Structure-activity relationships of neuromedin U. IV. Absolute requirement of the arginine residue at position 7 of dog neuromedin U-8 for contractile activity

To examine the role of both Arg residues at positions 5 and 7 of dog neuromedin U-8 (d-NMU-8; pGlu1-Phe-Leu-Phe-Arg5-Pro-Arg7-Asn8-NH2) for smooth muscle contractile activity on isolated chicken crop, d-NMU-8 analogs were synthesized where either Arg residue was systematically replaced by various amino acids [X: Ala, Thr, Glu, Gln, Lys, Orn, His, citrulline (Cit) or homoarginine (Har)]. All [X5]-d-NMU-8, except for [Glu5]- and [Des-Arg5]-d-NMU-8, were full agonists, although their affinities to NMU receptors were decreased. No [X7]-d-NMU-8 showed contractile activity even at concentrations of 10(-5) mol/l, except for [Har7]-d-NMU-8, which retained weak biological activity. These analogs had no antagonistic activity against porcine neuromedin U-8 (p-NMU-8). The results revealed that Arg7 of d-NMU-8 is indispensable for receptor binding and activation to induce smooth muscle contraction, and the guanidino group of the side chain at position 7, but not at position 5, is strictly recognized by NMU receptors in the chicken crop.     

Reaction of oligomethylene di(3-oxobutanoate) with 1,1-disubstituted alkenes and molecular oxygen in the presence of manganese(II and/or IE) acetate

The reactions of 1,1-disubstituted ethenes with oligomethylene di(3-oxobutanoate) in the presence of manganese(II and/or III) acetate and atmospheric oxygen yielded an ω-(3-oxobutanoyloxy)alkyl 6,6-diaryl-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,2-dioxane-4-carboxylate, oligomethylene di(6,6-diaryl-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,2-dioxane-4-carboxylate)s, ω-hydroxyalkyl 6,6-diaryl-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,2-dioxane-4-carboxylates, an ω-(3-oxobutanoyloxy)alkyl 5,5-diaryl-2-methyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylate, oligomethylene di(5,5-diaryl-2-methyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylate)s, ω-hydroxyalkyl 5,5-diaryl-2-methyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylates, and an ohgomethylene diester bearing a substituted 1,2-dioxane ring and a substituted 4,5-dihydrofuran ring. The reaction of the 1,2-dioxan-3-ols with acid gave the corresponding compounds bearing furan rings. The reaction of 1,1,6,6-tetraaryl-1,5-hexadienes with oligomethylene di(3-oxobutanoate) in the presence of manganese(III) acetate yielded macrocyclic diesters bearing two 4,5-dihydrofuran rings.     

Practical synthesis of d-[1-C]mannose, l-[1-C] and l-[6-C]fucose

The chemical synthesis of ¹³C-labeled mannose and fucose is important for the preparation of molecular probes used in the conformational study of the oligosaccharide portions of glycoproteins. A new method for the synthesis of the title [1-¹³C]-labeled compounds via the corresponding olefin compounds, which are in turn derived from d-mannitol or l-arabinose by efficient introduction of ¹³C, by the Wittig reaction using Ph₃P¹³CH₃I and n-BuLi, is described. The introduction of ¹³CH₃I to produce the [1-¹³C]- and [6-¹³C]-labeled compounds was accomplished in 62%, 56%, and 71% yields, respectively. All mannose and fucose protons, from H-1 to H-6, were observed by the HMQC-TOCSY technique using 1:1 mixtures of [1-¹³C]- and [6-¹³C]-labeled compounds.     

<Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc production via the (<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ, n</Emphasis>) reaction on natural Mo

In this paper, cheap liquorice residue was used to prepare activated carbon (AC), thioacetamide (TAA) was used to modify the AC, and the adsorption experiments were conducted in the simulated acid radioactive wastewater with low uranium concentration to study the adsorption behavior and mechanism for uranium by TAA modified AC (TAA–AC). The removal efficiency by TAA–AC was 92.1–98.2% from the 1 mg L^?1 uranium solution at pH 2–6. The adsorption equilibrium data were well fitted by Dubinin–Radushkevich model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 340 mg g^?1. TAA–AC showed an enhanced selectivity for uranium in the presence of competitive ions. Furthermore, the adsorption experiments were conducted in the actual acid radioactive wastewater with low uranium concentration from an in situ leach uranium mine. The high adsorption rate (98.3%) and selectivity (K_d?=?3.78×10⁴ mL g^?1) for uranium were observed in the actual acid radioactive wastewater, and the adsorption rate was found to maintain 96.2% over six cycles of adsorption–desorption.     

Intramolecular Oxidative O‐Demethylation of an Oxoferryl Porphyrin Complexed with a Per‐O‐methylated β‐Cyclodextrin Dimer

The intramolecular oxidation of ROCH₃ to ROCH₂OH, where the latter compound spontaneously decomposed to ROH and HCHO, was observed during the reaction of the supramolecular complex (met‐hemoCD3) with cumene hydroperoxide in aqueous solution. Met‐hemoCD3 is composed of meso‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(III) (Fe^IIITPPS) and a per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin dimer having an ‐OCH₂PyCH₂O‐ linker (Py=pyridine‐3,5‐diyl). The O=Fe^IVTPPS complex was formed by the reaction of met‐hemoCD3 with cumene hydroperoxide, and isolated by gel‐filtration chromatography. Although the isolated O=Fe^IVTPPS complex in the cyclodextrin cage was stable in aqueous solution at 25 °C, it was gradually converted to Fe^IITPPS (t_1/2=7.6 h). This conversion was accompanied by oxidative O‐demethylation of an OCH₃ group in the cyclodextrin dimer. The results indicated that hydrogen abstraction by O=Fe^IVTPPS from ROCH₃ yields HO‐Fe^IIITPPS and ROCH₂^.. This was followed by radical coupling to afford Fe^IITPPS and ROCH₂OH. The hemiacetal (ROCH₂OH) immediately decomposed to ROH and HCHO. This study revealed the ability of oxoferryl porphyrin to induce two‐electron oxidation.     

Rheology of self-assembled monolayers on solid-liquid interface oscillating at MHz frequency

The rheology properties (viscosity and elasticity) of chemisorbed soft matters on a solid-liquid interface oscillating at MHz were investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). As a chemisorbed soft matter, we employed the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mercapto oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ethers, HS(CH₂CH₂O)_nCH₃ (n?=?5, 11, 12, 19, 27, 35 and 43), where those molecular weights had unity. The systematical analyses on the basis of the Voight model revealed the relationships of $\eta \propto M_n^{0.180}$ and $\mu \propto M_n^{0.344}$, where η and μ are the viscosity and elasticity of the SAM, and M_n is the molecular weight of HS(CH₂CH₂O)_nCH₃. As a result, we found that the SAM consisting of the oligomer followed the formula of polymer.     

A Rapid Analytical Method for Free Choline by LC and Its Application for Bacterial Culture Medium Samples

A rapid, and inexpensive analytical method for free choline is described here. Choline was derivatized with benzoyl chloride and analyzed by HPLC with UV detection. Choline samples in the micro-molar range were determined with good repeatability. The precision (RSD) was not greater than 10%. The quantification limit was 10 μM (3σ), and the linear calibration range was between 10 and 1,500 μM. This method was applied to the measurement of free choline in a culture medium of bacteria and was shown to be suitable for aqueous samples with a wide concentration range and for routine analyses.     

Surface plasmon resonance-based trace detection of small molecules by competitive and signal enhancement immunoreaction

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-immunosensor for detection of the low molecular weight compound 2,4-dinitorophenol (DNP) at ultra-low concentration has been developed. The sensor strategy is based on a competitive immunoreaction between DNP and a DNP-protein conjugate, namely DNP-bovine serum albumin conjugate (DNP-BSA). Anti-DNP monoclonal antibody was immobilized on a gold thin-film coated SPR-sensor chip by means of a chemical coupling process. DNP-BSA, on contact with the anti-DNP antibody immobilized SPR-immunosensor chip causes an increase in the resonance angle of the sensor chip. The optimum concentration of immobilized antibody on the SPR-sensor chip is 100 μg mL⁻¹. The SPR-immunosensor response for free DNP determination using the competitive immunoreaction had a response time of ca. 15 min. Using this method, DNP could be determined in the concentration range 1 ppt to 1 ppb. The SPR signal for ppt levels of DNP was enhanced by a factor of three by subsequently treating immuno-bound DNP-BSA with a secondary anti-DNP antibody.