野黄芩苷的密度泛函理论研究

采用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法在6.311G(d)基组上对野黄芩苷进行了理论计算,对其分子构型、偶极矩、疏水参数、红外光谱、酚羟基解离焓、自旋密度分布和前线轨道结构进行详细分析。结果表明,野黄芩苷是通过酚羟基发挥抗氧化作用的,其中,A环C6位置酚羟基活性最强,B环C4’酚羟基活性次之,A环C5酚羟基活性最弱。野黄芩苷在体内极性较大的环境下,可以达到好的吸收效果,研究结果为更有效合理地利用野黄芩苷提供了理论指导。     

三种鲍腹足肌胶原多肽抗氧化性研究

研究了皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai)、黑足鲍(Haliotis iris)及其杂交鲍腹足胶原多肽的制备和性质,并采用总还原力、对O^-₂·和·OH自由基清除率和致衰小鼠灌胃胶原多肽后体内MDA、SOD和GSH-PX变化来评价3种鲍胶原多肽的抗氧化性。结果显示,皱纹盘鲍、黑足鲍及其杂交鲍的胶原蛋白分别占总蛋白含量的23.44%、30.78%和26.92%,皱纹盘鲍与杂交鲍胶原蛋白含有α1、α2、β和γ链,而黑足鲍胶原蛋白没有γ链;来自3种鲍的胶原多肽均呈现出较高的还原力、O^-₂·和·OH自由基清除能力,对O^-₂·清除率的IC₅₀值分别为3.03、2.40、1.15 g/L,对·OH清除率的IC₅₀值分别为4.12、3.58、3.70 g/L;灌胃3种胶原多肽后,致衰小鼠肝脏和血清的MDA含量均降低,SOD和GSH-PX活力均上升。三者比较,杂交鲍胶原多肽在降低MDA含量、提高GSH-PX活力的作用最强,黑足鲍胶原多肽在提高SOD活力的效果最显著。     

维生素D_3对菲律宾蛤仔三种抗氧化酶活性的影响

以维生素D3不同浓度0 IU/L、5000 IU/L、10000 IU/L、15000 IU/L、20000 IU/L浸浴菲律宾蛤仔96h,观测维生素D3对菲律宾蛤仔内脏团过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活性的影响.结果表明,经维生素D3浸浴菲律宾蛤仔内脏团中的CAT、SOD活性随时间延长均表现为先升高后降低趋势,比较同一时间段10000 IU/L组CAT、SOD活性均高于其他浓度组（p〈0.05）;而在试验过程中GSH-Px活性随时间延长有一直升高的趋势,但比较同一时间段15000 IU/L组活性均高于其他浓度组（p〈0.05）.本研究表明利用维生素D3微粒悬浮于水层中被蛤仔滤食,可一定程度提高菲律宾蛤仔抗氧化活性,其剂量以10000 IU/L到15000 IU/L范围内效果较好.     

低氧胁迫对日本沼虾呼吸代谢和抗氧化能力的影响

为阐明低氧胁迫对日本沼虾呼吸代谢和氧化代谢的影响,并初步探讨其作用机制及日本沼虾的抗氧化响应机制,将日本沼虾暴露于低氧((2±0.2)mg/L,8 h)而后恢复常氧水平((7±0.2)mg/L,2.5 h).结果显示:与对照组(保持常氧水平)相比,随着低氧暴露时间延长,日本沼虾肝胰腺和肌肉组织细胞色素氧化酶(CCO)和琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)活力显著下降(p0.05),延胡索酸还原酶(FRD)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力显著上升(p0.05);总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力显著上升(p0.05),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力显著下降(p0.05).恢复常氧阶段,CCO,SDH,FRD,LDH,CAT和SOD活力逐渐恢复到正常水平,T-AOC在恢复常氧1 h时显著降低(p0.05),而后恢复到正常水平.低氧胁迫使得有氧代谢减弱,无氧代谢增强,以维持机体能量需求;T-AOC和CAT活力增加而SOD活力降低,是日本沼虾适应低氧环境所采取的一种抗氧化策略.     

橙皮、柚皮、桔皮抗氧化活性物质的提取与保存条件优化

实验提取了橙皮、柚皮和桔皮中的活性物质,以DPPH自由基清除能力和羟基自由基抑制能力为考察指标,分析比较了三者的抗氧化能力,并通过正交试验优化了其提取工艺和保存温度.结果表明,3种果皮中桔皮在pH值为3的70%乙醇的溶液中,以料液比为1∶20的条件下提取,提取物保存于25℃,清除DPPH自由基和抑制羟基自由基的效果最佳.     

Separate functional features of proinsulin C-peptide

Proinsulin C-peptide influences a number of physiological parameters in addition to its well-established role in the parent proinsulin molecule. It is of interest as a candidate for future co-replacement therapy with insulin for patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, but specific receptors have not been identified and additional correlation with functional effects is desirable. Based on comparisons of 22 mammalian proinsulin variants, we have constructed analogues for activity studies, choosing phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts for functional measurements. In this manner, we find that effective phosphorylation of MAPKs is promoted by the presence of conserved glutamic acid residues at positions 3, 11 and 27 of C-peptide and by the presence of helix-promoting residues in the N-terminal segment. Previous findings have ascribed functional roles to the C-terminal pentapeptide segment, and all results combined therefore now show the importance of different segments, suggesting that C-peptide interactions are complex or multiple.Received 2 May 2005; received after revision 9 June 2005; accepted 13 June 2005     

Bacterial signal peptide recognizes HeLa cell mitochondrial import receptors and functions as a mitochondrial leader sequence

Phage display was used to identify new components of the mammalian mitochondrial receptor complex using Tom20 as a binding partner. Two peptides were identified. One had partial identity (SMLTVMA) with a bacterial signal peptide from Toho-1, a periplasmic protein. The other had partial identity with a mitochondrial inner membrane glutamate carrier. The bacterial signal peptide could carry a protein into mitochondria both in vivo and in vitro. The first six residues of the sequence, SMLTVM, were necessary for import but the two adjacent arginine residues in the 30-amino-acid leader were not critical for import. The signal peptides of Escherichia coli β-lactamase and Bacillsus subtilis lipase could not carry proteins into mitochondria. Presumably, the Toho-1 leader can adopt a structure compatible for recognition by the import apparatus.Received 29 April 2005; received after revision 8 June 2005; accepted 17 June 2005     

Anti herpes simplex virus activity of lactoferrin/lactoferricin – an example of antiviral activity of antimicrobial protein/peptide

One of the most common viral infections in humans is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It was first effectively treated in the 1970s with the introduction of acyclovir, which is still the most commonly used treatment. Naturally occurring antimicrobial proteins and peptides have also been shown to possess antiviral activity against HSV. This review will focus on the anti-HSV activity of one such protein, lactoferrin, and a small peptide fragment from its N-terminal domain, lactoferricin. Both components have been shown to effectively block entry of HSV into the host cell. In addition to blocking HSV entry, the peptides appear to have immune stimulatory activity, although this is still somewhat controversial. Mode of action studies and knowledge about the anti-HSV activity of lactoferricin have also been successfully employed in the design of new, more specific HSV blockers. Received 25 May 2005; received after revision 24 August 2005; accepted 6 September 2005     

Inhibition by transmembrane peptides of chimeric insulin receptors

Receptor tyrosine kinases play essential roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. We have recently shown that peptides corresponding to the transmembrane domains of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ErbB2 receptors inhibit their corresponding receptor activation in cancer cell lines. We extend this observation to cells transfected with chimeric insulin receptors where the transmembrane domain has been replaced by that of the EGF receptor or a mutated Erb2 domain. Peptides corresponding to the transmembrane domains of the EGF receptor and ErbB2 are able to inhibit specifically the autophosphorylation of insulin receptors with the corresponding domain. This inhibitory effect is correlated with the propensity of the different transmembrane domains to self-associate in a genetic reporter assay. Thus, our data strengthen the notion that transmembrane domains are involved in erbB receptor activation, and that these receptors can be modulated by inhibiting proteinprotein interactions within the membrane.Received 25 May 2005; received after revision 13 July 2005; accepted 22 July 2005     

Structural features of prions explored by sequence analysis. II. A PrP<Superscript>Sc</Superscript> model

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders associated with a conformational conversion of the prion PrP protein, in which the β-strand content increases and that of the α helix decreases. However, the structure of the pathogenous form PrP^Sc, occurring after conformational conversion of the normal cellular form PrP^C, is not yet known. From sequence analysis, we have previously proposed that helix H2 of the prion PrP^C structure might be a key region for this structural conversion. More recently, we identified the TATA box-binding protein fold as a putative scaffold that may locally satisfy the predicted secondary-structure organisation of PrP^Sc. In the present analysis, we detail the schematic construction of PrP^Sc monomeric and dimeric models, based on this hypothesis. These models are globally compatible with available data and therefore may provide further insights into the structurally and functionally elusive PrP protein. Some comments are also devoted to a comparison of the yeast Ure2p prion and animal prions. Received 29 July 2002; received after revision 24 October 2002; accepted 24 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.