Examining the levels of ganglioside and cholesterol in cell membrane on attenuation the cytotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide

The deposition of beta-amyloid (Abeta) on cell membranes is considered as one of the primary factors in having Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have suggested that certain components of plasma membrane, ganglioside and cholesterol could accelerate the accumulation of Abeta on the plasma membranes. However, the effect of cholesterol and ganglioside (GM1) on Abeta cytotoxicity is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study is to understand the roles of GM1 and cholesterol in AD by using PC12, a neuron-like cell. The effects of the sequence, conformation, and concentration of Abeta on cytotoxicity were also investigated. Monomeric Abeta could attack the plasma membrane resulting in cytotoxicity, however, fibrillar Abeta was found to be less toxic. Our results showed that Abeta (1-40) was more toxic than Abeta (25-35) and the cytotoxicity of Abeta was proportional to its concentration. Besides, the depletion of GM1 from plasma membrane, it would block the Abeta-induced cytotoxicity. Decreasing the cholesterol level by around 30% could attenuate the cytotoxicity of Abeta. These findings validate our idea that the cholesterol could stabilize the lateral pressure derived from the formation of GM1-Abeta complex on the membrane surface. Furthermore, both GM1 and cholesterol are essential in mechanism of Abeta accumulation and could modulate the cytotoxicity of monomeric Abeta.     

Unusual Attractive Au–π Interactions in Small Diacetylene‐Modified Gold Clusters

It is well known that alkynes act as π‐acids in the formation of complexes with metals. We found unprecedented attractive Au–π interactions in diacetylene‐modified [core+exo]‐type [Au₈]⁴⁺ clusters. The 4‐phenyl‐1,3‐butadiynyl‐modified cluster has unusually short Au–C_α distances in the crystal structure, revealing the presence of attractive interactions between the coordinating C≡C moieties and the neighboring bitetrahedral Au₆ core, which is further supported by IR and NMR spectra. Such weak interactions are not found in mono‐acetylene‐modified clusters, which indicates that they are specific for diacetylenic ligands. The attractive Au–π interactions are likely associated with the low energy of the π* orbital in the diacetylenic moieties, into which the valence electrons of the gold core may be back donated. The [Au₈]⁴⁺ clusters show clear red‐shifts of >10 nm with respect to the corresponding mono‐acetylenic clusters in UV/Vis absorption bands, which indicates substantial electronic perturbation effects of the Au–π interactions.     

Does the presence of water clusters induce the binding affinity of CK2 halogen ligands?: A quantum chemical perspective study

Protein–ligand interaction is the key factor in modeling of drugs and water molecules act as a bridge in linking protein and ligand, which was clearly depicted by Deepa (Cryst. Growth Des. 2017 , 17, 1299). This work is intended toward the significance of water cluster in the midst of ligand binding. Further the idea was accounted to have in‐depth analysis of the individual water molecules that interact with each part of the ligand, since in reality only very few crystal water molecules bind with the CK2 ligands. Further, bulk solvent effects have been modeled using Tomasi's polarized continuum model at M06‐2X/def2‐QZVP levels of theory has increased the stability of the complexes. The strength of individual water molecules and their binding nature with ligand will be depicted in detail by interaction energy and two body interaction energy calculations at M06‐2X/def2‐QZVP level of theory. The impact of noncovalent interactions (Hydrogen, σ‐hole and Π‐hole bonding) in bridging between water cluster cavity and ligand were deeply analysed using structural properties (bond distance and bond angle), 2DNCI plot, AIM and NBO analyses. The HOMO, LUMO energy values are discussed in detail for both monomer (ligand) and complexes (ligand with water clusters). It is expected that this study paves a novel path for the scientific community in modeling drugs with the clear understanding of the impact of water molecules on ligand.     

Confocal microscopy study of uptake kinetics of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin onto the cation‐exchanger SP Sepharose FF

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to study single‐ and two‐component protein uptake for α‐lactalbumin (ALA) and β‐lactoglobulin (BLG), as models for whey proteins, to SP Sepharose FF at pH 3.7 during batch experiments in a finite bath. By coupling a fluorescent dye with the protein molecule, the penetration into individual adsorbent particles at different times during batch uptake was visualised. In a single‐component system, BLG penetrated fast into the adsorbent beads and gradually filled them in a shell‐wise fashion, while adsorption of ALA was mostly confined to the outer shells of the adsorbent. For the two‐component studies, the results showed that ALA was able to displace BLG despite its lower affinity to the adsorbent under the employed conditions. CLSM results were then compared both qualitatively and quantitatively to their counterparts obtained in traditional experiments by indirect measurements of the protein concentration in the fluid phase. A novel quantitative approach was undertaken by modifying the simple kinetic rate model traditionally used to determine the kinetic rate constant, k₁, for batch uptake experiments, in order to describe batch uptake kinetics based on CLSM data. Although BLG results were in good agreement, there was a discrepancy in ALA results.     

Chiral separation of cathinone derivatives using β‐cyclodextrin‐assisted capillary electrophoresis–Comparison of four different β‐cyclodextrin derivatives used as chiral selectors

In the past decade, more than 100 different cathinone derivatives slopped over entire Europe due to their enormous popularity. Generally, these novel psychoactive substances are easily available via the internet. This fact leads to various social problems, since cathinones are substances with consciousness‐changing effects and are mainly misused for recreational matters by their consumers. Cathinones possess a chiral center including two enantiomeric forms with potentially different pharmacological behavior. This fact makes analytical method development regarding their chiral separation indispensable. In this study, a chiral capillary zone electrophoresis method for the enantioseparation of 61 cathinone and pyrovalerone derivatives was developed by means of four different β‐cyclodextrin derivatives. As chiral selectors, native β‐cyclodextrin as well as three of its derivatives namely acetyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, and carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin were used. The cathinone and pyrovalerone derivatives were either purchased in internet stores or seized by police. As a result, overall 58 of 61 studied substances were partially or baseline separated by at least one of the four chiral selectors using 10 mM of β‐cyclodextrin derivative in a 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 2.5). Furthermore, the method was found to be suitable for simultaneous enantioseparations, for enantiomeric purity checks and to differentiate between positional isomers. Moreover, an intra‐ and an interday validation was performed successfully for each chiral selector to prove the robustness of the method.     

A novel polyaddition of bifunctional acetylenes containing electron-withdrawing groups. III. Synthesis of polymers having β-alkoxyenoate moieties by the reaction of internal diynes with diols

Tri-n-butylphosphine-catalyzed polyadditions of activated internal diynes (bifunctional β-substituted propiolate, 1B and 1C ) with diols are described. Although a terminal bispropiolate ( 1A ) could not produce soluble polymers, with secondary diols, the polyaddition of 1B or 1C with primary as well as secondary diols gave corresponding polymers ( 3 , only composed of E isomeric units) in high yield. The rate of the present polyaddition was estimated by a model reaction of benzyl alcohol with methyl 2-heptynoate ( 4 ), from which the introduction of alkyl groups at the β-position of propiolate moieties was found to decrease the rate of the reaction by 80 times. Furthermore, the rate-determining step on this polymerization system was speculated to be a protonation step of zwitterionic intermediates with protons from diols. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Separations of antifungal compounds in capillary electrophoresis with two anionic cyclodextrins

CD‐CZE methods were developed for complete stereoisomeric separations of a series of six γ‐lactam analogues, of which some were neutral, or cationic depending on the background electrolyte nature. The tested cyclodextrin was the versatile sulfobutylether‐ β‐CD, used either in a phosphate buffer using capillaries dynamically coated with polyethylene oxide or in a borate buffer using uncoated capillaries. Long‐end and short‐end modes and concentration variations of chiral selectors allowed finding conditions of complete separation of four out of the six derivatives (i.e., 1 , 2 , 3, and 4 ) in short run times, confirming their broad range of applications. To separate the two last compounds, the highly sulfated‐ γ‐CD was examined as chiral selector in acidic phosphate conditions. The enantiomers of the γ‐lactam analogues 5 and 6 were baseline resolved with 5.5 and 4%, respectively as concentration in the buffer.     

Unusual case of catalysis by palladium clusters

An unusual for Pd catalysts dehydration of α-alkyl and α, α′-dialkylbenzyl alcohols PhCR′R″OH (R′ = H, Me, Et, Bu; R″ = H, Me) occurs in the presence of the palladium(I) cluster [Pd₄(CO)₄(OAc)₄] (1) in an inert atmosphere to form ethers PhCR′R″-O-CR′ R″ and water. The catalyst is an intermediate of cluster 1 reduction to Pd black, while neither the starting cluster 1, nor Pd black, which is the decomposition product, are active in the catalysis of this reaction.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 788–791, March, 2005.     

Synthesis of new optically active α,α′,β‐trisubstituted‐β‐lactones as monomers for stereoregular biopolyesters

Various optically active (4R)‐alkyloxycarbonyl‐3,3‐dialkyl‐2‐oxetanones as monomers were synthesized from L‐(S)‐malic acid in six steps to prepare a new family of stereopolyesters for biomedical applications. The synthesis began with an esterification followed of a dialkylation in the aim to introduce hydrophobic groups as methyl or reactive group as allyl. Then, a saponification has permitted to obtain the corresponding diacids that reacted with appropriate alcohols to furnish different monoesters. The last and most important step was activation of hydroxyl group of monoesters with the asymmetric carbon configuration inversion according to the Mitsunobu reaction. Thus, this reaction has provided lactones from monoesters with 100% enantiomeric excess which was confirmed by ¹H NMR and by the synthesis of corresponding isotactic and semicrystalline homopolyesters. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2586–2597     

Maintenance of Amyloid β Peptide Homeostasis by Artificial Chaperones Based on Mixed‐Shell Polymeric Micelles

The disruption of Aβ homeostasis, which results in the accumulation of neurotoxic amyloids, is the fundamental cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Molecular chaperones play a critical role in controlling undesired protein misfolding and maintaining intricate proteostasis in vivo. Inspired by a natural molecular chaperone, an artificial chaperone consisting of mixed‐shell polymeric micelles (MSPMs) has been devised with tunable surface properties, serving as a suppressor of AD. Taking advantage of biocompatibility, selectivity toward aberrant proteins, and long blood circulation, these MSPM‐based chaperones can maintain Aβ homeostasis by a combination of inhibiting Aβ fibrillation and facilitating Aβ aggregate clearance and simultaneously reducing Aβ‐mediated neurotoxicity. The balance of hydrophilic/hydrophobic moieties on the surface of MSPMs is important for their enhanced therapeutic effect.     

Synthesis,and Helix or Hairpin‐Turn Secondary Structures of ‘Mixed’ α/β‐Peptides Consisting of Residues with Proteinogenic Side Chains and of 2‐Amino‐2‐methylpropanoic Acid (Aib)

Twelve peptides, 1 – 12 , have been synthesized, which consist of alternating sequences of α‐ and β‐amino acid residues carrying either proteinogenic side chains or geminal dimethyl groups (Aib). Two peptides, 13 and 14 , containing 2‐methyl‐3‐aminobutanoic acid residues or a ‘random mix’ of α‐, β²‐, and β³‐amino acid moieties were also prepared. The new compounds were fully characterized by CD (Figs. 1 and 2), and ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS). In two cases, 3 and 14 , we discovered novel types of turn structures with nine‐ and ten‐membered H‐bonded rings forming the actual turns. In two other cases, 8 and 11 , we found 14/15‐helices, which had been previously disclosed in mixed α/β‐peptides containing unusual β‐amino acids with non‐proteinogenic side chains. The helices are formed by peptides containing the amino acid moiety Aib in every other position, and their backbones are primarily not held together by H‐bonds, but by the intrinsic conformations of the containing amino acid building blocks. The structures offer new possibilities of mimicking peptide–protein and protein–protein interactions (PPI).     

Convenient synthesis of poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate) from activated urethane derivatives of γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate

A series of activated urethane‐type derivatives of γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate were synthesized, and their potential as monomers for polypeptide synthesis was investigated. The derivatives of the focus of this work were a series of N‐aryloxycarbonyl‐γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate 1 , of which aryl groups were phenyl, 4‐chlorophenyl, and 4‐nitrophenyl. These urethanes 1 were reactive in polar solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide, N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and were efficiently converted into poly(γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate) (poly(BLG)) under mild conditions; at 60 °C without addition of any catalyst. Among the three urethanes, that having 4‐nitrophenoxycarbonyl group 1c was the most reactive to give poly(BLG) efficiently, as was expected from the highly electron deficient nature of the nitrophenoxycarbonyl group. On the other hand, the urethane 1a having phenoxycarbonyl group was also efficiently converted into poly(BLG), in spite of the intrinsically less electrophilicity of the phenoxycarbonyl group. In addition, the successful formation of poly(BLG) by the reaction of 1a favored its diluted concentration (0.1 M) much more than 2.0 M, the optimum initial concentration for 1c . ¹H NMR spectroscopic analyses of the reactions in situ revealed that the predominant pathway from 1 to poly(BLG) involved the intramolecular cyclization of 1 into the corresponding N‐carboxyanhydride, with release of phenol and its successive ring‐opening polymerization with release of carbon dioxide. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2649–2657, 2008     

α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones: versatile skin bioactive natural products

Natural products containing an α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone moiety, mainly of the sesquiterpene type, are widely observed in plants, which upon coming into contact with skin, will induce major skin toxicological side effects or phytodermatitis. Indeed two main dermatological pathologies have been associated with a skin exposure to molecules containing an α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone moiety: allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD). ACD is an immunologically based disease resulting from modifications of epidermal proteins by sensitizers or haptens. Indeed, α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones are highly electrophilic structures that can act as Michael acceptors towards nucleophilic residues of proteins. Cysteine and lysine are the most modified residues leading, in the case of enantiomerically pure lactones, to the formation of diastereomeric adducts. This chemical enantioselectivity induces an enantiospecificity of the allergic reaction, i.e., an individual sensitized to one enantiomer will not develop clinical symptoms when exposed to the other enantiomer and vice versa. Sesquiterpene lactones have been also associated with another pathology that involves UV irradiation and DNA modifications. Interestingly, it was found that α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones, in addition to their electrophilic properties, were highly photoreactive molecules able to react with thymine/thymidine to form [2 + 2] photoadducts in very high yields. In all cases a syn regioselectivity was observed, probably associated with the polarization of the exomethylenic bond. This high photoreactivity of α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones towards thymidine could be an explanation of the progressive evolution of allergic contact dermatitis towards chronic actinic dermatitis. © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 000–000; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.200900013     

Enantioselective Syntheses of Substituted γ‐Butyrolactones

The previously described chiral 2‐acyloxathianes 5 (Scheme I) are used in two different enantioselective syntheses of γ‐butyrolactones. In one synthesis, Grignard addition, cleavage and reduction to carbinols RR'C(OH)CH₂OH is followed by tosylation, malonate homologation, lactonization, and removal of the carbomethoxy group to give optically active γ‐lactones. A modification of this synthesis (Scheme I) leads to optically active α‐methylene‐γ‐lactones. In the second synthesis, reaction of a bromomagnesium enolate with ketones 5 leads to β‐hydroxyesters, which, by appropriate sequences of reduction and cleavage (Scheme II) are converted to optically active α‐ or β‐hydroxy‐γ‐lactones.     

The Amyloid Fibril-Forming β-Sheet Regions of Amyloid β and α-Synuclein Preferentially Interact with the Molecular Chaperone 14-3-3ζ

14-3-3 proteins are abundant, intramolecular proteins that play a pivotal role in cellular signal transduction by interacting with phosphorylated ligands. In addition, they are molecular chaperones that prevent protein unfolding and aggregation under cellular stress conditions in a similar manner to the unrelated small heat-shock proteins. In vivo, amyloid β (Aβ) and α-synuclein (α-syn) form amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, respectively, a process that is intimately linked to the diseases’ progression. The 14-3-3ζ isoform potently inhibited in vitro fibril formation of the 40-amino acid form of Aβ (Aβ₄₀) but had little effect on α-syn aggregation. Solution-phase NMR spectroscopy of ¹⁵N-labeled Aβ₄₀ and A53T α-syn determined that unlabeled 14-3-3ζ interacted preferentially with hydrophobic regions of Aβ₄₀ (L11-H21 and G29-V40) and α-syn (V3-K10 and V40-K60). In both proteins, these regions adopt β-strands within the core of the amyloid fibrils prepared in vitro as well as those isolated from the inclusions of diseased individuals. The interaction with 14-3-3ζ is transient and occurs at the early stages of the fibrillar aggregation pathway to maintain the native, monomeric, and unfolded structure of Aβ₄₀ and α-syn. The N-terminal regions of α-syn interacting with 14-3-3ζ correspond with those that interact with other molecular chaperones as monitored by in-cell NMR spectroscopy.     

Alpha‐1 antitrypsin variants in plasma from HIV‐infected patients revealed by proteomic and glycoproteomic analysis

Novel tools are necessary to explore proteins related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In this work, proteomic and glycoproteomic technology were employed to examine plasma samples from HIV‐positive patients. Through comparative proteome analysis of normal and HIV‐positive plasma samples, 19 differentially expressed protein spots related to 12 non‐redundant proteins were identified by ESI‐ion trap MS. Among these, the 130‐kDa isoform of α‐1‐antitrypsin was found to be decreased in HIV‐positive patients while another variant with a molecular weight of 40 kDa was increased. SWISS‐2‐D‐PAGE reference gel and protein sequence comparisons of the 40‐kDa protein showed homology with α‐1‐antitrypsin minus the N‐terminus, and its identity was further confirmed by 1‐D Western blotting and glycoproteomic analysis. In all, our results showed that proteomics and glycoproteomics are powerful tools for discovering proteins related to HIV infection. Furthermore, this 40‐kDa variant of α‐1‐antitrypsin found in the plasma of HIV‐positive individuals may prove to be a potentially useful biomarker for anti‐HIV research according to bioinformatics analysis.     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Furanose C—C‐linked γ‐lactones: a combined ESI FTICR MS and semi‐empirical calculations study

Sugars that incorporate the unsaturated carbonyl motif have become important synthetic targets not only as a result of their potential biological properties but also as precursors in the synthesis of many bioactive products. Moreover, little is known about the influence of the γ‐lactone moiety in the fragmentation pattern of furanose rings. Therefore, two α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactones (butenolides) and two β‐hydroxy γ‐lactones, C? C linked to a furanose ring were studied using electrospray ionization FTICR mass spectrometry. The behaviour of the protonated and sodiated forms of the compounds under study has been compared considering their structural features. Fragmentation mechanisms were established and ion structures were proposed taking into account the MS² and MS³ experiments, accurate mass measurements and semi‐empirical calculations. These inexpensive methods proved to be a valuable resource for proposing protonation sites and for the establishment of fragmentation pathways. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide,Using Supramolecularly Immobilized Horseradish Peroxidase on the β‐Cyclodextrin‐Coated Gold Electrode

Horseradish peroxidase, previously modified with 1‐adamantane moieties, was supramolecularly immobilized on gold electrodes coated with perthiolated β‐cyclodextrin. The functionalized electrode was employed for the construction of an amperometric biosensor device for hydrogen peroxide using 1 mM hydroquinone as electrochemical mediator. The biosensor exhibited a fast amperometric response (6 s) and a good linear response toward H₂O₂ concentration between 12 μM and 450 μM. The biosensor showed a sensitivity of 1.02 mA/M cm², and a very low detection limit of 5 μM. The electrode retained 97% of its initial electrocatalytic activity after 30 days of storage at 4 ⁰C in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0.