Structural determinants of CDK4 inhibition and design of selective ATP competitive inhibitors

A number of selective inhibitors of the CDK4/cyclin D1 complex have been reported recently. Due to the absence of an experimental CDK4 structure, the ligand and protein determinants contributing to CDK4 selectivity are poorly understood at present. Here, we report the use of computational methods to elucidate the characteristics of selectivity and to derive the structural basis for specific, high-affinity binding of inhibitors to the CDK4 active site. From these data, the hypothesis emerged that appropriate incorporation of an ionizable function into a CDK2 inhibitor results in more favorable binding to CDK4. This knowledge was applied to the design of compounds in the otherwise CDK2-selective 2-anilino-4-(thiazol-5-yl)pyrimidine pharmacophore that are potent and highly selective ATP antagonists of CDK4/cyclin D1. The findings of this study also have significant implications in the design of CDK4 mimic structures based on CDK2.     

Xanthan Gum Production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris</Emphasis> IBSBF 1866 and 1867 from Lignocellulosic Agroindustrial Wastes

This study aimed to evaluate the properties of xanthan gum produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 1866 and 1867 from lignocellulosic agroindustrial wastes. XG was produced using an orbital shaker in a culture medium containing coconut shell (CS), cocoa husks (CH), or sucrose (S) minimally supplemented with urea and potassium. The XG production results varied between the CS, CH, and S means, and it was higher with the CH in strains 1866 (4.48 g L^?1) and 1867 (3.89 g L^?1). However, there was more apparent viscosity in the S gum (181.88 mPas) and the CS gum (112.06 mPas) for both 1866 and 1867, respectively. The ability of XG_CS and XG_CH to emulsify different vegetable oils was similar to the ability of XG_S. All gums exhibited good thermal stability and marked groups in the elucidation of compounds and particles with rough surfaces.     

The relative stabilities of tetrafluoroethylene and Hexafluoro-2-butyne adducts of fluoro- or chlorobis- triphenylphosphine)carbonyliridium

Tetracyanoethylene, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoro-2-butyne form 1/1 adducts with trans-IrF(CO)(PPh₃)₂. Enthalpies of dissociation for the reactions:

(X = F or Cl; L = C₂F₄ or C₄F₆) have been measured. More stable adducts are formed when X = F.     

Molecular Structures and Photophysical Properties of Dirhodium Fluorophosphine Complexes

The excited state properties of a series of singly bonded dirhodium compounds, consisting of Rh(0)(2), Rh(0)Rh(II)X(2), and Rh(II)(2)X(4) (X = Cl and Br) cores coordinated by three bis(difluorophosphino)methylamine ligands, have been investigated. The newly synthesized complexes with X = Br have been structurally characterized. The mixed-valence complex Rh(2)[&mgr;-CH(3)N(PF(2))(2)](3)Br(2)[(PF(2))CH(3)N(PF(2))] crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 13.868(7) ?, b = 16.090(5) ?, c = 11.614(5) ?, V = 1591(3) ?(3), and Z = 4; the structure was refined to values of R = 0.052 and R(w) = 0.062. Orange crystals of Rh(2)[&mgr;-CH(3)N(PF(2))(2)](3)Br(4) are monoclinic with a C2/c space group: a = 14.62(6) ?, b = 12.20(2) ?, c = 14.33(1) ?; beta = 106.0(2) degrees; V = 2457(11) ?(3); Z = 4; and R = 0.058 and R(w) = 0.056. Crystalline solids and low-temperature glasses of each member of the chloride and bromide series exhibit long-lived red luminescence. Excitation profiles and temperature dependencies of the emission bandwidths and lifetimes for all complexes are characteristic of luminescence originating from a dsigma excited state. Efficient nonradiative decay is observed upon the thermal population of an excited state proximate to the lowest energy emissive excited state of these complexes. The nonradiative decay rate constant of the upper excited state is 10(2)-10(3) and 10(3)-10(4) greater than that of the emissive excited state for complexes with X = Cl and Br, respectively.     

Examination of cucurbit[7]uril and its host-guest complexes by diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance

The self-diffusion of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and its host-guest complexes in D2O has been examined using pulsed gradient spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. CB[7] diffuses freely at a concentration of 2 mM with a diffusion coefficient (D) of 3.07 x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1). At saturation (3.7 mM), CB[7] diffuses more slowly (D = 2.82 x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1)) indicating that it partially self-associates. At concentrations between 2 and 200 mM, CsCl has no effect on the diffusion coefficient of CB[7] (1 mM). Conversely, CB[7] (2 mM) significantly affects the diffusion of 133Cs+ (1 mM), decreasing its diffusion coefficient from 1.86 to 0.83 x 10(-9) m(2) s(-1). Similar changes in the rate of diffusion of other alkali earth metal cations are observed upon the addition of CB[7]. The diffusion coefficient of 23Na+ changes from 1.26 to 0.90 x 10(-9) m(2) s(-1) and 7Li+ changes from 3.40 to 3.07 x 10(-9) m(2) s(-1). In most cases, encapsulation of a variety of inorganic and organic guests within CB[7] decreases their rates of diffusion in D2O. For instance, the diffusion coefficient of the dinuclear platinum complex trans-[[PtCl(NH3)2}2mu-dpzm](2+) (where dpzm is 4,4'-dipyrazolylmethane) decreases from 4.88 to 2.95 x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1) upon encapsulation with an equimolar concentration of CB[7].     

Novel platinum(II)-based anticancer complexes and molecular hosts as their drug delivery vehicles

Platinum(II)-based DNA intercalators where the intercalating ligand is 1,10-phenanthroline or a phenanthroline derivative and where the ancillary ligand is either achiral (e.g. ethylenediamine) or chiral (e.g. diaminocyclohexane) show a range of cytotoxicities with a defined structure-activity relationship. The most cytotoxic are those that contain methylated-phenanthroline ligands and 1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane (S,S-dach) as the ancillary ligand. We have developed a new purification method using Sep-Pak C-18 reverse phase columns, which means these metal complexes can be made faster and cheaper compared to published methods. Platinum(II)-based complexes containing imidazole, pyrrole and beta-alanine subunits, that are capable of recognising specific DNA base-pair sequences have also been synthesised. These include linear or hairpin polyamide ligands that can recognise DNA sequences up to seven base-pairs in length and contain single platinum centres capable of forming monofunctional adducts with DNA. We have now synthesised and characterised, by (1)H and (195)Pt NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis, the first dinuclear platinum(II) DNA sequence selective agent. Finally, using (1)H NMR we have examined the encapsulation of our platinum(II)-based DNA intercalators by cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]). Encapsulation by CB[6] was found to not significantly change the cytotoxicity of five platinum(II)-based DNA intercalators, indicating it may have utility as a molecular carrier for improved drug delivery.     

Exotic superconducting properties in the electron-hole-compensated heavy-fermion "Semimetal" URu2Si2

We show that the charge and thermal transport measurements on ultraclean crystals of URu2Si2 reveal a number of unprecedented superconducting properties. The uniqueness is best highlighted by the peculiar field dependence of thermal conductivity including the first-order transition at Hc2 with a reduction of entropy flow. This is a consequence of multiband superconductivity with compensated electronic structure in the hidden order state of this system. We provide strong evidence for a new type of unconventional superconductivity with two distinct gaps having different nodal topology.     

Comparison of mass spectrometry and other techniques for probing interactions between metal complexes and DNA

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to study the binding interactions of two series of ruthenium complexes, [Ru(phen) 2L] (2+) and [RuL' 2(dpqC)] (2+), to a double stranded DNA hexadecamer, and derive orders of relative binding affinity. These were shown to be in good agreement with orders of relative binding affinity derived from absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic examination of the same systems and from DNA melting curves. However, the extent of luminescence enhancement caused by the addition of DNA to solutions of the ruthenium complexes showed little correlation with orders of binding affinity derived from ESI-MS or any of the other techniques. Overall the results provide support for the validity of using ESI-MS to investigate non-covalent interactions between metal complexes and DNA.     

Specific effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the cholesterol-poor membrane domain in a model membrane

To understand more fully the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on lipid bilayers, we investigated the effects of treatment with fatty acids on the properties of a model membrane. Three kinds of liposomes comprising dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and cholesterol (Ch) were used as the model membrane, and the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and detergent insolubility were determined. Characterization of the liposomes clarified that DPPC, DPPC/Ch, and DPPC/DOPC/Ch existed as solid-ordered phase (L beta), liquid-ordered phase (l o), and a mixture of l o and liquid-disordered phase (L alpha) membranes at room temperature. Treatment with unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (OA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) markedly decreased the fluorescence anisotropy value and detergent insolubility. PUFAs and OA had different effects on the model membranes. In DPPC liposomes, the most prominent change was induced by PUFAs, whereas, in DPPC/Ch and DPPC/DOPC/Ch liposomes, OA had a stronger effect than PUFAs. The effect of PUFAs was strongly affected by the amount of Ch in the membrane, which confirmed a specific effect of PUFAs on the Ch-poor membrane domain. We further explored the effect of fatty acids dispersed in a water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsion and found that unsaturated fatty acids acted on the membranes even when incorporated in emulsion form. These findings suggest that treatment with PUFAs increases the segregation of ordered and disordered phase domains in membranes.