Influence of simulated microgravity on the activation of the small GTPase Rho involved in cytoskeletal formation – molecular cloning and sequencing of bovine leukemia-associated guanine nucleotide exchange factor

Background  

The irregular formation of cytoskeletal fibers in spaceflown experimental cells has been observed, but the disorganization process of fibers is still poorly understood. It is well known that the activation of the small GTPase Rho leads to actin stress fibers assembly. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of simulated microgravity on the activation of Rho that is involved in actin fiber remodeling in cells.     

Synthesis,structure, and aromaticity of a hoop-shaped cyclic benzenoid [10]cyclophenacene

The first hoop-shaped cyclic benzenoid compounds, [10]cyclophenacene derivatives that contain 40 pi electrons, have been synthesized in three or four steps from [60]fullerene by rationally designed chemical modification. The compounds thus synthesized are chemically stable, yellow-colored, luminescent, and EPR-silent. X-ray crystallographic analysis provided high precision structural data sets. On the basis of these results and theoretical investigations, the new cyclic benzenoid molecules were proven to be aromatic.     

Enhanced phosphorescence in intramolecular exciplex systems

Phosphorescence behavior of the series of compounds, (carbazole)-(CH₂)_n-(terephthalic acid methyl ester), which show intramolecular exciplex emission, has been studied in a rigid medium at 77 K. The phosphorescence of the carbazole moiety is enhanced by electron transfer fluorescence quenching of the carbazole residue in accord with the degree of quenching.     

Degradation products generated by sonication of benzyl alcohol, a sample preparation solvent for the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical bulks, on capillary gas chromatography

Benzyl alcohol used as the sample preparation solvent in the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical bulks yielded benzene, toluene, and benzaldehyde on capillary gas chromatography (GC) by sonication. The factors responsible for compounds generated are discussed. The quality of benzyl alcohol and the type of sonicator were not involved in the generation of benzene, toluene, and benzaldehyde, whereas matrix contributions were observed. The degradation profiles of benzyl alcohol and its analogous compounds obtained by pyrolysis-GC/mass spectrometric analysis were similar to those obtained by sonication, suggesting that benzyl alcohol is degraded by the high local heat generated by sonication. Consequently, no matter how long it may take to dissolve bulk substances in benzyl alcohol completely, we do not recommend the use of a sonicator in sample preparation for the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical bulks.     

Studies of micro-brownian motion of a polymer chain by the fluorescence polarization method. II. Segmental motions in concentrated polymer solutions

The fluorescence polarization method has been used to study the micro-Brownian motion of a terminal segement of a polymer chain in concentrated solutions. A new apparatus for determining the fluorescence intensity and its polarization degree was designed. By using this apparatus, the rotational relaxation time 〈ρ〉 of the terminal segment of the fluorescent conjugates of polyacrylamide in aqueous polyacrylamide solutions was obtained as a function of polymer concentration from 0 to 65%, molecular weight of the conjugate from 3.5 × 10⁴ to 3 × 10⁵, and temperature from 10 to 30°C. The logarithm of 〈ρ〉 increased approximately linearly with increasing polymer concentration. This increase in 〈ρ〉, amounting to a factor of 20 times, was less marked than that in macroscopic viscosity. At concentrations less than 30%, 〈ρ〉 depended appreciably on the molecular weight of the conjugate.     

Total synthesis of (+)-azimine via diastereoselective aminopalladation

The aminopalladation of amino allylic alcohol using Cl₂Pd(MeCN)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ gave the 2,6-disubstituted piperidine with excellent diastereoselectivity. This compound was successfully converted into (+)-azimine (1) using cross-metathesis and Shiina macrolactonization.     

N,N-Dilauryl Chitosan：Synthesis and Surface Pressure-area Isotherm

With sodium dodecyl sulfonate(SDS) as the phase transferring catalyst, N,N-Dilauryl chitosans with a high degree of alkyl group substitution were prepared and characterized by means of FTIR, ^1H NMR and elemental analyses. The results indicate that the average degree of alkyl group substitution on the chitosan increases with decreasing the molecular weight of the chitosan. The fully N,N-dilaurylated chitosan was found to be dissolvable in chloroform. The collapsed pressures of the samples derived from chitosan with 3000,5000 and 10000 dalton are 47.6, 48. 2 and 51.0 mN/m, respectively. The surface area occupied by the monomer unit(glucosamine) of all. those samples is 0:6 nm^2.     

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of acylzirconocene chloride and stereoselective formation of bicyclo[3.3.0] compounds

The acylzirconocene chloride complex as an acyl group donor reacts with omega-unsaturated alpha,beta-enones and -ynones under Pd-Me(2)Zn(Me(2)AlCl)-catalyzed conditions to give stereoselectively bicyclo[3.3.0] compounds through (i) formation of a Pd(II) intermediate by an oxidative addition of the Pd(0) catalyst to an enone function, (ii) cyclization of the Pd intermediate to an omega-unsaturated group, (iii) an acyl group transfer from zirconium to Pd metal, (iv) reductive elimination of the Pd metal, and (v) intramolecular cis-selective aldol reaction. [reaction: see text]     

Effect of Nonmagnetic Substitution on the Magnetic Properties and Charge-Transfer Phase Transition of an Iron Mixed-Valence Complex, (n-C(3)H(7))(4)N[Fe(II)Fe(III)(dto)(3)] (dto = C(2)O(2)S(2))

The iron mixed-valence complex (n-C(3)H(7))(4)N[Fe(II)Fe(III)(dto)(3)] exhibits a novel type of phase transition called charge-transfer phase transition (CTPT), where the thermally induced electron transfer between Fe(II) and Fe(III) occurs reversibly at ～120 K, in addition to the ferromagnetic phase transition at T(C) = 7 K. To investigate the mechanism of the CTPT, we have synthesized a series of magnetically diluted complexes (n-C(3)H(7))(4)N[Fe(II)(1-x)Zn(II)(x)Fe(III)(dto)(3)] (dto = C(2)O(2)S(2); x = 0-1), and carried out magnetic susceptibility and dielectric constant measurements and (57)Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy. With increasing Zn(II) concentration (x), the CTPT is gradually suppressed and disappears at x ≈ 0.13. On the other hand, the ferromagnetic transition temperature (T(C)) is initially enhanced from 7 K to 12 K between x = 0.00 and 0.05, despite the nonmagnetic nature of Zn(II) ions, and then it decreases monotonically from 12 K to 3 K with increasing Zn(II) concentration. This anomalous dependence of T(C) on Zn(II) concentration is related to a change in the spin configuration of the ferromagnetic state caused by the partial suppression of the CTPT.