Regulatory role of peroxynitrite in advanced glycation end products mediated diabetic cardiovascular complications

The Advanced Glycation End Products(AGE)binding with its receptor can increase reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation through specific signaling mediators.The effect of superoxide(O2-)and O2-mediated ROS and reactive nitrogen species depends on their concentration and location of formation.Nitric oxide(NO)has anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties and a vasodilation effect,but NO can be deactivated by reacting with O_(2)^(-).This reaction between NO and O2-produces the potent oxidant ONOO−.Therefore,ONOO-'s regulatory role in AGEs in diabetic cardiovascular complications must considered as a regulator of cardiovascular complications in diabetes.

Interleukin-35: A key player managing pre-diabetes and chronic inflammatory type 1 autoimmune diabetes

Interleukin-35(IL-35)is a novel protein comprising IL-12αand IL-27βchains.The IL12A and EBI3 genes are responsible for its production.The study of IL-35 has experienced a substantial increase in interest in recent years,as demonstrated by many research papers.Recent clinical studies have shown that individuals who do not have a C-peptide have notably reduced amounts of IL-35 in their blood serum.This is accompanied by a drop in the percentage of IL-35+Treg cells,regulatory B cells,and CD8+FOXP3+cells that produce IL-35.This article em-phasizes the potential significance of IL-35 expression in governing the immune response and its involvement in chronic inflammatory autoimmune diabetes in pancreatic inflammation.It demonstrates IL-35's ability to regulate cytokine proportions,modulate B cells,and protect against autoimmune diabetes.However,further investigation is necessary to ascertain the precise mechanism of IL-35,and meticulous planning is essential for clinical studies.

Emerging Novel Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is caused by synaptic failure and the excessive accumulation of misfolded proteins especially Aβ and tau, and associated with memory loss and cognitive impairment. Treatment of AD mainly consists of symptomatic therapy and disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Several monotherapies including small molecules or antibodies have been evaluated through multiple clinical trials, but a very few have been approved by the USFDA to intervene the disease’s pathogenesis. Past research has shown multifactorial nature of AD, therefore, multi-target drugs were proposed to target different pathways at the same time, however, currently no rationally designed multi-target directed ligand (MTDL) has been clinically approved. Different combinations and bispecific antibodies are also under development. Novel approaches like stem cell-based therapies, microRNAs, peptides, ADCs and vaccines cast a new hope for AD treatment, however, a number of questions remained to be answered prior to their safe and effective clinical translation. This review explores the small molecules, MTDL, and antibodies (monospecific and bispecific) for the treatment of AD. Finally, future perspectives (stem cell therapy, PROTAC approaches, microRNAs, ADC, peptides and vaccines) are also discussed with regard to their clinical applications and feasibility.

Evaluation of Azadirachta indica cultivated in Egypt against biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Insights from molecular docking studies targeting LasR

Background:Azadirachta indica(A.indica),commonly known as neem,is a widely distributed medicinal plant in Asia and Africa and is well known to have a wide spectrum of biological activity.A.indica is considered a skin food that was traditionally used in different cultures to treat a wide range of skin disorders.A.indica was reported to possess antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa)which is considered the most common biofilm model organism.This study aims to investigate the ability of A.indica cultivated in Egypt to inhibit/reduce the biofilm formation by P.aeruginosa.Methods:The microtiter plate assay was used to evaluate the anti-biofilm activity of neem,cultivated in Egypt,leaves against P.aeruginosa as well as the ability to reduce the activity of P.aeruginosa.To investigate the phytocompounds responsible for their bioactivity and to explore potential interactions between their bioactive components and one of the quorum-sensing regulatory proteins of P.aeruginosa involved in biofilm formation,liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric and molecular docking studies were done.Results:Results showed that methanol extract of leaves can reduce the formation of P.aeruginosa biofilm at lower concentrations than those reported in other regions with 1.25 mg/mL as the optimum concentration.The two-way analysis of variance revealed the significance of the extract effect and its concentration on the reduction of biofilm formation(P<0.05).Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric study revealed the presence of fourteen compounds that belong to limonoids and flavonoids.Molecular docking analysis against LasR,the quorum-sensing regulatory protein,of P.aeruginosa supported these findings.Nimbolinin,a limonoid,has achieved the highest Libdock score of 138.769.Conclusion:It was concluded that A.indica,cultivated in Egypt,leaves can target LasR as a new mechanism of action for biofilm control by A.indica and therefore could be a good source of leads for anti-biofilm medicine.

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Mobile Phones and Fructose consumption Coalesce to Perturb Metabolic Regulators AMPK/SIRT1-UCP2/FOXO1 in Growing Rats

Objective In this study,the combined effect of two stressors,namely,electromagnetic fields(EMFs)from mobile phones and fructose consumption,on hypothalamic and hepatic master metabolic regulators of the AMPK/SIRT1-UCP2/FOXO1 pathway were elucidated to delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance.Methods Weaned Wistar rats(28 days old)were divided into 4 groups:Normal,Exposure Only(ExpO),Fructose Only(FruO),and Exposure and Fructose(EF).Each group was provided standard laboratory chow ad libitum for 8 weeks.Additionally,the control groups,namely,the Normal and FruO groups,had unrestricted access to drinking water and fructose solution(15%),respectively.Furthermore,the respective treatment groups,namely,the ExpO and EF groups,received EMF exposure(1,760 MHz,2 h/day x 8 weeks).In early adulthood,mitochondrial function,insulin receptor signaling,and oxidative stress signals in hypothalamic and hepatic tissues were assessed using western blotting and biochemical analysis.Result In the hypothalamic tissue of EF,SIRT1,FOXO 1,p-PI3K,p-AKT,ComplexⅢ,UCP2,MnSOD,and catalase expressions and OXPHOS and GSH activities were significantly decreased(P<0.05)compared to the Normal,ExpO,and FruO groups.In hepatic tissue of EF,the p-AMPKα,SIRT1,FOXO1,IRS1,p-PI3K,ComplexⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ,UCP2,and MnSOD expressions and the activity of OXPHOS,SOD,catalase,and GSH were significantly reduced compared to the Normal group(P<0.05).Conclusion The findings suggest that the combination of EMF exposure and fructose consumption during childhood and adolescence in Wistar rats disrupts the closely interlinked and multi-regulated crosstalk of insulin receptor signals,mitochondrial OXPHOS,and the antioxidant defense system in the hypothalamus and liver.

Indonesian marine and its medicinal contribution

The archipelagic country of Indonesia is populated by the densest marine biodiversity in the world which has created strong global interest and is valued by both Indigenous and European settlements for different purposes.Nearly 1000 chemicals have been extracted and identified.In this review,a systematic data curation was employed to collate bioprospecting related manuscripts providing a comprehensive directory based on publications from 1988 to 2022.Findings with significant pharmacological activities are further discussed through a scoping data collection.This review discusses macroorganisms(Sponges,Ascidian,Gorgonians,Algae,Mangrove)and microorganism(Bacteria and Fungi)and highlights significant discoveries,including a potent microtubule stabilizer laulimalide from Hyattella sp.,a prospective doxorubicin complement papuamine alkaloid from Neopetrosia cf exigua,potent antiplasmodial manzamine A from Acanthostrongylophora ingens,the highly potent anti trypanosomal manadoperoxide B from Plakortis cfr.Simplex,mRNA translation disrupter hippuristanol from Briareum sp,and the anti-HIV-1(+)-8-hydroxymanzamine A isolated from Acanthostrongylophora sp.Further,some potent antibacterial extracts were also found from a limited biomass of bacteria cultures.Although there are currently no examples of commercial drugs from the Indonesian marine environment,this review shows the molecular diversity present and with the known understudied biodiversity,reveals great promise for future studies and outcomes.

The interaction between the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade and PKG activation in cancer

The activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade has been well studied and documented in colorectal cancer（CRC）.The long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs（NSAIDs） has been shown to reduce the incidence and risk of death from CRC in numerous epidemiological studies.The NSA1 D sulindac has also been reported to cause regression of precancerous adenomas in individuals with familial adenomatous polyposis who are at high risk of developing CRC.The mechanism responsible for cancer chemopreventive activity of NSAIDs is not well understood but may be unrelated to their cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity.Emerging evidence suggests that sulindac inhibits the growth of colon tumor cells by suppressing the activity of certain phosphodiesterase isozymes to activate cGMβ-dependent protein kinase,PKG,through the elevation of the second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphote,cGMP.PKG activation has been shown to inhibit the nuclear translocation of β-catenin,reduce β-catenin mRNA and protein levels,and suppress the transcriptional activity of β-catenin.This review describes the relationship between the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade and the activation of PKG through PDE inhibition and elevation of intracellular cGMP levels.

Irsogladine maleate suppresses indomethacin-induced elevation of proinflammatory cytokines and gastric injury in rats

AIM： To investigate the mucosal protective effect and the mechanisms of action of the anti-ulcer drug irsogladine maleate in gastric injury induced by indomethacin in rats. METHODS： Gastric mucosal injury was induced in male Hos：Donryu rats by oral administration of indomethacin at a dose of 48 mg/kg. One hour before indomethacin treatment, animals were orally pretreated with irsogladine maleate at doses of 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg. Four hours after indomethacin administration, the animals were sacrificed and their stomachs were rapidly removed and processed for the evaluation of gastric mucosal damage and the determination of the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin-1β （IL-1β）, IL-8 and myeloperoxidase （MPO） in mucosal tissues. RESULTS： Linear hemorrhagic mucosal lesions were observed primarily in the glandular stomach 4 h alter oral administration of indomethacin. Pretreatment with irsogladine maleate markedly reduced the number and severity of these lesions in a dose-dependent manner. The mucosal concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines （TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8） and MPO, which indicates the degree of mucosal infiltration by neutrophils, increased concomitantly with the occurrence of gastric injury in the indomethacintreated rats. Pretreatment with irsogladine maleate significantly decreased the levels of these inflammatory factors in gastric tissue elicited by indomethacin.CONCLUSION： The mucosal protective effects afforded by irsogladine maleate on gastric injury induced by indomethacin are mediated by inhibition of mucosal proinflammatory cytokine production and neutrophil infiltration, leading to suppression of mucosal inflammation and subsequent tissue destruction.

近红外光谱的选择比率竞争群体分析的变量选择算法

光谱分析是化学计量学的一个重要应用方向,并已被广泛应用到各个领域,其中光谱变量选择又是光谱分析的重要环节。研究不同的变量选择方法客观地识别有用的信息变量和消除无关或干扰变量十分关键。提出了一种新的变量选择方法,命名选择比率的竞争性群体分析法(SRCMPA)。该算法采用选择比率,自适应加权采样和模型群体分析的思想,并结合了变量排列和指数递减函数方法。关键波长定义为多元线性回归模型中得分值较大的波长,将线性模型PLS下的选择比率的得分值作为评价各波长重要性的指标,然后,根据每个波长的重要性, SRCMPA依次从蒙特卡罗采样中选择N个波长子集,以迭代和竞争的方式运行。在每一次采样运行中,以固定比率的样品以建立校准的PLS模型并计算每个变量的选择比率值,基于排序选择比率的得分值和作为权重的归一化的SR(选择比率)得分值,采用指数递减函数的强制选择和自适应加权采样竞争选择的两步过程来选择关键变量。最后,应用交叉验证(CV)方法来选择具有最低交叉验证均方根(RMSECV)的子集作为最优子集。该算法已在小麦蛋白数据集和啤酒数据集上进行了测试,并使用三种高效算法作对比。通过对实验结果来评估算法优越性,该算法能够找到数据集的关键波长变量的最佳组合,并能用于解释感兴趣的化学特性,通过建模后的评价结果也是最佳的。该算法在啤酒光谱数据集的运行结果,相较于啤酒数据集的全光谱PLS模型,变量个数由567个减少到42个左右。并且模型的RMSECV由0.622下降到0.115, RMSEP由0.823减少到了0.263左右,预测精度分别提高了81.5%和68.1%。Q2_CV和Q2_test也分别由0.940, 0.852提高到了0.994和0.995。在小麦蛋白数据集的运行结果,相较于于小麦蛋白光谱数据集的全光谱PLS模型,变量个数由175个减少到18个左右。并且模型的RMSECV由0.607下降到0.292, RMSEP由0.519减少到了0.234左右,预测精度分别提高了51.9%和54.9%。Q2_CV和Q2_test也分别由0.748, 0.774提高到了0.931和0.839。

Pharmacological evaluation of NSAID-induced gastropathy as a “Translatable” model of referred visceral sensitivity

AIM To evaluate whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs)-induced gastropathy is a clinically predictive model of referred visceral hypersensitivity.METHODS Gastric ulcer pain was induced by the oral administration of indomethacin to male,CD1 mice(n = 10/group) and then assessed by measuring referred abdominal hypersensitivity to tactile application. A diverse range of pharmacological mechanisms contributing to the pain were subsequently investigated. These mechanisms included: transient receptor potential(TRP),sodium and acid-sensing ion channels(ASICs) as well as opioid receptors and guanylate cyclase C(GC-C). RESULTS Results showed that two opioids and a GC-C agonist,morphine,asimadoline and linaclotide,respectively,the TRP antagonists,AMG9810 and HC-030031 and the sodium channel blocker,carbamazepine,elicited a dose-and/or time-dependent attenuation of referred visceral hypersensitivity,while the ASIC blocker,amiloride,was ineffective at all doses tested. CONCLUSION Together,these findings implicate opioid receptors,GC-C,and sodium and TRP channel activation as possible mechanisms associated with visceral hypersensitivity. More importantly,these findings also validate NSAID-induced gastropathy as a sensitive and clinically predictive mouse model suitable for assessing novel molecules with potential pain-attenuating properties.

Inhibition of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuryinduced apoptosis:nicotiflorin and JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Nicotiflorin is a flavonoid extracted from Carthamus tinctorius.Previous studies have shown its cerebral protective effect,but the mechanism is undefined.In this study,we aimed to determine whether nicotiflorin protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.The cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion.Nicotiflorin（10 mg/kg） was administered by tail vein injection.Cell apoptosis in the ischemic cerebral cortex was examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling assay.Bcl-2 and Bax expression levels in ischemic cerebral cortex were examined by immunohistochemial staining.Additionally,p-JAK2,p-STAT3,Bcl-2,Bax,and caspase-3 levels in ischemic cerebral cortex were examined by western blot assay.Nicotiflorin altered the shape and structure of injured neurons,decreased the number of apoptotic cells,down-regulates expression of p-JAK2,p-STAT3,caspase-3,and Bax,decreased Bax immunoredactivity,and increased Bcl-2 protein expression and immunoreactivity.These results suggest that nicotiflorin protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced apoptosis via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Does an “Overactive to Underactive Bladder Transition” Phenomenon Exist in a Rat Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis Model?

Purpose: To investigate the association between the maximum cystometric capacity (MCC) and other cystometric parameters in lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) rats. Material and Methods: One small hole was drilled at the fifth lumbar vertebral arch (Sham), and a rectangular piece of silicone rubber was then placed in the epidural space (LCS) of Wister rats. Two weeks after surgery, awake cystometry was performed. LCS rats were divided into three groups: Group A (n = 5, MCC < 0.87 mL), Group B (n = 13, MCC 0.87 - 1.81 mL), and Group C (n = 14, MCC > 1.81 mL). Cystometric parameters were investigated in sham and LCS groups. Results: MCC did not significantly correlate to the frequency of non-voiding contractions (NVCs), voided volume (VV), or maximum intravesical pressure during voiding (Pmax), but significantly positively correlated to postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) and residual urine rate (RUR) (Spearman’s correlation coefficients (ρ) = 0.8973 (p < 0.0001) and 0.4915 (p = 0.0068), respectively). Compared with the sham rats, LCS rats in each group revealed significantly smaller VV, larger RUR, and lower Pmax. On the other hand, among LCS rats, VV, RUR, and Pmax were not significantly different. The frequency of NVCs in each LCS group was not significantly different from that in sham-operated rats (Tukey-Kramer’s HSD test). However, a Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test revealed a significant trend toward higher NVCs in the order of sham, Groups C, B, and A (p = 0.036). Conclusions: LCS rats showed the same degree of detrusor underactivity regardless of MCC. NVCs did not significantly increase in LCS rats with decreased MCC, but the trend toward higher NVCs with smaller MCC was significant.

RNA Extraction from Herba Violae Roots with Low-temperature Sectioning Method

[ Objective ] This study aimed to investigate the optimal method for extracting RNA from roots of medicinal plant herba violae by comparing the effects of liquid nitrogen grinding method and low-temperature sectioning method on RNA extraction. [ Method] Roots of herba violae were respectively crushed by using liquid nitrogen grinding method and low-temperature sectioning method to extract RNA. The extraction effects of these two methods were compared based on detec- tion of RNA concentration, purity and integrity and amplification of GAPDH gene by RT-PCR. [Result] The concentration of RNA extracted by liquid nitrogen grinding method and low-temperature sectioning method was 1.21 and 3.57 p^g/~, respectively. Both RNA extracted by these two methods showed two distinct bands after agarose gel electrophoresis. The ratio of brightness of the 28S rRNA to the 18S rRNA bands was greater than 1. PCR amplification showed that the length of GAPDH gene was about 230 bp, which was consistent with the expected result. [ Conclusion ] The experimental results indicated that using low-tempera ture sectioning method to crush the roots of herba violae can meet the needs of most molecular biological experiments including gene cloning and expression analysis, which is an effective and simple method for extracting RNA from plant roots.

Sulindac sulfide selectively increases sensitivity of ABCC1 expressing tumor cells to doxorubicin and glutathione depletion

ATP-binding cassette（ABC） transporters ABCC1（MRP1）,ABCB1（P-gp）,and ABCG2（BCRP） contribute to chemotherapy failure.The primary goals of this study were to characterize the efficacy and mechanism of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug（NSAID）,sulindac sulfide,to reverse ABCC1 mediated resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and to determine if sulindac sulfide can influence sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs independently of drug efflux.Cytotoxicity assays were performed to measure resistance of ABC-expressing cell lines to doxorubicin and other chemotherapeutic drugs.NSAIDs were tested for the ability to restore sensitivity to resistance selected tumor cell lines,as well as a large panel of standard tumor cell lines.Other experiments characterized the mechanism by which sulindac sulfide inhibits ABCC1 substrate and co-substrate（GSH） transport in isolated membrane vesicles and intact cells.Selective reversal of multi-drug resistance（MDR）,decreased efflux of doxorubicin,and fluorescent substrates were demonstrated by sulindac sulfide and a related NSAID,indomethacin,in resistance selected and engineered cell lines expressing ABCC 1,but not ABCB 1 or ABCG2.Sulindac sulfide also inhibited transport of leukotriene C_4 into membrane vesicles.Sulindac sulfide enhanced the sensitivity to doxorubicin in 24 of 47 tumor cell lines,including all melanoma lines tested（7-7）.Sulindac sulfide also decreased intracellular GSH in ABCC1 expressing cells,while the glutathione synthesis inhibitor,BSO,selectively increased sensitivity to sulindac sulfide induced cytotoxicity.Sulindac sulfide potently and selectively reverses ABCC1-mediated MDR at clinically achievable concentrations.ABCC1 expressing tumors may be highly sensitive to the direct cytotoxicity of sulindac sulfide,and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs that induce oxidative stress.

Beat-to-Beat Variability in Field Potential Duration in Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Clusters for Assessment of Arrhythmogenic Risk, and a Case Study of Its Application

We established a QT interval assessment system that uses human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte clusters (hES-CMCs) in which the field potential duration (FPD) or corrected FPD (FPDc) was measured as an indicator of drug-induced QT interval prolongation. To investigate the applicability of the hES-CMC system to drug safety assessment, we investigated short-term variability in FPDc (STVFPDc) (beat rate rhythmicity) as a marker of torsadogenic risk. We investigated the FPDc and STVFPDc of hES-CMCs treated with hERG channel blockers (E-4031 or cisapride) or with our proprietary compounds X, Y, and Z. We also evaluated the electrocardiograms and hemodynamics of dogs treated with compound X, Y, or Z. The torsadogenic hERG channel blockers increased STVFPDc and prolonged FPDc. Compounds X, Y, and Z had hERG inhibitory activity. Compound X prolonged FPDc with increased STVFPDc, whereas compounds Y and Z tended to shorten FPDc in the hES-CMC system. In the in vivo canine study, compound X prolonged corrected QT (QTc), and compounds Y and Z tended to shorten QTc, showing a good correlation with the results in hES-CMCs. These findings suggest that combined assessment of FPDc and STVFPDc in the hES-CMC system increases the predictability of torsadogenic risk.

Protecting future antimalarials from the trap of resistance:Lessons from artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) failures

Having faced increased clinical treatment failures with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine(DHA-PPQ),Cambodia swapped the first line artemisinin-based combination therapy(ACT)from DHA-PPQ to artesunate-mefloquine given that parasites resistant to piperaquine are susceptible to mefloquine.However,triple mutants have now emerged,suggesting that drug rotations may not be adequate to keep resistance at bay.There is,therefore,an urgent need for alternative treatment strategies to tackle resistance and prevent its spread.A proper understanding of all contributors to artemisinin resistance may help us identify novel strategies to keep artemisinins effective until new drugs become available for their replacement.This review highlights the role of the key players in artemisinin resistance,the current strategies to deal with it and suggests ways of protecting future antimalarial drugs from bowing to resistance as their predecessors did.

Identification and functional analysis of miRNAs in developing kernels of a viviparous mutant in maize

Given the important roles of miRNAs in post-transcriptional gene regulation, identification of differentially expressed miRNAs will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying kernel development. In this study, we constructed a small RNA library to comprehensively represent the full complement of individual small RNAs and to characterize miRNA expression profiles in pooled ears of maize(Zea mays L.) at 10, 15,20, 22, 25 and 30 days after pollination(DAP). At least 21 miRNAs were differentially expressed. The differential expression of three of these miRNAs, i.e., miR528a, miR167a and miR160b, at each stage was verified by qRT-PCR. The results indicated that these miRNAs might be involved in kernel development. In addition, the predicted functions of target genes indicated that most of the target genes are involved in signal transduction and cell communication pathways, particularly the auxin signaling pathway. The expression of candidate germination-associated miRNAs was analyzed by hybridization to a maize genome microarray, and revealed differential expression of genes involved in plant hormone signaling pathways. This finding suggests that phytohormones play a critical role in the development of maize kernels. We found that in combination with other miRNAs, miR528a regulated a putative laccase, a Ring-H2 zinc finger protein and a MADS box-like protein, whereas miR167a and miR160b regulated multiple target genes,including ARF(auxin response factor), a member of the B3 transcription factor family. All three miRNAs are important for ear germination, development and physiology. The small RNA transcriptomes and mRNA obtained in this study will help us gain a betterunderstanding of the expression and function of small RNAs in the development of maize kernel.

An expeditious synthesis of isoxazoline using cetyltrimethylammonium cerium nitrate:A phase transferring oxidative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

An expeditious and effective method for synthesis of isoxazoline from aldoximes and activated alkenes using cetyltrimethylammonium cerium nitrate at room temperature is described.Reaction was completed within short time period in high yields at room temperature.

Component spectroscopic properties of light-harvesting complexes with DFT calculations

Photosynthesis is a fundamental process in biosciences and biotechnology that influences profoundly the research in other disciplines.In this paper,we focus on the characterization of fundamental components,present in pigment-protein complexes,in terms of their spectroscopic properties such as infrared spectra,nuclear magnetic resonance,as well as nuclear quadrupole resonance,which are of critical importance for many applications.Such components include chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls.Based on the density functional theory method,we calculate the main spectroscopic characteristics of these components for the Fenna-Matthews-Olson light-harvesting complex,analyze them and compare them with available experimental results.Future outlook is discussed in the context of current and potential applications of the presented results.

Characterization of a novel variant of the second domain of bikunin with increased leukocyte elastase inhibitory activity

The light chain of inter-α inhibitor, also known as bikunin or urinary trypsin inhibitor, is composed of two tandemly arranged Kunitz-type protease inhibitor domains. The second domain of bikunin has factor Xa inhibitory activity which previously was enhanced by mutating two amino acids, glutamine 19 and tyrosine 46 to lysine and aspartate, respectively. In this study, we tried to potentiate its inhibitory activity against leukocyte elastase. A molecular docking model of the second domain of bikunin with leukocyte elastase revealed that P5 arginine 11 was a candidate residue for a third substitution. We generated six triple point mutants using site-directed mutagenesis, compared their leukocyte elastase-inhibitory activities, and selected the most potent variant with arginine 11 substituted to serine. The IC50 values for factor XIa, factor Xa, and leukocyte elastase were 182, 302, and 273 nM, respectively. Moreover, this triple point mutant prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time and moderately reduced leukocyte elastase-induced endothelial injury. Additionally, favorable conformations created by these mutations were speculated using the structure of the Kunitz protease inhibitor domain of protease nexin 2 complexed with factor XIa as a reference. We discovered a novel triple point mutant of the second domain of bikunin that has potent inhibitory activities against factor XIa, factor Xa, and leukocyte elastase. This variant exhibited anticoagulant activity in plasma and suppressed endothelial cell injury.