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Si Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Si Zhang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Enhancement of secondary organic aerosol formation from isoprene photooxidation by ammonia.

Ammonia (NH3) can participate in atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation by reacting with organic acids and carbonyl compounds in particle phase, but its influence on the gas phase chemistry remains unclear. This study performed a series of smog chamber experiments to investigate the influence of NH3 on the formation of SOA from isoprene photooxidation by OH radicals. Both gas and particle phase products were measured with a series of state-of- art instruments including a nitrate ion chemical ionization mass spectrometer (nitrate-CIMS) and high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-TOF-AMS). Our results showed that in the presence of NH3 SOA in the chamber significantly increased, along with an enhanced oxidation of isoprene. CIMS analysis further showed that NH3 in the chamber homogeneously reacts not only with gas-phase organic acids but also with gaseous low volatility oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) to generate extremely low volatility and ultralow volatility NH3-OOMs clusters. Quantum chemical calculation showed that NH3 can spontaneously interact with OOMs to form NH3-OOMs clusters by forming hydrogen bonds with RCOOH, R-OOH, and R-OH. These clusters can promote new particles formation and particle growth through nucleation and condensation, directly enhancing the isoprene SOA production with a contribution of 78% to the enhanced SOA. Moreover, the formation of NH3-OOMs clusters also results in more isoprene consumed by OH radicals, indirectly increasing the SOA production with a contribution of 22 % to the enhanced SOA. Our work for the first time clarified a synergetic effect of NH3 on isoprene SOA formation, which should be accounted for by models.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2006

Dietary and in utero exposure to a pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture did not affect cholinergic parameters in the cerebral cortex of ranch mink (Mustela vison).

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants that are recognized as global environmental contaminants and a potential health risk. They have been shown to elicit neurodevelopmental toxicity through disruption of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system in rodent models, but the effects of environmentally relevant exposures in wildlife species are unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the commercial pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture DE-71 on cholinergic parameters in ranch mink (Mustela vison) following dietary exposure of adult females and in utero, lactational, and dietary exposure of their offspring. Adult females were fed diets containing 0, 0.1, 0.5, or 2.5 microg DE-71/g feed from four weeks prior to breeding through weaning of their kits at six weeks of age. A portion of the weaned kits were maintained on their respective diets through 27 weeks of age. Cholinergic parameters, including muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) binding, cholinesterase (ChE) activity, and acetylcholine (ACh) concentration, were assayed in the cerebral cortex, and ChE activity was measured in the plasma. In the cerebral cortex, results indicated a significant exposure-dependent increase in PBDE concentrations, but no significant effects of DE-71 on cholinergic parameters. There was a threefold increase in ChE activity in the plasma of adult females in the 2.5 microg DE-71/g feed group, but was likely due to effects on liver function. This study demonstrated that environmentally relevant exposures to DE-71 did not affect key parameters of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system in the brain of ranch mink.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2006

Down-regulation of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase V is a critical part of etoposide-induced apoptotic process and could be mediated by decreasing Sp1 levels in human glioma cells.

beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase V (beta1,4GalT V; EC 2.4.1.38) is considered to be very important in glioma for expressing transformation-related highly branched N-glycans. Recently, we have characterized beta1,4GalT V as a positive growth regulator in several glioma cell lines. However, the role of beta1,4GalT V in glioma therapy has not been clearly reported. In this study, interfering with the expression of beta1,4GalT V by its antisense cDNA in SHG44 human glioma cells markedly promoted apoptosis induced by etoposide and the activation of caspases as well as processing of Bid and expression of Bax and Bak. Conversely, the ectopic expression of beta1,4GalT V attenuated the apoptotic effect of etoposide on SHG44 cells. In addition, both the beta1,4GalT V transcription and the binding of total or membrane glycoprotein with Ricinus communis agglutinin-I (RCA-I) were partially reduced in etoposide-treated SHG44 cells, correlated well with a decreased level of Sp1 that has been identified as an activator of beta1,4GalT V transcription. Collectively, our results suggest that the down-regulation of beta1,4GalT V expression plays an important role in etoposide-induced apoptosis and could be mediated by a decreasing level of Sp1 in SHG44 cells, indicating that inhibitors of beta1,4GalT V may enhance the therapeutic efficiency of etoposide for malignant glioma.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed2006

Cell surface beta 1, 4-galactosyltransferase 1 promotes apoptosis by inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor pathway.

Our previous studies have shown that overexpression of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase1 (beta1,4GT1) leads to increased apoptosis induced by cycloheximide (CHX) in SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cells. However, the role of beta1,4GT1 in apoptosis remains unclear. Here we demonstrated that cell surface beta1,4GT1 inhibited the autophosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) especially at Try 1068. The phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), which are downstream molecules of EGFR, were also reduced in cell surface beta1,4GT1-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, the translocations of Bad and Bax that are regulated by PKB/Akt and ERK1/2 were also increased in these cells. As a result, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol was increased and caspase-3 was activated. In contrast, RNAi-mediated knockdown of beta1,4GT1 increased the autophosphorylation of EGFR. These results demonstrated that cell surface beta1,4GT1 may negatively regulate cell survival possibly through inhibiting and modulating EGFR signaling pathway.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Beta1,4-galactosyltransferase V functions as a positive growth regulator in glioma.

beta1,4-galactosyltransferase V (GalT V; EC 2.4.1.38) can effectively galactosylate the GlcNAcbeta1-->6Man arm of the highly branched N-glycans that are characteristic of glioma. Previously, we have reported that the expression of GalT V is increased in the process of glioma. However, currently little is known about the role of GalT V in this process. In this study, the ectopic expression of GalT V could promote the invasion and survival of glioma cells and transformed astrocytes. Furthermore, decreasing the expression of GalT V in glioma cells promoted apoptosis, inhibited the invasion and migration and the ability of tumor formation in vivo, and reduced the activation of AKT. In addition, the activity of GalT V promoter could be induced by epidermal growth factor, dominant active Ras, ERK1, JNK1, and constitutively active AKT. Taken together, our results suggest that GalT V functioned as a novel glioma growth activator and might represent a novel target in glioma therapy.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Complete assignments of (1)H and (13)C NMR data for two 3beta,8beta-epoxymexicanolides from the fruit of a Chinese mangrove Xylocarpus granatum.

Three 3beta,8beta-epoxymexicanolides, including xyloccensin K, 6-acetoxycedrodorin and a new one named xyloccensin W, were isolated from the fruit of a Chinese mangrove Xylocarpus granatum. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The first complete assignment of (1)H and (13)C NMR data for xyloccensin W was achieved by means of 2D NMR techniques, including (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY spectra. In addition, the confusion of (1)H and (13)C NMR data previously reported for xyloccensin K was clarified.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed2006

New polyoxygenated steroids from the South China Sea gorgonian Echinogorgia aurantiaca.

Three new polyoxygenated steroids, named 3beta,7alpha,9alpha-trihydroxy-cholestan-6-one (1), 3beta,5alpha,6beta-trihydroxycholestan-1-one (2) and cholestane-3beta,5alpha,6beta,11beta-tetrol (3), along with four known steroids (4-7) were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian Echinogorgia aurantiaca. The structures of 1-3 were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR data.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Chemical constituents from the south China sea gorgonian coral Subergorgia reticulata].

Nine compounds, cholesterol (1), ergostra-7,22-diene-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (2), cholesta-7,22-diene-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (3),5,8-epidioxycampesta-6,22-dien-3-o1 (4), batyl alcohol (5), theine (6), thymine (7), uracil (8), guanine (9), were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian coral Subergorgia reticulata and their structures elucidated on the basis of spectral data. All of these compounds were isolated for the first time from this gorgonian coral.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments of four new steroidal glycosides from a gorgonian coral Junceella juncea.

Four new cholest-type steroidal glycosides, junceellosides A-D, isolated from the EtOH/CH(2)Cl(2) extracts of the South China Sea gorgonian coral Junceella juncea, were identified. Complete assignments of the (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts for these compounds were achieved by means of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, including (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY spectra.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Oleanane triterpenes from Aegiceras corniculatum.

A new oleanane triterpene, 16alpha-hydroxy-l3,28-epoxyoleanan-3-one 1, was isolated from the stem bark of Aegiceras corniculatum, together with protoprimulagenin, aegicerin, embelinone, syringic acid, gallic acid, isorhamnetin and isorhamnetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Exploring novel bioactive compounds from marine microbes.

The historical paradigm of the deep ocean as a biological 'desert' has shifted to one of a 'rainforest' owing to the isolation of many novel microbes and their associated bioactive compounds. Recently, there has been an explosion of information about novel bioactive compounds that have been isolated from marine microbes in an effort to further explore the relatively untapped marine microbes and their secondary metabolites for drug discovery. The microbes are recovered and purified from the ocean by both conventional and innovative isolation methods to obtain those previously thought to be 'uncultivable'. To overcome the difficulties and limitations associated with cultivation techniques, several DNA-based molecular methods have been developed to bypass the culture-dependent bottleneck. Bioactive compounds isolated using the above strategies have not only shown importance in biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications but have also increased our understanding of the diversity of marine microbiota, ecosystem functions and the exploitable biology.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2005

A cytotoxic sesquiterpene alkaloid from the South China Sea gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa.

A new sesquiterpene alkaloid, 6-(9'-purine-6',8'-diolyl)-2beta-suberosanone (1), together with three known sesquiterpenes, suberosenol A (2), subergorgic acid (3), and subergorgiol (4), was isolated from the EtOH/CH2Cl2 extracts of the South China Sea gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa. The structure of 1 was determined through spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against the human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cell line with an IC50 of 8.87 microg/mL.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2005

Glutamate receptor 1-immunopositive neurons in the gliotic CA1 area of the mouse hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.

Significant reduction in glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1)- and GluR2/3-immunopositive neurons was demonstrated in the hilus of the dentate gyrus in mice killed on days 1, 7 and 60 after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (PISE). In addition, GluR1 and GluR2/3 immunostaining in the strata oriens, radiatum and lacunosum moleculare of areas CA1-3 decreased drastically on days 7 and 60 after PISE. Neuronal loss observed in the above regions may account, at least in part, for a decrease in GluR immunoreactivity. By contrast, many GluR1-immunopositive neurons were observed in the gliotic area of CA1. Of these, about 42.8% were immunopositive for markers for hippocampal interneurons, namely calretinin (7.6%), calbindin (12.8%) and parvalbumin (22.4%). GluR1 or GluR2/3 and BrdU double-labelling showed that the GluR1- and GluR2/3-immunopositive neurons at 60 days after PISE were neurons that had survived rather than newly generated neurons. Furthermore, anterograde tracer and double-labelling studies performed on animals at 60 days after PISE indicated a projection from the hilus of the dentate gyrus to gliotic areas in both CA3 and CA1, where the projecting fibres apparently established connections with GluR1-immunopositive neurons. The projection to CA1 was unexpected. These novel findings suggest that the intrinsic hippocampal neuronal network is altered after PISE. We speculate that GluR1-immunopositive neurons in gliotic CA1 act as a bridge between dentate gyrus and subiculum contributing towards epileptogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A new unsaturated glycoglycerolipid from a cultured marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae.

From the cultured marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae, a new unsaturated glycoglycerolipid (2S)-1,2-O-6,9,12,15-dioctadecatetraenoyl-3-O-[alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1''''-->6''')-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-glycerol (1), has been isolated together with two known saturated ones, (2S)-1,2-distearoyl-3-O-(6-sulpho-alpha-D-quinovopyranosyl)-glycerol (2) and (2S)-1-stearoyl-3-O-(6-sulpho-alpha-D-quinovopyranosyl)-glycerol (3). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral data.

Animals↗