Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to i...Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.展开更多
Negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant(pK_(a))significantly influences the absorption,dis-tribution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)properties of molecules and is a crucial indicator in drug rese...Negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant(pK_(a))significantly influences the absorption,dis-tribution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)properties of molecules and is a crucial indicator in drug research.Given the rapid and accurate characteristics of computational methods,their role in predicting drug properties is increasingly important.Although many pK_(a) prediction models currently exist,they often focus on enhancing model precision while neglecting interpretability.In this study,we present GraFpKa,a pK_(a) prediction model using graph neural networks(GNNs)and molecular finger-prints.The results show that our acidic and basic models achieved mean absolute errors(MAEs)of 0.621 and 0.402,respectively,on the test set,demonstrating good predictive performance.Notably,to improve interpretability,GraFpKa also incorporates Integrated Gradients(IGs),providing a clearer visual description of the atoms significantly affecting the pK_(a) values.The high reliability and interpretability of GraFpKa ensure accurate pKa predictions while also facilitating a deeper understanding of the relation-ship between molecular structure and pK_(a) values,making it a valuable tool in the field of pK_(a) prediction.展开更多
Thymus serpyllum L.,often known as wild thyme,has been used since ancient times due to its multifaceted culinary and medicinal attributes.It is usually utilized in folk medicine to manage different health issues.This ...Thymus serpyllum L.,often known as wild thyme,has been used since ancient times due to its multifaceted culinary and medicinal attributes.It is usually utilized in folk medicine to manage different health issues.This work aimed to investigate the chemical composition and biological characteristics of T.serpyllum essential oil(EO),including its antimicrobial,antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory capabilities.Moreover,we have prompted an in-silico simulation to reveal the underlying mode of action of these properties.The chemical characterization of T.serpyllum(EO)by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS)indicated sabinene(17.33%),terpinen-4-ol(11.73%),phellandral(13.18%),and thymol(10.54%)as main components.The antimicrobial screening utilized the disc-diffusion technique,MIC,and MBC assays.The disc-diffusion test’s results revealed significant anti-Candida activity and notable antibacterial efficacy.The MIC and MBC tests showed that T.serpyllum EO effectively stops bacterial growth,including Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and Candida strains.The tolerance level ratio demonstrated that this EO exhibits bactericidal and fungicidal effects on all tested bacteria and Candida strains.Also,T.serpyllum EO presented effective inhibitory activity against the 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX)enzyme(IC50=744.19±0.1µg/mL)(p<0.05).It also effectively affected FRAP,β-carotene,DPPH,and ABTS radicals.In light of these findings,T.serpyllum holds promise for diverse applications across pharmaceuticals,nutraceuticals,and the food industry.However,further research and collaboration between traditional knowledge and modern medicine are crucial to fully realizing its potential benefits in these fields.展开更多
根据日本晴cab4基因序列(GenBank:AK104499.1)设计引物,用RT-PCR的方法从籼稻9311中克隆了叶绿素a/b结合蛋白基因的全长cDNA,命名为cab-9311(cab gene from 9311)。insilico分析表明:cab-9311与cab4基因同源性为99%,编码的蛋白含有244...根据日本晴cab4基因序列(GenBank:AK104499.1)设计引物,用RT-PCR的方法从籼稻9311中克隆了叶绿素a/b结合蛋白基因的全长cDNA,命名为cab-9311(cab gene from 9311)。insilico分析表明:cab-9311与cab4基因同源性为99%,编码的蛋白含有244个氨基酸,与cab4基因编码的蛋白同源性为98%。蛋白分子质量为26.9kD,理论等电点为6.52。第54位～第216位氨基酸是一个典型的叶绿素a/b结合蛋白功能域(chlorophyll a/bbinding domain)。跨膜分析和蛋白质三级预测显示,该蛋白在C端有一个典型的跨膜区。亚细胞定位分析表明该蛋白定位于叶绿体,是一个叶绿体内囊体膜上的锚定蛋白。展开更多
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis during brain development. MiR-3099 is highly expressed throughout embryogenesis, especially in the...MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis during brain development. MiR-3099 is highly expressed throughout embryogenesis, especially in the developing central nervous system. Moreover, miR-3099 is also expressed at a higher level in differentiating neurons in vitro, suggesting that it is a potential regulator during neuronal cell development. This study aimed to predict the target genes of miR-3099 via in-silico analysis using four independent prediction algorithms（miRDB,miRanda, Target Scan, and DIANA-micro-T-CDS） with emphasis on target genes related to brain development and function. Based on the analysis, a total of 3,174 miR-3099 target genes were predicted. Those predicted by at least three algorithms（324 genes） were subjected to DAVID bioinformatics analysis to understand their overallfunctional themes and representation. The analysis revealed that nearly 70% of the target genes were expressed in the nervous system and a significant proportion were associated with transcriptional regulation and protein ubiquitination mechanisms. Comparison of in situ hybridization（ISH） expression patterns of miR-3099 in both published and in-house-generated ISH sections with the ISH sections of target genes from the Allen Brain Atlas identified 7 target genes（Dnmt3a, Gabpa, Gfap, Itga4,Lxn, Smad7, and Tbx18） having expression patterns complementary to miR-3099 in the developing and adult mouse brain samples. Of these, we validated Gfap as a direct downstream target of miR-3099 using the luciferase reporter gene system. In conclusion, we report the successful prediction and validation of Gfap as an miR-3099 target gene using a combination of bioinformatics resources with enrichment of annotations based on functional ontologies and a spatio-temporal expression dataset.展开更多
There are many studies on enzymatic pathways of anthocyanin biosynthesis, but little is known about the anthocyanins transport in Oryze sativa. In silico analysis, the OsMRP15 (LOC_Os06g06440), an orthologous gene of ...There are many studies on enzymatic pathways of anthocyanin biosynthesis, but little is known about the anthocyanins transport in Oryze sativa. In silico analysis, the OsMRP15 (LOC_Os06g06440), an orthologous gene of mazie anthocyanin transporter ZmMRP3, has been identified in rice. The OsMRP15 contained a 4425bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 1475 amino acid protein, belonging to a MRP subfamily of ABC transporters, and has a high sequence identity, very similar protein structure, and the same arrangement of domains to ZmMRP3, but the genomic structure of OsMRP15 was significant difference with ZmMRP3. The prediction promoter of OsMRP15 has many presumed anthocyanin regulatory sites. The phylogenetic analysis of MRPs in rice, mazie and Arabidopsis showed that OsMRP15 and ZmMRP3 belonged to the same subbranch. The expression pattern indicated that OsMRP15 was co-expression with two anthocyanin transcription factors. These analysis results implied that as an ortholog of ZmMRP3, the function of OsMRP15 was possibly as a membrane-bound transporter required for vacuolar uptake of anthocyanins in rice.展开更多
The present study was designed to target fish for potential bioactive components contained in a Huang Lian Jie Du decoction(HLJDD) and identify the underlying mechanisms of action for the treatment of sepsis at the mo...The present study was designed to target fish for potential bioactive components contained in a Huang Lian Jie Du decoction(HLJDD) and identify the underlying mechanisms of action for the treatment of sepsis at the molecular level. he bioactive components database of HLJDD was constructed and the sepsis-associated targets were comprehensively investigated. The 3D structures of the PAFR and TXA2 R proteins were established using the homology modelling(HM) method, and the molecular effects for sepsis treatment were analysed by comparing the bioactive components database and the sepsis targets using computational biology methods. The results of the screening were validated with biological testing against the human oral epidermal carcinoma cell line KB in vitro. We found that multiple bioactive compounds contained in the HLJDD interacted with multiple targets. We also predicted the promising compound leads for sepsis treatment, and the first 28 compounds were characterized. Several compounds, such as berberine, berberrubine and epiberberine, dose-dependently inhibited PGE2 production in human KB cells, and the effects were similar in the presence or absence of TPA. This study demonstrates a novel approach to identifying natural chemical compounds as new leads for the treatment of sepsis.展开更多
Phospholipase D （PLD, EC 3.1.4.4） plays an important role in adaptive response of postharvest fruit to environment. In this study, a novel cDNA of PLDα was isolated with the strategy of in silico cloning in combina...Phospholipase D （PLD, EC 3.1.4.4） plays an important role in adaptive response of postharvest fruit to environment. In this study, a novel cDNA of PLDα was isolated with the strategy of in silico cloning in combination with RT-PCR from peach （Prunus persica L. cv. Jiubao）. The obtained PLDα gene contained a complete open reading frame encoding a 92- kDa protein of 810 amino acid residues, which possessed the characteristic C2 domain and two catalytic HKD motifs. The alignment analysis of the deduced peach PLDa protein with other known PLDα family proteins indicated that peach PLDα was conserved and highly homologous with strawberry PLDα. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis indicated PLDα mRNA in peach fruits could be induced by low temperature. This work provided a scientific basis for further investigating the mechanism of postharvest fruit adaptation to low temperature.展开更多
In recent years, Jatropha curcas L. has gained popularity as a potential biodiesel plant. The varying oil content, reported between accessions belonging to different agroclimatic zones, has necessitated the assessment...In recent years, Jatropha curcas L. has gained popularity as a potential biodiesel plant. The varying oil content, reported between accessions belonging to different agroclimatic zones, has necessitated the assessment of the existing genetic variability to generate reliable molecular markers for selection of high oil yielding variety. EST derived SSR markers are more useful than genomic markers as they represent the transcriptome, thus, directly linked to functional genes. The present report describes the in silico mining of the microsatellites (SSRs) using J. curcas ESTs from various tissues viz. embryo, root, leaf and seed available in the public domain of NCBI. A total of 13,513 ESTs were downloaded. From these ESTs, 7552 unigenes were obtained and 395 SSRs were generated from 377 SSR-ESTs. These EST-SSRs can be used as potential microsatellite markers for diversity analysis, MAS etc. Since the Jatropha genes carrying SSRs have been identified in this study, thus, EST-SSRs directly linked to genes will be useful for developing trait linked markers.展开更多
The present manuscript describes solid-state synthesis of some reported steroidal pyrazolines by a novel eco-friendly route. The synthesized pyrazolines were compared with those obtained from conventional methods in t...The present manuscript describes solid-state synthesis of some reported steroidal pyrazolines by a novel eco-friendly route. The synthesized pyrazolines were compared with those obtained from conventional methods in terms of reaction time and overall yield. A substantial enhancement in reaction rate and yield was observed. The antimicrobial activity and the subsequent molecular docking studies of the steroidal pyrazolines have also been carried out.展开更多
Mushrooms are well-known to possess a continuum of anticancer metabolites that are vital in the development of anticancer adjuvant drug leads based on natural products. Owing to the fact that conventional cancer thera...Mushrooms are well-known to possess a continuum of anticancer metabolites that are vital in the development of anticancer adjuvant drug leads based on natural products. Owing to the fact that conventional cancer therapeutic methods were failed to lessen mortality caused by cancer to the estimated level with occurrence of adverse side effects, anticancer agents isolated from natural mushroom sources unarguably make an experimental research area worth mass focus today. The current study was targeted on in vitro cytotoxicity and in silico predictive pharmacological analysis of a flavonoid compound isolated from Fulvifomes fastuosus mushroom. Targeted compound was isolated from the mushroom using different chromatographic methods and identified by NMR spectrometry and mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity experiments were carried out using MTT assay and apoptotic cells were identified by ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining. The SwissADME tool, BOILED-Egg construction model and Swiss target protein prediction software have been used to perform in silico predictive pharmacological analysis. The isolated compound has been identified as 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione by spectrometric methods. The result of MTT assay showed that 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has potent anticancer activity for hepatoma against Hep-G2 cell line (IC50 = 20.8 μg/ml) being less toxic to normal CC-1 epithelial cells (IC50 = 167.00 μM). The cells treated with compound ex-hibited apoptotic features such as cellular shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and condensed cytoplasm. In summary, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has shown potent anticancer properties against hepatoma with less cytotoxicity effect on normal cells. Furthermore, in silico study has revealed that properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione may contribute to making a high absorption and clearance of the test compound as not interfering with the therapeutic failure of the compound. The properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo-[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione were compatible with well-known anticancer drug lapatinib. In conclusion, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has a high tendency to act as a good anticancer adjuvant drug in the treatment of hepatoma.展开更多
Duloxetine(DUL), an antidepressant drug, has been detected in surface water and wastewater effluents, however, there is little information on the formation of its transformation products(TPs). In this work, hydrolysis...Duloxetine(DUL), an antidepressant drug, has been detected in surface water and wastewater effluents, however, there is little information on the formation of its transformation products(TPs). In this work, hydrolysis, photodegradation(UV irradiation) and chlorination experiments were performed on spiked distillated water, under controlled experimental conditions to simulate abiotic processes that can occur in the environment and wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs). Eleven TPs, nine from reaction with UV light and two from chlorine contact, were formed and detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and nine of them had their chemical structures elucidated upon analyses of their fragmentation patterns in MS/MS spectra. The formation and degradation of the TPs were observed. The parent compound was completely degraded after30 min in photodegradation and after 24 hr in chlorination. Almost all TPs were completely degraded in the experiments. The ecotoxicity and mutagenicity of the TPs were predicted based on several in silico models and it was found that a few of these products presented more ecotoxicity than DUL itself and six TPs showed positive mutagenicity. Finally, wastewater samples were analyzed and DUL and one TP, possibly formed by chlorination process, were detected in the effluent, which showed that WWTP not only did not remove DUL, but also formed a TP.展开更多
文摘Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.
基金upported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.:2023YFF1204904)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.:U23A20530 and 82173746)Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism(Shanghai Municipal Education Commission,China).
文摘Negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant(pK_(a))significantly influences the absorption,dis-tribution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)properties of molecules and is a crucial indicator in drug research.Given the rapid and accurate characteristics of computational methods,their role in predicting drug properties is increasingly important.Although many pK_(a) prediction models currently exist,they often focus on enhancing model precision while neglecting interpretability.In this study,we present GraFpKa,a pK_(a) prediction model using graph neural networks(GNNs)and molecular finger-prints.The results show that our acidic and basic models achieved mean absolute errors(MAEs)of 0.621 and 0.402,respectively,on the test set,demonstrating good predictive performance.Notably,to improve interpretability,GraFpKa also incorporates Integrated Gradients(IGs),providing a clearer visual description of the atoms significantly affecting the pK_(a) values.The high reliability and interpretability of GraFpKa ensure accurate pKa predictions while also facilitating a deeper understanding of the relation-ship between molecular structure and pK_(a) values,making it a valuable tool in the field of pK_(a) prediction.
文摘Thymus serpyllum L.,often known as wild thyme,has been used since ancient times due to its multifaceted culinary and medicinal attributes.It is usually utilized in folk medicine to manage different health issues.This work aimed to investigate the chemical composition and biological characteristics of T.serpyllum essential oil(EO),including its antimicrobial,antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory capabilities.Moreover,we have prompted an in-silico simulation to reveal the underlying mode of action of these properties.The chemical characterization of T.serpyllum(EO)by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS)indicated sabinene(17.33%),terpinen-4-ol(11.73%),phellandral(13.18%),and thymol(10.54%)as main components.The antimicrobial screening utilized the disc-diffusion technique,MIC,and MBC assays.The disc-diffusion test’s results revealed significant anti-Candida activity and notable antibacterial efficacy.The MIC and MBC tests showed that T.serpyllum EO effectively stops bacterial growth,including Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and Candida strains.The tolerance level ratio demonstrated that this EO exhibits bactericidal and fungicidal effects on all tested bacteria and Candida strains.Also,T.serpyllum EO presented effective inhibitory activity against the 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX)enzyme(IC50=744.19±0.1µg/mL)(p<0.05).It also effectively affected FRAP,β-carotene,DPPH,and ABTS radicals.In light of these findings,T.serpyllum holds promise for diverse applications across pharmaceuticals,nutraceuticals,and the food industry.However,further research and collaboration between traditional knowledge and modern medicine are crucial to fully realizing its potential benefits in these fields.
基金supported by the Science Fund(02-01-04-SF2336)the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme,Ministry of Higher Education,Malaysia(FRGS-04-01-15-1663FR)
文摘MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis during brain development. MiR-3099 is highly expressed throughout embryogenesis, especially in the developing central nervous system. Moreover, miR-3099 is also expressed at a higher level in differentiating neurons in vitro, suggesting that it is a potential regulator during neuronal cell development. This study aimed to predict the target genes of miR-3099 via in-silico analysis using four independent prediction algorithms（miRDB,miRanda, Target Scan, and DIANA-micro-T-CDS） with emphasis on target genes related to brain development and function. Based on the analysis, a total of 3,174 miR-3099 target genes were predicted. Those predicted by at least three algorithms（324 genes） were subjected to DAVID bioinformatics analysis to understand their overallfunctional themes and representation. The analysis revealed that nearly 70% of the target genes were expressed in the nervous system and a significant proportion were associated with transcriptional regulation and protein ubiquitination mechanisms. Comparison of in situ hybridization（ISH） expression patterns of miR-3099 in both published and in-house-generated ISH sections with the ISH sections of target genes from the Allen Brain Atlas identified 7 target genes（Dnmt3a, Gabpa, Gfap, Itga4,Lxn, Smad7, and Tbx18） having expression patterns complementary to miR-3099 in the developing and adult mouse brain samples. Of these, we validated Gfap as a direct downstream target of miR-3099 using the luciferase reporter gene system. In conclusion, we report the successful prediction and validation of Gfap as an miR-3099 target gene using a combination of bioinformatics resources with enrichment of annotations based on functional ontologies and a spatio-temporal expression dataset.
文摘There are many studies on enzymatic pathways of anthocyanin biosynthesis, but little is known about the anthocyanins transport in Oryze sativa. In silico analysis, the OsMRP15 (LOC_Os06g06440), an orthologous gene of mazie anthocyanin transporter ZmMRP3, has been identified in rice. The OsMRP15 contained a 4425bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 1475 amino acid protein, belonging to a MRP subfamily of ABC transporters, and has a high sequence identity, very similar protein structure, and the same arrangement of domains to ZmMRP3, but the genomic structure of OsMRP15 was significant difference with ZmMRP3. The prediction promoter of OsMRP15 has many presumed anthocyanin regulatory sites. The phylogenetic analysis of MRPs in rice, mazie and Arabidopsis showed that OsMRP15 and ZmMRP3 belonged to the same subbranch. The expression pattern indicated that OsMRP15 was co-expression with two anthocyanin transcription factors. These analysis results implied that as an ortholog of ZmMRP3, the function of OsMRP15 was possibly as a membrane-bound transporter required for vacuolar uptake of anthocyanins in rice.
基金supported by the Youth Fund from Anhui Science and Technology University(No.ZRC2013341)the National Science and Technology Major Project'Creation of Major New Drugs'of China(No.2012ZX09303009-002)+2 种基金China College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship(No.2013108 79009)the National Natural Science Fundation of China(81403268)the Natural Science Foundation of the Education Bureau of Anhui Province(KJ2013z055)
文摘The present study was designed to target fish for potential bioactive components contained in a Huang Lian Jie Du decoction(HLJDD) and identify the underlying mechanisms of action for the treatment of sepsis at the molecular level. he bioactive components database of HLJDD was constructed and the sepsis-associated targets were comprehensively investigated. The 3D structures of the PAFR and TXA2 R proteins were established using the homology modelling(HM) method, and the molecular effects for sepsis treatment were analysed by comparing the bioactive components database and the sepsis targets using computational biology methods. The results of the screening were validated with biological testing against the human oral epidermal carcinoma cell line KB in vitro. We found that multiple bioactive compounds contained in the HLJDD interacted with multiple targets. We also predicted the promising compound leads for sepsis treatment, and the first 28 compounds were characterized. Several compounds, such as berberine, berberrubine and epiberberine, dose-dependently inhibited PGE2 production in human KB cells, and the effects were similar in the presence or absence of TPA. This study demonstrates a novel approach to identifying natural chemical compounds as new leads for the treatment of sepsis.
基金supported by China Post doctoral Science Foundation (20070420095)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30571279,30871699,30901012)+1 种基金Innovative Foundation of Shanghai UniversitySystems Biology Research Foundation of Shanghai University
文摘Phospholipase D （PLD, EC 3.1.4.4） plays an important role in adaptive response of postharvest fruit to environment. In this study, a novel cDNA of PLDα was isolated with the strategy of in silico cloning in combination with RT-PCR from peach （Prunus persica L. cv. Jiubao）. The obtained PLDα gene contained a complete open reading frame encoding a 92- kDa protein of 810 amino acid residues, which possessed the characteristic C2 domain and two catalytic HKD motifs. The alignment analysis of the deduced peach PLDa protein with other known PLDα family proteins indicated that peach PLDα was conserved and highly homologous with strawberry PLDα. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis indicated PLDα mRNA in peach fruits could be induced by low temperature. This work provided a scientific basis for further investigating the mechanism of postharvest fruit adaptation to low temperature.
文摘In recent years, Jatropha curcas L. has gained popularity as a potential biodiesel plant. The varying oil content, reported between accessions belonging to different agroclimatic zones, has necessitated the assessment of the existing genetic variability to generate reliable molecular markers for selection of high oil yielding variety. EST derived SSR markers are more useful than genomic markers as they represent the transcriptome, thus, directly linked to functional genes. The present report describes the in silico mining of the microsatellites (SSRs) using J. curcas ESTs from various tissues viz. embryo, root, leaf and seed available in the public domain of NCBI. A total of 13,513 ESTs were downloaded. From these ESTs, 7552 unigenes were obtained and 395 SSRs were generated from 377 SSR-ESTs. These EST-SSRs can be used as potential microsatellite markers for diversity analysis, MAS etc. Since the Jatropha genes carrying SSRs have been identified in this study, thus, EST-SSRs directly linked to genes will be useful for developing trait linked markers.
文摘The present manuscript describes solid-state synthesis of some reported steroidal pyrazolines by a novel eco-friendly route. The synthesized pyrazolines were compared with those obtained from conventional methods in terms of reaction time and overall yield. A substantial enhancement in reaction rate and yield was observed. The antimicrobial activity and the subsequent molecular docking studies of the steroidal pyrazolines have also been carried out.
文摘Mushrooms are well-known to possess a continuum of anticancer metabolites that are vital in the development of anticancer adjuvant drug leads based on natural products. Owing to the fact that conventional cancer therapeutic methods were failed to lessen mortality caused by cancer to the estimated level with occurrence of adverse side effects, anticancer agents isolated from natural mushroom sources unarguably make an experimental research area worth mass focus today. The current study was targeted on in vitro cytotoxicity and in silico predictive pharmacological analysis of a flavonoid compound isolated from Fulvifomes fastuosus mushroom. Targeted compound was isolated from the mushroom using different chromatographic methods and identified by NMR spectrometry and mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity experiments were carried out using MTT assay and apoptotic cells were identified by ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining. The SwissADME tool, BOILED-Egg construction model and Swiss target protein prediction software have been used to perform in silico predictive pharmacological analysis. The isolated compound has been identified as 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione by spectrometric methods. The result of MTT assay showed that 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has potent anticancer activity for hepatoma against Hep-G2 cell line (IC50 = 20.8 μg/ml) being less toxic to normal CC-1 epithelial cells (IC50 = 167.00 μM). The cells treated with compound ex-hibited apoptotic features such as cellular shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and condensed cytoplasm. In summary, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has shown potent anticancer properties against hepatoma with less cytotoxicity effect on normal cells. Furthermore, in silico study has revealed that properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione may contribute to making a high absorption and clearance of the test compound as not interfering with the therapeutic failure of the compound. The properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo-[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione were compatible with well-known anticancer drug lapatinib. In conclusion, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has a high tendency to act as a good anticancer adjuvant drug in the treatment of hepatoma.
基金supported by Brazilian Federal Agency Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES)for PhD grants(No.99999.000845/2014-00)Fundacao para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(FCT)Portugal(Projects UID/MULTI/00612/2013,PEst-OE/QUI/UI0612/2013 and LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022125)
文摘Duloxetine(DUL), an antidepressant drug, has been detected in surface water and wastewater effluents, however, there is little information on the formation of its transformation products(TPs). In this work, hydrolysis, photodegradation(UV irradiation) and chlorination experiments were performed on spiked distillated water, under controlled experimental conditions to simulate abiotic processes that can occur in the environment and wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs). Eleven TPs, nine from reaction with UV light and two from chlorine contact, were formed and detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and nine of them had their chemical structures elucidated upon analyses of their fragmentation patterns in MS/MS spectra. The formation and degradation of the TPs were observed. The parent compound was completely degraded after30 min in photodegradation and after 24 hr in chlorination. Almost all TPs were completely degraded in the experiments. The ecotoxicity and mutagenicity of the TPs were predicted based on several in silico models and it was found that a few of these products presented more ecotoxicity than DUL itself and six TPs showed positive mutagenicity. Finally, wastewater samples were analyzed and DUL and one TP, possibly formed by chlorination process, were detected in the effluent, which showed that WWTP not only did not remove DUL, but also formed a TP.
