Cloning of transcription factor PcFBA-1 in Pogostemon cabin and its interaction with FPPS promoter / 中国中药杂志

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase(FPPS) is a key enzyme at the branch point of the sesquiterpene biosynthetic pathway, but there are no reports on the transcriptional regulation of FPPS promoter in Pogostemon cabin. In the early stage of this study, we obtained the binding protein PcFBA-1 of FPPS gene promoter in P. cabin. In order to explore the possible mechanism of PcFBA-1 involved in the regulation of patchouli alcohol biosynthesis, this study performed PCR-based cloning and sequencing analysis of PcFBA-1, analyzed the expression patterns of PcFBA-1 in different tissues by fluorescence quantitative PCR and its subcellular localization using the protoplast transformation system, detected the binding of PcFBA-1 protein to the FPPS promoter in vitro with the yeast one-hybrid system, and verified its transcriptional regulatory function by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The findings demonstrated that the cloned PcFBA-1 had an open reading frame(ORF) of 1 131 bp, encoding a protein of 376 amino acids, containing two conserved domains named F-box-like superfamily and FBA-1 superfamily, and belonging to the F-box family. Moreover, neither signal peptide nor transmembrane domain was contained, implying that it was an unstable hydrophilic protein. In addition, as revealed by fluorescence quantitative PCR results, PcFBA-1 had the highest expression in leaves, and there was no significant difference in expression in roots or stems. PcFBA-1 protein was proved mainly located in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid screening and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that PcFBA-1 was able to bind to FPPS promoter both in vitro and in vivo to enhance the activity of FPPS promoter. In summary, this study identifies a new transcription factor PcFBA-1 in P. cabin, which directly binds to the FPPS gene promoter to enhance the promoter activity. This had laid a foundation for the biosynthesis of patchouli alcohol and other active ingre-dients and provided a basis for metabolic engineering and genetic improvement of P. cabin.

Synthesis, antibacterial activity and DNA interactions of lanthanide(IU) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones / Síntesis, actividad antibacterial e interacciones con DNA de complejos lantánidos (III) de Tiosemicarbazonas N(4)-sustituídas / Síntese, atividade antibacteriana e interações com DNA de complexos lantanídeos (III) de tiosemicarbazonas N(4)-substituídas

Abstract This paper reports the synthesis and detailed characterization of six novel lanthanide complexes of La(III), Eu(III) and Nd(III) with N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from the 2-carboxybenzaldehyde. The IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic studies confirmed the coordination of the thiocarbonyl (C=S), azomethine (C=N) and carboxylate (COO-) groups to the metal centers, and the carboxylate was coordinated in a bidentate manner. The elemental and thermal analyses suggest that lanthanide complexes were formed in 1:2 molar ratios (metal:ligand). The molar conductivity values confirmed the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. The interaction of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by UV absorption and viscosity measurements. It was found that the Eu(HI) and Nd(nI) complexes could roll along the DNA strands through groove interactions. Furthermore, lanthanide complexes could promote the oxidative cleavage of plasmid pBR322 in a high-oxidative stress environment. Finally, the Schiff base ligands (L) and their complexes were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using a microdilution procedure. The results indicate that the lanthanide complexes exhibit more potent antibacterial activity than the free ligands.

Resumen Este articulo reporta la síntesis y caracterización detallada de seis nuevos complejos lantánidos de La(III), Eu(III) y Nd(III) con tiosemicarbazonas N(4)-sustituidas derivadas del 2-carboxibenzaldehído. Los estudios espectroscópicos de IR, 1H-NMR y 13C-NMR confirmaron la coordinación de los grupos tiocarbonilo (C=S), azometina (C=N) y carboxilato (COO-) a los centros metálicos, y el carboxilato se coordinó de forma bidentada. Los análisis elemental y térmico sugieren que los complejos lantánidos se formaron en proporciones molares 1:2 (metal:ligando). Los valores de conductividad molar confirmaron la naturaleza no eléctrica de los complejos. Por medio de medidas de absorción UV y de viscosidad se investigó la interacción entre estos complejos con DNA de timo de ternera (CT-DNA). Se encontró que los complejos Eu(III) y Nd(III) podrían correr a lo largo de cadenas de DNA a través de interacciones en el surco. Además, los complejos lantánidos podrían promover el clivaje oxidativo del plásmido pBR322 en un ambiente de alto estrés oxidativo. Finalmente, se evaluaron las actividades antibacteriales de las bases de Schiff como ligandos (L) y sus complejos contra bacterias gram-positivas y gram-negativas usando un procedimiento de microdilución. Los resultados indican que los complejos lantánidos exhiben una actividad antibacterial más potente que los ligandos libres.

Resumo Este artigo reporta a síntese e caracterização detalhada de seis novos complexos lantanídeos de La(III), Eu(III) e Nd(III) com tiosemicarbazonas N(4)-substituídas derivadas do 2-carboxibenzaldeído. Os estudos espectroscópicos de IR, 1H-RMN e 13C-RMN confirmaram a coordenação dos grupos tiocarbonilos (C = S), azometina (C=N) e carboxilato (COO-) com os centros metálicos, e o carboxilato se coordenou de forma bidentada. As análises elementares e térmicas sugerem que os complexos lantanídeos se formaram em proporções molares 1:2 (metal:ligante). Os valores de condutividades molar confirmaram a natureza não-elétrica dos complexos. Se avaliou a interação entre estes complexos com DNA de vitela (CT-DNA) por meio de medidas de absorção UV e de viscosidade. Se observou que os complexos Eu(III) e Nd(III) poderiam deslocar-se ao longo da cadeia de DNA através de interações no sulco. Adicionalmente, os complexos lantanídeos poderiam promover a clivagem oxidativa do plasmídeo pBR322 em um ambiente de alto estresse oxidativo. Finalmente, se avaliaram as atividades antibacterianas das bases de Schiff como ligantes (L) e seus complexos contra bactérias gram-positivas e gram- negativas, usando o método de microdiluição. Os resultados indicam que os complexos lantanídeos exibem uma atividade antibacteriana mais potente que os ligantes livres.

Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Extracted Flavonoids from Morus Alba Leaves and its interaction with DNA

ABSTRACT Morous Alba, known as white mulberry contains many oxidative flavonoids, widely used in the treatment of many diseases like hyperglycemia, inflammation, fever and cancer. In the present study we investigated the interaction of extracted flavonoids from Iranian Morus Alba leaves with DNA as a main target for anticancer drugs. Various spectroscopic techniques (UV/Vis, CD and Fluorescence Spectroscopy) were used to detect the interaction. In vivo studies also were done to confirm the effectiveness of the extracted flavonoids. The spectroscopic results showed that the extracted flavonoids bind to DNA especially to the sugar-phosphate backbone and making DNA conformational changes upon this binding. Experiments on the cancerous mice with solid tumors indicated that the treatment of mice with these extracted flavonoids increased significantly the life span but they did not have any effects on the tumor size reduction. These data suggest that Morus Alba flavonoids may use as an effective natural anticancer drug in the near future.

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor for determination of doxorubicin in human plasma and its interaction with DNA / 药物分析学报

In this work, an electrochemical sensor was fabricated for determination of an anthracycline, doxorubicin (DOX) as a chemotherapy drug in plasma based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified platinum electrode (Pt/MWCNTs). DOX was effectively accumulated on the surface of modified electrode and generated a pair of redox peaks at around 0.522 and 0.647 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in Britton Robinson (B-R) buffer (pH 4.0, 0.1 M). The electrochemical parameters including pH, type of buffer, accumulation time, amount of modifier and scan rate were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, there was a linear correlation between cathodic peak current and concentration of DOX in the range of 0.05–4.0 μg/mL with the detection limit of 0.002 μg/mL. The number of electron transfers (n) and electron transfer-coe?cient (α) were estimated as 2.0 and 0.25, respectively. The constructed sensor displayed excellent precision, sensitivity, repeatability and selectivity in the determination of DOX in plasma. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry studies of DOX in the presence of DNA showed an intercalation mechanism with binding constant (Kb) of 1.12×105 L/mol.