Hydrogen-rich water treatment improves fresh-cut Gastrodia elata quality by regulating reactive oxygen species metabolism and energy metabolism during low temperature storage

The application of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. This study aims to investigate the effects of HRW on the quality of fresh-cut Gastrodia elata during low-temperature (4°C) storage. The results indicate that HRW treatment inhibited the decrease in weight loss and the increase in respiration rate, and also slowed down the decrease in total acidity and total soluble solids. HRW treatment could reduce the generation of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, enhance the activity and expression of antioxidant-related enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase, and increase the content of non-enzymatic antioxidant substances, ascorbic acid and glutathione, while decreasing the activity and expression of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Furthermore, HRW treatment not only inhibited the reduction in ADP and ATP content and energy charge but also attenuated the increase in AMP content. It also slowed down the decrease in the activities of H+-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase, Ca2+-ATPase, and cytochrome C oxidase. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that HRW treatment enhances the energy levels and effectively mitigates oxidative damage, thereby preserving postharvest quality of fresh-cut G. elata

Lack of Chemokine Signaling through CXCR5 Causes Increased Mortality, Ventricular Dilatation and Deranged Matrix during Cardiac Pressure Overload

RATIONALE: Inflammatory mechanisms have been suggested to play a role in the development of heart failure (HF), but a role for chemokines is largely unknown. Based on their role in inflammation and matrix remodeling in other tissues, we hypothesized that CXCL13 and CXCR5 could be involved in cardiac remodeling during HF. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the role of the chemokine CXCL13 and its receptor CXCR5 in cardiac pathophysiology leading to HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice harboring a systemic knockout of the CXCR5 (CXCR5(-/-)) displayed increased mortality during a follow-up of 80 days after aortic banding (AB). Following three weeks of AB, CXCR5(-/-) developed significant left ventricular (LV) dilatation compared to wild type (WT) mice. Microarray analysis revealed altered expression of several small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) that bind to collagen and modulate fibril assembly. Protein levels of fibromodulin, decorin and lumican (all SLRPs) were significantly reduced in AB CXCR5(-/-) compared to AB WT mice. Electron microscopy revealed loosely packed extracellular matrix with individual collagen fibers and small networks of proteoglycans in AB CXCR5(-/-) mice. Addition of CXCL13 to cultured cardiac fibroblasts enhanced the expression of SLRPs. In patients with HF, we observed increased myocardial levels of CXCR5 and SLRPs, which was reversed following LV assist device treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of CXCR5 leads to LV dilatation and increased mortality during pressure overload, possibly via lack of an increase in SLRPs. This study demonstrates a critical role of the chemokine CXCL13 and CXCR5 in survival and maintaining of cardiac structure upon pressure overload, by regulating proteoglycans essential for correct collagen assembly

New simple synthesis of ring-fused 4-alkyl-4H-3,1-benzothiazine-2-thiones: Direct formation from carbon disulfide and (E)-3-(2-aminoaryl)acrylates or (E)-3-(2-aminoaryl)acrylonitriles

A new simple and efficient method to construct ring-fused 4-alkyl-4H-3,1-benzothiazine-2-thione derivatives has been developed from carbon disulfide and (E)-3-(2-aminoaryl)acrylates or (E)-3-(2-aminoaryl)acrylonitriles under mild conditions, without the need for a metal catalyst. The newly developed method tolerates a wide range of substrates in moderate to excellent yields. Moreover, this method is advantageous over previous ones for the easy synthesis of reactants

Overexpression of NtWRKY50 Increases Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum and Alters Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic Acid Production in Tobacco

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) modulate plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we characterized a WRKY IIc TF, NtWRKY50, isolated from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants. The results showed that NtWRKY50 is a nuclear-localized protein and that its gene transcript is induced in tobacco when inoculated with the pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. Overexpression of NtWRKY50 enhanced bacterial resistance, which correlated with enhanced SA and JA/ET signaling genes. However, silencing of the NtWRKY50 gene had no obvious effects on plant disease resistance, implying functional redundancy of NtWRKY50 with other TFs. In addition, it was found that NtWRKY50 can be induced by various biotic or abiotic stresses, such as Potato virus Y, Rhizoctonia solani, Phytophthora parasitica, hydrogen peroxide, heat, cold, and wounding as well as the hormones salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET). Importantly, additional analysis suggests that NtWRKY50 overexpression markedly promotes SA levels but prevents pathogen-induced JA production. These data indicate that NtWRKY50 overexpression leads to altered SA and JA content, increased expression of defense-related genes and enhanced plant resistance to R. solanacearum. These probably due to increased activity of endogenous NtWRKY50 gene or could be gain-of-function phenotypes by altering the profile of genes affected by NtWRKY50

Developing a Highly Stable PLGA-mPEG Nanoparticle Loaded with Cisplatin for Chemotherapy of Ovarian Cancer

Background: Cisplatin is a potent anticancer drug, but its clinical application has been limited due to its undesirable physicochemical characteristics and severe side effects. Better drug formulations for cisplatin are highly desired. Methodology/Principal Findings: Herein, we have developed a nanoparticle formulation for cisplatin with high encapsulation efficiency and reduced toxicity by using cisplatin-crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) core nanoparticles made from poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-monomethoxy-poly(polyethylene glycol) copolymers (PLGA-mPEG). The nanoparticles have an average diameter of approximately 80 nm measured by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The encapsulation efficiency of cisplatin in the nanoparticles is up to 72%. Meanwhile, we have also observed a controlled release of cisplatin in a sustained manner and dose-dependent treatment efficacy of cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles against IGROV1-CP cells. Moreover, the median lethal dose (LD 50) of the cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles was more than 100 mg/kg by intravenous administration, which was much higher than that of free cisplatin. Conclusion: This developed cisplatin-loaded nanoparticle is a promising formulation for the delivery of cisplatin, which wil

Overexpression of NtPR-Q Up-Regulates Multiple Defense-Related Genes in Nicotiana tabacum and Enhances Plant Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum

Various classes of plant pathogenesis-related proteins have been identified in the past several decades. PR-Q, a member of the PR3 family encoding chitinases, has played an important role in regulating plant resistance and preventing pathogen infection. In this paper, we functionally characterized NtPR-Q in tobacco plants and found that the overexpression of NtPR-Q in tobacco Yunyan87 resulted in higher resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation. Surprisingly, overexpression of NtPR-Q led to the activation of many defense-related genes, such as salicylic acid (SA)-responsive genes NtPR1a/c, NtPR2 and NtCHN50, JA-responsive gene NtPR1b and ET production-associated genes NtACC Oxidase and NtEFE26. Consistent with the role of NtPR-Q in multiple stress responses, NtPR-Q transcripts were induced by the exogenous hormones SA, ethylene and methyl jasmonate, which could enhance the resistance of tobacco to R. solanacearum. Collectively, our results suggested that NtPR-Q overexpression led to the up-regulation of defense-related genes and enhanced plant resistance to R. solanacearum infection

AgOTf-catalyzed one-pot reactions of 2-alkynylbenzaldoximes with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

AgOTf-catalyzed one-pot reactions of 2-alkynylbenzaldoximes with various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds under mild conditions are described, which provides a facile and efficient pathway for the synthesis of 1-alkylated isoquinoline derivatives. The method tolerates a wide range of substrates and allows for the preparation of the products of interest in moderate to excellent yields

Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective Ortho-Allylation of 2,4-Diarylquinazolines with Allylic Acetate

In this paper, a rhodium-catalyzed high regioselective reaction of 2,4-diarylquinazolines with allylic acetate is described, leading to allylated quinazoline derivatives with high efficiency and good tolerance of functional groups. By switching to 2-arylquinazolin-4-ones, tandem C-H activation and aza-Michael addition are involved, leading to 1,6-dimethyl-5H-isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolin-8(6H)-one derivatives with high efficiency.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Copper-Catalyzed Direct Trifluoromethylation of Propiolates: Construction of Trifluoromethylated Coumarins

A novel copper-catalyzed direct trifluoromethylation of internal alkynes was developed, obtaining a series of trifluoromethylated coumarins in good yields. The cyclization was proposed to proceed via a radical mechanism under copper-catalyzed conditions with good functional group tolerance