MALDI‐TOF Mass‐Spectrometry‐Based Versatile Method for the Characterization of Protein Kinases

We describe a MALDI‐TOF mass‐spectrometry‐based method that is rapid and versatile for the characterization of protein kinases and their inhibitors. We have designed new kinase substrates by the modification of common synthetic peptides, such as kemptide (LRRALS G), CaMKII substrate (KRQQS FDLF), erktide (ATGPLS PGPFGRR), abltide (EAIY AAPFAKKK), srctide (AEEEIY GEFEAKKKK), neurogranin (AAAKIQAS FRGHMARKK), and casein kinase I (CKI) substrate (RRKDLHDDEEDEAMS ITA). There are two fundamental points on which the proposed method is based to improve the mass‐spectrometric response: 1) mass tag technology by N‐derivatization through stable isotope labeling and 2) C‐terminal conjugation with tryptophanylarginine (WR). It was suggested that C‐terminal conjugation with the WR moiety enhances the ionization potency of these new substrates 1.5–13.7 times as much as those of the original peptides. We demonstrated, by using modified abltide (Ac‐EAIY AAPFAKKKWR‐NH₂), that WR conjugation at the C‐terminus in combination with stable‐isotope labeling at the N‐terminus allowed the quantitative assay of recombinant c‐Abl kinase in the presence of adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP; K_M,ATP=18.6 μM and V_max=642 pmol min^?1 μg^?1). The present protocol made a simple and reliable inhibition assay of recombinant c‐Abl kinase by imatinib possible (IC_{50(recombinant)}=291 nM ; STI571, Gleevec; Novartis Pharma). Moreover, it was also demonstrated that this ATP noncompetitive inhibitor differentiates between two conformers of c‐Abl kinases: the phosphorylated active and dephosphorylated inactive forms (IC_{50(active form)}=1049 nM and IC_{50(inactive form)}=54 nM ). The merit of this approach is evident because the present protocol can be applied to the direct monitoring of the activities of living cell kinases by using cancer‐cell lines, such as mouse B16 melanoma cells and human lung cancer K562 cells. A multiple‐kinase assay that uses K562 cell lysate in the presence of seven new synthetic substrates made high‐throughput inhibitor profiling possible. It should be emphasized that this radioactive isotope‐free quantitative kinase assay will greatly accelerate the discovery of a new generation of potential kinase inhibitors that exhibit highly selective or unique inhibitory profiles.     

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of 6‐Ferrocenyl‐3‐Substituted 7H‐1,2,4‐Triazolo[3, 4‐b]‐1,3,4‐Thiadiazines

Five new 6‐ferrocenyl‐3‐substituted 7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[3, 4‐b]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazines ( 3a‐e ) have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses and spectral data. The antiproliferative activities were examined in two human cell lines (BJ and HT 1080) with the acid phosphatase assay. The results showed that all compounds could reduce cell viability. The significant difference between the two cell lines was that fibrosarcoma HT 1080 cells could indeed be more susceptible to the compounds than the normal fibroblast BJ cells.     

Application of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the study of Helicobacter pylori

The characteristics of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry based investigation of extremely variable bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori were studied. H. pylori possesses a very high natural variability. Accurate tools for species identification and epidemiological characterization could help the scientific community to better understand the transmission pathways and virulence mechanisms of these bacteria. Seventeen clinical as well as two laboratory strains of H. pylori were analyzed by the MALDI Biotyper method for rapid species identification. Mass spectra collected were found containing 7–13 significant peaks per sample, and only six protein signals were identical for more than half of the strains. Four of them could be assigned to ribosomal proteins RL32, RL33, RL34, and RL36. The reproducible peak with m/z 6948 was identified as a histidine‐rich metal‐binding polypeptide by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In spite of the evident protein heterogeneity of H. pylori the mass spectra collected for a particular strain under several cultivations were highly reproducible. Moreover, all clinical strains were perfectly identified as H. pylori species through comparative analysis using the MALDI Biotyper software (Bruker Daltonics, Germany) by pattern matching against a database containing mass spectra from different microbial strains (n = 3287) including H. pylori 26695 and J99. The results of this study allow the conclusion that the MALDI‐TOF direct bacterial profiling is suited for H. pylori identification and could be supported by mass spectra fragmentation of the observed polypeptide if necessary. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Block length determination of the block copolymer mPEG‐b‐PS using MALDI‐TOF MS/MS

The molar mass determination of block copolymers, in particular amphiphilic block copolymers, has been challenging with chromatographic techniques. Therefore, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrene) (mPEG‐b‐PS) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and characterized in detail not only by conventional chromatographic techniques, such as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), but also by matrix‐assisted laser/desorption ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS/MS). As expected, different molar mass values were obtained in the SEC measurements depending on the calibration standards (either PEG or PS). In contrast, MALDI‐TOF MS/MS analysis allowed the molar mass determination of each block, by the scission of the weakest point between the PEG and PS block. Thus, fragments of the individual blocks could be obtained. The PEG block showed a depolymerization reaction, while for the PS block fragments were obtained in the monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric regions as a result of multiple chain scissions. The block length of PEG and PS could be calculated from the fragments recorded in the MALDI‐TOF MS/MS spectrum. Furthermore, the assignment of the substructures of the individual blocks acquired by MALDI‐TOF MS/MS was accomplished with the help of the fragments that were obtained from the corresponding homopolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Evaluation of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) preparation techniques for surface characterization of intact Fusarium spores by MALDI linear time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Unambiguous identification of mycotoxin‐producing fungal species as Fusarium is of great relevance to agriculture and the food‐producing industry as well as in medicine. Protein profiles of intact fungal spores, such as Penicillium, Aspergillus and Trichoderma, derived from matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) were shown to provide a rapid and straightforward method for species identification and characterization. In this study, we applied this approach to five different Fusarium spp. strains which are known to affect the growth of different grain plants. To obtain a suitable MALDI matrix system and sample preparation method, thin‐layer, dried‐droplet and sandwich methods and several MALDI matrices, namely CHCA, DHB, FA, SA and THAP dissolved in various solvent mixtures (organic solvents such as ACN, MeOH, EtOH and iPrOH and for the aqueous phase water and 0.1% TFA), were evaluated in terms of mass spectrometric pattern and signal intensities. The most significant peptide/protein profiles were obtained with 10 mg ferulic acid (FA) in 1 mL ACN/0.1% TFA (7:3, v/v) used as matrix system. Mixing the spores with the matrix solution directly on the MALDI target (dried‐droplet technique) resulted in an evenly distributed spores/matrix crystal layer, yielding highly reproducible peptide/protein profiles from the spore surfaces. Numerous abundant ions throughout the investigated m/z range (m/z 1500–15 000) could be detected. Differences in the obtained mass spectral patterns allowed the differentiation of spores of various Fusarium species. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Antiproliferative, and c‐Src Kinase Inhibitory Activities of 4‐Oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran Derivatives

A new class of 4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran derivatives were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity examined against a panel of three human cancer cell lines, that is, breast carcinoma (MDA‐MB‐468), ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK‐OV‐3), and colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT‐29). Two compounds, that is, 3‐hexyl‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran and (E)‐ethyl 3‐(7‐methoxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)acrylate were found to be potent against all three cancer cell lines studied at 50 μM concentration. Also, the inhibitory potency of the compounds was evaluated against active Src kinase. A few of these compounds exhibited modest Src kinase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 52–57 μM). Structure‐activity relationship studies with respect to the nature and position of substituents on the lead compounds could be further exploited for the design and development of more potent antiproliferative agents and/or Src kinase inhibitors.     

Synthesis of Novel Diverse Methoxybenzenes‐substituted 2H/4H‐chromene Derivatives in the Presence of InBr3 (5 mol%) and their Cytotoxic Activity

A series of novel 2‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2H /4H ‐chromene‐3‐carboxylate isomers 3 and 4 functionalized with diverse methoxybenzenes 2 at position 4 in compound 3 and position 2 in compound 4 were prepared in different proportions by nucleophilic substitution on ethyl 2‐hydroxy‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2H ‐chromene‐3‐carboxylate 1 in single step promoted by Indium (III) bromide (5 mol%) a Lewis acid. Regiospecific isomers 3k , 3l , 3m , and 3n prepared by using sterically bulk 1,3,5‐trimethoxy benzene substrate 2e in this reaction. Further, isomers 3a and 4a independently on reaction with amines, only compound 3a could give Michael addition products 5a–c . All the compounds 3a–n , 4a–j , and 5a–c were screened for cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines and found to show high activity at micromolar concentration. The compounds 4h and 5a–c showed promising cytotoxic activity against the tested cancer cell lines. Further, these compounds 4h and 5a–c were docked with protein (1SA0) on colchicine‐binding site of β tubulin suggesting that tubulin inhibition could be the possible mechanism of action for these compounds.     

UHPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS‐based screening and characterization of metabolites of cnidilin in human liver microsomes

Cnidilin is an active natural furocoumarin ingredient originating from well‐known traditional Chinese medicine Radix Angelicae Dahuricae . In the present study, an efficient approach was developed for the screening and identification of cnidilin metabolites using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. In this approach, an on‐line data acquisition method multiple mass defect filter combined with dynamic background subtraction was developed to trace all probable metabolites. Based on this analytical strategy, a total of 24 metabolites of cnidilin were detected in human liver microsomal incubation samples and the metabolic pathways were proposed. The results indicated that oxidation was the main biotransformation route for cnidilin in human liver microsomes. In addition, the specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes involved in the metabolism of cnidilin were identified using chemical inhibition and CYP recombinant enzymes. The results showed that CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 might be the major enzymes involved in the metabolism of cnidilin in human liver microsomes. The relationship between cnidilin and the CYP450 enzymes could provide us a theoretical basis of the pharmacological mechanism.     

Silyl modification of biologically active compounds. 13. Synthesis,cytotoxicity and antibacterial action of N‐methyl‐N‐(2‐triorganylsiloxyethyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro(iso)quinolinium iodides

A series of N‐methyl‐N‐(2‐triorganylsiloxyethyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro(iso)quinolinium iodides has been synthesized via dehydrocondensation reaction of N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline, N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline and 4,4‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐4‐sila‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline with trialkyl(aryl)hydrosilanes and subsequent alkylation, and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR and mass spectroscopy. The biological activity data exhibited a marked enhancement of inhibitory activity against tumour cell lines and almost all the test bacterial/fungal strains in comparison with their 2‐hydroxyethyl precursors. Cytotoxicity in the microgram range against HT‐1080 (human fibrosarcoma) and MG‐22A (mouse hepatoma) cancer cell lines was observed for most of compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of 1,4‐Dihydropyridines and an Unexpected 1,3‐Oxazin‐6‐one

Eight heterocycles have been prepared in a one‐pot reaction manner based on the Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis. The synthesis afforded seven dihydropyridines (DHP) and one unexpected 1,3‐oxazin‐6‐one. Their structures were confirmed based on NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The obtained products have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity against eight cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. Two halogenated DHPs ( 7 and 8 ) displayed cytotoxicity toward all the nine tested cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values from 4.10 to 58.90 μm, while others showed selective activities. DHPs ( 7 and 8 ) bearing a Me group at C(2) and C(6) as well as a halogenated substituent at C(4′) were more antiproliferative than the others.     

Cationic copolymerization behavior of epoxide and 3‐isochromanone

Cationic copolymerization of n‐butyl glycidyl ether (BGE) and 3‐isochromanone (ICM) was investigated using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) as an initiator at 100 °C. In the copolymerization, the reactive site of ICM with the propagating cation was completely different from that in its homopolymerization: in the former, the propagating cation reacted with the carbonyl oxygen of ICM, while in the latter, the propagating cation reacted with the aromatic ring of ICM. In spite of the potential of ICM to undergo the homopolymerization, in the present copolymerization, ICM was consumed smoothly only in the presence of epoxide. As a result, the copolymerization proceeded in a statistic manner to afford the corresponding copolymer bearing ICM‐derived ester linkages distributed in the main chain. Cationic copolymerization of bisphenol A‐diglycidyl ether and ICM was also performed to synthesize the corresponding networked polymer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4213–4220     

Ciprofloxacin/Gatifloxacin‐1,2,3‐triazole‐isatin Hybrids and Their In Vitro Anticancer Activity

Eleven novel ciprofloxacin/gatifloxacin‐1,2,3‐triazole‐isatin hybrids ( 8a – k ) were designed, synthesized, and screened for their in vitro anticancer activity in this paper. A significant part of the synthesized hybrids was active against A549, HepG2, and SF‐268 cancer cell lines, whereas the parent drugs ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin were devoid of activity. Among them, hybrid 8i (IC₅₀: 78.1–90.7 μM) was found to be the most active against A549, HepG2, and SF‐268 cancer cell lines, and it was comparable with or better than Vorinostat (IC₅₀: 71.1 to >100 μM). Thus, these kind hybrids have potentiality for discovery of new anticancer candidates for clinical deployment in the control and eradication of cancers.     

One‐step refolding and purification of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐α (rhTNF‐α) using ion‐exchange chromatography

Protein refolding is a key step for the production of recombinant proteins, especially at large scales, and usually their yields are very low. Chromatographic‐based protein refolding techniques have proven to be superior to conventional dilution refolding methods. High refolding yield can be achieved using these methods compared with dilution refolding of proteins. In this work, recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐α (rhTNF‐α) from inclusion bodies expressed in Escherichia coli was renatured with simultaneous purification by ion exchange chromatography with a DEAE Sepharose FF column. Several chromatographic parameters influencing the refolding yield of the denatured/reduced rhTNF‐α, such as the urea concentration, pH value and concentration ratio of glutathione/oxidized glutathione in the mobile phase, were investigated in detail. Under optimal conditions, rhTNF‐α can be renatured and purified simultaneously within 30 min by one step. Specific bioactivity of 2.18 × 10⁸ IU/mg, purity of 95.2% and mass recovery of 76.8% of refolded rhTNF‐α were achieved. Compared with the usual dilution method, the ion exchange chromatography method developed here is simple and more effective for rhTNF‐α refolding in terms of specific bioactivity and mass recovery. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Anticancer Evaluation,and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel (4‐Hydroxy‐2‐Thioxo‐3,4‐Dihydro‐2H‐[1,3]Thiazin‐6‐Yl)‐Chromen‐2‐Ones via a Multicomponent Approach

A series of coumarin‐substituted 1,3‐thiazine‐2‐thione derivatives ( 4a–m ) were synthesized via the multicomponent reaction of 3‐chloro‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)acrylaldehyde ( 1 ) carbon disulfide ( 2 ), and various primary amines ( 3 ), in presence of triethylamine and acetonitrile under stirring with good yields. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were characterized by analytical and spectral studies. Further, the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against different cancer cell lines (A549, MDA‐MB‐231, MCF7, HeLa, and B16F10). Studies on the molecular interactions to recognize the hypothetical binding motif of the title compounds with the target Hsp 100 were carried out employing the Schrodinger software. Compounds 4a , 4c and 4m showed activity against all the five cell lines compared with the reference drug, and 4a exhibited the least IC₅₀ concentration of 7.56 ± 1.07 μg/mL against MCF7. This in vitro anticancer result was supported by in silico docking and in silico ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) studies as well.     

Binuclear meta‐xylyl‐linked Ag(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of N‐alkyl/aryl‐alkyl‐substituted bis‐benzimidazolium salts: synthesis,crystal structures and in vitro anticancer studies

Salts of meta‐xylyl‐linked N‐ethyl/n‐butyl/benzyl‐substituted bis‐benzimidazolium having hexafluorophosphate counterions have been synthesized. The corresponding binuclear Ag(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes were prepared by the reaction of Ag₂O. The N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand precursor 7 and Ag(I)–NHC complexes 10 and 11 have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. All of the reported compounds have been tested for their anticancer activity using human colorectal (HCT 116) cancer cell lines. Sterically varied benzimidazolium salts displayed significant activity against HCT 116 cell line, yielding IC₅₀ values in the range 0.1–19.4 µ m , while Ag(I)–carbene complexes showed exceptionally good activity (0.2–1.3 µ m ) against tested cancer cell lines. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of an LC‐ESI‐MS/MS quantification method for a potential γ‐aminobutyric acid transporter 3 (GAT3) marker and its application in preliminary MS binding assays

Binding assays for the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter GAT3 can be assumed to significantly facilitate screening for respective inhibitors. As appropriate labeled ligands for this promising drug target are not available so far, we started efforts to set up mass spectrometry‐based binding assays (MS binding assays), for which labeled markers are not required. Therefore, we developed a sensitive and rapid LC‐ESI‐MS/MS quantification method for DDPM‐1007 {(RS)‐1‐[4,4,4‐Tris(4‐methoxyphenyl)but‐2‐en‐1‐yl]piperidine‐3‐carboxylic acid}, one of the most potent GAT3 inhibitors yet known, as a potential GAT3 marker. Using a 50 × 2 mm C₈ column in combination with a mobile phase composed of 10 mm ammonium bicarbonate buffer pH 8.0 and acetonitrile (60:40, v/v) at a flow rate of 450 μL/min DDPM‐1007 could be analyzed in the positive multiple reaction monitoring mode [(m/z) 502.5 → 265.4] within a chromatographic cycle time of 3 min. Deuterated DDPM‐1007 [(²H₉)DDPM‐1007] was synthesized and employed as internal standard. This way DDPM‐1007 could be quantified in a range from 100 pm to10 nm in the matrix resulting from respective binding experiments without any sample preparation. The established quantification method met the requirements of the FDA guidance for bioanalytical method validation concerning linearity and intra‐ and inter‐batch accuracy. Based on this LC‐ESI‐MS/MS quantification preliminary MS binding assays employing membrane preparations obtained from a stably GAT3 expressing HEK293 cell line and DDPM‐1007 as nonlabeled GAT3 marker could be performed. In these experiments specific binding of DDPM‐1007 at GAT3 could be unambiguously detected. Additionally, the established LC‐MS method provides a suitable analytical tool for further pharmacokinetic characterization of DDPM‐1007, as exemplified for its logD determination. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile Synthesis of Novel 3‐(4‐phenylisothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

A series of 3‐(4‐phenylisothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one ( 6a – l ) derivatives has been efficiently synthesized by straightforward sequential reactions. Tandem Vilsmeier Hack reaction/cyclization/bromination/Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions were successfully applied to the preparation of title compounds in good‐to‐high yields. In the synthetic sequences, 3‐chloro‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)acrylaldehydes ( 2 ) were found to react with ammonium thiocyanate to yield the corresponding 3‐(isothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones ( 3 ). These derivatives were brominated with N‐bromo succinamide to yield the corresponding regioselective 3‐(4‐bromoisothiazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one ( 4 ). Finally, compound 4 was treated with various phenyl/pyrazole/7H –pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidinyl boronic acids 5a – l in the presence of K₂CO₃ and Pd catalyst in dimethylformamide to yield the corresponding title derivatives 6a – l . All the synthesized compounds were characterized by analytical and spectral studies. All the final compounds were screened against different cancer cell lines (A549, PC3, SKOV3, and B16F10), and among these compounds, 6b , 6g , 6h , and 6l displayed moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines.     

Discovery of New Natural Products by Intact‐Cell Mass Spectrometry and LC‐SPE‐NMR: Malbranpyrroles,Novel Polyketides from Thermophilic Fungus Malbranchea sulfurea

Six photosensitive polyketides, malbranpyrroles A–F, were discovered from the thermophilic fungus Malbranchea sulfurea by using intact‐cell desorption/ionization on silicon mass (ICD‐MS) and LC‐SPE‐NMR. These two strategies facilitate the searching and structural determination of unstable natural products. The ICD‐MS indicated that only brown hyphae of M. sulfurea can produce malbranpyrroles. The biosynthetic pathway of malbranpyrroles was evidenced by ¹³C isotope precursors and amino acid feeding experiments. The cytotoxicity data revealed that the conformation of the conjugated system in malbranpyrroles does not affect cytotoxic potency against cancer cell lines. In addition, the chlorine atom was shown to be the pharmacophore for cytotoxicity.     

A Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylation Approach to Eight‐Membered Lactam Derivatives with Antitumor Activity

The reactivity of 2‐(2‐alkynylphenoxy)anilines under PdI₂/KI‐catalyzed oxidative carbonylation conditions has been studied. Although a different reaction pathway could have been operating, N‐palladation followed by CO insertion was the favored pathway with all substrates tested, including those containing an internal or terminal triple bond. This led to the formation of a carbamoylpalladium species, the fate of which, as predicted by theoretical calculations, strongly depended on the nature of the substituent on the triple bond. In particular, 8‐endo‐dig cyclization preferentially occurred when the triple bond was terminal, leading to the formation of carbonylated ζ‐lactam derivatives, the structures of which have been confirmed by XRD analysis. These novel medium‐sized heterocyclic compounds showed antitumor activity against both estrogen receptor‐positive (MCF‐7) and triple negative (MDA‐MB‐231) breast cancer cell lines. In particular, ζ‐lactam 3 j′ may represent a novel and promising antitumor agent because biological tests clearly demonstrate that this compound significantly reduces cell viability and motility in both MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines, without affecting normal breast epithelial cell viability.