PHOTOREACTIVATING ENZYME FROM NEUROSPORA CRASSA*

Abstract— Extracts of Neurospora crassa contain photoreactivating enzyme by the criteria of ability to split thymine-containing dimers and to increase the transforming ability of u.v.-irradiated Hemophilus influenzae DNA. The latter activity is heat-labile and is destroyed by trypsin. The action spectrum of such in vitro photoreactivation is a simple one (with a single maximum at 405 nm in the range 313 to 436 nm), differing from the more complicated in vitro spectra for yeast and Escherichia coli. However, the in vitro Neurospora spectrum coincides closely with the in vivo spectrum for this organism, suggesting that there is little or no “indirect” photoreactivation in Neurospora. It is concluded that the Neurospora photoreactivating enzyme is probably of a different type than those of yeast and Escherichia coli.     

Ion spray-tandem mass spectrometry of supramolecular coordination complexes

Double-helical [M₂L₂] ⁿ⁺, triple-helical [M₂L₃] ⁿ⁺, and toroidal [M₃L₃] ⁿ⁺ (M = Cu, Co, Fe, Ni, La, Eu, Gd, Tb, or Lu) supramolecular complexes have been fully characterized by ion spray mass spectrometry (IS-MS). The IS-MS spectra from pure acetonitrile solutions reflect the nature of the cations present in solution with conservation of the charge state and allow an efficient qualitative speciation of the compounds. The mass spectrometry results can be correlated with other powerful techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance and electronic spectroscopy) for the characterization of supramolecular complexes in solution, Structural information is obtained by collision-induced dissociation, which strongly depends on the metal ions used in the supramolecular complexes and on the various connectivities and topologies of the ligands. When the ligand contains 3,5dimethoxybenzyl groups bound to the benzimidazole rings, the partial fragmentation of the complexes is associated with a decrease of the total charge of the complexes and the appearance of the characteristic fragment at m/z 151 that corresponds to the 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl cation. A detailed analysis of the fragmentation pathways of these supramolecular complexes suggests that the metal-nitrogen coordination bonds are very strong in the gas phase.     

Thermodynamics of complexation of monovalent metal cations by the ionophore monensin free acid in acetonitrile

The standard Gibbs functions, enthalpies, and entropies for the formation of the complexes of monensin acid with monovalent metal cations in acetonitrile were obtained using various methods (conductometry, potentiometry, and calorimetry). Complexation is appreciable (from 2.0 to 4.5 in terms of association constant logarithm) and controlled mainly by the enthalpic effect. Comparison with formation of the corresponding neutral complexes permits a comparison to the process of monensin mediated transport of cation in membranes. A two-step process involving first the formation of the acidic complex is suggested.     

Synthesis of Unsubstituted and 4,4′-Substituted Oligobipyridines as Ligand Strands for Helicate Self-Assembly

A general strategy for the synthesis of oligobipyridine ligands 2 – 5 containing from two to five 2,2′-bipyridine subunits, for helical metal complexes is described (sec Scheme). Both the unsubstituted parent strands ( a series) as well as their derivatives bearing fester or amide functions in the 4,4′-positions of the bipyridine moieties ( b – d series) have been obtained.     

Identification,synthesis and conformational study of a CN(R,S) synthon by-product: (5R, 10R)-5,10-diphenyl-1,6-diaza-3,8-dioxabicyclo[4.4.1]undecane

The title compound, containing a new heterocyclic skeleton, was identified by X-ray crystallography as the product of condensation of (R)-phenylglycinol with an excess of formaldehyde. The molecule adopts a rigid double twist-chair conformation in both solid and solution states.     

Differentiation of isomeric 5- and 7-oxo derivatives of tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine by electron impact mass spectrometry

The electron impact mass spectra of two series of 5-oxo-tetrahydro-5H-thiazolo [3,2-a]pyrimidine-6-ethylcarboxylates and 7-oxo-tetrahydro-7H-thiazolo [3,2-a]pyrimidine-6-ethylcarboxylates were measured and fragmentation patterns examined. Structures were assigned from analysis of oxo molecular ion fragmentations. Compounds of the 5-oxo series gave an [M – CO₂C₂H₅]⁺ fragmentation whereas compounds of the 7-oxo series gave three characteristic cleavages. This decomposition was confirmed for one pair of isomers by high-resolution mass spectrometry and unimolecular mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. Electron impact mass spectrometry is a convenient method for assigning structures of 5- and 7-oxo regioisomers of tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylates.     

Action d'organolithiens sur la méthyl-2 quinoxaline. Etude de la réactivité des adduits

The action of organolithium reagents such as phenyllithium or n-bulyllithium on 2-methylquinoxaline gave lithiation of the methyl group which upon reaction with electtropholesphiles produce side chain alkenyl derivatives. On the other hand organolithium reagents react with the quinoxaline azomethine bond to give I-lithio-2-alkyl)or ary-1)-3 methylquinoxalines which can be further loithiated on the methyl group to give 2-alkyl(or aryl)-3-alkenylquinoxaline derivatives. The adducts can be condensed with clectrophiles such as benzonitrile or methlyl benzoate but only methyl benzoate leads to N condensed derivatives. Furthermore substituted 1,2,3,4-terahydroqinoxalines are available via the above lithio intermediates.