Novel real-time sensors to quantitatively assess in vivo inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in intact cells

Real-time observation of messenger molecules in individual intact cells is essential for physiological studies of signaling mechanisms. We have developed a novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) sensor based on the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain from phospholipase C (PLC) delta. The environmentally sensitive fluorophore 6-bromoacetyl-2-dimethyl-aminonaphtalene was conjugated to the genetically introduced cysteine at the mouth of the IP(3) binding pocket for enhanced IP(3) selectivity and for rapid and direct visualization of intracellular IP(3) > or = 0.5 microM as fluorescence emission decreased. The probe, tagged with arginine-rich sequences for efficient translocation into various cell types, revealed a major contribution of Ca2+ influx to PLC-mediated IP(3) production that boosts Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, our IP(3) probe was extremely effective to quantitatively assess real-time physiological IP(3) production via those pathways formed only in the intact cellular configuration.     

Oxythallation of norbornene derivatives with thallium(III) acetate in methanol

Treatment of norbornene, norbornadiene, benzonorbornadiene, and chloro- and methoxy-benzonorbornadiene with thallium(III) acetate in methanol affords only the corresponding cis-exo-acetoxythallation adducts in a sharp contrast to oxymercuration of such strained olefins where methoxymercuration prevails. In the cases of substituted benzonorbornadienes the products are obtained as the regioisomeric mixtures, the isomer ratio being determined by ¹³C NMR. In the cases of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, 5-norbornene-2-methyl-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, and 5-norbornen-2-endo-carboxylic acid, lactonization occurs to give a trans-oxythallation adduct having a lactone ring, no introduction of either methoxy or acetoxy groups being observed. ¹H and/or ¹³C NMR data for several new oxythallation adducts are provided. The alkaline sodium borohydride reduction of adducts in methanol affords mainly the parent olefin together with 10–16% yields of the corresponding exo-alcohol.     

Chromium- and tungsten-triggered valence isomerism of cis-1-acyl-2-ethynylcyclopropanes via [3,3]sigmatropy of (2-acylcyclopropyl)vinylidene-metal intermediates.

The reaction of cis vicinal acetylethynylcyclopropanes 1 with a catalytic amount of M(CO)5(THF) (M = Cr or W) in the presence of Et3N at room temperature gave ortho-substituted phenols 7 in good yields as valence isomerized products. In the absence of Et3N the reactions did not work at all. The reaction of a cyclopropane having an ester or an amide instead of an acetyl moiety with M(CO)5(THF) did not take place, whereas an ethynylvinylcyclopropane gave a mixture of 1- and 2-substituted 1,3,5-cycloheptatrienes. These valence isomerization reactions are assumed to proceed via the formation of vinylidene-metal intermediates 2 from terminal alkynyl moieties followed by [3,3]sigmatropy of 2 to give seven-membered carbene complexes 3.     

Stereospecific living radical polymerization for simultaneous control of molecular weight and tacticity

The simultaneous control of the molecular weights and the tacticity was attained even during radical polymerization by the judicious combinations of the living/controlled radical polymerizations based on the fast interconversion between the dormant and active species, and the stereospecific radical polymerizations mediated by the added Lewis acids or polar solvents via the coordination to the monomer/polymer terminal substituents. This can be useful for various monomers including not only conjugated monomers, such as acrylamides and methacrylates, but also nonconjugated ones such as vinyl acetate and N‐vinylpyrrolidone. Stereoblock polymers were easily obtained by the addition of the Lewis acids or by change of the solvents during the living radical polymerizations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6147–6158, 2006     

Regioselective lithiation of II-(arene)chromium tricarbonyl complexes

Chromium tricarbonyl complexes of 3-methoxybenzyl alcohol and related compounds were selectively lithiated at the 4-position in contrast to the corresponding metal free arene compounds. The resulting 4-lithio complexes were converted to the 4-substituted arene compounds in moderate to excellent yields through the reactions with proper electrophiles and subsequent demetalation.     

Atomic absorption spectrometry of traces of tri- and hexavalent chromium

Summary Atomic absorption spectrometry combined with extraction is described for the determination of tri- and hexavalent chromium. The chromium diethyldithiocarbamate chelate was used for chromium (VI), whereas hydroxyquinolate or thenoyltrifluoroacetonate chelate for chromium(III). The method is rapid and precise.

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Zusammenfassung Extraktion und darauffolgende Messung der Atomarabsorption wurden zur Bestimmung von drei- und sechswertigem Chrom verwendet. Die Chelatverbindung mit Diäthyldithiocarbamat wurde für Chrom(VI), der Chelatkomplex mit Hydroxychinolin oder Thenoyltrifluoraceton für Chrom(III) verwendet. Das Verfahren ist rasch und genau.

     

Cross-chiral examinations of molecular enantioselective recognition by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry: Host–guest complexations between chiral crown ethers and chiral organic ammonium ions

Using fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry (MS), cross-chiral relationships were confirmed for the first time for the diasteromeric host-guest complexations between the chiral crown ether host (1) and the chiral organic ammonium ion guest (2) on the basis of the relative peak intensities (RPI). Both host–guest combinations (R, R, R, R) – 1, (R) – 2 and (S, S, S, S) – 1, (S) – 2 obviously provided larger RPI values than the combination of both (R, R, R, R) – 1, (S) – 2 and (S, S, S, S) – 1, (R) – 2 by a factor of 1.6 as an averaged value: 1.87 (n = 4)/1.16 (n = 4) = 1.6. These results are consistent with the expected stabilities of the host-guest complexations by CPK model examinations. Successfully observed cross-chiral examinations strongly suggest a potentially useful FABMS/RPI methodology for rapidly searching newly designed and synthesized crown ether-like host compounds with a higher degree of enantioselectivity.     

Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerization of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone

The kinetics of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (α-MBL) homopolymerization was investigated in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. The rate of polymerization (R_p) was expresed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.54[α-MBL]^1.1 and the overall activation energy was calculated as 76.1 kJ/mol. Kinetic constants for α-MBL polymerization were obtained as follows: k_p/k_t^1/2 = 0.161 L^1/2 mol^?1/2·s^?1/2; 2fk_d = 2.18 × 10^?5 s^?1. The relative reactivity ratios of α-MBL(M₂) copolymerization with styrene (r₁ = 0.14, r₂ = 0.87) were obtained. Applying the Q–e scheme led to Q = 2.2 and e = 0.65. These Q and e values for α-MBL are higher than those for MMA