Effects of tin(IV) chloride and of organotin compounds on aquatic micro-organisms

The growth response of the alga Chlorella kessleri and the euglenoid Euglena gracilis has been studied as a model system to determine the effects of a tin salt (SnCl₄·5H₂O) and of some organotin (OT) derivatives, namely tetrabutyltin (TeBT), tributyltin (TBT) and tributyltin oxide (TBTO). Abiotic degradation was studied as well. Cells were exposed to a toxicity series (0–50 μg/mL⁻¹) for the four chemicals in seven-day bioassays. Both microorganisms are tolerant of the inorganic salt, but growth inhibition was significant for all OT compounds, and especially large for TBT and TBTO. Although C. kessleri and E. gracilis are known to be tolerant towards metals and organic chemicals, the present results show that both are sensitive to organotin compounds: the inhibition of the growth was greater for C. kessleri. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strawberry Puree Functionalized with Natural Hydroxytyrosol: Effects on Vitamin C and Antioxidant Activity

The natural antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (HT) was used to functionalize a strawberry puree. The effect of the antioxidant on the stability of the two bioactive forms of vitamin C (ascorbic acid-AA and dehydroascorbic acid-DHAA) in strawberry puree stored at 4 °C, compared with the effect on a model system of AA in water, was investigated. In the absence of HT, the concentration of vitamin C in strawberry puree decreased but not in the model system. Low concentrations of HT in strawberry puree (0.05 and 0.1 mg HT/g puree) stabilized vitamin C and improved its antioxidant activity. However, at high concentrations of HT (from 0.5 mg HT/g puree), although the antioxidant activity improved, degradation of vitamin C occurred. Therefore, the concentration of HT used to obtain a functionalized strawberry puree it is very important. An adequate concentration increases the antioxidant activity and protects vitamin C from degradation, developing a functional food. However, an inadequate concentration of HT affects the vitamin C content, which is essential for the human diet because it cannot be biosynthetized by the organism.     

Full-Atom Model of the Agonist LPS-Bound Toll-like Receptor 4 Dimer in a Membrane Environment

The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) innate immunity system is a membrane receptor of paramount importance as therapeutic target. Its assembly, upon binding of Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and also dependent on the membrane composition, finally triggers the immune response cascade. We have combined ab-initio calculations, molecular docking, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and thermodynamics calculations to provide the most realistic and complete 3D models of the active full TLR4 complex embedded into a realistic membrane to date. Our studies give functional and structural insights into the transmembrane domain behavior in different membrane environments, the ectodomain bouncing movement, and the dimerization patterns of the intracellular Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor domain. Our work provides TLR4 models as reasonable 3D structures for the (TLR4/MD-2/LPS)₂ architecture accounting for the active (agonist) state of the TLR4, and pointing to a signal transduction mechanism across cell membrane. These observations unveil relevant molecular aspects involved in the TLR4 innate immune pathways and will promote the discovery of new TLR4 modulators.     

Mechanism, selectivity promotion, and new ultraselective pathways in Ag-catalyzed heterogeneous epoxidation

The selective oxidation of styrene on clean and modified Ag(100) surfaces has been studied by synchrotron fast XPS and temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy. By following the time dependence of surface species, it is unequivocally demonstrated that the necessary and sufficient conditions for epoxide formation are oxygen adatoms and pi-adsorbed alkene molecules. Increased oxygen coverage and coadsorbed Cs have pronounced and opposite effects on epoxidation selectivity, consistent with the view that the valence charge density on O(a) is pivotal in determining this property. Submonolayer quantities of Cs nitrate generated in situ open a new, low-temperature ultraselective, epoxidation pathway thought to involve direct oxygen transfer from the oxyanion to the alkene.     

Multifractal detrented fluctuation analysis of tonic-clonic epileptic seizures

Scaling behaviour analysis of wavelet filtered EEG (without muscle activity) generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures are presented. In particular we show using the Multifractal Detrented Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA) that the epileptic recruitment rhythm observed in this kind of epileptic seizures present monofractal scaling behaviour, with lower values for the clonic than the tonic phases.     

Magnetic Langmuir-Blodgett films of ferritin with different iron contents

Magnetic Langmuir-Blodgett films of four ferritin derivatives with different iron contents containing 4220, 3062, 2200, and 1200 iron atoms, respectively, have been prepared by using the adsorption properties of a 6/1 mixed monolayer of methyl stearate (SME) and dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODA). The molecular organization of the mixed SME/DODA monolayer is strongly affected by the presence of the water-soluble protein in the subphase as shown by pi-A isotherms, BAM images, and imaging ellipsometry at the water-air interface. BAM images reveal the heterogeneity of this mixed monolayer at the air-water interface. We propose that the ferritin is located under the mixed matrix in those regions where the reflectivity is higher whereas the dark regions correspond to the matrix. Ellipsometric angle measurements performed in zones of different brightness of the mixed monolayer confirm such a heterogeneous distribution of the protein under the lipid matrix. Transfer of the monolayer onto different substrates allowed the preparation of multilayer LB films of ferritin. Both infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy indicate that ferritin molecules are incorporated within the LB films. AFM measurements show that the heterogeneous distribution of the ferritin at the water-air interface is maintained when it is transferred onto solid substrates. Magnetic measurements show that the superparamagnetic properties of these molecules are preserved. Thus, marked hysteresis loops of magnetization are obtained below 20 K with coercive fields that depend on the number of iron atoms of the ferritin derivative.     

A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry approach to the lipid A from Mesorhizobium loti

The isolation, purification and analysis of the lipid A obtained from Mesorhizobium loti Ayac 1 BII strain is presented. Analysis of the carbohydrate moiety after acid hydrolysis by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulse amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) showed the presence of glucosamine and galacturonic acid as the only sugar components. Gas chromatographic (GC) and GC/mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of the fatty acids revealed the presence of 3-OH-C12:0; 3-OH-C13:0; 3-OH-C20:0 and 27-OH-C28:0 among the major hydroxylated species. In addition, C16:0, C17:0, C18:0 and C 20:0 were shown as main saturated fatty acids. Different polyacylated species were evidenced by thin layer chromatography of lipid A, allowing the purification of two fractions. Ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (UV-MALDI-TOF) MS analysis with different matrices, in the positive- and negative-ion mode, was performed. The fast moving component revealed the presence of hexa-acylated species, varying in the fatty acid composition. Species containing three 3-OH fatty acids and a 27-OH-C28:0 fatty acid were observed. Individual ions within this family differ by +/-14 mass units. The slow moving component was enriched mainly in penta-acylated species. Among them, three subgroups were detected: the major one compatible with the sugar core bearing two 3-OH 20:0 fatty acids, a 3-OH 13:0 or a 3-OH 12:0 fatty acid, a 27-OH 28:0 fatty acid and one saturated fatty acid. Each signal differs in a C18:0 acyl unit from the corresponding hexa-acylated family. On the other hand, a subgroup bearing one 3-OH 20:0 fatty acid, one 27-OH 28:0 fatty acid and two non-polar fatty acids was shown. A minor subgroup compatible with structures containing two hydroxylated and three non-polar fatty acids was also detected. The results obtained showed that nor-harmane was an excellent matrix for charged lipid A structural studies in both, positive and negative ion modes.     

Analysis of pesticides and metabolites in Spanish surface waters by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with previous automated solid-phase extraction Estimation of the uncertainty of the analytical results

A method based on isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) is described for the analysis of 32 pesticides and metabolites in surface waters. This approach consist in the use of nine isotopically labelled representative pesticides as internal standards, which allows high accuracy (trueness and precision) and sensitivity for most analysed compounds, as it is required for isotope dilution-based methods. Uncertainties associated with pesticide determination in real samples were estimated using quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) data. For most pesticides expanded uncertainty was below 40%, according to the commonly established requirements for analytical results. Ninety three Spanish surface waters collected in June-July and September-November 2004 were analysed. Concentration and occurrence of pesticides were evaluated. These parameters were higher in the summer than in the autumn period. In summer four pesticides were found in more than 50% of the analysed samples and four compounds were detected above the concentration level of 1 microg/l (atrazine, terbutylazine, 3,4-dichloroaniline and fenitrothion), while in autumn percentage of detection was below 50% for all pesticides and only one compound (terbutylazine) exceeded 1 microg/l.     

Increasing the ordering temperatures in oxalate-based 3D chiral magnets: the series [Ir(ppy)2(bpy)][M(II)M(III)(ox)3] x 0.5 H2O (M(II)M(III) = MnCr, FeCr, CoCr, NiCr, ZnCr, MnFe, FeFe); bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; ppy = 2-phenylpyridine; ox = oxalate dianion)

The synthesis, structure, and physical properties of a novel series of oxalate-based bimetallic magnets obtained by using the Ir(ppy)2(bpy)]+ cation as a template of the bimetallic [M(II)M(III)(ox)3]- network are reported. The compounds can be formulated as [Ir(ppy)2(bpy)][M(II)Cr(III)(ox)3] x 0.5 H2O (M(II) = Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, and Zn) and [Ir(ppy)2(bpy)]-[M(II)Fe(III)(ox)3] x 0.5 H2O (M(II) = Fe, Mn) and crystallize in the chiral cubic space group P4(1)32 or P4(3)32. They show the well-known 3D chiral structure formed by M(II) and M(III) ions connected through oxalate anions with [Ir(ppy)2(bpy)]+ cations and water molecules in the holes left by the oxalate network. The M(II)Cr(III) compounds behave as soft ferromagnets with ordering temperatures up to 13 K, while the Mn(II)Fe(III) and Fe(II)Fe(III) compounds behave as a weak ferromagnet and a ferrimagnet, respectively, with ordering temperatures of 31 and 28 K. These values represent the highest ordering temperatures so far reported in the family of 3D chiral magnets based on bimetallic oxalate complexes.     

Highly diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction using a chiral auxiliary derived from levoglucosenone

[reaction: see text] A new chiral auxiliary derived from levoglucosenone is reported. The compound is obtained by a cycloaddition reaction with 9-methoxy methylanthracene followed by a diastereoselective reduction of the C-2 keto function. The auxiliary has been used as a chiral template in an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of the corresponding acrylic ester derivative with cyclopentadiene. The results showed excellent diastereomeric excess even at room temperature when the reaction was promoted by Et(2)AlCl as the Lewis acid.