Nanoclusters of Silicon and Germanium

Synthetic routes for the preparation of Si or Ge nanoclusters as gaseous species, colloids, supported composites, or as unsupported powders are reviewed along with selected characterization data. The optical properties of these and related materials, such as porous Si, are summarized with particular emphasis on photo- or electroluminescence phenomena. Research opportunities related to Si and Ge cluster chemistry are suggested.     

Total synthesis of the polyenoyltetramic acid polycephalin C

The total synthesis of the polyenoyltetramic acid polycephalin C is described. Key steps of the synthesis include a double Swern oxidation, double Takai reaction and a double Stille reaction. In addition, the absolute stereochemistry of the ring junction has been determined by synthesis of both isomers and comparison of their CD spectra with natural polycephalin C.     

Probing the contribution of electronic coupling to the directionality of electron transfer in photosynthetic reaction centers

Subpicosecond transient absorption studies are reported for a set of Rhodobacter (R.) capsulatus bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) designed to probe the origins of the unidirectionality of charge separation via one of two electron transport chains in the native pigment-protein complex. All of the RCs have been engineered to contain a heterodimeric primary electron donor (D) consisting of a bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) and a bacteriopheophytin (BPh). The BPh component of the M heterodimer (Mhd) or L heterodimer (Lhd) is introduced by substituting a Leu for His M200 or His L173, respectively. Previous work on primary charge separation in heterodimer mutants has not included the Lhd RC from R. capsulatus, which we report for the first time. The Lhd and Mhd RCs are used as controls against which we assess RCs that combine the heterodimer mutations with a second mutation (His substituted for Leu at M212) that results in replacement of the native L-side BPh acceptor with a BChl (beta). The transient absorption spectra reveal clear evidence for charge separation to the normally inactive M-side BPh acceptor (H(M)) in Lhd-beta RCs to form D+H(M)- with a yield of approximately 6%. This state also forms in Mhd-beta RCs but with about one-quarter the yield. In both RCs, deactivation to the ground state is the predominant pathway of D decay, as it is in the Mhd and Lhd single mutants. Analysis of the results indicates an upper limit ofV2L/V2m < or = 4 for the contribution of the electronic coupling elements to the relative rates of electron transfer to the L versus M sides of the wild-type RC. In comparison to the L/M rate ratio (kL/kM) approximately 30 for wild-type RCs, our findings indicate that electronic factors contribute approximately 35% at most to directionality with the other 65% deriving from energetic considerations, which includes differences in free energies, reorganization energies, and contributions of one- and two-step mechanisms on the two sides of the RC.     

Proton uptake of rhodobacter capsulatus reaction center mutants modified in the primary quinone environment

Flash-induced absorbance spectroscopy was used to analyze the proton uptake and electron transfer properties of photosynthetic reaction centers (RC) of Rhodobacter capsulatus that have been genetically modified near the primary quinone electron acceptor (Q(A)). M246Ala and M247Ala, which are symmetry-related to the positions of two acidic groups, L212Glu and L213Asp, in the secondary quinone electron acceptor (QB) protein environment, have been mutated to Glu and Asp, respectively. The pH dependence of the stoichiometry of proton uptake upon formation of the P+Q(A)- (H+/P+Q(A)-) and PQ(A) (H+/Q(A)-) (P is the primary electron donor, a noncovalently linked bacteriochlorophyll dimer) states have been measured in the M246Ala --> Glu and the M247Ala --> Asp mutant RC, in the M246Ala-M247Ala --> Glu-Asp double mutant and in the wild type (WT). Our results show that the introduction of an acidic group (Glu or Asp) in the QA protein region induces notable additional proton uptake over a large pH region (approximately 6-9), which reflects a delocalized response of the protein to the formation of Q(A)-. This may indicate the existence of a widely spread proton reservoir in the cytoplasmic region of the protein. Interestingly, the pH titration curves of the proton release caused by the formation of P+ (H+/P+: difference between H+/P+Q(A)- and H+/PQ(A)- curves) are nearly superimposable in the WT and the M246Ala --> Glu mutant RC, but substantial additional proton release is detected between pH 7 and 9 in the M247Ala --> Asp mutant RC. This effect can be accounted for by an increased proton release by the P+ environment in the M247Ala --> Asp mutant. The M247Ala --> Asp mutation reveals the existence of an energetic and conformational coupling between donor and acceptor sides of the RC at a distance of nearly 30A.     

Quantitation of SR 27417 in human plasma using electrospray liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: A study of ion suppression

The effect of coeluting matrix compounds on the quantitation of SR 27417 in human plasma using electrospray liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been examined. During the method development stage of this assay, plasma samples spiked with the analyte at 100 pg/mL were extracted using three different procedures: a hexane liquid-liquid extraction, an ethyl acetate back-extraction, and a solid phase extraction. Ion intensity of the analyte was found to be related inversely to the percent ionization of coeluting matrix components as evidenced by full scan spectra. The ethyl acetate back-extraction, which contained the fewest coeluting components, resulted in the highest ion intensity for the analyte. An assay comparison was done by using the liquid-liquid hexane and the ethyl acetate back-extractions for sample preparation. Replicate 1-mL samples (n=5) at 11 concentrations from 5 to 2000 pg/mL were extracted and analyzed. The results for the ethyl acetate back-extracted samples were acceptable from 2000 to 5 pg/mL with accuracy ranging from ?11.6 to 2.61% of the nominal concentrations. In contrast, the hexane liquid-liquid method had poor accuracy and precision below 20 pg/mL. The difference is explained by suppression of analyte ion intensity. These results are consistent with the current theory of electrospray ionization.     

Copolymeric (lR-trans)-N,N'-1,2-cyclohexylene-bisbenzamide oligodimethylsiloxane chiral stationary phase for gas chromatography

A copolymeric stationary phase, consisting of a chiral selective part, i.e. (1R-trans)-N,N'-1,2-cyclohexylenebisbenzamide, and an efficient siloxane oligomeric part, was successfully applied to open tubular column GC analysis. The efficiency and the chiral selectivity of this stationary phase were studied in detail, and high capacity and efficiency at elevated GC temperatures were especially noted. Several drugs and other enantiomeric pairs were separated. The shown examples demonstrate a broad application range for this type of chiral stationary phase in GC analysis.     

Structure, stereochemistry, and biological activity of integramycin, a novel hexacyclic natural product produced by Actinoplanes sp. that inhibits HIV-1 integrase

[structure: see text] HIV-1 integrase is a critical enzyme for viral replication, and its inhibition is an emerging target for potential antiviral chemotherapy. We have discovered a novel inhibitor, integramycin, from screening of fermentation extracts using an in vitro assay. Integramycin possesses a hexacyclic ring system and exhibited an IC50 value of 4 microM against HIV-1 integrase (strand transfer). The isolation, structure elucidation, stereochemistry, conformation, and biological activity has been described.     

Identification of Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase as Potential Target of Vemurafenib-Resistant Melanoma Cells

Background: Despite recent improvements in therapy, the five-year survival rate for patients with advanced melanoma is poor, mainly due to the development of drug resistance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, applying proteomics and structural approaches to models of melanoma cells. Methods: Sublines from two human (A375 and SK-MEL-28) cells with acquired vemurafenib resistance were established, and their proteomic profiles when exposed to denaturation were identified through LC-MS/MS analysis. The pathways derived from bioinformatics analyses were validated by in silico and functional studies. Results: The proteomic profiles of resistant melanoma cells were compared to parental counterparts by taking into account protein folding/unfolding behaviors. Several proteins were found to be involved, with dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) being the only one similarly affected by denaturation in all resistant cell sublines compared to parental ones. DLD expression was observed to be increased in resistant cells by Western blot analysis. Protein modeling analyses of DLD’s catalytic site coupled to in vitro assays with CPI-613, a specific DLD inhibitor, highlighted the role of DLD enzymatic functions in the molecular mechanisms of BRAFi resistance. Conclusions: Our proteomic and structural investigations on resistant sublines indicate that DLD may represent a novel and potent target for overcoming vemurafenib resistance in melanoma cells.     

Antibacterial Thiopeptide GE2270-Congeners from Nonomuraea jiangxiensis

Thiopeptides are macrocyclic natural products with potent bioactivity. Nine new natural thiopeptides (1–9) were obtained from a Nonomuraea jiangxiensis isolated from a terrestrial soil sample collected in Singapore. Even though some of these compounds were previously synthesized or isolated from engineered strains, herein we report the unprecedented isolation of these thiopeptides from a native Nonomuraea jiangxiensis. A comparison with the literature and a detailed analysis of the NMR and HRMS of compounds 1–9 was conducted to assign their chemical structures. The structures of all new compounds were highly related to the thiopeptide antibiotics GE2270, with variations in the substituents on the thiazole and amino acid moieties. Thiopeptides 1–9 exhibited a potent antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus with MIC₉₀ values ranging from 2 µM to 11 µM. In addition, all compounds were investigated for their cytotoxicity against the human cancer cell line A549, none of the compounds were cytotoxic.     

Isolation, structure, and antibacterial activity of philipimycin, a thiazolyl peptide discovered from Actinoplanes philippinensis MA7347

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics, particularly to multiple drug resistant antibiotics, is becoming cause for significant concern. The only really viable course of action is to discover new antibiotics with novel mode of actions. Thiazolyl peptides are a class of natural products that are architecturally complex potent antibiotics but generally suffer from poor solubility and pharmaceutical properties. To discover new thiazolyl peptides potentially with better desired properties, we designed a highly specific assay with a pair of thiazomycin sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which led to the discovery of philipimycin, a new thiazolyl peptide glycoside. It was isolated along with an acid-catalyzed degradation product by bioassay-guided fractionation. Structure of both compounds was elucidated by extensive application of 2D NMR, 1D TOCSY, and HRESIFT-MS/MS. Both compounds showed strong antibacterial activities against gram-positive bacteria including MRSA and exhibited MIC values ranging from 0.015 to 1 microg/mL. Philipimycin was significantly more potent than the degradation product. Both compounds showed selective inhibition of protein synthesis, indicating that they targeted the ribosome. Philipimycin was effective in vivo in a mouse model of S. aureus infection exhibiting an ED50 value of 8.4 mg/kg. The docking studies of philipimycin suggested that a part of the molecule interacts with the ribosome and another part with Pro23, Pro22, and Pro26 of L11 protein, which helped in explaining the differential of activities between the sensitive and resistant strains. The design and execution of the bioassay, the isolation, structure, in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity, and docking studies of philipimycin and its degradation product are described.