Prof. QIN Jianhua’s research team in DICP has made great progress in the investigation of new anti-aging role of polydatin in model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) on a chip. The results were published on the recent issue of Integrative Biology as cover image (Integr. Biol., 2014, 6, 35-43). 
Polydatin is a natural anti-oxidant isolated from nature and it is the glycoside form of resveratrol. Several works have reported the beneficial and biological effects of polydatin in mice models, including the neuroprotective effect on ischemia/reperfusion induced cerebral injury, promotion of weight loss, and protection against lipid peroxidation. However, the anti-aging effect of polydatin is still not clear. The nematode C. elegans is the excellent model organism in aging study due to its unique features. In this work, they set out to investigate the anti-aging role of polydatin in C. elegans by using a flexible microfluidic device. The established microfluidic platform is capable of flexible operation with multiple functions, which not only supports the individual worm’s long-term culture with sufficient nutrient exchange, but also facilitates mobility monitoring of the worm, immobilizing and imaging in a controllable and parallel manner. Based on the platform, polydatin was found to significantly extend the mean lifespan of worms under normal culture and oxidative stress conditions. Further studies showed that the longevity extending effect of polydatin is mainly attributed to its anti-oxidative activity, which is mediated by the associated genes and proteins via up-regulating expression of daf-16 and SOD-3 in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. These interesting findings highlight the significance of the natural compound polydatin in the study of aging-related diseases, and the utility of the microfluidic platform for applications in aging studies. 
The journal of Integrative Biology focuses on the interdisciplinary approaches for molecular and cellular life sciences, and publishes the papers involved in the interface between biology and the fields of physics, chemistry, engineering, imaging and informatics. (By WEN Hui) 
 

The DICP Research Group led by Prof. YANG Xueming has carried out a systematic study on “Molecular Hydrogen Formation from Photocatalysis of Methanol on Anatase-TiO2(101).” The results were published in the recent issue of the recent issue of the Journal of American Chemical Society(J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136 (2), 602–605) . 
Rutile and anatase TiO2 materials have been often used in the study of hydrogen (H2) production from photocatalytic water splitting, and previous study found that adding methanol (CH3OH) to pure water solution can dramatically enhance H2 production, implying that CH3OH played a crucial role in H2 production. Despite lots of work focusing on rutile (R)-TiO2, the anatase form is the most active polymorph in commercial applications for catalysis actually. Even though a lot of photocatslysis studies have been carried out on anatase (A)-TiO2 particles, very little was done on well-defined surfaces.  
In a recent study, we have shown that photocatalytic dissociation of CH3OH on TiO2(110) occurs in a stepwise manner.( J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134 (32), 13366–13373). And D2 can be formed via thermal recombination of dissociated D-atoms on the bridge bonded oxygen (BBO) sites from photocatalysis of fully deuterated CH3OH, suggesting that the last molecular D2 formation step on the R-TiO2(110) surface is a thermally driven process. Since only about 7% of D-atoms on the BBO sites contribute to D2 formation with most D-atoms recombining with BBO atoms to form D2O, it implies that H2 formation is not the most efficient process on R-TiO2(110). (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135 (28), 10206–10209). In this work, we have investigated molecular H2 formation on A-TiO2(101) from photocatalysis of CH3OH. Our results show that H2 is formed via thermal recombination of dissociated H-atoms on the BBO sites from photocatalysis of CH3OH on A-TiO2(101). The H atoms at the OBBO sites mostly come off as H2 on the A-TiO2(101) surface, not taking an OBBO to form H2O (the OBBO atoms on A-TiO2(101) are much more stable than on R-TiO2(110)). About 40% of the H atoms at the OBBO sites come off as H2 on A-TiO2(101), While only 7% of D-atoms on the BBO sites on R-TiO2(110) contribute to D2 formation, suggesting that the H2 formation process is more efficient on A-TiO2(101). The present investigation of the mechanism of H2 formation from UV CH3OH photocatalysis on A-TiO2(101) could help us to understand the nature of H2 production on TiO2 photocatalysts. (By XU Chenbiao and GUO Qing)  

Fig. Schematic diagram of the mechanism of molecular H2 production from H-OBBO on anatasse-TiO2(101) surface. 
Contact: GUO Qing
Email:guoqing@dicp.ac.cn
 

Doctors prepare herbal remedies during a mass treatment at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Fuzhou in southeast China's Fujian province. (Associated Press)  
When it comes to treating pain, a new study suggests traditional Chinese medicine has been getting it right for thousands of years.
A chemical compound found in the underground tubers of the Corydalis plant can effectively alleviate three different types of pain in mice, according to a paper published Thursday in the journal Current Biology.
The study also shows that mice do not build up a resistance to the naturally occurring compound, which means it could one day be used for managing chronic pain in humans.
The pain-relieving compound is known as dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB). It was isolated by Chinese researchers as part of the herbalome project -- an ambitious endeavor launched in 2008 to catalog all the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines.
The Corydalis plant is a member of the poppy family. It grows mainly in central eastern China, and has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Its tubers are dug up, ground, and then boiled in hot vinegar. The resulting medicine is often prescribed to treat headaches and back pain.
"This medicine goes back thousands of years, and it is still around because it works," said Olivier Civelli, a pharmacologist at UC Irvine and one of the authors of the study. "The question is, what makes it work. There are many compounds inside this plant."
For this study, Civelli collaborated with the lead researcher on the herbalome project--Xinmiao Liang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian in northeast China. Liang's group extracted chemicals from the plant and then sent more than 80 of them to Civelli's lab in Irvine to see which ones had pain relieving properties.
Civelli and his team determined that at least one of those chemicals -- DHCB -- was an effective pain reliever in mice, but they were surprised to find that it used D2 dopamine receptors, rather than morphine receptors.
"Dopamine receptors are generally associated with the pleasure center of the brain, so it was not expected that dopamine was important for pain," Civelli said.
Still, the findings were clear. Mice in which the D2 dopamine receptors had been removed did not experience any pain relief from DHCB in tests.
Civelli and his team synthesized DHCB so they would have enough to work with. Then they ran a series of tests on mice that had received DHCB. They found that the compound alleviated temporary acute pain like what you might experience if you got a broken ankle or a burn, as well as the inflammatory pain you might feel if your joints were swollen, and chronic pain that comes from nerve damage.
Civelli said there are likely more compounds in the Corydalis tuber that work in conjunction with DHCB to combat pain, and he would like to find those as well.
"There are likely many compounds inside those plants that have some effect on a particular disease or disorder. Our goal is to find the most powerful of those compounds," he said. (Los Angeles Times)