Activation of Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain 1 (NOD1) Receptor Signaling in Labeo rohita by iE-DAP and Identification of Ligand-Binding Key Motifs in NOD1 by Molecular Modeling and Docking

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1) receptor recognizes various pattern-associated structures of microbes through its leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and activates signaling cascades to induce innate immunity. This report describes the activation of NOD1 receptor signaling by gamma-d-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (or γ-D-Glu-mDAP [iE-DAP]) in a commercially important fish species, rohu (Labeo rohita). It also described critical motifs in the NOD1-LRR domain that could be involved in binding iE-DAP, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). The activation of NOD1 receptor signaling was studied by injecting iE-DAP, and analysis of tissue samples for NOD1 and receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase (RICK) expression was done by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. To identify ligand-binding motifs in NOD1, the 3D model of NOD1-LRR was generated, followed by a 6-ns molecular dynamics simulation. Molecular docking of LPS with NOD1-LRR was executed at the Hex and PatchDock servers, and iE-DAP and poly I:C in the AutoDock 4.2, FlexX 2.1, Glide 5.5, and GOLD 4.1 programs. The results of qRT-PCR revealed significant (p?<?0.05) upregulation of NOD1 and RICK expression. Molecular docking revealed that the amino acid residues at LRR1–2, LRR3–7, and LRR8–9 could be involved in poly I:C, LPS, and iE-DAP binding, respectively. In fish, this is the first report describing the 3D structure of NOD1-LRR and its critical ligand-binding motifs.     

An efficient route to regioselective opening of N-tosylaziridines with zinc(II) halides

An efficient route for the regio- and stereoselective ring opening of N-tosylaziridines with zinc dihalides (ZnX₂, X = Cl, Br, I) is described. Depending on the solvent and Zn(II) halide, β-halo amines or imidazolines are obtained selectively in good to excellent yields.     

Two storage inventory model with fuzzy deterioration over a random planning horizon

An inventory model for a deteriorating item with stock dependent demand is developed under two storage facilities over a random planning horizon, which is assumed to follow exponential distribution with known parameter. For crisp deterioration rate, the expected profit is derived and maximized via genetic algorithm (GA). On the other hand, when deterioration rate is imprecise then optimistic/pessimistic equivalent of fuzzy objective function is obtained using possibility/necessity measure of fuzzy event. Fuzzy simulation process is proposed to maximize the optimistic/pessimistic return and finally fuzzy simulation-based GA is developed to solve the model. The models are illustrated with some numerical data. Sensitivity analyses on expected profit function with respect to distribution parameter λ and confidence levels α₁ and α₂ are also presented.     

Two-storage inventory model with lot-size dependent fuzzy lead-time under possibility constraints via genetic algorithm

Multi-item inventory models with stock dependent demand and two storage facilities are developed in a fuzzy environment where processing time of each unit is fuzzy and the processing time of a lot is correlated with its size. These are order-quantity reorder-point models with back-ordering if required. Here possibility and crisp constraints on investment and capacity of the small storehouse respectively are considered. The models are formulated as fuzzy chance constrained programming problem and is solved via generalized reduced gradient (GRG) technique when crisp equivalent of the constraints are available. A genetic algorithm (GA) is developed based on fuzzy simulation and entropy where region of search space gradually decreases to a small neighborhood of the optima and it is used to solve the models whenever the equivalent crisp form of the constraint is not available. The models are illustrated with some numerical examples and some sensitivity analyses have been done. For some particular cases results observed via GRG and GA are compared.     

A Synthetic Route to Chiral Dihydrobenzothiazines through Ring Opening of Activated Aziridines with 2‐Halothiophenols/Copper‐Powder‐Mediated C−N Cyclization

A simple protocol for the synthesis of dihydrobenzothiazines through regio‐ and stereoselective S_N2‐type ring opening of N‐tosylaziridines with sulfur nucleophiles followed by copper‐powder‐mediated intramolecular C?N cyclization in excellent yields (up to 95 %) with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity (up to >99 %) is reported.     

Stereoselective Peterson Olefinations from Bench‐Stable Reagents and N‐Phenyl Imines

The synthesis of bench‐stable α,α‐bis(trimethylsilyl)toluenes and tris(trimethylsilyl)methane is described and their use in stereoselective Peterson olefinations has been achieved with a wide substrate scope. Product stereoselectivity was poor with carbonyl electrophiles (E/Z ～1:1 to 4:1) though this was significantly improved by employing the corresponding substituted N‐benzylideneaniline (up to 99:1) as an alternative electrophile. The olefination byproduct was identified as N,N‐bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline and could be easily separated from product by aqueous acid extraction. Evidence for an autocatalytic cycle has been obtained.     

Unsymmetrical diimine complexes of iron(II) and manganese(II): synthesis, structure and photoluminescence of an isomer

Two bis(unsymmetrical diimine) complexes of (L(NO(2))(?1))(L(NO(2))(?2))M(II)Cl(2) family with M = Fe and Mn, are reported (L(NO(2))(?) = (E)-3-nitro-N-(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)aniline; ? = dihedral angle between the diimine unit including pyridine ring and the phenyl ring planes). Pure tcc-(L(NO2)(33.6))(L(NO2)(79.3))Fe(II)Cl(2)·0.5H(2)O (1) and tcc-(L(NO2)(32.0))(L(NO2)(79.4))Mn(II)Cl(2)·0.5H(2)O (2) isomers have been successfully isolated in high yields and characterized by elemental analyses, variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR, mass, UV-vis and M?ssbauer spectra including the single-crystal X-ray structure determinations that identified strong intermolecular non-bonding interactions in lattice (tcc refers to trans-cis-cis positions with respect to pyridine N-imine N-Cl donors). Geometries optimizations of all possible tcc, ttt, ctc, ccc and cct isomers of iron at the B3LYP/DFT level in gas-phase have shown that the tcc-isomer incorporating two non-equivalent ligands as in (L(NO(2))(42))(L(NO(2))(61))Fe(II)Cl(2), 1 (g), is stabilized by 6-20 kJ mol(-1) compared to other isomers where two ligands are equivalent. The frozen methanol glasses of 1 and 2 are luminescent at 77 K (1: λ(ext) = 370, λ(em) = 521 nm, χ(2) = 1.3, τ(avg) = 0.57 ns; 2: λ(ext) = 368, λ(em) = 524 nm, χ(2) = 1.1, τ(avg) = 0.90 ns). The DFT calculations have identified four closely spaced localized π(*) orbitals comprising of two non-equivalent ligands as UPMOs. The features contrast the tcc-isomer of (L(?))(2)Fe(II)Cl(2) (3), congener of 1 without -NO(2) substitution and non-emissive (bpy)(2)Fe(II)Cl(2) (4) where two ligands are equivalent. TD-DFT calculations have assigned intra-ligand (IL) and ligand to ligand charge transfer (LLCT) dominated excited states as the origin of luminescence of 1 and 2.     

SOME EXACT SOLUTIONS OF 3-DIMENSIONAL ZERO-PRESSURE GAS DYNAMICS SYSTEM

The 3-dimensional zero-pressure gas dynamics system appears in the modeling for the large scale structure formation in the universe. The aim of this paper is to construct spherically symmetric solutions to the system. The radial component of the velocity and density satisfy a simpler one dimensional problem. First we construct explicit solutions of this one dimensional case with initial and boundary conditions. Then we get special radial solutions with different behaviours at the origin.     

Photophysical behavior of acridine with amines within the micellar microenvironment of SDS: a time-resolved fluorescence and laser flash photolysis study

The photophysical behavior of acridine (Acr) shows a facilitated water assisted protonation equilibrium between its deprotonated (Acr* ～ 3.4 ns) and protonated forms (AcrH(+)* ～ 33 ns) within a confined environment of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micelles above the critical micellar concentration of 8 mM. The acidic interface of the micelles is capable of protonating Acr whereas deprotonated Acr is partitioned into the hydrophobic core. The time-resolved-area-normalized-emission spectra confirm the presence of both Acr* and AcrH(+)*, while time-resolved-emission spectra depict time evolution between them. Quenching of AcrH(+)* with triethylamine (TEA) results in a linear Stern-Volmer (S-V) plot, whereas non-linearity arises with N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA). Both steady-state and time-resolved quenching results with TEA are explained on the basis of excited state proton transfer (ESPT), however the reasons behind the quenching of excited Acr with DMA are proposed as ESPT followed by a photoinduced electron transfer. Partitioning of DMA at the interface makes it accessible for both Acr* and AcrH(+)* in hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of micelles respectively. The rate of electron transfer at the interface is found to be slower compared to that in the hydrophobic core. Characterization of transient intermediates formed during ESPT and PET between Acr and amines by laser-flash photolysis also supports the observation obtained during fluorescence studies. The mode of interactions between Acr and amines inside micelles is controlled by the localization of the proton/electron donors and acceptors in different hydrophobic or hydrophilic regions of such nano-confined environments.     

Lewis acid mediated SN2-type nucleophilic ring opening followed by [4+2] cycloaddition of N-tosylazetidines with aldehydes and ketones: synthesis of chiral 1,3-oxazinanes and 1,3-amino alcohols

A highly efficient strategy for Cu(OTf)₂ mediated S_N2-type nucleophilic ring opening followed by [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of enantiopure 2-phenyl-N-tosylazetidines with various aldehydes and ketones afforded a variety of substituted 1,3-oxazinanes and 1,3-amino alcohols in excellent yields, excellent de and good to excellent ee. The proposed S_N2-type mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction is supported by experimental evidence.