线的分析可见，转TNFa因的鱼腥藻有较低的光饱和点，暗示了TNFa的表达可以增强宿主对光的敏感性;同时，TNFa的转入使宿主的呼吸作用加强，几乎比野生型和转空质粒的正对照高一倍，显示了TNFa基因的转入和表达可能给宿主带来更大的代谢负荷;在光饱和点以上，几种藻的真实光合放氧能力大致相同，表明TNFa的表达没有破坏宿主的光合反应中心。 从室温吸收光谱分析可见，转基因蓝藻有相对较高的类胡萝卜素和叶绿素a蓝峰，转TNF谌因的鱼腥藻显示了藻蓝蛋白含量有所降低。因为蓝藻的主要天线色素为藻胆蛋白，藻蓝蛋白相对含量的下降可能与宿主对光更敏感有关。 从低温荧光发射光谱分析可见，转TNFa基因的鱼腥藻7120光系统II能量分配较高。可能是TNFa基因的转入提高了藻胆蛋白的吸收和传递光能的效率。 从叶绿素荧光动力学分析可见，鱼腥藻7120在生长的过程中PSII的活性存在一个变化的过程。TNFa的转入和表达在对数后期提高了宿主的光系统II原初光能转化效率。 从转基因藻光系统I和光系统II光合放氧活性分析与TNFa表达随培养时间变化曲线表明，转TNFcc基因鱼腥藻的光合放氧活性比野生型和正对照高，尤其是显著地提高了宿主的Psn活性。 用自然界中原来不存在的转基因鱼腥藻作上述研究表明：原来只存在于高等、异养的人类和哺乳动物中的TNFa基因，一旦转入最古老的放氧光合生物后，其表达可被调控;同时TNFa的表达又能影响宿主的光合作用。它提高了宿主对光的敏感性、光系统II的活性和对光能的利用率。这似乎都表明TNFa在蓝藻细胞中起信号传导体的作用。而且，这些数据的积累，还有助于我们优化培养条件，提高TNFa的表达效率，为产业化做好准备。

非晶状体βγ晶状体蛋白与三叶因子蛋白复合物诱导兔胸主动脉环内皮依赖的持续收缩效应

脊椎动物中,非晶状体βγ-晶状体蛋白广泛分布于各种组织,但是功能知之甚少.三叶因子在创伤修复与肿瘤发生中具有重要作用,其分子作用机制尚不清楚.非晶状体βγ晶状体蛋白与三叶因子蛋白复合物(βγ-CAT)是一个从大蹼铃蟾皮肤分泌物中分离的一类全新的蛋白复合物.研究表明,βγ-CAT能够诱导离体的兔胸主动脉产生快速而持续的收缩,结合药理学抑制剂,细胞培养,激光共聚焦显微镜和免疫荧光原位组化,从细胞和分子水平对其作用机制进行研究.结果表明:.βγ-CAT诱导兔胸主动脉产生的收缩效应为剂量依赖(2-35 nmol/L)和内皮依赖(P＜0.01).在βγ-CAT(25nmol/L)处理的主动脉环的内皮细胞层检测到肿瘤坏死因子-α的释放.同时,βγ-CAT能够诱导原代培养的兔胸主动脉内皮细胞(RAEC)快速释放肿瘤坏死因子-α,βγ-CAT(25nmol/L)分别处理5和30min,RAEC释放的肿瘤坏死因子-α的浓度分别为(34.17±5.10)pg/mL和(98.01±4.67)pg/mL(P＜0.01).表明肿瘤坏死因子-α在βγ-CAT诱导兔胸丰动脉产生的收缩效应中发挥重要作用.为进一步深入研究非晶状体βγ晶状体蛋白与三叶因子的生理功能提供了新的思路和线索.

Bioinformatic identification of genes encoding C1q-domain-containing proteins in zebrafish

C1q is the first subcomponent of classical pathway in the complement system and a major link between innate and acquired immunities. The globular (gC1q) domain similar with C1q was also found in many non-complement C1q-domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins which have similar crystal structure to that of the multifunctional tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family, and also have diverse functions. In this study, we identified a total of 52 independent gene sequences encoding C1q-domain-containing proteins through comprehensive searches of zebrafish genome, cDNA and EST databases. In comparison to 31 orthologous genes in human and different numbers in other species, a significant selective pressure was suggested during vertebrate evolution. Domain organization of C1q-domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins mainly includes a leading signal peptide, a collagen-like region of variable length, and a C-terminal C1q domain. There are 11 highly conserved residues within the C1q domain, among which 2 are invariant within the zebrafish gene set. A more extensive database searches also revealed homologous C1qDC proteins in other vertebrates, invertebrates and even bacterium, but no homologous sequences for encoding C1qDC proteins were found in many species that have a more recent evolutionary history with zebrafish. Therefore, further studies on C1q-domain-containing genes among different species will help us understand evolutionary mechanism of innate and acquired immunities.

Characterization and expression analysis of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

TRAIL (Apo2 ligand) described as a type II transmembrame protein belonging to the TNF superfamily can induce apoptotic cell death in a variety of cell types. In the present study, a putative cDNA sequence encoding the 299 amino acids of TRAIL (GC-TRAIL) and its genomic organization were identified in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. The predicted GC-TRAIL sequence showed 44 and 41% identities to chicken and human TRAILs, respectively. In a domain search, a tumor necrosis factor homology domain (THD) was identified in the C-terminal portion of TRAILs. The GC-TRAIL gene consists of five exons, with four intervening introns, spaced over approximately 4 kb of genomic sequence. Analysis of GC-TRAlL promoter region revealed the presence of a number of putative transcription factor binding sites, such as Sp1, NF-kappaB, AP-1, GATA, NFAT, HNF, STAT, P53 and IRFI sequences which are important for the expression of other TNF family members. Phylogenetic analysis placed GC-TRAIL and the putative zebrafish (Danio rerio) TRAIL obtained from searching the zebrafish database into one separate cluster near mammalian TRAIL genes, but apart from the reported zebrafish TRAIL-like protein, indicating that the GC-TRAIL is an authentic fish TRAIL. Expression analysis revealed that GC-TRAIL is expressed in many tissues, such as in gills, liver, trunk kidney, head kidney, intestine and spleen. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early effects of low dose C-12(6+) ion or X-ray irradiation on human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The aim of this study was to estimate the acute effects of low dose C-12(6+) ions or X-ray radiation on human immune function. The human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) of seven healthy donors were exposed to 0.05 Gy C-12(6+) ions or X-ray radiation and cell responses were measured at 24 h after exposure. The cytotoxic activities of HPBL were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT); the percentages of T and NK cells subsets were detected by flow cytometry; mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma were examined by real time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR); and these cytokines protein levels in supematant of cultured cells were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results showed that the cytotoxic activity of HPBL, mRNA expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in HPBL and their protein levels in supernatant were significantly increased at 24 h after exposure to 0.05 Gy C-12(6+) ions radiation and the effects were stronger than observed for X-ray exposure. However, there was no significant change in the percentage of T and NK cells subsets of HPBL. These results suggested that 0.05 Gy high linear energy transfer (LET) C-12(6+) radiation was a more effective approach to host immune enhancement than that of low LET X-ray. We conclude that cytokines production might be used as sensitive indicators of acute response to LDL (C) 2009 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kinetic analysis of TNF immune complex by using surface plasmon resonane

The kinetic analysis of the interaction between tumor necrosis factor(TNF) and its monoclonal antibody was performed by surface plasmon resonance(SPR) technique. The monoclonal antibody was immobilized to the surface of CM5 sensor chip by amine coupling. TNF at different concentrations was injected across the mAb immobilized surface. The interaction was recorded in real time and could be seen on the sensorgram. One cycle, including association, dissociation and regeneration, lasted no more than 15 min. The interaction results was evaluated using 1 : 1 Langmuir binding model. The kinetic rate constants were calculated to be: k =1.68 X 10(3) L (.) mol(-1) (.) s(-1), k(d) = 1.73 X 10(-4) s(-1), and the affinity constants K-A = 9. 7 X 10(3) L (.) mol(-1), K-r)= 1. 03 X 10(-7) Mol (.) L-1. The X-2 was 3.47, which showed that the interaction is consistent with the 1 : I model. We can see from the results that although there are two binding sites in one mAb molecule, TNF reacts with each site in an independent and noncooperative manner.

Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides

The modulation of carrageenan oligosaccharides from Kappaphycus striatum on the immune system in S 180-bearing mice was investigated. The mice inoculated with S180 cell suspension were treated p.o. with carrageenan oligosaccharides (50, 100 and 200 mu g/g) for 14 days. The effects of carrageenan oligosaccharides on transplantable tumors and macrophage phagocytosis, quantitative hemolysis of sheep red blood cells (QHS),. lymphocyte proliferation, the activity of natural killer cells (NK), production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were studied. Carrageenan oligosaccharides could significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable sarcoma S180 and increase macrophage phagocytosis, the form of antibody secreted by spleen cells, spleen lymphocyte proliferation, NK cells activity, serumal IL-2 and TNF-alpha level in S 180-bearing mice. Considering all these results, it is suggested that carrageenan oligosaccharides exert their antitumor effect by promoting the immune system. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Proteasome and NF-kappa B inhibiting phaeophytins from the green alga Cladophora fascicularis

Chemical examination of the green alga Cladophora fascicularis resulted in the isolation and characterization of a new porphyrin derivative, porphyrinolactone (1), along with five known phaeophytins 2-6 and fourteen sterols and cycloartanes. The structure of 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of its NMR data with those of known phaeophytins. Compounds 1-6 displayed moderate inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation, while 2 and 4 displayed potential inhibitory activity toward proteasome chymotripsin-like activation. The primary structure-activity relationship was also discussed.