Growth of submicrometer-scale rectangular parallelepiped rutile TiO2 films in aqueous TiCl3 solutions under hydrothermal conditions

Evolution of a new morphology of rutile TiO2 films consisting of nearly single-crystalline parallelepipeds was achieved through hydrothermal treatments of aqueous TiCl3 solutions in the presence of NaCl.     

Infrared spectra and rotational isomerism of ethylenediammonium ion in aqueous solution

The infrared spectra of ethylenediamine hydrochloride, sulfate and their N-deuterium derivatives in water or heavy water were studied at various pH or pD and at various concentrations. The frequencies of the CH₂ deformation vibration bands in the region 1500-1250 dm^?1 were found to be sensitive to the conformation of the ethlenediamine molecule and mono- and diammonium ions. The behaviors of these bands indicate that in aqueous solution the ethylenediamine molecule takes the gauche form, the ethylenemonoamine monoammonium ion takes mostly the gauche form and the ethylenediammonium ion takes both the trans and gauche forms.     

Synthesis of Quaternary and Tertiary Carbon-Substituted Arenes by Lewis Base Promoted Site-Selective Coupling with Allylic Nucleophiles

A practical method for the preparation of quaternary and tertiary allyl-substituted heteroarenes by site-selective couplings of heteroaryl nitriles and allylic nucleophiles is disclosed. Transformations utilize readily accessible stable reagents, proceed in the presence of a Lewis base activator, and undergo aryl-C(sp³) quaternary and tertiary carbon formation with high γ-selectivity (up to >98 : 2 γ : α).     

Improvement of Antibody Activity by Controlling Its Dynamics Using the Glycan–Lectin Interaction

Antibody dynamics on membranes, such as endocytosis and clustering, are vital in determining antibody functions. In this study, we demonstrated that glycan conjugation can modulate antibody dynamics through the glycan–lectin interaction to regulate its potency. The anti-HER2 antibody, an anti-breast-cancer antibody, was conjugated with galactose-containing N-glycan, and its internalization was suppressed by interaction with galectin-3, leading to enhanced complement-dependent cytotoxic (CDC) activity. This glycan–antibody conjugate is proposed as a new approach to modulate antibody activity and may provide an alternative strategy for redeveloping antibody drugs that do not exhibit sufficient activity.     

A novel, intracellular antifreeze protein in an antarctic bacterium, Flavobacterium xanthum

One strain of Antarctic bacteria, Flavobacterium xanthum IAM12026, has a highly active antifreeze protein (AFP) in the intracellular space. The cell-free extract from strain IAM12026 after culturing at 4 degree C for 7 days in TSB medium, had activity of 0.04 degree C at a concentration of 0.7 mg/ml. The ice crystals formed do not have distinct facets without typically rounded shape and the changes of their morphology during the course of the thermal hysteresis (TH) measurement. The ice crystal 'burst' occurring at the end-point of the TH is dendritic with hexagonal symmetry. Also, this activity was not affected by the treatment of dialysis and the addition of EDTA. Furthermore, this cell-free extract had high levels of ice recrystallization-inhibiting (RI) activity like those of Fish AFPs. The AFP (FlAFP) was homogeneity purified using chromatography. A relative molecular mass of approximately 59,000 was calculated from gel filtration and SDS-PAGE data. The thermal stability of FlAFP was below 50 degree C, and TH value was absent above 60 degree C. The TH value of FlAFP was activated at 5.2 degree C by the addition of 0.5 M malate. This activation was decreased with increasing protein concentration. To our knowledge this is the first report on the high level of TH and RI activities of bacterial intracellular AFP.     

Nickel-NHC-catalyzed alpha-arylation of acyclic ketones and amination of haloarenes and unexpected preferential N-arylation of 4-aminopropiophenone

Arylation of both acyclic ketones and primary and secondary amines was achieved using a new, simple, stable, and easy-to-access nickel(II)-halide complex bearing mixed PPh3/N-heterocyclic carbene ligands as a catalyst precursor. Acyclic ketones were first arylated at the alpha-position with the nickel catalyst. On the other hand, less basic amines, such as diphenylamine and 4-aminobenzophenone, were more favorable in the catalytic amination of haloarenes than basic amines, contrary to previous reports. N-Arylation of 4-aminopropiophenone was found to proceed selectively without causing alpha-arylation of the ketone group.