Formation of superoxide by benzofurazans in Escherichia coli under aerobic incubation.

The superoxide (O2-.) production in Escherichia coli through the action of benzofurazans (BZs) was examined using the cytochrome c (cyt. c) reduction method. Adding BZs to E. coli cell suspensions caused the cyt. c reduction, which was completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD). The effects of BZs on cyt. c reduction was in the order of benzofurazan (1) approximately 4,7-dimethylbenzofurazan (2) approximately 4,7-dibromobenzofurazan (3) less than 4-bromo-6-cyanobenzofurazan (4) less than 4,7-dicyanobenzofurazan (5). This was correlated with the toxicity of BZs against E. coli growth (1 approximately 2 approximately 3 less than 4 less than 5) and with the redox potentials of BZs (1 approximately 2 less than 3 less than 4 less than 5). The formation of compound 5 anion radical in the cell suspensions in the absence of dioxygen (O2), was determined using ESR spectrum. The ESR signal of the anion radical disappeared with the addition of O2. The BZs effected the O2-. production in E. coli cells.     

Toxicities of dicyanobenzofurazans with formation of superoxide in Escherichia coli

The toxicities of some benzofurazans (BZs), benzofurazan (1), 4,7-dimethylbenzofurazan (2), 4,7-dibromobenzofurazan (3), 4-bromo-6-cyanobenzofurazan (4), 4,7-dicyanobenzofurazan (5) and 4,5-dicyanobenzofurazan (6), were examined on Escherichia coli. Compound 5 at 4 microM and compound 6 at 7 microM completely inhibited the growth of E. coli in a simple nutritionally restricted medium (GM medium). These compounds were more toxic in GM medium than in a nutritionally rich medium (YE medium), which contained yeast extract as an additive in GM medium. Compound 4 also inhibited the growth of E. coli at 300 microM in GM medium. The toxicities of BZs were in the order of 1 approximately 2 approximately 3 less than 4 approximately 5 approximately 6. Compounds 4, 5 and 6 induced manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and catalase activities of E. coli in YE medium. The induced SOD and catalase provide a defense against the potential cytotoxicities of O2- and H2O2. The rate of dioxygen uptake in cyanide-resistant respiration of E. coli was dependent on the concentration of 5, and was correlated with the induction of SOD and catalase. The reduction potentials of BZs followed the order of 1 approximately 2 less than 3 less than 4 less than 5 approximately 6. Compounds 5 and 6, which had redox potentials higher than those of the other BZs, are thought to be more readily reduced in the living system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

OXYGEN RADICALS MEDIATE CELL INACTIVATION BY ACRIDINE DYES, FLUORESCEIN, and LUCIFER YELLOW CH

Acridine dyes, fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH are fluorescent photosensitizers used experimentally to selectively stain and photodynamically destroy eukaryotic cells and subcellular structures. We have determined that the mechanism of light- and oxygen-dependent inactivation of E. coli by these dyes involves oxygen radicals and hydrogen peroxide. All of the dyes oxidized NAD(P)H+ under illumination. Superoxide (O2), detected as the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c, was a major product of the dye sensitized photooxidation. Cationic acridine dyes penetrated the membranes of E. coli and were photoreduced intracellularly. Reduced dyes diffused back into the medium and mediated the reduction of extracellular ferricytochrome c. The anionic dyes fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH were unable to mediate extracellular cytochrome c reduction, indicating that these dyes were impermeable to the E. coli membrane. Acridine dyes, when illuminated, inhibited the growth of E. coli in a rich medium, and induced the synthesis of SOD. Fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH did not inhibit growth or induce SOD synthesis because they were unable to enter the cells. Superoxide (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), generated by the enzyme xanthine oxidase were toxic to E. coli B. Inactivation by xanthine oxidase was partially inhibited by exogenous SOD and completely inhibited by exogenous catalase or SOD plus catalase. Similarly, exogenous SOD plus catalase protected against inactivation by acridines and fluorescein-NADH or lucifer yellow CH-NADH mixtures. Prior induction of superoxide dismutase and catalase in E. coli B significantly protected cells against a subsequent challenge by illuminated acridine dyes. SOD and catalases preinduction combined with additions of exogenous SOD and catalase completely protected E. coli B against photodynamic inactivation by acridine yellow. The hydroxyl radical scavengers, dimethyl sulfoxide, sodium benzoate and thiourea, protected E. coli B against photodynamic inactivation by acridine orange. The results implicate O2, H2O2, and the hydroxyl radical (OH) as underlying molecular agents of the phototoxicity mediated by acridine orange, acridine yellow, fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH.     

新型苯并二氢呋喃合二酮酸类化合物的合成及其与整合酶分子对接研究

以阿魏酸甲酯为原料,通过氧化偶联构建2-芳基苯并二氢呋喃骨架,再经傅克酰基化和酯缩合反应依次制得(E)-3-［2-(4-羟基-3-甲氧基-5-乙酰基)苯基-3-甲氧羰基-7-甲氧基-2,3-二氢苯［b］并呋喃-5-基］丙烯酸甲酯（3）和(E)-3-［2-(4-羟基-3-甲氧基-5-甲氧羰基乙酰基)苯基-3-甲氧羰基-7-甲氧基-2,3二氢苯并［b］呋喃-5-基］丙烯酸甲酯（4）; 4经水解反应合成3-【2-羟基-3-甲氧基-5-｛5-［2-（甲氧基羰基）乙烯基］-7-甲氧基-3-甲氧羰基-2,3-二氢苯并［b］呋喃-2-｝基】苯基-3-氧丙酸（5）,化合物3~5未见文献报道,其结构经¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR和MS(ESI)表征。采用分子对接软件Autodock vina对化合物2~5与HIV-1整合酶核心部位高度同源的PFV IN（PDB: 3L2V）进行对接,计算结果显示该类化合物能与整合酶形成稳定的复合物,具有1,3-二酮基团的化合物3, 4和5能与整合酶中金属离子产生螯合作用,其中化合物5的结合作用最强。     

A multifunctional Pasteurella multocida sialyltransferase: a powerful tool for the synthesis of sialoside libraries

A multifunctional sialyltransferase has been cloned from Pasteurella multocida strain P-1059 and expressed in E. coli as a truncated C-terminal His6-tagged recombinant protein (tPm0188Ph). Biochemical studies indicate that the obtained protein is (1) an alpha2,3-sialyltransferase (main function), (2) an alpha2,6-sialyltransferase, (3) an alpha2,3-sialidase, and (4) an alpha2,3-trans-sialidase. The recombinant tPm0188Ph is a powerful tool in the synthesis of structurally diverse sialoside libraries due to its relaxed substrate specificity, high solubility, high expression level, and multifunctionality.     

Fabrication and Excellent Antibacterial Activity of Well-defined CuO/Graphdiyne Nanostructure

Copper oxide(CuO),due to its low cost,good chemical and physical stability,has recently been given special attention as a potential candidate for antibacterial agents.However,developing novel CuO nanocomposites with improved antibacterial property and unraveling the interface promotion mechanism has been a fundamental challenge for decades.Herein,well-defined CuO/graphdiyne(CuO/GDY)nanostructures with uniformly anchored CuO nanoparticles(ca.4.5 nm)have been fabricated.The CuO/GDY nanostructure exhibited superior E.coli inactivation efficiency,which is nearly 19 times and 7.9 times higher than the bare GDY and commercial CuO,respectively.The improved E.coli inactivation performance was mainly due to the increased reactive O2-species generated by the activation of molecular O2 over CuO/GDY surface.These findings demonstrate the efficient antibacterial activity of well-defined CuO/GDY nanostructures and provide insights on the development of efficient GDY-based antibacterial materials.     

Probing chemical induced cellular stress by non-Faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using an Escherichia coli capacitive biochip

A new capacitive biochip was developed using carboxy-CNT activated gold interdigitated (GID) capacitors immobilized with E. coli cells for the detection of cellular stress caused by chemicals. Here, acetic acid, H(2)O(2) and NaCl were employed as model chemicals to test the biochip and monitored the responses under AC electrical field by non-Faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (nFEIS). The electrical properties of E. coli cells under different stresses were studied based on the change in surface capacitance as a function of applied frequency (300-600 MHz) in a label-free and noninvasive manner. The capacitive response of the E. coli biochip under normal conditions exhibited characteristic dispersion peaks at 463 and 582 MHz frequencies. Deformation of these signature peaks determined the toxicity of chemicals to E. coli on the capacitive biochip. The E. coli cells were sensitive to, and severely affected by 166-498 mM (1-3%) acetic acid with declined capacitance responses. The E. coli biochip exposed to H(2)O(2) exhibited adaptive responses at lower concentrations (<2%), while at a higher level (882 mM, 3%), the capacitance response declined due to oxidative toxicity in cells. However, E. coli cells were not severely affected by high NaCl levels (513-684 mM, 3-4%) as the cells tend to resist the salt stress. Our results demonstrated that the biochip response at a particular frequency enabled the determination of the severity of the stress imposed by chemicals and it can be potentially applied for monitoring unknown chemicals as an indicator of cytotoxicity.     

天然产物Combretastatin A-1和Combretastatin B-1的合成

基于Perkin反应策略合成了具有强效抗肿瘤、抗血管活性的天然产物Combretastatin A-1(CA1)和Combretastatin B-1(CB1).以2,3,4-三羟基苯甲醛(1)为起始物, 经单甲基化反应得到2,3-二羟基-4-甲氧基苯甲醛(2), 再经酚羟基保护得到2,3-二异丙基-4-甲氧基苯甲醛(3), 该化合物与3,4,5-三甲氧基苯乙酸(4)发生Perkin反应分离得到E-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-3-(2',3'-二异丙氧基-4'-甲氧基)丙烯酸(E-5), 经脱羧反应得到Z-3,4,4',5-四甲氧基-2',3'-二异丙氧基二苯乙烯(6), 最后经脱保护反应得到CA1.另外, 将E-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-3-(2',3'-二异丙氧基-4'-甲氧基)丙烯酸(E-5)脱去保护基得到E-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-3-(2',3'-二羟基-4'-甲氧基)丙烯酸(7), 该化合物经脱羧-异构化反应得到E-3,4,4',5-四甲氧基-2',3'-二羟基二苯乙烯(E-CA1), 最后经催化氢化得到CB1.     

The Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel ( E,E )-Dioxime and its Mono- and Heterotrinuclear Complexes Containing an 18-Membered Dioxadithiadiazamacrocycle

The novel ( E , E )-dioxime, 5,6:17,18-dibenzo-11,12-(4'-nitrobenzo)-2,3-bis(hydroxyimino)-7,16-dithia-10,13-dioxa-1,4-diazacyclooctadecane) ( H 2 L ), has been synthesized from reaction of ( E , E )-dichloroglyoxime ( 1 ) with 2,3:14,15-dibenzo 8,9-(4'-nitrobenzo)-4,13-dithia-7,10-dioxa-1,16-diazahegzadecane ( 2 ). The mononuclear Co(III) complex ( 4 ) of this dioxime was prepared by oxidation of the cobalt (II) complex. The -capped Co(III) complex ( 5 ) was synthesized by using a precursor Co(III) complex and boron trifluoride dietherate. The heterotrinuclear complexes ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) were prepared by reaction of ( 5 ) with NiCl 2 ·6H 2 O and CdCl 2 ·H 2 O, respectively. In addition, the homotrinuclear Cu(II) complex ( 8 ), has also been prepared by the reaction of this dioxime with CuCl 2 ·H 2 O. The structures of the dioxime and its complexes were identified by using elemental analysis, 1 H- and 13 C-NMR, IR, and mass spectral data.     

Benzothiazoline derivatives. II. Preparation of N-substituted derivatives of 2-benzothiazolinethione by thiation of the 2-oxo analogs

Thuiation of the benzoate and acetate esters of 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-benzothiazolinone (Ig) gave the corresponding thiones. The benzoate was then deblocked to yield 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-benzothiazolinethione (Ik), a compound not accessible by direct addition or substitution. Attempts to introduce a chlorine (or bromine) atom in place of the hydroxy 1 group in the latter compound or its S-isomer, 2-(2-hydroxyethylthio)benzothiazole (11a), gave 2,3-dihydrothiazolo-[2,3-b ] benzothiazolium chloride (or bromide) (IIIa or b). The latter compound undergoes dihydrothiazolo ring opening when treated with sodium hydroxide or sodium sulfide to give bis[2-(2-benzolhiazolinon-,3-yl)ethyl]disulfide (IVc) or bis[2-(2-benzothiazolinethion-3-yl)ethyl] disulfide (lVb),respectively. 2-Benzothiazolinethione reacted with ethylenimine and with N-phenylethylenimine to give S-substituted derivatives. Addition to vinyl n-butyl ether gave the expected N-substituted derivative, which was found to undergo removal of the butyoxyethyl group when subjected to conventional conditions for ether cleavage.     

Comparative spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of bis(octakis(dodecylthio)naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) and bis(tetra-tert-butylnaphthalocyaninato)europium(III) complexes

Bis(substituted-2,3-naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) complexes: bis(octakis(dodecylthio)-2,3-naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) (Eu[2,3-Nc(SC12H25)8]2, 1) and bis(tetra-tert-butyl-2,3- naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) (Eu[2,3-Nc(t-Bu)4]2, 2) have been synthesized by cyclic tetramerization of naphthalonitriles with Eu(acac)3.H2O in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in refluxing n-octanol. These compounds were characterized by UV-visible, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), near-IR, IR, EPR, and mass spectroscopies. The absorption and MCD spectra of 1 showed splitting of the Q band, with peaks at 700 and 784 nm, red shifted from the Q band of 2 at 763 nm. The absorption and MCD spectral band deconvolution calculations of complex 1 gave two A terms in the Q-band region. The A terms are assigned to 2A2-->2E1 transitions. Cyclic voltammograms of 1 and 2 showed reversible oxidation couples at E1/2 = -0.28 V (for 2) and -0.25 V (for 1) vs ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc+/Fc). The second oxidation exhibited a complicated behavior for both complexes. The reduction couples for 2 were observed at E1/2 = -0.61, -1.64, -1.97, and -2.42 V, and for 1 they were observed at E1/2 = -0.62, -1.60, -1.86, and -2.27 V vs Fc+/Fc. Spectral changes observed on chemical oxidation and reduction of the complexes are presented, and the behaviors of 1 and 2 are compared.     

Rapid and ultrasensitive E. coli O157:H7 quantitation by combination of ligandmagnetic nanoparticles enrichment with fluorescent nanoparticles based two-color flow cytometry

A novel, fast and sensitive determination strategy for E. coli O157:H7 has been developed by combination of ligandmagnetic nanoparticles (LMNPs) enrichment with a fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSiNPs) based two-color flow cytometry assay (LMNPs@FSiNPs-FCM). E. coli O157:H7 was first captured and enriched through the lectin concanavalin A (Con A) favored strong adhesion of E. coli O157:H7 to the mannose-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles. The enriched E. coli O157:H7 was further specially labeled with goat anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibody modified RuBpy-doped FSiNPs, and then stained with a nucleic acid dye SYBR Green I (SYBR-I). After dual-labeling with FSiNPs and SYBR-I, the enriched E. coli O157:H7 was determined using multiparameter FCM analysis. With this method, the detection sensitivity was greatly improved due to the LMNPs enrichment and the signal amplification of the FSiNPs labelling method. Furthermore, the false positives caused by aggregates of FSiNPs conjugates and nonspecific binding of FSiNPs to background debris could be significantly decreased. This assay allowed the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in PB buffer at levels as low as 7 cells mL(-1). The total assay time including E. coli O157:H7 sample enrichment and detection was less than 4 h. An artificially contaminated bottled mineral water sample with a concentration of 6 cells mL(-1) can be detected by this method. It is believed that the proposed method will find wide applications in biomedical fields demanding higher sensitive bacterial identification.     

Novel Synthesis of Tri- and Penta-Coordinate Phosphorous Saccharide

Two novel tricoordinate phosphorous saccharides, methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene- α -D-glucopyranoside 2,3-cyclic phosphite ethyl ester 3 and its mannoside analogue 5 were synthesized by the reaction of protected pyrannosides (1 and 4) with ethyl dichlorophosphite 2. Addition of 2,3-butanedione to 3 resulted in the formation of pentacoordinate phosphorous compound 6.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of（2E,6E）-2,6-bis（2,3-dimethoxybenzylidene）cyclohexanone

The new title compound (2E,6E)-2,6-bis(2,3-dimethoxybenzylidene)cyclohexanone (C 24 H 26 O 5,M r=394.45) has been synthesized,and its crystal structure was studied.The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system,space group Pca2 1 with a=17.536(2),b=14.8515(16),c=8.0512(9),V=2096.8(4) 3,Z=4,D c=1.250 g/cm 3,λ=0.71073,μ=0.087 mm-1 and F(000)=840.The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.0533 and wR=0.1248 from 2727 observed reflections (I > 2σ(Ⅰ)).The title molecules are connected through hydrogen bonds to generate a 3-D supramolecule.The preliminary biological tests showed definitely biological activity for the title compound.     

Diterpenes from the roots of Euphorbia kansui and their in vitro effects on the cell division of Xenopus (part 2)

Four new ingenane-type diterpenes, 3-O-(2,3-dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-dodecanoyl-20-O-acetylingenol (1), 3-O-(2,3-dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-dodecanoyl-20-deoxyingenol (2), 3-O-(2E,4Z-decadienoyl)-20-deoxyingenol (3), and 3-O-(2E,4E-decadienoyl)-20-deoxyingenol (4), two new jatrophane-type diterpenes, kansuinins D (9) and E (10), and four known ingenane-type diterpenes were isolated from the root of Euphorbia kansui. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical analysis, and individual Xenopus cells at the blastular stage were cultured with the diterpenes to test for biological activity. 20-Deoxyingenol diterpenes 3 and 4 induced the greatest cell cleavage arrest (0.5 micro g/ml of each compound resulted in >75% cleavage arrest), but cell cleavage inhibitory activity became weak when C-16 had an acyl residue. In contrast, the jatrophane diterpene kansuinin D (9) showed no activity.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New Quinazolinone Compound 2,3-Dihydro-2-（2-hydroxyphenyl）-3-phenyl-quinazolin-4（1H）-one

A new quinazolinone compound 2,3-dihydro-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylquinazolin-4(IH)-one 3 ([C2oH16O2N2]-C2H5OH, Mr = 362.42) and compound 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene-amino)-N-phenyl-benzamide 2 (C2oH16O2N2, Mr = 316.34) were prepared from a precursor of 2-amino-N-phenyl-benzamide 1 (C13H12ON2, Mr = 212.25). Compound 3 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal belongs to orthorhombic,space group Pbca with a = 1.2889(11), b = 1.6170(14), c = 1.7729(15) nm, V= 3.695(6) nm^3, Z= 8, F(000) = 1536, Mr = 362.42, Dc = 1.303 g/cm^3, μ(MoKa) = 0.087 mm^-1, R = 0.0447 and wR= 0.0879. The crystal structure analysis indicates that the title compound has a two-dimensional network structure formed by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions.     

(E)-(5-(4-(二苯基胺)苯乙烯基)二噻吩并[2,3-b∶3′,2′-d]噻吩基)-2-亚甲基丙二腈的聚集态发光现象的研究

本文报道了对一种电子给体-受体化合物(E)-(5-(4-(二苯基胺)苯乙烯基)二噻吩并[2,3-b∶3′,2′-d]噻吩基)-2-亚甲基丙二腈(TPA-DCST)的合成与光谱学行为的研究。化合物TPA-DCST的分子结构中含有强电子给体(三苯胺)与强电子受体(二氰基乙烯)两个部分,并由二噻吩并[2,3-b∶3′,2′-d]噻吩作为共轭桥将电子给体与受体相连接。在合成方面,采用Wittig反应将三苯胺通过双键与二噻吩并[2,3-b∶3′,2′-d]噻吩相连接、醛基化,并与并二腈经Knoevenagel缩合反应合成目标产物。产物通过了核磁氢谱、碳谱、红外以及高分辨率质谱的确认。光谱方面,主要考察了该化合物的吸收与荧光行为。其最大吸收峰位在412nm左右,归属于π-π*跃迁。在非极性溶剂正己烷中表现出来自分子间聚集而形成的聚集态荧光(550nm),并通过了单分子在CTAB胶束([c]=1.02×10-2 mol/L)的发光(460nm)试验得到验证。溶剂效应表明,该化合物没有出现典型的ICT态的发光现象,其原因在于电子给体与受体相连的共轭桥单元,即二噻吩并[2,3-b∶3′,2′-d]噻吩不具有有效的共轭效应。浓度效应与温度效应进一步表明TPA-DCST分子易于产生分子间聚集态的发光。在THF-H_2O二元溶剂体系中呈现典型的聚集诱导(AIE)发光现象,发光峰位为692nm。随着TPA-DCST分子间的聚集程度的增加,聚集态的荧光出现大范围的红移,直至固体发光红移到710nm。TPA-DCST分子的聚集因素可能来自于疏脂作用、偶极-偶极相互作用等。     

Structural study of silver(I) sulfonate complexes with pyrazine derivatives

In this Article, 11 silver complexes, namely, [Ag(L1)(2-Pyr)(H2O)] (1), Ag(L1)(2,3-Pyr) (2), [Ag2(L1)2(2Et,3Me-Pyr)2(H2O)] (3), [Ag(2,6-Pyr)](L1).1.5H2O (4), Ag(L1)(2,5-Pyr) (5), [Ag(H2O)2](L2).H2O (6), [Ag(L2)(2-Pyr)] (7), [Ag(L2)(2,3-Pyr)].1.5H2O (8), [Ag(L2)(2Et,3Me-Pyr)].2H2O (9), [Ag2(L2)(2,6-Pyr)(H2O)2](L2).H2O (10) and [Ag(L2)(2,5-Pyr)].H2O (11) (2-Pyr=2-methylpyrazine; 2,3-Pyr=2,3-dimethylpyrazine; 2Et,3Me-Pyr=2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine; 2,6-Pyr=2,6-dimethylpyrazine; 2,5-Pyr=2,5-dimethylpyrazine; L1=p-aminobenzenesulfonate anion and L2=6-amino-1-naphthalenesulfonate anion), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. In 1, 3, and 4, Ag(I) centers are linked by bridging pyrazine ligands to form one-dimensional chains, whereas compound 2 shows a double-chain structure through weak Ag-C interactions. The structure analyses show that both 5 and 11 form two-dimensional networks composed of 26-membered metallocycles. Unexpectedly, compounds 6 and 10 show discrete structures. In compound 7, silver(I) centers are bridged by sulfonate anions to form a polymeric helical structure, and the 2-Pyr molecule acts as a monodentate ligand. Compounds 8 and 9 show hinged chain structures containing 14-membered rings, and these chains interlace with each other to generate unique three-dimensional structures. These results indicate that the substituting groups and the substituting sites of pyrazine derivatives play an important role in the framework formation of silver complexes. Additionally, the luminescent properties of these compounds are also discussed.     

The synthesis and studies towards the self-replication of bis(capped porphyrins)

Connecting two facially-protected porphyrins was expected to lead to an equal mixture of laterally-bridged doubly-protected bis-porphyrins; one in which the two porphyrin units were protected on the same face (syn) and one with the two prophyrin units protected on opposite faces (anti). Addition of a co-factor (bidentate ligand) was expected to lead predominantly to the syn-bis-porphyrin by a templated self-replication process. This concept was explored using Baldwin's capped porphyrin. Bis(capped porphyrins) were synthesised in several steps starting from zinc(II) capped porphyrin 2. Nitration of 2 followed by reduction and photo-oxidation yields a mixture of zinc(II) porphyrindiones 7 and 8 that can separated by HPLC. The condensation of 2 molar eq. of zinc(II) porphyrin-7,8-dione 8 with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetramine leads to the formation of a 1:1 mixture of syn- and anti-dizinc(II) bis(7,8-capped porphyrins), 11 and 12, respectively, that have almost identical spectroscopic properties. These two geometric isomers were distinguished by significant differences in their molecular recognition properties. Likewise the syn- and anti-dizinc(II) bis(2,3-capped porphyrins), 9 and 10, respectively, are synthesised from the related zinc(II) capped porphyrin-2,3-dione 7, and were also identified using molecular recognition studies. The molecular recognition properties of these bis(capped porphyrins) were utilised in studies of self-replicating porphyrin systems. The results show that tetraazaanthraceno-bis-porphyrins 9-12 can catalyse their own formation but self-replication was not observed. These results highlight the potential that these interesting hosts have as templates in supramolecular chemistry, synthesis and catalysis.     

Adsorption of enterobactin to metal oxides and the role of siderophores in bacterial adhesion to metals

The potential contribution of chemical bonds formed between bacterial cells and metal surfaces during biofilm initiation has received little attention. Previous work has suggested that bacterial siderophores may play a role in bacterial adhesion to metals. It has now been shown using in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy that enterobactin, a catecholate siderophore secreted by Escherichia coli, forms covalent bonds with particle films of titanium dioxide, boehmite (AlOOH), and chromium oxide-hydroxide which model the surfaces of metals of significance in medical and industrial settings. Adsorption of enterobactin to the metal oxides occurred through the 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl moieties, with the trilactone macrocycle having little involvement. Vibrational modes of the 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl moiety of enterobactin, adsorbed to TiO(2), were assigned by comparing the observed IR spectra with those calculated by the density functional method. Comparison of the observed adsorbate IR spectrum with the calculated spectra of catecholate-type [H(2)NCOC(6)H(3)O(2)Ti(OH)(4)](2-) and salicylate-type [H(2)NCOC(6)H(3)O(2)HTi(OH)(4)](2-) surface complexes indicated that the catecholate type is dominant. Analysis of the spectra for enterobactin in solution and that adsorbed to TiO(2) revealed that the amide of the 2,3-dihydroxybenzoylserine group reorientates during coordination to surface Ti(IV) ions. Investigation into the pH dependence of enterobactin adsorption to TiO(2) surfaces showed that all 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl groups are involved. Infrared absorption bands attributed to adsorbed enterobactin were also strongly evident for E. coli cells attached to TiO(2) particle films. These studies give evidence of enterobactin-metal bond formation and further suggest the generality of siderophore involvement in bacterial biofilm initiation on metal surfaces.