Soluble factor from tumor cells induces heme oxygenase-1 by a nitric oxide-independent mechanism in murine peritoneal macrophages

Tumor target-derived soluble secretary factor has been known to influence macrophage activation to induce nitric oxide (NO) production. Since heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is induced by a variety of conditions associated with oxidative stress, we questioned whether soluble factor from tumor cells induces HO-1 through NO-dependent mechanism in macrophages. We designated this factor as a tumor-derived macrophage-activating factor (TMAF), because of its ability to activate macrophages to induce iNOS. Although TMAF alone showed modest activity, TMAF in combination with IFN-gamma significantly induced iNOS expression and NO synthesis. Simultaneously, TMAF induced HO-1 and this induction was slightly augmented by IFN-gamma. Surprisingly, however, induction of HO-1 by TMAF was not inhibited by the treatment with the highly selective iNOS inhibitor, 1400 W, indicating that TMAF induces the HO-1 enzyme by a NO-independent mechanism. While rIFN-gamma alone induced iNOS, it had no effect on HO-1 induction by itself. Collectively, the current study reveals that soluble factor from tumor target cells induces HO-1 enzyme in macrophages. However, overall biological significance of this phenomenon remains to be determined.     

Molecular structure of glucopyranosylamide lipid and nanotube morphology

A series of glucopyranosylamide lipids, N-(X-octadecenoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine [X = 13-cis (1), 11-cis (2), 9-cis (3), 6-cis (4), and 9-cis,12-cis (5)] and their saturated homologue N-octadecanoyl-beta-d-glucopyranosylamine (6), which differ in the position of a cis double bond in the C18 hydrocarbon chains, have been synthesized. The effect of the cis double bond position on the chiral self-assembly of each glycolipid has been examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV, and circular dichroism (CD). The 11-cis derivative 2 was observed to self-assemble in water to form a uniform hollow cylinder structure with about 200-nm outer diameters in >98% yields. The obtained nanotubes from 2 showed the narrowest distribution of outer diameters and also gave a negative CD band around 234-236 nm, showing the largest CD intensity among the glycolipids investigated. Thus, we found that the position of a cis double bond significantly influences the homogeneity of the outer diameters as well as growth behavior of the self-assembled nanotube structures. Chiral molecular packing driven by a possible bending structure of the unsaturated glycolipids is playing a critical role in determining tubular morphology through molecular self-assembly.     

Functional involvement of src and focal adhesion kinase in a CD99 splice variant-induced motility of human breast cancer cells

Earlier report showed that expression of a splice variant of CD99 transmembrane protein increases invasive ability of human breast cancer cells. Cell motility was also significantly enhanced by the CD99 splice variant expression. In an effort to identify the cellular components that mediate a signal transduction pathway triggered by the CD99 splice variant, known signal path inhibitors were examined for their effects on the motility of the CD99 splice variant-transfected MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of phosphatase specific for focal adhesion kinase, and PP1, an inhibitor of src kinase family, significantly suppressed motility of the cells. Among different types of src transfectant clones generated, kinase-negative mutant src transfectant cells were 80% less motile than the mock cells transfected with an empty-vector, while v-src and c-src transfectants exhibited cell motility levels at or slightly above the mock transfectant. These results suggest that src and focal adhesion kinase mediate the intracellular signaling pathway of a CD99 splice variant for the induction of motility of human breast cancer cells.     

Estimation of the optimal concentrations of residual sugar and cell growth rate for a fed-batch culture ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Estimation of the optimal concentrations of residual sugar in medium for a fed-batch culture of Baker’s yeast has been studied and practiced. The concentrations, however, depended on different species and targets of the biomass, which was expected to be made. Kinetic changes of the residual phosphate salt in the medium conformed to a logarithmic process until the fourth hour during an 11-h culture. The parabolic method (see ref. 9 later in article) might be qualified to maintain the concentrations of residual sugar around 0.15 g/L. It was demonstrated that cell growth followed a sigmoid process during a fed-batch culture, because the cells consumed the nutrient with two metabolic pathways, one was for cell conversion and another was for non-cell conversion. With the parabolic method, we can estimate kinetics of cell growth and cell growth rate during the culture.     

Photocatalytic decomposition of orange II over TiO2-loaded on SBA-15 prepared using a microwave process

SBA-15 mesoporous material was prepared by microwave-hydrothermal method and was used as support in TiO₂-loaded SBA-15 photocatalysts. The physical properties of these particles were investigated. We also examined the activity of these samples as photocatalysts for the decomposition of orange II. Titania loaded on a silica matrix decreases the surface area of the support as expected for TiO₂ incorporation. For TiO₂-loaded SBA-15 photocatalysts, the IR absorption at ∼960 cm⁻¹ commonly accepted as the characteristic vibration of the Ti-O-Si bond. The photocatalytic activity increases with an increase of the TiO₂ loading.     

Phosphine-mediated reductive condensation of gamma-acyloxy butynoates: a diversity oriented strategy for the construction of substituted furans

Exposure of gamma-acyloxy butynoates to stoichiometric quantities of triphenylphosphine results in reductive condensation to afford substituted furans, by way of allenic ester intermediates. As gamma-acyloxy butynoates are readily obtained through condensation of ethyl propiolate with aldehydes followed by acylation, this method represents a powerful and mechanistically novel protocol for the convergent three-component construction of substituted furans.     

Characterization and epitope mapping of two monoclonal antibodies against human CD99

CD99 plays a critical role in the diapedesis of monocytes, T cell differentiation, and the transport of MHC molecules. Engagement of CD99 by agonistic monoclonal antibodies has been reported to trigger multifactorial events including T cell activation as well as cell-cell adhesion during hematopoietic cell differentiation. In this study, to identify the functional domains participating in the cellular events, we mapped the epitopes of CD99, which are recognized by two agonistic CD99 monoclonal antibodies, DN16 and YG32. Using recombinant fusion proteins of GST with whole or parts of CD99, we found that both antibodies interact with CD99 molecules independently of sugar moieties. DN16 mAb detected a linear epitope located in the amino terminal region of CD99 while YG32 mAb bound another linear epitope in the center of the extracellular domain. To confirm that the identified epitopes of CD99 are actually recognized by the two mAbs, we showed the presence of physical interaction between the mAbs and the fusion proteins or synthetic peptides containing the corresponding epitopes using surface plasmon resonance analyses. The dissociation constants of DN16 and YG32 mAbs for the antigen were calculated as 1.27 x 10(-7) and 7.08 x 10(-9) M, respectively. These studies will help understand the functional domains and the subsequent signaling mechanism of CD99.     

Isolation and characterization of nongeminal cyclic methylphenylphosphazene tetramers

Heating pure samples of the cyclic phosphazenes, cis- or trans-[Me(Ph)PN](3), yielded mixtures of the cis and trans isomers of the cyclic phosphazene trimers, [Me(Ph)PN](3), and all four geometric isomers of the tetramers, [Me(Ph)PN](4). Varying the temperature and heating times changes the ratio of these components. Following the thermolysis by NMR spectroscopy indicated that only a mixture of the two isomeric trimers occurred initially. Longer heating times produced mixtures of the isomers of the tetramer. Column chromatography and solubility differences were used to separate each of the isomers of the tetramer. Spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies suggest that the four different geometrical isomers of the tetramer can be described as cone, partial cone, 1,2-alternate, and 1,3-alternate by analogy to calix[4]arene.     

Crystal structure, morphology and composition of magnetron sputtered tungsten carbide films

Summary It is shown that small variations of the deposition parameters during magnetron sputtering of tungsten carbide thin films may result in drastic changes of film properties. An increasing working gas pressure for example lowers stress and hardness values. Simultaneously, the texture of the WC_1–x cristallites turns from 200 preferential orientation to 111, whereas the composition of the films does not change. In reactive sputtering with a tungsten target there is a narrow range from 2 to 3% C₂H₂ gas admixture to the working gas where the films are stochiometric (WC) and hard, and grain size and morphology are similar to that of non-reactively sputtered films. The generation of different crystallite structures and orientations in the range of 0–3% C₂H₂ admixtures are used to produce a multiphase thin film with extremely low crack propagation.     

Theoretical elucidation of kinetic and thermodynamic control of radical addition regioselectivity

The cyclizations of two structurally similar 2-oxo-5-hexenyl-type radicals have been investigated by ab initio and density functional (UB3LYP/6-31+G**//UHF/6-31G* and UB3LYP/6-31G*//UB3LYP/6-31G*) calculations. The origin of apparently contradictory reports of 6-endo and 5-exo cyclizations is determined. Kinetic control favors 6-endo cyclization, while thermodynamic control gives 5-exo cyclization, and the observation of different products from different research groups arises from the difference in experimental conditions used by the two groups. The outcome of a new cyclization reaction was predicted by using these theoretical techniques. Kinetic control is predicted to yield exclusively the products of 6-endo cyclization, while thermodynamic control would lead to an approximately equal mixture of one 6-endo and one 5-exo cyclized product. Experimental studies revealed that the reaction yields only the products of 6-endo cyclization through kinetic control.