The spinning mechanism of natural silk has been an open issue. In this study, both the conformation transition from random coil to β sheet and the β sheet aggregation growth of silk fibroin are identified in the B. mori regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solution by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. A nucleation‐dependent aggregation mechanism, similar to that found in prion protein, amyloid β (Aβ) protein, and α‐synuclein protein with the conformation transition from a soluble protein to a neurotoxic, insoluble β sheet containing aggregate, is a novel suggestion for the silk spinning process. We present evidence that two steps are involved in this mechanism: (a) nucleation, a rate‐limiting step involving the conversion of the soluble random coil to insoluble β sheet and subsequently a series of thermodynamically unfavorable association of β sheet unit, i.e. the formation of a nucleus or seed; (b) once the nucleus forms, further growth of the β sheet unit becomes thermodynamically favorable, resulting a rapid extension of β sheet aggregation. The aggregation growth follows a first order kinetic process with respect to the random coil fibroin concentration. The increase of temperature accelerates the β sheet aggregation growth if the β sheet seed is introduced into the random coil fibroin solution. This work enhances our understanding of the natural silk spinning process in vivo.

Previously, we screened a proteoglycan for anti-hyperglycemic, named FYGL, from Ganoderma Lucidum. For further research of the antidiabetic mechanisms of FYGL in vivo, the glucose homeostasis, activities of insulin-sensitive enzymes, glucose transporter expression and pancreatic function were analyzed using db/db mice as diabetic models in the present work. FYGL not only lead to a reduction in glycated hemoglobin level, but also an increase in insulin and C-peptide level, whereas a decrease in glucagons level and showed a potential for the remediation of pancreatic islets. FYGL also increased the glucokinase activities, and simultaneously lowered the phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase activities, accompanied by a reduction in the expression of hepatic glucose transporter protein 2, while the expression of adipose and skeletal glucose transporter protein 4 was increased. Moreover, the antioxidant enzyme activities were also increased by FYGL treatment. Thus, FYGL was an effective antidiabetic agent by enhancing insulin secretion and decreasing hepatic glucose output along with increase of adipose and skeletal muscle glucose disposal in the late stage of diabetes. Furthermore, FYGL is beneficial against oxidative stress, thereby being helpful in preventing the diabetic complications.

EGCG protects transduced PC12 cells against α-Syn-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting the overexpression and fibrillation of α-Syn in the cells.

In this study, the surface of poly("-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold was modified by chitosan (CS) in order to enhance its cell affinity and biocompatibility. It is demonstrated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) that when 0.5-2.0 wt% chitosan solutions are used to modify the PCL scaffold, the amount of adhesion of the fibroblasts on the chitosan-modified PCL scaffolds dramatically increase when compared to the control after 7 days cell culture. The results indicate that the chitosan-modified PCL scaffolds are more favorable for cell proliferation by improving the scaffold biocompatibility. The improvement may be helpful for the extensive applications of PCL scaffold in heart valve and blood vessel tissue engineering.