Genome-wide analysis of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases gene family in Forsythia suspensa: Expression profile and cold and drought stress responses.

Forsythia suspensa is a famous ornamental and medicinal plant in Oleaceae. CCD family is involved in the synthesis of pigments, volatiles, strigolactones, and abscisic acid (ABA) in plants. In this study, the CCD family in F. suspensa was analyzed at the genome level. A total of 16 members of the CCD family were identified, which included 11 members of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCD) subfamily and 5 members of the 9-cis epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases (NCED) subfamily. The expression analysis of different tissues demonstrated that three FsCCD1 genes might be involved in the synthesis of pigments and volatiles in flowers and fruits. Three CCD4 genes were effectively expressed in flowers, while only FsCCD4-3 was effectively expressed in fruits. Comparison of CCD4 between Osmanthus fragrans and F. suspensa showed that the structure of FsCCD4-1 is was comparable that of OfCCD4-1 protein, indicating that the protein might be performing, especially in catalyzing the synthesis of ß-ionone. However, further comparison of the upstream promoter regions showed that the proteins have major differences in the composition of cis-elements, which might be responsible for differences in ß-ionone content. On the other hand, four NCED genes were significantly up-regulated under cold stress while two were up-regulated in drought stress. The data showed that these genes might be involved in the synthesis of ABA. Taken together, our data improves understanding of the CCD family and provides key candidate genes associated with cold and drought stresses in F. suspensa.

[Analysis of Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risks of Surface Sediments in Dongjiang Lake].

To understand the pollution characteristics, spatial distribution characteristics, potential ecological risks, and sources of heavy metals in surface sediments of Dongjiang Lake, 12 surface sediment samples were collected from Dongjiang Lake. The contents of 20 heavy metals including Li, Be, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Pb, and U were analyzed in this study. The geo-accumulation index method and potential risk index method were used to evaluate the pollution degree and potential risks of heavy metals in sediments, and the correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to trace the source of the primary heavy metals. The results showed that the average contents of ω(Cd)(2.25 mg·kg-1) and ω(As)(80.80 mg·kg-1) in heavy metals of Dongjiang Lake sediments were 21.2 times and 5.5 times the background value (0.11 mg·kg-1 and 14.7 mg·kg-1) of Hunan province. The overall spatial distribution of heavy metals was in the order of South>North>Central. The evaluation by the geo-accumulation index method showed that Cd was at the heavy pollution level, As and Se were at the moderate pollution level, Ag and Ga were at the light pollution level, and the other heavy metals were below the pollution standard. The evaluation by the potential risk index showed that all the surface sediments of Dongjiang Lake were at the high-risk level. The main environmental risk factor was Cd, which had an extremely high risk; the second was As, which had a medium risk; and the remaining heavy metals had no ecological risk.

[Mechanism of Chuanxiong Rhizoma intervention on central sensitization of Panx1-Src-NMDAR-2B signaling pathway in neuropathic pain model rats].

Excitatory toxicity(ET) is an important factor of neuropathic pain(NPP) induced by central sensitization(CS), and the association of pannexin-1(Panx1)-Src-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2 B(NMDAR-2 B) is an important new pathway for ET to initiate CS. The present study confirmed whether the central analgesic effect of Chuanxiong Rhizoma extract(CRE) was achieved through the synchronous regulation of the brain and spinal pathways of Panx1-Src-NMDAR-2 B. In this study, dynamic and simulta-neo-us microdialysis of the brain and spinal cord in vivo combined with behavioristics, high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)-fluorescence detection, microdialysis analysis(ISCUS~(flex)), ultrasensitive multifactorial electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, ELISA, and Western blot was employed to investigate the protein expression of NMDAR-2 B, Src, and Panx1, extracellular excitatory amino acids, cytokines, energy metabolites, and substance P in spinal dorsal horn(SDH) and anterior cingulate cortex(ACC) after CRE intervention with the rat model of spared sciatic nerve injury(SNI) as the experimental tool. Compared with the sham group, the SNI group exhibited diminished mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)(P<0.01), increased cold spray scores(P<0.01), glutamate(Glu), D-serine(D-Ser), and glycine(Gly) in extracellular fluids of ACC, and Glu, D-Ser, interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß), and lactic acid(Lac) in extracellular fluids of SDH(P<0.05), dwindled tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α)(P<0.05), and elevated protein levels of NMDAR-2 B, Src, and Panx1 in ACC(P<0.05). Compared with the SNI model rats, high-and medium-dose CRE(CRE-H/M) could potentiate the analgesic activity as revealed by the MWT test(P<0.05) and CRE-M enabled the decrease in cold spray scores(P<0.05). CRE-H/M could inhibit the levels of Glu, D-Ser and Gly in the extracellular fluids of ACC(P<0.05), and the levels of Glu in the extracellular fluids of SDH(P<0.05) in SNI rats. CRE-M significantly increased the levels of glucose(Gluc), Lac, interferon-gamma(IFN-γ), keratinocyte chemoattractant/human growth-regulated oncogenes(KC/GRO), and IL-4 in extracellular fluids of SDH in SNI rats(P<0.05). CRE-H/M/L could also inhibit the levels of NMDAR-2 B, Src and Panx1 in ACC and SDH in SNI rats(P<0.05). The central analgesic effect of CRE is presumedly related to the inhibited release of excitatory amino acid transmitters(Glu, D-Ser and Gly) in ACC and SDH of SNI rats, decreased protein expression of NMDAR-2 B, Src and Panx1 in the two regions, and the regulation of the Panx1-Src-NMDAR-2 B pathway in the spinal cord and brain. The above findings partially clarified the scientific basis of clinical analgesic effect of Chuanxiong Rhizoma.

[Screening of quantitative preparation quality markers of Yulian Decoction].

On the basis of the qualitative preparation quality markers of Yulian Decoction, we screened out the quantitative markers and explored a general strategy for analyzing the component migration in Chinese herbal pieces, preparations, and plasma. A method capable of simultaneously determining 28 chemical components in Yulian Decoction was established based on HPLC-MS/MS. This method was used to determine the migrated components in herbal pieces-lyophilized powder preparations-rat plasma after administration of Yulian Decoction. Liquid chromatography was performed under the following conditions: C_(18)-reversed phase chromatographic column(2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 µm); acetonitrile-water(containing 0.1% formic acid) as the mobile phase for gradient elution; the flow rate of 0.2 mL·min~(-1). Electrospray ionization source was adopted for mass spectrometry detection, in which positive and negative ion modes and multiple reaction monitoring were applied. Confirmed by the methodological investigation in linear range, recovery(95.48%-103.4%), precision(RSD, 0.45%-3.8%), stability, and repeatability(RSD, 5.6%-14%), the established method was suitable for the detection and quantification of the components in Yulian Decoction. The results showed that in the lyophilized powder of Yulian Decoction, berberine was greater than 5% in mass fraction, magnoflorine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, and limonin in the range of 1%-5%, and dehydroevodiamine, evodiamine, rutaecarpine, costunolide, and dehydrocostus lactone in the range of 0.002%-1%. Of the 28 components detected in pieces, 27 were found to migrate to the lyophilized powder, and 11 were detected in rat plasma. Fifteen components were preliminarily determined as quantitative preparation quality markers for Yulian Decoction, including berberine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, evodiamine, rutaecarpine, limonin, costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, groenlandicine, chlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid. In conclusion, the HPLC-MS/MS general strategy was established for analyzing the migration of multiple components in Chinese herbal pieces, preparations, and plasma, which can provide the basis for the screening of quantitative preparation quality markers and multi-index quality control of Yulian Decoction.

Theoretical and Experimental Studies of the Structural, Phase Stability and Elastic Properties of AlCrTiFeNi Multi-Principle Element Alloy.

The fundamental challenge for creating the crystal structure model used in a multi-principle element design is the ideal combination of atom components, structural stability, and deformation behavior. However, most of the multi-principle element alloys contain expensive metallic and rare earth elements, which could limit their applicability. Here, a novel design of low-cost AlCrTiFeNi multi-principle element alloy is presented to study the relationship of structure, deformation behavior, and micro-mechanism. This structured prediction of single-phase AlCrTiFeNi by the atomic-size difference, mixing enthalpy ΔHmix and valence electron concentration (VEC), indicate that we can choose the bcc-structured solid solution to design the AlCrTiFeNi multi-principle element alloy. Structural stability prediction by density functional theory calculations (DFT) of single phases has verified that the most advantageous atom occupancy position is (FeCrNi)(AlFeTi). The experimental results showed that the structure of AlCrTiFeNi multi-principle element alloy is bcc1 + bcc2 + L12 phases, which we propose as the fundamental reason for the high strength. Our findings provide a new route by which to design and obtain multi-principle element alloys with targeted properties based on the theoretical predictions, first-principles calculations, and experimental verification.

[Analgesic effect and central mechanisms of CQ prescription on cancer invasion induced mirror image pain in model mice].

This study aimed to analyze the analgesic effect and related central mechanisms of CQ prescription on cancer invasion induced mirror image pain (CIIMIP)in model mice.In the study, male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, operation control group (injected with 0.2 mL inactivated S180 sarcoma cell sap), model group (injected with 0.2 mL S180 sarcoma cell sap on the right leg near the greater trochanter of femur) and CQ prescription low dose group (intraperitoneally injected with CQ prescription 100 mg•kg⁻¹ on the basis of model mice), CQ prescription middle dose group (intraperitoneally injected with CQ prescription 150 mg•kg⁻¹ on the basis of model mice), and CQ prescription high dose group (intraperitoneally injected with CQ prescription 200 mg•kg⁻¹ on the basis of model mice). Mechanical withdraw threshold (MWT) of the mirror image lateral hind paws were evaluated by Von Frey hairs before modeling and after surgery. The levels of glutamate (Glu), gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine (Gly), and taurine (Tau) in the L3-L5 spinal cord were measured by the high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD); AimPlex detection technology with multiple factors was used to detect the levels of regulated on activation in normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-3) in the L3-L5 spinal cord. Then we observed the influence of GABAa receptor antagonist (Bicuculline) on analgesic effect of CQ prescription.The results indicated that CQ prescription could remarkably increase MWT of model mice(P<0.01, P<0.05), decrease the level of Glu(P<0.01, P<0.05), improve the levels of GABA, Gly, Tau(P<0.01, P<0.05), lower the ratio of Glu/GABA(P<0.01, P<0.05), and reduce the levels of RANTES, MCP-3(P<0.05) in the L3-L5 spinal cord, and GABAa receptor antagonist significantly blocked the analgesic effect of CQ prescription at two time points(P<0.05).This study showed that CQ prescription had significant analgesic effect on CIIMIP model mice, and its mechanism was associated with regulating the balance between excitability amino acid(EAA) and inhibitory amino acid (IAA) transmitters in central nervous system, partially activating GABAa receptor, and reducing the release of RANTES and MCP-3 in the spinal cord.

Clinical study of anesthetization by dezocine combined with propofol for indolent colonoscopy.

AIM: To assess the use of dezocine combined with propofol for the anesthetization of patients undergoing indolent colonoscopy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of patients undergoing indolent colonoscopy in the Xinjiang People's Hospital was conducted from April 1 to April 30, 2015. The survey collected patient general information and anesthesia data, including overall medical experience and pain management. Thirty minutes after colonoscopy surgery, samples of venous blood were collected and the biochemical indicators of gastrointestinal function were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 98 female and 62 male respondents. Indolent colonoscopy was found to be more suitable for mid to older-aged patients. The necessary conditions for the diagnosis of digestive diseases were required in 65 of the 73 inpatients. Adverse reactions to the intraoperative process included two cases of body movement and two cases of respiratory depression. Gastrin and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels were slightly increased. However, somatostatin and endothelin levels were slightly decreased. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that dezocine combined with propofol can be successfully used for the anesthetization of indolent colonoscopy patients without pain and should be widely used.

[Chemical constituents from seeds of Brassica campestris].

Fourteen compounds were isolated by column chromatography from the ethyl acetate extract of the seeds of Brassica campestris. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data analysis. The isolated compounds were respectively identified as (5Z,7E)-4, 4-dimethyl-5-acetyl-5, 7-nonadienoic acid (1), indole-3-carboxaldehyde (2), blumenol A (3), vinylsyringol (4), sinapinic acid (5), sinapic acid ethyl ester (6), protocatechuic acid (7), crinosterol (8), campesterol (9), 7-oxo-stigmasterol (10), kaempferol (11), 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (12), syringic acid (13) and daucosterol (14). Compound 1 was a new compound and the other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time except for compounds 4, 5 and 13.

[Comparison of structural characteristics and anticoagulation activity of enoxaparin sodium with different degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives].

The fine structure of enoxaparin sodium samples with different degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives were analyzed with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A further study of anticoagulation activity of enoxaparins was performed, including those on their inhibition activities of coagulation factor Xa (FXa) and thrombin (FIIa). The results showed that the anti-FXa and -FIIa activities of enoxaparins with different degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives (20.0%-39.7%) with similar structure characteristics, had decreasing tendency when the degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives increased. Especially, the anti-FXa activity was sensitive to the change of the degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives.

Activated AMPK explains hypolipidemic effects of sulfated low molecular weight guluronate on HepG2 cells.

Low molecular weight and sulfated low molecular weight guluronate (LMG and SLMG) were prepared and hypolipidemic effects were studied in a human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line. Both compounds decreased total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) and inhibited 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) activity in HepG2 cells. In general, SLMG had greater effects than LMG. Activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and AMPK's downstream targets were evidenced by increased phosphorylation of AMPK, HMGCR, and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACC), which decreased HMGRC and ACC activity. We further demonstrated that activated AMPK was linked to down-regulated SREBP-1 and up-regulated cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1).

[Effect of synchronous perfusion of NaN3 in changes in content of cholinergic neurotransmitter in medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal extra-cellular fluid].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of synchronous perfusion of specific respiratory chain complex IV inhibitor sodium azide (NaN3) in brain on rat ventromedial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and acetylcholine (ACh) and choline (Ch) contents in hippocampal extra-cellular fluid, and establish the AD rat model induced by mitochondrial acute injury. METHOD: The synchronous dual-probe dual-channel brain microdialysis sampling technology was applied to synchronously perfuse modified Ringer's solution containing NaN3 (50 micro mol L-1) and neostigmine (2 micro mol L-1) into mPFC and hippocampus of conscious, freely moving normal rats, and continuously collect dialysates from different encephalic areas. Dynamic contents of ACh and Ch were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-post-column immobilized enzyme reactor-electrochemical process. RESULT: ACh and Ch contents in mPFC extracellular fluid of normal rats were higher than that in hippocampus. During the process of perfusion, NaN3 could significantly reduce ACh in mPFC/hippocampal extra-cellular fluid, but remarkably increase Ch, and constantly inhibit the recovery of ACh and Ch contents in mPFC/hippocampus. CONCLUSION: The synchronous perfusion of NaN3in rat mPFC and hippocampus can injure functions of the cholinergic nerve projection area, and cause the acute AD model with ACh and Ch metabolic disorders. This model can be used in pathogenetic and pharmacological studies.

Intraneuronal accumulation of Aß42 induces age-dependent slowing of neuronal transmission in Drosophila.

Beta amyloid (Aß42)-induced dysfunction and loss of synapses are believed to be major underlying mechanisms for the progressive loss of learning and memory abilities in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The vast majority of investigations on AD-related synaptic impairment focus on synaptic plasticity, especially the decline of long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission caused by extracellular Aß42. Changes in other aspects of synaptic and neuronal functions are less studied or undiscovered. Here, we report that intraneuronal accumulation of Aß42 induced an age-dependent slowing of neuronal transmission along pathways involving multiple synapses.

[Chemical constituents from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera].

To study the chemical constituents, twenty-seven compounds were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera by modern chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified as 10-octacosanol (1), beta-sitosterol (2), 1-undecanol (3), 1-eicosanol (4), daucosterol (5), 6'-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (6), 3,7,8-trimethoxy-1-hydroxy-xanthone (7), rhamnetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), chrysoeriol-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (9), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10), quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (11), hyperoside (12), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (13), astragalin (14), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1--> 6)-[alpha-D-lyxopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranoside] (15), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-D-lyxopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (16), isorhamnetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (17), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (18), quercetin (19), kaempferol (20), dehydronuciferine (21), roemerine (22), stigmast-7-en-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (23), stigmast-7-en-3beta-ol (24), and benzene-1,2-diol (25) on the basis of spectral data analysis. Compounds 1, 6, 7, 8, 24 and 25 were isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 15-18 were isolated from the leaves for the first time. Compounds 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 showed inhibitory activities against beta amyloid (1-42) by A-beta aggregation method with inhibition rates of (63.99 +/- 24.29)%, (79.61 +/- 4.49)%, (49.96 +/- 12.61)%, (101.19 +/- 8.19)%, (88.41+/-6.76)% and (72.48 +/- 8.97)%, respectively.

Control of interpenetration in S-containing metal-organic frameworks for selective separation of transition metal ions.

Two S-containing MOFs, interpenetrating and non-interpenetrating , were synthesized by altering solvent size. The nanoporous reveals high selective adsorption for Cu(2+) ions and has been applied as a chromatographic column for separating transition metal ions for the first time.

[Analgesic effect of CQM on prosopalgia model rats and its impact on exciting amino acid neurotransmitters].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the analgesic effect of CQM on photochemically-induced prosopalgia model rats, and discuss its impact on the exciting amino acid neurotransmitter-glutamate (Glu). METHOD: Male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group and the prosopalgia group. And the latter was subdivided into the model group, the gabapentin group (100 mg kg(-1)), and the CQM low-dose (35 mg x kg(-1)) and CQM high-dose (70 mg x kg(-1)) groups. The mechanical allodynia test was adopted to evaluate the pain behavior of rats, and reflect the efficacy with the mechanical withdrawal thresholds. The rat striatum extra-cellular fluid was collected by brain micro-dialysis. The Glu level of samples was measured by high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescene detector (HPLC-FLD). RESULT: Compared to the control group, the threshold of the mechanical allodynia of the IoN injury group was decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the concentration of Glu was increased dramatically (P < 0.05). Compared to the model group, the mechanical allodynia of photochemically-induced prosopalgia model rats increased significantly (P < 0.01), with a notable increase in brain Glu concentration (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, all of mechanical withdrawal thresholds increased. Among them, the CQM high-dose group showed a remarkably growth at three time points (P < 0.05), with the maximum up to (23 +/- 7.3) g. And the gabapentin group showed a remarkably growth at two time points (P < 0.05), with the maximum up to (20.5 +/- 9.2) g. All of the drug groups showed significantly lower Glu concentrations in rat brains than the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CQM can ease the mechanical allodynia of photochemically-induced prosopalgia model rats. Its analgesic effect may be related to the decrease of Glu concentrations in striatum extra-cellular fluid.

[Structure and function analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana SRO protein family].

Many biotic and abiotic stresses can cause oxidative stress in plants. The identification of components involved in plant response to oxidative stress has attracted wide attention. The members of AtSRO family, including AtRCD1, AtSRO1, and AtSRO5, regulate plants' response to oxidative stress. AtSROs participate in plant normal growth and development, and play important roles in plant response to stresses, such as drought, salt, heavy metal, and so on. In addition, AtSROs possess some special domains, including PARP and RST. It is speculated that AtSROs may function in regulating protein transcription, adjustment, and modification. This review highlights some recent progresses, such as basic situation of AtSROs, effects of AtSRO family proteins on plant growth and response to abiotic stress, which will provide a theoretical basis for further studying on biological functions of AtSRO.

Age-dependent alterations in the presynaptic active zone in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease.

The accumulation of beta amyloid (Aß) can cause synaptic impairments, but the characteristics and mechanisms of the synaptic impairment induced by the accumulation of Aß in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. In identified single neurons in a newly developed Drosophila AD model, in which Aß accumulates intraneuronally, we found an age-dependent reduction in the synaptic vesicle release probability that was associated with a decrease in the density of presynaptic calcium channel clusters and an increase in the presynaptic and postsynaptic contact length. Moreover, these alterations occurred in the absence of presynaptic bouton loss. In addition, we found that Aß expression also produced an age-dependent decrease in the amount of Bruchpilot (Brp), which plays an important role in controlling Ca(2+) channel clustering and synaptic vesicle release in the presynaptic active zone. Our study indicates that the chronic accumulation of intraneuronal Aß can induce functional and structural changes in the presynaptic active zone prior to a loss of presynaptic buttons in the same neuron.

Role of adjuvant chemotherapy after pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is used as an alternative treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the efficiency of post-pneumonectomy adjuvant chemotherapy in NSCLC has not been clarified. In the present study, patients who benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy with TP/NP/GP were identified. A total of 217 patients who underwent pneumonectomy were identified in this study. Of these, 87 underwent pneumonectomy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy (TP/NP/GP regimen) and 130 underwent pneumonectomy only in the initial management. The primary endpoint of the present study was overall survival. Actuarial survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved the survival rate of patients who underwent left pneumonectomy and in patients with a preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) greater than or equal to 21. Age had no effect on the survival rate of patients with or without postoperative adjuvant therapy. Post-pneumonectomy adjuvant chemotherapy is an efficient therapy in NSCLC for patients with preoperative FEV1 greater than or equal to 21 or who received left pneumonectomy.

Phase transfer catalyst supported, room-temperature biphasic synthesis: a facile approach to the synthesis of coordination polymers.

A facile approach, named phase transfer catalyst supported, room temperature biphasic synthesis, has been developed to synthesize a new type of coordination polymers. Compared to the traditional biphasic solvothermal synthesis that was run at high temperature (100-200 °C), the new approach introduced here can be operated under a mild condition (room temperature) with the support of phase transfer catalyst. With the application of this new approach, two copper coordination complexes with 1D metal-organic nanotube and 1D coordination polymer containing large water clusters have been successfully synthesized and characterized. Furthermore, the synthetic approach presented here can be extended to synthesize other coordination polymers, including porous lanthanide-organic frameworks.

Expression of beta-amyloid induced age-dependent presynaptic and axonal changes in Drosophila.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is attributable to synapse dysfunction and loss, but the nature and progression of the presynaptic structural and functional changes in AD are essentially unknown. We expressed wild-type or arctic form of beta amyloid(1-42) (Abeta) in a small group of neurons in the adult fly and performed extensive time course analysis of the function and structure of both axon and presynaptic terminals at the identified single-neuron level. Abeta accumulated intracellularly and induced a range of age-dependent changes, including depletion of presynaptic mitochondria, slowdown of bi-directional transports of axonal mitochondria, decreased synaptic vesicles, increased large vacuoles, and elevated synaptic fatigue. These structural and functional synaptic changes correlated with age-dependent deficit in motor behavior. All these alterations were accelerated in flies expressing the arctic form of Abeta. The depletion of presynaptic mitochondria was the earliest detected phenotype and was not caused by the change in axonal transport of mitochondria. Moreover, axonal mitochondria exhibited a dramatic reduction in number but a significant increase in size in aged Abeta-expressing flies, indicating a global depletion of mitochondria in the neuron and an impairment of mitochondria fission. These results suggest that Abeta accumulation depletes presynaptic and axonal mitochondria, leading to other presynaptic deficits.