Synthesis and evaluation of iron chelators with masked hydrophilic moieties

Synthetic iron chelators based on the natural siderophore ferrichrome have previously been shown to bind Fe(III) with high affinity (pKf > 27) and have shown no toxicity to mammalian cell cultures in vitro. A new class of lipophilic ferrichrome analogues carrying acetoxymethyl ester moieties has been synthesized. We have shown that these molecules penetrate rapidly through cell membranes and turn highly hydrophilic while inside the cells, upon esterase mediated hydrolysis of the lipophilic termini. The intracellular retention was visualized by labeling these analogues with a fluorescent naphthalic diimide probe. The prohydrophilic iron chelators have been shown to inhibit the metal-catalyzed intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species with high effectivity, and preliminary results suggest these molecules to be potent antimalarial agents.     

Intein-mediated biotinylation of proteins and its application in a protein microarray

We report here the first example using an intein-mediated expression system to generate biotinylated proteins suitable for immobilization onto avidin-functionalized glass slides. With this novel array, proteins are site-specifically immobilized on the glass surface and are able to retain their native activity. The advantage of the avidin/biotin linkage over his-tag/Ni-NTA strategies for protein immobilization is highlighted by its ability to withstand a variety of chemical conditions, which makes this new protein array compatible with most biological assays.     

Facile catalyzed acylation of alcohols, phenols, amines and thiols based on ZrOCl2·8H2O and acetyl chloride in solution and in solvent-free conditions

Acylation of heteroatoms (O, N and S) with acetyl chloride based on the use of a catalytic amount of the moisture stable, inexpensive ZrOCl₂·8H₂O, proceeds efficiently producing the corresponding acylated products in excellent yields.     

Improved Protocol for Thorpe Reaction: Synthesis of 4‐Amino‐1‐arylpyrazole using Solid–Liquid Phase‐Transfer Conditions

Solid–liquid phase‐transfer conditions were employed for the first time in the Thorpe reaction to synthesize 4‐amino‐1‐aryl‐3,5‐substituted‐1H‐pyrazoles 3. Aryl amines were diazotized and coupled with various active methylene compounds such as cyano acetamide, cyanoacetophenone, malononitrile, and ethyl cyanoacetate, resulting into α‐arylhydrazononitriles 1. Cyclization of 1 using α‐bromo ketones or esters resulted in compounds 3.     

Facile conversion of para-benzoquinones to para-alkoxyphenols with primary/secondary alcohols and amberlyst-15: a process showing novel reducing property of such alcohols

A new efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of para-alkoxyphenols, an important group of anti-melanoma compounds, by heating alcoholic solutions of para-benzoquinones in the presence of amberlyst-15. The most notable feature here is the behaviour of the used primary or secondary alcohol as an effective reducing agent.     

Hydrophilic Labeling Reagents of Dipyrrylmethene-BF2 Dyes for Two-Photon Excited Fluorometry: Syntheses and Photophysical Characterization

Recently introduced bioaffinity assay technology, ArcDia TPX, is based on two-photon excited fluorescence (TPE) and it enables separation-free ultra-sensitive immunoassays from microvolumes. Here we present syntheses of novel two-photon excitable fluorescent labeling reagents which have been specially designed to be used as label molecules in the ArcDia TPX assay technique. The labeling reagents are based on dipyrrylmetheneboron difluoride (dipyrrylmethene-BF2) chromophore, which have been substituted with aryl, heteroaryl or arylalkenyl chemical groups to extend the pi-electron conjugation. These substitutions results in a series of dipyrrylmethene-BF2 fluorophores with different photophysical properties. Dipyrrylmethene-BF2 fluorophores have been further substituted with a dipeptide linker unit and finally activated as succinimidyl esters to enable specific coupling with primary amino groups. The dipeptide linker serves as a spacer arm between the label and a target, and enhances the solubility of the label in aqueous solutions. Study of the chemical and photophysical performance of the new labeling reagents is described. The new labeling reagents exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields, and molar absorption coefficients. The results show that the new labels with the hydrophilic dipeptide linker unit provide large two-photon excitation cross-sections, high fluorescence quantum efficiency and good solubility in aqueous solutions. The results suggest that the novel dipyrrylmethene-BF2 labels are highly applicable to bioaffinity assays based on two-photon excitation of fluorescence.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of round and elongated spermatids during spermiogenesis in mice

Spermiogenesis in mammals is an exclusive process during which haploid round spermatids mature into spermatozoa in the testis. Any abnormality in the process of spermiogenesis may result in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to characterize the differentially expressed proteins between round and elongated spermatids in mice using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry. Of the 2411 proteins identified in this study, 333 were differentially expressed with a ≥10-fold change, including 208 upregulated proteins and 125 downregulated proteins in round spermatids relative to elongated spermatids. Gene Ontology analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins were categorized into 10 types of subcellular localizations, 9 molecular functions, and were involved in 9 biological processes. All the identified proteins participated in 268 different pathways. In addition, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and the proteasome pathway, autophagy, lysosome, and apoptosis pathways were involved in the mechanism of spermiogenesis. Our data may provide valuable information for a better understanding of spermiogenesis and help improve the diagnosis and treatment of male factor infertility.     

Shimalactone Biosynthesis Involves Spontaneous Double Bicyclo-Ring Formation with 8π-6π Electrocyclization

Shimalactones A and B are neuritogenic polyketides possessing characteristic oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene ring systems that are produced by the marine fungus Emericella variecolor GF10. We identified a candidate biosynthetic gene cluster and conducted heterologous expression analysis. Expression of ShmA polyketide synthase in Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the production of preshimalactone. Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformants expressing ShmA and ShmB produced shimalactones A and B, thus suggesting that the double bicyclo-ring formation reactions proceed non-enzymatically from preshimalactone epoxide. DFT calculations strongly support the idea that oxabicyclo-ring formation and 8π-6π electrocyclization proceed spontaneously after opening of the preshimalactone epoxide ring through protonation. We confirmed the formation of preshimalactone epoxide in vitro, followed by its non-enzymatic conversion to shimalactones in the dark.