On the construction of quasidiabatic state representations of bound adiabatic state potential energy surfaces coupled by accidental conical intersections: incorporation of higher order terms

The quadratic vibronic coupling model is an important computational tool for simulating photoelectron spectra involving strongly coupled electronic states in polyatomic molecules. However, recent work has indicated the need for higher order terms, with most of the initial studies focusing on molecules with symmetry-required degeneracies. In this study we report an extension of our approach for constructing fully quadratic representations of bound electronic states coupled by conical intersections, which allows for the inclusion of higher order terms, demonstrated here employing a quartic expansion. Procedures are developed that eliminate unphysical behavior for large displacements, a problem likely to be an endemic to anharmonic expansions. Following work on representing dissociative electronic states, Lagrange multipliers are used to constrain the constructed representation to reproduce exactly the energy, energy gradients, and∕or derivative couplings at specific points, or nodes, in nuclear coordinate space. The approach is illustrated and systematically studied using the four lowest electronic states of triazolyl, (CH)(2)N(3).     

IN VITRO STUDIES ON THE PHOTOSENSITIZED OXIDATION OF LENS PROTEINS BY PORPHYRINS

Abstract Porphyrins, which may be introduced into the eye as a result of abnormal porphyrin metabolism (uroporphyrin–Uro) or when used in the diagnosis or photodynamic therapy of certain tumors, including intraocular tumors (hematoporphyrin–Hp and'hematoporphyrin derivative'–Hpd and mesotetra( P -sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin–TPPS) are efficient photosensitizers in biological systems. We have been studying the potential phototoxic side effects of these drugs in the lens of the eye. Encapsulated in the human lens is a mixture of soluble protein crystallins. With little turnover of protein in the lens, any photosensitized modifications will accumulate and may result in an opacification of the lens. To evaluate the potential of different porphyrins to induce such damage, a series of porphyrins were photolyzed (transmission above 295 nm) in the presence of calf lens protein (2 mg m⁻¹). Marked photopolymerization and histidine destruction were observed for the lens protein photolyzed in the presence of all of the drugs. We have found that the relative effectiveness of the following porphyrins to induce that damage is: Uro = TPPS Hpd = Hp. Both the singlet oxygen quencher, azide, and the free radical scavenger, penicillamine, decrease this photosensitized oxidative damage to lens protein. TPPS binds significantly to lens protein and this binding leads to conformational changes in that protein.     

Facile and efficient Lewis acid catalyzed synthesis of an asymmetric tetrazine useful for bio-orthogonal click chemistry applications

Bio-orthogonal tetrazine click reactions have recently attracted significant interest for applications spanning biological imaging, cancer targeting, and biomaterials science. Here, we report a simple and efficient two-step scheme for the synthesis of an asymmetric tetrazine molecule containing a carboxylic acid handle for subsequent macromolecular conjugation. Yields as high as 75% were achieved using as little as 0.005 equiv of nickel triflate catalyst, which is a significant improvement over previous methodologies.     

Does cytotoxicity of metallointercalators correlate with cellular uptake or DNA affinity?

The cytotoxicity of the metallointercalators, [Pt(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(trans-1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane)](2+) ([56MERR]) and [Pt(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(trans-1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane)](2+) ([56MESS]), towards A549 human lung cancer cells was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The IC(50) value obtained following exposure of A549 cells to [56MESS] for 4 h was approximately three times smaller than that obtained when [56MERR] was administered under the same conditions, indicating that the former complex displayed greater cytotoxicity. Both IC(50) values were greater than that obtained after exposure of A549 cells to cisplatin, demonstrating that the latter compound was the most cytotoxic of the three examined. Microprobe synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) analyses of metallointercalator-treated A549 cells showed that platinum became localised in DNA-rich regions of the nucleus. In contrast, when the same cells were treated with cisplatin the metal became distributed throughout the cell. Determination of the maximum concentration of platinum present inside the cells using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS) of platinum-treated cells suggested that there was greater uptake of [56MERR] compared to [56MESS] by the A549 cells, and that platinum uptake did not account for the greater toxicity of [56MESS], as assessed by the MTT assay. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies of solutions containing either [56MERR] or [56MESS], and a duplex hexadecamer molecule, showed the two metallointercalators displayed very similar affinity towards the nucleic acid. Overall these results indicate that the difference in cytotoxicity of the two platinum metallointercalators is probably the result of variations in their interactions with other cellular components.     

Radiotracer studies of the antitumor metallocene molybdocene dichloride with biomolecules

Neutron irradiation of Cp₂MoCl₂ for 24 h afforded the radiotracer Cp₂⁹⁹MoCl₂ which was characterised by UV–Vis spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography. Binding experiments with the thiol containing protein human serum albumin (HSA) or calf thymus DNA, were monitored for ⁹⁹Mo using a gamma counter. Under the conditions investigated, molar ratios of binding of 0.2:1 (Cp₂MoCl₂:DNA) and 9.4:1 (Cp₂MoCl₂:HSA) were calculated. The results are consistent with in vitro coordination studies that have shown strong preferential interaction of Cp₂MoCl₂ with thiols versus other donor sites in biomolecules including DNA.     

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Activated Liposomal Cell Delivery using a Boronate-Caged Guanidine Lipid

We report boronate-caged guanidine-lipid 1 that activates liposomes for cellular delivery only upon uncaging of this compound by reactive oxygen species (ROS) to produce cationic lipid products. These liposomes are designed to mimic the exceptional cell delivery properties of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), while the inclusion of the boronate cage is designed to enhance selectivity such that cell entry will only be activated in the presence of ROS. Boronate uncaging by hydrogen peroxide was verified by mass spectrometry and zeta potential (ZP) measurements. A microplate-based fluorescence assay was developed to study the ROS-mediated vesicle interactions between 1 -liposomes and anionic membranes, which were further elucidated via dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Cellular delivery studies utilizing fluorescence microscopy demonstrated significant enhancements in cellular delivery only when 1 -liposomes were incubated with hydrogen peroxide. Our results showcase that lipid 1 exhibits strong potential as an ROS-responsive liposomal platform for targeted drug delivery applications.     

Cyclic Disulfide Liposomes for Membrane Functionalization and Cellular Delivery

Liposomes are effective therapeutic delivery nanocarriers due to their ability to encapsulate and enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of a wide range of therapeutics. Two primary areas in which improvement is needed for liposomal drug delivery is to enhance the ability to infiltrate cells and to facilitate derivatization of the liposome surface. Herein, we report a liposome platform incorporating a cyclic disulfide lipid (CDL) for the dual purpose of enhancing cell entry and functionalizing the liposome membrane through thiol-disulfide exchange. In order to accomplish this, CDL-1 and CDL-2 , composed of lipoic acid (LA) or asparagusic acid (AA) appended to a lipid scaffold, were designed and synthesized. A fluorescence-based microplate immobilization assay was implemented to show that these compounds enable convenient membrane decoration through reaction with thiol-functionalized small molecules. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy experiments indicated dramatic enhancements in cellular delivery when CDLs were incorporated within liposomes. These results demonstrate that multifunctional CDLs serve as an exciting liposome system for surface decoration and enhanced cellular delivery.     

Constructing affine Lie algebras

The ?-grading determined by a long simple root of a rank n+1 a?ne Lie algebra over ? arises from a representation of a rank n semi-simple complex Lie algebra. Analysis of the relationship between the grading and the representation yields constructions that generalize the minuscule and adjoint algorithms as well as Kac’s construction of nontwisted a?ne Lie algebras.     

A computational study of the error in the vortex method associated with discontinuous vorticity

We investigate computationally the error computed by the vortex method for a discontinuous patch of vorticity. Specifically, the computed velocity and vorticity of an elliptical path of constant vorticity, known as the Kirchhoff ellipse, are compared to the analytic velocity and vorticity. The error in the velocity and the vorticity for the Kirchhoff ellipse as computed by the vortex method is presented. This error is studied as a function of the aspect ratio of the ellipse, the blob function, the spacing between the centers of the computational elements, and the blob radius. Both the error at the initial time and the error after three revolutions of the ellipse are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.