Probing the functional limits of the norepinephrine transporter with self-reporting, fluorescent stilbazolium dimers

A series of stilbazolium dimers were synthesized and investigated as sterically demanding ligands targeting the norepinephrine transporter (NET). The environmentally sensitive fluorescence of the dyes enables their use as self-reporting ligands; binding to and displacement from NET can be monitored by fluorescence microscopy.     

Enantioselective synthesis of gabapentin analogues via organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition of α-branched aldehydes to β-nitroacrylates

Michael addition reaction of α-branched aldehydes to β-nitroacrylates was successfully carried out by using a mixed catalyst consisting of a primary amino acid, L-phenylalanine, and its lithium salt to give β-formyl-β'-nitroesters having a quaternary carbon centre in good yields (up to 85%) with high enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee). By using benzyl β-nitroacrylates as Michael acceptors, the obtained β-formyl-β'-nitroesters were converted into various 4,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acids including analogues of gabapentin (Neurotin(?)) in one step from the Michael adducts in high yields.     

Probing for a leaving group effect on the generation and reactivity of phenyl cations

Phenyl cations are smoothly generated by the photoheterolytic cleavage of an Ar-LG bond (LG = leaving group). With the aim of evaluating the scope of the method, a series of 4-methoxy-2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl derivatives (sulfonic, LG = MeSO(3) and CF(3)SO(3), phosphate, LG = (EtO)(2)(O)PO esters and the corresponding chloride) have been compared as probes for evaluating the leaving group ability. The photocleavage was a general reaction, with the somewhat surprising order (EtO)(2)(O)PO ～ Cl > CF(3)SO(3) > MeSO(3) (Φ = 0.50 to 0.16 in CF(3)CH(2)OH and lower values in MeCN-H(2)O). The ensuing reactions did not depend on the LGs but only on the structure of the phenyl cation (the silyl group tuned the triplet to singlet intersystem crossing and the electrophilicity) and on the medium (formation of a complex with water slowed the electrophilic reactions).     

Flux in Porous Media with Memory: Models and Experiments

The classic constitutive equation relating fluid flux to a gradient in potential (pressure head plus gravitational energy) through a porous medium was discovered by Darcy in the mid 1800s. This law states that the flux is proportional to the pressure gradient. However, the passage of the fluid through the porous matrix may cause a local variation of the permeability. For example, the flow may perturb the porous formation by causing particle migration resulting in pore clogging or chemically reacting with the medium to enlarge the pores or diminish the size of the pores. In order to adequately represent these phenomena, we modify the constitutive equations by introducing a memory formalism operating on both the pressure gradient–flux and the pressure–density variations. The memory formalism is then represented with fractional order derivatives. We perform a number of laboratory experiments in uniformly packed columns where a constant pressure is applied on the lower boundary. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous media of different characteristic particle size dimension were employed. The low value assumed by the memory parameters, and in particular by the fractional order, demonstrates that memory is largely influencing the experiments. The data and theory show how mechanical compaction can decrease permeability, and consequently flux.     

Biomineralization of Nickel Struvite Linked to Metal Resistance in Streptomyces mirabilis

Biomineral formation is a common trait and prominent for soil Actinobacteria, including the genus Streptomyces. We investigated the formation of nickel-containing biominerals in the presence of a heavy-metal-resistant Streptomyces mirabilis P16B-1. Biomineralization was found to occur both in solid and liquid media. Minerals were identified with Raman spectroscopy and TEM-EDX to be either Mg-containing struvite produced in media containing no nickel, or Ni-struvite where Ni replaces the Mg when nickel was present in sufficient concentrations in the media. The precipitation of Ni-struvite reduced the concentration of nickel available in the medium. Therefore, Ni-struvite precipitation is an efficient mechanism for tolerance to nickel. We discuss the contribution of a plasmid-encoded nickel efflux transporter in aiding biomineralization. In the elevated local concentrations of Ni surrounding the cells carrying this plasmid, more biominerals occurred supporting this point of view. The biominerals formed have been quantified, showing that the conditions of growth do influence mineralization. This control is also visible in differences observed to biosynthetically synthesized Ni-struvites, including the use of sterile-filtered culture supernatant. The use of the wildtype S. mirabilis P16B-1 and its plasmid-free derivative, as well as a metal-sensitive recipient, S. lividans, and the same transformed with the plasmid, allowed us to access genetic factors involved in this partial control of biomineral formation.     

Structural Deterioration of Well-Faceted MOFs upon H2S Exposure and Its Effect in the Adsorption Performance

The structural deterioration of archetypical, well-faceted metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has been evaluated upon exposure to an acidic environment (H₂S). Experimental results show that the structural damage highly depends on the nature of the hybrid network (e.g., softness of the metal ions, hydrophilic properties, among others) and the crystallographic orientation of the exposed facets. Microscopy images show that HKUST-1 with well-defined octahedral (111) facets is completely deteriorated, ZIF-8 with preferentially exposed (110) facets exhibits a large external deterioration with the development of holes or cavities in the mesoporous range, whereas UiO-66-NH₂ with (111) exposed facets, and PCN-250 with (100) facets does not reflect any sign of surface damage. Despite the selectivity in the external deterioration, X-ray diffraction and gas adsorption measurements confirm that indeed all MOFs suffer an important internal deterioration, these effects being more severe for MOFs based on softer cations (e.g., Cu-based HKUST-1 and Fe-based PCN-250). These structural changes have inevitable important effects in the final adsorption performance for CO₂ and CH₄ at low and high pressures.     

Thermal degradation kinetics of carotenoids: Acrocomia aculeata oil in the context of nutraceutical food and bioprocess technology

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the present study, the kinetics of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin degradation were investigated in edible oil mechanically extracted from...     

Direct and indirect high-performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of beta-amino acids

Direct and indirect reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatographic methods were developed for the separation of enantiomers of 18 unnatural beta-amino acids, including several beta-3-homo amino acids. The direct separations of the underivatized analytes were performed on chiral stationary phases (CSPs) containing macrocyclic glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin (Chirobiotic T column) and teicoplanin aglycone (Chirobiotic TAG column). The indirect method involved pre-column derivatization with a new chiral derivatizing agent (CDA), (S)-N-(4-nitrophenoxycarbonyl)phenylalanine methoxyethyl ester ((S)-NIFE), and subsequent separation of diastereomers on Discovery C18 and Hyperpep 300 C18 columns. The different methods were compared in systematic chromatographic examinations. The effects of organic modifier, mobile phase composition, pH and flow rate on the separation were investigated.