PICOSECOND LASER PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES OF FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING MECHANISMS OF FLAVIN: A DIRECT OBSERVATION OF INDOLE-FLAVIN SINGLET CHARGE TRANSFER STATE FORMATION IN SOLUTIONS and FLAVOENZYMES

Formation of singlet charge transfer (heteroexcimer) states in the course of the fluorescence quenching of lumiflavin and riboflavin tetrabutyrate by indole and N-methylindole have been directly observed by means of time-resolved absorption spectral measurements using a picosecond laser photolysis method. Similar transient spectra have been observed also in the case of a flavoenzyme, D-amino acid oxidase.     

Protection against photoaging in the hairless mouse by the isoflavone equol

Topical application of the isoflavone equol immediately following solar-simulated UV (SSUV) radiation exposure has previously been demonstrated to have significant photoprotective effects. Equol reduced both the inflammatory edema and the systemic suppression of the contact hypersensitivity reaction in hairless mice. Furthermore, daily topical equol application immediately following irradiation during a 10-week chronic SSUV exposure regime also reduced photocarcinogenesis severity in the mouse. This study examines the potential for topical equol to prevent photoaging in response to chronic SSUV irradiation for up to 30 weeks. We did not find consistent expression of the characteristic markers of photoaging until 30 weeks, although moderate epidermal hyperplasia and a transient increase in dermal mast cell numbers were evident after 1 week. Daily application of 10 muM equol lotion significantly reduced these early changes. However after 30 weeks of SSUV exposure, photoaging was well developed, as shown histologically by markedly increased epidermal hyperplasia, increased dermal mast cell number, pronounced focal elastotic deposits, degraded dermal collagen and deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the lower dermis. Topical equol treatment protected significantly from each of these impairments, as demonstrated histologically and quantitatively. Additionally, equol was found to have strong antioxidant action against acute UVA (320-400 nm)-induced lipid peroxidation of mouse skin, this property accounting for its antiphotoaging mechanism. The evidence for equol's antiphotoaging activity, taken together with its anti-inflammatory, immunoprotective and anticarcinogenic efficacy against SSUV irradiation in the mouse, suggests that equol could be developed as a helpful topical photoprotective agent for daily use by humans.     

Enhanced fluorescence from arrays of nanoholes in a gold film

Arrays of sub-wavelength holes (nanoholes) in gold films were used as a substrate for enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy. Seven arrays of nanoholes with distinct periodicities (distances between the holes) were fabricated. The arrays were then spin-coated with polystyrene films containing different concentrations of the fluorescent dye oxazine 720. The dye was excited via resonant extraordinary transmission of the laser source through the nanoholes. Enhanced fluorescence was observed when the geometric characteristics of the arrays allowed for an enhancement in the transmitted excitation. This enhancement occurred via surface plasmon excitation by the laser and a consequential increase in the local electromagnetic field in a sub-wavelength region at the metal-film interface. It was demonstrated that the sensitivity of the fluorescence measurement (change in signal vs change in dye concentration in the polymer film) is significantly larger at the surface plasmon resonance conditions than that obtained from equivalent films on glass substrates. Enhancement factors for the fluorescence emission were calculated for each array, with a maximum enhancement of close to 2 orders of magnitude as compared to the emission of films on glass. The results presented here indicate that arrays of nanoholes are interesting substrates for the development of fluorescence sensors based on surface plasmon resonance, as they provide a platform that allows both spatial confinement and enhancement of excitation light. Moreover, the collinear characteristics of the present optical setup, due to the resonant extraordinary transmission through the nanohole arrays, are more conducive to miniaturization and chip integration than more traditional experimental geometries.     

Synthesis and in Vitro Evaluation of N-[[4-[2-(Carboxyl)-1-Cycloalken-1-yl]Phenyl]Methyl]Imidazoles as Nonpeptide Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists

A series of nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists was synthesized via palladium-assisted cross coupling of aryl stannane and cycloalkenyl triflates and subsequent alkylation of silyl-protected imidazole. Our compounds, which have a terminal five- to seven-membered cycloalkenyl ring, are compared to DuPont EXP7711, an N-[(2′-carboxybiphenylyl)methyl]imidazole, which has a terminal phenyl moiety. Physicochemical properties of the compounds, such as lipophilicity, steric bulk, conformation, and the relative spatial proximity of the 2-carboxyl and the middle phenyl, are quantitated by computational chemistry. Potency in terms of binding affinity to AT₁ receptors in rat adrenal glomerulosa and rabbit aorta is maximized when the terminal ring is aromatic.     

Removal of PCR inhibitors using dielectrophoresis as a selective filter in a microsystem

Diagnostic PCR has been used to analyse a wide range of biological materials. Conventional PCR consists of several steps such as sample preparation, template purification, and PCR amplification. PCR is often inhibited by contamination of DNA templates. To increase the sensitivity of the PCR, the removal of PCR inhibitors in sample preparation steps is essential and several methods have been published. The methods are either chemical or based on filtering. Conventional ways of filtering include mechanical filters or washing e.g. by centrifugation. Another way of filtering is the use of electric fields. It has been shown that a cell will experience a force when an inhomogeneous electric field is applied. The effect is called dielectrophoresis (DEP). The resulting force depends on the difference between the internal properties of the cell and the surrounding fluid. DEP has been applied to manipulate cells in many microstructures. In this study, we used DEP as a selective filter for holding cells in a microsystem while the PCR inhibitors were flushed out of the system. Haemoglobin and heparin - natural components of blood - were selected as PCR inhibitors, since the inhibitory effects of these components to PCR have been well documented. The usefulness of DEP in a microsystem to withhold baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells while the PCR inhibitors haemoglobin and heparin are removed will be presented and factors that influence the effect of DEP in the microsystem will be discussed. This is the first time dielectrophoresis has been used as a selective filter for removing PCR inhibitors in a microsystem.     

Crystal structure of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 potassium 2-nitrophenoxide

The first crystal structure of a potassium cation complex with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 is reported. The potassium 2-nitrophenoxide complex ofsyn-cis-syn dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with cell constantsa=8.604(2),b=10.772(4),C=16.123(5)Å, =73.86(3)°,=77.61(3)°, =82.68(3)° andZ=2 forD _c =1.31 g cm^–3. Least-squares refinement based on 2742 observed reflections led to a final conventionalR value of 0.040. Dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 has the shape of a saddle with the potassium cation sitting at the saddlepoint. The structure of the 2-nitrophenoxide anion is dominanted by the quinoid resonance contributor. Because the complex is devoid of significant intercomplex interactions, it is a prototypical 1:1:1 complex. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82043 (26 pages).Now Mrs. K. M. Balo.     

Comparative inhibition by substrate analogues 3-methoxy- and 3-hydroxydesaminokynurenine and an improved 3 step purification of recombinant human kynureninase.

Background  

Kynureninase is a key enzyme on the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. One of the end products of the pathway is the neurotoxin quinolinic acid which appears to be responsible for neuronal cell death in a number of important neurological diseases. This makes kynureninase a possible therapeutic target for diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and AIDS related dementia, and the development of potent inhibitors an important research aim.     

Correction: Direct synthesis of the organic and Ge free Al containing BOG zeolite (ITQ-47) and its application for transformation of biomass derived molecules

Aluminosilicate boggsite (Si/Al-BOG) has been hydrothermally synthesized without adding organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs) in the synthesis gel using the borosilicogermanium ITQ-47 (Si/B-ITQ-47) zeolite as seeds. The introduction of the costly and environmentally less benign phosphazene organic structure-directing agent is not required to grow the zeolite. Physicochemical characterization experiments show that Si/Al-BOG has good crystallinity, high surface area, tetrahedral Al³⁺ species, and acid sites. In order to test the catalytic performance of the zeolite, the synthesis of l,l-lactide from l-lactic acid was performed. Si/Al-BOG exhibits 88.2% conversion of l-lactic acid and 83.8% l,l-lactide selectivity, which are better than those of other zeolites studied up to now.

Aluminosilicate boggsite (Si/Al-BOG) has been hydrothermally synthesized without adding organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs) in the synthesis gel using the borosilicogermanium ITQ-47 (Si/B-ITQ-47) zeolite as seeds.     

Analysis of betamethasone, dexamethasone and related compounds by liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) method has been developed to conclusively differentiate the epimers betamethasone and dexamethasone and various esterification products (betamethasone and dexamethasone 21-acetate, betamethasone and dexamethasone 21-phosphate, betamethasone 17-valerate, betamethasone 21-valerate and betamethasone 17,21-dipropionate) in counterfeit drugs. Good separation with baseline resolution of all epimers or isomers was obtained on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB or Luna C8 column, using a step gradient with mobile phases of 0.05 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile. Betamethasones can also be distinguished by the relative abundance of their m/z 279 ion in the positive electrospray tandem mass spectra. The LC/MS or LC/MS/MS method developed was successfully applied to the analysis of drug product samples, i.e. creams and tablets.     

Beta-diiminate platinum complexes for alkane dehydrogenation

New five-coordinate Pt(IV) complexes [{(o-R2-p-R'-C6H2)NC(R' ')}2CH]PtMe3 (R, R', R' ' = alkyl or H) are reported. The complex with R = Me, R' = tBu, R' ' = Me generates unsaturated Pt(II) species capable of alkane C-H bond activation and stoichiometric dehydrogenation.