Reaction orders of radiation-induced dechlorinations of some aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons in aqueous solutions

Previously obtained data regarding radiation-induced dechlorination of some aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), chloroform (CHCl₃) and tetrachloromethane (CCl₄) in aqueous solutions were used for determination of formal reaction order of dechlorination. The influence of various factors on this process was investigated. It was found that the formal reaction order changes in the course of reaction and may depend on the initial concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons.     

The determination of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in air, natural waters, marine organisms, and sediments

A gas Chromatographic procedure is described for the determination of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, natural waters, aquatic organisms and sediments. Air samples are passed through activated carbon traps and the chloro compounds are later desorbed by heating in a current of nitrogen. Chloro compounds are stripped from water samples by bubbling with nitrogen and from bio-materials and sediments by heating in a current of nitrogen. In each instance, the chlorinated compounds are trapped in copper columns packed with Chromosorb coated with silicone oil, and cooled to -78°. The chloro compounds are subsequently swept off these columns into a gas chromatographic column with a current of argon. Detection of the Chromatographic peaks is performed with an electron-capture detector. The procedure gives near quantitative recoveries of a range of chlorinated hydrocarbons from natural samples.     

Intermediates in the destruction of chlorinated C1 hydrocarbons on La-based materials: mechanistic implications

Activity experiments using GC analysis of reactor effluent have been combined with in situ IR spectroscopy to elucidate the reaction steps in the destructive adsorption of CHCl3, CH2Cl2, and CH3Cl over LaOCl. The IR results show that during reaction, LaOCl is covered with carbonate, formate, and methoxy groups. The relative amount of each of these surface intermediates depends on the Cl/H ratio of the reactant. The decomposition of the surface species leads to formation of the reaction products, and is influenced by the temperature and the relative amount of Cl present on the surface. The GC results show that the activity for the destructive adsorption of H-containing chlorinated C1 compounds decreases with increasing hydrogen content of the reactant. The acquired insight into the mechanism of destructive adsorption is crucial to the design of new catalyst materials for the efficient conversion of chlorinated hydrocarbons into nonhazardous products or reusable chemicals.     

Concomitant detection of CYP1A1 enzymatic activity and CYP1A1 protein in individual cells of a human urothelial cell line using a bilayer microfluidic device

To understand molecular networking at the cellular level, analyses of processes and effects at the single-cell level are most appropriate. Usual biochemical or molecular biological analyses are based on integrated signals of numerous cells which differ, however, in their expression and activity profiles. Here we show that it is possible to determine different types of properties of individual cells by means of a specifically designed microfluidic device. As part of investigations to characterize the human urothelial cell line 5637 as a potential model system for studies of toxic and carcinogenic effects on urothelial cells, we use this cell line to assign cytochrome P450 activity, and expression of the enzymes involved, to individual cells. It is shown that the cell population is very heterogeneous with respect to the extent and kinetics of CYP1A1-dependent ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD). This is also true for the cells’ CYP1A1 protein content. With some exceptions, the EROD activity largely coincides with the presence of CYP1A1 protein in the cells. The results obtained with the microfluidic device are promising and open up new perspectives with regard to multi-property determinations in individual cells and to studies focusing on the biochemical and molecular heterogeneity of cells. Figure Formation of fluorescent resorufin from ethoxyresorufin by cytochrome P450 activity in urothelial cells attached within the chamber of a microfluidic device     

Cyclodextrin complexes of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of aliphatic alcohols

Pyrene, as a fluorescence probe, has been used to study the cyclodextrin complexation process in the presence of different alcohols. The complex formation as well as the hydrophobicity of the cyclodextrin interior can be significantly influenced by the introduction of alcohols. The alcoholic alkyl group and the primary and secondary hydroxyl groups of the cyclodextrin proved to be the determining factors in the complex formation.     

Methods for the analysis of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons in tissues.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons bioaccumulate in tissues and may have severe health consequences. These compounds occur individually, in small groups or as complex mixtures; examples of each category include aldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane and the polychlorinated biphenyls. Tissue extraction and purification schemes have been established, although new approaches such as supercritical fluid extraction are promising. Analyses often require the resolving power of capillary gas chromatography, in combination with the sensitivity and selectivity of electron-capture detection, electrolytic conductivity detection and mass spectrometry. Difficulties arise in quantitating chlorinated hydrocarbons in tissues, due to the number of components present and the fact that individual constituents may be reduced or enhanced in concentration in tissues, compared with the original formulation. Congener specific analysis and computer-assisted identification techniques have been applied to the problem.     

A negative cooperativity mechanism of human CYP2E1 inferred from molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations

Human cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) participates in the metabolism of over 2% of all the oral drugs. A hallmark peculiar feature of this enzyme is that it exhibits a pronounced negative cooperativity in substrate binding. However the mechanism by which the negative cooperativity occurs is unclear. Here, we performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations on human CYP2E1 to examine the structural differences between the substrate-free and the enzymes with one and two aniline molecules bound. Our results indicate that although the effector substrate does not bind in the active site cavity, it still can directly interact with the active site residues of human CYP2E1. The interaction of the effector substrate with the active site leads to a reorientation of active site residues, which thereby weakens the interactions of the active substrate with this site. We also identify a conserved residue T303 that plays a crucial role in the negative cooperative binding on the short-range effects. This residue is a key factor in the positioning of substrates and in proton delivery to the active site. Additionally, a long-range effect of the effector substrate is identified in which F478 is proposed to play a key role. As located in the interface between the active and effector sites, this residue structurally links the active and effector sites and is found to play a significant role in affecting substrate access and ligand positioning within the active site. In the negative cooperative binding, this residue can decrease the interactions of the active substrate with the active site by π-π stacking which then lowers the hydroxylation activity for the active substrate. These findings are in agreement with previous experimental observations and thus provide detailed atomistic insight into the poorly understood mechanism of the negative cooperativity in human CYP2E1.     

Effects of low hydrocarbons on the solid oxide fuel cell anode

In this work, the effects of ethylene on the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode were investigated both for an SOFC single cell and an SOFC stack. Two fuels were used to observe the effects that low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) in the reformate gas stream have on the SOFC anode. Methane or ethylene was supplied to the electrolyte-supported SOFC anode. Using ethylene as a fuel, catastrophic degradation of SOFC performance was observed due to ethylene-induced carbon deposition onto the SOFC anode. Thus, a new methodology, termed “post-reforming,” is introduced for the removal of low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) from the reformate gas stream. The CGO-Ru catalyst was selected as the post-reforming catalyst because of its high selectivity for removing low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) and for its long-term stability. The diesel reformer and post-reformer were continuously operated for ∼250 h in coupled-operation mode. The reforming performance was not degraded, and low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) in the diesel reformate were completely removed.     

Comparative studies of the effects of two novel sugar drug candidates on the CYP 1A2 and CYP 2E1 enzymes in different sexed rats using a "cocktail" approach

The sex-based differences between the effects of two novel sugar-based drug candidates, a sulfated polymannuroguluronate (SPMG-911) and an acidic oligosaccharide sugar chain compound (AOSC-971), on the enzymes CYP 1A2 and CYP 2E1 were investigated. The results showed that neither SPMG-911 nor AOSC-971 have any effect on CYP1A2, while AOSC-971 induced the CYP 2E1 in male rats. The results are useful for their safety evaluation, as well as for the prediction of inter-drug interactions associated with the two drugs.     

Analysis of CYP1A1 induction in single cells of urothelial cell populations by flow cytometry

As carcinogenesis is a process starting at the single-cell level it is desirable to study carcinogen-mediated effects in individual cells. A primary step in chemically induced carcinogenesis is the formation of reactive DNA-binding metabolites by cytochromes P450 (CYP). We applied indirect immunofluorescence to stain CYP1A1 in urothelial cells for quantification by flow cytometry. Our studies were carried out with metabolically competent primary porcine urinary bladder epithelial cells (PUBECs) and the human urothelial cell line 5637 for which we have previously demonstrated CYP1A1 mRNA induction by the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) applying real-time RT-PCR. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that for PUBEC and 5637 cells the fraction of CYP1A1-induced cells increased with B[a]P concentration. Furthermore, in 5637 cells this effect was time-dependent, being more pronounced after 48 h than after 24 h. However, CYP1A1 induction could not be detected in all analyzed PUBEC and 5637 cells after treatment with up to 50 μM B[a]P. The reason for this remains unknown at the moment. Overall, B[a]P-treated cells could be divided into fractions of clearly CYP1A1-induced and clearly uninduced cells. Another fraction of “unclear” CYP1A1-induced cells and one of unclassifiable cells remained, as quantification of CYP1A1 induction by flow cytometry was hampered by B[a]P-related fluorescence. This is ascribed to phenolic B[a]P metabolites formed by CYP1A1 and which are known to fluoresce at wavelengths above 500 nm, whereas B[a]P does not. Overall, the method permits the detection of CYP1A1 protein level in large numbers of individual cells, thereby providing an adequate basis for statistical analyses. Flow cytometric detection of CYP1A1 induction in individual cells allows further insight into the metabolic competence of single cells and therefore could be a valuable tool for toxicological studies. Figure Flow cytometric analysis of immunostained PUBEC cells reveals that CYP1A1 is induced by B[a]P in a concentration-dependent manner Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Theoretical study of the mechanism of acetaldehyde hydroxylation by compound I of CYP2E1

Recent experimental studies revealed that cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) could metabolize not only ethanol but also its primary product, acetaldehyde, accompanying the well-known acetaldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) in the metabolism of acetaldehyde. Mechanistic aspects of acetaldehyde hydroxylation by Compound I model active species of CYP2E1 were investigated by means of B3LYP DFT calculations in the present paper. Our study results demonstrate that acetaldehyde hydroxylation by CYP2E1 is in accord with the effectively concerted mechanisms both on the high quartet spin state (HS) and on the low doublet spin state (LS). The rate-limiting step is H-abstraction, and the activation energy is about 11.7 approximately 14.0 kcal/mol on the quartet (doublet) reaction route, which is about one-half to one-third of that needed by methane hydroxylation. The phenomenon that the HS and LS reaction routes are both effectively concerted was shown for the first time to occur in trans-2-phenyl-iso-propylcyclopropane hydroxylation by Kumar et al. (see Figure 7 in the paper of Kumar, D.; de Visser, S. P.; Sharma, P. K.; Cohen, S.; Shaik, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 1907) and was confirmed in our work of acetaldehyde hydroxylation by cytochrome P450. Theoretical exploration of the HS O-rebound barrier degradation is also presented in the present paper on the basis of Shaik's valence bond (VB) model.     

人类细胞色素P450 2E1酶在不同乙醇浓度下构象变化的分子动力学模拟

细胞色素P450(CYP) 2E1家族酶是一种具有双重功能的单加氧酶, 能够参与市场上6%药物的代谢而具有重要的作用. 这类酶与酒精的消耗、 糖尿病、 肥胖症以及厌食症等密切相关, 引起了广泛的研究兴趣. 目前尚未见从原子水平上对这种酶在不同乙醇浓度下构象行为的研究. 基于此, 本文研究了花生四烯酸(AA)与CYP2E1复合物结构在不同乙醇浓度下构象与能量变化的特点. 对于在不同乙醇浓度下AA与CYP2E1的复合物结构, 采用分子动力学模拟结合自由能计算的方法进行研究. 分子动力学模拟结果表明, His109和Lys243氨基酸残基对AA与CYP2E1的结合起到了至关重要的作用. 当体系的乙醇浓度较高时, AA的结合能力有所下降, 这种结合能力的下降是由于AA与CYP2E1之间氢键相互作用力的减弱所致. 本研究对于AA与CYP2E1复合物结构在不同乙醇浓度下, AA分子与CYP2E1分子结合能力下降以及CYP2E1的构象变化给出了详细的解释. 本研究工作得到的结论对于实验和理论研究均有重要意义, 可为后续细胞色素P450酶类催化活性的研究提供理论支持.     

N-Lithium derivatives of aliphatic amines in the synthesis of 1-alkyl-2-phenyldiazene 2-oxides

Magnesium derivatives of aliphatic amines containing -hydrogen atoms, in contrast to t-BuNHMgBr, do not form phenylaliphatic diazene oxides upon reaction with nitrobenzene, but rather reduce it to azobenzene and azoxybenzene. Asymmetric diazene oxides are formed when the magnesium derivatives are replaced by lithium derivatives. The reaction of t-BuNHLi with dimethylnitramine gives 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1452–1454, June, 1991.     

Molecular mass distribution of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons obtained from CO and H2 in the presence of Fe catalysts

It has been demonstrated that together with C₁-C₆ aliphatic hydrocarbons up to 20% C₆-C₉ aromatic hydrocarbons are formed from a mixture of COH₂ (11) in the presence of 8.2% Fe-4.5% K/Al₂O₃. A new method for determining the parameter a in the Schultz-Flory equation has been proposed which is applicable to the synthesis of low molecular mass C₁-C₆ hydrocarbons. It has been shown that the mass fractions of aromatic hydrocarbons are higher than the values expected on the basis of a step-wise mechanism for growth of the hydrocarbon chain.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 40–44, January, 1991.