DNA as a bioligand supported on magnetite for grafting palladium nanoparticles for cross-coupling reaction

The utilization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in nanotechnology is a promising area of research wherein the distinct properties of DNA are exploited for the design and development of new materials and applications. The biodegradability and natural profusion of DNA makes it highly suitable for use in various fields. In this report, we have treated DNA as a bioligand, supported on functionalized magnetite for the grafting of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles to make Pd-DNA bio-nanocatalyst. The Pd-DNA was subjected to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry analysis. The prepared Pd-DNA was found to be highly efficient in catalyzing Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction with excellent yields when compared with commercially available palladium-based catalysts. Also, the Pd-DNA could be easily recovered from the reaction mass using an external magnet and recycled up to six times without substantial loss of activity. Furthermore, Felbinac, a non-inflammatory drug, was synthesized in quantitative yields using the Pd-DNA bio-nanocatalyst.     

Molecular modeling of interactions of the non-peptide antagonist YM087 with the human vasopressin V1a,V2 receptors and with oxytocin receptors

The nonapeptide hormones arginine vasopressin (CYFQNCPRG-NH₂, AVP) and oxytocin (CYIQNCPLG-NH₂, OT), control many essential functions in mammals. Their main activities include the urine concentration (via stimulation of AVP V2 receptors, V2R, in the kidneys), blood pressure regulation (via stimulation of vascular V1a AVP receptors, V1aR), ACTH control (via stimulation of V1b receptors, V1bR, in the pituitary) and labor and lactation control (via stimulation of OT receptors, OTR, in the uterus and nipples, respectively). All four receptor subtypes belong to the GTP-binding (G) protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. This work consists of docking of YM087, a potent non-peptide V1aR and V2R – but not OTR – antagonist, into the receptor models based on relatively new theoretical templates of rhodopsin (RD) and opiate receptors, proposed by Mosberg et al. (Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA). It is simultaneously demonstrated that this RD template satisfactorily compares with the first historical GPCR structure of bovine rhodopsin (Palczewski et al., 2000) and that homology-modeling of V2R, V1aR and OTR using opiate receptors as templates is rational, based on relatively high (20–60%) sequence homology among the set of 4 neurophyseal and 4 opiate receptors. YM087 was computer-docked to V1aR, V2R and OTR using the AutoDock (Olson et al., Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA) and subsequently relaxed using restrained simulated annealing and molecular dynamics, as implemented in AMBER program (Kollman et al., University of California, San Francisco, USA). From about 80 diverse configurations, sampled for each of the three ligand/receptor systems, 3 best energy-relaxed complexes were selected for mutual comparisons. Similar docking modes were found for the YM087/V1aR and YM087/V2R complexes, diverse from those of the YM087/OTR complexes, in agreement with the molecular affinity data.