Nodulisporiviridins A-H, Bioactive Viridins from Nodulisporium sp.

Eight new viridins, nodulisporiviridins A-H (1-8), were isolated from the extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nodulisporium sp. (No. 65-17-2-1) that was fermented with potato-dextrose broth. The structures were determined using spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Nodulisporiviridins A-D (1-4) are unique viridins with an opened ring A. The Aß42 aggregation inhibitory activities of 1-8 were evaluated using a thioflavin T (ThT) assay with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as the positive control (EGCG IC50 of 0.5 µM). Nodulisporiviridin G (7) displayed potent inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.2 µM, and the preliminary trend of activity of these viridins as Aß42 aggregation inhibitors was proposed. The short-term memory assay on an Aß transgenic drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease showed that all eight compounds improved the short-term memory capacity, with potencies close to that of the positive control (memantine).

Effects of Fe3+ and Zn2+ on the structural and thermodynamic properties of a soybean ASR protein.

Abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) protein play important roles in protecting plants from abiotic stress. The functions of some ASR proteins are known to be modulated by binding to metal ions. In this study, we demonstrated that the non-tagged full-length soybean (Glycine max) ASR protein (GmASR) can bind Fe(3+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+). The direct binding properties of GmASR to Fe(3+) and Zn(2+) were further confirmed by intrinsic fluorescence assays. The GmASR protein was found to have three Fe(3+) binding sites but only two Zn(2+) binding sites. Natively disordered in aqueous solution, GmASR remained disordered in the presence of Fe(3+), but was found to aggregate in the presence of Zn(2+). The aggregated GmASR protein was partially resolubilized after Zn(2+) was chelated by EDTA. GmASR exhibited Fe(3+)-binding-dependent antioxidant activity in vitro. We speculate that GmASR thus protects against oxidation damage by buffering metal ions, thus alleviating metal toxicity in plant cells under stressed conditions.

[Application of fluorescence spectroscopy in studying the protective function of 11-amino acid motif of group3 late embryogenesis abundant protein].

Late embryogenesis abundant protein (LEA) can enhance the tolerance of organisms under drought, low-temperature and other stress conditions. However, their protection mechanisms are still unclear. In the present paper, the peptides consisting of multi-copies of 11-amino acid motif, such as PM2D and PM2E are proved to protect the activity of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from freeze-thaw by using ultroviolet spectrometry. Furthermore, the fluorescence spectroscopic results show that the peptide consisting of multi-copies of 11-amino acid can stabilize the structure of LDH through synergy and multi-sites binding. However, the peptides consisting of less copies of 11-amino acid, such as PM2F and PM2G bind to LDH through one site, and the binding is weak. They thus can not protect the activity of LDH. In addition, the peptides consisted of multi-copies of 11-amino acid protect LDH by acting with trehalose synergically, and the protection mechanisms of LEA and trehalose on LDH are different.

Correlation between microRNA-143 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and disease severity in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

This study aims to explore the correlation between microRNA-143 (miR-143) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and disease severity in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. From March 2014 to November 2015, 194 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (102 patients in progressive stage and 92 patients in stable stage) were selected as the case group and 175 healthy people as a control group were enrolled in this study. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-17 and VEGF in serum. The qRT-PCR assay was performed to detect the relative expression of miR-143 in PBMCs. Disease severity in psoriasis vulgaris patients was graded with Psoriasis Lesions Area and Severity Index (PASI). The value of miR-143 expression in PBMCs for the diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The correlation between miR-143 expression in PBMCs and PASI scores was measured using Spearman rank correlation analysis. Compared with the control group, serum levels of IL-17 and VEGF were higher and miR-143 expression in PBMCs was lower in the case group. Furthermore, miR-143 expression in PBMCs was lower in patients in progressive stage than that in patients with stable stage. The relative expression of miR-143 in PBMCs was negatively correlated with PASI scores of patients with psoriasis vulgaris. ROC curve showed that miR-143 was a reliable and accurate biomarker of psoriasis vulgaris. Our findings suggest that miR-143 expression in PBMCs is negatively correlated the disease severity in psoriasis vulgaris.

Effect of treatment of rosacea in females by Chibixiao Recipe in combination with minocycline and spironolactone.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Chibixiao Recipe (CBX) in combination with minocycline and spironolactone in treating rosacea in females. METHODS: Sixty-eight women with rosacea were randomly assigned to the treated group (48 cases) and the control group (20 cases), both of which were treated with minocycline and spironolactone taken orally, but to the treated group, the Chinese herbal recipe, CBX was given additionally. Besides, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen was applied to those with apparent capillary dilatation. The therapeutic course for both groups was 8 weeks. The levels of serum testosterone before and after treatment were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and a 4-month follow-up was conducted. RESULTS: In the treated group the cure-markedly effective rate was 87.5% and the recurrent rate was 6.5%, while in the control group, they were 45.0% and 41.2% respectively. Comparisons in the indexes between the two groups all showed significant difference (both P<0.01), with the cure-markedly effective rate higher, and the recurrent rate lower in the treated group. The serum level of testosterone got lowered in both groups ( P<0.05 and P<0.01), but the lowering in the treated group was more significant, showing significance when compared with that in the control group ( P<0.01). CONCLUSION: CBX in combination with Western medicine has effect in treating rosacea superior to that of Western medicine alone, and could effectively reduce recurrent rate and the serum level of testosterone. female rosacea, testosterone, Chibixiao Recipe, minocycline, spironolactone

Chaetoglobosin Y, a new cytochalasan from Chaetomium globosum.

Chaetoglobosin Y (1), was isolated from the endolichenic fungal strain Chaetomium globosum (No. 64-5-8-2), along with related six known cytochalasans, chaetoglobosin Fex (2), chaetoglobosin E (3), isochaetoglobosin D (4), chaetoglobosin G (5), cytoglobosin B (6), and cytoglobosin C (7). Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses and comparison with those of the closely related compounds previously reported. The cytotoxicity to HCT-116 cell line of 2-7 was evaluated in vitro with doxorubicin as positive control.

Diphenyl ethers from Aspergillus sp. and their anti-Aß42 aggregation activities.

Two new compounds with the character of diphenyl ether structure, oxisterigmatocystin D (1) and 9-acetyldiorcinol B (6), were isolated from the endolichenic fungal strain Aspergillus sp. (No. 16-20-8-1), along with six known compounds, oxisterigmatocystin A (2), oxisterigmatocystin C (3), sterigmatocystin (4), diorcinol B (5), violaceol-I (7), and violaceol-II (8). The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Moreover, the Aß42 aggregation inhibitory activities of 5-8 were evaluated by the standard thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay using epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as the positive control. Compounds 7 and 8 displayed significant anti-Aß42 aggregation activity with IC50 values of 5.1 and 2.3µM, respectively. Preliminary structure-activity relationship of these diphenyl ethers as anti-Aß42 aggregation inhibitors was proposed.

Nodulisporisteriods A and B, the first 3,4-seco-4-methyl-progesteroids from Nodulisporium sp.

Two new 4-methyl-progesteroids, nodulisporisteriod A (1) and nodulisporisteriod B (2), were isolated from the extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nodulisporium sp. (No. 65-17-2-1), along with two related metabolites, demethoxyviridin (3) and inoterpene B (4). Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses, X-ray crystallographic analysis and comparison of the NMR data with those of the closely related compounds previously reported. Nodulisporisteriod A (1) and nodulisporisteriod B (2) possess new carbon skeletons, which are the first cases of fission at C-3,4 in 4-methyl-progesteroids. A hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for 1 and 2 was proposed. Moreover, the Aß42 aggregation inhibitory activities of 1-4 were evaluated using standard thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as positive control. Demethoxyviridin (3) displayed anti-Aß42 aggregation activity with IC50 value of 13.4µM.