Synthesis, 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor affinity and docking studies of 3-[3-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)-propyl]-1H-indole derivatives

A series of 3-[3-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)-propyl]-1H-indole derivatives (12a-h) was synthesized and evaluated for binding affinity at the human 5-hydroxytryptamine(1A) receptor (5-HT(1A)R) compounds (12b) and (12h) showed the highest 5-HT(1A) receptor affinity (IC(50)=15 nM). Molecular docking studies with all the compounds in a homology model of 5-HT(1A) showed that the main interaction anchoring the ligand in the receptor was a charge-reinforced bond between the protonated nitrogen atom (N-4) of the piperazine ring and Aspartate(3.32).     

Application of affinity selection-mass spectrometry assays to purification and affinity-based screening of the chemokine receptor CXCR4

Affinity selection-mass spectrometry (AS-MS) is a sensitive technology for identifying small molecules that bind to target proteins, and assays enabled by AS-MS can be used to delineate relative binding affinities of ligands for proteins. 'Indirect' AS-MS assays employ size-exclusion techniques to separate target-ligand complexes from unbound ligands, and target-associated ligands are then specifically detected by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. We report how indirect AS-MS binding assays with known reference control compounds were used as guideposts for development of an optimized purification method for CXCR4, a G-protein coupled chemokine receptor, for which we sought novel antagonists. The CXCR4 purification method that was developed was amenable to scale-up and enabled the screening of purified recombinant human CXCR4 against a large combinatorial library of small molecules by high throughput indirect AS-MS. The screen resulted in the discovery of new ligands that competed off binding of reference compounds to CXCR4 in AS-MS binding assays and that antagonized SDF1α-triggered responses and CXCR4-mediated HIV1 viral uptake in cell-based assays. This report provides a methodological paradigm whereby indirect AS-MS-based ligand binding assays may be used to guide optimal integral membrane protein purification methods that enable downstream affinity selection-based applications such as high throughput AS-MS screens.     

Recent advances in chiral separation principles in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography

This review summarizes recent developments in chiral separation in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), electrokinetic chromatography (EKC), and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) covering literature published since the year 2000. New chiral selectors and innovative approaches for CE and CEC are introduced. Recent progress in column technology for CEC is highlighted and the development of new chiral stationary phases is discussed. This review is not dedicated to list applications but will focus on new developments.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and thermal properties of [Et4N][Ta6Br12(H2O)6]Br4·4H2O (Et=ethyl)—A new compound with the paramagnetic [Ta6Br12] cluster core

A new hexanuclear cluster compound, [Et₄N][Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]Br₄·4H₂O (Et=ethyl) (1), with the paramagnetic [Ta₆Br₁₂]³⁺ cluster entity, was synthesized and characterized by elemental and TG/DTA analyses, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The presence of the paramagnetic [Ta₆Br₁₂]³⁺ unit was confirmed also by the room-temperature magnetic and EPR measurements. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal I4₁/a space group, with a=14.299(5), c=21.241(5) Å, Z=4, R₁(F)/wR₂(F²)=0.0296/0.0811. The structure contains discrete [Ta₆Br₁₂(H₂O)₆]³⁺ cations with an octahedron of metal atoms edge-bridged by bromine atoms and with water molecules occupying all six terminal positions. The cluster units are positioned in the vertices of the three-dimensional (pseudo)diamond lattice. The structure shows similarities with literature reported structures of cluster compounds crystallizing in the diamond space group.     

Triplet state excitation of alkali molecules on helium droplets: experiments and theory

In this paper, we discuss the electronic structure of alkali dimer molecules in 3Pig states on the surface of a helium droplet. The perturbation due to the droplet will in general not satisfy rotational symmetry around the internuclear axis of the diatom and thus, in addition to a broadening and blue shift, will cause a splitting of electronic levels that are degenerate in the free molecules. We propose a model based on general symmetry arguments and on a small number of physically reasonable parameters. We demonstrate that such a model accounts for the essential features of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of the (1)3Pig-a3Sigma+ transition of Rb2 and K2. Furthermore the MCD spectra, analyzed according to the approach of Langford and Williamson [J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 2415], allow a determination of the populations of Zeeman sublevels in the ground state and thus a measurement of the surface temperature of the droplet. The latter agrees with the accepted temperature, 0.37 K, measured in the interior of a droplet.     

Enzyme-purification and catalytic transformations in a microstructured PASSflow reactor using a new tyrosine-based Ni-NTA linker system attached to a polyvinylpyrrolidinone-based matrix

The synthesis of a Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) attached via a new tyrosine-based linker matrix on monolithic crosslinked poly(vinyl benzyl chloride)/poly(vinylpyrrolidinone) is described. This matrix is incorporated inside a microstructured PASSflow reactor which was used for automatic purification and immobilisation of His(6)-tagged proteins. These could be used as stable and highly active biocatalysts for the synthesis of (R)-benzoin (6), (R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylpropan-1-one (7) and 6-O-acetyl-D-glucal (17) in a flow-through mode.     

Physicochemical investigation of a lipid with a new core structure for gene transfection: 2-amino-3-hexadecyloxy-2-(hexadecyloxymethyl)propan-1-ol

Cationic liposomes/DNA complexes can be used as nonviral vectors for direct delivery of DNA-based biopharmaceuticals to damaged cells and tissues. In order to obtain more effective and safer liposome-based gene transfection systems, the new cationic lipid 2-amino-3-hexadecyloxy-2-(hexadecyloxymethyl)propan-1-ol (AHHP) was synthesized. In this paper we report on the synthesis of AHHP and investigations of its physical-chemical properties. Langmuir monolayers of AHHP were studied at the air/buffer interface by film balance measurements, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Structure and thermotropic phase behavior of AHHP in aqueous dispersion were examined by small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show clear differences in structure and phase behavior of AHHP, both in the monolayer system and in aqueous dispersions, in dependence on the subphase pH due to protonation or deprotonation of the primary amine in the lipid head group. Thermodynamic data derived from pi-A isotherms provide information about the critical temperature (Tc), which is in rough agreement with the temperature of the lipid phase transition from gel to fluid state (Tm) found by X-ray and calorimetry studies of AHHP aqueous dispersions. The packing properties of the molecules in mono- and bilayer systems are very similar. DNA couples to the monolayer of the new lipid at low as well as at high pH but in different amounts. The DNA coupling leads to an alignment of adsorbed DNA strands indicated by the appearance of a Bragg peak. The distance between aligned DNA strands does not change much with increasing monolayer pressure.     

Fourier transform infrared studies of alternate acid-amine Langmuir-Blodgett films with pyroelectric properties

FTIR-RAIRS and ATR techniques are shown to provide a powerful means of investigating the molecular behaviour responsible for the pyroelectric properties of organic monolayer assemblies on silicon and aluminised glass. Spectral changes, associated with either proton transfer or head group rearrangement, are well correlated with the level of pyroelectric response for two different devices. The technique promises to be extremely important for the elucidation of the microscopic properties of molecular electronic devices.