Photoregulation of Gene Expression with Ligand-Modified Caged siRNAs through Host/Guest Interaction

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) can effectively silence target genes through Argonate 2 (Ago2)-induced RNA interference (RNAi). It is very important to control siRNA activity in both spatial and temporal modes. Among different masking strategies, photocaging can be used to regulate gene expression through light irradiation with spatiotemporal and dose-dependent resolution. Many different caging strategies and caging groups have been reported for light-activated siRNA gene silencing. Herein, we describe a novel caging strategy that increases the blocking effect of RISC complex formation/process through host/guest (including ligand/receptor) interactions, thereby enhancing the inhibition of caged siRNA activity until light activation. This strategy can be used as a general approach to design caged siRNAs for the photomodulation of gene silencing of exogenous and endogenous genes.     

Chemical-Shift Perturbations Reflect Bile Acid Binding to Norovirus Coat Protein: Recognition Comes in Different Flavors

Bile acids have been reported as important cofactors promoting human and murine norovirus (NoV) infections in cell culture. The underlying mechanisms are not resolved. Through the use of chemical shift perturbation (CSP) NMR experiments, we identified a low-affinity bile acid binding site of a human GII.4 NoV strain. Long-timescale MD simulations reveal the formation of a ligand-accessible binding pocket of flexible shape, allowing the formation of stable viral coat protein–bile acid complexes in agreement with experimental CSP data. CSP NMR experiments also show that this mode of bile acid binding has a minor influence on the binding of histo-blood group antigens and vice versa. STD NMR experiments probing the binding of bile acids to virus-like particles of seven different strains suggest that low-affinity bile acid binding is a common feature of human NoV and should therefore be important for understanding the role of bile acids as cofactors in NoV infection.     

New 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives of Pyridothiazine-1,1-Dioxide with Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Numerous studies have confirmed the coexistence of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Long-term inflammation and oxidative stress may significantly affect the initiation of the neoplastic transformation process. Here, we describe the synthesis of a new series of Mannich base-type hybrid compounds containing an arylpiperazine residue, 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, and pyridothiazine-1,1-dioxide core. The synthesis was carried out with the hope that the hybridization of different pharmacophoric molecules would result in a synergistic effect on their anti-inflammatory activity, especially the ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase. The obtained compounds were investigated in terms of their potencies to inhibit cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes with the use of the colorimetric inhibitor screening assay. Their antioxidant and cytotoxic effect on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) was also studied. Strong COX-2 inhibitory activity was observed after the use of TG6 and, especially, TG4. The TG11 compound, as well as reference meloxicam, turned out to be a preferential COX-2 inhibitor. TG12 was, in turn, a non-selective COX inhibitor. A molecular docking study was performed to understand the binding interaction of compounds at the active site of cyclooxygenases.     

Genes Identification,Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Analysis of Laccases from Amylostereum areolatum Provides Molecular Basis of Laccase Bound to Lignin

An obligate mutualistic relationship exists between the fungus Amylostereum areolatum and woodwasp Sirex noctilio. The fungus digests lignin in the host pine, providing essential nutrients for the growing woodwasp larvae. However, the functional properties of this symbiosis are poorly described. In this study, we identified, cloned, and characterized 14 laccase genes from A. areolatum. These genes encoded proteins of 508 to 529 amino acids and contained three typical copper-oxidase domains, necessary to confer laccase activity. Besides, we performed molecular docking and dynamics simulation of the laccase proteins in complex with lignin compounds (monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers). AaLac2, AaLac3, AaLac6, AaLac8, and AaLac10 were found that had low binding energies with all lignin model compounds tested and three of them could maintain stability when binding to these compounds. Among these complexes, amino acid residues ALA, GLN, LEU, PHE, PRO, and SER were commonly present. Our study reveals the molecular basis of A. areolatum laccases interacting with lignin, which is essential for understanding how the fungus provides nutrients to S. noctilio. These findings might also provide guidance for the control of S. noctilio by informing the design of enzyme mutants that could reduce the efficiency of lignin degradation.     

伪码连续波交会对接雷达信号处理机设计

介绍了某伪码连续波交会对接雷达信号处理机设计.在测距中,提出用噪声较小的载波相位△伪距测量值对伪距进行处理,得到高精度测距值.在测角中,提出了一种干涉仪天线阵结构和干涉仪解模糊算法,针对通道载波相位误差可能引起的解模糊错误,又提出了一种纠正方法,仿真显示,在发生解模糊错误的概率高达0.42的情况下,该方法仍然可以识别并纠正所有解模糊错误.实验表明,该信号处理机可以满足空间航天器交会对接的要求.     

空间交会对接用激光雷达敏感器

本文讨论了在航天飞行器的空间交会对接(RVD)技术中采用激光雷达敏感器的可行性。提出在航天飞行器的自主交会对接技术中,应采用一种简单、实用的单目标系统。     

Enantioselective extraction of mandelic acid enantiomers based on chiral ligand exchange

Based on the chiral ligand exchange, the distribution behavior of mandelic acid enantiomers, and the partition of Cu^2 at different pH values were studied in a water/alcohol two-phase system containing Cu^2 and N-ndodecyl-L-proline(A). The influences of the solvent sort, the pH value, the concentrations of Cu^2 and chiral ligand on the partition coefficient(K) and separation factor(α) were discussed. The experimental results show that the A formed has more stable ternary complex with D-mandelic acid enantiomer than with L-mandelic acid enantiomer. There is an important influence of the pH value on K and a. When the pH values are less than 3.5, the formation of binary complexes is thermodynamically unfavourable. K and a become maximum when pH values are above 3.5 and the molar ratio of the chiral ligand to Cu^2 is 2:1.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Luminescent Properties of Complexes of Rare Earth Nitrates with Tris{2-[N-(pyridine-methanoyl)amino]ethyl} amine

Duringthelastdecade ,thedesignandsynthesisoftripodalligandsandtheirmetalcomplexeshaveattractedconsiderableattentionduetotheirpotentialusesaslumi nescentprobesinmedicineandbiochemistry[1～ 7] ,ascatalysts[8] andelectrochemicalmaterials[9] .However ,thecomplexesofrareearthmetalwithtripodalligandshavefewreported[10 ] .Asanextensionofourstudiesoncomplexesofmetalwithtripodalligands ,anewtripodalligand (tris { 2 [N (pyridine methanoyl)amino]ethyl}amine ,L)anditscomplexeswithrareearthnitratesweresyn…