Mimicking Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Human Cytochrome c by the Evolved tRNA Synthetase Technique

Phosphorylation of tyrosine 48 of cytochrome c is related to a wide range of human diseases due to the pleiotropic role of the heme‐protein in cell life and death. However, the structural conformation and physicochemical properties of phosphorylated cytochrome c are difficult to study as its yield from cell extracts is very low and its kinase remains unknown. Herein, we report a high‐yielding synthesis of a close mimic of phosphorylated cytochrome c, developed by optimization of the synthesis of the non‐canonical amino acid p‐carboxymethyl‐L ‐phenylalanine (pCMF) and its efficient site‐specific incorporation at position 48. It is noteworthy that the Y48pCMF mutation significantly destabilizes the Fe?Met bond in the ferric form of cytochrome c, thereby lowering the pK_a value for the alkaline transition of the heme‐protein. This finding reveals the differential ability of the phosphomimic protein to drive certain events. This modified cytochrome c might be an important tool to investigate the role of the natural protein following phosphorylation.     

DFT 1H–1H coupling constants in the conformational analysis and stereoisomeric differentiation of 6‐heptenyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐ones: configurational reassignment of synargentolide A

Density functional theory (DFT) ¹H–¹H NMR coupling constant calculations, including solvation parameters with the polarizable continuum model B3LYP/DGDZVP basis set together with the experimental values measured by spectral simulation, were used to predict the configuration of hydroxylated 6‐heptenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐ones 1 , 2 , 4 , and 7 , allowing epimer differentiation. Modeling of these flexible compounds requires the inclusion of solvation models that account for stabilizing interactions derived from intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, in contrast with peracetylated derivatives ( 3 , 5 , and 6 ) in which the solvation consideration can be omitted. Using this DFT NMR integrated approach as well as spectral simulation, the configurational reassignment of synargentolide A ( 8 ) was accomplished by calculations in the gas phase among four possible diastereoisomers ( 8–11 ). Calculated ³J_H,H values established its configuration as 6R‐[4′S,5′S,6′S‐(triacetyloxy)‐2E‐heptenyl]‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one ( 8 ), in contrast with the incorrect 6R,4′R,5′R,6′R‐diastereoisomer previously proposed by synthesis ( 12 ). Application of this approach increases the probability for successful enantiospecific total syntheses of flexible compounds with multiple chiral centers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The HNO donor ability of hydroxamic acids upon oxidation with cyanoferrates(III)

The hydroxamic acids (RC(O)NHOH, HA) exhibit diverse biological activity, including hypotensive properties associated with formation of nitroxyl (HNO) or nitric oxide (NO). Oxidation of two HAs, benzohydroxamic and acetohydroxamic acids (BHA, AHA) by [Fe(CN)₅NH₃]^2? or [Fe(CN)₆]^3? was analyzed by spectroscopic, mass spectrometric techniques, and flow EPR measurements. Mixing BHA with both Fe(III) reactants at pH 11 allowed detecting the hydroxamate radical, (C₆H₅)C(O)NO˙^?, as a one-electron oxidation product, as well as N₂O as a final product. Successive UV–vis spectra of mixtures containing [Fe(CN)₅NH₃]^2? (though not [Fe(CN)₆]^3?) at pH 11 and 7 revealed an intermediate acylnitroso-complex, [Fe(CN)₅NOC(O)(C₆H₅)]^3? (λ_max, 465 nm, very stable at pH 7), formed through ligand interchange in the initially formed reduction product, [Fe(CN)₅NH₃]^3?, and characterized by FTIR spectra through the stretching vibrations ν_(CN), ν_(CO), and ν_(NO). Free acylnitroso derivatives, formed by alternative reaction paths of the hydroxamate radicals, hydrolyze forming RC(O)OH and HNO, postulated as precursor of N₂O. Minor quantities of NO are formed only with an excess of oxidant. The intermediacy of HNO was confirmed through its identification as [Fe(CN)₅(HNO)]^3? (λ_max, 445 nm) as a result of hydrolysis of [Fe(CN)₅(NOC(O)(C₆H₅)]^3? at pH 11. The results demonstrate that hydroxamic acids behave predominantly as HNO donors.     

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of new chiral Pd(II)-complexes derived from unsymmetrical α-diimine ligands

A set of new diastereopure unsymmetrical α-diimine ligands 2a-d derived from methylglyoxal and optically pure primary amines 1a-d afforded the new chiral Pd(II)-complexes (S,S)-3a, (S,S)-3b, (S,S)-3c, and (1S, 2S, 3S, 5R)-3d. All compounds have been characterized by IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies along with MS-FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structure for the complexes 3a, 3b and 3d have been fully confirmed by single-crystal X-ray studies. Likewise, complexes 3a-d have also been screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K-562 CML), colon cancer (HCT-15), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), central nervous system (U-251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines.     

Erratum to: Evaluation of Three Multiresidue Methods for the Determination of Pesticides in Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) with Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Marijuana (non-medical cannabis) is a well-recognized psychoactive herbal drug used for recreational purposes. The aim of this work is to describe and compare the performance and suitability of selected methods to analyze pesticide residues in marijuana. The fitness of three typical pesticide multiresidue methods [acetate buffered QuEChERS (method A), a modified citrate buffered QuEChERS (method B) and citrate buffered QuEChERS (method C)] were tested in marijuana through the LC–MS/MS determination of 61 LC amenable pesticides. Considering recoveries at the highest level for the selected pesticides in marijuana, from the 61 target analytes, 37 (method A), 40 (method B) and 46 (method C) compounds gave accurate results (70–120 % range). Method C showed the best performance for the target analytes in terms of recoveries, precision, limits of quantitation and matrix effect. Marijuana showed to be a highly complex matrix. Most analytes suffered high signal suppression (ME <−50 %) for method B while medium (−50 to 20 %) to low (−20 to 0 %) signal suppression was found for methods A and C. Moreover, high coelution of coextractives with the target analytes was observed. A pilot survey with real samples revealed that seized and legally produced marijuana samples contained pesticides. Residues of diazinon (0.03 mg kg⁻¹), tebuconazole (0.19 mg kg⁻¹) and teflubenzuron (0.11 mg kg⁻¹) were simultaneously detected in one marijuana sample. The establishment of MRLs in a legal consumption scenario such as in Uruguay seems to be necessary in the near future.

     

ZnO–Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>–Au Hybrid Composites for Thioanisole Oxidation Under Visible Light: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Organic sulfides are present in many materials such as coal, organic polymers, and xenobiotics and cause severe pollution problems during disposal, and their oxidation is essential from the environmental point of view. ZnO and ZnO–Fe₃O₄–Au NPs were prepared, and characterized by analytical methods (XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS and Confocal Microscope Analysis) for employment as photo-catalysts for the oxidation of thioanisole under visible light. A considerable visible light photo-oxidation of sulfur compound was observed in the presence of ZnO–Fe₃O₄–Au NPs, where the content Fe₃O₄ facilitates its isolation and recovery from the reaction medium by an external magnet for reuse in the oxidation. The oxidation of thioanisole was monitored spectroscopically, and was found to follow first order kinetics in the substrate, for which a possible mechanism is proposed. Density functional theory was used to analyze the oxidation pathway in order to predict the rate limiting step in the reaction since the sulfoxidation through sulfide radical cation >S^+· → >S=O is important biotechnologically and environmentally.     

Cytotoxicity of a Lipid-Rich Extract from Native Mexican Avocado Seed (Persea americana var. drymifolia) on Canine Osteosarcoma D-17 Cells and Synergistic Activity with Cytostatic Drugs

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in both children and dogs. It is an aggressive and metastatic cancer with a poor prognosis for long-term survival. The search for new anti-cancer drugs with fewer side effects has become an essential goal for cancer chemotherapy; in this sense, the bioactive compounds from avocado have proved their efficacy as cytotoxic molecules. The objective of this study was to determine the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect of a lipid-rich extract (LEAS) from Mexican native avocado seed (Persea americana var. drymifolia) on canine osteosarcoma D-17 cell line. Also, the combined activity with cytostatic drugs was evaluated. LEAS was cytotoxic to D-17 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ = 15.5 µg/mL. Besides, LEAS induced caspase-dependent cell apoptosis by the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Moreover, LEAS induced a significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and increased superoxide anion production and mitochondrial ROS. Also, LEAS induced the arrest of the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Finally, LEAS improved the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin, carboplatin, and in less extension, doxorubicin against the canine osteosarcoma cell line through a synergistic effect. In conclusion, avocado could be a potential source of bioactive molecules in the searching treatments for osteosarcoma.     

Are Point Mutations in HMG-CoA Reductases (Hmg1 and Hmg2) a Step towards Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus?

Invasive aspergillosis, mainly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, can lead to severe clinical outcomes in immunocompromised individuals. Antifungal treatment, based on the use of azoles, is crucial to increase survival rates. However, the recent emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates is affecting the efficacy of the clinical therapy and lowering the success rate of azole strategies against aspergillosis. Azole resistance mechanisms described to date are mainly associated with mutations in the azole target gene cyp51A that entail structural changes in Cyp51A or overexpression of the gene. However, strains lacking cyp51A modifications but resistant to clinical azoles have recently been detected. Some genes have been proposed as new players in azole resistance. In this study, the gene hmg1, recently related to azole resistance, and its paralogue hmg2 were studied in a collection of fifteen azole-resistant strains without cyp51A modifications. Both genes encode HMG-CoA reductases and are involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis. Several mutations located in the sterol sensing domain (SSD) of Hmg1 (D242Y, G307D/S, P309L, K319Q, Y368H, F390L and I412T) and Hmg2 (I235S, V303A, I312S, I360F and V397C) were detected. The role of these mutations in conferring azole resistance is discussed in this work.     

Functionalized polymers I. Poly(dichloroalkyl itaconates), synthesis and solution properties

The synthesis of poly(di-2-chloroethyl itaconate) (PD2CEI) and poly(di-3-chloropropyl itaconate) (PD3CPI) was carried out. The dilute solution behaviour of these polymers in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform at 298 K has been studied, by viscometry, membrane osmometry, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements. The Kuhn-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada relationships were established. The flexibility factors σ and C_∞ and the thermodynamic parameters B were calculated using the Stockmayer-Fixman equation. The results obtained are compared with those found for the corresponding poly(methacrylates) and the poly(dialkyl itaconates), and discussed in terms of specific influence of the chlorine incorporated in the side chain.     

Blends of poly(n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)/poly(monoitaconates) II. The coefficient of linear expansion

Blends of poly(monoitaconates)^b) containing different side chain structures with poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) of three different weight-average molecular weights (M̄_w) were studied by thermomechanical analysis. Blends containing PVP of M̄_w =10000 shows a monotonous variation of the coefficient of linear expansion α against composition but PVP samples of higher molecular weights present a minimum which is attributed to polymer-polymer complex due to strong specific interactions.