0000000001203532
AUTHOR
Feng Wang
Density functional study of Cu2+-phenylalanine complex under micro-solvation environment
Abstract We present an atomistic study carried out using density functional calculations including structural relaxations and Car–Parrinello Molecular Dynamics (CPMD) simulations, aiming to investigate the structures of phenylalanine-copper (II) ([Phe-Cu] 2+ ) complexes and their micro-solvation processes. The structures of the [Phe-Cu] 2+ complex with up to four water molecules are optimized using the B3LYP/6-311++G** model in gas phase to identify the lowest energy structures at each degree of solvation ( n = 0–4). It is found that the phenylalanine appears to be in the neutral form in isolated and mono-hydrated complexes, but in the zwitterionic form in other hydrated complexes (with n …
The novel dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor GDC-0941 synergizes with the MEK inhibitor U0126 in non-small cell lung cancer cells.
Lung cancer is a malignant disease with poor outcome, which has led to a search for new therapeutics. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/raf/Erk pathways are key regulators of tumor growth and survival. In the present study, their roles were evaluated by MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting in lung cancer cells. We found that a high efficacy of antitumor activity was shown with GDC-0941 treatment in two gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, A549 and H460. In addition, H460 cells with activating mutations of PIK3CA were relatively more sensitive to GDC-0941 than A549 cells with wild-type PIK3CA. Furthermore, GDC-0941 was highly efficacious in combination with U0…
Synthesis and antioxidant evaluation of novel silybin analogues
In this work, we evaluated the antioxidant properties of the eight novel silybin analogues for their capacity to scavenge free radicals including superoxide anion radicals and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals in vitro. Compound 7d demonstrated an excellent antioxidant effect in scavenging superoxide anion free radical with an IC50 value of 26.5 microM, while the IC50 of quercetin (the reference compound) was 38.1 microM. Compounds 7b, 7e, 7h showed certain scavenging activities for both types of free radicals.
Preparation of C-23 esterified silybin derivatives and evaluation of their lipid peroxidation inhibitory and DNA protective properties.
A diverse series of C-23 esterified silybin derivatives (1a-n) were designed and synthesized. The antioxidative properties of these compounds were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide anion radical scavenging, ferrous ion chelation, and inhibition of rat liver homogenate lipid peroxidation. Their protective effects on the prevention of hydrogen peroxide induced DNA damage were also investigated. Most of the synthesized compounds exhibited more effective antioxidant activities than silybin. The esterified silybin analogues displayed satisfactory performance especially on iron chelation and antiperoxidative activity. Compound 1n in particular exhibited remarkable a…
X-RAY PHOTOEMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE DETERMINATION OF ORIGINS OF ROOM TEMPERATURE FERROMAGNETISM AND PHOTOLUMINESCENCE IN HIGHCo-CONTENTCoxZn1-xOFILMS
In this paper, we reported on the X-ray photoemission electron microscope (XPEEM) determination of magnetic and luminescence origins for two CoxZn1-xO films. The cobalt fraction x of radio frequency co-sputtered samples were 0.86(2) and 0.92(2), respectively. Films were ferromagnetic and semiconductive. Unique narrow green color lines beside the ZnO intrinsic emissions were found with a decay time in microsecond range at room temperature. Origins of magnetic and luminescence properties were determined with XPEEM. The X-ray absorption near edge structure at the Co L3-edge denoted that Co was partially oxidized, and phase-contrast images together with chemical composition identification furt…
Preparation of ferulic acid derivatives and evaluation of their xanthine oxidase inhibition activity.
Several ferulic acid ethyl esters (3a-h) were synthesized under the Knoevengel reaction condition and they were further reduced to afford the respective allylic alcohol derivatives (4a-g). Some of them were evaluated for the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity. Among them, 3h exhibited a significant inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.35 x 10(-5) M, while the IC50 value of allopurinol used as the positive control was 1.49 x 10(-5) M. The study suggested that the higher acidity of the phenolic OH group in the ferulic acid derivatives might result in improved XO inhibitory activity.
Synthesis and characterization of bi-functional photorefractive polymers
Abstract A novel bi-functional photorefractive acrylate polymer with pendant carbazolyl groups and azo derivatives as side chains was synthesized, in which azo derivatives as electro-optic chromophores and carbazolyl as photoconductive moiety were covalently linked on the acrylate backbone. Photorefractive experiments showed that a high two-beam coupling gain coefficient of 93 cm −1 , diffraction efficiency of 12% and electro-optic coefficient of 26 pm/V were obtained. With increasing writing beam's intensity, the two-beam coupling enhanced gradually, and then reached saturation. Using the method of four-wave mixing, the photoisomerization grating was observed.
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Nucleophilic Substitution of Tellurium(II) Dialkanethiolates, Te(SR1)2 with Thiols, HSR2
The equilibrium reaction between tellurium(II) dithiolates and thiols, Te(SR1)2 + 2 HSR2 ⇌ Te(SR2)2 + 2 HSR1 was studied by means of 1H- and 125Te NMR spectroscopy and ab initio quantum chemical methods. It was found that the reaction is catalyzed by Bronsted acids and bases, the catalytic activity corresponding to the strength of the respective acid or base. Investigation of the initial step of the reaction, Te(SR1)2 + HSR2 ⇌ Te(SR1)(SR2) + HSR1, showed it to proceed according to first order kinetics for Te(SR1)2, HSR2 and for the catalyst. Ab initio geometry optimizations and frequency calculations suggest [Te(SR1)(HSR1)(HSR2)]+ and [Te(SR1)2(SR2)]− to be stable intermediates and not tran…
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition) 1
Contains fulltext : 232759.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to…
Effects of elevated production of autochthonous dissolved organic matter on the freely dissolved concentration of cadmium
Eutrophication enhances the production of autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is a major driving factor behind the impairment of many aquatic ecosystems. In a mesocosm study, we investigated the effects of the abundance and composition of DOM on the potential bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) caused by eutrophication, using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy integrated with tangential flow ultrafiltration technology. The complexing capacity of DOM-Cd and the sorption distribution coefficient between DOM and the bulk solution was calculated based on a 1 : 1 complexation model. The fluorescent DOM was decomposed into three components (one prot…
Preparation of two sets of 5,6,7-trioxygenated dihydroflavonol derivatives as free radical scavengers and neuronal cell protectors to oxidative damage.
An unusual class of 5,6,7-trioxygenated dihydroflavonols (3a-e and 4a-j) were designed and prepared. Their antioxidative properties were assessed by examining their capacities in several in vitro models, including superoxide anion and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, rat liver homogenate lipid peroxidation inhibition, PC12 cells protection from oxidative damage, and xanthine oxidase inhibition. These dihydroflavonols displayed positive quenching abilities towards O(2)(-) and DPPH free radicals, in which the majority exhibited superior antioxidant properties to Vitamin C. cis-Configurated compound (+/-)-3e demonstrated remarkable inhibition to LPO with an IC(50) value…
CPMD simulation of Cu2+ -- phenylalanine complex under micro-solvated environment
The study combines DFT calculations and CPMD simulations to investigate the structures of phenylalanine-copper (II) ([Phe-Cu]2+) complexes and the micro-solvation processes. ....It is found that the phenylalanine moiety appears to be in the neutral form in isolated and mono-hydrated complexes, but in the zwitterionic form in other hydrated complexes (with n no less than 2). .... The present CPMD simulations reveal that the maximum coordination of Cu2+ in the presence of the Phe ligand does not exceed four: the oxygen atoms from three water molecules and one carboxyl oxygen atom of Phe. Any excess water molecules will migrate to the second solvation shell. Moreover a unique structural motif …
Autophagy
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide…
Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy of Atomically Precise Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons
We report the optical imaging and absorption spectroscopy on atomically precise armchair graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) on insulating fused silica substrates. This is achieved by controlling light polarization on macroscopically aligned GNRs which greatly enhances the optical contrast of the submonolayer GNRs on the insulating substrates. We measure the linear absorption spectra of 7-armchair and 9-armchair GNRs in this study, and the experimental data agree qualitatively with ab inito calculation results. The polarization spectroscopy technique enables an unambiguous optical identification of GNRs and provides a rapid tool to characterize the transferred film over a large area.