Synthesis of vicinal diols from various arenes with a heterocyclic, amino or carboxyl group by using recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing evolved biphenyl dioxygenase and dihydrodiol dehydrogenase genes

Various aromatic molecules, in which heterocycles are linked with a phenyl or benzyl group, were converted to their respective 2,3-diols (catechols) in the benzene ring by growing cell reactions using recombinant Escherichia coli, which expressed the evolved biphenyl dioxygenase [bphA (2072)] genes and the subsequent bacterial dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (bphB) gene. These vicinal diol products showed strong in vitro inhibitory activity against the lipid peroxidation induced by free radicals and strong scavenging activity towards DPPH radicals. The vicinal diols were also synthesized from ionized monocyclic aromatics incorporating an amino or carboxyl group.     

Photoreactivation in Paramecium tetraurelia under conditions of various degrees of ozone layer depletion

Photoreactivation (PR) is an efficient survival mechanism that helps protect cells against the harmful effects of solar-ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The PR mechanism involves photolyase, just one enzyme, and can repair DNA damage, such as cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimers (CPD) induced by near-UV/blue light, a component of sunlight. Although the balance of near-UV/blue light and far-UV light reaching the Earth's surface could be altered by the atmospheric ozone layer's depletion, experiments simulating this environmental change and its possible effects on life have not yet been performed. To quantify the strength of UVB in sunlight reaching the Earth's surface, we measured the number of CPD generated in plasmid DNA after UVB irradiation or exposure to sunlight. To simulate the increase of solar-UV radiation resulting from the ozone layer depletion, Paramecium tetraurelia was exposed to UVB and/or sunlight in clear summer weather. PR recovery after exposure to sunlight was complete at a low dose rate of 0.2 J/m2 x s, but was less efficient when the dose rate was increased by a factor of 2.5 to 0.5 J/m2 x s. It is suggested that solar-UV radiation would not influence the cell growth of P. tetraurelia for the reason of high PR activity even when the ozone concentration was decreased 30% from the present levels.     

Site-specific dense immobilization of antibody fragments on polymer brushes supported by silicone nanofilaments

For site-specific dense immobilization of antibodies on a solid support, we prepared phosphorylcholine copolymer brushes on silicone nanofilaments. The nanofilaments were prepared on a silicon wafer by treatment with trichloromethylsilane (MeSiCl 3). To generate Si-OH groups on the nanofilaments, O 2 plasma was irradiated on the surface. Initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were then coupled on the filaments. Phosphorylcholine copolymer brushes were prepared by a "grafting from" process, and pyridyl disulfide groups were introduced into the polymer chains. F(ab') fragments were then specifically immobilized onto these surfaces via a thiol-disulfide interchange reaction. The amount of antibodies immobilized on the nanofilament-supported copolymer brushes was approximately 65 times greater than that on smooth wafer-supported copolymer brushes.     

Second-harmonic generation in GFP-like proteins

The second-order nonlinear optical properties of green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), such as the photoswitchable Dronpa and enhanced GFP (EGFP), have been studied at both the theoretical and experimental levels. In the case of Dronpa, both approaches are consistent in showing the rather counterintuitive result of a larger second-order nonlinear polarizability (or first hyperpolarizability, beta) for the protonated state, which has a higher transition energy, than for the deprotonated, fluorescent state with its absorption at lower energy. Moreover, the value of beta for the protonated form of Dronpa is among the highest reported for proteins. In addition to the pH dependence, we have found a wavelength dependence in the beta values. These properties are essential for the practical use of Dronpa or other GFP-like fluorescent proteins as second-order nonlinear fluorophores for symmetry-sensitive nonlinear microscopy imaging and as nonlinear optical sensors for electrophysiological processes. An accurate value of the first hyperpolarizability is also essential for any qualitative analysis of the nonlinear images.     

Design and synthesis of a caged Zn2+ probe, 8-benzenesulfonyloxy-5-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinolin-2-ylmethyl-pendant 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, and its hydrolytic uncaging upon complexation with Zn2+

8-Benzenesulfonyloxy-5- N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinolin-2-ylmethyl-pendant cyclen (BS-caged-L(4), BS = benzenesulfonyl) was designed and synthesized as a "caged" derivative of a previously described Zn(2+) fluorophore, 8-hydroxy-5- N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinolin-2-ylmethyl-pendant cyclen (L(4)) (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). In the absence of metal ions and in the dark, BS-caged-L(4) (10 microM) showed negligible fluorescence emission at pH 7.4 (10 mM HEPES with I = 0.1 (NaNO3)) and 25 degrees C (excitation at 328 nm). Addition of Zn(2+) induced an increase in the UV/vis absorption of BS-caged-L(4) (10 microM) at 258 nm and a significant increase in fluorescence emission at 512 nm. These responses are results from the formation of Zn(H-1L(4)) by the hydrolysis of the sulfonyl ester at the 8-position of the quinoline unit promoted by the Zn(2+)-bound HO(-). Improvement of cell membrane permeation in comparison with L(4) is also described.     

Total syntheses of symbioramide derivatives from l-serine and their antileukemic activities

Naturally occurring symbioramide, (2S,3R,2'R,3'E)-N-(2'-hydroxy-3'-octadecenoyl)-dihydrosphingosine 1a, was synthesized from d-erythro-dihydrosphingosine (amino part, 2) and (2R,3E)-2-hydroxy-3-octadecenoic acid (acid part, 3a), both of which were prepared from l-serine. Its diastereomer, (2S,3R,2'S,3'E)-1b, having an enantiomer of the unnatural-type acid part that was prepared from d-mannitol, and its corresponding (Z)-isomers, (2S,3R,2'R,3'Z)-1c and (2S,3R,2'S,3'Z)-1d, were also prepared. The antileukemic activities of 1a-d against HL-60 and L-1210 cells were appreciated by a MTT assay. None of the four symbioramide derivatives showed antileukemic activities in HL-60 cells. In L-1210 cells, all the symbioramide derivatives showed moderate antileukemic activities. Compound 1d had the most effective activity against L-1210 cells among the four derivatives. The data suggest that unnatural types of (2'S)-isomers of acid parts are more active than those of (2'R)-isomers.     

Variability of 40K isotopic composition in forest soils under different environmental conditions

Radiopotassium isotopic composition (⁴⁰K/K, %) of several forest soils did not show a constant value of generally known 1.17 × 10^?2 %, but they were varied significantly from 0.4 × 10^?2 to 1.3 × 10^?2 % at different locations under different environmental conditions. Surface portion of a soil (2–4 cm in depth) gave always lower ⁴⁰K/K values compared with those of deeper soil layer (35–40 cm in depth). Ion exchange of K⁺ with NH₄ ⁺ did not affects the ⁴⁰K/K value in any soils, which revealed with chemical leaching experiments in the laboratory. Some plant species showed much lower ⁴⁰K/K values than those in the surface soil. Possible reasons for varying ⁴⁰K/K values obtained in this study may result from a dynamic behavior of potassium in soil, probably due to biological activity including root uptake and decomposing soil organic matter by microorganisms in the forest floor.     

Depth profiles of potassium and its isotope ratio (40K/K) in several forest soils

Depth profiles potassium and its isotope ratio (⁴⁰K/K) were investigated in several forest soils from different geological and climatic backgrounds. The ratio was found not to be constant (0.0117%) but varied appreciably from 0.0085% to 0.0167% among different soils. Possible factors affecting variability of ⁴⁰K/K values were considered by a multivariate factor analysis which suggested that aqueous parameters like humidity and pH might be a controlling factor in the surface soils. The amount (and probably chemical forms) of iron oxide may be another one influencing ⁴⁰K/K values in mineral components at deeper portions.     

Synthesis and biological activities of some new thiazolidine derivatives containing pyrazole ring system

As a part of systematic investigation of synthesis and biologically active compounds of thiazolidine (TZD) derivatives containing pyrazole ring system, several new pyrazole–TZD derivatives 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d and 9a , 9b , 9c , 9d have been synthesized. Compounds 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d were prepared from N‐substituted TZDs 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d and 1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxaldehyde 7 by Knoevenagel‐type reaction. Treatment of 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d with sodium hydride at room temperature caused dimerization reaction to afford the corresponding spirocompounds 9a , 9b , 9c , 9d . All the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analysis. In vitro, the synthesized compounds 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d and 9a , 9b , 9c , 9d were tested for their growth inhibitory activity in A549 lung cancer, B16F10 murine melanoma, and HeLa human uterine carcinoma cells and for their differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes. The results showed that compound 8c possessed growth inhibitory effect of B16F10 cells (IC₅₀ = 27 μM) and compounds 9c , 9d had induction effect on the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Multialkylation of aqueous ammonia with alcohols catalyzed by water-soluble Cp*Ir-ammine complexes

Novel water-soluble Cp*Ir-ammine complexes have been synthesized, and a new and highly atom-economical system for the synthesis of organic amines using aqueous ammonia as a nitrogen source has been developed. With a water-soluble and air-stable Cp*Ir-ammine catalyst, [Cp*Ir(NH(3))(3)][I](2), a variety of tertiary and secondary amines were synthesized by the multialkylation of aqueous ammonia with theoretical equivalents of primary and secondary alcohols. The catalyst could be recycled by a facile procedure maintaining high activity. A one-flask synthesis of quinolizidine starting with 1,5,9-nonanetriol was also demonstrated. This new catalytic system would provide a practical and environmentally benign methodology for the synthesis of various organic amines.