Synthesis of O,O Ethane Bridged Bis-copper(II) Macrocycles. Selective Enzyme Model for Catecholase Activity

New mononuclear and dinuclear complexes [3-hydroxyethyl-1,3,5,8,11pentaazacyclotridecane]copper(II) (1)/nickel(II) (2) perchlorate and O,O ethane bridged bis-copper(II) (3)/nickel(II) (4) macrocycles have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, viz. i.r., n.m.r., e.p.r., u.v.–vis. and conductance measurements. Spectral data and conductance measurements reveal that all the complexes are consistent with square-planar geometry and are ionic in nature. The catalytic activity of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex (3) in the presence of pyrocatechol was determined spectrometrically by monitoring the increase of the o-benzoquinone characteristic absorption band at 25,000 cm⁻¹ with respect to time in DMF saturated with molecular oxygen. The kinetic parameters V_max (2.8×10⁻³ M s⁻¹) and K_M (1.4×10⁻³ mm) have been determined by Michaelis–Menten method. Electrochemistry of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex has been studied in the presence of molecular oxygen with pyrocatechol and without pyrocatechol at a scan rate of 0.1 V s⁻¹ by cyclic voltammetry. On addition of pyrocatechol, complex shows a shift in E_pc, E_pa and E_1/2 values indicating the oxidation of substrate (pyrocatechol).     

New diorganotin(IV) derivatives of 7-hydroxycoumarin (umbelliferone) and their adducts with 1,10-phenanthroline

New diorganotin(IV) derivatives of the general formula R2Sn(Umb)2 (where R = n-Bu, n-Oct and Ph; Umb = umbelliferone anion) have been synthesized either by the reaction of R2SnO with umbelliferone under azeotropic removal of water or by the reaction of R2SnCl2 with sodium salt of umbelliferone. Further, the adducts of the general formula R2Sn(Umb)2.phen (where R = n-Bu and n-Oct; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have also been synthesized by the interaction of R2Sn(Umb)2 with 1,10-phenanthroline. The bonding and coordination behavior in these derivatives are discussed on the basis of IR and 119Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies in solid state. Their coordination behavior in solution is discussed by the multinuclear (1H, 13C and 119Sn) NMR spectral studies. The M?ssbauer and IR studies indicate that umbelliferone acts as a monoanionic bidentate ligand in R2Sn(Umb)2 coordinating through O(7) and O(1). A distorted octahedral geometry around tin has been proposed for R2Sn(Umb)2 as well as for R2Sn(Umb)2.phen in solid state. The newly synthesized derivatives have been tested for their anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular activities. The average LD50 value >1000 mg kg(-1) of these compounds indicates their safety margin.     

Mode of action and synergism of cellulases fromPenicillium funiculosum

A 1,4-β-d-glucan cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91) and l,4-β-d-glucan glucanohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.4) were purified from the culture filtrates ofPenicillium funiculosum by using preparative isoelectric focusing. Both the enzymes were homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel with and without sodium dodecyl sulphate. The mol wt of the cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanase were 14,400 and 25,000 respectively. The purified enzymes were free of β-glucosidase activity. Acting in isolation, the cellobiohydrolase had little capacity for solubilizing Avicel or Walseth cellulose, but showed increased rates of hydrolysis when combined with endoglucanase. Cellobiose inhibition (50%) was observed in the initial rate of the hydrolysis of Walseth cellulose. It was also observed that cellobiohydrolase initiates the attack on crystalline cellulose. † NCL communication no. 3898.     

Organotin(IV) complexes of NSAID,ibuprofen, X-ray structure of Ph3Sn(IBF), binding and cleavage interaction with DNA and in vitro cytotoxic studies of several organotin complexes of drugs

This study encompasses the synthesis and characterization of organotin(IV) derivatives of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (IBF), viz. [(Me₃Sn)(IBF)] ( 1 ), [(Bu₃Sn)(IBF)] ( 2 ), [Ph₃Sn(IBF)] ( 3 ), {[Me₂Sn(IBF)]₂O}₂ ( 4 ) and [Bu₂Sn(IBF)₂] ( 5 ). The crystal structure of complex 3 , [Ph₃Sn(IBF)], indicates a highly distorted tetrahedral (td) geometry with anisobidentate mode of coordination of the carboxylate group with tin atom, and a similar structure has been proposed for other two triorganotin(IV) derivatives. Moreover, the DFT (density functional theory) calculation and other studies have verified a dimer distannoxane type of structure for complex 4 , {[Me₂Sn(IBF)]₂O}₂. Complex 5 has been found to exhibit a highly distorted octahedral geometry around the tin atom. To investigate the DNA binding profile of the synthesized complexes, viscosity measurement, UV–vis and fluorescence titrations were performed, which revealed an intercalative type of binding with DNA for IBF and complex 5 and external binding in case of the complexes 1 and 2 ; complexes 3 and 4 could not be studied owing to their insufficient solubility in tris buffer. Plasmid DNA fragmentation studies of IBF and complexes 1 , 2 and 5 indicate that they cleaved the pBR322 plasmid potentially. Further, the drugs IBF {2-[4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid}, MESNA (sodium 2-mercaptoethane-sulfonate), warfarin [2H-1-benzopyran-2-one,4-hydroxy-3-(3-oxo-1-phenylbutyl)], sulindac (2-{5-fluoro-1-[(4-methanesulfinylphenyl) methylidene]-2-methyl-1H-inden-3-yl}acetic acid) and their corresponding organotin(IV) complexes 1–19 (complexes 6–19 were synthesized/reported previously) were screened in vitro for cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines viz. DU145 (prostate cancer), HCT-15 (colon adenocarcinoma), Caco-2 (colorectal adenocarcinoma), MCF-7 (mammary cancer), LNCaP (androgen-sensitive prostate adenocarcinoma) and HeLa (cervical cancer), through MTT reduction assay and the cause of cell death was investigated through acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining of cells and DNA fragmentation assay. The probable structure–cytotoxicity relationship is also discussed. The major role of apoptosis along with small necrosis was also validated by flow cytometry assay using annexin V–fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide analysis.     

Nucleation efficiency of R134a as a sensitive liquid for superheated drop emulsion detector

Superheated emulsion detector is known to detect neutrons, γ-rays and other charged particles. The present work includes the study of nucleation efficiency of superheated drops of one of the CFC-free liquids, R134a (C₂H₂F₄), to fast neutrons, its response to γ-rays from ²⁴¹Am and ¹³⁷Cs and compare its nucleation efficiency with that of R12. The observation indicates that because of the presence of hydrogen, the nucleation efficiency is less in R134a than in R12 in the present neutron energy range of consideration. R134a is one of the most environment-friendly, commercially available liquid that is suitable for superheated drop detector, specially in neutron dosimetry and one needs to investigate it in detail.     

Structure‐cytotoxicity relationship for apoptotic inducers organotin(IV) derivatives of mandelic acid and L‐proline and their mixed ligand complexes having enhanced cytotoxicity

Structure‐cytotoxicity relationship of di?/tri‐organotin(IV) derivatives of mandelic acid ( 1 – 4 ), L‐proline ( 5 – 7, 15, 16 ), and mixed ligand complexes of latter with 1,10‐phenanthroline ( 8 – 14 ) investigated on the basis of MTT assay against human cancer cell lines, viz. MCF‐7 (mammary cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer) and PC‐3 (prostate cancer) in vitro indicated that all complexes except methyl‐ and octyl‐ analogues displayed potential cytotoxicity. The most active one is dibutyltin(IV) mandelate ( 2 ) exhibiting IC₅₀ 2.03 ± 0.40, 0.98 ± 0.23 and 3.86 ± 1.68 μM against MCF‐7, HepG2 and PC‐3, respectively, which is ≈ 15 and 2.5 times against MCF‐7, 20 and 5 times against HepG2 and 5 and ≈ 3 times against PC‐3 more cytotoxic than cis‐platin and 5‐fluorouracil, respectively. Diorganotin(IV) derivatives of mandelic acid are more cytotoxic than triorganotin analogues. Organotin(IV) derivatives of L‐proline (except Bu₃Sn(Pro) 16 ) are less cytotoxic than those of mandelic acid but their cytotoxicity is enhanced by complexion with 1,10‐phenanthroline. This may be due to the structural planarity and extended π system of 1,10‐phenanthroline which facilitates their transportation across the cell membrane and enhances the possibility of DNA intercalation over the planar L‐proline ring, and eventually, their DNA binding affinity so as to interfere with the cellular functions of DNA leading to apoptosis. Various biophysical experiments such as DNA fragmentation, acridine orange and comet assays, and flow cytometry assay using annexin V–fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) have been carried out in order to ascertain their mode of action. The observed results indicated that the major cause of cancer cell death is apoptosis, but a minor role played by necrosis cannot be excluded. It is concluded on the basis of the observed results that the nature and number of organic groups bonded to tin as well as the nature of counter anions play an important role in determining the cytotoxicity of organotin(IV) compounds.     

New diorganotin(IV) derivatives of dipeptides: synthesis and characteristic spectral studies

Some new diorganotin(IV) derivatives of the formulae, R2SnL, where R=Me, n-Bu, Ph, and n-Oct, and L is the dianion of histidinylalanine (H2L-1) and histidinylleucine (H2L-2) have been synthesized by the reaction of R2SnCl2 and the preformed sodium salt of the respective dipeptides. The bonding and coordination behaviour in these derivatives are discussed on the basis of FT-IR, multinuclear 1H, 13C and 119Sn NMR and 119Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies. These investigations suggest that dipeptides in R2SnL act as dianionic tridentate coordinating through the COO(-), NH2 and N(-)peptide groups. The 119Sn M?ssbauer studies, together with the NMR data, suggest a trigonal bipyramidal geometry around tin in R2SnL with the alkyl/aryl groups and Npeptide in the equatorial positions, while a carboxylic oxygen and the amino nitrogen atom occupy the axial positions.     

Intact cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry as a tool to screen drugs in vivo for regulation of protein expression

Here we demonstrate for the first time the application of intact cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (ICM-MS) to study the regulation of protein expression. This technique can be extended to screen the drugs that inhibit protein synthesis in various diseases. We have used Escherichia coli cells expressing a recombinant glutathione-S-transferase (GST) gene under an arabinose-inducible promoter as a model system. Using ICM-MS analysis, we have detected a 28 kDa peak corresponding to the production of recombinant GST under the arabinose-induced condition. Furthermore, recombinant GST protein was purified by a single-step affinity purification using a glutathione Sepharose 4B affinity column from arabinose-induced E. coli cells. The purified GST protein was found to be a 28 kDa protein by MALDI analysis suggesting the arabinose-induced protein is indeed GST. The regulation of protein expression was studied using glucose as an alternative metabolite. The glucose-mediated regulation of the ara-operon was followed using the ICM-MS technique. All the results obtained from ICM-MS data were validated using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. The present technique can be extended for in vivo screening of drugs and it holds tremendous potential to discover novel drugs against specific protein expressions in different diseases.