2-difluoromethylene-4-methylenepentanoic acid, a paradoxical probe able to mimic the signaling role of 2-oxoglutaric acid in cyanobacteria

2-Difluoromethylene-4-methylenepentanoic acid (DFMPA), a seemingly deviated analog of 2-oxoglutaric acid (2-OG), could surprisingly mimic its signaling function in cyanobacteria. Computer modeling revealed the favorable binding of DFMPA toward the 2-OG receptor, NtcA, via mutual conformational changes, suggesting that structural alteration of 2-OG is tolerated for it to exercise its signaling role. This extremely useful finding could be exploited for the design of affinity probes with which to study new 2-OG receptors in related signaling pathways.     

Reaction of Barbituric, 2-Thiobarbituric Acids and Their Derivatives with 2-Carboxybenzaldehyde and Opianic Acid: Synthesis and Tautomerism of 5-(3'-Oxo-1',3'-dihydroisobenzofuran-1'-yl)barbituric Acids and Their 2-Thio Analogs

The reaction of barbituric, N-alkylbarbituric acids, and their 2-thio analogs with carboxybenzaldehyde and 2-carboxy-3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde leads to the formation of the corresponding 5-(3'-oxo-1',3'-dihydroisobenzofuran-1'-yl)barbituric and 2-thiobarbituric acids, the structures of which were studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In DMSO the derivatives of barbituric acid exist in the form of mixtures of the ketone and enol tautomers, while their 2-thio analogs exist in the enol form. In chloroform the tautomeric equilibrium is displaced fully toward the ketone form.     

Effect of additives on the amination of 2-oxoglutaric acid by gamma-radiation

The effect of added substances was studied on the yield of glutamic acid produced by gamma-ray irradiation of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ammonia in aqueous solution. The contents of amino acids in the irradiated solutions were determined with amino acids analyzer. Sodium nitrate, allyl alcohol or sodium formate was used as an added substance. The yield of glutamic acid significantly decreased by the addition of nitrate, and it was little affected by the addition of allyl alcohol. In the presence of formate the yield increased from G = 0.4 (2-oxoglutaric acid 0.05M and ammonium hydroxide 2M) to G = 1.1. As a result, it was found that hydrated electron contributes on the formation of glutamic acid, but hydroxyl radical does not. The yield showed a maximum at ca. 0.1 M ammonium hydroxide concentration. These facts indicate that NH2 radical does not contribute to the formation of glutamic acid. As a reaction mechanism, it can be explained that 2-oxoglutaric acid which had been reduced by hydrated electron reacts with ammonia.     

Mass spectrometric monitoring of 2-oxoglutaric acid in fermentation broth

A mass spectrometric method for monitoring 2-oxoglutarie acid (an essentially nonvolatile compound) in aqueous solutions is described. Silicone rubber membranes are used for mass spectrometric sampling; the acid is esterified with methanol. The assay was applied to monitoring 2-oxoglutarie acid in penicillin fermentation broths. Three ion peaks of the ester were suitable for measurements. Preliminary work on faster esterification with diazomethane in diethyl ether is reported.     

A potentiometric study of the complexes formed between Ni(II) and Zn(II) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid

The composition and stability constants of the complexes formed between Ni(2+) and Zn(2+) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) were studied by a potentiometric method at 25 degrees and in 0.5M KNO(3). For the system Zn(2+)/3-MPA. a mixture of the mononuclear complex BA(2) and the polynuclear complexes B(3)A(4). and B(4)A(6) was found (B means the metal ion and A the ligand). The system Ni(2+)/3-MPA can be represented by the complexes B(5)A(10), B(6)A(11) B(6)A(9) and B(6)A(12). In this series the last two complexes are predominant.     

单个蓝藻细胞的光谱

利用共焦显微和光栅光谱技术，得到了蓝藻Anabaena strain PCC 7120完整藻丝体中的单细胞吸收和荧光发射光谱.发现了前人未观察到的不同异形胞之间有显著光谱差异的现象，该现象可能与异形胞不同发育阶段的藻胆体和光系统的演化相关联.     

The uptake of methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein, and 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol onto sulfuric acid solutions

To investigate the link between molecular structure, reactivity, and partitioning of oxygenated organic compounds in acidic aerosols, the uptake of three compounds found in the atmosphere, methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methacrolein (MACR), and 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol (MBO), by sulfuric acid solutions has been measured using a rotated wetted-wall reactor (RWW) coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS). MVK was found to partition reversibly into 20-75 wt % H(2)SO(4) solutions, and we report Henry's law coefficients between 20 and 7000 M atm(-1) over this range. A chemical reaction for MVK was likely responsible for the uptake observed for 80-96 wt % H(2)SO(4) solutions. We derive an upper limit to the aldol self-reaction rate coefficient for MVK in 80 wt % solution of approximately 3 M(-1) s(-1). MACR partitioned reversibly over most of the acidity range, and in contrast to that for MVK, the Henry's law coefficient was relatively independent of H(2)SO(4) content. These differences indicate that the increase of the coefficient with acidity is likely due to the ability of the carbonyl molecule to form an enol. These results indicate that aldol condensation can be facile in concentrated sulfuric acid solutions, but it should be negligibly slow in dilute acid solutions such as tropospheric aerosols. MBO uptake could be explained by a Henry's law coefficient that decreases slightly as acid content varies from 20 to 55 wt % H(2)SO(4); we also measured the value in water, 70 M atm(-1) at 298 K. A steady-state uptake of MBO was observed onto 40-80 wt % H(2)SO(4) solutions, a reaction product was observed, and the reaction was tentatively identified as Pinacol rearrangement. Similar rearrangements could be at the origin of some substituted oxygenated species found in atmospheric aerosols.     

Fluorescence emission and absorption spectra of single Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 cells

The fluorescence emission and absorption spectra of single Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 cells including vegetative cells and heterocysts have been studied in intact filaments in vivo with confocal microscopy and grating spectrography. The diameters of the excitation and detection areas in the cells are less than 1.0 microm. Heterogeneities within the same cell and among different cells are observed. The evident spectral heterogeneities in heterocysts, not reported previously, are attributed to the different stages of the evolution of phycobilisomes in heterocysts. The photosystem II in heterocysts were found to be not metabolized completely.     

Potential driven deposition of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) onto the surface of 3-mercaptopropionic acid monolayers assembled on gold

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements are used to examine the ability of applied potential to drive the ionic self-assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) onto a substrate modified with a monolayer of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA). The potential of zero charge (PZC) of the gold electrode modified with a monolayer of 3-MPA was found by differential capacitance measurements to be -0.12 (+/-0.01) V versus Ag-AgCl. Changing the substrate potential to values positive (-0.01 V vs Ag-AgCl) of the PZC induces interfacial conditions that are favorable for the electrostatic deposition of cationic polymers onto the surface of 3-MPA monolayers. This result is also consistent with experimental observations obtained when the 3-MPA-modified substrate is exposed to 0.10 mol L (-1) NaOH solutions. When potentials equal or negative to the PZC are applied to the substrate, no significant accumulation of the PDDA is found by either QCM or EIS measurement. This result is consistent with results obtained when the 3-MPA modified substrate is exposed to 0.10 mol L (-1) HCl solutions where no PDDA adsorption is expected because the monolayer is neutral under these conditions. Changes in the impedance and quartz crystal frequency obtained after potential is applied to the substrate are interpreted in terms of the applied potential creating interfacial conditions that are favorable for the deprotonation of the terminal carboxylic acid groups and the subsequent electrostatic assembly of the polycation onto the negatively charged monolayer.     

Total synthesis of (-)-pseudolaric acid B

We report the enantioselective synthesis of pseudolaric acid B (1a), a diterpene acid isolated from the bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon, which displays interesting antifungal, antifertility, and cytotoxic activity against multidrug resistant cell lines. Our synthesis utilizes a highly efficient metal-catalyzed [5 + 2] vinylcyclopropane-alkyne intramolecular cycloaddition to construct the polyhydroazulene core of the natural product. Elaboration to the tricyclic scaffold of the pseudolaric acids was completed with an intramolecular alkoxycarbonyl radical cyclization to form the quaternary center and a highly diastereoselective cerium acetylide addition to a methyl ketone for introduction of the acid side chain.     

Synthesis of aza analogs of 2-aminocheomone

Aza analogs of 2-aminochromone 3- 2-amino-4-oxo-4H-pyrano [2,3-b]pyridine and 2-amino-4-oxo-4H-pyrano [3,2-c]pyridine 3- were synthesized. It was established from the PMR and IR spectra that these compounds exist in the amino ketone form.     

A photoreactive small-molecule probe for 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases

2-oxoglutarate (2-OG)-dependent oxygenases have diverse roles in human biology. The inhibition of several 2-OG oxygenases is being targeted for therapeutic intervention, including for cancer, anemia, and ischemic diseases. We report a small-molecule probe for 2-OG oxygenases that employs a hydroxyquinoline template coupled to a photoactivable crosslinking group and an affinity-purification tag. Following studies with recombinant proteins, the probe was shown to crosslink to 2-OG oxygenases in human crude cell extracts, including to proteins at endogenous levels. This approach is useful for inhibitor profiling, as demonstrated by crosslinking to the histone demethylase FBXL11 (KDM2A) in HEK293T nuclear extracts. The results also suggest that small-molecule probes may be suitable for substrate identification studies.     

Solar PAR and UV radiation affects the physiology and morphology of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

Solar UV radiation (280-400 nm) may affect morphology of cyanobacteria, however, little has been evidenced on this aspect while their physiological responses were examined. We investigated the impacts of solar PAR and UVR on the growth, photosynthetic performance and morphology of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120 while it was grown under three different solar radiation treatments: exposures to (a) constant low PAR (photosynthetic active radiation, 400-700 nm), (b) natural levels of solar radiation with and (c) without UV radiation (290-400 nm). When the cells were exposed to solar PAR or PAR+UVR, the photochemical efficiency was reduced by about 40% and 90%, respectively, on day one and recovered faster under the treatment without UVR over the following days. Solar UVR inhibited the growth up to 40%, reduced trichome length by up to 49% and depressed the differentiation of heterocysts. Negligible concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds were found even in the presence of UVR. During the first 2 d of exposure to natural levels of PAR, carotenoid concentrations increased but no prolonged increase was evident. Heterocyst formation was enhanced under elevated PAR levels that stimulated quantum yield and growth after an initial inhibition. Higher concentrations of carotenoids and a twofold increase in the carotenoid to chlorophyll a ratio provided protection from the high levels of solar PAR. Under radiation treatments with UVR the relatively greater decrease in chlorophyll a concentrations compared with the increase in carotenoids was responsible for the higher carotenoid: chlorophyll a ratio. Heterocyst formation was disrupted in the presence of solar UVR. However, the longer term impact of heterocyst disruption to the survival of Anabaena sp. requires further study.     

Solvent extraction behaviour of thiocyanic acid

The solvent extraction behaviour of thiocyanic acid with isobutyl methyl ketone and xylene as solvents is described. In the ketone system the thiocyanic acid is solvated in the organic phase to give a complex with a proposed composition of HSCN. 2IBMK. Deviations from ideal behaviour, which can be attributed to variations in the activity coefficient of the acid in the aqueous phase, are shown.     

Ionization constants and thermodynamic quantities of 2-mercaptocarboxylic acids in aqueous solution

The carboxylic acid ionization constants of mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), 2-mercaptopropionic acid (2-MPA), 2-mercaptoisobutyric acid (2-MIBA) and 2-mercaptosuccinic acid (2-MSA) have been measured in perchlorate media at an ionic strength of 1.0M and over the temperature range 273–309°K. Appropriate thermodynamic quantities have been derived. The variation in the temperature T at which the constants exhibit a maximum has been interpreted in terms of the effect of hydrophobic substituents on the extent of solvation of the participating species.     

Effect of nucleophilic agents and organized media on the fluorimetric determination of histamine with o-phthalic aldehyde

The addition of nucleophilic agents, 2-mercaptoethanol, 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), and N-acetyl cysteine, to the system histamine-o-phthalic aldehyde (OPA) resulted in the following effects: the exclusion of the acidification step, the 1.5-2-fold increase in the time of attaining the optimum fluorescence, the shift of the pH of fluorophore formation of a less alkaline region by 2 units and the widening of its range by two to three times, and the twofold increase in the fluorophore stability (in time in the case of 3-MPA). The addition of surfactant micelles reduced the time of attaining the optimum fluorescence intensity by two times, but its intensity increased (by a factor of 1.3–1.5) only in the presence of nonionic surfactant block copolymers. The widest plateau range (2 pH units), the highest stability of an analytical signal in time (3 h), and the best reaction sensitivity were obtained after the addition of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin to the histamine-OPA-3-MPA system. Procedures were proposed for the determination of histamine in fish products and wine using nucleophilic agents and different organized media.     

Meldrum's acid and its analogs

2-Substituted or 2,2-disubstituted 4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxanes, which are analogs of Meldrum's acid and were obtained by reaction of malonic acid with acetic anhydride and the appropriate carbonyl compound in the presence of sulfuric acid, exist in solution preferably in a single form according to the PMR and ¹³C NMR spectral data. Fluctuation of the CH₂ group is not observed. The mass spectra are characteristic and are distinguished by splitting out of the carbonyl compound from the molecular ion or successive splitting out of CO₂ and ketene molecules. The Meldrum acid analogs do not affect plant growth but have a depressive effect on the central nervous system of animals and low toxicity.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1482–1486, November, 1975.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functional derivatives of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid

Azomethine ylides generated from dimethyl 2-(arylmethylideneamino)pentanedioates by the action of AgOAc and Et₃N reacted with dipolarophiles in regio-and stereoselective fashion to form 5-aryl-2-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of divinyl sulfone to the azomethine ylide generated from the Schiff base derived from methyl (S)-2-phthalimido-4-oxobutanoate and dimethyl glutamate gave chiral simplified kaitocephalin analogs.     

4-Hydroxy-2-quinolones 171*. Synthesis,isomerism, and antitubercular activity of 1-R-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-quinoline-3-carboxylic acid alkylidenehydrazides

Alkylidenehydrazides have been synthesized by the reaction of 1-R-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-quinoline-3-carboxylic acid hydrazides with lower dialkyl ketones in order to reveal a structure-antitubercular activity relationship. It was shown by ¹H NMR spectroscopy that hydrazones obtained from the unsymmetrical ketone – methyl ethyl ketone – exist primarily in the E-isomer form. It was found that the presence of two aliphatic substituents in the alkylidene fragment of the compounds investigated leads to a marked lowering of antimicobacterial properties.     

Photochemistry of 2-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid, major metabolite of the photosensitizing platelet antiaggregant drug triflusal

Triflusal is a platelet antiaggregant drug with photoallergic side effects. However, it is considered a prodrug since it is metabolized to 2-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (HTB)--the pharmacologically active form. HTB was found to be photolabile under various conditions. Its major photodegradation pathway appears to be the nucleophilic attack at the trifluoromethyl moiety. The involvement of the triplet state in the photodegradation has been unequivocally proved by direct detection of this transient in laser flash photolysis and by quenching experiments with oxygen, cyclohexadiene and naphthalene. Finally, the photobinding of HTB to proteins such as bovine serum albumin has been demonstrated using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Nucleophilic groups present in the protein appear to be responsible for the formation of covalent drug photoadducts, which is the first step involved in the photoallergy shown by triflusal.