Antibacterial activity of cyclo(L-Pro-L-Tyr) and cyclo(D-Pro-L-Tyr) from Streptomyces sp. strain 22-4 against phytopathogenic bacteria

Two bioactive cyclic dipeptides, cyclo(L-Pro-L-Tyr) and cyclo(D-Pro-L-Tyr), were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. strain 22-4 and tested against three economically important plant pathogens, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, Ralstonia solanacearum and Clavibacter michiganensis. Both cyclic dipeptides were active against X. axonopodis pv. citri and R. Solanacearum with MIC of 31.25 μg/mL. No activity could be observed against C. michiganensis.     

Thermo-sensitive random poly(L-alanine-co-L-lactic acid) with no cytotoxicity by the structure-controlled synthesis for a nano-drug carrier

A random poly(L-alanine-co-L-lactic acid) (PAL) with excellent thermo-sensitivity and no cytotoxicity was synthesized by the structure-controlled polycondensation from natural L-alanine and L-lactic acid. Only those PALs in which the contents of L-alanine structural unit are rigidly controlled in the smaller range of 53–65% show a reversible lower critical solution temperature of 35–60°C. The change of secondary structure in poly(L-alanine) segments by the introduction of L-lactic acid structural unit plays a decisive role in regulating the thermo-sensitivity of PAL. The viability of HeLa cells exposed to PAL reaches up to 91–116% after incubation of 24 and 72?h, indicating no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, PAL can easily form curcumin-loaded nano-carriers through its thermo-sensitivity and self-assembly. The curcumin-loaded PAL nano-particles are observed to clearly internalize into the cells by confocal laser-scanning microscopy, and thus can be used as a potential nano-drug-carrier.     

Synthesis,characterization and crystal structures of two binary acid complexes based on L-glutamate and L-aspartate

Two amino acid complexes, [Cd(L-glu)(H₂O)] _n ?·?nH₂O (1) and [Co(L-asp)(phen)(N₃)]?·?2H₂O (2) (L-glu?=?L-glutamate, L-asp?=?L-aspartate, phen?=?1,10-phenanthroline), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and TG-DSC analysis. Single crystal X-ray structure analyses revealed that each L-glutamate acts as a pentadentate ligand binding to three octahedral Cd(II) atoms through the amino group and two carboxyl groups to form a neutral helical network. Complex 2 is a mononuclear compound in which Co(III) is octahedrally coordinated by tridentate L-aspartate, monodentate azide and chelating phen ligand. Thermal stability and fluorescence of 1 have been investigated. The complex shows strong blue fluorescence in the solid state.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of N -benzesulfonyl-L-glutamic acid-bridged binuclear nickel(II) complex

N-benzesulfonyl-L-glutamic acid-bridged binuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni₂(Bs-Glu)₂(bipy)₂ (H₂O)₂]?·?3H₂O (Bs-Glu?=?N-benzesulfonyl-L-glutamic acid dianion, bipy?=?2,2′-bipyridine), has been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1. The α-carboxyl group coordinates to Ni(II) in a monodentate mode, while the γ-carboxyl group coordinates in a chelating mode. In the temperature range 2–300?K, magnetic measurements show that the exchange interaction of the two Ni(II) ions is antiferromagnetic, and the values for J, g are ?2.47?cm^?1 and 2.18, respectively.     

Primary Amine‐Initiated Polymerizations of α–Amino Acid N‐Thiocarbonic Acid Anhydrosulfide

The N‐thiocarbonic acid anhydrosulfides NTAs of D,L‐leucine, D,L‐phenylalanine and sarcosine were polymerized in dioxane by addition of n‐hexylamine as initiator. Despite variation of the monomer‐initiator ratio (M/I) only low yields of oligopeptides were obtained from D,L‐Leu‐ and D,L‐Phe‐NTA. Both yields and molecular weights were almost twice as high for polymerizations of Sar‐NTA. MALDI‐TOF mass spectra confirmed that the isolated oligo‐and polypeptides possess the expected structure with one reactive amino end group. Therefore, it is surprising that the polymerizations stopped at low conversions. Two hypotheses explaining this phenomenon are discussed.     

Complex formation of curium(III) with amino acids of different functionalities: L-threonine and O -phospho-L-threonine

The speciation of curium(III) with L-threonine and O-phospho-L-threonine was determined by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) at trace Cm(III) concentrations (3?×?10^?7?M). Curium species of the type M_pH_qL_r were identified in the L-threonine- and O-phospho-L-threonine system. These complexes are characterized by their individual luminescence spectra and luminescence lifetimes. The following formation constants were determined (a) for L-threonine: log?β₁₀₁?=?6.72?±?0.07, log?β₁₀₂?=?10.22?±?0.09, and log?β_1–22?=?(7.22?±?0.19) at ionic strength I?=?0.5?M and (b) for O-phospho-L-threonine: log?β₁₂₁?=?18.03?±?0.13 and log?β₁₁₁?=?14.17?±?0.09 at ionic strength I?=?0.154?M. Possible structures of the identified curium species are discussed on the basis of the luminescence lifetime measurements and the magnitude of the formation constants.     

Syntheses and characterizations of zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes with reduced Schiff base derived from salicylaldehyde and D,L-selenomethionine

New zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes with a reduced Schiff-base ligand derived from D,L-selenomethionine and salicylaldehyde have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, IR, and NMR measurements. The single-crystal X-ray structure of the Cu(II) complex reveals that this complex is a carboxylate-bridged dimer of dinuclear copper(II) subunits and all metal centers are five-coordinate with O₄N donor sets in distorted square-pyramidal geometries. The Cu(II) complex consists of a 1-D coordination polymer.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of cis - and trans -copper(II) complexes of L-arginine

Two copper(II) complexes of L-arginine, trans-[Cu(l-Arg)₂(NO₃)]NO₃ · 3H₂O (1) and {cis-[Cu(l-Arg)₂](NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O} _n (2) (Arg = arginine) were prepared by reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O and L-arginine in acetone and aqueous solution, respectively. X-ray analysis reveals 1 crystallizes in a monoclinic system, P2₁ with a = 10.3857(15), b = 16.885(3), c = 15.9586(19) Å, β = 15.9586(19)°, Z = 4, V = 2654.2(6) ų. The copper(II) centers lie in a distorted N₂O₃ square-pyramidal environment. While 1 adopts a mononuclear structure, and the axial position occupied by a nitrate with Cu1–O9 = 2.535 Å and Cu2–O20 = 2.581 Å, 2 features a 1-D infinite chain structure. In 1, adjacent monomeric units connect with each other to give a 2-D layer structure of (4, 4) nets through hydrogen bonds between the guanidinium and carboxylic groups of arginine, and 2-D layers further assemble to a 3-D supermolecular structure via a series of inter-layer hydrogen bonds.     

The Structure of N‐(1‐Deoxy‐β‐D‐fructopyranos‐1‐yl)‐L‐proline Monohydrate (“D‐Fructose‐L‐proline”) and N‐(1,6‐Dideoxy‐α‐L‐fructofuranos‐1‐yl)‐L‐proline (“L‐Rhamnulose‐L‐proline”)

Nano n-propylsulfonated γ-Fe₂O₃ was found to be a highly efficient, reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of a range of monosaccharides and some of their derivatives to the corresponding O-isopropylidene derivatives in good to excellent yields by refluxing the reaction mixture in dry acetone. The magnetic property of the catalyst enabled its separation from the reaction mixture by a simple process of filtration along with the aid of an external magnet. The efficiency of the catalyst was found to be largely unaffected for at least up to six cycles of reuse, thus proving the new methodology to be environmentally rewarding besides being simple and facile in operation.     

Solid-phase synthesis of peptide ribonucleic acids (PRNA)

The range of available peptide ribonucleic acid (PRNA) monomers was fully expanded for the use in solid-phase synthesis of PRNA oligomers, which were designed to reversibly control the recognition and complexation behavior of the complementary DNA/RNA by external factors. A couple of PRNA 12-mers with desired purine-pyrimidine mixed sequences were prepared indeed in high yields by the solid-phase synthesis.     

Amphiphilic Networks. I. Network Synthesis by Copolymerization of Methacryloyl-Capped Polyisobutylene with 2-(Dimethylamino) Ethyl Methacrylate and Characterization of The Networks

New amphiphilic networks have been synthesized by free-radical co-polymerization of hydrophobic methacryloyl-capped polyisobutylenes (MA-PIB-MA) with hydrophilic 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate. Two MA-PIB-MAs have been prepared with M_n = 4920 and 10 200, and two series of networks were prepared with MA-PIB-MA contents between 48 and 71.5%. Variation of the molecular weight of MA-PIB-MA and its concentration in the network allows for a wide range of mechanical properties and swellability in hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents. Differential scanning calorimetry shows the existence of two glass transitions in these networks and thus indicates a phase-separated domain structure. Tensile strengths and elongations were dependent on MA-PIB-MA contents varying from 57.7 to 39.8 kg/cm² and from 168 to 200%, respectively, with increasing MA-PIB-MA content. Solvent swelling of the networks ranged from 170 to 20% in water and from 40 to 170% in n-heptane with increasing MA-PIB-MA contents.     

Synthesis of L‐6‐Chloropyrroloindoline of Chloptosin Cyclohexapeptide

Abstract

Chloptosin is an apoptosis‐inducing dimeric cyclohexapeptide. Enantioselective synthesis of L‐6‐chloropyrroloindoline, as the key chiral synthon of the cyclohexapeptide of chloptosin, was successfully achieved starting from 3‐chloroaniline by utilizing Fischer indole/Schöllkopf protocol and oxidative cyclization of resulting L‐6‐chlorotryptophan.     

Synthesis and characterization of xylan-graft-poly(L-lactide)

In this study, xylan extracted from chestnut sawdust was used to synthesize the copolymers of xylan-graft-poly(L-lactide) (xylan-g-PLLA) by grafting L-lactide monomer onto xylan and using 4-dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst at 80°C. Depending on the synthesis conditions and parameters, synthesized xylan-g-PLLAs were either water-soluble which form homogeneous plastic films after drying at room temperature or water-insoluble ones which do not form films at all. A Graeco-Latin design of experiments was used to determine the effects of three factors (reaction time, amount of L-lactide, and amount of the catalyst) on the results of the grafting reaction: the degree of substitution (DS) and the degree of polymerization (DP) of the copolymers. The DS and DP determined by ¹HNMR showed that they increase according to the amount of L-lactide and decrease according to the reaction time while the catalyst had no influence on the copolymerization reaction. Grafting of PLLA onto xylan was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ¹HNMR analyzes. FT-IR spectra showed absorption bands at 1,784?cm^?1 characteristic of the ester functions (C?O) and ¹HNMR spectra revealed signals between 1 and 2.5?ppm corresponding to the protons of the aliphatic chains. Thermal properties show that the temperatures of start of degradation of copolymers are lower than those of PLLA and xylan. The N,N-dimethylacetamide results showed that the glass transition temperature of xylan-g-PLLA film was 147°C. We found that the Young’s modulus of this film is close to that of polypropylene.     

Determination of L- and D-enantiomers of methotrexate using amperometric biosensors

In order to determine the enantiopurity of methotrexate (Mtx), seven biosensors were proposed for the assay of l-Mtx and three biosensors for the assay of d-Mtx. The biosensors were designed using physical and chemical immobilization of glutamate oxidase and/or l-amino acid oxidase (l-AAOD) and/or horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for the assay of l-methotherexate, and d-amino acid oxidase (d-AAOD) and HRP for the assay of d-Mtx. Electrode characteristics were obtained and compared for the different carbon paste based biosensors. The linear concentration ranges for the proposed biosensors were in the ranges of fmol l⁻¹ to pmol l⁻¹, magnitude order with limits of detection in the fmol l⁻¹ to nmol l⁻¹ concentration range. All biosensors were successful for the determination of the enantiopurity of Mtx as raw material, and in its pharmaceutical formulations (tablets and injections).     

Studies on the Conformation of Polyhydroxyalkylpyrazolo (3,4-b) Quinoxalines

¹H NMR spectral studies on polyhydroxyalkylpyrazolo-(3,4-b)-quinoxaline derivatives of sugars having five to seven carbon atoms have shown that the polyhydroxyalkyl chain exists in a conformation in which a hydrogen bond is formed between the l'-hydroxyl group and N-2 of the pyrazolo(3,4-b)-quinoxaline base moiety. The polyhydroxyalkyl chain exists in the planar zigzag conformation, where no 1,3 syn axial interaction is present. Substitution in the base moiety did not change the extent of the population of the planar zigzag conformation.     

Enantioselective,Potentiometric Membrane Electrodes Based on Cyclodextrins for the Assay of L‐ and D‐2‐Hydroxyglutaric Acid

Abstract

Enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes (EPMEs) based on immobilization of β‐, γ‐cyclodextrin (CD) or 2‐hydroxy‐3‐trimethylammoniopropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (as chloride salt) (β‐CD‐derivative) in carbon paste have been designed. The β‐CD and β‐CD‐derivative‐based electrodes were applied in the 10^?8–10^?6 and 10^?7–10^?5 mol/L concentration ranges for the determination of L‐2‐hydroxyglutaric acid (L‐2‐HGA), whereas γ‐CD‐based electrode was applied for the determination of D‐2‐hydroxyglutaric acid (D‐2‐HGA) in the concentration range 10^?6–10^?4 mol/L. The β‐CD‐based EPME showed the lowest detection limit (1×10^?9 mol/L). The enantioselectivity and selectivity of the proposed electrodes for the assay of L‐2‐HGA and D‐2‐HGA, respectively, were determined over D‐2‐HGA/L‐2‐HGA, creatine, and creatinine. The proposed EPMEs can be applied for the enantioanalysis of 2‐hydroxyglutaric acid in urine samples.     

Effects of molecular weight and small amounts of d-lactide units on hydrolytic degradation of poly(l-lactic acid)s

Films of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) with different number-average molecular weights (M_n) and d-lactide unit contents (X_d) were made amorphous and the effects of molecular weight and small amounts of d-lactide units on the hydrolytic degradation behavior in phosphate-buffered solution at 37 °C of PLLA were investigated. The degraded films were investigated using gravimetry, gel permeation chromatography, polarimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, and tensile testing. To exclude the effects of crystallinity on the hydrolytic degradation, the films were made amorphous by melt-quenching. The incorporation of small amounts of d-lactide units drastically enhanced the hydrolytic degradation of PLLA. In the period of 0-32 weeks, the hydrolytic degradation rate constant (k) of PLLA films increased with increasing X_d, while the k values did not depend on M_n. This means that the effects of X_d on the hydrolytic degradation rate of the films are higher than those of M_n. In contrast, in the period of 32-60 weeks neither X_d nor M_n was a crucial parameter to determine k values, probably because in addition to these parameters the differences in the amount of catalytic oligomers accumulated in films and crystallinity affect the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the films. The initially amorphous PLLA films remained amorphous even after the hydrolytic degradation for 60 weeks.     

Synthesis of metal-organic frameworks from the system metal/L-glutamic acid/TEA/H2O

Three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with similar zeolite-like 3-D structures, Zn(L-Glu)(H₂O) · H₂O, Cu(L-Glu)(H₂O) · H₂O, and Co(L-Glu)(H₂O) · H₂O, have been obtained from metal/L-glutamic acid/TEA/H₂O systems, whereby the weak base triethylamine (TEA), rather than the more typically used NaOH or Na₂CO₃, has been used to adjust the pH of the solution. A systematic and detailed exploration of the synthesis conditions has revealed that not all transition metals may be coordinated to L-glutamic acid and that the range of conditions under which the three MOFs remained stable was different. The metal/L-glutamic acid/TEA/H₂O system offers an effective means of obtaining MOFs.     

Swelling and hydrolytic degradation of poly(d,l-lactic acid) in aqueous solutions

Low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) was synthesized by direct polycondensation of lactic acid. The oligomers were characterized by viscometry, light scattering, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The swelling behaviour of tablets made of the above polymer immersed in buffer solutions at 37 °C was studied. In the same experiments, the hydrolytic stability of d,l-PLA was assessed by measuring the weight loss after drying the tablets. In order to inhibit any degradation due to bacteria, formaldehyde was added in the solution as biostatic factor. The effect of an incorporated drug on the swelling behaviour of d,l-PLA tablets was also considered. It was found that the incorporation of drug in d,l-PLA tablets increases their swelling index, probably due to the creation of additional porosity in the specimens or other interaction between drug and polymeric matrix.     

An Improved Procedure for Mono C-Alkylation of Pentane-2.4-Dione with ω-Bromoacid Esters

Pentane-2,4-dione is alkylated by ethyl bromoacetate or ethyl 6-bromohexanoate in high yield in CH₂C1₂ or 5:1 CH₃CN-(CH₃)₂SO solvents, using one equivalent of K₂CO₃-Cs₂CO₃ as base.