Description of Myxobolus xiantaoensis n. sp. from the fins of yellow catfish in China: a species previously attributed to Myxobolus physophilus Reuss, 1906 in Chinese records.

Myxozoans are economically important cnidarian endoparasites. Members of this group have been traditionally characterized by a morphology-based taxonomic system. Because myxozoans possess few morphological characters, these data are routinely accompanied by biological traits (host/organ/tissue specificity) and molecular data when describing or identifying myxozoan species.

Fast and catalyst-free hydrazone ligation via ortho-halo-substituted benzaldehydes for protein C-terminal labeling at neutral pH.

Rapid and catalyst-free hydrazone ligation reaction between ortho-halobenzaldehyde derivatives and peptide/protein hydrazides was observed at neutral pH and room temperature. 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde exhibited the fastest reaction and highest conversion rates among the series of ortho-halobenzaldehydes. The resulting hydrazone-containing bioconjugation products were also found to be fairly stable under experimental conditions.

Diaminodiacid-based solid-phase synthesis of all-hydrocarbon stapled α-helical peptides.

An alternative stapling strategy is described herein using Fmoc-solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) that employed pre-prepared diaminodiacid building blocks to introduce all-hydrocarbon staples into peptides by on-resin cyclization. Compared to unstapled native peptides, diaminodiacid-based stapled peptides exhibited an increased α-helicity ratio and stability toward protease. Moreover, the linkage length was found to affect the bioactivity of the peptides and their ability to inhibit the Wnt pathway.

A two-photon fluorescent probe for detecting endogenous hypochlorite in living cells.

A novel two-photon fluorescent probe () for hypochlorite (ClO(-)) has been developed based on specific ClO(-)-promoted oxidation of a C[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond. The probe shows linear fluorescence responses to ClO(-) with 23.5-fold enhancement.

Accelerated Fmoc solid-phase synthesis of peptides with aggregation-disrupting backbones.

In this work, we describe an accelerated solid-phase synthetic protocol for ordinary or difficult peptides involving air-bath heating and amide protection. For the Hmsb-based backbone amide protection, an optimized acyl shift condition using 1,4-dioxane was discovered. The efficiency and robustness of the protocol was validated in the course of preparation of classical difficult peptides and ubiquitin protein segments.

Nickel-tungsten carbide catalysts for the production of 2,5-dimethylfuran from biomass-derived molecules.

The development of new catalytic systems for the conversion of biomass-derived molecules into liquid fuels has attracted much attention. We propose a non-noble bimetallic catalyst based on nickel-tungsten carbide for the conversion of the platform molecules 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural into the liquid-fuel molecule 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF). Different catalysts, metal ratios and reaction conditions have been tested and give rise to a 96% yield of DMF.

Involvement of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 in Aβ1-42-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is thought to be associated with the progressive neuronal death observed in Alzheimer's disease, but the mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity triggered by Aβ remain elusive. In the current study, we investigated the roles of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1R) in Aβ1-42-induced neurotoxicity in vitro or in vivo. In vitro exposure of mouse primary neurons to Aβ1-42 caused a gradual increases in CysLT1R expression.

Production of aromatic hydrocarbons through catalytic pyrolysis of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural from biomass.

Catalytic pyrolysis of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was conducted on a fixed bed reactor at atmospheric pressure. HMF could be converted into aromatic hydrocarbons through catalytic pyrolysis. The catalysts and reaction conditions were both critical in maximizing the aromatic hydrocarbons selectivity.

Conversion of carbohydrate biomass to γ-valerolactone by using water-soluble and reusable iridium complexes in acidic aqueous media.

Mild-mannered manipulation: A catalytic method for the conversion of carbohydrate biomass to γ-valerolactone in acidic aqueous media has been developed. The water-soluble iridium complexes were observed to be extremely catalytically active for providing γ-valerolactone in high yields with high TONs. The homogeneous catalysts can also be recycled and reused by applying a simple phase separation process.

RANEY® Ni catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of levulinate esters to γ-valerolactone at room temperature.

A catalytic transfer hydrogenation process was developed for the production of γ-valerolactone (GVL) from ethyl levulinate (EL) and a H-donor at room temperature. Ethyl levulinate was almost quantitatively converted to γ-valerolactone. Further, a two step process for producing GVL from biomass derived platform molecules was also reported.

Ionic-liquid-catalyzed efficient transformation of γ-valerolactone to methyl 3-pentenoate under mild conditions.

Green nylons! Acidic ionic-liquid catalysis for the transformation of γ-valerolactone into methyl 3-pentenoate (M3P) is shown to be performed efficiently under mild conditions. M3P is obtained selectively from a reaction at 170 °C for 3.5 h in the presence of an acidic ionic liquid that has a low vapor pressure, high thermal stability, and excellent catalytic performance.

Linked strategy for the production of fuels via formose reaction.

Formose reaction converts formaldehyde to carbohydrates. We found that formose reaction can be used linking the biomass gasification with the aqueous-phase processing (APP) to produce liquid transportation fuel in three steps. First, formaldehyde from syn-gas was converted to triose.

Mechanism of arylboronic acid-catalyzed amidation reaction between carboxylic acids and amines.

Arylboronic acids were found to be efficient catalysts for the amidation reactions between carboxylic acids and amines. Theoretical calculations have been carried out to investigate the mechanism of this catalytic process. It is found that the formation of the acyloxyboronic acid intermediates from the carboxylic acid and the arylboronic acid is kinetically facile but thermodynamically unfavorable.

A novel fluorescent probe for selective detection of thiols in acidic solutions and labeling of acidic organelles in live cells.

A novel fluorescent probe, quinoline α,β-unsaturated diacid (QMA), as compared to its ester QME, was constructed and can selectively detect thiols in acidic solutions (pH < 7) via a H-bond activated Michael addition. Furthermore, labeling of lysosomes and cell imaging were achieved by the detection of biothiols in different domains of live cells.

Catalytic conversion of furfural into a 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyester with total carbon utilization.

One divided into two combined into one: The catalytic conversion of furfural into a 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyester, linked by the disproportionation of furoate to furan and 2,5-furandicarboxylate, is reported. In this manner, all carbons are utilized, demonstrating the success of combining a platform molecule from C(5) sugars (furfural) to one from C(6) sugars (2,5-FDCA).

Leukotriene D4 induces cognitive impairment through enhancement of CysLT₁ R-mediated amyloid-β generation in mice.

Amyloid plaques in the extracellular parenchyma mainly consist of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ), one of the pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we examined neuroinflammation, amyloidogenesis, and memory performance following intracerebral infusions of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) in mice. The results demonstrated that intracerebral infusions of LTD4 (1 ng/mouse) produced memory impairment as determined by Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice, and caused the accumulation of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in the hippocampus and cortex through increased activity of β- and γ-secretases accompanied with increased expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP).

Production of aromatic hydrocarbons through catalytic pyrolysis of γ-valerolactone from biomass.

In the present study, γ-valerolactone (GVL) is firstly reported to be converted into aromatic hydrocarbons through catalytic pyrolysis. The catalysts and reaction conditions are both critical in maximizing the hydrocarbon selectivity. Four zeolites, i.

Catalytic air oxidation of biomass-derived carbohydrates to formic acid.

An efficient catalytic system for biomass oxidation to form formic acid was developed. The conversion of glucose to formic acid can reach up to 52% yield within 3 h when catalyzed by 5 mol% of H(5)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40) at only 373 K using air as the oxidant. Furthermore, the heteropolyacid can be used as a bifunctional catalyst in the conversion of cellulose to formic acid (yield=35%) with air as the oxidant.

Electrochemical synthesis of adiponitrile from the renewable raw material glutamic acid.

Current affairs: Adiponitrile, used to produce nylon 6.6, is prepared from the renewable compound glutamic acid by an electrochemical route, involving electro-oxidative decarboxylation and Kolbe coupling reactions. The new route is an example of the use of glutamic acid as a versatile substrate in the transformation of biomass into chemicals.

PPARγ agonist pioglitazone improves scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice.

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist, on cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, in mice.

Methods: Pioglitazone (9mg/kg, 18mg/kg) was orally administered for 9 days at 30min before intraperitoneal injection with scopolamine (0.8mg/kg, i.

Accurate prediction of rate constants of Diels-Alder reactions and application to design of Diels-Alder ligation.

Bioorthogonal reactions are useful tools to gain insights into the structure, dynamics, and function of biomolecules in the field of chemical biology. Recently, the Diels-Alder reaction has become a promising and attractive procedure for ligation in bioorthogonal chemistry because of its higher rate and selectivity in water. However, a drawback of the previous Diels-Alder ligation is that the widely used maleimide moiety as a typical Michael acceptor can readily undergo Michael addition with nucleophiles in living systems.

Mechanistic origin of ligand-controlled regioselectivity in Pd-catalyzed C-H activation/arylation of thiophenes.

The use of ligands to control regioselectivity in transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation/functionalization is a highly desirable but challenging task. Recently, Itami et al. reported an important finding relating to Pd-catalyzed ligand-controlled α/β-selective C-H arylation of thiophenes.

Preparation of levoglucosenone through sulfuric acid promoted pyrolysis of bagasse at low temperature.

Fast pyrolysis of bagasse pretreated by sulfuric acid was conducted in a fixed bed reactor to prepare levoglucosenone (LGO), a very important anhydrosugar for organic synthesis. The liquid yield and LGO yield were studied at temperatures from 240 to 350 °C and sulfuric acid loadings from 0.92 to 7.