GGNBP2 is necessary for testis morphology and sperm development.

Gametogenetin Binding Protein 2 (GGNBP2) was identified as a tumor suppressor and verified as such by several studies. GGNBP2 has also been reported to be essential for pregnancy maintenance via regulation of trophoblast stem cells. Gametogenetin (GGN) is a testicular germ cell-specific gene expressed in adult testes.

Pyrethroid resistance associated with M918 L mutation and detoxifying metabolism in Aphis gossypii from Bt cotton growing regions of China.

Background: The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), is a destructive pest that affects numerous crops throughout the world. Pyrethroid resistance has become endemic in A. gossypii populations in the cotton growing areas of China due to wide- spread application of insecticides.

A one-dimensional random laser based on artificial high-index contrast scatterers.

The realization of a one-dimensional (1D) random laser (RL) by using artificially fabricated scatterers is reported in this letter, and the lasing characteristic has also been investigated comprehensively. The manipulation of the lasing mode in the 1D microwire (MW) RL can be achieved through micro-pits prepared by the laser-ablation technique. Well-defined sharp lasing peaks were realized based on the coherence feedback process in the 1D optical waveguide.

miR-133a acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by targeting eIF4A1.

Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs play critical roles in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. In this study, miR-133a was found to be significantly downregulated in colon tumor tissues. We aimed to determine its biological function, molecular mechanisms, and direct target genes in colorectal cancer.

Massively parallel sequencing of 231 autosomal SNPs with a custom panel: a SNP typing assay developed for human identification with Ion Torrent PGM.

The custom-designed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel amplified 231 autosomal SNPs in one PCR reaction and subsequently sequenced with massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology and Ion Torrent personal genome machine (PGM). SNPs were chosen from SNPforID, IISNP, HapMap, dbSNP, and related published literatures. Full concordance was obtained between available MPS calling and Sanger sequencing with 9947A and 9948 controls.

Developmental validation of a custom panel including 273 SNPs for forensic application using Ion Torrent PGM.

Utilizing massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology for SNP testing in forensic genetics is becoming attractive because of the shortcomings of STR markers, such as their high mutation rates and disadvantages associated with the current PCR-CE method as well as its limitations regarding multiplex capabilities. MPS offers the potential to genotype hundreds to thousands of SNPs from multiple samples in a single experimental run. In this study, we designed a customized SNP panel that includes 273 forensically relevant identity SNPs chosen from SNPforID, IISNP, and the HapMap database as well as previously related studies and evaluated the levels of genotyping precision, sequence coverage, sensitivity and SNP performance using the Ion Torrent PGM.

Novel HS Releasing Nanofibrous Coating for In Vivo Dermal Wound Regeneration.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), together with nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, has been recognized as an important gasotransmitter. It plays an essential physiological role in regulating cyto-protective signal process, and HS-based therapy is considered as the next generation of promising therapeutic strategies for many biomedical applications, such as the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Through electrospinning of polycaprolactone (PCL) containing JK1, a novel pH-controllable HS donor, nanofibers with HS releasing function, PCL-JK1, are fabricated.

Comparative Study of Heparin-Poloxamer Hydrogel Modified bFGF and aFGF for in Vivo Wound Healing Efficiency.

Wound therapy remains a clinical challenge. Incorporation of growth factors (GFs) into heparin-functionalized polymer hydrogel is considered as a promising strategy to improve wound healing efficiency. However, different GFs incorporation into the same heparin-based hydrogels often lead to different wound healing effects, and the underlying GF-induced wound healing mechanisms still remain elusive.

Orexin-A increases the activity of globus pallidus neurons in both normal and parkinsonian rats.

Orexin is a member of neuropeptides which was first identified in the hypothalamus. The globus pallidus is a key structure in the basal ganglia, which is involved in both normal motor function and movement disorders. Morphological studies have shown the expression of both OX1 and OX2 receptors in the globus pallidus.

Enhanced Exciton Binding Energy of ZnO by Long-Distance Perturbation of Doped Be Atoms.

The excitonic effect in semiconductors is sensitive to dopants. Origins of dopant-induced large variation in the exciton binding energy (E(b)) is not well understood and has never been systematically studied. We choose ZnO as a typical high-E(b) material, which is very promising in low-threshold lasing.

Investigation of TtrD, an expressing recombinant fusion tag, in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is widely used for expressing recombinant proteins, and several tags have been developed to improve protein solubility. However, expressing and purifying protein from other organisms is not always successful. In this study, we investigated the possibility of using TtrD as an expressing fusion tag in E.

An efficient synthesis of an exo-enone analogue of LL-Z1640-2 and evaluation of its protein kinase inhibitory activities.

An efficient synthesis of an exo-enone analogue (5) of resorcylic acid lactone (RAL), natural product LL-Z1640-2 (1), has been achieved using a Ni-catalysed regioselective reductive coupling macrocyclisation of an alkyne-aldehyde as a key step. The synthetic route is significantly shorter than those for the natural product and avoids the isomerisation problem of the cis-double bond in the molecule. The preliminary biological evaluation showed that the exo-enone analogue is a potent inhibitor of several important kinases relevant to cancer drug development.

The antithrombotic effect of RSNK in blood-stasis model rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Reduction of Sheng-Nao-Kang decoction (RSNK), composed of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of FLT3 covalent inhibitors with a resorcylic acid core.

A series of simplified ring-opened resorcylic acid lactone (RAL) derivatives were conveniently synthesized to target FLT3 and its mutants either irreversibly or reversibly. Our design of covalent FLT3 inhibitors is based on cis-enone RALs (e.g.

The modulation of grain boundary barrier in ZnMgO/ZnO heterostructure by surface polar liquid.

Modulation of grain boundary barrier in ZnO layer by polar liquid, was investigated in ZnMgO/ZnO heterostructures grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Traditionally, surface adsorbates can only affect the surface atoms or surface electronic states. However, it was found that the electronic conduction property of ZnO far from the surface could be tailored obviously by the polar liquid adsorbed on the ZnMgO surface.

Rational design of resorcylic acid lactone analogues as covalent MNK1/2 kinase inhibitors by tuning the reactivity of an enamide Michael acceptor.

Recent biological and computational advances in drug design have led to renewed interest in targeted covalent inhibition as an efficient and practical approach for the development of new drugs. As part of our continuing efforts in the exploration of the therapeutic potential of resorcylic acid lactones (RALs), we report herein the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of conveniently accessible RAL enamide analogues as novel covalent inhibitors of MAP kinase interacting kinases (MNKs). In this study, we have successfully demonstrated that the covalent binding ability of RAL enamides can be tuned by attaching an electron-withdrawing motif, such as an acyl group, to enhance its reactivity toward the cysteine residues at the MNK1/2 binding sites.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative amidation of aldehydes with amine salts: synthesis of primary, secondary, and tertiary amides.

A practical method for the amidation of aldehydes with economic ammonium chloride or amine hydrochloride salts has been developed for the synthesis of a wide variety of amides by using inexpensive copper sulfate or copper(I) oxide as a catalyst and aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant. This amidation reaction is operationally straightforward and provides primary, secondary, and tertiary amides in good to excellent yields for most cases utilizing inexpensive and readily available reagents under mild conditions. In situ formation of amine salts from free amines extends the substrate scope of the reaction.

Atmospheric pressure aminocarbonylation of aryl iodides using palladium nanoparticles supported on MOF-5.

An efficient amide synthesis by atmospheric pressure aminocarbonylation using palladium nanoparticles supported on MOF-5 is reported. Interestingly, only 0.5 wt% palladium loading was required to achieve high yields.

Exploring aigialomycin d and its analogues as protein kinase inhibitors for cancer targets.

The natural product aigialomycin D (1) is a member of the resorcylic acid lactone (RAL) family possessing protein kinase inhibitory activities. This paper describes the synthesis of aigialomycin D and a series of its analogues and their activity for the inhibition of protein kinases related to cancer pathways. A preliminary study of these compounds in the inhibition of CDK2/cyclin A kinase has found that aigialomycin D and analogues 11 and 23 are moderate CDK2/cyclin A inhibitors with IC50 values of ca.

Stabilized well-dispersed Pd(0) nanoparticles for aminocarbonylation of aryl halides.

Well-dispersed palladium (0) nanoparticles stabilized with phosphonium based ionic liquid were synthesized conveniently and fully characterized. A catalyst system comprising of the Pd(0) nanoparticles and a base was found to be recyclable and efficient for the aminocarbonylation reaction of aryl iodide in ionic liquid media. In the presence of potassium tert-butyloxide, for the relatively stable aryl chloride and bromide substrates, medium activities were achieved for the catalyst.

Efficient formal synthesis of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) with inexpensive D-ribose as the starting material.

An efficient formal synthesis of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) has been achieved in 12 steps with use of the inexpensive and highly abundant D-ribose as the starting material. This concise alternative route does not utilize protecting groups and features the introduction of 3-pentylidene ketal as the latent 3-pentyl ether, the use of a highly efficient RCM reaction to form the Tamiflu skeleton, and selective functional group manipulations.

[Enantiomeric separation of mandelic acid and its analogues by high performance liquid chromatography with 2,6-di-O-pentyl-beta-cyclodextrin coated symmetry C8 column].

2,6-Di-O-pentyl-beta-cyclodextrin, synthesized from beta-CD in dimethyl sulfoxide (DM-SO), was dynamically coated on a Symmetry C8 column through hydrophobic interaction. Using the coated column, the resolution of six racemic mixtures of mandelic acid and its analogues by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography was achieved: (+/-)-mandelic acid, (+/-)-mandelic acid methyl ester, (+/-)-mandelic acid ethyl ester, (+/-)-2-phenylglycine, (+/-)-phenylsuccinic acid and (+/-)-benzoin. The enantiomeric separation mechanism is discussed.