Reciprocal translocation experiments reveal gut microbiome plasticity and host specificity in a Qinghai-Xizang Plateau lizard.

Animal adaptation to environmental challenges is a complex process involving intricate interactions between the host genotype and gut microbiome composition. The gut microbiome, highly responsive to external environmental factors, plays a crucial role in host adaptability and may facilitate local adaptation within species. Concurrently, the genetic background of host populations influences gut microbiome composition, highlighting the bidirectional relationship between host and microbiome.

Oxidative stress mediates the impact of heatwaves on survival, growth and immune status in a lizard.

Climate change often includes increases in the occurrence of extreme environmental events. Among these, heatwaves affect the pace of life and performance of wildlife, particularly ectothermic animals, owing to their low thermoregulatory abilities. However, the underlying mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear.

Telomere length, oxidative stress and their links with growth and survival in a lizard facing climate warming.

Higher temperatures enhance ectothermic metabolism and development, which can reduce individual health and life expectancy, and therefore increase their vulnerability to climate warming. However, the mechanistic causes and consequences of such a temperature-driven impact remain unclear. Our study aimed to address two questions: (1) does climate warming alter early-life growth and physiology, and, if so, what are the associated carry-over effects in terms of reduced survival, increased oxidative stress and telomere shortening? (2) can oxidative stress and telomere dynamics at early life stages predict the effect of climate warming on individual survival? To answer these questions, we conducted a longitudinal experiment under semi-natural conditions where we exposed multiocellated racerunner (Eremias multiocellata) to warming conditions from juvenile to adult stages.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Nitrile-Addition/-Arylation Ring-Closure Cascade: Synthesis of 5,11-Dihydro-6-indolo[3,2-]quinolin-6-ones as Potent Topoisomerase-I Inhibitors.

In this paper, we present a copper(I)-catalyzed nitrile-addition/-arylation ring-closure cascade for the synthesis of 5,11-dihydro-6-indolo[3,2-]quinolin-6-ones from 2-(2-bromophenyl)--(2-cyanophenyl)acetamides. Using CuBr and -BuONa in dimethylformamide (DMF) as the optimal reaction conditions, the cascade reaction gave the target products, in high yields, with a good substrate scope. Application of the cascade reaction was demonstrated on the concise total syntheses of alkaloid isocryptolepine.

A Study of Crystalline Mechanism of Penetration Sealer Materials.

It is quite common to dispense a topping material like crystalline penetration sealer materials (CPSM) onto the surface of a plastic substance such as concrete to extend its service life span by surface protections from outside breakthrough. The CPSM can penetrate into the existing pores or possible cracks in such a way that it may form crystals to block the potential paths which provide breakthrough for any unknown materials. This study investigated the crystalline mechanism formed in the part of concrete penetrated by the CPSM.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of 3-O-acylated (-)-epigallocatechins as 5α-reductase inhibitors.

A series of 3-O-acylated (-)-epigallocatechins were synthesized and their inhibition of steroid 5α-reductase was studied. They were prepared from the reaction of EGCG with tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride followed by reductive cleavage of the ester bond. The resultant (-)-epigallocatechins penta-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether was esterified with different fatty acids then desilylated to provide the corresponding products.

Discovery of pyrrole-indoline-2-ones as Aurora kinase inhibitors with a different inhibition profile.

A series of pyrrole-indolin-2-ones were synthesized, and their inhibition profile for Aurora kinases was studied. The potent compound 33 with phenylsulfonamido at the C-5 position and a carboxyethyl group at the C-3' position selectively inhibited Aurora A over Aurora B with IC50 values of 12 and 156 nM, respectively. Replacement of the carboxyl group with an amino group led to compound 47, which retained the activity for Aurora B and lost activity for Aurora A (IC50=2.

The first pharmacophore model for potent NF-kappaB inhibitors.

As an important transcription factor of the Ral family, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is involved in numerous cellular processes, such as the responses to cellular stress and to inflammation. For better elucidating the quantitative structure-activity relationship of NF-kappaB inhibitors and determining possible ligand-protein interaction, a pharmacophore model, Hypo1, was built based on 35 training molecules by Catalyst/HypoGen algorithm. The five pharmacophore features of Hypo1, including three hydrophobic groups, one hydrogen-bond acceptor, and one hydrophobic aromatic group, were correctly mapped onto NF-kappaB surface.