Enamino derivatives of 1,3-dioxoindane-2-carboxylic acid

Although 1,3-dioxoindane-2-carboxylic acid is highly unstable, its enamino derivatives can be isolated by careful hydrolysis of their esters with 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Crystal structure determination reveals the formation of two intramolecular hydrogen bonds, offering thus a possible explanation for the stability of these acids.     

Bi‐directional ACET micropump for on‐chip biological applications

The ability to control and pump high ionic strength fluids inside microchannels forms a major advantage for clinical diagnostics and drug screening processes, where high conductive biological and physiological buffers are used. Despite the known potential of AC electro‐thermal (ACET) effect in different biomedical applications, comparatively little is known about controlling the velocity and direction of fluid inside the chip. Here, we proposed to discretize the conventional electrodes to form various asymmetric electrode structures in order to control the fluid direction by simple switching the appropriate electric potential applied to the discretized electrodes. The ACET pumping effect was numerically studied by solving electrical, thermal and hydrodynamic multi‐physic coupled equations to optimize the geometrical dimensions of the discretized system. PBS solutions with different ionic strength were seeded with 1 μm sized fluorescent particles and electrothermally driven fluid motion was observed inside the channel for different electrode structures. Experimental analyses confirm that the proposed micropump is efficient for a conductivity range between 0.1 and 1 S/m and the efficiency improves by increasing the voltage amplitude. Behavior of the proposed electrode–electrolyte system is discussed by lumped circuit model. Frequency response of system illustrated that the optimal frequency range increases by increasing the conductivity of medium. For 0.18 S/m PBS solution, the constant pumping effect was observed at frequency range between 100 kHz and 1 MHz, while frequency range of 100 kHz to 5 MHZ was observed for 0.42 S/m. The characteristics of experimental results were in good agreement with the theoretical model.     

The influence of thermo-hygro-mechanical treatment on the micro- and nanoscale architecture of wood cell walls using small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering

Tracking the changes of cellulose crystallites upon thermo-hygro-mechanical treatment is essential to understand the response of wood cell walls to steam and compression. In this paper the influence of Compression combined with Steam (CS) treatment on wood cellulose crystallites and pores structure of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) was studied under different steaming temperatures and compression ratios. Small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray scattering were used to investigate the changes of cellulose crystallites dimension, aspect ratio, fibril diameter distribution, non-crystalline fraction, the number of chains in each microfibril, as well as the fractal dimension and size of pores in response to CS treatment conditions. Results indicate that the crystallinity increased due to CS treatment, but did not show alteration with varying CS treatment conditions, i.e. seemed nearly unaffected by higher temperatures or compression ratio, both for earlywood and latewood. The cellulose crystallite diameter depended on processing parameters: it increased with increasing treatment temperature. No considerable differences were found for earlywood and latewood. We interpret our findings as a rearrangement of adjacent cellulose chains towards higher crystalline perfection attributing to the increase in crystallinity. The same effect allows a larger coherence length of crystalline order and therefore features an increasing cross-sectional dimension. In general we can state that the CS treatment leads to higher crystallinity and more perfectly arranged cellulose crystals, while it does not greatly affect the microfibril diameter but rather the amorphous regions of the microfibrils and the surrounding hemicellulose and lignin.     

Nanopharmacological Force Sensing to Reveal Allosteric Coupling in Transporter Binding Sites

Controversy regarding the number and function of ligand binding sites in neurotransmitter/sodium symporters arose from conflicting data in crystal structures and molecular pharmacology. Here, we have designed novel tools for atomic force microscopy that directly measure the interaction forces between the serotonin transporter (SERT) and the S‐ and R‐enantiomers of citalopram on the single molecule level. This approach is based on force spectroscopy, which allows for the extraction of dynamic information under physiological conditions thus inaccessible via X‐ray crystallography. Two distinct populations of characteristic binding strengths of citalopram to SERT were revealed in Na⁺‐containing buffer. In contrast, in Li⁺‐containing buffer, SERT showed only low force interactions. Conversely, the vestibular mutant SERT‐G402H merely displayed the high force population. These observations provide physical evidence for the existence of two binding sites in SERT when accessed in a physiological context. Competition experiments revealed that these two sites are allosterically coupled and exert reciprocal modulation.     

Quantitative analysis of N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine molecular species in rat brain using solid‐phase extraction combined with reversed‐phase chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

A novel method for the sensitive and selective identification and quantification of N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine molecular species was developed. Samples were prepared using a combination of liquid–liquid and solid‐phase extraction, and intact N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine species were determined by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to positive electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. As a result of their biological functions as precursors for N‐acylethanolamines and as signaling molecules, tissue concentrations of N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamines are very low, and their analysis is additionally hindered by the vast excess of other sample components. Our sample preparation methods are able to selectively separate the analytes of interest from any expected biological interferences. Finally, the highest selectivity is achieved by coupling chromatographic separation and two N‐acyl chain specific selected reaction monitoring scans per analyte, enabling identification of both the N‐acyl chain and the phosphatidylethanolamine moiety. The validated method is suitable for the reliable quantification of N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine species from rat brain with a lower limit of quantification of 10 pmol/g and a linear range up to 2300 pmol/g. In total, 41 N‐acylphosphatidylethanolamine molecular species with six different N‐acyl chains, amounting to a total concentration of 3 nmol/g, were quantified.     

Optimization of a biocatalytic single-step alkene cleavage of aryl alkenes

The oxidative cleavage of a CC double bond adjacent to an aryl moiety was achieved in the presence of a protein preparation of Trametes hirsuta G FCC 047 to yield the corresponding aldehydes. Molecular oxygen was the only oxidant required. All positive substrates had a CC bond conjugated to an aromatic system, all other compounds tested not fulfilling this requirement were non-substrates. The optimum reaction conditions are 20 °C, pH 6-6.5, 15% v/v ethanol as co-solvent at an apparent oxygen pressure of 2 bar.     

Electrophoretic methods for analysis of urinary polypeptides in IgA-associated renal diseases

We evaluated the utility of SDS-PAGE/Western blot and CE coupled with MS (CE-MS) for detection of urinary polypeptide biomarkers of renal disease in patients with IgA-associated glomerulonephritides. In a reference cohort of 402 patients with various renal disorders and 207 healthy controls, we defined CE-MS patterns of renal damage and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). In a blinded analysis of a separate cohort of patients with IgAN (n = 10), Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP) with nephritis (n = 10), and IgA-associated glomerulonephritis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced cirrhosis (n = 9), and healthy controls (n = 12), we compared SDS-PAGE/Western blot and CE-MS against clinical urinalysis for detection of urinary proteins/polypeptides. Urinalysis indicated proteinuria for 50, 90, and 33% of patients, respectively, and for none of the healthy controls. SDS-PAGE/Western blot showed urinary polypeptides abnormality for 90, 80, and 67% of patients, respectively, and for none of the healthy controls. CE-MS indicated a Renal Damage Pattern in 80, 80, and 100 of patients, respectively, and in 17% of healthy controls, with the more specific IgAN Pattern in 90, 90, and 1%, respectively, and in none of the healthy controls. Based on differences in CE-MS patterns, the disease mechanisms may differ among various IgA-associated glomerulonephritides. These exploratory findings should be evaluated in a prospective study with contemporaneous renal biopsy and urinary testing. If validated, it may be feasible to adapt the CE-MS methodology to develop novel tests to detect renal injury at earlier stages, assess clinical manifestations, and monitor responses to therapy in patients with IgA-associated renal diseases.     

Silica- and alkoxysilane-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles: a promising tool to label cells for magnetic resonance imaging

In this study silica- and alkoxysilane-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles were synthesized, and their ability to label immortalized progenitor cells for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was compared. USPIO particles were synthesized by coprecipitation of ferric and ferrous salts. Subsequently, the particles were coated with silica, (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS), and [N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS). The size of the USPIO particles was about 10 nm without a significant increase in diameter after coating. The highest T2 relaxivity was achieved for silica-coated USPIO particles, 339.80 +/- 0.22 s-1 mM-1, as compared with APTMS- and AEAPTMS-coated ones, reaching 134.40 +/- 0.01 and 84.79 +/- 0.02 s-1 mM-1, respectively. No toxic effects on the cells could be detected by trypan blue, TUNEL, and MTS assays. Uptake of USPIO particles was evaluated by Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, T2-MR relaxometry, and mass spectrometry. It was found that cell uptake of the different USPIO particles increased for longer incubation times and higher doses. Maximum cellular iron concentrations of 42.1 +/- 4.0 pg/cell (silica-coated USPIO particles), 37.1 +/- 3.5 pg/cell (APTMS-coated USPIO particles), and 32.7 +/- 4.0 pg/cell (AEAPTMS-coated USPIO particles) were achieved after incubation of the cells with USPIO particles at a dose of 3 micromol/mL for 6 h. The decrease of the T2 relaxation time of the cell pellets was most pronounced for cells incubated with silica-coated USPIO particles followed by APTMS- and AEAPTMS-coated particles, respectively. In gelatin gels even small clusters of labeled cells were detected by 1.5 T MRI, and significant changes in the T2 relaxation times of the gels were determined for 10000 labeled cells/mL for all particles. In summary, as compared with APTMS- and AEAPTMS-coated particles, silica-coated USPIO particles provide the highest T2 relaxivity and most effectively reduce the T2 relaxation time of immortalized progenitor cells after internalization. This suggests silica-coated USPIO particles are most suited for cell labeling approaches in MRI.     

Liquid-crystalline and electron-deficient coronene oligocarboxylic esters and imides by twofold benzogenic Diels-Alder reactions on perylenes

Alkyl esters, imides and imido-esters of coronene-tri-, -tetra- and -octacarboxylic acids are accessible by a twofold oxidative benzogenic Diels-Alder reaction. Alkyl acrylates add to perylene, and maleic alkyl imides react twice with perylene as well as with perylene-tetracarboxylic tetraesters. Coronenes substituted with a greatly variable number of electron-withdrawing substituents are thus accessible, and di- and tetraimide derivatives are shown to be very pronounced electron-acceptor materials. The tri- and tetraalkyl esters and imidoesters self-assemble into columnar liquid-crystalline phases.     

Molar volume, excess enthalpy, and Prigogine-Defay ratio of some silicate glasses with different (P,T) histories

Structural relaxation in silicate glasses with different (p,T) histories was experimentally examined by differential scanning calorimetry and measurements of molar volume under ambient pressure. Temperature and pressure-dependent rates of changes in molar volume and generation of excess enthalpy were determined for sodium trisilicate, soda lime silicate, and sodium borosilicate (NBS) compositions. From the derived data, Prigogine-Defay ratios are calculated and discussed. Changes of excess enthalpy are governed mainly by changes in short-range structure, as is shown for NBS where boron coordination is highly sensitive to pressure. For all three glasses, it is shown how the relaxation functions that underlie volume, enthalpy, and structural relaxation decouple for changes in cooling rates and pressure of freezing, respectively. The magnitude of the divergence between enthalpy and volume may be related to differences in structural sensitivity to changes in the (p,V,T,t) space on different length scales. The findings suggest that the Prigogine-Defay ratio is related to the magnitude of the discussed decoupling effect.