Y-931, a novel atypical antipsychotic drug,is less sensitive to oxidative phenomena

The oxidation behavior of Y-931, a potent atypical antipsychotic drug, was compared with that of clozapine and olanzapine. In two enzymatic systems (horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/glutathione (GSH) and HRP/H(2)O(2)/GSH) which generate thiyl radicals, clozapine markedly strengthened the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal for the radical. Olanzapine, Y-931 and the major metabolites (compounds 1-3) had no or minimal effect on the intensity of this signal. In addition, the redox potential values for the three derivatives were in accord with the EPR spin trapping results. In toxicological experiments in human leukocytes, a concentration-dependent toxicity was observed when neutrophils were incubated with clozapine (1-10 micromol/l) and H(2)O(2) (1 mmol/l). However, Y-931 and olanzapine did not show remarkable toxicity under the conditions.     

Vibrational relaxation on the mixed vibronic levels of the and states in all-trans-neurosporene as revealed by subpicosecond time-resolved, stimulated emission and transient absorption spectroscopy

In all-trans-neurosporene, whose level is lower than the level by one vibrational quantum, the following two steps of vibrational relaxation from the mixed vibronic states were identified, in the order, stimulated emission stimulated emission transient absorption. The stimulated emission patterns were simulated by the use of Franck–Condon factors in the transitions from the pair of mixed vibronic levels down to the ground vibronic levels. The vibronic levels of the mixed and state were characterized theoretically based on the diabatic approximation.     

Factors affecting polyhydroxybutyrate biosynthesis in the marine photosynthetic bacteriumRhodopseudomonas sp. strain W-1S

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - A marine photosynthetic bacterium,Rhodopseudomonas sp. strain W-1S, accumulated polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) to 56% of the dry cell weight under microaerobic...     

An efficient conversion of 1-abietic acid to (+)−3-deoxyaphidicolin

The first total synthesis of (+)?3-deoxyaphidicolin, a selective inhibitor of eukaryotic DNA polymerase α, has been completed efficiently and stereoselectively starting from 1-abietic acid.     

First-principles calculations of migration energy of lithium ions in halides and chalcogenides

Migration of Li+ ions via the vacancy mechanism in LiX (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) with the rocksalt and hypothetical zinc blende structures and Li2X (X = O, S, Se, and Te) with the antifluorite structure has been investigated using first-principles projector augmented wave calculations with the generalized gradient approximation. The migration paths and energies, determined by the nudged-elastic-band method, are discussed on the basis of two idealized models: the rigid-sphere and charged-sphere models. The trajectories and energy profiles of the migration in these lithium compounds vary between these two models, depending on the anion species and crystal structure. The migration energies in LiX with both the rocksalt and hypothetical zinc blende structures show a tendency to decrease with increasing periodic number of the anion species in the periodic table. This is consistent with the widely accepted view that anion species with large ionic radii and high polarizabilities are favorable for good ionic conduction. In contrast, Li2O exhibits the lowest migration energy among Li2X compounds, although O is the smallest among the chalcogens, indicating that electrostatic attractive interactions play the dominant role in the inter-ion interactions in Li2O and, therefore, in the ion migration.     

Resistance properties of a macroporous silica-based N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide-impregnated polymeric adsorption material against nitric acid, temperature and γ-irradiation

The resistance of a novel silica-based N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (TODGA) polymeric adsorption material (TODGA/SiO₂-P) against nitric acid, temperature and γ-irradiation had been investigated. The adsorption property of the treated TODGA/SiO₂-P was evaluated by a 3 M HNO₃ solution containing 0.01 M Nd(III). It was found that both 3 and 0.01 M HNO₃ concentrations did not decrease the stability of TODGA/SiO₂-P at 25°C. The quantity of TODGA leaked from TODGA/SiO₂-P was equivalent to its solubility in the corresponding HNO₃ aqueous solution. The effect of 3 M HNO₃ on the leakage of TODGA at 80°C was significantly higher than that in 0.01 M HNO₃ as well as in all cases at 25°C. The amount of Nd(III) adsorbed towards the treated TODGA/SiO₂-P was determined in the range of 0.143–0.148 mmol/g for the HNO₃ concentration effect and 0.142–0.0506 mmol/g for the temperature effect. γ-Irradiation showed a more noticeable destruction effect on TODGA/SiO₂-P. The content of TODGA leaked increased with an increase in the γ-irradiation dose (ID) from 1.06 to 3.72 MGy in terms of the linear equation [TODGA]=794.5ID+84.0. The amount of Nd(III) adsorbed onto the irradiated TODGA/SiO₂-P decreased rapidly from 0.134 to 0.0438 mmol/g, which was lower than 0.153 mmol/g, the adsorption of fresh TODGA/SiO₂-P for Nd(III), according to the equation Q_Nd(III)=−0.0301ID+0.160, showing that a large quantity of TODGA leaked from TODGA/SiO₂-P. The adsorbed amount of Nd(III) decreased obviously in this order: the HNO₃ concentration effect, temperature effect and γ-irradiation.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by the binary system of the copper–amine complex type resin and carbon tetrachloride

The polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by binary initiator systems composed of a copper–amine complex type resin and organic halides has been studied. These binary systems initiated the polymerization of various vinyl monomers. A kinetic study of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the copper–amine complex resin–CCl₄ system was carried out, and it was found that the polymerization proceeds by way of a radical mechanism. This fact was also supported by the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with styrene. The overall activation energy of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate was estimated as 8.4 kcal/mole. The activity of the initiator systems was greatly dependent upon the dissociation energy of carbon–halogen bonds in the organic halides. A possible initiation mechanism with the binary systems is proposed and discussed.     

Morphological variation in a toroid generated from a single polymer chain

A single semiflexible polymer chain folds into a toroidal object under poor solvent conditions. In this study, we examined the morphological change in such a toroidal state as a function of the cross-sectional area and stiffness of the chain together with the surface energy, which characterizes the segmental interaction parameter. Changes in the thickness and outer/inner radius on a toroid are interpreted in terms of these parameters. Our theoretical expectation corresponds to the actual morphological changes in a single giant DNA molecule as observed by electron microscopy.     

Broad spectrum and mode of action of an antibiotic produced byScytonema sp. TISTR 8208 in a seaweed-type bioreactor

A photobioreactor was constructed using anchored polyurethane foam strips (1 x 1 x 40 cm) fixed onto a stainless-steel ring to prevent flotation, as a biomass support material (BSM). This type of reactor was named a seaweed-type bioreactor. A filamentous cyanobacterium, Scytonema sp. TISTR 8208, which produces a novel cyclic dodecapeptide antibiotic, was immobilized in seaweed-type photobioreactor and cultivated with air containing 5% CO₂ sparged at a gas flow rate of 250 mL/min under illumination at a light intensity of 200 μmol photon m^-2s^-1. The antibiotic produced in the seaweed-type photobioreactor was purified by HPLC and examined regarding its spectrum and mode of action. The antibiotic effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, pathogenic yeasts, and filamentous fungi, but it had only a weak effect on Gram-negative bacteria. Scanning electron micrograph analysis showed that the most characteristic change was swelling of the cells after exposure to the antibiotic. The antibiotic seems to alter the conformation of the microbial cell membrane, thereby changing its permeability, leading to osmotic shock.