Het(aryl)isatin to het(aryl)aminoindoline scaffold hopping: A route to selective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of zinc-dependent endoproteases known to exert multiple regulatory roles in tumor progression. A variety of chemical classes have been explored for targeting individual MMP isoforms. In the present study, we further developed our isatin based scaffold BB0223107 capable of binding to and inactivating MMP-2 in a zinc-independent manner (Agamennone et al., 2016). Forty four new compounds were synthesized based on the modified BB0223107. All compounds were tested in enzyme inhibition assays against MMP-2, ?8 and ?13. SAR studies demonstrated that 5-het(aryl)-3-aminoindolin-2-ones (37–39) were active toward MMP-2 and MMP-13. The most potent compounds 33 and 37 displayed an IC₅₀ of 3 µM against MMP-13 and showed a negligible activity toward MMP-8; almost all new compounds were inactive toward MMP-8. Replacement of the isatin ring with a biaryl system (compound 33) did not decrease the potency against MMP-13 but reduced the selectivity. Structure-based computational studies were carried out to rationalize the inhibitory activity data. The analysis of binding geometries confirmed that all fragments occupied the S1′ site in the three enzymes while no ligand was able to bind the catalytic zinc ion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of 3-aminoindolin-2-one-based MMP inhibitors that, based on the computer modeling study, do not coordinate the zinc ion. Thus, the het(aryl)-3-aminoindolin-2-one derivatives emerge as a drug-like and promising chemotype that, along with the hetaryl variations, represents an alternative and thrifty tool for chemical space exploration aimed at MMP inhibitor design.     

多元统计分析中一类矩阵迹函数最小化问题的有效算法

研究来源于多元统计分析中的一类矩阵迹函数最小化问题$\min c+ tr(AX)+\sum\limits_{j=1}^{m}tr(B_j X C_jX^{T}),\ \ {\rm s. t.} \ X^TX=I_p,$其中$c$为常数, $A\in R^{p\times n}\ (n\geq p)$, $B_j\in R^{n\times n}, C_j\in R^{p\times p}$为给定系数矩阵. 数值实验表明已有的Majorization算法虽可行, 但收敛速度缓慢且精度不高. 本文从黎曼流形的角度重新研究该问题, 基于Stiefel流形的几何性质, 构造一类黎曼非单调共轭梯度迭代求解算法, 并给出算法收敛性分析.数值实验和数值比较验证所提出的算法对于问题模型是高效可行的.     

Darboux transformation and exact multisolitons for a matrix coupled dispersionless system

We present a matrix coupled dispersionless(CD) system. A Lax pair for the matrix CD system is proposed and Darboux transformation is constructed on the solutions of the matrix CD system and the associated Lax pair. We express an N soliton formula for the solutions of the matrix CD system in terms of quasideterminants. By using properties of the quasideterminants, we obtain some exact solutions, including bright and dark-type solitons, rogue wave and breather solutions of the matrix CD system. Furthermore, it has been shown that the solutions of the matrix CD system are expressed in terms of solutions to the usual CD system, sine-Gordon equation and Maxwell-Bloch system.     

A category of kernels for equivariant factorizations,II: Further implications

We leverage the results of the prequel [8], in combination with a theorem of D. Orlov to create a categorical covering picture for factorizations. As applications, we provide a conjectural geometric framework to further understand M. Kontsevich's Homological Mirror Symmetry conjecture and obtain new cases of a conjecture of Orlov concerning the Rouquier dimension of the bounded derived category of coherent sheaves on a smooth variety.     

On-Surface Synthesis and Real-Space Visualization of Aromatic P3N3

On-surface synthesis is at the verge of emerging as the method of choice for the generation and visualization of unstable or unconventional molecules, which could not be obtained via traditional synthetic methods. A case in point is the on-surface synthesis of the structurally elusive cyclotriphosphazene (P₃N₃), an inorganic aromatic analogue of benzene. Here, we report the preparation of this fleetingly existing species on Cu(111) and Au(111) surfaces at 5.2 K through molecular manipulation with unprecedented precision, i.e., voltage pulse-induced sextuple dechlorination of an ultra-small (about 6 Å) hexachlorophosphazene P₃N₃Cl₆ precursor by the tip of a scanning probe microscope. Real-space atomic-level imaging of cyclotriphosphazene reveals its planar D_3h-symmetric ring structure. Furthermore, this demasking strategy has been expanded to generate cyclotriphosphazene from a hexaazide precursor P₃N₂₁ via a different stimulation method (photolysis) for complementary measurements by matrix isolation infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy.     

Infrared spectra and UV-induced photochemistry of methyl aziridine-2-carboxylate isolated in argon and xenon matrices

Methyl aziridine-2-carboxylate (MA2C) has been isolated in low temperature argon and xenon matrices and its structure and photochemistry were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The reactant as well as the main photoproducts were characterized by comparison of their experimental IR spectra with spectra calculated at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) level. The theoretical calculations predicted the existence of two low energy MA2C conformers, differing by the orientation of the OCCN dihedral angle. Both conformers were identified in the studied matrices. Both narrowband tunable and broadband UV irradiations of matrix-isolated MA2C yielded isomerization photoproducts resulting from cleavage of the CC and weakest CN bonds of the aziridine ring. Irradiation with UV laser-light at λ = 235 nm resulted in the formation of the E isomer of methyl 2-(methylimino)-acetate (MMIA) and the Z isomer of methyl 3-iminopropanoate (M3IP). Subsequent irradiation at 290 nm led to observation of new bands resulting from E → Z isomerization of MMIA, while bands due to M3IP remained unchanged. The photoproduced Z isomer of MMIA could be subsequently consumed upon higher-wavelength irradiation (λ = 330 nm). The initially produced MMIA conformer was found to obey the nonequilibrium of excited rotamers (NEER) principle. No photoproducts resulting from the cleavage of the strongest CN bond of the MA2C aziridine ring were observed, nor that of methyl 3-aminoacrylate (M3AA), which could in principle be obtained also by cleavage of the weakest CN bond of the MA2C aziridine ring, but would imply a different H-atom migration simultaneous with the ring opening process. These results indicate that both the differential electronic characteristics of the CN bonds of substituted aziridine rings and the type of required H-atom migration are major factors in determining the specific photochemistries of substituted aziridines. Photofragmentation reactions of MA2C were also observed, through identification of various related products, e.g., acetonitrile, methanol, methane, CO and CO₂.     

不同基体改进剂对电感耦合等离子体质谱法测量血清中甲胎蛋白的影响

血清中甲胎蛋白(AFP)的准确测量对于癌症的临床诊断和治疗具有重要意义.电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)具有灵敏度高、检出限低、多元素同时检测等优点,但用于血清中低丰度蛋白的检测时,检出限常不及荧光检测法,因此,提高ICP-MS免疫分析测量低丰度蛋白质时的灵敏度具有重要意义.本研究发现,增强液能很大程度增加Eu信号强度,选取醋酸、醇类、EDTA三类有机试剂模拟增强液来探索增强机理.结果表明:酸性体系能增加目标元素在基体中的稳定性,减少其在管壁的吸附;碳原子或分子容易接受电子提高Eu的电离效率;EDTA能与金属离子结合,减少吸附,但同时EDTA与其它金属结合引入更多的干扰,从而使空白信号增大,5％ HAc既能满足酸性要求也能满足含碳量要求,作为基体时铕的灵敏度最高,同时也不影响空白信号.因此选择5％ HAc作为解离液,并应用于人血清中甲胎蛋白含量的测定,线性范围为1～600 μg/L,检出限为0.57 μg/L,采用基体改进ICP-MS测量人血清中AFP的含量与TRFIA测量结果一致,且精密度要优于TRFIA的测量结果.     

Comprehensive characterization of natural organic matter by MALDI- and ESI-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex and non-uniform mixture of organic compounds which plays an important role in environmental processes. Due to the complexity, it is challenging to obtain fully detailed structural information about NOM. Although Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for providing molecular information about NOM, multiple ionization methods are needed for comprehensive characterization of NOM at the molecular level considering the ionizing selectivity of different ionization methods. This paper reports the first use of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) method coupled with FT-ICR-MS for molecular characterization of NOM within a mass range of 200–800 Da. The mass spectral data obtained by MALDI were systematically compared with data generated by electrospray ionization (ESI). It showed that complementary molecular information about NOM which could not be detected by ESI, were provided by MALDI. More unsaturated and aromatic constituents of NOM with lower O/C ratio (O/C ratio < 0.5) were preferentially ionized in MALDI negative mode, whereas more polar constituents of NOM with higher O/C ratio were preferentially ionized in ESI negative mode. Molecular anions of NOM appearing at even m/z in MALDI negative ion mode were detected. The results show that NOM molecules with aromatic structures, moderate O/C ratio (0.7 > O/C ratio > 0.25) and lower H/C ratio were liable to form molecular anions at even m/z, whereas those with higher H/C ratio are more likely to form deprotonated ions at odd m/z. It is speculated that almost half of the NOM molecules identified by MALDI may be aromatic or condensed aromatic compounds with special groups which are liable to absorb electron from other molecules to generate free radical anions during MALDI ionization.