Synthesis and structure of the platelet aggregation factor thromboxane A2

In 1975, Hamberg et al. reported evidence for the existence of an unstable platelet-aggregating factor which they named thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and for which they proposed a novel bicyclic oxetane structure (1, below) based on the short half-life of the factor (t1/2 (37 degrees C) = 32 s at pH 7.4) and the isolation of degradation products related to thromboxane (TXB2) (2, below). As natural TXA2 has not yet been isolated and characterized as a pure compound, we have synthesized the proposed structure (1) from TXB2 and compared its biological properties with those of authentic, biologically generated material. Here we present evidence that synthetic material having structure (1) is indistinguishable from platelet-derived TXA2 in various biological assays and that the proposed structure (1) for TXA2 is correct.     

石蒜碱诱导人肝癌HepG-2细胞凋亡机制研究

利用MTT试验,检测石蒜碱对人肝癌HepG-2细胞具有增殖抑制作用,并观察细胞凋亡形态,采用流式细胞仪检测肿瘤细胞凋亡率,发现石蒜碱对人肝癌HepG-2肿瘤细胞具有显著的抗肿瘤作用;通过对肿瘤细胞膜上主要组成成分进行检测,发现石蒜碱可以改变HepG-2细胞膜主要组成成分,使细胞膜结构发生变化;通过考察石蒜碱对HepG-...     

Molecular identification of the gene responsible for congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

Antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasopressin) binds to and activates V2 receptors in renal collecting tubule cells. Subsequent stimulation of the Gs/adenylyl cyclase system promotes insertion of water pores into the luminal membrane and thereby reabsorption of fluid. In congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI), an X-linked recessive disorder, the kidney fails to respond to arginine vasopressin. Here we report that an affected male of a family with CNDI has a deletion in the open reading frame of the V2 receptor gene, causing a frame shift and premature termination of translation in the third intracellular loop of the receptor protein. A normal receptor gene was found in the patient's brother. Both the normal and the mutant allele were detected in his mother. A different mutation, causing a codon change in the third transmembrane domain of the V2 receptor, was found in the open reading frame of an affected male but not in the unaffected brother belonging to another family suffering from CNDI.