A Thermodynamic Study of 1-Propanol–Glycerol–H2O at 25°C: Effect of Glycerol on Molecular Organization of H2O

The excess chemical potential, partial molar enthalpy, and volume of 1-propanol were determined in ternary mixtures of 1-propanol–glycerol–H₂O at 25°C. The mole fraction dependence of all these thermodynamic functions was used to elucidate the effect of glycerol on the molecular organization of H₂O. The glycerol molecules do not exert a hydrophobic effect on H₂O. Rather, the hydroxyl groups of glycerol, perhaps by forming clusters via its alkyl backbone with hydroxyl groups pointing outward, interact with H₂O so as to reduce the characteristics of liquid H₂O. The global hydrogen bond probability and, hence, the percolation nature of the hydrogen bond network is reduced. In addition, the degree of fluctuation inherent in liquid H₂O is reduced by glycerol perhaps by participating in the hydrogen bond network via OH groups. At infinite dilution, the pair interaction coefficients in enthalpy were evaluated and these data suggest a possibility that the interaction is mediated through H₂O.     

In Vitro Evaluation of Curcumin Encapsulation in Gum Arabic Dispersions under Different Environments

Biopolymers, especially polysaccharides (e.g., gum Arabic), are widely applied as drug carriers in drug delivery systems due to their advantages. Curcumin, with high antioxidant ability but limited solubility and bioavailability in the body, can be encapsulated in gum Arabic to improve its solubility and bioavailability. When curcumin is encapsulated in gum Arabic, it is essential to understand how it works in various conditions. As a result, in Simulated Intestinal Fluid and Simulated Gastric Fluid conditions, we investigated the potential of gum Arabic as the drug carrier of curcumin. This study was conducted by varying the gum Arabic concentrations, i.e., 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40%, to encapsulate 0.1 mg/mL of curcumin. Under both conditions, the greater the gum Arabic concentration, the greater the encapsulation efficiency and antioxidant activity of curcumin, but the worse the gum Arabic loading capacity. To achieve excellent encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and antioxidant activity, the data advises that 10% is the best feasible gum Arabic concentration. Regarding the antioxidant activity of curcumin, the findings imply that a high concentration of gum Arabic was effective, and the Simulated Intestinal Fluid brought an excellent surrounding compared to the Simulated Gastric Fluid solution. Moreover, the gum Arabic releases curcumin faster in the Simulated Gastric Fluid condition.     

STIMULATION OF APPEARANCE OF EXTRAPLASTIDIC TETRAPYRROLES BY A PHOTOOXIDATIVE TREATMENT OF THE PLASTIDS*

In the mustard seedling (Sinapis alba L.) the appearance of photodetectable phytochrome and synthesis of relatively abundant cytosolic hemoproteins (nitrite reductase, ascorbate peroxidase) are stimulated rather than impaired by a photooxidative treatment of the plastids. While the ability to synthesize protoporphyrin IX from exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid was preserved in the photooxidatively damaged plants, protochlorophyll and chlorophyll accumulation was no longer possible. It appears from our data that in higher plants the pathway of tetrapymole synthesis up to protoporphyrin IX is not adversely affected by a photooxidative treatment of the plastids that destroys the capacity of the organelle to synthesize chlorophyll.     

H2O adsorption on Ni(100): Evidence for oriented water dimers

H₂O adsorption on clean Ni(110) surfaces at T ≦ 150 K leads at coverages below $\text{θ ? 0.5}$ to the formation of chemisorbed water dimers, bound to the Ni substrate via both oxygen atoms. The linear hydrogen bond axis is oriented parallel to the [001] surface directions. With increasing H₂O coverage $\text{(θ ≧ 0.5)}$, the accumulation of further hydrogen bonded water molecules induces some modification of the dimer configuration, producing at $\text{θ ? 1}$ a two-dimensional hydrogen bonded network with a slightly distorted ice lattice structure and long range order.     

Heterologous Expression,Biosynthetic Studies,and Ecological Function of the Selective Gq‐Signaling Inhibitor FR900359

The cyclic depsipeptide FR900359 (FR), isolated from the tropical plant Ardisia crenata, is a strong and selective inhibitor of Gq proteins, making it an indispensable pharmacological tool to study Gq‐related processes, as well as a promising drug candidate. Gq inhibition is a novel mode of action for defense chemicals and crucial for the ecological function of FR, as shown by in vivo experiments in mice, its affinity to insect Gq proteins, and insect toxicity studies. The uncultured endosymbiont of A. crenata was sequenced, revealing the FR nonribosomal peptide synthetase (frs) gene cluster. We here provide a detailed model of FR biosynthesis, supported by in vitro enzymatic and bioinformatic studies, and the novel analogue AC‐1, which demonstrates the flexibility of the FR starter condensation domains. Finally, expression of the frs genes in E. coli led to heterologous FR production in a cultivable, bacterial host for the first time.     

The Hydrolysis of Ethyl 1-Methyl-2,4-cyclopentadiene-1-carboxylate by Nonenzymatic and Enzymatic Methods. Carbon-Carbon vs. Carbon-Oxygen Bond Cleavage

The title ester 5 is shown to undergo C–C bond cleavage under the conditions of basic ester hydrolysis (KOH/EtOH) with formation of potassium ethyl carbonate ( 6 ) and the tautomeric methylcyclopentadienes 7 and 8 . In contrast, porcine liver esterase (PLE, EC 3.1.1.1) cleanly hydrolyses 5 to give the isolable 1-methyl-2,4-cyclopentadiene-1-carboxylic acid ( 13 ). The latter undergoes thermal dimerization with conservation of the geminal-substitution pattern. The configuration of the Diels-Alder adduct 17 is ascertained by it photochemical transformation into bishomocubane dicarboxylic acid 12 , easily distinguished by its C₂ symmetry. Under the conditions of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, dimerization of ester 5 and polymerization prevail, unless low acid concentration is used. The dimer 9 of 5 has one ester function that is reluctant to undergo basic hydrolysis.     

Multigram-scale syntheses, stability, and photoreactions of A2A adenosine receptor antagonists with 8-styrylxanthine structure: potential drugs for Parkinson's disease

The improved multigram-scale syntheses of the important 8-styrylxanthine A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonist MSX-2 (8), its water-soluble prodrug MXS-3 (9), and KW-6002 (16) are described. N-Alkylation reactions at different positions of uracil derivatives were optimized. Two different methods for xanthine formation from 6-amino-5-cinnamoylaminouracil precursors were investigated, (a) the elimination of water by alkaline catalysis and (b) hexamethyldisilazane as a condensing agent; the latter was found to be superior. The photosensitivity of 8-styrylxanthines was studied. The (E)-configurated stryrylxanthine MSX-2 (8) isomerized in diluted solution, and the resulting (Z)-isomer (10a) was isolated and characterized. Furthermore, we describe for the first time that solid 8-styrylxanthines can dimerize upon exposition to daylight or irradiation with UV light. The resulting cyclobutane derivatives with head-to-tail (syn) configuration exhibited a considerably lower A(2A) adenosine receptor affinity than their parent compounds. The dimerization product of MSX-2 was a moderately potent nonselective A(1) and A(2A) antagonist (K(i)(A(1)) = 273 nM, K(i) (A(2A)) = 175 nM) while the dimer of the related compound KW-6002 was inactive at A(1) and only weakly active at A(2A) adenosine receptors (K(i) = 1.57 microM). The light sensitivity of 8-styrylxanthine derivatives, not only in solution, but also in the solid state, has to be considered when using those compounds as pharmacological tools or drugs.     

cis-Tricyanotriamminkobalt(III)

The preparation and properties of cis-[Co(CN)₃(NH₃)₃] are described. The vibrational, ultraviolet and visible spectra have been measured. The structure of the compound has been determined by X-ray methods. By thermal decomposition of the compound, Co₂(CN)₅NH₂ and Co₂(CN)₅ have been obtained. Supercomplexes are formed with Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions.     

Zur konduktometrischen Bestimmung des Ammoniaks und der Phosphors?ure

Zusammenfassung Die gleichzeitige quantitative Bestimmung des Ammoniaks und der Phosphorsäure durch eine einzige konduktometrische Titration mit Natronlauge ist nicht nur bei reinen Substanzen, sondern auch bei technischen Düngemittelproben, bzw. in Gegenwart gewisser Fremdsubstanzen möglich.Von den im Handel üblichen Düngesalzen und Mischdüngern sind in Tab. 8 diejenigen zusammengestellt, die hinsichtlich ihres Ammoniakund Phosphorsäuregehaltes nach der beschriebenen konduktometrischen Methode analysiert werden können. Die Tabelle erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit. — Bezüglich der erreichten Genauigkeit sei noch einmal in Tab. 9 eine kurze Übersicht gegeben.