Cadinane Sesquiterpenes from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata

Seven new cadinane sesquiterpenes, (-)-(1R,6S,7S,10R)-1-hydroxycadinan-3-en-5-one (1), (+)-(1R,5S,6R,7S, 10R)-cadinan-3-ene-1,5-diol (2), (+)-(1R,5R,6R,7S,10R)-cadinan-3-ene-1,5-diol (3), (+)-(1R,5S,6R,7S,10R)-cadinan-4(11)-ene-1,5-diol (4), (+)-(1R,5R,6R,7R,10R)-cadinan-4(11)-ene-1,5,12-triol (5), (-)-(1R,4R,5S,6R,7S, 10R)-cadinan-1,4,5-triol (6), and (-)-(1R,6R,7S,10R)-11-oxocadinan-4-en-1-ol (7), together with nine known compounds were isolated from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata. The structures of the new natural products, as well as their absolute configuration, were established by means of spectroscopic data including IR, HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and CD. All compounds were inactive against several human cancer cell lines including lung adenocarcinoma (A549), stomach cancer (BGC-823), breast cancer (MCF-7), hepatoma (Bel7402), and colon cancer (HCT-8) cell lines.

Minor sesquiterpenes with new carbon skeletons from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata

Five minor sesquiterpenes (1-5) with two novel carbon skeletons, together with a minor new oplopane sesquiterpene ( 6), have been isolated from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata. By means of spectroscopic data including IR, HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and CD, their structures including absolute configurations were assigned as (+)-(1R, 5S, 6S, 9R)3- acetyl-1-hydroxy-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[4.3.0] non-3-ene ( 1), (+)-(1R, 3S, 4S, 5R, 6S, 9R)-3-acetyl-1,4-dihydroxy-6- isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[4.3.0] nonane (2), (+)-(1R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6S, 9R)-3-acetyl-1,4-dihydroxy-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[ ;4.3.0] nonane ( 3), (+)-(1S, 2R, 6S, 9R)-1-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[4.3.0] non-4-en-3-one (4), (-)-( 5S, 6R, 9S)-2-acetyl-5-hydroxy-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[4.3.0] non-1-en-3-one ( 5), and (-)-( 1S, 6S, 9R)- 4-acetyl- 1-hydroxy-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[ 4.3.0] non-4-en-3-one ( 6). Biogenetically, the carbon skeletons of 1-6 may be derived from the co-occurring cadinane skeleton by different ring contraction rearrangements. Compounds 1-6 were inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/mL) against several human cancer cell lines.

Norsesquiterpenes from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata

Three bisnorsesquiterpenes (1-3) with novel carbon skeletons and a norsesquiterpene (4) have been isolated from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata. By means of spectroscopic data including IR, HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and CD, their structures including absolute configurations were proposed as (+)-1R,6S,9R)-1-hydroxyl-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[4.3.0]non-4-en3-one (1), (-)-(1S,6S,9R)-1-hydroxyl-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo[4.3.0] non-4-en-3-one (2), (+)-(5S,6R,9S)5-hydroxyl-6-isopropyl-9-methylbicyclo [4.3.01 non-1-en-3-one (3), and (-)-(1R,7S,10R)-1-hydroxy-1lnorcadinan-5-en-4-one (4). Biogenetically, the carbon skeleton of 1-3 may be derived from the co-occurring cadinane skeleton by ring contraction and loss of two carbon units, and compound 4 from the oxidation of cadinane derivatives. Compounds 1-4 were inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/mL) against several human cancer cell lines including lung adenocarcinoma (A549), stomach cancer (BGC-823), breast cancer (MCF-7), hepatoma (Bel7402), and colon cancer (HCT-8) cell lines.

A new sesquiterpene-substituted benzoic acid from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata.

A new sesquiterpene-substituted benzoic acid has been isolated from the brown Alga Dictyopteris divaricata Okam.. Its structure was elucidated as 3-[(2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydro-1-naphthalenyl)methyl]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, named dictyvaric acid on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, HRFABMS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques.

A new bromophenol from the brown alga Leathesia nana

A novel bromophenol was isolated from ethanolic extract of the brown alga Leathesia nana S.et G. The structure was elucidated as (E)-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-propenal by spectroscopic methods including IR, HREIMS, ID and 2D NMR techniques.

Structural studies on a novel fucogalactan sulfate extracted from the brown seaweed Laminaria japonica

A low molecular weight fucogalactan, obtained from the brown seaweed Laminaria japonica, was separated into three fractions (LF1, LF2 and LF3) by DEAE-Sepharose FF column chromatography. All three fractions contained predominantly fucose, sulfate group and galactose. The results showed that the main fraction LF2 consisted of L-fucose, D-galactose and sulfate at a molar ratio 6:1:9. Structural study on the LF2 was carried out by NMR spectroscopy. The backbone of LF2 was primarily (1 -> 3)-linked alpha-L-fucopyranose residues (75%) and a few (1 -> 4)-alpha-L-fucopyranose linkages (25%). The branch points were at C-4 of 3-linked alpha-L-fucopyranose residues by beta-D-galactopyranose unites (35%, molar ratio) or at C-2 of 3-linked alpha-L-fucopyranose residues by non-reducing terminal fucose unites (65%, molar ratio). Sulfate groups occupied at position C-4 or C-2, sometimes C-2, 4 to fucose residues, and C-3 and/or C-4 to galactose residues. The structure of LF2 was supposed as following: [GRAPHICS] (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of the total amount of eggshell pigments in Dongxiang brown-shelled eggs and Dongxiang blue-shelled eggs

Based on the knowledge of the heme biosynthetic and metabolic pathway and the structures of biliverdin and protoporphyrin, experiments were carried out to compare the difference between the total quality of eggshell pigments in blue-shelled eggs and brown-shelled eggs from the same population (Dongxiang, China) and to analyze the correlation between the quantity of protoporphyrin and biliverdin in the 2 kinds of eggshells. It was found that there was no significant difference between the total quantity of eggshell pigments in Dongxiang blue-shelled eggs and Dongxiang brown-shelled eggs (P = 0.9006), and a highly significant positive correlation between the quantity of protoporphyrin and biliverdin in blue eggshells (P < 0.01) and a significant positive correlation between the quantity of protoporphyrin and biliverdin in brown eggshells (P < 0.05). These results suggested that eggshell protoporphyrin and eggshell biliverdin probably derived from common precursor material.

Seasonal regulations of energetics, serum concentrations of leptin, and uncoupling protein 1 content of brown adipose tissue in root voles (Microtus oeconomus) from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Survival of small mammals in winter requires proper adjustments in physiology, behavior and morphology. The present study was designed to examine the changes in serum leptin concentration and the molecular basis of thermogenesis in seasonally acclimatized root voles (Microtus oeconomus) from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. In January root voles had lower body mass and body fat mass coupled with higher nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) capacity. Consistently, cytochrome c oxidase activity and mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) protein contents in brown adipose tissues were higher in January as compared to that in July. Circulating level of serum leptin was significantly lower in winter and higher in July. Correlation analysis showed that serum leptin levels were positively related with body mass and body fat mass while negatively correlated with UCP1 protein contents. Together, these data provided further evidence for our previous findings that root voles from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau mainly depend on higher NST coupled with lower body mass to enhance winter survival. Further, fat deposition was significantly mobilized in cold winter and leptin was potentially involved in the regulation of body mass and thermogenesis in root voles. Serum leptin might act as a starvation signal in winter and satiety signal in summer.

John Austin, H. L. A. Hart... Oh, And W. Jethro Brown!

Ireland, R. W., Cambrian Law Review, 34 pp.57-69 RAE2008

Poems by Matthew Francis

Matthew, Francis, 'Poems By Matthew Francis', Poetry Wales (2007) 42.4 RAE2008

The Correspondence of Iolo Morganwg, 1770-1826

Jenkins, G.; Jones, F.; and Jones, D. (Eds.). (2007). The Correspondence of Iolo Morganwg: Vols. I, II and III. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. RAE2008

Depolarization of sperm membrane potential is a common feature of men with subfertility and is associated with low fertilization rate at IVF

STUDY QUESTION. Are significant abnormalities in outward (K+) conductance and resting membrane potential (Vm) present in the spermatozoa of patients undertaking IVF and ICSI and if so, what is their functional effect on fertilization success? SUMMARY ANSWER. Negligible outward conductance (≈5% of patients) or an enhanced inward conductance (≈4% of patients), both of which caused depolarization of Vm, were associated with a low rate of fertilization following IVF. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY. Sperm-specific potassium channel knockout mice are infertile with defects in sperm function, suggesting that these channels are essential for fertility. These observations suggest that malfunction of K+ channels in human spermatozoa might contribute significantly to the occurrence of subfertility in men. However, remarkably little is known of the nature of K+ channels in human spermatozoa or the incidence and functional consequences of K+ channel defects. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION. Spermatozoa were obtained from healthy volunteer research donors and subfertile IVF and ICSI patients attending a hospital assisted reproductive techniques clinic between May 2013 and December 2015. In total, 40 IVF patients, 41 ICSI patients and 26 normozoospermic donors took part in the study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS. Samples were examined using electrophysiology (whole-cell patch clamping). Where abnormal electrophysiological characteristics were identified, spermatozoa were further examined for Ca2+ influx induced by progesterone and penetration into viscous media if sufficient sample was available. Full exome sequencing was performed to specifically evaluate potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M α 1 (KCNMA1), potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily U member 1 (KCNU1) and leucine-rich repeat containing 52 (LRRC52) genes and others associated with K+ signalling. In IVF patients, comparison with fertilization rates was done to assess the functional significance of the electrophysiological abnormalities. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE. Patch clamp electrophysiology was used to assess outward (K+) conductance and resting membrane potential (Vm) and signalling/motility assays were used to assess functional characteristics of sperm from IVF and ICSI patient samples. The mean Vm and outward membrane conductance in sperm from IVF and ICSI patients were not significantly different from those of control (donor) sperm prepared under the same conditions, but variation between individuals was significantly greater (P< 0.02) with a large number of outliers (>25%). In particular, in ≈10% of patients (7/81), we observed either a negligible outward conductance (4 patients) or an enhanced inward current (3 patients), both of which caused depolarization of Vm. Analysis of clinical data from the IVF patients showed significant association of depolarized Vm (≥0 mV) with low fertilization rate (P= 0.012). Spermatozoa with electrophysiological abnormities (conductance and Vm) responded normally to progesterone with elevation of [Ca2+]i and penetration of viscous medium, indicating retention of cation channel of sperm (CatSper) channel function. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION. For practical, technical, ethical and logistical reasons, we could not obtain sufficient additional semen samples from men with conductance abnormalities to establish the cause of the conductance defects. Full exome sequencing was only available in two men with conductance defects. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS. These data add significantly to the understanding of the role of ion channels in human sperm function and its impact on male fertility. Impaired potassium channel conductance (Gm) and/or Vm regulation is both common and complex in human spermatozoa and importantly is associated with impaired fertilization capacity when the Vm of cells is completely depolarized.

Letter to Charlie Brown from Daniel Denison Whedon

This letter is part of the Autograph Letters Collection.

The Moravian missions in Ohio. By Francis C. Huebner.

http://www.archive.org/details/moravianmissions014001mbp

The political principles of Mencius / by Francis C.M. Wei.

http://www.archive.org/details/thepoliticalprin00weicuoft