Investigating cellular signaling reactions in single attoliter vesicles

Understanding cellular signaling mediated by cell surface receptors is key to modern biomedical research and drug development. The discovery of a growing number of potential molecular targets and therapeutic compounds requires downscaling and accelerated functional screening. Receptor-mediated cellular responses are typically investigated on single cells or cell populations. Here, we show how to monitor cellular signaling reactions at a yet unreached miniaturization level. On the basis of our observations, cytochalasin induces mammalian cells to extrude from their plasma membrane submicrometer-sized native vesicles. They comprise functional cell surface receptors correctly exposing their extracellular ligand binding sites on the outer vesicle surface and retaining cytosolic proteins in the vesicle interior. As a prototypical example, ligand binding to the ionotropic 5-HT(3) receptor and subsequent transmembrane Ca(2+) signaling were monitored in single attoliter vesicles. Thus, native vesicles are the smallest autonomous containers capable of performing cellular signaling reactions under physiological conditions. Because a single cell delivers about 50 native vesicles, which can be isolated and addressed as individuals, our concept allows multiple functional analyses of individual cells having a limited availability and opens new vistas for miniaturized bioanalytics.     

Fourier transform far-infrared studies on transition metal ion-exchanged zeolites A

FT-FIR spectra of xeolites A containing Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions were recorded after heat treatment at 573 K in vacuo. The bands were assigned to the vibrations of the cations with respect to the zeolite framework. From obeying the Butler expression it can be inferred that transition metal ions preferably occupy SI sites in zeolite A. Upon adsorption of rare gas and diatomics the bands of the cation vibration diminish and are unspecifically shifted up- and downscale.     

Ein alternativer Zugang zum PQQ-Triester

An Alternative Approach to the PQQ-Triester A novel approach to triethyl 5-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-f]quinoline-2,7,9-tricarboxylate ( 6 ), a close precursor of the redox cofactor PQQ of bacterial dehydrogenases, is described. Diethyl 2-oxopent-3-ynedioate ( 5 ) was used as building block for the annelation of the quinoline unit. The annelation proceeds in two steps via the diastereoselective formation of diethyl (Z)-4-{[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-methoxyindol-6-yl]amiono}-2-oxopent-3-enedioate ((Z)- 7 ) followed by acid-catalyzed cyclocondensation.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 236. Über einige physikalische und chemische Eigenschaften von Diphosphan(4)

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 236. On Several Physical and Chemical Properties of Diphosphane(4) The density of diphosphane(4) has been measured between ?78°C and +18°C and the value d₄²⁰ = 1.014 · 0.002 extrapolated. The refractive index of P₂H₄ was determined to be n²⁰ = 1.66 ± 0.01. The surface tension at 0°C and ?50°C was measured to be σ = 34 and 42 dyn · cm^?1, respectively. In the UV absorption spectrum, gaseous P₂H₄ exhibits a broad absorption band at λ_max = 2 220 Å, in n-hexane solution, this band is shifted somewhat to shorter wave-lengths. The molar extinction coefficient was determined to be ? ≈? 900 1 · mol^?1 · cm^?1. As a result of photolytic decomposition, absorptions for PH₃ and more phosphorus-rich hydrides also occur. The solubility behavior of P₂H₄ in various organic solvents and the stabilities of the resultant solutions have been investigated. At 0°C, the solubility of diphosphane(4) in water was found to be ± 035 ± 0.003 g P₂H₄/100 g solution and that of water in diphosphane(4) to be 43.2 ± 1.6 g H₂O/100 g solution. The system diphosphane(4)/methanol also exhibits a miscibility anomaly. The IR spectra of liquid P₂H₄ and of its solutions in various solvents revealed, in accord with the results of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy [7], that diphosphane(4) is practically not associated. Weak interactions through hydrogen bridging bonds occur with pyridine and methanol in which P₂H₄ serves as the proton donor and, in the latter case, also as proton acceptor. For the thermolysis of diphosphane(4), it has been found that the primary step comprises a disproportionation with inter-molecular elimination of PH₃ and formation of triphosphane(5). With further progress of the thermolysis, in dependence on the reaction conditions, mixtures of various phosphanes of differing composition are formed. Photolysis gives rise to phosphane mixtures having similar compositions. With aqueous silver salt and iodine solutions, diphosphane(4) reacts as a reducing agent; with sodium hydroxide solution, it reacts by a slow disproportionation as well as by formation and degradation of the subsequently formed polyphosphides. On reaction with triphenylmethyl, triphenylmethane and a yellow solid of varying composition are formed. The reaction of diazomethane with diphosphane(4) leads to the preferential insertion of the carbene in the P? P bond and formation of methylenebis(phosphane).     

Wasserstoffbrückenbindung und stereospezifische long-range-Spin-Spin-Kopplung im 3-Nitro-5-fluor-salicylaldehyd

Zusammenfassung Zwischen dem Aldehydproton und dem Fluoratom des 3-Nitro-5-fluor-salicylaldehyds gibt es eine stereospezifische Spin-Spin-Kopplung, mit deren Hilfe die Aldehydgruppenstellung der in chlorierten Kohlenwasserstoffen vorherrschenden Konformation bestimmt wird.

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Hydrogen bonding and stereospecific long-range spin coupling in 3-nitro-5-fluoro-salicylaldehyde

The stereospecific nature of the long-range spin coupling between the aldehydic proton and the fluorine atom is used for determining the conformation of 3-nitro-5-fluoro-salicylaldehyde predominating in CCl₄ and in CHCl₃.

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Mit 2 Abbildungen

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Aus der Dissertation vonGotthard Krause, Univ. Bonn 1966 (D5).     

A Simple Route to New N(3)-Substituted 5-Aryl-2-(dialkylamino)-1,3-oxazolium Salts and N(1)-Substituted 4-Aryl-2-(dialkylamino)-1H-imidazoles

In the reaction of N,N-dialkyl-dichloromethaniminium chlorides 11 with 2-aminoacetophenones 12 , a general and simple route to heretofore unknown 5-aryl-substituted 2-(dialkylamino)-1,3-oxazolium salts 13 and 5-aryl-substituted 2-(dialkylamino)oxazoles 14 was found. From the 2-(dialkylamino)-1,3-oxazoles 14 , the corresponding oxazolium salts 13 were obtained after alkylation with (MeO)₂SO₂. The new oxazolium salts 13 were converted to 1-substituted 4-aryl-2-(dialkylamino)-1H-imidazoles 9 by treatment with NH₄OAc. The possible use of these 1H-imidazoles as dye educts was explored. Analytical data, as well as AM1 calculations, reveal some remarkable differences between the structures of the neutral imidazoles 9 and their positively charged oxazolium precursors 13 .     

Investigation of swelling and diffusion in polymers by NMR imaging

The kinetics of diffusion in polymers ranges from simple Fickian diffusion to higher order diffusion, such as Case II diffusion^1-2). The conventional method for determining the characteristics of solvents into polymer matrices is by measuring the mass uptake of the polymer as the solvent penetrates the matrix. However, since such measurements perform observations at a macroscopic level, little information has been obtained relating to the nature of the solvent in the polymer matrix and the mechanisms of the processes that control the diffusion. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging (‘MRI’) has been used to observe the penetration of solvents into solid systems in realtime. The method provides a one- or more-dimensional image of the density and the mobility of the solvent in a material or of the network changes of the material itself due to the softening influence of the solvent. The first (imaging of the solvent) can be used for a quantitative measurement of the diffusion whereas the observation of the network gives information about the changing of the network (mobility, de-crystallization…) during the swelling process. For example the diffusion of organic solvents in some polymeric materials (natural rubber, water gels (PNIPAAm), and nematic diblock-copolymers) are investigated.