Preparation and StructuralCharacterization of RuII‐DMSO and RuIII‐DMSO‐substituted α‐Keggin‐type Phosphotungstates, [PW11O39RuIIDMSO]5– and [PW11O39RuIIIDMSO]4–, and Catalytic Activity for Water Oxidation

Ru^II‐ and Ru^III‐substituted α‐Keggin‐type phosphotungstates with a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) ligand, [PW₁₁O₃₉Ru^IIDMSO]^5– ( 1 ) and [PW₁₁O₃₉Ru^IIIDMSO]^4– ( 2 ), were synthesized. Compound 1 was prepared by reaction of [PW₁₁O₃₉]^7– with [Ru^II(DMSO)₄]Cl₂ in water at 125 °C under hydrothermal conditions and was isolated as a cesium salt. Compound 2 was prepared by reaction of 1 with bromine in water at 60 °C and was isolated as a cesium salt. The compounds were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, elemental analysis, UV/Vis, IR,³¹P NMR, ¹⁸³W NMR, ¹H NMR, and XANES (Ru K‐edge and L₃‐edge)spectroscopic methods. Single crystal structural analysis of 1 revealed that Ru^II is incorporated in the α‐Keggin framework and coordinated by DMSO through a Ru–S bond. Cyclic voltammetry of 1 indicated that the incorporated Ru^II‐DMSO is reversibly oxidizable to the Ru^III‐DMSO derivative 2 . Compound 1 showed catalytic activity for water oxidation in the presence of cerium ammonium nitrate as an oxidant.     

Structural concept of nitroxide as a lipid peroxidation inhibitor

Nitroxides have antioxidative activities toward lipid peroxidation, but the influence of steric factors is not known. We synthesized alkyl-substituted nitroxides at the α-position of the N-O moiety to enhance lipophilicity and the bulk effect. There was good correlation between the IC(50) and lipophilicity (log P(o/w)) of nitroxides with use of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Furthermore, an inhibitory effect on the TBARS assay was dependent upon the number and length of alkyl groups, though nitroxides had almost identical lipophilicity.     

Optimal photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy of infections should kill bacteria but spare neutrophils

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for localized microbial infections exerts its therapeutic effect both by direct bacterial killing and also by the bactericidal effects of host neutrophils stimulated by PDT. Therefore, PDT-induced damage to neutrophils must be minimized, while direct photoinactivation of bacteria is maintained to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of antimicrobial PDT in vivo. However, there has been no study in which the cytocidal effect of PDT on neutrophils was investigated. In this study, the cytocidal effects of PDT on neutrophils were evaluated using different antimicrobial photosensitizers to find suitable candidate photosensitizers for antimicrobial PDT. PDT on murine peripheral-blood neutrophils was performed in vitro using each photosensitizer at a concentration that exerted a maximum bactericidal effect on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and morphological alteration and viability of neutrophils were studied. Most neutrophils were viable (>80%) after PDT using toluidine blue-O (TB) or methylene blue (MB), while neutrophils showed morphological change and their viabilities were decreased (<70%) after PDT using other photosensitizers (erythrosine B, rose bengal, crystal violet, Photofrin, new methylene blue and Laserphyrin). These results suggest that PDT using TB or MB can preserve host neutrophils while exerting a significant therapeutic effect on in vivo localized microbial infection.     

Distribution of drimane sesquiterpenoids and tocopherols in liverworts, ferns and higher plants: Polygonaceae, Canellaceae and Winteraceae species

The liverwort, Porella vernicosa complex produces a very hot tasting polygodial, a drimane-type sesquiterpene dialdehyde. The same compound has been isolated from two ferns, Thelypteris hispidula and Blechnum fluviatile, as well as from the higher plants Polygonum hydropiper, P. hydropiper f. purpurascens (Polygonaceae), Cinnamosma, Caspicodendron, Canella and Warburgia species (Canellaceae), and Pseudowintera colorata, Tasmannia lanceolata, Drimys and Zygogynum species (Winteraceae). In addition, the liverworts and higher plants which elaborate polygodial and its related pungent drimane dials contain a small amount of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol or delta-tocotrienol. The present paper gives the results of a comparative study on the drimane-type sesquiterpenoids in some liverworts, ferns and higher plants, and the role of tocopherols in these plant groups.     

Salvileucalin B, a novel diterpenoid with an unprecedented rearranged neoclerodane skeleton from Salvia leucantha Cav

Salvileucalin B (2), having an unprecedented rearranged neoclerodane skeleton, was isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia leucantha Cav. (Labiatae) along with salvileucalin A (1). The absolute structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and vibrational circular dichroism. Compound 2 represents a novel neoclerodane, characterized by a tricyclo[3.2.1.0 (2,7)]octane substructure incorporating the exocyclic C-20 methylene of 1. This molecule exerted cytotoxic activity against A549 and HT-29 cells with IC50 values of 5.23 and 1.88 microg/mL, respectively.     

Two new glycosides from the whole plants of Glechoma hederacea L

Two new glycosides, 7S,7'S,8R,8'R-icariol A(2)-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 4-allyl-2-hydroxyphenyl 1-O-beta-D-apiosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from the dried whole plants of Glechoma hederacea L. (Labiatae) together with four known compounds, cistanoside E (3), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (5) and luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis.     

Diacylated 8-C-glucosylcyanidin 3-glucoside from the flowers of Tricyrtis formosana

A new diacylated 8-C-glucosylanthocyanin was isolated from the purple flowers of Tricyrtis formosana 'Fujimusume' as one of the major anthocyanins along with four known pigments. The structure of this pigment was determined to be 8-C-(6-O-trans-sinapoyl)-beta-glucopyranosylcyanidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-glucopyranoside) by chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition, four known pigments, 8-C-glucosylcyanidin 3-malonylglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-malonylglucoside, were identified as the major anthocyanins in the flowers.     

Infrared predissociation spectroscopy of ammonia cluster cations (NH3)n+ (n=2-4) produced by vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization

Infrared predissociation spectroscopy of vacuum ultraviolet-pumped ion (IRPDS-VUV-PI) is performed on ammonia cluster cations (NH3)n+ (n=2-4) that are produced by VUV photoionization in supersonic jets. The structures of (NH3)2+ and (NH3)4+ are determined through the observation of infrared spectra and vibrational calculations based on ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-31G** and 6-31++G** levels. (NH3)2+ is found to be of the "hydrogen-transferred" form having the (H3N+-...NH2) composition. In contrast, (NH3)4+ exhibits the "head-to-head" dimer cation (H3...NH3+ core structure, where the positive charge is shared between two ammonia molecules in the core, and two other molecules are hydrogen bonded onto the core. An unequivocal assignment of the infrared spectrum of (NH3)3+ has not been achieved, because the presence of two isomeric structures could be suggested by the observed spectrum and theoretical calculations.     

Characterization of a d-Stereoselective Aminopeptidase (DamA) Exhibiting Aminolytic Activity and Halophilicity from Aspergillus oryzae

β-Aminopeptidases exhibit both hydrolytic and aminolytic (peptide bond formation) activities and have only been reported in bacteria. We identified a gene encoding the β-aminopeptidase homolog from a genome database of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae. The gene was overexpressed in A. oryzae, and the resulting recombinant enzyme was purified. Apart from bacterial homologs [β-Ala-para-nitroanilide (pNA)], the enzyme preferred d-Leu-pNA and d-Phe-pNA as substrates. Therefore, we designated this gene as d-stereoselective aminopeptidase A (damA). The purified recombinant DamA was estimated to be a hexamer and was composed of two subunits with molecular masses of 29.5 and 11.5 kDa, respectively. Optimal hydrolytic activity of DamA toward d-Leu-pNA was observed at 50 °C and pH 8.0. The enzyme was stable up to 60 °C and from pH 4.0–11.0. DamA also exhibited aminolytic activity, producing d-Leu-d-Leu-NH₂ from d-Leu-NH₂ as a substrate. In the presence of 3.0 M NaCl, the amount of pNA liberated from d-Leu-pNA by DamA was 3.1-fold higher than that in the absence of NaCl. Thus, DamA is a halophilic enzyme. The enzyme was utilized to synthesize several hetero-dipeptides containing a d-amino acid at the N-terminus as well as physiologically active peptides.     

Molecular Composition of Nonionic Vesicles Prepared from Span 80 or Span 85 by a Two‐Step Emulsification Method

The molecular compositions of the commercial nonionic surfactants Span 80 and Span 85 were analyzed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both surfactants are mixtures of fatty acid esters, containing monoesters, diesters, triesters, and tetraesters. While diesters dominate in the case of Span 80, Span 85 contains mainly tetraesters. Vesicles were prepared from Span 80 (or Span 85) by a two‐step emulsification method that involved homogenization and separation steps in which a portion of the surfactants was removed. The composition of the vesicles was analyzed by HPLC with respect to the different esters present. Although commercial Span 80 and Span 85 differ considerably in their molecular compositions, the ester profiles of the vesicles formed were in both cases rather similar and dominated by diesters. Therefore, the particular vesicle preparation method leads to a molecular selection of mainly those components that are prone to form bilayers.