An engineered genetic circuit for lactose intolerance alleviation.

BACKGROUND: Lactose malabsorption occurs in around 68% of the world's population, causing lactose intolerance (LI) symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. To alleviate LI, previous studies have mainly focused on strengthening intestinal ß-galactosidase activity while neglecting the inconspicuous drop in the colon pH caused by the fermentation of non-hydrolyzed lactose by the gut microbes. A drop in colon pH will reduce the intestinal ß-galactosidase activity and influence intestinal homeostasis. RESULTS: Here, we synthesized a tri-stable-switch circuit equipped with high ß-galactosidase activity and pH rescue ability. This circuit can switch in functionality between the expression of ß-galactosidase and expression of L-lactate dehydrogenase in response to an intestinal lactose signal and intestinal pH signal, respectively. We confirmed that the circuit functionality was efficient in bacterial cultures at a range of pH levels, and in preventing a drop in pH and ß-galactosidase activity after lactose administration to mice. An impact of the circuit on gut microbiota composition was also indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its ability to flexibly adapt to environmental variation, in particular to stabilize colon pH and maintain ß-galactosidase activity after lactose influx, the tri-stable-switch circuit can serve as a promising prototype for the relief of lactose intolerance.

Synthesis, structure and antibacterial activity of new 2-(1-(2-(substituted-phenyl)-5-methyloxazol-4-yl)-3-(2-substitued-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-7-substitued-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives.

A series of new 2-(1-(2-(substituted-phenyl)-5-methyloxazol-4-yl)-3-(2-substitued-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-7-substitued-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized. The results showed that compounds 9q and 10q can strongly inhibit Staphylococcus aureus DNA gyrase and Bacillus subtilis DNA gyrase (with IC(50s) of 0.125 and 0.25 microg/mL against S. aureus DNA gyrase, 0.25 and 0.125 microg/mL against B. subtilis DNA gyrase). On the basis of the biological results, structure-activity relationships were also discussed.

Comparative enantioseparation of seven triazole fungicides on (S,S)-Whelk O1 and four different cellulose derivative columns.

The comparative enantioseparation of seven chiral triazole fungicides on a Pirkle type (S,S)-Whelk O1 chiral column and four different cellulose derivative columns, namely cellulose tribenzoate (CTB), cellulose tris(4-methylbenzoate) (CTMB), cellulose triphenylcarbamate (CTPC), and cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate) (CDMPC), in normal phase mode is described. The seven triazole fungicides investigated were tebuconazole, hexaconazole, myclobutanil, diniconazole, uniconazole, paclobutrazol, and triadimenol. The chiral separation of each solute was investigated with ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, and n-butanol, respectively, as polar modifier in the hexane mobile phase. The results revealed that (S,S)-Whelk O1 was less than universal and only hexaconazole and triadimenol underwent enantioseparation. Among the self-prepared cellulose derivative columns used, the enantiomeric resolution capacities for the studied analytes generally decreased in the order CDMPC > CTPC > CTMB > CTB. The best enantioseparation of the analytes was mostly obtained on CDMPC and none of them were enantioseparated on CTB. The chiral recognition mechanisms between the analytes and the chiral selectors are discussed.

Separation and identification of cis and trans isomers of 2-butene-1,4-diol and lafutidine by HPLC and LC-MS.

The cis and trans isomers separation of 2-butene-1,4-diol and lafutidine were studied by HPLC on two kinds of chiral columns: (S,S)-Whelk-O 1 and ChiraSpher. The isomers of 2-butene-1,4-diol can be separated on both chiral columns while the isomers of lafutidine can only be resolved on ChiraSpher column. The influence of different type and amount of mobile phase modifier on the isomers separation was extensively studied. The resolution of cis and trans isomers of 2-butene-1,4-diol was 2.61 on (S,S)-Whelk-O 1 column with hexane-ethanol (97:3, v/v) as the mobile phase. The resolution of lafutidine was 1.89 on ChiraSpher column with hexane-ethanol-THF-diethylamine (92:3:5:0.1, v/v/v/v) as the mobile phase. LC-MS methods were developed to identify the isomer peaks.