Isolation and Structure Characterization of a (4‐O‐Methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan from the Skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica Prickly Pear Fruits

A slightly water soluble (4‐O‐methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan was isolated from the skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica (OFI) fruits by alkaline extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation and ion‐exchange chromatography. The structure of this xylan was determined by sugar determination coupled with a ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy analysis. The xylan consisted of a linear (1→4)‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl backbone decorated with 4‐O‐methyl‐α‐d‐glucopyranosyluronic acid groups linked to the C‐2 of the xylopyranosyl residues, in the ratio of one uronic acid for six neutral sugar units.     

Investigation of the synthesis of poly-D,L-lactide-co-poly(ethylene glycol) flexible thermoplastic

A series of biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock poly(ether-ester-urethane)s with various lactide-to-poly(ethylene glycol) (LA/PEG) mole ratios has been successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) followed by chain extension reaction through formation of urethane linkage. Resulting FT-IR spectra indicate complete polymerization of lactide monomers, while NMR analysis quantitatively marks the chain length of polymer blocks. The molecular weight and dispersion index of copolymers were investigated by GPC analysis. DSC thermogram and XRD diffractogram of the prepared copolymers were studied as well for revealing the thermal and crystallinity behavior of the copolymer as LA/PEG mole ratios varied.     

Regioselective Monoacetylation of Methyl Pyranosides of Pentoses and 6‐Deoxyhexoses by Acetic Anhydride in the Presence of MoCl5

Convenient regioselective syntheses of 3‐acetates of methyl pyranosides of α‐L‐rhamnose, α‐ and β‐L‐arabinose, α‐D‐fucose, α‐D‐lyxose, and β‐D‐ribose with good yields have been attained using MoCl₅ as catalyst. Methyl β‐L‐rhamnopyranoside under this conditions gave 2‐acetate.     

Magnetic hybrid imprinted polymers with three-templates modified by DESs for the rapid purification of monosaccharide from seaweed

Fe₃O₄@hybrid-molecular-imprinted polymers (Fe₃O₄@HMIPs) with three monosaccharide templates (D-(+)-galactose, L-(?)-fucose, and D-(+)-mannose), and hybrid materials were modified by deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The materials obtained were combined with solid-phase extraction (SPE) to purify of D-(+)-galactose, L-(?)-fucose, and D-(+)-mannose from seaweed, and the SPE procedure was optimized further. Compared to Fe₃O₄@HMIPs, DESs-Fe₃O₄@HMIPs were developed to achieve stronger recognition and higher recoveries of D-(+)-galactose, L-(?)-fucose, and D-(+)-mannose from seaweed. The optimal practical recoveries of the three monosaccharides, D-(+)-galactose, L-(?)-fucose, and D-(+)-mannose, purified by DESs-4-Fe₃O₄@HMIPs from seaweed were 90.12, 92.82, and 91.94%, respectively. When acetone was used as the washing solution, the actual amounts extracted were 6.87, 4.17, and 5.29?mg?·?g^?1, respectively.     

Formation of 1-D ladder- and 2-D sheet-like networks due to stereospecific π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding between enantiomeric sulfur-bridged dinuclear complexes of penicillaminates

Reaction of trans(N)-[Co(D-pen)₂]^? (pen = penicillaminate) or trans(N)-[Co(L-pen)₂]^? with [MCl₂(L)] {M = Pd or Pt, L = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen)} in the presence of tetrafluoroborate stereoselectively gave an optically active S-bridged dinuclear complex, [M(L){Co(D-pen)₂}]BF₄ · 2H₂O or [M(L){Co(L-pen)₂}]BF₄ · 2H₂O. The mixture of equimolar amounts of these enantiomers in H₂O crystallizes as [M(L){Co(D-pen)₂}]_0.5[M(L){Co(L-pen)₂}]_0.5BF₄ · 4H₂O (DLbpyM · 4H₂O, DLphenM-A · 4H₂O), in which the enantiomeric complex cations are included by the ratio of 1 : 1. In crystals of DLbpyM · 4H₂O and DLphenM-A · 4H₂O, [M(L){Co(D-pen)₂}]⁺ and [M(L){Co(L-pen)₂}]⁺ interact stereospecifically with each other through π-conjugated systems to form dimeric structures. Other racemic crystals with the same chemical compositions as DLphenM-A · 4H₂O, DLphenM-B · 4H₂O, were obtained from equimolar amounts of [M(phen){Co(D-pen)₂}]⁺ and [M(phen){Co(L-pen)₂}]⁺ in aqueous acetonitrile solution. In the crystals of DLphenM-B · 4H₂O, [M(phen){Co(D-pen)₂}]⁺ and [M(phen){Co(L-pen)₂}]⁺ are arranged alternately while overlapping phen planes, and the π electronic systems of phen interact with each other. Although stereospecific hydrogen bonds between the coordinated ?NH₂ and ?COO^? groups are formed in both DLphenM-A · 4H₂O and DLphenM-B · 4H₂O, their bonding modes differ noticeably from each other. As a result, DLphenM-A · 4H₂O builds up 1-D ladder-like networks due to the stereospecific π–π stackings and hydrogen bondings between enantiomers, while 2-D sheet-like networks are established for DLphenM-B · 4H₂O.     

Effect of L‐Aspartate Concentration on the Response of the Amperometric L‐Glutamate Sensor for the Measurement of L‐Glutamate and Aspartate Aminotransferase Activity in Serum

Abstract

L‐glutamate oxidase was immobilized in a photo‐cross‐linkable polymer membrane on a palladium strip electrode for the amperometric measurement of aspartate aminotransferas eactivity. The sample, serum for example, was injected into a buffered L‐aspartate and α‐ketoglutarate solution. L‐aspartate is the essential substrate and can transfer to L‐glutamate via the aspartate aminotransferase catalyzing reaction. Aspartate aminotransferase activity can be measured by determining the increasing rate of L‐glutamate. Under the optimal condition, the current increasing rate was proportional to the aspartate aminotransferase activity of the sample in the range of 8–200 U/L. The data are in good correlation (R²= 0.998) with data from a commercial aspartate aminotransferase assay kit. Good reproducibility (relative standard deviation=3.03%, n=8) was obtained from a sample with 50 U/L aspartate aminotransferase activity. The sensor is expectable to be applied in a clinical point‐of‐care diagnosis.     

Conformational Analysis of Thiosugars: Theoretical NMR Chemical Shifts and 3 J H,H Coupling Constants of 5‐Thio‐Pyranose Monosaccharides

The conformational space of D and L, deoxy and nondeoxy, 5‐thio‐pyranoses with biological properties as enzymatic inhibitors was explored using MM and B3LYP/6–31+G* methods in gas phase and solution. The preferred ring conformation for α and β anomers of 5‐thio‐L‐fucopyranose was the ¹C₄ form (about 99%), and for 5‐thio‐D‐glucopyranose and 5‐thio‐D‐mannopyranose, the ⁴C₁ one. The experimental conformational order (⁴C₁>¹C₄>²S_S) for L‐ido derivatives was reproduced only considering the solvent, though for 3‐O‐methyl‐5‐thio‐α‐L‐idopyranose, the inclusion of methyl in C₃ changed the ²S_S form to the B_1,4 one.     

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.     

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.     

SYNTHESIS OF 3-O-ARABINOSYLATED (1→6)-β-D-GALACTAN EPITOPES

Two tetrameric arabinogalactans, β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→3)]-D-galactopyranose (14) and α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-galactopyranose (25), which are good candidates for CCRC-M7 epitope characterization, were synthesized efficiently using a convergent strategy. Migration of an acceptor acetyl group proved to be an obstacle to synthesis, but regioselective glycosylation or 4-O-benzyl protection of the acceptor circumvented this problem allowing efficient synthesis of the 1→6 linked target compounds.     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis and characterization of copper(II) complexes of sulfadiazine with amino acids: catalytic activity toward oxidation of phenol and catechol

New copper complexes of DL-methioninoylsulfadiazine (MTS) and L-cystinoylsulfadiazine (CYS) were prepared and characterized using elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The mode of binding indicates that copper binds to MTS through carbonyl oxygen with the amino group nitrogen while for Cu^II–CYS the copper binds through carbonyl oxygen and SH with removal of its proton. The proposed structures were supported by conformational analysis which showed predominance of the trans form of copper(II)-L-cystinoylsulfadiazine. The two complexes enhanced oxidation of phenol and catechol in the presence of H₂O₂ under mild conditions. The catalyst shows proficiency toward oxidation of phenol and catechol compared to the auto-catalytic oxidation. Cu^II–MTS exhibited higher catalytic activity than Cu^II–CYS. The phenol and catechol oxidation is inhibited by Kojic acid.     

SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF SPACER-MODIFIED L-FUCOSE ANALOGUES[1]

Starting from 6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2,3;4,5-di-O-isopropylidenealdehydo-D-galactose (1), the carbon backbone elongated GDP-L-fucose analogue 15 bearing a chromophore tag at the end of a spacer was synthesized. Additionally, the analogues of 3-L-fucosyllactose (29) and 2′-L-fucosyllactose (36), where the fucosyl moiety is marked by a five atom alkyl chain at C-5, were prepared as labeled oligosaccharides of human milk.     

Formation constants and coordination thermodynamics for binary complexes of Cu(II) and some α-amino acids in aqueous solution

In this study, the formation constants of 1?:?1 binary complexes of Cu(II) with L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid, glycine, L-alanine, L-valine, and L-leucine and 1?:?2 binary complexes of L-glutamic acid, glycine and the protonation macro- and microconstants of all these amino acids were determined potentiometrically in aqueous solutions at 5.0, 20.0, and 35.0°C at a constant ionic strength of I?=?0.10?mol?L^?1 (NaClO₄). The thermodynamic parameters ΔG _f°, ΔH _f°, and ΔS _f° were determined for the protonation of all amino acids used in this study and for the complex formation reactions of them with Cu(II). The results were analysed by means of Principle of hard and soft [Lewis] acids and bases. Additionally, in order to confirm the complex formation and determine the stability constants of complexes, UV-Vis spectroscopic studies were carried out. The stability constants obtained by spectrophotometrically are confirmed by those determined potentiometrically.     

Synthesis,characterization, and cytotoxicity of mixed-ligand complexes of platinum(II) with 2,2′-bipyridine and 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-amino acid dianion

Five new platinum(II) complexes (1–5) with 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-amino acid dianion and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectra. The crystal structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Cytotoxicity was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays. The results indicate that 1–5 exert cytotoxic effects with selectivity against tested carcinoma cell lines; 5 displays better cytotoxicity against BGC-823, Bel-7402, and KB cell lines, while 1 has better cytotoxicity against KB cell line. The 4-toluenesulfonyl- L-amino acid dianions have important effects on cytotoxicity; when 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-amino acid dianions are 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-glycine and 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-phenylalanine, the complexes show better cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis and Application of Chitosan‐g‐PLLA Copolymers

The purpose of this paper is to study the synthesis and application of a new type of chitosan‐g‐poly(L‐lactide) copolymer with different grafting percentage in the presence of triethylamine. FTIR and ¹H NMR results indicate that grafting percentage of graft copolymers increases with the molar feeding ratio of L‐lactide to chitosan. The measurement of XRD and TG shows that graft copolymer exhibits low crystallinity and thermal degradation temperature. Static water contact angle testing suggests that graft copolymer has superior hydrophilicity compared with PLLA, which can be very useful for biomedical applications. 5‐Fluorouracil loaded copolymer microspheres were prepared by phase separation method. The size and distribution of microspheres were measured by a Laser particle analyzer. The microspheres with LLA:CS feeding molar rotio (15∶1) have a mean diameter of 332 nm with a narrow unimodal distribution. The spherical microspheres were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microspheres shows good releasing property from drug release in vitro, and the drug release rate decreases as the increase of microspheres size.     

The Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition with chiral diphosphite ligands derived from D-(-)-tartaric acid

A series of diphosphite ligands, which were derived from D-(-)-tartaric acid, have been synthesized and successfully applied in the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of organozincs to enones. There was a synergic effect between the stereogenic centers of the D-(-)-tartaric acid skeleton and the axially H₈-binaphthyl moieties of ligand 2c. And ligand 2c shows a comparative catalytic performance to ligand 1-N-benzylpyrrolidine-3,4-bis[(S)-1,1′-H₈-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl]phosphite-L-tartaric acid1d derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid. Therefore, for cyclic enones, both enantiomers of the addition products can be obtained in high enantioselectivity (ees up to 96%) by simply selecting ligands 1d or 2c derived from D-(-)-tartaric acid or L-(+)-tartaric acid. Moreover, the sense of enantiodiscrimination of the products was mainly determined by the configuration of the binaphthyl phosphite moieties.     

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.     

New Synthesis of l-Ribofuranose Derivatives from l-Arabinose

Abstract

There is a need for l-ribofuranose derivatives suitable for the preparation of l-nucleosides which could be employed to build nucleases resistant ‘antisense’ oligonucleotides¹ and to prepare analogues as potential inhibitors of HIV.² Such l-ribofuranoside derivatives were previously obtained by epimerisation at C-2 of l-arabinose in the presence of molybdenic acid³ and by inversion of configuration at C-2 of l-arabinose and C-3 of l-xylose by nucleophilic displacement of a sulfonate group.⁴ In both cases, the desired l-ribofuranoside derivative has to be separated from some remaining starting material. Another method to obtain l-ribose involved the complete inversion of d-ribono-1,4-lactone followed by reduction.⁵ We report herein a new transformation of l-arabinose into l-ribofuranose derivatives.