Non-covalent polyvalent ligands by self-assembly of small glycodendrimers: a novel concept for the inhibition of polyvalent carbohydrate-protein interactions in vitro and in vivo

Polyvalent carbohydrate-protein interactions occur frequently in biology, particularly in recognition events on cellular membranes. Collectively, they can be much stronger than corresponding monovalent interactions, rendering it difficult to control them with individual small molecules. Artificial macromolecules have been used as polyvalent ligands to inhibit polyvalent processes; however, both reproducible synthesis and appropriate characterization of such complex entities is demanding. Herein, we present an alternative concept avoiding conventional macromolecules. Small glycodendrimers which fulfill single molecule entity criteria self-assemble to form non-covalent nanoparticles. These particles-not the individual molecules-function as polyvalent ligands, efficiently inhibiting polyvalent processes both in vitro and in vivo. The synthesis and characterization of these glycodendrimers is described in detail. Furthermore, we report on the characterization of the non-covalent nanoparticles formed and on their biological evaluation.     

Construction of Highly Substituted Nitroaromatic Systems by Cyclocondensation. Part II. Conversion of 4-nitro-3-oxobutyrate to 3-nitrosalicylates

The base-catalyzed reaction of 4-nitro-3-oxobutyrate (6) with acetylacetone ( 8 Scheme 3), formylacetone ( 13 , Scheme 4), formylcyclohexanone ( 31 , Scheme 5), 2,4-dioxopentanoates 39 and 40 (Scheme 6), and 2,4,6-heptanetrione ( 2 , Scheme 7) affords substituted 3-nitrosalicylates, products of a double aldol condensation. With unsymmetrical dicarbonyl compounds both regioisomers are formed. High selectivity was found in the case of β-keto-aldehydes 13 and 31 with preferred addition of the NO₂-substituted carbon to the aldehyde carbonyl. The major products of these cyclocon-densations, which are isolated in yields ranging from 20% to 80%, are all new compounds. Less successful are the conversions with β-alkoxy- and β-chloro-vinyl ketones ( 23, 25 , and 26 ), and with alkinone 24 , where the condensation products are formed in very low yield (Scheme 4).     

Determination of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection and confirmation with electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry

γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a minor metabolite or precursor of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acts as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator via binding to GABA receptors and to specific presynaptic GHB receptors. Based upon the stimulatory effects, GHB is widely abused. Thus, there is great interest in monitoring GHB in body fluids and tissues. We have developed an assay for urinary GHB that is based upon liquid–liquid extraction and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV absorption detection. The background electrolyte is composed of 4 mM nicotinic acid (compound for indirect detection), 3 mM spermine (reversal of electroosmosis) and histidine (added to reach a pH of 6.2). Having a 50 μm I.D. capillary of 40 cm effective length, 1-octanesulfonic acid as internal standard, solute detection at 214 nm and a diluted urine with a conductivity of 2.4 mS/cm, GHB concentrations ≥2 μg/ml can be detected. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were determined to be dependent on urine concentration and varied between 2–24 and 5–60 μg/ml, respectively. Data obtained suggest that LOD and LOQ (both in μg/ml) can be estimated with the relationships 0.83 κ and 2.1 κ, respectively, where κ is the conductivity of the urine in mS/cm. The assay was successfully applied to urines collected after administration of 25 mg sodium GHB/kg body mass. Negative electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry was used to confirm the presence of GHB in the urinary extract via selected reaction monitoring of the m/z 103.1→m/z 85.1 precursor–product ion transition. Independent of urine concentration, this approach meets the urinary cut-off level of 10 μg/ml that is required for recognition of the presence of exogenous GHB. Furthermore, data obtained with injection of plain or diluted urine indicate that CZE could be used to rapidly recognize GHB amounts (in μg/ml) that are ≥ 4 κ.     

Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance study of streptavidin film structure effects on biotinylated DNA assembly and target DNA hybridization

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy is employed for the study of biotinylated DNA assembly on streptavidin modified gold surfaces for target DNA hybridization. Two immobilization strategies are involved for constructing streptavidin films, namely, (1) physical adsorption on biotin-containing thiol treated surfaces through biotin-streptavidin links and (2) covalent attachment to 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) treated surfaces through amine coupling. To understand the structural properties of the streptavidin films, a quartz crystal microbalance with energy dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) is used to monitor the streptavidin immobilization procedures. The simultaneously measured frequency (Deltaf) and dissipation factor (DeltaD) changes, together with the SPR angle shifts (Deltatheta), suggest that the streptavidin film assembled on the biotin-containing surface is highly rigid with a well-ordered structure while the streptavidin film formed through amine coupling is highly dissipative and less structured. The subsequent biotinylated DNA (biotin-DNA) assembly and target hybridization results show that the streptavidin film structure has distinct effects on the biotin-DNA binding amount. On the streptavidin matrix, not only the probe DNA density but also the strand orientation mediated by the streptavidin films has distinct effects on hybridization efficiency. Particularly, the molecularly ordered streptavidin films formed on the biotin-containing surfaces ensure a well-ordered DNA assembly, which in turn allows for a higher efficiency in target DNA capture and for a higher sensitivity in the hybridization analysis when compared to the biotin-DNA assembled on the less structured streptavidin films formed through amine coupling.     

Photoelectron spectra of cyclopolysilanes

Summary He (I) PE spectra of cyclopentasilane and cyclohexasilane show excellent agreement with STO-3 G + ab initio calculations. The HOMO in both compounds is of (SiSi) 3 p character. First IP's appear at 9.4 and 9.6 eV respectively.

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Photoelektronenspektren von Cyclopolysilanen (Kurze Mitt.)

Zusammenfassung Die He (I) PE-Spektren der Cyclosilane Si₅H₁₀ und Si₆H₁₂ zeigen ausgezeichnete Übereinstimmung mit STO-3 G + ab initio Rechnungen. Beide Ringe besitzen HOMO's mit (SiSi) 3 p Charakter. Die ersten Ionisierungspotentiale liegen bei 9.4 bzw. 9.6 eV.

     

ACIDITY DEPENDENCE OF THE ABSORPTION AND FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF ISOFLAVONE AND 7-HYDROXYISOFLAVONE

-The pH and H₀ dependence of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of isoflavone and 7-hydroxyisoflavone are reported. Isoflavone is fluorescent in acidic solution only, whereas 7-hydroxyisoflavone is fluorescent in all acidity ranges under investigation. Ground and first excited singlet state p K _a's have been determined spectrophotometrically and fluorimetrically, respectively. Excited state protolytic equilibration processes via a second order reaction (proton gain) are found to be too slow to compete efficiently with fluorescence. This is deduced from the close agreement between the p K _a's of the conjugate acids obtained by absorption and fluorescence titrations. On the other hand, photodissociation of 7-hydroxyisoflavone proceeds faster than its fluorescence decays. The experimental p K _a(S₁) is in fair agreement with the calculated one. 7-Hydroxyisofiavone forms a phototautomer (or exciplex) in the pH 2 to H₀-1 acidity range, which is characterized by its long wavelength emission. Quantum efficiencies are given for isoflavone and 7-hydroxyisoflavone in aqueous solutions of various acidities. Deuteration effects thereon are discussed.     

Determination of aristolochic acid by capillary zone electrophoresis

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the determination of aristolochic acid (AA) in dietary supplements and selected herbs is described. A clear separation of AA from other sample constituents was achieved within 5 minutes without any sample clean up. A mixture of 20 mM-morpholinethanesulphonic acid+10 mM-BisTrisPropane+0.2% hydroxyethylcelullose in 10% methanol serves as a background electrolyte. The linearity, accuracy, intra-assay and detection limit of the developed method are 200–6000 ng/mL, 95–103%, 3.5%, and 50 ng/ml, respectively. Ease of use, sufficient sensitivity and low running cost are the most important attributes of the CZE method. The proposed CZE method was compared with HPLC.     

Composite alternatives in group decision support

Decision theory models of group decision processes usually assume a given set of alternatives, from which the group has to choose. In realistic group decision situations, however, alternatives are often not specified a priori, but are created during the group process from different components introduced by the group members. This paper develops methods for systematically creating such composite alternatives, also taking into account the necessity to keep both the computational effort and the cognitive load to group members within reasonable limits.Paper presented at the International Conference on Support Systems for Decision and Negotiation Processes DNS-92, Warsaw, 1992.