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A series of unsymmetrical derivatives of (tetraphenylporphyrinate)FeCl, where one phenyl ring has a 2-halogen, 2-CF3, or 2,6-dihalogen while the other three have p-OCH3 were studied by NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Results showed that equilibrium constants for addition of 2 N-methylimidazole ligands, in chloroform, increase F < Cl < Br < I < F2 < CF3 < Cl2 < Br2, while those in dimethylformamide increase in the order Cl2 < CF3 < F. Halogens on ortho positions seemed to be electron-donating.

An ideal animal model is necessary for a clear understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of human non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and for facilitating the design of effective therapy for this condition. We aimed to establish a rat model of NASH with fibrosis by using a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed a HFD consisting of 88 g normal diet, 10 g lard oil, and 2 g cholesterol. Control rats were fed normal diet. Rats were killed at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after HFD exposure. Body weight, liver weight, and epididymal fat weight were measured. Serum levels of fasting glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), free fatty acids (FFA), insulin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined. Hepatic histology was examined by H&E stain. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed by VG stain and immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1), and alpha-smooth-muscle actin (alpha-SMA). The liver weight and liver index increased from week 4, when hepatic steatosis was also observed. By week 8, the body weight and epididymal fat weight started increasing, which was associated with increased serum levels of FFA, cholesterol, and TNF-alpha, as well as development of simple fatty liver. The serum ALT level increased from week 12. Steatohepatitis occurred from weeks 12 through 48. Apparent hepatic perisinosodial fibrosis did not occur until week 24, and progressed from week 36 to 48 with insulin resistance. Therefore, this novel model may be potentially useful in NASH study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employment of a flexible tetracarboxylic acid ligand 5-(bis(4-carboxybenzyl)amino)-isophthalic acid (H 4 L), a new fluorescent Eu(III)-containing metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Eu 2 L 2 ]·2NH 2 (CH 3) 2 ·DMA} (1) with channel-type framework has been successfully prepared under the solvothermal reaction conditions. In view of its excellent red emission under the UV irradiation at room temperature, we explored MOF 1 as the potential sensor to detect Fe3+ ion. In section of pharmacological activity evaluation, the compound was given to the PD rats for 4 weeks treatment, then the animal behaviors were assessed by the neurobehavioral scoring system. Next, the substantia nigra tissues were collected from treatment rats and the mitochondrial complex I-IV activity was evaluated. The results obtained through molecular docking and pose scoring software exhibited a possible binding mode of the compound binding to NADPH, which might provide potential regulation mechanisms for the compound. • A new fluorescent Eu(III)-containing metal-organic framework (1) has been successfully prepared. • We explored MOF 1 as the potential sensor to detect Fe3+ ion. • Protective effect of MOF 1 against Parkinson Disease by increasing mitochondrial complex activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose non-fermenting related protein kinases (SnRKs) are a ubiquitous Ser/Thr protein kinase in the plant kingdom. These kinases play important roles in plant growth, development, metabolism and resistance to environmental stresses. The soybean (Glycine max L.) genome has four SnRK1 genes, of which GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 are predominant and participate in multiple stress response pathways. To dissect the mechanism of the role of GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 proteins in response to ABA and alkaline stresses, we constructed a dual-gRNA CRISPR vector to specifically knock out GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2. The resultant constructs were transformed into soybean cotyledon nodes to induce hairy roots by agrobacteria (Agrobacterium rhizogenes). The soybean hairy roots obtained were genotyped, and the results showed that GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 were efficiently doubly knocked out in 48.6% hairy roots. We also generated control hairy roots that over-expressed GmSnRK1. The materials were treated with 25 μmol/L ABA for 15 days and the results showed that the growths of wild-type and GmSnRK1 over-expressed roots were significantly inhibited than GmSnRK1.1 GmSnRK1.2 double-knockout roots, as the controls displayed less root lengths and fresh weights. However, after treating with 50 mmol/L NaHCO 3 for 15 days, we found that the growths of GmSnRK1.1 GmSnRK1.2 double-knockout roots were significantly inhibited than the wild-type and GmSnRK1 over-expressed control roots, as the knockout groups contained less root lengths and fresh weights. These results implied that the GmSnRK1.1 GmSnRK1.2 double knockout mitigated hairy root sensitivity to ABA and resistance to alkaline stress. Taken together, we established the CRISPR/Cas9 system to perform gene double knockout in the soybean and by using this technique, we determined the roles of GmSnRK1.1 and GmSnRK1.2 in response of abiotic stresses.

Persephin, together with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin, has a neurotrophic effect and promotes the survival of motor neurons cultured in vitro. In this study, dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of rats were transfected with the Persephin gene. One week later 6-hydroxydopamine was injected into the anterior medial bundle to establish a Parkinson's disease model in the rats. Results found that the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra increased, tyrosine hydroxylase expression was upregulated and concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites in corpus striatum were increased after pretreatment with Persephin gene. In addition, the rotating effect of the induced Parkinson's disease rats was much less in the group pretreated with the Persephin gene. Persephin has a neuroprotective effect on the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson's disease through protecting dopaminergic neurons.

Insufficiency of phosphorus could greatly effect rice production, thus it is significant to adopt quick and nondestructive diagnosis of phosphorus content. The present paper focused on first expanded leaves with different phosphorus fertilization levels, comprehensively extracted 26 features' spectral information such as color, texture and shape etc. Single feature index analysis was conducted. Then features were collected to integrate CfsSubsetEval + Scattersearch method for optimizing, evaluation and choosing. Based on the feature selection for different leave positions, leaves in different phosphorus fertilization levels were finally classified into three grades (extremly insufficient, significant insufficient and normal) according to rough set theory. Results showed that the accuracy of recognition was very high while few phosphorus contained in the leaves. Moreover, the third expanded leaf is the best part for phosphorus-nutrient diagnosis.