Synthesis of a simplified bryostatin C-ring analogue that binds to the CRD2 of human PKC-alpha and construction of a novel BC-analogue by an unusual Julia olefination process

[structure: see text] The synthesis of two truncated bryostatin analogues 2 and 3 is described. High-field NMR measurements on the C-ring analogue 3 in C(2)H(3)CN containing 25% (2)H(2)O have shown that it binds to the CRD2 of human PKC-alpha at virtually the same position as phorbol-13-acetate (PA) and bryostatin 1 (1). NMR titration studies have also revealed that 3 binds to the CRD2 with a potency similar in magnitude to PA but much less potently than 1.     

Biotechnological storage and utilization of entrapped solar energy

Our laboratory has recently developed a device employing immobilized F₀F₁ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) that allows synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine 5′-diphosphate and inorganic phosphate using solar energy. We present estimates of total solar energy received by Earth’s land area and demonstrate that its efficient capture may allow conversion of solar energy and storage into bonds of biochemicals using devices harboring either immobilized ATPase or NADH dehydrogenase. Capture and storage of solar energy into biochemicals may also enable fixation of CO₂ emanating from polluting units. The cofactors ATP and NADH synthesized using solar energy could be used for regeneration of acceptor d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate from 3-phosphoglycerate formed during CO₂ fixation.     

Novel "Potentially antiaromatic", acidichromic quinonediimines with tunable delocalization of their 6 pi-electron subunits

We present a novel family of "potentially antiaromatic" alkyl-substituted p-benzoquinonediimine pH-dependent chromophores. It appears from the structural data that these overall 12 pi-electron molecules should be better considered as constituted by two chemically connected but electronically not conjugated 6 pi-electron subunits. Molecule 5 appears to be the first example of two separated, conjugated, and localized 6 pi-electron systems that can be tuned by reversible protonation to become delocalized. The mono- and diprotonated derivatives have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction. These systems develop supramolecular interactions in the solid state that clearly reflect the degree of protonation and depend on the nature of the counterion. These compounds constitute new chromophores for which the color can be tuned depending on the degree of protonation, going in solution from yellow for 5 to red for 5.HCl and blue for 5.2HCl. Theoretical calculations have provided a deeper insight into the electronic structure of these molecules and allowed an assignment of the experimental UV-vis spectra. The visible and near-UV spectrum of the neutral and protonated benzoquinonediimines can be classically assigned from the coupling of two 6 pi-electron polymethine units. TD-DFT calculations confirm the observed red shift of the two lowest pi --> pi* transitions of the benzoquinonediimines upon protonation and relate it to the moderate energy lowering of the HOMO --> LUMO transition induced by the delocalization of the polymethine pi system.     

Crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation of chiral-at-metal ruthenium(II) complexes bearing achiral ligands

Recently, we observed that the enantiopure Lambda form of the tributylammonium salt of the chiral anion tris[tetrachlorobenzene-1,2-bis(olato)]phosphate, also named Trisphat, was able to induce an efficient resolution of a Delta,Lambda racemic mixture of cis-[Ru(dmp)2(NCCH3)2](PF6)2 (dmp=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) due to the spontaneous and selective precipitation of the heterochiral pair [Delta-Ru(dmp)2(CH3CN)2][Lambda-Trisphat]2. We report here that the combination of such a stereoselective precipitation process and irradiation results in the quantitative conversion of the initial [Ru(dmp)2(NCCH3)2]2+ racemate into only one of the two enantiomers. This is the first example in inorganic chemistry of an asymmetric transformation that leads to a chiral complex with no chiral ligand. Finally, three new racemic ruthenium bis(diimine) complexes, namely [Ru(dmp)2(NCCH3)Py](PF6)2 (Py=pyridine), [Ru(dmp)2(1,3-diaminopropane)](PF6)2, and [Ru(dmp)2(ethylenediamine)](PF6)2 were synthesized. For all of them, crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation proved to be an efficient way of obtaining the corresponding optically active chiral-at-metal complexes in high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities.     

Serum estradiol measurement by solid-phase chemiluminescence immunoassay and direct radioimmunoassay

Estradiol017β is determined in serum extracts by solid-phase chemiluminescence immunoassay. The results are compared with those obtained from unextracted serum in routine conditions with a commercial radioimmunoassay (r.i.a.) kit. For the chemiluminescence procedure, a purified monoclonal antibody to estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime/bovine serum albumin and the homologous chemiluminescent marker conjugate estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime aminobutylethylisoluminol are used. Bound and free ligand are separated by washing and simple centrifugation. Results obtained by the chemiluminescence assay (y) and by r.i.a. (x) on 170 serum specimens from women during ovulation induction showed good correlation (y = 1.01x ? 16 with r = 0.95). The methods are similar in selectivity, detection limit (ca. 10 ng l^?1) and precision (interassay relative standard deviation, 8–13%).     

Quantification of veterinary antibiotics (sulfonamides and trimethoprim) in animal manure by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A fast and cost effective method was developed to extract and quantify residues of veterinary antimicrobial agents (antibiotics) in animal manure by liquid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds investigated include six sulfonamides, one metabolite, and trimethoprim. The method was performed without sample clean up. Recoveries from spiked manure slurry samples (spike level = 1 mg/kg) were as follows: sulfaguanidine (52%), sulfadiazine (47%), sulfathiazole (64%), sulfamethazine (89%), its metabolite N4-acetyl-sulfamethazine (88%), sulfamethoxazole (84%), sulfadimethoxine (51%), and trimethoprim (64%). Relative standard deviations of the recoveries were less than 5% within the same day and less than 20% between days. The limit of quantification was below 0.1 mg/kg liquid manure slurry for all compounds and calibration curves obtained from extracts of spiked samples were linear up to a level of 5 mg/kg liquid manure, except for trimethoprim (0.01-0.5 mg/kg). Analysis of six grab samples taken in Switzerland from manure pits on farms where medicinal feed had been applied revealed total sulfonamide concentrations of up to 20 mg/kg liquid manure.     

Electroenzymatic reactions. Investigation of a reductive dehalogenase by means of electrogenerated redox cosubstrates

As an illustration of how cyclic voltammetry can be used to unravel the mechanisms and kinetics of redox enzymes, the reductive dechlorination of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene by a typical reductive dehalogenase, the tetrachloroethene reductive dehalogenase of Sulfurospirillum multivorans (formerly called Dehalospirillum multivorans), was investigated by means of several electrochemically generated cosubstrates. They comprised the monocation and the neutral form of methylviologen, the neutral form of benzylviologen, and cobaltocene. Cyclic voltammetry is used to produce the active form of the cosubstrate under controlled potential conditions. It shows large plateau-shaped catalytic responses, which are used to measure the kinetics of the enzymatic reaction as a function of the substrate and cosubstrate concentrations. The variation of the rate constant for the cosubstrate reaction with its standard potential shows the transition between two asymptotic behaviors, one in which the reaction is under diffusion control and the other in which it is under counter-diffusion control. Simple fitting of this plot allows an estimation of the standard potential of the electron acceptor center in the enzyme (E degrees = -0.57 V vs NHE).     

Oligomérisation anionique de l'ethylène. I. Etude cinétique

A kinetic study of ethylene oligomerization in hexane, in the presence of n-BuLi–TMEDA complexes, allowed us to suggest a new mechanism for anionic ethylene oligomerization. n-BuLi and n-Bu(CH₂CH₂)Li species have the same reactivity. The RLi–TMEDA complex in a 1-to-1 stoichiometry is the active species. The following kinetic equation has been established: It reflects the intervention of associated species (n-BuLi–TMEDA)₂ as well as the influence of the concentration of the complexing agent on the kinetics of oligomerization.     

Thin film platinum cuff electrodes for neurostimulation: in vitro approach of safe neurostimulation parameters

Thin film technology takes more and more importance in the development of biomedical devices dedicated to functional neurostimulation. Our research about the design of implant neurostimulating electrode is oriented toward thin film cuff electrodes based on a polyimide substrate covered by a chromium/gold/Pt film. The chromium/gold sputtered film serves as adhesion layer and current collector whereas platinum acts as an electrochemical actuator. The electrode surface has been designed to obey safe stimulation criteria (i.e. chemically inert noble metal, low electrode-electrolyte impedance, high electrochemical reversibility, high corrosion stability). The electrochemical behaviour of such platinum electrodes has been assessed and compared to a foil of platinum. Extensive in vitro characterisations of the both electrode types were carried out using AFM, SEM and electrochemical techniques. The role of enhanced surface roughness enabling high double layer capacitances to be achieved was clearly highlighted. The obtained results are discussed, with particular reference to thin film electrodes stability under in vitro electrical stimulation in NaCl 0.9% (physiological serum). Therefore, these thin film devices showed reversible PtOH formation and decomposition making them potentially attractive for the fabrication of implant stimulation cuff electrodes.     

Preparation and analysis of oligonucleotides containing the c4'-oxidized abasic site and related mechanistic probes

The C4'-oxidized abasic site (C4-AP) is produced by a variety of DNA damaging agents. This alkali labile lesion can exist in up to four diastereomeric cyclic forms, in addition to the acyclic keto-aldehyde. Synthetic oligonucleotides containing the lesion were prepared from a stable photochemical precursor. Chemical integrity of the lesion containing oligonucleotides was probed using phosphodiesterase lability. Analysis of the 3',5'-phosphate diester of the monomeric lesion released from single diastereomers of photolabile precursors by 1H NMR indicates that isomerization of the hemiacetal and/or hemiketal is rapid. The syntheses and characterization of oligonucleotides containing configurationally stable analogues of C4-AP, which serve as mechanistic probes for deciphering the structural basis of the biochemical and biological effects of the C4'-oxidized abasic lesion, are also described.