Design, synthesis and antiviral activity of novel quinazolinones.

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is a validated therapeutic target for antiviral drug design. However, the emergence of viral strains resistant to clinically studied IN inhibitors demands the discovery of novel inhibitors that are structurally as well as mechanistically different. Herein, a series of quinazolinones were designed and synthesized as novel HIV-1 inhibitors.

Discovery of critical residues for viral entry and inhibition through structural Insight of HIV-1 fusion inhibitor CP621-652.

The core structure of HIV-1 gp41 is a stable six-helix bundle (6-HB) folded by its trimeric N- and C-terminal heptad repeats (NHR and CHR). We previously identified that the (621)QIWNNMT(627) motif located at the upstream region of gp41 CHR plays critical roles for the stabilization of the 6-HB core and peptide CP621-652 containing this motif is a potent HIV-1 fusion inhibitor, however, the molecular determinants underlying the stability and anti-HIV activity remained elusive. In this study, we determined the high-resolution crystal structure of CP621-652 complexed by T21.

RETRACTED: Up-regulating ribonuclease inhibitor inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in murine melanoma cells.

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Biophysical property and broad anti-HIV activity of albuvirtide, a 3-maleimimidopropionic acid-modified peptide fusion inhibitor.

Albuvirtide (ABT) is a 3-maleimimidopropionic acid (MPA)-modified peptide HIV fusion inhibitor that can irreversibly conjugate to serum albumin. Previous studies demonstrated its in vivo long half-life and potent anti-HIV activity. Here, we focused to characterize its biophysical properties and evaluate its antiviral spectrum.

Hydroxyl may not be indispensable for raltegravir: Design, synthesis and SAR Studies of raltegravir derivatives as HIV-1 inhibitors.

A series of raltegravir derivatives 20-42 were prepared and systematically evaluated for their anti-HIV activity. The bioassay results showed that most of the compounds possess good to excellent anti-HIV activity. Especially, compounds 25 and 35 with subpicomole IC(50) values seemed to be the most potent anti-HIV agents among all of the reported synthesized compounds.

Crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Tsi2 reveals a stably folded superhelical antitoxin.

In the competition for niches in natural resources, Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizes the type VI secretion system to inject the toxic protein effector Tse2 into bacteria on cell-cell contact. The cytoplasm toxin immunity protein Tsi2 can neutralize Tse2 by physical interaction with the toxin, providing essential protection from toxin activity. Except for orthologues in P.

Broad antiviral activity and crystal structure of HIV-1 fusion inhibitor sifuvirtide.

Sifuvirtide (SFT) is an electrostatically constrained α-helical peptide fusion inhibitor showing potent anti-HIV activity, good safety, and pharmacokinetic profiles, and it is currently under phase II clinical trials in China. In this study, we demonstrate its potent and broad anti-HIV activity by using diverse HIV-1 subtypes and variants, including subtypes A, B, and C that dominate the AIDS epidemic worldwide, and subtypes B', CRF07_BC, and CRF01_AE recombinants that are currently circulating in China, and those possessing cross-resistance to the first and second generation fusion inhibitors. To elucidate its mechanism of action, we determined the crystal structure of SFT in complex with its target N-terminal heptad repeat region (NHR) peptide (N36), which fully supports our rational inhibitor design and reveals its key motifs and residues responsible for the stability and anti-HIV activity.

Functional polymorphisms in FAS, FASL and CASP8 genes and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case-control study.

Genetic polymorphisms in the promoter regions of FAS, FASL and CASP8 involved in the apoptotic signaling pathway are thought to be associated with susceptibility to cancer. We hypothesized that these functional genetic variants might be associated with the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A case-control study in a Chinese population with 361 cases of ALL and 519 controls was performed to evaluate the association between FAS, FASL and CASP8 variants and risk of childhood ALL.

Association of genetic variations in mTOR with risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Chinese population.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important protein kinase regulating cell survival and apoptosis. To determine whether genetic variations in mTOR are associated with risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Chinese children, we genotyped two tag single nucleotide poymorphisms (SNPs) in mTOR (rs2536 and rs2295080) in a case-control study. We observed that the variant genotype TC of mTOR rs2536 was associated with a significantly decreased risk of childhood ALL (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.

Radical gastrectomy with combined splenectomy: unnecessary.

Unlabelled: BACKROUND/AIMS: To analyze the prognostic value of gastric cancer surgery combined with splenectomy for gastric cancer patients.

Methodology: Retrospective study was performed on 112 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for upper third, upper and middle third, and entire stomach cancer, 61 patients underwent spleen-preserving modified radical lymphadenectomy (spleen-preservation group), and the remaining 51 patients underwent D2 radical lymphadenectomy with splenectomy (splenectomy group). Postoperative morbidity rate and the 5-year survival rate were compared.

Crystal structures of enterovirus 71 3C protease complexed with rupintrivir reveal the roles of catalytically important residues.

EV71 is the primary pathogenic cause of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), but an effective antiviral drug currently is unavailable. Rupintrivir, an inhibitor against human rhinovirus (HRV), has potent antiviral activities against EV71. We determined the high-resolution crystal structures of the EV71 3C(pro)/rupintrivir complex, showing that although rupintrivir interacts with EV71 3C(pro) similarly to HRV 3C(pro), the C terminus of the inhibitor cannot accommodate the leaving-group pockets of EV71 3C(pro).

Nasogastric decompression for radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the necessity of a nasogastric decompression in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients by a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Methods: From 2007 to 2009, 161 gastric cancer patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were randomly selected and entered into three groups: tube group (TG), intra-operative tube group (ITG), and no-tube group (NTG). The variables studied among the groups were demographic characteristics, surgical characteristics, postoperative recovery and complications.

hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Chinese population.

Oxidative DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species can produce 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) in DNA, which is misread and leads to G:C→T:A transversions. This can be carcinogenic. Repair of 8-oxoG by the base excision repair pathway involves the activity of human 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase 1 (hOGG1).

Crystal structures of catalytic core domain of BIV integrase: implications for the interaction between integrase and target DNA.

Integrase plays a critical role in the recombination of viral DNA into the host genome. Therefore, over the past decade, it has been a hot target of drug design in the fight against type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) integrase has the same function as HIV-1 integrase.

Apigenin suppresses the growth of colorectal cancer xenografts via phosphorylation and up-regulated FADD expression.

Apigenin is a flavonoid belonging to the flavone structural class. It has been implicated as a chemopreventive agent against prostate and breast cancers. However, to the best of our knowledge, no published data are available regarding apigenin in colorectal cancer (CRC).

A quantitative assay for measuring of bovine immunodeficiency virus using a luciferase-based indicator cell line.

In order to quantitate the bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) infection in vitro, a BIV indicator cell line (BIVL) was established by transfecting baby hamster kidney cells with reporter plasmids containing the firefly luciferase gene driven by a BIV long terminal repeat promoter. The BIV activates promoter activity of the LTR to express luciferase upon infection. BIV infection could therefore by quantified by detection of luciferase activity.

Bovine ISG15: an antiviral and inducible protein in BIV infected fetal bovine lung cells.

Bovine ISG15 (bISG15) is an interferon inducible ubiquitin-like protein that is responsible for the establishment of early pregnancy in ruminant, understanding the properties of bISG15 capable of being inducible in fetal bovine lung (FBL) cells upon infection of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) is of significant importance. In this study, we investigated the expression of bISG15 in poly I:C treated FBL cells. The increased expression of bISG15 was observed, and the inhibition of BIV replication was also detected in FBL cells.

The MIF -173G/C polymorphism and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Chinese population.

Migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has recently been defined as a novel pro-tumorigenic factor that promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The MIF -173C allele results in increased MIF promoter activity and is associated with a higher serum MIF level. We hypothesized that this polymorphism may contribute to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) susceptibility.

Establishment of an indicator cell line for monitoring bovine immunodeficiency virus infection and inhibitor susceptibility.

Indicator cell lines are useful biological tools for monitoring virus infection. In order to monitor infection with bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) in vitro, an indicator cell line derived from baby hamster kidney cells which contains integrated copies of an enhanced green fluorescent protein gene driven by the BIV long terminal repeat was constructed. The BIV indicator cell line, designated BIVE, can detect BIV infection more easily and effectively than the established method, which involves the observation of cell cytopathic effects.

Elimination of the free sulfhydryl group in the human serum albumin (HSA) moiety of human interferon-alpha2b and HSA fusion protein increases its stability against mechanical and thermal stresses.

Interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) and human serum albumin (HSA) fusion protein (IFN-alpha2b-HSA) is a promising long acting formulation of IFN-alpha2b for the treatment of hepatitis C. However, accelerated mechanical and thermal stress tests revealed that IFN-alpha2b-HSA was prone to disulfide-linked aggregation. The formation of aggregates was associated with an increase in immunogenicity in mice.

Secretory expression of glycosylated and aglycosylated mutein of onconase from Pichia pastoris using different secretion signals and their purification and characterization.

Onconase, an RNAse extracted from embryos of the Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens), is in a confirmatory phase IIIb clinical trial for the treatment of unresectable malignant mesothelioma. Because the current purification process for onconase is cumbersome and laborious, the development of more efficient and cost-effective alternative sources is imperative. In this study, we assessed the potential of Pichia pastoris as an expression host for the large-scale production of onconase.

Degradation of HSA-AX15(R13K) when expressed in Pichia pastoris can be reduced via the disruption of YPS1 gene in this yeast.

Expression of recombinant protein HSA-AX15(R13K) in Pichia pastoris GS115 strain produced both the intact protein and its two degradation products with molecular weights of around 43kDa and 66.2kDa, respectively. To reduce or avoid the degradation, a modified P.

MODELING THE RELEASE OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER BY PHYTOPLANKTON(1).

Three models describing dissolved organic matter (DOM) flux and phytoplankton death, each of different levels of complexity, were constructed and tested against experimental data for a cyanobacterium, a chlorophyte, two diatoms, two dinoflagellates, and two prymnesiophytes. The simplest model described only bulk carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) forms of DOM (DOMC and DOMN ) and employed a fixed relationship between phytoplankton nutrient status and DOM release and death rate. The most complex model described fractions of DOM as low molecular weight dissolved organic carbon (DOC; saccharides, low molecular weight carbohydrates [DOCs]), low molecular weight nitrogenous material (comprising C and N as DOC associated with low molecular weight compounds containing amino acids and/or nucleic acids [DOCa] and N associated with DOCa [DONa], which included dissolved free amino acids [DFAA]), and more complex materials (DOC associated with high molecular weight compounds typically requiring extracellular degradation prior to uptake or use by microbes [DOCx] and N associated with DOCx [DONx]).

Aluminum-induced cell wall peroxidase activity and lignin synthesis are differentially regulated by jasmonate and nitric oxide.

Cassia tora is an annual legume and cultivated as a traditional medicinal herb for multiple therapies including regulation of blood pressure and blood lipid. Because of naturally occurring acidic soils in southeastern China, this plant species may possess strategies for tolerance to low pH and aluminum toxicity. In the search for the regulatory basis of biochemical response to Al, cell wall-bound peroxidases, including lignin-generated peroxidases and NADH oxidases, were investigated in the root tips of C.

Increasing the cell viability and heterologous protein expression of Pichia pastoris mutant deficient in PMR1 gene by culture condition optimization.

In this study, we assessed the potential of PMR1-disrupted Pichia pastoris (Pppmr1) expressing human serum albumin and interferon alpha 2b fusion protein (HSA-IFN-alpha 2b) in large-scale fermentation. The high osmotic pressure of standard basal salts medium (BSM) was detrimental to the growth and viability of Pppmr1. HSA-IFN-alpha 2b was secreted into a supernatant with a concentration of up to 112 mg/L after 20 h of induction and then began to decline.