An optimized method for determination of intracellular glutathione in mouse macrophage cultures by fluorimetric high-performance liquid chromatography

We have optimized a method for the determination of intracellular glutathione by high-performance liquid chromatography, using fluorimetric detection. To minimize artifacts and provide an accurate determination of intracellular glutathione, cell extracts were prepared using extraction conditions specifically designed to inhibit autoxidation and enzymatic degradation of glutathione. The sensitivity of the method was enhanced by adjusting the dansyl chloride derivatization reaction with regard to parameters such as pH, reaction time and dansyl chloride concentration. Both oxidized and reduced forms of glutathione were quantified using the refined method in extracts of oxidatively stressed J774A.1 mouse macrophage cells and reflected an expected shift in cellular redox status.     

Complete replacement of H2 by D2 via Pd/C-catalyzed H/D exchange reaction

[reaction: see text] A general and in situ D2 gas generation method using 10% Pd/C-catalyzed H2-D2 exchange reaction in a H2-D2O system has been developed. H2 gas sealed in a reaction flask was efficiently converted into nearly pure D2 gas, which can be used for the reductive deuteration of substrates possessing reducible functionalities within the molecule.     

Synthesis, stereochemistry, and circular dichroism of optically active o-substituted diphenyl sulphilimines and related compounds

Optically active o-substituted diphenyl N-substituted sulphilimines are readily synthesised by the reaction of the corresponding sulphides and t-butyl hypochlorite in the presence of l-menthol and amide anions. (−)-N-p-Tolylsulphonylsulphilimines (1, 2) obtained were converted to the corresponding (−)-N-unsubstituted sulphilimines (8, 9) by treating them with concentrated sulphuric acid. When (−)-S-o-anisyl S-phenyl N-(unsubstituted) sulphilimine (8) was treated with acylating agents or acrylonitrile, the corresponding optically active (−)-N-substituted sulphilimines were prepared with complete retention at sulphur. The absolute configuration of (−)-S-o-anisyl S-phenyl N-p-tolylsulphonylsulphilimine (1) was determined by converting it to (+)-S-o-anisyl sulphoxide (17). CD curves of (−)-o-substituted diarylsulphilimines exhibited a negative Cotton effect at around 270–285 nm, which was assigned to (S)-configuration at sulphur by comparing with the analogous sulphoxides. The substituent on the imino group of the sulphilimine gave no appreciable effect on the CD behavior and the lack of substituent effect was considered to be due to the semi-polar character of the S(IV)-N bond. Unusual effect of o-methoxy group on the CD curves was discussed in connection with solvent effect. Mechanism of this asymmetric synthesis has been investigated, and it has become apparent that the diastereomeric menthoxysulphonium chloride was an excess of (RR)-configuration was formed initially and the amide anion attacks the S atom of the salt with net inversion.     

Studies on polymers containing functional groups. II. Polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene

The polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene with free-radical and cationic initiators and without an initiator was examined. The structures thus obtained were estimated. Although polymerization behavior of o-hydroxystyrene was rather complicated, according to the results, it appeared that each polymerization more or less might simultaneously follow the two types of mechanisms: normal vinyl polymerization and polymerization through the addition to benzene nuclei. The proportion of addition to benzene nuclei was considered to be highest in the polymerization with BF₃·(OEt)₂ and lowest in that with azobisisobutyronitrile. Degrees of polymerization of these polymers were low in all cases (42–82). Some brief experiments on copolymerization of o-hydroxystyrene were carried out.     

Chemical release control: Schiff bases of vinylbenzaldehyde and functional amines

Schiff base (SB) monomers of vinylbenzaldehyde with functional amines were prepared. Copolymers of SB monomers with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone soluble in aqueous solutions were obtained in most cases. However, p-aminobenzenesulfonamide monomer resulted in gel formation. Thus, the reaction of vinylbenzaldehyde copolymer with the sulfonamide was used instead of the copolymerization. The hydrolytic behaviors of SB monomers and copolymers to liberate respective amines were structure dependent and, for most copolymers, the rates were lower than those of the corresponding monomers.     

Magnetic properties of amorphous Mn x B100−x alloys

Magnetic properties of amorphous Mn _x B_100–x alloys ranging fromx = 30 to 70 under high magnetic fields and low ac magnetic fields in the temperature range from 4.2 K to room temperature have been investigated. Samples which have Mn concentrations of aboutx = 40–60 show spin-glass-like properties in the low-temperature region. This spin-glass characteristics result from a frustration in the spin system which is caused by the competition of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions between randomly distributed Mn atoms. Both magnetization at 4.2 K and paramagnetic momentP _eff as a function of Mn concentration show a peak aroundx 44 which drops rapidly towards both sides of the Mn content.