RESOLUTION OF TWO EMISSION SPECTRA FOR TRYPTOPHAN USING FREQUENCY-DOMAIN PHASE-MODULATION SPECTRA

We describe a novel application of frequency-domain fluorometry which allows resolution of the decay times and emission spectra of samples which display multi-exponential decay kinetics. This method does not require any previous knowledge about the decay times or any assumptions about the shape of the emission spectra. We record the wavelength-dependent phase angles and modulations (phase angle and modulation spectra) using a number of light modulation frequencies. The data is analyzed by non-linear least-squares to recover the emission spectra and their associated decay times. Phase and modulation spectra (PM Spec) were used to recover the emission spectra associated with the two decay times of tryptophan at pH = 7 (0.54 and 3.44 ns). The emission spectra of these components are centered at 340 and 355 nm, respectively, with the amplitude of the 0.54 ns component contributing 6% to the total emission. These results are in agreement with previous time-resolved studies by Szabo and Rayner [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102, 554-563 (1980)]. Control experiments were performed on mixtures of N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide (NATA) and PPD, which demonstrate our ability to recover the spectra and decay times from two component mixtures. NATA itself displayed a single decay time and only one emission spectrum.     

A facile synthesis and highly atom economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of hexahydropyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines with nitrile oxide: stereoselective formation of hexahydro[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-d]pyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines

A series of new 2-methyl-11-aryl-4-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-1,2,3,4,11,11a-hexahydropyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines were obtained by the reaction of o-aminothiophenol and (E)-1-methyl-3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetic acid under solvent-free microwave irradiation. These dipolarophiles undergo a highly atom economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxide to afford a series of novel 6-methyl-1-phenyl-8-aryl-4-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-4,5,6,7,7a,8-hexahydro[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-d]pyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines stereoselectively.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pf</Emphasis>TrxR inhibitors using antimalarial assays and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis>techniques

Background

The compounds 1,4-napthoquinone (1,4-NQ), bis-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)sulfide (2,4-DNPS), 4-nitrobenzothiadiazole (4-NBT), 3-dimethylaminopropiophenone (3-DAP) and menadione (MD) were tested for antimalarial activity against both chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine (CQ)-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum through an in vitro assay and also for analysis of non-covalent interactions with P. falciparum thioredoxin reductase (PfTrxR) through in silico docking studies.

Results

The inhibitors of PfTrxR namely, 1,4-NQ, 4-NBT and MD displayed significant antimalarial activity with IC₅₀ values of?<?20 μM and toxicity against 3T3 cell line. 2,4-DNPS was only moderately active. In silico docking analysis of these compounds with PfTrxR revealed that 2,4-DNPS, 4-NBT and MD interact non-covalently with the intersubunit region of the enzyme.

Conclusions

In this study, tools for the identification of PfTrxR inhibitors using phenotyphic screening and docking studies have been validated for their potential use for antimalarial drug discovery project.

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Sequential 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions in the Synthesis of Novel Tri-spiro Cyclohexanones and Piperidin-4-ones

The sequential 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine ylide and nitrile oxide to a series of 2,6-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]cyclohexanones and 1-methyl-3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones afforded novel tri-spiro heterocycles comprising isoxazoline, pyrrolidine and acenaphthylen-1(2H)-one rings in good yields and stereoselectivity.     

Development of fish gelatin-based artificial fish baits incorporating bioattractants from seafood processing waste

The study dealt with evolving an artificial fish bait by incorporating bioattractant concentrates derived from seafood processing wastes by enzymatic hydrolysis namely fish waste concentrate (FWC), squid waste concentrate (SWC), and shrimp processing concentrate (SPWC). They were characterized based on amino acid content and presence of different functional groups using FTIR. Among them, SWC was found to have the highest amino acid content of 60.85mg/100 mg followed by FWC (42.21mg/100 mg) and SPWC (24.82mg/100 mg). The developed artificial fish baits were subjected to protein leaching, solubility in seawater besides testing for acceptability by the red snapper. The study revealed that the bait incorporated with SWC at 3% level was found be the most ideal, with the protein leaching rate of 24.82 mg/g/h, solubility rate of 36.6 mg/g/h and the attractability score of 29/30. The amino acid leaching rate was 3.11 mg/h/100 mg and it was found to contain five amino acids such as glycine, proline, glutamic acid, alanine and serine. The study revealed that the hydrolyzed squid waste concentrate can be incorporated at 3% (w/w) with fish gelatin based biomatrix during gelation to prepare artificial bait.     

Ionic liquid mediated synthesis and in vitro mechanistic exploration of polycyclic cage-like heterocyclic hybrid

A three-component, [3 + 2]-cycloaddition/annulation domino protocol is described for the synthesis in excellent yield of a polycyclic cage-like heterocyclic hybrid (PCHH) that comprises various advantaged structural units viz., α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety, 4-pyridinone and pyrroloisoquinoline in a cage-like framework. The antitumor activity of PCHH on human breast (MCF7), colon (HCT116), cervical (JURKAT) and lung (NCI-H460) malignant cell lines inhibited the propagation of all cell lines. This hybrid molecule displayed increased broad-spectrum anticancer activity with higher doses of PCHH. Furthermore, the compound induced 45.21% of early apoptosis and 46.32% of late apoptosis in the Jurkat cancer cell line. Cell cycle analysis showed that this cage-like compound caused cell cycle arrest of Jurkat cells at the S phase and sub G0/G1 phase. Additionally, it led to increased DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization through activation of caspase-3 enzyme. Present investigation demonstrates the specific cytotoxic activity of the cage-like compound and the induction of apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway of Jurkat cells.     

Dynamics of folding in semiflexible filaments

The dynamics of a single semiflexible filament under the action of a compressing force is simulated. We find that the filament folds asymmetrically with a folding length which depends only on the bending stiffness kappa and the applied force f. It is shown that this behavior can be attributed to the exponentially falling tension profile in the filament. While the folding time tau(0) depends on the initial configuration, the distance moved by the terminal point of the filament and the length of the fold scales as tau(1/2) at tau>tau(0) and is independent of the initial configuration.     

Photophysical investigation of 3-substituted 4-alkyl and/or 7-acetoxy coumarin derivatives—A study of the effect of substituents on fluorescence

In the present work an array of novel substituted 2H-chromen-2-one (coumarin) derivatives has been subjected to photophysical analysis. Though the influence of the electron-donating groups such as amino, substituted amino, hydroxyl, alkoxy groups, etc. at position 7 of the coumarin ring system has been extensively studied, the luminescent properties of the coumarin moieties with an acetoxy substituent have not been explored. Herein it is attempted to study the variation of fluorescence behavior of substituted coumarin derivatives with change of nature and position of the substituents on the 2H-chromen-2-one skeleton. Effect of a methyl substituent at position 4 which imposes abnormal photophysical behavior to the chromenone unit has also been briefly described.     

18‐Crown‐6 Catalyzed Microwave‐mediated Synthesis of Symmetric Bis‐Heterocyclic Compounds under Solvent‐free Condition

An efficient, solvent‐free and 18‐crown‐6 catalyzed method for the synthesis of N‐alkyl‐4‐(4‐(5‐(2‐(alkyl‐amino)thiazol‐4‐yl)pyridin‐3‐yl)phenyl)thiazol‐2‐amine, N‐alkyl‐4‐(5‐(2‐alkyamino)thiazol‐4‐yl)pyridine‐3‐yl)thiazol‐2‐amine, and 4,4′‐bis‐{2‐[amino]‐4‐thiazolyl}biphenyl bis‐heterocyclic derivatives via microwave accelerated cyclization is presented.