Photoactivation of pheophorbide a induces a mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat leukaemia cells

The mechanism of cell death by pheophorbide a (Pba) which has been established to be a potential photosensitizer was examined in experimental photodynamic therapy (PDT) on Jurkat cells, a human lymphoid tumor cell line. In 30-60 min after irradiation, Pba treated cells exhibited apoptotic features including membrane blebbing and DNA fragmentation. Pba/PDT caused a rapid release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol. Sequentially, activation of caspase-3 and the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were followed. Meanwhile, no evidence of activation of caspase-8 was indicated in the cells. In experiments with caspase inhibitors, it was found that caspase-3 alone was sufficient initiator for the Pba-induced apoptosis of the cells. Pba specific emission spectra were confirmed in the mitochondrial fraction and the light irradiation caused a rapid change in its membrane potential. Thus, mitochondria were entailed as the crucial targets for Pba as well as a responsible component for the cytochrome c release to initiate apoptotic pathways. Taken together, it was concluded that the mode of Jurkat cell death by Pba/PDT is an apoptosis, which is initiated by mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3-pathways.     

Knoevenagel condensation catalysed by poly（vinyl chloride） supported tetraethylenepentamine （PVC-TEPA）

Poly(vinyl chloride) supported tetraethylenepentamine (PVC-TEPA) has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation. A wide range of aromatic aldehydes easily undergo condensations with ethyl cyanoacetate and malononitrile in the commercial 95% ethanol in refluxing using PVC-TEPA as catalyst to afford the desired products of good purity in moderate to excellent yields. A recycling study confirmed that the catalyst could be reused, the yield of the desired condensation product were not reduced. The merits of this protocol are environmentally benign, simple operation, convenient work-up and good yields. Furthermore, the catalyst can easily be recovered and reused at five times with comparable yields.     

High-yield solvothermal formation of magnetic CoPt alloy nanowires

One-dimensional (1D) magnetic nanomaterials have attracted much attention recently because of their applications in magnetic recording and spintronics. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to prepare free-standing magnetic nanowires in high yield. This Communication reports the successful high-yield synthesis of an interesting 1D ferromagnetic CoPt alloy by direct decomposition of platinum acetylacetonate and cobalt carbonyl compound in ethylenediamine solvent through a solvothermal reaction. The CoPt alloy nanowires obtained have a tunable diameter of 10-50 nm and a length along the longitudinal axis of up to several microns, depending on crystallization temperature and reaction time. A unique formation mechanism involving coarsening and ripening under solvothermal conditions was discovered. This research opens new opportunities in synthesizing nanomaterials through low-temperature solvothermal processes.     

极性非质子溶剂与甲醇或1,2-二氯乙烷的汽液平衡

使用双沸点仪测定了丙酮、乙酸乙酯、对二氧六环、乙腈或三乙胺与甲醇或1,2→二氯乙烷以及二者混合物等十一组二元体系在99.3 kPa下的汽液平衡数据(T,x,p), 计算了有关体系的过量吉布斯自由能。结果表明, 六种非质子溶剂与甲醇组成的二元系GE>0; 乙腈或三乙胺与1,2-二氯乙烷组成的二元系GE>0, 而丙酮、乙酸乙酯或对二氧六环与1,2-二氯乙烷的二元混合物GE<0。从同种分子间或不同种分子间的缔合作用对上述结果进行了讨论。本文还在固定极性非质子溶剂(第三组分)物质的量浓度的条件下, 测定了非质子溶剂+1,2-二氯乙烷+甲醇三元混合物的汽液平衡数据, 考察了非质子溶剂的加入对甲醇+1,2-二氯乙烷二元系GE的影响。     

四氟乙烯-乙烯溶液沉淀聚合

本文编制了一个简易计算机程序,测定了氟氯烷溶液沉淀聚合体系中四氟乙烯-乙烯共聚竞聚率:40℃:γC_2H_4=0.156±0.001,γC_2F_4=0.022±0.01670℃:γC_2H_4=0.197±0.001,γC_2F_4=0.055±0.020在此聚合体系中,聚合温度和共聚物组成比对链的规整性都有明显影响。当乙烯在45～55mol%范围内时,共聚物的IR随组成比而变化,利用此规律可简便地测定共聚物的组成比。     

Synthesis of adducts of o-quinone metabolites of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with 2'-deoxyribonucleosides

[structure: see text] The first syntheses of the adducts formed in the reactions of o-quinone metabolites of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (BPQ and BAQ) at 2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine sites in DNA are reported. These syntheses entail Pd-catalyzed coupling of protected amine derivatives of catechols with suitably protected halopurine analogues of 2'-deoxyribonucleosides.     

Systematic investigation of the hydrothermal syntheses of Pr(III)-PDA (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anion) metal-organic frameworks

A series of novel two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) praseodymium coordination polymers, namely, {[Pr3(PDA)4(HPDA)(H2O)8] x 8H2O}n (2), {[Pr2(PDA)3(H2O)3] x H2O}n (3), {[Pr(PDA)(H2O)4] x ClO4}n (4), and { [Pr2(PDA)2(H2O)5SO4] x 2H2O}n (5) (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic anion), was designed and synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1-3 (chainlike polymer, {[Pr(PDA)(HPDA)(H2O)2] x 4H2O}n (1) was also obtained independently by us, although it has been reported recently by Ghosh et al.) were fabricated successfully by simply tuning the Pr/PDA ratio and exhibited various and intriguing topological structures from a 1D chain to a 3D network. While the synthetic strategy of 5 was triggered and further performed only after 1 was structurally characterized. The complexes were characterized by X-ray single-crystal determination, spectroscopic, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility analyses. In complex 2 an unusual nanosized square motif as a building block constructed by eight Pr ions was further assembled into a highly ordered 2D grid compound. In complex 3 the decanuclear Pr metal-based structure as a repeat unit interpenetrated to form a novel 3D polymer. Complex 4 was a 3D network polymer fabricated through a hexanuclear Pr ring as a building block, and ClO4- anions as guests were trapped in the cavity. In complex 5 six Pr atoms, two SO4(2-) anions, and carboxylic oxygen bridges constructed an intriguing rectangle structure as a repeat unit in the grid to form a 2D coordination polymer in which the unique bi-bidentate coordination mode of SO4(2-) anion was observed.     

Reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase

The reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase in the presence of NADH was investigated in this paper.4-Amino- phenol and 4-bydroxylamino-phenol were found in the reductive products.The relationship between reaction time and the reductive ratio were studied.The similar reducing ratios of 4-nitrophenol were obtained under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.The results indicated that an oxygen-insensitive reaction was proceeded in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and nitroreductase was an oxygen- insensitive enzyme.The reductive products of 4-nitrophenol were determined by HPLC and MS.     

Study of the reactions and reaction mechanisms of phosphine (Ph3P) and of phosphite ((PhO)3P) with sulphur (S8)

The reactions of sulphur with phosphine and phosphite were investigated by low-energy electron impact mass spectrometry and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. A previously reported mechanism of the Ph₃P–S₈ reaction was supported and a possible mechanism for the (PhO)₃P–S₈ reaction is proposed.     

A Theoretical Study on the Conductivity of Carbon Doped BNNT

From the changes in energy band, density of state (DOS) and electronic structure calculated by the DFT/B3LYP method, the conductivity of carbon doped boron‐nitride nanotube (BNNT), which is formed by C‐C bond substituting B‐N bond, was discussed. The results indicate that the substitution will strengthen the conductivity of the tube, and its semi‐conductivity might be adjusted by controlling the substitution.