The Role of Hydrophobicity in the Cellular Uptake of Negatively Charged Macromolecules

It is generally accepted that positively charged molecules are the gold standard to by‐pass the negatively charged cell membrane. Here, it is shown that cellular uptake is also possible for polymers with negatively charged side chains and hydrophobic backbones. Specifically, poly[5‐methoxy‐2‐(3‐sulfopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene], a conjugated polyelectrolyte with sulfonate, as water‐soluble functional groups, is shown to accumulate in the intracellular region. When the polymer hydrophobic backbone is dissolved using polyvinylpyrrolidone, an amphiphilic macromolecule, the cellular uptake is dramatically reduced. The report sheds light on the fine balance between negatively charged side groups and the hydrophobicity of polymers to either enhance or reduce cellular uptake. As a result, these findings will have important ramifications on the future design of targeted cellular delivery nanocarriers for imaging and therapeutic applications.     

Increased Resolution of Macromolecules with Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Compared with Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is routinely used for electrophoretic characterization of biomolecules. In this study we demonstrate that this technique is quite useful for the characterization of small molecules, however, it becomes inadequate for the resolution of high‐molecular‐weight macromolecules like MUC2 mucins. We show that agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) constitutes a better medium through which MUC2 macromolecules can penetrate and hence be resolved. MUC2 molecules obtained from PC/AA (a benign colonic adenoma cell line) were extracted, and their molecular weights (varying between 15–32 × 10⁶ Da) determined using Laser Light Scattering (LLS). These mucin molecules were reduced until 5–6 × 10⁶ subunits were obtained. The reduced and unreduced mucin molecules were run on an AGE and Western blotting and visualized, but were too large for PAGE. For this reason, the mucin subunits were treated with trypsin to obtain 500–600 kDa fragments. These tryptic fragments were then run on PAGE and AGE, and their resolutions compared. We conclude that AGE is a more useful electrophoretic method for characterization of macromolecules like mucin glycoproteins than PAGE.

Agarose gel electrophoresis of PC/AA cell layer extract (U: unreduced, intact form, R: reduced form).     

Mimicking Biological Recognition: Lessons in Binding Hydrophilic Guests in Water

Selective molecular recognition of hydrophilic guests in water plays a fundamental role in a vast number of biological processes, but synthetic mimicry of biomolecular recognition in water still proves challenging both in terms of achieving comparable affinities and selectivities. This Review highlights strategies that have been developed in the field of supramolecular chemistry to selectively and non-covalently bind three classes of biologically relevant molecules: nucleotides, carbohydrates, and amino acids. As several groups have systematically modified receptors for a specific guest, an evolutionary perspective is also provided in some cases. Trends in the most effective binding forces for each class are described, providing insight into selectivity and potential directions for future work.     

Probing the Interactions of Porphyrins with Macromolecules Using NMR Spectroscopy Techniques

Porphyrinic compounds are widespread in nature and play key roles in biological processes such as oxygen transport in blood, enzymatic redox reactions or photosynthesis. In addition, both naturally derived as well as synthetic porphyrinic compounds are extensively explored for biomedical and technical applications such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photovoltaic systems, respectively. Their unique electronic structures and photophysical properties make this class of compounds so interesting for the multiple functions encountered. It is therefore not surprising that optical methods are typically the prevalent analytical tool applied in characterization and processes involving porphyrinic compounds. However, a wealth of complementary information can be obtained from NMR spectroscopic techniques. Based on the advantage of providing structural and dynamic information with atomic resolution simultaneously, NMR spectroscopy is a powerful method for studying molecular interactions between porphyrinic compounds and macromolecules. Such interactions are of special interest in medical applications of porphyrinic photosensitizers that are mostly combined with macromolecular carrier systems. The macromolecular surrounding typically stabilizes the encapsulated drug and may also modify its physical properties. Moreover, the interaction with macromolecular physiological components needs to be explored to understand and control mechanisms of action and therapeutic efficacy. This review focuses on such non-covalent interactions of porphyrinic drugs with synthetic polymers as well as with biomolecules such as phospholipids or proteins. A brief introduction into various NMR spectroscopic techniques is given including chemical shift perturbation methods, NOE enhancement spectroscopy, relaxation time measurements and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy. How these NMR tools are used to address porphyrin–macromolecule interactions with respect to their function in biomedical applications is the central point of the current review.     

Enantioselective Fluorescent Recognition of Free Amino Acids: Challenges and Opportunities

Fluorescent probes that can discriminate enantiomers of amino acids in organic media or aqueous solution are discussed. This Minireview focuses on recent progress in the studies of three classes of probes including those made of cyclodextrins, 1,1′-binaphthyl compounds, and nanomaterials, and uses them to illustrate the design strategies, applications, and limitations in this area. These probes are potentially useful for rapid analysis of asymmetric reactions for amino acid synthesis as well as the real-time imaging of amino acids in biological systems. The challenges in these applications are analyzed. Working in this field of enantioselective fluorescent recognition of amino acids offers great opportunities to make new scientific discoveries and to develop important practical applications.     

Azidopropylvinylsulfonamide as a New Bifunctional Click Reagent for Bioorthogonal Conjugations: Application for DNA–Protein Cross‐Linking

N‐(3‐Azidopropyl)vinylsulfonamide was developed as a new bifunctional bioconjugation reagent suitable for the cross‐linking of biomolecules through copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition and thiol Michael addition reactions under biorthogonal conditions. The reagent is easily clicked to an acetylene‐containing DNA or protein and then reacts with cysteine‐containing peptides or proteins to form covalent cross‐links. Several examples of bioconjugations of ethynyl‐ or octadiynyl‐modified DNA with peptides, p53 protein, or alkyne‐modified human carbonic anhydrase with peptides are given.     

核酸与蛋白质相互作用研究的新技术与新方法

蛋白质和核酸是组成生命的主要生物大分子,两者的相互作用构成了诸如生长、繁殖、运动、遗传和代谢等生命现象的基础.因此,研究它们间的相互作用是人们解开生命奥秘的关键所在,在学术及应用上都具有极其重要的意义.探讨蛋白质和核酸相互作用涉及到众多学科的技术与方法,是多学科的前沿交叉领域.总体上该方面工作尚处于起步阶段,深入研究有待于研究手段的进步与创新.本文从研究手段与分析方法上对近年来该领域所采用的技术及其最新进展进行了评述.     

无机小分子与细胞中生物大分子的相互作用

细胞是生命体的基本组成单元,是一个复杂的、能真实反映生物体系的活体.以细胞为研究对象,开展无机小分子与大分子相互作用的研究,有可能真正理解生命过程中一些问题的化学本质.无机小分子与细胞生物大分子相互作用的研究内容非常丰富,目前应着重研究那些对人类有严重威胁的一些疾病如糖尿病、心血管病、肿瘤、神经退行性病变等有关的细胞无机化学中无机小分子与生物大分子相互作用的问题.这对于了解生物大分子的结构、功能,对于疾病预防和治疗,了解小分子对生命过程的调控机制,对于药物作用新靶点的发现、药物的分子设计、作用机理和药物的研究与开发,均具有十分重要的科学意义和应用价值.论文还就开展无机小分子与细胞中生物大分子的相互作用研究的目标和内容提出了具体的建议.     

手性药物与生物大分子相互作用中对映选择性的表征方法研究进展

手性药物在临床上有着重要的影响,已成为人们关注的一个重点问题。本文对手性药物小分子与生物大分子间相互作用中对映选择性分析方法的研究进展作了概述,重点介绍了分子光谱分析法、等温滴定量热法、手性传感器、原子力显微镜、分子对接模拟等方法在手性药物小分子与生物大分子间对映选择性相互作用表征方法中的应用与进展。     

高分子间相互作用的特点及意义

高分子间的相互作用与小分子间的相互作用有着显著的区别，导致高分子物质在凝聚态结构和诸多性能上明显地有别于小分子物质。本文就如下七个方面：特别强的高分子间相互作用、特殊的高聚物溶解过程、马克三角形原理、特征温度、特有的单链凝聚态、凝聚缠结和超分子体系来讨论高分子间相互作用的重要性及其对高聚物的结构和性能的影响。     

Shapes and Sizes of Linear and Circular Multiple-ring Macromolecules

The shapes and sizes of linear and circular multiple-ring macromolecules in the framework of the Gaussian model have been numerically investigated in terms of shape factors, asphericity and prolateness factors and parameters, and shrinking factors. Simple analytic expressions for the eigenpolynomials of the Kirchhoff or architecture matrices for both linear and circular multi-rings in the limit of an infinitely large individual ring have been obtained via a new recursion method. It is found that for both types of multiple rings, shape asymmetry increases while size decreases as the number of rings increases, and that asphericity and prolateness parameters for a circular 99-ring macromolecule or a doubly stranded closed random walk have stronger dependence on dimensionality of the space in which the molecule is embedded than those of its linear counterpart. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Partitioning of Semiflexible Macromolecules into a Slit in Theta Solvent

Investigation of semiflexible coil‐like chains in the process of partitioning with a slit in a solvent of variable thermodynamic quality has shown two key results. For semiflexible chains in a good solvent, the effect of chain stiffness played a role only at low concentrations. However, the situation is different with interacting chains where the effect of stiffness is also observed at higher concentrations. For theta chains, the partitioning into a slit in dilute solutions is lower for semiflexible than for flexible chains, while for higher concentrations this order is reversed. The packing ability of semiflexible chains at higher concentrations is enhanced in the theta system. Interestingly, stretching of chains on penetration into the slit is observed at higher concentrations. Decomposition of free energy change on partitioning into entropy and energy contributions gives more information on the details of partitioning of these systems, especially the differentiation between dilute and moderate concentration regimes. A positive change of partitioning entropy in the theta solvent in the semidilute regime for both flexible and semiflexible chains is noteworthy. This is related to breaking favorable interactions between chains on penetration into the slit.     

Synthesis of Periphery‐Decorated and Core‐Initiated Borane Polyanionic Macromolecules

A new class of globular polybranched macromolecules that contain multiple anionic metallacarborane clusters at the o‐carborane periphery is reported. The water soluble high boron rich containing molecules could be of interest for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) as well as for drug delivery. The reinforced electrostatic noncovalent interactions between anionic polyethylene glycol cobaltabisdicarbollide (PEG‐COSAN) branches and the ammonium cation have been shown using ESI‐MS.     

质谱技术在核酸研究领域的应用

质谱技术具有快速、准确、灵敏度高等优点,近年来在生物分析方面得到了广泛的应用.核酸作为生命的基本物质,一直是生命领域的研究热点,进展日新月异.而质谱方法也成为了科学家研究核酸的强有力工具,具有广阔的发展前景.本文介绍了核酸检测的质谱技术,并简要综述了质谱在核酸的高级结构研究、与小分子相互作用、DNA损伤与修饰等领域的应用,重点介绍了中国学者的研究成果.     

Chitosan Macromolecules on a Substrate: Deposition from Solutions in sc CO2 and Reorganisation in Vapours

Specially pretreated chitosan macromolecules possess limited solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. When deposited on mica substrate from such solutions they adopt somewhat extended conformation. The adsorbed macromolecules become mobile on the interface when exposed to water vapour as revealed by environmental scanning force microscopy. During the exposure in the presence of coadsorbed water layer the chitosan strands demonstrate slight tendency to adopt more compact but still two-dimensional conformation on the substrate.     

Recent Progress in the Design of Monodisperse,Sequence‐Defined Macromolecules

This review describes different synthetic strategies towards sequence‐defined, monodisperse macromolecules, which are built up by iterative approaches and lead to linear non‐natural polymer structures. The review is divided in three parts: solution phase‐, solid phase‐, and fluorous‐ and polymer‐tethered approaches. Moreover, synthesis procedures leading to conjugated and non‐conjugated macromolecules are considered and discussed in the respective sections. A major focus in the evaluation is the applicability of the different approaches in polymer chemistry. In this context, simple procedures for monomer and oligomer synthesis, overall yields, scalability, purity of the oligomers, and the achievable level of control (side‐chains, backbone, stereochemistry) are important benchmarks.