Biomedical subjects

Ning Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Ning Jin.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Electronic structure and reactivity of isomeric oxo-Mn(V) porphyrins: effects of spin-state crossing and pKa modulation.

The reactivity of the isomeric oxo-Mn(V)-2-tetra-N-methylpyridyl (2-TMPyP) and oxo-Mn(V)-4-tetra-N-methylpyridyl (4-TMPyP) porphyrins has been investigated by a combined experimental and theoretical approach based on density functional theory. The unusual higher reactivity of the more electron-rich 4-TMPyP species appears to be related to both the higher basicity of its oxo ligand, compared to that of the 2-TMPyP isomer, and the smaller low-spin-high-spin promotion energy of 4-TMPyP, compared to that of 2-TMPyP, because of the stabilization of the A2u orbital in the latter isomer. Therefore, in a two-state energy profile involving crossing of the initial singlet and final quintet potential energy surfaces, the 4-TMPyP isomer should be kinetically favored. The calculated differences in the singlet-quintet gaps for the 2-TMPyP and 4-TMPyP systems compare well with the measured differences in the activation energies for two isomeric porphyrins. Both effects, proton affinity and electron-promotion energy, contribute to reduce the reactivity of the more electrophilic oxidant when electron-withdrawing groups are closer to the active site, contrary to the usual expectations based on simple chemical reactivity correlations. These theoretical results are in accord with new experimental data showing O=Mn(V)-O-H pK(a)s of 7.5 and 8.6 for the isomeric 2-TMPyP and 4-TMPyP systems, respectively.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2005

Regulation of neuroendocrine differentiation in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor cells by notch signaling.

CONTEXT: Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoid tumors elaborate serotonin and other vasoactive substances, causing the carcinoid syndrome. Based on developmental biology data, we hypothesized that basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, including achaete-scute complex homolog-like 1 (Ascl1)/hASH1, and the Notch signaling pathway might regulate the neuroendocrine phenotype in GI carcinoids. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate expression of developmental transcription factors and Notch signaling components in GI carcinoids and model their interaction in a relevant GI carcinoid cell line. DESIGN: Fourteen GI carcinoid tumor specimens, five paired adjacent normal tissues, fetal tissues, and tumor cell lines were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunoblot. BON carcinoid cells were further analyzed after Notch overexpression for neuroendocrine marker expression, serotonin production, and growth. SETTING: The study was conducted in an academic referral center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Deidentified archival pathology specimens were examined. RESULTS: Among a panel of six developmental transcription factors tested, only Ascl1 mRNA was overexpressed compared with surrounding normal tissue (seven of 10 GI carcinoid tumors and in BON cells, none of five normal tissues). Ascl1 protein was also expressed in four of four carcinoid tumors and BON cells). Notch pathway ligands, receptors, and downstream effectors were widely expressed in tumor and normal specimens. Overexpression of activated Notch1 in BON cells led to induction of the Notch effector hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1), loss of Ascl1, reductions in neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A, and most significantly, an 89% decrease in serotonin concentration and equivalent reductions in serotonin-reactive cells and repression of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: The Notch signaling pathway is a significant regulator of neuroendocrine differentiation and serotonin production in GI carcinoid tumors.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Opposite effects of lithium and valproic acid on trophic factor deprivation-induced glycogen synthase kinase-3 activation, c-Jun expression and neuronal cell death.

Recent studies demonstrate that lithium and valproic acid (VPA), two commonly used mood-stabilizing drugs, have neuroprotective effects against a variety of insults. Inhibition of the proapoptotic enzyme, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), has been suggested to be the mechanism of action of neuroprotection for both drugs. In this study, we tested if lithium and VPA could protect cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) from GSK-3-mediated apoptosis induced by trophic factor withdrawal (serum/potassium deprivation). Both lithium and indirubin, a specific GSK-3 inhibitor, protected CGNs in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, VPA did not provide any neuroprotection and even potentiated cell death. Immunoblot analysis revealed that lithium inhibited the trophic factor deprivation-induced activation of GSK-3 as well as the in vivo phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau on Ser199, a specific target site for GSK-3. Under these same experimental conditions, however, VPA neither inhibited GSK-3 activation nor hindered GSK-3 mediated Tau phosphorylation. Furthermore, in accordance with their effects on neuronal survival, lithium prevented the induction of c-Jun expression in trophic factor-deprived CGNs, whereas VPA potentiated it. Collectively, these results show that VPA is not a universal inhibitor of neuronal GSK-3, and that instead of being neuroprotective, VPA can even exacerbate neuronal death under some conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

DNA sequence representation without degeneracy.

Graphical representation of DNA sequence provides a simple way of viewing, sorting and comparing various gene structures. A new two-dimensional graphical representation method using a two- quadrant Cartesian coordinates system has been derived for mathematical denotation of DNA sequence. The two-dimensional graphic representation resolves sequences' degeneracy and is mathematically proven to eliminate circuit formation. Given x-projection and y-projection of any point on the graphical representation, the number of A, G, C and T from the beginning of the sequence to that point could be found. Compared with previous methods, this graphical representation is more in-line with the conventional recognition of linear sequences by molecular biologists, and also provides a metaphor in two dimensions for local and global DNA sequence comparison.

Animals↗