A radioanalytical technique to study the behavior of organic toxicants applied to a study of the photodegradation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

A general method for tritium labeling of organic compounds by the use of thermal activation of tritium is described. It allows obtaining uniformly tritium-labeled organic compounds with high specific activity (up to 50 Ci/mmol) which permits tracing the majority of the biodegradation products of compounds studied. More than 40 compounds were labeled using this simple, rapid and inexpensive method. Separation of the biodegradation products is performed by thin layer chromatography. Quantification is performed by direct measurement of the radioactivity by liquid scintillation counting after transfer of the layer from TLC plates into scintillation vials, or by densitometry of autoradiographs. The technique is useful for a wide range of organic compounds, including ones with unknown structure, and can be applied to various in vivo and in vitro studies.     

CONTRASTING STRUCTURAL IMPACTS INDUCED BY cis-syn CYCLOBUTANE DIMER AND (6–4) ADDUCT IN DNA DUPLEX DECAMERS: IMPLICATION IN MUTAGENESIS AND REPAIR ACTIVITY

Abstract—
The relative biological importance of cis-syn cyclobutane dimer and pyrimidine(6–4)pyr-imidone photoadduct ([6–4] photoadduct) appears to be dependent on the biological species, dipyrimidine sites and the local conformational variation induced at the damaged sites. The single-stranded deoxyn-ucleotide 10-mers containing the site-specific (6–4) adduct or cis-syn cyclobutane dimer of thymidylyl (3'-5')-thymidine were generated by direct photolysis of d(CGCATTACGC) with UVC (220–260 nm) irradiation or UVB (260–320 nm) photosensitization. Three-dimensional structures of the duplex cis-syn and (6–4) decamers of d(CGCATTACGC)d(GCGTAATGCG) were determined by NMR spectroscopy and the relaxation matrix refinement method. The NMR data and structural calculations establish that Watson-Crick base pairing is still intact at the cis-syn dimer site while the hydrogen bonding is absent at the 3'-side of the (6–4) lesion where the T → C transition mutation is predominantly targeted. Overall conformation of the duplex cis-syn decamer was B-DNA and produced a 9° bending in the DNA helix, but a distinctive base orientation of the (6–4) lesion provided a structural basis leading to 44° helical bending. The observed local structure and conformational rigidity at the (6–4) adduct of the thymidylyl(3'-5')-thymidine (T-T [6–4]) lesion site suggest the potential absence of hydrogen bonding at the 3' sides of the (6–4) lesion with a substituted nucleotide during replication under SOS conditions. Contrasting structural distortions induced by the T-T (6–4) adduct with respect to the T-T cis-syn cyclobutane pyrimidine photodimer may explain the large differences in mutation spectrum and repair activities between them.     

A rapid and simple method for the isolation of mutant variants regulating tissue-specific expression of the tni gene through drug selection

TnINEO fusion gene was constructed by fusing 3.4-kbp of quailTnI genomic DNA sequences spanning the promoter to exon 5 and aneo gene in frame. A myoblast cell line was established after transfection of pTnINEO. Since this cell line was passaged several times, a high frequency of neomycin (G418) sensitivity conversion was detected. Two drug-resistant variants were analyzed through genomic Southern blot and S1 nuclease protection assay. One variant has a mutation(s) in the regulatory element that activated the dormantTnI promoter-enhancer in myoblast, and the other has shown the genomic rearrangement. This result presented the possibility of isolating factor(s) that activate the muscle-specificTnI promoter simply by screening drug-resistant cells having appropriate mutations.     

Lithium isotope separation by chemical exchange with polymer-bound azacrown compounds

The chromatographic separation of lithium isotopes was investigated by chemical exchange with the recently synthesized polymer-bound dibenzo pyridino diamide azacrown (DBPDA) and reduced dibenzo pyridino diamide azacrown (RDBPDA). Column chromatography was employed for the determination of the effect of solvents and ligand conformation on the separation coefficients. The maximum separation coefficients, , for the DBPDA and RDBPDA at 20.0±0.02°C with acetonitrile as eluent, were found to be 0.034±0.002 and 0.035±0.002, respectively. The isotope separation coefficient and adsorption capability of the lithium ion on the DBPDA and RDBPDA were only slightly dependent on ligand structure, but strongly dependent on the solvent. DBPDA and RDBPDA appeared to have almost the same value for the isotope separation coefficient of lithium.     

Thermal and X-ray diffraction analysis studies during the decomposition of ammonium uranyl nitrate

Two types of ammonium uranyl nitrate (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O and NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃, were thermally decomposed and reduced in a TG-DTA unit in nitrogen, air, and hydrogen atmospheres. Various intermediate phases produced by the thermal decomposition and reduction process were investigated by an X-ray diffraction analysis and a TG/DTA analysis. Both (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O and NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ decomposed to amorphous UO₃ regardless of the atmosphere used. The amorphous UO₃ from (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O was crystallized to γ-UO₃ regardless of the atmosphere used without a change in weight. The amorphous UO₃ obtained from decomposition of NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ was crystallized to α-UO₃ under a nitrogen and air atmosphere, and to β-UO₃ under a hydrogen atmosphere without a change in weight. Under each atmosphere, the reaction paths of (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O and NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ were as follows: under a nitrogen atmosphere: (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O → (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·H₂O → (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄ → NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ → A-UO₃ → γ-UO₃ → U₃O₈, NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ → A-UO₃ → α-UO₃ → U₃O₈; under an air atmosphere: (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O → (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·H₂O → (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄ → NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ → A-UO₃ → γ-UO₃ → U₃O₈, NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ → A-UO₃ → α-UO₃ → U₃O₈; and under a hydrogen atmosphere: (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·2H₂O → (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄·H₂O → (NH₄)₂UO₂(NO₃)₄ → NH₄UO₂(NO₃)₃ → A-UO₃ → γ-UO₃ → α-U₃O₈ → UO₂, NH₄ UO₂(NO₃)₃ → A-UO₃ → β-UO₃ → α-U₃O₈ → UO₂.     

Development of a simultaneous analytical method for selected anorectics,methamphetamine, MDMA,and their metabolites in hair using LC-MS/MS to prove anorectics abuse

Owing to the tight control of methamphetamine, it is presumed that phentermine, an amphetamine-type anorectic, has recently been considered a supplement for methamphetamine abusers in Korea. In addition, the abuse of other anorectics obtained by inappropriate means has become a social issue. Hair is a useful specimen to prove chronic drug use. Therefore, an analytical method for the simultaneous detection of phentermine, phendimetrazine, amfepramone, fenfluramine, mazindol, methamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), as well as their metabolites, which covers the major amphetamines and anorectic agents in Korea, in hair was established and validated using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The drugs and their metabolites in hair were extracted using 1 % HCl in methanol and then filtered and analyzed by LC-MS/MS with electrospray ionization in positive mode. The validation results for selectivity, linearity, matrix effect, recovery, process efficiency, intra- and interassay precision and accuracy, and processed sample stability were satisfactory. The limits of detection ranged from 0.025 to 1 ng/10 mg hair and the limits of quantification were 0.25 ng/10 mg hair for every analyte except mazindol and phentermine, for which they were 10 ng/10 mg hair. The method was successfully applied for the segmental determination of selected anorectics, methamphetamine, MDMA, and their metabolites in hair from 39 drug suspects. Among the anorectics, phentermine and/or phendimetrazine were identified with or without methamphetamine in the hair samples. Closer supervision of the inappropriate use of anorectics is necessary. Also, hair analysis is useful for monitoring the abuse potential of unnoticed drugs.     

Dipodal fluorescent chemosensor for Cu and resultant complex as a chemosensor for iodide

A dipodal receptor was synthesized by condensation of isophthalaldehyde and p-toluenesulfonylhydrazide. The receptor was found to be selective for Cu²⁺ recognition in CH₃CN. The resultant Cu²⁺ receptor complex selectively recognized iodide through cation displacement assay in a CH₃CN/H₂O (8:2, v/v) solvent system.     

A mild, efficient, and selective deprotection of tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers using dicationic ionic liquid as a catalyst

Selective deprotection of alkyl TBDMS ether in the presence of phenolic TBDMS ether using dicationic ionic liquid [tetraEG(mim)₂][OMs]₂ as a homogeneous catalyst showed significant catalytic activity in methanol at ambient temperature to produce respective alcohol in excellent yield. The present environmentally benign catalytic system is found to be very convenient, fast, high yielding, and clean method for selective desilylation of alkyl silyl ethers even in the existence of other sensitive organic functional groups such as aldehyde, methoxy, and acetate were also achieved.     

Enhanced transdermal delivery by using electrostatically interactive chitosan nanocapsules

This paper describes a useful means of noninvasively enhancing transdermal delivery efficiency. For this, chitosan nanocapsules with positive surface charges were fabricated by using the in situ precipitation method. These nanocapsules cannot only have an ability to encapsulate the drug molecule (this study used riboflavin 5′-monophosphate), but also electrotatically interact with the stratum corneum layer. To demonstrate this, fluorescence-labeled polymer nanoparticles with different particle sizes as well as surface charges were topically applied onto the skin and their distribution was directly imaged. This demonstration experiment allowed us to figure out that once the nanocapsules were provided with positive surface charges, they readily deposited into the stratum corneum layer due to the electrostatic interaction. Further quantitative characterization of the penetrating amount of riboflavin 5′-monophosphate by using the Frantz diffusion cell method showed that our chitosan nanocapsule system effectively improved transdermal delivery efficiency.     

Synthesis of Pure <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-2,3-Butanediol from Crude Glycerol Using an Engineered Metabolic Pathway in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

meso-2,3-Butanediol (meso-2,3-BDO) is essential for the synthesis of various economically valuable biosynthetic products; however, the production of meso-2,3-BDO from expensive carbon sources is an obstacle for industrial applications. In this study, genes involved in the synthesis of 2,3-BDO in Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified and used to genetically modify Escherichia coli for meso-2,3-BDO production. Two 2,3-BDO biosynthesis genes—budA, encoding acetolactate, and meso-budC, encoding meso-SADH—from K. pneumoniae were cloned into the pUC18 plasmid and introduced into E. coli. In 2 l batch culture, the SGSB03 E. coli strain yielded meso-2,3-BDO at 0.31 g/g_glucose (with a maximum of 15.7 g/l_culture after 48 h) and 0.21 g/g_{crude glycerol} (with a maximum of 6.9 g/l_culture after 48 h). Batch cultures were grown under optimized conditions (aerobic, 6% carbon source, 37 °C, and initial pH 7). To find the optimal culture conditions for meso-2,3-BDO production, we evaluated the enzyme activity of meso-SADH and the whole cell conversion yield (meso-2,3-BDO/acetoin) of the E. coli SGSB02, which contains pSB02. meso-SADH showed high enzyme activity at 30–37 °C and pH 7 (30.5–41.5 U/mg of protein), and the conversion yield of SGSB02 E. coli was highest at 37–42 °C and a pH of 7 (0.25–0.28 g _meso-2,3-BDO/g_acetoin).