Deoxyhypusine hydroxylase as a novel pharmacological target for ischemic stroke via inducing a unique post-translational hypusination modification.

Ischemic stroke remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, thereby highlighting the urgent necessary to identify new therapeutic targets. Deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) is a fundamental enzyme catalyzing a unique posttranslational hypusination modification of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) and is highly involved in the progression of several human diseases, including HIV-1 infection, cancer, malaria, and diabetes. However, the potential therapeutic role of pharmacological regulation of DOHH in ischemic stroke is still poorly understood. Our study first discovered a natural small-molecule brazilin (BZ) with an obvious neuroprotective effect against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion insult. Then, DOHH was identified as a crucial cellular target of BZ using HuProt™ human proteome microarray. By selectively binding to the Cys232 residue, BZ induced a previously undisclosed allosteric effect to significantly increase DOHH catalytic activity. Furthermore, BZ-mediated DOHH activation amplified mitophagy for mitochondrial function and morphology maintenance via DOHH/eIF5A hypusination signaling pathway, thereby protecting against ischemic neuronal injury in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our study first identified DOHH as a previously unreported therapeutic target for ischemic stroke, and provided a future drug design direction for DOHH allosteric activators using BZ as a novel molecular template.

Condensation derivatives of 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde with acetophenone from the red alga Laurencia tristicha.

Seven undescribed condensation derivatives of 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde with acetophenone, including one 1,3,5-trisubstituted pentane-1,5-dione, two 1,3,4,5,7-pentasubstituted heptane-1,7-diones and four 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted cyclohexanols, together with two known flavonoids, were obtained from the red alga Laurencia tristicha. The relative configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR, while the absolute configurations were determined by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. All the isolates were proven to be naturally occurring in the red alga by LC-MS analysis, and these 1,3,5-trisubstituted-pentane-1,5-dione, 1,3,4,5,7-pentasubstituted-heptane-1,7-diones and 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted-cyclohexanols were reported from natural sources for the first time. The proposed biogenetic pathway of the isolates was also discussed.

Antioxidant terpenoids from the red alga Laurencia tristicha.

One new laurane-type sesquiterpene, 10-hydroxyepiaplysinol (1), along with two known related sesquiterpenes, epiaplysinol (2) and ar-bisabol-9-en-7,11-diol (3), and one carotenoid metabolite, loliolide (4), were obtained from the red alga Laurencia tristicha. Their structures were elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. Of the known compounds, 4 was isolated from the genus Laurencia for the first time. Additionally, the antioxidant activities of eleven laurane-type sesquiterpenes from L. tristicha were evaluated.

Two new ditetrahydrofuran lignans from Artemisia sieversiana.

Two new ditetrahydrofuran lignans, named sieverlignans A and B (1 and 2), together with six known ones (3-8), were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia sieversiana. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including HRMS, NMR spectra and circular dichroism experiments. All the compounds were evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory effects on the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in BV-2 murine microglial cells. Compound 2 exhibited the significant activity with its IC50 value of 11.9 ± 0.8 µM, respectively, compared to a positive control quercetin with its IC50 value of 16.0 ± 1.1 µM.

Discovery of novel potential plant growth regulators from Corydalis mucronifera.

Three pairs of enantiomers mucroniferals A-C (1-3), with a novel skeleton of 1,4-epoxynaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid first reported from nature source, were isolated from Corydalis mucronifera. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and their absolute configurations were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD data. Mucroniferals A-C showed broad-spectrum inhibitory activities on seedling growth of all plants tested (Lepidium apetalum, Raphanus sativus, Lactuca sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana) with a dose-dependent relationship. Additionally, mucroniferals A and B exhibited significant inhibitory effects on germination of most seeds at concentration of 80 µg/mL, and the inhibition was reversible.