A novel technique for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms by analyzing consumed allele-specific primers

We present a simple and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique, termed consumed allele-specific primer analysis (CASPA), as a new strategy for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. The method involves the use of labeled allele-specific primers, differing in length, with several noncomplementary nucleotides added in the 5'-terminal region. After PCR amplification, the amounts of the remaining primers not incorporated into the PCR products are determined. Thus, nucleotide substitutions are identified by measuring the consumption of primers. In this study, the CASPA method was successfully applied to ABO genotyping. In the present method, the allele-specific primer only anneals with the target polymorphic site on the DNA, so it is not necessary to analyze the PCR products. Therefore, this method is only little affected by modification of the PCR products. The CASPA method is expected to be a useful tool for typing of SNPs.     

Synthetic studies toward maytansinoids (2) a new strategy based on asymmetric induction by heteroconjugate addition of methyllithium onto pyranosyl hetero-olefins

The functionalized pyranosyl hetero-olefins $\text{4a}$, $\text{13}$ and $\text{15}$ received a remarkable diastereoselective addition of methyllithium to form $\text{threo}$ adducts, one of which was introduced into a possible synthetic intermediate as $\text{3}$ for maytansine ($\text{1}$) along Scheme I.     

Light absorption in laser-heated cavities

The absorption of laser light in 0.25–1 mm diameter gold cavities, irradiated for the purpose of generating high-temperature blackbody radiation with intense laser radiation of either =0.44 m or =1.3 m wavelength, was investigated. For =0.44 m radiation the absorption exceeded 0.9 for all conditions, but dropped to only 0.3 for the smallest cavities irradiated at =1.3 m. Entrance hole and cavity filling with plasma seems important for the understanding of the observations.     

Gelation in free-radical terpolymerization of poly(allyl methacrylate) crosslinked polymer nanosphere with allyl benzoate and vinyl benzoate

Microgel-like poly(allyl methacrylate) (PAMA nanosphere) was prepared by the emulsion polymerization of AMA as the reactive crosslinked polymer nanosphere with abundant pendant allyl groups. The terpolymerization of PAMA nanosphere with allyl benzoate (ABz) and vinyl benzoate (VBz) was conducted in bulk using benzoyl peroxide as initiator at 80 °C. The gelation depended on the feed ABz/VBz molar ratio since the molecular weights of resulting poly(ABz-co-VBz)s that act as the bridges increased with an increase in the mole fraction of VBz in the feed monomer. Beyond the gel point, the sol was rapidly incorporated into the gel and the increasing tendency of the gel fraction became steeper from 70 to 95 mol% of VBz as a reflection of increased chain length of bridge between PAMA nanospheres. Moreover, the swelling ratio became lower with increasing the mole percentage of VBz in the feed monomer. These results would support the preferential incorporation of PAMA nanosphere into the gel and the longer bridge can capture more nanospheres to give a much shrunken gel.     

CpRuIIPF6/quinaldic acid-catalyzed chemoselective allyl ether cleavage. A simple and practical method for hydroxyl deprotection

A cationic CpRu(II) complex in combination with quinaldic acid shows high reactivity and chemoselectivity for the catalytic deprotection of hydroxyl groups protected as allyl ethers. The catalyst operates in alcoholic solvents without the need for any additional nucleophiles, satisfying the practical requirements of operational simplicity, safety, and environmental friendliness. The wide applicability of this deprotection strategy to a variety of multifunctional molecules, including peptides and nucleosides, may provide new opportunities in protective group chemistry. [structure: see text]     

A novel separation technique of diastereomeric esters of pyridylethanols by extraction: formal total synthesis of PNU-142721, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor

The separation of diastereomeric esters derived from (±)-pyridylethanols and 3β-acetoxyetienic acid were achieved by an extraction technique using diethyl ether and aqueous hydrochloric acid. A formal total synthesis of PNU-142721 was effectively carried out to prepare the chiral, non-racemic synthon 1-furo[2,3-c]pyridin-5-yl-ethanol (1) by means of this technique. The structure optimized using MOPAC calculations on each diastereomer suggested the presence of intramolecular CH/π interaction in only the (S)-isomer of the diastereomers.     

Rapid racemization of chiral non-racemic sec-alcohols catalyzed by (η-C5(CH3)5)Ru complexes bearing tertiary phosphine-primary amine chelate ligands

A ternary catalyst system of Cp*RuCl(cod)-2-diphenylphosphinoethylamine-KOt-Bu (Cp*=η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅, cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) causes rapid racemization of chiral non-racemic sec-alcohols, which results from the reversible hydrogen transfer between sec-alcohols and ketones. Both tertiary phosphine and primary amine functionalities in the ligand are responsible for the high rate.     

Chemo-enzymatic Synthesis of Novel Oligo-N-acetyllactosamine Derivatives having a β(1-4)–β(1-6) Repeating Unit by Using Transition State Analogue Substrate

Chitinase-catalyzed hydrolytic and transglycosylating behavior of 1,2-oxazoline derivative of N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc-oxa) 1 has been investigated. An extremely rapid hydrolysis (ring-opening of the oxazoline moiety) could be observed, suggesting that 1 behaves as a transition state analogue substrate for chitinase A1 (Bacillus circulans WL-12). This disaccharide monomer 1 was found to polymerize under basic conditions, giving rise to novel oligosaccharides having a β(1-4)–β(1-6) repeating unit in the main chain. The degree of polymerization of the resulting oligosaccharides was up to 5. This is the first example of enzymatic glycosylation reaction forming a β(1-6) bond catalyzed by chitinase.