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Yu Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Yu Liu.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

p42, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase-activating kinase in mammalian cells.

The cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase (CAK) phosphorylates a conserved threonine residue on CDKs and activates them. Two known classes of CAKs are represented by monomeric Cak1p in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and by heterotrimeric CDK7-cyclin H-Mat1 in human and other metazoa. We report here the identification of p42, a novel CAK activity in human cells. p42 has sequence homology to both Cak1p and CDK7 groups of CAKs. p42 is essential for the phosphorylation of Thr-160 and activation of CDK2. A dominant-negative p42 mutant, T161A, and posttranscriptional gene silencing of p42 with RNA(i)-impaired Thr-160 phosphorylation and activity of CDK2. Purified p42 phosphorylated glutathione S-transferase-CDK2 at Thr-160 within the T-loop and activated its histone H1 kinase activity. Finally, p42 is indispensable for cell growth. Cells lacking p42 were incapable of growing and forming colonies whereas cells with a reduced level of p42 grew at significantly slower rates than control cells. Our findings suggest that p42 represents a novel CAK activity in mammalian cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Supramolecular self-assemblies of beta-cyclodextrins with aromatic tethers: factors governing the helical columnar versus linear channel superstructures.

A series of 6-O-(p-substituted phenyl)-modified beta-cyclodextrin derivatives, i.e., 6-O-(4-bromophenyl)-beta-CD (1), 6-O-(4-nitrophenyl)-beta-CD (2), 6-O-(4-formylphenyl)-beta-CD (3), 6-phenylselenyl-6-deoxy-beta-CD (4), and 6-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-CD (5), were synthesized, and their inclusion complexation behavior in aqueous solution and self-assembling behavior in the solid state were comparatively studied by NMR spectroscopy, microcalorimetry, crystallography, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Interestingly, (seleno)ethers 1-4 and ester 5 displayed distinctly different self-assembling behavior in the solid state, affording a successively threading head-to-tail polymeric helical structure for the (seleno)ethers or a mutually penetrating tail-to-tail dimeric columnar channel structure for the ester. Combining the present and previous structures reported for the relevant beta-CD derivatives, we further deduce that the pivot heteroatom, through which the aromatic substituent is tethered to beta-CD, plays a critical role in determining the helix structure, endowing the 2-fold and 4-fold axes to the N/O- and S/Se-pivoted beta-CD aggregates, respectively. This means that one can control the self-assembling orientation, alignment, and helicity in the solid state by finely tuning the pivot atom and the tether length. Further NMR and calorimetric studies on the self-assembling behavior in aqueous solution revealed that the dimerization step is the key to the formation of linear polymeric supramolecular architecture, which is driven by favorable entropic contributions.

Benzene Derivatives↗
PubMed2003

Inclusion complexation and solubilization of paclitaxel by bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s containing a tetraethylenepentaamino spacer.

A novel water-soluble paclitaxel complex has been prepared by inclusion complexation with bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s and characterized by means of (1)H NMR, SEM, powder X-ray diffraction patterns, TG-DTA, DSC, FT-IR, and 2D NOESY. The cyclodextrins were able to solubilize paclitaxel to levels as high as 2 mg/mL. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the novel complexes was assessed using a K562 leukemia cell line which indicated that drug concentrations of 10 pg/mL elicited an inhibitory effect.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2003

Involvement of CFTR in uterine bicarbonate secretion and the fertilizing capacity of sperm.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-activated chloride channel expressed in a wide variety of epithelial cells, mutations of which are responsible for the hallmark defective chloride secretion observed in cystic fibrosis (CF). Although CFTR has been implicated in bicarbonate secretion, its ability to directly mediate bicarbonate secretion of any physiological significance has not been shown. We demonstrate here that endometrial epithelial cells possess a CFTR-mediated bicarbonate transport mechanism. Co-culture of sperm with endometrial cells treated with antisense oligonucleotide against CFTR, or with bicarbonate secretion-defective CF epithelial cells, resulted in lower sperm capacitation and egg-fertilizing ability. These results are consistent with a critical role of CFTR in controlling uterine bicarbonate secretion and the fertilizing capacity of sperm, providing a link between defective CFTR and lower female fertility in CF.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor-gamma ligands ameliorate experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligands have been shown to ameliorate a variety of inflammatory conditions. The present study tested the hypothesis that PPAR-gamma ligands reduce experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) associated with inhibition of the expansion and activation of T cells, as well as suppression of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. METHODS AND RESULTS: EAM was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with porcine cardiac myosin. PPAR-gamma ligands, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) 200 microg/kg/day i.p. and pioglitazone (PIO) 10 mg/kg/day orally, were administered for 3 weeks to rats with EAM. The results showed that enhanced PPAR-gamma expression was prominently stained in the nuclear and perinuclear regions of infiltrating inflammatory cells. Administration of PPAR-gamma ligands markedly reduced the severity of myocarditis, as shown by comparing the heart weight/body weight ratio, pericardial effusion scores, macroscopic scores and microscopic scores. PPAR-gamma ligands suppressed myocardial mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and the expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta protein in rats with EAM. In addition, 15d-PGJ(2) and PIO treatment suppressed the proliferative response and interferon-gamma production of T cell-enriched splenocytes from rats with EAM. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity and myocardiogenic potential of these T cells were inhibited by 15d-PGJ(2) treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PPAR-gamma may play a role in the pathophysiology of EAM. PPAR-gamma ligands ameliorate the EAM associated with suppression of the expansion and activation of myocardiogenic T cells, as well as inhibition of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that PPAR-gamma ligands such as 15d-PGJ(2) and PIO may have the potential to modulate human inflammatory heart diseases such as myocarditis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Inclusion complexation behavior of dyestuff guest molecules by a bridged bis(cyclomaltoheptaose)[bis(beta-cyclodextrin)] with a pyromellitic acid diamide tether.

A novel bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin) with a pyromellitic acid 2,5-diamide tether (2) has been synthesized by reaction of 6(I)-(2-aminoethyleneamino)-6-deoxycyclomaltoheptaose [mono 6-(2-aminoethyleneamino)-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin] with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride. Its inclusion complexation behavior with some representative dyestuffs, i.e., Acridine Red (AR), Rhodamine B (RhB), Neutral Red (NR), Brilliant Green (BG), was studied by using UV-absorption, fluorescence, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Fluorescence titrations have been performed at 25 degrees C in pH 7.2 buffer solution to calculate the binding constants of resulting complexes. These results obtained indicated that bis(beta-cyclodextrin) 2 exhibits the strongly enhanced binding ability with all dye molecules examined compared with natural cyclodextrins. The binding modes of 2 with dye molecules have been deduced by 2D NMR experiments to establish the correlations between molecular conformations and binding constants of inclusion complexation. It is found that the improved binding ability and molecular selectivity of 2 could be attributed to double-cavity cooperative inclusion interaction and the size/shape matching between the host and guest.

Amides↗
PubMed2003

Dopamine effect on the stimulus pattern related changes in response characteristics of R/G horizontal cells in carp retina.

Repetitive red flashes increased the R/G horizontal cells' red response amplitude and induced a hyperpolarization of the cells' dark membrane potential. These phenomena were eliminated in 6-OHDA pretreated retinas and restored by exogenous dopamine, which suggests the involvement of dopamine receptor activity changes instead of dopamine release changes. Furthermore, the phenomena persisted on D(1) receptor antagonist (SKF-83566) application, whereas they diminished on D(2) receptor antagonist (eticlopride) application, indicating that the mechanism is related to a D(2) receptor, possibly located on photoreceptors.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed2003

A general model for biosorption of Cd2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ by aerobic granules.

Aerobic granules are microbial aggregates with a strong and compact structure. This study looked into the feasibility of aerobic granules as a novel type of biosorbent for the removal of individual Cd(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) from aqueous solution. Based on the thermodynamics of biosorption reaction, a general model was developed to describe the equilibrium biosorption of individual Cd(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) by aerobic granules. This model provides good insights into the thermodynamic mechanisms of biosorption of heavy metals. The model prediction was in good agreement with the experimental data obtained. It was further demonstrated that the Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips or Hill equations were particular cases of the proposed model. The biosorption capacity of individual Cd(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) on aerobic granules was 172.7, 59.6 and 164.5 mgg(-1), respectively. These values may imply that aerobic granules are effective biosorbent for the removal of Cd(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) from industrial wastewater.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2003

Synthesis of phosphoryl-tethered beta-cyclodextrins and their molecular and chiral recognition thermodynamics.

Two novel phosphoryl-bridged bis- and tris(beta-cyclodextrin)s of different tether lengths, i.e., bis[m-(N-(6-cyclodextryl)-2-aminoethylaminosulfonyl)phenyl]-m-(chlorosulfonyl)phenylphosphine oxide (5) and tris[m-(N-(6-cyclodextryl)-8-amino-3,6-diazaoctylaminosulfonyl)phenyl]phosphine oxide (6), have been synthesized by reactions of 6-oligo(ethylenediamino)-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrins with tris[m-(chlorosulfonyl)phenyl]phosphine oxide. The complex stability constants (K(S)), standard molar enthalpy (Delta H degrees ), and entropy changes (Delta S degrees ) were determined at 25 degrees C for the inclusion complexation of phosphoryl-modified bis- and tris-cyclodextrins (5 and 6, respectively), mono[6-O-(ethoxyhydroxyphosphoryl)]-beta-cyclodextrin (2), mono[6-O-(diethylamino-ethoxyphosphoryl)]-beta-cyclodextrin (3), and mono[6-O-(diphenoxyphosphoryl)]-beta-cyclodextrin (4) with representative alicyclic and N-Cbz-D/L-alanine guests in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.2 by means of titration microcalorimetry. The thermodynamic parameters obtained indicate that the charge-dipole interaction between the phosphoryl moiety and the negatively charged guests, as well as the conformational difference of modified beta-cyclodextrins in aqueous solution, significantly contribute to the inclusion complexation and the enhanced chiral discrimination. The interactions and binding modes between the hosts and chiral guests were further studied by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the influence of the structural features of hosts on their increased chiral recognition ability and to establish the correlation between the conformation of the resulting complexes and the thermodynamic parameters obtained.

Alanine↗
PubMed2003

Growth and differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells: does 5-azacytidine trigger their cardiomyogenic differentiation?

OBJECTIVE: The potential use of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) as a cellular therapy for chronic cardiac diseases relies on the ability of the cell to replicate extensively in vitro and to give rise to myogenic cells that can replace the damaged cardiomyocytes. For this reason the present study investigated the replication lifespan and chemical-induced cardiomyogenic differentiation of rat MSCs in vitro. METHODS: The primary and the successively passaged Wistar rat MSCs were exposed to different concentrations (3, 5 and 10 microM) of 5-azacytidine using different methods (single- or repeat-treatment). The growth properties and the fate of the cells were compared to their untreated counterparts by cell counting, immunocytochemistry and Western analysis. RESULTS: When seeded at a density of 2845 cells/cm(2) and cultured under common conditions, rat MSCs could be expanded up to 21.94 cell doublings in 30 days of successive subcultures. This was accompanied by a gradual loss of their replication ability with passages. When treated with 5-azacytidine for 24 h at day 3 of primary culture and the first subculture, the growth properties of the MSCs were not obviously affected. Neither the spontaneously beating cells nor the formation of myotubes were found in the primary and first passaged MSCs after a single treatment with 5-azacytidine and in cultures which underwent repeated 5-azacytidine-treatments during continuous subculturing to passage 2. The expressions of cardiac troponin I, cardiac myosin heavy chain and connexin 43 by the 5-azacytidine-treated MSCs were also undetectable at both immunocytochemistry and Western blot levels. The specificity and reliability of the detection methods were technically confirmed with cultured rat cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Rat MSCs cannot be extensively expanded in vitro or be induced to differentiate in an expected cardiomyogenic way by 5-azacytidine-treatment, if the cells are not immortalized.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Structural, photophysical, and electrophosphorescent properties of platinum(II) complexes supported by tetradentate N2O2 chelates.

We present an examination of the structural and photophysical characteristics of [Pt(N(2)O(2))] complexes bearing bis(phenoxy)diimine auxiliaries (diimine=4,7-Ph(2)phen (1) and 4,4'-tBu(2)bpy (2)) that are tetradentate relatives of the quinolinolato (q) ligand. These neutral derivatives display high thermal stability (>400 degrees C in N(2)). While the crystal lattice in 1 consists of (head-to-tail)-interacting dimers, molecules of 2 are arranged into infinitely stacked planar sheets with possible pi-pi interactions but no close Pt.Pt contacts. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit moderately intense low-energy UV/Vis absorptions around lambda=400-500 nm that undergo negative solvatochromic shifts. Both derivatives are highly luminescent in solution at 298 K with emission lifetimes in the micros range, and mixed (3)[l-->pi*(diimine)] (l=lone pair/phenoxide) and (3)[Pt(d)-->pi*(diimine)] charge-transfer states are tentatively assigned. The excited-state properties of 2 are also investigated by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and by quenching experiments with pyridinium acceptors to estimate the excited-state redox potential. These emitters have been employed as electrophosphorescent dopants in multilayer OLEDs. Differences between the brightness, color, and overall performance of devices incorporating 1 and 2 are attributed to the influence of the diimine substituents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative complex with terbium ion(III) in gelation solution.

The complexation luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative, 5,11,17,23-tetra-sulfonate-25,26,27,28-tetra-carboxymethoxycalix[4]arene (L) with lanthanoid ion (Tb(3+)) has been investigated in gelation solution at 25 degrees C by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. The results obtained indicated that the water soluble calix[4]arene derivative can form an efficient energy transfer complex with terbium ion(III). The fluorescence of L x Tb(3+)complex is partially quenched by gelatin in gelation solution. The quenching intensity is related to the concentration and the hydrolysis degree of gelatin. Absorption and fluorescence spectra analysis show that the -COO(-) groups on gelatin have a definite binding ability to Tb(3+), and then, gelatin could compete binding with calix[4]arene derivative upon complexation with Tb(3+), leading to the relative fluorescence quenching of the formation complex of terbium(III) ion with calix[4]arene derivative.

Calixarenes↗
PubMed2003

Aluminosilicate nanoparticles for catalytic hydrocarbon cracking.

Aluminosilicate nanoparticles containing 9.0-20 nm mesopores were prepared through the use of protozeolitic nanoclusters as the inorganic precursor and starch as a porogen. The calcined, porogen-free composition containing 2 mol % aluminum exhibited the porosity, hydrothermal stability, and acidity needed for the cracking of very large hydrocarbons. In fact, the hydrothermal stability of the nanoparticles to pure steam at 800 degrees C, along with the cumene cracking activity, surpassed the analogous performance properties of ultrastable Y zeolite, the main catalyst component of commercial cracking catalysts. The remarkable hydrothermal stability and catalytic reactivity of the new nanoparticles are attributable to a unique combination of two factors, the presence of protozeolitic nanoclusters in the pore walls and the unprecedented pore wall thickness (7-15 nm). In addition, the excellent catalytic longevity of the nanoparticles is most likely facilitated by the small domain size of the nanoparticles that greatly improves access to the acid sites on the pore walls and minimizes the diffusion length of coke precursors out of the pores.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Synthesis of novel bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s and metallobridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s with 2,2'-diselenobis(benzoyl) tethers and their molecular multiple recognition with model substrates.

To investigate quantitatively the cooperative binding ability of beta-cyclodextrin dimers, a series of bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s with 2,2'-diselenobis(benzoyl) spacer connected by different lengths of oligo(ethylenediamine)s (2-5) and their platinum(IV) complexes (6-9) have been synthesized and their inclusion complexation behavior with selected substrates, such as Acridine Red, Neutral Red, Brilliant Green, Rhodamine B, ammonium 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate, and 6-p-toluidino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, were investigated by means of ultraviolet, fluorescence, fluorescence lifetime, circular dichroism, and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. The spectral titrations have been performed in aqueous phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.20) at 25 degrees C to give the complex stability constants (K(S)) and Gibbs free energy changes (-DeltaG degrees ) for the inclusion complexation of hosts 2-9 with organic dyes and other thermodynamic parameters (DeltaH degrees and TDeltaS degrees ) for the inclusion complexation of 2-5with fluorescent dyes ANS and TNS. The results obtained indicate that beta-cyclodextrin dimers 2-5 can coordinate with one or two platinum(IV) ions to form 1:1 or 1:2 stoichiometry metallobridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s. As compared with parent beta-cyclodextrin (1) and bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s 2-5, metallobridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s 6-9 can further switch the original molecular binding ability through the coordinating metal to orientate two beta-cyclodextrin cavities and an additional binding site upon the inclusion complexation with model substrates, giving the enhanced binding constants K(S) for both ANS and TNS. The tether length between two cyclodextrin units plays a crucial role in the molecular recognition with guest dyes. The binding constants for TNS decrease linearly with an increase in the tether length of dimeric beta-cyclodextrins. The Gibbs free energy change (-DeltaG degrees ) for the unit increment per ethylene is 0.32 kJ.mol(-)(1) for TNS. Thermodynamically, the higher complex stabilities of both ANS and TNS upon the inclusion complexation with 2-5 are mainly contributed to the favorable enthalpic gain (-DeltaH degrees ) by the cooperative binding of one guest molecule in the closely located two beta-cyclodextrin cavities as compared with parent beta-cyclodextrin. The molecular binding ability and selectivity of organic dyes by hosts 1-9 are discussed from the viewpoints of the multiple recognition mechanism and the size/shape-fitting relationship between host and guest.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2003

Ordered mesoporous silica with large cage-like pores: structural identification and pore connectivity design by controlling the synthesis temperature and time.

FDU-1 silicas with large cage-like pores (diameter about 10 nm) were synthesized under acidic conditions from tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer template B50-6600 (EO(39)BO(47)EO(39)). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering provided strong evidence that FDU-1 silica synthesized under typical conditions is a face-centered cubic Fm3m structure with 3-dimensional hexagonal intergrowth and is not a body-centered cubic Im3m structure, as originally reported. Samples synthesized in a wide range of conditions (initial temperatures from 298 to 353 K; hydrothermal treatment at 333-393 K) exhibited similar XRD patterns and their nitrogen adsorption isotherms indicated a good-quality cage-like pore structure. The examination of low-pressure nitrogen adsorption isotherms for FDU-1 samples, whose pore entrance diameters were evaluated using an independent method, allowed us to conclude that low-pressure adsorption was appreciably stronger for samples with smaller pore entrance sizes. This prompted us to examine low-pressure adsorption isotherms for a wide range of samples and led us to a conclusion that the FDU-1 pore entrance size can be systematically enlarged from about 1.3 nm (perhaps even lower) to at least 2.4 nm without an appreciable loss of uniformity by increasing the temperature of the hydrothermal treatment or the initial synthesis. Further enlargement of pore entrance size was achieved for sufficiently long hydrothermal treatment times at temperatures of 373 K or higher, as seen from the shape of nitrogen desorption isotherms. This allowed us to obtain samples with uniform pore sizes, high adsorption capacity, and with pore entrances enlarged so much that their size was similar to the size of the pore itself, resulting in a highly open porous structure. However, in the latter case, there was evidence that the pore entrance size distribution was quite broad.

Journal Article↗