Improving the catalytic activity of β-glucosidase from Coniophora puteana via semi-rational design for efficient biomass cellulose degradation.

In order to improve the degradation activity of β-glucosidase (CpBgl) from Coniophora puteana, the structural modification was conducted. The enzyme activity of mutants CpBgl-Q20C and CpBgl-A240S was increased by 65.75% and 58.

Improvement of catalytic performance of endoglucanase CgEndo from Colletotrichum graminicola by site-directed mutagenesis.

In order to improve the catalytic efficiency of cellulase for more effective utilization of lignocellulose, a novel endoglucanase (CgEndo) from Colletotrichum graminicola was expressed by Pichia pastoris X33 and modified by site-directed mutagenesis. Two mutants, Y63S and N20D/S113T, with 62.31% and 57.

Thesium chinense Turcz.: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Thesium chinense Turcz. has been used to treat mastitis, pulmonitis, tonsillitis, iaryngopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infections in the indigenous medicine of China for a long history. Presently, several pharmaceutics prepared by this medical herb have been clinically used for the therapy of infectious diseases.

Variability of mitochondrial energy balance across brain regions.

Brain is not homogenous and neurons from various brain regions are known to have different vulnerabilities to mitochondrial mutations and mitochondrial toxins. However, it is not clear if this vulnerability is connected to different energy metabolism in specific brain regions. Here, using live-cell imaging, we compared mitochondrial membrane potential and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) redox balance in acute rat brain slices in different brain regions and further detailed the mitochondrial metabolism in primary neurons and astrocytes from rat cortex, midbrain and cerebellum.

Efficient Synthesis of Sugar Alcohols under Mild Conditions Using a Novel Sugar-Selective Hydrogenation Catalyst Based on Ruthenium Valence Regulation.

Sugar alcohols are the prominent alternatives of sugars in food, medical, and health industries. The ruthenium supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Ru/MWCNTs) catalysts were prepared based on the Ru valence regulation strategy and applied for selective sugar hydrogenation to prepare various sugar alcohols including xylitol, arabinitol, sorbitol, mannitol, and galactitol for the first time, with high selectivity (>99.0%) and yield (>98.

Heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of a thermostable endo-β-1,4-glucanase from Colletotrichum orchidophilum.

To develop new cellulases for efficient utilization of the lignocellulose, an endoglucanase (CoCel5A) gene from Colletotrichum orchidophilum was synthesized and a recombinant Pichia pastoris GS115/pPIC9K/cocel5A was constructed for secretory expression of CoCel5A. After purification, the protein CoCel5A was biochemically characterized. The endoglucanase CoCel5A exhibited the optimal activity at 55-75 °C and high thermostability (about 85% residual activity) at the temperature of 55 °C after incubation for 3 h.

4β-Hydroxywithanolide E from Goldenberry (Whole Fruits of L.) as a Promising Agent against Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Environmental toxicant- and oxidant-induced [e.g., cigarette smoke (CS)] respiratory oxidative stress and inflammatory response play a vital role in the onset and progression of COPD.

Improvement and characterization of a hyperthermophilic glucose isomerase from Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus and its application in production of high fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an alternative of liquid sweetener to sucrose that is isomerized by commercial glucose isomerase (GI). One-step production of 55 % HFCS by thermostable GI has been drawn more and more attentions. In this study, a new hyperthermophilic GI from Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus CCSD1 (TEGI) was identified by genome mining, and then a 1317 bp fragment encoding the TEGI was synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).

[Comparison between surgical and conservative treatment for postoperative lumbar discitis].

Objective: To compare therapeutic effects between surgical and conservative treatment for postoperative lumbar discitis.

Methods: From January 2004 to January 2009, 41 patients (17 males and 24 females ranging the age from 37 to 68 years with an average of 53.6 years) with postoperative lumbar discitis were retrospectively studied and divided into two groups.

Melatonin modulates the GABAergic response in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the GABA-induced current (I(GABA) and GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. We found that melatonin rapidly and reversibly enhanced I(GABA) in a dose-dependent manner, with an EC50 of 949 μM. Melatonin markedly enhanced the peak amplitude of a subsaturating I(GABA) but not that of a saturating I(GABA).

Apolipoprotein E influences melatonin biosynthesis by regulating NAT and MAOA expression in C6 cells.

  Previous studies have demonstrated that apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and melatonin are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the relationship between ApoE genotype and melatonin remains unclear. Recently, we reported that cultured rat cortical astrocytes and glioma C6 cells synthesize melatonin.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of the root tube from Pteroxygonum giraldii].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of the root tube from Pteroxygonum giraldii.

Methods: Column chromatography and spectral analysis were used to isolate and identify the constituents.

Results: Ten compounds were isolated and identified as beta-sitosterol (I), beta-sitosterol glucoside (II), 4', 5,5', 7-tetrahydroxy-3'-methoxy-3'-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl flavone (III), gallic acid (IV), myricetin (V), annulatin (VI), 5,5', 7-trihydroxy-2',3-dimethoxy-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavone (VII), 2', 5,5',7-tetrahydroxy -3-methoxy-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside flavone (VIII), myricetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (IX) and myricetin-3,4'-dimethyl ether( X).

Fluoxetine inhibition of glycine receptor activity in rat hippocampal neurons.

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor widely used for treating depression. However, fluoxetine treatment may lead to seizures at higher doses, which underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of fluoxetine on glycine receptor (GlyR) activity.

Mechanisms of vitexin preconditioning effects on cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with anoxia and reoxygenation.

This study was aimed at investigating the protective effect and mechanism of vitexin preconditioning (VPC) on cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes after anoxia and reoxygenation (A/R). An A/R model was established by using cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Cellular injury was evaluated by measuring cell viability, the releases of creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

Quercetin subunit specifically reduces GlyR-mediated current in rat hippocampal neurons.

Quercetin is a substance of low molecular weight found in vascular plants with a wide range of biological activities including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, the effects of quercetin on native glycine receptors (GlyRs) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons were investigated using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Quercetin reversibly and concentration-dependently depressed glycine-induced current (I(Gly)), with an IC50 of 10.

Inhibitory effect of total flavone of Abelmoschus manihot L. Medic on NMDA receptor-mediated current in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

The modulatory effect of Total Flavone of Abelmoschus manihot L. Medic (TFA) on NMDA-activated current (I(NMDA)) was investigated in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. TFA rapidly and reversibly inhibited the I(NMDA) in a concentration-dependent manner.