Assembly of Carbohydrates on a Nickel(II) Center by Utilizing N-Glycosidic Bond Formation with Tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren). Syntheses and Characterization of [Ni{N-(aldosyl)-tren}(H(2)O)](2+), [Ni{N,N'-bis(aldosyl)-tren}](2+) and [Ni{N,N',N"-tris(aldosyl)-tren}](2+)

Reactions of [Ni(tren)(H(2)O)(2)]X(2) (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine; X = Cl (1a), Br (1b); X(2) = SO(4) (1c)) with mannose-type aldoses, having a 2,3-cis configuration (D-mannose and L-rhamnose), afforded {bis(N-aldosyl-2-aminoethyl)(2-aminoethyl)amine}nickel(II) complexes, [Ni(N,N'-(aldosyl)(2)-tren)]X(2) (aldosyl = D-mannosyl, X = Cl (2a), Br (2b), X(2) = SO(4) (2c); aldosyl = L-rhamnosyl, X(2) = SO(4) (3c)). The structure of 1c was confirmed by X-ray crystallography to be a mononuclear [Ni(II)N(4)O(2)] complex with the tren acting as a tetradentate ligand (1c.2H(2)O: orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 15.988(2) ?, b = 18.826(4) ?, c = 10.359(4) ?, V = 3118 ?(3), Z = 8, R = 0.047, and R(w) = 0.042). Complexes 2a,c and 3c were characterized by X-ray analyses to have a mononuclear octahedral Ni(II) structure ligated by a hexadentate N-glycoside ligand, bis(N-aldosyl-2-aminoethyl)(2-aminoethyl)amine (2a.CH(3)OH: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 16.005(3) ?, b = 20.095(4) ?, c = 8.361(1) ?, V = 2689 ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.040, and R(w) = 0.027. 2c.3CH(3)OH: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 14.93(2) ?, b = 21.823(8) ?, c = 9.746(2) ?, V = 3176 ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.075, and R(w) = 0.080. 3c.3CH(3)OH: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 14.560(4) ?, b = 21.694(5) ?, c = 9.786(2) ?, V = 3091 ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.072, and R(w) = 0.079). The sugar part of the complex involves novel intramolecular sugar-sugar hydrogen bondings around the metal center. The similar reaction with D-glucose, D-glucosamine, and D-galactosamine, having a 2,3-trans configuration, resulted in the formation of a mono(sugar) complex, [Ni(N-(aldosyl)-tren)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2) (aldosyl = D-glucosyl (4b), 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucosyl (5a), and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galactosyl (5b)), instead of a bis(sugar) complex. The hydrogen bondings between the sugar moieties as observed in 2 and 3 should be responsible for the assembly of two sugar molecules on the metal center. Reactions of tris(N-aldosyl-2-aminoethyl)amine with nickel(II) salts gave the tris(sugar) complexes, [Ni(N,N',N"-(aldosyl)(3)-tren)]X(2) (aldosyl = D-mannosyl, X = Cl (6a), Br (6b); L-rhamnosyl, X = Cl (7a), Br (7b); D-glucosyl, X = Cl (9); maltosyl, X = Br (10); and melibiosyl, X = Br (11)), which were assumed to have a shuttle-type C(3) symmetrical structure with Delta helical configuration for D-type aldoses on the basis of circular dichroism and (13)C NMR spectra. When tris(N-rhamnosyl)-tren was reacted with NiSO(4).6H(2)O at low temperature, a labile neutral complex, [Ni(N,N',N"-(L-rhamnosyl)(3)-tren)(SO(4))] (8), was successfully isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography, in which three sugar moieties are anchored only at the N atom of the C-1 position (8.3CH(3)OH.H(2)O: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 16.035(4) ?, b = 16.670(7) ?, c = 15.38(1) ?, V = 4111 ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.084, and R(w) = 0.068). Complex 8 could be regarded as an intermediate species toward the C(3) symmetrical tris(sugar) complexes 7, and in fact, it was readily transformed to 7b by an action of BaBr(2).     

Synthesis of 3-aminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives using N-bis(methylthio)methylene-p-toluenesulfonamide

N-Bis(methylthio)methylene-p-toluenesulfonamide ( 1 ) reacted with active methylene compounds such as malononitrile ( 2a ) and, cyanoacetamide ( 2b ) to give the corresponding 3-methylthio-3-p-toluenesulfonylami-nopropenenitrile derivatives 3a,b which were found to be convenient starting materials for the synthesis of 3,5-diaminopyrazole derivatives. Reaction of 3a and 3b with hydrazines gave the corresponding 3,5-diaminopyrazoles 4a-e , key intermediates for the synthesis of 3-aminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives 5a-d .     

Isolation and structure determination of a new lasso peptide subterisin from Sphingomonas subterranea

A new lasso peptide named subterisin was isolated from the culture broth of Sphingomonas subterranea NBRC 16086^T. The molecular formula of subterisin was established as C₇₈H₁₂₁O₂₂N₂₁ based on accurate mass analysis. The chemical structure of subterisin was determined by 2D NMR experiments. The presence of macrolactam ring of Gly1–Glu8 was indicated by NOESY experiment and MS/MS analysis. The three-dimensional structure of subterisin in solution was established by calculation based on NMR data. The proposed biosynthetic gene cluster of subterisin was found on the genome of S. subterranea.     

Bucillamine Inhibits UVB-Induced MAPK Activation and Apoptosis in Human HaCaT Keratinocytes and SKH-1 Hairless Mouse Skin

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is known as a culprit in skin carcinogenesis. We have previously reported that bucillamine (N-[2-mercapto-2-methylpropionyl]-L-cysteine), a cysteine derivative with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, protects against UVB-induced p53 activation and inflammatory responses in mouse skin. Since MAPK signaling pathways regulate p53 expression and activation, here we determined bucillamine effect on UVB-mediated MAPK activation in vitro using human skin keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and in vivo using SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. A single low dose of UVB (30 mJ cm⁻²) resulted in increased JNK/MAPK phosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage in HaCaT cells. However, JNK activation and casaspe-3 cleavage were inhibited by pretreatment of HaCaT cells with physiological doses of bucillamine (25 and 100 µm ). Consistent with these results, bucillamine pretreatment in mice (20 mg kg⁻¹) inhibited JNK/MAPK and ERK/MAPK activation in skin epidermal cells at 6–12 and 24 h, respectively, after UVB exposure. Moreover, bucillamine attenuated UVB-induced Ki-67-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells in mouse skin. These findings demonstrate that bucillamine inhibits UVB-induced MAPK signaling, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Together with our previous report, we provide evidence that bucillamine has a photoprotective effect against UV exposure.     

Separation of neutral and basic enantiomers by cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography using anionic cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral pseudo-stationary phases

Separations of neutral and basic racemates were performed using five different anionic cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives as chiral selectors, viz. carboxymethylated β-CD, β-CD phosphate sodium salt, sulfobutyl ether β-CD sodium salt, carboxymethylated γ-CD, and γ-CD phosphate sodium salt. For the separation of neutral racemates, an untreated fused silica capillary was employed and various neutral racemates were successfully separated. Since the pH of the buffer affected the electroosmotic flow (EOF), the resolution was improved by changing the buffer pH. A polyacrylamide coated capillary was employed for the separation of basic racemates to suppress EOF and to prevent adsorption of cationic analyte on the capillary surface. By choosing an appropriate type and concentration of anionic CD, about 40 basic racemates were successfully separated. Some rough binding constants of basic analytes with an anionic β-CD were measured to discuss the optimum concentration of the CD. The migration direction was dependent on the binding constants and the concentration of the CD. The analyte strongly bound to the anionic CD migrated towards the anode but the weakly bound one moved towards the cathode. Anionic γ-CDs were also very useful for the separation of basic enantiomers. Five neutral CDs were employed as chiral selectors to compare selectivity between charged and neutral CDs, and eleven racemates could only be resolved using anionic CDs. The separation of some basic racemates in human plasma was also described. The direct injection of plasma samples was possible for some enantiomers that did not interact strongly with plasma proteins.     

Discrimination of the geometrical isomers of 2,3-, 2,5-, and 2,6-dimethylpiperazines based on 1 H?Nmr spectral data

¹ H-Nmr spectra of cis and trans isomers of 2,3-, 2,5-, and 2,6-dimethylpiperazines were taken at various temperatures. The spectra of geometrical isomers bearing the ae or ea dimethyl groups showed broadening at lower temperatures. It was clarified that the measurement of the spectra at lower temperatures is useful for the discrimination of the geometrical isomers of dimethylpiperazines.     

Graphical representation of the solutions of the schrödinger equations for a particle in various model potentials

Several one-dimensional Schrödinger equations for a particle trapped in various model potentials are solved analytically or approximately, and the results are plotted by an X—Y plotter. Typical results are illustrated. Several interesting features of the relations between the shape of the potential and the solution of the Schrödinger equation are pointed out. Combination of these results allows reasonable guesses about the forms of the energy levels and wavefunctions for complicated but realistic problems.