Search

Transforming growth factor-β-activating kinase 1 (TAK1) is essential for diverse important biological functions, such as innate immunity, development and cell survival. In the present study, the homologs of TAK1 and TAK1-binding protein 1 (TAB1) were identified and characterized from mud crab Scylla paramamosain for the first time. The full-length cDNAs of SpTAK1 and SpTAB1 were 2, 226 bp and 2, 433 bp with 1, 782 bp and 1, 533 bp open reading frame (ORF), respectively. The deduced Sp TAK1 protein contained a conserved S_TKc (Serine/threonine protein kinases, catalytic) domain, and the putative Sp TAB1 protein possessed a typical PP2Cc (Serine/threonine phosphatases, family 2C, catalytic) domain and a potential TAK1 docking motif. Real-time PCR analysis showed that SpTAK1 and SpTAB1 were highly expressed at early development stages, suggesting their participation in crab's development process. Moreover, the expression levels of SpTAK1 and SpTAB1 in hepatopancreas were positively stimulated after challenge with Vibro alginolyticus and Poly (I:C), implying the involvement of SpTAK1 and SpTAB1 in innate immune responses against both bacterial and viral infections. When SpTAK1 or SpTAB1 were silenced in vivo , the expression levels of two IMD NF κB signaling components (SpIKKβ and SpRelish) and six antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes (SpALF1-5 and SpCrustin) were significantly reduced, and the bacteria clearance capacity of crabs was also markedly impaired in SpTAK1 or SpTAB1 silenced crabs. Additionally, overexpression of Sp TAK1 and Sp TAB1 in HEK293T cells could markedly activate the mammalian NF-κB signaling. Collectively, our results suggested that TAK1 and TAB1 regulated crab's innate immunity via modulating the IMD NF κB signaling. These findings may provide new insights into the TAK1/TAB1-mediated signaling cascades in crustaceans and pave the way for a better understanding of crustacean innate immune system. • TAK1 and TAB1 were firstly identified and characterized in crab species. • Sp TAK1 and Sp TAB1 responded to both Vibro alginolyticus and Poly (I:C) challenges. • Sp TAK1 and Sp TAB1 regulated the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes. • TAK1/TAB1 contributed to crab innate immunity by modulating IMD NF κB signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-valent aluminum Al(i) chemistry has attracted extensive research interest due to its unique chemical and catalytic properties but is limited by its low stability. Herein, a hourglass phosphomolybdate cluster with a metal-center sandwiched by two benzene-like planar subunits and large steric-hindrance is used as a scaffold to stabilize low-valent Al(i) species. Two hybrid structures, (H 3 O) 2 (H 2 bpe) 11 [Al III (H 2 O) 2 ] 3 {[Al I (P 4 Mo V 6 O 31 H 6 ) 2 ] 3 ·7H 2 O (abbr. Al 6 {P 4 Mo 6 } 6 ) and (H 3 O) 3 (H 2 bpe) 3 [Al I (P 4 Mo V 6 O 31 H 7 ) 2 ]·3.5H 2 O (abbr. Al{P 4 Mo 6 } 2 ) (bpe = trans -1,2-di-(4-pyridyl)-ethylene) were successfully synthesized with Al(i)-sandwiched polyoxoanionic clusters as the first inorganic-ferrocene analogues of a monovalent group 13 element with dual Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. As dual-acid catalysts, these hourglass structures efficiently catalyze a solvent-free four-component domino reaction to synthesize 1,5-benzodiazepines. This work provides a new strategy to stabilize low-valent Al(i) species using a polyoxometalate scaffold., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Ambient temperature-associated stress can affect normal physiological functions in ectotherms. To assess the effects of cold or heat stress on amphibians, giant spiny frogs ( Quasipaa spinosa ) were acclimated at 22°C followed by exposure to 5°C or 30°C for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Histological alterations, apoptotic index, generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant activity indices and stress-response gene expression in frog livers were subsequently determined. Results showed that many fat droplets appeared after 12 h of heat stress and the percentage of melanomacrophage centres significantly changed after 48 h at both stress conditions. Furthermore, the mitochondrial ROS levels were elevated in a time-dependent manner up to 6 h and 12 h in the cold and heat stress groups, respectively. The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were successively increased with increasing periods of cold or heat exposure, and their gene expression levels showed similar changes in both stress conditions. Most tested heat shock protein (HSP) genes were sensitive to temperature exposure, and the expression profiles of most apoptosis-related genes was significantly upregulated at 3 and 48 h under cold and heat stress, respectively. Apoptotic index at 48 h under cold stress was significantly higher than that under heat stress. Notably, lipid droplets, HSP30 , HSP70 and HSP110 might be suitable bioindicators of heat stress. The results of these alterations at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels might contribute to a better understanding of the stress response of Q. spinosa , and perhaps amphibians more generally, under thermal stress., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

In the present paper, two series of substituted tetraphenylporphyrin iron compounds RTPPFe(II) and RTPPFeCI (III) were synthesized by two-step synthetic method. Raman and IR spectra of tetraphenylporphyrin iron complexes were investigated. By analyzing the IR and Raman spectra of RTPPFe(II) and RTPPFe(III)Cl, it was confirmed that the RTPPFe(II) complexes were usually unstable at normal temperature and existed via the coordination of dioxygen with the iron (II) center, i.e. they formed into TPPFe-O2, and the stable configuration of dioxygen with the iron (II) center was "end-on". In addition, the geometric structure optimization of substituted iron tetraphenylporphyrin complexes was performed by PM3 semi-empirical and MM+ method quantum calculation. The structure parameters were obtained, including E(HOMO), E(LUMO) and total energy, bond length of Fe-Cl etc. The effect of molecular structure on vibrational frequency shift was studied by combing the IR and Raman spectra. The results showed that for iron tetraphenylporphyrins (RTPPFe-O2) with different structure, the vibrational frequencies of the Fe-O bond were associated with their twist degree of molecular structures, i.e. the Raman and IR characterization vibrational frequencies of the Fe-O2 were up shifted with the increase in the Fe-O-O angle of iron tetraphenylporphyrins (RTPPFe-O2) molecule.

A full IR, UV-Vis, FIR, spectroscopic analysis on substituted porphyrin iron, manganese, cobalt, copper and Zinc complexes was performed, and the spectroscopic patterns were found for the metalloporphyrin compounds with various structures. Base on molecular structures theory, the reasons for the spectroscopic patterns were discussed deeply. Considering the inconsistency of the far-infrared spectra of the Fe-Cl axial bonds in chloro-iron tetraphenylporphyrins reported in the literature. Their far-infrared absorptions were investigated by using both theoretical analysis and experimental determination, and the results showing that their vibrational frequencies of the Fe--Cl bonds in different substitution chloro-iron tetraphenylporphyrins were associated with their structures, and were linearly related to the length of Fe--Cl bonds.

The six-membered heterocyclic ring in the title compound, C(16)H(12)ClNO(2)S, exists in a conformation intermediate between twist-boat and chair. A one-dimensional chain structure is formed as a result of inter-molecular N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds via crystallographic inversion symmetry and translation along the a axis.