A novel MCR of isocyanates, aldehydes, and dienophiles

[reaction: see text] A novel one-pot procedure for the three-component coupling reaction of isocyanates, aldehydes, and dienophiles (IAD reaction) has been developed. Condensation of isocyanates and aldehydes and subsequent Diels-Alder reactions with electron-deficient dienophiles furnishes endo-selective amino-substituted cyclohexenes in good yield.     

Structural characterization of a pentacene monolayer on an amorphous SiO2 substrate with grazing incidence x-ray diffraction

Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction reveals that a pentacene monolayer, grown on an amorphous SiO2 substrate that is commonly used as a dielectric layer in organic thin film transistors (OTFTs), is crystalline. A preliminary energy-minimized model of the monolayer, based on the GIXD data, reveals that the pentacene molecules adopt a herringbone arrangement with their long axes tilted slightly from the substrate normal. Although this arrangement resembles the general packing features of the (001) layer in single crystals of bulk pentacene, the monolayer lattice parameters and crystal structure differ from those of the bulk. Because carrier transport in pentacene OTFTs is presumed to occur in the semiconductor layers near the dielectric interface, the discovery of a crystalline monolayer structure on amorphous SiO2 has important implications for transport in OTFTs.     

Structural basis for the highly selective inhibition of MMP-13

Inhibitors for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are under investigation for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Here, we report a class of highly selective MMP-13 inhibitors (pyrimidine dicarboxamides) that exhibit no detectable activity against other MMPs. The high-resolution X-ray structures of three molecules of this series bound to MMP-13 reveal a novel binding mode characterized by the absence of interactions between the inhibitors and the catalytic zinc. The inhibitors bind in the S1' pocket and extend into an additional S1' side pocket, which is unique to MMP-13. We analyze the determinants for selectivity and describe the rational design of improved compounds with low nanomolar affinity.     

Using nitrile-derivatized amino acids as infrared probes of local environment

It is well-known that the C=N stretching vibration in acetonitrile is sensitive to solvent. Therefore, we proposed in this contribution to use this vibrational mode to report local environment of a particular amino acid in proteins or local environmental changes upon binding or folding. We have studied the solvent-induced frequency shift of two nitrile-derivatized amino acids, which are, AlaCN and PheCN, in H(2)O and tetrahydrofuran (THF), respectively. Here, THF was used to approximate a protein's hydrophobic interior because of its low dielectric constant. As expected, the C=N stretching vibrations of both AlaCN and PheCN shift as much as approximately 10 cm(-1) toward higher frequency when THF was replaced with H2O, indicative of the sensitivity of this vibration to solvation. To further test the utility of nitrile-derivatized amino acids as probes of the environment within a peptide, we have studied the binding between calmodulin (CaM) and a peptide from the CaM binding domain of skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK(579-595)), which contains a single PheCN. MLCK(579-595) binds to CaM in a helical conformation. When the PheCN was substituted on the polar side of the helix, which was partially exposed to water, the C=N stretching vibration is similar to that of PheCN in water. In constrast, when PheCN is introduced at a site that becomes buried in the interior of the protein, the C=N stretch is similar to that of PheCN in THF. Together, these results suggest that the C=N stretching vibration of nitrile-derivatized amino acids can indeed be used as local internal environmental markers, especially for protein conformational studies.     

Aging effect on the mechanical properties of hybrid gels

Sol-gel derived unsupported films and thin rods have been obtained from co-hydrolysis of triethoxysilane and methyldiethoxysilane. The materials are flexible, dense and transparent. Films and rods have been aged for different periods of time in air at room temperature. The elastic modulus has been measured by means of tensile or flexural tests. Measurements showed an increase of elastic modulus with aging time and showed different values for films and rods. The observed evolution of mechanical properties has been related to a corresponding structural modification as highlighted mainly by MAS-NMR studies. Analyses pointed out the crucial role of condensation processes and showed that the stiffness increase arises from the formation of relatively few bonds which link and constrain pre-existing mobile network regions.     

Relative quantification of erythropoietin receptor-dependent phosphoproteins using in-gel 18O-labeling and tandem mass spectrometry

On examining different proteomics approaches for the investigation of structure-function relationships of erythropoietin (EPO) receptor signaling, it was found that two-dimensional gel electrophoresis/mass spectrometry procedures are clearly limited in their ability to detect low-expressed signaling proteins. Instead it was found that a strategy involving anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitation, one-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1DE), and capillary liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) provides the sensitivity required for identification of signaling proteins. In the present work the immunoprecipitation/1DE/LC/MS approach was combined with an in-gel 18O-labeling technique to analyze EPO receptor-dependent proteins. Identification and relative quantification of more than 180 EPO receptor-dependent proteins were achieved directly based on the in-gel 18O-labeling approach.     

Standard pH values for potassium hydrogenphthalate reference buffer solutions in 10, 30 and 50% (w/w) 1,4-dioxane/water mixed solvents at temperatures from 288.15 to 318.15 K

Standard pH(S) values for 0.05 mol kg^?1 potassium hydrogenphthalate (KHpH) reference buffer solutions in 10, 30 and 50% (w/w) 1,4-dioxane/water solvent mixtures within the temperature range 288.15–318.15 K are determined from e.m.f. measurements of the cell without transference Pt|H₂|KHPh + KCl|AgCl|Ag|Pt. The consistency of the results is analysed by a recently described method of multilinear regression of the quantity p(a_Hγ_Cl) as a function of both solution composition and temperature. The standard pH(S) determined can be reproduced to within ±0.01 by the equation pH(S) - 4.004 + 3.309w + 0.408z + 1.037w³ - 14.95zw² + 27.1zw³, where w is the weight fraction of dioxane in the solvent mixture,z = (T –θ)/θ, and θ - 298.15 K. Values of the first ionization constant of phthalic acid (H₂Ph; benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid) in the above solvent mixtures are also determined from e.m.f. measurements of the cell without transference Pt|H₂|H₂Ph + KHPh + KCl|AgCl|Ag|Pt.     

Temperature dependence of the resolution of diastereomeric isoprenoids in capillary GC. Experiments with 50 μm, 100 μm,and 250 μm i.d. Columns

The resolution of the diastereoisomers of norpristane, pristane, and phytane was studied as a function of the column internal diameter and/or the residence time of the compounds in the column. Increasing the residence time in the column by operating the column at a lower temperature program rate enhances the resolution more than reducing the internal diameter of the column. Practical experience with ultra narrow bore columns is also presented.     

CCR5 antagonists: 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)propionic acid analogues with potent anti-HIV activity

[reaction: see text] A novel approach to alpha,alpha-disubstituted-beta-amino acids (beta(2,2)-amino acids) was employed in the synthesis of a series of 3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)propionic acids possessing high affinity for the CCR5 receptor and potent anti-HIV activity. The rat pharmacokinetics for these new analogues featured higher bioavailabilities and lower rates of clearance as compared to cyclopentane 1.