Microfluorometric study of oxygen dependence of (1"-pyrene butyl)-2-rhodamine ester probe in mitochondria of living cells

The access to oxygen concentration is of importance in various organelles of living cells, especially in mitochondria. A new probe, (1"-pyrene butyl)-2-rhodamine ester, was designed to target this organelle. We present here the properties of the probe in such an environment. Microspectrofluorometry confirms the localization of the probe in the mitochondrial environment at low doses (1 microM). At these doses, the cell toxicity experiments show no effect on the cell growth. The emission spectrum measured at an excitation wavelength of 340 nm (pyrene centered) indicates energy transfer from the pyrene to the rhodamine chromophore, as also observed in an ethanol solution. With excitation at 337 nm, the excited state decays biexponentially with lifetime decays of 6-9 ns and 90 ns. The first corresponds to the intrinsic fluorescence of the cell and the latter corresponds to the pyrene chromophore. In degassed conditions the pyrene lifetime decay increases up to 130 ns. Under an oxygen atmosphere the lifetime decays decrease to 62 ns. The lifetime changes with the oxygen concentration were compared with the range obtained during our previous study in ethanol solution (5-220 ns). The observed differences were interpreted by studying the lifetime of the probe in simplified environments, liposome suspensions and protein solutions. In this paper we show that the new probe can be used to measure the fluctuation of oxygen concentration in the surroundings of mitochondria.     

Binding of AMP,ADP, and ATP Nucleotides by Polyammonium Macrocycles

The macrocyclic polyamines 4 – 6 , when protonated, bind strongly and selectively nucleotides (AMP, ADP, ATP) and pyrophosphate in aqueous solution. The stoichiometry of the complexes formed was determined by titration experiments followed by ³¹ P-NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 4 and 5 form 1:1 complexes with ATP, ADP, and pyrophosphate, whereas 6 forms complexes with ATP and ADP involving 2 nucleotides and 1 receptor molecule. The stability constants of these complexes have been determined by pH-metric measurements. At pH 7, both 5 and 6 give complexes of mainly the fully protonated species 5 . 6H ⁺ and 6 . 8H ⁺, whereas 4 yields predominantly complexes of 4 . 5H ⁺ and 4 . 4H ⁺.     

The Homoallyl-Cyclopropylcarbinyl Cation Rearrangement in the Solvolyses of exo- and endo-5-Norbornen-2-yl p-Bromobenzenesulfonates. Application of 2H-NMR. Spectroscopy

The buffered trifluoroethanolyses and acetolyses of exo-(2-D)- (6) and endo-(2-D)-5-norbornen-2-yl brosylates (7) yielded exo-5-norbornen-2-yl and 3-nortricyclyl derivatives. The deuterium distribution in these products was determined unambiguously by ²H-NMR. and MS. In contrast to previous reports, each hydrogen and, consequently, each deuterium atom could be identified. Product ratio and label distribution in the solvolysis of 6 make unnecessary the intervention of asymmetrical homoallylic cation intermediates. The results are most economically rationalized by invoking symmetrical 3-nortricyclyl ion-pair intermediates.     

Potent inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease: design and synthesis of macrocyclic substrate-based beta-strand mimics

The virally encoded NS3 protease is essential to the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), an important human pathogen causing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The design and synthesis of 15-membered ring beta-strand mimics which are capable of inhibiting the interactions between the HCV NS3 protease enzyme and its polyprotein substrate will be described. The binding interactions between a macrocyclic ligand and the enzyme were explored by NMR and molecular dynamics, and a model of the ligand/enzyme complex was developed.     

Measurements of calcium with a fluorescent probe Rhod-5N: Influence of high ionic strength and pH

We describe a new method for the spectroscopic determination of high calcium concentration using a fluorescent probe Rhod-5N. This method was investigated in order to be utilized in high ionic strength solution, such as seawater. The probe is fluorescent when bound to calcium, LM, but not as the free form L. The dissociation constant of the equilibrium (0.14 mM) was determined at several ionic strengths, i.e. in the absence and in the presence of additional ions (0.7 M NaCl). The influence of pH was studied. In order to correctly model the experimental data, we included a new fluorescent compound: LHM (calcium bound protonated probe). The first acidity constant (0.02 μM) and the second dissociation constant (4.5 mM) were calculated. A useful range for the determination of calcium concentration is provided. Such a method is fast and easy to carry out.     

Ruthenium catalysed oxidation without CCl4 of oleic acid, other monoenic fatty acids and alkenes

Ruthenium catalysed oxidation of alkenes and monoenic fatty acids is reported. The study of the influence of cosolvents (H₂O/MeCN/X) shows that toxic CCl₄ initially used in the Sharpless system (H₂O/MeCN/CCl₄) can be avoided and demonstrates that the oxidative cleavage of CC bond could be accomplished in good yields with H₂O/MeCN/AcOEt solvent system in a ratio 3/2/2, respectively.     

Enthalpy and Entropy of Formation of Alkali and Alkaline-Earth Macrobicyclic Cryptate Complexes [1]

The enthalpies and entropies of complexation of alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations by several macrobicyclic ligands have been obtained from calorimetric measurements and from the previously determined stability constants [2]. Both enthalpy and entropy changes play an important role in the stability and selectivity of the complexes. Particularly noteworthy are the large enthalpies and the negative entropies of complexation obtained for the alkali cation complexes (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ cryptates). The Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ as well as [Li⁺ ? 2.1.1]

1 For use of the symbols see [2].

and [Na⁺ ? 2.2.1] cryptates are of the enthalpy dominant type with also a favourable entropy change. The Ca²⁺ and [Li⁺ ? 2.2.1] cryptates are entirely entropy stabilized with about zero heat of reaction. The high stability of the macrobicyclic complexes as compared to the macromonocylcic ones, the cryptate effect, is of enthalpic origin. The enthalpies of complexation display selectivity peaks, as do the stabilities, whereas the entropy changes do not. The high M²⁺/M⁺ selectivities found in terms of free energy, may be reversed when enthalpy is considered in view of the very different role played by the entropy term for M²⁺ and M⁺ cations. The enthalpies and entropies of ligation show that whereas the cryptate anions are similar in terms of entropy irrespective of which cation is included, the ligands, despite being more rigid than the hydration shell, are nevertheless able to adjust to some extent to the cation. This conclusion agrees with published X-rays data. The origin of the enthalpies and entropies of complexation is discussed in terms of structural features of the ligands and of solvation effects.     

Reduction of a quaternary phenanthridinium salt in a chemical ionization source when introduced by direct injection in acetonitrile

Reduction of phenanthridinium methiodide to its dihydroderivative was observed when a solution of the sample in acetonitrile was injected in the chemical ionization source of a combined liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer equipped with a direct liquid introduction interface and a polarized desolvation chamber.     

Hierarchical self-assembly of supramolecular spintronic modules into 1D- and 2D-architectures with emergence of magnetic properties

Hierarchical self-assembly of complex supramolecular architectures allows for the emergence of novel properties at each level of complexity. The reaction of the ligand components A and B with Fe(II) cations generates the [2x2] grid-type functional building modules 1 and 2, presenting spin-transition properties and preorganizing an array of coordination sites that sets the stage for a second assembly step. Indeed, binding of La(III) ions to 1 and of Ag(I) ions to 2 leads to a 1D columnar superstructure 3 and to a wall-like 2D layer 4, respectively, with concomitant modulation of the magnetic properties of 1 and 2. Thus, to each of the two levels of structural complexity generated by the two sequential self-assembly steps corresponds the emergence of novel functional features.     

All-electrons band structure of Polyene

In this work, we report an all-electron SCF –LCGO –CO computation for the ground state wave-function of an infinite polyenic chain. This work demonstrates that ab initio calculations on the electronic structure of polymers become actually feasible. Our results are compared with previously obtained semi-empirical ones.