Studies on the heme and H2-uptake reaction from Azotobacter vinelandii bacterial ferritin

Bacterial ferritin of Azotobacter vinelandii (AvBF) is directly able to pick electrons up for iron release from or transfer them for storage to a platinum electrode in the absence of mediator or other reducer. The ferritin containing the structure of heme-Co2+ in part shows weakened activity to electrode and decreases the rate of iron release greatly. A reversible reduction process of the ferritin is observed by the spectral change regularly ranging from 310 to 260 nm under mixed gases containing 98% H2 and 2% to O2. The activity of nitrogen fixation from the whole cell of A. vinelandii increases greatly by H2 reduction with potentials ranging from -397 to -425 mV vs. NHE, indicating two important roles of H2-uptake reaction of the ferritin in increasing activity of nitrogen fixation and in supplying iron to synthesize nitrogenase.     

Cholesterol levels and plasma membrane fluidity in 3T3 and SV101-3T3 cells.

Polyene antibiotics such as filipin selectively inhibit wheat germ agglutinin-induced agglutination of transformed and malignant cells compared to normal cells (Hatten ME, Burger MM: Biochemistry 18: 739, 1979). Since filipin binds specifically to cholesterol, we measured cholesterol levels in 3T3 cells and SV101-3T3 cells. SV101-3T3 cells contained 50-100% more cholesterol per cell than 3T3 cells. Both cell types were starved for cholesterol by growth in lipid-depleted medium plus 25-hydroxycholesterol. The cholesterol level of SV101-3T3 cells decreased by 30-50%, while the level in 3T3 cells remained constant. Filipin-stained SV101-3T3 cells revealed bright patches of filipin under fluorescence microscopy. These patches were absent in 3T3 cells and in SV101-3T3 and 3T3 cells starved for cholesterol. We selectively labeled plasma membranes of these cells with a spin label analog of phosphatidylcholine. The spin label indicated differences in plasma membrane fluidity that may be related to the different cholesterol levels in 3T3 and SV101-3T3 cells.     

Total syntheses of amphidinolide T1, T3, T4, and T5

A concise, flexible, and high yielding entry into the family of amphidinolide T macrolides, a series of cytotoxic natural products of marine origin, has been developed. All individual members, except amphidinolide T3 (3), derive from compound 39 as a common synthetic intermediate which is formed from three building blocks of similar size and complexity. The fragment coupling steps involve a highly diastereoselective SnCl(4) mediated reaction of the furanosyl sulfone derivative 11 with the silyl enol ether 18 and a palladium-catalyzed Negishi type coupling reaction between the polyfunctional organozinc reagent derived from iodide 32a and the enantiopure acid chloride 24b. The 19-membered macrocyclic ring is then formed by a high yielding ring closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of diene 33 catalyzed by the "second generation" ruthenium carbene complex 34. The efficiency of the RCM transformation stems, to a large extent, from the conformational bias introduced by the syn-syn-configured stereotriad at C12-C14 of the substrate which constitutes a key design element of the synthesis plan. The use of Nysted's reagent 38 in combination with TiCl(4) was required for the olefination of the sterically hindered ketone group in 36, whereas more conventional alkene formations were unsuccessful for this elaboration. Finally, it is shown that the inversion of a single and seemingly remote stereocenter (C12) in one of the building blocks not only affects the efficiency and stereochemical outcome of the RCM step but also exerts a significant influence on the course of the acyl-Negishi reaction, allowing a radical manifold to compete with productive cross coupling.     

Corrosion fatigue on 2024T3 and 6056T4 aluminum alloys

Fatigue corrosion phenomenon is a form of degradation that is because of the combined occurrence of a mechanical cyclical stress and a corrosive environment. Fatigue corrosion can be an issue in commercial and military aircraft, and has the potential to affect the structural integrity and the useful life of an aerostructure. Although the distinct consequences of both fatigue and corrosion have been extensively documented for aluminum alloys, their synergistic action is not completely understood and continues to be an area of considerable scientific and industrial interest. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed and applied for monitoring the electrochemical behavior of different types of aluminum alloy samples while they are subjected to fatigue loading. Cyclic load experiments were conducted on bare 2024T3 and 6056T4 aluminum alloy samples in the presence of an aggressive aerated solution of 3.5% NaCl over a range of frequencies. The R‐ratio was 0. Two different aluminum alloys have been tested in both high‐ and low‐cycle fatigue. In the former case, the maximum stress experienced by the specimen is lower than the material yield strength, which means that the average expected number of cycles to failure is high; in the latter case, the maximum stress experienced by the specimen during the test is higher than the material yield strength, which means that the average expected number of cycles to failure is low. The open circuit potential(OCP) was monitored versus time during the tests described above. The observed OCP variations are interpreted as the occurrence of corrosion during crack initiation and propagation at the air formed oxide/solution interface film. As expected, there is a more pronounced influence of corrosion at lower fatigue frequencies. Crack propagation allows bulk material to be progressively more exposed to the aggressive environment, which stimulates accelerated crack propagation, resulting in a lower fatigue resistance. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Proanthocyanidins ofPolygonum coriarium. IV. Structures of proanthocyanidins T3 and T4

Two oligomeric proanthocyanidins have been isolated from the roots ofPolygonum coriarium. By a study of their physical properties and spectral characteristics and analysis of the results of chemical transformations, the chemical structures of these compounds have been established as: (–)-epicatechin-77[O--D-glucopyranosyl]₃ O-⊃-D-glucopyranosyl (m-trigallolyl)-[(4-6)-(–)-epigallocatechin]₂-(4-6)-(–)-epigallocatechin—T3; and (–)-epicatechin-3-O-galloyl-7-[O--D-glucopyranosyl]₃O--D-glucopyranosyl galloyl-[(4-6)-(–)-epicatechin]₄-(4-6)-(–)-epigallocatechin — T4.The materials of this paper were presented at the IInd International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds (SCNC), Eskiehir, Turkey, October 22–24, 1966).Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 707–713, September–October, 1997.     

Cell-cell contact and growth regulation of pinocytosis in 3T3 cells

In sub-confluent cultures of Balb/c-3T3 cells, pinocytosis rates were increased after exposure to specific growth factors (serum; platelet-derived growth factor, PDGF; epidermal growth factor, EGF). Conversely, as cells became growth-inhibited with increasing culture density, there was a corresponding decline in pinocytosis rate per cell. In order to test whether density-inhibition of pinocytosis was influenced either by the growth cycle or by cell contact independently of growth, cells were induced into a quiescent state at a range of subconfluent and confluent densities. Under such conditions, cell density did not significantly inhibit pinocytosis rate. When confluent quiescent cultures in 2.5% serum were exposed to 10% serum, the resulting round of DNA synthesis was accompanied by enhanced pinocytosis per cell, even though the cells were in contact with one another. Furthermore, in a SV40-viral transformed 3T3 cell line, both the growth fraction and the pinocytosis rate per cell remained unchanged over a wide range of culture densities. These studies indicate that density-dependent inhibition of pinocytosis in 3T3 cells appears to be secondary to growth-inhibition rather than to any direct physical effects of cell-cell contact.     

Increase of Calcium Levels at Interphase in NIH 3T3 Cells

The fluorescent calcium ion indicator dye Fluo-3 and DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 were employed to determine, in a quantitative microspectrofluorometric study, the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca~(2+)]_i) and the DNA content of individual living NIH3T3 cells. The well-separated excitation and emission properties of these dyes allowed us to establish for each cell both the phase of the cell cycle using DNA content and [Ca~(2+)]_i. We found that the transition from G_1, through S, to the G_2 phase is accompanied by a two-fold increase in [Ca~(2+)]_i. The [Ca~(2+)]_i was inhomologous in each phase of the interphase (G_1, S and G_2) although [Ca~(2+)]_i in the S and G_2 phases was never lower than certain threshold values in the G_1 and S phases respectively. [Ca~(2+)]_i in G_0 cells was lower than that in G_2 cells. These changes in [Ca~(2+)]_i suggest that [Ca~(2+)]_i may be an import regulator of cell cycle progression.     

Anti-adipogenic activity of Cordyceps militaris in 3T3-L1 cells

Inhibition of adipocytes differentiation is suggested to be an important strategy for prevention and/or treatment of obesity. In our present study, Cordyceps militaris showed significant inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil Red O staining. Activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of cordycepin (1), guanosine (2) and tryptophan (3) as active compounds. All the three compounds were more effective in the prevention of early stage of adipogenesis than in lipolysis. In addition, combinational treatment of three compounds significantly increased anti-adipogenic activity.     

CCSD(T) study of CD3-O-CD3 and CH3-O-CD3 far-infrared spectra

From a vibrationally corrected 3D potential energy surface determined with highly correlated ab initio calculations (CCSD(T)), the lowest vibrational energies of two dimethyl-ether isotopologues, (12)CH(3)-(16)O-(12)CD(3) (DME-d(3)) and (12)CD(3)-(16)O-(12)CD(3) (DME-d(6)), are computed variationally. The levels that can be populated at very low temperatures correspond to the COC-bending and the two methyl torsional modes. Molecular symmetry groups are used for the classification of levels and torsional splittings. DME-d(6) belongs to the G(36) group, as the most abundant isotopologue (12)CH(3)-(16)O-(12)CH(3) (DME-h(6)), while DME-d(3) is a G(18) species. Previous assignments of experimental Raman and far-infrared spectra are discussed from an effective Hamiltonian obtained after refining the ab initio parameters. Because a good agreement between calculated and experimental transition frequencies is reached, new assignments are proposed for various combination bands corresponding to the two deuterated isotopologues and for the 020 → 030 transition of DME-d(6). Vibrationally corrected potential energy barriers, structural parameters, and anharmonic spectroscopic parameters are provided. For the 3N - 9 neglected vibrational modes, harmonic and anharmonic fundamental frequencies are obtained using second-order perturbation theory by means of CCSD and MP2 force fields. Fermi resonances between the COC-bending and the torsional modes modify DME-d(3) intensities and the band positions of the torsional overtones.     

Transport of amino acids in intact 3T3 and SV3T3 cells. Binding activity for leucine in membrane preparations of ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Transport of amino acids into 3T3 and SV3T3 (SV40 virus-transformed 3T3) cells was measured on glass cover slips. The 3T3 and SV3T3 cells contain both A (alanine preferring) and L (leucine prefferring) systems for neutral amino acid transport. Initial rates of uptake of amino acids are about twofold higher in SV3T3 than in 3T3 cells. Other parameters measured, however, do not indicate marked differences in the transport of amino acids by the two cell types. L-system amino acids, such as leucine, are subject to trans-stimulation in both cell lines, whereas A-system amino acids, such as alanine and glycine, are not. Leucine was transported to higher levels in confluent cells than in nonconfluent cells. Glycine, however, shows distinctly less transport activity as the cells become confluent. Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membranes were prepared and assayed for amino acid-binding activity. Leucine-binding activity was detected by equilibrium dialysis in Triton X-100-treated membrane preparations.     

REPAIR OF PSORALEN PLUS NEAR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT DAMAGE IN BACTERIOPHAGES T3 AND T4

Abstract— Repair of T3 and T4 DNA damaged by treatment with 8-methoxypsoralen plus near UV (PNUV) has been investigated. It is shown that the excision repair mechanisms of the host cell can repair a substantial fraction of the psoralen-DNA mono-adducts in T3 DNA, but cannot by themselves repair crosslinks. In contrast neither the excision repair system of the host nor the phage coded v gene endonuclease is involved in the repair of psoralen adducts in T4 DNA. Multiplicity reactivation is effective in the recovery of T4 DNA containing psoralen-DNA mono-adducts, but is ineffective in the recovery of crosslinked phages. Comparisons of the lethality of PNUV treatment and the number of crosslinks induced in T4 DNA show clearly that mono-adducts are lethal to this phage. Both T3 and T4, however, appear to effectively repair many mono-adducts by postreplicational repair.     

A new polytype of orthoboric acid,H3BO3‐3T

The crystal structure of H₃BO₃‐3T, a new trigonal polytype of orthoboric acid, consists of sheets of hydrogen‐bonded B(OH)₃ mol­ecules similar to those found in the triclinic structure of orthoboric acid, H₃BO₃‐2A. In each case, van der Waals forces connect the sheets. However, the stacking sequences of the sheets differ between the two polymorphs. In H₃BO₃‐3T (space group P3₂), the sheets are stacked in the repeating sequence ABC…, whereas in H₃BO₃‐2A (space group ), the sheets are stacked in the repeating sequence AB….     

Hypocrellin A Photosensitization Involves an Intracellular pH Decrease in 3T3 Cells

Abstract— The fluorescent pH probe carboxy-seminaphtorhoda-fluor-1 (C-Snarf-1) has been used for laser microspectrofluorometric assays of intracellular pH in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts treated with hypocrellin A. These results are compared to those previously obtained with the structurally related hydroxylated polycyclic quinone, hypericin (Sureau et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 9484-9487, 1996). A mean local intracellular pH drop of 0.6 units has been observed in the presence of 1 μM hypocrellin A after 90 s of exposure to 0.1 μW of laser irradiation at 514.5 nm. The time evolution of the cytoplasm acidification for hypocrellin A-treated cells is faster than that for cells treated by hypericin. Thus, release of protons from an excited state of hypocrellin A appears to be more efficient than that from hypericin. In addition, the pH dependence of the quenching of C-Snarf-1 fluorescence in 3T3 cells under continuous irradiation has been observed. It is shown here that under continuous illumination, a pH decrease is able to induce a modification of the intracellular binding equilibrium of C-Snarf-1 that results in an increase of C-Snarf-1 fluorescence intensity. This latter observation suggests that the protons generated upon the photoexcitation of hypericin or its analogs may be involved in the production of other photoreactive species. Finally, we suggest that, just as for hypericin, this pH drop may be involved in the antiviral and antitumor activity of hypocrellin A.     

T3P-assisted esterification and amidation of phosphinic acids

A few phosphinic acids, such as phenylphosphinic acids, 1-hydroxy-3-phospholene 1-oxides and 1-hydroxyphospholane oxides are esterified with simple alcohols in the presence of propylphosphonic anhydride (T3P^®). If 1.1 equiv of the T3P^® reagent is used, the esterifications are fast and efficient at 25° C. In the case of more reactive models it was enough to apply 0.66 equiv of T3P^® at 85° C under microwave conditions. The amidation of 1-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-phospholene oxide could also be accomplished under similar conditions.     

Stereocontrolled and convergent total synthesis of amphidinolide T3

Stereocontrolled and convergent total synthesis of amphidinolide T3 has been described. A retrosynthetic scheme was constructed that led to the recognition of readily available and enantiomerically related compounds as starting materials for the total synthesis of amphidinolide T3. Thus, the two key building blocks 6 and 7 were defined as subtargets and synthesized in optically active forms. The C1-C12 fragment 6 was derived from commercially available D-glutamic acid or its synthetically equivalent (R)-5-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran-2-one 16 as starting material involving highly diastereoselective asymmetric allylation as a key step. The C13-C21 fragment 7 was efficiently synthesized in high yield through the dithiane coupling of the segment 10 and iodide 11, followed by subsequent deprotection and Petasis olefination. Eventually, assembly of the fragment aldehyde 6 and dithiane 7 along with C-C bond formation, a two-step oxidation-reduction sequence, selective macrolactonization, and functional transformation furnished the convergent total and formal synthesis of amphidinolide T3 and T4, and this approach also provides a flexible and practical synthesis of amphidinolide T macrolides.