| 1. |
- Liu, Hui Rong, et al.
(author)
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Relationship of myocardial remodeling to the genesis of serum autoantibodies to cardiac beta(1)-adrenoceptors and muscarinic type 2 acetylcholine receptors in rats.
- 2002
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In: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - 0735-1097. ; 39:11, s. 1866-73
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the mechanism responsible for the occurrence of anticardiac receptor autoantibodies. BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of autoimmune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of a number of cardiovascular diseases. Among them, the biologic, functional and pathogenic properties of anticardiac receptor antibodies have been extensively investigated. However, the mechanism responsible for the occurrence of anticardiac receptor autoantibodies remains poorly understood. METHODS: Two rat models (aortic banding [AB] and adriamycin [ADR] groups) were constructed. Determination of cardiac function and morphology and T-lymphocyte subtypes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cardiomyocyte cultures were performed. RESULTS: It was shown, in the AB and ADR groups, that the frequency and titer of autoantibodies to beta(1) and muscarinic type 2 receptors were increased when myocardial remodeling occurred, as evidenced by significant cardiac morphologic changes, deposition of collagen and obvious functional impairment. This suggests that cardiac remodeling itself, in two disparate models of heart failure and cardiomyopathy, was able to trigger the genesis of anticardiac receptor autoantibodies. These autoantibodies have biologic effects similar to those seen in human autoantibodies. They have also shown a characteristic self-growth, as well as a time-course decline, suggesting that a negative finding of anticardiac receptor autoantibodies in sera of patients with heart disease does not necessarily imply that there is no autoimmune reaction involved in the pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that myocardial damage was able to trigger the occurrence of an autoimmune reaction, resulting in the genesis of anticardiac receptor autoantibodies with properties similar to those seen in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
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| 2. |
- Bu, Junling, et al.
(author)
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Catalytic promiscuity of O-methyltransferases from Corydalis yanhusuo leading to the structural diversity of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids
- 2022
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In: Horticulture Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2662-6810 .- 2052-7276. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- O-methyltransferases play essential roles in producing structural diversity and improving the biological properties of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) in plants. In this study, Corydalis yanhusuo, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine due to the analgesic effects of its BIA-active compounds, was employed to analyze the catalytic characteristics of O-methyltransferases in the formation of BIA diversity. Seven genes encoding O-methyltransferases were cloned, and functionally characterized using seven potential BIA substrates. Specifically, an O-methyltransferase (CyOMT2) with highly efficient catalytic activity of both 4′- and 6-O-methylations of 1-BIAs was found. CyOMT6 was found to perform two sequential methylations at both 9- and 2-positions of the essential intermediate of tetrahydroprotoberberines, (S)-scoulerine. Two O-methyltransferases (CyOMT5 and CyOMT7) with wide substrate promiscuity were found, with the 2-position of tetrahydroprotoberberines as the preferential catalytic site for CyOMT5 (named scoulerine 2-O-methyltransferase) and the 6-position of 1-BIAs as the preferential site for CyOMT7. In addition, results of integrated phylogenetic molecular docking analysis and site-directed mutation suggested that residues at sites 172, 306, 313, and 314 in CyOMT5 are important for enzyme promiscuity related to O-methylations at the 6- and 7-positions of isoquinoline. Cys at site 253 in CyOMT2 was proved to promote the methylation activity of the 6-position and to expand substrate scopes. This work provides insight into O-methyltransferases in producing BIA diversity in C. yanhusuo and genetic elements for producing BIAs by metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
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| 3. |
- Jiao, Xiang, et al.
(author)
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Comparative analysis of nonlinear growth curve models for Arabidopsis thaliana rosette leaves
- 2018
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In: Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. - : Springer. - 0137-5881 .- 1861-1664. ; 40:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As a model organism, modeling and analysis of the phenotype of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) leaves for a given genotype can help us better understand leaf growth regulation. A. thaliana leaves growth trajectories are to be nonlinear and the leaves contribute most to the above-ground biomass. Therefore, analysis of their change regulation and development of nonlinear growth models can better understand the phenotypic characteristics of leaves (e.g., leaf size) at different growth stages. In this study, every individual leaf size of A. thaliana rosette leaves was measured during their whole life cycle using non-destructive imaging measurement. And three growth models (Gompertz model, logistic model and Von Bertalanffy model) were analyzed to quantify the rosette leaves growth process of A. thaliana. Both graphical (plots of standardized residuals) and numerical measures (AIC, R2 and RMSE) were used to evaluate the fitted models. The results showed that the logistic model fitted better in describing the growth of A. thaliana leaves compared to Gompertz model and Von Bertalanffy model, as it gave higher R2 and lower AIC and RMSE for the leaves of A. thaliana at different growth stages (i.e., early leaf, mid-term leaf and late leaf).
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| 4. |
- Li, Xinyi, et al.
(author)
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Phylogenetic analysis and functional characterization of norcoclaurine synthase involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloids biosynthesis in Stephania tetrandra
- 2023
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In: Journal of Cellular Physiology. - 1097-4652 .- 0021-9541. ; In Press
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a class of secondary metabolites that possess diverse pharmaceutical properties and are exclusively accumulated in specific plant genera. The Pictet–Spengler condensation, catalyzed by norcoclaurine synthase (NCS), represents a key enzymatic reaction in the biosynthetic pathway of BIAs. While NCS genes have been identified in several plant families such as Papaveraceae, Berberidaceae, and Ranunculaceae, no NCS genes have been reported in Menispermaceae, which is another genus known to accumulate BIAs. Here, NCSs were isolated and functionally characterized from the Menispermaceae family plant Stephania tetrandra. In vitro enzyme assay identified two functional StNCSs which could catalyze the formation of (S)-norcoclaurine. These functionally characterized genes were then integrated into engineered yeast to enable the production of norcoclaurine. Phylogenetic analysis of the NCS enzymes revealed that the StNCSs predominantly clustered into two clades. The functional StNCSs clustered with known NCSs, highlighting the presence of a specific NCS catalytic domain. This study not only provides additional genetic components for the synthetic biology-based production of BIAs in yeast but also contributes to the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and structure–function relationship of NCS genes involved in the origin and production of BIAs.
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| 5. |
- Liu, Xiuyu, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of CYP82 genes involved in the biosynthesis of structurally diverse benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Corydalis yanhusuo
- 2024
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In: Plant Molecular Biology. - 0167-4412 .- 1573-5028. ; 114:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) represent a significant class of secondary metabolites with crucial roles in plant physiology and substantial potential for clinical applications. CYP82 genes are involved in the formation and modification of various BIA skeletons, contributing to the structural diversity of compounds. In this study, Corydalis yanhusuo, a traditional Chinese medicine rich in BIAs, was investigated to identify the catalytic function of CYP82s during BIA formation. Specifically, 20 CyCYP82-encoding genes were cloned, and their functions were identified in vitro. Ten of these CyCYP82s were observed to catalyze hydroxylation, leading to the formation of protopine and benzophenanthridine scaffolds. Furthermore, the correlation between BIA accumulation and the expression of CyCYP82s in different tissues of C. yanhusuo was assessed their. The identification and characterization of CyCYP82s provide novel genetic elements that can advance the synthetic biology of BIA compounds such as protopine and benzophenanthridine, and offer insights into the biosynthesis of BIAs with diverse structures in C. yanhusuo.
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| 6. |
- Liu, Xiuyu, et al.
(author)
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Functional characterization of (S)–N-methylcoclaurine 3′-hydroxylase (NMCH) involved in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Corydalis yanhusuo
- 2021
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In: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0981-9428. ; 168, s. 507-515
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are compounds naturally found in plants and can have significant value in clinical settings. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology are both promising approaches for the heterologous acquisition of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. (S)–N-methylcoclaurine 3′-hydroxylase (NMCH), a member of the CYP80 family of CYP450, is the penultimate catalytic enzyme that forms the central branch-point intermediate (S)-reticuline and plays a key role in the biosynthesis of BIAs. In this study, an NMCH gene was cloned from Corydalis yanhusuo, while in vitro reactions demonstrated that CyNMCH can catalyze (S)–N-methylcoclaurine to produce (S)-3′-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine. The Km and Kcat of CyNMCH were estimated and compared with those identified in Eschscholzia californica and Coptis japonica. This newly discovered CyNMCH will provide alternative genetic resources for the synthetic biological production of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and provides a foundation to help analyze the biosynthetic pathway of BIAs biosynthesis in C. yanhusuo.
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| 7. |
- Liu, Xiuyu, et al.
(author)
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Structure-function analysis of CYP719As involved in methylenedioxy bridge-formation in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and its de novo production
- 2023
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In: Microbial Cell Factories. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2859. ; 22:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a type of secondary metabolite with clinical application value. (S)-stylopine is a special BIA which contains methylenedioxy bridge structures. CYP719As could catalyze the methylenedioxy bridge-formation on the A or D rings of protoberberine alkaloids, while displaying significant substrate regiospecificity. To explore the substrate preference of CYP719As, we cloned and identified five CyCYP719A candidates from Corydalis yanhusuo. Two CyCYP719As (CyCYP719A39 and CyCYP719A42) with high catalytic efficiency for the methylenedioxy bridge-formation on the D or A rings were characterized, respectively. The residues (Leu 294 for CyCYP719A42 and Asp 289 for CyCYP719A39) were identified as the key to controlling the regioselectivity of CYP719As affecting the methylenedioxy bridge-formation on the A or D rings by homology modeling and mutation analysis. Furthermore, for de novo production of BIAs, CyCYP719A39, CyCYP719A42, and their mutants were introduced into the (S)-scoulerine-producing yeast to produce 32 mg/L (S)-stylopine. These results lay a foundation for understanding the structure-function relationship of CYP719A-mediated methylenedioxy bridge-formation and provide yeast strains for the BIAs production by synthetic biology.
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| 8. |
- Bravo, L, et al.
(author)
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- 2021
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| 9. |
- Tabiri, S, et al.
(author)
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- 2021
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