Liposome modified with Mn-porphyrin complex can simultaneously induce antioxidative enzyme-like activity of both superoxide dismutase and peroxidase

An antioxidative liposome catalysis that mimics both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities has been developed by using the liposomes modified with lipophilic Mn-(5,10,15,20-tetrakis[1-hexadecylpyridium-4-yl]-21H,23H-porphyrin) (Mn-HPyP). The SOD- and POD-like activities of the Mn-HPyP-modified liposome were first investigated by varying the type of phospholipid, such as 1,2-distearyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC). Higher SOD-like activity was obtained in the case of DLPC and DMPC liposomes, in which the ligands were well-dispersed on the membrane in the liquid crystalline phase. The POD-like activity was maximal in the case of DMPC liposome, in which the Mn-HPyP complex was appropriately clustered on the membrane in the gel phase. On the basis of the above results, the co-induction of the SOD and POD activities to eliminate the superoxide and also hydrogen peroxide as a one-pot reaction was finally performed by using the Mn-HPyP-modified DMPC liposome, resulting in an increase in the efficiency of the elimination of both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.     

Evaluation of interaction forces between profilin and designed peptide probes by atomic force microscopy

We evaluated the binding affinity of peptide probes for profilin (protein) using force curve measurement techniques and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The peptide probes designed and synthesized for this investigation were H-A3GP5GP5GP5G-OH (1), H-A3GP5G-OH (2), H-A3G7-OH (3), and H-A3G-OH (4). Each peptide probe was immobilized on a cantilever tip, and the interaction force to profilin, immobilized on a mica substrate, was examined by force curve measurements. The retraction forces obtained showed a sequence-dependent affinity of the peptide probe for profilin. The retraction force for peptide probe 1 was the largest of the four probes examined, and it confirmed that peptide probe 1 has high affinity for profilin. The single molecular retraction force between peptide probe 1 and profilin was estimated to be 96 pN, as determined by Gaussian fitting to the histogram of the retraction forces.     

Nanohole structure prepared by a polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(methyl methacrylate) mixture film

Cylindrical nanoporous structures were prepared by using a mixture film of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer (PS-b-PMMA) and PMMA homopolymer (hPMMA), and they were analyzed by transmission electron microtomography (TEMT), X-ray reflectivity (XR), and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. For this purpose, the mixture film was spin-coated onto a silicon wafer modified by a neutral brush for PS and PMMA blocks, which generates PMMA cylindrical microdomains oriented normal to the substrate. Two methods were employed to prepare nanoporous structures: (1) all of the PMMA phase (PMMA block and PMMA homopolymer) in the film was removed by UV irradiation, followed by rinsing with a selective solvent (acetic acid) to PMMA and (2) only PMMA homopolymer was removed by selective solvent etching without UV irradiation. We found via TEMT and XR that the nanoporous structure in the film prepared by UV irradiation exhibited almost perfect cylindrical shape throughout the entire film thickness. However, when the film was rinsed with a selective solvent, nanoporous structures were not straight cylinders but had a funnel shape in which the diameter of nanopores located near the top of the film was larger than that located near the bottom of the film.     

Exact determination of phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages toward polymer microspheres by elimination of those attached to the macrophage membrane

A method for exact determination of phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophage (M) cells toward synthetic microspheres (MS) by optical microscopy was developed. We examined the effectiveness of the treatment of M samples with trypsin, acid or xylene to remove the polystyrene latex microspheres (PSL MS) attached to M cell membranes during their phagocytosis by M cells. We found that centrifugation, which was employed to collect M samples after incubation with MS, affected significantly the efficiency of the various treatments. Of the three treatments, xylene treatment without centrifugation was the most effective to determine the phagocytic activity of M cells, as xylene dissolved the PSL MS on the cell surface almost completely. This treatment was also effective in the case of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) MS (PLGA MS), which have been commonly used as an efficient vehicle for drug delivery system.     

Directed aggregation and fusion of lipid vesicles induced by DNA-surfactants

We investigated DNA-directed aggregation of vesicles using DNA-surfactants. Following tethering of single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides to vesicles using DNA-surfactant, the tethered vesicles were assembled with other vesicles bearing complementary strands. The vesicle aggregation was strongly affected by the salt concentration and by temperature according to the characteristics of DNA hybridization. Restriction enzyme, which can hydrolyze the double-stranded DNA used in the present study, dissociated the vesicle aggregates. Exploration using fluorescently labeled vesicles suggested that the DNA-directed vesicle aggregation took place in a sequence-specific manner through DNA-duplex formation. Interestingly, the DNA-directed aggregation using short DNA-surfactant induced the fusion of vesicles to produce giant vesicles, resulting in an enzymatic reaction in the giant vesicle.     

Generation of low-molecular-weight organic compounds in water by titania photocatalyst under UV-Vis light radiation

We attempted to develop a new type titania photocatalyst that, when activated, responded in not only the ultraviolet rays region but also visible light radiation region by the new titania photocatalyst with the zirconia and nitrogen simultaneously introduced in the titania lattice. The decomposition performance of the standard organic compound in water by this new type titania photocatalyst nanoparticle was compared with the conventional type under both the ultraviolet ray and visible light radiation conditions. It was suggested that the low-molecular-weight organic compounds were also generated from the organic compound in water by the new type titania photocatalyst activities under the visible light radiation.     

Comparative study on the structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes

Three types of bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes were successfully prepared by Ti(II)-mediated cyclization of the corresponding dialkynylated bithiophene derivatives as a key step. Each sigma(3)-phosphorus center of the benzo[c]phosphole subunits was readily transformed into sigma(4)-phosphorus center by Au coordination or oxygenation. In addition, the bithiophene subunit was functionalized at the alpha,alpha'-carbon atoms by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with heteroarylmetals and by an S(N)Ar reaction with hexafluorobenzene. The experimentally observed results (NMR spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, UV/Vis absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy, and cyclic/differential-pulse voltammetry) have revealed that the structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of the bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes vary considerably depending on the pi-conjugation modes at the bithiophene subunits and the substituents of the heterocyclopentadiene components. The appropriately ring-annulated sigma(3)-P derivatives and sigma(4)-P-AuCl complexes were found to emit fluorescence in the orange-red region, and the sigma(4)-P-oxo derivatives proved to undergo reversible one-electron reduction at -1.4 to -1.8 V (vs ferrocene/ferrocenium). These results indicate that the bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes possess narrow HOMO-LUMO gaps and low-lying LUMOs, which was confirmed by density functional theory calculations of their model compounds. The time-of-flight measurement of an ITO/benzo[c]phosphole/Al device showed that the electron mobility in the P-oxo derivative is one-order higher than that in Alq(3) at low electric fields. The present study demonstrates that the arene-fused benzo[c]phosphole skeleton could be a highly promising platform for the construction of a new class of phosphole-based optoelectrochemical materials.     

meso-Aryl substituted rubyrin and its higher homologues: structural characterization and chemical properties

meso-Aryl substituted rubyrin ([26]hexaphyrin(1.1.0.1.1.0)) 2 and a series of rubyrin-type large expanded porphyrins were obtained from a facile one-pot oxidative coupling reaction of meso-pentafluorophenyl substituted tripyrrane 1. The structures of two of the resulting products were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Whereas [52]dodecaphyrin(1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0) 4 takes a symmetric helical conformation, the larger species, [62]pentadecaphyrin(1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0.1.1.0) 5, adopts a nonsymmetric distorted conformation in the solid state that contains an intramolecular helical structure. The ability of rubyrin 2 to act as an anion receptor in its diprotonated form (2(.)2H(+)) was demonstrated in methanolic solutions. Oxidation of 2 with MnO(2) gave [24]rubyrin 6, a species that displays antiaromatic characteristics. [26]Rubyrin 2 and [24]rubyrin 6 both underwent metallation when reacted with Zn(OAc)(2) to give the corresponding bis-zinc(II) complexes 7 and 8 quantitatively without engendering a change in the oxidation state of the ligands. As a result, complexes 7 and 8 exhibit aromatic and antiaromatic character, respectively. NICS calculation on these compounds also supported aromaticity of 2 and 7, and antiaromaticity of 6 and 8.     

Turn-on fluorescence sensing of nucleoside polyphosphates using a xanthene-based Zn(II) complex chemosensor

Fluorescence sensing with small molecular chemosensors is a versatile technique for elucidation of function of various biological substances. We now report a new fluorescent chemosensor for nucleoside polyphosphates such as ATP using metal-anion coordination chemistry. The chemosensor 1-2Zn(II) is comprised of the two sites of 2,2'-dipicolylamine (Dpa)-Zn(II) as the binding motifs and xanthene as a fluorescent sensing unit for nucleoside polyphosphates. The chemosensor 1-2Zn(II) selectively senses nucleoside polyphosphates with a large fluorescence enhancement (F/F(o) > 15) and strong binding affinity (K(app) approximately = 1 x 10(6) M(-1)), whereas no detectable fluorescence change was induced by monophosphate species and various other anions. The 'turn-on,' fluorescence of 1-2Zn(II) is based on a new mechanism, which involves the binding-induced recovery of the conjugated form of the xanthene ring from its nonfluorescent deconjugated state which was formed by an unprecedented nucleophilic attack of zinc-bound water. The selective and highly sensitive ability of 1-2Zn(II) to detect nucleoside polyphosphates enables its bioanalytical applications in fluorescence visualization of ATP particulate stores in living cells, demonstrating the potential utility of 1-2Zn(II).