2,2′-Diphenyl-Δ3,3′-bi-3H-indole-1,1′-dioxide: Competitive demethylation and redox reactions

Competitive demethylation and redox reactions induced by 2,2-diphenyl-^3,3-bi-3H-indole-1,1-dioxide,1 (dinitrone) on several nitrogen bearing compounds (pyridines, amides, indoles, hydrazones and amines) are reported.Es wird über kompetitive Demethylierungen und Redoxreaktionen an stickstoffhaltigen Verbindungen (Pyridine, Amide, Indole, Hydrazone und Amine) berichtet, die durch das Dinitron 2,2-Diphenyl-3,3-bi-3H-indol-1,1-dioxid induziert werden.

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2,2-Diphenyl-3,3t-bi-3H-indol-1,1t-dioxid: Kompetitive Demethylierung und Redoxreaktionen

     

[3]Pseudorotaxanes based on the cryptand/monopyridinium salt recognition motif

The first cryptand/monopyridinium salt [3]pseudorotaxanes were prepared from two cryptand hosts and two bispyridinium guests as confirmed by proton NMR characterization, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray analysis. It was found that the two monopyridinium binding sites are independent of each other for the formation of one [3]pseudorotaxane.     

Pseudocryptand-type [3]pseudorotaxane and "hook-ring" polypseudo[2]catenane based on a bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 derivative and bisparaquat derivatives

The first pseudocryptand-type supramolecular [3]pseudorotaxane was designed and prepared via the self-assembly of a bispicolinate BMP32C10 derivative and a bisparaquat. The complexation behavior was cooperative. In addition, the complex comprised of the BMP32C10 derivative and a cyclic bisparaquat demonstrated strong binding; interestingly, a poly[2]pseudocatenane structure was formed in the solid state for the first time.     

Interaction of connexin43 and protein kinase C-delta during FGF2 signaling

Background  

We have recently demonstrated that modulation of the gap junction protein, connexin43, can affect the response of osteoblasts to fibroblast growth factor 2 in a protein kinase C-delta-dependent manner. Others have shown that the C-terminal tail of connexin43 serves as a docking platform for signaling complexes. It is unknown whether protein kinase C-delta can physically interact with connexin43.     

Regioselective routes to disubstituted dibenzo crown ethers and their complexations

Two isomers of bis(carbomethoxybenzo)-24-crown-8 (cis-BCMB24C8, 1, and trans-BCMB24C8, 2) were synthesized regiospecifically with acceptable to excellent yields. Cyclization in the presence of a template reagent, KPF(6), led to an essentially quantitative yield of the potassium complex of the crown ether 1; the isolated cyclization yield of pure was a remarkable 89%! The methods not only avoid the very difficult separation of the isomers, but also greatly shorten the synthesis time by eliminating syringe pump usage during cyclization. The complexations of the isomeric BCMB24C8 with dibenzylammonium hexafluorophosphate (10) were studied by NMR; association constants (Ka) for 1 and 2 with the dibenzylammonium cation are 190 and 312 M(-1), respectively. The X-ray crystal structures of crown ether and the complexes 1.KPF(6), 2.KPF(6) and pseudorotaxane 2.10 were determined.     

Absolute configuration of bioactive furanogermacrenones from Commiphora erythraea (Ehrenb) Engl. by computational analysis of their chiroptical properties

Absolute configurations (+)-(4S), (+)-(3S,4R), (−)-(2S,4S), and (−)-(1R,2R,4S) were assigned, for the first time, to bioactive furanogermacranes extracted from Commiphora erythraea resin by DFT computational analysis of their ORD curves and ECD spectra. This analysis established that all of these compounds share the same absolute configuration at the methyl-substituted carbon thus allowing us to hypothesize a biosynthetic relationship among these structurally related metabolites.     

Antiviral furanosesquiterpenes from Commiphora erythraea

The crude methanolic extract obtained from C. erythraea resin was chromatographed on silica gel with solvent of increasing polarity. The extract and fractions were evaluated for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity [parainfluenza type 3 virus (PIV3)] by plaque forming units (PFU) reduction assay using HEp-2 cells (human larynx epidermoid carcinoma cell line). From the active fraction, five compounds were isolated and tested. Only two of these showed anti-PIV3 activity with a selectivity index (SI) of 66.6 and 17.5, respectively. Both the compounds are furanosesquiterpenoids.     

Direct activation of Epac by sulfonylurea is isoform selective

Commonly used as a treatment for Type II diabetes, sulfonylureas (SUs) stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells by binding to sulfonylurea receptors. Recently, SUs have been shown to also activate exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2 (Epac2), however, little is known about this molecular action. Using biosensor imaging and biochemical analysis, we show that SUs activate Epac2 and the downstream signaling via direct binding to Epac2. We further identify R447 of Epac2 to be critically involved in SU binding. This distinct binding site from cAMP points to a new mode of allosteric activation of Epac2. We also show that SUs selectively activate Epac2 isoform, but not the closely related Epac1, further establishing SUs as a new class of isoform-selective enzyme activators.     

The dynamics of cargo driven by molecular motors in the context of asymmetric simple exclusion processes

We consider the dynamics of cargo driven by a collection of interacting molecular motors in the context of an asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP). The model is formulated to account for (i) excluded-volume interactions, (ii) the observed asymmetry of the stochastic movement of individual motors and (iii) interactions between motors and cargo. Items (i) and (ii) form the basis of ASEP models and have already been considered to study the behavior of motor density profile [A. Parmeggiani, T. Franosch, E. Frey, Phase Coexistence in driven one-dimensional transport, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 086601-1-086601-4]. Item (iii) is new. It is introduced here as an attempt to describe explicitly the dependence of cargo movement on the dynamics of motors in this context. The steady-state solutions of the model indicate that the system undergoes a phase transition of condensation type as the motor density varies. We study the consequences of this transition to the behavior of the average cargo velocity.     

Effects of soft X‐ray radiation damage on paraffin‐embedded rat tissues supported on ultralene: a chemical perspective

Radiation damage is an important aspect to be considered when analysing biological samples with X‐ray techniques as it can induce chemical and structural changes in the specimens. This work aims to provide new insights into the soft X‐ray induced radiation damage of the complete sample, including not only the biological tissue itself but also the substrate and embedding medium, and the tissue fixation procedure. Sample preparation and handling involves an unavoidable interaction with the sample matrix and could play an important role in the radiation‐damage mechanism. To understand the influence of sample preparation and handling on radiation damage, the effects of soft X‐ray exposure at different doses on ultralene, paraffin and on paraffin‐embedded rat tissues were studied using Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy and X‐ray microscopy. Tissues were preserved with three different commonly used fixatives: formalin, glutaraldehyde and Karnovsky. FTIR results showed that ultralene and paraffin undergo a dose‐dependent degradation of their vibrational profiles, consistent with radiation‐induced oxidative damage. In addition, formalin fixative has been shown to improve the preservation of the secondary structure of proteins in tissues compared with both glutaraldehyde and Karnovsky fixation. However, conclusive considerations cannot be drawn on the optimal fixation protocol because of the interference introduced by both substrate and embedding medium in the spectral regions specific to tissue lipids, nucleic acids and carbohydrates. Notably, despite the detected alterations affecting the chemical architecture of the sample as a whole, composed of tissue, substrate and embedding medium, the structural morphology of the tissues at the micrometre scale is essentially preserved even at the highest exposure dose.