Synthesis of the proposed structure of phaeosphaeride A

The first total synthesis of the proposed structure of phaeosphaeride A has been achieved via six-membered-ring formation by means of an intramolecular vinyl-anion aldol reaction as the key step. This synthesis suggests a revised configurational assignment for phaeosphaeride A.     

Structural properties of an artificial protein that regulates the nucleation of inorganic and organic crystals

Technological advances have facilitated the generation of artificial proteins that possess the capabilities of recognizing and binding to inorganic solids and/or controlling nucleation processes that form inorganic solids. However, very little is known regarding the structure of these interesting polypeptides and how their structure contributes to functionality. To address this deficiency, we report structural investigations of an artificial protein, p288, that self-assembles and controls the nucleation of simple salts and organic compounds into dendrite-like crystals. Under aqueous conditions at low pH and in the presence of high salt, p288 is conformationally labile and exists primarily as a random coil conformer in equilibrium with other undefined secondary structures, including polyproline type II and beta turn. We note that p288 can fold into either a partial beta strand (at neutral pH) or a predominantly alpha helical (in the presence of TFE) conformation. Solid-state 13C-15N NMR experiments also reveal that p288 in the lyophilized, hydrated state possesses some degree of nonrandom coil structure. These results indicate that p288 is conformationally labile but can undergo conformational transitions to a more stable structure when water solvent loss/displacement occurs and protein concentrations increase. We believe that conformational instability and the ability to adopt different structures as a function of different environmental conditions represent important molecular features that impact p288 supramolecular assembly and crystal nucleation processes.     

Effect of Motif‐Programmed Artificial Proteins on the Calcium Uptake in a Synthetic Hydrogel

Motif‐programmed artificial proteins with mineralization‐related activity were covalently immobilized onto the surface of a hydrogel, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). We investigated the influence of assaying conditions upon the ability of three selected proteins (PS64, PS382 and PS458) to modulate calcification in vitro. A long‐term assay measuring the real amount of calcium phosphate phase in the protein‐modified PHEMA showed that all proteins enhanced the uptake of calcium by the hydrogel. For PS382 and PS458, this is a behaviour opposite to that displayed when the same proteins were tested in a free state by a rapid solution assay. Such difference may be attributed to a restricted mobility of the proteins due to immobilization.

     

FICA,a new chiral derivatizing agent for determining the absolute configuration of secondary alcohols by 19F and 1H NMR spectroscopies

Optically active 1-fluoroindan-1-carboxylic acid (FICA) was designed and prepared as its methyl ester for determining the absolute configuration of chiral molecules by both ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopies. Enantiomerically pure isomers of FICA methyl esters (FICA Me esters) were obtained by chromatographic separation using HPLC with a Daicel Chiralcel OJ-H column. The absolute configuration of the (+)-FICA Me ester was deduced to be (S) by X-ray crystallographic analysis of the (+)-FICA amide of (R)-α-phenethylamine. Both enantiomers were derived to the diastereomeric esters of chiral secondary alcohols by an ester exchange reaction. In the ¹H NMR spectra, the signs of Δδ_H (δ_R ? δ_S) were consistent on each side of the FICA molecular plane. Therefore, the concept of the modified Mosher’s method could be successfully applied to the FICA-based procedure. Moreover, the consistency in the signs of Δδ_F (δ_R ? δ_S) values suggests that the FICA method would be reliable in assigning the absolute configurations of secondary alcohols based on ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy.     

Genetic and expression analysis of SNPs in the human deoxyribonuclease II: SNPs in the promoter region reduce its in vivo activity through decreased promoter activity

Five SNPs in the human DNase II gene have been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Genotype and haplotype analysis of 14 SNPs, nine SNPs of which reported in the NCBI dbSNP database in addition to these five SNPs, was performed in healthy subjects. The enzymatic activities of the amino acid substituted DNase II corresponding to each SNP and serum DNase II in healthy Japanese, and promoter activities derived from each haplotype of the RA‐related SNPs were measured. Significant correlations between genotype in each RA‐related SNP and enzymatic activity levels were found; alleles associated with RA exhibited a reduction in serum DNase II activity. Furthermore, the promoter activities of each reporter construct corresponding to predominant haplotypes in three SNPs in the promoter region of the gene exhibited significant correlation with levels of serum DNase II activity. These findings indicate these three SNPs could alter the promoter activity of DNASE2, leading to a decline in DNase II activity in the serum through gene expression. Since the three SNPs in the promoter region of the DNase II gene could affect in vivo DNase II activity through reduction of the promoter activity, it is feasible to identify these SNPs susceptible to RA.     

L‐Leucylglycine 0.67‐hydrate and [(4S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐5‐oxoimidazolidin‐3‐ium‐1‐yl]acetate

Crystals of L‐leucylglycine (L‐Leu–Gly) 0.67‐hydrate, C₈H₁₆N₂O₃·0.67H₂O, (I), were obtained from an aqueous solution. There are three symmetrically independent dipeptide zwitterionic molecules in (I) and they are parallel to one another. The hydrogen‐bond network composed of carboxylate and amino groups and water molecules extends parallel to the ab plane. Hydrophilic regions composed of main chains and hydrophobic regions composed of the isobutyl groups of the leucyl residues are aligned alternately along the c axis. An imidazolidinone derivative was obtained from L‐Leu–Gly and acetone, viz. [(4S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐5‐oxoimidazolidin‐3‐ium‐1‐yl]acetate, C₁₁H₂₀N₂O₃, (II), and was crystallized from a methanol–acetone solution of L‐Leu–Gly. The unit‐cell parameters coincide with those reported previously for L‐Leu–Gly dihydrate revealing that the previously reported values should be assigned to the structure of (II). One of the imidazolidine N atoms is protonated and the ring is nearly planar, except for the protonated N atom. Protonated N atoms and deprotonated carboxy groups of neighbouring molecules form hydrogen‐bonded chains. The ring carbonyl group is not involved in hydrogen bonding.