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Pheromone receptor (PR)-mediated transduction of sex pheromones to electrophysiological signals is the basis for sex pheromone communication. Orthaga achatina , a serious pest of the camphor tree, uses a mixture of four components (Z11-16:OAc, Z11-16:OH, Z11-16:Ald, and Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H) as its sex pheromone. In this study, we identified five PR genes ( OachPR 1-5) by phylogenetic analysis. Further RT-PCR and qPCR experiments showed that PR 1-3 were specifically expressed in male antennae, while PR 4 was significantly female-biased in expression. Functional characterization using the XOE-TEVC assay demonstrated that PR1 and PR3 both responded strongly to Z11-16:OH, while PR1 and PR3 had a weak response to Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H and Z11-16:Ald, respectively. Finally, two key amino acid residues (N78 and R331) were confirmed to be essential for binding of PR3 with Z11-16:OH by molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. This study helps understand the sex pheromone recognition molecular mechanism of O. achatina .

Ionotropic receptors (IRs) play an important role in olfaction, but little is known in nondrosophila insects. Here, we report in vitro and in vivo functional characterization of IR75q.2 in the invasive moth pest Spodoptera frugiperda . First, 13 IRs (including four coreceptor IRs) were found specifically or highly expressed in adult antennae. Second, these IRs were tested for responding profiles to 59 odorants using the Xenopus oocyte expression system, showing that only SfruIR75q.2 responded to 8-10C fatty acids and their corresponding aldehydes, with SfruIR8a as the only coreceptor. Third, the three acids (especially nonanoic acid) showed repellent effects on moth's behavior and oviposition, but the repellence significantly reduced to the insects with IR75q.2 knockout by CRISPR/Cas9. Taken together, our study reveals the function of SfruIR75q.2 in perception of acid and aldehyde odorants and provides the first in vivo evidence for olfactory function of an odor-specific IR in Lepidoptera.

An efficient approach to functionalized ( E )-3-cinnamyl-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and ( E )-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-yl)but-2-enones has been developed through a Pd-catalyzed one-pot cascade process involving two sequential Heck reactions, that is, an intramolecular Heck reaction of olefin-tethered aryl iodides and an intermolecular Heck reaction with substituted styrenes and α,β-unsaturated ketones. As a result, a series of desired products were obtained in moderate to good yields and with exclusive E -form selectivities.

Regioselective C-H alkenylation of N,N -dialkylanilines with ynamides was developed using AgNTf 2 as a catalyst. This approach represents a facile hydroarylation of ynamides, allowing for the introduction of an alkenyl group exclusively at the para position of aniline derivatives. As a result, a series of 4-alkenyl N,N -dialkylanilines were synthesized with excellent regioselectivities.

A unique prenylated bicarbazole alkaloid, clausanisumine ( 1 ), and two biogenetically related known monomer carbazole alkaloids, mukonal ( 2 ) and 3-methylcarbazole ( 3 ), were isolated from the fruits of Clausena anisum-olens . Clausanisumine ( 1 ) was an uncommon prenylated bicarbazole alkaloid, possessing an unprecedented carbon skeleton, which was composed of a simple carbazole alkaloid and a prenylated carbazole alkaloid. The chemical structure of 1 was established by a combination of comprehensive spectral methods. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was also proposed. Additionally, the potential anti-HIV activities of all isolates 1 - 3 in vitro were evaluated. Compound 1 exhibited remarkable anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase effects showing an EC 50 value of 18.58 nM. The discovery of the prenylated bicarbazole alkaloid from C. anisum-olens with notable anti-HIV activity would be meaningful to discovering and developing new anti-HIV drugs.

A novel approach to 2-substituted-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)-pyrrolidines 7a - 7o and 9a - 9r has been developed, which features a TMSOTf-mediated one-pot intramolecular cyclization and phosphonylation of substituted tert -butyl 4-oxobutylcarbamates. The major advantages of this method include simple operation under mild reaction conditions, the use of cheap Lewis acid, and good to excellent yields with high diastereoselectivities ( dr up to 99:1).

In the presence of the chiral Pd(0)/ligand complex, vinyl benzoxazinanones underwent the [4+2] cycloaddition with alkylidene pyrazolones smoothly and delivered spiropyrazolones in reasonable yields, diastereoselectivities, and eneantioselectivities (up to >99% yield, >99:1 dr and 99% ee). The absolute configuration of the obtained spiropyrazolones was unambiguously characterized with the use of X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. Moreover, the reaction mechanism was assumed to interpret the formation of the target compounds.

Toona sinensis , popularly known as Chinese toon or Chinese mahogany, is a perennial deciduous arbor belonging to the genus Toona in the Meliaceae family, which is widely distributed and cultivated in eastern and southeastern Asia. Its fresh young leaves and buds have been consumed as a very popular nutritious vegetable in China and confirmed to display a wide variety of biological activities. To investigate the chemical constituents and their potential health benefits from the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensis , a phytochemical study on its fresh young leaves and buds was therefore undertaken. In our current investigation, 16 limonoids ( 1 - 16 ), including four new limonoids, toonasinenoids A-D ( 1 - 4 ), and a new naturally occurring limonoid, toonasinenoid E ( 5 ), were isolated and characterized from the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensis . The chemical structures and absolute configurations of limonoids 1 - 5 were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses. All known limonoids ( 6 - 16 ) were identified via comparing their experimental spectral data containing mass spectrometry data, 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance data, and optical rotation values to the data reported in the literature. All known limonoids ( 6 - 16 ) were isolated from T. sinensis for the first time. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of all isolated limonoids 1 - 16 against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were assessed in vitro . Limonoids 1 - 16 exhibited notable neuroprotective activities, with EC 50 values in the range from 0.27 ± 0.03 to 17.28 ± 0.16 μM. These results suggest that regular consumption of the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensis might prevent the occurrence and development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Moreover, the isolation and characterization of these limonoids that exhibit notable neuroprotective activities from the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensis could be very significant for researching and developing new neuroprotective drugs used for the prevention and treatment of PD.

Artocarpus heterophyllus (jack tree) is an evergreen fruit tree belonging to the genus Artocarpus (Moraceae), which is widely distributed in subtropical and tropical regions of Asia. Its fruits (jackfruit), well-known as the world's largest tree-borne fruit, are being consumed in our daily diets as a very popular tropical fruit throughout the world and have been confirmed to hold various health benefits. In this study, five new prenylated chromones, artocarheterones A-E ( 1 - 5 ), as well as seven known prenylated chromones ( 6 - 12 ) were purified and isolated from the ripe fruits of A. heterophyllus (jackfruit). Their chemical structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic methods. This is the first report on prenylated chromones isolated from A. heterophyllus. The anti-HIV-1 effects of all isolated chromones were assessed in vitro . As a result, prenylated chromones ( 1 - 12 ) showed remarkable anti-HIV-1 effects with EC 50 values ranging from 0.09 to 9.72 μM. These research results indicate that the isolation and characterization of these prenylated chromones with remarkable anti-HIV-1 activities from the ripe fruits of A. heterophyllus could be significant to the discovery and development of new anti-HIV-1 drugs.

Manilkara zapota , usually known as Sapodilla, is a fairly slow-growing evergreen tropical tree which belongs to the genus Manilkara (Sapotaceae), indigenous to Central America, southern Mexico, and the Caribbean. The ripe fruits of M. zapota have been widely consumed as an uniquely flavored tropical fruit and verified to hold a variety of health benefits. In order to investigate the potential health-promoting chemical compositions from the fruits of M. zapota cultivated in Hainan Island of China, a systematic and in-depth phytochemical study on this fruit was accordingly implemented. In our current study, three new prenylated coumarins, manizapotins A-C ( 1 - 3 ), together with seven known prenylated coumarins ( 4 - 10 ), were separated from the fruits of M. zapota . The chemical structures of new prenylated coumarins 1 - 3 were unambiguously established by means of comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and the known compounds 4 - 10 were determined by comparing their experimental spectral data with those described data in the literature. This is the first time to discover prenylated coumarins occurring in M. zapota . The potential anti-inflammatory effects and anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) activities of all these separated prenylated coumarins were assessed. Prenylated coumarins 1 - 10 dispalyed remarkable inhibitory effects against nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with the IC 50 values equivalent to that of hydrocortisone in vitro. Meanwhile, prenylated coumarins 1 - 10 exhibited pronounced anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activities with the EC 50 values in range of 0.12-8.69 μM. These results suggest that appropriate and reasonable consumption of the fruits of M. zapota might assist people to prevent and reduce the occurrence of inflammatory diseases together with the infection of HIV. Furthermore, the discovery of these prenylated coumarins from the fruits of M. zapota holding pronounced anti-inflammatory effects along with anti-HIV activities could be of great significance to the research and development of new natural anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV agents.

Clausena lansium, also known as wampee, is a species of strongly scented evergreen trees belonging to the genus Clausena (Rutaceae), which is native to southern China. Its ripe fruits have been consumed as a very popular fruit and reported to possess a range of biological activities. To study the potential health-promoting constituents from the fruits of C. lansium, a chemical investigation on its fruits was thus carried out. In this study, 16 carbazole alkaloids (1-16), including six new carbazole alkaloids, clausenalansines A-F (1-6), were separated from the fruits of C. lansium. The molecular structures of these isolated new carbazole alkaloids (1-6) were ambiguously established on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The known analogues (7-16) were determined via comparing their experimental data with those described in the literature, which were separated from C. lansium for the first time. All these isolated alkaloids were tested in vitro for their neuroprotective effects against 6-hydroxydopamine induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Carbazole alkaloids 1-16 displayed remarkable neuroprotective effects possessing the EC 50 values ranging from 0.36 ± 0.02 to 10.69 ± 0.15 μM. These findings indicate that regular consumption of the fruits of C. lansium may help people prevent the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. In addition, the separation and identification of these carbazole alkaloids possessing remarkable neuroprotective effects from the fruits of C. lansium could be extremely important to the discovery of new agents for the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Ficus carica is an Asian species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Ficus of the family Moraceae, native to Western Asia and the Middle East. Its fruits, usually known as common fig or fig, have been consumed as a very popular health-promoting fruit worldwide since ancient times. To investigate the potential health-promoting chemical constituents of the fruits of F. carica, a systematic phytochemical study on its fruits was therefore carried out. In our study, four new structurally diverse prenylated isoflavone derivatives, ficucaricones A-D (1-4), along with 12 known analogues (5-16) were separated from the fruits of F. carica. Their chemical structures were ambiguously elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods. The anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities of these isolated prenylated isoflavone derivatives were tested. Prenylated isoflavone derivatives (1-16) displayed remarkable inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production with the IC 50 values ranging from 0.89 ± 0.05 to 8.49 ± 0.18 μM, comparable to that of the positive control (hydrocortisone). Furthermore, compounds 1-16 also exhibited pronounced antiproliferative activities against diverse human cancer cell lines in vitro, holding the IC 50 values ranging from 0.18 ± 0.03 to 18.76 ± 0.09 μM. These findings indicate that regular consumption of the fruits of F. carica may help to prevent the occurrence of inflammatory diseases and tumors. Moreover, the isolation and characterization of these prenylated isoflavone derivatives possessing remarkable anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities could be meaningful to the discovery of new anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents.

Under the catalysis of chiral palladium(0)/ligand complex, the [4 + 2] cycloaddition between vinyl benzoxazinanones and barbiturate-based olefins proceeded readily and provided barbiturate-fused spirotetrahydroquinolines in up to 96% chemical yield with up to >99:1 dr and 97% ee. The absolute configuration of barbiturate-fused spirotetrahydroquinolines was clearly identified by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The reaction mechanism was proposed to shed light on the enantioselective formation of barbiturate-fused spirotetrahydroquinolines.

An efficient Cu(OTf) 2 -catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation/cyclizaiton sequence of 3-substituted indoles with isatin-derived oxodienes was developed, and a series of structurally complex and diverse pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole spirooxindoles were first obtained in up to 99% yields. This protocol proved to be quite general and was also robust for the synthesis of 9H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles.

Isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, which is widely contained in many vegetables and rice, is expected to be metabolized by intestinal microbiota after digestion, which brings about the profile of its pharmacological effect. However, little is known about the interactions between this active ingredient and the intestinal flora. In this study, the preculture bacteria and GAM (general anaerobic medium) broth with isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside were mixed for 48 h of incubation. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used for analysis of the metabolites of isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside in the corresponding supernatants of fermentation. The parent and five metabolites were found and preliminarily identified on the basis of the chromatograms and characteristics of their protonated ions. Four main metabolic pathways, including deglycosylation, demethoxylation, dehydroxylation, and acetylation, were summarized to explain how the metabolites were converted. Acetylated isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside were detected only in the sample of Escherichia sp. 12, and quercetin existed only in the sample of Escherichia sp. 4. However, the majority of bacteria could metabolize isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside to its aglycon isorhamnetin, and then isorhamnetin was degraded to kaempferol. The metabolic pathway and the metabolites of isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside yielded by different isolated human intestinal bacteria were investigated for the first time. The results probably provided useful information for further in vivo metabolism and active mechanism research on isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside.

A simple colorimetric method for the differentiation of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and indolebutyric acid (IBA) in plant samples is described. The color change is based upon the reaction between the auxins and p-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde (PDAB, Ehrlich reagent) following the electrophilic substitution reaction mechanism at the indole ring. Using their different response to reaction temperature and time, the selective determination of IBA in the presence of IAA is achieved by controlling the incubation time of 40 min at 25 degrees C. The total absorbance of IAA and IBA is determined after they react to PDAB for 150 min at 70 degrees C. The concentration of IAA can then be calculated using the difference between their total absorbance and the calculated absorbance of IBA. The detection limits (3sigma) of IAA and IBA were 0.10 microM and 0.28 microM, respectively. The precisions for five replicate measurements of 10 microM IAA and IBA were less than 5% (RSD). The recovery from mung bean sprout samples varied from 87.5% to 108% for the two auxins. Moreover, the Ehrlich reaction conditions are compatible with the methanol-hydrochloric acid extraction procedure. All of the above results indicate that this protocol provides a rapid, simple, convenient and practical method for detection and differentiation of IAA and IBA. From the color changes of IAA and IBA after Ehrlich reaction, the identification of auxin at the microM level can be achieved even with the naked eye. The method was successfully used to investigate the auxin changes of mung bean sprout during the growth procedure.