Chemical Synthesis of a Branched Nonasaccharide Fragment from Helicobacter pylori Lipopolysaccharide.

A chemical synthesis of a unique nanosaccharide fragment from Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide was achieved via a convergent glycosylation method. Challenges involved in the synthesis include the highly stereoselective construction of ß-3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) and two 1,2-cis-glycosidic linkages, as well as the formation of a branched 2,7-disubstituted heptose subunit. Hydrogen-bond mediated aglycone delivery strategy and benzoyl-directing remote participation effect were employed, respectively, for the efficient generation of the desired ß-Kdo glycoside and 1,2-cis-α-l-fucoside/d-glucoside. Moreover, the key branched framework was successfully established through a [(7 + 1) + 1] assembly approach involving the stepwise glycosylation of the heptasaccharide alcohol with two monosaccharide donors. The synthesized 1 containing a propylamine linker at the reducing end can be covalently bound to a carrier protein for further immunological studies.

Astragaloside IV - mediated endothelial progenitor cell exosomes promote autophagy and inhibit apoptosis in hyperglycemic damaged endothelial cells via miR-21/PTEN axis.

INTRODUCTION: As one of the basic components of Astragalus, Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has a protective effect on endothelial injury caused by diabetes. AS-IV stimulated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to secrete exosomes loaded with miR-21. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AS-IV-mediated EPCs exosomal miR-21 (EPC-exos-miR-21) on high glucose (HG) damaged endothelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the isolation of EPCs derived from fetal umbilical cord blood, exosomes of EPCs were obtained by differential centrifugation. The morphology of exosomes was observed by electron microscopy. The particle size distribution of exosomes was detected by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 33 mM glucose to establish an HG injury model. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay were used to characterize the surface markers of primary EPCs and the apoptosis of HUVECs. The gene and protein expression were detected by qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. A dual luciferase assay was used to verify the targeting relationship of miR-21 with PTEN. RESULTS: HG environment led to time- and dose-dependent inhibition and enhancement of autophagy and apoptosis in HUVECs. AS-IV stimulated EPCs to secrete exosomes loaded with miR-21. Exosomes secreted by EPCs pretreated with AS-IV [EPC-exo(ASIV)] promoted autophagy and inhibited apoptosis in HG-impaired HUVECs. PTEN is a target of miR-21. MiR-21 carried by EPC-exo(ASIV) repressed PTEN expression in HG-impaired HUVECs. In contrast, p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-PI3K, cleaved PARP and PARP levels were upregulated. Compared to the HG group, the expression of autophagy regulatory genes (ATG5, beclin1 and LC3) was enhanced in the EPC-exo(ASIV) group and EPC-exo(ASIV)-miR-21 mimic group. In contrast, apoptosis-positive regulatory genes (Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9) were attenuated. Further overexpression of PTEN reversed the expression of these genes. CONCLUSIONS: AS-IV-mediated EPC-exos-miR-21 could enhance autophagy and depress apoptosis in HG-damaged endothelial cells via the miR-21/PTEN axis.

[Representation, analysis and application of landscape graph based on graph theory]. / 基于图论的景观图表达、分析及应用.

Landscape structure and spatial pattern are the core issues in landscape ecology. The application of graph theory provides a research framework for landscape pattern analysis. Landscape graph based on graph theory is gradually applied to the connectivity modeling of biodiversity conservation and decision support of landscape planning. The representation, analysis and application of landscape graph have become a hot topic in conservation biology and landscape ecology. In this review, we first introduced the graph theory basis of landscape map. Based on the Scopus database, 257 published journal papers with the words "landscape graph", "connectivity" and "network" in titles, abstracts, and keywords from 1993 to 2019 were retrieved. We analyzed the research progress and development trend of this field from the aspects of annual published papers, journal sources, research areas, research institutions and landscape types involved. The results showed that before 2017, the number of journal papers published showed an overall increasing trend, and after 2017, the annual number of published papers decreased year by year. The main research forces were concentrated in United States, France, Canada, and China, contributing to 86.8% of the total published papers. Most of the research results were published in "Landscape Ecology", "Landscape and Urban Planning", and "Biological Conservation". In the research content, the representation of landscape graph mainly included the definition of nodes, the measurement of edges and the simulation of landscape. The analysis of landscape graph involved analysis index and landscape graph partitioning. This study mainly focused on the application of landscape graph in science and practice, including biodiversity conservation, landscape (ecological network) planning and management, the assessment of landscape impacts. Landscape graph based on graph theory influences conservation science and planning practitioners by helping understand landscape connectivity changes, animal behavior and habitat conservation. The impact of graph theory on conservation science and planning comes from the rich theoretical basis and mature research methods. Landscape graph based on graph theory provides a springboard for ecological understanding of landscape structure and pattern, and is an important tool for global researchers and practitioners.