Does the Sign of the Cu–Gd Magnetic Interaction Depend on the Number of Atoms in the Bridge?

Several theoretical investigations with CASSCF methods confirm that the magnetic behavior of Cu–Gd complexes can only be reproduced if the 5d Gd orbitals are included in the active space. These orbitals, expected to be unoccupied, do present a low spin density, which is mainly due to a spin polarization effect. This theory is strengthened by the experimental results reported herein. We demonstrate that Cu–Gd complexes characterized by Cu–Gd interactions through single‐oxygen and three‐atom bridges consisting of oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen atoms, present weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions, whereas complexes with bridges made of two atoms, such as the nitrogen–oxygen oximato bridge, are subject to weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. Therefore, a bridge with an odd number of atoms induces a weak ferromagnetic exchange interaction, whereas a bridge with an even number of atoms supports a weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, as observed in pure organic compounds and also, as in this case, in metal–organic compounds with an active spin polarization effect.     

Single crystal EPR study of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu(tda)(phen)](2)·H(2)tda (tda = thiodiacetate, phen = phenanthroline): influence of weak interdimeric magnetic interactions

We report powder and single crystal EPR measurements of [Cu(tda)(phen)](2)·H(2)tda (tda = thiodiacetate, phen = phenanthroline) at 9.7 GHz. This compound consists of centrosymmetric copper(II) ion dimers, weakly ferromagnetically exchange-coupled (J = +3.2 cm(-1)), in which the dimeric units are linked by hydrophobic chemical paths involving the phen molecules. EPR revealed that the triplet spectra are collapsed by interdimeric exchange interactions mediated by that chemical path. Analysis and simulation of the single crystal EPR spectra were performed using Anderson's exchange narrowing model, together with statistical arguments. This approach allowed us to interpret the spectra modulated by the interdimeric interactions in situations of weak, intermediate, and strong exchange. We evaluated an interdimeric exchange constant J' = 0.0070(3) cm(-1), indicating that hydrophobic paths can transmit weak exchange interactions between centers at relatively long distances of the order of ～10 ?.     

Profiling of multiple signal pathway activities by multiplexing antibody and GFP-based translocation assays

Multiplexing of GFP based and immunofluorescence translocation assays enables easy acquisition of multiple readouts from the same cell in a single assay run. Immunofluorescence assays monitor translocation, phosphorylation, and up/down regulation of endogenous proteins. GFP-based assays monitor translocation of stably expressed GFP-fusion proteins. Such assays may be multiplexed along (vertical), across (horizontal), and between (branch) signal pathways. Examples of these strategies are presented: 1) The MK2-GFP assay monitors translocation of MK2-GFP from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to stimulation of the p38 pathway. By applying different immunofluorescent assays to the MK2 assay, a multiplexed HCA system is created for deconvolution of p38 pathway activation including assay readouts for MK2, p38, NFkappaB, and c-Jun. 2) A method for evaluating GPCR activation and internalization in a single assay run has been established by multiplexing GFP-based internalization assays with immunofluorescence assays for downstream transducers of GPCR activity: pCREB (cAMP sensor), NFATc1 (Ca(2+) sensor), and ERK (G-protein activation). Activation of the AT1 receptor is given as an example. 3) Cell toxicity readouts can be linked to primary readouts of interest via acquisition of secondary parameters describing cellular morphology. This approach is used to flag cytotoxic compounds and deselect false positives. The ATF6 Redistribution assay is provided as an example. These multiplex strategies provide a unique opportunity to enhance HCA data quality and save time during drug discovery. From a single assay run, several assay readouts are obtained that help the user to deconvolute the mode of action of test compounds.     

PKCalpha induces differentiation through ERK1/2 phosphorylation in mouse keratinocytes

Epidermal keratinocyte differentiation is a tightly regulated stepwise process that requires protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Studies on cultured mouse keraitnocytes induced to differentiate with Ca2+ have indirectly implicated the involvement of PKCa isoform. When PKCalpha was overexpressed in undifferentiated keratinocytes using adenoviral system, expressions of differentiation markers such as loricrin, filaggrin, keratin 1 (MK1) and keratin 10 (MK10) were increased, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation was concurrently induced without change of other MAPK such as p38 MAPK and JNK1/2. Similarly, transfection of PKCalpha kinase active mutant (PKCalpha- CAT) in the undifferentiated keratinocyte, but not PKCbeta-CAT, also increased differentiation marker expressions. On the other hand, PKCalpha dominant negative mutant (PKCbeta-KR) reduced Ca2+ -mediated differentiation marker expressions, while PKCbeta-KR did not, suggesting that PKCalpha is responsible for keratinocyte differentiation. When downstream pathway of PKCalpha in Ca2+ -mediated differentiation was examined, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK1/2 phosphorylations were increased by Ca2+ shift. Treatment of keratinocytes with PD98059, MEK inhibitor, and SB20358, p38 MAPK inhibitor, before Ca2+ shift induced morphological changes and reduced expressions of differentiation markers, but treatment with SP60012, JNK1/2 inhibitor, did not change at all. Dominant negative mutants of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK also inhibited the expressions of differentiation marker expressions in Ca2+ shifted cells. The above results indicate that both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK may be involved in Ca2+ -mediated differentiation, and that only ERK1/2 pathway is specific for PKCalpha-mediated differentiation in mouse keratinocytes.     

Hydrogen exchange rates in proteins from water (1)H transverse magnetic relaxation

Access to the fast exchange kinetics of labile protein hydrogens in solution is provided by exchange broadening of the water 1H NMR line. We analyzed the chemical shift modulation contribution of labile hydrogens in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) to the transverse 1H spin relaxation rate, R2, of the bulk solvent. Both the experimental pH dependence and the CPMG dispersion of R2 could be quantitatively accounted for on the basis of known chemical shifts, exchange rates, and ionization constants for BPTI. This analysis provided, for the first time, the hydrogen exchange rate constants for Lys and Arg side chains in a protein and pointed to an internal catalysis of the N-terminal amino protons in BPTI by a salt bridge. The method can be used for mapping the hydrogen exchange rates in protein solutions and biomaterials, which may be important for the control of relaxation-weighted contrast in biological MRI.     

Investigating the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinases in the proliferation of Werner syndrome fibroblasts using diaminopyridine inhibitors

ABSTRACT: Fibroblasts derived from the progeroid Werner syndrome show reduced replicative lifespan and a "stressed" morphology, both alleviated using the MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580. However, interpretation of these data is problematical because although SB203580 has the stress-activated kinases p38 and JNK1/2 as its preferred targets, it does show relatively low overall kinase selectivity. Several lines of data support a role for both p38 and JNK1/2 activation in the control of cellular proliferation and also the pathology of diseases of ageing, including type II diabetes, diseases to which Werner Syndrome individuals are prone, thus making the use of JNK inhibitors attractive as possible therapeutics. We have thus tested the effects of the widely used JNK inhibitor SP600125 on the proliferation and morphology of WS cells. In addition we synthesised and tested two recently described aminopyridine based inhibitors. SP600125 treatment resulted in the cessation of proliferation of WS cells and resulted in a senescent-like cellular phenotype that does not appear to be related to the inhibition of JNK1/2. In contrast, use of the more selective aminopyridine CMPD 6o at concentrations that fully inhibit JNK1/2 had a positive effect on cellular proliferation of immortalised WS cells, but no effect on the replicative lifespan of primary WS fibroblasts. In addition, CMPD 6o corrected the stressed WS cellular morphology. The aminopyridine CMPD 6r, however, had little effect on WS cells. CMDP 6o was also found to be a weak inhibitor of MK2, which may partially explain its effects on WS cells, since MK2 is known to be involved in regulating cellular morphology via HSP27 phosphorylation, and is thought to play a role in cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that total JNK1/2 activity does not play a substantial role in the proliferation control in WS cells.     

磷酸根离子在阴离子交换树脂上的保留行为及其机理探讨

首次发现磷酸根离子在阴离子交换柱上以两个色谱峰流出。在研究磷酸根离子的保留行为的基础上,提出了Ｈ２ＰＯ－４在固定相中进一步离解的保留机理,即Ｈ２ＰＯ－４在与阴离子交换树脂交换基进行离子交换的过程中,由于树脂交换基和淋洗离子的电荷相互作用促使一部分Ｈ２ＰＯ－４进行第２级离解。由于Ｈ２ＰＯ－４和ＨＰＯ２－４在阴离子交换树脂上的保留值不同,导致磷酸根离子出现“双峰”。     

Solid acid catalysts from clays: preparation of mesoporous catalysts by chemical activation of metakaolin under acid conditions

Natural kaolin was treated at 850 or 950 degrees C in air flow to give respectively the metakaolin samples MK8 and MK9. The obtained materials were successively treated at 90 degrees C with a 1 M solution of H(2)SO(4), for various time lengths. The acid treatment of MK8 was found to give a high surface area microporous material with good catalytic properties related to the high density of acid sites, while MK9 gave an ordered mesoporous material with a low density of acid sites. The materials were characterized by several techniques, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, N(2) physisorption, scanning electron microscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. The 1-butene isomerization was used as test reaction to evaluate the acidity of the samples.     

Preparation of weak cation exchange packings for chromatographic separation of proteins using "click chemistry'

"Click chemistry" is defined as a class of robust and selective chemical reactions affording high yields and is tolerant to a variety of solvents (including water), functional groups, and air. In this study, click chemistry was used as an effective strategy for coupling three alkyne-carboxylic acids onto the azide-silica to obtain three novel stationary phases of weak cation exchange chromatography, which were characterized with FTIR and elemental analysis. Six kinds of standard proteins, such as myoglobin, RNase A, RNase B, cytochrome C, α-chymotrypsin A, and lysozyme, were separated completely with the three novel weak cation exchange chromatography stationary phases. Compared with commercial weak cation exchange chromatography columns, the three kinds of novel weak cation exchange chromatography packings prepared by click chemistry approach have better resolution and selectivity. The mass recovery of more than 97% was obtained for all the tested proteins, and the bioactivity recovery of lysozyme on the prepared column was determined to be 96%. In addition, lysozyme was purified successfully from egg white with the novel weak cation exchange chromatography column by one step. The purity was more than 97% and a high specific activity was achieved to be 81 435 U/mg. The results illustrate the potential of click chemistry for preparing stationary phase for ion-exchange chromatography.     

2-氨基-4-氟吡啶合成工艺研究

2-氨基-4-氟吡啶是制备酪氨酸激酶抑制剂、PI3K抑制剂和醛固酮合酶抑制剂等酶抑制剂的重要中间体。已报道的制备方法均存在一些缺陷,难以满足工业化生产。本文以4-氯吡啶-2-甲酰胺为原料,经酰胺脱水、卤素交换、氰基水解、霍夫曼降解等反应得到目标化合物。产物结构经1H NMR和GC-MS确证。本文采用的合成方法简单、反应条件温和、产物收率及纯度高,总收率达48.5%,GC纯度达到99.5%以上,适合工业化生产。     

NMR R1 rho rotating-frame relaxation with weak radio frequency fields

NMR spin relaxation in the rotating frame (R(1 rho)) is one of few methods available to characterize chemical exchange kinetic processes occurring on micros-ms time scales. R(1 rho) measurements for heteronuclei in biological macromolecules generally require decoupling of (1)H scalar coupling interactions and suppression of cross-relaxation processes. Korzhnev and co-workers demonstrated that applying conventional (1)H decoupling schemes while the heteronuclei are spin-locked by a radio frequency (rf) field results in imperfect decoupling [Korzhnev, Skrynnikov, Millet, Torchia, Kay. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 10743-10753]. Experimental NMR pulse sequences were presented that provide accurate measurements of R(1 rho) rate constants for radio frequency field strengths > 1000 Hz. This paper presents new two-dimensional NMR experiments that allow the use of weak rf fields, between 150 and 1000 Hz, in R(1 rho) experiments. Fourier decomposition and average Hamiltonian theory are employed to analyze the spin-lock sequence and provide a guide for the development of improved experiments. The new pulse sequences are validated using ubiquitin and basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). The use of weak spin-lock fields in R(1 rho) experiments allows the study of the chemical exchange process on a wider range of time scales, bridging the gap that currently exists between Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill and conventional R(1 rho) experiments. The new experiments also extend the capability of the R(1 rho) technique to study exchange processes outside the fast exchange limit.     

Comparison of solid-phase sorbents for the determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in wastewater

Three different SPE sorbents (weak cation exchange, mixed cation exchange, and hydrophobic-lipophilic balance polymers) were compared in terms of recovery, precision, and the effect of matrix components on analyte response for the determination of fluoroquinolones antibiotics. The influence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na2-EDTA) was as well tested. Two of the sorbents, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and weak cation exchange (WCX), turned out to be suitable for ultratrace analysis. HLB sorbent showed higher capacity for analyte trapping and better precision while weak cation exchange sorbent had a superior performance in terms of selectivity. In complex samples, the higher capacity of HLB was outweighed by the higher selectivity of WCX when considering the LODs of the methods.     

Lysinibacillus Isolate MK212927: A Natural Producer of Allylamine Antifungal ‘Terbinafine’

Resistance to antifungal agents represents a major clinical challenge, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we screened soil bacterial isolates for the capability of producing metabolites with antifungal activities via the cross-streak and agar cup-plate methods. One isolate, coded S6, showed observable antifungal activity against Candida (C.) albicans ATCC 10231 and Aspergillus (A.) niger clinical isolate. This strain was identified using a combined approach of phenotypic and molecular techniques as Lysinibacillus sp. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MK212927","term_id":"1520090447"}}MK212927. The purified metabolite displayed fungicidal activity, reserved its activity in a relatively wide range of temperatures (up to 60 °C) and pH values (6–7.8) and was stable in the presence of various enzymes and detergents. As compared to fluconazole, miconazole and Lamisil, the minimum inhibitory concentration of the metabolite that showed 90% inhibition of the growth (MIC₉₀) was equivalent to that of Lamisil, half of miconazole and one fourth of fluconazole. Using different spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, UV spectroscopy, 1D NMR and 2D NMR techniques, the purified metabolite was identified as terbinafine, an allylamine antifungal agent. It is deemed necessary to note that this is the first report of terbinafine production by Lysinibacillus sp. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MK212927","term_id":"1520090447"}}MK212927, a fast-growing microbial source, with relatively high yield and that is subject to potential optimization for industrial production capabilities.     

Vanadate-stimulated release of hepatic lipase activity from liver.

Vanadate stimulated the release of rat hepatic lipase activity from liver slices into an incubation medium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Insulin, however, failed to have this stimulatory action, and the release by heparin was recognized, but was not additive to that by vanadate. Amiloride, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase in some receptors and of the Na+/H+ exchange system suppressed the vanadate-stimulated release. Biochanin A, a different type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor than amiloride, also suppressed the effect of vanadate. The stimulation by vanadate was clearly preserved in Na(+)-, K(+)-, or Ca(2+)-free medium, suggesting that neither the Na+/H+ exchange system, Na+, K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase, nor Ca(2+)-influx into cells is involved in the action of this substance. These results suggest that vanadate-stimulated release of the enzyme activity is associated with the activation of the tyrosine kinase activity.     

Spectroscopic identification of the reaction intermediates in oxygen reduction on gold in alkaline solutions

Surface enhanced infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy with an attentuated total reflection configuration (ATR-SEIRAS) was used for the first time to identify the intermediates of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on gold electrodes. Our study employed a Au thin-film electrode in acidic and alkaline solutions. In alkaline solutions, a potential dependent band at 1268 cm(-1), which we assigned to the antisymmetric bending mode of OOH of adsorbed HO2-, was observed between 0.1 and -0.6 V versus Ag|AgCl, Cl-, exactly in the potential range where the ORR occurred. The assignment was supported by our isotope exchange experiment. The adsorbed HO2- is a reaction intermediate in the 4e- serial mechanism. In acidic solutions, there was only a very weak band at the same position, reflecting the fast protonation of HO2-. This finding may imply that the interaction between HO2- and Au surfaces is very weak in acidic solutions, in agreement with the observed 2e- reduction mechanism.     

Monitoring allostery in D2O: a necessary control in studies using hydrogen/deuterium exchange to characterize allosteric regulation

There is currently a renewed focus aimed at understanding allosteric mechanisms at atomic resolution. This current interest seeks to understand how both changes in protein conformations and changes in protein dynamics contribute to relaying an allosteric signal between two ligand binding sites on a protein (e.g., active and allosteric sites). Both nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), by monitoring protein dynamics directly, and hydrogen/deuterium exchange, by monitoring solvent accessibility of backbone amides, offer insights into protein dynamics. Unfortunately, many allosteric proteins exceed the size limitations of standard NMR techniques. Although hydrogen/deuterium exchange as detected by mass spectrometry (H/DX-MS) offers an alternative evaluation method, any application of hydrogen/deuterium exchange requires that the property being measured functions in both H₂O and D₂O. Due to the promising future H/DX-MS has in the evaluation of allosteric mechanisms in large proteins, we demonstrate an evaluation of allosteric regulation in D₂O. Exemplified using phenylalanine inhibition of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase, we find that binding of the inhibitor is greatly reduced in D₂O, but the effector continues to elicit an allosteric response.     

Novel ultra stable silica-based stationary phases for reversed phase liquid chromatography--study of a hydrophobically assisted weak acid cation exchange phase

A mixed-mode reversed-phase/weak cation exchange (RP/WCX) phase has been developed by introducing a small amount of carboxylate functionality into a hydrophobic hyper-crosslinked (HC) platform. This silica-based HC platform was designed to form an extensive polystyrene network completely confined to the particle's surface. The fully connected polymer network prevents the loss of bonded phase, which leads to superior hydrolytic stability of the new phase when compared to conventional silica-based phases. Compared to previously introduced HC phases the added carboxylic groups impart a new weak cation exchange selectivity to the base hydrophobic HC platform. The phase thus prepared shows a mixed-mode retention mechanism, allowing for both neutral organic compounds and bases of a wide polarity range to be simultaneously separated on the same phase under the same conditions. In addition, the new phase offers the flexibility that gradients in organic modifier, pH or ionic competitors can be used to affect the separation of a wide range of solutes. Moreover, the inherent weak acid cation exchange groups allow formic and acetic acid buffers to be used as eluents thereby avoiding the mass spectrometric ionization suppression problems concomitant to the use of non-volatile additives such as strong amine modifiers (e.g. triethylamine) or salts (e.g. NaCl) to elute basic solutes from the strong cation exchange phase which was previously developed in this lab. The use of the new phase for achieving strong retention of rather hydrophilic neurotransmitters and drugs of abuse without the need for ion pairing agents is demonstrated.     

Cyclic M2(RL)2 coordination complexes of 5-(3-[N-tert-Butyl-N-aminoxyl]phenyl)pyrimidine with paramagnetic transition metal dications

5-(3-(N-tert-Butyl-N-aminoxyl)phenyl)pyrimidine (RL = 3NITPhPyrim) forms isostructural cyclic M2(RL)2 cyclic dimers with M(hfac)2 (M = Mn, Co, Cu; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate). Mn2(hfac)4(RL)2 exhibits strong antiferromagnetic Mn-RL exchange, with weak ferromagnetic exchange (0.7 cm(-1)) between Mn-RL units that is consistent with a spin polarization exchange mechanism. The magnetic moment of Co2(hfac)4(RL)2 at higher temperatures is consistent with strongly antiferromagnetic exchange within the Co-NIT units and tends toward zero below 50 K at lower magnetic fields. Cu2(hfac)4(RL)2 shows more complex behavior, with no high-temperature plateau in chiT(T) up to 300 K but a monotonic decrease down to about 100 K. The Cu(II)-nitroxide bonds decrease by 0.2-0.3 A over the same temperature range, corresponding to a change of nitroxide coordination from axial to equatorial. This thermally reversible Jahn-Teller distortion leads to a thermally induced spin state conversion from a high-spin, paramagnetic state at higher temperature to a low-spin state at lower temperature. This spin state conversion is accompanied by a reversible solid-state thermochromic change between dull yellow-brown at room temperature and green at 77 K.     

Structure distortion effects in the spectrum of tunnel-exchange states of tetrahedral mixed-valence tetramers

Tunnel-exchange states of a tetrameric mixed-valence (MV) d₁–d₁–d₁–d₂ cluster are considered. Energy levels of distorted pseudotetrahedral conjiprations with rhombic and trigonal symmetry are calculated. It is demonstrated that the correlation diagrams of planar systems are symmetric with respect to the sign of the double exchange parameter. A strong double exchange always results in the ferromagnetic ground state of planar systems. The following types of spectrum defamations of the d₁–d₁–d₁–d₂ tetramer from tetrahedral to planar systems have been found: a) with a weak positive double exchange, deformation of a tetrahedral system does not lead to any change of spin of the antiferromagnetic ground state of the cluster; b) with a strong positive double exchange, the defonnation alters the antiferromagnetic ground (S = 1/2) state of the tetrahedral system to the ferromagnetic (S = 5/2) state of the planar system, or to an intermediate (S = 3/2) state; c) with a negative double exchange, irrespective of its absolute value, the tetrahedral system deformation does not alter the spin of the ground state. With a weak double exchange, this ground state remains antiferromagnetic, and with a strong double exchange, it is ferromagnetic or intermediate.Moldova State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 33–46, September–October, 1993.Translated by L. Chernomorskaya