The complete chloroplast genome of Stearn (Liliaceae) from southwestern China.

, a herb from southeastern Xizang, China, has its first complete chloroplast genome sequenced using next-generation sequencing. The genome is 151,814 bp, consisting of inverted repeats (IRs; 26,323 bp), small single-copy (SSC; 17,524 bp), and large single-copy regions (LSC; 81,644 bp). It encodes 112 unique genes: 78 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes.

TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 regulates high-intensity blue light-induced phototropism by reducing CRYPTOCHROME1 levels.

The asymmetrical distribution of auxin supports high intensity blue light (HBL)-mediated phototropism. Flavonoids, secondary metabolites induced by blue light and TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 (TTG1), alter auxin transport. However, the role of TTG1 in HBL-induced phototropism in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) remains unclear.

Evaluating the causal relationship between human blood metabolites and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 13% of the global population. However, the pathogenesis of GERD has not been fully elucidated. The development of metabolomics as a branch of systems biology in recent years has opened up new avenues for the investigation of disease processes.

prediction of key parameters and magneto-structural correlation of tetracoordinated lanthanide single-ion magnets.

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have great potential in becoming revolutionary materials for micro-electronic devices. As one type of SMM and holding the performance record, lanthanide single-ion magnets (Ln-SIMs) stand at the forefront of the family. Lowering the coordination number (CN) is an important strategy to improve the performance of Ln-SIMs.

Capsaicin functions as a selective degrader of STAT3 to enhance host resistance to viral infection.

Although STAT3 has been reported as a negative regulator of type I interferon (IFN) signaling, the effects of pharmacologically inhibiting STAT3 on innate antiviral immunity are not well known. Capsaicin, approved for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia and diabetic peripheral nerve pain, is an agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), with additional recognized potencies in anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. We investigated the effects of capsaicin on viral replication and innate antiviral immune response and discovered that capsaicin dose-dependently inhibited the replication of VSV, EMCV, and H1N1.

TRAF6 promotes osteogenesis in ADSCs through Raf-Erk-Merk-Hif1-a pathway.

Critical-size defects (CSDs) are challenging oral clinical issues that need to be solved. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and gene therapy offer a new target to solve these issues. Consequently, ADSCs attract more and more attention because of advantages such as easy obtainability and no ethical concerns.

Novel Bisamide Alkaloids Enantiomers from Pepper Roots () with Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory and Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects.

The roots of , a seasoning for cooking various types of broths, are renowned for their high nutritional content and potential medicinal benefits. In this study, nine pairs of novel cyclohexene-type bisamide alkaloids (//) were isolated from the pepper roots using molecular network analysis strategies. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and X-ray diffraction analyses.

Oxidative Elimination and Reductive Addition of Thiol-Terminated Polymer Ligands to Metal Nanoparticles.

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized with thiol- (HS-) terminated polymers have applications in medicine, optoelectronics, and catalysis. It is assumed that upon exposure to oxidants or even air, these NPs lose colloidal stability, due to the oxidation of the HS-end-group and elimination of polymer ligands from the NP surface, however, this mechanism does not explain the unsuccessful recovery of the NP stability by adding fresh HS-terminated polymers. Here we propose the oxidation of the surface metal atoms as a mechanism for the oxidative elimination of polymer from the NP surface.

Structural insights into targeting of the colchicine binding site by ELR510444 and parbendazole to achieve rational drug design.

Microtubules consisting of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers have proven to be an efficient drug target for cancer therapy. A broad range of agents, including ELR510444 and parbendazole, can bind to tubulin and interfere with microtubule assembly. ELR510444 and parbendazole are colchicine binding site inhibitors with antiproliferative activities.

Dopamine Functionalized Polyethylene Glycol for Improving Stability of Gold Nanoparticles against Reactive Oxygen Species in Serum.

PEGylation is the most effective antifouling method for the surface modification of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). However, thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG) ligands tethered on the AuNPs are instable in serum and can detach from the AuNP surface, resulting in a significant reduce of their antifouling properties. Herein, it is reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major factor causing the detachment of PEG ligands from AuNP surfaces.

Association between HO‑1 gene promoter polymorphisms and diseases (Review).

Heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1) is an inducible cytoprotective enzyme that degrades heme into free iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin, which is then rapidly converted into bilirubin. These degradation products serve an important role in the regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. While the expression level of HO‑1 is typically low in most cells, it may be highly expressed when induced by a variety of stimulating factors, a process that contributes to the regulation of cell homeostasis.

Solvent-Evaporation Induced and Mechanistic Entropy-Enthalpy-Balance Controlled Polymer Patch Formation on Nanoparticle Surfaces.

The formation of polymer-patch nanoparticles (PNPs) involves a condensation process of grafted chains on a nanoparticle (NP) surface, which is conventionally achieved via a fine-tuning of the solvent quality. However, such a critical solvent condition differs dramatically between polymers, and the formation mechanism of different patchy structures remains under debate. In this study, we demonstrate by a combined simulation and experimental study that such a surface-patterning process can be easily achieved via a simple solvent evaporation process, which creates a natural nonsolvent condition and is, in principle, adaptable for all polymers.

Polymers via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization with High Thiol End-Group Fidelity for Effective Grafting-To Gold Nanoparticles.

End-group fidelity is the most important property for end-functional polymers. Compared to other controlled living polymerization methods, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization often yields polymers with a lower end-group fidelity, which greatly affects their applications. Herein, we report a staged-thermal-initiation RAFT polymerization for the synthesis of polymers with high thiol end-group fidelity and their high efficiencies for grafting to various gold nanoparticles (GNPs).

Quassinoids: Phytochemistry and antitumor prospect.

Quassinoids, originating from the oxidative degradation of tetracyclic tirucallane triterpene, are a diverse class of secondary metabolites identifying from nature mostly in Simaroubaceae family. The crucial pharmacological activities and structural complexity of quassinoids have long fascinated scientists due to their medicinal uses, infamous toxicity, and unique biosynthesis. In the past few decades, 482 quassinoids, assigned to 6 skeletons, have been isolated and identified from plants.

Fetal growth restriction mice are more likely to exhibit depression-like behaviors due to stress-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a severe perinatal complication that can increase risk for mental illness. To investigate the mechanism by which FGR mice develop mental illness in adulthood, we established the FGR mouse model and the FGR mice did not display obvious depression-like behaviors, but after environmental stress exposure, FGR mice were more likely to exhibit depression-like behaviors than control mice. Moreover, FGR mice had significantly fewer dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area but no difference in serotoninergic neurons in the dorsal raphe.

Lignans and neolignans with isovaleroyloxy moiety from Solanum lyratum Thunb.: Chiral resolution, configurational assignment and neuroprotective effects.

Eight pairs of enantiomeric lignans and neolignans including thirteen undescribed compounds, along with an undescribed meso compound, were isolated from the herbs of Solanum lyratum Thunb.(Solanaceae). Their structures and relative configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses of HRESIMS and nuclear magnetic resonance.

A new dilignan from the twigs and leaves of .

Previous work has shown that the lignans from the twigs and leaves of (Jack) I.C.N.

Structure reassignment of two triterpenes with CASE algorithms and DFT chemical shift predictions.

Two triterpenes (14,17,20,24)-25-hydroxy-14,17-cyclo-20,24-epoxy-malabarican-3-one (CEM, and (14,17,20,24)-20,24,25-trihydroxy-14,17-cyclomalabarican-3-one (CM, ) with a cyclobutane ring were reported, which have the same NMR data as ocotillone () and gardaubryone C (), respectively. An incorrect structure might be reported. Therefore, the structure reanalysis of these triterpenes was achieved by CASE algorithm and DFT chemical shift predictions, and the results showed that the structures of CEM and CM might be incorrect.

Phenolics from Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I.C.Nielsen protect SH-SY5Y cells against HO-induced oxidative stress.

Five undescribed phenolics named pithecellobiumin C-G, along with thirteen known ones were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I.C.Nielsen.

Terpenylated coumarins from the root bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle.

Seven undescribed terpenylated coumarins, named altissimacoumarin I-O, together with seven known compounds, altissimacoumarin C, altissimacoumarin E, altissimacoumarin G, altissimacoumarin H, puberulin, 7-(3-Methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin and artelin were isolated from the root bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectra data analysis, NMR calculation, DP4+ analysis and ACD/Structure Elucidator software simulation.

Functional Characterization and Structural Basis of an Efficient Di--glycosyltransferase from .

A highly efficient di--glycosyltransferase GgCGT was discovered from the medicinal plant . GgCGT catalyzes a two-step di--glycosylation of flopropione-containing substrates with conversion rates of >98%. To elucidate the catalytic mechanisms of GgCGT, we solved its crystal structures in complex with UDP-Glc, UDP-Gal, UDP/phloretin, and UDP/nothofagin, respectively.

Isolation of macrocarpene-type sesquiterpenes from stigma maydis with neuroprotective activities.

Five undescribed macrocarpene-type sesquiterpenes (1-5), along with a known analogue (6) were isolated from the crude extract of stigma maydis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic analyses together with quantum chemical calculations of C NMR data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) curves. All isolated compounds were tested for their neuroprotective effects against the injury of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells induced by HO.