Insights into the Mechanism and Catalysis of Oxime Coupling Chemistry at Physiological pH

The dynamic covalent‐coupling reaction involving α‐effect nucleophiles has revolutionized bioconjugation approaches, due to its ease and high efficiency. Key to its success is the discovery of aniline as a nucleophilic catalyst, which made this reaction feasible under physiological conditions. Aniline however, is not so effective for keto substrates. Here, we investigate the mechanism of aniline activation in the oxime reaction with aldehyde and keto substrates. We also present carboxylates as activating agents that can promote the oxime reaction with both aldehyde and keto substrates at physiological pH. This rate enhancement circumvents the influence of α‐effect by forming H‐bonds with the rate‐limiting intermediate, which drives the reaction to completion. The combination of aniline and carboxylates had a synergistic effect, resulting in a ～14–31‐fold increase in reaction rate at pD 7.4 with keto substrates. The biocompatibility and efficiency of carboxylate as an activating agent is demonstrated by performing cell‐surface oxime labeling at physiological pH using acetate, which showed promising results that were comparable with aniline.     

Structure of a liquid crystal of 4-cyano-4′-n-octyloxybiphenyl

The structure of a liquid crystal of 4-cyano-4′-n-octyloxybiphenyl (C₂₁H₂₅NO) is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system with unit cell parameters a = 7.322(1) Å, b = 12.693(3) Å, c = 20.393(2) Å, α = 92.45(1)°, β = 99.96(1)°, γ = 99.35(2)°, and space group $P\bar 1$ . The structure is solved by the direct method and refined to R = 0.057. Two independent molecules are located in the asymmetric unit. No short intermolecular contacts are observed in the crystal packing.     

2,3,12,13‐Tetrabromo‐5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐butoxyphenyl)porphyrin 1,2‐dichloroethane solvate

Nonmesogenic 2,3,12,13‐tetrabromo‐5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐butoxyphenyl)porphyrin crystallizes as the title 1,2‐dichloroethane solvate, C₆₀H₅₈Br₄N₄O₄·C₂H₄Cl₂. The porphyrin ring shows a nonplanar conformation, with an average mean plane displacement of the β‐pyrrole C atoms from the 24‐atom (C₂₀N₄) core of ±0.50 (3) Å. The 1,2‐dichloroethane solvent is incorporated between the porphyrin units and induces the formation of one‐dimensional chains via interhalogen Cl...Br and butyl–aryl C—H...π interactions. These chains are oriented along the unit‐cell a axis, with the macrocyclic ring planes lying almost parallel to the (010) plane. The chains are arranged in an offset fashion by aligning the butoxy chains approximately above or below the faces of the adjacent porphyrin core, resulting in decreased interporphyrin π–π interactions, and they are held together by weak intermolecular (C—Br...π, C—H...π and C—H...Br) interactions. The nonplanar geometry of the macrocyclic ring is probably due to the weak interporphyrin interactions induced by the solvent molecule and the peripheral butoxy groups. The nonplanarity of the mesogens could influence the mesogenic behaviour differently relative to planar porphyrin mesogens.     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies and ab initio calculations of 5-methyl-2-(p-methylaminophenyl)benzoxazole

FT-IR spectra of 5-methyl-2-(p-methylaminophenyl)benzoxazole was recorded and analysed. The vibrational frequencies of the compound have been computed using the Hartree-Fock/6-31G* basis and compared with the experimental values.     

Conformational preferences of the aglycon moiety in models and analogs of GlcNAc-Asn linkage: crystal structures and ab initio quantum chemical calculations of N-(beta-D-glycopyranosyl)haloacetamides

The biological addition of oligosaccharide structures to asparagine residues of N-glycoproteins influences the properties and bioactivities of these macromolecules. The linkage region constituents, 2-acetamino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose monosaccharide (GlcNAc) and L-asparagine amino acid (Asn), are conserved in the N-glycoproteins of all eukaryotes. In order to gain information about the structure and dynamics of glycosylated proteins, two chloroacetamido sugars, Glc betaNAcNHCOCH2Cl and Man betaNHCOCH2Cl, have been synthesized, and their crystal structures have been solved. Structural comparison with a series of other models and analogs gives insight about the influence of the N-acetyl group at position C2 on the conformation of the glycan-peptide linkage at C1. Interestingly, this N-acetyl group also influences the packing and network of hydrogen bonds with involvement in weak hydrogen bonds C-H...X that are of biological importance. DFT ab initio calculations performed on a series of models and analogs also confirm that the GlcNAc derivatives present different preferred conformation about the N-CO-CH2-X (chi2) torsion angle of the glycan-peptide linkage, when compared to other monosaccharide derivatives. The energy profiles that have been obtained will be useful for parametrization of molecular mechanics force-field. The conjunction of crystallographic and computational chemistry studies provides arguments for the structural effect of the N-acetyl group at C2 in establishing an extended conformation that presents the oligosaccharide away from the protein surface.     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies and ab initio calculations of 2-cyanophenylisocyanid dichloride

FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of 2-cyanophenylisocyanid dichloride were recorded and analyzed. The vibrational frequencies of the title compound have been computed using the Hartree-Fock/6-31G* basis and compared with the experimental values. The prepared compound was identified by NMR and mass spectra.     

Surface modification of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanorods to make molecular probes

A chemical procedure to replace the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) cap on gold nanorods (GNRs) fabricated through seed-mediated growth with organothiol compounds [3-animo-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AMTAZ) and 11-mercaptoundecaonic acid (MUDA)] was developed to reduce the cytotoxity of GNRs and facilitate further biofunctionalization. Compared to phosphatidylcholine (PC) modification, our procedure yields stable GNRs that are biocompatible and suitable for whole-cell studies. The PC-, AMTAZ-, and MUDA-activated GNRs all showed low cytotoxicity. By choosing different organothiols, net positive or negative charges could be created on the nanorod surface, for different applications. Gold nanorod molecular probes (GNrMPs) were fabricated by subsequent attachment of antibodies to the activated GNRs and were used to visualize and detect cell surface biomarkers in normal and transformed human breast epithelial cells, demonstrating the potential of developing novel biosensors using gold nanorods. The sensitivity of GNrMPs made from organothiol-activated GNRs is considerably higher than that of CTAB/PC-activated GNRs, demonstrating that the protocol reported here is favored in developing molecular probes using GNRs.     

Self-assembled hybrid polymer-TiO2 nanotube array heterojunction solar cells

Films comprised of 4 microm long titanium dioxide nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodizing Ti foils in an ethylene glycol based electrolyte. A carboxylated polythiophene derivative was self-assembled onto the TiO2 nanotube arrays by immersing them in a solution of the polymer. The binding sites of the carboxylate moiety along the polymer chain provide multiple anchoring sites to the substrate, making for a stable rugged film. Backside illuminated liquid junction solar cells based on TiO2 nanotube films sensitized by the self-assembled polymeric layer showed a short-circuit current density of 5.5 mA cm-2, a 0.7 V open circuit potential, and a 0.55 fill factor yielding power conversion efficiencies of 2.1% under AM 1.5 sun. A backside illuminated single heterojunction solid state solar cell using the same self-assembled polymer was demonstrated and yielded a photocurrent density as high as 2.0 mA cm-2. When a double heterojunction was formed by infiltrating a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and C60-methanofullerene into the self-assembled polymer coated nanotube arrays, a photocurrent as high as 6.5 mA cm-2 was obtained under AM 1.5 sun with a corresponding efficiency of 1%. The photocurrent action spectra showed a maximum incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 53% for the liquid junction cells and 25% for the single heterojunction solid state solar cells.     

Modulation of the PGE2-Mediated Pathway in the Eclosion Blocking Effect of Flumethrin and Terpenoid Subfraction Isolated from Artemesia nilagirica in Rhipicephalus annulatus

Prostaglandins are a group of important cell-signaling molecules involved in the regulation of ovarian maturation, oocyte development, egg laying and associated behaviors in invertebrates. However, the presence of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), the key enzymes for PGE₂ biosynthesis and its interference by drugs were not investigated previously in the ovary of ticks. The present study was undertaken to assess the modulation of the PGE₂-mediated pathway in the eclosion blocking effect of flumethrin and terpenoid subfraction isolated from Artemisia nilagirica in Rhipicephalus annulatus ticks. The acaricidal activities and chemical profiling of the terpenoid subfraction were performed. The localization of the cyclooxygenase1 (COX1) and prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) enzymes and the quantification of PGE₂ in the ovaries of the ticks treated with methanol (control), flumethrin and terpenoid subfraction were also undertaken. In addition, the vitellogenin concentration in hemolymph was also assayed. Both flumethrin and the terpenoid subfraction of A. nilagirica elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of fecundity and blocking of hatching of the eggs. The COX1 could not be detected in the ovaries of treated and control ticks, while there was no significant difference observed in the concentration of vitellogenin (Vg) in them. The presence of PGES in the oocytes of control ticks was confirmed while the immunoreactivities against PGES were absent in the vitellogenic oocytes of ticks treated with flumethrin and terpenoid subfraction. The levels of PGE₂ were below the detection limit in the ovaries of the flumethrin-treated ticks, while it was significantly lower in the ovaries of the terpenoid subfraction-treated ticks. Hence, the prostaglandin E synthase and PGE₂ were identified as very important mediators for the signaling pathway for ovarian maturation and oviposition in ticks. In addition, the key enzyme for prostaglandin biosynthesis, PGES and the receptors for PGE₂ can be exploited as potential drug targets for tick control. The detection of PGES by immunohistochemistry and quantification of PGE₂ by LC-MSMS can be employed as valuable tools for screening newer compounds for their eclosion blocking acaricidal effects.     

In vivo attenuation and equivalent scatterer size parameters for atherosclerotic carotid plaque: Preliminary results

We have previously reported on the equivalent scatterer size, attenuation coefficient, and axial strain properties of atherosclerotic plaque ex vivo. Since plaque structure and composition may be damaged during a carotid endarterectomy procedure, characterization of in vivo properties of atherosclerotic plaque is essential. The relatively shallow depth of the carotid artery and plaque enables non-invasive evaluation of carotid plaque utilizing high frequency linear-array transducers. We investigate the ability of the attenuation coefficient and equivalent scatterer size parameters to differentiate between calcified, and lipidic plaque tissue. Softer plaques especially lipid rich and those with a thin fibrous cap are more prone to rupture and can be classified as unstable or vulnerable plaque. Preliminary results were obtained from 10 human patients whose carotid artery was scanned in vivo to evaluate atherosclerotic plaque prior to a carotid endarterectomy procedure. Our results indicate that the equivalent scatterer size obtained using Faran’s scattering theory for calcified regions are in the 120–180 μm range while softer regions have larger equivalent scatterer size distribution in the 280–470 μm range. The attenuation coefficient for calcified regions as expected is significantly higher than that for softer regions. In the frequency bandwidth ranging from 2.5 to 7.5 MHz, the attenuation coefficient for calcified regions lies between 1.4 and 2.5 dB/cm/MHz, while that for softer regions lies between 0.3 and 1.3 dB/cm/MHz.