Kinetic characterisation of arylamine <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyltransferase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

Background  

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are important drug- and carcinogen-metabolising enzymes that catalyse the transfer of an acetyl group from a donor, such as acetyl coenzyme A, to an aromatic or heterocyclic amine, hydrazine, hydrazide or N-hydroxylamine acceptor substrate. NATs are found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, and they may also have an endogenous function in addition to drug metabolism. For example, NAT from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been proposed to have a role in cell wall lipid biosynthesis, and is therefore of interest as a potential drug target. To date there have been no studies investigating the kinetic mechanism of a bacterial NAT enzyme.     

A Study on the Photochemical Transformations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-Nitrosonitrobenzenes

Photochemical oxidation of p- and m-nitrosonitrobenzenes to corresponding dinitrobenzenes was studied. The reaction was described by a scheme involving two successive steps, with the rates of photochemical decomposition of isomeric nitrosonitrobenzenes being much higher than those of dinitrobenzenes. Oligomeric azo and azoxy compounds and the products of hydroxylation of the reaction medium were found as final products of the reaction upon long-term irradiation with UV light.__________Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2005, pp. 287–292.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Zelentsov, Logunov.     

Role of the linker region in the expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus oryzae</Emphasis> glucoamylase

Background  

Rhizopus oryzaeglucoamylase (RoGA) consists of three domains: an amino (N)-terminal raw starch-binding domain (SBD), a glycosylated linker domain, and a carboxy (C)-terminal catalytic domain. The 36-amino-acid linker region (residues 132–167) connects the two functional domains, but its structural and functional roles are unclear.     

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is largely unresponsive to low regulatory levels of hydrogen peroxide in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

Background  

The reversible oxidation of protein SH groups has been considered to be the basis of redox regulation by which changes in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations may control protein function. Several proteins become S-glutathionylated following exposure to H₂O₂ in a variety of cellular systems. In yeast, when using a high initial H₂O₂ dose, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was identified as the major target of S-glutathionylation which leads to reversible inactivation of the enzyme. GAPDH inactivation by H₂O₂ functions to reroute carbohydrate flux to produce NADPH. Here we report the effect of low regulatory H₂O₂ doses on GAPDH activity and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Characterization of rubber particles and rubber chain elongation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taraxacum koksaghyz</Emphasis>

Background  

Natural rubber is a biopolymer with exceptional qualities that cannot be completely replaced using synthetic alternatives. Although several key enzymes in the rubber biosynthetic pathway have been isolated, mainly from plants such as Hevea brasiliensis, Ficus spec. and the desert shrub Parthenium argentatum, there have been no in planta functional studies, e.g. by RNA interference, due to the absence of efficient and reproducible protocols for genetic engineering. In contrast, the Russian dandelion Taraxacum koksaghyz, which has long been considered as a potential alternative source of low-cost natural rubber, has a rapid life cycle and can be genetically transformed using a simple and reliable procedure. However, there is very little molecular data available for either the rubber polymer itself or its biosynthesis in T. koksaghyz.     

Biological Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epicoccum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">nigrum</Emphasis>

Gold nanoparticles exhibit unique optical, thermal, chemical and physical properties. The microorganisms have high potential for production of nanoparticles with wide applications. Application of fungi to produce nanoparticles is potentially exciting because of their ability to secrete large amounts of enzymes. In this study, we investigated biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by the fungus Epicoccum nigrum isolated from Andalian gold mine in north-west of Iran. The gold nanoparticles were produced intra and extracellular by reaction of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid with the biomass of fungus E. nigrum. The produced gold nanoparticles were in the size range of 5–50 nm in spherical and rod shapes. This is the first report on the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by the fungus E. nigrum.     

Oxidative Addition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Aminophthalimide to Conjugated and Nonconjugated Alkylazoalkanes

A series of γ,δ-unsaturated azo compounds was prepared by thermal isomerization of allylalkylhydrazones obtained from the simplest carbonyl compounds. The oxidation of N-aminophthalimide with lead tetraacetate in the presence of these unsaturated compounds gave rise to mixtures of adducts at the azo group, regioisomers of phthalimidoazimines. The oxidative addition of N-aminophthalimide to 1-isopropylazocycloalkenes afforded bicyclic C-isopropylazo-N-phthalimidoaziridines, but the same reaction with 2-alkylazopropenes did not result in any adducts with these conjugated azocompounds.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 214–223.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuznetsov, Belov, Buchaka.     

Mercaptan addition to 1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-acetyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-D-galactopyranose

Addition of ethyl-, propyl-, and n-butylmercaptans to 1-O-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose in the presence of benzoyl peroxide catalyst was studied for the first time. The products were 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose, 1-O-(3-propylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose, and 1-O-(3-butylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose. Deacetylation of 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose produced 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-β-D-galactopyranose. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 209–211, May–June, 2007.     

Comparative characteristics of water-soluble proteins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix sibirica</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea obovata</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies sibirica</Emphasis> bud meristem

The amount of water-soluble proteins in bud meristem of Larix sibirica L., Picea obovata L., and Abies sibirica L. was shown to increase by 2-3 times in autumn during development of low-temperature resistance. The fractional composition of water-soluble proteins of the studied species and the amino-acid composition of groups of water-soluble proteins with different molecular weight (MW) were similar. Nitrogen accumulated as aspartic acid, glycine, and alanine in high- and medium-molecular-weight proteins. The peptides (MW < 5 kDa) typically had a high content of hydrophobic proline and hydrophilic tyrosine.     

Structural analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis> multiple emulsions by means of DSC

Summary The properties of the inner and the external aqueous phases, were studied in w/o/w multiple emulsions with light microscopic image analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The importance of multiple emulsions lies in the presence of these aqueous phases, making them available for sustained, controlled drug delivery systems. Differentiation of these two aqueous phases, studying the effect of manufacturing technology on droplet structure, quantitative determination of phase volumes and any changes occurring during storage are essential when planning w/o/w emulsions. The present study uses microscopic observations combined with DSC measurements in order to identify the formed structure, at developmental stage in case of different components, preparation methods, and stirring rates. These tools are beneficial during manufacturing as in process controls, or to ensure product quality.     

Structure and photochromism of 2-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylaminomethylene)benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiophen-3(2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones

It was shown by electron absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis that steric strains in photochromic 2-(N-acyl-N-arylaminomethylene) benzo[b]thiophen-3(2H)-one molecules ortho-substituted in the N-phenyl ring increase the quantum yield of the N→O photoinduced rearrangement in accord with an increase in the steric constant of the ortho-substituent.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2151–2155, October, 2004.     

Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase mutants <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

Adenylation of nicotinate mononucleotide to nicotinate adenine dinucleotide is the penultimate step in NAD⁺ synthesis. In Escherichia coli, the enzyme nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase is encoded by the nadD gene. We have earlier made an initial characterization in vivo of two mutant enzymes, NadD72 and NadD74. Strains with either mutation have decreased intracellular levels of NAD⁺, especially for one of the alleles, nadD72.     

Reductive Acylamination of Pyridine <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Oxide with Aminopyridines and Their <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Tolylsulfonyl Derivatives

Pyridine N-oxide reacts with 2- and 3-aminopyridines and their N-p-tolylsulfonyl derivatives in alkaline medium in the presence of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride to give N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,2′- and 2,3′-dipyridylamines, respectively, as a result of reductive acylamination. In the reactions with 4-aminopyridine and 4-p-tolylsulfonyl-aminopyridine, their N-p-tolylsulfonyl- and N,N-bis(p-tolylsulfonyl) derivatives are formed, while reductive acylamination does not occur.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 128–130.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Solekhova, Kurbatov.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Raman</Emphasis> Spectroscopy and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab-Initio</Emphasis> Model Calculations on Ionic Liquids

Summary. A review of the recent developments in the study and understanding of room temperature ionic liquids are given. An intimate picture of how and why these liquids are not crystals at ambient conditions is attempted, based on evidence from crystallographical results combined with vibrational spectroscopy and ab-initio molecular orbital calculations. A discussion is given, based mainly on some recent FT-Raman spectroscopic results on the model ionic liquid system of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([C₄ mim][X]) salts. The rotational isomerism of the [C₄ mim]⁺ cation is described: the presence of anti and gauche conformers that has been elucidated in remarkable papers by Hamaguchi et al. Such presence of a conformational equilibrium seems to be a general feature of the room temperature liquids. Then the “localized structure features” that apparently exist in ionic liquids are described. It is hoped that the structural resolving power of Raman spectroscopy will be appreciated by the reader. It is of remarkable use on crystals of known different conformations and on the corresponding liquids, especially in combination with modern quantum mechanics calculations. It is hoped that these interdisciplinary methods will be applied to many more systems in the future. A few examples will be discussed.     

p42MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of xEIAP/XLX in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenopus</Emphasis> cytostatic factor-arrested egg extracts

Background  

BIR family proteins are evolutionarily conserved anti-apoptotic molecules. One member of Xenopus BIR family proteins, xEIAP/XLX, is a weak apoptosis inhibitor and rapidly degraded in a cell-free apoptotic execution system derived from interphase egg extracts. However, unfertilized eggs are naturally arrested at the metaphase of meiosis II by the concerted activities of Mos-MEK-p42MAPK-p90Rsk kinase cascade (cytostatic factor pathway) and many mitotic kinases. Previous studies suggest that cytostatic factor-arrested egg extracts are more resistant to spontaneous apoptosis than interphase egg extracts in a p42MAPK-dependent manner. We tested whether xEIAP/XLX might be phosphorylated in cytostatic factor-arrested egg extracts, and also examined whether xEIAP/XLX could be functionally regulated by phosphorylation.     

Specific fibre composition and metabolism of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">rectus abdominis</Emphasis> muscle of bovine Charolais cattle

Background  

An important variability of contractile and metabolic properties between muscles has been highlighted. In the literature, the majority of studies on beef sensorial quality concerns M. longissimus thoracis. M. rectus abdominis (RA) is easy to sample without huge carcass depreciation and may appear as an alternative to M. longissimus thoracis for fast and routine physicochemical analysis. It was considered interesting to assess the muscle fibres of M. rectus abdominis in comparison with M. longissimus thoracis (LT) and M. triceps brachii (TB) on the basis of metabolic and contractile properties, area and myosin heavy chain isoforms (MyHC) proportions. Immuno-histochemical, histochemical, histological and enzymological techniques were used. This research concerned two populations of Charolais cattle: RA was compared to TB in a population of 19 steers while RA was compared to LT in a population of 153 heifers.     

Glucomannans of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serissa serissoides</Emphasis> stem

One β-D-glucomannan was isolated from Serissa serissoides (DC.) Druce. The average molecular weight of the polysaccharide was established to be 2.9 × 10³ Da. The structure of the polysaccharide from S. serissoides (SSP) was investigated by using sugar and methylation analysis, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. The experiments revealed that SSP consisted of β-D-Glcp and β-D-Manp units in the ratio of approximately 1.1:1 with β-D-(1→4)-Glcp and β-D-(1→2) Manp linkages.     

Reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-alkyl- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aryltrihalogenoacetamides with phosphorus pentachloride

In the study of reactions of N-alkyl- and N-aryltrihalogenoacetamides with PCl₅, it was demonstrated for the first time that 3-alkyl(aryl)-2,2,2,4 tetrachloro-4-trihalomethyl-1,3,2-λ⁵-oxazaphosphetanes are intermediates in the synthesis of trihaloacetimidoyl chlorides. According to quantum-chemical calculations, acyclic N-tetrachlorophosphoranes, which are the primary products in the reactions of trihaloacetamides with PCl⁵, undergo rapid cyclization into the corresponding phosphorates and subsequent 1,3-chlorotropic migration gives rise to oxazaphosphetanes with the five-coordinate P atom.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 739-744, March, 2005.     

Synthesis of 4-[(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-3-Oxo-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-menthan-2-ylidenemethyl]benzoic Acid and Its Esters

Carbonylation of (E)-2-(4-halobenzylidene)-p-menthan-3-ones, catalyzed by PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂, gave a distereometric mixure of 4-[(1R,4R)- and (1R,4S)-3-oxo-p-menthan-2-ylidenemethyl]benzoic acids, whose reaction with phenols gave 1R,4R diastereomers of the corresponding esters.__________Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 75, No. 4, 2005, pp. 659–664.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Drushlyak, Kutulya, Pivnenko, Vashchenko.