Chang-Lun Shao

Bio: Chang-Lun Shao is an academic researcher from Ocean University of China. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Cochliobolus lunatus. The author has an hindex of 34, co-authored 217 publications receiving 3976 citations. Previous affiliations of Chang-Lun Shao include Chinese Ministry of Education & Sun Yat-sen University.

Potent antifouling resorcylic acid lactones from the gorgonian-derived fungus Cochliobolus lunatus.

Abstract: Three new 14-membered resorcylic acid lactones, two with a rare natural acetonide group and one with a 5-chloro-substituted lactone, named cochliomycins A-C (1-3), together with four known analogues, zeaenol (4), LL-Z1640-1 (5), LL-Z1640-2 (6), and paecilomycin F (7), were isolated from the culture broth of Cochliobolus lunatus, a fungus obtained from the gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea collected in the South China Sea. Their structures and the relative configurations of 1-3 were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods including NOESY spectra and chemical conversions. A transetherification reaction was also observed in which cochliomycin B (2) in a solution of CDCl(3) slowly rearranged to give cochliomycin A (1) at room temperature. These resorcylic acid lactones were evaluated against the larval settlement of barnacle Balanus amphitrite, and antifouling activity was detected for the first time for this class of metabolites. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of these compounds were also examined.

Cadmium and its epigenetic effects.

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic, nonessential transition metal and contributes a health risk to humans, including various cancers and cardiovascular diseases; however, underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Cells transmit information to the next generation via two distinct ways: genetic and epigenetic. Chemical modifications to DNA or histone that alters the structure of chromatin without change of DNA nucleotide sequence are known as epigenetics. These heritable epigenetic changes include DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histone tails (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, etc), and higher order packaging of DNA around nucleosomes. Apart from DNA methyltransferases, histone modification enzymes such as histone acetyltransferase, histone deacetylase, and methyltransferase, and microRNAs (miRNAs) all involve in these epigenetic changes. Recent studies indicate that Cd is able to induce various epigenetic changes in plant and mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. Since aberrant epigenetics plays a critical role in the development of various cancers and chronic diseases, Cd may cause the above-mentioned pathogenic risks via epigenetic mechanisms. Here we review the in vitro and in vivo evidence of epigenetic effects of Cd. The available findings indicate that epigenetics occurred in association with Cd induction of malignant transformation of cells and pathological proliferation of tissues, suggesting that epigenetic effects may play a role in Cd toxic, particularly carcinogenic effects. The future of environmental epigenomic research on Cd should include the role of epigenetics in determining long-term and late-onset health effects following Cd exposure.

Bioactive Hydroanthraquinones and Anthraquinone Dimers from a Soft Coral-Derived Alternaria sp. Fungus

Abstract: Five new hydroanthraquinone derivatives, tetrahydroaltersolanols C–F (1–4) and dihydroaltersolanol A (5), and five new alterporriol-type anthranoid dimers, alterporriols N–R (12–16), along with seven known analogues (6–11 and 17), were isolated from the culture broth and the mycelia of Alternaria sp. ZJ-2008003, a fungus obtained from a Sarcophyton sp. soft coral collected from the South China Sea. Their structures and the relative configurations were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NOE spectra as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 13 represents the first isolated alterporriol dimer with a C-4–C-4′ linkage, and the absolute configuration of 4 was determined using the modified Mosher’s method. Compounds 1 and 15 exhibited antiviral activity against the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), with IC50 values of 65 and 39 μM, respectively. Compound 14 showed cytotoxic activity against PC-3 and HCT-116 cell lines, with IC50 val...

Cytotoxic norsesquiterpene peroxides from the endophytic fungus Talaromyces flavus isolated from the mangrove plant Sonneratia apetala.

Abstract: Four new norsesquiterpene peroxides, named talaperoxides AD( 1� 4), as well as one known analogue, steperoxide B (5, or merulin A), have been isolated from a mangrove endophytic fungus, Talaromyces flavus. Their struc- tures were elucidatedmainlyby 1D and 2DNMR.Structures of 1, 2, and 5 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their absolute configurations were also deter- mined using copper radiation. Cytotoxic activities ofcompounds1� 5were evaluated in vitro against human cancer cell lines MCF- 7, MDA-MB-435, HepG2, HeLa, and PC-3. Compounds 2 and 4 showed cytotoxicity against the five human cancer cell lines with IC50 values between 0.70 and 2.78 μg/mL.

Biomedical Importance of Indoles

Abstract: The indole nucleus is an important element of many natural and synthetic molecules with significant biological activity. This review covers some of the relevant and recent achievements in the biological, chemical and pharmacological activity of important indole derivatives in the areas of drug discovery and analysis.

Cadmium Toxicity and Treatment

Abstract: Cadmium is a heavy metal of considerable toxicity with destructive impact on most organ systems. It is widely distributed in humans, the chief sources of contamination being cigarette smoke, welding, and contaminated food and beverages. Toxic impacts are discussed and appear to be proportional to body burden of cadmium. Detoxification of cadmium with EDTA and other chelators is possible and has been shown to be therapeutically beneficial in humans and animals when done using established protocols.

Review: Marine natural products

Abstract: Covering: 2010. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2011, 28, 196. This review covers the literature published in 2010 for marine natural products, with 895 citations (590 for the period January to December 2010) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1003 for 2010), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.