Chemistry of Lipid A: At the Heart of Innate Immunity

In many Gram‐negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its lipid A moiety are pivotal for bacterial survival. Depending on its structure, lipid A carries the toxic properties of the LPS and acts as a potent elicitor of the host innate immune system via the Toll‐like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (TLR4/MD‐2) receptor complex. It often causes a wide variety of biological effects ranging from a remarkable enhancement of the resistance to the infection to an uncontrolled and massive immune response resulting in sepsis and septic shock. Since the bioactivity of lipid A is strongly influenced by its primary structure, a broad range of chemical syntheses of lipid A derivatives have made an enormous contribution to the characterization of lipid A bioactivity, providing novel pharmacological targets for the development of new biomedical therapies. Here, we describe and discuss the chemical aspects regarding lipid A and its role in innate immunity, from the (bio)synthesis, isolation and characterization to the molecular recognition at the atomic level.     

Electrospray ionisation and ion-trap fragmentation of substituted 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridin-2-ones

A variety of 5-alkoxycarbonyl-4-aryl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridones and hexahydrofuro[3,4-b]-2(1H)-pyridones have been investigated by electron impact (EI) and electrospray ionisation (ESI) techniques. Sequential product ion fragmentation (MS(n)) was performed to elucidate the degradation pathways for these compounds. Comparisons are made between positive and negative even-electron ions from ESI spectra and the molecular radical cations obtained under EI conditions. The data collected in this paper provide information on the strong impact that different substituents have on the ion fragmentation process.     

Novel and efficient regioselective enzymatic approach to 3′-, 5′- and 3′,5′-di-O-crotonyl 2′-deoxynucleoside derivatives

Regioselective syntheses of several O-crotonyl 2′-deoxynucleoside derivatives have been efficiently achieved using a biocatalytic methodology. While Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) afforded the 5′-O-acylated compounds, immobilized lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia (PSL-C) provided the 3′-O-crotonylated analogs. Since classical chemical approaches did not work appropriately due to side isomerization reactions, a mixture of both lipases was used to achieve a useful synthetic route toward diacylated nucleosides.     

Search for high energy γ-rays emission in28Si,32S+64Ni dissipative reactions at about 5 MeV/amu incident energy

Photons emitted in the²⁸ Si+⁶⁴ Ni and³² S+⁶⁴ Ni reactions at 143 MeV and 156 MeV incident energy respectively, have been detected in coincidence with the ejected charged fragments. An array of 48 BaF₂ -rays detector and 6 solid state silicon detector telescopes have been used. Photon energy spectra measured in the energy range from 2 to 20 MeV in coincidence with ejectiles coming from deep inelastic reactions, are consistent with statistical emission from the reaction products.Thanks are due to Dr.T.Noorman for the suggestions in the statistical calculations and to Mr.C.Marchetta for the preparation of high quality targets.