Substituent effects of methoxy,methyl, and vinyl groups on glow discharge polymerization

Glow discharge polymerizations in systems of trimethoxymethylsilane, trimethoxyvinylsilane, tetramethylsilane, and trimethylvinylsilane were compared by elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and ESCA to reveal effects of methoxyl, methyl, and vinyl substituents. The substituent effects appeared in the chemical composition of the polymers formed especially at low W/FM values. Methoxy groups depressed the C/Si and H/Si ratios of the polymers rather than the methyl groups, whereas vinyl groups increased the C/Si and H/Si ratios. On IR spectra the polymers formed from silanes that contained methoxy groups showed fewer absorptions due to Si? H groups and strong absorptions due to Si? OH groups. The polymers from those that contained no methoxy groups showed absorptions of Si? H groups and no absorptions of Si? OH groups. These differences in the environment of Si atoms of polymeric chains also appeared in the Si_2p core level spectra, thus indicating the different fragmentation patterns of the starting materials in glow discharge.     

Synthesis of [1]rotaxane via covalent bond formation and its unique fluorescent response by energy transfer in the presence of lithium ion

Although there have been a lot of reports on the synthesis and properties of [n]rotaxanes (mainly n = 2), only a few reports on the synthesis of [1]rotaxane has been published by V?gtle's group and others (see ref 5). Generally speaking, [1]rotaxane might be expected to exhibit properties different from other rotaxanes, because the rotor and the axle in the [1]rotaxane is bound covalently and closely. We report on a novel method to make [1]rotaxanes via covalent bond formation from a macrocyclic compound. That is, we first prepared a bicyclic compound from macrocycle and then proceeded to [1]rotaxane by aminolysis. This is the first synthetic example of preparation of [1]rotaxane via covalent bond formation, not utilizing weak interactions such as hydrogen bonding, charge transfer, via metal complexation, etc. This method might provide a powerful and new tool for construction of [1]rotaxane as a new supramolecular system. In addition, we investigated energy transfer from rotor to axle using [1]rotaxane that we prepared. Energy transfer occurred perfectly from the naphthalene ring of the rotor to the anthracene ring of the axle. We found also that only lithium ion among alkali ions can drastically enhance the fluorescence intensity. This finding could be applicable to ion-sensing systems, switching devices, and so on.     

Purification of sufficiently gamma-carboxylated recombinant protein C and its derivatives. Calcium-dependent affinity shift in immunoaffinity and ion-exchange chromatography.

Protein C, which is an important anti-thrombotic factor in the blood coagulation cascade, undergoes several post-translational modifications. gamma-Carboxylation on nine glutamic acid residues at the N-terminal region of the light chain [gamma-carboxylated glutamic acid (Gla) domain] is considered to be critical for full anti-clotting activity. It is also known that when recombinant protein C is expressed in animal cells this particular modification is often lost. We were successful in preparing a monoclonal antibody (PC01) which distinguishes the sufficiently gamma-carboxylated protein from the rest by its specific affinity for the Ca(2+)-induced conformational change of the former, and thereby developed a simple process of purifying sufficiently gamma-carboxylated protein C. Culture supernatant of Chinese hamster ovary cell transformants was first applied to Q-Sepharose and recombinant protein C was partially purified. It was then loaded onto a PC01 affinity column in the presence of 5 mM calcium chloride. Sufficiently gamma-carboxylated protein C was retained while insufficient-carboxylated protein C quickly passed through. The former was eluted with 5 mM EDTA efficiently and with high purity, contained eight Gla units per molecule, and had similar anti-clotting activity. The flow-through was relatively impure protein C which contained five Gla units per molecule and showed limited anti-clotting activity. We extended the application of the Ca(2+)-induced conformational change to conventional ion-exchange chromatography. The sufficiently gamma-carboxylated protein C was found to elute earlier in the salt gradient from an anion-exchange column in the presence of 5 mM calcium chloride being fully separated from the insufficiently carboxylated protein C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

THE S0 AND Ti STATES OF ISOMERIC CANTHAXANTHIN AS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF β-CAROTENE: EFFECT OF THE TERMINAL CARBONYL GROUPS DETECTED BY RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

The S₀ (ground singlet-state) Raman spectra of the all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis, 9,9-cis, 9, 13-cis, 9,13′-cis and 13,13′-cis isomers of canthaxanthin as well as the T₁ (lowest-excited triplet-state) Raman spectra of the all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis and 9,13-cis isomers were recorded. In order to reveal the effect of the carbonyl groups at both ends on the carbon-carbon conjugated system in-between (in both the S₀ and T, states), the carbon-carbon stretching frequencies were compared between isomeric canthaxanthin and p-carotene: in the S₀ state, the C=C stretching frequencies of canthaxanthin were lower by3–10 cm^?1 than those of β-carotene, indicating increased conjugation in the former. In the T, state, the “C=C” stretching frequencies of canthaxanthin were lower by12–15 cm^?1, indicating a large decrease in the “C=C” bond order in the central part of canthaxanthin. Further, the relations of the C=C (S₀) and “C=C” (T₁) stretching frequencies vs the number of carbon-carbon double-bonds were examined for the above two and additional five carotenoids. The result indicated that the terminal carbonyl groups of canthaxanthin are incorporated in the carbon-carbon conjugated system in the T, state, but that they are almost independent of it in the S₀ state. Both observations support the idea that the “triplet-excited region” of canthaxanthin is extended over the entire double-bond system.     

Radioactivation analysis of aluminium,vanadium, copper,molybdenum, zinc and uranium in natural water samples using organic coprecipitants

A method is described for the determination of trace metal ions, V, Al, Cu, Mo Zn, and U, in natural water samples by neutron activation analysis, using organic coprecipitation as a preconcentration method. The preconcentration of trace elements was accomplished by converting the dissolved trace metal ions into the oxine chelates atpH 5.2 and extraction of the chelates witho-phenylphenol which is a liquid above 56 °C and solidifies at room temperature. After cooling the extraction system, the fine particles of the organic phase were collected on a millipore filter and the precipitate was air-dried in a clean environment. The solid extract was wrapped up in a sheet of clean polyethylene and subjected to neutron irradiation in a reactor for less than 10 min at a thermal flux of 2·10¹³ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹. γ-Ray spectrometry by a coaxial Ge(Li) detector connected to a 1024-channel PHA was performed on the irradiated sample without further chemical separation, and thus the ppb level concentration of the elements in natural water samples could be determined. The fundamental study of the collection of the trace elements is also described.     

Phomactin H, a novel diterpene from an unidentified marine-derived fungus

Phomactin H (1), a diterpene has been isolated from cultures of an unidentified marine-derived fungus. The structure and relative stereochemistry of phomactin H (1) was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Phomactin H (1), having an oxepane moiety, is a new phomactin with a novel skeleton.     

Simultaneous determination of anthraquinones, their 8-beta-D-glucosides, and sennosides of Rhei Rhizoma by capillary electrophoresis

The simultaneous separation and determination of major anthraquinones (emodin, chrysophanol, rhein and their glucosides, aloe-emodin, sennoside A, and sennoside B) of Rhei Rhizoma were achieved by cyclodextrin modified capillary zone electrophoresis. The running electrolyte used in this method was 0.005 M alpha-cyclodextrin in 0.03 M borate buffer (pH 10.0) containing 20% acetonitrile, with an applied voltage of 20 kV.     

Study on the murexide reaction. V

Although the reaction of caffeine with hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid or nitric acid and then with ammonia has been known to give a purple coloration (Murexide reaction), the use of hydrazine instead of ammonia is found to provide no purple coloration. The reaction of caffeine with hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid and then with hydrazine hydrate afforded a yellow reaction mixture, from which 4-methyl-6-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-3,5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrotriazine 9 , oxalyl hydrazide 10 and hydroxylamine hydrochloride were isolated. The reaction of caffeine with nitric acid and then with hydrazine hydrate furnished a yellow reaction mixture, from which 8-amino-1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1H,3H,7H-xanthine 11, 9 and hydroxylamine nitrate were isolated. Compound 9 was clarified to be produced from 3-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyloxazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,5,7(3H,4H,6H)-trione 3 and 1,3-dimethylalloxan 7 by the ring transformation with hydrazine.     

Multinuclear macromolecule metal complexes 2. Preparation and characterization of Prussian blue and its analogs bonded to pofy(vinylamine hydrochloride)

Prussian blue and its analogs bonded to poly(vinylamine hydrochloride) (PVAm · HCl) containing Fe^II or Fe^III and M²⁺ (M=Fe, Co, Cu) in a 11 molar ratio were obtained by the reaction of [Fe(CN)₆] ^n– (n=3,4) with M²⁺ ion-PVAm · HCl mixture in aqueous solution. Under a limited polymer concentration (T_VAm/T_Fe over 10), these polymer complexes thus obtained were stable and soluble in water. By casting these solutions, colored films can be produced. The formation of Prussian blue and its analogs bonded to PVAm · HCl was also investigated by the Benesi-Hildebrand method. The molar extinction coefficients of intervalence charge transfer (Fe^IIFe^III, Co^IIFe^III, Fe^IICu^II) band for MFe(CN)₆]^(n–2)– bound to PVAm · HCl (M=Fe, Co, Cu) were found to be 10,100–9601 · mol^–1 · cm^–1 at 25 C. The formation constants were found to be in the range of 10⁷ to 10¹⁰ M^–1. The changes of enthalpy (H) and entropy (S) were found to be in the range of –10.4 to –22.5 kJ · mol^–1 and 5.7 to 52.9 J · K^–1 mol^–1 respectively, at 25C.     

Block catiomer polyplexes with regulated densities of charge and disulfide cross-linking directed to enhance gene expression

A block catiomer polyplex, showing a high stability in the extracellular medium and an efficient release of plasmid DNA (pDNA) in the intracellular compartment, was developed by controlling both the cationic charge and disulfide cross-linking densities of the backbone polycations. Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) block copolymer (PEG-PLL) was thiolated using either of two thiolation reagents, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) or 2-iminothiolane (Traut's reagent), to investigate the effects of both the charge and disulfide cross-linking densities on the properties of the polyplexes. The introduction of thiol groups by SPDP proceeded through the formation of amide linkages to concomitantly decrease the cationic charge density of PLL segment, whereas Traut's reagent promoted the thiolation with the introduction of cationic imino groups to keep the charge density constant. These thiolated PEG-PLLs were complexed with pDNA to form the disulfide cross-linked block catiomer polyplexes, which had the size of approximately 100 nm. Both thiolation methods were similarly effective in introducing disulfide cross-links to prevent the polyplex from the dissociation through a counter polyanion exchange in the extracellular oxidative condition. On the other hand, the efficient release of pDNA responding to the reductive condition mimicking the intracellular environment was only achieved for the polyplex thiolated with SPDP, a system compensating for the decrease in the charge density with the disulfide cross-linking. This distinctive sensitivity toward oxidative and reductive environments was nicely correlated with the remarkable difference in the transfection efficiency between these two types of thiolated polyplexes (SPDP and Traut's reagent types): the former revealed approximately 50 times higher transfection efficiency toward 293T cells than the latter. Obviously, the balance between the densities of the cationic charge and disulfide cross-linking in the thiolated polyplex played a crucial role in the delivery and controlled release of entrapped pDNA into the microenvironment of intracellular compartment to achieve the high transfection efficiency.