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Biomedical subjects

M Wang

Publications and source records attributed to M Wang.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

A depressant insect toxin with a novel analgesic effect from scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch.

A new peptide named BmK dITAP3 from scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) has been identified to possess a dual bioactivity, a depressant neurotoxicity on insects and an analgesic effect on mice. The bioassays also showed that the peptide was definitely devoid of the neurotoxicity on mammals, which indicated that the analgesic effect of BmK dITAP3 could not be ascribed to the syndromic effects of a mammalian neurotoxicity. BmK dITAP3 exhibited 43.0% inhibition efficiency of the analgesic effect on mice at a dose of 5 mg/kg and the FPU value of 0.5 microg/body (approximately 30 mg) on the fly larvae. The pI value and the molecular mass determined by MALDI-TOF MS for dITAP3 were 6.5 and 6722.7, respectively. Its first 15 N-terminal residues were determined by Edman degradation, based on which the full amino acid sequence was deduced from the cDNA sequence encoding the peptide with 3'-RACE. Circular dichroism and sequence based prediction analyses showed dITAP3 may have a similar molecular scaffold as the most scorpion toxins but with features of the more beta structures and much less of alpha helix. The details of the purification, characterization and sequencing as well as the sequence comparison with other depressant insect toxins and the correlation between the analgesic effect and the insect toxicity will be reported and discussed, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Regiospecific synthesis of 4-(2-oxoalkyl)pyridines.

[reaction: see text]. A new and operationally simple method has been developed for the regiospecific syntheses of 4-(2-oxoalkyl)pyridines from ketones and pyridine in good yields, using triflic anhydride to activate the pyridine ring.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a depressant insect toxin from the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch.

Depressant insect toxins are a distinct group of scorpion neurotoxins for which no three-dimensional structures are yet available. A depressant insect toxin named BmK dITAP3 from the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) has been purified and crystallized. Single crystals of dITAP3 grew in the presence of the detergent CYMAL-6 using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method with ammonium sulfate as precipitant. A set of diffraction data to 2.6 A resolution has been collected. Preliminary analysis of the diffraction data indicated that the crystal belonged to space group R3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 73.29, c = 68.90 A, alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120 degrees. Assuming two molecules in the asymmetric unit, the estimated solvent content is 53.4%.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Inhibition of Wilms' tumor growth by intramuscular administration of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-4 plasmid DNA.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) lead to ECM turnover, a key event in cancer growth and progression. The tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) limit the activity of MMPs, which suggests their use for cancer gene therapy. Here we report that systemic administration of naked TIMP-4 DNA significantly inhibited Wilms' tumor growth in nude mice. TIMP-4, whose expression was lost in Wilms' tumor, inhibited the growth of G401 Wilms' tumor cells at a concentration lower than those required for MMP inhibition. This inhibition was associated with internalization of exogenous recombinant TIMP-4. Electroporation-mediated intramuscular injection of TIMP-4 expression plasmid resulted in sustained plasma TIMP-4 levels and significant tumor suppression. Our data demonstrate a tumor suppressive effect of TIMP-4 against Wilms' tumor and the potential utility of intramuscular delivery of TIMP gene for treatment of kidney derived cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Disulfide bonds stabilize JC virus capsid-like structure by protecting calcium ions from chelation.

To investigate the role of disulfide bonds in the capsid structure, a recombinant JC virus-like particle (VLP) was used. The major capsid protein, VP1, of the JC virus was expressed in yeast cells. The yeast-expressed VP1 was self-assembled into a VLP. Disulfide bonds were found in the VLP which caused dimeric and trimeric VP1 linkages as demonstrated by non-reducing SDS-PAGE. The VLP remained intact when disulfide bonds were reduced by dithiothreitol. The VLP without disulfide bonds could be disassembled into capsomeres by EGTA alone, but those with disulfide bonds could not be disassembled by EGTA. Capsomeres were reassembled into VLPs in the presence of calcium ions. Capsomeres formed irregular aggregations instead of VLPs when treated with diamide to reconstitute the disulfide bonds. These results indicate that disulfide bonds play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the JC VLP by protecting calcium ions from chelation.

Calcium↗
PubMed2001

The effects of lead on transient outward currents of acutely dissociated rat dorsal root ganglia.

The effects of Pb2+ on transient outward currents (TOCs) were investigated on rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons at postnatal days of 15 approximately 21, using the conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique. In media-sized (35 approximately 40 microm) neurons and in the presence of 50 mM TEA, TOCs that preliminarly included an A-current (IA) and a D-current (ID), were clearly present and dominant. Application of Pb2+ lengthened the initial delay of TOCs and increased the onset-peak time in a concentration-dependent manner. The amplitudes of initial outward current peak were reduced with increasing Pb2+ concentrations. The inhibitory effects of Pb2+ on TOCs were reversible with 80 approximately 90% of current reversed in 2 approximately 10 min at 1 approximately 400 microM Pb2+. For the normalized activation curves fitted by a single Boltzmann equation under each condition, there was a shift to more depolarized voltages with increasing concentrations of Pb2+. The V1/2 and the slope factor (k) increased from 12.76+/-1.49 mV and 15.31+/-1.66 mV (n=10) under control condition to 39.91+/-5.44 mV (n=10, P<0.01) and 21.39+/-3.13 mV (n=10, P<0.05) at 400 microM Pb2+, respectively, indicating that Pb2+ decreased the activation of TOCs. For the normalized steady-state inactivation curves, the V1/2 and the k increased from -92.31+/-2.72 and 8.59+/-1.36 mV (n=10) to -55.65+/-3.67 (n=10, P<0.01) and 23.02+/-2.98 mV (n=10, P<0.01) at 400 microM Pb2+, respectively. The curves were shifted to more depolarized voltages by Pb2+, indicating that channels were less likely to be inactivated at higher concentrations of Pb2+ at any given potential. The fast (tf) and slow (ts) decay time-constants were both significantly increased by increasing concentrations of Pb2+ (n=10, P<0.05), indicating that Pb2+ increased the decay time-course of TOCs. These effects were concentration-dependent and partly reversible following washing. Ca2+ modulated the TOCs gating and might share same binding site with Pb2+, for which Ca2+ had very low affinity. In summary, the results demonstrated that Pb2+ was a dose- and voltage-dependent, and reversible blocker of TOCs in rat DRG neurons. After Pb2+ application, normal sensory physiology of DRG neurons was affected, and these neurons might display aberrant firing properties that resulted in abnormal sensations. This variation caused by Pb2+ could underlie the toxical modulation of sensory input to the central nervous system.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2001

Syntheses, structures, and stabilities of [PPh(4)][WS(3)(SR)](R=(i)Bu,(i)Pr,(i)Bu, benzyl, allyl) and [PPh(4)][MoS(3)(S(t)Bu)].

Intermediates in the condensation process of [MS(4)](2)(-) (M = Mo, W) to polythiometalates, in the presence of alkyl halides, had not been reported prior to our communication of [PPh(4)][WS(3)(SEt)] (Boorman, P. M.; Wang, M.; Parvez, M. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1995, 999-1000). We now report the isolation of a range of related compounds, with 1 degrees, 2 degrees, and 3 degrees alkyl thiolate ligands, including one Mo example. [PPh(4)][WS(3)(SR)] (R = (i)Bu (1), (i)Pr (2), (t)Bu (3), benzyl (5), allyl (6)) and [PPh(4)][MoS(3)(S(t)Bu)] (4) have been isolated in fair to good yields from the reaction of [PPh(4)](2)[MS(4)] with the appropriate alkyl halide in acetonitrile and subjected to analysis by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data are as follows: for 1, triclinic space group P1 (No. 2), a = 11.0377(6) A, b = 11.1307(5) A, c = 13.6286(7) A, alpha = 82.941(1) degrees, beta = 84.877(1) degrees, gamma = 60.826(1) degrees, Z = 2; for 2, monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 9.499(6) A, b = 15.913(5) A, c = 18.582(6) A, beta = 99.29(4) degrees, Z = 4; for 3, monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 10.667(2) A, b = 17.578(2) A, c = 16.117(3) A, beta = 101.67(1) degrees, Z = 4; for 4, monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 10.558(3) A, b = 17.477(3) A, c = 15.954(3) A, beta = 101.18(2) degrees, Z = 4; for 5, monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 16.2111(9) A, b = 11.0080(6) A, c = 18.1339(10) A, beta = 111.722(1) degrees, Z = 4; for 6, triclinic space group P1 (No. 2), a = 9.4716(9) A, b = 10.4336(10) A, c = 14.4186(14) A, alpha = 100.183(2) degrees, beta = 90.457(2) degrees, gamma = 91.747(2) degrees, Z = 2. Structures 3 and 4 are isomorphous, and 1 exhibits disorder about the tertiary carbon. 6 has been shown to exhibit fluxionality in solution by variable-temperature (1)H NMR studies, and an allyl migration mechanism is implicated in this process. The kinetics for the reaction of [WS(4)](2)(-) and EtBr were measured and suggest an associative nucleophilic substitution (S(N)2) mechanism. The decomposition of the [WS(3)(SEt)](-) ion is shown to be second order with respect to this ion, suggesting the formation of a transient binuclear intermediate. M-S bond cleavage is the predominant step in decomposition of 1-6 to yield alkyl sulfides, alkyl thiols, and polythiometalates such as [PPh(4)](2)[M(3)S(9)]. In contrast, reactions of [PPh(4)](2)[WO(x)()S(4)(-)(x)()] (x = 1, 2) with (t)BuBr result in the additional decomposition product of isobutene, presumably by C-S bond cleavage and beta-hydrogen transfer. Interestingly, the reaction of [PPh(4)](2)[WOS(3)] with BzCl yields 5 as the only isolable W thiolate species.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Ion-beam-sputtering/mixing deposition of calcium phosphate coatings. I. Effects of ion-mixing beams.

Ion-beam-sputtering/mixing deposition was used to produce thin calcium phosphate coatings on titanium substrate from the hydroxyapatite target. The mixing beam could be either Ar(+) or N(+) ions. It was found that as-deposited coatings were amorphous. No distinct peak of the hydroxyl group was observed in FTIR spectra of the coatings, but new spectral peaks, brought about during the deposition process, were present for CO(3)(2-). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the deposited coatings had a uniform and dense structure. The calcium-to-phosphorous ratio of these coatings varied between 2.0 and 3.0. Compared with the calcium phosphate coatings produced by Ar(+) beam-mixing deposition, the calcium phosphate coatings produced by N(+) beam-mixing deposition exhibited a higher dissolution rate in the physiologic saline solution and showed a lower proliferation rate of osteoblast cells.

Bone Remodeling↗
PubMed2001

Dose-response study of myo-inositol as an inhibitor of lung tumorigenesis induced in A/J mice by benzo.

Dietary myo-inositol is an effective inhibitor of lung tumor induction in mice, but no dose-response studies have been reported. We assessed the ability of various doses of dietary myo-inositol to inhibit lung tumor induction in female A/J mice treated with eight weekly doses of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) plus 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) (3 micromol of each by gavage), then killed 18 weeks later. In Expt. 1, groups of 20 mice each were treated with myo-inositol at concentrations of 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, 0.03125, and 0% in AIN-93 diet for 1 week prior to, during, and for 1 week after the carcinogen administration period. In Expt. 2, groups of 20 mice each were treated with the same concentrations of myo-inositol in the diet as in Expt. 1, except this diet was administered from 1 week after carcinogen administration until termination. There were no effects of myo-inositol on lung tumor incidence, which was 100% in all groups treated with BaP plus NNK. However, myo-inositol significantly decreased lung tumor multiplicity in both experiments. In Expt. 1, significant reductions of 28.9 and 33.0% were observed at the 1 and 0.5% doses of myo-inositol, but not at the lower doses. In Expt. 2, a significant reduction of 48.4% was observed at the 1% dose. In both Expts. 1 and 2, there was a significant dose trend for inhibition (P<0.0001). No toxicity was observed at any dose. These results firmly establish myo-inositol as a chemopreventive agent against lung tumor induction in A/J mice, at doses that can be envisioned for human use.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[The role of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in hyperplasia and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role p27, p21, and p57, different cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), play in the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) and angiotensin II (Ang II). METHODS: VSMCs from rat aorta were cultured. PDGF-BB and Ang II were added into the serum-free media at the concentrations of 10 - 6 M and 20 ng/ml respectively. VSMCs were harvested after 6h, 12h, and 24 h or stimulation. The protein levels of p27, p21 and p57 in VSMCs were examined with Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The protein levels of p27, p21, and p57 in the Ang II-stimulated VSMCs were similar to those in the quiescent cells (P > 0.05). The protein levels of p21 and p57 in the PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs increased along with the time course of stimulation, the former being at its peak value at the 24th hour, and were significantly higher than those in Ang II-stimulated VSMCs. However, the p57 protein level was high in the quiescent cells. A remarkable decrease of the p57 protein level was found in the PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: p27, p21, and p57 proteins play important roles in regulating hyperplasia and hypertrophy of VSMC. P21 and p57 prevent the overplasia of VSMCs. P27 is the most important regulator of hyperplasia and hypertrophy of VSMC stimulated by PDGF and Ang II.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2001

Novel d-seco paclitaxel analogues: synthesis, biological evaluation, and model testing.

Four new D-secopaclitaxel analogues were synthesized from paclitaxel. The key step of the synthesis involved the opening of the D-ring by Jones oxidation. Two of the compounds had been predicted to be nearly as active as paclitaxel in a minireceptor model of the binding site on tubulin, but all were biologically inactive in an in vitro cytotoxic assay and a tubulin assembly assay. The biological results identify a weakness in our predictive minireceptor model and suggest a corrective remedy in which additional amino acids are needed to accommodate ligand-protein steric effects around the oxetane ring. These changes to the model lead to correct predictions of the bioactivity. Conformational analysis and dynamics simulations of the compounds showed that the 4-acetyl substituent is as important as the oxetane in determining the A ring conformation.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed2001

Synthesis and NMR-driven conformational analysis of taxol analogues conformationally constrained on the C13 side chain.

Analogues of Taxol (paclitaxel) with the side chain conformationally restricted by insertion of a carbon linker between the 2'-carbon and the ortho-position of the 3'-phenyl ring were synthesized. Biological evaluation of these new taxoids showed that activity was dependent on the length of the linker and the configuration at C2' and C3'. Two analogues in the homo series, 9a and 24a, showed tubulin binding and cytotoxicity comparable to that of Taxol. NAMFIS (NMR analysis of molecular flexibility in solution) deconvolution of the averaged 2-D NMR spectra for 9a yields seven conformations. Within the latter set, the hydrophobically collapsed "nonpolar" and "polar" classes are represented by one conformation each with predicted populations of 12-15%. The five remaining conformers, however, are extended, two of which correspond to the T-conformation (47% of the total population). The latter superimpose well with the recently proposed T-Taxol binding conformer in beta-tubulin. The results provide evidence for the existence of two previously unrecognized structural features that support Taxol-like activity: (1) a reduced torsion angle between C2' and C3' and (2) an orthogonal arrangement of the mean plane through C1', C2' and the 2'-hydroxyl and the 3'-phenyl plane, the latter ring bisected by the former plane. By contrast, epimerization at 2',3' and homologation of the tether to CH2-CH2 were both detrimental for activity. The decreased activity of these analogues is apparently due to configurational and steric factors, respectively.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2001

[Keratin 17 gene mutation in patients with steatocystoma multiplex].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between steatocystoma multiplex (SCM) and keratin 17 gene mutation. METHODS: The keratin 17 gene mutation in the cDNA of cystic tissue of 5 patients of SCM and in the DNA in peripheral blood of 25 patients with SCM from a SCM family was studied by direct sequencing of the RT-PCR products, nested PCR, and restricted fraction length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Thirty-nine blood specimens from the unaffected members of that family were collected and tested too. Ten DNA pool specimens and other 2000 DNA pool specimens of normal individuals outside that SCM family were used as controls. RESULTS: In the base 428, 94(th) codon in keratin 17 gene in the cDNA of patients' cystic tissue, R94C mutation, a G-->A mutation, was detected Nested PCR, and restricted enzyme Acil polymorphism analysis showed that in the DNA specimens of peripheral blood of patients a mutated allele lacking enzyme cutting locus was detected, thus causing an uncut band with 200 bp while the corresponding allele was cut and caused two bands with 108 bp and 92 bp. In the DNA pool specimens of normal controls only these two bands with 108 bp and 92 bp were observed. CONCLUSION: The R94C mutation in keratin 17 gene is one of the genetic bases of SCM in Chinese. The results of this study provide scientific data for genetic diagnosis and counseling of SCM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Kupffer cells of cirrhotic rat livers sensitize colon cancer cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Metastasis of colorectal carcinomas rarely occurs in cirrhotic livers. Our study investigated the influence of activated Kupffer cells from cirrhotic rat livers on hepatic colonization and FasR-mediated apoptosis of colon cancer cells. A rat colon cancer cell line, RCN-9, was used to inoculate rat livers. Treatment with conditioned media of Kupffer cells isolated from CCl(4)-induced cirrhotic rat livers (cirrhotic KCM) significantly reduced the incidence of hepatic colonization of RCN-9 cells. In vitro cytotoxicity of Kupffer cells and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) on RCN-9 cells was evaluated using [(3)H]-release assay. RCN-9 cells were resistant to cytotoxicity mediated by cirrhotic Kupffer cells, but were sensitized to TIL-mediated killing after treatment with cirrhotic KCM. The specific killing induced by TILs was FasR-mediated, as it was inhibited by ZB4, an antagonistic anti-FasR antibody. In agreement, cirrhotic KCM increased recombinant Fas ligand-induced apoptosis of RCN-9 cells, and up-regulated FasR expression on RCN-9 cells as evaluated by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. These findings suggest that Kupffer cells in cirrhotic livers sensitize metastatic colon cancer cells to FasR-mediated apoptosis by up-regulating the receptors, which thus prepare them to be eliminated by infiltrating lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Vasopressin reverses aluminum-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity in the rat dentate gyrus in vivo.

Aluminum (Al), an important neurotoxin, contributes to a variety of cognitive dysfunction and mental diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that Al impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, both LTP and LTD (long-term depression) were recorded in the same animal to investigate the Al-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity. Another aim of the present research was to verify whether the impairment of synaptic plasticity induced by Al could be reversed by vasopressin (VP) treatment. Neonatal Wistar rats were exposed to Al from parturition through adulthood (pre- and post-weaning) by the drinking of 0.3% aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)) solution. The input-output (I/O) function, paired-pulse reaction (PPR), excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and population spike (PS) amplitude were measured in the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult rats (60-90 days) in response to stimulation applied to the lateral perforant path. The results showed: (1) Al reduced the amplitudes of both EPSP LTP (control: 132+/-7%, n=7; Al-exposed: 115+/-10%, n=8, P<0.05) and PS LTP (control: 242+/-18%, n=7; Al-exposed: 136+/-7%, n=8, P<0.01) significantly. The amplitudes of EPSP LTD (control: 82+/-6%, n=7; Al-exposed: 92+/-7%, n=8, P<0.05) and PS LTD (control: 81+/-4%, n=7; Al-exposed: 98+/-5%, n=8, P<0.05) were also decreased by Al treatment. The Al-induced impairments of PS LTP and PS LTD were more serious than that of EPSP LTP and EPSP LTD. (2) In control rats, VP had an increase in the PS LTP amplitude (control: 242+/-18%, n=7; control+VP: 358+/-23%, n=6, P<0.01), while it had no significant effects on PS LTD (control: 81+/-4%, n=7; control+VP: 76+/-7%, n=6, P>0.05). (3) In Al-exposed rats, VP had a significant increase in the amplitudes of both PS LTP (Al-exposed: 136+/-7%, n=8, Al-exposed+VP: 255+/-16%, n=6, P<0.01) and PS LTD (Al-exposed: 98+/-5%, n=8; Al-exposed+VP: 81+/-6%, n=6, P<0.05). After the application of VP, the range of synaptic plasticity (PS LTP+PS LTD) in Al-exposed rats increased from 38% to 174%, which surpassed that in control rats (161%). It was suggested that VP could reverse Al-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity and might be an effective medicine to cure Al-induced neurological disorders.

Aluminum Chloride↗
PubMed2001

Nanostructured copper filaments in electrochemical deposition.

In this Letter we report a novel self-organized copper electrodeposition in an ultrathin layer of CuSO4 electrolyte. The macroscopic fingering branches of the deposit consist of long copper filaments covered with periodic corrugated nanostructures. The mechanism of the nanostructure formation is explored and the origin of the significant descent of the branching rate in electrodeposition is discussed. We suggest that this growth phenomenon provides deeper insights into the role of diffusion and migration on pattern formation in electrodeposition.

Journal Article↗