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[Figure: see text] Lycopene (lyc) has an effect on preventing cancer, yet its effects on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury remained obscure. The study aimed at discovering its role in preventing hepatic cells against H/R injury. Hepatic cells were incubated in hypoxia incubator to simulate ischemia/reperfusion injury in vitro. Cell viability was detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after Lycopene treatment with or without ML385 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2] inhibitor). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected. Cellular cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; interleukin-6, IL-6) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic cell apoptosis and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was detected by flow cytometry. Nrf2 transfer was observed using immunofluorescence staining. Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions were detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot as needed. In hepatic cells, after H/R, the viability was dropped, TNF-α and IL-6 levels and LDH and MDA content were increased, with high apoptosis rate and ROS content. Lycopene led to a reversed effect, with promotion on Nrf2 transfer from cytoplasm into nucleus and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation. Further experiments showed that ML385 could reverse the effects of Lycopene. Lycopene could activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to protect hepatic cells against H/R injury.

The polyketide griseofulvin is a natural antifungal compound and research in griseofulvin has been key in establishing our current understanding of polyketide biosynthesis. Nevertheless, the griseofulvin gsf biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) remains poorly understood in most fungal species, including Penicillium griseofulvum where griseofulvin was first isolated. To elucidate essential genes involved in griseofulvin biosynthesis, we performed third-generation sequencing to obtain the genome of P. griseofulvum strain D-756. Furthermore, we gathered publicly available genome of 11 other fungal species in which gsf gene cluster was identified. In a comparative genome analysis, we annotated and compared the gsf BGC of all 12 fungal genomes. Our findings show no gene rearrangements at the gsf BGC. Furthermore, seven gsf genes are conserved by most genomes surveyed whereas the remaining six were poorly conserved. This study provides new insights into differences between gsf BGC and suggests that seven gsf genes are essential in griseofulvin production.

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-dihydrospirotryprostatin B (3), a cytostatic spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3′-oxindole] alkaloid, has been accomplished in 8 longest linear steps (LLS) from commercially available amino acids. The key step of the synthetic approach consists of the tandem Michael addition of oxindole derived from dipeptide diketopiperazine to alkynone, leading to the rapid construction of the spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3′-oxindole] scaffold with the consecutive quaternary spiro carbon center and chiral tertiary amine being diastereoselectively established.

To assess the stabilities of Arg-Gly-Asp-Trp-Arg (RGDWR, designated as RWR), a new patented antithrombotic small peptide, and its derivative with ω-aminocaprylic acid on its N-terminus (ωRWR). RWR in rat plasma was decreased by between 32 and 48% after 4 h incubation on ice, indicating its instability in plasma. In contrast, ωRWR in plasma remained at 96–107%. Concentration changes were within 6.2% for ωRWR after storage in various conditions. ωRWR is therefore stable in rat plasma, as well as under different storage methods. Furthermore, ω-aminocaprylic acid added onto the RWR peptide did not affect its antiplatelet aggregation activity. A novel small peptide, ωRWR, has been developed with a good stability for possible antithrombotic use.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) have attracted tremendous attention as promising adsorbents due to their rich abundance and adjustable structures. However, their applications are greatly hindered by the limited adsorption sites and ion exchange capabilities. Herein, a series of carbonate intercalated NixFe-LDH (x is the molar ratio of Ni/Fe) were successfully synthesized via a facile coprecipitation method. The low-temperature synthesis of NixFe-LDH had lower crystallinity, resulting in the formation of smaller lateral dimensions (20–30 nm), larger BET surface areas (up to 427 m2 g−1) and more defect vacancy. Compared with those synthesized at higher temperature (25 ℃, 100 ℃), the samples synthesized at lower temperature (−4℃) showed higher adsorption efficiency and capacity. Moreover, due to the influence of carbonate intercalation, the basal distance became larger, which contributed to enhance the ion exchange capacity. Therefore, the carbonate intercalated NixFe-LDH synthesized at low temperature, especially Ni2Fe-LDH exhibited excellent adsorption properties for fast removal of pollutant ions (eg, methyl orange and tetracycline hydrochloride).

Mitochondrial ribosome proteins (MRPs), which are encoded by the nuclear genomic DNA, are important for mitochondrial-encoded protein synthesis and mitochondrial function. Emerging evidence suggests that several MRPs also exhibit important extra-mitochondrial functions, such as involvement in apoptosis, protein biosynthesis, and signal transduction. In this study, we demonstrate a significant role of MRP L35 (MRPL35) in colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression of MRPL35 was higher in CRC tissues than in matched cancer-adjacent tissues and higher in CRC cells than in normal mucosal epithelial cells. Higher MRPL35 expression in CRC tissue correlated with shorter overall survival for CRC patients. In vitro, down-regulation of MRPL35 led to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) together with DNA damage, loss of cell proliferation, G2/M arrest, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and autophagy induction. MRPL35 knockdown inhibited tumor proliferation in a CRC xenograft nude mouse model. Furthermore, overexpression of MRPL35 or treatment of cells with the ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine, abrogated ROS production, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in vitro. These findings suggest that MRPL35 plays an essential role in the development of CRC and may be a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Samples of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the East China Sea in autumn (October in 2011) were analyzed by excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Three terrestrial humic-like components (C1, C2 and C3) and one protein-like component (C4) were identified. Based on spatial distributions, as well as relationships with salinity, the following assignments were made. The three humic-like components (C1, C2 and C3) showed conservative mixing behavior and came mainly from riverine input. The protein-like component (C4) was considered a combination of autochthonous production and terrestrial inputs and a biologically labile component. Path analysis of samples from the middle and bottom layers revealed that the causal effects on C1 were −78.46% for salinity, and −21.54% for apparent oxygen utilization (AOU); those on C2 were −76.43% for salinity, and −23.57% for AOU; those on C3 were −70.49% for salinity, 7.01% for Chl-a, and −22.50% for AOU; those on C4 were −55.54% for salinity, 14.6% for Chl-a, and −29.86% for AOU in middle layer; and those on C4 were −57.37% for salinity, 29.02% for Chl-a, and −13.61% for AOU in bottom layer. Results indicated that CDOM in the East China Sea was mainly affected by terrestrial inputs, and microbial activities also played a key role in biogeochemical processes of CDOM. The application of the EEM-PARAFAC model presented a unique opportunity to observe compositional changes in CDOM in the East China Sea. In addition, the humification index (HIX) suggested that CDOM from the East China Sea was less stable and stayed shorter in the environment.

In this study we have successfully characterized the fluorescent components of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in autumn using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMs) combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). PARAFAC aids the characterization of fluorescence CDOM by decomposing the fluorescence matrices into individual components. Four humic-like components (C1, C2, C3, and C4), one marine biological production component (C6), and two protein-like components (C5 and C7) were identified by PARAFAC. We researched the distributional patterns of fluorescence intensity, regression analyses between salinity, chlorophyll a concentration and fluorescence intensities of individual fluorophore, and regression analysis between salinity and fluorescence intensities percent of individual fluorophore. The results revealed that C2 and C4 showed conservative mixing behavior, while C1 and C3 possessed conservative mixing behavior in high salinity region and additional behavior in low and middle salinity region, which were considered to be derived from riverine and degradation of organic matter from resuspended and/or sinking particles and show non-conservative mixing behavior. In addition to riverine sources, the tryptophan-like C5 may receive widespread addition (likely from photo-degradation or biodegradation), while the most likely sources for the one marine humic-like C6 and tyrosine-like C7 were biological activity and microbial processing of plankton-derived CDOM, which were suggested to be of autochthonous origin and biologically labile. The application of EEM-PARAFAC modeling presents a unique opportunity to observe compositional changes, different mixing behavior and temporal variability in CDOM in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were considered as a source of carcinogenicity in mainstream cigarette smoke (MSS). Accurate quantification of these components was necessary for assessing public health risk. In our study, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method using graphene oxide (GO) bound silica as adsorbent for purification of 14 PAHs in MSS was developed. During SPE process, large matrices interferences of MSS were adsorbed on SPE column. The result of FTIR spectra demonstrated that these matrices interferences were adsorbed on GO mainly through OH and CO groups. The concentrations of PAHs in MSS extract were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the developed method for 14 PAHs ranged from 0.05 to 0.36 ng/cig and 0.17 to 1.19 ng/cig, respectively. The accuracy of the measurement of 14 PAHs was from 73 to 116%. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day analysis were less than 7.8% and 13.9%, respectively. Moreover, the developed method was successfully applied for analysis of real cigarette containing 1R5F reference cigarette and 12 top-selling commercial cigarettes in China.

Fluorescence Excitation Emission Matrix (FEEM) is often used to characterize the composition and properties of Chromophoric Dissolve Organic Mater (CDOM) in the freshwater and seawater. This research adopted Fluorescence Regional Integration (FRI) to assess the dynamics of CDOM in the Yellow Sea. FEEMs were delineated into five Excitation-Emission regions (five fluorophores): tyrosine-likematerial (Region I, λ Ex /λ Em =240–250nm/250–330nm), tryptophan-likematerial (Region II, λ Ex /λ Em 240–250nm/330–380nm), fulvic acid-like materials (Region III, λ Ex /λ Em =240–250nm/380–580nm), microbial byproduct-like material (Region IV, λ Ex /λ Em =250–480nm/250–380nm) and humic acid-like material (RegionV, λ Ex /λ Em =250–480nm/380–580nm). The total fluorescence regional integration (Ф T,n ) of FEEMs can be used as a good index for CDOM concentration, which is better than the traditional one-point fluorescence method. Fluorescence regional integration value of each fluorophore (Ф i,n ) also was a good index to characterize CDOM composition and distribution. Fluorescence regional integration proportion of humic acid-like material (V) decreased gradually from coastal to coast, suggesting that fluvial input was the primary source of CDOM in the coastal, while fluorescence regional integration proportion of protein-like fluorophores (I and II) and microbial byproduct-like material (Region IV) increased, indicating an obvious contribution of biological activity within this area. For fulvic acid-like materials (III), there was a large high-value area, which indicated that both fluvial input and biological activity had contributions. All fluorescents, especially the protein-like fluorescence peaks (I and II) in the middle layer were higher than those from the surface layer and bottom layer, suggesting that the vertical distribution of CDOM in those stations were controlled by CDOM photochemistry or biological activity.

A novel Bi2MoS2O4 nanoplate photocatalyst with high-energy efficiency and high-activity has been successfully synthesized by a reflux method. The visible-light response of Bi2MoS2O4 could extend from 480 to 630 nm compared with Bi2MoO6. Compared with Bi2MoO6, the photocatalytic activities of the Bi2MoS2O4 sample increased about 0.4 and 4.6 times for degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV and visible-light (λ > 510 nm) irradiation, respectively. Density functional calculations revealed that Bi2MoS2O4 had a narrower band gap and wider valence bandwidth compared with Bi2MoO6 because S 3p orbitals contributed to the valence band formation. The high energy efficiency of Bi2MoS2O4 photocatalysts came from a narrow bandgap and the high activity came from a wider and dislocated valence band of Bi2MoS2O4. Furthermore, the synthesis of Bi2MoS2O4 could afford guidance for designing the other high-energy efficient and highly active photocatalysts.