Monitoring folding transitions of synthetic,branched-chain polypeptides by capillary zone electrophoresis

The coil/helix transition of a synthetic, branched-chain polymeric polypeptide (poly (Lys(Glu(1)-DL-Ala(3))EAK), 50-Lys residues long in the backbone, as a function of increasing molarities of methanol in solution, is here studied by both, circular dichroism (CD) and capillary zone electrophoresis. CD spectra showed that, at 75% v/v methanol, the transition from random coil to fully helical structure was obtained, in a pH 1.1 HCI solution in the presence of 20 mM NaCI. CZE studies, run in parallel, exhibited the classical unfolding to folding sigmoidal transition, with mid-point at 60% v/v methanol concentration, plateauing at ca. 80% v/v organic solvent. Surprisingly, though, such unfolding to folding transition was accompanied by an expansion, rather than a contraction, of the resulting ordered polypeptide. As the charge of the polypeptide (a pure polycation at a pH of 2.1 in CZE) was kept rigorously constant, a plot of the radius of the polymer along the sigmoidal transition clearly showed that the radius of gyration of the helical, structured polypeptide was in fact larger than that of the random coil. Such results were confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, which indicated that the dimensions of such polypeptide, in alpha-helix configuration, were 8.5 nm (in length) and 3.2 nm (in diameter), whereas those of the corresponding random coil were 7.2 nm (in length) and 5.1 nm (length of shorter axis). It would thus appear that the randomized structure assumes the shape of a more compact object, roughly resembling a "rugby ball".     

Saturated heterocycles. Part 216 . Synthesis,structure and ring opening of trans-perhydro-1,4-benzoxazepin-3-one derivatives

trans-Perhydro-1,4-benzoxazepin-3-ones 2a-c were synthesized and transformed to condensed-skeleton perhydro-trans-1,4-benzoxazepines 3a,b , the thiones 4a,b , the urea derivatives 5a,b , and N-acylated compounds 6a-e . Compounds 6b,d were ring-opened by hydrochloric acid in ethanol to yield trans-2-(1-carbethoxyethoxy)-1-acylaminomethylcyclohexane derivatives 7b,d . The ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr investigation and X-ray analysis of 5b and 6c,d proved that the expected N-acylated derivatives were formed and that both rings of the trans anellated compounds have a chair conformation.     

Fused 1,2,4-triazole heterocycles. IV. Synthesis of four new heterocyclic ring systems of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,3]thiazinoquinolines

Syntheses of 5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[5′,1′:2,3][1,3]thiazino[5,4-c]quinolines 8, 5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3′,4′:2)3][1,3]thiazino[5,4-c]quinolines 9, 5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[5′,1′:2,3][1,3]thiazino[5,6-c]quinolines 14 and 5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3′,4′:2,3][1,3]thiazino[5,6-c]quinolines 15 are described starting from 4-chloro-3-chloromethylquinaldine (4) and 1,2,4-triazole-5-thiols 5 taking advantage of different reactivity of the chlorine atoms of 4 under different reaction conditions. The structures of products 8, 9, 14 and 15 and the intermediates leading to them were confirmed by desulfurization, unequivocal syntheses and nmr spectroscopy as well.     

Complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) with 4-chloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid anion

The complexes of 4-chloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid anion with Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were obtained as polycrystalline solids with general formula M(C₈H₆ClO₃)₂·nH₂O and colours typical for M(II) ions (Mn – slightly pink, Co – pink, Ni – slightly green, Cu – turquoise and Zn – white). The results of elemental, thermal and spectral analyses suggest that compounds of Mn(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) are tetrahydrates whereas those of Co(II) and Ni(II) are pentahydrates. The carboxylate groups in these complexes are monodentate. The hydrates of 4-chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) heated in air to 1273 K are dehydrated in one step in the range of 323–411 K and form anhydrous salts which next in the range of 433–1212 K are decomposed to the following oxides: Mn₃O₄, CoO, NiO and ZnO. The final products of decomposition of Cu(II) complex are CuO and Cu. The solubility value in water at 293 K for all complexes is in the order of 10^–3 mol dm^–3. The plots of χ_M vs. temperature of 4-chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) follow the Curie–Weiss law. The magnetic moment values of Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions in these complexes were determined in the range of 76−303 K and they change from: 5.88–6.04 μ_B for Mn(C₈H₆ClO₃)₂·4H₂O, 3.96–4.75 μ_B for Co(C₈H₆ClO₃)₂·5H₂O, 2.32–3.02 μ_B for Ni(C₈H₆ClO₃)₂·5H₂O and 1.77–1.94 μ_B for Cu(C₈H₆ClO₃)₂·4H₂O.     

Glucocorticoids Directly Affect Hyaluronan Production of Orbital Fibroblasts; A Potential Pleiotropic Effect in Graves’ Orbitopathy

Orbital connective tissue expansion is a hallmark of Graves’ orbitopathy (GO). In moderate-to-severe active GO, glucocorticoids (GC) are the first line of treatment. Here we show that hydrocortisone (HC), prednisolone (P), methylprednisolone (MP), and dexamethasone (DEX) inhibit the hyaluronan (HA) production of orbital (OF) and dermal (DF) fibroblasts. HA production of GO OFs (n = 4), NON-GO OFs (n = 4) and DFs (n = 4) was measured by ELISA. mRNA expression of enzymes of HA metabolism and fibroblast proliferation was examined by RT-PCR and BrdU incorporation, respectively. After 24 h of GC treatment (1µM) HA production decreased by an average of 67.9 ± 3.11% (p < 0.0001) in all cell cultures. HAS2, HAS3 and HYAL1 expression in OFs also decreased (p = 0.009, p = 0.0005 and p = 0.015, respectively). Ten ng/mL PDGF-BB increased HA production and fibroblast proliferation in all cell lines (p < 0.0001); GC treatment remained effective and reduced HA production under PDGF-BB-stimulated conditions (p < 0.0001). MP and DEX reduced (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively) PDGF-BB-induced HAS2 expression in OFs. MP and DEX treatment decreased PDGF-BB stimulated HAS3 expression (p = 0.035 and p = 0.029, respectively). None of the GCs tested reduced the PDGF-BB stimulated proliferation rate. Our results confirm that GCs directly reduce the HA production of OFs, which may contribute to the beneficial effect of GCs in GO.     

The Lp dual Minkowski problem for p > 1 and q > 0

General $L_p$ dual curvature measures have recently been introduced by Lutwak, Yang and Zhang [24]. These new measures unify several other geometric measures of the Brunn–Minkowski theory and the dual Brunn–Minkowski theory. $L_p$ dual curvature measures arise from qth dual intrinsic volumes by means of Alexandrov-type variational formulas. Lutwak, Yang and Zhang [24] formulated the $L_p$ dual Minkowski problem, which concerns the characterization of $L_p$ dual curvature measures. In this paper, we solve the existence part of the $L_p$ dual Minkowski problem for $p>1$ and $q>0$, and we also discuss the regularity of the solution.     

Selective nitrile oxide dipolar cycloaddition for the synthesis of highly functionalized β-aminocyclohexanecarboxylate stereoisomers

Highly functionalized β-aminocyclohexanecarboxylate regio- and stereoisomers were synthesized from a bicyclic β-lactam by successive regioselective iodolactonization, stereo- and regioselective nitrile oxide cycloaddition, lactone ring-opening and isoxazoline ring-opening.     

Syntheses,transformations and applications of aminonaphthol derivatives prepared via modified Mannich reactions

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