A Novel Peptide Isolated from Microalgae Isochrysis zhanjiangensis Exhibits Anti-apoptosis and Anti-inflammation in Ox-LDL Induced HUVEC to Improve Atherosclerosis.

In the early stage, oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) caused atherosclerosis, followed by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) damage, leading to a variety of cardiovascular related diseases. This study investigated the mechanism of nonapeptide (EMFGTSSET, ETT) isolated from in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of Isochrysis zhanjiang on endothelial cell inflammation and apoptosis induced by ox-LDL in atherosclerosis. At the cellular level, the results shown that ETT inhibited the up-regulation of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) induced by ox-LDL.

Rapid construction of mechanically- confined multi- cellular structures using dendrimeric intercellular linker.

Tissue constructs that mimic the in vivo cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are especially useful for applications involving the cell- dense and matrix- poor internal organs. Rapid and precise arrangement of cells into functional tissue constructs remains a challenge in tissue engineering. We demonstrate rapid assembly of C3A cells into multi- cell structures using a dendrimeric intercellular linker.

Probing the binding sites and the effect of berbamine on the structure of bovine serum albumin.

Berbamine, a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Berberis sp., is the active constituent of some Chinese herbal medicines and exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities. The effects of berbamine on the structure of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated by circular dichroism, fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy under physiological conditions.

Alleviation of experimental ulcerative colitis with the synthetic peptide, F2A4-K-NS (Fibratide).

Recombinant fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) maintain the integrity of the gut epithelium and reduce mucosal injury in experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chemically synthesized FGF mimetics could potentially extend the utility of FGFs by tailoring them for optimal bioactivity and oral administration, for example. Here, F2A4-K-NS (Fibratide), a synthetic FGF mimetic peptide, alleviated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice when delivered systemically and, to a lesser extent, orally.

Effects of La3+ on the competence of Escherichia coli as studied by microcalorimetry.

A series of microcalorimetric experiments were performed to investigate the effect of La(3+) on the formation of the competent state of Escherichia coli HB101 by using a LKB-2277 BioActivity Monitor at 37 C. The thermogenic curves in the absence and in the presence of La(3+) were obtained. Based on these curves, we calculated that the total heat effects (Q(T)) and the maximal power (P(max)) in the presence and absence of La(3+).