A Bisbenzamidine Phosphonate as a Janus‐faced Inhibitor for Trypsin‐like Serine Proteases

A hybrid approach was applied for the design of an inhibitor of trypsin‐like serine proteases. Compound 16 [(R,R)‐ and (R,S)‐diphenyl (4‐(1‐(4‐amidinobenzylamino)‐1‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropan‐2‐ylcarbamoyl)phenylamino)(4‐amidinophenyl)methylphosphonate hydrochloride], prepared in a convergent synthetic procedure, possesses a phosphonate warhead prone to react with the active site serine residue in a covalent, irreversible manner. Each of the two benzamidine moieties of 16 can potentially be accommodated in the S1 pocket of the target enzyme, but only the benzamidine close to the phosphonate group would then promote an irreversible interaction. The Janus‐faced inhibitor 16 was evaluated against several serine proteases and caused a pronounced inactivation of human thrombin with a second‐order rate constant (k_inac/K_i) of 59 500 M ^?1 s^?1. With human matriptase, 16 showed preference for a reversible mode of inhibition (IC₅₀=2.6 μM ) as indicated by linear progress curves and enzyme reactivation.     

Mixed Carbonates as Useful Substrates for a Fluorogenic Assay for Lipases and Esterases

Mixed carbonates of 7‐hydroxy‐4‐methylcoumarin were shown to be a new class of probe for fluorogenic assays. They are promising substrates for fingerprinting enzyme hydrolytic activity, and proved particularly useful because of the low level of nonspecific degradation and ease of synthesis. They are highly relevant for screening lipase and esterase libraries. These advantages make umbelliferyl carbonates highly suitable substrates for high‐throughput screening. Moreover, we report the use of chiral fluorogenic carbonates as enantiopreference probes.     

Modulation of infectivity in phage display as a tool to determine the substrate specificity of proteases

Proteases play an important role in human and animal diseases. Rapid determination of substrate specificity is possible through the use of substrate phage display; however, current methods possess several drawbacks. They require phage-immobilization and cannot be used for infectivity-destroying or affinity tag-destroying proteases; this can make entire libraries useless. To overcome these limitations, here we introduce infectivity-modulated phage display (IMOP). IMOP uses a protease-resistant and infectivity-reducing tag fused to substrate-displaying polyvalent phages, and the specific cleavage of the substrate increases the infectivity of the phages by releasing the infectivity-reducing tag. The resulting phages were first tested with the infectivity-destroying detergent protease subtilisin; this resulted in a highly specific substrate at a 200-fold enrichment. In a second example, the protease ompT was used and led to an enrichment of the known double-arginine motif. The IMOP system thus substantially improves and simplifies previous systems.     

Intrinsically Connected: Therapeutically Targeting the Cathepsin Proteases and the Bcl-2 Family of Protein Substrates as Co-regulators of Apoptosis

Taken with the growing importance of cathepsin-mediated substrate proteolysis in tumor biology and progression, the focus and emphasis placed on therapeutic design and development is coming into fruition. Underpinning this approach is the invariable progression from the direction of fully characterizing cathepsin protease members and their substrate targets, towards targeting such an interaction with tangible therapeutics. The two groups of such substrates that have gained much attention over the years are the pro- and anti- apoptotic protein intermediates from the extrinsic and intrinsic signaling arms of the apoptosis pathway. As proteins that are central to determining cellular fate, some of them present themselves as very favorable candidates for therapeutic targeting. However, considering that both anti- and pro- apoptotic signaling intermediates have been reported to be downstream substrates for certain activated cathepsin proteases, therapeutic targeting approaches based on greater selectivity do need to be given greater consideration. Herein, we review the relationships shared by the cathepsin proteases and the Bcl-2 homology domain proteins, in the context of how the topical approach of adopting ‘BH3-mimetics’ can be explored further in modulating the relationship between the anti- and pro- apoptotic signaling intermediates from the intrinsic apoptosis pathway and their upstream cathepsin protease regulators. Based on this, we highlight important future considerations for improved therapeutic design.     

In Vitro Framework to Assess the Anti-Helicobacter pylori Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria Secretions as Alternatives to Antibiotics

Helicobacter pylori is a prevalent bacterium that can cause gastric ulcers and cancers. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) ameliorate treatment outcomes against H. pylori, suggesting that they could be a source of bioactive molecules usable as alternatives to current antibiotics for which resistance is mounting. We developed an in vitro framework to compare the anti-H. pylori properties of 25 LAB and their secretions against H. pylori. All studies were done at acidic and neutralized pH, with or without urea to mimic various gastric compartments. Eighteen LAB strains secreted molecules that curtailed the growth of H. pylori and the activity was urea-resistant in five LAB. Several LAB supernatants also reduced the urease activity of H. pylori. Pre-treatment of H. pylori with acidic LAB supernatants abrogated its flagella-mediated motility and decreased its ability to elicit pro-inflammatory IL-8 cytokine from human gastric cells, without reverting the H. pylori-induced repression of other pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study identified the LAB that have the most anti-H. pylori effects, decreasing its viability, its production of virulence factors, its motility and/or its ability to elicit pro-inflammatory IL-8 from gastric cells. Once identified, these molecules can be used as alternatives or complements to current antibiotics to fight H. pylori infections.     

磷钨酸催化合成缩醛(酮)

以磷钨酸为催化剂,对苯甲醛、丁醛、丁酮与二元醇(乙二醇,1,2 丙二醇)为原料合成6种缩醛(酮)的反应条件进行了研究,较系统地研究了醛/酮与二元醇量比、催化剂用量、反应时间诸因素对收率的影响。结果表明,在醛/酮与二元醇(乙二醇,1,2 丙二醇)的投料摩尔比为1∶1 75,催化剂的用量占反应物料总质量的1 5%,反应时间1h条件下,6种缩醛(酮)的收率为55 2%～79 0%。     

强酸性阳离子交换树脂催化合成氯乙酸异辛酯的研究

对采用７３２强酸性苯乙烯系阳离子交换树脂作催化剂合成氯乙酸异辛酯进行了实验研究，提出了适宜的反应条件。实验结果表明，该法酯化率高、过程简便、产物颜色浅，优于浓硫酸作催化剂。     

1,8-萘二甲酸转位合成2,6-萘二甲酸机理的探讨

探讨了１,８－萘二甲酸转位合成２,６－萘二甲酸的机理,提出了以镉为中心离子的三元配合物中萘二甲酸配体的异构平衡为基础的配位催化合成理论。     

2,4,6-三甲基苯乙酸的合成新方法

以2,4,6-三甲基苯甲醛为原料,通过相转移催化反应在水-氯仿体系中先合成α-羟基-2,4,6-三甲基苯乙酸(收率52%);再通过次磷酸还原α-羟基-2,4,6-三甲基苯乙酸得到最终产物2,4,6-三甲基苯乙酸(收率91%)。此法绿色便捷,成本相对较低。     

造纸污泥基固体酸催化D-果糖转化5-羟甲基糠醛

以含有丰富金属离子的造纸污泥为原料，通过高温煅烧法制备生物炭（SBC），并与对氨基苯磺酸进行接枝，制备了一种高效碳基固体酸催化剂（S-SBC）。通过FTIR、XRD、SEM等对催化剂的组成、形貌、结构、酸负载量、比孔径及比表面积等进行表征。将该催化剂用于D-果糖转化为5-羟甲基糠醛（HMF）反应，对反应时间、反应温度、催化剂用量及溶剂种类、D-果糖质量分数等影响因素进行考察，并与用杨木为原料且采用相同方法制备的杨木炭催化剂（S-PBC）进行比较，结果表明，S-SBC的催化活性优于S-PBC。S-SBC同时含有由金属离子形成的Lewis酸位点以及—SO3H等形成的Brönsted酸位点，两种酸位点在催化D-果糖脱水制备5-羟甲基糠醛的过程中具有协同作用。S-SBC在二甲基亚砜中130 ℃下催化反应40 min， HMF收率高达95.2%。连续使用4次后，催化活性没有明显下降。     

Stabilized and Immobilized Bacillus subtilis Arginase for the Biobased Production of Nitrogen‐Containing Chemicals

L ‐Ornithine could serve as an intermediate in the biobased production of 1,4‐diaminobutane from L ‐arginine. Using the concept of biorefinery, L ‐arginine could become widely available from biomass waste streams via the nitrogen storage polypeptide cyanophycin. Selective hydrolysis of L ‐arginine to L ‐ornithine is difficult to perform chemically, therefore the stabilization and immobilization of Bacillus subtilis arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) was studied in a continuously stirred membrane reactor system. Initial pH of the substrate solution, addition of L ‐aspartic acid and reducing agents all appeared to have an effect on the operational stability of B. subtilis arginase. A remarkably good operational stability (total turnover number, TTN=1.13⋅10⁸) at the pH of arginine free base (pH 11.0) was observed, which was further improved with the addition of sodium dithionite to the substrate solution (TTN>1⋅10⁹). B. subtilis arginase was successfully immobilized on three commercially available epoxy‐activated supports. Immobilization on Sepabeads EC‐EP was most promising, resulting in a recovered activity of 75% and enhanced thermostability. In conclusion, the stabilization and immobilization of B. subtilis arginase has opened up possibilities for its application in the biobased production of nitrogen‐containing chemicals as an alternative to the petrochemical production.     

自制氨基磺酸催化合成2-苯基苯并咪唑

用自制的氨基磺酸作催化剂,以邻苯二胺和苯甲醛为原料,在无水乙醇溶剂中,反应合成2-苯基苯并咪唑。通过紫外可见光谱仪、傅里叶红外光谱仪和氢核磁共振仪对产物的结构进行表征。考察了催化剂用量、原料配比、反应温度和反应时间等条件对产物收率的影响。在m（氨基磺酸）/n（邻苯二胺）为4.0 g/mol、n（邻苯二胺）/n（苯甲醛）为2.5、反应温度85℃和反应时间3.0 h的适宜条件下,产物收率最高达到71.8%。     

牛血红蛋白催化罗丹明6G褪色光度法测定过氧化氢

基于牛血红蛋白(Hb)具有模拟过氧化氢酶的催化特性,建立了一种催化褪色光度法测定H2O2的新方法.研究了pH值、KI、Hb、罗丹明6G用量及常见离子等因素对体系的影响.在526nm处,H2O2的浓度在9.72×10-7～1.94×10-5mol/L范围内与吸光度降低值呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9923,方法的检出...     

混合酸催化合成水杨酸异丙酯研究

首次以磷钨酸、对甲苯磺酸、硼酸的混合酸为催化剂 ,以水杨酸和异丙醇为原料 ,合成了水杨酸异丙酯 ,考察了影响反应的因素 ,确定了最佳的反应条件     

Comparison and Optimization of Quantification Methods for Shigella flexneri Serotype 6 O-antigen Containing Galacturonic Acid and Methyl-Pentose

Shigella is a leading diarrheal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries and in children under five years of age. Increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance make vaccine development an even higher global health priority. S. flexneri serotype 6 is one of the targets of many multicomponent vaccines in development to ensure broad protection against Shigella. The O-antigen (OAg) is a key active ingredient and its content is a critical quality attribute for vaccine release in order to monitor their stability and to ensure appropriate immune response. Here, the optimization of two methods to quantify S. flexneri 6 OAg is reported together with the characterization of their performances. The optimized Dische colorimetric method allows a tenfold increment of the sensitivity with respect to the original method and is useful for fast analysis detecting selectively methyl-pentoses, as rhamnose in S. flexneri 6 OAg. Also, a more specific HPAEC-PAD method was developed, detecting the dimer galacturonic acid-galactosamine (GalA-GalN) coming from S. flexneri 6 OAg acid hydrolysis. These methods will facilitate characterization of S. flexneri 6 OAg based vaccines. The colorimetric method can be used for quantification of other polysaccharide containing methyl-pentoses, and the HPAEC-PAD could be extended to other polysaccharides containing uronic acids.     

对甲苯磺酸催化合成肉桂酸酯

采用对甲苯磺酸作催化剂 ,合成了肉桂酸甲酯和肉桂酸乙酯 ,其产率良好。     

Homeostasis and Cancer Initiation: Organoids as Models to Study the Initiation of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer represents a significant disease burden worldwide. The factors that initiate cancer are not well understood. Chronic inflammation such as that triggered by H. pylori infection is the most significant cause of gastric cancer. In recent years, organoid cultures developed from human and animal adult stem cells have facilitated great advances in our understanding of gastric homeostasis. Organoid models are now being exploited to investigate the role of host genetics and bacterial factors on proliferation and DNA damage in gastric stem cells. The impact of a chronic inflammatory state on gastric stem cells and the stroma has been less well addressed. This review discusses what we have learned from the use of organoid models to investigate cancer initiation, and highlights questions on the contribution of the microbiota, chronic inflammatory milieu, and stromal cells that can now be addressed by more complex coculture models.     

固体超强酸SO42-/TiO2催化合成萜烯-马来酸酐加成物的研究

首次将ＳＯ４２－／ＴｉＯ２固体超强酸用于催化合成萜烯－马来酸酐加成物,确定了催化剂制备及萜烯－马来酸酐加成物合成的适宜工艺条件：ｃ（Ｈ２ＳＯ４）＝０．１０～０．２５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,焙烧温度５００～５５０℃,焙烧时间３ｈ,催化剂用量为马来酸酐质量的１０％,马来酸酐与松节油的摩尔比１／１．８～１／２．２,反应温度１３０～１５０℃,反应时间２．５～３．０ｈ。用ＦＴ－ＩＲ、ＴＧ－ＤＳＣ及ＸＲＤ等技术研究了催化剂的结构与催化性能的关系。