Xinxiang Lei

Genome‐Wide Studies Reveal That Lin28 Enhances the Translation of Genes Important for Growth and Survival of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Lin28 inhibits the expression of let‐7 microRNAs but also exhibits let‐7‐independent functions. Using immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing, we show here that Lin28 preferentially associates with a small subset of cellular mRNAs. Of particular interest are those for ribosomal proteins and metabolic enzymes, the expression levels of which are known to be coupled to cell growth and survival. Polysome profiling and reporter analyses suggest that Lin28 stimulates the translation of many or most of these targets. Moreover, Lin28‐responsive elements were found within the coding regions of all target genes tested. Finally, a mutant Lin28 that still binds RNA but fails to interact with RNA helicase A (RHA), acts as a dominant‐negative inhibitor of Lin28‐dependent stimulation of translation. We suggest that Lin28, working in concert with RHA, enhances the translation of genes important for the growth and survival of human embryonic stem cells. STEM CELLS 2011;496–504

Evidence that Lin28 stimulates translation by recruiting RNA helicase A to polysomes

The stem cell protein Lin28 functions to inhibit the biogenesis of a group of miRNAs but also stimulates the expression of a subset of mRNAs at the post-transcriptional level, the underlying mechanism of which is not yet understood. Here we report the characterization of the molecular interplay between Lin28 and RNA helicase A (RHA) known to play an important role in remodeling ribonucleoprotein particles during translation. We show that reducing Lin28 expression results in decreased RHA association with polysomes while increasing Lin28 expression leads to elevated RHA association. Further, the carboxyl terminus of Lin28 is necessary for interaction with both the amino and carboxyl termini of RHA. Importantly, a carboxyl terminal deletion mutant of Lin28 that retains RNA-binding activity fails to interact with RHA and exhibits dominant-negative effects on Lin28-dependent stimulation of translation. Taken together, these results lead us to suggest that Lin28 may stimulate translation by actively recruiting RHA to polysomes.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of 3-(2-Furanyl)-6-Aryl-1,2,4-Triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4 –Thiadiazoles

3-(2-Furanyl)-4-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (1) was prepared from 2-furoic acid through a multi-step reaction sequence. Compound 1 reacted with aromatic acids in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride to give 3-(2-furanyl)-6-aryl-1,2,4- triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (2). The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectra. The bioassay indicated most of the title compounds possess significant growth promoting effects on mung bean radicles.

Graphene Oxide Liquid Crystals as a Versatile and Tunable Alignment Medium for the Measurement of Residual Dipolar Couplings in Organic Solvents

Residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) have proven to be an invaluable anisotropic NMR parameter for the structural elucidation of complex biopolymers and organic molecules. However, a remaining bottleneck limiting its wider use by organic and natural product chemists is the lack of a range of easily applicable aligning media for diverse organic solvents. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) liquid crystals (LCs) were developed to induce partial orientation of organic molecules to allow RDC measurements. These LCs were determined to be maintainable at very low concentrations (as low as 1 mg/mL, corresponding to quadrupolar (2)H splittings ranging from 2.8 to 30 Hz and maximum (13)C-(1)H dipolar couplings of 20 Hz for camphor in a CH3COCH3/water system) and to be remarkably stable and broadly compatible with aqueous and organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, CH3COCH3, and CH3CN. Moreover, compared with those for other alignment media, very clean and high-quality NMR spectra were acquired with the GO molecules in solution because of their rigidity and high molecular weight. The developed medium offers a versatile and robust method for RDC measurements that may routinize the RDC-based structure determination of organic molecules.

Determinants of mRNA recognition and translation regulation by Lin28

Lin28 is critical for stem cell maintenance and is also associated with advanced human malignancies. Our recent genome-wide studies mark Lin28 as a master post-transcriptional regulator of a subset of messenger RNAs important for cell growth and metabolism. However, the molecular basis underpinning the selective mRNA target regulation is unclear. Here, we provide evidence that Lin28 recognizes a unique motif in multiple target mRNAs, characterized by a small but critical ‘A’ bulge flanked by two G:C base pairs embedded in a complex secondary structure. This motif mediates Lin28-dependent stimulation of translation. As Lin28 is also known to inhibit the biogenesis of a cohort of miRNAs including let-7, we propose that Lin28 binding to different RNA types (precursor miRNAs versus mRNAs) may facilitate recruitment of different co-factors, leading to distinct regulatory outcomes. Our findings uncover a putative yet unexpected motif that may constitute a mechanistic base for the multitude of functions regulated by Lin28 in both stem cells and cancer cells.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Some Novel Derivatives of 4-Amino-3-(D-galactopentitol-1-yl)-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole

To discover new 1,2,4-triazole derivatives which may possess significant biological activities, we synthesized a series of novel 6-aryl-3-(D-galactopentitol-1-yl)-7H-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines and 4-(arylmethylidene)amino-5-(D-galactopentitol-1-yl)-3-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazoles from 4-amino-3-(D-galactopentitol-1-yl)-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole. All the title compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR. Plant growth-regulating activity tests showed that these compounds have remarkable effects on the growth of radish and wheat.

Curindolizine, an Anti-Inflammatory Agent Assembled via Michael Addition of Pyrrole Alkaloids Inside Fungal Cells

Curvularia sp. IFB-Z10, a white croaker-associated fungus, generates a skeletally unprecedented indolizine alkaloid named curindolizine (1), which displays an anti-inflammatory action in lipopolyssacharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages with an IC50 value of 5.31 ± 0.21 μM. The enzymatic transformation test demonstrated that the unique curindolizine architecture was most likely produced by the regiospecific in-cell Michael addition reaction between pyrrole alkaloids, curvulamine, and 3,5-dimethylindolizin-8(5H)-one.

Curvulamine, a New Antibacterial Alkaloid Incorporating Two Undescribed Units from a Curvularia Species

The white croaker (Argyrosomus argentatus) derived Curvularia sp. IFB-Z10 produces curvulamine as a skeletally unprecedented alkaloid incorporating two undescribed extender units. Curvulamine is more selectively antibacterial than tinidazole and biosynthetically unique in the new extenders formed through a decarboxylative condensation between an oligoketide motif and alanine.

pattern-based recognition for determination of enantiomeric excess, using chiral auxiliary induced chemical shift perturbation nmr

A protocol for the determination of enantiomeric excess of chiral carboxylic acid, using the subtle frequency shifts (chemical shift perturbation) in NMR spectra induced by chiral auxiliary, is described. The spectra were analyzed with two pattern recognition protocols. Principal component analysis demonstrated good enantioselective separation of the analytes, and partial least-squares was used to analyze ee values of unknown samples.

Chemical composition of the green alga Codium Divaricatum Holmes

A new sterol, 24-R-stigmasta-4,25-diene-3β,6β-diol (1), along with three known compounds (2-3), was isolated from the green alga Codium divaricatum Holmes, a traditional Chinese medicine, which is efficacious against cancer. All structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and comparison with related known compounds. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography allowed us to confirm the structure of 1. To our knowledge, the compound 1 is reported as the first from natural source, and compounds 2, 4 have not been isolated from green algae before.