Transcriptome screening and verification of genes related to metabolism affected by histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are responsible for catalyzing the deacetylation of histones, which closely related to many biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In recent years, HDAC inhibitors (HADCIs), with the anti-tumor potential, have been hot-spots of drug screening. Although the latest studies suggested that HDAC2 might influence the metabolism, the mechanism of HDACIs in metabolic regulation is still unclear. Here, we integrated the gene expression profiling of HDACIs (TSA and SAHA) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HepG2). The results showed 380 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 35 KEGG pathways enriched by DEGs in TSA-treatment group. Most of DEGs (177/380) and KEGG pathways (23/35) from TSA-treatment groups were confirmed by SAHA-treatment. About half of KEGG pathways (9/23) were related to metabolism ,and nearly one third of common DEGs (66/177) were involved in metabolic process. Moreover, HDAC2 siRNA experiment verified the effect of HDACIs on metabolic genes, suggesting that HDACIs potentially present a practical value to prevent tumor and other metabolism-related diseases.

Refining androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde from mother liquor of phytosterol fermentation using macroporous resin column chromatography followed by crystallization.

Androstenedione is an androgen and intermediate in the biosynthesis of most adrenocortical, anabolic, sex and synthetic steroids, such as canrenone, eplerenone, norethindrone and spironolactone. Bisnorcholenaldehyde is an important intermediate in the synthesis of progesterone. This study established an androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde separation method that used a macroporous adsorption resin and an ethanol-water mixture as eluent. The adsorption properties of 12 non-polar or weakly polar macroporous adsorption resins were compared, and three resins exhibited a high adsorption capacity and high desorption rate for both androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde. The three resins were then compared using column chromatography, and one resin was selected and parameters (flow rate, resin size, ethanol concentration and volume) of chromatography were optimized to obtain high purity and recovery. Chromatography eluate was concentrated, dissolved in suitable solvent and crystallized at an optimal temperature to obtain a high purity of both androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde from the same starting material. The levels of androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde in the raw material were 39.78% and 19.15%, respectively. After preparative separation and enrichment by resin column chromatography and crystallization, the purity of androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde was 94.3% and 98.6%, respectively, with their recovery yields of 66.8% and 57.9%, respectively. In addition, the resin maintained over 90% separation efficiency for 5 cycles of adsorption. These results indicated that the combination of macroporous resin chromatography followed by crystallization provide a simple, effective, environmentally friendly and low-cost method for the simultaneous purification of androstenedione and bisnorcholenaldehyde.

Molecular epidemiology of human coxsackievirus A16 strains.

The hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics have mainly been caused by human enterovirus 71 and human coxsackievirus A16 (CA16), which circulated alternatively or together in the epidemic area. The aim of the present study was to provide guidance in the prevention and control of HFMD from CA16 infection. The molecular epidemiology of the human CA16 strains was investigated. Overall, 1,151 specimens (throat swabs) were collected from 1,151 patients with HFMD symptoms. The results of the homology comparison in the VP1 of CA16 strains showed that the CA16 strains belonged to the B1b subgenotype. The difference of the 6 CA16 strains analyzed showed that the most prominent strain was the A genotype, and the most close strains were the B1 gene subtype, particularly the B1b gene subtype. With regards to the amino acids, in addition to the A genotype, the differences of amino acids with other gene subtype was not significant. The present data suggest that more effective and highly targeted intervention mechanisms could be developed for the prevention and control of HFMD.

[Optimization of preparation of poly ( glycidyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) monolithic column with orthogonal experiments for separation of small molecules].

A monolithic column of macro porous poly (glycidyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) (poly(GMA-DVB)) has been prepared by free radical polymerization within the confines of a chromatographic stainless steel tube (50 mm x 4.6 mm). For the best separation and low back pressure, orthogonal experiments were carried out with V (cyclohexanol): V (dodecanol), V (GMA): V (DVB) and BPO dosage as the three main factors. The characteristic feature of the column, including specific surface area, pore volume as well as pore diameter distribution, was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis and BET analysis. The obtained optimum preparation conditions were that the volume ratio of GMA, DVB, cyclohexanol and dodecanol was 0.825: 0.825: 1.32: 2.03 and the BPO dosage was 0.7% (mass percentage), then it was heated at 70 degrees C for 24 h. Using this monolithic column, benzene and ethylbenzene and a drug of oxiracetam can be well separated on a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system equipped with a ultraviolet (UV) detector at 254 nm. A solution of acetonitrile-water (50 : 50, v/v) for the separation of benzene and ethylbenzene, and acetonitrile-water (80 : 20, v/v) for the separation of oxiracetam were used as mobile phases at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The theoretical plate number was 37 000 plates/m and the resolution of peak width at half height (R1/2) was 7.14. The separation time was less than 10 min. The monolithic column prepared by this method is reproducible and has high column efficiency. It is an economical method to prepare monolithic column, which can be applied to separate small molecules.