Duplication and divergent evolution of the CHS and CHS-like genes in the chalcone synthase （CHS） superfamily

CHALCONE SYNTHASE (CHS) IS A KEY ENZYME OF FLA- VONOID BIOSYNTHESIS. IT CATALYSES THE CONDENSATION OF THREE MOLECULES OF MALONYL-COA WITH ONE MOLECULE OF 4-COUMAROYL-COA TO FORM NARINGENIN CHALCONE, THE PRECURSOR FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF FLAVONOIDS WHICH ARE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED IN THE PLANT KINGDOM AND HAVE IM- PORTANT ROLES IN FLOWER PIGMENTATION, PROTECTION AGAINST UV LIGHT A…     

Regulation of embryo implantation by nitric oxide in mouse

Intrauterine injection and zymography were used to investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on embryo implantation in mice. On day 3, one uterine horn of female pregnant mice was injected intraluminally with various doses of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), while the contralateral horn served as control. Animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation on day 7 of gestation, and the number of implanted embryos in each horn was calculated. The results showed that lower doses (0.05 mg L-NAME) did not inhibit implantation significantly (P > 0.05), but high doses (0.2 mg L- NAME) resulted in a significant reduction in the number of implanted embryos (P < 0.05). Co-administration of SNP, a generator of NO, with L-NAME would reverse the antiimplantation effect of L-NAME. To further understand the precise mechanism of NO in implantation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) activities were detected by gelatin zymography. The reduction in the number of implanted embryos in 0.2 mg L-NAME treated group was associated with decreased MMP-9 activity but a stable MMP-2 activity. The activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were not changed in L-NAME and SNP treated group. These data suggest that NO acts as a mediator to regulate the activity of MMP-9, and facilitates embryo implantation.     

Molecular evolution of the exon 2 of CHS genes and the possibility of its application to plant phylogenetic analysis

The exon 2 of chalcone synthase (CHS) gene is relatively conserved during evolution. In this study, three exon 2 fragments from two species in gymnosperm (Cycas panzhihuaensis, Ginkgo biloba) and seven from four species in angiosperm (Magnolia denudata, Salix babylonica, Nymphaea tetragona, Camellia japonica) have been amplified by PCR from genomic DNA and sequenced. Together with other 73 sequences ofCHS collected from EMBL database and literature, these sequences, which embrace 19 families of gymnosperm and angiosperm, have been analyzed for their phylogenetic relations by parsimony method. The result indicated that sequences from the same systematic family usually grouped together except those from Theaceae, Magnoliaceae and Nymphaeaceae. The relative rate test revealed the rate heterogeneity of CHS genes among the families. For the nucleotide substitution the sequences from Asteraceae and Solanaceae evolve faster than those from the other families analyzed while the sequences from Poaceae, Asteraceae and Solanaceae evolve faster for the nonsynonymous substitution. These results suggest that the duplication and extinction events of CHS genes are different among systematic families, therefore it seems impractical to look for orthologous sequences from CHS genes to study plant phylogeny at the family level andlor above. However, it is possible to do so below the family level.     

手性流动相高效液相色谱法拆分D,L-色氨酸

在对称C18高效液相色谱柱上,采用手性配体流动相法对D,L-色氨酸对映体进行了拆分。实验结果表明:利用泵前预混的方式,以手性配体试剂与甲醇作为手性流动相,其配比为86.5∶13.5(V/V)时,可以得到D,L-色氨酸对映体的基线分离。该方法与手性固定相拆分相比,具有低成本优势。同时研究了手性流动相的进样方式、组成、流速、柱温等因素对色氨酸拆分效果的影响,确定了手性配体流动相法拆分D,L-色氨酸对映体的如下热力学性质:ΔHD=-22.48kJ/mol、ΔSD=-0.0565kJ/(mol·K)、ΔG298.15D=-5.66kJ/mol及ΔHL=-22.26kJ/mol、ΔSL=-0.0526kJ/(mol·K)、ΔG298.15L=-6.58kJ/mol。     

糖多孢红霉菌酮还原酶域在羰基还原中的应用

为研究糖多孢红霉菌聚酮合成酶模块1的酮还原酶域,催化羰基还原的底物特异性和立体选择性,PCR扩增了该酶域的编码基因(eryKR1),并将其克隆到表达载体pET-28a,得到重组质粒pET-eryKR1,转化到Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)后,获得了重组菌株E.coli BL21(pET-eryKR1).将E.coli BL21(pET-eryKR1)和异源表达枯草芽孢杆菌葡萄糖脱氢酶基因的重组大肠杆菌E.coli BL21(pET-gdh1)进行双重组菌耦合,对4-氯乙酰乙酸乙酯、苯乙酮、2-辛酮和环己酮4种底物进行转化还原,利用气相色谱分析转化液,结果显示E.coli BL21(pET-eryKR1)对环己酮的还原效果较好,产物环己醇的得率最高可达93.24%,而对其他3种底物几乎没有还原能力.利用E.coli BL21(pET-eryKR1)2催化2-甲基环己酮不对称还原,产物主要为顺式-2-甲基环己醇,产率可达41.87%,产物的对映体过量值为74.81%.     

色氨酸生物合成的多目标稳态优化

研究了色氨酸生物合成的多目标稳态优化.根据已建立的色氨酸生物合成过程模型,采用IOM方法,把多目标非线性优化问题转化为多目标线性优化问题来解决.在保证色氨酸产率的基础上,同时也使代谢物的浓度达到最低.仿真结果表明了优化算法的实用性和有效性.     

Oxidative photochemical decarboxylation of zaragozic acid A

A unique decomposition reaction of the novel squalene synthase inhibitors called zaragozic acids has been studied. Under very mild conditions, e.g. by merely exposing their solutions to air and visible light at ambient temperature, these compounds, characterized by the 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-4,6,7-trihydroxy-3,4,5-tricarboxylic acid core, rapidly decompose. As relatively stable intermediates in the cascade of decomposition, the biologically active 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6,7-dihydroxy-4-keto-5-caroxylic acid (or 3,4-decarboxy-4-dehydro) derivatives of these compounds have been isolated in ca. 20% yield. Derivatization on the highly reactive 4-carbonyl group yields stable derivatives, several of which are potent inhibitors of squalene synthase. Further decomposition results in the elimination of C3 and C4 atoms and the carboxylic acid on C5, the oxidation of C5 to carboxylic acid and the liberation of the oxo group on C1. Specific results obtained with zaragozic acid A, a key representative of the family of these potent cholesterol-lowering agents, are presented in this study.     

Influence of diet on plasma tryptophan and brain serotonin levels in mice

Summary Groups of mice were maintained for up to 78 weeks on tryptophan restricted, protein restricted and control diets. Plasma tryptophan levels were significantly reduced by both forms of dietary restriction. Brain serotonin levels were significantly reduced only in mice on the tryptophan restricted diet, but not for mice on the protein restricted diet. The protein-restricted diet contains less of the large neutral amino acids which compete with tryptophan to enter the brain. It is known that protein restriction and tryptophan restriction extend lifespan. The results presented here suggest that extension of lifespan and lowering of brain serotonin are not related.     

运动训练对女子篮球运动员血清 NO、NOS活性影响的研究

通过观察6周运动训练中女大学生运动员血清NO水平、NOS活性的变化,了解篮球训练对女子运动员血清NO含量和NOS活性的影响,结果表明:实验组血清NO含量、NOS活性明显高于对照组,运动训练能够提高运动员血清NOS活性,增加NO的合成,有利于提高运动技能和保护心血管内皮的功能。     

荧光法测定蒜头果蛋白中Trp的含量

蒜头果蛋白(malanin)是从蒜头果种仁中分离、纯化出的一种新的植物蛋白质.以Na OH为水解液水解malanin,在激发波长225 nm,发射波长350 nm处测定色氨酸(Trp)的相对荧光强度.结果表明,malanin中Trp的含量为5.116 mg·g-1,即每分子malanin中含Trp约为4个.此结果将为酸水解测定malanin氨基酸的组成作为补充,同时也为malanin全序列的测定提供较好的参考数据.