1.Engineering cellular dephosphorylation boosts (+)-borneol production in yeast.
Haiyan ZHANG ; Peng CAI ; Juan GUO ; Jiaoqi GAO ; Linfeng XIE ; Ping SU ; Xiaoxin ZHAI ; Baolong JIN ; Guanghong CUI ; Yongjin J ZHOU ; Luqi HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):1171-1182
(+)-Borneol, the main component of "Natural Borneol" in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a high-end spice and precious medicine. Plant extraction cannot meet the increasing demand for (+)-borneol, while microbial biosynthesis offers a sustainable supply route. However, its production was extremely low compared with other monoterpenes, even with extensively optimizing the mevalonate pathway. We found that the key challenge is the complex and unusual dephosphorylation reaction of bornyl diphosphate (BPP), which suffers the side-reaction and the competition from the cellular dephosphorylation process, especially lipid metabolism, thus limiting (+)-borneol synthesis. Here, we systematically optimized the dephosphorylation process by identifying, characterizing phosphatases, and balancing cellular dephosphorylation metabolism. For the first time, we identified two endogenous phosphatases and seven heterologous phosphatases, which significantly increased (+)-borneol production by up to 152%. By engineering BPP dephosphorylation and optimizing the MVA pathway, the production of (+)-borneol was increased by 33.8-fold, which enabled the production of 753 mg/L under fed-batch fermentation in shake flasks, so far the highest reported in the literature. This study showed that rewiring dephosphorylation metabolism was essential for high-level production of (+)-borneol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and balancing cellular dephosphorylation is also helpful for efficient biosynthesis of other terpenoids since all whose biosynthesis involves the dephosphorylation procedure.
2.Exploration on the Biological Connotation of Treating Coronary Heart Disease from Kidney Based on Endothelial Cell Aging
Yilei HU ; Lei CAI ; Zhiyan MA ; Xiaoxin LUO ; Weixiong JIAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(4):14-18
Coronary heart disease has a significant age correlation,and cell aging is the basic factor of aging of the body.Aging endothelial cells can interfere with the development of coronary heart disease through oxidative stress,mitochondrial dysfunction and other ways.This article focused on the mechanism of endothelial cell aging promoting coronary heart disease,which is related to"kidney"in TCM.Kidney has physiological characteristics such as participating in the growth and aging,the interaction of essence and blood,water and liquid metabolism,etc.Deficiency of kidney essence can slow down the generation of kidney turbidity,which can also be followed by blood stasis,phlegm and other pathogenic factors eroding arteries,which is consistent with the role of endothelial cell aging in promoting plaque development and accelerating thrombosis.The article also discussed the biological connotation of treating coronary heart disease from kidney from the perspective of endothelial cell aging,and put forward that the basic principle of treating coronary heart disease from kidney should be tonifying kidney and expelling turbidity,and then treat it according to different syndromes such as heart-kidney disharmony,qi stagnation in the heart and chest,phlegm obstruction in collaterals and blood stasis obstruction in collaterals,providing new ideas for the biological research and clinical application of TCM in the treatment of coronary heart disease.
3.Cognitive inhibition characteristics of children with hearing impairment
Yonggang CAI ; Teng ZHANG ; Tianqin LIU ; Jianfen WANG ; Xiaohui GAO ; Xiaoxin DU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2025;31(7):853-861
Objective To investigate the characteristics of cognitive inhibition in children with hearing impairment and the impact of different types of materials on their cognitive inhibition.Methods From June,2024 to January,2025,21 children with hearing impairment from Liaocheng Special Education School and 20 typically developing children from Guotun Town Central Primary School in Yanggu County,Liao-cheng were randomly selected.A directed forgetting task was used in a mixed experimental design.The experi-mental procedure was presented using Eprime 3.0,and recall performance was recorded through paper-and-pen-cil tests.Results Three children with hearing impairment and two typically developing children were dropped down.The children with hearing impairment scored significantly lower on recall tasks than the typically developing children(F=13.545,P<0.001).In the typically developing children,recall performance under the memory condition was sig-nificantly lower than under the forgetting condition(P<0.001).In the children with hearing impairment,there was no significant difference in recall performance between the memory condition and the forgetting condition(P>0.05).Regardless of whether the materials were letters or figures,all the children showed significantly high-er recall scores under the forgetting condition compared to the memory condition(P<0.01).Conclusion Children with hearing impairment exhibit weaker cognitive inhibition compared to typically developing chil-dren.The type of materials doesn't impact individuals'cognitive inhibition performance.
4.Optimization of the Extraction Process of Changyan Heji Ⅱ Based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Combined with Response Surface Method and Principal Component Analysis
Shulin WANG ; Jing SHANG ; Wenjun LIU ; Zerong CAI ; Mengyu QIAN ; Xiaoxin HU ; Liang CAO ; Zhenz-hong WANG ; Wei XIAO
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):501-512
OBJECTIVE To establish a extraction process of Changyan Heji Ⅱ(CYHJ-Ⅱ)based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology combined with response surface analysis,and to optimize the extraction process.METHODS The chemical components in CYHJ-Ⅱ were qualitatively analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology,and the chemical components with good linear relation-ship in mass spectrometry response were selected as process investigation indicators;the extraction process parameters(water addition amount,extraction time and soaking time)were investigated by Box-Behnken design;the comprehensive score was obtained by princi-pal component analysis(PCA),and the optimal process was determined by the comprehensive score combined with response surface a-nalysis.RESULTS Through qualitative analysis,110 components were inferred and identified from CYHJ-Ⅱ,including 2 organic acids,82 flavonoids,13 terpenoids,and 13 alkaloids.Based on the results of qualitative analysis,48 index components with good lin-ear relationships were derived by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with Masshunter mass spectrometry data analysis software.PCA was performed and the comprehensive score was calculated.Response surface analysis was performed with the comprehensive score as an indicator.The optimal extraction process obtained by combining the response surface prediction results and actual production was:soaking for 45 min,8 times the amount of solvent,2 extractions,each time for 120 min.CONCLUSION This study provides a new idea for the investigation of the extraction process of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions and expands a new method for the development of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions.
5.Cognitive inhibition characteristics of children with hearing impairment
Yonggang CAI ; Teng ZHANG ; Tianqin LIU ; Jianfen WANG ; Xiaohui GAO ; Xiaoxin DU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2025;31(7):853-861
Objective To investigate the characteristics of cognitive inhibition in children with hearing impairment and the impact of different types of materials on their cognitive inhibition.Methods From June,2024 to January,2025,21 children with hearing impairment from Liaocheng Special Education School and 20 typically developing children from Guotun Town Central Primary School in Yanggu County,Liao-cheng were randomly selected.A directed forgetting task was used in a mixed experimental design.The experi-mental procedure was presented using Eprime 3.0,and recall performance was recorded through paper-and-pen-cil tests.Results Three children with hearing impairment and two typically developing children were dropped down.The children with hearing impairment scored significantly lower on recall tasks than the typically developing children(F=13.545,P<0.001).In the typically developing children,recall performance under the memory condition was sig-nificantly lower than under the forgetting condition(P<0.001).In the children with hearing impairment,there was no significant difference in recall performance between the memory condition and the forgetting condition(P>0.05).Regardless of whether the materials were letters or figures,all the children showed significantly high-er recall scores under the forgetting condition compared to the memory condition(P<0.01).Conclusion Children with hearing impairment exhibit weaker cognitive inhibition compared to typically developing chil-dren.The type of materials doesn't impact individuals'cognitive inhibition performance.
6.Optimization of the Extraction Process of Changyan Heji Ⅱ Based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Combined with Response Surface Method and Principal Component Analysis
Shulin WANG ; Jing SHANG ; Wenjun LIU ; Zerong CAI ; Mengyu QIAN ; Xiaoxin HU ; Liang CAO ; Zhenz-hong WANG ; Wei XIAO
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):501-512
OBJECTIVE To establish a extraction process of Changyan Heji Ⅱ(CYHJ-Ⅱ)based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology combined with response surface analysis,and to optimize the extraction process.METHODS The chemical components in CYHJ-Ⅱ were qualitatively analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology,and the chemical components with good linear relation-ship in mass spectrometry response were selected as process investigation indicators;the extraction process parameters(water addition amount,extraction time and soaking time)were investigated by Box-Behnken design;the comprehensive score was obtained by princi-pal component analysis(PCA),and the optimal process was determined by the comprehensive score combined with response surface a-nalysis.RESULTS Through qualitative analysis,110 components were inferred and identified from CYHJ-Ⅱ,including 2 organic acids,82 flavonoids,13 terpenoids,and 13 alkaloids.Based on the results of qualitative analysis,48 index components with good lin-ear relationships were derived by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with Masshunter mass spectrometry data analysis software.PCA was performed and the comprehensive score was calculated.Response surface analysis was performed with the comprehensive score as an indicator.The optimal extraction process obtained by combining the response surface prediction results and actual production was:soaking for 45 min,8 times the amount of solvent,2 extractions,each time for 120 min.CONCLUSION This study provides a new idea for the investigation of the extraction process of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions and expands a new method for the development of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions.
7.Exploration on the Biological Connotation of Treating Coronary Heart Disease from Kidney Based on Endothelial Cell Aging
Yilei HU ; Lei CAI ; Zhiyan MA ; Xiaoxin LUO ; Weixiong JIAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(4):14-18
Coronary heart disease has a significant age correlation,and cell aging is the basic factor of aging of the body.Aging endothelial cells can interfere with the development of coronary heart disease through oxidative stress,mitochondrial dysfunction and other ways.This article focused on the mechanism of endothelial cell aging promoting coronary heart disease,which is related to"kidney"in TCM.Kidney has physiological characteristics such as participating in the growth and aging,the interaction of essence and blood,water and liquid metabolism,etc.Deficiency of kidney essence can slow down the generation of kidney turbidity,which can also be followed by blood stasis,phlegm and other pathogenic factors eroding arteries,which is consistent with the role of endothelial cell aging in promoting plaque development and accelerating thrombosis.The article also discussed the biological connotation of treating coronary heart disease from kidney from the perspective of endothelial cell aging,and put forward that the basic principle of treating coronary heart disease from kidney should be tonifying kidney and expelling turbidity,and then treat it according to different syndromes such as heart-kidney disharmony,qi stagnation in the heart and chest,phlegm obstruction in collaterals and blood stasis obstruction in collaterals,providing new ideas for the biological research and clinical application of TCM in the treatment of coronary heart disease.
8.Remyelination Regulated by microRNAs in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review
Manjing LI ; Qi LI ; Qingsen RAN ; Kunni CHEN ; Xinke DU ; Lina YANG ; Chunxia NIE ; Qing YANG ; Yujie LI ; Ying CHEN ; Yajie WANG ; Xiaogang WENG ; Weiyan CAI ; Xiaoxin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):223-231
Demyelination of the central nervous system often occurs in neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The myelin sheath, a layer of myelin membrane wrapping the axon, plays a role in the rapid conduction and metabolic coupling of impulses for neurons. The exposure of the axon will lead to axonal degeneratio, and further neuronal degeneration, which is the main cause of dysfunction and even disability in patients with demyelinating neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to the demyelination of mature myelin sheath, remyelination disorder is also one of the major reasons leading to the development of the diseases. The myelin sheath is composed of oligodendrocytes (OLs) derived from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) which are differentiated from neural stem cells (NSCs). The process of myelin regeneration, i.e., remyelination, is the differentiation of NSCs into OLs. Recent studies have shown that this process is regulated by a variety of genes. MicroRNAs, as important regulators of neurodegenerative diseases, form a complex regulatory network in the process of myelin regeneration. This review summarizes the main molecular pathways of myelin regeneration and microRNAs involved in this process and classifies the mechanisms and targets. This review is expected to provide a theoretical reference for the future research on the treatment of demyelinating diseases by targeting the regulation of microRNAs.
9.Effects of Jiaohong Pills and Its Prescription on Scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's Disease Mice
Lijinchan DONG ; Weiyan CAI ; Li FENG ; Qing YANG ; Mengting LI ; Yanli WANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Qi LI ; Xiaogang WENG ; Yajie WANG ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Xiaoru HU ; Ying CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):37-45
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Jiaohong pills (JHP) and its prescription, Pericarpium Zanthoxyli (PZ) and Rehmanniae Radix (RR) cognitive dysfunction in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice and its mechanism through pharmacodynamic and metabolomics study. MethodThe animal model of AD induced by scopolamine was established and treated with PZ, RG and JHP, respectively. The effects of JHP and its formulations were investigated by open field test, water maze test, object recognition test, avoidance test, cholinergic system and oxidative stress related biochemical test. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of cerebral cortex was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Quadrupole/Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS). ResultThe behavioral data showed that, compared with the model group, the discrimination indexes of the high dose of JHP, PZ and RR groups was significantly increased (P<0.05). The staging rate of Morris water maze test in the PZ, RR, high and low dose groups of JHP was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the crossing numbers in the PZ, JHP high and low dose groups were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the number of errors in the avoidance test were significantly reduced in the PZ and high-dose JHP groups (P<0.01), and the error latencies were significantly increased in the JHP and its prescription drug groups (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the activities of acetylcholinesterase in the cerebral cortex of the two doses of JHP group and the PZ group were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the high-dose JHP group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the level of acetylcholine was significantly increased (P<0.01). At the same time, the contents of malondialdehyde in the serum of the two dose groups of JHP decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). The results of metabolomics study of cerebral cortex showed that 149 differential metabolites were identified between the JHP group and the model group, which were involved in neurotransmitter metabolism, energy metabolism, oxidative stress and amino acid metabolism. ConclusionJHP and its prescription can antagonize scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction, regulate cholinergic system, and reduce oxidative stress damage. The mechanism of its therapeutic effect on AD is related to the regulation of neurotransmitter, energy, amino acid metabolism, and improvement of oxidative stress.
10.Behavioral Assessment and Drug Treatment of Apathy in Dementia in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Lijinchuan DONG ; Qing YANG ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Qi LI ; Bo PENG ; Hongmei LI ; Weiyan CAI ; Ying CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):308-317
Dementia in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mainly presents amnesia and dullness. Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia belong to the category of dementia in TCM. These progressive neurological diseases have a complex etiology and a long course, and the drugs that can reverse the disease course remain to be developed. Therefore, early intervention plays a vital role in delaying the disease progression. Apathy refers to a lack of motivation that leads to the attenuation or disappearance of goal-directed behaviors, cognitive functions, and emotional responses. Clinical studies have suggested that apathy exists in the early stage of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, being one of the key symptoms to the early diagnosis of dementia. The severity of apathy is related to the severity of dementia. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of apathy are of great significance to the prevention and treatment of dementia. The preclinical research on apathy in dementia is still in its infancy, and the systematic evaluation method has not been prescribed. The clinical diagnosis and treatment are also in the exploratory stage, and the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of apathy and dementia development have not been fully elucidated. This article reviews the research progress of apathy in dementia, the apathetic behaviors of dementia animal models, the behaviors of patients with apathy, and the treatment methods in recent years and summarizes the research status of apathy in dementia. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the behavior of apathy in dementia and conducting preclinical research and evaluation of the pathogenesis and to lay a foundation for the treatment of apathy in dementia.

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