Molecular Engineering of Self-Immolative Bioresponsive MR Probes.

Real-time detection of bio-event in whole animals provides essential information for understanding biological and therapeutic processes. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging represents a non-invasive approach to generating three-dimensional anatomic images with high spatial-temporal resolution and unlimited depth penetration. We have developed several self-immolative enzyme-activatable agents that provide excellent in vivo contrast and function as gene expression reporters.

Environmental Factors Shaping the Diversity and Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Indoor and Outdoor Culturable Airborne Fungal Communities in Tianjin University Campus, Tianjin, China.

Airborne fungi have significant influence on air quality and may pose adverse effects on human health due to their allergenic and pathogenic effect. We carried out a 1-year survey on the airborne fungal diversity and concentration of indoor and outdoor environments, within the Tianjin University campus. Airborne fungi were sampled using an HAS-100B air sampler.

Photocontrollable Probes for Mitochondrial Protein Profiling.

The mitochondrion is the core site of cell signaling, energy metabolism and biosynthesis. Here, taking advantage of activity-based probes, we synthesized two photocontrollable probes (YGH-1 and YGH-2), composed of a mitochondrial localization moiety "triphenylphosphonium", a photo-triggered group to achieve spatially and temporally controlled protein capture, and an alkyne group to enrich the labeled protein. Proteomic validation was further carried out to facilitate identification of the mitochondrial proteome in HeLa cells.

"Clickable" ZIF-8 for Cell-Type-Specific Delivery of Functional Proteins.

Protein therapy provides a powerful alternative to small-molecule-based therapy, especially on cellular targets that are normally considered to be less druggable. Intracellular protein delivery, in particular, in a cell-type-specific manner, is still highly challenging. At present, few general strategies are available for the robust and selective intracellular delivery of proteins.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of PSMA-Positive Prostate Cancer by a Targeted and Activatable Gd(III) MR Contrast Agent.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed in aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) and has been extensively studied as a PCa diagnostic imaging biomarker. Multiple imaging modalities have exploited PSMA as a biomarker including magnetic resonance (MR), Optical, and PET imaging. Of all the imaging MR imaging provides the most detailed information, concurrently providing anatomical, functional, and potentially molecular information.

Asymmetric syntheses of four stereoisomers of 13-hydroxy-14-methylhexadecanoic acid as potential antibacterial agents.

The first total syntheses of four stereoisomers of 13-hydroxy-14-methylhexadecanoic acid have been accomplished. Central to this strategy are asymmetric alkynylation of aldehyde, acid-catalyzed lactonization, the selective protection of primary alcohol and Wittig reaction. The product 1a was obtained in 17 steps in 2% overall yield.

Cobalt-Bisoxazoline-Catalyzed Enantioselective Cross-Coupling of α-Bromo Esters with Alkenyl Grignard Reagents.

The first catalytic asymmetric Kumada cross-coupling of organic halides with alkenyl Grignard reagents has been developed. The reaction was promoted by the cobalt-bisoxazoline catalyst and afforded various α-alkyl-β,γ-unsaturated esters with excellent enantioselectivities and moderate to good yields (≤95% ee and ≤82% yields). The formal synthesis of the California red scale pheromone using this method was investigated, and radical clock experiments were performed.

Cytotoxic Xanthones from , an Ethnomedicine in Southwest China.

, a species endemic to China, is used to treat hepatitis by several ethnic groups in Guizhou Province. This research was inspired by the traditional medicinal usage of , and aims to explore the phytochemistry and bioactivity of to explain why local people in Guizhou widely apply for liver protection. In this study, two new prenylated xanthones, hypxanthones A () and B (), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of the plant.

Recent advances in reaction-based fluorescent probes for detecting monoamine oxidases in living systems.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is a membrane-bound mitochondrial enzyme that plays an important role by catalyzing oxidative deamination to maintain the homeostasis of neurotransmitters and other biogenic amines in living systems. MAO activity is critical for the brain and central nervous system. Its dysfunction is closely related with many neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Expanding the "minimalist" small molecule tagging approach to different bioactive compounds.

"Minimalist" small molecule tagging (MSMT) is a promising approach that easily converts bioactive compounds into affinity-based probes (AfBPs) for proteomic studies. In this work, seven bioactive compounds targeting diversified protein classes were installed with "minimalist" linkers through common reactions to generate the corresponding AfBPs. These probes were evaluated for cell-based protein profiling and target validation.