Synthesis of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated peptides as components for synthetic vaccines: comparison of two synthetic strategies

Mannose-binding proteins on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are capable of recognizing and internalizing foreign agents in the early stages of immune response. These receptors offer a potential target for synthetic vaccines, especially vaccines designed to stimulate T cells. We set out to synthesize a series of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated peptides using manual solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) on pre-loaded Wang resin, in order to test their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. A flexible and reliable method for the synthesis of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated glycopeptides was desired in order to study their lectin-binding properties using flow cell cytometry. Two synthetic strategies were investigated: incorporation of a fluorescein label into the peptide chain via a lysine side chain epsilon-amino group at the final stage of standard Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis or attachment of the fluorescein label to the N(alpha)-amino group of a lysine with further incorporation of a mannosylated peptide unit through the side chain N(epsilon)-amino group. The latter strategy proved more effective in that it facilitated SPPS by positioning the growing mannosylated peptide chain further removed from the fluorescein label.     

Application of N-(ω-bromoalkyl)tetrazoles for the preparation of bitopic ligands containing pyridylazole chelators or azole rings as building blocks for iron(II) spin crossover polymeric materials

1-(3-Bromopropyl)tetrazole, 2-(3-bromopropyl)tetrazole, 1-(4-bromobutyl)tetrazole, and 2-(4-bromobutyl)tetrazole were synthesized with the aim to prepare flexible bitopic ligands contaning 1- or 2-substituted tetrazole ring linked through 1,3-propylene or 1,4-butylene spacer with pyridylazole or azole unit. Twenty-six novel ligands i.e., α-(pyridylazolyl)-ω-(tetrazolyl)alkanes, α-(tetrazolyl)-ω-(1,2,3-triazolyl)alkanes, and α-(tetrazol-1-yl)-ω-(tetrazol-2-yl)alkanes were prepared by an alkylation of sodium salts of 5-(2-pyridyl)tetrazole, 3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole, 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole, 1,2,3-triazole, and 1,2,3,4-tetrazole with N-(ω-bromoalkyl)tetrazoles. An alkylation of 5-(2-pyridyl)tetrazole, 1,2,3,4-tetrazole, and 1,2,3-triazole afforded both N1- and N2-regioisomer whereas in the case of 3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole and 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole only N1 isomers were isolated. The positions of alkylation were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies of 1-(5-(2-pyridyl)tetrazol-2-yl)-4-(tetrazol-1-yl)butane, 1-(3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4-(tetrazol-2-yl)butane, 1-(3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(tetrazol-1-yl)butane, and 1-(tetrazol-1-yl)-4-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)butane. Preliminary investigations of magnetic properties of iron(II) complex with 1-(3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4-(tetrazol-1-yl)butane revealed that obtained product exhibit thermally induced spin transition accompanied by the thermochromic effect.     

Colorimetric and fluorimetric pH sensing using polydiacetylene embedded within PVC-PCL nanofibers

The applicability of model polydiacetylenes (PDAs) in hydrogen ions sensitive optodes was tested. Nanofibers mats were electrospun using a mixture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) together with 10, 12-tricosadiynoic acid (TCDA) or 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). After the polymerization the mats were applied in colorimetric and fluorimetric pH sensors. The PDAs were formed by photopolymerization with a UV lamp (254 nm), resulting in a change of mats color from white to dark blue. The morphology of both fiber mats is similar (SEM images), and the average diameters of fibers were estimated as equal to 228±73 and 248±61 nm for TCDA and PCDA, respectively. As the pH increases, the color of the fiber mat changes from blue to red and the process can be followed visually. The result obtained by computer image analysis showed a sigmoidal increase in the intensity of red and a decrease in the intensity of blue color with increasing pH. A similar sigmoidal response is observed for the dependence of the emission intensity on the pH. Changes in the recorded signal occur in the pH range from 7 to 8.5 or from 8 to 9.5 for mats with TCDA and PCDA, respectively. Both readout modes can be successfully used for pH sensing with proposed nanofibrous mats in the range of pH close to the physiological pH range.     

LC and Principal Component Analysis in the Lipophilicity Study of Seven Angiotensin II-AT1 Receptor Antagonists (Sartans)

Seven sartans have been chromatographed with acetonitrile-buffer and methanol–buffer in different proportions as mobile phases. The retention values, log k or R _M were extrapolated to zero organic modifier content to obtain the log k _w or R _MW values. Calibration equations were obtained for standards of known lipophilicity. A simple method employing a gradient procedure of 10–100% acetonitrile or methanol in 60 min and standards of the extreme lipophilicity was also elaborated. Chromatographic log P values were compared to those calculated by use of different software products. Finally, principal component analysis was performed to explore and visualize similarities and differences among the drugs and among the methods.     

Fekete-Szegö problem for close-to-convex functions with respect to a certain convex function dependent on a real parameter

Given α ∈ [0, 1], let h _α (z):= z/(1 - αz), z ∈ D:= {z ∈ D: |z| < 1}. An analytic standardly normalized function f in D is called close-to-convex with respect to h _α if there exists δ ∈ (-π/2, π/2) such that Re{e^iδ zf′(z)/h _α (z)} > 0, z ∈ D. For the class ? (h _α ) of all close-to-convex functions with respect to h _α , the Fekete-Szegö problem is studied.     

Incorporation of a Phenanthrene Subunit into a Sapphyrin Framework: Synthesis of Expanded Aceneporphyrinoids

32‐Hetero‐5,6‐dimethoxyphenanthrisapphyrins—macrocycles that link structural features of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons and expanded porphyrins—were obtained in a straightforward [3+1] condensation reaction of dimethoxyphenanthritripyrrane and 2,5‐bis(arylhydroxymethyl)heterocyclopentadienes. The highly folded conformation of formally 4 n π‐electron macrocycles causes them to manifest only limited macrocyclic π conjugation as explored by means of NMR spectroscopic and X‐ray structural analyses, and supported by DFT calculations. Although protonation does not change their π‐conjugation characteristics, the cleavage of ether groups at the phenanthrenylene moiety yields nonaromatic 32‐hetero‐5,6‐dioxophenanthrisapphyrins.     

How realistic is the pore size distribution calculated from adsorption isotherms if activated carbon is composed of fullerene-like fragments?

A plausible model for the structure of non-graphitizing carbon is one which consists of curved, fullerene-like fragments grouped together in a random arrangement. Although this model was proposed several years ago, there have been no attempts to calculate the properties of such a structure. Here, we determine the density, pore size distribution and adsorption properties of a model porous carbon constructed from fullerene-like elements. Using the method proposed recently by Bhattacharya and Gubbins (BG), which was tested in this study for ideal and defective carbon slits, the pore size distributions (PSDs) of the initial model and two related carbon models are calculated. The obtained PSD curves show that two structures are micro-mesoporous (with different ratio of micro/mesopores) and the third is strictly microporous. Using the grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method, adsorption isotherms of Ar (87 K) are simulated for all the structures. Finally PSD curves are calculated using the Horvath-Kawazoe, non-local density functional theory (NLDFT), Nguyen and Do, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) approaches, and compared with those predicted by the BG method. This is the first study in which different methods of calculation of PSDs for carbons from adsorption data can be really verified, since absolute (i.e. true) PSDs are obtained using the BG method. This is also the first study reporting the results of computer simulations of adsorption on fullerene-like carbon models.     

Concentration on curves for nonlinear Schrödinger Equations

We consider the problem where p > 1, ε > 0 is a small parameter, and V is a uniformly positive, smooth potential. Let Γ be a closed curve, nondegenerate geodesic relative to the weighted arc length ∫_Γ V^σ, where σ = (p + 1)/(p ? 1) ? 1/2. We prove the existence of a solution u_? concentrating along the whole of Γ, exponentially small in ε at any positive distance from it, provided that ε is small and away from certain critical numbers. In particular, this establishes the validity of a conjecture raised in 3 in the two‐dimensional case. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Tuning intermolecular magnetic exchange interactions in the solids C(x)F(2)(x)(CNSSS)(2)(AsF(6))(2): structural, EPR, and magnetic characterization of dimeric (x = 2, 4) diradicals

A series of diradical containing salts CxF2x(CNSSS)2(**2+0(AsF6-)2 {x = 2, 1[AsF6]2; x = 3, 3[AsF6]2; x = 4, 2[AsF6]2} have been prepared. 1[AsF6]2 and 2[AsF6]2 were fully characterized by X-ray, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, and solid-state EPR measurements, further allowing us to extend the number of examples of the family of rare 7pi RCNSSS(*+) radical cations. 1[AsF6]2: a = 6.5314(7) A, b = 7.5658(9) A, c = 9.6048(11) A, alpha = 100.962(2) degrees , beta = 96.885(2) degrees , gamma = 107.436(2) degrees , triclinic, space group P, Z = 1, T = 173 K. 2[AsF6]2: a = 10.6398(16) A, b = 7.9680(11) A, c = 12.7468(19) A, beta = 99.758(2) degrees , monoclinic, space group P21/c, Z = 2, T = 173 K. In the solid-state, CxF2x(CNSSS)2(**2+) (x = 2, 4) formed one-dimensional polymeric chains of dications containing discrete centrosymmetric radical pairs in which radicals were linked by four centered two-electron pi*-pi* bonds [12+, d(S...S) = 3.455(1) A; 22+, d(S...S) = 3.306(2) A]. The exchange interactions in these bonds were determined to be -500 +/- 30 and -900 +/- 90 cm-1, by variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, respectively, providing rare experimental data on the singlet-triplet gaps in the field of thiazyl radicals. For 2[AsF6]2, the thermally excited triplet state was unambiguously characterized by EPR techniques [/D/ = 0.0254(8) cm(-1), /E/ = 0.0013(8) cm(-1)]. These experimental data implied a weakly associated nature of the radical moieties contained in the solids 1[AsF6]2 and 2[AsF6]2. Computational analysis of the dimerization process is presented, and we show that the 2c 4 electron pi*-pi* bonds in 1[AsF6]2 and 2[AsF6]2 have ca. 50% and 40% diradical character, respectively. In contrast, 3[AsF6]2.SO2, containing diradical C3F6(CNSSS)2(**2+) with an odd number of CF2 spacers, showed magnetic behavior that was consistent with the presence of monomeric radical centers in the solid state.