Properties and applications of β‐glycosidase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron that specifically hydrolyses isoflavone glycosides

To modify the glycan part of glycosides, the gene encoding β‐glycosidase was cloned from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI‐5482. The cloned gene, bt_1780, was expressed in Escherichia coli MC1061 and the expressed enzyme was purified using Ni‐NTA affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme, BTBG, showed optimal activity at 50 °C and pH 5.5. Interestingly, this enzyme did not have any hydrolysing activity on ordinary β‐linkage–containing substrates such as xylobiose, lactose and cello‐oligosaccharide, but specifically hydrolysed isoflavone glycosides such as daidzin, genistin and glycitin. Compared to a commercial beta glucosidase, BTBG selectively hydrolysed isoflavone glycosides in soybean extract mixture solution. These results suggest that BTBG may be a specialized enzyme for the hydrolysis of glycosides and that the substrate specificity of BTBG is applicable for the bioconversion of isoflavone glycosides in the food industry.     

Lipid-Lowering Effect of Eriocitrin, the Main Flavonoid in Lemon Fruit, in Rats on a High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet

ABSTRACT:  Eriocitrin (eriodictyol 7- O -β-rutinoside) is the main flavonoid in lemon fruit. In this study, eriocitrin was investigated for its lowering effect on serum and hepatic lipids in high-fat and high-cholesterol fed rats. Rats in the control group ( N = 6) were fed a 20% lard and 1% cholesterol diet for 21 d, and rats in the 0.35% eriocitrin group ( N = 6) and 0.70% eriocitrin group ( N = 6) were fed a diet supplemented with eriocitrin 0.35% and 0.70%, respectively. The content of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride in the eriocitrin group was no different from that of the control group. The total cholesterol, VLDL+LDL, triglyceride, and phospholipid in the serum of the 0.35% eriocitrin group showed significantly lower concentrations than the control group ( P < 0.05), although there was no difference in the HDL concentrations among the groups. The lowering effect of eriocitrin for serum total cholesterol was thought to be caused by a decrease in VLDL+LDL. The 0.35% eriocitrin group was shown to have a significant increase in excretion of fecal bile acid ( P < 0.05) and a tendency for enhanced hepatic m-RNA levels of LDL receptor in comparison with the control group.     

合成十二烷基葡萄糖苷的工艺条件

采用对甲苯磺酸为催化剂 ,以D 葡萄糖和正十二醇为原料直接合成十二烷基糖苷 ,研究了工艺条件对反应速率、产物收率与色泽的影响。结果表明 ,催化剂用量对产物色泽无影响 ,适宜的工艺条件为 :正十二醇 /D 葡萄糖 (摩尔比 ) =4∶1,反应温度 110～ 12 0℃ ,反应时间 4h ,反应压力 4kPa ,搅拌速率大于 840r/min ,对甲苯磺酸 /D 葡萄糖 (摩尔比 ) =1.5 %,MgO为较好的中和剂。产物为乳白色 ,十二烷基糖苷总收率大于89%。     

Antioxidant vs. Prooxidant Properties of the Flavonoid,Kaempferol, in the Presence of Cu(II) Ions: A ROS-Scavenging Activity,Fenton Reaction and DNA Damage Study

Kaempferol is a flavonoid that occurs in tea and in many vegetables and fruits, including broccoli, cabbage, beans, grapes, apples, and strawberries. The efficacy of Kaempferol has been demonstrated in the treatment of breast, esophageal, cervical, ovarian, and liver cancers and leukemia, which very likely arises from its prooxidant properties and the activation of pro-apoptotic pathways. Indeed, this matter has already been the focus of a number of published studies and reviews. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the antioxidant vs. prooxidant properties of flavonoids in the presence of the redox-active metal, copper (II) ion, by means of the Fenton reaction. The specific motivation of this work is that, since an increased level of Cu(II) ions is known to be associated with many disease states such as neurological conditions (Alzheimer’s disease) and cancer, any interaction between these ions and flavonoids might affect the outcome of therapeutic uses of the latter. The structure of the Cu-kaempferol complex in DMSO was investigated by means of low temperature EPR spectroscopy, which confirmed the existence of at least two distinct coordination environments around the copper (II) ion. UV vis-spectra of kaempferol and its Cu(II) complex in DMSO revealed an interaction between the 5-OH (A ring) group and the 4-CO (C ring) group of kaempferol with Cu(II) ions. An ABTS assay confirmed that kaempferol acted as an effective radical scavenger, and that this effect was further enhanced in the form of the Cu(II)-kaempferol complex. Quantitative EPR spin trapping experiments, using DMPO as the spin trap, confirmed suppression of the formation of a mixture of hydroxyl, superoxide, and methyl radicals, in a Fenton reaction system, upon coordination of kaempferol to the redox-active Cu(II) ions, by 80% with respect to the free Cu(II) ions. A viscometric study revealed a better DNA-intercalating ability of the Cu-kaempferol complex than for free kaempferol, essential for conferring anticancer activity of these substances. The results of the viscometric measurements were compared with those from a DNA damage study of Cu-kaempferol complexes in a Fenton reaction system, using gel electrophoresis. At low concentrations of kaempferol (Cu–kaempferol ratios of 1:1 and 1:2), a very weak protective effect on DNA was noted, whereas when kaempferol was present in excess, a significant DNA-protective effect was found. This can be explained if the weakly intercalated kaempferol molecules present at the surface of DNA provide protection against attack by ROS that originate from the Fenton reaction involving intercalated Cu(II)-kaempferol complexes. Following the application of ROS scavengers, L-histidine, DMSO, and SOD, gel electrophoresis confirmed the formation of singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide radical anions, respectively. We propose that the prooxidant properties of Cu-kaempferol complexes may provide anticancer activity of these substances. When present in excess, kaempferol displays antioxidant properties under Cu-Fenton conditions. This suggests that kaempferol might prove a suitable candidate for the prevention or treatment of oxidative stress related medical conditions that involve a disturbed metabolism of redox metals such as copper, for example, Menkes disease, and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. For the potential use of kaempferol in clinical practice, it will be necessary to optimize the dose size and critical age of the patient so that this flavonoid may be beneficial as a preventive drug against cancer and neurological disorders.     

乙酰柠檬酸三丁酯的合成

用柠檬酸、正丁醇、乙酸酐为原料，经酯化和酰化两步反应合成乙酰柠檬酸三丁酯。考察了催化剂、原料配比、反应温度和反应时间等因素对合成反应的影响，确定了最佳反应条件。     

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation in UVA‐treated skin fibroblasts by luteolin and its glucosides

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation causes oxidative damage to human skin cells. This damage may be reduced or prevented using plant compounds as photoprotectants. To investigate the relationship between chemical structure and UVA‐protective activity, three structurally related flavonoids, namely luteolin, luteolin‐7‐O‐glucoside (both present in artichoke) and luteolin‐4'‐O‐glucoside (present in wild carrot), were studied. Human skin fibroblasts exposed to UVA (250 and 500 kJ/m²) were treated with each flavonoid (30 µM) for 18 h prior to irradiation. The extent of lipid peroxidation in the cellular extracts was assessed as lipid peroxides and malondialdehyde (MDA). Luteolin and luteolin‐7‐O‐glucoside both prevented a significant increase in lipid peroxides at 250 kJ/m², but at 500 kJ/m² their effectiveness was clearly attenuated. Contrastingly, luteolin‐4'‐O‐glucoside was pro‐oxidant at both radiation doses. Measurements of MDA levels highlighted that luteolin was clearly more effective than the two glucosides at both 250 and 500 kJ/m². Overall, these results show clear differences between the three flavonoids and suggest that the B ring 3',4'‐dihydroxy group, lacking in luteolin‐4'‐O‐glucoside, may be particularly important. Flavonoid: transition metal ion chelation studies confirmed the influence of the 3',4'‐dihydroxy group, which is also relevant to the quenching of singlet oxygen. These features as well as the greater lipophilic nature of luteolin together explain the superior activity of this flavonoid which may be potentially useful as a supplement in photoprotective skin preparations.     

Response of generalist and specialist insects to qualitative allelochemical variation

We examined the effects of a set of four biosynthetically related iridoid glycosides, aucubin, catalpol, loganin, and asperuloside, on larvae of a generalist,Lymantria dispar (Lymantriidae), the gypsy moth, and an adapted specialist, the buckeye,Junonia coenia (Nymphalidae). In general,L. dispar grew and survived significantly less well on artificial diets containing iridoid glycoside, compared to a control diet without iridoid glycosides. In choice tests, previous exposure to a diet containing iridoid glycosides caused larvae subsequently to prefer iridoid glycoside-containing diets even though they were detrimental to growth and survival. In contrast,J coenia larvae grew and survived better on diets with aucubin and catalpol, the two iridoid glycosides found in the host plantPlantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae), than on diets with no iridoid glycoside or with loganin and asperuloside. The results of choice tests of diets with and without iridoid glycosides and between diets with different iridoid glycosides reflected these differences as well. These results are discussed in terms of (1) differences between generalists and specialists in their response to qualitative variation in plant allelochemical content, (2) the induction of feeding preferences, and (3) the evolution of qualitative allelochemical variation as a plant defense.     

HZSM-5固载苯并噻唑离子液体催化合成烷基糖苷及其动力学

以自制苯并噻唑离子液体([HBth]HSO4)为活性组分，HZSM-5分子筛为载体，通过过量溶剂浸渍法制备了固载型苯并噻唑离子液体催化剂([HBth]HSO4/HZSM-5)并用于催化合成烷基糖苷，通过傅立叶变换红外光谱、N2物理脱附、场发射电子显微镜和X射线衍射对催化剂结构进行表征，结果表明，[HBth]HSO4被成功地引入到HZSM-5载体的表面及孔道内。当催化剂用量为1.5 wt%，反应温度为105℃，醇糖摩尔比n(葡萄糖):n(辛醇)=6:1时，辛基糖苷得率达148.8%（产物质量/葡萄糖的质量?100%）。底物拓展及催化剂稳定性研究结果表明，[HBth]HSO4/HZSM-5对烷基糖苷及其衍生物都具有良好的催化效果，且催化剂能稳定循环使用四次，活性组分流失是催化剂失活的主要原因。通过对烷基糖苷催化合成机理和动力学的研究，确定了动力学方程。     

荧光法研究3种黄酮化合物与牛血清白蛋白的结合作用

运用荧光光谱法研究了生理酸度条件下（pH=7.4）3种黄酮化合物白杨素、芹菜素和桑色素与牛血清白蛋白（BSA）的结合作用。结果表明,3种黄酮化合物均能与BSA形成基态复合物导致BSA内源荧光猝灭,猝灭机理为静态猝灭。结合常数K（芹菜素）〉K（白杨素）〉K（桑色素）,结合位点数近似等于1,白杨素与BSA之间以疏水作用为主,而芹菜素、桑色素与BSA之间的作用力主要是氢键和范德华力。黄酮分子结构中羟基位置及个数影响其与BSA间的结合作用,C4＇-OH对结合有促进作用,而C3-OH的取代则导致作用力减弱。由Frster非辐射能量转移理论,计算出3种黄酮化合物在蛋白质中的结合位置与212位色氨酸残基间的距离分别为2.44 nm（白杨素）、3.34 nm（芹菜素）和3.31 nm（桑色素）。